Hi Jay, thanks for taking the time to chat! Tell us about yourself!

Hi! No problem. I’m a 30 year old bookworm from Melbourne, Victoria. I’ve been reading most of my life and still have the first book I was ever given. I have 2 cats and a dog, Coal, Wynd and Lucy who love to get in on my stories from time to time. My favourite genres are paranormal romance, fantasy and crime. My favourite authors are Nalini Singh, Lynsay Sands and Lora Leigh. I work in the medical industry as an admin person and when I’m not reading I love to see stage shows and go camping. I’m also a huge country music fan and have been to several festivals. I’m not sure what else to include but I’m also a huge Disney fan and I love Alice in wonderland and beauty and the beast! My favourite animals are leopards, elephants and foxes (oh my!)

How long have you been on bookstagram, and what’s your favourite part of it?

I joined bookstagram back on the first of January 2017, I can’t believe it’s been that long! My favourite part would definitely have to be the people I’ve met, there are some real gems out in the book community and I’ve loved becoming a part of this family and being able to discuss our favourite books!

What’s a book you’ve recently read, and can you describe it in a couple of sentences?

I recently read Deliverance of the Blessed by A B Endacott and it’s a journey of grief and the different ways we process it and the limits people will go to while in that situation. I really connected with the main character and how they were feeling.

If you could only choose one book to recommend to others, what would you choose, and why?

I always hate these questions, how am I supposed to choose 1? I always recommend Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh but if Paranormal Romance is not your thing then The Hating Game by Sally Thorne for Contemporary or The Dry by Jane Harper for Crime/Murder Mystery or Stalking Jack the Ripper for YA.

Do you have a bookish pet peeve?

I hate when they change covers mid way through or the books are different sizes! I need matchy matchy!

Lastly, what’s your favourite way to read?

Anyway I can! I’m not fussy, I’ll read paperback, hardback, ebook or audio. Whatever is most accessible at the time I need it.

The post Meet The Aussie Bookstagrammer: @jayjaysbooknook appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hey Ali! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us! Please tell our readers about yourself!

Hey Lou! Thanks for having me I’m Ali, and I’m from South Australia! I’m a mum of one, and work in insurance. My main hobby outside work is reading – I’ve loved reading since I was little, and I always have a ridiculously large TBR pile! I will get to them… one day haha! Outside of reading I love Walking (I’m currently using the Walk to Mordor app and it’s a lot of fun if you’re a Lord of the Rings fan like me) and I also love Cooking and Baking.

How long have you been on bookstagram, and what’s your favourite part of it?

I’ve been on bookstagram almost 18 months and it’s been a lot of fun (even if it costs me a lot of money because of all the new books I see… and candles and booksleeves and all the other wonderful merch)! My favourite part has to be the people I’ve met! Everyone I’ve met is so awesome and supportive and I just really love chatting to them. During the various lockdowns over the last year it’s been nice to have that support.

What’s a book you’ve recently read, and can you describe it in a couple of sentences?

A Storm of Silver and Ash by Marion Blackwood (The Oncoming Storm series) – it’s a reread haha! A sassy smartalec master thief who gets caught up in some scheming and travels meeting assassins, elves and royals! Highly recommend, this series is one of my favourites!

If you could only choose one book to recommend to others, what would you choose, and why?

Only one? This is a really hard question haha! I would probably have to go with The Lord of the Rings – it’s my all time favourite and it’s just such a classic. It’s just beautifully written and I love that Tolkien created so much history for this world (along with the languages)!

Do you have a favourite bookish pet peeve?

Stickers on book covers!!!! Like, okay, a price sticker on the back, do that. But I really dislike stickers on the front because it ruins the look of the cover, and I am not good at taking them off, I’m too impatient!

Lastly, what’s your favourite way to read?

Usually rugged up in bed or on the couch, with a pot of tea nearby

The post Meet The Aussie Bookstagrammer: @imladrislibrary appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi Katie! Thanks for taking the time to come and chat! Can you tell us a little about yourself and The Girl in the Sunflower Dress?

