About This Dark Paradise: In this YA fantasy debut perfect for fans of Hotel Magnifique and These Violent Delights, a girl visits the enchanted island of her dreams only to discover that its magic is horribly cursed.

As an author, a frequently asked question I get is why I chose to write the book I did. And although I can give a more eloquent answer to that when needed, my answer boiled down to its most simplistic form is just: “I like creepy things, and I like girls.” I wanted to write a book for my teen self—a girl who’d loved fantasy as a kid but had moved onto an obsession with horror and who was into other girls but didn’t know yet that that is what those feelings were. So This Dark Paradise is a book that starts as a fantasy following con artist, Lucia, who poses as a tour guide to gain access to an exclusive enchanted island in order to steal its magic, but it quickly slips into horror when on the first day of her tour, she comes across a gruesome corpse and realizes there are sinister secrets at play on the seeming paradise. And on the romance side, Lucia knows she likes boys (her ex boyfriend, Antony, is from the island and is still around complicating her life and making her question her decision to end their relationship), but over the course of the story also discovers her attraction to girls in the form of her island host’s mysterious and alluring daughter, Calista.

When I started This Dark Paradise in 2017, there weren’t many YA books out there for a baby sapphic who loved horror. Luckily, since then, the category has exploded, and there’s now a fantastic variety of options. So if you are also into girls who like girls and horror and want to line up some spooky reads this Halloween, here’s a starter sampling of some of the excellent choices out there (in no particular order).

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

If you’ve got a soft spot for creepy islands with horrific secrets, Sawkill Girls delivers. The island of Sawkill Rock’s idyllic rural vibes hide an ancient evil that has been stealing young women away for decades, and this is the story of the three girls, Marion, Zoey and Val, who come together to defeat it. It’s got explorations of grief and of trauma, but ultimately, it’s a celebration of girls and their strength and the transformative power of female friendships and sapphic relationships. The relationship between Marion and Val is complex, compelling, and key. As a bonus on top of the sapphic rep, not only are the friendships between Marion, Val and Zoey also well developed, Zoey is also queer, bringing in exploration of her asexuality.

She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran

Lovers of a classic haunted house story shouldn’t miss She is a Haunting. Cleverly using the horror to explore its powerful themes of the impact of colonialism, the story follows Jade, a Vietnamese American girl reluctantly spending the summer with her father in Vietnam at the old French colonial home he’s fixing up to be a B&B. Of course, soon enough, the eerie happenings begin, and Jade determines to prove there’s something truly wrong with the house before her family becomes its next victims. In the midst of the haunting, though, there’s sapphic feels to be found as closeted bisexual Jade is drawn to both the edgy “bad girl” niece of her father’s business partner and a gorgeous ghost bride.

The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould 

Readers who want more ghosts (and, really, who doesn’t?) this time with ghost hunters need to check out The Dead and the Dark. Delivering themes of grief, loneliness and unresolved trauma that pair perfectly with ghosts, this story is about Logan, the daughter of two gay ghost hunting reality show stars whose return to their hometown finds them blamed for a teen boy’s mysterious disappearance. To clear their names, Logan teams up with Ashely, the ex of the boy who’s gone missing who can see his ghost, to discover the truth of what’s happened. Logan is a lesbian, and although their relationship starts off with a lot of understandable animosity, there’s a slow burn romance that ultimately blossoms between them.

Off With Their Heads by Zoe Hana Mikuta 

The rest of the books on this list take place in our world or a slightly altered version of it, but if you’re seeking more horror in a fantasy world, Off With Their Heads should be at the top of your list. An Alice in Wonderland retelling with Korean-inspired worldbuilding that truly captures the dark, weird atmosphere of the original, it delivers its horror in spades—I found this one of the most disturbing on my list here in the very best of ways. This is the story of two girls, Icca and Caro, who are framed for a horrifying tragedy and must battle monsters in the terrifying forest of Wonderland to save themselves. Here there’s an lovers-to-enemies arc rather than a romance—Icca and Caro are ex girlfriends who now hate each other, but there’s still plenty of twisted sapphic passion to be found in their obsessive hate.

This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings

No horror list would be complete without a vampire book, and for that spot, 2024 has gifted lovers of lesbian vampires with This Ravenous Fate. Set in 1920s Harlem and including themes of race and class, it follows vampire Layla and vampire hunter Elise who must team up to investigate a series of mysterious murders, but of course, Layla and Elise just so happen to have some complicated history. From their relationship, we get a fun childhood-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers arc providing all of the tension and angst and yearning that could be hoped for.

Found your next read on this list? Great! But this list is by no means exhaustive, so I hope either way you’ll use these suggestions as a jumping off point to explore the incredible choices for sapphic horror that we’re fortunate enough to have out there in the world today.

The post Spooky Sapphic Reads: Five YA Horror Books Featuring Girls Into Girls appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well Claire Legrand’s A Crown of Ivy and Glass has a new release date of June 13th and we have an EXCLUSIVE excerpt to share with you to get you excited for it!

A Crown of Ivy and Glass is now available to pre-order from Amazon, B&N, Bookshop, and Books-A-Million, or from your favourite eBook platform!

SYNOPSIS

Lady Gemma Ashbourne seemingly has it all. She’s young, gorgeous, and rich. Her family was Anointed by the gods, blessed with incredible abilities. But underneath her glittering façade, Gemma is deeply sad. Years ago, her sister Mara was taken to the Middlemist to guard against treacherous magic. Her mother abandoned the family. Her father and eldest sister, Farrin—embroiled in a deadly blood feud with the mysterious Bask family—often forget Gemma exists.

Worst of all, Gemma is the only Ashbourne to possess no magic. Instead, her body fights it like poison. Constantly ill, aching with loneliness, Gemma craves love and yearns to belong.

Then she meets the devastatingly handsome Talan d’Astier. His family destroyed themselves, seduced by a demon, and Talan, the only survivor, is determined to redeem their honor. Intrigued and enchanted, Gemma proposes a bargain: She’ll help Talan navigate high society if he helps her destroy the Basks. According to popular legend, a demon called The Man With the Three-Eyed Crown is behind the families’ blood feud—slay the demon, end the feud.

But attacks on the Middlemist are increasing. The plot against the Basks quickly spirals out of control. And something immense and terrifying is awakening in Gemma, drawing her inexorably toward Talan and an all-consuming passion that could destroy her—or show her the true strength of her power at last.

EXCERPT

Flustered, I finally managed to unlock the door and peered inside, my heart suddenly pounding with a giddy sort of fear. “We have perhaps a half hour before anyone gets up from the dinner table,” I said, “so I suggest we search quickly.”

When Talan didn’t respond, I shot him a look over my shoulder. “Is there a problem?”

The expression he wore—sad, a little shocked, a little angry, all swiftly stifled—sent a chill of dread rolling down my back. I quickly took stock of my body but sensed nothing of his power’s presence on me.

Even so, though I’d checked the mirror ten times before leaving my room, it suddenly felt as if all the places on my arms and face that I’d struck earlier that day had bloomed into vivid life. Talan quickly looked me over head to toe, his eyes lingering on the lace trim of my nightgown’s wide collar—and then found my eyes once more.

I stared at him, dry-mouthed. It wasn’t possible for him to know what I had done in my rooms. There was no physical sign of it. He was not currently using his power; I would have known. My body ached as it normally did. My stomach sat in its perpetually queasy knots. Talan’s power had brought comfort, and a strange, reassuring nearness, and at the moment I felt nothing of the sort.

“What is it?” I laughed a little, as if he were a preposterous creature. “Examining me? Do I satisfy?” I paused, flashed him a smile. “Maybe you see something you like?”

