The Dawnhounds

Gideon the Ninth meets Black Sun in this genre-bending queer fantasy debut inspired by Maori culture, Asian folklore, and sci-fi noir—where murder, resurrection, and rebellion collide on the high seas. In the port city of Hainak, everything is alive—its buildings, its weapons, its fashion—thrumming with the pulse of a biotech revolution after a devastating war. All Yat Jyn-Hok wants is peace. Once a thief, now a night-patrolling cop, she’s just trying to stay afloat after a career demotion for “lifestyle choices” and the lingering grief of a vanished lover. That fragile balance shatters when Yat stumbles on a corpse during her patrol—and is murdered by her own fellow officers to keep it quiet. Dumped into the harbor, she should be gone for good. But an ancient, mysterious power resurrects her, granting her the ability to manipulate life force itself. Hunted by the police force she once served, Yat finds refuge with a ragtag pirate crew as an insidious plague begins to spread through Hainak. To save the city—and herself—she must confront the corruption at its core and master her new powers before the darkness consuming Hainak swallows them all. Perfect for fans of The Poppy War, The Dawnhounds is a lush, multicultural fantasy that blends queer romance, gritty mystery, and high-octane adventure.

Sascha Stronach is a Maori author from the Kai Tahu iwi and Kati Huirapa Runaka Ki Puketeraki hapu. He is based in Wellington, New Zealand, and has also spent time in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, which have all inspired parts of the fictional worlds he creates. A former tech writer, he first broke out into speculative fiction by experimenting with the short form. The Dawnhounds, his debut novel, won the Sir Julius Vogel Award at Worldcon 78.