Chloe Gong's 'Foul Lady Fortune' explores identity and history in her novel surrounding crime in 1940s Shanghai.

Emily St. John Mandel's 'Sea of Tranquility' combines science fiction elements with the mundanity of life, making for a compelling story.

Kate Folk's 'Out There: Stories' injects fanatical twists into plotlines in her debut short story compilation.

Isabel Allende's book 'Violeta' tells a tragic tale, with hopeful undertones, that spans the 100-year life of Violeta.