Book Releases: Fantasy (January to June 2022)

It’s a new year and, since the number of book releases we know about per month is just tipping into unwieldy (June alone last year had 150 books to add to the post, not to mention the 50+ more we found later), we’ve decided to change up the way we’re doing releases posts. We started organising releases posts by genre around halfway through last year, so we’re sticking with that here. The major difference? Each genre gets its own post, which will eventually cover a period of 6 months. So, like with our various other releases posts (although those go up all at once, whereas here we’ll add each month), these are more easily edited and added to! Which means, even if we miss a book, we can better come back and add it to the post. A win for everyone!

In this post, you’ll find the collection of fantasy books that we know about from January to June of 2022!

Looking for the other posts?

Contemporary | Historical | Mystery/Thriller | Nonfiction | Paranormal/Horror | Poetry | Science Fiction

Looking for July to December?

Contemporary | Fantasy | Historical | Mystery/Thriller | Nonfiction | Paranormal/Horror | Poetry | Science Fiction

JANUARY

Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire (lgbt cast)
🌈 Cinder the Fireplace Boy and Other Gayly Grimm Tales by Ana Mardoll (lgbt cast)
🌈 The Burning Swift by Joseph Elliott (gay mc with anxiety, gay side character; cw anxiety, violence, death, internalised homophobia, sexism, misogyny, ritualistic self-harm)
The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman (Indian cast, gay mc, lesbian side characters)
🌈 A Betrayal of Storms by Ben Alderson (m/m)

🌈 The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder (f/f)
The Lock Eater by Zack Loran-Clark (sapphic mc?)
Beyond the End of the World by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner (f/f parents, bi mc, polyamory)
Coming Back by Jessi Zabarsky (f/f)
All Daughters Rise by Alysa Auriemma (lesbian mcs, f/f)

🌈 Into the Midnight Void by Mara Fitzgerald (lesbian mc)
🌈 Some by Virtue Fall by Alexandra Rowland (lesbian cast)
🌈 Night Tricks by Richard Amos (m/m)
Tracking Trouble by Aldrea Alien (m/m)
🌈 Elixir: Stories of Hope and Healing ed. by Elizabeth Jeannel (lgbt cast)

🌈 Winter’s Dawn by Arden Powell (nonbinaryb mc, m/nb)
🌈 Death of the Day by Imogen Markwell-Tweed (m/m)
Kissed the Mark by Lila Gwynn (f/f)
Electric Idol by Katee Roberts (bi/pan mcs, m/f)
The Croaking, Volume 1 by Megan Grey (m/m)

The Magic Shell by Jillian Christmas & Diana G. A. Mungaray (Black nonbinary mc)
🌈 Tower and Well by Ari Achill (gay mc, pan mc, m/m, side polyam)
Quantum of Nightmares by Charles Stross (lgbt cast)
The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling (bi mc, f/m)

FEBRUARY

🌈 Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms by Jamar J. Perry (Black achillean mc)
Blood Bound by Courtney Maguire (m/m relationship)
Luck Lines by Quinn Tollens (lesbian mc, f/f relationship)
Enchanted Autumn by Ursula Klein (f/f relationship)
🌈 Base Notes by Lara Elena Donnelly (pan nonbinary mc)

The Daughter of Light and Fire by Ashani Knight (bi poc female mc, f/f relationship, f/m relationship)
🌈 Magical Boy by The Kao (trans mc, lesbian side characters, gay side character)
🌈 Real Hero Shit by Kendra Wells (pan polyam mc, poc nonbinary mc, gay mc)
🌈 Fire Becomes Her by Rosiee Thor (aro bi mc, nonbinary ace character, aroace character)
Good Neighbors by Stephanie Burgis (m/m relationship, past f/f relationship)

The Gifts That Bind Us by Caroline O’Donoghue (sapphic mc, bi genderfluid li, biracial Filipino Irish sapphic side character) tw transphobia, homophobia, self harm
The Alpha’s Son by Penny Jessup (m/m relationship)
🌈 The Magic Between by Stephanie Hoyt (bi mc, m/m relationship)
🌈 Oak King Holly King by Sebastian Nothwell (gay mcs, m/m relationship, lesbian & trans characters)
Moon Witch, Spider King by Marlon James (m/m relationship)

🌈 Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi (Black trans girl mc with selective mutism)
Heaven Official’s Blessing, vol. 2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (m/m relationship)
🌈 Errant, vol. 1 by L.K. Fleet (short stories; bi female mc)
The Boy with a Bird in his Chest by Emme Lund (gay mc)
🌈 The Thousand Eyes by A. K. Larkwood (f/f relationship, m/m relationship)

The Mapmakers by Tamzin Merchant (side m/m relationship)
🌈 Princess Ever After by Connie Glynn (f/f relationship)
City of Deceit by Claudie Arseneault (aro & ace mcs, lgbt cast)
🌈 The Wall by Sarah Jane Singer (bi mc, lgbt side characters)
🌈 Rockstar & Softboy by Sina Grace (gay mcs)

