About A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart: In this holiday romance with an enchanting twist, a magic-averse witch returns home to save her small town’s beloved winter festival in time for the holidays with the help of her estranged coven and distractingly handsome childhood rival.

What happens when you take holiday “magic” and make it literal? Stories that will completely sweep you up in cozy wonder this holiday season. Ever since the Christmas Carol, writers have been using magical plot devices to create a sense of adventure and force their characters to travel down a path toward becoming the best version of themselves in time for Yuletide. Adding romance into the mix adds a delicious stake to that journey—fix your heart, or watch it break when love slips through your fingers.

From time travel to magical archives to charming ghosts, all of these books use magical twists to add an enchanting sparkle to familiar holiday romance tropes. The end result is a collection of delightful, satisfying reads that will help you get through those long winter nights.

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Maelyn Jones is stuck in a time loop, reliving the same holiday trip to Utah, and must figure out how to break free. Could it have something to do with the two brothers between whom she also finds herself stuck? Holiday romance meets Groundhog Day in this timeloop romance that was both hilarious and touching. Family takes center stage, as Maelyn’s evolving relationships with both her biological family and found family prove critical to her escape.

Childhood friends to lovers pairs well with the story themes of nostalgia, tradition, and learning to let go and move on, all wrapped up in delightfully festive wrapping.

Winter’s Wishfall by Ceri Houlbrook

Ellie Lancaster flees heartbreak to take a job on a remote Scottish island where she finds her job is to archive centuries of scrolls that all begin “Dear Father Christmas…” There she is swept up in the magic and mystery of her task and learns to take charge of her life again. Along the way she also gains a found family, and a slow burn romance with a grumpy caretaker is the icing on the cake.

Enchanting, whimsical, and romantic, Houlbrook’s background in folklore comes through in how richly folkloric the whole tale reads. It leaves you wanting to believe in holiday magic.

The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand

Holly Chase had her shot at redemption when she was visited by three Ghosts, but she didn’t take it, and died shortly after. Given yet another shot at redemption, she is enlisted by Project Scrooge to be their latest Ghost of Christmas Past. Her first five years of afterlife proved to be as miserable as her life had been, but then she meets her newest Scrooge and everything begins to change for the better.

A beautiful, modern retelling full of the Scrooge story full of second chances and a whole lot of heart.

The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling

The Wedding Witch follows the third Penhallow brother, Bowen, a reclusive witch from the mountains of Wales, and Tamsyn, a procurer of magical artifacts, as they attend a Yuletime wedding in a fake relationship and end up swept back to 1957 to solve a magical mystery that spans generations. They struggle to set things right while not unraveling too much of the future they hope to return to, all the while navigating a growing attraction for another.

My personal favorite of Sterling’s popular Graves Glen series, Bowen and Tamsyn’s escapades are equal parts festive, intriguing, and sexy.

Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

Nightmare Before Kissmas brings us into the world behind all of the holidays, which is run by elaborate courts each ruled by monarchs and grow in power with the celebration of their holidays. Courtly politics takes front-and-center as Coal, the prince of Christmas, is forced to be betrothed to his best friend, the princess of Easter. This gets even more complicated as Hex, the Prince of Halloween, arrives to compete for her hand. As these things go, the princes of these holidays end up much more interested in each other than the princess.

The romance between the golden-heated prince of Christmas and the broody, guarded prince of Halloween has all the swoony, festive, slow-burn enemies to lovers charm you could hope for, and the magic is charmingly drawn directly from the holidays themselves.

Good Spirits by B.K. Borison

People pleasing Harriet finds herself haunted by a Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan, who insists he must’ve been sent because she has something that needs fixing. But though he is able to take her on a magical journey through her memories, neither of them can find anything in her past behavior that would justify his assignment to redeem her. The longer the assignment drags out, the more his magic begins to go haywire, and the closer they are drawn together.

 The end result is magic, mayhem, and a deeply cozy and sexy story about learning to trust that you are enough and finally letting down the walls that kept you safe.

Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle

Bettie Hughes, a once wealthy influencer now secretly broke and squatting in a dead woman’s house, has been dreading facing her family at the holidays—that is, until she accidentally plays a record backward and conjures Hall, the Holiday Spirit, a charming if offbeat man who offers to grant her wishes in order to help her rediscover joy and connection. They attend her family’s Christmas gathering as fake fiances, with Hal granting Bettie’s wish after wish, but the happier she becomes, the shorter his time on earth grows.

This book has Hogle’s trademark hilarious mayhem and delightfully eccentric characters, alongside the magic of second chances.

Season of the Witch by Sophie Morgan

High on my winter TBR for this year is the third in Sophie Morgan’s Toil and Trouble series. Season of the Witch forces together a pair of magical exes, Tia and Henry, who are forced together in a fake dating arrangement in order to secure a deal for the benefit of their recently merged family potion companies. Henry wants to win Tia back, but his efforts are complicated by the fact she erased memories of their time together.

This festive enemies to lovers promises banter, shenanigans, and a deeper story about family, identity, and vulnerability.

The post Eight Magical Holiday Romances to Enchant and Delight appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Being a huge fan of the Lady Janies’ particular brand of historical fiction, I was quite excited about My Contrary Mary, especially since this one brings us back to the world of E∂ians (humans who have the power to shift into an animal) from My Lady Jane, which  was the very first Jane book and happens to be one of my all-time favourites. My Contrary Mary was every bit as humorous as I’d expected, and I had an absolute blast reading it.

My Contrary Mary takes place in Renaissance France, and tells the story of a seventeen year old Mary, Queen of Scots, who despises doing as she’s told. As Mary gets married to her betrothed, the French dauphin Francis, back in Scotland John Knox is publishing pamphlets condemning all Verities (normal humans who don’t have E∂ian powers) and leading a revolution against Mary, who is presumed to be a Verity. Meanwhile, in a France where E∂ians are despised and oppressed, only Mary’s ladies-in-waiting and Francis know the truth about her— that Mary is actually an E∂ian and can turn into a mouse at will.

