Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Christina Henry’s The Place Where They Buried Your Heart, which is out now.

On an otherwise ordinary street in Chicago, there is a house. An abandoned house where, once upon a time, terrible things happened. The children who live on this block are told by their parents to stay away from that house. But of course, children don’t listen. Children think it’s fun to be scared, to dare each other to go inside.

Jessie Campanelli did what many older sisters do and dared her little brother Paul. But unlike all the other kids who went inside that abandoned house, Paul didn’t return. His two friends, Jake and Richie, said that the house ate Paul. Of course adults didn’t believe that. Adults never believe what kids say. They thought someone kidnapped Paul, or otherwise hurt him. They thought Paul had disappeared in a way that was ordinary, explainable.

The disappearance of her little brother broke Jessie’s family apart in ways that would never be repaired. Jessie grew up, had a child of her own, kept living on the same street where the house that ate her brother sat, crouched and waiting. And darkness seemed to spread out from that house, a darkness that was alive—alive and hungry.

CHAPTER ONE
1993

I was at home, grounded for stealing cigarettes from Johnnie’s corner store, on the day my baby brother, Paul, was eaten by the house at the end of the street. Paul was eight and I was thirteen. I wasn’t there when it happened but it was my fault anyway.

The house, the old McIntyre place, had been abandoned for twenty years when Paul and his friends Richie and Jake snuck in through the back door. They weren’t supposed to get hurt, none of them. It was only a dare, a childish thing. I couldn’t have known what would happen.

Neighborhood teenagers had used a certain broken window on the side for years, had smoked and drank and gotten inside each other’s pants in the dusty, rat‑infested living room of the former residents. Those kids always said the place was creepy, that there were bloodstains on the walls. Some of them claimed to have heard noises upstairs, but this kind of talk was mostly dismissed. There was always someone in every group—usually a boy—who wanted to terrorize the girls into squeezing closer, and saying there were noises upstairs was an easy way to do that.

Nobody ever said the house was dangerous—that is, beyond the obvious fact that it was an old, rotting house. More than one kid needed an extra tetanus shot after going in there, but nobody died. Nobody died until Paul.

I should probably say that nobody died because of the thing in the house. Because somebody had died there, that’s for sure. Seven somebodies died there, and they’d died in such horrible ways that no one had wanted to live in the house ever again. Which was why it was abandoned and rotting. Which was why it had become the perfect place for the kids in the neighborhood to have a little thrill of danger without actually experiencing it.

Except for Paul and Richie and Jake. Three went in and two came out and it was my fault.

It was a rambling three‑story frame house, unusual in an area that had mostly two‑ or three‑flats made of brick or greystone, canted a little to one side like there was subsidence beneath. Chicago was built on a swamp, so the subsidence kind of made sense, except none of the other houses in the neighborhood tilted that way. As far as I knew, no one ever went up to the third floor. Most kids don’t even like to go into their own attics, never mind the attic of a building that had holes in the stairs.

One time Scott Gunther tried to go up those stairs on a dare and his leg went through the third step. His pant leg tore all the way up to the hem of his briefs and he was pretty embarrassed about that when they yanked him out. The two other boys who’d dared him were laughing until Scott’s eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed. That was when they realized the broken wood in the step had carved a deep jagged line in Scott’s flesh from his ankle to his thigh and he was bleeding out while they laughed. Scott was a few years older than me, and he never wore shorts again because the little kids would ask him about the scar.

The neighbors across the street, the Rileys, said they heard Paul and Richie and Jake screaming sometime around 3:30 p.m. Mr. Riley was watering the front lawn and listening to the Cubs game on the radio. Mrs. Riley was clipping coupons from the weekly circular at her kitchen table. The window above the sink was open. She told me later that she heard the three boys over the sound of the game and the traffic on the street, even though the kitchen was in the back of the house like most Chicago apartments.

There was an ear‑splitting scream, high‑pitched and terrified, and Mr. Riley shut off the hose. Mrs. Riley stood up from the kitchen table, her scissors still in her right hand, and went to the front of the house and opened the door.

“Carl, did you hear that?” she called, and she told me her heart felt like it was about to burst right out of her throat, the sheer unnaturalness of the sound spiking panic through her.

Carl stood on the lawn, the hose sprayer in his hand, his head cocked to one side. Mrs. Riley remembered the crack of the bat followed by Ron Santo’s voice lamenting a Cardinals run, and then, she said, “It was pure pandemonium.”

The boys were yelling and crying loud enough to be heard all up and down the block. Mrs. Riley rushed out to the front lawn wielding the scissors. Mr. Riley dropped the hose and ran across the street, pushing open the rusting metal gate.

Mrs. Riley said that she stood there, holding the scissors and not knowing what to do. The Majewskis came out onto their porch holding hands, their faces terrified. They lived to the right of the Rileys, on the first floor, and they were both in their seventies. Mrs. Majewski was so pale that Mrs. Riley was worried she might faint on the spot. Mrs. Majewski wore a pink flowered housecoat and her carpet slippers, and her hair was white and fine and fluttering in the breeze. Mrs. Riley thought she looked like a dandelion with a bent stem.

Ted Dobrowski, who lived on the other side of the Rileys, rushed out his front door. He was in his mid‑thirties, divorced, and had one fifteen‑year‑old son, Alex, who was known as a Problem Child around the block. Ted wore his Sandberg jersey and he held a can of Old Style.

“What the hell, Sheila?” he said, staring across the street at Carl, who was trying to open the front door of the McIntyre place.

There were boards tacked over the frame to keep anyone from going inside. The boards were covered in faded citations that had, as far as anyone knew, never been followed through on. Maybe if the city had done what they were supposed to do and torn down the property years before, none of this would have ever happened.

Ted dropped his beer on the lawn and ran to help Carl. “Should we call the police?” Alice Majewski said, her voice quavering.

The screams were louder, more frantic, and mixed with the hoarse cries of Carl Riley and Ted Dobrowski calling, “Hang on kids! We’re coming!” and the crack of the bat and cheers coming from the radio.

Sheila Riley said the men got the boards off and Ted Dobrowski ran at the door like a linebacker, shoulder first and legs low, and the door flew open as if by magic.

“And then,” Sheila Riley told me, ten years later, after Carl Riley had died from stomach cancer and Ted Dobrowski’s Problem Child had become my personal problem, “it was even worse. Because the door was open and there was nothing to muffle that sound—the sound of those boys in terror. Carl and Ted just stood there in the doorway, and you could tell they didn’t know what to do. There was this other noise then, this almost‑roar, but it wasn’t exactly that. I don’t know how to describe it, except it was like there was a crack in the world. And right before that crack closed up again, I heard him. I heard Paul screaming your name, saying, ‘Jessie, Jessie,’ over and over again.”

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Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Christina Henry’s The House That Horror Built, which is out now!

Harry Adams has always loved horror movies, so it’s not a total coincidence that she took the job cleaning house for movie director Javier Castillo. His forbidding graystone Chicago mansion, Bright Horses, is filled from top to bottom with terrifying props and costumes, as well as glittering awards from his career making films that thrilled audiences—until family tragedy and scandal forced him to vanish from the industry.

Javier values discretion, and Harry has always tried to clean the house immaculately, keep her head down, and keep her job safe—she needs the money to support her son. But then she starts hearing noises from behind a locked door. Noises that sound remarkably like a human voice calling for help, even though Javier lives alone and never has visitors. Harry knows that not asking questions is a vital part of working for Javier, but she soon finds that the sinister house may be home to secrets she can’t ignore.

It was the size of the house that got Harry every time she saw it. Of course she’d seen houses that size before, in Certain Neighborhoods around Chicago, giant houses whose sheer enormity should have relegated them to the suburbs. This city house wasn’t a McMansion, though – one of those classless boxes, bulging oversized dwellings for those who wanted to display their money, or at least their debt.

It was decidedly not new, not the province of some futures broker or investment banker. It had the same gray stone face as her own two-flat apartment building – a fifteen-minute bus ride and half a world away, economically speaking – but it was twice the size. The house covered two lots, with a third lot for a side yard. As an apartment dweller she didn’t often contemplate property taxes but just the fact of those three lots made queasy multidigit numbers dance before her eyes.

The building was three stories plus a basement level. The windows were tall on the lowest story, less so on the second one, and downright tiny on the topmost, giving the overall effect of slowly closing eyes if you glanced from the bottom to the top.

Other than the oddly sized windows there were no particular architectural flourishes save two. At the northeast corner of the roof a sculpture protruded like a Notre Dame gargoyle – a horse’s head and neck carved in stone, the horse’s lips pulled back, its eyes wild. All around the horse, stone flames rose, waiting to burn. Harry thought she’d grimace, too, if she was trapped in fire for all eternity.

In addition to the frantic stallion, there was a name carved in an arc above the door – Bright Horses.

               The entire property was surrounded by a 10 foot high black iron fence. The only two entry points were the gate in front of her and the sliding gate in front of the garage in the back.

Harry reached toward the call box so she could be buzzed in, but paused as she heard her phone chirp in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw a text from her son, Gabe.

FORGOT MY CHEM REPORT! IT’S ON MY DESK? followed by a praying hands emoji.

Already at work, she texted back, and tacked on the woman shrugging and holding her hands up.

She only worked three days a week, so if Gabe had tried on a different day she might have hopped the bus and brought his report to him. Maybe. Part of her thought he needed to learn the consequences of not thinking ahead and putting the report in his bag the night before. The other part of her wanted to cut him some slack, given that it was his freshman year and the first time the kids were back at school post-pandemic, even if it was only three days a week.

