The Queen of Days released on 24 October 2023 and it’s an epic adventure that weaves together a flawed-but-lovable family of thieves, a battle between fallen gods, and stakes high enough to cause vertigo.

The allure of the trickster is always rooted in the will-they-won’t-they pull of right versus wrong. It’s what makes watching the new Loki series so irresistible. It’s not just the gleefully mischievous mayhem wrought by Asgard’s second son, but also the question of whether he will ever manage to do the right thing. And the secret hope that he will keep skipping gleefully into the shadows. So, if morally grey is your favorite color, read on to find five books that might scratch that trickster itch.

THE BLACKTONGUE THIEF by Christopher Buehlman

Kinch Na Shannack is no one’s idea of a hero. Deeply indebted to the Taker’s Guild that trained him, he makes the ill-fated choice to steal from a lone woman on the road. Except the woman is a knight on an epic journey across monster-infested lands and Kinch is going to help her whether he wants to or not. Delightfully irreverent and brimming with all the banter you could ever hope for, THE BLACKTONGUE THIEF is an instant classic that had me laughing out loud time and again.

GODKILLER by Hannah Kaner

The world of GODKILLER is rife with gods, but that doesn’t make them welcome. Or invincible, thanks to godkillers like Kissen. But when Kissen discovers that Skedi, the God of White Lies, has bonded himself to a young girl named Inara, Kissen finds herself unable to do her job. For a God of White Lies, Skedi’s point of view chapters reveal him to be surprisingly devoted to young Inara, and the mystery of how they became connected will keep you turning pages. In addition to some unique worldbuilding, this fantasy quest story also has some major Witcher vibes thanks to the friendship that grows between Kissen and Inara. This is a highly unique tale and a must-read for those who enjoy books with no easy answers.

ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART by Stephanie Garber

Calling all YA readers! When broken-hearted Evangeline makes deal with Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, to stop her boyfriend’s wedding, you just know things are going to end badly. Garber fans will recognize Jacks from the CARAVAL series, but by some mysterious authorial alchemy, the often-villainous, always untrustworthy, and occasionally heroic Jacks becomes someone that you want to root for. Just don’t think you can ever guess what he will do next. Or why.

AMONG THIEVES by M.J. Kuhn

This high-stakes fantasy heist novel is positively chock-full of trickster-type characters. Like many a heist novel, this crew is out to make the score of a lifetime. Unlike many, every single member of the crew goes in planning to betray the others. Readers will have their pick of morally grey rascals to root for: from the slightly bumbling Tristan, an assassin with a surprising secret, to the terrifyingly and shark-like Callum. This multi-point of view tale is intricately plotted and makes for a fast-paced page turner that will have you immediately grabbing for book two.

LOKI by Melvin Burgess

What list of books featuring morally questionable characters would be complete without an appearance by the original trickster himself, Loki? Burgess’s debut into the adult space, LOKI has something of an experimental and quasi-autobiographical feel to it. Sharply funny, Loki paints a portrait of Norse mythology that is rife with intensely human-like gods and a Valhalla that doesn’t seem quite so heavenly as we’ve been led to believe. This book is a fantastically weird take well-known source material, with a voice that will leave you laughing. 

Bonus Reading! The Old Kingdom Series, by Garth Nix

Okay, so this one is a deep cut (hence the bonus entry), but can we all just remember how cool Mogget is? First appearing in SABRIEL, and returning many times since, Mogget is introduced as a talking cat begrudgingly bound to serve the line of Abhorsens—necromancers tasked to put down the dead. But Mogget isn’t a docile house pet, he’s more like a fallen god/demon in disguise. And in Mogget, Nix just spells out what we are all thinking: all tricksters are cats at heart. Though Mogget may serve the Abhorsens, and might be wooed with promises of fish, only a fool would test that theory by removing his collar.

The post 5 Books To Read If You Love A Good (Or Not So Good) Trickster appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz by Garth Nix, which is out now!

Sir Hereward: the only male child of an ancient society of witches. Knight, artillerist, swordsman. Mercenary for hire. Ill-starred lover.

Mister Fitz: puppet, sorcerer, loremaster. Practitioner of arcane arts and wielder of sorcerous needles.

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz: godslayers. Agents of the Council of the Treaty for the Safety of the World, charged with the location and removal of listed extra-dimensional entities, more commonly known as gods.

Together, they are relentless travelers in a treacherous world of magic, gunpowder, and adventure.

Compiled for the first time ever, these eight magical stories—plus an all-new tale, “The Field of Fallen Foe”—featuring fabulous, quintessential Garth Nix protagonists Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz comprise a must-have adult fantasy collection for fans and those about to discover the witch knight and his puppet sorcerer for the first time.

