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

Hi! I’m Ed McDonald, author of The Raven’s Mark and The Redwinter Chronicles fantasy series. I’ve always loved the epic fantasy genre, and like things to be on the more irreverent side. When I’m not writing I’m usually playing Dungeons and Dragons, MMORPGs, or training in historical European martial arts (the lange messer being my area of specialist study). I move around during the year, spending most of it in London, Los Angeles and southern France.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

As long as I can remember I’ve been writing something. I had phases where I wanted to be a comic book writer, but I think I wrote my first fantasy “book,” (it would have filled about 10 pages in total) when I was around 9 or 10. My love of tabletop games and video games definitely fuelled that need to write.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The first book I remember reading as a child was called “Help!” but that’s all I remember about it.
• The one that made you want to become an author: The book that made me want to pursue writing professionally, stepping it up a notch from “I like doing this,” to “I want people to read what I write,” was Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice. There’s something special about it.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The book I can’t stop thinking about… I’m going to turn the question slightly and say that the narrated storyline that occurred between levels from the 1996 Bungee video game Myth: The Fallen Lords has ever been one of my greatest inspirations. I haven’t played that game since about 1998, but it has never left. You can watch the whole narrated story on Youtube. I only discovered many years that later that it has strong resemblances to Glen Cook’s The Black Company.

Witch Queen of Redwinter is the final installment in your Redwinter Chronicles and it’s out November 12th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Apocalypse on a new scale.

For those who haven’t picked up Redwinter Chronicles, what awaits them?

The Redwinter Chronicles is an epic fantasy, but it’s also an in-depth character study of the protagonist, Raine, a young woman plunged into events far beyond her, but who has a certain power around the dead. I have always wanted to explore what happens when the only thing that can stop the greatest evil imaginable is a power that could be argued to be equally terrible. How much would you sacrifice? And at the same time, I wanted to portray a young and inexperienced protagonist as a real person – Raine acts as a young adult really does. She makes mistakes. She’s naïve, inexperienced, and she’s dealing with the harsh realities of life for the first time.

There’s a complex magic system, warrior mystics, a dark other-world, cults, conspiracy, politics, coming of age stories and all that kind of thing.

And for those that have, what’s to come in the final installment?

After the events of Traitor of Redwinter, Raine is trapped in the Fault – a netherworld outside of her own, where time stands still, distances don’t stay as they should, and only relics of the past and monstrous abominations still reside. She has to escape, because her own world is collapsing and she is the only one that can prevent it – but even as she does so, her own soul is tearing in two as the conflicts battle within her. Can she remain some semblance of humanity as she unleashes the greatest powers of death magic the world can endure?

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring one last time?

There’s a big high-concept involved in Witch Queen, which I don’t want to spoil, but it really made me up my writing game. That was a challenge. But overall, Raine was a character whose head I’ve been walking in a while. She means a lot to me. There’s a huge sadness to letting a character go – and letting them become what they have to…

What were some challenges you faced with the final installment in wrapping up the series?

I don’t always know where things are going when I start. I don’t always have the answers. Sometimes, creating a difficult set of situations that requires a truly spectacular explanation (but one that fits with everything that has already occurred) can force you to write something that literally nobody, not even you, saw coming. But when you do it right, it just feels right, and eventually you forget that you ever had to think about it at all. Witch Queen had a lot of wrapping up to do, and a lot of relationships to resolve. Doing them justice was a challenge.

When it came to planning out your series, was there always a vision in sight or does it continue to adapt and change as the series progresses?

I have literally no idea what’s going to happen. I find out as the characters do!

What’s next for you?

I’ve been working on a few things, but I always say “don’t let anyone taste the cake before it has been baked.” I might have been watching too much of that baking show.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on in 2025?

The book I enjoyed most this year was Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, and the fantasy book I enjoyed most was The Sword Unbound, the second book in Gareth Hanrahan’s Lands of the Firstborn trilogy. I just received a special advanced copy of the third book in the series, but I’ll probably only get to it in 2025.

Will you be picking up Witch Queen of Redwinter? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Ed McDonald, Author of ‘Witch Queen of Redwinter’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Even in a world of strange magic and mages, seeing the dead, speaking to the dead, is considered a dangerous gift. And Raine must live with this secret inside the viper’s nest.