She was grateful that it was only two days off in person schooling, as her unemployed spring (furloughed from her server job, never to return) coupled with overseeing remote learning for a thirteen year old with ADHD had resulted in screaming, emotional breakdowns for both of them. Having Gabe’s learning monitored by qualified teachers was a profound relief.

Harry watched the reply bubbles churn on her screen until Gabe’s answer popped up. A sad face emoji, followed by a shrugging boy.

Noise crackled from the call box and a deep baritone voice emitted from it. “Are you going to stand there all day, or perhaps you’d like to work?”

Harry glanced up at the camera perched on the top corner of the fence. The preponderance of cameras in and around the house always left her feeling uneasy, even though she understood the necessity of them. There were a few too many, in Harry’s opinion, though she was careful to keep that opinion to herself.

“Sorry, Mr. Castillo,” she said, and the gate buzzed.

Harry pushed the gate open and hurried up the walk as Javier Castillo opened the front door, watching her approach.

“We’ll start in the blue room today,” he said as she jogged up the steps.

“No problem,” she said, pausing in the doorway. She pulled her slippers – plain gray terrycloth scuffs, bought expressly for and used only at the Castillo residence – out of her backpack, placed them on the floor in the entryway and toed out of her sneakers one by one, sliding each foot into a slipper without ever touching the ground.

Harry picked up her sneakers and carried them inside, placing them on the special shelf to the left of the doorway. No outside dirt, damp or germs touched the floors in Bright Horses.

The shelf that housed her sneakers was something like a preschooler’s cubby, with a space for shoes at the bottom, hooks for bags and coats in the center, and a top shelf for hats and other items. Harry pulled off her black windbreaker and hung it on the hook. She slid her cell phone into her backpack as Mr. Castillo watched. There was a strict no-phone policy inside the house. Violation of this rule was grounds for immediate dismissal, though she was allowed to go outside during her lunch break to check messages.

Mr. Castillo held out the box of latex gloves stored on a side table behind the door. Harry pulled on the gloves, wincing a little as she did. She hated the feeling of pulling on the gloves, the way the material seemed to grab and yank at her skin. Once the gloves were actually on she didn’t mind them as much, although she still liked the moment at the end of the day when she was allowed to peel them off and let her skin breathe again.

Harry adjusted her medical mask – Mr. Castillo never allowed her to remove it inside the house except in the kitchen when eating or drinking – so that all that was visible were her faded blue eyes and the bit of her forehead that showed when she pulled her pin-straight blond hair into a ponytail. She followed him down the hallway and up the stairs to the second floor.

The entry to the house was deliberately neutral – the plain gray carpet and faded wallpaper practically screamed, “There’s nothing to see here!” But upon leaving the downstairs hall and passing into any other room the true nature of Bright Horses was revealed.

It started on the stairway, after the first few steps when the stairs curved to the left, out of sight from anyone standing in the entryway. A large framed poster of a voluptuous blonde in a red dress hung on the wall there. A snarling cat, blood dripping from its mouth, curled over her right shoulder, and over her left were the words, “She was marked with the curse of those who slink and court and kill by night.” Above her head the words CAT PEOPLE floated over a clock whose hands showed midnight.

Harry always smiled at this poster, as CAT PEOPLE was one of her favorite films, though Mr. Castillo had hastened to point out that the poster wasn’t an original print. Most of the posters that lined the wall along the stairs were contemporary copies, thought there were a few genuine articles – the original U.K. quad poster for Hammer’s The Curse of Frankenstein, the lurid red French theatrical poster for Eyes Without a Face, a U.S. lobby poster for An American Werewolf in London.

It was slow going to the top of the stairs, as Mr. Castillo always got out of breath halfway up and had to stop. Harry didn’t remark on this, or offer any help. She’d made the mistake of offering assistance once, saying she would fetch a glass of water.

“I’m fine,” Mr. Castillo snapped. “I’m just fat.”

Harry attributed his breathlessness to lack of regular exercise rather than size – she knew plenty of heavier people who had no trouble with stairs because they ran or lifted weights on the regular, and plenty of thin people who tired after walking half a block. But she hadn’t said this.

She hadn’t said anything unnecessary or even vaguely personal, because it had been her first day. She was grateful to have work again, and desperately averse to jeopardizing her new source of income.

Even now, more than a month later, she never said anything that might be construed as personal. She was too much in awe of him, in awe of this person who’d let her into his home.

Excerpted from The House That Horror Built by Christina Henry Copyright © 2024 by Christina Henry. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

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Releasing on March 26th 2024, Dead Girls Walking is a shocking, spine-chilling YA horror slasher about a girl searching for her dead mother’s body at the summer camp that was once her serial killer father’s home—perfect for fans of Friday the 13th and White Smoke.

Reading Devolution by Max Brooks immediately after reading Near the Bone by Christina Henry entirely by accident, without really knowing what either book was about when I read them, was one of the best weeks I’ve ever had in my life. To everybody who hasn’t lived it, it may seem like it’s an obvious choice–two wintry Big Foot creature features by well-established authors, what’s not to like?

But it goes deeper than that. Two years ago, I was looking for fun time horror specifically. I blasted it out on twitter, and lucky me NYT Bestselling author of Blood Debts Terry J. Benton-Walker recommended I read Devolution by Max Brooks. Personalized recommendation by The Moment?

Me being me, immediately I did not read it (#wastehistime2022andbeyond).

I’ve got this chronic condition where I ask you what book I should read and then I ignore that suggestion for as long as I can.

However, one year later, I had this intense reading streak.

I was reading books left and right! I think that I was finally returning to that monster that I once was, that little girl that pulled into the Bladensburg Library parking lot and had the librarians closing the shutters and hitting the panic button. I ripped through 10 books in two weeks, and couldn’t get enough. And because I’d developed a catastrophic TBR from years of NOT reading, I knew just what to read each time. One of those books was…

Near the Bone by Christina Henry. I really wanted to get into Christina Henry’s recent releases, and I chose a great one to start on. Immediately, this book FUCKS. Intrigue, fear, characters you can get behind and tension that had me at the edge of my seat. It was one of the best reading experiences I’d had so far, and I was on a roll.

Five stars, easy.

I wanted to keep riding that high, and as luck would have it I had been avoiding my recommendation from The Moment. It almost seemed too perfect that Devolution by Max Brooks fit the vibe I was riding, a whole year later. At least by the cover, which had me “hmm”-ing about how it just might be my next read.

It was a coincidence that changed me.

I love novels with letters and excerpts and journal entries, I love a Bad Bitch at the helm, and I was fresh off a book hangover with Near the Bone so it felt like I’d given myself another puff of the stuff. This was life.

I started to wonder what other books would evoke this feeling. An aftershock of story, like if addiction was strictly for absolute dorks. There’s no turning back from that experience.

And now that I’m addicted, I’ve made it my life’s mission to convert others.

So, thank you for accepting my invitation to this introductory dinner. I know we haven’t talked since high school, but I’m different now and I think you can be different, too. Let me take you through the menu of horror double features that pair so well together you’ll add them to your charcuterie board.

Let’s dig in.

NEAR THE BONE BY CHRISTINA HENRY & DEVOLUTION BY MAX BROOKS

NATURE FUCKS BUT GIRLS GET IT DONE

Bigfoot. Women. Snow. That’s what this double feature is made of. While you can see the resemblance just from the pitches (adult horror Bigfoot creature features, duh), there are also thematic consistencies that really make the experience feel full and satisfying when you finish. Compassion between strangers, which you often find in survival stories. Strength in womanhood, not to be confused with Girls Can Do Anything. There’s also one of my favorite themes: these big dumb animals are not fucking around.

The only thing I’m not sure of at this moment is if order matters here – is it better to read the stress of Mattie’s life early in Near the Bone so that you can feel the release of Kate’s growth in Devolution afterward? Or feel the dread of Devolution ratchet up from one book to the next, like a frog in a gumbo pot?

Either way, choose this double feature on a day when you’re stir-crazy from a blizzard and need a thrill to get through the slog.

THE SCOURGE BETWEEN THE STARS BY NESS BROWN & DEAD SILENCE BY S.A. BARNES

YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND NOT IN A MICHAEL JACKSON WAY

This is another pair of books you can see relate in their pitches – two space horrors about something going wrong on an isolated ship. However, once again, it’s the themes that carry throughout that make this much more enjoyable. Leadership and meeting expectations, even when you don’t want to and protagonists that feel fear but tell that fear to kiss their ass.

I would recommend Scourge Between the Stars first. It’s a little bit denser than Dead Silence, much more rooted in Sci-Fi – but it’s shorter. It’s like an umami-bomb appetizer that balances out Dead Silence‘s horror-focused romp.

When you want nothing more than to relax underneath the stars with your definitely-charged Kindle and a campfire, this is the exact perfect pair for you.

BAD WITCH BURNING BY JESSICA LEWIS & DELICIOUS MONSTERS BY LISELLE SAMBURY

BAD BITCHES HAVE BAD DAYS TOO

Peace and love makes the world go round, but summa these bitches out here need to be put in their place. Bad Witch Burning and Delicious Monsters are both about teenaged Black girls with a lot to be mad about. And as the president of A Hateful Bitch fanclub, them my girls and I’mma stick beside them.