Thanks for having me, this is a real treat! So, I’m Katie Montinaro and I am a Melbourne based author (feels weird to say that), high school teacher and mother of three – well four, if you count our cheeky labradoodle who thinks he’s a giant human baby. I love to read and obviously write, but my other passions lay in cinema and movies. Writing and publishing has always been a dream of mine, ever since I was little and about four years ago I decided to start taking my dreams seriously; and here I am, about to release my debut novel The Girl in the Sunflower Dress!

I’m terrible at the old “elevator pitch” because I think the book is about so much more than what you can convey in a couple of sentences. It’s about self discovery, love, family and choices – the choice to choose your own path and your relationships. The Girl in the Sunflower Dress follows a young seventeen year old girl called Chelsea Roberts who isn’t quite sure of her place in the world after high school and as she tries to make sense of the next chapter in her life, she stumbles upon her father kissing another woman in a very public place! At the same time, she is reunited with an old high school crush (swoon) and together they team up to uncover the truth about that kiss, only, they uncover more than they ever could have imagined.

What inspired you to write?

I’m a big daydreamer and often a lot of my stories come from daydreams to be honest. I’ve told myself stories since I was little, perhaps that’s just part of being an only child; I had no one else to really play with so I had to use my imagination a lot and it’s something I never really outgrew. With The Girl in the Sunflower Dress, I had one scene that kept kind of popping into my daydreams, and that is the scene in the hospital where Chelsea and Noah are hiding behind the Christmas tree spying on her father (this happens very early in the book, so no spoilers), and I just built the story around that. I had a very strong character voice and presence in Noah, but I knew it wasn’t his story to tell.

I get inspired by lots of things though, a song, a quote, a picture (thanks Pinterest!), art – lots of things. But mostly, it’s daydreaming. Or the second I lay my head down on my pillow to sleep at night! It’s like someone screams ‘Lights! Camera! Action!’ and my mind starts to create.

If you had to choose would you host a surprise pool party, or a surprise movie party, and why?

Hands down, surprise movie party! And everyone would have to dress up as their favourite character from a movie. I’m a Media teacher so this should come as no surprise to those who know me. My mum and I are movie buffs and we’ve slowly turned my eight year old son into one as well. His choice is anything superhero, my choice would be a little more difficult just because there are so many movies I love! I’d probably do a three movie marathon starting with Rebel Without A Cause, moving to a classic 90s/early 2000s rom-com like Ten Things I Hate About You and ending with an action movie like Olympus Has Fallen. Or maybe I’d have to do a whole weekend because I’d feel too bad for all my favourites that were left out!

Do you have a favourite character? Mine’s 100% Chelsea!

I love that Chelsea is your favourite. I have a soft spot for her, for sure. My favourite is Noah. I think I fell in love with him as I wrote him. Does Noah exist? If so, someone needs to point me in his direction.

When writing, do you have a go-to snack, and why specifically that snack?

I have a major sweet tooth so my go to snack while writing The Girl in the Sunflower Dress was a hot chocolate with chocolate chip cookies to dip. I also like to snack on crunchy things when I’m thinking so I made up a nut mix with dark chocolate chips – and sunflower seeds of course!

What do you find the most rewarding thing about writing?

Holding a physical copy of my book in my hands for the first time was incredibly rewarding. I cried. I filmed it to put up on Instagram (of course!) but I had my address, clear as day, in the frame and couldn’t cover it up because I kept moving the camera around to wipe my eyes, so that never saw the light of day! But that was the most rewarding part of the whole process. In terms of just writing, I love when all the bits and pieces you’ve scattered throughout the story come together. You feel like a genius! Or creating witty banter between the characters. I do chuckle to myself when I write. If you’re not having fun writing it, then why bother doing it?

Did any locations in the book come from or were inspired by real life?

Yep! The book is set on the Mornington Peninsula which is my stomping ground but I didn’t want to go into overdrive when describing it because I wanted people to imagine it taking place near them. I think it helps to create a stronger connection to characters when you can imagine the story taking place somewhere near you. Having said that, Noah and Chelsea go to the beach, the zoo and head to the strawberry farm which are all places I frequent.

What was your favourite part of the writing process, and why?