“Gemma…” he said quietly, his voice achingly tender. But then, after another moment of searching my face, whatever had come over him was gone. He returned my smile—a small quirk of his lips that made my heart flutter.

“The moonlight suits you,” he said simply, his eyes soft. He opened his mouth again, shifted a little. I held my breath. Would he say something else? What did I want him to say?

But he simply moved past me into the office, his hand brushing my sleeve as he glided by. “Remind me why we can’t just follow your father around until he leads us to Ravenswood himself?”

I shook myself and hurried in after him, leaving the door ajar. If someone found us, we would tell them I’d been giving the curious Mr. d’Astier a tour of the house, hoping it would distract me from my headache.

“That would be too great a risk,” I replied. “Father’s an Anointed sentinel. He’d either move too quickly for us to follow or hear us creeping along behind him, and then…” I swallowed hard, spooked by my own imaginings. “Well, he’d no doubt lock me in my rooms forever and put guards at the door night and day. You he’d probably just murder.”

“Ah. A fine reason indeed.” Talan looked around at the enormous office, scratching the back of his head with a grim smile. “Searching his office without his permission it is, then. Where does one even begin with such a crime?”

“I doubt Father would leave a map of the estate’s greenways just lying about,” I said, “but he and Farrin speak in code, play games together. What if something happened to him and she needed access to his private affairs? He might have left clues for her around the office, telling her where to find things.”

“A map of objects and secret jokes,” Talan said, nodding as he perused the bookshelves. “An interesting idea.”

A pang of longing arrowed through my chest. I ignored it, beginning a careful search of the papers scattered atop Father’s desk. “Yes, well, they’ve always had their little secret language. I think Farrin started it after Mother left to entertain Father, distract him from himself.”

I stopped, clamping my mouth shut. My family’s stories—not the rumors or legends but the true, painful ones—were not anyone’s business but our own.

“He must have grieved terribly in her absence,” Talan said, his back to me. “And that was your sister’s way of helping.”

“Indeed,” I said lightly, “and it seemed to work. They’ve been the best of friends ever since.”

“Does that bother you?”

I riffled through a stack of papers with such haste that I nearly ripped one. “I’m glad they have each other. Farrin has few friends, and Father even fewer. Not real ones anyway. They need each other.” I flung down the papers in disgust. “These are nothing interesting, just financial accounts. I suppose there could be some code embedded in them, but gods, I’m no scholar. We’d need Gareth for help with that.”

“Are there books they mention often?” Talan asked. He pulled a book down from one of the shelves lining the room and blew a light coating of dust off its woven brown cover. “Or characters, places, historical figures? Maybe the things they talk about in casual conversation, things no one would bother listening too closely to, hold clues.”

“Perhaps,” I said, only half hearing him. I stood near the desk, gazing distractedly at the floor. Saying Gareth’s name had reminded me of seeing Mara at Rosewarren, her cryptic words, her transformation into a creature more at home in the Old Country than here in Edyn.

Too much time had passed since that day, during which I’d stubbornly shoved Mara’s frightening strangeness to the back of my mind. I needed to speak to Gareth, and Farrin too, and I needed to see Mara again. I needed to find the greenway that led to the Basks’ estate, engineer a scheme that would tear them down and earn me Father’s praise, and insinuate Talan into the next few weeks of high society parties, maybe even the queen’s masque the following month, and find this demon and pay him to fix me, and—

I needed—

I whirled away from Talan to hide my face, nearly screaming with frustration. The panic had come—stupid me, I had let it come, I hadn’t slept well enough, and I’d spent all afternoon crying in my rooms, and then I’d let myself fall into a spiral of frantic thoughts—and now it was here, and it was too late to stop it. In its sudden violent wake, I was helpless, swept along by its frantic currents and the booming ache of my joints. The room of heavy upholstered furniture, glossy wood-paneled walls, and books upon books upon books reminded me of the Warden’s parlor at the priory. A sea of dark colors, each blurring into the next. Walls that grew and arched overhead like the gnarled boughs of a great forest. I longed to throw open the window and gulp down fresh air, but instead I bit my tongue hard and tried to force a sense of calm.

I moved to a stack of papers sitting on a small table across the room, hardly seeing what I was doing, not noticing the hot prickle of tears I was holding back until Talan’s gloved hand gently touched mine, steadying me. Then he tilted up my chin so I was forced to lock eyes with him, and the expression on his face was so tender, so dear and open and soft—as if he could see right down to the core of me and did not simply pity my pain but knew it—that for a moment I lost my breath.

“Gemma,” he said softly. “I’m here. I’m right here beside you. Breathe with me. In and out. I’ve got you.”

I shook my head and looked away. “Don’t you dare use your power on me, you awful man.”

“I need no empathic powers to see you trembling, or hear your breath catching, or to notice the grief on your face. I swore not to use my power to influence you or read you without your consent, and I will honor that pledge.”

“I can’t describe how much I despise having to trust the word of someone I hardly know,” I managed to say, struggling to catch my breath.

“I understand. It isn’t ideal. Let me remind you that we can end this bargain at any time.”

“Yes, and then I’d have to watch you slink off like a kicked puppy and live forever with the guilt of turning you away.”

He nodded sagely. “And the guilt of knowing you’d condemned my family’s reputation to remain forever in tatters.”

“Keep annoying me like this, and I’ll manage it quite nicely.” I waved him off, searching blearily for a chair. “I need to sit.”

“Of course.” He helped me to a worn reading chair and somehow gracefully folded his tall, beautiful body onto the tiny stool at my feet. “I’m sorry I asked about your sister. It’s just that I had to talk about something.” He smiled a little, glancing up at me through the dark curls falling over his brow. “The truth is, Lady Gemma, you make me nervous.”

I laughed out a little sobbing gasp. “Oh, for the love of all the gods…”

“It’s true. This is my first ever foray into political intrigue, you know. Ancient family feuds, secret codes, and with such an exquisite little wildcat as my partner. One hardly knows what to do with oneself in such a scenario.”

Perhaps I should have bristled at the surprising endearment, but in fact I delighted in it for one sweet, delicious moment before the reality of who I truly was returned.

“I’m no wildcat,” I said with a bitter laugh. “That’s Farrin. Or Mara, even. I’m just…” Helplessly, hating myself for falling apart in front of Talan two nights in a row, I shrugged. “I’m the runt of the litter. The pitiful limping kitten who never should have been born. Gods. Listen to me. What a pathetic, sweaty little weed.” I wrenched myself up from the chair, scrubbing my face dry. “I’m so angry right now I could scream.”

“Well, perhaps not just yet,” Talan said pleasantly from his stool. “Everyone would come storming upstairs to your rescue, and things could very quickly become awkward.”

“Stop trying to cheer me up. You don’t know what it’s like to live like this.”

“Like what?”

“Like this!” I whirled around and gestured at my body. “With this awful screaming panic living inside you that anything could set off at any moment! And sickness that comes at you like a hammer if you dare to do something as simple as visit your sister, and bone-crushing pain that knocks you about if someone possessing just the right kind of potent magic gets too close to you. And—”

I froze. Talan’s eyes widened. We’d both heard it, then: quick footsteps in the corridor.

There was no time to do anything else. My face was splotchy and swollen, my breath still evening out, my body wound tight. They would think Talan had hurt me or that we’d had an awful row that would require some ungainly explanation. Our plan would crash to pieces before it even got its feet set right on the ground.

So I did what I had to do. I rushed toward Talan, tugged hard on his arms, and once he was on his feet, I launched myself at him, hooked one of my legs over his, and kissed him.

The post Read An Exclusive Excerpt From ‘A Crown of Ivy and Glass’ by Claire Legrand appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

This was my first Legrand novel and I definitely get the hype about her writing now. For years, people have told me how atmospheric and downright chilling Legrand’s prose is and after reading Extasia, I can only agree: this woman knows what she’s doing.

