7 Highly Anticipated Debut Sci-Fi / Fantasy Titles of 2021

When boredom and frustration becomes an unfortunate side-effect of everyday life, escaping into literature can be a fun way to pass the time, especially when it transports you to realms of the unknown. No doubt, your desire to dive into far away places is stronger than ever, and thankfully this desire is shared by a host of brilliant new writers. Their enthralling stories show blistering creativity, and are often strikingly relevant to the world we live in.

Sci-fi, fantasy, and all the in-between remains the go-to place to deepen the understanding of ourselves and each other. It is indeed a time for us to wonder, to dream, and to expand our knowledge. Broadening imaginative horizons can be an enlightening experience no matter who you are, and here are just a few of the debut names fuelling that process in 2021.

The All-Consuming World by Cassandra Khaw

Publisher: Erewhon Books

Release Date: August 17

ISBN-13: 9781645660200

Cassandra Khaw is by no means a stranger to the world of storytelling, and has had stories and novellas published across numerous websites, including Clarkesworld and Apex Magazine.  She also writes for video games, and is a senior scriptwriter at Ubisoft, Montreal. In amongst this growing expanse of work, comes her debut full-length novel, which will be released later this year.

The All-Consuming World tells the story of a group of criminals, all female and a mix of machine and clone, who are forced to reconcile their differences and band together to rescue a former colleague. The caveat is that this takes them into the heart of the planet Dimmuborgir, where they battle against themselves and a legion of sentient spaceships, bent on wiping them out altogether. The odds are stacked against them.

The novel is said to be horrifying and provocative, and ideal for readers of Ann Leckie, Ursula Le Guin, and Kameron Hurley. Fans should also keep an eye out for Cassandra Khaw’s forthcoming novella, Nothing But Blackened Teeth, which will be released in October 2021.

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

Publisher: Tor Books / Pan Macmillan

Release Date: July 20

ISBN-13: 9781529043389 

Having also worked in the fields of diplomacy and international development, Asian-Australian, Shelly Parker-Chan has actively campaigned for LGBT rights and gender equality in Southeast Asia. In turn, humanity’s perception of gender is just one of the many themes covered in her debut novel, She Who Became the Sun. It looks to be one of the most engaging fantasy releases of this year.

The novel begins in China, 1345, and depicts a fascinating reimagining of real-life emperor and founder of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang. In this story, Zhu is killed during childhood by bandits, and his identity is assumed by his sister. Having initially been promised only nothingness in her life, this counterfeit Zhu commences a rise to power that has many obstacles, including a war against Mongolia and their most feared general. Alongside this, she must do whatever is necessary to assure that her secret, and her defiance of destiny, is kept safe.

The novel has already received a staggering response from critics and fellow writers, and its blending of historical events with a speculative premise promises to be a potent draw for readers.



The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: June 1

ISBN-13: 9781728229423

Rachel Griffin’s adoration of nature and the world around her is amply projected in her debut Young Adult novel, The Nature of Witches. One may be able to grasp more than a few parallels between fiction and reality as, whilst fantastical in nature, the novel appears very much in touch with our current global plight.

The climate is changing, which means the witches are losing control over their magical grip on the atmosphere. The only hope lies in Clara, a young Everwitch with immeasurable power who, due to the costly nature of her magic, wants nothing to do with her unfolding responsibility to save the world. When she falls for her trainer witch, Sang, and as the planet becomes ever more unstable, Clara must come to terms with her destiny and make whatever sacrifice necessary to save the Earth, before it is doomed forever.

Rachel Griffin is said to be a fresh new voice in the world of Young Adult fiction, and has received monumental praise from New York Times bestsellers, Adrienne Young and Shea Ernshaw.

The Offset by Calder Szewczak

Publisher: Angry Robot Books

Release Date: September 14

ISBN-13: 9780857669186

Calder Szewczak represents not one author, but two, and is composed of the duo, Emma Szewczak and Natasha C Calder. Both of these talented writers have published works in journals and fictional anthologies, and have joined forces to create a fascinating work of sci-fi which was recently picked up by Angry Robot Books.

In a dying overpopulated world, Professor Jac Boltanski leads a mission to plant genetically modified trees in radioactive Greenland. However, the operation proves more troublesome than expected, and problems also creep up in her personal life. Her daughter has a run-in with the law, and on her 18th birthday, a turbulent decision process grows ever near. The Offset ceremony is on the horizon, which means Jac’s daughter must choose which of her two mothers will die. It just so happens that the mother she hates is the one trying to save the world.

The Offset is said to be a horrifying and fascinating tale, and has received high praise from Inferior author, Angela Saini.

For The Wolf by Hannah Whitten

Publisher: Little Brown Book Group Limited

Release Date: June 17

ISBN-13: 9780356516363

Hannah Whitten’s highly imaginative writing in For the Wolf opens the door to not just one novel, but an entire series. For the Wolf serves as part one in the unfolding saga of The Wilderwood Books.

This opening book tells the story of Red, the only second-born daughter to exist in centuries. For this reason, her sole purpose is to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood. As Red is unable to control her powers and inadvertently hurt others, this comes as a relief. She is however misled by the legends. The Wolf in question is really a man, and her supposedly cursed magic might just be the only thing that can prevent the warped gods of her world from swallowing the earth whole.

The volume of positive reviews for this book makes it an eagerly awaited title for 2021. It has received praise from Publishers Weekly, as well as House of Salt and Sorrow author, Erin Craig, and Wicked Saints author, Emily A. Duncan.

The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Release date: June 8

ISBN-13: 9780062973146

Ava Reid earned some formidable credentials leading up to her writing debut, including a degree in political science which focuses on religion and ethnonationalism. She has also worked in a refugee resettlement organisation. Her novel, The Wolf and the Woodsman, is a fascinating mix of Hungarian History and Jewish mythology.

Young pagan, Evike, is betrayed by her fellow villagers, primarily on the grounds that she is the only woman without power. Furthermore, she is doomed to be sacrificed at the hands of The Holy Order of Woodsmen. After the convoy of Woodsmen soldiers are attacked by monsters, Evike is forced to strike an unlikely allegiance with the one-eyed Woodsman captain, who has a secret of his own. As a disgraced prince, he is tasked with fighting the ensuing corruption in his royal lineage, and Evike finds herself making a pact with him to stop the pagan-threatening plans that could destroy both their lives.

The acclaim for The Wolf and the Woodsman is vast, and includes praise from Sunday Times best seller, Samantha Shannon, and Hugo Award-winning author, Alex E. Harrow.

Among Thieves by M J Kuhn

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Release date: September 7

ISBN-13: 9781982142162

M J Kuhn is an office worker who used her spare time to bring her debut novel to life. Her hard work has paid off, and the book is ready for release later this year. 

Among Thieves is a fantasy tale which takes place in the dockside city of Scarrowwick, and tells the story of Ryia Cautella, a deadly and quick-witted warrior, who has been on the run for the past six years. Hot on her trails, is the Guildmaster, a powerful ruler who, no matter where Ryia hides, manages to deploy his servants in quick pursuit. When Ryia takes her fight to the heart of the Guildmaster’s Kingdom, she must assemble a team of liked-minded thieves to aid her in her quest. Her path to victory will by no means be a neat one, and there is no guarantee that her new allies can be trusted either.

Said to be ideal for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows, Among Thieves promises to be a gritty tale where magic collides with malice in spectacular fashion.