By Rebecca Weigler, Charlotte Horsfield, Caitie Woolridge and Steph Carroll
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
18 January, Little, Brown
Following hot on the heels of the success and popularity of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies, Heather Fawcett returns to the magic and whimsy of the faerie realms, as Emily Wilde once again uses her knowledge of the Otherlands to help fellow scholar and exiled king Wendell Bambleby to return to his home.
Bursting with faerie folklore, a charming romance and plenty of exciting adventures, this next addition to the Emily Wilde series is just as enchanting as the first. Putting her expertise to good use, Emily conjures up a map of the realms of faerie, including where they might be able to find a door to get Wendell back. Together, they embark on a journey across the world to locate this hidden entrance to a world of Wendell’s past and present and, in doing so, discover more about the worlds of faeries as well as themselves.
The Wizard of the Kremlin by Guiliano da Empoli
18 January, Pushkin Press
One of the year’s most anticipated titles hit the bookshelves this January. Giuliano Da Empoli’s The Wizard of the Kremlin is a contemporary read that cleverly examines the inner workings of Vladimir Putin’s government machine by exploring the life’s work of Putin’s most significant spin doctor, who finds himself aptly referred to as “The Wizard of the Kremlin”. Vadim Baranov draws on his background in experimental theatre and reality television to effectively turn Russia into the avant-garde stage of the world.
Readers will find themselves immersed in a world where it seems impossible to separate fact from fiction or real news from propaganda. Vadim Baranov remains so close to Putin’s inner mind’s workings that, for readers, it will feel as if Putin is sitting next to them. However, Vadim begins to struggle as he becomes increasingly desperate to escape the authoritarian regime that he helped to create. The novel follows Vadim’s journey in Russian history, from the fall of the Soviet Union to the more recent invasion of Ukraine. The Wizard of the Kremlin will cast readers into Putin’s inner world. It is a title that everyone should be reading.
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
18 January, HarperVoyager
Author of The Final Strife, Saara El-Arifi, unleashes an epic sapphic romantasy to kick off 2024. Featuring enemies to lovers and drum magic, Faebound is full of sizzling fae romance and interesting magic systems.
Colonel in the elven army for a war that has caused unimaginable pain, Yeeran has always been surrounded by bloodshed. But when a routine patrol leads to the death of many soldiers, Yeeran is forced into exile from the Elven lands. Lettle, her sister, prefers to seek an end to the bloodshed through divination but follows Yeeran into exile in the wilderness beyond their home borders.
The sisters soon find themselves in the path of the forgotten fae and are dragged into the fae court, where danger and secrecy permeate the air.
As walls are broken down and hearts begin to trust, unknown forces plot in courts, meaning that Yeeran and Lettle will have to decide for themselves where their allegiance lies.
The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood
18 January, HQ Stories
Judith, Suzie and Becks, also known as the Marlowe Murder Club, are back and on the hunt for another killer after the Mayor of Marlow dies suddenly during a town council meeting. The police realise the poor mayor has been murdered after traces of the queen of poisons, aconite, are found in his coffee cup.
Without hesitation, the police bring on the three ladies of the Marlowe Murder Club as Civilian Advisors, allowing them free rein to interview suspects and follow their evidence wherever it may take them, which is perfect for “no-time-to-follow-rules” Judith.
But this case has the Marlowe Murder Club well and truly stumped. Not only do they need to find out who killed the mayor, but they also need to figure out how on earth the killer managed to get the poison into the coffee cup. They urgently need to determine if anyone else is in danger of suffering the same fate before it’s too late.
The third instalment of Thorogood’s cosy crime series will certainly keep you on your toes as you investigate alongside Judith, Suzie and Becks, and will have you laughing out loud as they try to solve their most challenging case yet.