Curl up with some fucking revenge after your enemies spark your rage. Sometimes the bad guys are the shit that should get blown up, and these two books are not sorry about it.

I would read Delicious Monsters first with this one, as it’s a very slow start that ramps up to three-hundred whereas Bad Witch Burning slams its foot on the gas and keeps it there like it’s an unofficial sequel to Speed (Speed VI: Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems).

WHEN THE RECKONING COMES BY LATANYA MCQUEEN & RING SHOUT BY P. DJÈLÍ CLARK

BLAXPLOITATION BUT MAKE IT SPLATTERPUNK-LITE

Okay, I don’t like calling these two “splatterpunk-lite” because they’re both metal as fuck gore-fests, but I don’t want any genre purists to hate me for invoking the name of splatterpunk in vain. These two stories are toted around as Southern gothic, Southern horror, Southern etc., and I feel like those descriptors – while accurate – do not even begin to address where the story takes you.

Calling When the Reckoning Comes “Southern Gothic” is like saying Nightmare on Elm Street is Magical Realism.

“…okay,” Nene Leakes says.

Even though When the Reckoning Comes is a novel versus Ring Shout‘s novella, I think it should be read first. It’s just a taste of lore before you truly jump off the cliff into the deep end of Ring Shout. Both books toe the gore line harder than a lot of present-day horror (traditionally published, let’s be clear – indie and self-published horror has never met a disembowelment they didn’t want to include), and are the perfect duo to read for any of my people who were scheduled to work on Juneteenth.

THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD BY TIFFANY D. JACKSON & THE HONEYS BY RYAN LA SALA

HORROR FOR THE GIRLS THAT AREN’T GIRL’S GIRLS

Horror is no stranger to femme friendships, but rarely does genre fiction deeply engage with it. The idea that saying the wrong or right thing, being the wrong or right person, is a tightrope to walk even in the midst of the unspeakable happening around you. Themes of anger, acceptance are explored from intersectional lens while still delivering on the creepy, gory, and outrageous.

While these two are very alike, and almost obvious, this recommendation is specifically for their audiobooks. Listening to The Weight of Blood‘s full cast first, then ending on the atmospheric sounds of The Honeys is the perfect way to spend a cinematic Saturday – at 3x speed because we’re all gonna die someday. You get to feel the rage of Jackson’s Carrie-toned ending and then dive headfirst into the quiet rage of The Honey‘s opener.

Only the girl’s girls know that girls getting mad is a beautiful thing to witness.

YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE TONIGHT BY KALYNN BAYRON & DEAD GIRLS WALKING BY SAMI ELLIS with THE BLACKENING PLAYING IN THE DISTANCE

HORROR LOVING UNSERIOUSNESS FOR BLACK HORROR LOVERS

I have to end on myself – it’s, like, contractual (editor’s note: it is not). And while it’s hard for me to see myself objectively, I read a LOT of Black horror. There are quite a few of them I thought matched Dead Girls Walking‘s energy – one of glee in the gore and delight in the death.

There’s No Way I’d Die First, for example, is an exhilarating take on a horror lovers’ weekend gone wrong story. The Taking of Jake Livingston may be beautiful (and thus def not like me lmao), but it weaves themes of otherness with horror so intentionally much like Temple’s story in Dead Girls Walking.

If I just chose by theme, I’d never choose right.

So I went with tone.

You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight is witty, full of banter and teeming with heightened tense scenarios, gleefully horrific set-pieces, and splashy scenes of gore you can FEEL a smile behind. Both YA Horror novels are more than horror stories – they are horror odes, explicitly inspired by pioneers of the genre while also injecting a much needed dose of Black culture, Black conversations, and just plain stannage.

These books are written for a Brenda and a Preacher.

It’s for anyone who remembers the moment Bone Thugs N’ Harmony started playing in Fear Street 1666. For the ones who watched The Blackening and got exactly what they wanted. For any Black readers that finish a scene and go—“That was a good kill.” And I think, when read back-to-back, You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight and Dead Girls Walking absolutely serve Mo’ Murder beat drop.

(author’s note: I, Sami Ellis, was in fact the editor that said it was not contractual to end on myself. I am sorry for the deception.)

The post Horror Book Double Features appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The three primary genres under Henry’s meta microscope here are cosy crime, horror, and dystopian. All are blood soaked, dark, and gripping. The cosy crime section was thrilling and played so well on its atmosphere of small town secrets and bitter rivalries hiding behind smiles. It was distilled perfectly. As a bit of a Henry fan, I knew she excelled in horror territory and the one here is no exception. It is a classic slasher narrative, with a few twists and turns that are well-executed and genuinely catch you off guard. Of course, there are twists throughout the entire book that left me reeling. There is a bit of a jigsaw you can start to piece together and the payoff is excellent. The dystopian section was also incredible, with more of a moral dilemma focus and a definite exploration of the cost of survival.

I absolutely adored our three central characters: Celia, Allie, and Maggie. They were all so smart and perceptive, showcasing strength in a multitude of ways. Watching them develop within their own narratives and their character arcs within short sections were fantastic. From the start, you felt so connected to them and wanted them to succeed through their various trials. Their voices were distinctive and their knowledge of their genres really shone through. That was one of the best ways Henry played with the expected story beats and tropes of each genre. It was like row after row of Easter eggs that at once sent up the ridiculousness of the genres, but also felt like love letters to the little details we adore in each. Henry’s world-building is beyond. In such a short space of time, you get an immediate sense of the world and atmosphere trying to be conveyed. There is history, relationships, dynamics and more that are keenly felt in deft, effective and evocative ways.

There is this through line about women being at the mercy of men’s power and taking back control of their own narratives, with a very knowing twist on this classic feminist slogan. I was pleasantly surprised at how empowering it was at times, though it is within an extreme pressure cooker and Henry continues to challenge this until the very end. You have to ask yourself what decisions you would make in each scenario and Henry definitively shies away from any easy answers. There is a little thread of the importance of solidarity over individual success, but it is tinged and subverted in great ways. Of course, this gets pretty tangled within essentially a book about books with five plotlines to keep on your radar. It always felt so clear and easy to follow though, as we essentially go through the three genres being adoringly pastiched with some fascinating social media excerpts to look at too. There is a lot to be discussed around the treatment of these genres, particularly how the online fandom spaces for each of them are influenced by misogyny and some horrible, nasty comments that appear. I was surprised at how empowering the book ultimately was and how it sits within that murkiness by the ending. It is an ambiguous and morally dubious book at times. Henry delights in confronting your expectations, sometimes fulfilling the tropes and sometimes undermining them.

Good Girls Don’t Die is an excellent, explosive and experimental thriller that blends genres, tropes and storylines and culminates in a fantastic final sequence that will not be forgotten any time soon.

Good Girls Don’t Die is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Good Girls Don’t Die? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

A sharp-edged, supremely twisty thriller about three women who find themselves trapped inside stories they know aren’t their own, from the author of Alice and Near the Bone.

Celia wakes up in a house that’s supposed to be hers. There’s a little girl who claims to be her daughter and a man who claims to be her husband, but Celia knows this family—and this life—is not hers…

Allie is supposed to be on a fun weekend trip—but then her friend’s boyfriend unexpectedly invites the group to a remote cabin in the woods. No one else believes Allie, but she is sure that something about this trip is very, very wrong…

Maggie just wants to be home with her daughter, but she’s in a dangerous situation and she doesn’t know who put her there or why. She’ll have to fight with everything she has to survive…

Three women. Three stories. Only one way out. This captivating novel will keep readers guessing until the very end.

The post Review: Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Christina Henry’s Good Girls Don’t Die, which is out now!

Celia wakes up in a house that’s supposed to be hers. There’s a little girl who claims to be her daughter and a man who claims to be her husband, but Celia knows this family—and this life—is not hers…

Allie is supposed to be on a fun weekend trip—but then her friend’s boyfriend unexpectedly invites the group to a remote cabin in the woods. No one else believes Allie, but she is sure that something about this trip is very, very wrong…

Maggie just wants to be home with her daughter, but she’s in a dangerous situation and she doesn’t know who put her there or why. She’ll have to fight with everything she has to survive…

Three women. Three stories. Only one way out. This captivating novel will keep readers guessing until the very end.

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The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Good Girls Don’t Die’ by Christina Henry appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hello second half of 2023 and hello to all the incredible upcoming book releases we can look forward to!

In this round up, we take a look at some of the most exciting titles to be released between the months of July and December with releases from the likes of Rachel Lynn Solomon, Temi Oh, Chuck Wendig, VE Schwab, Cassandra Clare, Rebecca Yarros, Christina Henry, and many more, along with delightful debuts from new authors you should keep on your radar!

Read on to discover just a few of our favourite July to December 2023 releases and tell us in the comments if you’re looking forward to any of them! Looking for our January to June releases? Check them out here.

JULY

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A ghostwriter and a struggling actor help each other on the page and in the bedroom in this steamy romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Talk.

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong
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Inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, Immortal Longings is a fiery collision of power plays, spilled blood, and romance amidst a set of deadly games.

Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates
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From bestselling author Darcy Coates comes Dead of Winter, a remote cabin in the snowy wilderness thriller that will teach you to trust no one. There are eight strangers. One killer. Nowhere left to run.

Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino
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Jenny Han meets CODA in this big-hearted YA debut about first love and Deaf pride at a summer camp.

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle
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A searing and earnest horror debut about the demons the queer community faces in America, the price of keeping secrets, and finding the courage to burn it all down.

Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto
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Gideon the Ninth meets the Game of Thrones White Walkers in this dark young adult fantasy about a disgraced ghost-fighting warrior who must journey into a haunted wasteland to rescue a kidnapped prince.

Light Bringer by Pierce Brown
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Darrow returns as Pierce Brown’s New York Times bestselling Red Rising series continues in the thrilling sequel to Dark Age.

The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey
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Four women come together to save the summer camp that changed their lives and rediscover themselves in the process in this moving new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil and the Peachtree Bluff series.

Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson
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An exhilarating and expansive new novel about fathers and sons, faith and friendship from Caleb Azumah Nelson, the no.1 bestselling, award-winning author of Open Water.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
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From New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center comes Hello, Stranger, a novel about finding love, confronting a haunting past, and figuring out what, and who, really matters…

The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons
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From the USA Today bestselling author of The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett comes a heartwarming story of found family, love, and making connections through books set against the bombing of London during WWII.

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem
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A fugitive queen strikes a bargain with her greatest enemy that could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever in this unmissable Egyptian-inspired epic fantasy debut. 

AUGUST

Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt
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A teen girl looking for the truth about her missing mother forms a reluctant alliance with her former best friend…in exchange for hiding him from his cult-leading family.

I’m Not Done With You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto
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Some friends–and friendships–are worth killing for in this dark, twisty suspense novel by national bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto.

The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
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Inspired by a classic of martial arts literature, S. L. Huang’s The Water Outlaws are bandits of devastating ruthlessness, unseemly femininity, dangerous philosophies, and ungovernable gender who are ready to make history—or tear it apart.

Accidentally in Love by Danielle Jackson
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A delightful rom-com where grumpy-meets-sunshine collides with enemies-to-lovers in this perfect summer novel, written for fans of Kate Stayman-London, Olivia Dade, and Denise Williams.

Guardians of the Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones
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Sailor Moon meets Cinder in Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, the start of a new, richly imagined fantasy series from S. Jae-Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong.

The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter
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The New York Times bestselling YA author of the beloved Gallagher Girls series bursts onto the adult scene with a fast-paced, hilarious road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

More Perfect by Temi Oh
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A reimagining of the Greek myth of Eurydice and Orpheus, for fans of Becky Chambers and William Gibson by Alex Award–winning author Temi Oh.

Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine
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The Push meets The Silent Patient in a gripping thriller that follows a woman convinced a sinister figure is going to great lengths to make sure her pregnancy never happens—while the men in her life refuse to believe a word she says.

Actually Super by Adi Alsaid
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A globetrotting novel that takes a determined teen from Japan to Australia and to Argentina and Mexico on a quest to prove that humanity is more good than bad from the author of Let’s Get Lost and Before Takeoff.

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman
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From the beloved New York Times bestselling author of The Marriage of Opposites and the Practical Magic series comes an enchanting novel about love, heartbreak, self-discovery, and the enduring magic of books.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
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From USA Today bestselling author T. Kingfisher, Thornhedge is the tale of a kind-hearted, toad-shaped heroine, a gentle knight, and a mission gone completely sideways.

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
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Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast.

SEPTEMBER

This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin
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Fake dating gets a magical twist in this enchanting queer romantic comedy where a witch worries that the real feelings brewing between her and her crush were sparked by an accidental love potion, and the only way out of the disastrous spell is a healthy dose of the truth–drink up, witches.

The Fragile Threads of Power by V. E. Schwab
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V. E. Schwab, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, opens another door to a new fantasy series set in the dazzling world of Shades of Magic.

Dreambound by Dan Frey
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In this thrilling contemporary fantasy novel, a father must uncover the secret magical underbelly of Los Angeles to find his daughter, who has seemingly disappeared into the fictional universe of her favorite fantasy series.

The September House by Carissa Orlando
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A woman is determined to stay in her dream home even after it becomes a haunted nightmare in this compulsively readable, twisty, and layered debut novel.

The Salvation Gambit by Emily Skrutskie
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A hotheaded hacker must outwit the AI at the heart of a rogue warship–turned–penal colony if she and her crew of con women want to escape with their lives in this electrifying sci-fi thriller from the acclaimed author of Bonds of Brass.

Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig
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A small town is transformed by dark magic when a strange tree begins bearing magical apples in this new masterpiece of horror from the bestselling author of Wanderers and The Book of Accidents.

The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie
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A spellbinding YA fantasy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathryn Purdie, where fairy tales come to life with dark, deadly twists.

The Long Game by Elena Armas
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A disgraced soccer exec reluctantly enlists the help of a retired soccer star in coaching a children’s team in this smalltown love story in the vein of Ted Lasso and It Happened One Summer —from the New York Times bestselling author of The Spanish Love Deception.

The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan
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The first adventure in the Mirror Realm Cycle, a Spanish Inquisition-era fantasy trilogy inspired by Jewish folklore, with echoes of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden.

Mermaids Never Drown: Tales to Dive For
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14 Young Adult short stories from bestselling and award-winning authors make a splash in Mermaids Never Drown – the second collection in the Untold Legends series edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker – exploring mermaids like we’ve never seen them before!

Fly With Me by Andie Burke
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A sparkling and steamy opposites-attract romance, Fly with Me by Andie Burke is filled with sharp banter and that sweet, swooping feeling of finding “the one” when and where you least expect it.

Champion of Fate by Kendare Blake
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake is back with an epic duology starter that follows a young woman training to join a fabled order as she attempts to lead a hero to his critical first victory. A must-read for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Victoria Aveyard.

OCTOBER

Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender
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The National Book Award-winning author of  Felix Ever After  delivers a beautifully tender story of two grumpy/sunshine, fake-dating actors navigating their love story both on and offscreen—perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Alexis Hall.

Making It So: A Memoir by Patrick Stewart
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A revealing portrait of an artist whose astonishing life—from his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England, to the heights of Hollywood and worldwide acclaim—proves a story as exuberant, definitive, and enduring as the author himself

Unholy Terrors by Lyndall Clipstone
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Midnight Is The Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead
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From the critically acclaimed author of In My Dreams I Hold A Knife and The Last Housewife comes a gothic Southern thriller about a killer haunting a small Louisiana town, where two outcasts—the preacher’s daughter and the boy from the wrong side of the tracks—hold the key to uncovering the truth.

Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco
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The adult debut of #1 New York Times bestselling author Kerri Maniscalco, Throne of the Fallen is a seductive new standalone novel set within her fan-favorite Kingdom of the Wicked world, perfect for readers of fantasy, romance, and mystery alike.

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
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Two outcasts find themselves caught in a web of forbidden love, dangerous magic, and dark secrets that could change the world forever in the start of a riveting epic fantasy series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Shadowhunter Chronicles.

Wildfire by Hannah Grace
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The latest in the TikTok sensation and deliciously “swoonworthy” (Elena Armas, New York Times bestselling author) Maple Hills series follows two summer camp counselors who reconnect after a sizzling one-night stand.

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker
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New from the author of The Keeper of Night comes a YA fantasy duology set in an alternate Tang Dynasty China, where a poor biracial girl with the ability to raise the dead gets caught up in the dangerous political games of the royal family.

The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey
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Bestselling authors Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey have teamed up to deliver a dark new story with magic, monsters, and mayhem, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman and Joe Hill.

Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros
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Frankenstein meets Inglourious Basterds in this stunning Jewish historical horror novel from the award-winning author of The City Beautiful.

The Intern by Michele Campbell
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A young Harvard law student falls under the spell of a charismatic judge in this timely and thrilling novel about class, ambition, family and murder.

Juniper’s Christmas by Eoin Colfer
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From acclaimed, mega-bestselling author Eoin Colfer comes a Christmas classic-in-the-making–a beautifully illustrated novel about an eleven-year-old girl’s wild adventure to find her mother, protect a public park, and save Christmas.

NOVEMBER

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
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In this clever and swoonworthy YA debut from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, life’s moving pieces bring rival chess players together in a match for the heart.

Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper
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Amara’s journey has taken her far; from a slave in Pompeii’s wolf den to a high-powered courtesan in Rome… though her story is not over yet. While Amara plays for power in Rome’s imperial palace, those dearest to her remain in Pompeii. But it is AD 79, and mighty Mount Vesuvius is about to make itself known…

Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry
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A sharp-edged, supremely twisty thriller about three women who find themselves trapped inside stories they know aren’t their own, from the author of Alice and Near the Bone.

The Future by Naomi Alderman
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From the award-winning, bestselling author of The Power comes a white-knuckle tour de force and dazzling exploration of the world we have made and where we are going.

Sun of Blood and Ruin by Mariely Lares – Publication has now changed to February 20, 2024
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Rumor has it on the streets of sixteenth-century New Spain, there’s a new vigilante in town serving justice. This reimagining of Zorro–featuring a heroic warrior sorceress–weaves Mesoamerican mythology and Mexican history two decades after the Spanish conquest into a swashbuckling, historical debut fantasy with magic, intrigue, treachery, and romance.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
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Murtagh by Christopher Paolini
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Master storyteller and internationally bestselling author Christopher Paolini returns to the World of Eragon in this stunning epic fantasy set a year after the events of the Inheritance Cycle. Join Dragon Rider—and fan favorite—Murtagh and his dragon as they confront a perilous new enemy!