It’s really difficult to choose a favourite part of the writing process because I genuinely enjoyed everything from start to finish. When writing the first draft, it’s exciting because you’re locked away in this little world that you have created with characters you’re shaping and it’s exciting to see where they take you, to see the story unfold in front of you. Then editing is just as exciting, and terrifying, because you know that the feedback you’re getting will only make the story stronger and are curious as to what changes need to be made. Then getting all the editing done, front cover design, formatting – it’s frustrating at times, but it’s such a creative outlet for me that I enjoy doing those things. I like being a part of every stage of the process.

As a debut author, do you have any advice for other aspiring authors?

I had a conversation with a colleague at work and he said to me “at some point, you’ve just got to do it,” and that really stuck with me. We can talk all we like about being writers and wanting to have our work published but at some point, we have to stop talking about it and  just do it. Just write, just find time to chip away at it. Don’t compare yourself to other writers out there and their words counts, focus on your words. Do your research into the industry, build genuine connections with those in industry (from other authors to editors to bookstagrammers etc), go to book functions, find out what path is right for you and go for it. Then come and tell me about it because I’m a one woman cheer squad who’ll encourage you all the way!

Will you be picking up The Girl in the Sunflower Dress? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Katie Montinaro, Author of ‘The Girl in the Sunflower Dress’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hey Star! Thanks for taking the time to chat! Please tell us about yourself!

Hi! Thank you for having me! I am an Aussie from a town in rural SA, I’m in my 30s, and that is a petrifying thought. I’m a lesbian, whose main passion is queer books, and, of course, #LoveOzYA books, too (the combo is even better to me!).

In my spare time (lol, what is that?) I like to do crossword puzzles, but my main ‘hobby’ is reading. Legend has it that I was born with a book in my hand, but you’d have to ask my mum

How long have you been on bookstagram, and what’s your favourite part of it?

I’ve been here for 6 years, but I started being a lot more active around the start of 2019. I love making friends for the first time in my life. It’s wonderful finding other book enthusiasts to talk about books we love – or even ones we don’t. I’ve found so many amazing people, and so many amazing book recommendations through bookstagram!

What’s a book you’ve recently read, and can you describe it in a couple of sentences?

(Just one?) I recently read (and loved) Sweet and Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley. It’s about two magical girls who come together to try and end a plague that is sweeping over their town. One was outcast from her coven for the magic she did in the past, and the other has hidden her magic her entire life. It was so whimsical and wonderful. I loved it.

If you could only choose one book to recommend to others, what would you choose, and why?

That’s easy – One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston. Yes it isn’t out until the 1st of June, but I was lucky enough to read an early copy, and it is literally my most perfect book ever. It has a hint of speculative feelings, drag queens, so many amazing queer characters, and a romance that is so swoon worthy I find myself thinking about it so often it isn’t funny. I’ve pre-ordered three copies – that is how excited I am for it.

Do you have a favourite bookish pet peeve?

Does stickers on books count? Or the stickers that aren’t stickers but are actually printed on covers? I hate that a lot. Also mismatched heights in book series – what’s up with that?

Lastly, what’s your favourite way to read?

Lately it’s via audio book. If you had told me of this time last year that I’d be reading about 85% of my books via audio book I would’ve wondered what the heck you were on about. But things change, and I changed, and now audio books is literally my favourite way to read a book. I’ve read so many books on my back list like this, as well as many amazing new releases (the audio book of One Last Stop is a pre-order of mine, too). I’ve found I have enjoyed many books in ways I may not have if I had read them with my eyes rather than my ears.

Plus, there’s just something awesome about having someone read to you.

The post Meet The Aussie Bookstagrammer: @littlemissstar55 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Chelsea’s summer before starting university was changing way too fast for her and this felt like whiplash in my mind as I experienced the very same thing! Chelsea was loveable as a character, and her best friend was also a whirlwind of activity. Chelsea appeared to be a worldy, curious young person and someone I could have seen myself being friends with if she were real.

Noah was another interesting character to read about and he was depicted as Chelsea’s crush and he finished at the same high school a few years beforehand. He was what Chelsea regarded as hot—the hair, the tattoos, and being there for her when she saw something suss happen with one of her parents. The crazy plans Chelsea and Noah execute, the raw emotion that was written in, and the scandals that both witness throughout the story will draw you in from page one!

