New Books - NewInBooks

The Buzziest Books of May | 2026

May settles in with quiet confidence, carrying the warmth of longer days, fuller gardens, and evenings that seem to linger just a little longer. It is a month that reminds us growth isn’t only found in beginnings but in everything we continue to nurture along the way. As May draws to a close, take a moment to appreciate what has taken root, whether it’s a new habit, a fresh perspective, or simply the small joys that have brightened ordinary days. Not every season of growth announces itself loudly; some of the most meaningful changes happen quietly, one day at a time. ✨

Critics' Requiem

by Michaela Riley

Release Date: May 1, 2026

Arthur Penwright’s elite life is a lie. When a viral critic shreds his reputation, his past as a hacker resurfaces. As Arthur hunts “The Silent Judge,” bodies appear near chemically scrubbed copies of his debut. Now, Detective Mercer is closing in, and Arthur realizes he’s just a character in a dead man’s masterpiece. The plot is blood-red.

Buy on Amazon

Hope and the Guardians: The Darkside Awakens

by Donell Jackson

Release Date: April 18, 2026

The war has begun. Hope’s power is growing—and so is Seeroni, an ancient force feeding on fear and life itself. As the Guardians prepare him for what’s coming, his father descends into obsession, chasing the same power. Caught between darkness and destiny… Hope must rise or fall.

Buy on Amazon

The Lies in the Lefse (A Cash Kristiansen Mystery Book 2)

by George Robstad

Release Date: April 9, 2026

A mayoral candidate is dead, and Salt Cliff Isle is full of secrets. Cash Kristiansen is pulled into a web of lies, shifting loyalties, and buried truths. In an island town that protects its own, uncovering the truth may cost more than anyone is ready to pay.

Buy on Amazon

I Am Teresa Belluco

by Teresa Belluco & Lucia Manzinello

Release Date: April 20, 2026

Step into 2024 with I am Teresa Belluco: a true diary story. Teresa, a vibrant Gen Z teen, sees her life change in an instant as she faces synovial sarcoma, a rare but real cancer. Through challenges and a journey from Italy to America to Paris, she rediscovers herself. An intimate story of resilience, courage, and dreams—get inspired. Proceeds support Synovial Sarcoma.

Buy on Amazon

The Orleans Lady (Wanee Mysteries Book 5)

by D. Z. Church

Release Date: April 15, 2026

On board “The Orleans Lady”, a glittering Mississippi riverboat, Cora Countryman teams with her protector and her opinionated chaperone to tease apart the identity of the mother who abandoned her. Only to discover an enemy intent on owning the river who will stop at nothing — not missing jewels, crooked poker games, or death on the Texas Deck.

Buy on Amazon

Kane's Reckoning (Mill Creek Mystique Book 4)

by Bailey Thomas

Release Date: May 11, 2026

A billionaire nanny romance filled with forbidden love and intense opposite-world tensions. Kane Miller, the son of a powerful, wealthy family, defies expectations. Annika Bauer is escaping her past to start over. Neither expected their strong chemistry, but Kane’s father is determined to control Kane's future, which could cost them everything.

Buy on Amazon

Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying

by Kelly K. Lavender

Release Date: April 8, 2026

Paloma, a runner-up in the Tri-State Wink Think and Defend competition, regrets that she didn't win. But she knows the biggest regret of her life, by far—her hot traveling salesman husband, Jim. He also happens to be the hometown hero. Jim is the “Catch" that women discuss in whispery voices like giggling, giddy, silly schoolgirls. If only they knew...

Buy on Amazon

Mars Colony Rescue (Interstellar Refugees Book 4)

by Daniel Ellrick

Release Date: May 8, 2026

Dead heroes are safe—but the threat to Mars won’t let Limei hide. A huge cometary fragment is headed for Hellas Planitia, and the math says it will trigger an Impact Winter, plunging Mars into a killing freeze. Limei, her sentient AI cowboy, and two aliens from Trappist-1 are the only hope Mars has left. Hard SF. Found family. Woman protagonist.

Buy on Amazon

Love, Remembered

by David Andrew Ponton

Release Date: May 5, 2026

Love, Remembered brings together 17 true stories from modern history of love, loss, devotion, and what remains afterwards. Some of the lovers you will know, some not. These are not perfect romances, but real ones - where love endured through distance, illness, sacrifice, and time. Because even when love ends, something stays with us.

