The Best New Fantasy and Sci Fi Books to Read in May 2023
The fantasy and science-fiction upcoming book releases lineup for May 2023 is frankly amazing!
With various established authors and fresh voices, these upcoming releases promise to enthrall and entice.
Whether you’re seeking heart-pounding action, mind-bending concepts, or richly imagined worlds, these May 2023 science fiction and fantasy upcoming book releases have something for every reader.
In this article, I’ll be providing the most anticipated new releases in these genres for May 2023.
So, prepare to stack your bookshelves and fill your carts with some of the best new science fiction and fantasy books hitting bookshelves this May!
Best New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Coming Out In May 2023.
1. Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini.
A strange and massive hole awaits the Adamura crew on Talos VII, a desolate world. They embark on a perilous mission to investigate the Anomaly, hoping to solve its mystery and origin.
But the trek is not easy, and each explorer has their own agenda and baggage. As they approach the edge of the pit, they also confront the shadows of their pasts in space.
Expected publication date: May 16th, 2023.
2. City of Vicious Night by Claire Winn.
On the outlaw planet Requiem, Asa and Riven are lovers and smugglers with dark secrets. A mysterious hacker targets their crew and reveals their connection to a destructive AI and a hidden plot.
To protect their friends and their home, they must enter a brutal contest for the leadership of a criminal faction. But as the stakes get higher, they face betrayal, danger, and doubt.
Expected publication date: May 23rd, 2023.
3. The Ferryman by Justin Cronin.
In a hidden island archipelago called Prospera, people live long and happy lives until their monitors show they are below 10 percent. Then they go to the Nursery, where they are made young again and lose their memories.
Proctor Bennett is a ferryman who helps people retire peacefully. But he has a problem: he dreams, which is forbidden in Prospera. His monitor also drops fast, and his father tells him something strange before retiring.
Proctor learns that Prospera is a lie, and that there is a group of rebels called the Arrivalists who want to change things. He joins them on a risky quest to reveal the truth and liberate the people of Prospera.
Expected publication date: May 2nd, 2023.
4. Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara.
A prophecy foretells that Psyche, a princess with a hero’s heart, will confront a fearsome monster. Aphrodite, jealous of Psyche’s beauty, sends her son Eros to curse her with a doomed love.
But Eros falls victim to his own arrow and becomes Psyche’s lover. Together, they must face the wrath of the gods and the trials of fate.
This fantasy book coming out in May 2023 promises to deliver a stunning retelling of the classic myth that explores what it means to be a hero and to trust in love.
Expected publication date: May 25th, 2023.
5. All the Dead Lie Down by Kyrie McCauley.
After losing her parents in a tragic accident, Marin Blythe accepts a job as a nanny for Alice Lovelace, a renowned horror writer and an old acquaintance of her mother.
She moves to Lovelace House, a secluded estate in Maine, where she meets Alice’s three daughters: Thea, who holds funerals for her dolls; Wren, who resents her presence; and Evie, who intrigues her with her enigmatic beauty.
But Marin soon discovers that Lovelace House is haunted by more than just stories. She finds mutilated animals in the forest, dead birds in her bedroom, and sinister secrets about the family’s past. Marin must confront the horrors of love and grief before they destroy her in this gothic romance.
Expected publication date: May 16, 2023.
DISCOVER WHY MILLIONS CHOOSE SCRIBD
During your two-month free trial, you’ll have access to personalized recommendations, an easy-to-use mobile app, and the latest and greatest titles as soon as they’re released. Plus, you’ll save money with their all-you-can-read subscription model, which makes reading more affordable than ever.
6. Of Light and Shadow by Tanaz Bhathena.
Tanaz Bhathena’s epic fantasy novel is set in a world inspired by 17th century India, where magic and politics collide. Roshan Chaya is the leader of the Shadow Clan, a group of rebels who seek justice for the oppressed people of Jwala.
Prince Navin is the queen’s second son, who feels alienated from his royal family. When Roshan captures Navin, he learns the truth about the governor’s cruelty and his grandmother’s corruption.
As they spend time together, they develop feelings that threaten their allegiances and convictions. This fantasy novel set to be released in May 2023 explores love, identity, and justice in a turbulent world.
Expected publication date: May 23rd, 2023.
7. Court of the Undying Seasons by A.M. Strickland.
When Fin takes her lover’s place in the Finding, she enters a world of danger and temptation at Castle Courtsheart, a vampire school where humans can become vampires, thralls, or corpses.
She plans to kill the vampires who took her mother, but she also can’t resist Gavron, her enigmatic vampire maker. As she explores her new identity and powers, she discovers a deadly secret that could destroy both races.
Expected publication date: May 16th, 2023.
8. The Secret of the Moon Conch by David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall.
A magical conch shell links Sitlali and Calizto, two young lovers from different worlds. She is a modern-day Mexican girl on the run from a gang leader and looking for her father. He is an Aztec warrior in 1521, defending his city from the Spanish conquerors. Through the conch, they comfort and inspire each other, but they also face many dangers and challenges. Will they ever find a way to be together? This is a thrilling fantasy romance about finding love across time and space.
Expected publication date: May 16th, 2023.
9. Transmogrify! by Various YA Authors.
If you love fantasy and trans and gender nonconforming stories, you’ll adore Transmogrify!
This anthology features fourteen enchanting stories by some of the best writers in the genre, who explore the themes of identity, change, and belonging through magical elements.
