Release Week: 19 August 2025
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Release Week: 19 August 2025
Posted on 2025-08-19 at 12:00 by Samuel Montgomery-Blinn
PICKS:
Lessons in Magic and Disaster By: Charlie Jane Anders, read by Lisa Flanagan, Marisa Calin, and Sena Bryer for Macmillan -- "Jamie is basically your average New England academic in-training—she has a strong queer relationship, an esoteric dissertation proposal, and inherited generational trauma. But she has one extraordinary secret: she's also a powerful witch. Serena, Jamie's mother, has been hiding from the world in an old one-room schoolhouse for several years, grieving the death of her wife and the simultaneous explosion in her professional life. All she has left are memories. Jamie’s busy digging into a three-hundred-year-old magical book, but she still finds time to teach Serena to cast spells and help her come out of her shell. But Jamie doesn't know the whole story of what happened to her mom years ago, and those secrets are leading Serena down a destructive path. Now it's up to this grad student and literature nerd to understand the secrets behind this mysterious novel from 1749, unearth a long-buried scandal hinted therein, and learn the true nature of magic, before her mother ruins both of their lives."
The End of the World as We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King's The Stand edited by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene, introduction by Stephen King, read by Sean Patrick Hopkins and Adenrele Ojo Simon and Schuster -- "For the first time, Stephen King has fully authorized a return to the harrowing world of The Stand through this original short story anthology as presented by award-winning authors and editors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. Bringing together some of today’s greatest and most visionary writers, The End of the World As We Know It features unforgettable, all-new stories set during and after (and some perhaps long after) the events of The Stand—brilliant, terrifying, and painfully human tales that will resonate with listeners everywhere as an essential companion to the classic, bestselling novel."
Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance: The Forgotten Founding Mothers of the Fairy Tale and the Stories That They Spun By: Jane Harrington, read by Hope Newhouse for Black Dog and Leventhal -- "Long before The Brothers Grimm, there was a sisterhood of writers who defied the patriarchy and launched a literary craze with their feminist fairy tales—these are their stories."
Starstuff: Ten Science Fiction Stories to Celebrate New Possibilities edited by William Alexander and Wade Rousch, read by JJ Hawkins and Hana Lass for Tantor -- "In a thrilling follow-up to Tasting Light, ten bestselling and award-winning masters of the form use the possible—and the premise of hope—to explore how science and technology can reshape our world and defy assumptions."
The Man Who Died Seven Times By: Yasuhiko Nishizawa, translated by Jesse Kirkwood, read by Kaipo Schwab for Dreamscape -- "A subversively cozy Japanese crime novel with an ingenious Groundhog Day twist: a teenager’s time-loop race to solve—and possibly prevent—his grandfather’s murder."
Hemlock & Silver By: T. Kingfisher, read by Jennifer Pickens for Macmillan -- "Healer Anja regularly drinks poison. Not to die, but to save—seeking cures for those everyone else has given up on. But a summons from the King interrupts her quiet, herb-obsessed life. His daughter, Snow, is dying, and he hopes Anja’s unorthodox methods can save her. Aided by a taciturn guard, a narcissistic cat, and a passion for the scientific method, Anja rushes to treat Snow, but nothing seems to work. That is, until she finds a secret world, hidden inside a magic mirror. This dark realm may hold the key to what is making Snow sick. Or it might be the thing that kills them all."
The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland By: Rachael Herron, read by Xe Sands for Grand Central -- "Beatrice Barnard doesn't believe in magic. She definitely doesn't believe the predictions of the celebrity psychic who claims that she will experience seven miracles...and soon after, she will die. When she discovers her husband is cheating on her, Bea flees to Skerry Island, off the Pacific Northwest coast, in desperate need of solitude. Immediately upon arrival, she finds her life on the line as a rogue woodchopper blade almost kills her. Her survival feels like a miracle. And then things get more miraculous when she discovers her twin sister, Cordelia, whom she never knew about, and her mother Astrid, who supposedly died when Beatrice was two years old. Astrid and Cordelia reveal that Beatrice is an immensely powerful witch who can commune with the dead, like all the local Holland family witches. When their twin magic is joined, it shines like a beacon to the Velamen family, whose malevolent spirits are locked in an age-old struggle for magical dominance over the Hollands."
