Lessons in Magic and Disaster is giving intergenerational trauma and a complicated mother-child relationship. It's getting solid 4+ star reviews on the apps. I like to see a queer adult fantasy that delves into academia without the high-school antics and cutthroat shenanigans.

Described as a heartfelt, magical novel about family, identity, and healing, the story follows Jamie, a queer grad student and secretly powerful witch, who’s juggling academic life and personal trauma while helping her reclusive mother, Serena, learn magic. As old secrets resurface and Serena’s grief takes a dangerous turn, Jamie must unravel the mystery behind a centuries-old magical text—and save both her mother and herself from disaster. Blending emotional depth with whimsy and wonder, it’s a story of love, legacy, and the messiness of magic.

The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas is a gripping historical horror novel set in 1765 Mexico, where plague drives young Alba and her family to a remote silver mine for safety—only to awaken something far more terrifying. As Alba suffers from disturbing symptoms that hint at demonic possession, she must rely on Elías, a man with a dark past and forbidden feelings, to help uncover the truth. Caught between the occult, the Church, and dangerous secrets, Alba and Elías must fight for her soul—even as desire and doom close in. Atmospheric, suspenseful, and richly woven with gothic tension.

I read Cañas' previous novel, The Vampires of El Norte, and it fell flat for me. However, The Possession of Alba Díaz is getting better reviews, so I'm likely to try again and see how I feel. It's promising a slow-burn romance, which I love.

The Art of Legend is the epic, action-packed conclusion to Wesley Chu’s War Arts Saga, where destiny takes a backseat to grit, growth, and found family. Jian, once a failed prophesied hero, has carved his own path with the help of his sharp-tongued mentor, Taishi. As war looms and whispers of the Eternal Khan’s return spread, Jian joins forces with an unlikely crew: a fierce warrior defying tradition, an assassin with a hidden heart, and a council of aging but deadly grandmasters. In a world where legends aren’t born but made, this final chapter celebrates resilience, camaraderie, and the power of choosing your own story.

At a whopping 704 pages, you're getting two books in one here. Though I haven't read earlier books in the series, it seems like a fantastic story of underdogs and found family.

When Mothers Dream by Brenda Cooper is a powerful and poetic collection of speculative stories and poems that centers the strength, resilience, and imagination of women. From mothers and daughters to scientists and dreamers, each tale explores how women shape the future—whether battling ecological collapse, navigating AI-driven parenting, or confronting bioengineered threats. Blending science fiction, fantasy, and a fierce sense of hope, Cooper crafts a vision where courage and compassion drive change. Both urgent and uplifting, this collection is a tribute to the many ways women fight for a better world.

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang is a darkly academic fantasy about ambition, guilt, and the descent—literal and metaphorical—for power and redemption.

After a catastrophic magical accident claims the life of her mentor, Professor Jacob Grimes, prodigious and obsessively driven magician Alice Law decides to follow him into Hell. Not out of grief, but necessity—his posthumous recommendation could determine her entire future. Unfortunately, she’s not the only one with that idea. Peter Murdoch, her longtime rival, is also making the journey.

Armed with ancient myths, Magickal chalk, and a dangerous amount of determination, the two must navigate a hellscape that refuses to play by the rules of Dante or Orpheus. As they confront the demons of the underworld—and of their past—they begin to realize that survival may depend on something rarer than talent: trust.

A sharp blend of academic satire, mythological adventure, and emotional reckoning, Katabasis asks: how far would you go to succeed—and who would you become on the way down?

Yay, we have a science fiction book this month, and a young adult science fiction at that. It's part of a series, so check out all the titles.

Starkstrike is the high-octane sequel to Moonstorm, following teen mecha pilot Hwa Young as she joins rebel forces after turning against the Empire. As she battles enemy forces and navigates shifting alliances, Hwa Young must confront hard truths about loyalty, betrayal, and the cost of rebellion—especially when her closest friendship is pushed to the brink. Packed with political intrigue, explosive action, and emotional stakes, Starkstrike is perfect for fans of Iron Widow and Skyward.

Mad Sisters of Esi is a dazzling, genre-defying fantasy that blends myth, memory, and metafiction in a cosmic tale of sisterhood and storytelling. When Myung flees the surreal whale of babel she once called home, she embarks on a journey through strange universes, haunted by folktales and the mystery of her bond with her sister, Laleh. Lyrical and mind-bending, Tashan Mehta’s novel explores the power of belief and the stories we cling to—perfect for fans of Piranesi and If On a Winter's Night a Traveler.

I have absolutely no idea what is going on with this story. It sounds like an intriguing fever dream. Piranesi is one of my favorite books, so it's going on my TBR.

And another science fiction story! I love novellas. They're great to read between longer books and help me through reading slumps.

Automatic Noodle is a warm and witty near-future novella about a group of reactivated robots who open a noodle shop in post-war San Francisco. As their hand-pulled noodles win human hearts, a wave of suspicious bad reviews threatens their newfound purpose. Blending cozy sci-fi with sharp social commentary, Annalee Newitz serves up a heartfelt story of community, resilience, and the healing power of good food.

Lucky Day is a sharp, mind-bending thriller from Chuck Tingle, where luck isn’t just real—it’s deadly. Years after a freak disaster killed millions in bizarre, improbable ways, former statistics professor Vera is pulled into a strange investigation involving a suspiciously lucky casino and a world teetering on the edge of chaos. Darkly funny, unsettling, and full of heart, Lucky Day is a genre-defying exploration of grief, chance, and what happens when the laws of probability break down.

I see Chuck Tingle all the time, but I have yet to read one of his books. He's a mysterious figure, always wearing a pink mask to hide his identity. That's some weird shit I can get behind.