Can't-Wait Wednesday: Detour by Jeff Rake & Rob Hart, This is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal Mueenuddin, & Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova

        

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

Detour by Jeff Rake & Rob Hart

Publication: January 13th, 2026
Random House Worlds
Hardcover. 320 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"A space shuttle flight crew discovers that the Earth they’ve returned to is not the home they left behind in the first book of this emotional, mind-bending thriller series from the creator of the hit Netflix show Manifest and the bestselling author of The Warehouse.

“If The Martian and The Twilight Zone had a baby, it would be Detour—a thriller that messes with your head as you scramble to piece together what’s really going on.”—Steve Netter, Best Thriller Books

Ryan Crane wasn’t looking for trouble—just a cup of coffee. But when this cop spots a gunman emerging from an unmarked van, he leaps into action and unknowingly saves John Ward, a billionaire with presidential aspirations, from an assassination attempt.

As thanks for Ryan’s quick thinking, Ward offers him the chance of a lifetime: to join a group of lucky civilians chosen to accompany three veteran astronauts on the first manned mission to Saturn’s moon Titan.

A devoted family man, Ryan is reluctant to leave on this two-year expedition, yet with the encouragement of his loving wife—and an exorbitant paycheck guaranteeing lifetime care for their disabled son—he crews up and ventures into a new frontier.

But as the ship is circling Titan, it is rocked by an unexplained series of explosions. The crew works together to get back on course, and they return to Earth as heroes.

When the fanfare dies down, Ryan and his fellow astronauts notice that things are different. Some changes are good, such as lavish upgrades to their homes, but others are more disconcerting. Before the group can connect, mysterious figures start tailing them, and their communications are scrambled.

Separated and suspicious, the crew must uncover the truth and decide how far they’re willing to go to return to their normal lives. Just when their space adventure seemingly ends, it shockingly begins."

I'm always up for a good space-related sci-fi thriller, and I've enjoyed some of Rob Hart's work in the past so I'm looking forward to checking this one out. 

This Is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal Mueenuddin
Publication: January 13th, 2026
Knopf
Hardcover. 368 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"A stunning new work from universally acclaimed Daniyal Mueenuddin, whose debut short story collection won the Story Prize and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Book Prize, the National Book Award, and the Pulitzer Prize.

NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026: Town & Country, Bustle, AARP, Kirkus

Moving from Pakistan’s dazzling chaotic cities to its lawless feudal countryside, This Is Where the Serpent Lives powerfully evokes contemporary feudal Pakistan, following the destinies of a dozen unforgettable characters whose lives are linked through violence and tragedy, triumph, and love. Orphaned as a little boy and fending for himself in the city streets, Yazid rises to a place of responsibility and respect in the Lahore household of Colonel Atar, a powerful industrialist and politician, only to find that position threatened by conflicting loyalties and misplaced trust. Born on Colonel Atar’s country estate to a poor gardener, Saqib is entrusted with the management of a pioneering business, but he overreaches and finds himself an outlaw, confronting the violence of the corrupt Punjab Police. The colonel’s son competes with his cherished brother for the love of a woman and discovers that her choice colors his life with unexpected darkness as well as light.

In matters of power and money and the heart, Mueenuddin’s characters struggle to choose between paths that are moral and just and more worldly choices that allow them to survive in the systems of caste, capital, and social power that so tightly grip their culture. Intimate and epic, elegiac and profoundly moving, This Is Where the Serpent Lives is a tour de force destined to become a classic of contemporary literature."

I really like the premise for this one and am eager to read Mueenuddin's portrait of Pakistan through a variety of settings. 

Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova
Publication: January 6th, 2026
Entagled: Mayhem Books
Hardcover. 448 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"The moment you see a dragon is usually your last…

Since the dragons emerged–along with the scourge that ravaged our lands and people–there’s only one human city that remains standing: Vingard.

But the hellfire from above is nothing compared to he threat from within. For there is no worse fate than being dragon cursed. Slowly and excruciatingly, you’ll be transformed into a mindless beast who destroys everything–and everyone–you love.

Any of us could be tainted. Any of us could be lying. Any of us could be caught and killed by the authorities.

And I’m terrified that I might be next. There’s only one other person who might suspect my secret. He’s like my shadow, following me wherever I go. Part protector, part tormentor, fully annoying. Sometimes I think I am just one of the million unfathomable secrets he keeps hidden.