A character you’ll learn to hate is Chelsea’s ex who is portrayed as this manipulative human being and very jealous that Noah is getting Chelsea’s attention, so he is always scheming to get her back. He has the gall to try and pit two best friends against each other in one plan and he surely should’ve known better than to try and do that (obviously didn’t). It doesn’t help that Noah was initially very hot and cold towards Chelsea, honestly! The way Chelsea handles the secret affair sounds absolutely realistic, and I would honestly hate to be in her position. Internalising problems and life-changing secrets is something I can relate to a lot, and it was kind of nice seeing that being portrayed in a book.

The writing was engaging and you’ll genuinely enjoy each page! The description of the sunflower dress Chelsea so dearly loves makes me want to make my own! The pacing was spot on for a contemporary coming-of-age story, and it even felt more relatable as it was distinctly Australian. The scenery Montinaro described reminds me so much of visiting my aunt in Mornington Peninsula (meaning a giant trip across Melbourne for me), and genuinely it brought me joy to see that replicated (albeit in reverse) in this book. The storyline was something I also haven’t come across in a while, which was definitely a positive in my books, and it was absolutely done so very well in my eyes. Whilst I devoured the book so much, I felt like the book genuinely hit different for me, and is definitely one of my new favourite books.

Overall, a great contemporary coming-of-age book for those that want something more realistic than a happy summer break. This one is definitely one for those who want some scandal and heartbreak too. I’m personally super excited to see more books from Katie Montinaro, as this is a spectacular first book!

The Girl In The Sunflower Dress is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of April 13th 2021.

Will you be picking up The Girl In The Sunflower Dress? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Chelsea Roberts is living the dream post high school; no commitments, no stress and nothing to do. Simple times. But life has a funny way of turning your world upside down when you least expect it.

A chance encounter with her old high school crush, Noah Kalani, leads Chelsea to uncover her father’s secret affair. The discovery leaves Chelsea unsure about her place in the world and in her own family. With Noah by her side, Chelsea is convinced a carefully laid New Year’s Eve plan can protect her family and make her world seem right again. Only, this plan will be the beginning of Chelsea unearthing more secrets than she ever imagined.

The post Review: The Girl In The Sunflower Dress by Katie Montinaro appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

This book has an interesting quirk as it is written through Bruce Sterling’s alter ego (or should I dare say alternate universe version), Bruno Argento. This is rather interesting, and I have not seen anything done quite like this before—maybe it is a quirk to intrigue the market? The stories range from historical to somewhat futuristic, and all predominantly set in Italy, which makes the alternate universe/alter ego seem to be more believable. The writing is not dense, and felt definitely more snappy than the standard science fiction novel that we’re all used to.

The book is split into seven short stories that seemed separate, but also not separate at the same time. This was intriguing as most short story collections I have read don’t often have a common theme surrounding them, so this was definitely something that was super refreshing. The writing style was also rather different to what I was expecting, but it is not a bad thing either as variety is the spice of life.

Out of all the stories, Robot in Roses—the last story in the collection—was the most enjoyable as the story really draws you in as it had a mysterious aspect to it about where the robot artist came from, and who owned it. The writing for this story was well written, there was the required amount of conflict and complexity expected in a futuristic sounding cyberpunk story, and the pacing was enjoyable throughout the story. Whilst it was somewhat difficult to connect with the characters, they did contribute to the overall enjoyment of the story and even provided some laughs as some points. Robot in Roses seemed to stand out more than Black Swan did, although it was still quite a notable read.

The five other stories within the collection were enjoyable as well, however, none truly stood out to me greatly, even after a second reading. It was interesting to see that some of the stories focused on bloggers, as well as hints of politics and society, but mostly in a historical sense.

Overall, this collection of short stories are definitely an interesting take on the science fiction and cyberpunk genres. The shortness of the stories, as well as the lighter writing is something I haven’t come across in science fiction books in quite some while and it felt rather refreshing to me. If I had to recommend one short story in this book, it would be Robot in Roses, because of the robot chair, naturally. This book would definitely appeal to those who enjoy short story collections, as well as both futuristic and historical stories (whether on their own or as a cyberpunk or science fiction).