What I love about these types of stories set in religious cults and what Legrand delivers on is the journey of self-discovery and disillusionment the protagonist goes through. Initially anticipating becoming a saint, Amity experiences tremendous disillusionment as she realises the victimisation (and violent glorification) of women, the abuse and misogyny they have to go through in the name of God—or what the community’s elders deem to be God’s will. These pages are filled with trauma, disillusionment, anger, and questioning everything you’ve ever learned in your life and it’s captivating to read about the protagonist going through all of it in part thanks to a string of killings that targets abusive men and women—and there are plenty of those in the community.

This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea (and I deeply encourage you to read the trigger warnings, especially if religious trauma is one of those triggers) but even if you’re not in it for the topic (or, like me, are atheist and not too big on anything that involves religion in writing), there’s still so much to gain from this story. It’s hard following Amity and her blind faith, watching her be excited about becoming a vessel elders take out their violent aggression and devious deeds out on only to then be completely disillusioned. But this, of course, is also when the story gets interesting. The rage and disbelief Amity experiences and the way witchcraft and friendship are interwoven into the narrative as Amity tries to not only save herself from escaping abuse but helping others escape the oppressive nature of the cult that is Haven, is downright chilling.

While I would say that this book isn’t so much scary as it is gruesome, I still loved all the horror-esque vibes Extasia delivered. You can feel the underlying sense of dread and despair seeping from the pages and even the more grotesque aspects are described so lyrically that it’s hard to turn away from the writing even if you’re in need of a break from this dreary world. Speaking of, a welcome reprieve from the very dark elements of the story is the romance between the protagonist and a fellow saint. While I won’t spoil anything, I loved the vibes surrounding that slow build-up and it enhanced the immediacy of the stakes for me while reading.

Filled with a harrowing journey of disillusionment that will wreak havoc on your emotions, atmospheric writing, tons of female rage and a touch of magic, Extasia is perfect for fans of women-fight-back-narratives and Szpara’s First Become Ashes!

Extasia is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of February 22nd 2022.

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

Synopsis | Goodreads

From New York Times bestselling author Claire LeGrand comes a new, bone-chilling YA horror novel about a girl who joins a coven to root out a vicious evil that’s stalking her village. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Grace Year.

Her name is unimportant.

All you must know is that today she will become one of the four saints of Haven. The elders will mark her and place the red hood on her head. With her sisters, she will stand against the evil power that lives beneath the black mountain–an evil which has already killed nine of her village’s men.

She will tell no one of the white-eyed beasts that follow her. Or the faceless gray women tall as houses. Or the girls she saw kissing in the elm grove.

Today she will be a saint of Haven. She will rid her family of her mother’s shame at last and save her people from destruction. She is not afraid. Are you?

This searing and lyrically written novel by the critically acclaimed author of Sawkill Girls beckons readers to follow its fierce heroine into a world filled with secrets and blood–where the truth is buried in lies and a devastating power waits, seething, for someone brave enough to use it.

The post #ReadWithPride: Extasia by Claire Legrand appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The YA genre is not holding back when it comes to 2022’s upcoming book releases! Between the months of January and June, readers are going to be delighted as to what they can get their hands on with books from favourite authors, to those making their debut!

From stories of love, magic, and mystery, to retellings, anthologies, and sequels, you will surely find several new reads to add to your TBR and we apologies in advance for adding to it!

Looking for more releases? Check out our Most Anticipated 2022 Releases and our Must-Have 2022 Queer Releases.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below which ones you’re looking forward to!

JANUARY

When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A bighearted novel about falling in love, making a mess, and learning to let go, When You Get the Chance is the next effervescent novel from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of the Reese Witherspoon YA Book Club pick You Have a Match.

Hopepunk by Preston Norton
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A heartfelt and funny new novel about forgiveness and redemption, and about how hope is the ultimate act of rebellion, perfect for fans of John Green and Becky Albertalli.

The Red Palace by June Hur
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June Hur, critically acclaimed author of The Silence of Bones and The Forest of Stolen Girls, returns with The Red Palace—a third evocative, atmospheric historical mystery perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Kerri Maniscalco.

Into The Midnight Void by Mara Fitzgerald
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Fans of Holly Black and Kendare Blake will obsess over the conclusion to this deliciously dark YA fantasy duology!

Serendipity, edited by Marissa Meyer
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From stories of first love, unrequited love, love that surprises, love that’s been there all along, 10 of the brightest and award-winning authors writing YA have taken on some of your favourite romantic tropes, embracing them and turning them on their heads. Readers will fall for this collection of stories that celebrate love at its most humorous, inclusive, heart-expanding, and serendipitous. Contributors include Elise Bryant, Elizabeth Eulberg, Leah Johnson, Anna-Marie McLemore, Marissa Meyer, Sandhya Menon, Julie Murphy, Caleb Roehrig, Sarah Winifred Searle, and Abigail Hing Wen.

Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker
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Kathryn Barker’s Waking Romeo is a spectacularly genre-bending retelling of Romeo & Juliet asking the big questions about true love, fate, and time travel

Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long
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Meg Long’s Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a captivating debut about survival, found family, and the bond between a girl and a wolf that delivers a fresh twist on classic survival stories and frontier myths.

Salaam, with Love by Sara Sharaf Beg
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This heartfelt and humorous YA contemporary follows Dua, who spends the month of Ramadan making unexpected discoveries about family, faith, and first love.

Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
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Prepare yourself for something unlike anything: A smash-up of art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is to be Black. In America. Right Now. Written by #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jason Reynolds.

The Kindred by Alechia Dow
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

To save a galactic kingdom from revolution, Kindred mind-pairings were created to ensure each and every person would be seen and heard, no matter how rich or poor…

Medusa by Jessie Burton
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A dazzling, feminist retelling of Greek myth from the internationally bestselling author of The Miniaturist, stunningly illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill.

Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
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A gothic tale full of mystery and romance about a willful female surgeon, a resurrection man who sells bodies for a living, and the buried secrets they must uncover together.

FEBRUARY

And We Rise by Erica Martin
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A powerful, impactful, eye-opening journey that explores through the Civil Rights Movement in 1950s-1960s America in spare and evocative verse, with historical photos interspersed throughout.

Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity by Angela Velez
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Booksmart meets Never Have I Ever in this Latinx road trip adventure—a big-hearted, voice-driven YA about two sisters who couldn’t be more different, but become begrudging partners on their school’s cross-country college trip—from debut author Angela Velez.

Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Extasia by Claire Legrand
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From New York Times bestselling author Claire LeGrand comes a new, bone-chilling YA horror novel about a girl who joins a coven to root out a vicious evil that’s stalking her village. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Grace Year.

All the Right Reasons by Bethany Mangle
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The Bachelor meets Gilmore Girls in this laugh-out-loud young adult romance about a girl who joins her mother on a reality dating show for single parents—only to fall for a contestant’s son.

League of Liars by Astrid Scholte
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In this fantasy thriller, four teens charged with murder and the illegal use of magic band together to devise the ultimate jailbreak. Perfect for fans of Six of Crows and How to Get Away with Murder.

You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen
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In this compelling and thought-provoking debut novel, after a terrorist attack rocks the country and anti-Islamic sentiment stirs, three Black Muslim girls create a space where they can shatter assumptions and share truths.

Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian
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A spellbinding story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. Immerse yourself in the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series.

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher
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A heartbreaking novel about finding your first love and what happens when it’s over too soon. Ashley Schumacher’s Full Flight is about how first love shapes us—even after it’s gone. 

Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon
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For fans of Sandhya Menon and Adam Silvera, a prom-night romantic-comedy romp about a Sikh teen’s search for love and identity

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
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The sweeping romance of Passenger meets the dark fantasy edge of This Savage Song in this stunning contemporary fantasy debut from Vanessa Len, where the line between monster and hero is razor thin.

These Deadly Games by Diana Urban
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Author of All Your Twisted Secrets, Diana Urban’s explosive sophomore novel, These Deadly Games, will keep you riveted until the final twist is revealed.

MARCH

The One True Me and You by Remi K. England
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A big-hearted, joyful romance and a love letter to all things geek, Remi K. England’s The One True Me and You is a *witness me* celebration of standing up for, and being, yourself.

Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta
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This Pride & Prejudice retelling brings New York Times bestselling Sayantani DasGupta’s trademark wit and insight to her bright and funny YA debut!

A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee
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From New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, Traci Chee, comes a Japanese-influenced fantasy brimming with demons, adventure, and plans gone awry.

This Golden State by Marit Weisenberg
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Marit Weisenberg’s This Golden State follows a family on the run, a restless teenage daughter hungry for the truth, and the simple DNA test that threatens their carefully crafted world

Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram
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A smart, sexy YA novel about a boy band star, his first breakup, his first rebound, and what it means to be queer in the public eye, from award-winning author Adib Khorram.

Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
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A ragtag band of misfits gets swept up in Holy Land politics in Travelers Along the Way by Aminah Mae Safi, a thrilling YA remix of the classic legend of Robin Hood.

Message Not Found by Dante Medema
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An emotionally complex portrayal of secrets, loss, and grief from Dante Medema, Indies Introduce author of the Indie Next Pick title The Truth Project. 

A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson
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From the author of Sing Me Forgotten comes a lush new fantasy novel with an art-based magic system, romance, and murder…

Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen
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For fans of Jenny Han and Jane Austen, a rom-com that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt about the unexpected consequences of one teen’s quest to help her friends find love, from the author of A Taste for Love.

Cinder & Glass by Melissa de la Cruz
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Blockbuster author Melissa de la Cruz’s YA retelling of Cinderella, set in 17th Century Versailles.

The Book of Living Secrets by Madeleine Roux
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Perfect for fans of The Hazel Wood, this genre-bending page-turner from New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Roux follows two girls who transport themselves into the world of their favorite book only to encounter the sinister alternate reality that awaits them. 

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
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A romantic YA fantasy perfect for fans of Erin A. Craig and Margaret Rogerson, about two people who find themselves competing for glory – and each other’s hearts – in a magical fox hunt.

APRIL

Year on Fire by Julie Buxbaum
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

What secrets will people keep—or reveal—to protect those they love? This novel, set against the frightening backdrop of an encroaching fire season, sparks reflection about friendship, the allure of romantic love, and loyalty to family.

This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Fountains of Silence meets Spinning Silver in this rollicking tale set amid the 1956 Hungarian revolution in post-WWII Communist Budapest from Sydney Taylor Honor winner Katherine Locke.

Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

They Wish They Were Us meets The Queen’s Gambit in the world of competitive Scrabble when a teen girl is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend a year after the fact when her Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts and messages.

K-Pop Revolution by Stephan Lee
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

She thought that debuting in a K-Pop band was the finish line, but it was only the beginning. Because now it’s not only her company judging her—it’s the entire world. If K-Pop Confidential was about finding your voice, K-pop Revolution is about finding the courage to stand by your beliefs, even when powerful forces are trying to shame and silence you.

My Dearest Darkest by Kayla Cottingham
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Wilder Girls meets The Craft in this Sapphic horror debut that asks: what price would you be willing to pay to achieve your deepest desires?

Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sarah Dessen meets Adam Silvera in the debut YA romance everyone is talking about!

Very Bad People by Kit Frick
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this dark academia young adult thriller for fans of The Female of the Species and People Like Us, a teen girl’s search for answers about her mother’s mysterious death leads to a powerful secret society at her new boarding school—and a dangerous game of revenge that will leave her forever changed.

My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by Sajni Patel
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A fresh, witty rom-com romp set against the backdrop of a high-profile music competition and a riotous Indian wedding.

Flirting With Fate by J.C. Cervantes
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Jane the Virgin meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes’s charming, romantic YA debut.

This May End Badly by Samantha Markum
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When a high stakes boarding school prank war leads to a fake dating scheme, two teens must decide if they are ready to take the ultimate risk — falling in love.

The Genesis Wars by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Black Mirror meets Marie Lu’s Warcross in Nami’s continuing adventures as she fights to free her friends in this high-stakes sequel to The Infinity Courts by award-winning author Akemi Dawn Bowman.

All the Best Liars by Amelia Kahaney
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Amelia Kahaney’s All the Best Liars is a dark, modern psychological thriller and coming-of-age story about obsession, manipulation, and the intensity of those first friendships that take hold of you and never let go

MAY

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of Today Tonight Tomorrow comes a magical romance in the vein of Groundhog Day about a girl forced to relive her disastrous first day of college—only to discover that her nemesis is stuck in the time loop with her.

Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An ancient city plagued by dragons. A flamenco dancer determined to save her ancestral home. A dragon hunter refusing to teach her his ways. They don’t want each other, but they need each other, and without him her world will burn.

Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Salem’s Lot meets The Darkest Part of the Forest in this horror-fantasy retelling of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market.”

A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New from the author of Counting Down with You comes a sparkling YA romance about an aspiring screenwriter who falls for the indie film star who goes undercover at her school.

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Who killed Brooke Donovan? It’s the biggest mystery of the summer, and everyone in Castle Cove thinks it’s the wrong guy. Fans of One of Us Is Lying and Riverdale can’t miss this page-turning who-done-it that’s sure to be the next must read Young Adult thriller!

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this complex and emotionally resonant novel about a Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth.

Destination Unknown by Bill Konigsberg
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From Stonewall Award winner Bill Konigsberg, a remarkable, funny, sexy, heartbreaking story of two teen boys finding each other in New York City at the height of the AIDS epidemic.

Murder for the Modern Girl by Kendall Kulper
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Gatsby-era glamour, a swoon-worthy love story, and an indomitable heroine dazzle in this romp that captures the extravagance of the Roaring Twenties and the dangers of vigilante justice.

Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Hitch meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this witty and romantic teen novel about a self-professed teen love doctor with a popular radio segment who believes he can get a girl who hates all things romance to fall in love with him in only three dates.

Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

What would you do if the world’s biggest K-pop star asked you to prom? Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sandhya Menon, this hilarious and heartfelt novel brings the glamour and drama of the K-pop world straight to high school.

All Signs Point to Yes, edited by G. Haron Davis, Cam Montgomery, and Adrianne White
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A YA anthology of love stories for each of the star signs that will showcase multicultural characters and celebrate the myriad facets of love, from meet-cutes to the lesser-explored love expressed by aromantic people, featuring 13 bestselling and award-winning multicultural authors.

A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Half-fae Arlo becomes entangled in the courtly intrigue at the Seelie Summer palace as danger for ironborns mounts in this gripping sequel to A Dark and Hollow Star that’s The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones.

JUNE

Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Secrets. Lies. Super-bad choices. Witchcraft. This is Our Crooked Hearts, a darkly gripping contemporary fantasy from Melissa Albert, the New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

The Song That Moves the Sun by Anna Bright
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This sweeping YA fantasy romance full of star-crossed love, complex female friendship, and astrological magic is perfect for fans of Laini Taylor, Alexandra Bracken, and V.E. Schwab. From the acclaimed author of The Beholder.

This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Emily Thiede’s exciting fantasy debut, This Vicious Grace, will keep readers turning the pages until the devastating conclusion and leave them primed for more!

Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the sequel to Victoria Aveyard’s instant #1 New York Times bestselling Realm Breaker, a divided world must rally, an unstoppable enemy must be defeated, and the fate of the world rests on a blade’s edge.

This Place Is Still Beautiful by XiXi Tian
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A sweeping debut novel about first love, complicated family dynamics, and the pernicious legacy of racism. Perfect for fans of Tahereh Mafi, Jandy Nelson, and Emily X.R. Pan, with crossover appeal for readers of Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half and Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You.

Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Two teen vigilantes set off on an action-packed investigation to expose corruption and deliver justice in Valiant Ladies, Melissa Grey’s YA historical fiction novel inspired by real seventeenth century Latinx teenagers known as the Valiant Ladies of Potosí.

Rise of the Vicious Princess by C.J. Redwine
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The first in a YA political fantasy duology about a fierce princess determined to bring lasting peace to her kingdom regardless of the cost to her heart —from C.J. Redwine, the author of the Defiance series and the New York Times bestselling Ravenspire series. Perfect for fans of These Violent Delights, And I Darken, and Ash Princess.

Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Dream Runners by Shveta Thakrar
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Go Hunt Me by Kelly deVos
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For Dracula lovers and fans of Diana Urban’s All Your Twisted Secrets, this spine-tingling thriller follows seven horror buffs as their dream trip to a remote Romanian castle turns into a nightmare when they begin to be killed one by one.

Game of Strength and Storm by Rachel Menard
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Game of Strength and Storm is a YA gender-bent Hercules retelling. Teenagers of Olympia Gen and Castor race to be the first to complete six nearly impossible challenges to obtain their greatest desire. Only one will win. The other walks away with nothing—if she walks away at all.

Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

I Killed Zoe Spanos meets The Cheerleaders in this haunting mystery about an island town with a history of unsolved deaths—and a girl desperate to uncover the mystery behind it all.

What 2022 YA book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 72 Upcoming YA Book Releases To Add To Your TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

With a new (and hopefully better) year now in full swing, we are antsy to get our hands on so many books! Middle grade novels are upping their already strong game in 2021 with a plethora of diverse and inclusive plots. From thrilling sequels by household names such as Victoria Schwab and Hena Khan, to promising debut authors like Nicole Lesperance and Alyssa Colman, 2021 looks like a promising year for middle-grade novel lovers.

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

Read on to discover the out-of-this-world novels that are heading your (or your kids’) way in 2021!

JANUARY

The Nightmare Thief by Nicole Lesperance
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the tradition of Natalie Lloyd and Ingrid Law comes a whimsical debut about a girl, her family’s dream shop, and a nightmare thief determined to change the course of her life as she knows it.

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black in this exhilarating debut middle grade fantasy, the first in a trilogy filled with #blackgirlmagic, about a young girl who must earn a spot at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs in order to find her missing brother—only to discover that her unprecedented levels of potential and power have marked her as a suspect in the ongoing fight against an evil magical threat.

The Sea in Winter by Christine Day
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this evocative and heartwarming novel for readers who loved The Thing About Jellyfish, the author of I Can Make This Promise tells the story of a Native American girl struggling to find her joy again.

Clues to the Universe by Christina Li
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This #ownvoices debut about losing and finding family, forging unlikely friendships, and searching for answers to big questions will resonate with fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and Rebecca Stead.

Unplugged by Gordon Korman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman comes a hilarious middle grade novel about a group of kids forced to “unplug” at a wellness camp—where they instead find intrigue, adventure, and a whole lot of chaos. Perfect for fans of Korman’s The Unteachables, the Masterminds series, and Carl Hiaasen’s eco mysteries.

Magic’s Most Wanted by Tyler Whitesides
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Magic is closer than you ever thought possible in this madcap middle grade adventure perfect for fans of James Riley and Chris Grabenstein.

FEBRUARY 

Red, White and Whole by Rajani LaRocca
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A heartbreakingly hopeful #ownvoices novel in verse about an Indian American girl whose life is turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with leukemia.

The Greatest Superpower by Alex Sanchez
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Fans of Alex Sanchez, the award-winning author of Rainbow Boys and the Lambda Award-winning novel So Hard to Say, will delight in his new middle-grade novel, which addresses the complexities of gender identity with honesty, humor, and heart. Readers will be encouraged to find their own superpowers thanks to Sanchez’s story, which gives face to a traditionally invisible minority and focuses on what it means to be yourself.

Ancestor Approved ed. By Cynthia Leitich Smith 
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Edited by award-winning and bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of intersecting stories by both new and veteran Native writers bursts with hope, joy, resilience, the strength of community, and Native pride.

The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An enchanting fantasy adventure about the importance of bravery, resourcefulness, and following your heart from a debut author.

The Deepest Breath by Meg Grehan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An accessible and beautifully written middle grade novel-in-verse by award-winning Irish author Meg Grehan about Stevie, a young girl reckoning with anxiety about the many things she has yet to understand—including her feelings about her friend Chloe. Perfect for fans of Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World, Star Crossed, and George.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as Told by His Brother) by David Levithan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times bestselling author David Levithan takes young readers on twisting journey through truth, reality, and fantasy and belief.

MARCH

Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Cassidy Blake takes on her most dangerous challenge yet in the latest book in this New York Times bestselling series.

The Accidental Apprentice by Amanda Foody
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A boy who accidentally bonds with a magical Beast must set off on an adventure in the mysterious Woods in this whimsical and cheeky middle grade fantasy debut that is perfect for fans of Nevermoor and How to Train Your Dragon.

Amina’s Song by Hena Khan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the companion novel to the beloved and award-winning Amina’s Voice, Amina once again uses her voice to bridge the places, people, and communities she loves – this time across continents.

Breathing Underwater by Sarah Allen
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Breathing Underwater is a sparkly, moving middle grade novel from the author of What Stars Are Made of, and a big-hearted exploration of sisterhood, dreams, and what it means to be there for someone you love.

The House that Wasn’t There by Elana K. Arnold
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

National Book Award finalist and Printz Honoree Elana K. Arnold returns with a powerful, heartwarming, unforgettable story of the mysterious ways in which we’re all connected, and what those connections mean. 

The Girl Who Stole the Elephant by Nizrana Farook
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Own Voices debut author Nizrana Farook spins an exciting, page-turning tale in a lush, vibrant, fictional Sri Lankan setting and featuring themes of friendship and loyalty, risk and reward, and heroism. A great middle-grade escapist novel and readaloud! 

APRIL

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When a powerful desert spirit kidnaps her sister, Cece Rios must learn forbidden magic to get her back in this #ownvoices middle grade fantasy debut perfect for fans of Storm Runner and Aru Shah and the End of Time.

The Last Windwitch by Jennifer Adam
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This delightfully classic middle grade fantasy debut, perfect for fans of Serafina and the Black Cloak and The Book of Boy, follows an unlikely young witch as she discovers that she is the key to saving her kingdom.

Sea of Kings by Melissa Hope
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When their island kingdom falls under siege, royal brothers Noa and Dagan must follow a magical map and confront the legendary one-eyed pirate before evil takes over their world.

The Gilded Girl by Alyssa Colman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Any child can spark magic, but only the elite are allowed to kindle it. Those denied access to the secrets of the kindling ritual will see their magic snuffed out before their thirteenth birthday. Heartfelt, fast-paced, and utterly absorbing, The Gilded Girl is Alyssa Colman’s sparkling debut novel about determination, spirit, and the magic of friendship.

The Last Shadow Warrior by Sam Subity
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Percy Jackson meets Thor in a laugh-out-loud, action-packed adventure inspired by Norse mythology.

