In fantasy is more your speed, Destiny Soria will delight with Beneath The Citadel, you’ll find a combination of mafia and magic in The Brilliant Death, or perhaps a new tale of Ichabod Crane and Sleepy Hollow will intrigue you with The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel.

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

Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson
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American Fred Fredericks is making his first trip, his purpose to install a communications system for China’s Lunar Science Foundation. But hours after his arrival he witnesses a murder and is forced into hiding. It is also the first visit for celebrity travel reporter Ta Shu. He has contacts and influence, but he too will find that the moon can be a perilous place for any traveler. Finally, there is Chan Qi. She is the daughter of the Minister of Finance, and without doubt a person of interest to those in power. She is on the moon for reasons of her own, but when she attempts to return to China, in secret, the events that unfold will change everything – on the moon, and on Earth.

Beneath The Citadel by Destiny Soria
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In the city of Eldra, people are ruled by ancient prophecies. After the last infallible prophecy came to pass, growing unrest led to murders and an eventual rebellion that raged for more than a decade. In the present day, Cassa, the orphaned daughter of rebels, is determined to fight back against the high council, which governs Eldra from behind the walls of the citadel. Her only allies are no-nonsense Alys, easygoing Evander, and perpetually underestimated Newt, and Cassa struggles to come to terms with the legacy of rebellion her dead parents have left her — and the fear that she may be inadequate to shoulder the burden. But by the time Cassa and her friends uncover the mystery of the final infallible prophecy, it may be too late to save the city — or themselves.

Damsel by Elana K. Arnold
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The rite has existed for as long as anyone can remember: when the prince-who-will-be-king comes of age, he must slay a fierce dragon, and rescue a damsel to be his bride. When Ama wakes in the arms of Prince Emory, however, she knows none of this. She has no memory of what came before she was captured and knows only this handsome prince. Ama comes with Emory back to the kingdom of Harding, however, as soon as her first night falls, she begins to realise that not all is as it seems, that there is more to the legends of the dragons and the damsels than anyone knows.

Street Freaks by Terry Brooks
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“Go into the Red Zone. Go to Street Freaks.” his father directs Ashton Collins before the vid feed goes suddenly silent. The Red Zone is the dangerous heart of the mega-city of Los Angeles; it is a world Ash is forbidden from and one he knows little about. But if he can find Street Freaks, the strangest of aid awaits—human and barely human alike. As Ash is hunted, he must unravel the mystery left behind by his father and discover his role in this new world.

In The Night Wood by Dale Bailey
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American Charles Hayden came to England to forget the past. Failed father, failed husband, and failed scholar, Charles hopes to put his life back together with a biography of Caedmon Hollow, the long-dead author of a legendary Victorian children’s book, In the Night Wood. But soon after settling into Hollow’s remote Yorkshire home, Charles learns that the past isn’t dead. In the primeval forest surrounding Caedmon Hollow’s ancestral home, an ancient power is stirring. The horned figure of a long-forgotten king haunts Charles Hayden’s dreams. And every morning the fringe of darkling trees presses closer.

Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa
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One thousand years ago, the great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish. Now, for whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, a new wish will be granted. Raised by monks in the isolated Silent Winds temple, Yumeko has trained all her life to hide her yokai nature. Half kitsune, half human, her skill with illusion is matched only by her penchant for mischief. Until the day her home is burned to the ground, her adoptive family is brutally slain and she is forced to flee for her life with the temple’s greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll.

Priest of Bones by Peter McLean
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The war is over, and army priest Tomas Piety finally heads home with Lieutenant Bloody Anne at his side. When he arrives in the Stink, Tomas finds that his empire of crime has been stolen from him while at war. With his gang of Pious Men, Tomas will do whatever it takes to reclaim his businesses. But when he finds himself dragged into a web of political intrigue once again, and is forced to work in secret for the sinister Queen’s Men, everything gets more complicated.

