Jeremy Jacobson

Resonant

Maren Chase

Exclusive Edition

Bookshop

Paperback

Amazon

Buy Direct

eBook

> “Vita’s rage overflowed until she was prepared to drown in it, and she knew that she would never again dam this anger to please another.”

After nine years as the people’s beloved princess in the sun-soaked Kingdom of Carca, Vita witnesses the execution of her mother by her father’s hand. Forced into exile, Vita fades into obscurity with her only friends—the crows that visit her window.

Eleven years later, Vita is given a choice: marry an enemy general, granting him legitimacy to take the throne, or die as the forgotten princess. With time running out, Vita meets Soline, an intriguing lady-in-waiting who introduces her to the powerful—but unstable magic of alchemy.

**If Vita and Soline can learn to control it—and the undeniable spark between them—they could burn the world of men to the ground.**

*Crueler Mercies* is an epic sapphic revenge fantasy brimming with magic and molten-hot rage.

Crueler Mercies

***“Vita’s rage overflowed until she was prepared to drown in it, and she knew that she would never again dam this anger to please another.”***

After nine years as the people’s beloved princess in the sun-soaked Kingdom of Carca, Vita witnesses the execution of her mother by her father’s hand. Forced into exile, Vita fades into obscurity with her only friends—the crows that visit her window.

Eleven years later, Vita is given a choice: marry an enemy general, granting him legitimacy to take the throne, or die as the forgotten princess. With time running out, Vita meets Soline, an intriguing lady-in-waiting who introduces her to the powerful-but-unstable magic of alchemy.

If Vita and Soline can learn to control it—and the undeniable spark between them—they could burn the world of men to the ground.

S. Hati

**Amid the chaos of a dying city ruled by colonizers, three rivals—a thief, a slumlord, and an heiress—race to find a hidden cache of magic that will decide the city’s fate.**

In the occupied city of *Tejomaya*, calor—a magical fossil fuel—is found only in the blood rains that fall from the sky. While a six-month drought has brought *Tejomaya* to a desperate standstill, rumors of a secret stash of magic propel three unlikely treasure seekers to risk everything.

**Tenacious and street-smart *Zain Jatav* has been forced to steal calor for her slumlord bosses for years.** Finding the magic reserve might be her only key to freedom. But she’ll have to contend with *Iravan Khotar*, a slumlord himself and an ambitious revolutionary hoping to use the same magic to save his people from the mysterious illness devastating the slums—and to bolster a fight against their oppressors. Meanwhile, heiress *Anastasia Drakos* leads the ruling council of *Tejomaya* from the safety of a nearby island. With the hidden magic, she could finally take full control of the city and crush the slums beneath her unyielding fist.

As *Zain*, *Iravan*, and *Anastasia* draw closer to finding the treasure, their paths tangle, and not for the first time—they met before, a decade ago, in a fire that destroyed each of their lives in different ways. Their reunion might bring the already-weakened city to its knees.

**Exploring the devastating mechanisms of power, this searing climate fantasy breathes life into a crumbling world hovering on the brink of total destruction.**

Amid the chaos of a dying city ruled by colonizers, three rivals―a thief, a slumlord, and an heiress―race to find a hidden cache of magic that will decide the city’s fate.

And the Sky Bled

**Amid the chaos of a dying city ruled by colonizers, three rivals―a thief, a slumlord, and an heiress―race to find a hidden cache of magic that will decide the city’s fate.**

In the occupied city of Tejomaya, calor―a magical fossil fuel―is found only in the blood rains that fall from the sky. While a six-month drought has brought Tejomaya to a desperate standstill, rumors of a secret stash of magic propel three unlikely treasure seekers to risk everything.

Tenacious and street-smart Zain Jatav has been forced to steal calor for her slumlord bosses for years. Finding the magic reserve might be her only key to freedom. But she’ll have to contend with Iravan Khotar, a slumlord himself and an ambitious revolutionary hoping to use the same magic to save his people from the mysterious illness devastating the slums―and to bolster a fight against their oppressors. Meanwhile, heiress Anastasia Drakos leads the ruling council of Tejomaya from the safety of a nearby island. With the hidden magic, she could finally take full control of the city and crush the slums beneath her unyielding fist.