Daughter of Redwinter centers around Raine, a sixteen-year-old girl caught up in a battle between ancient and modern magic, swept away from her nomadic life when one decision costs her her family and home. Now, among the Draoihn, she sets out to master their ways of magic while keeping her innate gift of seeing the dead a secret.

The only way I can think of to describe the plot is slow-burn. While things start off interesting, with Raine finding an injured woman in the woods and dragging her away to safety, the pacing of the story is still slow. There were points when I felt like giving up on the book because I didn’t feel any pull to keep me there. Despite all this, I still had a lot of unanswered questions that led me to actually finishing the book. There are moments that are fast-paced, but it feels that McDonald is making sure you see the world within the book instead of just zooming by with action.

McDonald has some amazingly beautiful descriptions, and the vastness of his world is astounding. If I were a in the story world, I would love to just travel and explore without a set destination. Though, Redwinter would definitely be a top pick of places to visit, purely for the scenery and architecture alone. He does a good job at breathing the world to life with just the right amount of history and legends to pique the reader’s interest. McDonald is an excellent writer, and his words and prose flowed from the page. I found myself underlining a lot of the sentences, just because they were so well-written and sounded pleasing in my head.

As a character, Raine is interesting. She’s tough but tends to stay in the shadows. She’s kind, but sometimes her kindness is used against her. She’s rash, makes poor decisions, and doesn’t easily trust people. She’s a well-rounded character that is lively enough to seem real. However, I think the one thing that kind of let down the story for me is the fact that Raine is such a passive character. All these events and things are happening around her, and sometimes to her, but she never seems to take action and plant herself within the story as the protagonist. If McDonald had made her active, making her own choices and choosing her own paths, choosing to enter into this fight against evil, then that would have made the story that much stronger and entertaining.

One thing I did find fascinating was the magic systems. At first, I found it all to be confusing, but as the story went on and things were explained, I couldn’t help but be impressed. It’s obvious that McDonald put a lot of thought and effort into his magic system and I really do want to see more!

Overall, I would rate this book 7/10 for being interesting and a great start to what should be a new and original series. I wish I could have loved it more than I did, but all of this is just my thoughts and opinions. Some readers’ tastes may differ and find the book much more interesting. That said, Daughter of Redwinter is a thought-provoking story about a girl caught up in the whirlwind of ancient magic and the threat of war, and how even the smallest choices can affect our lives, perfect for fans of Patrick Rothfuss and the Robert Jordan.

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

Will you be picking up Daughter of Redwinter? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Those who see the dead soon join them.

From the author of the critically-acclaimed Blackwing trilogy comes Ed McDonald’s Daughter of Redwinter, the first of a brilliant fantasy series about how one choice can change a universe.

Raine can see–and more importantly, speak–to the dead. It’s a wretched gift with a death sentence that has her doing many dubious things to save her skin. Seeking refuge with a deluded cult is her latest bad, survival-related decision. But her rare act of kindness–rescuing an injured woman in the snow–is even worse.

Because the woman has escaped from Redwinter, the fortress-monastery of the Draoihn, warrior magicians who answer to no king and who will stop at nothing to retrieve what she’s stolen. A battle, a betrayal, and a horrific revelation forces Raine to enter Redwinter. It becomes clear that her ability might save an entire nation.

Pity she might have to die for that to happen…

The post Review: Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald
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From the author of the critically-acclaimed Blackwing trilogy comes Ed McDonald’s Daughter of Redwinter, the first of a brilliant fantasy series about how one choice can change a universe.

Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel
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For the Throne by Hannah F. Whitten
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Red’s sister Neve is trapped in a mysterious land of twisted roots, lost gods, and mountains made of bone, and the only clues to her rescue are a magic mirror and a dark prince who wants to bring the whole thing crumbling down.

In the Shadow of Lightning by Brian McClellan
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From Brian McClellan, author of The Powder Mage, comes In the Shadow of Lightning, a brand-new epic fantasy where magic is a finite resource—and it’s running out.