An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris
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Set in a fractured United States, in the southwestern country now known as Texoma, this is a world where magic is acknowledged but mistrusted. Battered by a run across the border to Mexico, gunslinger Lizbeth Rose takes a job offer from a pair of Russian wizards. The Dark Tower meets True Blood in this gritty and wildly entertaining tale of Gunnie Rose. A woman fighting unimaginable odds to keep her people alive after the disintegration of America, this is a surefire hit for fans of The Walking Dead or Westworld.

Light Years by Kass Morgan
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Reeling from the latest attack by a mysterious enemy, the Quatra Fleet Academy is finally admitting students from every planet in the solar system after centuries of exclusivity. Hotshot pilot Vesper, an ambitious Tridian citizen, dreams of becoming a captain – but when she loses her spot to a brilliant, wisecracking boy from the wrong side of the asteroid belt, it makes her question everything she thought she knew. Growing up on the toxic planet Deva, Cormak will take any chance he can get to escape his dead-end life and join the Academy – even if he has to steal someone’s identity to do it.

A Conspiracy of Truths by Alexandra Rowland
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In a bleak, far-northern land, a wandering storyteller is arrested on charges of witchcraft. Though Chant protests his innocence, he is condemned not only as a witch, but a spy. His only chance to save himself rests with the skills he has honed for decades – tell a good story, catch and hold their attention, or die. But the attention he catches is that of the five elected rulers of the country, and Chant finds himself caught in a tangled, corrupt political game which began long before he ever arrived here. As he’s snatched from one Queen’s grasp to another’s, he realizes that he could either be a pawn for one of them… or a player in his own right.

Finding Baba Yaga: A Short Novel In Verse by Jane Yolen
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A harsh, controlling father. A quiescent mother. A house that feels like anything but a home. Natasha gathers the strength to leave, and comes upon a little house in the wood: A house that walks about on chicken feet and is inhabited by a fairy tale witch. In finding Baba Yaga, Natasha finds her voice, her power, herself….

The Rule of One by Ashley Saunders and Leslie Saunders
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In the near-future United States, a one-child policy is ruthlessly enforced. Everyone follows the Rule of One. But Ava Goodwin, daughter of the head of the Texas Family Planning Division, has a secret—one her mother died to keep and her father has helped to hide for her entire life. She has an identical twin sister, Mira. For eighteen years Ava and Mira have lived as one, trading places day after day, maintaining an interchangeable existence down to the most telling detail. But when their charade is exposed, their worst nightmare begins. Now they must leave behind the father they love and fight for their lives.

Kill The Queen by Jennifer Estep
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Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin series—an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.

The Brilliant Death by Amy Rose Capetta
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For Teodora DiSangro, a mafia don’s daughter, family is fate. All her life, Teodora has hidden the fact that she secretly turns her family’s enemies into decorative objects. After all, everyone in Vinalia knows that stregas—wielders of magic—are figures out of fairytales. Then the Capo, the land’s new ruler, sends poisoned letters to the heads of the Five Families that have long controlled Vinalia. Enter Cielo, a strega who can switch back and forth between male and female as effortlessly as turning a page in a book. Teo and Cielo journey together to the capital, and Teo struggles to master her powers and to keep her growing feelings for Cielo locked in her heart.

Thin Air by Richard K. Morgan
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On a Mars where ruthless corporate interests violently collide with a homegrown independence movement as Earth-based overlords battle for profits and power, Hakan Veil is an ex–professional enforcer equipped with military-grade body tech that’s made him a human killing machine. But he’s had enough of the turbulent red planet, and all he wants is a ticket back home—which is just what he’s offered by the Earth Oversight organization, in exchange for being the bodyguard for an EO investigator. It’s a beyond-easy gig for a heavy hitter like Veil . . . until it isn’t.

The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel: A Story of Sleepy Hollow by Alyssa Palombo
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When Ichabod Crane arrives in the spooky little village of Sleepy Hollow as the new schoolmaster, Katrina Van Tassel is instantly drawn to him. When romance gives way to passion, Ichabod and Katrina embark on a secret love affair – all while praying they do not catch sight of Sleepy Hollow’s legendary Headless Horseman. That is, until All Hallows’s Eve, when Ichabod suddenly disappears, leaving Katrina alone and in a perilous position. Enlisting the help of her friend – and rumored witch – Charlotte Jansen, Katrina seeks the truth of Ichabod Crane’s disappearance, investigating the forest around Sleepy Hollow using unconventional – often magical – means.

