By Sarah Ernestine, Rebecca Ramlakhan, Meg Jones, Genevieve Bernard, and Ellie Gibbs
Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe
October 5, Del Rey
Recently, there has been a demand in the book market for retellings of classic Greek mythology, re-envisioning both tales and characters. However, no one has done this this quite like Rachel Smythe. Her graphic novel, Lore Olympus: Volume One, will guide readers down into the underworld where the god Hades rules supreme. The story follows all the Olympus elite, including Persephone, goddess of Spring. Lore Olympus shows a unique blending of these well-known myths with the modern world, complete with limousines, cell phones and university classes. Smythe has established a readership for her retelling of Hades and Persephone via Webtoons, a digital platform for webcomics. Her colourful characters and compelling storyline take to the page this October before continuing to the screen in a confirmed future TV adaptation by Netflix. Now is the perfect time to grab a copy of Lore Olympus: Volume One and dive into the dangerous world of gods, mischief, politics and power.
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
October 5, Penguin Random House
Exhilarating, thrilling and suspenseful. Towles' third novel The Lincoln Highway is full of twists and turns. In this exciting new novel, Towles tells the story of eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson who is driven back home to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile work farm where he has just served fifteen months for involuntary manslaughter. Parentless and left solely to his own responsibilities, Emmett intends to pick up his younger brother Billy and move to California in hope of starting a new life. However, when the warden drives away, Emmett slowly comes to the realisation that two of his friends – the lively and vibrant Duchess and the solemn Woolly have conspired a plan that will take them all on a crucial journey that will impact all their lives. In the short time span of ten days and narrated from multiple viewpoints, Towles novel is full of self-discovery and misadventure.
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
October 7, Oneworld
After her sister’s brutal death, revenge is Zetian’s only concern. She joins the military service as a concubine and co-pilot to the male she holds responsible, willing to sacrifice her body and her life if necessary. Only the men of Huaxia are rewarded with fame in the alien war, but when Zetian returns from battle unharmed, she is crowned an Iron Widow. As the most feared pilot of all time, Zetain decides the death of a single male pilot isn’t enough. She must save more girls from their sacrificial service by taking down the patriarchal military system. Iron Widow combines sci-fi with East Asian mythology in this stunning retelling of China’s only female emperor, Wu Zetian. Xiran Jay Zhao’s debut novel marks the beginning of their new space opera series.
Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci
October 7, Fig Tree
The award-winning actor, and self-professed foodie Stanley Tucci brings us this charming and delicious memoir of his life both in and out of the kitchen.
Synonymous with films such as The Devil Wears Prada, The Hunger Games, and Julie & Julia, Tucci has become a household name known by many, but few recognise the gastronomical talent he also brings to the table (as well as making the perfect negroni). In his signature humour and wit, Tucci shares the magic of home-cooking through anecdotes and tales from his childhood growing up in an Italian-American family in New York, through to falling in love with his wife over dinner and every delectable story in between.
Taste reflects the ways in which life and food intersect, from the good times, as well as the bad, the gastronomical triumphs, to the burnt toast disasters, this book is an absolute feast and one we can’t wait to devour.
The Heartbreak Bakery by A. R. Capetta
October 12, Penguin Random House
The young adult genre is being treated to another rom-com, but this time it’s queer and features magical brownies. The story focuses on Syd, who is agender, therefore uses no pronouns. Syd bakes for a queer bakery, The Proud Muffin, but Syd’s brownies come with a twist: everyone who eats the brownies breaks up. Even the owners of the Proud Muffin. Insert Harley (he/they) – the bike delivery person, who believes Syd about the magical baking, which has caused heartbreak throughout the queer community in Austin. Harley also believes that Syd’s baking can fix things, one brownie at a time. The Heartbreak Bakery is sure to be a cute, cosy read for autumn and a love letter to the LGBTQ+ community.