When King Henry mysteriously dies in a jousting accident, Francis and Mary suddenly find themselves in charge of France. Along with the seer Nostradamus’ daughter Ari, Francis and Mary now have to make their way through mousetraps, conspiracies, and treason to seize their thrones, and maybe fall in love along the way. 

My Contrary Mary is quick-paced and hilarious; the voices of the three authors merge together seamlessly and their writing flows, with a well-built plot and flawed yet strong characters. There’s also some political intrigue involved, as is to be expected from the time period the book is set in. However, the religious conflicts this time aren’t between the Catholics and the Protestants; instead they are between the Verities and the E∂ians. 

Coming to the characters, I really liked how the main characters all behaved like actual teenagers. There was Mary, headstrong and queenly and still so naïve, and Francis, a loveable dork who’s too in love to see sense. However, Aristotle or Ari, the third point-of-view character, struck me as the most interesting one. Ari’s prophecies tend to go sideways always, and they rather resemble scenes from popular movies of our time, which I found to be a quite witty and amusing way to sprinkle in pop-culture references.

As for the romance, friends-to-lovers being possibly my favourite trope, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Francis and Mary’s relationship. There was also a sapphic romance that, despite being on the sidelines, was also quite well-written. We also got to meet some beloved old characters from My Lady Jane near the end of the book, which was one of my absolute favourite scenes. 

In conclusion, My Contrary Mary is a funny and sweet story that I thoroughly adored, and I can’t wait for the next books in the Mary series! If you like fantasy, books about royalty, friends-to-lovers romances, and historical fiction, or if you are simply looking for some light reading material, this is a book you should definitely check out!

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

Will you be picking up My Contrary Mary? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Welcome to Renaissance France, a place of poison and plots, of beauties and beasts, of mice and . . . queens?⠀
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Mary is the queen of Scotland and the jewel of the French court. Except when she’s a mouse. Yes, reader, Mary is an Eðian (shapeshifter) in a kingdom where Verities rule. It’s a secret that could cost her a head—or a tail.⠀
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Luckily, Mary has a confidant in her betrothed, Francis. But after the king meets a suspicious end, things at the gilded court take a treacherous turn. Thrust onto the throne, Mary and Francis are forced to navigate a viper’s nest of conspiracies, traps, and treason. And if Mary’s secret is revealed, heads are bound to roll.

The post Review: My Contrary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Everyone always needs a light, fluffy, funny, and enjoyable book every now and then, so we have compiled a list of some incredibly heartwarming, funny, and feel good books. Let’s start off with some feel good fantasy books!

Fantasy

Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson will make you laugh out loud. Percy is a demigod, has no idea what he is doing, and he attends Camp Half Blood where he meets teens just like him. Percy is sassy, sarcastic, and awkward, plus this one is getting a Disney+ adaptation so you have that to look forward to after finishing the book!

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows
Who doesn’t want to read a retelling of history? This book is based on the real monarch Lady Jean Grey, but takes some artistic liberties to give you a hilarious historical retelling. With characters turning into animals and witty banter, this book will have you giggling the entire way through.

Doon by Lorie Langdon & Carey Corp
This book is about two teen girls who take a vacation in Scotland and then travel to a small, magical village. The story is based on the musical Brigadoon, but it will make you want to travel to Scotland and find Doon. It has very relatable and funny characters and romances to swoon over. This book is great for people who loved Royals by Rachel Hawkins and/or Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
This is a story that is filled with such magic and warmth. In case you somehow don’t know what this one is about, it follows Harry Potter who learns he is a wizard and goes to a magical boarding school. This book is all about friendship and will fill your heart with love and you will want to pack your bags and attend Hogwarts once you’re done.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
If you’re looking for a fun vampire series, this is for you! This book is filled with badass characters, a great storyline, and characters to root for. Vampire Academy has plenty of sass and moments that will make you laugh out loud. This book is about Rose who is the protector of her best friend, who just happens to be a vampire, and we follow these two at a boarding school and what happens when romance comes into play.

Contemporaries

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Simon is so fluffy and sweet! Simon Spier (the protagonist) is a very relatable nerdy character and this book is all about him coming out and how he connects with someone over email. The catch is he doesn’t know who he’s emailing and when will all these secrets become too much?

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
This is a graphic novel and a very short read, but this one will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. The story is all about two boys in England and how their friendship grows into something more. Charlie and Nick are both precious and you will want to wrap them both up in bubble wrap after reading this one and you will also want to curl up and watch movies with all of these characters.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Although this is a children’s book, it is a great book! Wonder follows August who has a facial difference and when he starts school, he has to deal with how people react. It will have you smiling through happy tears and you will be reminded about the innocence and purity of children. You will also see that humanity is not doomed and that children love so fiercely and will protect each other. 

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is a fluffy YA romance story, but it’s filled with romantic letters, great siblings, and just all around cuteness. This book follows Lara Jean and what ensues when all her love letters are sent out to their recipients. What follows is a fake relationship that could turn into more and lots and lots of drama. Once you’re done, you can also watch the Netflix film and it’s sequel!

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
This is an adult contemporary and will have you awwing out loud. Henry (the Prince of England) and Alex (America’s first son) have a long held rivalry, but what happens when their dislike grows into something else? This book is filled with great political discussions and a romance to scream about.

My Faire Lady by Laura Wetterstern
This book follows Rowena and how her summer job at the Renaissance fair is filled with romance and lots of medieval drama. This is an easy and cheesy contemporary, but it’s filled with some great romance and funny moments.

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
This book is filled with a sweet romance, a Twitter war, and lots of baking. Pepper and Jack are rivals and start a heated Twitter war, but they also start falling for each other over an anonymous app. This book will make you laugh out loud and you will squeal at all the pop culture references. 

Classics & Poetry

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Anne of Green Gables is a classic, which follows orphan Anne and her life on Prince Edward Island, Canada. Anne has a big imagination and a heart overflowing with love. This book has gorgeous nature descriptions and characters to fill your heart.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery
This is a really sweet book with beautiful illustrations, which follows a little boy who travels around the universe and learns about adults and the world. It’s a really short read but will fill your heart with some warmth and love.

Fierce Fairytales by Nikita Gill
This poetry collection is filled with inspiring retellings of fairy tales. If you ever need a pep talk, this book will make you want to kick some butt and change the world.