The Unseen by Ania Ahlborn, read by a full cast for Simon and Schuster -- "Isla Hansen, a mother reeling from a devastating loss, is beside herself when a mysteriously orphaned child appears on the outskirts of the Hansens’ secluded Colorado property. Although strange and unexplainable, the child’s presence breathes new life into Isla. But as the child settles in, Isla’s husband, Luke, and their five children notice peculiarities that hint at something far beyond the ordinary—anomalies that challenge the very fabric of reality itself. The tension within the Hansen household grows, and with it, the sense that there is something very wrong with the new kid in the house."
The Late-Night Witches By: Auralee Wallace, read by Robyn Maryke for Penguin -- "Cassie Beckett’s life is anything but magical. With a wild younger sister, three unruly kids, and an absent husband, she’s really not looking forward to the witching month of October. At least the gorgeous, foggy Prince Edward Island is always quiet. That is, until the vampires arrive. As the creatures sink their teeth into Cassie’s tenuous grip on normalcy, she’s forced to come face-to-face with long-disregarded family secrets. The legacy gifts her with power, but also a lofty responsibility: rid the island of vampires, or let them win."
The Witch Roads By: Kate Elliott, read by Ella Lynch for Tantor -- "When an arrogant prince (and his equally arrogant entourage) gets stuck in Orledder Halt as part of brutal political intrigue, competent and sunny deputy courier Elen—once a child slave meant to shield noblemen from the poisonous Pall—is assigned to guide him through the hills to reach his destination. When she warns him not to enter the haunted Spires, the prince doesn't heed her advice, and the man who emerges from the towers isn't the same man who entered. The journey that follows is fraught with danger. Can a group taught to ignore and despise the lower classes survive with a mere deputy courier as their guide?"
The Once and Future Me: A Novel By: Melissa Pace, read by Xe Sands for Brilliance -- "Dark Matter meets Girl, Interrupted in this gripping psychological thriller about a young woman teetering on the edge of reality."
Eternity’s Blade By: William Collis, read by Brian Nishii for Blackstone -- "In the secluded paradise of the Valley, life is eternal. Guarded by unbreachable mists and ruled by a reclusive Emperor, this floating world of salt and lilies brims with beauty, ritual, and endless rebirth. And then prince Soh’shoro discovers his power to kill. Stolen from the courts, trained in martial and magical arts by enigmatic warrior monks, Soh’shoro is reborn as an assassin, ready to defend against the mythical Outside. But echoes of his lost mother and the ethereal allure of a doomed princess lead him on a path to discover the Valley’s dark secrets.... Now, as war dawns, Soh’shoro must decide: Is paradise worth protecting?"
Haze By: Katharine Kerr, read by Eric Michael Summerer for Tantor -- "Three thousand years in the future, a starship pilot battling addiction becomes the unexpected key to unraveling a mystery that threatens the very foundation of space travel. Haze transports listeners to a multi-alien society governed by the Rim Council, a loose republic of planets protected by the formidable military force known simply as The Fleet. Interstellar civilization hinges on the use of hyperspace "shunts" for travel, but alarming rumors suggest that this crucial system is under threat."
A Mother's Guide to the Apocalypse By: Hollie Overton, read by Eleanor Caudill for Redhook -- "A post-apocalyptic mystery exploring the unshakeable bond between mothers and daughters and the sacrifices we make for the people we love."
NON-FICTION WATCH:
Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Morris, read by Karen Murray for Harper -- "A magnificent cultural biography that charts the life of one of our greatest writers, situating her alongside the key historical and social moments that shaped her work."
Deadwood: Gold, Guns, and Greed in the American West by Peter Cozzens, read by Mark Bramhall for Books On Tape -- "The true story of the Black Hills gold rush settlement once described as “the most diabolical town on earth” and of its most colorful cast of characters, from Wild Bill Hickok to Calamity Jane to Al Swearingen and Sheriff Seth Bullock."