Didn’t See That Coming by Jesse Q. Sutanto
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A hilariously fresh and romantic send-up to You’ve Got Mail about a gamer girl with a secret identity and the online bestie she’s never met IRL until she unwittingly transfers to his school, from the bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties, The Obsession, and Well, That Was Unexpected.

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
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The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in What the River Knows, Isabel Ibañez’s lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt and filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng
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Yellowjackets meets She Is a Haunting in this debut speculative thriller that follows a disgraced teen idol who comes face-to-face with the demons of her past in a glittering, cutthroat K-pop competition.

The Fascination by Essie Fox
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The estranged grandson of a wealthy collector of human curiosities becomes fascinated with teenaged twin sisters, leading them into a web of dark obsessions. A dazzlingly dark gothic novel from the bestselling author of  The Somnambulist.

Emmett by L. C. Rosen
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A modern-day gay YA Emma, with the spikey social critique of Austen plus the lush over-the-top romance of Bridgerton.

DECEMBER

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura
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Rival archaeologists must team up on a secret Aztec expedition, or it could leave their careers—and hearts—in ruins.

The Ruined by Renée Ahdieh
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The stunning conclusion to the instant New York Times bestselling quartet that began with The Beautiful.

A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford
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From bestselling author and TikTok sensation A.K. Mulford comes the first riveting, enchanting book in the all-new Golden Court romantasy trilogy–A River of Golden Bones begins a journey of self-discovery, romance, and adventure for a young heir as she/they comes out of hiding to save her sister from a malicious, powerful sorceress and her dangerous sleeping curse.

Perfect Little Lives: A Novel by Amber and Danielle Brown
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Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson
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Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven, Abigail Johnson draws a searing and lyrical portrait of grief, forgiveness, and the kind of love that blooms in the aftermath.

Second Chances in New Port Stephen by T.J. Alexander
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A trans man returns to his Florida hometown for Christmas after his career goes up in flames, only to cross paths with his high school ex in this charming rom-com about family and second chances from the author of the “delectable” (Time) Chef’s Kiss.

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
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Two wolf shifters agree to be fake mates but unexpectedly find something real in this steamy paranormal romantic comedy by Lana Ferguson.

The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra
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A woman learns to follow her own road in this heartwarming novel inspired by The Wizard of Oz by New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra.

What July to December book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Get Your Hands On These Anticipated July To December 2023 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Move over, Ariel, because these 24 YA Little Mermaid retellings are about to make a splash! Tell-all sea witch origin stories, dark fairy tales laced with siren calls, and summer lovin’ romances on the sand—these books about mermaids will have you belting out Sebastian’s iconic line, “Darling, it’s better down where it’s wetter” in no time. So, grab your trusty dinglehopper and get ready to bring a whole new meaning to “Under the Sea.”

So why should I read YA Little Mermaid Retellings? We totally get it. You’ve been singing along to Disney’s 1989 animated film for as long as you can remember. You’re afraid these reimaginings might not live up to your childhood nostalgia or, worse, they’ll tarnish the magic of the original story. But fear not because we’ve got four reasons that will ease your worries and leave you yearning to be “Part of Your World.”

1. The Original Little Mermaid Is Actually a Story About Queer Love
Ever wondered who wrote the original Little Mermaid? The truth will surprise you. It wasn’t the Grimm Brothers, as you might expect. Nope, it was none other than the visionary Danish wordsmith himself, Hans Christian Andersen.

But what’s more, some history buffs have uncovered evidence that Andersen may have actually been queer. Yes, it’s true! A series of letters exchanged between the Danish author and the son of his professional benefactor gives rise to a tantalizing theory; could The Little Mermaid be a tragic metaphor for his forbidden gay love? Talk about making waves!

2. The Original Little Mermaid Story Ending is Junk
Curious about what happens at the end of the OG Little Mermaid? Hold on to your seashells because it’s no Disney “happily ever after.” Instead of sealing the deal with her prince charming, the mermaid ends up yeeting herself overboard and turning into sea foam. Can we get a refund?

It’s a good thing YA Little Mermaid retellings have got our backs. These modern adaptations are all about ditching the depressing foam party and giving our beloved Ariel the ending she truly deserves.

3. Go Beyond The Disney Movie
Let’s face it: With the Disney live-action movie now in the world and the extraordinary talent of Halle Bailey now gracing our screens, we’ve caught a serious case of mermaid fever.

If you’re anything like us here at The Nerd Daily, then you’re scrambling for more deep-sea adventures alongside Ariel, Prince Eric, Sebastian, and Flounder. Forget the predictable two-hour movie; these mermaid books turn the 90s classic completely on its head and give us so much more than nostalgia.

4. The Perfect Beach Read for Summer
Picture this: You’re chilling by the pool, the sun kissing your skin, with a delicious, fruity drink in hand. Life is good, right? Well, almost. There’s one crucial item missing from this Instagram-worthy scene: the perfect beach read!

But no worries, my fellow mermaid enthusiasts, because we’ve got just the thing for you: YA Little Mermaid retellings. These books will transport you to sun-soaked beaches, dazzling ocean depths, and mythical underwater realms that scream summertime vibes. Seriously, all you need now is a real-life mermaid tail!

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning
If you’re looking for an atmospheric reimagining of The Little Mermaid, then the search is over. In this Ursula origin story, dive into the haunting depths of a young sea witch’s transformation, tangled friendships, and a dark enchantment that is destined to change the fate of an entire kingdom.

The Surface Breaks by Louise O’Neill
The Handmaid’s Tale meets The Little Mermaid in this razor-sharp feminist fairy tale retelling that punches the patriarchy right where it hurts. Laced with the darkest of undercurrents, The Surface Breaks is about blistering rage, brutal misogyny, and one young mermaid who dreams of freedom.

To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
Swashbuckling pirates, murderous Sirens, and a high-stakes quest to save the world—what more do you need?
In this dark Little Mermaid retelling written by the author of Into the Crooked Place, a deadly siren princess and a ruthless pirate prince must work together to save everything they hold dear. Combine that with the enemies-to-lovers trope, and you’ve got an irresistible YA fantasy romance on your hands.

Part of Your World by Liz Braswell
What if Ariel had never defeated Ursula? In this Little Mermaid sequel, enter a parallel universe where King Triton is out of the picture and Ariel reigns as the majestic queen of Atlantica. But now our favourite redhead faces an impossible task: she must find a way to save Prince Eric and reverse the curse that binds her to the sea.

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen
Are you utterly desperate for a diverse YA Little Mermaid book? Then look no further than this West African-inspired fairy tale reimagining. Simi is a devoted Mami Wata, a mermaid entrusted with guiding the souls of those lost at sea. However, when a living boy is cast overboard, Simi finds herself entangled in a perilous journey where vengeful gods, ancient decrees, and shadowy forces converge.

Poor Unfortunate Soul by Serena Valentino
With over 18,000 ratings on Goodreads, it’s safe to say that Poor Unfortunate Soul is the ultimate Ursula fanfic. To put things simply, Serena Valentino has written a twisted villain origin story that will have you crying, “Spells, Ursula, please!” We guarantee you’ll never look at the infamous sea witch the same way again.

Prince of Song and Sea by Linsey Miller
Were you crushing hard on Prince Eric as a kid? No worries, you weren’t alone. For anyone who’s ever wanted a book from Prince Eric’s POV (what the heck was he thinking when he saw Ariel’s ridiculous sail dress?!), then this YA Little Mermaid retelling written by the author of The Game and Belle Révolte is for you.

Against the Tide by J. Elle
Inspired by Disney’s live-action reimagining of The Little Mermaid and written by the bestselling author of the Wings of Ebony series, Against the Tide is the fairy tale prequel you never knew you needed. Full of messy family dynamics, black girl magic, and unexplained kidnappings, this mermaid story takes you to Ariel’s grotto and beyond.

Kitsune by Nicolette Andrews
Ever imagined Ariel as a Japanese fox spirit? No? We hadn’t either, but now we don’t have to because that’s exactly what this Japanese-inspired YA book is all about. So if you love to binge-watch anime, adore Julie Kagawa’s The Shadow of the Fox, or have a visit to Japan on your bucket list, then Kitsune is sure to make a splash in your TBR pile.

Kiss of the Selkie by Tessonja Odette
Out of all the YA Little Mermaid retellings on this list, Kiss of the Selkie is the one we’re the most excited about. Pitched as ACOTAR meets Bridgerton and The Selection, this standalone fairy tale reimagining has got enemies-to-lovers romance, The Bachelor vibes, snarky fae royals, and Scottish-inspired mythology.

Drown by Esther Dalseno
Seven emotionless princesses + a malicious witch haunted by memories + a handsome, self-mutilating prince = an eerie YA book about sirens that will keep you perched on the edge of your beach towel. A complete reinvention of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale, Drown is not your mother’s Little Mermaid bedtime story.

The Little Homo Sapiens Scientist by S.L. Huang
Rejoice, science fiction lovers! If you prefer the wonders of the future over fantasy realms, this sapphic Little Mermaid retelling written by the author of The Water Outlaws and Burning Roses should be on your radar. Enter a dystopian world teeming with whosits and whatsits galore, where a government scientist falls in love with her genetically engineered mermaid experiment and has to pay the price.

The Little Android by Marissa Meyer
Any superfans of The Lunar Chronicles out there? Then this one’s for you. Written by Marissa Meyer, this futuristic Little Mermaid novella casts our favourite redhead as a star-crossed android named Mech6.0. But when Mech6.0 saves the life of a handsome hardware engineer, her circuits start doing strange things…is this what humans call “falling in love?”