Thornlight by Claire LeGrand
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Resourceful twin sisters and a desperate queen must find a new source of magic to stop their kingdom from being consumed by darkness. This classic fantasy-adventure from bestselling author Claire Legrand is full of twists, turns, and unforgettable moments. Thornlight is a must-have for fans of Tahereh Mafi and Diana Wynne Jones.

MAY

Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea by Ashley Herring Blake
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and Ali Benjamin comes a poignant yet hopeful novel about a girl navigating grief, trauma, and friendship, from the award-winning author of Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World.

The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An extraordinary new novel from the Newbery Honor–winning author of Other Words for Home about grief, loss—and how friendship can be magical.

Thanks a Lot, Universe by Chad Lucas
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A moving middle-grade #ownvoices debut for anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t belong.

Rea and the Blood of the Nectar by Payal Doshi
Goodreads | Mango and Marigold Press

Rea Chettri is on a secret quest to find her missing twin brother Rohan and she only has a few days. The clock is ticking in this fast-paced, thrilling and exciting adventure rife with evil creatures, a ruthless villain, and unforgettable friendships.

The Mending Summer by Ali Standish
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Perfect for fans of Orphan Island and Wishtree, The Mending Summer is the next stunning middle grade novel from Ali Standish—author of the Carnegie Medal nominee The Ethan I Was Before and August Isle, Bad Bella, and How to Disappear Completely—about a girl who is struggling to deal with her father’s alcoholism when she discovers an enchanted lake.

Lily’s Promise by Kathryn Erskine
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From National Book Award–winning author Kathryn Erskine comes a heartfelt, poignant novel that tackles grief, change, and the struggle to let your voice be heard. Perfect for fans of Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Erin Entrada Kelly, and Ali Benjamin.

JUNE

Almost Flying by Jake Maia Arlow
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this unabashedly queer middle grade debut, a week-long amusement park road trip becomes a true roller coaster of emotion when Dalia realizes she has more-than-friend feelings for her new bestie.

Generation Misfits by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A heartwarming Own Voices middle grade novel about an eleven-year-old Japanese-American girl who finds her true friends when she joins her school’s J-Pop club, from award-winning author Akemi Dawn Bowman.

Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year by Nina Hamza
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Best at It meets John David Anderson in this Indian Muslim #ownvoices debut about a champion underachiever who must start over in a new state with the help of three classic books.

The Double Life of Danny Day by Mike Thayer
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A boy who lives every day twice uses his ability to bring down bullies at his new school in Mike Thayer’s humor-filled middle grade novel.

The Stars of Whistling Ridge by Cindy Baldwin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this new novel from the author of Where the Watermelons Grow and Beginners Welcome, an almost-thirteen-year-old with an almost-complete sentence for a name embraces her destiny to search for a forever home.

Long Distance by Whitney Gardner
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the creator of Fake Blood comes another exceptionally charming middle grade graphic novel about friendships both near and far, far away.

What middle grade releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Incredible Middle Grade Book Releases To Look Out For In 2021 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Before we begin this review, this is the final instalment of a trilogy. If you haven’t yet read Furyborn or Kingsbane, you’ll definitely want to read those before picking up Lightbringer. I’ll do my best to avoid spoilers, but some of them can’t be avoided since they’re relevant to the summary.

At the end of Kingsbane, Rielle turned her back on everything she held dear and turned toward Corien and his whispers of glory. However, the empirium voices are beginning to drive her mad, and pressuring her to open the gate. The longer she’s separated, the more she embraces the role of the Blood Queen and takes her place at Corien’s side in order to become the monster everyone believes her to be. In the future, Eliana has arrived in the Empire a husk of the person she was. Abandoned and betrayed, she struggles to keep her power at bay and away from Corien, who will do everything in his power to travel back to the past to get Rielle back…even if it destroys her daughter.

Reading that summary genuinely gave me chills. At the end of Kingsbane, I wondered how much more suffering Eliana and Rielle could go through. I was NOT PREPARED for what happened in Lightbringer. It also happened to have the most shifts between points of views withing the trilogy, and it worked so well. All the forces that are in play are all interacting, changing, and fighting to have control. I really loved Rielle and Eliana’s character progression. Rielle’s descent into madness has officially started, while Eliana is struggling to get out of the pit she’s in. Simon’s perspective was genuinely the most surprising, while Audric and Ludivine were so heartbreaking to read.

I won’t lie, there’s quite a lot to keep up with in the final instalment. What I will say is that I was waiting to see what Audric’s power was like and I was not disappointed. There’s quite a lot more vulnerability from him that I felt was missing, and I was glad to see it in this book. I loved quite a few of the characters, but here was one character that I continued to loathe despite his ability to captivate and entice…and that was Corien. His true colours came out once he had hold of Rielle, and I think readers will love the contrast between Corien and Audric.

While romance is certainly a major reason that a lot of things happen the way that they do, I didn’t feel that this one was as heavily centred on the development of romantic relationships as it was on repairing or breaking them completely. More importantly than this, the greater focus on family and friendship ultimately reframes this story into one of perseverance and eventually hope. Things did not end the way that I expected them to, and there was a lot of devastation left in the wake of what happens in the final battle.

There’s not a lot that I can talk about in this book without spoiling some of it. However, I will say that this is definitely a book you won’t want to miss. Claire Legrand has this way of exploring the mental health of her characters, and despite the fact that some are at the lowest point in their lives in this book, she does an incredible job of showing their personal growth. While the trilogy may end here, I look forward to what Legrand will write next. You definitely want this book on your TBR, especially for a truly epic fantasy read!

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

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

Synopsis | Goodreads

The incredible conclusion to the trilogy that started with the instant New York Times bestsellers Furyborn and Kingsbane!

In this epic finale to the Empirium Trilogy from New York Timesbestselling author Claire Legrand, two queens, separated by a thousand years must face their ultimate destinies.

Queen Rielle, pushed away from everything she loves, turns to Corien and his promises of glory. Meanwhile, whispers from the empirium slowly drive her mad, urging her to open the Gate. Separated from Audric and Ludivine, she embraces the role of Blood Queen and her place by Corien’s side, determined to become the monster the world believes her to be.

In the future, Eliana arrives in the Empire’s capital as a broken shell of herself. Betrayed and abandoned, she fights to keep her power at bay—and away from Corien, who will stop at nothing to travel back in time to Rielle, even if that means destroying her daughter.

But when the mysterious Prophet reveals themselves at last, everything changes, giving Rielle and Eliana a second chance for salvation—or the destruction their world has been dreading.

The post Review: Lightbringer by Claire Legrand appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hey Nerds, content contributor Holly here, keeping you in the loop of my reading with the Mid Year Book Freakout tag! As of the end of June, I have read 67 books out of my 75 goal for the year of 2019, which is a total of 23,981 pages! Here’s what I recommend based on what I have read so far in 2019!

Best Book You’ve Read So Far in 2019?

• Sharp Objects Gillian Flynn: Completely and utterly disturbing. Perfect for the horror lover! Go into this novel with a tough stomach. MAJOR TW FOR CUTTING AND VIOLENCE.
• Misery by Stephen King
• Pet Sematary by Stephen King: Do you notice a trend? We at the Nerd Daily are fascinated by the macabre.

Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far in 2019

Kingsbane by Claire Legrand: Killer, kickass, magical queens. What more could you want?

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To?

• Descendant of the Crane by Joan He
• Inspection by Josh Malerman

Most Anticipated Release For Second Half of 2019

• Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren: I’m complete and utter trash for this duo.
• Song of the Abyss by Makiia Lucier: Thanks to The Nerd Daily, I’ll be reading an ARC and uploading a review soon!
• American Royals by Katharine McGee
• The Institute by Stephen King
• The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
• And like every other person on this planet… The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

Biggest Disappointment?

