Nov 3, 2026 – Locus

Nov 3, 2026 – Locus

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Africh-Cello's GateAfrich, Maurice: Cello’s Gate (Simon & Schuster/Saga Press 978-1668242834, $32.00, 592pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

SF fantasy novel, first in the Sky Pirates of Imperia series. Captain Grey and his sky pirates are persuaded by an immortal patroness to steal the legendary Stones of Indigo.

 

Azar-Sharpest CourtAzar, Kiera: Sharpest Court (HarperCollins/Storytide 978-0063427846, $19.99, 544pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Young-adult fantasy romance novel, second in the Thorn Season series. In a deadly court of Wielders, Alissa must join forces with Kiel to find out more about the Spellmade compass. A first novel.

 

Cole-There Used to Be People HereCole, Kennedy: There Used to Be People Here (Penguin Random House/Berkley 979-8217187119, $30.00, 368pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Historical SF novel. In 1970s Mississippi, Black detective Samuel investigates a murder and a plane crash, only to discover it’s not a plane, and beings from the crash have lingered. A first novel.

 

Compton-Chimera SkinCompton, Johnny: Chimera Skin (Shortwave 979-8897320288, £10.00, 264pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

SF horror short novel. Swanson, a mutated man, may be the devastated world’s last hope after a messianic alien’s failed attempt to “uplift” humanity.

 

Cook-They CryCook, Glen: They Cry (Tor 978-1250405913, $31.99, 400pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Grimdark fantasy novel. 13th in the Chronicles of the Black Company series, and 2nd in the A Pitiless Rain saga. Arkana and Shukrat return to An Abode of Raven with new powers.

 

Dara-Grim Reaper's Guide to Living TwiceDara, Maxie: A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Living Twice (Penguin Random House/Berkley 979-8217187454, $20.00, 336pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Contemporary fantasy mystery novel, third in the S.C.Y.T.H.E. series. Thief Jack McCoy, his body dead, lives undercover in the body of reaper Margaret Chen. A first novel.

 

Duhaime-Lost SpectacularDuhaime, Zoé: The Lost Spectacular (Profile/Solaris UK 978-1837867011, £18.99, 368pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/05/2026)

Fantasy novel. Former friends Munro and Noon clash over what to do with the Spectacular, a hidden dimension of lost items and ideas that they learned how to access as children. First UK edition. (US version September 2026)

 

Evans-Just Like a DreamEvans, Lauren: Just Like a Dream (Penguin Random House/Dell 978-0593873809, $20.00, 368pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Fantasy romance novel. At the World Dream Center, dream creator Olivia has to work with her old high school rival Connor to subconsciously influence a key case.

 

Fuentes-Clear WaterFuentes, Gabrielle Lucille: Clear Water (Macmillan/Flatiron 978-1250389770, $28.99, 288pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, 11/03/2026)

Horror novel. In a Wisconsin town with a history of disappearances, people start seeing silent girls in white.

 

Gwynne-Wolves of WarGwynne, John: The Wolves of War (Orbit US 978-0316595001, $30.00, 496pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Fantasy novel. Ivan, part of a conquered people in a land headed towards war, has to protect his daughter Halia, who has night visions of roaming the forest.

 

Hamilton-Twelve Dark HoursHamilton, Amber: Twelve Dark Hours (Bloomsbury USA 978-1547616633, $24.53, 364pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Young-adult fantasy romance novel. Vesper, claimed by the price as his bloodmate, is entered in a deadly competition and forced to work alongside Lonan, her frustratingly handsome rival. A first novel.

 

Hamilton-Glimmer of DeathHamilton, Laurell K.: A Glimmer of Death (Penguin Random House/Berkley 978-0593637876, $32.00, 464pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Dark fantasy romance novel, 10th in the Merry Gentry series, first in a two-book finale to the series. Meredith Gentry investigates magical attacks against rising Hollywood starlets, and deals with the curse on Aesling, heir to the Seelie Court.

 

Helgadóttir-Nordic NightmaresHelgadóttir, Margrét: Nordic Nightmares: The Best of Nordic Horror (Profile/Solaris UK 978-1837868575, $18.99, 352pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 11/03/2026)

Anthology of 20 stories from contemporary Nordic writers, covering concepts from forests to volcanoes to apocalypse to eerie people on a train.

 

Huff-Saved by the SpellHuff, Tanya: Saved by the Spell (Astra House/DAW 978-0756420611, $29.00, 304pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Cozy fantasy novel. At the High School for Magical Arts, the overworked teachers recognize one of their students is a Hero — brave, powerful, with nerdy friends — which means a Villain can’t be far behind.

 

Jensen-Defy the DuskJensen, Danielle L.: Defy the Dusk (Penguin Random House/Del Rey 978-0593975121, $36.00, 672pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Post-apocalyptic fantasy romance novel. In a world overrun by nocturnal creatures unleashed by her magic, Lirian lives on the Dawnrider, a high-speed train, until she’s abducted. Simultaneous with the Penguin Random House UK/Del Rey UK edition.

 

Künsken-Quantum DawnKünsken, Derek: The Quantum Dawn (Profile/Solaris UK 978-1837862207, $18.99, 400pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 11/03/2026)

SF novel, fourth in the Quantum Evolution series. With Belisarius in a wormhole, priestess Rosalie is having dreams, which Cassandra and AI Saint Matthew determine are signals from an 11-dimensional space.

 

McCarthy-Orbital Bombardment Victory RoadMcCarthy, Wil: Orbital Bombardment Victory Road (Baen 978-1668073544, $28.00, 288pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

SF novel. In 22nd-century America, three strangers take the iconic road trip across the country on the Orbital Bombardment Victory Road, avoiding craters and road warriors.