MORE FICTION:
Dominion: A Novel By: Addie E. Citchens, read by Andre Giles, Angel Pean, Bahni Turpin, and Dion Graham for Macmillan -- "Reverend Sabre Winfrey, Jr., shepherd of the Seven Seals Missionary Baptist Church, believes in God, his own privilege, and enterprise. He owns the barbershop and the radio station, and generally keeps an iron hand on every aspect of society in Dominion, Mississippi. He and his wife, Priscilla, have five boys; the youngest, Emanuel, is called Wonderboy—no one sings prettier, runs as fast, or turns as many heads. But Wonderboy, his father, and all the structures in place that keep them on top are not as righteous as they seem to be."
When the Cranes Fly South: A Novel by Lisa Ridzén, translated by Alice Menzies, read by Ifan Huw Dafydd for Books On Tape -- "A profoundly moving debut novel that follows an elderly man’s attempts to mend his relationship with his son before it’s too late: an emotional story of love, friendship, fatherhood, dogs, and atonement that is already an international sensation."
MORE SCI-FI, FANTASY, and HORROR:
The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas, read by Carolina Hoyos and Anthony Rey Perez for Penguin -- "In 1765, plague sweeps through Zacatecas. Alba flees with her wealthy merchant parents and fiancé, Carlos, to his family’s isolated mine for refuge. But safety proves fleeting as other dangers soon bare their teeth: Alba begins suffering from strange hallucinations, sleepwalking, and violent convulsions. She senses something cold lurking beneath her skin. Something angry. Something wrong. Elías, haunted by a troubled past, came to the New World to make his fortune and escape his family’s legacy of greed. Alba, as his cousin’s betrothed, is none of his business. Which is of course why he can’t help but notice the growing tension between them every time she enters the room…and why he notices her deteriorate when the demon’s thirst for blood gets stronger. In the fight for her life, Alba and Elías become entangled with the occult, the Church, long-kept secrets, and each other… not knowing that one of these things will spell their doom."
Needle and Bone by Tonya Mitchell, read by Kate Udall for Dreamscape -- "Philadelphia, 1841. Seventeen-year-old Annis Hargrave is running from a nightmare. She and her brother have fled New York, burdened by secrets, grief, and the cursed blue pearl that may have brought death in its wake. But the past refuses to stay buried. Offered work as a medical illustrator by the enigmatic Dr. Thomas Mütter, Annis enters a world of surgical marvels and grotesque beauty. There, amid bottled organs and broken bodies, she begins to rebuild her shattered life—until the ghost of the girl she couldn’t save begins to appear. And the man who killed her isn’t far behind."
BACKLIST WATCH:
Suder: A Novel By: Percival Everett (1983), read by JD Jackson for Tantor -- "It's the middle of the season and the third baseman for the Seattle Mariners, Craig Suder, is in the midst of an inescapable slump. On top of that, his wife has been keeping her distance and Suder can't shake the creeping fear that he might have inherited his mother's insanity. That's when his team suggests he might enjoy a little break."
Beside the Ocean of Time By: George Mackay Brown (1994), read by Amy Liptrot and Peter Forbes for Hachette -- "In this novel set on the fictitious island of Norday in the Orkneys, George Mackay Brown beckons us into the imaginary world of the young Thorfinn Ragnarson, the son of a crofter. In his day-dreams he relives the history of this island people, travelling back in time to join Viking adventurers at the court of the Byzantine Emperor in Constantinople, then accompanying a Falstaffian knight to the battle of Bannockburn. Thorfinn wakes to the twentieth century and a community whose way of life, steeped in legend and tradition, has remained unchanged for centuries. But as the boy grows up - and falls in love with a vivacious and mysterious stranger - the transforming effect of modern civilization brings momentous and irreversible changes to the island. During the Second World War Thorfinn finds himself in a German prisoner-of-war camp, and it is here that he discovers his gifts as a writer. Long afterwards he returns, now a successful novelist, to a deserted and battle-scarred island. Searching for the peace and freedom of mind he had in abundance as a child, he finds instead something he didn't even know he was looking for."