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The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz’ by Garth Nix appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Are you a massive fan of The Legend of Zelda? Many of us grew up on the adventures of Link and Zelda and their various quests to save Hyrule. We spent more of our chore money renting Ocarina of Time from Blockbuster than we would care to think about. To this day, many still hold the series in high regard, and with the release of Breath of the Wild a few years ago and the upcoming releases of Hyrule Warrior: Age of Calamity and Breath of the Wild 2, Zelda hype is still prevalent. It also doesn’t hurt that the games are endlessly replayable. With the world in such chaos this year, what better way to relax than to enjoy another nostalgic playthrough of one of your favourite childhood games?

Naturally, when you love something, you try to find as many ways as possible to bring it into your life. So if you love playing Zelda, why not look for other Zelda-esque forms of entertainment to get your fix? While there is an official Legend of Zelda manga series written by Akira Himekawa (which is really fun), unlike many other popular video game series (I’m looking at you, Halo), there aren’t any official Zelda novelisations that you can pick up. However, the world of literature contains a hotbed of reads that give off a similar vibe as the beloved video game series, with stories featuring unexpected heroes, kingdoms under attack by a vicious evil, and a diverse cast of characters and creatures.

Here is a list of ten books/series that will give you real Zelda vibes:

The Traveler’s Gate series by Will Wight

This story follows a young man named Simon on a journey to destroy an evil Overlord. Simon has no idea what he’s doing and he has no magical powers or weapons to help him. While Link has some magic on his side, both of these stories feature a young hero thrust into a dangerous situation and led by a desire to overcome an evil villain.

The Runelords series by David Farland

This story features a young man on a journey to protect a princess, her royal family, and their world from an evil power. Change “young man” to “Link”, “princess” to “Zelda”, and “kingdom” to “Hyrule”, and you could have your very own Zelda novelisation.

The Belgariad series by David Eddings

A young man living a quiet life on a farm is thrown into a magical quest to protect the land from a dark evil, one that’s haunted him in his dreams for years. Sounds pretty similar to Ocarina of Time. This story also contains a rich history of the world its characters inhabit, which is something that the Legend of Zelda series has always done well.

The Green Rider series by Kristen Britain

A young woman witnesses the death of a messenger delivering a message of vital importance to the king. She takes up the mission with the help of a wise horse and a mythical sidekick (in this case, the ghost of the dead messenger). This series mixes Zelda vibes with a female protagonist, so anyone who has always wished for more Zelda in their Zelda games will probably find much to enjoy here.

The Riddle-Master series by Patricia A. McKillip

This story follows a man living in a world that’s magical history has been buried deep for centuries until mysterious things start to occur. This man also has a symbol ingrained on his forehead that seems to be leading him towards an unforeseen destiny, à la the Triforce piece Link finds marked on himself throughout the series.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Do we really have to explain this one? A young man living a quiet country life is thrust into a magical adventure to save the land from an evil entity, to put it simply. Quintessential Zelda vibes.

The Redwall series by Brian Jacques

This series has that same young-hero-lives-quiet-life-until-thrown-into-magical-adventure trope that many of these entries have, but this one is friendly for younger readers just as the Zelda series has always typically been friendly to younger gamers.

The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin

An enchanting tale of magic, fantastical creatures, and an evil that must be destroyed, this series also features an expansive world with unique and diverse lands for the reader to explore. If your favourite part of Zelda was always exploring the various lands within the world of the game, then this series is for you.

The Abhorsen series by Garth Nix

A young woman (along with her magical companions) embarks on a quest to discover what happened to her father and ends up finding out much about herself and the powers she holds. There’s also a lot of undead beings in this story, so if you’re a fan of ReDeads, Gibdos, and Poes, you might find much to like in this series, as well.

The Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series by Tad Williams

A dark power threatens to overtake a peaceful land. An evil ruler aims to overthrow the king of said peaceful land. A young, lowly kitchen boy is sent on a quest that offers the only hope for survival for the threatened land. Much like The Hobbit, this story contains all of the essential elements of a good Zelda story.

Hopefully, this list has given you some reading options that will fill your days with the warm, nostalgic Zelda vibes we all deserve.

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

The post 10 Books To Read If You Love ‘The Legend of Zelda’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Participants can gain up to three entries by entering through the following platforms and following the prompts:

• TWITTER (1 entry)
• FACEBOOK (1 entry)
• INSTAGRAM (1 entry)

The giveaway ends on Sunday September 20th 11.59pm AEST. Full T&C’s below.

ABOUT THE BOOKS

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini | Goodreads
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is a brand new epic novel from New York Times bestselling author Christopher Paolini.

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman | Goodreads 
This is a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix | Goodreads
A girl’s quest to find her father leads her to an extended family of magical fighting booksellers who police the mythical Old World of England when it intrudes on the modern world. From the bestselling master of teen fantasy, Garth Nix.

The Ghost Tree by Christina Henry | Goodreads
When people go missing in the sleepy town of Smith’s Hollow, the only clue to their fate comes when a teenager starts having terrifying visions, in a chilling horror novel from national bestselling author Christina Henry.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn | Goodreads
Filled with mystery and an intriguingly rich magic system, Tracy Deonn’s YA contemporary fantasy Legendborn offers the dark allure of City of Bones with a modern-day twist on a classic legend and a lot of Southern Black Girl Magic.

