Julie Leong is a Malaysian Chinese American fantasy author. Her debut novel, The Teller of Small Fortunes, is a cozy fantasy that will be published by Ace/Berkley (US), Hodderscape (UK), and Heyne (Germany) in November 2024.
The younger daughter of Malaysian Chinese immigrants, Julie grew up in Old Bridge, New Jersey and lived in Beijing, China as a teenager. Her experiences of being too Asian for suburban America and too American for China color her stories of identity and belonging. Julie graduated from Yale University with degrees in Economics and Political Science.
She lives in San Francisco, California with her husband and their spoiled rescue pup, Kaya. When she’s not writing, she enjoys making unnecessary spreadsheets and flambéing things. Find her on social media at JulieLeongBooks.
The Divine Gardener's Handbook (2026) Eli Snow "This book is pure Chaotic Good - queer, wildly imaginative plant-based hopepunk that you'll want to inject directly into your veins. A maniacally good time."
The Blue Moon Cafe & 24-Hour Occult Emporium (2026) Lexie Sharabianlou "Charming, whimsical, and endlessly kind . . . Lexie Sharabianlou has crafted a fun, fantastical world that is at once familiar and fresh, where farmers' markets and sapphic yearning coexist with mysterious jinn, the pantry's a portable pocket dimension, and . . . let's not talk about the jackalopes. Gilmore Girls and Charmed fans will be right at home! Don't forget snacks - this witty, delectable delight of a book will leave you emotionally sated, but hungry for more."
The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains (2026) Reena McCarty "A fresh, unexpected foray into the lands of Faerie, The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains is as funny and witty as it is enchanting. Poppy Hill is a first-class heroine-full of sharp edges and quiet resolve-and her journeys through modern bureaucracy and fantastical fae courts alike are utterly enthralling."
Thistlemarsh (2026) Moorea Corrigan "An entrancing, romantic adventure for those who like their fairytales with a tinge of history, and their heroines with gentle hearts. Thistlemarsh will make you wish for your very own inherited faerie manor to renovate."
The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale (2026) C M Waggoner "My favorite thing I've read all year. A fairy tale for everyone who'd rather wear sensible shoes than glass slippers... Witchy, witty, wise, and wonderful."
A Remedy for Fate (2026) M A Kuzniar "An enchanting, romantic tale - M.A. Kuzniar has crafted an atmospheric Prague where magic and mystery lurk behind every bridge, and simple bargains are not what they seem. I was as swept up by Thea's story of fate and family as I was by the Magic Quarter waiting to welcome in passersby from the cold."
Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore (2025) Emily Krempholtz "An enchanting blend of botany and banter, Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore brews romance, redemption, and a homicidal houseplant into an utterly irresistible potion. The perfect cozy fantasy for anyone who believes in second chances - prepare to fall under its leafy spell!"
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping (2025) Sangu Mandanna "Much like its enchanted inn, A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping welcomes in the weary reader with gentle charm and profound kindness. This book is a magical, heartfelt tale that leaves you feeling just a little bit more whole."
Wearing the Lion (2025) John Wiswell "Wise, weird, and wonderful - in short, Wiswellian. Wearing the Lion is the story of Hera and Heracles as it's never before been told. An effortless blend of wicked humor, raw pathos, and monsters who aren't at all what they seem; I was utterly engrossed from start to end."
Death on the Caldera (2025) Emily Paxman "Bursting with rich characters and explosive intrigue (literally), Death on the Caldera produces a rare alchemy in its blend of magic, murder, and mystery. A smart, thrilling debut!"
Behooved (2025) M Stevenson "Behooved is a refreshing, enchanting journey of self-discovery - but also, for the horse girls in all of us, a witty romp of a fairy tale romance that will have readers chomping at the bit."
The Serpent Called Mercy (2025) Roanne Lau "As sharp as a speartip against your jugular, The Serpent Called Mercy is a heart-stopping battlecry of a debut. Lau's world of underground monster fights, gritty ambition, and all-too-real inequality sucks you in and won't let go. Epic and deeply satisfying."
Greenteeth (2025) Molly O'Neill "Refreshing, thoroughly compelling, and nostalgic in the best ways, Greenteeth is an enchanting fairytale with fangs. I've never identified with a swamp monster more."
The Outcast Mage (2025) (Shattered Lands , book 1) Annabel Campbell "With stakes as high as the glittering glass towers of Amoria, The Outcast Mage is a strong, pathos-filled start to an epic new fantasy series. Fans of political maneuvering, powerful magic, and found family will find much to love."
The Great Library of Tomorrow (2024) (Tomorrowland, book 1) Rosalia Aguilar Solace "Exuberant and inventive, The Great Library of Tomorrow is an epic, worlds-spanning adventure that is too full of heart to have any room for cynicism. A joyous paean to the power of stories."
Sorcery and Small Magics (2024) (Wildersongs Trilogy, book 1) Maiga Doocy "With a vibrantly imagined world and characters that leap off the page, Sorcery and Small Magics positively sparkles with wit and charm. It's a light-hearted tale of friendship, forgiveness, magic and love. Much like Doocy's opposites-attract heroes, Leo and Grimm, this book sings, leaving you spellbound and wanting more."
The Gods Below (2024) (Hollow Covenant, book 1) Andrea Stewart "The Gods Below is a propulsive epic fantasy that holds a blade to your throat and dares you not to breathe. Breathtakingly ambitious and richly realized, it's a complex tale of survivors fighting for freedom and forgiveness in a broken, twisted world -- one where gods are hunted, monsters are real, and magic and secrets glitter like gems beneath the surface. A thrilling, ferocious start to a new trilogy."
The Phoenix Keeper (2024) S A MacLean "Delightfully inventive and charming, The Phoenix Keeper is a sweet sapphic romance set in the most magical zoo you can imagine. MacLean's empathy for all living things - from vanishing ducks and endangered phoenixes, to endearingly awkward zookeepers and their crushes - shines through in every word. I couldn't stop smiling the whole way through. Sign me up for a lifetime membership to the San Tamculo Zoo, please!"
The Wings Upon Her Back (2024) Samantha Mills "A fierce, aching battle cry of a book, both cinematically epic and painfully intimate. Mills has crafted a striking world of sleeping gods, disillusioned revolutionaries, and metal wings-and from it, she wrenches equal amounts of love and pain."