Buy on Amazon

Revolution (Shadows of Endari Book 1)

by C.D. Tavenor

Release Date: March 26, 2026

REVOLUTION LEAVES NO SOUL UNSCATHED. For Selina to survive the war, she’ll need to uncover the secrets threatening to destroy the world. Enter a world where magic is everywhere, yet its true cost goes unseen by all. Join Selina and Edward in Shadows of Endari: Revolution! Books 1 through 3 are available now.

Buy on Amazon

Malmorthael

by Pierce Novak

Release Date: February 13, 2026

In the cursed depths of a mountain that devours hope, a dead man rises. Once a legend, Malmorthael is now a leper haunted by the woman he failed. Exiled to rot, a prophecy drags him back—to stop an empire’s fall to something far worse than death inside the Engensis Chamber, a nightmare of forbidden sorcery hungry for souls.

Buy on Amazon

Dubious (Belle Argo Escorts Book 4)

by Beth Christopher

Release Date: May 5, 2026

Dubious by Beth Christopher is a dark MMM late-bi-awakening age-gap romance. It contains a down-on-his-luck divorcé, two chaos gremlins who teach him how to have fun, and a potentially haunted bed-and-breakfast.

Buy on Amazon

The Marriage Clause (The Kauffman Billionaire Series Book 1)

by Kenna King

Release Date: May 26, 2026

He fired her. But she really needs this job. So when she overhears that he needs a wife… she makes him an offer he knows he should refuse.

Buy on Amazon

Fantasy & Sci-Fi: Worlds That Rewrite Themselves

Step into new Fantasy & Sci-Fi releases where reality is never fixed for long. These stories move between magic and technology, myth and mathematics, as worlds reshape under forces both ancient and futuristic. From collapsing timelines and sentient cities to arcane systems powered by science and science warped by magic, each book explores what happens when reality stops obeying its own rules. Perfect for readers who love immersive worldbuilding, genre fusion, and stories where anything can evolve into something else.

Revolution (Shadows of Endari Book 1)

by C.D. Tavenor

Release Date: March 26, 2026

Buy on Amazon

Malmorthael

by Pierce Novak

Release Date: February 13, 2026

Buy on Amazon

Calculated Whisk (Tales from the Dragon Diner Book 1)

by Lindsay Buroker

Release Date: May 19, 2026

In this light-hearted adventure, Rylana, a former mercenary turned bookkeeper, must help a dragon chef turn around his flagging diner business before the landlord kicks them out.

Buy on Amazon

We Found a Starship (Journey to Earthrise Book 1)

by Daniel Arenson

Release Date: May 22, 2026

A buried starship. A forgotten past. A danger waiting to rise. When Marco Emery discovers a lost starship in the jungle, he uncovers the truth of humanity’s origins… and awakens something that should have remained buried. From USA Today bestselling author Daniel Arenson comes a thrilling sci-fi adventure.

Buy on Amazon

Infinity Upgrade

by J.N. Chaney

Release Date: April 28, 2026

The wrong guy just got the right AI. In a society where every citizen is given an AI at birth, Cal Bennett is one of the rare few who doesn't have one. These AIs can do all sorts of things, depending on how expensive they are, so the rich have the best and the poor have the worst.

Buy on Amazon

Banish the Stars (The Formless Book 1)

by Nathan Hystad

Release Date: May 12, 2026

We have arrived. Descent is in progress. Ryan Pierce traded military life for a peaceful existence in Napa Valley. Everything was fine until the starships appeared. As aliens overtake the land and obscure the sun, Ryan quickly grasps that no one’s coming to rescue them. He can’t save the world on his own. Ryan must build a team to confront humanity’s greatest threat.

Buy on Amazon

Lives Unfolding Off-Center: 6 Literary Fiction Books

Enter a collection of new Literary Fiction where no life moves in a straight line. These stories explore characters slightly out of sync with their worlds — navigating change, uncertainty, and the quiet disorientation of becoming someone new. From contemplative domestic dramas to reflective tales of reinvention and loss, each book captures the tension of lives unfolding just beyond balance. Perfect for readers who appreciate character-driven storytelling with emotional depth and complexity.