The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes by Elissa R. Sloan | Goodreads
In vein of Daisy Jones & The Six and Everything I Never Told You, this debut novel probes the dark side of fame after a former pop star ends her own life.

Terms and Conditions

1. Three winners (one from Facebook, one from Twitter, one from Instagram) will receive a paperback copy (dependant on availability) of their choice from the selection of novels
2. To enter, the entrant must follow the prompts stated on the entry platforms, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Facebook.
3. Entrants must below the ages of 16 must have parental consent.
4. Only one entry per Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter account, except in the case of bonus entries.
5. There will be one winner from each entry platform – one from Twitter, one from Facebook, and one from Instagram.
6. The giveaway closes on Sunday September 20th at 11.59pm AEST.
7. The winner will be announced on the original post as well as Instagram stories by 11.59pm on September 23rd. The winner will be contacted via their account and have 48 hours to respond. If no response is received, the giveaway will be redrawn.
8. The prize will be sent to the address supplied by the winner.
9. This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any company other than The Nerd Daily.

The post Giveaway: Win A September 2020 Book Release! appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hello, Garth! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us! Would you talk a little bit about yourself for readers who might not be familiar with your work?

I’m an Australian author who has been writing and being published all around the world for a long time now. My first book came out in 1991, so I am 29 years old as an author, or in the more usual years, fifty-seven. I mostly write fantasy and science fiction, often for children or young adults but not always, and my best-known books are Sabriel, the first book in the Old Kingdom series, and Mister Monday, the first book in The Keys to the Kingdom series. Which can be confusing, “Kingdom” being in both series titles. I also write short fiction, which has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines. You can read some of my more recent short fiction for free at tor.com.

I’ve been a full-time writer since 2001, but before that, I was a part-time writer who also worked mostly in many different jobs in publishing, from bookseller to literary agent, and I spent some time in IT marketing and PR, and also served as an Assault Pioneer in the Australian Army Reserve when I was much younger.

What can readers expect from The Left-Handed Booksellers of London?

It’s a fantasy thriller, set in a slightly alternate 1983 United Kingdom where an extended clan of magical booksellers have the additional task of policing the mythic entities of the Old World. They are “licensed to kill . . . and sell books”. The story concerns an apparently quite usual young woman called Susan who goes to London to try to find her father who she never knew, and finds her serarch overlaps with an investigation by the left-handed bookseller Merlin (the left-handed are the field agents, the fighting ones) and his sister Vivien, a right-handed bookseller (the right-handed are the controllers and researchers).

What were your inspirations behind writing this story about badass booksellers?

I was a bookseller, a long time ago. It was one of my favourite jobs and I probably would have continued doing it much longer than I did, if the owners of the bookstore I worked in hadn’t decided to retire and close the business. I worked with some great people there, and have met many wonderful, complex booksellers over the years since. It seemed only natural to imagine booksellers having secret lives, in this case involving the mythic underlayers of the world.

But there was also a very direct inspiration that occurred when I was on tour for my book GOLDENHAND in 2016, and I was signing in the Port Terminal Waterstones in Leith, Edinburgh and I noticed the bookseller helping us was left-handed and commented on it, and he said “we’re all left-handed here” and I said something about the mysterious left-handed booksellers of Leith and I should write a story about them.

What’s your favourite thing about writing fantasy?

What I like about fantasy is that I get to draw the boundaries I will work within. This is not the same as being able to do absolutely anything within a story, because elements need to work together, a hodge-podge of invention very rarely adds up to anything. But writing fantasy I am not restricted by the boundaries of absolute realism, I just need to make it work within the boundaries I have chosen. I suppose you could say I get to work from a palette that has many more colours, though I still have to be very careful about mixing them, so as not to create something horrible.

What kind of research goes behind the creation of the fantasy worlds?

I am always engaged in passive research. I read lots of non-fiction, particularly history and biography, and often use information I have gleaned from my reading. But I mostly don’t know I’ll do so, or be researching for a particular purpose, I read for pure interest. That said, quite often I will know some basic fact or snippet of information that I want to employ in a story, but I need to know more and that’s when I will do some active research to expand upon what I already know.

Without spoiling anything, is there a particular scene/character in the book that you enjoyed writing the most?

I can’t pick out any particular scene as one I enjoyed writing more than any other, mainly because by the time I’ve revised everything numerous times I can’t remember whether the original draft was easy or not! I did enjoy writing the scenes actually set in the two bookshops (the New Bookshop which sells second-hand and collectible books and the Old Bookshop which sells new ones) because I could draw on many happy memories of working in and visiting bookshops.

While all the characters were great, I’d admit I loved Merlin the most. Can you tell us something about him that couldn’t be included in the book, maybe a scene that didn’t make it into the final version?