Conquerors’ Pride: The Conquerors Saga, Book 1 By: Timothy Zahn (1994), read by Derek Shoales for Tantor -- "A long era of peace and prosperity in the interstellar Commonwealth has suddenly come to an end. Four alien starships of unknown origin have attacked, without provocation, an eight-ship Peacemaker task force, utterly destroying it in six savage minutes. The authorities claim there were no survivors. But Lord Stewart Cavanaugh, a former member of Parliament, has learned through back channels that one man may have survived to be captured by the aliens: his son, Commander Pheylan Cavanaugh. A large-scale invasion appears imminent, and the strictest security measures are in effect...measures that Lord Cavanaugh has no choice but to defy."
Shipstar: Bowl of Heaven, Book 2 By: Larry Niven and Gregory Benford (2013), read by James R. Cheatham for Tantor -- "The dramatic sequel to Larry Niven and Gregory Benford's New York Times bestselling novel, Bowl of Heaven."
SERIES WATCH:
Corvus: Frontlines: Evolution, Book 2 By: Marko Kloos, read by Arielle DeLisle for Brilliance -- "When the aliens evolve, so does the threat against humanity in this thrilling sequel to Scorpio that finds Alex Archer in an epic battle of survival against the odds and the alien invaders."
The Dragon Wakes with Thunder: Night Ends with Fire, Book 2 By: K. X. Song, read by Natalie Naudus for Penguin -- "A young woman who wields the unimaginable power of the dragon must decide where her loyalties lie—and where her heart belongs—in this enthralling fantasy that reimagines the legend of Mulan."
The Last Soul Among Wolves: The Echo Archives, Book 2 By: Melissa Caruso, read by Moira Quirk for Orbit -- "All Kembral Thorne wants is to finish her maternity leave in peace. But when her best friend asks for help, she can’t say no, even if it means a visit to a run-down mansion on an isolated island for a will reading. She arrives to find an unexpected reunion of her childhood friends—plus her once-rival, now-girlfriend Rika Nonesuch, there on a mysterious job. Then the will is read, and everything goes sideways."
The Damned King: The Eidyn Saga, Book 3 By: Justin Lee Anderson, read by Justin Lee Anderson for Orbit -- "The eternal light keeping demons at bay has been extinguished and Eidyn’s last bastion is under brutal siege. Aranok and his allies draw the final battle lines as the war for the kingdom nears its end. With death threatening from every shadow and truth itself at stake, Eidyn’s defenders must put aside their grudges and come together. But is it possible to save everyone when some prefer the lie?"
Hatchet Girls: Hap and Leonard, Book 14 by Joe R. Lansdale, read by Christopher Ryan Brandt for Mulholland -- "Your next dose of pitch-black comedy, mystery, and mayhem has arrived as Hap and Leonard find themselves in a vicious and ridiculous situation—just as the best friends may finally be calling it quits."
INDIE WATCH:
The Man: City of Halos, Book 1 By: Kesava Anderson, read by Chris Monteiro for Podium -- "In the year 2055, a quarter-century after the last firearm-related homicide inside the once-peaceful SafeCities, the unthinkable occurs: the murder of the president of this sprawling metropolis."
Dot Slash Magic by Liz Shipton, read by Mary Pochatko for Tantor -- "What if you wrote a magic computer program? What if that magic computer program started summoning monsters?"
MOST MISSING:
- When Mothers Dream: Stories by Brenda Cooper (Fairwood Press) -- "Cooper celebrates the strength of the female in many guises: mother, daughter, engineer, biologist, and more. From a young dreamer who fights to protect the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales to two older women whose grandchildren are being raised by AIs to a future scientist who tries to keep the world safe from bioengineered creatures, When Mothers Dream explores the edges of what can be possible if we celebrate the strength of women."