Barbados Jack

by Damian Bonsall

Release Date: May 1, 2026

In 1833, the master’s family, all the machinery, and a selection of choice slaves all moved to South Carolina and set up a new enterprise in the slave-holding state. Although slavery ended in Barbados in 1834, Jack endured many more years in servitude, all the while honing his craft and skills. During the Civil War, he became known as Barbados Jack.

Buy on Amazon

Westbound (A Shadow in History Book 1)

by Kerry H. Kimball

Release Date: May 26, 2026

Louise Kayser was on top of the world in October of 1860. She had wonderful parents, sweet little siblings, lived with them on an established farm, and was even proposed to by her true love, Gideon. But that world came crashing down when a letter arrived from her elderly grandparents.

Buy on Amazon

So This Is Love (The Bridge Series Book 2)

by Ashley N. Rostek

Release Date: May 23, 2026

I was supposed to die. It was all supposed to end. The pain. The fear. As I felt myself fading, I didn’t fight it. I was ready. But Mother wouldn’t let me go. Not because she cared about me. Because I was worth more to her alive.

Buy on Amazon

The Shippers

by Katherine Center

Release Date: May 19, 2026

After a whole lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton decides to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. With the help of a little pop psychology, she diagnoses herself with a fixation on the neighborhood guy who was her first crush and first kiss (and who just happens to be a newly divorced wedding guest), and she decides to woo him...

Buy on Amazon

Come Back to the World

by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Release Date: May 5, 2026

Amelia Booker, a journalist and expert in American literature, receives a photograph leading to the possible whereabouts of E. L. Swann, an author who vanished forty years ago after the success of her first and only novel. It’s too intriguing a literary mystery for Amelia not to follow.

Buy on Amazon

The Nowhere Sisters

by Jan Casey

Release Date: -

Berlin, 1938. She’ll do anything to protect the only family she has left. Twelve-year-old Margarete has lost everything — her parents, her home, and the fragile safety of the orphanage she once knew. When the Nazis target Jewish families across Germany, Margarete is placed on a Kindertransport train bound for England. She expects to face the terrifying journey alone.

Buy on Amazon

The Rules of Love Don’t Apply Here: Romance Picks For You

These new Romance picks explore connections that defy expectations, testing timing, circumstance, and everything characters thought they knew about their hearts. From slow-burning tension and emotionally charged reunions to forbidden attraction, complicated entanglements, and love that arrives at exactly the wrong moment, each story leans into the beautiful unpredictability of relationships.

The Marriage Clause (The Kauffman Billionaire Series Book 1)

by Kenna King

Release Date: May 26, 2026

He fired her. But she really needs this job. So when she overhears that he needs a wife… she makes him an offer he knows he should refuse.

Buy on Amazon

Dubious (Belle Argo Escorts Book 4)

by Beth Christopher

Release Date: May 5, 2026

Buy on Amazon

Queen of Shadows

by Anna Belfrage

Release Date: May 21, 2026

Leonor loved the sun, loved standing side by side with her man. But she should have stayed in the shadows... Based on the true story of Leonor de Guzmán and her lifelong love story with King Alfonso XI.

Buy on Amazon

Risking It All (The Naked Men Series Book 1)

by Christi Barth

Release Date: May 18, 2026

The risks Lt. Griffin Montgomery takes to save lives get him suspended. Letter writer Chloe Widmore is comfortable with her quiet existence. When the hottest man she’s ever seen invades her coffee shop, it’s a surprise how much she wants him. Griffin makes her deliciously uncomfortable. But falling for him is a risk she might not be ready to take.

Buy on Amazon

Hart's Landing

by Melanie Harlow

Release Date: May 12, 2026

Four friends made a promise to live one night like it was their last. That night changed everything. Ten years ago, Mila Ferguson left behind a devastating fire, a stolen kiss, and a shattered circle of friends in her hometown of Hart’s Landing. But when a crisis brings her back, Mila just wants to get in and get out, unscathed by her mother’s constant criticism and unseen by her former crush...

Buy on Amazon

Dolly All the Time

by Annabel Monaghan

Release Date: -

If they start by pretending, can they end with something real? Dolly Brick has never met a problem she couldn’t solve. Not when her mom left when she was twelve, and not at thirty-nine, when she moves with her son back to Whitfield, Rhode Island, for the summer to keep her dad and brother from losing the family home.