The Princess Saves Herself In This One by Amanda Lovelace
This is another great feminist read which will make you pump your fist in the air and grin from ear to ear!

Hopefully one of these books will put a smile on your face. All of these books are magical in their own way.

What are some of your favourite feel good books? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 16 Feel Good Fictional Books To Read appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

This list brings you 10 historical fiction novels that will make you feel a range of emotions and also tie in with other genres such as fantasy and young adult. Who knows, even people who are not big fans might just fall in love with the genre along the way!

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An exhilarating plot, characters you will fall head over heels in love with, bickering siblings, wicked nobles, highway robbery, mad scientists, scandals, daring escapades, impossible quests, grave mysteries, and of course, a gorgeous and epic love story. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue has it all! It also tackles issues like racism, sexism, homophobia, disability, and physical abuse with great care, but in a way that never gets preachy. Monty’s witty, wry, and unapologetically bi voice is an added bonus.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
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With beautiful prose and well fleshed out characters, All the Lights We Cannot See is bittersweet and heartbreaking in the best possible way. However, going into this book, don’t expect a typical wartime love story. It is very different, in a much more haunting way.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
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Along with being historical fiction, this is also a portal fantasy book! Harrow’s writing is magical and lovely, and almost tricks you into believing in Doors that will take you to worlds unseen before. Be prepared for the disappointment you are bound to feel when you come out of the book and back to reality, though.

The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson
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Fantasy and magic seamlessly merge with history, making the story of two people who have never known freedom before into a grand tale of epic adventure. An enchanting novel full of heart and raw emotions, The Bird King is going to stay with you for a long time.

Ziggy Stardust and Me by James Brandon
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This book is honest, blunt, heart-wrenching, and incredibly important. The writing style is very unique, although sometimes it might seem a little disjointed too, but that fits Jonathan, a boy who is losing his identity and being shattered into a million pieces every day as he goes through “therapy” that would “fix” him. Ziggy, Stardust and Me possesses the unique power to put the reader in its main character’s shoes, to render the reader as vulnerable as Jonathan feels and takes the reader through the horrors he faces. Brace yourselves, this is going to hurt.

Speak Easy, Speak Love by McKelle George
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Ah, a Shakespearean retelling set in the glorious Jazz Age sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? George has created such loveable, delightful characters; sometimes you want to shake them until their teeth rattle because they would die before admitting their feelings out loud, but that’s just part of their charm. There’s lots of drama and lots of romance and amidst it all, the plot is carried out satisfactorily too. If all that isn’t enough to convince you, Beatrice and Benedick are basically the enemies-to-lovers trope personified!

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
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Sepetys portrays a brutal time in history with compassion, but also in a way that hits hard. If you enjoy well researched and informative historical fiction, this book is definitely for you. Make sure you check out Sepetys’s other works too, all of them are similarly brilliant and immersive.

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley
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Pulley recreates Victorian London and Japan during the civil war with loving precision, and blends historical events with elements of fantasy deftly, making this into an atmospheric read not just read but thoroughly savoured.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
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Told from Ari’s point of view, the story is lyrical and gentle, and takes the reader smoothly through the pages. You’ll find yourself relating to at least one of the characters, at least a little.

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

You know those books you just can’t stop hugging? My Lady Jane has the potential to become one of those for you. Brimming with humour, romance, adventure, and pop culture references, MLJ is a charming historical retelling that everyone should give a try, especially if you are not a fan of the genre. And then try the other books in the Lady Janies series. You won’t regret it.

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

The post 10 Unusual Historical Fiction Books You Should Pick Up appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

When you think of Victorian England, you probably think of Queen Victoria first. Then you might think of extravagant dresses and fancy suits, of a time long past that has nothing at all to do with you living in the 21^st century. Maybe you will even think about the industrial revolution that made most of the iconic fashion styles happen, as well as inventions such as steam engines and railways.

And when you think of literature during this time, the Brontё sisters, Charles Dickens, and Mary Shelley are bound to be some of the first names to pop up. Nevertheless, just like the fashion going out of style, the language in which books like Oliver Twist, Wuthering Heights, and Frankenstein have been originally written in, has become old-fashioned.  

In an attempt to make these classics accessible for a young and modern audience, writers and especially YA writers, have been adapting Victorian classics. This can be achieved by simply putting the characters into a modern setting, by making one of the background characters from the original work the protagonist, to change the gender, age, or sexuality of a character or, to change the course of the story completely!

Nowadays, there are so many amazing retellings of Victorian novels that it can be difficult to decide where to start. If you’re one of the intimidated readers, don’t fret because here are five great young adult adaptions of Victorian novels to start your Victorian reading binge with (which, incidentally, mostly focus on girl power!)

My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand (A retelling of Charlotte Brontё’s Jane Eyre)
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While this is the second book in the The Lady Janies series, this is a stand-alone novel and is only connected to its forerunner because both feature a protagonist named ‘Jane’ and both are retellings of older tales.

You may think you know the story. After a miserable childhood, penniless orphan Jane Eyre embarks on a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester. Despite their significant age gap (!) and his uneven temper (!!), they fall in love—and, Reader, she marries him. (!!!) Or does she?

Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and one orphan Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Brontë, and supernatural investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights.

Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon (A retelling of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist)
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Olivia Brownlow is no damsel in distress. Born in a workhouse and raised as a boy among thieving London street gangs, she is as tough and cunning as they come. When she is taken in by her uncle after a caper gone wrong, her life goes from fighting and stealing on the streets to lavish dinners and soirees as a debutante in high society. But she can’t seem to escape her past … or forget the teeming slums where children just like her still scrabble to survive.

Jack MacCarron rose from his place in London’s East End to become the adopted “nephew” of a society matron. Little does society know that MacCarron is a false name for a boy once known among London gangs as the Artful Dodger, and that he and his “aunt” are robbing them blind every chance they get. When Jack encounters Olivia Brownlow in places he least expects, his curiosity is piqued. Why is a society girl helping a bunch of homeless orphan thieves? Even more intriguing, why does she remind him so much of someone he once knew? Jack finds himself wondering if going legit and risking it all might be worth it for love.

