New in fantasy this week: 4 Books, 2 LARPing events, 3 fantasy conventions and a series, plus the latest in fantasy news
High fantasy for free, a bit of Pinocchio and you VS Tolkien’s creatures of the North. These are some of the most exciting things happening in fantasy this week – 23–29 April 2023. From fantasy books to series, LARPing to conventions across the US and Canada, Buckinghamshire to Uitenhage, Australia and everywhere in between.
Fantasy News: 10 Things Happening in Fantasy this Week
Fantasy Tuesday 25 April
In The Lives Of Puppets
TJ Klune, 25 April 2023
In the brand-new standalone novel In the Lives of Puppets, TJ Klune weaves a darkly fantastical retelling of Pinocchio. When fatherly inventor droid Gio, who lives in hiding with two other droids and a human named Vic, reactivates an old droid named “HAP” from back in his human-hunting days, Hap accidentally alerts acquaintances from Gio’s former life – and they come to take him away. Now, Vic, Hap and the others must go on a perilous journey through a strange, wonderful and dangerous sci-fi-fantasy world to find Gio and bring him back.
Genres Fantasy, Science Fiction, LGBTQ, Adult, Retellings, Romance
Author TJ Klune | Home born Oregon; lives Virginia, US
Publisher Pan Macmillan | Buy it
A Sleight Of Shadows
Kat Howard, 25 April 2023
The second book in Kat Howard’s amazing An Unkindness of Magicians urban fantasy, A Sleight of Shadows sees Sydney, once one of the world’s most dangerous magicians, completely drained of magic after spending it all to stop the corruption in the Unseen World. Problem is the House of Shadows in New York is rebuilding itself and the Unseen World, forcing Sydney into a desperate move to regain her spent magic, but at what cost? We find out in Kat Howard’s A Sleight of Shadows.
Genres Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Adult, Magic, Science Fiction Fantasy
Author Kat Howard Home Minnesota, US
Publisher Gallery / Saga Press | Buy it
Night Angel Nemesis
Brent Weeks, 25 April 2023
Brand-new from Brent Weeks, a return to the world of Night Angel in the all-new The Kylar Chronicles series, but with a twist. Night Angel Nemesis sees Kylar Stern fatigued from all the war and bloodshed, ready to hang up his assassin’s robes – except for one last job. To keep the fragile peace, High King Logan Gyre needs a trusted ally to secure a magical item, and who is better suited than his friend Kylar? If all goes well, this will be a heist, not more bloodshed. But Kylar knows better than to expect an easy task; he has enemies who’ll leap at the chance to get hold of such a magical item, after all. It all starts with Brent Weeks’ new Night Angel Nemesis.
Genres Fantasy, High Fantasy, Adult
Author Brent Weeks Home Portland Oregon, US
Publisher Orbit | Buy it
Defiance Of The Fall 9
JF Brink, 25 April 2023
Little is known about the ninth book in JF Brink’s Defiance of the Fall series. Zac has come a long way since the planet was thrust into an unfeeling and treacherous multiverse of new worlds. We’ve seen a human not only survive the perils of uncountable worlds of enemies with unfathomable powers but actually start to build his own Cultivation powers. After the battle for the dimensional seed and the once-in-a-millennium challenge at Twilight Ascension, what comes next for Zac in Defiance of the Fall 9?
Genres Fantasy Author JF Brink
Publisher Aethon Books | Buy it
Fantasy Wednesday 26 April
Reckoning LARP
Indiana US, 26–30 April 2023
After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Reckoning LARP was born in Indiana in 2022. And now joins our LARPs in April. Offering a mix of pure fantasy intrigue and battle-stye play, Reckoning’s focus is to create an immersive experience, so attention goes into every detail. With 4 main factions to join, a world of and in itself shrouded in mystery – with hidden treasures and secrets to uncover – it’s well worth checking out Reckoning LARP.