Buy on Amazon

When Nothing Is What It Looks Like: Mysteries & Thrillers For You

Step into a world where certainty doesn’t survive for long. These new Mystery & Thriller releases unravel stories built on shifting truths, hidden motives, and the uneasy feeling that something is always just out of sight. From remote, atmospheric settings and psychological manipulation to vanished people, fractured trust, and crimes that refuse to stay buried, each book tightens the tension a little more with every page. Expect unsettling turns, layered mysteries, and the kind of suspense that lingers even after you’ve stopped reading. Perfect for readers who like their thrillers sharp, unpredictable, and just a little unnerving.

The Taverna at the Edge of Night (Deadly Destinations Thriller Collection)

by H.Y. Hanna

Release Date: May 12, 2026

‘The White Lotus’ meets Daphne du Maurier in this twisty, atmospheric psychological thriller: She arrives on the Greek island of Crete for a sun-drenched reunion with her best friend. But beneath the postcard paradise, she finds dark secrets, gaslighting, and murder. Perfect for fans of classic suspense and “vacation gone wrong” travel mysteries.

Buy on Amazon

The Consequence of Your Decision

by James Yates

Release Date: May 26, 2026

The Consequence of Your Decision is a domestic horror that has been likened to a thought experiment. How far would you go to save a loved one? How far would you go to protect your own comfort and selfish needs? Samuel is given the opportunity to save his wife, Selene, from terminal cancer with a Faustian bargain. But all may be not as it seems.

Buy on Amazon

The Final Target

by Nora Roberts

Release Date: May 26, 2026

He showed up at Arden Bowie’s debut author appearance with a copy of her novel and an eager smile. He showered her with compliments and got her autograph. Then he came to her next event. And the one after that.

Buy on Amazon

Mist and Malice (Haven Thrillers Book 2)

by Rachel Howzell Hall

Release Date: May 19, 2026

Private investigator Sonny Rush, the newest resident of Haven, California, knows that this fogbound coastal hamlet is every bit as dangerous as her hometown of Los Angeles. And when teenager and repeat runaway Honor Butler shows up at Sonny’s door with terror in her eyes, Sonny is immediately pulled into a new case that hits close to home.

Buy on Amazon

The Drowning Season

by Debra Webb

Release Date: May 12, 2026

Detective Adeline Cooper swore she’d never return to Mississippi, where her corrupt family rules through fear and her career was upended by betrayal. But then she receives a photograph of a local woman who has gone missing, along with a cryptic, chilling message: “Pretty, pretty princess. See her smile…see her die.”

Buy on Amazon

The Blackthorn Women

by Jess Lourey

Release Date: -

A terrible family curse threatens four generations of women in a spellbinding novel of haunting secrets, magic, and healing by the Edgar Award–nominated author of The Taken Ones. After her husband’s infidelity, devastated Katrine Blackthorn reluctantly returns to Faith Falls, Minnesota, to her family’s Queen Anne mansion on the hill and the magic that binds them all.

Buy on Amazon

Interview with Anna Belfrage, Author of Queen of Shadows

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

I sort of stumbled upon the story of Leonor de Guzmán and her life-long love affair with King Alfonso XI when I was researching an earlier period of Spanish history. I was totally hooked: a man, torn between the wife he has wed for dynastic reasons and the woman he adores.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Historical fiction/historical romance, which yes, happens to be what I also prefer to write. I want books with historical depth that also contain love and passion.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Well, I've been bingeing on Victorian Historical Romance for a while (I prefer to read other periods than the one I am writing in) so I have some Lisa Kleypas, a Miranda Spencer and a Julia Quinn waiting for me. And, to spice things up, I have a Measha Stone that just landed in my Kindle.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Oooo... Well, I am rather fond of my peach scene - and its mirror scene towards the end of the book. I cannot say more without dropping huge spoilers.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Tea. Lots and lots of tea, Breaks when I watch True Crime TV (why, one wonders) But while I am writing, I need silence. No music, no background TV.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Not really. But I do believe in being kind.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Ah. Well, I think it would be the second peach scene.

