Here are six exciting upcoming fiction titles from local authors to enjoy all through the year.
‘A Fiery Flesh and Other Stories’ by Ismim Putera
Publication: February 2025
Synopsis: “A Fiery Flesh and Other Stories” is a collection of stories exposing the flimsy nature of the human heart and the frailty of the human body.
A medical assistant narrates how a lost placenta of a premature infant triggers a chain of curses.
A love triangle between sisters leaves a mother with no choice but to replace her daughter as the bride.
A burned-out housewife finds a haven where the sensual rituals of traditional massage are practised.
Author’s bio: Sarawakian writer Ismim Putera is also a poet. His works can be found in many online journals and anthologies, including “To Let the Light In: An Anthology of Life and Death,” “The Big Book of Malaysian Horror Stories” and “A Spoonful of Malaysian Magic.”
‘Malayan Spy’ by Kam Raslan
Publication: February 2025
Synopsis: London, 1952. Young Hamid is uncertain of his future and that of Malaya, not yet a country. He wants to belong to something: but is it to his Sultan, to a barely imagined nation, or to the British Empire?
Hamid meets Tom Pelham, an old friend and son of a former British Resident, who offers him a route back to redemption— spying for England.
Hamid is sent to seduce an East German communist student leader. But abandoned in East Berlin when it is sealed off during a violent uprising, Hamid must save himself from Soviet tanks, relying on the unknown loyalties of a Soviet Colonel and the wits of his mistress, loyal only to herself.
Author’s bio: Writer and broadcaster Kam Raslan has written for many publications including The Economist, Mekong Review and The Edge Malaysia. He hosts two shows on BFM Radio: “A Bit of Culture” and “Just For Kicks.” He is the author of “Confessions of an Old Boy.”
‘Skin’ by Rueben Dass
Publication: March 2025
Synopsis: In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the naked body of a prominent investigative journalist is found in a foetal position with her hands covering her face.The skin of her face has been surgically removed.
Inspector Alysha (Aly) and her partner, Inspector Raj from CID Bukit Aman are assigned to investigate the murder.
As Aly and Raj embark on their investigation, more bodies of young women pile up in the same cryptic manner.
The investigative trail takes them from Kuala Lumpur to the tea plantations of Cameron Highlands and the quiet, sleepy town of Teluk Intan, where they slowly begin to unravel secrets from the past seemingly linked to the case.
Author’s bio: Rueben Dass is a researcher by day and a novelist by night. He regularly publishes short stories and poetry on his website, and other literary platforms. He is the author of “The Number Four,” a prequel to “Skin.”
‘Adorable and Other Stories’ by Wan Phing Lim
Publication: May 2025
Synopsis: A young boy befriends a girl from a haunted house. A roast pig at a Taoist funeral becomes a symbol of rebellion. A man adopts a Thai doll, hoping it will change his luck.
Meanwhile, a family of monsters live on Mount Pleasure, disguising themselves with anagrams, and a black metal scandal ruins a teenage couple’s after-school hangout at Gurney Plaza.
Set in Penang, Malaysia, these short stories describe how the island makes its people do crazy things. Its characters navigate a world of social tension and moral panic, while trying to find peace for themselves.
Author’s bio: The short stories of Penangite Wan Phing Lim have appeared in Catapult (USA), Lucent Dreaming (UK), Kyoto Journal (Japan) and anthologies by Monsoon Books (UK), Ethos Books (Singapore), and Fixi Novo (Malaysia). Her story “Snake Bridge Temple” was selected for Kitaab’s Best Asian Short Stories 2017 and Buku Fixi’s New Malaysian Writing 2017.
‘Clichés & Curses’ by Deidre Isaac
Publication: June 2025
Synopsis: Clara Healy is convinced her family is cursed. After witnessing two relationships from the closest people in her life fall apart, Clara is determined not to be the curse’s next victim by avoiding its root cause: falling for cliché love interests.
Even when one tiny mishap leads her to partner with star baseball player Colton Reed for ASL class, Clara is adamant to not let the curse get to her.
But as Clara and Colton start spending more time together, Clara realises some things are easier said than done. And escaping the curse is going to be a lot harder than she thought it would be.
Author’s bio: Sabahan writer Deidre Isaac started her reading journey on Wattpad, and her love for books has only bloomed since. When she’s not reading, you can find her watching Formula 1 during race weekends.
‘The Shaman’s Circle’ by SW Jaafar
Publication: July 2025
Synopsis: Is sorcery and black magic merely hocus-pocus, or can it truly harness dark powers from the supernatural world?
“The Shaman’s Circle” is set in Southeast Asia, where ordinary people turn to shamans rather than God to resolve their problems.
The book begins with Minah from Tana Toraja, Indonesia, who strikes a deal with Siblis, a powerful jinn or spirit, promising to sacrifice someone she loves.
In the second chapter, the focus shifts to Jamal, who is attempting to sell the family home in Johor Bahru, currently occupied by a pocong.
Each chapter is connected to the next by a character from the previous one. As the series traverses the region, it incorporates unique supernatural beings specific to each story location.
Author’s bio: From her early days as a radio announcer to her flourishing career in television, Sariah Wan Ja’afar has demonstrated an innate ability to captivate audiences with diverse and engaging content. In addition to writing and producing television shows, she also paints.