Watch: The Reckoning LARP Experience
Type High Fantasy Where 6900 Dave Carr Rd, Charlestown, Indiana, US Cost $170 | Get tickets
Fantasy Thursday 27 April
Sweet Tooth Season 2
Netflix, 27 April 2023
Possibly the most anticipated entry on this list, we join Gus, Big Man and a new gang of friends in Sweet Tooth Season 2 on 27 April. Gus, held captive with the hybrids and Dr Singh by General Abbot’s Last Men, agrees to explore his mother’s dark past. But a new wave of The Sick sweeps across the world and pressure mounts to just destroy the hybrids. Luckily, they’re not alone as “Zoo Mama” Aimee and Tommy “Big Man” Jepperd team up to find out where Abbot is holding the hybrids and concoct a daring plan to rescue the kids in Sweet Tooth Season 2.
Watch: The Sweet Tooth Season 2 Trailer
Genres Science Fiction, Apocalyptic, Post-Apocalyptic
Streaming Netflix | Watch it
Calgary Expo
Canada, 27–30 April 2023
Come meet Lou Ferrigno, Danny Trejo, James McAvoy, Sam Raimi, “Jim Hopper” and “Vecna”, Christina Ricci, Vincent D’Onofrio, Zachary Levi and many more from Star Trek, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Obi-Wan Kenobi and more. Game, cosplay, collect, trade, discover new anime, sci-fi and fantasy, and fans meetups. It’s all happening at Calgary Expo.
Watch: The Calgary Expo Experience
Dates 27–30 April 2023 Location Stampede Park, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Prices $27–$109 | Get tickets
Fantasy Friday 28 April
South Texas Comic Con
McCallen US, 28–30 April 2023
Come meet William Shatner, Ron Pearlman, Giancarlo Esposito, Rose McGowan, Mick Folley and animators from Halo, The Legend of Korra, One Punch Man and more. Cosplay, game, trade and collect, catch shows and get celebrity photo ops at The South Texas Comic Con.
Watch: The South Texas Comic Con Experience
Dates 28–30 April 2023 Location McAllen Convention Center, Texas, US
Prices $15–$25 | Get tickets
War In The North
Værløse Denmark 28–30 April 2023
And for something truly awesome and unique among the LARPs in April, War In The North is a beautifully immersive Lord of The Rings LARP in Denmark – don’t worry, they’re inclusive so English and foreigners are super welcome! Set between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of The Ring, War In The North sees the forces of Sauron’s (in the south) general, the Black Númenórean, Agandaûr, campaign to capture the northern kingdoms of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth. (Some battle, or play as a non-combatant.) Expects lots of orcs, elves, magic and warriors at War In The North.
Watch: The War In The North Battle Experience
Type Lord of The Rings Where Rollespilshytten i Hareskoven, Ballerupvej 93, Værløse, Denmark Cost 300,00 DKK | Get tickets | (Inclusive: English Welcome
MondoCon
Budapest Hungary, 29–30 April 2023
Anime, cosplay, gaming – it’s all happening at MondoCon in Hungary. Battle it out in the Tekken 7 or Just Dance tournaments, show off your cosplay and rub shoulders with the pros. Eat, drink, collect and be merry at MondoCon.
Watch: The MondoCon Experience
Dates 29–30 April 2023 Location Hungexpo, Budapest, Hungary
Prices HUF 6000–8000 | Get tickets
About #FantasyThisWeek
Every week, we compiled a list of the best in fantasy news through the latest new releases in books, movies and events, plus awesome LARP games and events along with the coolest fantasy conventions happening around the world in fantasy this week. Find your weekly list by searching #FantasyThisWeek by #scifixfantasy
Note: I try my best to get every bit of info I can on these news pieces on sci-fi this week, and will keep updating this page all the time. If you know of a book, author, show, channel or event that should be on this list, let me know at elvorne@scifixfantasy.com and I’ll make it happen.
About ScifiXFantasy
Do you enjoy my take on sci-fi and fantasy? I’m just one person doing all of this by myself because I love it (about scifixfantasy). And I’d really appreciate your support – share it with your friends if you like, or sign up for my free scifixfantasy newsletter, or connect on the scifixfantasy Facebook page.
There’s a bit to explore already, and more coming soon. Enjoy!
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