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: Fantasy + Sci-Fi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Cassa Valera lives overshadowed by the legacy of her dead parents, the last leaders of the Rebellion’s final stand. Cut down while Cassa was just a child, she relies on her friends to help her through. Tired of the Council’s unending lies and manipulation, she decides to take a stand. Will her scheming pay off? Or will her efforts lead to her own demise?

The story starts out with four teenagers—Cassa, Evander, Alys and Newt—going before the council to have their fate determined; they have been caught breaking into the Citadel (the seat of power of the Council), an offense punishable by death. Each of them had their own role to play and will be punished accordingly. There was however supposed to be a fifth conspirator, Vesper, a rather smart lass who was nowhere to be found when the plan went down—obviously she must have turned.

After being sentenced to death, the quartet are escorted back to their individual cells to await their execution. Being a resourceful bunch, each doomed teen utilises their skills to make a daring escape from the prison. Once they have gained their freedom, they must escape the city, however, fate has other plans for the group. Finding themselves lost in the endless tunnels under the Citadel, Alys makes a choice that changes the course of their young lives, thrusting them right into the path of their supposed executioner.

At times, this novel was a struggle to finish as the narrative seemed to hit regular lulls—these were quickly forgotten once the story hit a point of action. The idea that rooks (seers/oracles) and sentients (mind readers/seers of the past) were two completely separate ‘breeds’ was an interesting one departing from the traditionally clairvoyant character. Also, the idea of having to undergo a transformation to be bloodbound to an element rather than being born with the ability was a refreshing change from the norm.

The world building within was nothing less than amazing. Regardless of whether there was a map present or not, the ability to track characters movements was relatively simple, enabling the audience to get a fairly thorough idea of where and when events took place.

Taking place from varying characters point of views could have caused an audible groan from those who prefer single narrators. In Citadel, the transitions were logical and relatively smooth as events were told in chronological order. This enabled each character to firmly know their place and undergo their own journey of self discovery; their individual personalities allow different interpretations of the events, moulding the character path through the world of Eldra.

The villains of this novel have distinct purpose and while initially seeming to take on the traditional role, by the conclusion each has undergone their own transformation. Solan is especially of note with his first presentation being that of a helpless old man being held hostage by a society who wish to use him for their own personal gain. In the final chapters, however, it is quite obvious that he is a diabolical genius and deserves an Oscar for his previous performances.

While not a particularly obvious LGBQT+ novel, this book includes a relationships between two same-sex characters. While initially single sided, by the end a relationship has formed. Traditionally these sorts of interactions are thrown in the face of the reader and can become quite obnoxious—within Citadel, it is oft alluded to however serves as more of an undertone rather than a primary plot point.

Overall, Beneath the Citadel is a well written entry into the world of YA fantasy. The character development, relationships, and fast pacing throughout the majority make it an enjoyable read with the worldbuilding greatly influencing potential enjoyment of the tale. While the sexual orientation of at least two major players may be seen as unacceptable within mainstream fiction by some, I would strongly recommend at least giving it a go.

Beneath The Citadel will be released in October and it will be available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Will you be checking out Beneath The Citadel? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

In the city of Eldra, people are ruled by ancient prophecies. For centuries, the high council has stayed in power by virtue of the prophecies of the elder seers. After the last infallible prophecy came to pass, growing unrest led to murders and an eventual rebellion that raged for more than a decade.

In the present day, Cassa, the orphaned daughter of rebels, is determined to fight back against the high council, which governs Eldra from behind the walls of the citadel. Her only allies are no-nonsense Alys, easygoing Evander, and perpetually underestimated Newt, and Cassa struggles to come to terms with the legacy of rebellion her dead parents have left her — and the fear that she may be inadequate to shoulder the burden. But by the time Cassa and her friends uncover the mystery of the final infallible prophecy, it may be too late to save the city — or themselves.

The post Review: Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria appeared first on The Nerd Daily.