Olivia Twist is an innovative reimagining of Charles Dickens’ classic tale Oliver Twist, in which Olivia was forced to live as a boy for her own safety until she was rescued from the streets. Now eighteen, Olivia finds herself at a crossroads: revealed secrets threaten to destroy the “proper” life she has built for her herself, while newfound feelings for an arrogant young man she shouldn’t like could derail her carefully laid plans for the future.

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro (an expansion of the Sherlock Holmes Universe by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
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The last thing Jamie Watson wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s great-great-great-granddaughter, who has inherited not only Sherlock’s genius but also his volatile temperament. From everything Jamie has heard about Charlotte, it seems safer to admire her from afar.

From the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else. But when a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Jamie and Charlotte are being framed for murder, and only Charlotte can clear their names. But danger is mounting and nowhere is safe—and the only people they can trust are each other.

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White (a retelling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein)
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Elizabeth Lavenza hasn’t had a proper meal in weeks. Her thin arms are covered with bruises from her “caregiver,” and she is on the verge of being thrown into the streets . . . until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything–except a friend.

Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable–and it works. She is taken in by the Frankenstein family and rewarded with a warm bed, delicious food, and dresses of the finest silk. Soon she and Victor are inseparable.

But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth’s survival depends on managing Victor’s dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness.

This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee (another retelling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein)
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In 1818 Geneva, men built with clockwork parts live hidden away from society, cared for only by illegal mechanics called Shadow Boys. Two years ago, Shadow Boy Alasdair Finch’s life shattered to bits.

His brother, Oliver—dead. His sweetheart, Mary—gone. His chance to break free of Geneva—lost. Heart-broken and desperate, Alasdair does the unthinkable: He brings Oliver back from the dead.

But putting back together a broken life is more difficult than mending bones and adding clockwork pieces. Oliver returns more monster than man, and Alasdair’s horror further damages the already troubled relationship.

Then comes the publication of Frankenstein and the city intensifies its search for Shadow Boys, aiming to discover the real life doctor and his monster. Alasdair finds refuge with his idol, the brilliant Dr. Geisler, who may offer him a way to escape the dangerous present and his guilt-ridden past, but at a horrible price only Oliver can pay…

I hope you love these picks as much as we do, because even if you adore the original classics, indulging in retellings is a lot of fun. You get to go on new adventures with some of your favourite characters, an author might explore a scenario of “what if” a tiny detail would be different or the retold plot focuses on friendship instead of romance! There are honestly no bounds when it comes to reimaginings. On the other hand, if Jane Eyre’s story has always appealed to you but the language has put you off or the pace, this is an ideal way to enjoy the story the way you will enjoy it most! 

Do you read retellings? Which ones are your favourites? Let us know in the comments!

The post 5 YA Victorian Retellings You Will Love appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Alloy of Law (Mistborn Era Two #1) by Brandon Sanderson

Set 300 years after the events of the wildly fantastic Mistborn series, The Alloy of Law introduces us to a new group of uniquely magical characters and their fight to fix their corrupt world. Narrated by Michael Kramer, a god among audiobook narrators, The Alloy of Law and the whole Era 2 series is brought to life through his vast collection of accents. This is particularly perfect considering Wayne, arguably the best comedic sidekick in any fantasy book, adopts and dismisses numerous accents through the course of the story. If anyone knows the power of a proper accent, it’s Wayne and Michael Kramer.

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Kady Grant and Ezra Mason have just broken up, had their home attacked by a rival corporation, and are now trapped on separate ships while fleeing from the battlecruiser bent on their annihilation. Things can’t get any worse, right? Narrated by a full cast and enhanced by background sound effects, the audiobook version of Illuminae brings to life all the ways things get so much worse for Kady and Ezra. Author’s personal opinion: Illuminae is the best audiobook of all time.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

The first book in the epic series of Celaena Sardothian, the young assassin who was betrayed and thrown in a labour mine, released a year later to compete in a tournament to become the King’s Champion, and starts a chain of events that will reshape the land of Adarlan. There is not a narrator out there whose voice so exquisitely embodies the character as Elizabeth Evans does for Celaena. From haughtiness to rage to devastation, Evans hits every tone and emotion with perfection and brings the story of Celaena to life in a way that only an audiobook can.

Sleeping Giants (The Themis Files #1) by Sylvain Neuvel

Told entirely through interview and video transcripts, Sleeping Giants is the story of Rose Franklin and how her discovery of a giant robot hand hidden in rural South Dakota irrecoverably changes her life and the course of Earth’s history. Read by a full cast, the narration gives you the sense that you are sitting in a windowless room with the nameless interrogator who has collected these files just for your listening.

My Plain Jane (The Lady Janies #2) by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, and Brodi Ashton

A satirical retelling of Jane Eyre featuring Charlotte Brontë and a group of slightly inept ghost hunters, My Plain Jane is a hilarious tale of friends, ghosts, and love. While the story is rife with biting satire and hilariously ridiculous moments, much of the humour falls flat on the page. However, when narrated by Fiona Hardingham, the jokes land spectacularly and you will find yourself laughing through your read.

Red Rising (Red Rising Saga #1) by Pierce Brown

The first book in the epic sci-fi saga of a lowly miner who rises far above his station and takes on the tyrannical government who killed his wife and subjects his people to life underground on Mars. Brown’s writing is fantastic on its own accord, but narrator Timothy Gerard Reynolds brings such depth to the story with his voice. At times gravely and broken or affluent and fierce, the narration draws the reader into the dark depths of emotion throughout this brutally masterful series.

The Last Namsara (Iskari #1) by Kristen Ciccarelli

Asha is the fiercest dragon slayer in the kingdom of Firgaard and when given the chance to escape a terrible arranged marriage by killing the most powerful dragon, she is confident she will be victorious. But long hidden truths come to light that threaten to destroy her world and she must figure out who to trust before she loses the one thing she never thought she’d have: love. Narrated by Doctor Who’s Pearl Mackie, The Last Namsara benefits greatly from her smooth, hypnotic voice. The novel has dragon myths scattered throughout and Mackie’s natural storytelling voice adds a fantastic layer to the experience of reading this book.