• Ruin & Rising and Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo: Sorry, I just don’t understand the hype. After finishing this series, I said hello to a MAJOR book slump. The trilogy just could not live up to the hype.
• Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy: nothing happened… never in a book have I experienced so much talk of action but no actual action. I was so hyped to get an arc but it had to be one of the largest disappointments so far.
• Fire & Blood by George R R Martin: Um this was a as boring as a history textbook. Can we just get Winds of Winter already?!

Biggest Surprise?

The Test by Sylvain Neuvel: Short and sweet. You’ll never quite know what to expect with this one.

Favourite New Author?

Stephen King… yes. I know, I am the last on the very large bandwagon. So much horror, so much weird fiction.

Newest Fictional Crush?

Saying hello to a girl crush: Daisy Jones from Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. She is so screwed up in so many ways but powerful, resilient and kickass at the same time.

Newest Favourite Character?

An odd one coming your way…. Annie Wilkes from Misery by Stephen King. Is it any surprise that I’m choosing a villain? Probably not LOL. I mean don’t you sometimes want to kidnap your favourite writer and force them to rewrite a book so they don’t kill your favourite character? Yeah me too…

Book That Made You Cry?

Now, I’m not a crier but I felt all the feels with Michelle Obama’s Becoming. She is a lawyer, mother, political advocate and can now add author to the list. This book was written so beautifully she could be a best seller even without being the famous ‘Michelle Obama’. I would die for another piece of her writing. So well done.

Book That Made You Happy?

Colourless Tsukuru Tazak by Haruki Murakami: ALL the nostalgia from my time living in Tokyo. Also beautiful writing, a new author I would love to read more of.

Favourite Book To Screen Adaptation You Saw This Year?

The Handmaid’s Tale

Favourite Review You’ve Written This Year?

Favourite and hardest review to write this year…. Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman! I wanted to spoil and gush the entire review so it was so hard to keep it spoiler free! However, such an amazing opportunity to interview the author himself! So thankful to Jimmy Patterson books, the Nerd Daily and Derek himself for a great book, review, and experience!

Most Beautiful Book You Bought So Far This Year?

UK edition of Skyward by Brandon Sanderson! This book looks like literal magic… hopefully it lives up to the hype of such a talked about fantasy author.

What Books Do You Need To Read By The End of The Year?

• The Dark Half by Stephen King
• The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell
• Blood Song by Anthony Ryan
• The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
• Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
• Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend

Have you read any of these books? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Holly’s Reads: Mid-2019 Book Freak Out Tag appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

There’s also many other books in store for you such as titles by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Tahereh Mafi, and Neal Shusterman! If you’re after a good fantasy, give Megan Shepherd’s Grim Lovelies a go, or perhaps you’re after more of a historical (which there is plenty this month), so pick up Virginia Boecker’s An Assassin’s Guide To Love & Treason. Pintip Dunn’s Star-Crossed will satisfy sci-fi fans, while Claire Legrand’s Sawkill Girls will provide an excellent mystery thriller!

Read on to discover our favourites and tell us in the comments below which one you are most excited for!

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Love and hate, revenge and redemption, destruction and salvation all clash in this gorgeous sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Strange the Dreamer.

The Lady’s Guide To Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Felicity Montague is through with pretending she prefers society parties to books about bone setting and he cares about anything more than her dream of becoming a doctor. A year after an accidentally whirlwind tour of Europe, she returns with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of Callum Doyle; and enroll in medical school. Doctor Alexander Platt is looking for research assistants in Germany. Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid. In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that will lead her from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic.

The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout
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When seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher is caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she meets Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen…but he is in fact something much more powerful. Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she’d only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head…

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
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It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments—even the physical violence—she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. She drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother. But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin.

Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
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The drought—or the Tap-Out, as everyone calls it—has been going on for a while now. Everyone’s lives have become an endless list of don’ts: don’t water the lawn, don’t fill up your pool, don’t take long showers. Until the taps run dry. Suddenly, Alyssa’s quiet suburban street spirals into a warzone of desperation; neighbours and families turned against each other on the hunt for water. And when her parents don’t return and her life—and the life of her brother—is threatened, Alyssa has to make impossible choices if she’s going to survive.

What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera
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Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it. Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things. But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?

Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
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The del Cisne girls have never just been sisters; they’re also rivals, Blanca as obedient and graceful as Roja is vicious and manipulative. They know that, because of a generations-old spell, their family is bound to a bevy of swans deep in the woods. They know that, one day, the swans will pull them into a dangerous game that will leave one of them a girl, and trap the other in the body of a swan. But when two local boys become drawn into the game, the swans’ spell intertwines with the strange and unpredictable magic lacing the woods, and all four of their fates depend on facing truths that could either save or destroy them.

Imagine Us Happy by Jennifer Yu
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Stella lives with depression, and her goals for junior year are pretty much limited to surviving her classes, staying out of her parents’ constant fights and staving off unwanted feelings enough to hang out with her friends Lin and Katie. Until Kevin. A quiet, wry senior who understands Stella and the lows she’s going through like no one else. With him, she feels less lonely, listened to—and hopeful for the first time since ever… But to keep that feeling, Stella lets her grades go and her friendships slide. With her life spinning out of control, she’s got to figure out what she truly needs, what’s worth saving—and what to let go.

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
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Who are the Sawkill Girls? Marion: the new girl. Awkward and plain, steady and dependable. Zoey: the pariah. Luckless and lonely, hurting but hiding it. Val: the queen bee. Gorgeous and privileged, ruthless and regal. Their stories come together on the island of Sawkill Rock, where gleaming horses graze in rolling pastures and cold waves crash against black cliffs. Where kids whisper the legend of an insidious monster at parties and around campfires. Where girls have been disappearing for decades, stolen away by a ravenous evil no one has dared to fight… until now.

The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth
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Five years ago, Evelyn and Philippa Hapwell cowered from air strikes in a London bomb shelter. But that night took a turn when the sisters were transported to another realm called the Woodlands and found temporary refuge. When they finally returned to London, nothing had changed at all—nothing, except themselves. Now, Ev spends her days sneaking into the woods outside her boarding school, wishing for the Woodlands. Philippa, on the other hand, is determined to find a place in this world. But when Evelyn goes missing, Philippa must confront the depth of her sister’s despair and the painful truths they’ve been running from.

An Assassin’s Guide To Love and Treason by Virginia Boecker
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When Lady Katherine’s father is killed for being an illegally practicing Catholic, she discovers treason wasn’t the only secret he’s been hiding: he was also involved in a murder plot against the reigning Queen Elizabeth I. With nothing left to lose, Katherine disguises herself as a boy and travels to London to fulfill her father’s mission, and to take it one step further–kill the queen herself. Katherine’s opportunity comes in the form of William Shakespeare’s newest play, which is to be performed in front of Her Majesty. But what she doesn’t know is that the play is not just a play–it’s a plot to root out insurrectionists and destroy the rebellion once and for all.

When We Caught Fire by Anna Godbersen
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It’s 1871 and Emmeline Carter is poised to take Chicago’s high society by storm. Between her father’s sudden rise to wealth, and her recent engagement to Chicago’s most eligible bachelor, Emmeline has it all. But she can’t stop thinking about the life she left behind, including her childhood sweetheart, Anders Magnuson. Fiona Byrne, Emmeline’s childhood best friend, is delighted by her friend’s sudden rise to prominence, especially since it means Fiona is free to pursue Anders herself. But when Emmeline risks everything for one final fling with Anders, Fiona feels completely betrayed.

Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd
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From New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd, Grim Lovelies is an epic and glittering YA fantasy. Prepare to be spellbound by the world of Grim Lovelies, where secrets have been long buried, friends can become enemies, and everything—especially humanity—comes at a price.

