hello, bookworms!

Here’s a look into Spiral’s most anticipated speculative titles for April. This cohort is pretty well-rounded—we’ve got everything from horror to Afrofuturism, folklore retellings to Tolkien-tinged fantasy. Have a peek below and let me know which ones you’re the most excited about!

Also, everything is fucked, and I wanted to invite you to join me at the Hands Off protest in April. I have a lot of complicated thoughts about what kinds of activism are the most useful, but I do think a mass mobilization like this is good. And for it to work, there needs to be bodies. Lots of ‘em. That’s the point (or, should be the point) of a peaceful protest like this—to say, “look how many people we can get in the streets. Imagine if it weren’t so peaceful. Imagine if this were a riot.”

I can’t speak for all the events—as this is a grassroots effort of Indivisible—but Reclaim and a few other good orgs are partnered with the Philly action, so I think it’s worth your time <3

MOST ANTICIPATED FOR APRIL 2025

The Ephemera Collector by Stacy Nathaniel Johnson

A homage to Octavia E. Butler—one of Spiral’s absolute favorites—from a debut author. A groundbreaking work of Afrofuturism, this near-future mosaic features prose, poetry, memos, advertisements, and dream journal entries from a tenacious archivist dedicated to saving her library. You’ve never read anything like this, I promise.

• grab a copy: Spiral | Bookshop.org | LibroFM

Faithbreaker by Hannah Kaner

The stunning conclusion to one of Spiral’s most beloved fantasy trilogies is nearly here! Each book in this series has been fresh yet familiar and beautifully crafted; Faithbreaker is no exception. Kaner masterfully brings this fantastic story to a beautiful and satisfying close. If you haven’t read the Fallen Gods series yet, truly idk what you’re waiting for.

• grab a copy: Spiral | Bookshop.org | LibroFM

Sour Cherry by Natalia Theodoridou

Obviously we love a folklore retelling ‘round these parts, and Theodoridou’s take on Bluebeard in Sour Cherry follows in the tradition of Carmen Maria Machado and Kelly Link—exactly our taste. Twisted into a razor-sharp take on modern toxic masculinity, this debut is a warning, a whisper and a strange dream all at once.

• grab a copy: Spiral | Bookshop.org | LibroFM

Notes from a Regicide by Isaac Fellman

A multigenerational saga set in a distant (but all too familiar) future, Notes from a Regicide is a triumphant tale of trans love, found family and resistance. Fellman examines how we can be both healed and hurt by the ones we love the most in this heartbreaking story of trans discovery. The speculative twist makes this book even more fantastic.

• grab a copy: Spiral | Bookshop.org | LibroFM

A Palace Near the Wind by Ai Jiang

Nghi Vo fans, this one’s for you. And for anyone interested in a gorgeous yet brutal sci-fi novella about family, loss, oppression and rebellion. There’s something distinctly Ghibli meets Tolkien here—in the best way possible—that creates a truly moving piece of fiction. Enchanting and otherworldly.

• grab a copy: Spiral | Bookshop.org

Eat the Ones You Love by Sarah Maria Griffin

Weird as hell, dark as a black diamond. Workplace affairs and plants with a taste for human flesh are somehow the perfect companions in Griffin’s latest. I particularly love the theme of suburban gothic we see in this novel; it pairs so well with the characters and the storyline. Lush, eerie, sapphic.

• grab a copy: Spiral | Bookshop.org | LibroFM

Bat Eater and Other Names For Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker

An unsettling adult debut from a YA author whose titles were always popular on Spiral’s shelves. A compelling look into the racism that ran rampant during COVID, Bat Eater uses Chinese folklore to explore quite a few hefty themes—grief, mental illness and memory, just to name a few. A startling and memorable piece of horror fiction.

• grab a copy: Spiral | Bookshop.org | LibroFM

Holy Wrath by Victoria Mier

Okay, don’t hate me for including my own book! A gothic sapphic fantasy, Holy Wrath explores themes of religious trauma and queer resilience amid a richly rendered world. At its core, Holy Wrath is about what happens when two women decide they no longer want equality once they’ve tasted revenge. I’m biased, but I’m pretty proud of this one!

• grab a copy: Amazon (signed physical copies to come!)

hungry for more?

I’m trying to get back into a better rhythm of posting on Spiral’s Instagram account. (Life is hard, I am tired.) I recently finished up Mimi Matthews’ Rules for Ruin, which releases in May, and posted a little TikTok-style reel about it—because, spoiler, I absolutely loved it! Here’s a link to that reel to learn more.

currently reading

The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy. This novel is a refreshing take on some common fantasy elements, made into something quite special by Killjoy. I haven’t finished just yet, but I’m really enjoying this book so far. Any fiction that combines trans identity with witchcraft is always going to pique my interest; The Sapling Cage has been a utter delight thus far.

places to go, people to see!

I’ll be at Capricorn Books and A Novel Idea in April for some super cool events. I included some info below for you to check them out—I’d love to see you there :)

FANTASY AUTHOR PANEL
Capricorn Books - Friday, April 4, 2025
$10 ticket | 7-9 PM

Join me and three other amazing fantasy authors—Katrina N. Lewis, Frankie Diane Mallis, and Sheila Masterson—for a spellbinding evening! Enjoy a panel on how romance fantasy books aren’t just an escape—they can also be a roadmap to revolution and better worlds. We’ll also have delicious treats, merrymaking and a costume contest—so break out that Ren Faire outfit you’ve been dying to wear again! All ticket proceeds benefit The Attic Youth Center. Click here to grab yours!

HOLY WRATH LAUNCH PARTY
A Novel Idea - Friday, April 18, 2025
$5 ticket | 6 PM

Celebrate Holy Wrath and femme rage in fantasy with some of my favorite writers: Katie Jamila, Sheila Masterson and Christina Rosso-Schneider! We’ll have a panel on how we incorporate femme rage into our books—and of course, why we do it—and then answer your burning questions. Afterwards, there will be a book signing and hangout <3 A portion of the ticket proceeds benefit the Brigid Alliance. Click here to join us!

Stay safe in these dark, troubling days. Find refuge between the pages. Seek community. Hold each other close.

all my love,
Victoria