The City Inside by Samit Basu
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The City Inside, a near-future epic by the internationally celebrated Samit Basu, pulls no punches as it comes for your anxieties about society, government, the environment, and our world at large—yet never loses sight of the hopeful potential of the future.

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi
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In the first book of a visionary African and Arabian-inspired fantasy trilogy, three women band together against a cruel Empire that divides people by blood.

The Peacekeeper by B.L. Blanchard
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Against the backdrop of a never-colonized North America, a broken Ojibwe detective embarks on an emotional and twisting journey toward solving two murders, rediscovering family, and finding himself.

Drunk on All Your Strange New Words by Eddie Robson
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Eddie Robson’s Drunk on All Your Strange New Words is a locked room mystery in a near future world of politics and alien diplomacy.

Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane
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Drawing on ancient texts and modern archeology to reveal the trans woman’s story hidden underneath the well-known myths of The Iliad, Maya Deane’s Wrath Goddess Sing weaves a compelling, pitilessly beautiful vision of Achilles’ vanished world, perfect for fans of Song of Achilles and the Inheritance trilogy.

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
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From highly acclaimed bestselling author Ava Reid comes a gothic horror retelling of The Juniper Tree, set in another time and place within the world of The Wolf and the Woodsman, where a young witch seeks to discover her identity and escape the domination of her wizard father, perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson and Catherynne M. Valente.

Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro
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The post June 2022 Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Welcome to 2022, but more importantly, welcome to a whole lot of new book releases to look forward to over the next year!

In this round up, we take a look at an array of highly anticipated books releasing between the months of January and June. From new releases from favourite authors such as Rachel Lynn Solomon, Sarah J. Maas, Tahereh Mafi, Marlon James, Emily St. John Mandel, Holly Black, Christina Lauren, Ryan Sager, and many more, to absolutely dazzling debuts, you’re sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list!

Stay tuned as we’ll be releasing more 2022 lists for several genres!

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

JANUARY

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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A TV meteorologist and a sports reporter scheme to reunite their divorced bosses with unforecasted results in this charming romantic comedy from the author of The Ex Talk.

Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier
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A destitute woman deceives her way into the guesthouse of a Hollywood Hills mansion and inadvertently becomes a target in the twisted game of the wealthy family upstairs in the next intoxicating novel from Eliza Jane Brazier.

Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden
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Anything But Fine is a hilarious coming of age story about a gay ballerina who loses his dancing dreams, but finds his true self and his first love. 

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
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Three years ago, Katrina Freeling and Nathan Van Huysen were the brightest literary stars on the horizon, their cowritten books topping bestseller lists. But on the heels of their greatest success, they ended their partnership on bad terms, for reasons neither would divulge to the public. They haven’t spoken since, and never planned to, except they have one final book due on contract.

Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi
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In his adult novel debut, Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and NAACP Image Award finalist and ALA Alex and New England Book Award winner Tochi Onyebuchi delivers a sweeping science fiction epic in the vein of Samuel R. Delany and Station Eleven.

Echoes and Empires by Morgan Rhodes
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From the New York Times bestselling author of the Falling Kingdoms series comes the first book in a brand-new duology about forbidden magic and dangerous secrets, for readers of Victoria Aveyard and Margaret Rogerson.

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
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A troubled young mother yearns for a shot at redemption in this heartbreaking yet hopeful story from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins
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From Rachel Hawkins, the New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs, comes Reckless Girls, a deliciously wicked gothic suspense, set on an isolated Pacific island with a dark history, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.

A Thousand Steps by T. Jefferson Parker
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A Thousand Steps is a beguiling thriller, an incisive coming-of-age story, and a vivid portrait of a turbulent time and place by three-time Edgar Award winner and New York Times bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker.

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
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Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly
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The first openly nonbinary contestant on America’s favorite cooking show falls for their clumsy competitor in this delicious romantic comedy debut “that is both fantastically fun and crack your heart wide open vulnerable.” (Rosie Danan, author of The Roommate).

The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman
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In this epic YA fantasy debut, magic, a prized resource, is the only thing between peace and war. When magic runs out, four estranged royal siblings must find a new source before their country is swallowed by invading forces. The first in an Indian-inspired duology that’s perfect for fans of There Will Come a Darkness, The Gilded Wolves, and We Hunt the Flame.

