2 New Novels for Fantasy Fans

by MK French

Are you looking for solid fantasy novels to read? Then you will want to add these two books to your list. If you want a little more romance with your fantasy, check out my review of Romantasy novels from earlier this month.

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The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao

January 2026; Del Rey; 978-0593725023
audio, ebook, print (432 pages); fantasy 

The Elsewhere Express appears to those cast adrift, living lives without purpose. Raya had given up on her dream of being a songwriter when her brother died, and was swept up into the Elsewhere Express. She meets Q, an artist who lost his place in the world. They explore the train, finding its wonders and a stowaway who has a dark magic that could destroy it. 

Raya knew her purpose since birth was to be an organ donor for her older brother. When he died, she gave up her music dreams to attend medical school as he was expected to do. Q has a degenerative eye disease, making him desperate to capture the images he saw in dreams on canvas before his eyesight completely fails. The two meet on the train and discover its odd and whimsical nature. Songs are repair materials, thoughts or dreams can become building materials, paintings are doors, and time is an odd loop that doesn't quite make sense. The conductor is tasked with the safety of the passengers and keeping the train running for eternity, and helping passengers find a place and a job makes that happen. The stowaway creates rot on the train, and if it fails, everyone will die for good.

With high stakes like this, I was drawn in and had to know what odd thing would happen next, or how the staffers that Raya and Q meet play a role in what goes on. As the newcomers present when the stowaway comes on board, Raya and Q help the current and former conductor track down the interloper. Along the way, we learn more about Raya and Q, about the train itself, and ultimately what the stowaway is. There are so many fascinating concepts in the story, as well as the message that grief, guilt, and longing can become a weight that's impossible to carry alone. The continued message that extra baggage must be cast aside is repeated by staff, and it's only when Raya and Q tell each other about themselves that those feelings become less of a burden. Taking on entire burdens is a crushing weight, and it has literally meaning in this book. By sharing a task, it becomes manageable, and the impossible can happen. 

Buy The Elsewhere Express at Amazon

To Ride A Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose

January 2026; Del Rey; 978-0593498309
audio, ebook, print (464 pages); fantasy

Anequs excelled during her first year at Kuiper's Academy against all expectations. She and her dragon Kasaqua are headed home for the summer, along with Theod, the only other Native student at the Academy. It isn't as relaxing as she had hoped due to Anglish presence on Masquapaug. Anequs believes in her people's right to self-govern and live with their own customs. If this means a civil war, so be it.

This is the sequel to To Shape A Dragon's Breath.  This picks up right afterwards, though there's enough of a summary to understand the story if you missed the first one.  As the only two Native students, Anequs and Theod have eyes on their behavior all the time. Neither can represent themselves as the Anglish students would, but represent the entire Native population, regardless of the tribe they're from. With heavy Norse influence regarding governance, the Anglish start moving into Nack Island and the surrounding areas. Anequs, having a dragon, brought their attention to the area, as did a nearby coal seam. Open forest is "undeveloped" and therefore free for them to take, and they begin cracking down on gatherings as unlawful. The various tribes chafe against the changes, and many want to rebel and save their traditions; even courting,  who is eligible for marriage, trans identities, and what counts as education come under fire because it's not the "civilized" way of life.

The story touches on the larger political world and social mores more in this book. Anequs held herself separated from Anglish culture because she hoped to eventually go home and live out her life with her dragon. Her love life would be subject to gossip, her unique dragon breed always draws interest, and isolationist factions want to gain power for themselves. In the midst if this is learning all of her second year courses in a satisfactory manner and making connections for her future. It's a tall order, and makes for a relatively quiet yet eventful academic year. I enjoyed seeing the wider world here, and I think that makes me more like her roommate Jadi, who loves learning lore and languages. The different cultures of the world took different turns in this universe, yet are still recognizable once you figure out what it refers to.

Anequs generally doesn't bow to Anglish convention, which adds some stress to friendships and her love interests, as well as making enemies. She doesn't care about politics, but her very existence is political, with allies as well as those enemies. We end on a cliffhanger, and I hope we get a third book soon.

Buy To Ride A Rising Storm at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever. 

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