12 new SFF books to help beat back the January blues

Infinity Son – Adam Silvera

In this urban fantasy, author Adam Silvera delves into the lives of two brothers, both who idolized the Spell Walkers, a vigilante group fighting against a group known as specters. (Not the James Bond variety, sorry, these guys steal the essences of creatures and people with magical abilities.) Brighton very much wants to be a “celestial” himself and join in the fight. But when his brother Emil is the one who manifests the power of phoenix fire, their bond will be tested in completely new ways as they find themselves caught in the middle of a magical war.

Infinity Son meshes a politically charged premise with serious emotional stakes, building a rich and complicated world where magical abilities exist alongside things like Instagram and YouTube, but technology can be infused with otherworldly extras (i.e. Gem grenades).

Where will the story go from here? And which side will Brighton and Emily end up on in the end?

The official synopsis describes the story in greater detail.

"Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers—a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures. Brighton wishes he had a power so he could join the fray. Emil just wants the fighting to stop. The cycle of violence has taken a toll, making it harder for anyone with a power to live peacefully and openly. In this climate of fear, a gang of specters has been growing bolder by the day. Then, in a brawl after a protest, Emil manifests a power of his own—one that puts him right at the heart of the conflict and sets him up to be the heroic Spell Walker Brighton always wanted to be. Brotherhood, love, and loyalty will be put to the test, and no one will escape the fight unscathed."

Infinity Son is available on January 14.