FEBRUARY

Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson
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When fate and tacos bring Ramón and Julieta together on the Day of the Dead, the star-crossed pair must make a choice: accept the bitter food rivalry that drives them apart or surrender to a love that consumes them—perfect for fans of Jane the Virgin!

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List comes a new locked room mystery, set in a Paris apartment building in which every resident has something to hide… 

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
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Clashing empires, forbidden romance, and a long-forgotten queen destined to save her people—bestselling author Tahereh Mafi’s first in an epic, romantic trilogy inspired by Persian mythology.

Tripping Arcadia by Kit Mayquist
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From debut author Kit Mayquist, a propulsive and atmospheric modern Gothic with all the splendor of The Great Gatsby . . . and all the secrets, lies, and darkness that opulence can hide.

The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson
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Three generations of abused women must navigate their chilling new reality as a mysterious epidemic of violence sweeps the nation in this compelling novel of self-discovery, legacy, and hope.

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
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A gut-wrenching, startling historical thriller about communist Romania and the citizen spy network that devastated a nation, from the #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray.

Moon Witch, Spider King by Marlon James
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Both a brilliant narrative device—seeing the story told in Black Leopard, Red Wolf from the perspective of an adversary and a woman—as well as a fascinating battle between different versions of empire, Moon Witch, Spider King delves into Sogolon’s world as she fights to tell her own story. Part adventure tale, part chronicle of an indomitable woman who bows to no man, it is a fascinating novel that explores power, personality, and the places where they overlap.

Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour
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The debut adult novel by the bestselling and award-winning YA author Nina LaCour, following two women on a star-crossed journey toward each other. (Edit: Yerba Buena will now publish on May 31st 2022)

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
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In this sexy, action-packed sequel to the #1 bestseller House of Earth and Blood, Sarah J. Maas weaves a captivating story of a world about to explode―and the people who will do anything to save it.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
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Axie Oh’s The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an enthralling feminist retelling of the classic Korean folktale “The Tale of Shim Cheong,” perfect for fans of Wintersong, Uprooted, and Miyazaki’s SpiritedAway.

Lease On Love by Falon Ballard
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Beach Read meets The Flatshare in this warmly funny and delightfully sharp debut rom-com about a down-on-her-luck young woman who turns an innocent mix-up between a dating app and a roommate app into a new chance at love.

The Verifiers by Jane Pek
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Introducing a sharp-witted heroine for the 21st century: a new amateur sleuth exploring the landscape—both physical and virtual—of New York in a debut novel about love, technology, and murder.

MARCH

Sundial by Catriona Ward
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Sundial is a new, twisty psychological horror novel from Catriona Ward, internationally bestselling author of The Last House on Needless Street.

Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye
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The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
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The much-acclaimed viral sensation from Olivie Blake, The Atlas Six—now newly revised and edited with additional content, is a dark academic debut fantasy with an established cult following that reads like The Secret History meets The Umbrella Academy.

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
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From the author of the breakout thriller Every Last Fear, comes Alex Finlay’s electrifying next novel The Night Shift, about a pair of small-town murders fifteen years apart―and the ties that bind them.

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir comes a brilliant, unforgettable, and heart-wrenching contemporary YA novel about family and forgiveness, love and loss, in a sweeping story that crosses generations and continents.

Lakelore by Anna Marie McLemore
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In this young adult novel by award-winning author Anna-Marie McLemore, two non-binary teens are pulled into a magical world under a lake – but can they keep their worlds above water intact?

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
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The Golden Couple is the next electrifying novel from Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, the #1 New York Times bestselling author duo behind You Are Not Alone, An Anonymous Girl, and The Wife Between Us.

Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma
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Nisha Sharma’s hilarious new romantic comedy inspired by The Taming of the Shrew features a love-phobic TV doctor who must convince a love-obsessed homebody they are destined to be together.

When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
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A mythic love story set in Trinidad and Tobago, Ayanna Lloyd Banwo’s radiant debut introduces two unforgettable outsiders brought together by their connection with the dead.

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James
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A true crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel.