Robot Artists and Black Swans is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of March 30th 2021.

Will you be picking up Robot Artists and Black Swans? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

The Godfather of Cyberpunk has emerged in this new collection of Italian-themed fantasy and science-fiction stories. Bruce Sterling now introduces us to his alter ego: Bruno Argento, the preeminent author of fantascienza. Sterling, writing as Argento, skillfully combines cutting-edge technology with art, mythology, and history.

“It’s all here, this time with an Italian flavor: the inventive tech, the meticulously detailed futures, the stylish and sardonic prose, the creative adjectival combinations.”
—Nancy Kress, author of Beggars in Spain

In the Esoteric City, a Turinese businessman’s act of necromancy is catching up with him. The Black Swan, a rogue hacker, programs his way into alternate versions of Italy. A Parthenonpean assassin awaits his destiny in the arms of a two-headed noblewoman. Infuriating to both artists and scientists, a robot wheelchair makes uncategorizable creations.

Bruno Argento is the acknowledged master of Italian science fiction. Yet that same popular fantascienza author also is known in America—as Bruce Sterling. In Robot Artists and Black Swans, we present the first collection of their uniquely visionary Italian-themed fiction, including tales never before published in English.

The post Review: Robot Artists and Black Swans by Bruce Sterling appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Starting with the abduction of Yin Mitchell, a girl who studied at a ritzy private school, we see multiple points of views from girls who also studied at the same school. Once the news breaks about the abduction, conspiracy theories and suspicion of several males connected with the school arise.

Chloe and Natalia’s voices were distinct, but both were raw with emotions. Fear and worry were both a common theme when reading both perspectives. Not only were the two voices different, there were differences in personalities and social status, one meaning to be rich and somewhat well known in the school and the other less well-off and new to the school. I loved this contrast as it reflects real life where there are different ‘classes’ of people in schools. It was also refreshing to read that one of the two had to catch multiple modes of transport to get to and from school, instead of being so close like many books depict.

The gritty nature of the story was confronting, but also an important one to touch on, given that this could happen to anyone. The advice given by the school in the book sounds like the standard response derived from tabloids and magazines, which was alarming, but also highlights the need for real life schools to be able to provide helpful and less suggestive information to deal with situations like this.

The wary nature of the characters showed that the girls from the school were tense and on high alert, showing that they cared about Yin, and it seemed as though they were equal parts wishing she was still there and being relieved that it wasn’t them. I loved how Leanne combined this worry with the conspiracies and old news reports within the book, as it really got me hooked. The other emotions were written masterfully, especially sadness and caution, and it was thought-provoking and really made this book stand out for me.

Whilst this book had a beautifully simple plot, it was written so well. I was absorbed from page one, and I don’t regret a single page of this read. The book came across as medium paced, which honestly really suited the flow of the book. Whilst the plot surrounds Yin and her abduction, it seemed that this book was more about what it means to live on the sidelines of such an event, and ultimately what being a girl meant in the situation. It was also heartbreaking that some of the investigating came from side characters and not the police, which shows that sometimes young minds show more hope than those who are older and more experienced. The general atmosphere was excellently drawn to be dark and stormy (in my mind anyways), and really complemented the tale that was going to be told.

Overall, if you’re looking for a hauntingly tense mystery with cross-references into real life, this is the book for you! It’s a gritty, chilling, and utterly devastating read, that shall now always live on in my head – because the abduction could happen to anyone. The psychological and emotional undertones in this book were masterfully woven into the story, and I look forward to more Leanne Hall books in the future!

The Gaps is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up The Gaps? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

What does it mean to be the one left behind?

When sixteen-year-old Yin Mitchell is abducted, the news reverberates through the whole Year Ten class at Balmoral Ladies College. As the hours tick by, the girls know the chance of Yin being found alive is becoming smaller and smaller.

Police suspect the abduction is the work of a serial offender, with none in the community safe from suspicion. Everyone is affected by Yin’s disappearance—even scholarship student Chloe, who usually stays out of Balmoral drama, is drawn into the maelstrom. And when she begins to form an uneasy alliance with the queen of Year Ten, Natalia, things get even more complicated.