Scorpica by G.R. Macallister (sapphic mcs, pan female mc)
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree (f/f relationship)
🌈 From Dust, a Flame by Rebecca Podos (Jewish bi mc, f/f relationship, Jewish gay character)
The Heartbeat of a Million Dreams by Halo Scot (f/f relationship)
🌈 The Mountain God Sleeps On Its Back by Sam Farren (lesbian mc)

The Lowest Healer and the Highest Mage by Hiyodori (f/f relationship)
🌈 Witchy, Volume 2 by Ariel Slamet Ries (trans characters)
Alice in Leatherland by Iolanda Zanfardino & Elisa Romboli (Black sapphic mc)

MARCH

🌈 The Savior’s Rise by Talli Morgan (nonbinary bi mc, gay demi mc, nb/m relationship, pan aro mc, pan genderqueer mc)
🌈 Stone Heart by Katee Robert (lesbian mc, bi li, f/f relationship)
The River of Silver by S. A. Chakraborty (bi mc, gay mc, sapphic mc)
🌈 Xenocultivars: Stories of Queer Growth ed. by Isabela Oliveira & Jed Sabin (lgbt cast)
🌈 The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery (m/m parents)

SongBroken by Heather Osborne (nonbinary mcs)
🌈 Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore (nonbinary mcs)
🌈 The Circus Infinite by Khan Wong (pan ace mc, lgbt cast)
🌈 Wynd, Book Two: Secret of the Wings by James Tynion IV & Michael Dialynas (achillean mc)
Pennyblade by J. L. Worrad (lesbian mc)

🌈 My Curse to Break by Kima Blaze (bi mc)
The City of Dusk by Tara Sim (bi mc, f/m, lesbian mc, f/f, bi mc, m/m)
🌈 The Shadow Glass by Josh Winning (gay characters, sapphic characters)
🌈 Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May (lesbian mc, nonbinary lesbian mc, f/nb relationship, bi side character)
🌈 So This Is Ever After by F. T. Lukens (bi mc, m/m relationship)

🌈 Prince of the Sorrows by Kellen Graves (m/m relationship)
🌈 Master of Restless Shadows: Book Two by Ginn Hale (gay mcs, bi mc)
Bones to the Wind by Tatiana Obey (lgbt characters)
Tales of a Sea Monster by Lou Wilham (f/f relationship)
🌈 Errant, vol. 2 by L.K. Fleet (short stories; bi mc, f/f relationship)

The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout (bi mc, polyamory)

APRIL

🌈 Undergrounder by J.E. Glass (f/f relationship)
The Witch Queen’s Mate by Jennifer Karter (f/f relationship)
The Bladed Faith by David Dalglish (f/f relationship)
🌈 Shatterstorm by Erinn Harper (nonbinary mc)
Rabbit Chase by Elizabeth LaPensée & KC Oster (Anishinaabe nonbinary mc)

🌈 In a Garden Burning Gold by Rory Power (bi mc) *
Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality by Roshani Chokshi (bi character)
Saint Death’s Daughter by C.S.E. Cooney (sapphic mc, nonbinary li)
🌈 Sisters of Moonlight by Katherine Livesey (f/f relationship)
🌈 The Secrets of the Stormforest by LD Lapinski (sapphic mc, nonbinary character, trans character)

Omens Bite by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast (lesbian mc)
🌈 Sofi and the Bone Song by Adrienne Tooley (f/f relationship, ov)
The Scum Villain’s Self-saving System, vol. 2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (m/m relationship)
🌈 Spear by Nicola Griffith (sapphic mc)
Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse (bi mc, lgbt characters)

Mamo by Sas Milledge (sapphic mc, Filipino sapphic mc)
The Discord of Gods by Jenn Lyon (bi mc, lgbt characters)
🌈 The Book of Azrael by Amber Nicole (bi mc, f/m relationship)
A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey (m/m relationship)
The Language of Roses by Heather Rose Jones (aro mc, side f/f relationship)

🌈 The Drowning Summer by Christine Lynn Herman (bi mc, f/f relationship)*
An Affinity for Burning by Alex Nonymous (f/f relationship)
🌈 The Damning Stone by T. J. Klune (m/m relationship)
Of Evil and Angels by Steaphan Kay (sapphic mc)
🌈 Errant, vol. 3 by Felicia Davin, K. R. Collins & Valentine Wheeler (bi mc)

The Princess’s Pet by J. K. Jeffrey (f/f relationship)
We Who Hunt the Hollow by Kate Murray (bi mc, past f/f relationship)

MAY

Mighty Red Riding Hood by Wallace West (achillean mc)
Persephone’s Mare by Iza Moreau (lesbian mc, f/f relationship)
Barnabas Bopwright Saves the City by J. Marshall Freeman (bi mc, trans character, parents, lgbt side characters)
Unbroken by Alli Temple (f/f relationship)
🌈 The Lights of Ystrac’s Wood by Alexandra Rowland (lgbt cast)