Atlantia by Ally Condie
Forget everything you thought you knew about The Little Mermaid because this YA dystopian novel from the author of Matched is about to flip the script! Sure, there aren’t any mermaids in this post-apocalyptic world, but don’t let that discourage you. Loosely inspired by the famous mermaid fairy tale, Atlantia is about a girl who must unleash her long-muted siren voice and take down a corrupt system that keeps the land and sea unfairly divided.

The Little Mermaid’s Voice: A 1912 Titanic Fairy Tale by Shonna Slayton
Hold onto your life jackets, folks! This incredible mash-up of The Little Mermaid and the legendary Titanic will have you saying, “Jack and Rose who?” Set 100 years after the events of the original Little Mermaid, this YA fairy tale sequel follows Ariel’s niece as she navigates the turbulent waves of love and tragedy aboard the ship of dreams.

The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson
Who needs knights in shining armour when you have a badass noblewoman with killer pipes? The Little Mermaid meets Robin Hood in this medieval YA reimagining where a daring heroine disguises herself as a mute servant to escape a grim fate. But when she meets the charming Lord Westley, things go from quiet to swoon-worthy.

The Mermaid by Christina Henry
From the author of Lost Boy comes a historical fairy tale about a mermaid who leaves the sea for love and later finds herself in P.T. Barnum’s American Museum as the real Fiji mermaid. However, leaving the museum may be harder than leaving the sea ever was.

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
This 2013 Odyssey Award Nominee combines mermaids, the 1800s, and ghosts for a dark Little Mermaid retelling that is anything but your stereotypical paranormal romance. It’s got creepy churchyards, a repulsive mermaid queen, a woman who drowned in a sarcophagus, and underwater doll graveyards. So if you’re in the mood for a bone-chilling summer read that will send shivers down your sunscreen-covered spine, then Monstrous Beauty is the mermaid book for you.

When Oceans Rise by Robin Alvarez
Meet Malaya, a seventeen-year-old submerged in a toxic relationship and feeling disconnected from everyone. But when she seeks solace in the sea, she gets thrown into a world of alternate timelines and Filipino mythological creatures. With a raw exploration of gaslighting and abuse, this diverse YA Little Mermaid retelling packs an emotional punch and sheds light on how one might be stripped of their power.

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler
It’s time to rock those shades, slather on the SPF, and get tangled up in this modern Little Mermaid tale. When talented singer Elyse loses her voice in a tragic accident, she finds solace in a charming Oregon beach town. But when a playboy sailor enters the scene, can Elyse confront her fears and find her voice again? Perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, this fluffy YA romance is the ultimate poolside companion.

Coral by Sara Ella
Depression, anxiety, and emotional trauma, oh my! Coral is a contemporary new twist on Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved—yet tragic—fairy tale. This powerful narrative explores mental health from multiple perspectives and questions what it means to be human in a world where humanity often seems lost.

Fathomless by Jackson Pearce
Dark fairy tale lovers, where you at? Because this twisted Little Mermaid retelling is darker than Ursula’s lipstick and full of soulless monsters to boot. Celia, a girl with an unexplained connection to the ocean, finds herself tangled in a dangerous game with the spine-chilling sirens of the deep. Dive in if you dare, but beware, because once you enter the seductive world of Pearce’s Fathomless, there’s no turning back.

The Seafarer’s Kiss by Julia Ember
A kickass lesbian Viking? Check. A gender-queer God of Lies? Check. A bisexual mermaid? Check. Beluga whales? Double check. Yup, this sapphic Little Mermaid book inspired by Norse mythology has got all you need for Pride Month.

Sea Foam and Silence by S.L. Dove Cooper
A queerplatonic Little Mermaid retelling told in verse from the perspective of an asexual Ariel? Don’t mind if I do. Follow Maris, a curious young mermaid, as she races against time to unravel the enigmatic mysteries of love. Will she find the answers she seeks, or will she become mere foam upon the waves?

Have you read any of these YA Little Mermaid Retellings? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 24 of the Best YA Little Mermaid Retellings To Read appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

We are thrilled to share an excerpt from “Water Like Broken Glass” by Carina Bissett from Into the Forest: Tales of the Baba Yaga with a note from the author and an editor’s note from Lindy Ryan.

SYNOPSIS
Deep in the dark forest, in a cottage that spins on birds’ legs behind a fence topped with human skulls, lives the baba yaga. A guardian of the water of life, she lives with her sisters and takes to the skies in a giant mortar and pestle, creating tempests as she goes. Those who come across the baba yaga may find help, or hinderance, or horror. She is wild, she is woman, she is witch—and these are her tales.

Featuring Gwendolyn Kiste, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Mercedes M. Yardley, Monique Snyman, Donna Lynch, Lisa Quigley, and R. J. Joseph, with a foreword by Christina Henry and edited by Lindy Ryan, this collection brings together some of today’s leading voices of women-in-horror as they pay tribute to the baba yaga, and go Into the Forest.

Editor’s Take: Lindy Ryan

Storytelling has often been called the “world’s oldest profession.” As such, it has long been a primary way that humans have handed down knowledge, lessons, and, yes, even entertainment throughout history—prior to the advent of the printing press and prior, even, to the invention of written language. Humans are story creatures: we find meaning in stories, and we encode events, instruction, and emotion into our legends, parables, and fairy and folk tales. These life lessons reflect the beliefs and moral standards of the time, and today’s retellings—a ripe and fertile ground—offer modern writers the opportunity to pass down updated life lessons to today’s modern readers.

Baba Yaga, a figure as old as any in the fairy tale canon, has long been used to offer lessons, many of which are contrary to ideals we hold most dear today—many of which teach us to fear the wild, the unknown, and women who refuse to be trapped inside the tight and unyielding confines of societal expectation. Stories like those in INTO THE FOREST: TALES OF BABA YAGA (Black Spot Books, November 8, 2022) are giving a fresh voice to this forest witch of yore, embracing her darkness and spinning new yarns of how to approach the agency and ferocity of wild women, along with other messages that remind us that not all evil stays hidden in the forest.

A Note from contributor Carina Bissett

Several years ago, I discovered the story of Jannetje Johanna (Hannie) Schaft, a Dutch resistance fighter so dangerous and deadly that she even caught the attention of Adolph Hitler himself. As someone with a family history deeply entrenched in the fight for freedom, ranging from the American Revolution through both world wars, I can only hope that I would be as brave as Hannie and the other men and women who stood against the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands if I was in the same situation. However, I also wonder how the execution of German soldiers in back alleys and dark forests might have affected those who carried out the overt operations. I kept circling ideas of retribution and rage and recompense and how they might change a person.

When the opportunity came to write a story based on the legendary figure of Baba Yaga, I decided it was finally time to explore these questions. I introduced a rusalka, another feminine entity from Slavic lore, in an examination of violence and vengeance. In my story, the rusalka is a drowned bride haunting the Rhine River and the baba yagas are forest mothers, witches determined to stay neutral in the affairs of mankind. When a girl with hair as red as that of Hannie Schaft runs to the river with a Nazi soldier on her heels, the rusalka inadvertently joins the resistance on the path to self-discovery and the power of forgiveness.

Excerpt from “Water Like Broken Glass” by Carina Bissett

The first thing I notice is her shining red hair. It streams past her shoulders like a banner. Following that flag is a soldier.

“Watermeid!” The fleeing girl summons me even though I am only the ghost of a rumor, a common condition for all women who’ve been beaten, broken, and left for dead.

She lunges into the river as the man closes the gap.

“Heks!” She cries out. Witch.

I slip out of the embrace of my favorite birch and into the water below. The girl’s feet crash through the river. Her bare toes cling to the smooth stones. The man’s shiny black boots slip on those same rocks, but he is determined in his pursuit.

He reaches out to catch her, but she stumbles forward, and he is left grasping at the white ribbons trailing from the girl’s long hair.

The soldier’s fingers close in a fist, and her flight comes to an abrupt halt. He lands a blow with his free hand. The girl crashes to her knees, waist-deep in the rushing river. She is fumbling for the trench knife tucked into her waistband when she finally spots me, drifting along the riverbed.

The soldier mutters something guttural as he draws a pistol from his belt. The girl’s lips curve in a blood-streaked smile, and she raises both hands in surrender.

I might not be a witch, but I am a watermeid. A drowned girl. A birch bride. And my arms are empty.

I tangle the soldier’s ankles, drag him to the deepest channel. And then I let go. He surfaces, arms pinwheeling as he gulps for air. When he sets out toward the nearest shore, I follow, hidden in the current. His strokes grow stronger, more purposeful the closer he is to safety. He grasps a handful of grass clinging to the shore before I pull him back into my domain. His eyes widen when he finally sees me, as the river wraps the length of black hair around his throat. His armband pulls free midstream. The cutwater snatches at the flash of red. It curls to reveal a white circle stamped with the harsh black lines of a crooked cross. I permit him to surface, make another attempt for freedom as I gather the sash as tribute. The iron cross pinned to his gray-green collar is the price for our third encounter. And so, bit by bit, his uniform is stripped of regalia until the soldier’s strong body finally fails. His lungs fill with water and weed, and I turn away.

The girl with the red hair waits for me near my favored haunt, the birch with roots sunk deep into the river. Cradled in the remains of an old channel, a pool reflects a spring sky as blue as a robin’s egg.

