Genre Guide – Hopepunk

As defined by author Alexandra Rowland in 2017, hopepunk is a speculative subgenre about not giving up, even when things seem bleak. Unlike noblebright stories, hopepunk tales don’t guarantee a happy ending…but their characters never stop fighting for one. If you could use a healthy dose of weaponized optimism, try these books to start, then learn more via the links given below. 


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A Choir of Lies

It’s not easy to come to terms with the mistakes we’ve made. For Ylfing, a young storyteller whose words hold great power, it’s even harder. Grappling with guilt and grief, Yfling must decide whether he wants to repeat his country’s tragic history, or change its path for the better. 

This title is also available for checkout as an eBook on Libby and as an eAudio on Hoopla.


The City in the Middle of the Night

A colonized planet experiencing temperature extremes of both heat and cold is home to a handful of livable cities. When Sophie, a shy university student, ends up on the wrong side of the law, she is exiled to the dark side of the planet, which usually means certain death. 

This title is also available for checkout as an eBook on Libby and as an eAudio on Hoopla.


The Future of Another Timeline

Tess’s job is to time travel to key points in history and prevent a shadowy group of misogynists from eliminating women’s rights forever. Meanwhile, back in 1992, Beth and her friends are trying to hide a dead body. As the struggle for control of time travel ripples across the multiverse, Tess and Beth’s lives become intertwined. 

This title is also available for checkout as an eBook and eAudio on Libby and as an eAudio on Hoopla.


The Goblin Emperor

Hopepunk is less of a new invention and more of a retroactive category to describe what many authors were already doing. Addison’s tale of an unlikely successor to a goblin empire appears frequently on lists of books considered hopepunk. Completely out of his depth, and without a single friend to help him, Maia must figure out how to rule wisely. 

This title is also available for checkout as an eBook and eAudio on Libby and as an eAudio on Hoopla.


The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

A motley spaceship crew accepts a dangerous assignment, and learns to think of themselves as a family…even prickly Rosemary, who has reasons to distance herself from her past. 

This title is also available for checkout as an eBook and eAudio on Libby and as an eBook and eAudio on Hoopla.


The Sacrifice of Darkness

It’s hard to stay on good terms with your neighbors when your dad is The Guy Who Ruined Everything. Adapted from one of Gay’s short stories, this comic tells the story of both father and son, demonstrating why certain choices were made, and what can be done in the aftermath. 

This title is also available for checkout as an eBook on Libby and as an eBook on Hoopla.


The Sol Majestic

Kenna, a young space traveler, has been searching for his life’s purpose, and not finding it. Then he meets Paulius, a restaurant owner who sees Kenna’s potential, and gives him a chance in the kitchen. 

This title is also available for checkout as an eAudio on Libby and as an eBook and eAudio on Hoopla.


This Is How You Lose The Time War

Two rival groups, the Agency and the Garden, are fighting a time war over whose vision of the universe should prevail. Red and Blue, agents on opposing sides of the time war, taunt each other with notes left behind as each undoes the work of the other. 

This title is also available for checkout as an eBook and an eAudio on Libby. 

 

 


Parable of the Sower

People like to say Octavia Butler warned us about things that could happen in our world, and she certainly did. But more importantly, she also planted the seeds of a possible future, one that’s still achievable if we’re brave enough to reach out for it. 

You can also check out this title as eBook and as eAudio on Libby. This title is also available as eAudio on Hoopla. 


Trail of Lightning

Maggie Hoskie is a Dinétah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is their last best hope. But what Maggie uncovers about the monster is much more terrifying than anything she could imagine. You can also check out this title as eBook on Libby.