Because Lucan definitely knows something.

And if I’m dragon cursed, death might be the only mercy I get."

I'll be reading this one for review soon and I'm so intrigued--I don't think I've read anything with a curse quite like this one, so I'm curious to find out how Kova tackles this concept!

Can't-Wait Wednesday: A Spell for Drowning by Rebecca Ferrier & Escape! by Stephen Fishbach

       

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

A Spell for Drowning by Rebecca Ferrier

Publication: January 27th, 2026
Alcove Press
Paperback. 304 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"This stunning historical fantasy debut is steeped in the salt and superstition of the Cornish coast, full of forgotten sirens, mischievous sea gods, and the lore from days long since passed. Perfect for readers of Circe and The Bear and the Nightingale.

The people of Portscatho are bound to traditions and to the sea, living side by side with the spirits, gods, and monsters that inhabit the rollicking waters. When Kensa and her half-sister come across a dying sea beast on the Cornish shore, Kensa is quick to claim credit for the discovery, and in doing so steals the glory and her sister’s position as apprentice to the local wise woman. It seems an appropriate station for Kensa, who has always existed out of step with the others in the village.

Yet to be a wise woman is to be alone—unmarried, childless, relied upon and lusted after yet never truly wanted. Kensa’s only real company is her mentor, the wise woman Isolde.

But Isolde won’t live forever, and when she falls ill, Kensa will do anything to save her and retain her newfound elevation within the community. Even if that means having to seek help from the Bucka, a terrifying and unfathomable sea god who guards the tides around Portscatho. In doing so, she’ll risk her life, her family, and everything she’s sworn to protect.

Beautifully written, expertly crafted, and full of engaging and compelling Cornish mythology, A Spell for Drowning tackles the expectations and limitations put on women by society, what it means to be feared and needed at the same time, and how the desire for acceptance can either save or destroy us."

I was definitely initially drawn to this because of it's cover (I mean, isn't it gorgeous!?), but the premise also sounds great, so I'm eager to dive in (no pun intended). 

Escape! by Stephen Fishbach
Publication: January 27th, 2026
Dutton
Hardcover. 448 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"A propulsive debut novel following a has-been reality TV star and a disgraced producer who get one last shot at redemption on a show set on a remote island, only to discover that the plot twists are beyond what they ever imagined.

Everyone gets the story arc they deserve.

Kent Duvall, a faded reality show winner, just wants another chance at glory—to find his way out of his depressing life and back to his highlight reel. When a scandal is captured on camera at a charity event, he gets his shot, on a new jungle survival show with seven other contestants. Each of them has been cast as a type—Ruddy the bully, Miriam the nerd, Ashley the love interest—but everyone is more than they appear.

The contestants’ goals seem simple—survive the wild, build a raft, win treasure. But Beck Bermann, a reality producer who suffered her own public shaming, sees them as characters in her redemption arc.

As the schemes and strategies spiral out, breakout camps sabotage each other and rival producers struggle to control the storyline. Soon the question becomes less about who will win than who will make it out in one piece."

As a longtime Survivor fan, of course I have to read this book by Stephen Fishbach! Fortunately, it sounds like it'll be a really intriguing read and I'm excited to check it out. 

Review: Midnight Somewhere by Johnny Compton

 

Midnight Somewhere by Johnny Compton

Blackstone Publishing
Publication Date: December 9th, 2025
Hardcover. 310 pages.

About Midnight Somewhere:

"From Bram Stoker Award-nominated author Johnny Compton, Midnight Somewhere is a frightening collection of thought-provoking stories perfect for fans of Stephen King's Night Shift, Tananarive Due's The Wishing Pool, and the work of Junji Ito.

A man gets into a car that can take him anywhere he can imagine--including the past, into the worst mistake of his life, a memory he does not want to relive, cannot escape, and is even more afraid to alter ...

A seemingly harmless, forgettable film about "alien hand syndrome" inspires a wave of self-harm among viewers--and even stranger things among those who become obsessed with it ...

A woman tries to bring her dead lover to life through a macabre ritual that requires attacking his corpse. Is it because she longs to be with him again ... or because the two of them have unfinished business?

The assorted characters in this thrilling collection encounter horrors that range from mysterious to murderous, discovering that darkness can find anyone, anywhere, at any hour of the day. After all, it's always Midnight Somewhere ..."