As Zain, Iravan, and Anastasia draw closer to finding the treasure, their paths tangle, and not for the first time―they met before, a decade ago, in a fire that destroyed each of their lives in different ways. Their reunion might bring the already-weakened city to its knees.

Exploring the devastating mechanisms of power, this searing climate fantasy breathes life into a crumbling world hovering on the brink of total destruction.

All Fantasy & Frens Book Club books are listed here for easy access. If you purchase a book from this list, I earn a small commission. Thanks for your support, Frens! 

Fantasy & Frens Book Club Picks

Fantasy & Frens Titles

My Favorite Books of 2025!

Cara Bastone

How do you find yourself after you lose the one you loved the most? 

Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again, in this heartwarming, slow-burn romance by the author of *Ready or Not*. 

Lenny’s a bit of a mess at the moment. Ever since cancer stole away her best friend, she has been completely lost. She’s avoiding her concerned parents, the apartment she shared with her best friend, and the ever-laminated “live again” list of things she’s promised to do to survive her grief. But maybe if she acts like she has it all together, no one will notice she’s falling apart. 

The only gigs she can handle right now are temporary babysitting jobs, and she just landed a great one, helping overworked, single mom Reese and her precocious daughter, Ainsley. The only catch: Ainsley’s uncle, Miles, always seems to be around and is kind of… a walking version of the grumpy cat meme. Worse—he seems to be able to see right through her. 

Surprisingly, Miles knows a lot about grief and he offers Lenny a proposition. He’ll help her complete everything on her “live again” list if she’ll help him connect with Ainsley and overcome his complicated relationship with Reese. Lenny doubts anything can fill the void her best friend has left behind, but between late night ferry rides, midnight ramen, and a well-placed shoulder whenever she needs it, Miles just won’t stop showing up for her. 

Turns out, sometimes your life has to end to find your new beginning.

Promise Me Sunshine: A Novel (Dial Delights)

How do you find yourself after you lose the one you loved the most? Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again, in this heartwarming, slow-burn romance by the author of Ready or Not.Lenny’s a bit of a mess at the moment. Ever since cancer stole away her best friend, she has been completely lost. She’s avoiding her concerned parents, the apartment she shared with her best friend, and the ever-laminated “live again” list of things she’s promised to do to survive her grief. But maybe if she acts like she has it all together, no one will notice she’s falling apart.The only gigs she can handle right now are temporary babysitting jobs, and she just landed a great one, helping overworked, single mom Reese and her precocious daughter, Ainsley. The only catch: Ainsley’s uncle, Miles, always seems to be around, and is kind of. . . a walking version of the grumpy cat meme. Worse – he seems to be able to see right through her.Surprisingly, Miles knows a lot about grief and he offers Lenny a proposition. He’ll help her complete everything on her “live again” list if she’ll help him connect with Ainsley and overcome his complicated relationship with Reese. Lenny doubts anything can fill the void her best friend has left behind, but between late night ferry rides, midnight ramen, and a well-placed shoulder whenever she needs it, Miles just won’t stop showing up for her. Turns out, sometimes your life has to end to find your new beginning.

Part of: Dial Delights (16 books)

Becky Chambers

Hardcover

A USA Today Bestseller! 

> “Tender and healing... I’m prescribing a preorder to anyone who has ever felt lost. Stunning, kind, necessary.” —Sarah Gailey on book 1: *A Psalm for the Wild-Built*. 

*A Prayer for the Crown-Shy* is a story of kindness and love from one of the foremost practitioners of hopeful SF. 

After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) and Mosscap (a robot sent on a quest to determine what humanity really needs) turn their attention to the villages and cities of the little moon they call home. 

They hope to find the answers they seek, while making new friends, learning new concepts, and experiencing the entropic nature of the universe. 

Becky Chambers's new series continues to ask: in a world where people have what they want, does having more even matter?

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy: A Monk and Robot Book (Monk & Robot, 2)

A USA Today Bestseller!. “Tender and healing... I’m prescribing a preorder to anyone who has ever felt lost. Stunning, kind, necessary.” ―Sarah Gailey on book 1: A Psalm for the Wild-Built. A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is a story of kindness and love from one of the foremost practitioners of hopeful SF.. After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) and Mosscap (a robot sent on a quest to determine what humanity really needs) turn their attention to the villages and cities of the little moon they call home.. They hope to find the answers they seek, while making new friends, learning new concepts, and experiencing the entropic nature of the universe.. Becky Chambers's new series continues to ask: in a world where people have what they want, does having more even matter?

