The Scattered Pearls Belt is a string of habitats under tight military rule . . . where the powerful have become all too comfortable in their positions, and their corruption. But change is coming, with the arrival of Quynh: the mysterious and enigmatic Alchemist of Streams and Hills.To Minh, daughter of the ruling prefect of the Belt , Quynh represents a chance for escape. To Hoa, a destitute engineer, Quynh has a mysterious link to her own past . . . and holds a deeper, more sensual appeal. But Quynh has her own secret history, and a plan for the ruling class of the Belt. A plan that will tear open old wounds, shake the heavens, and may well consume her.A beautiful exploration of the power of love, of revenge, and of the wounds of the past, this fast-paced, heart-warming space opera is set against a backdrop of corruption, power and political scheming in the far reaches of the award-winning Xuya universe.
Aliette de Bodard Book order
Aliette de Bodard crafts intricate narratives that explore themes of family, loss, and history, often set in richly imagined worlds blending technological and magical elements. Her writing is characterized by a compelling atmosphere and a deep dive into complex interpersonal dynamics. Bodard frequently examines the clash between tradition and modernity, as well as the lingering impact of past conflicts on the present. Her work offers profound insights into the human condition amidst societal upheaval and profound change.







- 2024
- 2023
An exciting space opera and a beautiful romance, from an exceptional SF author. Perfect for fans of Arkady Martine and Everine Maxwell.[Bokinfo].
- 2022
Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders
- 122 pages
- 5 hours of reading
"Lunar New Year should be a time for familial reunions, ancestor worship, and consumption of an unhealthy amount of candied fruit. But when dragon prince Thuan brings home his brooding and ruthless husband Asmodeus for the New Year, they find not interminable family gatherings, but a corpse outside their quarters. Asmodeus is thrilled by the murder investigation; Thuan, who gets dragged into the political plotting he'd sworn off when he left, is less enthusiastic. It'll take all of Asmodeus's skill with knives, and all of Thuan's diplomacy, to navigate this one-as well as the troubled waters of their own relationship ..."--Page [4] of cover.
- 2022
Of Charms, Ghosts and Grievances
- 148 pages
- 6 hours of reading
"It was supposed to be a holiday, with nothing more challenging than babysitting, navigating familial politics and arguing about the proper way to brew tea. But when dragon prince Thuan and his ruthless husband Asmodeus find a corpse in a ruined shrine and a hungry ghost who is the only witness to the crime, their holiday goes from restful to high-pressure. Someone is trying to silence the ghost and everyone involved. Asmodeus wants revenge for the murder; Thuan would like everyone, including Asmodeus, to stay alive. Chased by bloodthirsty paper charms and struggling to protect their family, Thuan and Asmodeus are going to need all the allies they can--and, as the cracks in their relationship widen, they'll have to face the scariest challenge of all: how to bring together their two vastly different ideas of their future..."--Page [4] of cover.
- 2022
The Red Scholar's Wake
- 320 pages
- 12 hours of reading
"When tech scavenger Xích Si is captured and imprisoned by the infamous pirates of the Red Banner, she expects to be tortured or killed. Instead, their leader, Rice Fish, makes Xích Si an utterly incredible proposition: an offer of marriage. Both have their reasons for this arrangement: Xích Si needs protection; Rice Fish, a sentient spaceship, needs a technical expert to investigate the death of her first wife, the Red Scholar. That's all there is to it. But as the interstellar war against piracy rages on and their own investigation reaches a dire conclusion, the two of them discover that their arrangement has evolved into something much less business-focused and more personal... and tender. And maybe the best thing that's ever happened to either of them - but only if they can find a way to survive together."--Publisher
- 2021
Fireheart Tiger
- 106 pages
- 4 hours of reading
Award-winning author Aliette de Bodard returns with a powerful romantic fantasy that reads like The Goblin Emperor meets Howl’s Moving Castle in a pre-colonial Vietnamese-esque world. Fire burns bright and has a long memory….Quiet, thoughtful princess Thanh was sent away as a hostage to the powerful faraway country of Ephteria as a child. Now she’s returned to her mother’s imperial court, haunted not only by memories of her first romance, but by worrying magical echoes of a fire that devastated Ephteria’s royal palace.Thanh’s new role as a diplomat places her once again in the path of her first love, the powerful and magnetic Eldris of Ephteria, who knows exactly what she wants: romance from Thanh and much more from Thanh’s home. Eldris won’t take no for an answer, on either front. But the fire that burned down one palace is tempting Thanh with the possibility of making her own dangerous decisions.Can Thanh find the freedom to shape her country’s fate—and her own?
- 2020
Seven of Infinities
- 176 pages
- 7 hours of reading
"This special signed edition is limited to 1500 numbered copies."
- 2020
Silk & Steel : A Queer Speculative Adventure Anthology
- 359 pages
- 13 hours of reading
There are many ways to be a heroine. Princess and swordswoman, lawyer and motorcyclist, scholar and barbarian: there are many ways to be a heroine. In this anthology, seventeen authors find new ways to pair one weapon-wielding woman and one whose strengths lie in softer skills. "Which is more powerful, the warrior or the gentlewoman?" these stories ask. And the answer is inevitably, "Both, working together!" Herein, you'll find duels and smugglers, dance battles and danger noodles, and even a new Swordspoint story! From big names and bold new voices, these stories are fun, clever, and always positive about the power of love. Ellen Kushner * Aliette de Bodard * Yoon Ha Lee * Neon Yang * Jennifer Mace * Django Wexler * Freya Marske * Claire Bartlett * K.A. Doore * Alison Tam * Ann LeBlanc * Cara Patterson * Chris Wolfgang * Elaine McIonyn * Elizabeth Davis * S.K. Terentiev * Kaitlyn Zivanovich
- 2019
The House of Sundering Flames
- 547 pages
- 20 hours of reading
The multi-award-winning author of The House of Shattered Wings and The House of Binding Thorns concludes her Dominion of the Fallen saga, as the great Houses of Paris--headed by Fallen angels and magicians--vie with each other for control of a city devastated by a magical war.
- 2018
In the Vanishers
- 198 pages
- 7 hours of reading
From the award-winning author of the Dominion of the Fallen series comes a dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast. In a ruined, devastated world, where the earth is poisoned and beings of nightmares roam the land... A woman, betrayed, terrified, sold into indenture to pay her village's debts and struggling to survive in a spirit world. A dragon, among the last of her kind, cold and aloof but desperately trying to make a difference. When failed scholar Y