BUY THE BOOK

Anna Belfrage is the author of the new book Queen of Shadows

Connect with Anna Belfrage

Interview with James Yates, Author of The Consequence of Your Decision

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

This book was inspired by an idea I’ve been drawn to for years. The very first novel I ever attempted to write revolved around a Faustian bargain, although I never finished it. The concept stayed with me, the idea of trading morality, identity, or even love itself in exchange for the life you think you want. What interested me most with this book was grounding that supernatural idea in something very real and domestic. I’ve always found horror works best when it grows out of recognisable human emotions and relationships – love, insecurity, selfishness, grief, obsession. Beneath the horror elements, this is really a story about human desire and the uncomfortable truth that many of us want perfect lives while convincing ourselves our choices are justified. In many ways, the book became a kind of thought experiment: how far would someone go for the ‘perfect’ relationship or version of happiness? And at what point does love become possession, selfishness, or denial? Those questions were at the heart of the story from the beginning

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Horror is my number one. I do dip into Thrillers and sometimes Crime novels. In some of my other work, you can see the different genres poking through.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Robert McCammon – Stinger Joe Hill – The Fireman Bentley Little – The Handyman

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

My favourite scenes to write were probably the ones involving Luna. She was one of the most interesting characters in the book to me because she had these dual layers to her personality. Outwardly, she has this performative pizzazz and confidence about her. She knows how to control a room and present herself a certain way, but underneath that, she’s actually quite jaded, cynical, and a little grumpy. I enjoyed playing with that contrast because it made her feel more human to me. A lot of her personality is almost a performance, but there are moments where the mask slips and you see someone much more tired and emotionally worn down underneath it all.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Yeah, my quirks are pretty boring. I can only write between the hours of 5am and 7am. Even if I've got nothing to do all day, I have to get up and get those two hours in. I can edit and polish any time of the day but oddly I can rarely seem to get the writing brain engaged other than then.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Succeed in silence. Create quietly and shock loudly.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

It is just a book, and not every character is supposed to be likeable. Lol.

BUY THE BOOK

James Yates is the author of the new book The Consequence of Your Decision

BUY THE BOOK

Interview with Daniel Arenson, Author of We Found a Starship (Journey to Earthrise Book 1)

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

At its heart, We Found a Starship is about memory. About our personal memories and our collective ones. The heroes – Marco, Addy, and Einav – are suffering from amnesia. They wake to find themselves living on a jungle world far from Earth. They need to understand who they are. How they got here. And what those dark, shadowy entities hunting them really are. The characters begin to explore the jungle and find… well, I'll leave it there for now. This is a new story. But Marco, Addy, and Einav are old characters of mine. They’ve also appeared in my series Earthrise (15 novels) and A Prayer for Earthrise (6 novels). So I suppose the inspiration was… memory. Memory of these old characters of mine – and where they find themselves today. But don't worry, if this sounds heavy – it's not. The book is action-packed. Short, punchy scenes. Scary aliens. Exploration. Adventure. It's all there, and if I may say so myself, this is a fun sci-fi romp. But yes, beneath the layers of action – there is melancholy and nostalgia. Oh, and even if you haven't read the earlier series – you can start right here. You can pick up We Found a Starship and understand everything. So if you're new, feel free to start with this book!

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be? (Meant to be fun. Skip if you need to!)

Marco is the hero. He's world-weary but not bitter. He's somber, fiercely loyal, and honest. In many ways, he's the moral compass of the group. His theme song is Hanan Ben-Ari's "Champion of the World." Addy is his wife, a wild gunner and huntress. She has a big attitude, a foul mouth, and a fiery temper. Her song would be Paralandra's "Despicable." Just because the song's attitude suits her. Einav is the leader of the group (and the captain of the titular starship). She's a wise leader, diplomatic when it suits her, ruthless when it doesn't. She carries the burden of command with quiet dignity. Despite her strength and wisdom, there is bittersweet sadness to this character, a lingering yearning for a home she can barely remember. Her song would be Pe'er Tasi's "What Will Be Tomorrow?"

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I read different genres. Last winter, I was reading Kafka, Solzhenitsyn, Viktor Frankl, and (in a surprise twist) Brandon Sanderson. Right now, I've got a Thomas Sowell, a Steven Erikson, and an Ursula K. Le Guin on my nightstand. So… what would you call that? A mix of tragedy and escapism, maybe. For years now, I've only been writing science fiction. But I used to write a lot of fantasy. And in the future, I will write another fantasy series (probably set in Requiem, my dragon universe).

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Favorite part? Just letting the characters do their thing. To let them guide the story, to banter, to argue, even to fight. To follow their own path. I didn't outline the novel in advance. I only had a vague idea of the ending. I pretty much just plopped down Marco, Addy, and Einav in the middle of a jungle. I removed their memories and tossed in monsters. Then I let them explore the world and forge their own path. The results surprised me. I hope you enjoy how it came out!

