Things I enjoyed in 2026 (Part 6)

Novellas Off-Time Jive by A.Z. Louise (2023): Harlem Renaissance + magic in a hardboiled wrapper. The magic is racialized and variably grounded in secret academic institutions. Louise doesn’t explain the “magic system” in depth (but at the same time makes it clear that there is a system that rewards rigorous study) but is more interested in the broader societal systems (historical and fictional) that divide “New” and “Old,” Black and white, straight and queer. Novels Wickhills by Premee Mohamed (2026): Secret agents in a fantasy city. This is a weird and hilarious book, highly recommended. (Think early China Miéville, with more cosmic horror than D&D DNA.) Usually I hate it when reviewers mistake setting for character (e.g. “Baltimore is a character in The Wire“) but in this case, Wickhills pulls double duty. Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher (2026): Kingfisher has not one but several distinctive brands. If you enjoy her horror brand, insects, the predictable intersection of parasites and…

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