I did write a scene in a pub where Merlin gets in a fight with several stuck-up university students who are harassing him and Susan, and he employs all the components of a Ploughman’s Lunch (wedges of cheddar, chutney, bread etc) as weapons, but it was too much of an unnecessary diversion so I took it out, even before my editor could say “I like this but it slows down the main story”.

As Merlin tells Susan, the right-handed booksellers are ‘for the books’ while the left-handed are ‘for the hooks’. If you were born in Susan Arkshaw’s London as one of the St. Jacques family, what do you think you would’ve been, a left-handed bookseller, a right-handed one or an even-handed one?

I’d like to think I would have been a left-handed bookseller in my late teens and twenties, a right-handed one in my 30s and 40s, and now an even-handed bookseller!

Can we expect a companion novel/sequel to The Left-Handed Booksellers of London (hopefully with more Merlin in it) in the future?

I do have notes and a title for another book. We shall see . . .

What’s next for you?

My next book is a return to my Old Kingdom series with Terciel and Elinor, which is a prequel to Sabriel and is about her parents. All being well, it should be out in October 2021.

And last but not the least, do you have any book recommendations for us?

A recent YA book I’ve enjoyed is Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer; in adult literary fantasy I was mesmerised by M. John Harrison’s The Sunken Land Begins to Rise; and I greatly enjoyed Comet Weather by Liz Williams, a contemporary novel cleverly infused with mythic and fantastical elements.

Will you be picking up The Left-Handed Booksellers of London? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Garth Nix, Author of ‘The Left-Handed Booksellers of London’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes by Elissa R. Sloan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In vein of Daisy Jones & The Six and Everything I Never Told You, this debut novel probes the dark side of fame after a former pop star ends her own life.

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From New York Times best-selling and acclaimed author Traci Chee comes We Are Not Free, the collective account of a tight-knit group of young Nisei, second-generation Japanese American citizens, whose lives are irrevocably changed by the mass U.S. incarcerations of World War II.

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is a brand new epic novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eragon, Christopher Paolini.

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove comes a poignant, charming novel about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.

Horrid by Katrina Leno
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of You Must Not Miss comes a haunting contemporary horror novel that explores themes of mental illness, rage, and grief, twisted with spine-chilling elements of Stephen King and Agatha Christie.

Master of Poisons by Andrea Hairston
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Awash in the rhythms of folklore and storytelling and rich with Hairston’s characteristic lush prose, Master of Poisons is epic fantasy that will leave you aching for the world it burns into being.

Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Stephen Graham Jones returns with Night of the Mannequins, a contemporary horror story where a teen prank goes very wrong and all hell breaks loose: is there a supernatural cause, a psychopath on the loose, or both?

The Ghost Tree by Christina Henry
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When people go missing in the sleepy town of Smith’s Hollow, the only clue to their fate comes when a teenager starts having terrifying visions, in a chilling horror novel from national bestselling author Christina Henry.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A trans boy determined to prove his gender to his traditional Latinx family summons a ghost who refuses to leave in Aiden Thomas’s paranormal YA debut Cemetery Boys.

Ties That Tether by Jane Igharo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When a Nigerian woman falls for a man she knows will break her mother’s heart, she must choose between love and her family.

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A girl’s quest to find her father leads her to an extended family of magical fighting booksellers who police the mythical Old World of England when it intrudes on the modern world. From the bestselling master of teen fantasy, Garth Nix.

These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Secret History meets Call Me by Your Name in Micah Nemerever’s compulsively readable debut novel—a feverishly taut Hitchcockian story about two college students, each with his own troubled past, whose escalating obsession with one another leads to an act of unspeakable violence.

What September 2020 book release are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post September 2020 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Susan Arkshaw is an eighteen-year-old on a quest to find her absentee father. She’d hoped crime boss Frank Thringley would be able to help to her, but before she can get any information out of him, he is turned to dust by a young man named Merlin, who tells her about the clan of booksellers he belongs to. They are a group of people who have always kept the mythic, dangerous Old World separate from the modern world. Merlin is one of the left-handed sort, who are the fighters, and then there are the right-handed booksellers, who are the scholars. Susan comes to know how Merlin is on a quest of his own too, to find those who murdered his mother. As the Old World threatens to merge with the New, Susan must team up with Merlin and his right-handed sister Vivien to stop that from happening.

Even though the story plunges straight into action after a brief prologue, it starts out slowly, packing a lot of worldbuilding within the first hundred or so pages. This is where the book risks losing readers, as it does take some time to really pull you in. After I got past the 100 page mark, however, I really started enjoying the story. Nix’s writing is engaging and precise, and keeps you turning pages as the POV jumps back and forth between multiple characters, but mostly Susan. The plot is wildly unpredictable in the first half while a lot of people get killed and it might confuse you a bit, but as the multiple threads of the story start coming together in the second half, you’d find it making a lot more sense.