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Not really, unless it's quirky to spend your life writing every day. Because I\'ve been writing every day for decades. I guess that's my quirk: wake up, write, write some more, go to bed, repeat. No lucky mugs, but I'm very lucky that I get to write every day.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

I don't have a punchy motto, but I would say—it's important for everyone to find a purpose in life and to work toward that purpose. For me, that's writing books and supporting my family. In our modern society, we're always chasing happiness—from entertainment, from money, from stuff. And I get it. I love stuff too. I buy stuff. And I get the boost of dopamine too. But ironically, the quest for happiness leaves us unfulfilled, and the high can fade quickly. Instead, maybe we should spend more time searching for purpose. To have a goal and to work toward it, and to find meaning in work, art, or helping others—that, to me, is how we make this life a bit more tolerable. At least that's what I try to do. Does that work as a philosophy?

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

The characters. Marco, somber and cynical. Addy, fiery and funny. Einav, wise and strong. I hope they become like real people to you. I hope they feel almost like friends. I hope you remember them long after you've forgotten all about the plot. The stories that stick with me personally – for years, often for life – they do this because of the characters. Honestly, I can't remember most of the details from Chronicles of Amber, or Lord of the Rings, or Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, or any number of sci-fi and fantasy novels I read decades ago. But decades later, I remember Corwin, Frodo, and Marvin. If you remember any of my own characters, that to me is the best compliment.

BUY THE BOOK

Daniel Arenson is the author of the new book We Found a Starship (Journey to Earthrise Book 1)

Connect with Daniel Arenson

Author Site

Facebook

BUY THE BOOK

Interview with Damian Bonsall, Author of Barbados Jack

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

We've all heard about the horrors of slavery, but it's quite a surprise to learn that some slaves were very gifted and technically minded. So what became of them? This story describes what happened to a slave from Barbados who was gifted in engineering.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I love reading mystery novels, so that's quite a different genre to this historical novel that I've written!

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I'm too busy writing to read!

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

There are several scenes involving the truly horrible character Munroe. My favourite is when he informs his son that he has selected a bride for him, regardless of his son's own opinion.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I like to be alone, and in the complete quiet of a silent room. If anybody disturbs me, it takes some time to recall my thoughts. I also drink copious amounts of coffee!

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Just keep going, whatever happens, keep on going and keep trying new things too. I've translated this book into French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, because I love the challenge of doing something new. I also used AI for he first time to generate the cover illustration, I hope that people are impressed!

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Never prejudge anyone's ability based upon their background or formal education. Everyone has surprising talents.

BUY THE BOOK

Damian Bonsall is the author of the new book Barbados Jack

Connect with Damian Bonsall

BUY THE BOOK

Interview with Pierce Novak, Author of Malmorthael

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

At its heart, Malmorthael is about a man who loses the woman he loves and chooses to burn the world down rather than live without her. It’s a story of vengeance, but more than that, it’s about the brotherhood that forms in the shadow of that loss. It explores what men are willing to become, and what they’re willing to sacrifice, when they fight not for glory or power, but for the people they love. It’s a tale of loyalty forged in fire, standing against overwhelming evil, and the brutal cost of choosing love over despair. I wrote Malmorthael because I couldn’t find the kind of science fantasy story I desperately wanted to read. I wanted epic scale, real emotional stakes, morally complex characters, and a story that didn’t shy away from darkness, brotherhood, and vengeance. When I realized no one else had written the exact book I was craving, grand, gritty, and unapologetic, I decided I would have to write it myself.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be? (Meant to be fun. Skip if you need to!)

That’s a great question, and one I love, because music was absolutely central to writing Malmorthael. The epic, sweeping scope of Hans Zimmer (especially Interstellar and Man of Steel), the heroic drive in tracks like “Captain America” by Henry Jackman, and the raw, intense, brotherhood-forged aggression of As I Lay Dying and Born of Osiris heavily shaped the tone. Overall, the soundtrack in my head for Malmorthael is a blend of massive orchestral scope with heavy, emotional metalcore drops, grand and cinematic one moment, brutal and visceral the next. I didn’t assign single theme songs to each character, but those palettes guided the emotional weight of every major scene and relationship.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