I very much enjoyed Johnny Compton's unique haunted house story The Spite House, which I read a couple years back, and I'd been meaning to check out more of his work, so I was excited to see this new collection of stories to check out and even more grateful to receive an ARC to do so. 

Midnight Somewhere is an intense and eerie collection of stories that has a fantastic mix of slower, emotionally charged tales of dread and horror and faster-paced tales to deliver your horror. Johnny Compton includes a very wide range of horror in this stories, and while some dive right into straight fear, others take some time to explore deeper themes and ideas that are sure to sit with you after you finish them.

The atmosphere of this entire collection was probably my favorite aspect of this collection, along with unpredictability of them—and these two things worked really well together. I truly never knew exactly what to expect from one story to the next, and that unpredictability really added to the overall tension and creepiness of this collection. Although the stories themselves were often quite different, there was something about the eerie atmosphere of each one that allowed them all to maintain a sense of unease that had hooked.

Additionally, I liked how Compton’s writing was incredible approachable no matter what tone or style was being used in a story. Compton has a very consistent voice that runs through these stories and ties everything together, no matter what theme or idea is being explored.

Some of the stories that stuck out most for me were (though there were many that I enjoyed in addition to these):

- "The Genie and the Inquisitor": This was a thought-provoking tale that played with idea of genies and their wishes in a haunting way that I really enjoyed.
- "No Hungry Generations": I loved this simple, captivating bit of holiday horror that made me wish for some more Thanksgiving-themed horror stories.
- "The Death Grip Challenge": This was a great exploration of social media trends and how they often get taken to new lives of their own--in some very extreme ways.
- "The Merge Monster Incident": This one really just stuck out for its sheer creativity and I loved not knowing where this story was going.
- "Monster Bites": More of a short and sweet one, but one that felt so creepy and tense from the get-go and didn't let up. sticks out for its sheer creativity, and I appreciated not knowing where this story was going.

Like any collection of stories, some stories worked for me more than others, but the variety is always some of the fun for me in not knowing what’s going to hit and what might now. Overall, this is an exceptionally strong collection of stories that is perfect for horror fans who are looking some sharp, unsettling short bites of horror to add to their holiday season.

*I received a copy of Midnight Somewhere courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating.*

Buy the book: Bookshop.org | Amazon

Can't-Wait Wednesday: To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose, Kokun by Nahoko Uehashi, & The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgård

      

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

To Ride a Rising Storm (Nampeshiweisit, #2) by Moniquill Blackgoose

Publication: January 27th, 2026
Del Rey
Paperback. 464 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"A young indigenous woman and her dragon fight for the independence of their homeland in this epic sequel to the bestselling and multi-award-winning To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, “a remarkable novel that is bound to be a staple of fantasy shelves for years to come” (BuzzFeed).

Anequs has not only survived her first year at Kuiper’s Academy but exceeded her professors’ admittedly low expectations—and passed all her courses with honors. Now she and her dragon, Kasaqua, are headed home for the summer, along with Theod, the only other native student at the Academy.

But what should have been a relaxing break takes a darker turn. Thanks to Anequs’s notoriety, there is an Anglish presence on Masquapaug for the first time ever: a presence that Anequs hates. Anequs will always fight for what she believes in, however, and what she believes in is her people’s right to self-govern and live as they have for generations, without the restrictive yoke of Anglish rules and social customs. And fight she will—even if it means lighting a spark that may flare into civil war."

I absolutely adored To Shape a Dragon's Breath when I read it a couple years ago--and I highly recommend it!--and I have been anticipating this sequel for so long. 

Kokun: The Girl from the West by Nahoko Uehashi, trans. Cathy Hirano
Publication: January 13th, 2026
Europe Editions
Paperback. 256 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"'An epic fantasy unlike any other, combining the fantastical environmentalism of works like Miyazaki's film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Rachel Carson's lyrical descriptions of nature, and the court intrigue of Game of Thrones.'--Booklist (starred review)

A sweeping ecological fantasy from one of Japan's most beloved storytellers--where two girls must unlock a forgotten power to save their world from collapse.