Looking over their shoulders at every turn, Chloe and Natalia must come together to cope with their fear and grief as best they can. A tribute to friendship in all its guises, The Gaps is a moving examination of vulnerability and strength, safety and danger, and the particular uncertainty of being a young woman in the world.

The post Review: The Gaps by Leanne Hall appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi Cate! Thanks for stopping by and chatting to us. Can you tell us about your upcoming debut release, Black Widows?

Thanks so much for having me! The book is about a Mormon (Latter-Day Saint) husband, who is brutally murdered by one of his three wives. Prior to the killing, the family have moved out to the wilds of Utah to live off-grid, but as tensions between the women flair, the expectation to be loving sister-wives becomes tougher. Each woman has her own story, and reason for wanting husband Blake dead. But you’ll have to read the book to find them all out!

What five words would you use to describe Black Widows?

I hope …. Gripping, page-turning, up-lifting, funny and unique. But of course readers will have their own views!

What inspired you to write Black Widows?

I was watching a documentary on modern-day Latter-Day Saint polygamy. It was fascinating to watch the families make a case for their marriages.  There seemed to be many advantages, but almost all the wives were open about difficulties amongst one another.

During a close-up on one of the sister-wife’s faces, there was an expression–almost a micro-expression–and I remember thinking “Wow, she looks like she could kill someone…”

The idea for the book came from that expression.

What encouraged you to write in the crime/thriller genre?

I’ve always been attracted to this genre to read. I love an adventure, and something that compels you to turn the page.

How do you get into the mood to write in the genre?

I’m always in the mood to write about murder … In all seriousness, I love writing so much, the hardest thing is realising I’m getting tired, and staying away.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

If you know you’re a writer, you just know. It’s the one thing you want to do, all day every day, and you’d do it for free. If this is you, you will definitely get there. Just keep at it. Books that have really helped me include: Screen Writing by Syd Field, Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, and The Seven Basic Plots by Christopher Booker.

Do you have any favorite murder mystery books that you’ve read?

I love Murder on the Orient Express for taking me to a time and place. And probably for the same reason, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code if you can call it a murder mystery for sure is one of my favorites. I also love The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and The Chain by Adrian McKinty.

What do you prefer – writing with music/background noise, or in silence?

Probably silence for preference. But I also like being surrounded by café sounds, people sounds.

Are you a plotter, or a pantser? That is, do you know the full plot before the first sentence, or complete the plot as you write?

I used to be a plotter. But after a few books, I realized you can’t know until you’ve really written a scene, what’s possible, plausible or not. So now I’m a bit of both. I usually write the beginning in a mad euphoria. Then I stop. Go and start writing the end. Figure all that out, then start putting it all together.

Would you be able to sleep if you found yourself in the centre of the Black Widows plot?

If I didn’t know the end? No way! I would for sure be sleeping with a knife under my pillow and the lights on!

What’s next for you, writing wise? I’m excited to see what’s next!

Thanks so much! My next book is called The Lock In. It follows the experience of two California backpacker girls who go to work in the most rural of Aussie outback bars. On their final night, one of the locals is savagely murdered, and both girls are in the frame. What happens next is kind of an unpicking of their girls experience in this very macho culture, and a debate about whether the victim got what was coming to him.

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our reader

I do! Books that I have loved recently, include Imperfect Women by Araminta Hall and Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi.

Will you be picking up Black Widows? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Cate Quinn, Author of ‘Black Widows’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story.

As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.

Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming…human or demon. Princess or monster.

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again.

Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all–and in the process, they learn that there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they ever knew . . .

This fresh take on a classic story will make readers question the tales they’ve been told, and root for girls to break down the constructs of the world around them.

Ironspark by C.M. McGuire

A captivating and utterly original fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch, and who discovers what power might lie in such a curse…

There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story.

As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.

Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming…human or demon. Princess or monster.

Watch Over Me by Nina Lacour

Mila is used to being alone. Maybe that’s why she said yes to the opportunity: living in this remote place, among the flowers and the fog and the crash of waves far below.

But she hadn’t known about the ghosts.

