Summer Reading 2020: Sci-Fi / Dystopian & Fantasy Fiction

Seventeen-year-old Zelie, her older brother Tzain, and rogue princess Amari fight to restore magic to the land and activate a new generation of magi, but they are ruthlessly pursued by the crown prince, who believes the return of magic will mean the end of the monarchy. Series. Genre: Fantasy fiction (Also: African American fiction; Afrofuturism and Afrofantasy)

While journeying to meet her betrothed, the son of the emperor’s favorite consort, Mariko barely escapes a sudden and shocking assassination attempt. Disguising herself as a boy, Mariko sets out to discover who tried to kill her and why. Once accepted into the notorious Black Clan, however, Mariko finds herself appreciated and respected for her intellect and alchemical abilities, leading her to start questioning everything she’s ever known about her family and her destiny. Series. Genre: Fantasy fiction (Also: Asian-influenced fantasy; Historical fantasy; Multiple perspectives)

In a world divided by blood--Red blooded (more common) serve the Silver-blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities--seventeen-year-old Mare, a Red, discovers she has an ability of her own. To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. But Mare risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard--a growing Red rebellion--even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. Series. Genre: Fantasy fiction (Also: Dystopian fiction)

On the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets born to the queen are separated at a young age and trained to use their individual special powers: a naturalist, an elemental, and a poisoner. As tradition dictates, on their sixteenth birthday, the sisters will engage in a battle to the death; the victor gains the right to be Queen. Series. Genre: Fantasy fiction

In this retelling of Cinderella, an indomitable inventor-mechanic finds her prince but realizes she doesn't want a fairy tale happy ending after all. Genre: Fantasy fiction (Also: Fairy tale and folklore-inspired fiction; Steampunk)

After being knocked out and kidnapped, scientist Jason Dessen wakes up in an unfamiliar world where his wife is not his wife, his son was never born, and someone is out to get him. Genre: Science fiction/Dystopian

Six interconnected stories in near-future and far-future settings that explore how far humans will go to stand out while continuing to fit in on the path to perfection. Genre: Science fiction/Dystopian (Also: Short stories)

A pleasurable retelling of Norse myths featuring gods who interact with dwarves and giants, animals and humans; the tales end with the violent Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods, and the birth of a new time and people. Genre: Fantasy fiction (Also: Mythological fiction; Mythology)

When her father dies, Annis Whitworth, who has power to sew glamours, garments that can disguise the wearer completely, becomes a spy and leads a double life in order to find her father's killer. Genre: Fantasy fiction (Also: Historical Fantasy)

Scenes from life before and after a great pandemic decimates the world’s population depict life through the eyes of members of a traveling group of performers. Genre: Science fiction/Dystopian (Also: Apocalyptic fiction; Canadian fiction; Literary fiction; Multiple perspectives):

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was attacked by King Angra from the Kingdom of Spring. Most of the Winterians were killed or enslaved. Meira and a group of Winterians journey to find the magical conduit that will restore their Kingdom, not realizing that she is the key to their future. Series. Genre: Fantasy fiction

Jack King, a high school senior, is determined to save Kate, a girl he fell hard for at a party, despite the fact that he is caught in a time loop wherein she dies and he wakes up the moment they first met. Genre: Fantasy fiction (Also: Coming-of-age stories; First-person narratives; Love stories

Locked in an asylum for her refusal to let her parents dictate her afterlife choices, Ten Lockwood finds herself caught in a violent power struggle between the two leading Everlife realms that would do anything to claim her powerful soul. Series. Genre: Fantasy fiction

Orianna and Violet are ballet dancers and best friends, but when the ballerinas who have been harassing Violet are murdered, Orianna is accused of the crime and sent to a juvenile detention center where she meets Amber and they experience supernatural events linking the girls together. Genre: Fantasy fiction (Also: Multiple perspectives; Paranormal fiction; Thrillers and suspense)

Laia is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire's greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help save her brother from execution. Series. Genre: Fantasy fiction

In the aftermath of a war between gods and men, a hero, a librarian, and a girl must battle the fantastical elements of a mysterious city stripped of its name. Series. Genre: Fantasy fiction (Also: Middle Eastern-influenced fantasy)

The lives of four high school seniors intersect weeks before a meteor is set to pass through Earth's orbit, with a 66.6% chance of striking and destroying all life on the planet. Genre: Science fiction/Dystopian (Also: Multiple perspectives)