12 spellbinding new science fiction and fantasy books to read this November
By Lacy Baugher
November 2021 release: A Psalm of Storms and Silence – Roseanne A. Brown
The highly anticipated sequel to last year’s fantasy hit A Song of Wraiths and Ruin, Roseanne A. Brown’s sequel A Paslm of Storms and Silence looks like it will be more than worth the wait.
An immersive fantasy inspired by West African folklore, the sequel continues Karina and Malik’s individual journies while expanding the larger world of their story and the threats facing their kingdom. The story picks up after the explosive ending of ASOWAR, with Karina on the run and Malik under Farid’s thumb at the palace.
Though circumstances dictate that the pair spend most of the book apart and on separate narrative paths, the use of one of my favorite fantasy romance tropes (talking to one another in dreams) means that their connection is still maintained. But when faced with a single, devastating choice – one that could destroy their relationship or the world entire, which will these two choose?
The official synopsis describes the sequel as follows.
"Karina lost everything after a violent coup left her without her kingdom or her throne. Now the most wanted person in Sonande, her only hope of reclaiming what is rightfully hers lies in a divine power hidden in the long-lost city of her ancestors. Meanwhile, the resurrection of Karina’s sister has spiraled the world into chaos, with disaster after disaster threatening the hard-won peace Malik has found as Farid’s apprentice. When they discover that Karina herself is the key to restoring balance, Malik must use his magic to lure her back to their side. But how do you regain the trust of someone you once tried to kill? As the fabric holding Sonande together begins to tear, Malik and Karina once again find themselves torn between their duties and their desires. And when the fate of everything hangs on a single, horrifying choice, they each must decide what they value most—a power that could transform the world, or a love that could transform their live"
A Psalm of Storms and Silence is available on November 2.