Newly graduated from high school, Mila has aged out of the foster care system. So when she’s offered a job and a place to stay at a farm on an isolated part of the Northern California Coast, she immediately accepts. Maybe she will finally find a new home, a real home. The farm is a refuge, but also haunted by the past traumas its young residents have come to escape. And Mila’s own terrible memories are starting to rise to the surface.

Watch Over Me is another stunner from Printz Award-Winning author Nina LaCour, whose empathetic, lyrical prose is at the heart of this modern ghost story of resilience and rebirth.

Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power

Ever since Margot was born, it’s been just her and her mother. No answers to Margot’s questions about what came before. No history to hold on to. No relative to speak of. Just the two of them, stuck in their run-down apartment, struggling to get along.

But that’s not enough for Margot. She wants family. She wants a past. And she just found the key she needs to get it: A photograph, pointing her to a town called Phalene. Pointing her home. Only, when Margot gets there, it’s not what she bargained for.

Margot’s mother left for a reason. But was it to hide her past? Or was it to protect Margot from what’s still there?

The only thing Margot knows for sure is there’s poison in their family tree, and their roots are dug so deeply into Phalene that now that she’s there, she might never escape.

Beyond the Ruby Veil by Mara Fitzgerald

Cunning and unapologetic, Emanuela Ragno is a socialite who plays by her own rules. In her most ambitious move yet, she’s about to marry Alessandro Morandi, her childhood best friend and the heir to the wealthiest house in Occhia. Emanuela doesn’t care that she and her groom are both gay, because she doesn’t want a love match. She wants power, and through Ale, she’ll have it all.

But Emanuela has a secret that could shatter her plans. In her city of Occhia, the only source of water is the watercrea, a mysterious being who uses magic to make water from blood. When their first bruise-like omen appears on their skin, all Occhians must surrender themselves to the watercrea to be drained of life. Everyone throughout history has obeyed this law for the greater good. Everyone except Emanuela. She’s kept the tiny omen on her hip out of sight for years.

When the watercrea exposes Emanuela during her wedding ceremony and takes her to be sacrificed, Emanuela fights back…and kills her. Before everyone in Occhia dies of thirst, Emanuela and Ale must travel through the mysterious, blood-red veil that surrounds their city to uncover the source of the watercrea’s power and save their people—no matter what it takes.

Ruinsong by Julia Ember

Her voice was her prison… Now it’s her weapon.

In a world where magic is sung, a powerful mage named Cadence has been forced to torture her country’s disgraced nobility at her ruthless queen’s bidding.

But when she is reunited with her childhood friend, a noblewoman with ties to the underground rebellion, she must finally make a choice: Take a stand to free their country from oppression, or follow in the queen’s footsteps and become a monster herself.

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

Liz Lighty has always believed she’s too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it’s okay — Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.

But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz’s plans come crashing down . . . until she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen. There’s nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.

The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She’s smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?

The Fate of Stars by S.D. Simper

A devout mermaid. A disgraced princess. A feud as ancient as the gods themselves.

Worlds collide when Tallora is kidnapped from her ocean home and forced to be a pet to a tyrannical foreign empire. Her only hope for rescue lies with a sworn enemy—Princess Dauriel, infamous for her stone heart and conflicted past. But when Dauriel’s kingdom comes to the cusp of war, could their uneasy alliance be the key to defeating a common foe? Or will their tenuous feelings for each other become their ruin?

From the world of FALLEN GODS comes a tale of ancient magic and cutthroat politics—and finding redemption through love.

A Curse of Roses by Diana Pinguica

With just one touch, bread turns into roses. With just one bite, cheese turns into lilies. There’s a famine plaguing the land, and Princess Yzabel is wasting food simply by trying to eat. Before she can even swallow, her magic—her curse—has turned her meal into a bouquet. She’s on the verge of starving, which only reminds her that the people of Portugal have been enduring the same pain. If only it were possible to reverse her magic. Then she could turn flowers…into food.