A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch
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A wry and bold debut novel, which is at once an irresistible catastrophe waiting to happen and an unflinching exploration of how we narrate the stories of our lives, as an aspiring novelist finds herself stalking—and writing about—her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend.

The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta
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A stunning YA fantasy inspired by ancient Mesoamerica, this gripping debut introduces us to a lineage of seers defiantly resisting the shifting patriarchal state that would see them destroyed―perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi and Sabaa Tahir.

APRIL

An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan
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Romeo and Juliet meets Chinese mythology in this magical novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Astonishing Color of After.

Insomnia by Sarah Pinborough
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In this twisty, mind-bending thriller from the bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes, Emma Averell worries that her crippling insomnia is a sign that she’s slowly going insane—like the mother she’s worked so hard to leave in her past.

Reputation by Lex Croucher
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Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl with a dash of Jane Austen, in Reputation, a Regency-era historical romantic comedy with a deliciously feminist twist, from a hilarious new British voice, Lex Croucher.

Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor
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For fans of Caraval and The Night Circus, this decadent and darkly enchanting YA fantasy, set against the backdrop of a Belle Époque-inspired hotel, follows seventeen-year-old Jani as she uncovers the deeply disturbing secrets of the legendary Hotel Magnifique.

I Am the Ghost in Your House by Maria Romasco Moore
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From the author of Some Kind of Animal comes a wildly unique story about an invisible girl struggling to see herself in a world obsessed with appearances.

One of Us is Dead by Jeneva Rose
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Meet the women of Buckhead — a place of expensive cars, huge houses, and competitive friendships. Who amongst these women will be clever enough to survive Buckhead — and who will wind up dead? They say that friendships can be complex, but no one said it could ever be this deadly.

An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher
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This seething, gut-punch of a thriller can only have sprung from the fiendish brain of Tarryn Fisher, one of the most cunning writers of our time.

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow
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A spellbinding debut novel tracing three generations of a Southern Black family and one daughter’s discovery that she has the power to change her family’s legacy.

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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A searing and compassionate new novel about a young Black nurse’s shocking discovery and burning quest for justice in post-segregation Alabama, from the New York Times bestselling author of Wench.

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
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The award-winning, best-selling author of Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel returns with a novel of art, time, love, and plague that takes the reader from Vancouver Island in 1912 to a dark colony on the moon five hundred years later, unfurling a story of humanity across centuries and space.

The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa
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The USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man is back with a hilarious rom-com about two strangers who get trapped in a lie and have to fake date their way out of it…

The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann
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Thirty, flirty, and asexual Joy is secretly in love with her best friend Malcolm, but she’s never been brave enough to say so. When he unexpectedly announces that he’s met the love of his life—and no, it’s not Joy—she’s heartbroken. Malcolm invites her on a weekend getaway, and Joy decides it’s her last chance to show him exactly what he’s overlooking. But maybe Joy is the one missing something…or someone…and his name is Fox.

MAY

Book of Night by Holly Black
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black makes her stunning adult debut with Book of Night, a modern dark fantasy of shadowy thieves and secret societies in the vein of Ninth House and The Night Circus.

Hide by Kiersten White
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A high-stakes hide-and-seek competition turns deadly in this dark thriller from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
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The “reigning romance queens” (PopSugar) and New York Times bestselling authors of The Soulmate Equation and The Unhoneymooners present a charming and laugh-out-loud funny novel filled with adventure, treasure, and, of course, love.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
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From the New York Times bestselling author of One Last Stop and Red, White & Royal Blue comes a debut YA romantic comedy about chasing down what you want, only to find what you need…

Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer
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New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer expands the Cursebreaker world in an electrifying new series.

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
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From Ryan La Sala, the wildly popular author of Reverie, comes a twisted and tantalizing horror novel set amidst the bucolic splendor of a secluded summer retreat.

City of Orange by David Yoon
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This imaginative and affecting new novel is beloved, bestselling, and award-winning author David Yoon at his finest: thought-provoking and heart-piercing, by turns funny and challenging, and at all times deeply human. 