The Healer by Donna Freitas
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Marlena Oliveira has—mysteriously, miraculously—been given the power to heal all kinds of ailments. People around the world believe she is a saint. But her power comes at a price: she can’t go to school, she can’t have friends her own age, and she certainly can’t date. Then she meets Finn, a boy who makes her want to fall in love. For the first time, she begins to doubt whether her gift is worth all that she must give up to keep it.

Star-Crossed by Pintip Dunn
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Princess Vela’s people are starving. Stranded on a planet that lacks food, Vela makes the ultimate sacrifice and becomes an Aegis for her people. Accepting a genetic modification that takes sixty years off her life, she can feed her colony via nutrition pills. But her best friend is still getting worse. Now the king is dying, too. When the boy she’s had a crush on since childhood volunteers to give his life for her father’s, Vela realizes her people need more than pills to survive. As tensions rise between Aegis and colonists, secrets and sabotage begin to threaten the future of the colony itself.

Broken Things by Lauren Oliver
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Everyone thinks Mia and Brynn killed their best friend, Summer. That driven by their obsession with a novel called The Way into Lovelorn the three girls had imagined themselves into the magical world where their fantasies became twisted, even deadly. The only thing is: they didn’t do it. On the anniversary of Summer’s death, a seemingly insignificant discovery resurrects the mystery and pulls Mia and Brynn back together once again. But as the lines begin to blur between past and present and fiction and reality, the girls must confront what really happened in the woods all those years ago—no matter how monstrous.

Check out what else is coming out this month on our Goodreads list!

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

The post October Book Releases: YA appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

After the sudden death of her father, Marion Althouse relocates with her mother and sister to the island of Sawkill Rock. Surrounded by thick forests, wild horses, and rocky coastlines, Sawkill is hiding more than just secrets. Plagued by decades of disappearances, the island has trouble keeping young girls safe. Marion and her family are the new housekeepers of the marvellous Kingshead mansion. It is home to a generation of women, the Mortimers, known for their independence from men. However, when the Althouses arrive, Marion senses that the residents of Sawkill may be hiding the whereabouts of these missing girls. Marion and her best friend, Zoey, take matters into their own hands and try to end the string of disappearances, once and for all.

The female-centered cast in this novel was amazing. The girls were kick ass and got shit done. I honestly really enjoyed all of the characters and did not see some plot twists coming. To say that this is perfect for fans of Stranger Things hits the nail on the head for this novel. It was creepy and unexpected, but had amazing underlying tones of strength and unity. The representation for bisexual, lesbian, and asexual characters was welcomed in open arms and (from what I understand as not being a part of any of these groups so correct me if I’m wrong) was good representation.

Claire Legrand has brought out consistently amazing novels and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. This is the perfect spooky read for the upcoming fall months and should be on everyone’s to-be-read. 5/5 stars to the Queen of Creepy!

Sawkill Girls will be released October 2nd and available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers. Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Will you be reading Sawkill Girls? Have you already? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Beware of the woods and the dark, dank deep. He’ll follow you home, and he won’t let you sleep.

Who are the Sawkill Girls?

Marion: the new girl. Awkward and plain, steady and dependable. Weighed down by tragedy and hungry for love she’s sure she’ll never find.

Zoey: the pariah. Luckless and lonely, hurting but hiding it. Aching with grief and dreaming of vanished girls. Maybe she’s broken—or maybe everyone else is.

Val: the queen bee. Gorgeous and privileged, ruthless and regal. Words like silk and eyes like knives, a heart made of secrets and a mouth full of lies.

Their stories come together on the island of Sawkill Rock, where gleaming horses graze in rolling pastures and cold waves crash against black cliffs. Where kids whisper the legend of an insidious monster at parties and around campfires.

Where girls have been disappearing for decades, stolen away by a ravenous evil no one has dared to fight… until now.

The post Review: Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Assassins, ghouls, magical trials, and suspense all packed in to one book. If you want a book that will have you cringing and clinging to the pages all at the same time, Furyborn is for you. Time hopping, thousands of years apart, Claire Legrand connects her two leading heroines through an ancient prophecy, the Sun and Blood Queens. Two Queens with inexplicable power, fighting in a cosmic war between humans and angels, that will determine the remains of the world in which they reside.

Rielle Dardenne has always lived amongst royalty. Her childhood best friend is now the crown Prince and her father, the right-hand man to the king, Rielle has always been sheltered from the looming dangers beyond the castle walls. The threat of the rebellion, the Red Crown and the dreadful powers of the infamous Emperor. When Rielle saves Prince Audric, she exposes her suppressed magical powers and she is put on trial by her own extended family. Forced into magical trials, built for an inevitable death, Rielle must prevail throughout all tests and claim her rightful title as the Sun Queen.

However, Rielle’s story is not as one-dimensional as it seems. In love with Audric who is betrothed to her childhood best friend, Rielle is thrown into a world of danger, love and consequences. With that not being enough for poor Rielle, she also has a voice in her head, a man speaking to her, coaxing her through her life-threatening trials. She and the reader question together, who is this man and what does he want?

During the time of Eliana Ferracora, Queen Rielle is only a mere fairy-tale repeated to her by her naive brother, Remy. Eliana is a ruthless assassin, notorious across the lands and works for the Invictus, a powerful company of killers controlled by the Emperor where she is forced to carry out the most brutal and bloody jobs. When Eliana’s mother disappears in the middle of the night, she and the adorable Remy, set out on a journey to discover why women are being stolen away in the night without a trace. Is her mother connected to the other disappearances across the land? Can Eliana locate her? Or did she want to disappear and leave her children behind?

To find her mother, Eliana betrays the Invictus and joins a rebel gang on a mission to expose the evil powers that lurk within the empire, and the kingdoms it controls. The darkness she believed to have witnessed when working with the Invicuts is nowhere near what is about to unfold.

The world building in this novel is unlike any mainstream fantasy novel. The world is unique, well-orchestrated and multi-dimensional, engaging and teaching the reader as the story progresses. Further explanation of the world and its workings are hopefully coming in the second instalment of the series, which is already in the works!

Furyborn is a novel that has created a lot of buzz in the book community recently, quickly finding itself on the most-anticipated reads of many book lovers around the world. The Nerd Daily is here to conclude that Legrand’s latest novel is worth all of the hype. Legrand’s writing is lyrical and leaves the reader constantly lusting for more. Her world is unique and unparalleled; the characters are kick ass heroines that are constantly forced to find the balance between saving themselves or the ones they love.

Furyborn is a novel for every YA fantasy lover that is tired of the same tropes being repeated throughout every series within the genre. Legrand has created a breath of fresh air in the fantasy world, allowing her new YA novel to transcend genres and create a delightful read for all ages.

You can find Furyborn Book Depository, Amazon, and of course, your local bookstore!

Have you read Furyborn? Or will you be checking it out? Tell us in the comments below!

SYNOPSIS | GOODREADS

Follows two fiercely independent young women, centuries apart, who hold the power to save their world…or doom it.

When assassins ambush her best friend, the crown prince, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing her ability to perform all seven kinds of elemental magic. The only people who should possess this extraordinary power are a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light and salvation and a queen of blood and destruction. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven trials to test her magic. If she fails, she will be executed…unless the trials kill her first.

A thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a mere fairy tale to bounty hunter Eliana Ferracora. When the Undying Empire conquered her kingdom, she embraced violence to keep her family alive. Now, she believes herself untouchable–until her mother vanishes without a trace, along with countless other women in their city. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain on a dangerous mission and discovers that the evil at the heart of the empire is more terrible than she ever imagined.

As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic war that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world–and of each other.

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