Samantha Shannon was born in west London in 1991. She started writing at the age of fifteen. Between 2010 and 2013 she studied English Language and Literature at St Anne's College, Oxford. In 2012 the Women of the Future Awards shortlisted her for The Young Star Award. The Bone Season is her first novel and has been sold in twenty-one countries.
The Rainshadow Orphans (2026) (Rainshadow Orphans Trilogy, book 1) Naomi Ishiguro "A perfect fusion of cyberpunk and fantasy, this electric debut, packed with memorable characters, will keep your heart pumping all the way through. The world is richly detailed, the stakes are high as a dragon flies, and the pace is addictive. Pick it up now."
Andromeda (2026) E S McLeod "In this passionate reclaiming of a woman consigned to the margins of mythology, told with the grace of a gifted poet, McLeod not only instils Andromeda with agency and spirit, but renders her journey in prose as powerful, mercurial, and swift-flowing as the Nile. This is a hymn to women - women dismissed as monsters and damsels, who hunger for more than what the world has offered. It is a love story and a coming of age, and it is imperative that you read it."
Strange Buildings (2026) (Strange ) Uketsu "I'm hooked on these chilling and twisted mysteries. Give me everything Uketsu writes - I'll read it in a single day, and I will not be accepting interruptions."
Cleopatra (2026) Saara El-Arifi "An extraordinary achievement that raises Cleopatra from the sands of time and liberates her from the judgment of men, granting her dignity and humanity."
I, Medusa (2025) Ayana Gray "Deeply relevant to both the ancient and the modern worlds, I, Medusa packs a punch as hard as stone - yet still leaves room for the fragile joys of the mortal condition."
The Maiden and Her Monster (2025) Maddie Martinez "Beautifully written and bursting with detail, The Maiden and Her Monster is a dark, atmospheric and riveting debut, wreathed around a love story like no other."
A Song to Drown Rivers (2024) Ann Liang "Ann Liang has fashioned an elegant historical epic, honouring the ingenuity of women in the face of impossible odds. With impeccable pacing, evocative prose, and a romance that had my heart in a vice, A Song to Drown Rivers will call you onward, page by page, until you reach its devastating end."
The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands (2024) Sarah Brooks "A journey both unnerving and powerful, which thunders along at breathtaking speed, abounding with mysteries and marvels. Be warned - once you step into The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands, you'll never want to disembark."
You Could Be So Pretty (2023) Holly Bourne "Holly Bourne is a vital feminist voice of our generation - a voice resolved to break the dangerous silences around sexism. Her writing peels the varnish off patriarchy, celebrates the power of female solidarity and friendship, and bears witness to both the pain and the joy of being a woman in the modern world."
Mindbreaker (2023) Kate Dylan "Witty dialogue, compelling themes, tense action, a determined protagonist - Dylan has taken all these, soaked them in neon, and shaken them into a dystopian thriller that fizzes with energy and rebellion."
Bitterthorn (2023) Kat Dunn "Kat Dunn has spun a love story both intimate and epic. Bitterthorn is a perfect fireside tale, thick with suspense, yearning, and wild beauty - I loved every moment of reading it."
Lucha of the Night Forest (2023) (Lucha) Tehlor Kay Mejia "A gripping journey into the unknown, rooted in sisterhood, steeped in ancient peril, and sown with romance."
Godkiller (2023) (Fallen Gods , book 1) Hannah Kaner "GODKILLER will have you in its grasp from the first pages."
Juniper & Thorn (2022) Ava Reid "In this baroque Grimm retelling, Reid proves again that theirs is a powerful and essential voice. Through Marlinchen - a layered and unforgettable heroine, brought to life with immense compassion - she tells a tale of fear and survival, hope and yearning and defiance, in timelessly elegant prose. It will enchant you, break your heart, and chill you to the very marrow."
Her Majesty's Royal Coven (2022) (HMRC Trilogy, book 1) Juno Dawson "Juno Dawson is at the top of her game in this vibrant and meticulous take on witchcraft. Her characteristic wit and grit shine through."
How High We Go in the Dark (2022) Sequoia Nagamatsu "Wonderful and disquieting, dreamlike and all too possible. [How High We Go in the Dark] reaches far beyond our stars while its heart remains rooted to Earth, and reminds us that our wellbeing depends on the wellbeing of our world."
Green Rising (2021) Wren James "Lauren James isn’t just headed for the stars – she’s already there."
Blackheart Knights (2021) (Blackheart) Laure Eve "King Arthur as you've never seen him before. Eve doesn't just capture lightning, but commands it, in a riveting tragedy of blood and desire. A masterwork of urban fantasy - and the coolest thing you'll read this year."
Witches Steeped in Gold (2021) (Witches Steeped in Gold, book 1) Ciannon Smart "Aglow with detail, Witches Steeped in Gold is a thundering waterfall of magic, vengeance and intrigue. Smart spirits the reader straight to the heart of a vivid and perilous world, where power rests in the hands of women and fate turns on the bonds they break and forge."
House of Hollow (2021) Krystal Sutherland "In House of Hollow, Krystal Sutherland turns her razor-sharp imagination to new horizons and proves, once again, that words blossom at her command. This story will steal up your spine, slip beneath your skin, and stick to you like honey."
Dragon Mountain (2020) (Dragon Realm , book 1) Katie Tsang and Kevin Tsang "DRAGON MOUNTAIN is a joy to read – adventurous and enchanting, with a heart of gold. It will make you re-live the moment you first looked at the sky and longed to see a dragon looking back."
Blood Moon (2020) Lucy Cuthew "With every verse of her debut, Cuthew shouts down the shame, chips away at the period taboo, and firmly establishes herself as a bold and vital new voice in feminist literature."
Queen of Coin and Whispers (2020) (Queen of Coin and Whispers, book 1) Helen Corcoran "Elegant and clever ... a treasure chest of a fantasy debut, as rich in well-drawn characters as it is in treachery, secrets and desire ... I couldn't stop reading."
The Girl King (2019) (Girl King, book 1) Mimi Yu "Everything I want in a high fantasy. Yu draws fluently from history to create an exquisite world, brings it to life with gorgeous and atmospheric prose, and populates it with fascinating characters. . . I can't wait to see what this very talented author does next."
The Boneless Mercies (2018) April Genevieve Tucholke "Ruthless and lyrical, heart-warming and blood-chilling, and beautifully redolent of ancient tales and history. It will sing to a new generation of heroes."
The Wren Hunt (2018) (Wren Hunt, book 1) Mary Watson "The Wren Hunt rings with ancient, subtle magic, masterfully transmuted into words. A tale that gets into your bones."
The Belles (2017) (Belles , book 1) Dhonielle Clayton "Sumptuous and original worldbuilding, heart-pounding plot and gorgeous prose."
Dark Made Dawn (2016) (Australia , book 3) J P Smythe "A truly chilling and ruthless world, brilliantly realised."
False Hearts (2016) (Pacifica, book 1) Laura Lam "Just fantastic. Rarely have I torn through a book so quickly. Dark, smart, fast-paced and sexy."
(b.1991)