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
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Mexican Gothic meets Rebecca in this debut supernatural suspense novel, set in the aftermath of the Mexican War of Independence, about a remote house, a sinister haunting, and the woman pulled into their clutches…

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
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An insightful, delightful new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

My Summer Darlings by May Cobb
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Three lifelong friends plus a dangerous, sexy new stranger in town add up to a scorching summer of manipulation, obsession, and murder, from the acclaimed author of The Hunting Wives.

Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater
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Merida goes on an all-new, life-changing adventure in this original YA novel set several years after the close of Brave!

Boys, Beasts & Men by Sam J. Miller
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In Nebula Award-winning author Sam J. Miller’s devastating debut short-fiction collection, featuring an introduction by Amal El-Mohtar, queer infatuation, inevitable heartbreak, and brutal revenge seamlessly intertwine. Whether innocent, guilty, or not even human, the boys, beasts, and men roaming through Miller’s gorgeously crafted worlds can destroy readers, yet leave them wanting more.

JUNE

Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald
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From the author of the critically-acclaimed Blackwing trilogy comes Ed McDonald’s Daughter of Redwinter, the first of a brilliant fantasy series about how one choice can change a universe.

American Royalty by Tracey Livesay
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In this dangerously sexy rom-com that evokes the real-life romance between Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle, a prince who wants to live out of the spotlight falls for a daring American rapper who turns his life, and the palace, upside down.

Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
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A dazzling epic of betrayal, love, and fate that spans five generations of an Indigenous Chicano family in the American West, from the author of the National Book Award Finalist Sabrina & Corina.

This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron
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How much would you risk to save the ones you love? Would you tempt even the most dangerous fate?Bestselling author Kalynn Bayron continues the story of Briseis and her family’s deadly magic in the sequel to This Poison Heart.

Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond
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A people-pleasing bridesmaid-for-hire falls for the crushable new lesbian in town. Will she finally find her happily ever after—and her own voice? 

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
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With his trademark blend of sharp characters, psychological suspense and gasp-worthy twists, Riley Sager’s The House Across the Lake will shock readers until the very last page.

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
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A Discovery of Witches meets The Craft in this the first installment of this epic fantasy trilogy about a group of childhood friends who are also witches.

Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
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A furious, queer debut novel about embracing the monster within and unleashing its power against your oppressors. Perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and Annihilation.

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi
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In the first book of a visionary African and Arabian-inspired fantasy trilogy, three women band together against a cruel Empire that divides people by blood.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
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Evvie Drake Starts Over meets Beach Read in this heartwarming and hilarious novel about a divorced romance channel screenwriter whose script about her marriage’s collapse just might help her reclaim her life and find love.

We All Fall Down by Rose Szabo
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The first book in a dark fantasy YA duology by the author of What Big Teeth, about the power and danger of stories and the untold costs of keeping magic alive, perfect for fans of Aiden Thomas and Marie Rutkoski.

Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert
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She was the face that launched a thousand ships, The fierce beauty at the heart of Olympus, And she was never ours to claim. A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Helen of Troy, Achilles, and Patroclus that’s as sinful as it is sweet.

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

The post The Most Anticipated 2022 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Debut Australian author C.G. Drews makes a splash in YA with A Thousand Perfect Notes, while Renée Ahdieh returns with the follow-up novel to Flame In The Mist. If you’re after some fantasy, James Markert’s What Blooms From Dust and Rebecca Roanhorse’s Trail of Lightning are sure to delight, along with Ed McDonald’s second book in The Raven’s Mark series. Plus there is new novels from Paul Tremblay and Lauren Weisberger!

Read on to discover some of our picks and tell us what June release you are most excited for!

A People’s History of the Vampire Uprising by Raymond A. Villareal
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A virus that turns people into something somehow more than human quickly sweeps the world, upending society as we know it. This sweeping yet deeply intimate fictional oral history–told from the perspectives of several players on all sides of the titular vampire uprising–is a genre-bending, shocking, immersive and subversive debut that is as addictive as the power it describes.

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.

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
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The Bram Stoker Award-winning author of A Head Full of Ghosts adds an inventive twist to the home invasion horror story, which sees a gripping tale of paranoia, sacrifice, apocalypse, and survival that escalates to a shattering conclusion, one in which the fate of a loving family and quite possibly all of humanity are entwined.