Book 2 of 2: Monk & Robot

by         Becky Chambers        (Author)

Evan Leikam

An unlikely assassin struggles to escape a legendary bounty hunter in this breakneck fantasy debut that will grab you by the throat—perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie, R.F. Kuang, and Christopher Buehlman. 

She killed for a cause. Will she die for it too? Anji works as a castle servant, cleaning laundry for a king she hates. So when a rare opportunity presents itself, she seizes the chance to cut his throat. Then she runs for her life. In her wake, the kingdom is thrown into disarray, while a bounty bigger than anyone could imagine lands on her head. 

On her heels are the fabled mercenaries of the Menagerie, whose animal-shaped masks are magical relics rumored to give them superhuman powers. It’s the Hawk who finds Anji first: a surly, aging swordswoman who has her own reasons for keeping Anji alive and out of the hands of her fellow bounty hunters, if only long enough to collect the reward herself. 

With the rest of the Menagerie on their trail, so begins an alliance as tenuous as it is temporary—and a race against death that will decide Anji’s fate, and may change the course of a kingdom.

Anji Kills a King (The Rising Tide, 1)

An unlikely assassin struggles to escape a legendary bounty hunter in this breakneck fantasy debut that will grab you by the throat―perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie, R.F. Kuang, and Christopher Buehlman.. She killed for a cause. Will she die for it too?. Anji works as a castle servant, cleaning laundry for a king she hates. So when a rare opportunity presents itself, she seizes the chance to cut his throat. Then she runs for her life. In her wake, the kingdom is thrown into disarray, while a bounty bigger than anyone could imagine lands on her head.. On her heels are the fabled mercenaries of the Menagerie, whose animal-shaped masks are magical relics rumored to give them superhuman powers. It’s the Hawk who finds Anji first: a surly, aging swordswoman who has her own reasons for keeping Anji alive and out of the hands of her fellow bounty hunters, if only long enough to collect the reward herself.. With the rest of the Menagerie on their trail, so begins an alliance as tenuous as it is temporary―and a race against death that will decide Anji’s fate, and may change the course of a kingdom.

Book 1 of 1: The Rising Tide

Winner of the Hugo Award!

In *A Psalm for the Wild-Built*, bestselling Becky Chambers's delightful new Monk and Robot series gives us hope for the future. 

It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend. 

One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of “what do people need?” is answered. 

But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how. They’re going to need to ask it a lot. 

Becky Chambers's new series asks: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?

A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot, 1)

Winner of the Hugo Award!In A Psalm for the Wild-Built, bestselling Becky Chambers's delightful new Monk and Robot series, gives us hope for the future.. It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend.. One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered. . But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how.. They're going to need to ask it a lot.. Becky Chambers's new series asks: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?

Book 1 of 2: Monk & Robot

Ali Hazelwood

This special first edition will have striking cover effects, beautiful interior cover art, and stenciled edges! A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of *The Love Hypothesis*.

**Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream.** A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.

**Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline.** It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.

**So they start an arrangement.** And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water...

Deep End

This special first edition will have striking cover effects, beautiful interior cover art, and stenciled edges!. A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.. Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.   Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.   So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water...

A hot one-night stand—and an unexpected pregnancy—lead a young woman to someone she can depend on, from the viral TikTok author of Next of Kin and Next to You.“A beautiful love story, full of joy from beginning to end!”—New York Times bestselling author Sarah AdamsAN ELLE BEST BOOK OF THE YEARWinnifred “Win” McNulty has always been wildly independent and not one to be coddled for her limb difference. Win has spent most of her life trying to prove that she can do it all on her own. With some minor adjustments, she’s done just fine.Hooking up at a costume party with the incredibly charming Bo changes everything. Win finds herself pregnant—and decides to keep the baby. While Bo is surprisingly elated to step up to the plate, Win is unsure of whether she can handle this new challenge.Together, Win and Bo decide to get to know one another as friends and nothing more while they embark on this parenting journey together. But, as they both should know by now, life rarely goes according to plan.

Out on a Limb: A Novel

Suzanne Collins

The phenomenal fifth book in the *Hunger Games* series!