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

The post 7 Audiobooks That You Must Listen To appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Crown of Oblivion by Julie Eshbaugh
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this mesmerising YA fantasy mash-up of The Road meets The Amazing Race, one girl chooses to risk her life in a cutthroat competition in order to win her freedom.

Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson
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From the acclaimed author of Defy, Sara B. Larson, Sisters of Shadow and Light is a timeless and fantastical tale of sisterly love and powerful magic.

All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney
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All-American Muslim Girl is a relevant, relatable story of being caught between two worlds, and the struggles and hard-won joys of finding your place.

A Thousand Fires by Shannon Price
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Shannon Price’s A Thousand Fires is a breakout contemporary debut―think The Outsiders meets The Iliad―that’s perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Veronica Roth.

Color Outside the Lines by Sangu Mandanna, Anna-Marie McLemore, Elsie Chapman, Karuna Riazi, Lydia Kang, L.L. McKinney, Lauren Gibaldi, Tara Sim, Caroline Tung Richmond, Kelly Zekas, Tarun Shanker, Samira Ahmed, Adam Silvera, Eric Smith, Lori M. Lee, and Michelle Ruiz Keil
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This modern, groundbreaking YA anthology explores the complexity and beauty of interracial and LGBTQ+ relationships where differences are front and center.

Day Zero by Kelly deVos
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Don’t miss the exhilarating new novel from the author of Fat Girl on a Plane, featuring a fierce, bold heroine who will fight for her family and do whatever it takes to survive. Fans of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life As We Knew It series and Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave series will cheer for this fast-paced, near-future thrill ride.

Across A Broken Shore by Amy Trueblood
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The last thing eighteen-year-old Wilhelmina “Willa” MacCarthy wants is to be a nun. It’s 1936, and as the only daughter amongst four sons, her Irish–Catholic family is counting on her to take her vows—but Willa’s found another calling. Each day she sneaks away to help Doctor Katherine Winston in her medical clinic in San Francisco’s Richmond District.

Songs from the Deep by Kelly Powell
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A girl searches for a killer on an island where deadly sirens lurk just beneath the waves in this gripping, atmospheric debut novel.

A Constellation of Roses by Miranda Asebedo
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Perfect for fans of Tell Me Three Things and The Astonishing Color of After, A Constellation of Roses is brimming with a magic all its own—lovable and flawed characters, an evocative setting, and friendships to treasure.

The How & the Why by Cynthia Hand
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A poignant exploration of family and the ties that bind, perfect for fans of Far From the Tree, from New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand.

Refraction by Naomi Hughes
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After an attack on earth, all reflective surfaces become weapons to release monsters, causing a planet-wide ban on mirrors. Despite the danger, the demand rises, and 17-year-old Marty Callahan becomes a distributor in an illegal mirror trade―until he’s caught by the mayor’s son, whose slate is far from clean. Both of them are exiled for their crimes to one of the many abandoned cities overrun by fog. But they soon realize their thoughts influence their surroundings and their deepest fears begin to manifest.

When The Stars Lead To You by Ronni Davis
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Nicola Yoon meets Jenny Han in a heated first-love romance about two teens who are torn apart one summer by prejudice and mental illness, and find each other once again.

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

The post November 2019 YA Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

You know what we bookish people love apart from reading about great characters and intricate stories? Amazingly designed covers!

Cover-buys are totally a thing and in the last few years, we have seen young adult designers upping their game and that is directly reflecting on our TBR stacks. This year is no exception and, as a result, it was really hard to narrow down this list!

10. Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix by Julie C. Dao
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Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix is the sequel to Forest of a Thousand Lanterns in the Rise of the Empress series, which went through a major cover change. Sometimes cover changes don’t really work and just make us angry, but this time we don’t mind! The new covers are so pretty that it’s difficult to stop staring at them. The flowery patterns and the bold red background make this book stand out on the bookshelves.

The series is an East Asian reimagining of the Evil Queen legend and revolves around the character of Xifeng, a girl who has to use her dark powers in order to fulfil her destiny and become the Empress.

9. The Truth Lies Here by Lindsey Klingele
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Let’s say you’re looking for a good young adult thriller. Everyone knows it’s not a good idea to read the synopsis (or at least the entirety of it) to have the best shocking reading experience. In this scenario, wouldn’t this cover make you immediately and unbiasedly want to buy The Truth Lies Here without having heard anything about it?

The smart use of the shadow created by the body of the girl to make the title suggests that the main character could have something to hide. The maroon shades of the woods also contribute to the atmosphere and the beauty of the cover.

No spoilers, of course, but this book revolves around Penny, an aspiring journalist who decides to work with two boys of completely different backgrounds in order to find her father and the truth behind multiple murders.

8. Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman
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After debuting with Starfish, Akemi Dawn Bowman released a new contemporary this year, and the cover looks as stunning as the previous one. The colours and the background wave immediately give a fresh summer-y vibe that are totally on brand given that this book takes place in Hawaii and features a surfer.

Rumi, the main character of this story, has to deal with the grief that comes with the loss of her sister, and she seems to be metaphorically represented by the bird taking flight.

7. My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows
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My Plain Jane is the second book in the hilarious Lady Janies series which retells the stories of different historical Janes in a fantastical and funny way. This cover totally represents the story and makes us laugh without even opening the book thanks to the little scribbled comments. However, the most amazing characteristic of this cover is the colour contrast. Who knew light blue and fluorescent yellow could work so well together? Let’s hope we get another outstanding colour combination on the cover for the next book!

6. Goodbye, Perfect by Sara Barnard
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Sara Barnard’s covers are always shiny and spectacularly artistic and Goodbye, Perfect is no exception. Every detail was perfectly taken care of: the gold foil sunflower, the typography and the colours all contribute to make this book stand out between all others on a bookshelf.

Goodbye, Perfect is about two best friends and the problems that arise when a big secret is revealed.

5. The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James
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This sci-fi with contemporary vibes was first published last year in the UK, but this year it was finally released in the United States as well with a different and amazing new cover.