The absolute best thing about The Left-Handed Booksellers of London is definitely Merlin, who reminded me a lot of Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. He is a really fun character, not to mention incredibly charming. As Susan puts it, Merlin is ‘attractive, mysterious, and annoying all at once’, and if magical and whiny people with a weirdly cool fashion sense are your type, you’d find Merlin irresistible too. I found Susan to be fairly one-dimensional, especially next to Merlin, but it was Vivien who managed to steal the spotlight from him quite a few times. I do wish the antagonist had been a little more fleshed-out, though; maybe then his intentions would have seemed clearer.

For a standalone fantasy, however, the setup sure took an unusually long amount of time. After finishing the book, I couldn’t help feeling like the story had a lot more to offer and could have been stretched out a bit instead of being rushed for the sake of a neat wrap-up; the ending didn’t seem like an ending at all.  Even though the focus of the story was on Susan and her journey, I found the world of booksellers to be more intriguing with a lot of unexplored potential, and did feel a little (okay, very) disappointed when I realised the story wouldn’t be centred around them after all. If Nix ever decides to write a companion novel focused on Merlin or any of the other booksellers, I’m definitely going to pick it up.

If you’re a fan of Percy Jackson-esque books and are often found lamenting the fact that YA/adult fiction doesn’t have anything as exciting as them to offer, I think you might be interested in The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. Divine mythic beings who have kids with mortals and then proceed to never acknowledge that said kids exist? Check. Semi-divine kids with superpowers going on quests to find their immortal parents? Check. An elite group of warriors and scholars from all over the world fighting foul creatures of legend and saving humanity? Check. Also, if you’ve loved the haunting legends, the magical forests and the deliciously creepy atmosphere in The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater or The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman, this book is right up your alley.

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 22nd 2020.

Will you be picking up The Left-Handed Booksellers of London? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

A girl’s quest to find her father leads her to an extended family of magical fighting booksellers who police the mythical Old World of England when it intrudes on the modern world. From the bestselling master of teen fantasy, Garth Nix.

In a slightly alternate London in 1983, Susan Arkshaw is looking for her father, a man she has never met. Crime boss Frank Thringley might be able to help her, but Susan doesn’t get time to ask Frank any questions before he is turned to dust by the prick of a silver hatpin in the hands of the outrageously attractive Merlin.

Merlin is a young left-handed bookseller (one of the fighting ones), who with the right-handed booksellers (the intellectual ones), are an extended family of magical beings who police the mythic and legendary Old World when it intrudes on the modern world, in addition to running several bookshops.

Susan’s search for her father begins with her mother’s possibly misremembered or misspelt surnames, a reading room ticket, and a silver cigarette case engraved with something that might be a coat of arms.

Merlin has a quest of his own, to find the Old World entity who used ordinary criminals to kill his mother. As he and his sister, the right-handed bookseller Vivien, tread in the path of a botched or covered-up police investigation from years past, they find this quest strangely overlaps with Susan’s. Who or what was her father? Susan, Merlin, and Vivien must find out, as the Old World erupts dangerously into the New.

The post Review: The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Contemporary

Need a bit of a light-hearted swoon, a deeper real-world-issue read, or a bit of both? These books will do the trick!

Night Swimming by Steph Bowe
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Night Swimming is a coming-of-age contemporary LGBT+ novel and it is such an adorable read, celebrates diversity, and also features a goat! It features a F/F romance and people of colour.

The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling by Wai Chim
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Not only does the cover of this book feature food, you’ll be certain to devour the book entirely! Covering the topics of depression and mental illness (and the stigma surrounding it), it also focuses on the life of Anna, a Chinese-Australian high school student battling through her mum’s mental health problems as well as dating someone who isn’t also Chinese, which was expected of her.

It Sounded Better in My Head by Nina Kenwood
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This gorgeously written novel focuses on Natalie, who has just finished high school and finds that her parents are getting divorced. This one focuses on body image and acne, but also features an adorable romance as well. Whilst this is a quick read, it’s real and relatable for every introverted person out there.

Laurinda by Alice Pung
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Another diverse coming-of-age story, which focuses on a girl whose parents migrated from Vietnam by boat. Lucy starts at a prestigious girls-only school and it sounds like the Plastics (from Mean Girls, yes) are in charge. If you’re looking for a reflective and slightly satiric read, here’s my pick!

Thriller, Mystery, and Crime

Prefer a bit of suspense in your life? Need to channel your inner Hercule Poirot? Want to sharpen your Cluedo skills? Say no more, here’s a few books to fill that bookish spot!

Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Focusing on Tash both in the past and present tense, this mystery will have you absolutely gripped! After a traumatic event that makes Tash question her every move, her imaginary friend returns many years after disappearing, which happens shortly after a girl’s kidnapping. You’ll be on the edge of your seat to find out what happened!

Found by Fleur Ferris
Goodreads | Amazon

Something for those who like action, this one is full of it! From the setting of a rural farm in Australia, to the guns and knives, this one is sure to be one you stay up way past your bedtime reading!