The vast Umar Empire has flourished for centuries thanks to the miraculous Ohaleh rice, a sacred grain brought by the first Empress Kokun from a distant land. Resistant to all parasites, the rice has sustained peace and prosperity--until now. When a mysterious infestation strikes, famine spreads, and the empire begins to crumble.

Fifteen-year-old Aisha, granddaughter of the deposed king of the West Kantar domain, flees to the imperial capital with her younger brother after a violent coup. There, she meets the reigning Kokun, Olie--an enigmatic girl worshipped for her supposed gift of scent, yet secretly powerless. As Aisha uncovers her own latent ability to perceive the natural world through smell, she and Olie form an unlikely alliance.

Together, they must confront a hidden history, uncover the truth behind the Ohaleh rice, and confront forces that threaten not just the empire's survival, but the very balance of nature.

Kokun: The Girl from the West marks the beginning of an epic tale of rebellion, inheritance, and the fight to reconnect with a world on the brink of collapse."

I just love everything about how this one is described and I'm so eager to check it out! I'm so up for an ecological fantasy from Japan.

The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgård
Publication: January 13th, 2026
Penguin Press
Hardcover. 512 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"London. 1985. A city rife with possibility and desire. One young man who wants it all.

Kristian Hadeland, young and ambitious, has moved to London to study photography; he knows that he and his art are destined for more. His family never understood him, and his fellow photography students bore him. But when he meets Hans, an eccentric Dutch artist, the future he yearns for becomes possible—as long as he is willing to sacrifice everything and stop at nothing.

Twenty-four years later, Kristian sees his dreams come to fruition when a major retrospective of his work is held in New York City. As his past catches up to him, Kristian’s world begins to crumble. Success comes at a price, but is he prepared to pay it?

In a thrilling twist on Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, Karl Ove Knausgaard masterfully spins a cautionary tale about the lengths that we will go to achieve success—and how far we are willing to fall. His most daring and macabre novel yet, The School of Night is an indelible tale about dark temptations and moral depravity, and what we forget when we bargain with the devil."

This sounds incredibly intriguing, and in the hands of Karl Ove Knausgård I think it could be truly captivating and wonderfully written. 

Month in Review: November 2025

 

In personal news.. it was a very busy month! My husband and I took a trip to South Korea and Taiwan in the beginning of November and it was incredible. We had some wonderful food, experienced new cultures, and saw some incredible sights! South Korea had the most stunning fall foliage (some of which is pictured above!). I loved both countries, but especially loved Taiwan and would love to go back someday (and to be fair, I'd love to visit Korea again, as well!). The day we were scheduled to fly back home coincided with the day a typhoon was heading to Taiwan so we were a bit nervous about that, but we made it back safe and sound with no issues, so we are very grateful. After that, it was back into the job hunt (boo) and back to all the other stressors of life, haha, but it's been a very productive month so I can't complain too much. 

In reading news, I had a really great month, and boy did it feel good to be back in reading groove! I didn't expect to read too much given that I was traveling (and I don't tend to get much reading done while traveling), so this was a very pleasant surprise. I even managed to start read a couple 2026 ARCs already (me? ahead of schedule? I promise I'm more surprised than you are). I somehow haven't gotten to The Strength of the Few yet, despite the fact that James Islington is one of my favorite authors and I loved The Will of the Many, but I wanted to get through the recap and make sure I really have the time to dedicate to this tome. I'm hoping to start it soon!

I also finally read one of my most anticipated released, The Blackfire Blade, and it was fantastic. I also really enjoyed The Works of Vermin, City of Others, and Hemlock & Silver (because I realized I  never finished it, apparently). All the books I read in November are listed below, as well as some quick thoughts about them. I also already have reviews up for a number of them if you're curious about any, and those can be found below as well. 

How was your November and what books have you been reading? And how was everyone's Thanksgiving (for those also in the US and who celebrate)?  Let me know how your month was below and what you've been reading!

   

# books read: 14

The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes ★★★

Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: This was the perfectly delightfully odd type of book that I really love. Incredibly inventive and creative, a ridiculous world and world-building, and a fascinating story.

The Blackfire Blade (The Last Legacy #2) by James Logan ★★★

Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thought: I had so much fun with this sequel! I wasn't sure at first if I'd end up liking it as much as the first one, and while I still like the first book better, this one still ended up being a blast and I can't wait for the third book. 

Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories by Amar El-Mohtar ★★★

Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: This was such a beautiful collection of stories! I really loved the first two, but the rest were also really well done and gorgeously written. I think I might finally need to get around to reading Amar El-Mohtar's other works, because I'm woefully behind. 

City of Others by Jared Poon ★★★

Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: This is another 2026 release and I had a blast! I really didn't expect to enjoy it quite as much as I did (even though the premise sounded amazing), so I was really happy about the experience and think it'll be a hit with many other readers as well.

There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm ★★★

Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: A very mindbending mindf*ck of a book that is definitely a fun--and weird--time. 

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher ★★★

Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC

Thoughts: Another T. Kingfisher win! I loved the mirror concept in this book and, of course, I'm always up for a talking cat. 

The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (Dungeon Crawler Carl #6) by Matt Dinniman ★★★

Source: Owned | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: This series is truly crazy, and while I haven't been enjoying these ones as much as some of the earlier books, I'm still having an amazing time and can't wait for more. 

All that We See or Seem by Ken Liu ★★★

Source: | Format: 
Thoughts: Based on the reviews for this book, I had very low expectations, and this wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it might be? It wasn't perfect, but I thought it was a perfectly entertaining and fascinating concept to explore. 

Atlas of Unknowable Things by McCormick Templeman ★★★

Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: This ended up falling a bit flat for me, but I enjoyed the vibe and overall idea. 

One of Us by Dan Chaon ★★★

Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: This was much more intense and impactful than I anticipated, and also much sadder than I expected, but I really liked it and reminded me how great Dan Chaon is. 

Whisper in the Wind (The Fetch Phillips Archives #4) by Luke Arnold ★★★

Source: Publisher | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: I actually started this a couple months ago, but it got pushed to the side as I got sidetracked by so many other things, but I finally finished and it was a fun time! I didn't enjoy it as much as previous books in the series, but it was still a solid instalment. 

Pick a Color by Souvankham Thammavongsa ★★★

Source: | Format: 
Thought: I have a review up for this one and enjoyed it! A very thoughtful and quick read about some great topics.

MindWorks: An Uncanny Compendium of Short Fiction by Neal Shusterman ★★★

Source: Publisher | Format: Paperback
Thoughts: This collection of stories was a mixed bag for me, but overall felt very classic Shusterman and I don't think you can go wrong with that. 

Sadie by Courtney Summers ★★★

Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: I had this recommended to me recently as a really good audiobook, so I decided to give it a shot and it was indeed a really well-produced audiobook. I'd recommend it! I'm not a huge true crime person and it kinda leans into that format a bit (but it's fiction!), but I think the heart of the story was really intense and meaningful. 

To-Be-Finished:

None! (that I recall, at least)

 

Empire of the Dawn (Empire of the Vampire #3) by Jay Kristoff
There is No Antimemetics Division by qntm
One of Us by Dan Chaon
The Atlas of Unknowable Things by McCormick Templeman
Mindworks by Neal Shusterman
The Blackfire Blade (The Last Legacy #2) by James Logan
Pick a Color by Souvankham Thammavongsa

 Posts:

Anticipated November 2025 Releases
Month in Review: October 2025
Blog Tour Spotlight: The Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry
Blog Tour + EXCERPT: Aphrodite by Phoenicia Rogerson
Anticipated December 2025 Releases

Blog Memes:

Can't-Wait Wednesday:
11/5: The Jaguar's Roar by Micheliny Verunschk & An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole
11/12: Cape Fever by Nadia Davids & Needle Lake by Justine Chapman
11/19: Persephone's Curse by Katrina Leno & The Sea Captain's Wife by Tilar J. Mazzeo
11/26: The Book of Luke by Lovell Holder & Daring to be Free by Sudhir Hazareesingh

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Pedro the Vast by Simón López Trujillo, A Beast Slinks Toward Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang, & Polar War by Kenneth R. Rosen

     

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

Pedro the Vast by Simón López Trujillo, trans. Robin Myers
Publication: January 13th, 2026
Algonquin Books
Paperback. 144 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"Simón López Trujillo’s “mind-blowing” (Gabriela Cabezón Cámara) debut takes readers into a dry and degraded, fire-prone landscape where humanity has encroached a step too far into the natural world, and a deadly fungus mounts its own resistance . . .