Ravencry by Ed McDonald
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Four years have passed since Nall’s Engine drove the Deep Kings back across the Misery, but as they hurl fire from the sky, darker forces plots against the republic. A new power is rising: a ghost in the light known only as the Bright Lady manifests in visions across the city, and the cult that worship her grasp for power even as the city burns around them. Ravencry is the second book in the Raven’s Mark series, continuing the story that began with the award-winning epic fantasy Blackwing.

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?

The Book of M by Peng Shepherd
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Set in a dangerous near future world, The Book of M tells the captivating story of a group of ordinary people caught in an extraordinary catastrophe who risk everything to save the ones they love. It is a sweeping debut that illuminates the power that memories have not only on the heart, but on the world itself.

There There by Tommy Orange
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Here is a voice we have never heard—a voice full of poetry and rage, exploding onto the page with stunning urgency and force. Tommy Orange writes of the plight of the urban Native American, the Native American in the city, in a stunning novel that grapples with a complex and painful history, with an inheritance of beauty and profound spirituality, and with a plague of addiction, abuse, and suicide. An unforgettable debut, destined to become required reading in schools and universities across the country.

The Anomaly by Michael Rutger
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If Indiana Jones lived in the X-Files era, he might bear at least a passing resemblance to Nolan Moore — a rogue archaeologist hosting a documentary series derisively dismissed by the “real” experts, but beloved of conspiracy theorists. Nolan sets out to retrace the steps of an explorer from 1909 who claimed to have discovered a mysterious cavern high up in the ancient rock of the Grand Canyon. And, for once, he may have actually found what he seeks. Then the trip takes a nasty turn, and the cave begins turning against them in mysterious ways.

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman
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Catherine Steadman’s enthralling voice shines throughout this spellbinding debut novel that follows a shocking discovery on a honeymoon in paradise which changes the lives of a picture-perfect couple. With piercing insight and fascinating twists, Something in the Water challenges the reader to confront the hopes we desperately cling to, the ideals we’re tempted to abandon, and the perfect lies we tell ourselves.

When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger
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New York Times bestselling author Lauren Weisberger returns with a novel starring one of her favorite characters from The Devil Wears Prada—Emily Charlton, first assistant to Miranda Priestly, now a highly successful image consultant who’s just landed the client of a lifetime. With her signature biting style, Lauren Weisberger offers a dazzling look into another sexy, over-the-top world, where nothing is as it appears.

What Blooms From Dust by James Markert
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Just as Jeremiah Goodbye is set to meet his fate in the electric chair, a tornado tears down the prison walls, and he is given a second chance at life. Filled with mystery and magic, What Blooms from Dust is the story of finding hope in the midst of darkness and discovering the beauty of unexpected kindness.

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
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While most of the world has drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse, Dinétah (formerly the Navajo reservation) has been reborn. The gods and heroes of legend walk the land, but so do monsters. Maggie Hoskie is a Dinétah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is their last—and best—hope. As Maggie discovers the truth behind the disappearances, she will have to confront her past—if she wants to survive.

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

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

The post June Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

It is challenging to sit at one’s desk and decide to write a book but it is even more challenging to write a good book. It adds even more complexity to write an incredible story with great characters, engineer a unique world (which is not so simple in the fantasy genre these days), with scary (genuinely scary) villains, and also maintain an action-packed plot that addresses emotions as well.

This is what Ed McDonald accomplished with his debut novel, which is incredible as it is something that few can do and I am happy to say I became an instant Ed McDonald fan. Truth be told, I was sold in the acknowledgment section of the book—it is witty and funny, a dry humor that I like. If you have an opportunity, take a look at that page and a half, and if it makes you laugh, then this is a book for you!

Long story short, this is a 5 out of 5 stars book!

Let’s start by the world building. There aren’t spoilers in this section as this is all part of the description of the story. There are two main factions: Humans that live in the Republic and the archenemies called Dead Kings. The Republic and the Dead Kings’ domains are separated by a piece of land called the Misery, a place where people do not want to go, unless one is desperate, stupid, or greedy. Death is an essential part of Misery with dangers at all times and it is an extremely difficult place to navigate—despite having three moons of different colors, which come with poetic descriptions. In short, Misery is deadly.