My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Does psychopathic siblings tickle your fancy? Well say no more! I found this one not only highly creepy, but also twisty, especially given that the psychopath (undiagnosed) is a 10-year-old girl, Rosa. It is also diverse with characters of colour and LGBT+ characters.

Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullina
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Aboriginal story-telling mixed with a murder mystery, while also being poetic? I’m here for this! This book is a quick read, but packs a punch and a half, and is OwnVoices novel.

Science Fiction

Have a need for space elves? Or killer computers? Or how about books that feel like they’re set in a world that could be ours? Say no more, here’s some Aussie suggestions to check out!

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Definitely one of the most well-known YA sci-fi books out there (alongside the other two books in the Illuminae series), this one is 100% an interesting read. With an AI called AIDAN on a ship in the middle of space, while being written in a way that includes sassy messages and government records, what more could you want?!

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Yet another stunning space fiction by this dynamic duo, the list wouldn’t be complete with them! Featuring a group of misfits (sounds like The Breakfast Club, right?!) that are forced together as a team to go on a mission together, this one is heaps of fun!

Mindcull by K. H. Canobi
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Focusing on virtual reality and spying, this gripping novel is scarily like real life. With a badass main character, Eila, and a strong villain, this one is sure to become one of your favourite technology-gone-wrong stories pretty quickly!

Hive by A.J. Betts
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A cult-like world and bees? You wouldn’t have thought the two would work together in a book until now! Hayley’s world is only a small selection of hexagonal rooms, and she tends to the bees. Then a drop of water comes… what could go wrong from there?!

Fantasy

Need a break from space, or the real world for a bit? How about you dive into these stunning fantasy books by amazing Australian authors?

Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte
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A genre-bending fantasy mixed with mystery that is a page-turner! The novel follows a thief and her ex-boss trying to uncover who killed the four queens of Quadara.

Sabriel by Garth Nix
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A wall? Magic? Fantasy? This book has it all! It also features the dead and undead, and is a total throwback to the ‘90s, you’ll be sure to be addicted to the fast-paced writing in no time!

Valentine by Jodi McAlister
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Kids born on the same day in a paranormal world, nothing could go wrong, right? Will Pearl’s crush on Finn grow? Well, you’d have to read on to find out in this epic book! (And then you can devour Ironheart and Misrule too!)

Ida by Alison Evans
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Want parallel universes? Want to read more about shadowy doppelgangers? Need a great LGBT+ fantasy? Say no more! Ida is a great Australian YA fantasy that you’ll be sure to like.

Short Stories

Need a variety of genres in a single book? Want little tastes of authors’ works before delving into their novels? Time-poor and need a short read here or there? These suggestions are you!

Begin End Begin
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One of the first #loveOzYA short story anthologies, this one contains short stories from some very well-known Australian YA authors! There’s a mix of sci-fi, fantasy, realism, contemporary, and more, while being written by the likes of Amie Kaufman, Michael Pryor, and Lili Wilkinson.

Kindred: 12 Queer #loveOzYA stories
Goodreads | Book Depository

Looking for some queer #ownvoices short stories? Well this should satisfy that need! With such diverse and challenging stories, there’ll be something in there for everyone, encapsulating the essence of the title, Kindred!

Underdog
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Ever wanted to know about up-and-coming or previously never published authors in the Australian YA landscape? Say no more as Underdog is here to quench that thirst! Featuring different themes and genres, this one will give you a feel of Australian youth!

Meet Me at the Intersection
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Another #ownvoices anthology, this one features perspectives of authors of colour, living with disability, who are First Nations, or queer+. Made of mostly memoir-type writing, this one gives you insights from voices that are oft unheard of, and you’ll surely be refreshed!

Hopefully some of these #loveOzYA books are new to you, and give you a taste of Australia’s very diverse and fresh voices. Who knows, maybe one of these will become one of your new favourites!

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

The post 20 Must-Read YA Books Written By Australian Authors appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

But that’s not all! Alexandra Christo tells a tale of dark magic and four young crooks, Jojo Moyes’s new novel is set in Depression-era America, Joe Hill’s Full Throttle features thirteen short stories, and Charlotte Nicole Davis’s debut is Westworld meets The Handmaid’s Tale.

Other exciting releases includes Tochi Onyebuchi’s War Girls, which is set in a futuristic, Black Panther–inspired Nigeria, Kim Liggett’s The Grace Year, which is reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Power, and Hex Life: Wicked New Tales of Witchery from authors such as Rachel Caine and Kelley Armstrong.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo comes a mesmerizing tale of power, privilege, and dark magic set among the Ivy League elite.

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Proposal and “rising star in the romance genre” (Entertainment Weekly) comes a dazzling new novel about a spontaneous holiday vacation that turns into an unforgettable romance.

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Two sisters are torn apart by war and must fight their way back to each other in a futuristic, Black Panther–inspired Nigeria.

Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky
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Christopher is seven years old. Christopher is the new kid in town. Christopher has an imaginary friend. The epic work of literary horror from the #1 bestselling author of The Perks of Being A Wallflower.

