TOP PICK
The Traitor Baru Cormorant
A young accountant named Baru Cormorant vows to dismantle the empire that colonized her homeland — from the inside, using only numbers, betrayal, and iron willpower. Seth Dickinson builds a fantasy of economic conquest and political savagery that feels brutally relevant to any era. If you want a book that trusts your intelligence and then punches you in the chest with it, this is the one to pick up this week.
MUST READ
A Memory Called Empire
Ambassador Mahit Dzmare arrives at the heart of a vast interstellar empire to find her predecessor is dead — and that she may be next, all while falling in love with the culture consuming her own. Arkady Martine's Hugo Award-winning debut is a dazzling meditation on colonialism, identity, and poetry woven into a thrillingly plotted mystery.
HIDDEN GEM
The House in the Cerulean Sea
A gentle, warm-hearted fantasy about a caseworker assigned to an island orphanage housing magical children — including the possible Antichrist — who finds belonging where he least expects it. If you need a book that feels like a soft blanket on a difficult day while still delivering genuine heart and wit, this cult favourite quietly delivers every time.
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YOUR WEEKLY GUIDE TO GREAT READS