“I heard rumor of a watermeid near here. Lucky for me, it turned out to be true.” Her laugh is one of joyous discovery. “Thank you, comrade.”

Curious, I drift closer.

“A woman of action, not of words, I see.” She uncrosses her legs, slides away from the safety of shore, and wades toward me with her hand outstretched. “I’m Tilde.”

I consider slipping away, but her bright-eyed stare dares me to stay. And so, I reach back, brush my fingers across hers, quick as a minnow darting with the current. Satisfied, she offers a mocking salute.

“Welcome to the Resistance.”

The post Take A Peek At ‘Into the Forest: Tales of the Baba Yaga’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hello second half of 2022 and hello to all the incredible upcoming book releases we can look forward to!

In this round up, we take a look at some of the most exciting titles to be released between the months of July and December with releases from the likes of Sarah Gailey, Ruth Ware, Alexis Hall, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Courtney Summers, and many more, along with delightful debuts from new authors you should keep on your radar!

Read on to discover just a few of our favourite July to December 2022 releases and tell us in the comments if you’re looking forward to any of them! 

JULY

Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen
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A darkly enchanting fantasy debut about a morally gray witch, a cursed prince, and a prophecy that ignites their fate-twisted destinies—perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and Serpent & Dove.

Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey
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Just Like Home is a darkly gothic thriller from nationally bestselling author Sarah Gailey, perfect for fans of Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House as well as HBO’s true crime masterpiece I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.

The Accidental Pinup by Danielle Jackson
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Rival photographers are forced to collaborate on a body-positive lingerie campaign, but they might have to readjust their focus when sparks fly.

Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark
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The masterful story of a lifelong friendship between two very different women with shared histories and buried secrets, tested in the twilight of their lives, set across the arc of the 20th century.

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows
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The It Girl by Ruth Ware
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The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the “claustrophobic spine-tingler” (People) One by One returns with an unputdownable mystery following a woman on the search for answers a decade after her friend’s murder.

Youngblood by Sasha Laurens
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For fans of Vampire Diaries and dark academia, two queer teen bloodsuckers at an elite vampire-only boarding school must go up against all of Vampirdom when they uncover a frightening conspiracy on campus.

Acts of Violet by Margarita Montimore
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From Margarita Montimore, the author of GMA Book Club pick and national bestseller Oona Out of Order, Acts of Violet is a dazzling and twisty new novel about a famous magician who disappears, leaving her sister to figure out what really happened.

The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne
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Everyone knows the story of Rapunzel in the tower, but do you know the story of the witch who put her there? Told from her own perspective, The Book of Gothel is a lush, historical retelling filled with dark magic, crumbling towers, mysterious woods, and evil princes. This is the truth they never wanted you to know, as only a witch might tell it.

What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri
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What Souls Are Made Of, British Fantasy Award-winning author Tasha Suri’s masterful new take on Brontë’s Wuthering Heights and fourth book in the Remixed Classics, will leave readers breathless.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
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From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic and Velvet Was the Night comes a dreamy reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
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New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard is unabashedly romantic, laugh-out-loud funny, and the perfect summer read.

AUGUST

Husband Material by Alexis Hall
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Luc and Oliver met, pretended to fall in love, fell in love for real, dealt with heartbreak and disappointment and family and friends…and somehow figured out a way to make it work. Now it seems like everyone around them is getting married, and Luc’s feeling the social pressure to propose. But it’ll take more than four weddings, a funeral, and a bowl full of special curry to get these two from I don’t know what I’m doing to I do.

These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall
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The Haunting of Hill House meets Knives Out in a bid for an inheritance that will leave Helen Vaughan either rich…or dead.

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
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New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace brings to life a highly romantic, Gothic-infused world of wealth, desire, and betrayal.

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
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Sunyi Dean’s The Book Eaters is “a darkly sweet pastry of a book about family, betrayal, and the lengths we go to for the ones we love. A delicious modern fairy tale.”― Christopher Buehlman, Shirley Jackson Award-winning author

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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In this powerful novel about the cost of greatness, a legendary athlete attempts a comeback when the world considers her past her prime—from the New York Times bestselling author of Malibu Rising.

Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim
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A new heartfelt novel about the power of loneliness and the strength of love that overcomes it by critically acclaimed author Roselle Lim.

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
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With a wicked wink to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Daisy Darker’s unforgettable twists will leave readers reeling.

The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu
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A “superb fantasy saga” (Helene Wecker) of martial arts and magic, about what happens when a prophesied hero is not the chosen one after all—but has to work with a band of unlikely allies to save the kingdom anyway, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lives of Tao

You’re Invited by Amanda Jayatissa
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What could be worse than your ex-boyfriend marrying your childhood best friend? Getting accused of her murder… From the author of My Sweet Girl comes a dangerously addictive new thriller about a lavish Sri Lankan wedding celebration that not everyone will survive.

The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead
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From the author of the acclaimed In My Dreams I Hold a Knife comes a pitch-black thriller about a woman determined to destroy a powerful cult and avenge the deaths of the women taken in by it, no matter the cost.

Luck and Last Resorts by Sarah Grunder Ruiz
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They have a second chance at love, but there are some rough seas ahead in the new contemporary romance from the acclaimed author of Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships.

The First Binding by R.R. Virdi
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A thrilling new take on Epic Fantasy, inspired by the many culturally divergent stops along a fantastical Silk Road, that follows a storyteller and a singer on the run from their old lives and secrets. 

SEPTEMBER

I’m the Girl by Courtney Summers
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Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne
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From USA Today bestselling author of The Hating Game Sally Thorne comes something a little unexpected… a historical rom-com that imagines Victor Frankenstein’s sheltered younger sister, and her attempts to create the perfect man.

Ithaca by Claire North
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This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca, famed wife of Odysseus, as it has never been told before. Beyond Ithaca’s shores, the whims of gods dictate the wars of men. But on the isle, it is the choices of the abandoned women—and their goddesses—that will change the course of the world.

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander
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From New York Times Bestselling author Kwame Alexander comes the first book in a searing, breathtaking trilogy that tells the story of a boy, a village, and the epic odyssey of an African family.

Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo
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From the author of To Kill a Kingdom comes Princess of Souls, a Rapunzel-inspired YA fantasy romance about a teen witch groomed to steal souls for an immortal king and the reckless, rebellious boy to whom her fate is tied.

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
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Tamsyn Muir’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling Locked Tomb Series continues with Nona …the Ninth?

The Gathering Dark: An Anthology of Folk Horror
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Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
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From New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young comes a deeply atmospheric story about ancestral magic, an unsolved murder, and a second chance at true love.

People Person by Candice Carty-Williams
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From an author with “a flair for storytelling that appears effortlessly authentic” (Time), People Person is a vibrant and charming celebration of discovering family as an adult.

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends comes the first book in a captivating new duology following an ill-matched pair of spies posing as a married couple to investigate a series of brutal murders in 1930s Shanghai.

Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco
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Full of court intrigue, queer romance, and terrifying monsters—this gothic epic fantasy will appeal to fans of Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree and the adult animated series Castlevania.

Direwood by Catherine Yu
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In this velvet-clad 1990s gothic horror, Aja encounters a charming vampire who wants to lure her into the woods―just like her missing sister.

OCTOBER

Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove by Rati Mehrotra
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In Rati Mehrotra’s Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove, a young guardswoman struggles with her unwitting role as a major pawn in the deadly games between two kingdoms in a monster-infested alternate medieval India.

Sign Here by Claudia Lux
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A darkly humorous, surprisingly poignant, and utterly gripping debut novel about a guy who works in Hell (literally) and is on the cusp of a big promotion if only he can get one more member of the wealthy Harrison family to sell their soul.

A Cosmic Kind of Love by Samantha Young
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Space is the last thing an event planner and an astronaut need in this charming new romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.

Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
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From the author of Twice Shy comes a sprightly Christmas novel, a rollicking romp through the absurdity of family holidays and the hope of new love.

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
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From the number one bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere, a deeply suspenseful and heartrending novel about the unbreakable love between a mother and child in a society consumed by fear.

The Storyteller’s Death by Ann Dávila Cardinal
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From International Latino Book Award-winning author Ann Dávila Cardinal comes a gorgeously written family saga about a Puerto Rican teenager who finds herself gifted (or cursed?) with a strange ability.

Dead Man’s Hand by James J. Butcher
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In the tradition of his renowned father, James J. Butcher’s debut novel is a brilliant urban fantasy about a young man who must throw out the magical rule book to solve the murder of his former mentor.

A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo
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Award-winning author Malinda Lo returns to the Bay Area with another masterful coming-of-queer-age story, this time set against the backdrop of the first major Supreme Court decisions legalizing gay marriage. And almost sixty years after the end of Last Night at the Telegraph Club, Lo’s new novel also offers a glimpse into Lily and Kath’s lives since 1955.

Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty
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Amateur detective Mallory Viridian’s talent for solving murders ruined her life on Earth and drove her to live on an alien space station, but her problems still follow her in this witty, self-aware novel that puts a speculative spin on murder mysteries, from the Hugo-nominated author of Six Wakes.

Jackal by Erin E. Adams
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A young Black girl goes missing in the woods outside her white Rust Belt town. But she’s not the first—and she may not be the last. . . .

Lavender House by Lev A.C. Rosen
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A delicious story from a new voice in suspense, Lev AC Rosen’s Lavender House is Knives Out with a queer historical twist.