The title and the illustration perfectly match in their message; the simplicity of it all is what makes the reader understand that the book is totally centred on the girl in the middle. Romy Silvers is in fact the main character and in the story she’s the only survivor on a spaceship directed to a new human colony which is… years and years apart.

4. Sadie by Courtney Summers
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Sadie is Courtney Summers’ first book published by the new Macmillan YA and adult coming-of-age imprint Wednesday Books, and we can see that in the style change of the author’s book covers. While her previous covers relied more on photography, Sadie’s cover is striking in its own way with a lot of white space that gives the beautiful central illustration of the main character, her red hoodie, the title and the author’s name the importance they deserve. The illustration is perfect to represent the vibe of the story: that is only the last detail that makes this cover one of the best of 2018.

This dark contemporary standalone talks about two sisters—one murdered, one in search of revenge—in an original podcast format.

3. Fierce Like a Firestorm by Lana Popović
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As its predecessor Wicked Like a Wildfire, Fierce Like a Firestorm has a lovely flowery cover and a solid background. The inside of the book is also as beautifully written as the outside suggests. This fantasy with poetic imagery revolves around two sisters dealing with their magical powers and a curse that haunts their family line.

2. What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
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What If It’s Us is the collaboration everyone was waiting for: what is better than Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera working together on a LGBT contemporary, merging their cute and heartbreaking styles? What we weren’t expecting was that the book would have such a great cover. The pastel colour scheme works wonderfully to attract our attention but the best part is the detailed illustration of the main characters. Sometimes having characters on book covers stops us readers from imagining our own version of the characters, but this time the illustration is so fitting that we can only admire it and wish we could get more collaborations between these authors (and of course similar covers) in the future.

The book is about two boys who meet-cute at a post office and slowly fall in love with each other.

1. Blood of a Thousand Stars by Rhoda Belleza
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This cover couldn’t have not been the number one of this list. The sci-fi sequel and conclusion to Empress of a Thousand Skies has such a gorgeous cover that it outshines all others, including the cover of the first book. The galaxy plus the profile of the Asian model inside the pink nebula (we love inclusive covers!) make this cover an instant favourite and might encourage some readers to buy this book without even reading the synopsis. This duology follows two unlikely allies as they try to save the galaxy from a conspiracy.

Are there any other great YA book covers that you would add? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 10 Amazing YA Book Covers From 2018 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If you read My Lady Jane last year, chances are you will enjoy the newest book from the trio of writers including Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows. If you haven’t checked it out, it’s all good because they are standalone books with this one focusing on Jane Eyre, while the previous focused on King Edward’s cousin Jane.

There’s also plenty of contemporaries for you to read with Morgan Matson’s Save The Date and Tamara Island Stone’s Little Do We Know.

Plus there’s a few debut authors on our list including Australian author C.G Drews, Michael Belanger, and Adrienne Kisner.

Read on to discover our June YA picks and tell us if there’s any other ones you’re excited for in the comments below!

A Reaper At The Gates by Sabaa Tahir
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

In the third instalment of the An Ember In The Ashes series, The Blood Shrike, Helene Aquilla, is assailed on all sides. Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable, while the Commandant capitalizes on his madness to bolster her own power. Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher.

My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, and Brodi Ashton
Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and one orphan Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Brontë, and supernatural investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights.

The Art of Escaping by Erin Callahan
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Seventeen-year-old Mattie is hiding her obsession with Harry Houdini and Dorothy Dietrich from everyone. She seeks out Miyu, the reclusive daughter of a world-renowned escape artist whose life and career were snuffed out by a tragic plane crash. With Miyu’s help, Mattie secretly transforms herself into a burgeoning escapologist and performance artist. Away from the curious eyes of her peers, she thrives in her new world of lock picking, straitjackets, and aquarium escapes. But when Will, a popular varsity athlete from her high school, discovers her act at an underground venue, she fears that her double life is about to be exposed.

Save The Date by Morgan Matson
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Charlie Grant’s older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can’t wait—for the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Over the course of three ridiculously chaotic days, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she’ll realise that sometimes, trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future.

Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone
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Next-door neighbours and ex-best friends Hannah and Emory haven’t spoken in months. Now, Emory is trying to make the most of the months she has left with her boyfriend, Luke, before they head off to separate colleges. Meanwhile, Hannah’s strong faith is shaken when her family’s financial problems come to light, and she finds herself turning to unexpected places. Their paths cross unexpectedly when, one night, Hannah finds Luke doubled over in his car outside her house. In the aftermath of the accident, all three struggle to understand what happened in their own ways. But when a devastating secret about Hannah and Emory’s argument ultimately comes to light, they must all reexamine the things they hold true.

Smoke In The Sun by Renee Ahdieh
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The highly anticipated sequel to Flame in the Mist—an addictive, sumptuous finale that will leave readers breathless from the bestselling author of The Wrath and the Dawn.

A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G. Drews
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Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to play hour after hour, day after day. He will never play as she did before illness ended her career and left her bitter and broken. But Beck is too scared to stand up to his mother, and tell her his true passion, which is composing his own music – because the least suggestion of rebellion on his part ends in violence. When Beck meets August, a girl full of life, energy and laughter, love begins to awaken within him and he glimpses a way to escape his painful existence. But dare he reach for it?

Dear Rachel Maddow by Adrienne Kisner
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Brynn Haper’s life has one steadying force–Rachel Maddow. She watches her daily, and after writing to Rachel for a school project–and actually getting a response–Brynn starts drafting e-mails to Rachel but never sending them. Then Brynn is confronted with a moral dilemma. One student representative will be allowed to have a voice among the administration in the selection of a new school superintendent. Brynn’s archnemesis, Adam, and ex-girlfriend, Sarah, believe only Honors students are worthy of the selection committee seat. Brynn feels all students deserve a voice. When she runs for the position, the knives are out. So she begins to ask herself: What Would Rachel Maddow Do?

The Bird and The Blade by Megan Bannen
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As a slave in the Kipchak Khanate, Jinghua has lost everything: her home, her family, her freedom… until she finds herself an unlikely conspirator in the escape of Prince Khalaf and his irascible father as they flee from their enemies across the vast Mongol Empire. On the run, with adversaries on all sides and an endless journey ahead, Jinghua hatches a scheme to use the Kipchaks’ exile to return home, a plan that becomes increasingly fraught as her feelings for Khalaf evolve into a hopeless love.

Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno
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A magic passed down through generations… Georgina Fernweh waits with growing impatience for the tingle of magic in her fingers—magic that has been passed down through every woman in her family. Her twin sister, Mary, already shows an ability to defy gravity. But with their eighteenth birthday looming at the end of this summer, Georgina fears her gift will never come. When tragedy strikes, what made the Fernweh women special suddenly casts them in suspicion. Over the course of her last summer on the island—a summer of storms, of love, of salt—Georgina will learn the truth about magic, in all its many forms.

The History of Jane Doe by Michael Belanger
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History buff Ray knows everything about the peculiar legends and lore of his rural Connecticut hometown. Burgerville’s past is riddled with green cow sightings and human groundhogs, but the most interesting thing about the present is the new girl–we’ll call her Jane Doe. Inscrutable, cool, and above all mysterious, Jane seems as determined to hide her past as Ray is to uncover it. As fascination turns to friendship and then to something more, Ray is certain he knows Jane’s darkest, most painful secrets and Jane herself–from past to present. But when the unthinkable happens, Ray is forced to acknowledge that perhaps history can only tell us so much.

Soulstruck by Natasha Sinel
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Set in a small Cape Cod beach town, seventeen-year-old Rachel Ferguson is trying to get struck by lightning. Hopefully it will lead to finding her soul mate, like it did for her mother. And then maybe her mom will be as devoted to her as she is to her lightning strike survivors group. When Rachel discovers a journal written by her mother’s soul mate – the man she thought was her father – she begins to question everything she’s always believed, including soul mates, fate, and even her mother. No longer sure of its power, she decides to quit chasing lightning.

Check out what other books are coming out this month on our Goodreads list!

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

(P.S – The Nerd Daily occasionally receives commissions for the links included in this article, but all earnings go back into us hosting giveaways!)

The post June Book Releases: Young Adult appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The category that is young adult is filled with so many different types of books and genres that nowadays it can be a bit tricky to find what to read since there are so many options. However, like most things, there are certain styles and genres that create a trend.

Many trends have emerged to worldwide acclaim this century and are part of (now) adults’ teenage reading favourites, including my own. Trends peak and fade with time and interest by readers and many new ones emerge every year, so let’s go down memory lane and see the biggest trends in the last decade or so, as well as the current trends and predictions for 2018 and beyond!

The Paranormal Band: Vampires, Werewolves & Witches

It would be an understatement to say that the paranormal trend took to young adults (and adults!) by storm. It was so hugely popular especially with the fast development of social media that it began a domino effect and crossover into Hollywood as YA book to movie adaptations smashed box offices around the world. Many consider Twilight as the pivotal origin of the paranormal hype as sparkling vampires became famous. More and more successful novels and series such as Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, The Southern Vampire Mysteries (True Blood), and House of Night series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, were consequently eaten up by readers, some adapted in movies and many remain current favourites for readers. This trend didn’t only apply to vampires but also to witches (Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia), ghosts (Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake) and werewolves (Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater).

Angels and Demons

There’s nothing more attractive to teen girls than the heavenly dream of finding the perfect boyfriend that is literally an angel or at least angel related, despite all the angst and probable family issues it brings. Angels and Demons was another huge trend, as a subcategory of the paranormal and fantasy genres. Angels were all the rage, with the building of backstories, describing those beautiful wings and the challenges of falling in love with an angel – an angel who might’ve literally fallen out of heaven and fallen for you too. Demons played their part too of course, and some might say the mixed elements of angel and demon drama in The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare and the entire Shadowhunter Chronicles it triggered is what continues to make it the most successful angel themed YA book series to date.

A Recipe for a Utopia with a Dash of Science Fiction

Dystopian and science fiction was another massively successful trend that created many book to movie adaptations and loyal fandoms worldwide. The concept of different worlds and societies in the future gone wrong was fresh and thought-provoking for young adults. It sparked discussion on themes of identity, society, class, politics, power and different versions of reality in a unique way. It even had teenagers taking personality tests for which faction you’d be in (Divergent by Veronica Roth). The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is the obvious game-changing novel that began this trend with many more that preceded it like Matched by Ally Condie adding to the fuel.

Fantastic Female Fronted High Fantasy

Any current YA reader would have heard of Sarah J Maas at least once, since her Throne of Glass series was among the great number of amazing female fronted high fantasy series to influence YA books in the last few years. These fantasy books are packed with action, intricate world-building, a bit of romance here and there, and a wide cast of characters to choose your favourite from. The protagonists aren’t delicate ladies either but are strong women who won’t back down or give up the fight and inspire other young women everywhere. Not only do these high fantasy books create an addiction for more but they have also popularised sub-genres of faeries, assassins and dragons which are all current trends of today. These high fantasy books had so much imagination to offer and are still cult favourites in the YA high fantasy genre since they brought so much to love. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder brought gorgeous magic, An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard brought spies in disguise and Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo brought the most badass villain who likes to wear black. It is no wonder that this started a trend and is still successful to this day.

Retold Again and Again

Retellings have also become a trend in the last few years, with many more reaching beyond the usual Grimm Brothers fairy tales. While books based on these tales like Cinder by Marissa Meyer and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas, inspired by Cinderella and Beauty & The Beast respectively, are still extremely popular, there has been a great turnaround for alternatives. A unique and well-loved series by Rick Riordan is of course Percy Jackson & The Olympians series, which is based on Greek mythology. Other alternative inspiring retellings are The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh, a retelling of the Arabian Nights and Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff which is a retelling of Japanese mythology. These books have become quite popular and trending with readers because the innovation of having the same story retold in a different and new way that is fresh and well executed is very appealing. Let’s hope this trend doesn’t die out too fast and continues its minor reign within YA fantasy books.