In addition to this partition of the world, there is also a magic system that will trigger the interest of those who love dwarves in World of Warcraft; there is a sophisticated system which requires natural talent to wield magic that is powered by batteries. There are also other interesting powers, which I will not describe further because it would rob you of great plot twists of the story!

The writing style is best described as effective. It is descriptive, yet practical; it conveys the difficulty the characters face, the underlining urgency that the events lead our heroes (probably more anti-heroes).

Both the UK and US covers are just breathtaking. Especially the one designed by Dan Smith. It just conveys the essence of who the main character is and what his job is. It is just beautiful in its simplicity and genius in the choosing of the artwork.

Furthermore, if you are ever looking for a Halloween read, this would fit the bill: it is grimdark, often spooky, gory in many details and it has a cast of characters that would serve very well as inspiration for a Halloween costume!

One last note before entering into the spoilery part of the post: If you love audiobooks, this is a great one to choose. Colin Mace, the narrator, does an absolute outstanding job in conveying the content of the story, the essence of the characters, the urgency and drama of the story.

Spoilers Ahead!

The story is told through the eye of Captain Ryhalt Galharrow, a hard soldier with a tragic past that haunts him throughout the story. He commands a small group of loyal soldiers, Nenn and Tnota, who are the main supporting characters of Ryhalt. Both play key roles in the decisions Ryhalt makes and they are powerful allies, especially Nenn.

Another essential character to the story is Ezbeth, a woman with incredible magic abilities, which come in handy during several occasions throughout the story. She is the task that Crowfoot—Ryhalt’s boss and a Nameless (more on this later)—imposes on Ryhalt. Ryhalt shares a past with her and he is drawn to her. Most importantly, Ezbeth is the key to unravel a conspiracy (or is it?) where the only defense against the Dead Kings, called Nall’s Engine, is not working. In other words, the Republic has no defense against the Dead Kings and if they found out, there would be no way for humans to stop the Dead Kings from conquering the world.

The natural opponents to the Dead Kings are not humans but the Nameless, a group of extremely powerful and old beings whose goal is to permanently defeat the Dead Kings. I would even say that this statement is the key to interpret the whole book, almost like the deus-ex-machina mechanism of the story, which gave the book that additional layer of awesome complexity and, ultimately, the quid pluris to give the book 5 stars out of 5.

The characters, Ryhalt most of all, are extremely likable. They are not heroes, they are anti-heroes, they are brutal and strong, hardened by difficult lives, by war and conflict, and yet, they are human, soft and vulnerable. They unfold throughout the book and they become faceted, complex and, ultimately, relatable characters. There are some who are just scary, such as Saravor, and even Crowfoot; yet the first is a pure concentration of evil and the second is interesting and he is tip-toed around so much that it almost forces the reader to know more. The other characters are complementary to the story, some are heroes who are twisted into something different, tortured and used against their will.

The book also deals with extremely darker themes, from violence, to torture; from asylum for the mentally ill to politics; from death to sever injuries; from loss of family to loss of identity; from twisted friendship to manipulation.

Have you read this book? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

SYNOPSIS | Goodreads

Nothing in the Misery lasts… Under a cracked and wailing sky, the Misery is a vast and blighted expanse, created when the Engine, the most powerful weapon in the world, was unleashed against the immortal Deep Kings. Across the wasteland, teeming with corrupted magic and malevolent wraiths, the Deep Kings and their armies are still watching—and still waiting.

Ryhalt Galharrow is no stranger to the Misery. The bounty hunter journeys to a remote outpost, armed for killing both men and monsters, and searching for a mysterious noblewoman. He finds himself in the middle of a shocking attack by the Deep Kings, one that should not be possible. Only a fearsome show of power from the very woman he is seeking saves him.

Once, long ago, he knew the woman well, and together they stumble onto a web of conspiracy that threatens to unmake everything they hold dear and end the fragile peace the Engine has provided. Galharrow is not ready for the truth about the blood he’s spilled and the gods he’s supposed to serve…

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