10 science-fiction and fantasy releases you’re bound to fall for this February

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso

SFF readers who love stories with tough women in the spotlight will want to keep The Wolf of Oren-Yaro on their radar for this month. K.S. Villoso’s fantasy debut and the opening novel in the Chronicles of the Bitch Queen series, The Wolf of Oren-Yaro tells the tale of a queen whose legacy is shrouded in bloodshed. But even if her people despise her, she’ll need to find a way to repair her kingdom.

The queen in question is  Queen Talyien. Most of her glory comes from the War of Wolves, a bloody affair that ripped her nation to pieces. In an attempt to restore the peace, Talyien agrees to wed the son of her father’s rival. To her dismay, however, he leaves before they’re properly crowned — and all because she murdered someone the night before.

Talyien’s troubles only seem to escalate though, as her decisions come back to her years after:

"“Years later, Talyien receives a message, urging her to attend a meeting across the sea. It’s meant to be an effort at reconciliation, but an assassination attempt leaves the queen stranded and desperate to survive in a dangerous land. With no idea who she can trust, she’s on her own as she struggles to fight her way home.”"

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro sounds like a dark story full of political manuevering and betrayal, and what more could SFF fans possibly ask for? Villoso’s debut hits shelves on February 18, and it sounds like it could be the beginning of an incredibly compelling fantasy series.