Into the Crooked Place by Alexandra Christo
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In a world thriving with black magic, four young crooks embark on a quest to take down their criminal leader after they discover the plot behind his dangerous new magic.

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
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Set in Depression-era America, a breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their unforgettable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond, from the author of Me Before You and The Peacock Emporium.

The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times bestselling author Renée Ahdieh returns with a sumptuous, sultry and romantic new series set in 19th century New Orleans where vampires hide in plain sight.

Full Throttle by Joe Hill
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this masterful collection of short fiction, Joe Hill dissects timeless human struggles in thirteen relentless tales of supernatural suspense, including “In The Tall Grass,” one of two stories co-written with Stephen King, basis for the terrifying feature film from Netflix.

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
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A speculative thriller in the vein of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Power. With sharp prose and gritty realism, The Grace Year examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in-between.

Hex Life: Wicked New Tales of Witchery by Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, and Sherrilyn Kenyon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Hex Life: Wicked New Tales of Witchery will take the classic tropes of tales of witchcraft and infuse them with fresh, feminist perspective and present-day concerns–even if they’re set in the past. These witches might be monstrous, or they might be heroes, depending on their own definitions. Even the kind hostess with the candy cottage thought of herself as the hero of her own story. After all, a woman’s gotta eat.

The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis
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Westworld meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this stunning fantasy adventure from debut author Charlotte Nicole Davis.

Angel Mage by Garth Nix
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Fans of Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, and Leigh Bardugo will fall in love with Angel Mage, a feminist fantasy that takes place in an alternate European world ruled by fearsome magic and deadly passions.

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

The post October 2019 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

To kick off the second half of the year, July sees Riley Sager, Michele Campbell, and Paul Tremblay deliver the thrills, while Kayln Josephson and Elizabeth Lim bring the fantasy, and Jasmine Guillory gifts us with a great new romance novel.

Well-known and best-selling authors Ruth Ware and Philippa Greggory deliver new novels in August, along with thrillers from Alex North and Lauren North, a debut YA fantasy novel from Erin A. Craig, and a fun romance from Hannah Orenstein.

September has some highly anticipated books awaiting us with the final instalment in Jay Kristoff’s Nevernight series, a sequel to Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, and of course, a new novel from the King himself, Stephen King. If you’re in need of some fantasy, be sure to turn to Adrienne Young, Tamsyn Muir, and Alix E. Harrow.

With only three months left, October holds Leigh Bardugo’s first adult fantasy novel, along with exciting titles from Garth Nix, Renée Ahdieh, Christina Lauren, and Joe Hill. Plus there’s also Thomas Wheeler and Frank Miller’s graphic novel Cursed, which is a twist on King Arthur and will be adapted into a Netflix series in May 2020 starring Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why).

As for November, there’s plenty of fantasy to get lost in from authors such as Erin Morgenstern, Holly Black, Amélie Wen Zhao, and Maggie Stiefvater. Or perhaps be in suspense with a new novel by Mary Higgins Clark or follow a romance in Andie J. Christopher’s Not The Girl You Marry.

To end the year, enjoy new novels from Josh Malerman, Jeff Lindsay, Sara Shepard, Tomi Adeyemi, Damien Angelica Walters, and Tarryn Fisher.

Read on to discover these books below and tell us what you will be picking up in the comments below!

July

The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

After an “oops, we made a mistake” night together, neither one can stop thinking about the other. With Alexa’s wedding rapidly approaching, Maddie and Theo both share bridal party responsibilities that require more interaction with each other than they’re comfortable with.

A Stranger on The Beach by Michele Campbell
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From bestselling author Michele Campbell comes A Stranger on the Beach, an edge-of-your seat story of passion and intrigue that will keep you guessing until the very end.

The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson
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Eragon meets And I Darken in this thrilling new fantasy debut that follows a fallen princess as she ignites a rebellion to bring back the magical elemental crows that were taken from her people.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
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The next heart-pounding thriller from New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager follows a young woman whose new job apartment sitting in one of New York’s oldest and most glamorous buildings may cost more than it pays.

Spin The Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
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Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.

Growing Things and Other Stories by Paul Tremblay
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A chilling collection of psychological suspense and literary horror from the multiple award-winning author of the national bestseller The Cabin at the End of the World and A Head Full of Ghosts.

August

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
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Get swept away in Erin A. Craig’s mesmerizing House of Salt and Sorrows. As one by one her beautiful sisters mysteriously die on their isolated island estate, Annaleigh must unravel the curse that haunts her family. Be careful who you dance with. . . .

The Whisper Man by Alex North
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In this dark, suspenseful thriller, Alex North weaves a multi-generational tale of suspense, as a father and son are caught in the crosshairs of an investigation to catch a serial killer preying on a small town.

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
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Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware’s signature suspenseful style, The Turn of the Key is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.