 

Modesitt-PremierModesitt, L.E.: Premier (Tor 978-1250427144, $34.99, 512pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Political fantasy novel, fifth in the Grand Illusion series. Dekkard, chairman of the Security Committee in the Craft Party, faces angry corporations, murder, and corruption.

 

Muñoz-They Called Us WickedMuñoz, Gloria: They Called Us Wicked (Holiday House 978-0823458370, $19.99, 288pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Young-adult fantasy novel. In a world where magic is forbidden, a coven of four best friends meet in-person at Fletcher University, where one of their roommates disappears.

 

Peckham-LightwingPeckham, Caroline & Valenti, Susanne: Lightwing (King’s Hollow UK 978-1916926868, $32.99, 528pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Fantasy romance novel, second in the Crown of Hearts and Chaos duology. Ferris, after losing her sister again, must escape the castle of Hendrix Bane.

 

Rainach-Art of Living ForeverRainach, A.T.: The Art of Living Forever (Orbit Works 978-0316609517, $25.99, 350pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Fantasy romance novel, first in the Sundered Gods series. The God of War falls in love with Grace, a woman in Napoleonic Europe.

 

Rambo-All the Pretty Little MermaidsRambo, Cat: All the Pretty Little Mermaids (Hydra House 978-1957898117, $29.95, 306pp, formats: hardcover, 11/03/2026)

Collection of 31 of Rambo’s stories, two new, including the award-nominees “Red in Tooth & Cog” and “Crazy Beautiful.”

 

Ringo-Tides of RuinRingo, John & Moores, Casey: Tides of Ruin (Baen 978-1668073537, $28.00, 336pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, 11/03/2026)

Superhero fantasy novel, third in the Shadow’s Path series. Teen hero Mike Edwards must contend with a horde of enormous sea monsters attacking humanity across the world’s coasts.

 

Russell-Eagle in the MountainRussell, Caskey: The Eagle in the Mountain (Profile/Solaris UK 978-1837867400, $26.99, 446pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Fantasy novel, second in The Raven and the Eagle series. After his first quest, Elān won’t touch his weapon, even as the Koosh invasion draws nearer.

 

Scalzi-MonstersofOhioScalzi, John: Monsters of Ohio (Tor 978-0765389039, $29.99, 272pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

SF novel. Mike returns to his hometown of Richland, Ohio, only for him and his friends to get mixed up in local politics, a shuttering economy, weird events with a cow, and tentacles. Simultaneous with the Macmillan/Tor UK edition.

 

Scholte-Fallen BeautyScholte, Astrid: Fallen Beauty (St. Martin’s/Wednesday Books 978-1250394804, $21.00, 402pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Young-adult romantic fantasy. Imprisoned and forced to paint dead animals, Thorelea is thrust into a deadly court of immortals when one of her subjects mysteriously comes back to life.

 

Sim-Meridian ForgeSim, Tara: The Meridian Forge (Orbit US 978-0316601726, $20.99, 480pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Fantasy novel, fourth in the Dark Gods series. The heirs discover they must kill not only the gods’ bodies but their power sources on each world. Simultaneous with the Hodder & Stoughton UK/Hodderscape edition.

 

St. Crowe-East of EnvySt. Crowe, Nikki: East of Envy (Tor/Bramble 978-1250382221, $32.99, 320pp, formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Dark fantasy romance novel, second in the Great & Terrible Land series. Dorothy Gale, betrayed by the wizard, must team up with the dangerous, heartless Tin Woodman. Simultaneous with the Macmillan/Tor Bramble UK edition.

 

Strahan-Vaster than EmpiresStrahan, Jonathan: Vaster than Empires: Speculative Fiction of the Eternal and the Ephemeral (MIT Press 978-0262054874, $24.95, 296pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 11/03/2026)

Original anthology of 15 SF stories, covering the “frontiers of life, intelligence, and temporality.” Authors include Adrian Tchaikovsky, Wole Talabi, Aliette de Bodard, Greg Egan, Tochi Onyebuchi, Caroline M. Yoachim, and more. Commissioned by the Berggruen Institute through its Future Humans initiative. Part of MIT’s Twelve Tomorrows series published in partnership with MIT Technology Review.

 

Taylor-Claimed by the Orc KingTaylor, Roxy: Claimed by the Orc King (Tor/Bramble 978-1250439239, $19.99, 384pp, formats: paperback, ebook, audiobook, 11/03/2026)

Fantasy romance novel, first in the Fated and Bound series. Attending FantastiCon, Thena attracts a seven-foot-tall green stranger — but he’s not in costume, and is on Earth searching for his fated mate. Simultaneous with the Titan Books UK edition.

 

Wilson-Thief of HeartsWilson, Sariah: Thief of Hearts (Amazon/Montlake 978-1662543241, $28.99, 333pp, formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, 11/01/2026)

Romantic fantasy novel, first in the Heart of the Goddess duology. Warrior Basilea enters a deadly competition and encounters Zain, a frustratingly handsome thief, only to discover a secret that threatens the gods.

 

Wixey-BasiliskWixey, Matt: Basilisk (Titan Books UK 978-1803367354, $19.99, 560pp, formats: paperback, ebook, 11/03/2026)

Horror novel. As they get drawn into a mysterious online game, hackers Alex and Jay are hunted by a group called the XXX XXXXXXX XXXXXX, who guard the Basilisk, a psychic weapon that drives people insane. A first novel.

 

 


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