Fatyan, a beautiful Enchanted Moura, is the only one who can help. But she is trapped by magical binds. She can teach Yzabel how to control her curse—if Yzabel sets her free with a kiss. As the King of Portugal’s betrothed, Yzabel would be committing treason, but what good is a king if his country has starved to death? With just one kiss, Fatyan is set free. And with just one kiss, Yzabel is yearning for more. She’d sought out Fatyan to help her save the people. Now, loving her could mean Yzabel’s destruction.

Based on Portuguese legend, this #OwnVoices historical fantasy is an epic tale of mystery, magic, and making the impossible choice between love and duty…

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 10 Recent and Incredible Sapphic Book Releases That You’ll Love appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

A science fiction that feels a little too close to the future, it was definitely very interesting to see how manipulation was heavily featured, in several different ways. These included dreamisodes, a mechanic developed by this company to influence people to buy things, signing up for the military, or having the urge to do other things. Then there is The Juice, a chemical that was stolen and consequently used to make people so desirable and persuasive. It really made for a juicy story, really!

I loved how Stilson combined the use of a chemical and the use of manipulation as it made for a refreshing story, and a rather abstract context. I did feel a little sorry that both Luscious and Dove were given this wonder-drug, making them puppets and maybe a little complicit in what was happening within the company they worked for. Heck, the head honchos of the TV network wanted to come into power (as in be the government), and that just sounds nefarious as heck, if you ask me.

Luscious has hope to break free, with the introduction of Jarat, who is attempting to recover the stolen ‘Juice’ from these corporate overlords. I was definitely here for it, as it kind of let me into the story, to imagine that I was spying. Even though Luscious is used to convince people to buy gum, she doesn’t approve of this later on and uses her charisma (caused by the Juice) to tell people the truth. Dove, however, is a hundred percent the company’s puppet and heck they even tried to make him run for vice president of United America (the book’s version of the USA), just because he’s just that charismatic. Unfortunately The Juice has bad side effects if you take too much or too little, after taking it, which poses control problems within the company.

Whilst I enjoyed the characters for what they were, I wish I had a little more story behind them. Yes, we know that Luscious came from a poor background, but what about the others, such as Dove? I wanted to know more about him, and how he came to be part of the Charismite program. It became a little hard in some points to distinguish who was who whilst reading, as there were many smaller characters that came and went, seemingly from nowhere.

However, the writing was fast-paced, and was a joy to read. Some dystopian and science fictions worlds aren’t that snappy, but this one definitely was. Whilst at the start, it was a little hard to connect the dots between scenarios, it became clearer the more I went into the book. The story also did super well in keeping me engaged, even though I put this one down for a couple of days because I got super busy (not the book’s fault, I assure you!). I also really liked how the writing made me feel like I was involved in the story, seeing everything happen as if I was there at the time. Even the plot made me happy because I like a good realistic science-y sounding plot. My only wish was that I wish I could’ve experienced a written version of the dreamisode, that would’ve really made it really pop. Overall, I was super keen to keep reading because the writing was absolutely great.

Overall, this is an interesting science fiction cross dystopia story that is sure to open some eyes, especially with its political cross references. I’m looking forward to reading more of Janet’s work in the future!

The Juice is available from Amazon, and other good book retailers, as of February 9th 2021.

Will you be picking up The Juice? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

When charisma is a superpower, it’s a mind-bending force.

Jarat Ellington was just an exile from Elite society, trying to lead a simple life, when a genius friend dropped an explosive mystery in his lap. The old pal, Thom Tseng, created a priceless chemical substance called the Juice that turns mildly charming people into almost god-like presences, known as Charismites. But the Juice is stolen, and Thom killed.

With the help of a secret organization, Jarat goes on an obsessive quest to uncover the deadly adversary who now controls the Juice. He must fight his intense attraction to a Charismite named Luscious Melada—once a dirt-poor, homely teen who transformed into an extremely magnetic starlet. And he goes up against Petra Cardinale, a powerful, ambitious media executive with a secret agenda.

THE JUICE is at turns an espionage rollercoaster ride and a spellbinding romance. Along the way, it explores the future of America and government control of media.

Don’t miss The Juice, by Janet Stilson. If you love the cyberpunk science fiction of William Gibson; the dystopian world of A Handmaid’s Tale; or sci-fi detective novels, this story is for you. Come check it out.

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