My favorite genres to read are epic fantasy and science fiction, especially when they lean into grand scale, deep world-building, and big ideas. I’m a huge fan of Dune and Foundation for the way they blend intricate politics, philosophy, and vast galactic scope. On the fantasy side, nothing has ever topped The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion for me. Tolkien’s mythic depth and sense of ancient history are still the gold standard. I also love Ender’s Game for its perfect mix of intense character focus and high-stakes strategic thinking. My favorite genre to write, though, is science fantasy. It’s the sweet spot where I can combine the mythic resonance and emotional weight of epic fantasy with the wonder, technology, and existential scale of science fiction. That’s exactly why I wrote Malmorthael, I wanted that specific blend of cosmic grandeur, brutal stakes, and deep human (and brotherhood) drama that I love in the books above, but in a flavor I couldn’t quite find anywhere else.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

My TBR pile right now is a pretty eclectic mix, but it makes sense for where my head is at. Right now I’m diving back into some old favorites while adding two new ones: • 1984 by George Orwell (this one I’ve never actually read, so I’m finally correcting that) • Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson • The Silmarillion and The Shaping of Middle-earth by J.R.R. Tolkien • The Lord of the Rings (rereading the full trilogy again) I’m also reading two more philosophical works: Machine and Sovereignty: For a Planetary Thinking and Post-Europe. I’ve read almost all of these before (except 1984 and Post-Europe), but I’m going back through them because they feed directly into the kind of stories I want to tell. Tolkien’s deep mythic layering and sense of ancient tragedy always pull me back in, while Erikson’s gritty, morally complex epic fantasy is one of the best at handling large casts and brutal consequences. Orwell feels especially relevant right now, and the philosophy books help me wrestle with bigger questions about technology, power, and humanity that bleed into my science fantasy writing. It’s less about “new” books at the moment and more about deepening the foundations that inspired Malmorthael.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

That’s a tough question because there are quite a few scenes I’m really proud of in Malmorthael. That said, my actual favorite scene, the one that felt the most powerful and cathartic while writing, ended up being moved to Book Two. It was originally in the first book, but as the story developed, it felt right to save it for later. I’m excited for readers to eventually reach it. Even so, I still go back and reread Malmorthael for what feels like the hundredth time, and every pass makes me prouder of certain sequences. The raw intensity of Malmorthael’s early descent into revenge, some of the brutal battle sequences, and a few quiet but heavy brotherhood moments are the ones that stand out the most to me.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Yes, I have one very specific quirky writing habit that’s been consistent for years. When I’m deep in a project, I pick one single song and listen to it on repeat for months, sometimes even years, while writing. I don’t make playlists, though I do have some queued up. I don’t switch it up daily. I just loop that one track endlessly until, at some point, my brain naturally moves on to a new one. My most recent writing song has been on repeat for over two years now and still hasn’t changed. It sounds intense, but it helps me stay locked into the same emotional frequency and atmosphere while I’m working on Malmorthael. Whether it’s a sweeping Hans Zimmer cue or a heavy track from As I Lay Dying, that repetition becomes almost like a trance that keeps me in the world. Other than that, I’m pretty normal, no lucky mugs or cats on my lap required. Just me, the song on infinite loop, and the story.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Yes, I do. There’s one quote I keep coming back to, both in life and in my writing: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” That idea of radical loyalty and self-sacrifice sits at the core of Malmorthael. The story is filled with characters who are willing to burn everything down, including themselves, for the people they love. Brotherhood, in its deepest and most brutal form, is one of the central themes of the book. That quote captures the kind of love and devotion I find most powerful: not soft or sentimental, but fierce, costly, and unbreakable. It’s the philosophy that drives Malmorthael and the band of brothers through impossible odds.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

If I could choose just one thing for readers to take away from Malmorthael, it would be this: Throughout all trials and tribulations, there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. At its core, the book is about vengeance and loss, but it’s also deeply about the kind of loyalty that emerges in the darkest moments. The bond between Malmorthael and his band of brothers is forged through fire, blood, and impossible odds. It’s the idea that when everything else is stripped away, love, hope, even your own humanity, the right people will still stand beside you. That kind of fierce, unwavering friendship is rarer and more powerful than most grand ideals. That’s the heart I hope lingers with readers long after they close the book.

BUY THE BOOK

Pierce Novak is the author of the new book Malmorthael

Connect with Pierce Novak