This is a weird story by Kate Heartfield, even by fantasy standards. I admit I chose this book solely because it’s set in medieval Bruges. I love Bruges! It’s like a fucking fairy tale or something. (Please tell me you get that reference.*)

The main character, Drusilla Jaco (DJ), is a wizard and sentinel of New Orleans. As a sentinel her main job is to act as border patrol to the human/Beyond border, keeping most preternaturals in the Beyond and cleaning up the messes of those who get pass. Then Katrina hits, which damages the border and makes it easier for pretes to cross.

I felt so-so about Norma by Sofi Oksanen. It involves a woman who has hair with supernatural properties - it grows abnormally fast, senses danger, seems to have a personality of its own, and more.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik is my favorite fiction for the year, and up in my top five overall.