Can't get enough of Stranger Things? Then you should read the best new fantasy, dystopian and sci-fi books

Being billed as ‘The Hunger Games meets Prison Break’ couldn’t be more apt for this fast-paced debut novel, which will leave dystopian fans desperate for the next instalment in the series. When Raven’s much-loved younger brother is sent to the terrifying Endlock prison, she’s determined to do all she can to help him escape. But at Endlock, where wealthy ‘guests’ pay to hunt inmates for sport, time is not on their side. Every hunt they’re selected for brings the possibility of death – and no one can evade the system forever. Impossible to put down.

The first official Stranger Things novel delivers a prequel to the series, centred around Eleven's mother. Set in the summer of 1969, when Terry Ives signs on as a test subject for an important government experiment. But behind the walls of Hawkins National Laboratory – and the piercing gaze of its director, Dr Martin Brenner – lurks a dark conspiracy. To face it, Terry will need the help of her fellow test subjects, including a mysterious young girl with unexplainable powers.

This genre-defying debut blends time travel and love with wry humour. Set in the near future, it follows a civil servant recruited to work on a mysterious project involving “expats” pulled from history. At its heart, we watch a slow-burning relationship develop between Commander Graham Gore, a 19th-century polar explorer and a modern woman living in London. It's a really thought-provoking novel.

Also one of the best new crime fiction and thrillers, this dystopian novel unfolds in 2050, a world ravaged by climate change, with a global election looming. The final contenders are ex US President Lockwood and Solomon, the world’s first political AI. When Solomon’s creator is murdered, journalist Marcus Tully becomes trapped in a terrifying, high stakes investigation at the campaign’s heart. Packed with twists, this thriller explores power, AI and survival with relentless tension – guaranteed to make you question everything.

In this debut novel, a mother with Alzheimer’s and her daughter make the radical choice to merge minds, blending their consciousness into one. It’s about preserving what matters most – love, memory and identity – against the erosion of time, beautifully exploring the mother-daughter bond.

Magda Sparks, a writer and secret society member safeguarding magical artefacts, travels to Hong Kong to investigate a new object. Facing a murderer who tries to intercept her, she must travel the world to uncover hidden truths. Melding fantasy and suspense, Brown explores secrecy, legacy and the true nature of power.

From sea foam she rose; Aphrodite, dazzling gods and mortals alike. This witty, modern retelling of her myth follows the saga of Titans and Olympians through her bold, irreverent voice, reimagining Greek gods as vivid personalities. With sharp dialogue and dynamic scenes, it plays like a divine reality show. Aphrodite emerges not just as the Goddess of Love, but a charming, provocative force of disruption and allure.

This retelling of the Jason and the Argonauts myth puts women at the heart of the story. Though the gods favour Jason, without his wife Medea’s witchy powers, he couldn’t have succeeded in seizing the Golden Fleece. Yet, he dismisses her role and their marriage. A stunning, slow-burning tale full of passion and vengeance.

Exploring the balance between life and the afterlife, Ayumi, a young man with special powers, is able to reunite the living with the deceased. Delving into themes of grief, closure and acceptance, this poignant and heartfelt meditation from the bestselling Japanese author is simply magical.