Sunrise on the Reaping revisits the world of Panem twenty-four years before the events of *The Hunger Games*, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel)

The phenomenal fifth book in the Hunger Games series!Sunrise on the Reaping revisits the world of Panem twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

by        Suzanne Collins        (Author)

From Alix E. Harrow, the New York Times bestselling author of Starling House, comes a moving and genre-defying quest about the lady-knight whose legend built a nation, and the cowardly historian sent back through time to make sure she plays her part–even if it breaks his heart.Sir Una Everlasting was Dominion’s greatest hero: the orphaned girl who became a knight, who died for queen and country. Her legend lives on in songs and stories, in children’s books and recruiting posters—but her life as it truly happened has been forgotten.Centuries later, Owen Mallory—failed soldier, struggling scholar—falls in love with the tale of Una Everlasting. Her story takes him to war, to the archives—and then into the past itself. Una and Owen are tangled together in time, bound to retell the same story over and over again, no matter what it costs.But that story always ends the same way. If they want to rewrite Una’s legend—if they want to tell a different story--they’ll have to rewrite history itself."Alix E. Harrow is an exceptional, undeniable talent." —Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six"An utter masterpiece… I loved every single page." —Rachel Gillig, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of One Dark WindowAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

The Everlasting

Elaine Ho

In a broken system, do you save yourself or fight for the people you love?

With the godspower waning, the queen of Ashvi has had to find another way to bolster her fight against her imperialist oppressors. The solution: wrenching children of other cultures from their homes and conscripting them into service.

Hammer was one of those children. Now, she’s a jaded soldier waging Ashvi’s perpetual war, thinking only of her own survival. But when she accidentally rescues Viridian, a child with rare and potentially devastating powers, her priorities shift. The girl appears to be the answer to the queen’s prayers—the perfect weapon to restore her kingdom’s ancient borders, even if the colonized cities they reconquer don’t want her version of liberation. Can Hammer protect Viridian from the system that broke her . . . before the girl’s power is unleashed on the world?

*Cry, Voidbringer* is a gripping saga of how far one will go for freedom and control—and how easily it can all be taken away.

*Cry, Voidbringer* is a gripping saga of how far one will go for freedom and control—and how easily it can all be taken away.

Cry, Voidbringer

In a broken system, do you save yourself or fight for the people you love?

With the godspower waning, the queen of Ashvi has had to find another way to bolster her fight against her imperialist oppressors. The solution: wrenching children of other cultures from their homes and conscripting them into service.

Hammer was one of those children. Now, she’s a jaded soldier waging Ashvi’s perpetual war, thinking only of her own survival. But when she accidentally rescues Viridian, a child with rare and potentially devastating powers, her priorities shift. The girl appears to be the answer to the queen’s prayers—the perfect weapon to restore her kingdom’s ancient borders, even if the colonized cities they reconquer don’t want her version of liberation. Can Hammer protect Viridian from the system that broke her . . . before the girl’s power is unleashed on the world?

Cry, Voidbringer is a gripping saga of how far one will go for freedom and control—and how easily it can all be taken away.

Tempest's Queen

Orange Wine

Fantasy and Frens Default

Fantasy & Frens is publishing epic stories that will appeal to new and seasoned fantasy readers.

Fantasy & Frens

Zoranne Host is a book reviewer who shares her love for fantasy with over 100,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Zoranne has a highly engaged audience, and is the founder of the online fantasy book club Fantasy & Frens, one of the largest groups on Fable with over 8,400 members.

Zoranne Host

During this phase, we're reviewing manuscripts and deciding which book we want to publish. At the end of this phase, we offer an author a book deal.

Consideration

As the manuscript goes through several phases of editorial work, the cover and interior design takes place, while format decisions about paper stocks and printing treatments are made.

Editorial & Design

While the books are on press, the pre-order links go live and the marketing campaign ramps up with waves of review copy mailings to media and influencers.

Pre-order

The finished copies have released on the book's publication date. Go give it some love!

Published

amazon

bookshop

I am the founder of the online fantasy book club Fantasy & Frens, one of the largest groups on Fable with over 12,700 members. Building a tight-knit community has been the most rewarding part of being a bookish content creator. Some of my favorite books are *The Way of Kings* by Brandon Sanderson, *Jade City* by Fonda Lee, *The Sword of Kaigen* by M. L. Wang, and *The Shadow of the Gods* by John Gwynne.