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The novel Wickhills follows Ferec, an experienced secret agent with an encyclopedic knowledge of his home city, the titular Wickhills. His job is a dangerous one, but one he’s good at and well suited to. But when his handler involves Ferec in a clandestine smuggling case, things begin to unravel quickly. Ferec has always prided himself on his observation and independence, his skills as a field agent, but as his latest case progresses it becomes clear that all his training, connections, and suspicions may not be enough. In this interview Mohamed describes her growing interest in spy fiction and its influence on the novel. We discuss the history of cities, which sources are and aren’t remembered, and creative novel structures. We also chat about the use of different fantasy creatures in the novel, the differences between different spy networks, and the fine line between technology and magic in fantasy. Wickhills is a rich, layered novel full of wonder and violence. It is a thoughtful meditation on the nature of espionage and an interesting examination of a weird and magical city. It was so much fun getting to discuss it with the author. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea saga has enchanted generations of readers and stands as a foundational classic of the fantasy genre. To mark publication of the definitive Library of America edition, acclaimed writers Karen Joy Fowler and Nghi Vo join volume editor Brian Attebery to kick off the fall LOA LIVE season with a fascinating plunge into these beloved novels of magic, dragons, nature, naming, and identity. LOA associate editor Stefanie Peters moderates. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Song of Legends Lost (Saga Press, 2025) is the first, highly praised instalment in the Invoker Series. Set in a world offering an unique combination of an African inspired culture and a fallen tech-based empire at war, the novel feels at once epic and deeply personal. M. H. Ayinde deftly creates an entire, well-imagined society with a minimum of distracting exposition. Her clear prose and astute characterization leave the reader intrigued but never confused. Onto the story itself—it begins with two protagonists from very different backgrounds who find themselves involved in momentous events. Both are overwhelmed by the unexpected powers they now wield. Jinao, a noble who has failed repeatedly to magically bond with an ancestor, suddenly succeeds, but continues to be plagued by indecision. Temi, a baker from the slums of Nine Lords, hosts a mysterious presence after she is cursed by a witch. From the initial setup, the book widens in scope, introducing a traumatized captain — Elari, a ruthless monk — Boleo, and a penniless girl — Runt. The world of the Nine Lands, ruled over by the royal Ahiki Clan, who have fought the tech creatures they call grey bloods for generations, has enough war for all of them. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/fantasy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Eye of Leviathan (Orbit, 2026) begins with a deal between Teresa—wife of an abusive Hidalgo living in 1500s Spain—and her friend the fairy Castaña, who agrees to become a changeling, taking the form of an infant boy and the place of Teresa’s daughter, who will instead be raised by fairies. Teresa gets protection for a child that would otherwise be killed and Castaña, now Estevan, gets access to the human world, where he can hopefully learn enough to stop the increasing violence against his people. The Eye of Leviathan imagines a world where Spain focuses not on the Americas as its primary target for colonization, but on the Sea Beyond, the realm of the fae. In this interview Carrick describes the myriad of historical sources they used to build the novel and the impact that the inclusion of the fae had on the mythology and history of the world. We chat about map making, gender in early modern Spain, and the various islands of the Sea Beyond. We also discuss the initial European discovery of the Sea Beyond, which is covered in a prequel story available to read at Adventitious. The Eye of Leviathan is a rich and detailed novel full of adventure and the struggle towards justice in the face of violent cruelty. It was a joy to discuss with the authors. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/fantasy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with David Ly about his novel, Not All Dragons (Wolsak & Wynn, 2026). What is it that you are, Rhys? In a land of magic and myth, Rhys awakens on the shore of Lanilia with mysterious wounds on his back and no memory of his life before. Disoriented, he stumbles on the Mernese estuary protected by the mermaid Delia, who is quickly intrigued by this male who doesn't smell like any Lanilian she's ever met and who is unable to answer questions about himself. Determined to figure out his past, Rhys convinces Delia to help, and begins a dangerous journey to discover who he is, or was, and who he might become as they hunt for the truth beneath story and prophecy. David Ly brings readers a fascinating and fresh take on dragons and destiny in this captivating debut novel. David Ly is the author of Mythical Man (Anstruther Books, 2020) and Dream of Me as Water (Anstruther Books, 2022), both short-listed for ReLit Poetry Awards, and the fantasy novel Not All Dragons (Poplar Press, 2026). He co-edited, with Daniel Zomparelli, Queer Little Nightmares: An Anthology of Monstrous Fiction and Poetry (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2022). David’s poems have appeared in publications such as Arc Poetry Magazine, Best Canadian Poetry, PRISM International, and The Ex-Puritan, where he won the inaugural Austin Clarke Prize in Literary Excellence for Poetry, as well as in the Pan MacMillan anthologies He, She, They, Us: Queer Poems (2024) and You’re Never Too Much: Poems for Every Emotion (2025). He is the Poetry Editor at This Magazine. More here. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/fantasy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From author Justin C. Key comes The Hospital at the End of the World: A Novel (Harper, 2026), set in a near future where artificial intelligence runs the world, involving a young medical student who must unravel family secrets to uncover the truth of his father’s mysterious death. In a time not so far from our own, society is run by a global AI system controlled by an all powerful corporation. The Shepherd Organization oversees every medical school in the country save one in New Orleans, the renegade Hippocrates which still insists on human-led medicine. It is the last choice school for an ambitious young New Yorker named Pok. But after his father—himself a physician—dies under mysterious circumstance that seems connected to “the shepherds” and their megalomaniacal young CEO, Pok finds himself on a quest for answers that leads right to Hippocrates. Once enrolled, he stumbles upon a further mystery: a strange illness is plaguing newcomers to New Orleans who grew up under shepherd rule. What is causing this fatal anomaly? And how does it relate to the mystery of Pok’s father’s death and his own mysterious past? Justin C. Key is a practicing psychiatrist and a speculative fiction writer. He is the author of the debut novel The Hospital at the End of the World and the story collection The World Wasn’t Ready for You. His stories have appeared in the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, Escape Pod, Lightspeed, and on Tor.com. He received a BA in biology from Stanford University and completed his residency in psychiatry at UCLA. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/fantasy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Shannon Chakraborty’s novel The Tapestry of Fate, the second installment in the The Adventures of Amina-al Sarafi, encounters the titular Amina at a time of transition. trying to balance her work on her ship chasing arcane artifacts and time on land spent raising her daughter Marjana. After interference from her estranged husband, Amina finds herself and her crew on a possibly futile quest to steal a spindle from a mysterious sorceress on an island that no one can escape. Despite the presence of magic that complicates the perception of reality itself, Amina remains determined to find a way home for herself and her crew. In this interview, Chakraborty describes her longstanding affection for the history of the Indian Ocean in the 12th century, the wealth of primary sources we have from that time period, and the process of sharing her love of history with readers. She discusses the role of magic and gender in the medieval Islamicate world, research rabbit holes, and the importance of middle aged protagonists in fantasy. We also chat about crafting a fun adventure story and the role of textiles and religion across time. The Tapestry of Fate is a joyful and empathetic novel full of adventure and a deep appreciation for the past. It was an absolute joy discussing it with the author. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/fantasy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery interviews Peter Darbyshire about the fourth book in his Cross series, The Wonder Lands War (Wolsak & Wynn, 2025).  The Book of Cross 4 I would take the whole world apart to find her. The immortal Cross is back in a wild new adventure – a desperate hunt to find the enigmatic Alice from the Wonderland tales. Alice has helped Cross save the world countless times over since she stepped out of the pages of her book, but now she is the one that needs rescue after vanishing during an apocalyptic battle. Aided by the faerie queen Morgana and her court, Cross journeys to mystical islands populated with murderous immortals and into famous libraries with powerful librarians and magical texts until they reach the chaotic and terrifying Wonder Lands, the dangerous inspiration for the original Alice tales. But they are not the only ones looking for Alice – a rogue group of angels are also hunting her for mysterious reasons of their own. The very fate of the world may rest upon who finds Alice first. Peter Darbyshire is the author of six books and more stories than he can remember. He lives near Vancouver, British Columbia, where he spends his time writing, raising children and playing D&D with other writers. It’s a good life. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/fantasy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aphrodite in Pieces gathers diverse myths featuring the goddess and unites them to create a comprehensive portrait. Beginning with her innocent days on the island of Cyprus, progressing to her disappointing welcome in the pantheon of Olympus, and culminating in her shattering experiences of the Trojan war, Aphrodite is depicted in all her aspects—calculating and vengeful, kind and forgiving, passionate and abandoned. A woman does not live her life independent of society. As it is above, so it is below. Sometimes Aphrodite is praised for her beauty, and other times, her pulchritude condemns her to be judged as a whore. As Aphrodite grows in wisdom, she finds compassion for women such as Helen of Troy who suffer a similar fate. The stories of Aphrodite remain pertinent today. In them, Lauren J.A. Bear finds reflections and connections between art, love, and beauty. Gabrielle Mathieu writes historically inspired fantasy with a dash of romance and a dollop of adventure. You can find out more about her books and upcoming interviews on authorgabrielle.com. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/fantasy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cameron Sullivan’s novel The Red Winter (Tor Books, 2026) follows Sebastian Grave, a centuries old monster hunter, recounting events that occurred in largely the woods of Gévaudan during the years leading up to the French Revolution. The story centers around a terrible beast that hunts the local people and has not been stopped by even the resources of the French crown itself. Sebastian is drawn in not just by the promise of slaying the creature, with whom he has something of a history, but also by his attraction to a young aristocrat, Antione, who Sebastian, for all his experience and better judgement, cannot quite seem to get over. In this interview, Sullivan describes building a magic that feels deep and rooted to our world, the shadow of the French Revolution, and the challenges and excitement of turning historical legend into fantasy. He discusses the research process, queer relationships over time, and what we can and can’t know about the past. We also chat about the joys of footnotes and the importance of humor in the face of the horrific. The Red Winter is a lush and complex novel full of longing and regret and it was so much fun discussing it with the author. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/fantasy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Starseekers: A Murder and Magic Novel (Harper Voyager, 2026), the fourth offering in the Magic and Mystery series follows Dr. Cynthia Rhodes as she investigates two separate murder mysteries that appear to be unrelated, while trying keep her job at NASA and raise two younger sisters. Old family friend Theo Danner teaches at Brewster University and provides moral support, investigative acumen, and a few smooches. The first murder involves an unpleasant co-worker at NASA who dies in an apparently accidental explosion. Yet when Cynthia observes him seconds before, he appears to be expecting a disaster. Soon afterwards, a shady character who goes by the name of Fitzgerald is murdered, but not by the pistol pointed at him through the stacks of books from an unknown assassin. The more you read in this richly layered narrative, the more surprises there are. In between chapters presenting pivotal events and introducing new suspicious characters, the attentive reader uncovers the complicated dynamics of the multi-generational Rhodes family. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/fantasy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mia Tsai’s novel The Memory Hunters centers Kiana Strade, Key, a reckless young archaeologist and religious figure, who is capable of diving deeper into blood memories than anyone else alive and Valerian IV, Vale, her guardian, who is tasked with the challenging proposition of keeping her alive. The story follows the pair as Key uncovers ancient secrets that and tackles questions of generational memory and the right to knowledge. In this interview, Tsai discusses the way human memory works and the impact on the novel, building a sapphic body guard romance, and the role of climate disaster in fantasy. We discuss family obligations, mentorship, and building institutions around technologies and magic systems. The Memory Hunters is a complex and empathetic adventure and it was so much fun discussing it with the author. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/fantasy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Caskey Russell’s novel The Door on the Sea (Solaris, 2025) follows Elan, the youngest member of once revered Flicker Clan, on a journey to find a weapon that can defend his people from the shapeshifting Koosh invaders threatening their existence. To reach his goal, Elan must captain a canoe crewed by an unlikely team and force the cooperation of a raven who is the only one who knows the weapon’s location. Throughout their journey, the crew must navigate an increasingly hostile political landscape, as the Koosh invasion throws old laws and alliances into disarray. In this interview, Russell describes the process of developing the novel over several years and the ways that he built a world inspired by nineteenth century Tlingit culture. We discuss survivalist elements in fantasy, shifting relationships with violence, and the role of journeys and quest in fantasy. The Door on the Sea is an engaging, thoughtful story and it was so much fun discussing it with the author. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/fantasy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Superhero violence and graphic action sequences are prevalent on the screen and on the page, but this book takes an alternative route with practical guidance, frameworks, and tools for incorporating the principles of peacebuilding and nonviolence into compelling fiction. By mapping a path less travelled but just as vital in divisive times, in n A Fiction Writer’s Guide to Peace: Crafting Nonviolent Heroism (Bloomsbury, 2025) Dr. Gabriel Ertsgaard shows writers how they can enact nonviolent heroism in their characters, model civil resistance in their stories, and create worlds around a mythos that champions redemptive nonviolence. With concepts applicable to writing for fiction, drama, the screen, and narrative poetry, A Fiction Writer's Guide to Peace deconstructs the necessity for violence in popular works, explores key concepts in peace studies, and helps writers establish their own peace poetics. Focused around the narrative craft techniques of character arcs, campaigns, duels, and worldbuilding, the book features numerous creative writing prompts and examples from key works. These include films such as Trading Places, Selma, Lage Raho Munna Bai, and Frozen and literature ranging from Shakespeare's plays to Dickens' A Christmas Carol to Julia Quinn's Bridgerton novels. A timely and important expansion to any writer's toolkit, A Fiction Writer's Guide to Peace allows storytellers to understand the complex dynamics of, and the damage caused by, violent perspectives and actions, giving them a way into considering nonviolence as powerful and preferable. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda’s interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/fantasy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tochi Onyebuchi’s novel Harmattan Season: A Novel (Tor Books, 2025) follows Boubacar, a veteran and private eye living in French occupied West Africa, as he begins a reluctant journey to discover what happened to the bleeding woman who stumbled onto his doorway and vanished soon after. That mystery quickly drags Bouba into exactly the kind of violence and political intrigue he had been working so hard to avoid. In this interview, Onyebuchi describes finding Boubacar’s voice and the different noir tropes he was most excited about. We discuss fiction as a way to examine colonialism, magic as a tool for social exploration as well as engaging set pieces, and the joy of fast-paced novels. We also talk depictions of violence, world-wise urchin kids, and experimentation and growth throughout a writing career. Harmattan Season is a compelling and thoughtful adventure and it was so much fun discussing it with the author. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/fantasy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.