The Diversity Movement

Diversity has become a huge issue with readers and within the publishing community as more people demanded and expressed their need for equal and widespread representations. Race, sexuality, disabilities and gender themes have been some of the issues young adults have been craving to read in YA Fiction so they can relate what they’re reading to who they are and their everyday lives. The huge push by readers for more diversity has been a slow and successful ongoing trend that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon and sure has gotten some incredible diverse novels out there for us to enjoy.

YA Trend Predictions for 2018

So, these are some of the trends that have occurred in the last decade, but what about what’s happening now? Currently many of the trends below are predicted to make it big and rise in popularity. The success of certain novels in these genres in the last year shows how future books in those same categories can truly boom.

Thrillers & Whodunnits

Novels like One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus and Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco in the last year has shown how powerful and addictive thrillers and mysteries can be, and this genre really seems like it’s about to take off especially because of the second rise in popularity of the book to TV adaptation of 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher.

2018 Book Recommendations:

• All of This is True by Lygia Day Penaflor
  Four teenagers obsessed with a novel called Undertow make a plan to befriend its author Fatima Ro, and they can’t believe their luck when she lets them into her life. Until they are shocked to discover that Fatima’s latest book unveils all their secrets and revelations with devastating effects.
• The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
  After the multiple consecutive deaths of cheerleaders, Sunnybrook High disbands its cheer squad. Yet 5 years later it seems that there is more to it and something is still going on as Monica, the sister of the last cheerleader killed, unravels secrets and suspicious activity. Some people in Sunnybrook may be hiding more than they’re willing to admit, and even though there are no more cheerleaders, it doesn’t mean everyone is safe.

Hi-Tech Worlds & Games

With the massive fandoms and widespread love for gaming, social media and new technology in this era, it makes sense that young adults would embrace these high tech sci-fi books that show the potential technology may have one day in the future. The thought of spaceships and virtual reality gaming The Illuminae Files by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman and Warcross by Marie Lu have brought in the last year are pretty mind-blowing and interesting to read about. It seems logical that this YA genre and its themes will remain consistent in 2018.

2018 Book Recommendations:

• The Leveller by Julia Durango
  Nixy Bauer is a bounty hunter with the task of taking kids back to their parents in the real world from their virtual reality gaming world. However when the game’s rich developper loses track of his own kid, Nixy has the biggest challenge of her life finding him especially when it seems that he wasn’t trying to hide but is being held captive against his will within the game.
• Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston
  A space action-packed Anastasia retelling, this fun sci-fi novel depicts a girl named Ana, who was found aboard a pod with no recollection of her past. Desperate to help fix the android named D09 who was aboard with her, she tries to find the coordinates to the lost ship that may hold all her answers. Until a spoiled Ironblood boy beats her to it, yet events unfold that have them both running for their lives, marked as fugitives, and not everyone wants to capture them alive.

Shock! Horror!

Horror has always be a favourite genre for many people in fiction, however for young adult fiction it can be quite rare. Not all young people tend to want to be scared, however this genre might just be on the rise. With the popularity of Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco (Sequel to Stalking Jack the Ripper) and recent release The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert, many more older young adults may lean more towards this direction.

2018 Book Recommendations:

• Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
  The sequel to the its predecessor Scythe, Thunderhead follows the adventures, deadly tasks and dilemmas its protagonists must endure following the last event of Scythe. Scythe introduces a dystopia far in the future where humans are no longer affected by age, disease or war. Now scythes are the only ones who can and will end life to manage the world’s constant growing population. Rowan and Citra are two teenagers unwillingly chosen to apprentice for a Scythe. They must master the art of killing yet they must also understand learning the consequences of failing to take a life, as it may take their own.
• Contagion by Erin Bowman
  An urgent SOS is sent from a distant planet. A small crew is dispatched for search and rescue yet what they find is something best left uncovered as they try to piece together who or what decimated a whole operation on this planet.

For Realz

As mentioned above, the explosion of diversity in YA literature has created so many more representations and opportunities of expression. The diversity movement has also helped create another subgenre of Realistic Fiction. This genre is basically fiction that describes real life issues of today, more serious points of discussion everyone should be exposed to regardless of what format they’re influenced by including books. This subgenre is great and it seems like a major theme in 2018 for YA contemporaries and fantasies as well. There’s hope that more novels with themes such as mental illness, race, lgbtqia+, the effect of terrorism as well as teen depression and suicide are well read by teens to engage in discussion about important social and life issues we may all face.

2018 Book Recommendations:

• Not if I Save You First by Ally Carter
  Maddie’s best friend Logan is the President’s son, while her dad is a secret service agent. Unfortunately, life gets in the way and forces her to be dragged to the middle of nowhere in Alaska where she gets not word from Logan. Then he shows up, 6 years later, and an assailant gets in the way of Maddie killing him herself and she really wants to.
• The Place Between Breaths by An Na
  Grace is in a race against time and she doesn’t even know it. When her mother flees in fear of hurting their family due to the schizophrenia she’s been struggling with for years, her dad’s schizophrenia research continues in full force. Grace does her part by interning there, and they find what might be a breakthrough, but Grace starts to unravel and starts to question what’s real and what isn’t. Is her discovery real or a side effect of schizophrenia taking hold?

Under the Sea

While many mermaid novels and series have come out in the past decade such as Of Poseidon by Anna Banks, there hasn’t been a whole lotta love for them but there may be a change in the air. These book recommendations below could mean a massive turnaround for mermaid to come in the future.

2018 Book Recommendations:

• To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
  Princess Lira is a lethal siren royal, known for bringing prince’s hearts home to her collection until she’s forced to kill one of their own. As punishment, she’s made a human and has a year to bring home the heart of Prince Elian, a prince who’s siren killing hobby is peaked when a drowning woman he saves promises him the key to wiping out all sirenkind.
• Sea Witch by Sarah Henning
  Evie has become an outcast witch ever since her best friend Anna drowned, yet she’s convinced Anna survived as she meets another girl with limited time on land who resembles Anna. However, she’s got secrets of her own and Evie will try anything to keep her humanity as well as a prince’s heart with her magic until she discovers too late, the truth of the bargain she made.

Do you know any of these iconic novels and series in these older trends? What do you think of these trend predictions for 2018? Let us know in the comments!

The post YA Book Trend Report & The Trends of 2018 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.