You’ll meet unforgettable characters who face challenges, discover secrets, and find love in worlds where anything can happen.
Transmogrify! is a perfect companion for fans of All Out and Cemetery Boys, and a celebration of the diversity and wonder of trans and gender nonconforming experiences.
Expected publication date: May 16th, 2023.
DISCOVER WHY MILLIONS CHOOSE SCRIBD
During your two-month free trial, you’ll have access to personalized recommendations, an easy-to-use mobile app, and the latest and greatest titles as soon as they’re released. Plus, you’ll save money with their all-you-can-read subscription model, which makes reading more affordable than ever.
10. Saint Juniper’s Folly by Alex Crespo.
Alex Crespo’s debut is a queer haunted house mystery that mixes Cemetery Boys with The Haunting of Bly Manor. Jaime, a foster kid with a painful past, returns to Saint Juniper and lands in a haunted mansion in the woods.
Theo, a stifled local, stumbles upon Jaime and his spectral pals. Taylor, a witch who lost her mom, feels their cry for help. They must confront their personal struggles and join forces to break free from the Folly’s spell. This May 2023 upcoming book release is a thrilling, heartwarming, and romantic tribute to found family.
Expected publication date: May 16th, 2023.
11. The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman.
Abandoned by her father in Kirkpool, Selly dreams of sailing the north seas. But her plans are interrupted by a marked magician who hires her ship for a secret mission.
He wants to reach the Isles of the Gods and perform a ritual that could unleash two powerful beings from their long sleep. On their journey, they encounter danger, deception, and desire, as they become involved in a war that could shatter two countries.
This is a captivating fantasy tale full of magic, romance, and slumbering gods by the bestselling author of the Aurora Cycle.
Expected publication date: May 2nd, 2023.
12. The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro.
Emile escapes from his aunt who wants him to marry a woman or lose his inheritance. He hides as a servant for the Montonis, a family with a mysterious affliction and a hidden enemy.
There, he meets Henri, the count’s charming nephew, and a doctor who suspects a murder on the property. His aunt finds him and drags him to Udolpho Castle, a secluded and perilous location.
Now, Emile has to face the Montoni family’s dangers and secrets to protect his life and his love.
Expected publication date: May 30th, 2023.
13. Earth Called by P. C. Cast.
The God of Death is on the march, determined to conquer and destroy everything in his path, and Mari, Nik and their friends must stop him before it’s too late.
But they are not alone. Ralina, Death’s Storyteller, has escaped his clutches and joined the Goddess of Life.
Together, they rally gods, humans, and animals for a final showdown. Love and goodness will be put to the ultimate test in this epic fantasy finale of the Tales of a New World series.
Expected publication date: May 30th, 2023.
14. A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand.
In a world where magic is a gift from the gods, Gemma Ashbourne is an outcast. She has no magic of her own, and her family ignores her.
She longs for love and acceptance, and she finds it in Talan d’Astier, a handsome rogue with a dark past. He offers her a deal: he will teach her how to survive in high society, and she will help him kill the demon that cursed his family and started a blood feud with hers.
But as they get closer to their goal, Gemma realizes that she has a powerful magic inside her that could either save them or doom them. Now, she must decide whether to follow her heart or her duty.
Expected publication date: May 9th, 2023.
15. Revelations by Bella Higgin.
After a deadly attack on Belle Morte, a place where vampires and their donors coexist, Renie Mayfield becomes a vampire herself. She suffers from the painful transformation and the loss of her sister June, who ran away as a rabid vampire.
She also cares for Edmond Dantes, the vampire who turned her and who is now facing the council’s wrath for his actions.
Renie is on a mission to uncover the truth and justice behind the violence and corruption at Belle Morte.
Expected publication date: May 9th, 2023.
16. Painted Devils by Margaret Owen.
When Vanja Schmidt uncovers a deadly curse and falls in love with Emeric Conrad, a Junior Prefect, she hopes to leave her thieving past behind and find her long-lost family.
But her plans go awry when she invents a god, the Scarlet Maiden, to escape a sticky situation. The Scarlet Maiden becomes a cult phenomenon and demands Emeric as a virgin sacrifice.
Emeric must judge if Vanja is a fraud or a prophet, while Vanja searches for a way to save him. Along the way, they face beasts, deities, and revelations that test their love and loyalty.
Expected publication date: May 16th, 2023.
DISCOVER WHY MILLIONS CHOOSE SCRIBD
During your two-month free trial, you’ll have access to personalized recommendations, an easy-to-use mobile app, and the latest and greatest titles as soon as they’re released. Plus, you’ll save money with their all-you-can-read subscription model, which makes reading more affordable than ever.
17. The Iron Vow by Julie Kagawa.
In Evenfall, a land of Nightmares and dwindling magic, Meghan and her companions face their greatest challenge yet. They must locate the Nightmare King and stop his plan to destroy Faery.
But along the way, they uncover shocking truths that will change everything they know.
With time running out and enemies closing in, they have one last chance to save two worlds from the twilight of doom.
Expected publication date: May 9th, 2023.
I hope you enjoyed this roundup of some of the best YA books coming out in May 2023. There’s something for every taste and mood in this list, so you absolutely do not want to miss out on these amazing stories and support these authors by pre-ordering their books.
And if you want to explore May 2023 book releases in other genres, here are a few links for you:
