We had the pleasure of chatting with author Ciannon Smart about her debut novel Witches Steeped In Gold, her publishing journey, writing, and so much more!

Hi, Ciannon! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi everyone. Perhaps the first thing I should say is that my name is pronounced Shannon. Parents. I live in England, which seems to surprise people. It isn’t that bad, promise. In YA, I love writing twisty knife-in-the-heart books about girls who mostly get up to no good.

After the chaos that was 2020, how is your 2021 going?

Thanks for asking. I’m way busier this year. Last year was about baking banana bread, and nursing several different projects in addition to my sequel; this year has felt like being pushed downhill in go-kart. Exhilarating, sure, but I am also holding on for dear life.

Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!

I’m ready.

My teachers have Tracy Beaker to thank for my colourful personality in school.

Twilight was the first book I encountered with buzz around the author. It was a lightbulb moment for me when I realised people actually wrote the books, and that I could try to do it too.

I started following Charlie Mackesy last year (is there anyone who didn’t); I found his illustrations, the writing, inspirational life rafts to cling onto amidst all the uncertainty and banana bread, and quickly ordered a copy of The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse. It’s beautiful.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

I always wrote; it was something I took for granted, like writing stories was something everyone did, and enjoying English was simply a result of two parents and older siblings who read voraciously.

Your debut novel, Witches Steeped In Gold, is out April 20^th 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Trust no witch. Or me.

What can readers expect?

I tried to avoid saying the unexpected, but here we are. On a less cheesy note, readers should buckle up. I’ve planned an undulating ride; many twists lie ahead.

Where did the inspiration for Witches Steeped In Gold come from?

My inspiration began with a trip to Rose Hall in Jamaica the summer I turned twelve. There I learned that my culture has witches of its own entrenched in the island’s history, and they used a taboo branch of magic that’s still spoken about reticently today. As a huge Sabrina The Teenage Witch fan, I was hooked, and remained so for a long while after that holiday, enough that, years later when I asked myself what sort of book I wanted to read next, the answer was a Jamaican-inspired fantasy—with certain liberties, of course. It’s not a historical novel—set against the backdrop of a perilous world, with the witches I learned about that summer, and a host of hallmarks I’ve picked up along the way, like those twists I mentioned earlier.

Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?

Imposter syndrome is as real as everyone says. When I first decided to write Witches Steeped in Gold, there weren’t many non-western YA fantasy books, and even less Black YA fantasy. I was fortunate to receive the push I needed from a Black agent, Davinia Andrew-Lynch, who encouraged me to follow my gut and set Witches Steeped in Gold in the Jamaican-inspired world I told her about. And that, really, was all the reminder I needed. I wrote Witches for me, and filled it with the things I loved and wanted to read about. If no one else liked it, it would have sucked, but I could take comfort in creating this thing for myself without focusing on outside voices.

What kind of research did you have to do for Witches Steeped In Gold?

I didn’t have to do much research since my childhood covered the largest influences that permeate the story, but during my most recent trip to Jamaica I learned first-hand that the magic system influencing Witches Steeped in Gold, Obeah, is still considered taboo to this day, despite centuries having passed since it was first outlawed. The reticence around discussing it, and, in some cases, the warnings issued, all fed into the perception of the magic in the book. As far as interesting research—there are stories about monsters who wait at crossroads, or shed their skin to fly through the night in search of their prey that inspired certain moments in the book.

There are a few chapters that should perhaps be read with a light on.

If it’s not too spoilery, were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

All my favourite moments are too spoilery, but character wise, I loved writing Ira’s chapters. She’s such a layered character, there was a lot for me to juggle. Beyond the irreverent one liners, she’s always thinking, which challenged me. It was always like, okay, what is she been planning now, and how can I seed that throughout the story so it lands well. I love a smart plot that takes you by surprise, and I hope that comes across when reading her POV.

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

My debut novel. Hearing that will never not feel strange and magical. My road was long, until it wasn’t, which is the norm I think. There’s a lot of emphasis on ‘overnight success stories’, but that’s not common. It definitely did not happen with me. I decided I wanted to become an author at 15, signed with my first agent ten years later—not for wont of trying—and sold Witches Steeped in Gold at auction later that same year. While Witches Steeped in Gold is my first fantasy novel, it isn’t the first book I’ve written.

What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?

I didn’t receive this advice, per say, but advice I received definitely led me to this conclusion: there’s a difference between being a talented writer, and a good storyteller.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on my next YA with my agent, which is exciting. The protagonist would get on well with Ira and Jazmyne, in that if they were all in the same room, none of them would stand with their backs to one another.

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

Keep an eye out for Blood Scion, by Deborah Falaye. It releases early 2022.

This year, there are also a lot of witchy books in the coven, like Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley, Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury, The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith, and The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin

Will you be picking up Witches Steeped In Gold? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Ciannon Smart, Author of ‘Witches Steeped In Gold’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Sistersong by Lucy Holland
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Sistersong is a powerfully moving story, perfect for readers who loved Naomi Novik’s Uprooted and Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale.

Malice by Heather Walter
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A princess isn’t supposed to fall for an evil sorceress. But in this darkly magical retelling of “Sleeping Beauty,” true love is more than a simple fairy tale.

Composite Creatures by Caroline Hardaker
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In a society where self-preservation is as much an art as a science, Norah and Arthur are learning how to co-exist in their new little world. But survival in this world is a tricky thing, the air is thicker every day and illness creeps fast through the body. And the earth is becoming increasingly hostile to live in. 

The Last Watch by J.S. Dewes
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The Expanse meets Game of Thrones in J. S. Dewes’ fast-paced, sf adventure The Last Watch, where a handful of soldiers stand between humanity and annihilation.

Hummingbird Salamander by Jeff VanderMeer
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From the author of Annihilation, a brilliant speculative thriller of dark conspiracy, endangered species, and the possible end of all things.

Folklorn by Angela Mi Young Hur
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A genre-defying, continents-spanning saga of Korean myth, scientific discovery, and the abiding love that binds even the most broken of families.

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart
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Deadly, fierce, magnetically addictive: this Jamaican-inspired fantasy debut is a thrilling journey where dangerous magic reigns supreme and betrayal lurks beneath every word.

Stormland by John Shirley
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A cyberpunk detective thriller set in a maelstrom of climatic upheaval, classism, and corrupt power, Stormland paradoxically dramatizes the resilience of the human spirit.

Fugitive Telemetry (The Murderbot Diaries, #6) by Martha Wells
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The New York Times bestselling security droid with a heart (though it wouldn’t admit it!) is back in Fugitive Telemetry, a new standalone adventure!

Unity by Elly Bangs
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Evoking the grittiness of Mad Max and the idealism of Sense8, this absorbing sci-fi debut is a dynamic vision of the fluidity of identity. With Unity, breakout author Elly Bangs has created a prescient, moving, and unforgettable adventure that expands upon human consciousness and its possibilities.

The ​Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book three in her Blood and Ash series.

These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy
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Three Dark Crowns meets Wicked Saints in this queer #ownvoices retelling of The Firebird, a Russian folktale, by debut author Alexandra Overy.

Will you be picking up any of these April 2021 releases? Tell us in the comments below!

The post April 2021 Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

JANUARY

Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant
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Jane the Virgin meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in this charming debut romantic comedy filled with Black Girl Magic. Perfect for fans of Mary H. K. Choi and Nicola Yoon, with crossover appeal for readers of Jasmine Guillory and Talia Hibbert romances.

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour
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For fans of Sorry to Bother You and The Wolf of Wall Street—a crackling, satirical debut novel about a young man given a shot at stardom as the lone Black salesman at a mysterious, cult-like, and wildly successful startup where nothing is as it seems. Black Buck is a hilarious, razor-sharp skewering of America’s workforce; it is a propulsive, crackling debut that explores ambition and race, and makes way for a necessary new vision of the American dream.

Waiting for the Night Song by Julie Carrick Dalton
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A startling and timely debut, this is a moving, brilliant novel about friendships forged in childhood magic and ruptured by the high price of secrets that leave you forever changed. Waiting for the Night Song is a love song to the natural beauty around us, a call to fight for what we believe in, and a reminder that the truth will always rise

If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier
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When her favorite true crime podcast host goes missing, an adrift young woman plunges headfirst into the wild backcountry of Northern California and her own dangerous obsession.

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
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A whipsmart debut about three women–transgender and cisgender–whose lives collide after an unexpected pregnancy forces them to confront their deepest desires around gender, motherhood, and sex. 

FEBRUARY

The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson
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The Kindest Lie examines the heartbreaking divide between black and white communities and plumbs the emotional depths of the struggles faced by ordinary Americans in the wake of the financial crisis. Capturing the profound racial injustices and class inequalities roiling society, Nancy Johnson’s debut novel offers an unflinching view of motherhood in contemporary America and the never-ending quest to achieve the American Dream. 

Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado
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Coming of age as a Fat brown girl in a white Connecticut suburb is hard. Harder when your whole life is on fire, though. A sensitive, funny, and painful coming-of-age story with a wry voice and tons of chisme, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega tackles our relationships to our parents, our bodies, our cultures, and ourselves.

Like Home by Louisa Onomé
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Fans of Netflix’s On My Block, In the Heights, and readers of Elizabeth Acevedo and Ibi Zoboi will love this debut novel about a girl whose life is turned upside down after one local act of vandalism throws her relationships and even her neighborhood into turmoil.

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow by Benjamin Dean
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The rainbow-filled, joyous debut from a hugely exciting new talent. Perfect for fans of Lisa Thompson, Stewart Foster and Onjali Rauf, this promises to be a story all about celebrating your individuality, navigating gender, family and advocating for kindness always.

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
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A stunning, shattering debut novel about two Black artists falling in and out of love. At once an achingly beautiful love story and a potent insight into race and masculinity, Open Water asks what it means to be a person in a world that sees you only as a Black body, to be vulnerable when you are only respected for strength, to find safety in love, only to lose it.

MARCH

Body of Stars by Laura Maylene Walter
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A bold and dazzling exploration of fate and female agency in a world very similar to our own–except that the markings on women’s bodies reveal the future.

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
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In this addictive and spectacularly imagined debut, a female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course.

Saving Grace by Debbie Babitt
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Set in a remote mountain town, where the secrets run as deep as the hollows, Saving Grace is at once a spell-binding tale of innocence lost and a twisty, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller. This startling debut novel introduces a captivating protagonist whose concept of good and evil can shape a young girl—then and now.

Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia
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A sweeping, masterful debut about a daughter’s fateful choice, a mother motivated by her own past, and a family legacy that begins in Cuba before either of them were born.

Dog Days by Ericka Waller
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Dog Days is a novel about those small but life-changing moments that only come when we pause to let the light in. It is about three people learning to make connections and find joy in living life off the leash.

APRIL

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q Sutanto
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A hilariously quirky novel that is equal parts murder mystery, rom-com, and a celebration of mothers and daughters as well as a deep dive into Chinese-Indonesian culture.

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart
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Deadly, fierce, magnetically addictive: this Jamaican-inspired fantasy debut is a thrilling journey where dangerous magic reigns supreme and betrayal lurks beneath every word.

Fragile Monsters by Catherine Menon
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In her stunning debut Catherine Menon traces one family’s story from 1920 to the present, unravelling a thrilling tale of love, betrayal and redemption against the backdrop of natural disasters and fallen empires. Written in vivid technicolour, with an electric daughter-grandmother relationship at its heart, Fragile Monsters explores what happens when secrets fester through the generations.

Hot Copy by Ruby Barrett
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A meet-cute-gone-wrong on his first day leads an intern to prove to his boss that he’s not the type of man she thinks he is, and they’re both forced to choose what matters more: work, or love.  

The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin
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A heartwarming debut novel for readers of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, following three lonely strangers in a rural Oregon town, each working through grief and life’s curveballs, who are brought together by happenstance on a local honeybee farm where they find surprising friendship, healing–and maybe even a second chance–just when they least expect it.

MAY

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
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The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer…. n the small town of Shady Palms, Illinois, Lila Macapagal and her relatives run Tita Rosie’s Kitchen, serve delicious Flipino dishes, and solve crimes on the side.

Threadneedle by Cari Thomas
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Within the boroughs of London, nestled among its streets, hides another city, filled with magic. But magic is the first sin. It must be bound. 

Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley
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For fans of Beach Read and The Bookish Life of Nina Hill a whip-smart, laugh-out-loud story about a bestselling romance novelist with writer’s block who finds herself having an unexpected creative and personal reawakening when she’s thrown together with her infuriating (and gorgeous) ex-boyfriend during the week of her best friend’s wedding.

Indivisible by Daniel Aleman
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A timely, moving debut novel about a teen’s efforts to keep his family together while his parents face deportation from the United States.

Things We Lost to the Water by Eric Nguyen
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A stunning debut about an immigrant Vietnamese family who settles in New Orleans and struggles to remain connected to one another as their lives are inextricably reshaped.

JUNE

For the Love of Friends by Sara Goodman Confino
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A sharp and hilariously relatable novel about the business of weddings, the toll they can take, and the lengths one exasperated bridesmaid will go to for the love of friends.

The Sea is Salt and So Am I by Cassandra Hartt
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I’ll Give You the Sun meets Normal People in Cassandra Hartt’s The Sea Is Salt and So Am I, a stunning YA contemporary debut that asks if the secrets we keep and the people we love can change who we are.

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
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A rich, dark urban fantasy debut following a teen witch who is given a horrifying task: sacrificing her first love to save her family’s magic. The problem is, she’s never been in love—she’ll have to find the perfect guy before she can kill him.

Star Eater by Kerstin Hall
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A phantasmagorical indictment of hereditary power, Star Eater takes readers deep into a perilous and uncanny world where even the most powerful women are forced to choose what sacrifices they will make, so that they might have any choice at all. 

I Don’t Forgive You by Aggie Blum Thompson
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It all starts at a neighborhood party when a local dad corners Allie and calls her by an old, forgotten nickname from her dark past. The next day, he is found dead. 

What debut novels are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Anticipated Debut Novels You Should Have On Your Radar In 2021 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

After whatever that last year was, we’re certainly hoping that 2021 will be a significant improvement! Just like every single industry, the publishing industry faced its own challenges with many 2020 releases delayed by months or even years in some cases and it caused much concern for authors with either recent or upcoming releases.

But with every year, there’s also the improvement when it comes to diversity and whilst it still unfortunately takes devastating events to invoke some kind of change or even discussion, there’s great change heading our way with 2021 releases (and even 2022 and 2023 based on book announcements made thus far).

The year promises for more #ownvoices authors to be heard with stories of fierce Black characters taking the lead role (and also killing it on their covers), queer characters and their journeys offering hope, characters embracing their bodies and their culture, and so much more. Then there’s the continuing shift in perception on genres, including romance and YA, with some incredibly great stories and offering a new take on the genres altogether.

To be honest, it’s quite exciting and refreshing, and we at The Nerd Daily can’t wait to see what comes next and cover 2021 releases!

Read on to discover just a few of our favourite January to June 2021 releases and tell us in the comments if you’re looking forward to any of them! 

Want more 2021 releases? Check out our lists for  2021 Queer Book Releases, 2021 Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases, 2021 Romance Book Releases, 2021 YA Book Releases, and 2021 Queer SFF Book Releases.

JANUARY

Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor
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An alien artifact turns a young girl into Death’s adopted daughter in Remote Control, a thrilling sci-fi tale of community and female empowerment from Nebula and Hugo Award-winner Nnedi Okorafor

Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala
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Project Runway goes to Comic Con in an epic queer love story about creativity, passion, and finding the courage to be your most authentic self.

Lore by Alexandra Bracken
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From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Darkest Minds comes a sweepingly ambitious, high-octane tale of power, destiny, love and redemption.

The Push by Ashley Audrain
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A tense, page-turning psychological drama about the making and breaking of a family–and a woman whose experience of motherhood is nothing at all what she hoped for–and everything she feared.

Persephone Station by Stina Leicht
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Hugo award-nominated author Stina Leicht has created a take on space opera for fans of The Mandalorian and Cowboy Bebop in this high-stakes adventure.

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
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A delicious twist on a Gothic classic, Rachel Hawkins’s The Wife Upstairs pairs Southern charm with atmospheric domestic suspense, perfect for fans of B.A. Paris and Megan Miranda.

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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Public radio co-hosts navigate mixed signals in Rachel Lynn Solomon’s sparkling romantic comedy debut.

A Splendid Ruin by Megan Chance
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A spellbinding novel of dark family secrets and a young woman’s rise and revenge set against the backdrop of the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

FEBRUARY

Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado
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A sensitive, funny, and painful coming-of-age story with a wry voice and tons of chisme, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega tackles our relationships to our parents, our bodies, our cultures, and ourselves.

A Lady’s Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everett
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What is a Victorian lady’s formula for love? Mix one brilliant noblewoman and her enigmatic protection officer. Add in a measure of danger and attraction. Heat over the warmth of humour and friendship, and the result is more than simple chemistry—it’s elemental.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes an epic novel of love and heroism and hope, set against the backdrop of one of America’s most defining eras—the Great Depression.

The Project by Courtney Summers
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From Courtney Summers, the New York Times bestselling author of the 2019 Edgar Award Winner and breakout hit, Sadie, comes a sensational follow-up―another pulls-no-punches thriller about an aspiring young journalist determined to save her sister from a cult.

The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
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The Echo Wife is a non-stop thrill ride, perfect for readers of Big Little Lies and enthusiasts of Killing Eve and Westworld­.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
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In this world, girls are outcasts by blood and warriors by choice. Get ready for battle. The start of a bold and immersive fantasy series for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Black Panther.

A ​Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
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Sarah J. Maas’s sexy, richly imagined series continues with the journey of Feyre’s fiery sister, Nesta.

Do No Harm by Christina McDonald
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From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Behind Every Lie and The Night Olivia Fell comes an unforgettable and heart-wrenching novel about the lengths one woman will go to save her son.

MARCH

Can’t Take That Away by Steven Salvatore
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Steven Salvatore’s debut Can’t Take That Away is about Carey Parker, a genderqueer teen who dreams of being a diva like their hero Mariah Carey. When they are cast as the female lead in the school musical, they must fight against discrimination and injustice from their closed-minded school administration. 

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
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In Act Your Age, Eve Brown the flightiest Brown sister crashes into the life of an uptight B&B owner and has him falling hard—literally.

The Unbroken by C.L. Clark
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In an epic political fantasy unlike any other, two women clash in a world full of rebellion, espionage, and military might on the far outreaches of a crumbling desert empire.

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris
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Dear Martin meets They Both Die at the End in this gripping, evocative novel about a Black teen who has the power to see into the future, whose life turns upside down when he foresees his younger brother’s imminent death, from the acclaimed author of SLAY.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
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The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Huntress and The Alice Network returns with another heart-stopping World War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over.

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare
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The Shadowhunters must catch a killer in Edwardian London in this dangerous and romantic sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Chain of Gold, from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare. Chain of Iron is a Shadowhunters novel.

The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst
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From award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst, a standalone epic fantasy set in a brand-new world of towering mountains and sparkling cities, in which a band of ageing warriors have a second chance to defeat dark magic and avenge a haunting loss.

Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews
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For readers of The Silent Patient – a taut, twisty, character-driven suspense novel about a famous novelist and a small-town striver locked in a struggle for fortune and fame

APRIL

First, Become Ashes by K.M. Szpara
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K. M. Szpara follows Docile, one of the most anticipated science fiction novels of 2020, with First, Become Ashes, a fantastic standalone adventure that blends pain and pleasure and will make readers question what is real, and what is magical.

Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne
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From the USA Today  bestselling author of The Hating Game and 99 Percent Mine comes the clever, funny, and unforgettable story of a muscular, tattooed man hired as an assistant to two old women—under the watchful eye of a beautiful retirement home manager.

Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author and rom-com queen Becky Albertalli comes a buoyant new novel about daring to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight in love, life, and, yes, theater.

The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan
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Naomi and Ethan will test the boundaries of love in this provocative romance from the author of the ground-breaking debut, The Roommate.

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
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A dark, twisty modern fairytale where three sisters discover they are not exactly all that they seem and evil things really do go bump in the night.

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price
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Perfect for fans of the Lady Janies and Stalking Jack the Ripper, the first book in the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries series is a clever retelling of Pride and Prejudice that reimagines the iconic settings, characters, and romances in a thrilling and high-stakes whodunit.

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart
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Deadly, fierce, magnetically addictive: this Jamaican-inspired fantasy debut is a thrilling journey where dangerous magic reigns supreme and betrayal lurks beneath every word. 

Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson
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The New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Never Have I Ever builds on her success with this addictive novel of domestic suspense in which a mother must decide how far she is willing to go to protect her child and the life she loves—a chilling and thoughtful tale of power, privilege, lies, revenge, and the choices we make, ones that transform our lives in unforeseen ways.

MAY

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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From the New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six . . . Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever.

Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield
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In this sweeping debut, actress Asha Bromfield takes readers to the heart of Jamaica, and into the soul of a girl coming to terms with her family, and herself, set against the backdrop of a hurricane.

A Special Place for Women by Laura Hankin
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It’s a club like no other. Only the most important women receive an invitation. But one daring young reporter is about to infiltrate this female-run secret society, whose beguiling members are caught up in a dark and treacherous business.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
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A lone astronaut must save the earth from disaster in this incredible new science-based thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Martian.

Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
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From one of the most exciting new storytellers in epic fantasy, the first book in the Nameless Republic trilogy is a sweeping tale of violent conquest and forbidden magic set in a world inspired by the pre-colonial empires of West Africa.

In the Ravenous Dark by A.M. Strickland
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A pansexual bloodmage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living and the dead, in this dark YA fantasy by A.M. Strickland, author of Beyond the Black Door, whom Richard Kadrey calls “a storyteller of both grace and power.”

The Hunting Wives by May Cobb
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The Hunting Wives share more than target practice, martinis, and bad behaviour in this novel of obsession, seduction, and murder.

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
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Irresistibly action-packed and full of lethal surprises, this stunning new fantasy series from Victoria Aveyard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Red Queen series, begins where hope is lost and asks: When the heroes have fallen, who will take up the sword?

JUNE

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
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Casey McQuiston’s One Last Stop is a magical, sexy, big-hearted romance where the impossible becomes possible as August does everything in her power to save the girl lost in time.

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
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Nghi Vo’s debut novel The Chosen and the Beautiful reinvents this classic of the American canon as a coming-of-age story full of magic, mystery, and glittering excess, and introduces a major new literary voice.

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
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A rich, dark urban fantasy debut following a teen witch who is given a horrifying task: sacrificing her first love to save her family’s magic. The problem is, she’s never been in love—she’ll have to find the perfect guy before she can kill him.

Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia
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The start of an exciting new historical mystery series set in 1920s Harlem featuring Louise Lloyd, a young black woman caught up in a series of murders way too close to home…

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
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Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne begins the powerful Burning Kingdoms trilogy, in which two women–a long-imprisoned princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic–come together to rewrite the fate of an empire.

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
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Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada in this electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing.

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton
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A prim and proper lady thief must save her aunt from a crazed pirate and his dangerously charming henchman in this fantastical historical romance.

Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams
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The New York Times bestselling author of Her Last Flight returns with a gripping and profoundly human story of Cold War espionage and family devotion.

What 2021 book releases are you excited for? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Most Anticipated 2021 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

There’s just something about upcoming book releases that sends a shockwave of excitement and enthusiasm through the body and don’t tell me you haven’t experienced that before! Though I’m sure we all have a TBR about ten miles too long, how much damage could a few more books really do? Here are seven upcoming and highly anticipated reads to get excited about!

INSTANT KARMA by Marissa Meyer
November 3rd 2020

Though garnering mixed reviews by early reviewers, fans of Marissa Meyer’s previous books are eager to explore her newest step into Young Adult contemporary. Following a determined main character named Prudence who’s suddenly gifted the ability to cast bad karma on the people around her, readers are invited into this magically realistic story with a romantic comedy twist on it.

THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS by Chloe Gong
November 17th 2020

Perfect for fans of Descendant of the Crane and The Last Magician, These Violent Delights is an exciting historical romance set in 1920s Shanghai! This Romeo & Juliet retelling will pull readers in to meet a twisty and turning tale featuring rival gangs and the allusive depths of the Huangpu River.

A PHO LOVE STORY by Loan Le
February 9th 2021

For fans of When Dimple Met Rishi and Ugly Delicious comes a debut novel from Loan Le about two Vietnamese-American teenagers in a delicious Romeo and Juliet twist. While Bao Nguyen isn’t as highly appreciated in his family’s restaurant as his parents’ favourite employees, Linh Mai is depended upon in more ways than one. With a forbidden romance budding between the two of them, what will become of their parents’ present rivalry?

PERFECT ON PAPER by Sophie Gonzales
March 9th 2021

If you’re looking for a book with a good love triangle, have no fear for Perfect on Paper is coming! Sophie Gonzales is practically spoon-feeding her readers what they’ve been craving: a story with a bisexual main character in a love triangle between her best friend and the hot guy asking for her help in winning his ex back. This book is perfect for fans of Leah on the Offbeat and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

LOST IN THE NEVER WOODS by Aiden Smith
March 23rd 2021

For those readers that adored Aiden Smith’s debut, you’re in luck as he’s got another book coming soon, and it’s the Peter Pan retelling with a dark twist that you didn’t realise you needed. This story follows Wendy, who’d gone missing with her two younger brothers five years earlier. Upon meeting Peter, who claims to know of what will happen to the still disappearing children, Wendy sets off on a dangerous adventure that readers are sure to find exuberayting and adrenaline pulsing.

THESE FEATHERED FLAMES by Alexandra Overy
April 20th 2021

Incoming a debut with high expectations, we have These Feathered Flames! Said to be a retelling of the Russian folklore “The Firebird,” Alexandra Overy gives us the queer #OwnVoices rendition we didn’t realise we were missing. This book is perfect for fans of Wicked Saints and Three Dark Crowns.

WITCHES STEEPED IN GOLD by Ciannon Smart
April 20th 2021

This book has been making waves since its publishing announcement, and with its release date gradually approaching, eager readers are desperate to get their hands on this one. With a rich writing style and a dark setting, the author delivers an #OwnVoices story with ties to her own Jamaican heritage.

What upcoming YA releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 7 Upcoming YA Releases To Get Excited For appeared first on The Nerd Daily.