Strike the Zither by Joan He
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A dazzling new fantasy from New York Times and Indie bestselling author Joan He, Strike the Zither is a powerful, inventive, and sweeping fantasy that reimagines the Chinese classic tale of the Three Kingdoms.

NOVEMBER

The Ones We Burn by Rebecca Mix
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Love and duty collide in this richly imagined, atmospheric young adult debut about a witch whose dark powers put her at the center of a brewing war between the only family she’s ever known and the enemy who makes her question everything.

She’s Gone by David Bell
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When 17-year-old Hunter Gifford wakes in the hospital on the night of homecoming, he’s shocked to learn he and his girlfriend, Chloe Summers, have been in a terrible car accident. Hunter has no memory of the crash, and his shock turns to horror when he is told Chloe’s blood has been found in the car—but she has disappeared.

Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade
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After All the Feels and Spoiler Alert, Olivia Dade once again delivers a warm and wonderful romantic comedy about two co-stars who once had an incredible one-night stand—and after years of filming on the same remote island, are finally ready to yield to temptation again…

The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
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From Susan Dennard, the New York Times bestselling author of the Witchlands series, comes a haunting and high-octane contemporary fantasy, about the magic it takes to face your fears in a nightmare-filled forest, and the mettle required to face the secrets hiding in the dark corners of your own family.

White Horse by Erika T. Wurth
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White Horse is a gritty, vibrant debut from Erika T. Wurth about an Indigenous woman who must face her past when she discovers a bracelet haunted by her mother’s spirit.

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun
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The author of the “swoon-worthy debut” (Harper’s Bazaar) The Charm Offensive returns with a festive romantic comedy about a woman who fakes an engagement with her landlord…only to fall for his sister.

Into the Forest: Tales of the Baba Yaga by Lindy Ryan and Christina Henry
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A collection of new and exclusive short stories inspired by the Baba Yaga. Featuring Gwendolyn Kiste, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Mercedes M. Yardley, Monique Snyman, Donna Lynch, Lisa Quigley, and R. J. Joseph, with a foreword by Christina Henry.

Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli
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A stunning and witty debut novel about a young woman’s emotional journey through unimaginable loss, pulled along by her tight-knit Nigerian family, a posse of new friends, and the love and laughter she shared with her husband. Onyi Nwabineli is a fresh new voice for fans of Yaa Gyasi, Queenie and I May Destroy You.

The Cloisters by Katy Hays
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The Secret History meets Ninth House in this sinister, atmospheric novel following a circle of researchers as they uncover a mysterious deck of tarot cards and shocking secrets in New York’s famed Met Cloisters.

Wait For Me by Sara Shepard
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Dating New York socialite Marcus Coleman, Casey has had trouble recognizing herself lately. But things only get stranger when she begins to hear a voice in her head: one that warns her of danger and leads her to the sleepy town of Avon, where she recognizes people and places she couldn’t possibly know, including a beguiling local boy who seems important to her past—and her present.

Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese
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Opposites become allies to fool their matchmaking friends in this swoony reimagining of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, Much Ado About Nothing.

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
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A rich, eccentric family. A time-honored tradition. Or a lethal game of survival? One woman is about to find out if she has what it takes to join her husband’s family in this riveting, must-read thriller from the author of Something in the Water, Mr. Nobody, and The Disappearing Act.

DECEMBER

Queen of Myth and Monsters by Scarlett St. Clair
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Queen becomes conqueror in this powerful follow-up to King of Battle and Blood where Queen Isolde de Lara has come into her own as the newly coronated queen of Cordova.  She and her mate, the vampire King Adrian, battle insurrection from the Nine Kingdoms…and a mysterious plague that turns humans to monsters. But hell hath no fury like Isolde’s wrath when she discovers that one of the vassal kings has enslaved her mother’s people.

A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar
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Adiba Jaigirdar, author of one of Time‘s Best YA books of all time, gives Titanic an Ocean’s 8 makeover in this nail-biting heist set onboard the infamous ship.

Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales
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A girl enters a reality dating competition to get revenge on her cheating, royal-adjacent ex-boyfriend, and ends up falling for another girl on the show—in fact, the girl he cheated on her with.

The Widowmaker by Hannah Morrissey
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A wealthy family shrouded in scandal; a detective tasked with solving an impossible cold case; and a woman with a dark past collide in Hannah Morrissey’s stunning new Black Harbor mystery, The Widowmaker.

A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson
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Sometimes two cooks in the kitchen are better than one in this swoony romantic comedy from the author of I’m So (Not) Over You.

The Last Invitation by Darby Kane
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Darby Kane, the author of the critically acclaimed and #1 International Bestseller Pretty Little Wife, has crafted another gripping and twisty suspense about an invitation to an exclusive club that comes with deadly consequences.

Acting the Part by Z.R. Ellor
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This delightfully tropey teen romance perfect for fans of Ashley Poston and Lyla Lee follows a queer teen actor navigating their gender identity—while pretending to date their co-star.  

All the Dark Places by Terri Parlato
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A savage murder rocks a quiet Massachusetts suburb, revealing the dark secrets at the center of a group of friends and setting two women – one with a traumatic past, the other a Boston police detective – on a hunt for truth in this stylish debut thriller for fans of Megan Miranda and Shari Lapena…

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
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For readers of Station Eleven and Where the Crawdads Sing comes a hopeful, sweeping story of survival and resilience spanning one extraordinary woman’s lifetime as she navigates the uncertainty, brutality, and arresting beauty of a rapidly changing world.

The Key to My Heart: A Novel by Lia Louis
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A heartwarming novel about hope after loss as a young widow receives mysterious messages of love from the “must-buy author” (Jodi Picoult) of Eight Perfect Hours.

The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
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My Dark Vanessa meets The Queen’s Gambit in this new novel of suspense about the bonds of family, the limits of talent, the risks of ambition, and the rewards of revenge.

Witcha Gonna Do by Avery Flynn
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An unlucky witch and her know-it-all nemesis must team up in the first of a new, spicy romantic comedy series from USA Today bestselling author Avery Flynn.

What July to December releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Get Your Hands On These Anticipated July To December 2022 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Pitched as The Twilight Zone meets Promising Young Woman, Giving the Devil His Due features contributions from Angela Yuriko Smith, Christina Henry, Dana Cameron, Errick Nunnally, Hillary Monahan, Jason Sanford, Kaaron Warren, Kelley Armstrong, Kenesha Williams, Leanna Renee Hieber, Lee Murray, Linda D. Addison, Nicholas Kaufmann, Nisi Shawl, Peter Tieryas, and Stephen Graham Jones. Each story is intended to help readers “think about the importance of justice for the victims of gender-based violence, how rare this justice is in our own world, and why we need to end violence against women once and for all”—and each, in its own unique, dark, delicious way, delivers. A few favorites:

“Hell on the Homefront Too” by Stephen Graham Jones paints a gruesome picture of breaking the death grip of violence when a battered wife finally gets rid of her abusive war-hero-turned-zombie husband, whose own vile cruelty rots him from the inside out.

Lee Murray’s “The Moon Goddess’s Granddaughter” is a whimsical exercise in the slow-building terror of entrapment when romance wilts, ensnares, and suffocates—stripping away the veneer of something once lovely to reveal the monster beneath—and how beauty will find a way to break free.

“Just Us League” by Angela Yuriko Smith gives new meaning to the phrase “cleaning up after someone else’s mess” when a female janitor comes across a card for the Just Us League, an unknown yet powerful organization that kindly wipes away a certain type of filth, in a tale of empowerment, atonement, and sisterhood.

Linda D. Addison’s “Finding Water to Catch Fire” delves into the fantastic in a story about breaking the chains of generational trauma and putting an end to the cyclical nature of abuse, as well as finally winning the battle for self-worth and seeing yourself clearly for the first time.

“Violence against women is one of the most brutal, widespread and entrenched human rights violations in the world and yet there remains a wall of silence around it in many cultures and families,” says The Pixel Project Founder and President, Regina Yau. “We believe that stories have the power to change the world by bringing this issue into the light and hope that the sixteen tales in this anthology will not only get people to think about the issue but also galvanize them to take action to stop violence against women and girls in their communities worldwide.”

A limited anthology, Giving the Devil His Due is available through October 31, 2023. A fundraiser at heart, 100% of the net proceeds from the sales of the anthology will go toward supporting The Pixel Project’s anti-violence against women programs, campaigns, and resources.

Giving the Devil His Due is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Giving the Devil His Due? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

What if a young girl had the power to stop her tyrannical father from battering her mother ever again?

What if a student had a secret weapon to end sexual assault by her predatory professor permanently?

What if a housewife had unusual means to get back at her controlling husband and walk away from her marriage alive?

In Giving the Devil His Due, The Pixel Project’s first charity anthology, sixteen acclaimed fantasy, science fiction, and horror authors take readers on an unforgettable journey to alternative worlds where men who abuse and murder women and girls meet their comeuppance in uncanny ways.

Featuring stories from Stephen Graham Jones, Christina Henry, Peter Tieryas, Kelley Armstrong, Linda D. Addison, Hillary Monahan, and more, Giving the Devil His Due presents sixteen stories that will make you think about the importance of justice for the victims of gender-based violence, how rare this justice is in our own world, and why we need to end violence against women once and for all.

The post Review: Giving The Devil His Due, Edited by Rebecca Brewer appeared first on The Nerd Daily.