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill (sapphic mc)
Jestin Kase and the Masters of Dragon Metal by J. Michael White (gay mc)
I Dreamt of Flight by Kae Strouse (gay mc, achillean li, m/m relationship, genderfluid side character)
🌈 Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao (achillean mc)
🌈 Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches by Kate Scelsa (f/f relationship)

🌈 An Unreliable Magic by Rin Chupeco (gay character, nonbinary character)
Cinderelliot by Mark Ceilley, Rachel Smoka-Richardson & Stephanie Laberis (m/m relationship)
By Pain of Death by Suzanne Clay (queer mc, queer trans mc, m/m relationship)
🌈 A Pinky Promise by Eule Grey (f/f relationship)
🌈 A Kingdom of Lies by Ben Alderson (m/m relationship)

🌈 Misrule by Heather Walter (f/f relationship)
🌈 Siren Queen by Nghi Vo (sapphic mc, f/f relationship)
The Torn Earth by Rory Michaelson (lgbt cast)
🌈 Uncommon Charm by Kat Weaver & Emily Bergslien (lesbian mc, gay side character)
Grandmaster Of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi, vol. 2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (m/m relationship)

🌈 The Hourglass Throne by K. D. Edwards (m/m relationship)
🌈 From Bad to Cursed by Lana Harper (bi mc, f/m relationship)
Spark by Elizabeth Tybush (bi mc, pan mc, m/m relationship)
🌈 A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth (lesbian mc with depression, pan mc, bi mc, gay mc)
🌈 The Fae Keeper by H. E. Edgmon (trans gay mc, Black achillean li, m/m relationship, Native American bi ace side character, lgbt side characters)

🌈 Out of the Blue by Jason June (genderqueer mc, gay mc, gq/m relationship)
Deep in Providence by Riss M. Neilson (sapphic mc)
The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna (sapphic side relationship, trans side characters)
ElfQuest: Stargazer’s Hunt, vol. 2 by Wendy Pini, Richard Pini & Sonny Strait (lgbt characters)
Perception Check by Astrid Knight (lgbt characters)

Mastery by Alethea Faust (pan mc)
Something Between Us by D. T. Brandt (m/m relationship)
🌈 The Flying Mermaid by Eule Grey (f/f relationship)
🌈 Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson (sapphic mc, lgbt characters)
To Hold a Flower by Caroline Sophia Hamel (f/f relationship)

The Well by Jake Wyatt & Choo (sapphic mc)
🌈 Rise of the School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani (gay mcs)

JUNE

A Touch of Purple by Nita Round (lesbian mcs)
The Marvellous Doctors for Magical Creatures by Jodie Lancet-Grant & Lydia Corry (m/m relationship parents)
A Fox in Shadow by Jane Fletcher (f/f relationship)
Wicked Beauty by Katee Roberts (bi/pan mcs, m/m relationship/f)
🌈 Odder Still by D. N. Bryn (trans bi li, m/m relationship)

🌈 We All Fall Down by Rose Szabo (two lesbian mcs, trans & bi characters)
The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison (gay mc)
A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow (bi mc, f/f relationship)
🌈 A Song of Silver and Gold by Melissa Karibian (f/f relationship)
🌈 This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron (Black bi mc, sapphic parents)

The Sea Knows My Name by Laura Brooke Robson (bi li, f/m relationship) tw sexual assault
The Dawnhounds by Sascha Stronach (f/f relationship)
The Grace of Sorcerers by Maria Ying (f/f relationship, f/f/f relationship, trans character)
The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings (trans mc)
🌈 The Godbreaker by Mike Brooks (m/m relationship, lgbt characters)

Locklands by Robert Jackson Bennett (f/f relationship)
A Penchant for Growth by Alex Nonymous (f/f relationship)
The Final Strife by Saara el-Arifi (African & Arab coded cast & setting, bi/pan mc, sapphic mc) tw gore, violence, child abuse
A Midnight Dark and Golden by Holly Race (gay mc)
🌈 Of Charms, Ghosts and Grievances by Aliette de Bodard (Vietnamese bi mc, gay mc, m/m relationship)

Like Silk Breathing by Camille Duplessis (m/m relationship)
The Origin of Storms by Elizabeth Bear (trans mc, bi mc)
🌈 Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald (bi mc)
🌈 Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane (bi trans mc, f/m relationship, m/m relationship, bi side characters)
Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, Daniel Sousa (mahu mcs/third gender mcs)

🌈 Game of Strength and Storm by Rachel Menard (f/f relationship)
🌈 Copper Throne by Emma Sterner-Radley (sapphic mc, achillean mc)
Snow White by Jeanette Rose & Alice Callisto (f/f relationship)
🌈 The Last Session Vol. 1: Roll for Initiative by Jasmine Walls, Michael Moccio, Dozerdraws (lgbt cast)
Dark Earth by Rebecca Stott (f/f relationship)

The Reverse Healer Case Files by Hiyodori (f/f relationship)
Meliora by Talli L. Morgan (nonbinary mc, trans li, nb/m relationship)

* Please note that Rory Power & Christine Lynn Herman have history of bullying authors of colour (together with Emily A. Duncan).

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