In the disorienting, devastatingly tense world of López Trujillo, a eucalyptus farm worker named Pedro starts coughing. Several of his coworkers die of a strange fungal disease, which has jumped to humans for the first time, but Pedro, miraculously, awakes. His survival fascinates a foreign mycologist, as well as a local priest, who dubs his mysterious mutterings to be the words of a prophet. Meanwhile Pedro's kids are left to fend for themselves: the young Cata, whose creepy art projects are getting harder and harder to decipher, and Patricio, who wasn't ready to be thrust into the role of father. Their competing efforts to reckon with Pedro’s condition eventually meet in a horrifying climax that readers will never forget.

For readers of Jeff Vandermeer and Samanta Schweblin, López Trujillo is a next-generation Bolaño with a fresh, speculative edge and a mind that's always one step ahead of us."

This is so intriguing to me, and at just 144 pages, I'm curious to see what the author will do with this idea. 

A Beast Slinks Toward Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang
Publication: January 27th, 2026
William Morrow
Hardcover. 368 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"A dark, magical realist debut family saga that moves through the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, the Cultural Revolution, and the present day to explore the effects of intergenerational trauma, the legacy of colonialism, and the inescapability of fate.

Qianze has not seen her father in eleven years, since he walked out of her life the night of her fourteenth birthday and disappeared without a trace. But then she gets a call—there is a man on the porch of her childhood home, and he’s asking for her. This man isn’t the Ba Qianze remembers: he is much older, more fragile, and worst of all, haunted by a half-forgotten prophecy.

While Qianze wrestles with what she owes this near-stranger, Ba begins telling stories of his past. From his bloody days as a Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution to his mother’s youth under Japanese occupation, he circles around the prophecy he came to deliver. Qianze has always longed to know more about her family history, but as Ba reveals a past far darker than she could have imagined, she finds herself plagued by strange visions—fox spirits trail her on her evening commute, a terrifying jackalope stalks her nightmares, and the looming prophecy slinks ever closer.

Spanning decades and continents, A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing employs a combination of stunningly rendered folklore and atmospheric prose to examine the legacy of colonialism through the eyes of three generations. Alice Evelyn Yang’s debut novel is a story of family and forgiveness, of folklore and fate, that will leave you unsettled and undone."

This honestly sounds like it's going to be an incredible read, and I'm really eager to have a chance to check it out. 

Polar War: Submarine, Spies, and the Struggle for Power in a Melting Arctic by Kenneth R. Rosen 
Publication: January 6th, 2026
Simon & Schuster
Hardcover. 320 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"A gripping blend of travelogue and frontline reporting that reveals how climate change, military ambition, and economic opportunity are transforming the Arctic into the epicenter of a new cold war, where a struggle for dominance between the planet’s great powers heralds the next global conflict.

Russian spies. Nuclear submarines. Sabotaged pipelines. Undersea communications severed in the dark of night. The fastest-warming place on earth—where apartment buildings, hospitals, and homes crumble daily as permafrost melts and villages get washed away by rising seas—the Arctic stands at the crossroads of geopolitical ambition and environmental catastrophe. As climate change thaws the northern latitudes, opening once ice-bound shipping lanes and access to natural resources, the world’s military powers are rushing to stake their claims in this increasingly strategic region. We’ve entered a new cold war—and every day it grows hotter.

In Polar War, Kenneth R. Rosen takes readers on an extraordinary journey across the changing face of the far north. Through intimate portraits of scientists, soldiers, and Indigenous community leaders representing the interests of twenty-one countries across four continents, he witnesses firsthand how rising temperatures and growing tensions are reshaping life above and below the Arctic Circle. He finds himself on the trail of Navy SEALs training for arctic warfare, embarks on Coast Guard patrols monitoring Russian incursions, participates in close-quarter-combat training aboard foreign icebreakers in the Arctic sea ice, and visits remote research stations where international cooperation is giving way to espionage and the search for long-frozen biological weapons.

Drawing on hundreds of interviews and three years of reporting from the frontlines of climate change and great power competition, Rosen blends incisive analysis with the vivid immediacy of a travelogue. His deeply researched and personal accounts capture the diverse landscapes, people, and conflicted interests that define this complex northern region. The result is both an elegy for a vanishing landscape and an urgent warning about how the race for Arctic dominance could spark the next global conflict."

As may be obvious, I'm always curious about topics relating to the Arctic and Antarctic, and this sounds like a really fascinating read.