Tidelands by Philippa Gregory
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The #1 New York Times bestselling author turns from the glamour of the royal courts to tell the story of an ordinary woman, Alinor, who cannot bear to conform to the life that lies before her.

The Perfect Son by Lauren North
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A disturbing and shocking debut novel of psychological suspense about a recently widowed mother, her young son, and the lengths she’ll go to in order to keep him safe.

Love at First Like by Hannah Orenstein
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From the author of Playing with Matches, the rollicking tale of a young jewelry shop owner who accidentally leads her Instagram followers to believe that she’s engaged—and then decides to keep up the ruse.

September

Darkdawn (The Nevernight Chronicle #3) by Jay Kristoff
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The epic conclusion of the internationally bestselling Nevernight Chronicle from New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff.

The Testaments (The Handmaid’s Tale #2) by Margaret Atwood
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Margaret Atwood’s sequel picks up the story fifteen years after Offred stepped into the unknown, with the explosive testaments of three female narrators from Gilead.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young
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The Girl the Sea Gave Back is the new standalone novel set in the brutal, Viking inspired world of Sky in the Deep. It will follow the story of Halvard ten years after the battle for Hylli, his role in the evolution of the Aska and Riki clans, and the spinning of fate that brings his path to intersect with a new character who changes their world again.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
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Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as necromantic skeletons. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
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In the early 1900s, a young woman searches for her place in the world after finding a mysterious book in this captivating and lyrical debut.

The Institute by Stephen King
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As psychically terrifying as Firestarter, and with the spectacular kid power of It, The Institute is Stephen King’s gut-wrenchingly dramatic story of good vs. evil in a world where the good guys don’t always win.

October

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo comes a mesmerizing tale of power, privilege, and dark magic set among the Ivy League elite.

Angel Mage by Garth Nix
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Fans of Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, and Leigh Bardugo will fall in love with Angel Mage, a feminist fantasy that takes place in an alternate European world ruled by fearsome magic and deadly passions.

Full Throttle by Joe Hill
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this masterful collection of short fiction, Joe Hill dissects timeless human struggles in thirteen relentless tales of supernatural suspense, including “In The Tall Grass,” one of two stories co-written with Stephen King, basis for the terrifying feature film from Netflix.

Cursed by Thomas Wheeler
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Lady of the Lake is the true hero in this cinematic twist on the tale of King Arthur created by Thomas Wheeler and legendary artist, producer, and director Frank Miller (300, Batman: The Dark Night Returns, Sin City). Featuring 8 full color and 30 black-and-white pieces of original artwork by Frank Miller.

The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times bestselling author Renée Ahdieh returns with a sumptuous, sultry and romantic new series set in 19th century New Orleans where vampires hide in plain sight.

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners and the “delectable, moving” (Entertainment Weekly) My Favorite Half-Night Stand comes a modern love story about what happens when your first love reenters your life when you least expect it…

November

Call Down The Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Raven Boys, a mesmerizing story of dreams and desires, death and destiny. 

Blood Heir by Amélie Wen Zhao
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This hot debut is the first book in an epic new series about a princess hiding a dark secret and the con man she must trust to clear her name for her father’s murder.

Kiss the Girls and Make Them Cry by Mary Higgins Clark
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When talented journalist Penelope “Casey” Harrison starts to research a piece about the #MeToo movement that includes an incident in her own life which she has been trying to put out of her mind for years, she does not realize that the young man who drugged and assaulted her at a fraternity house party in college is now a wealthy, powerful industrialist on the eve of a merger which will make him a billionaire—and who will do anything, even murder, to cover his tracks.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Night Circus, a timeless love story set in a secret underground world–a place of pirates, painters, lovers, liars, and ships that sail upon a starless sea.

The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, comes the highly anticipated and jaw-dropping finale to The Folk of the Air trilogy.

Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher
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How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days gets a millennial makeover in this romantic comedy by USA Today bestselling author Andie J. Christopher.

December

The Dead Girls Club by Damien Angelica Walters
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A supernatural thriller in the vein of A Head Full of Ghosts about two young girls, a scary story that becomes far too real, and the tragic–and terrifying–consequences that follow one of them into adulthood.

Malorie (Bird Box #2) by Josh Malerman
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In the thrilling sequel to Bird Box, the inspiration for the record-breaking Netflix film that starred Sandra Bullock and “absolutely riveted” Stephen King, New York Times bestselling author Josh Malerman brings unseen horrors to life.

Reputation by Sara Shepard
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In this fast-paced new novel from Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars, a tight-knit college town scrambles for answers when an e-mail hack reveals life-changing secrets and scandals.

Just Watch Me by Jeff Lindsay
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From the author of the wildly successful Dexter series comes a new, mesmerizing bad guy we can root for: Riley Wolfe. He’s a master thief, expert at disguise, and not averse to violence when it’s needed. In this series launch, Riley aims for an extraordinary target in a heist that will make history. Riley will try to steal the Crown Jewels of Iran.

Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Legacy of Orïsha #2) by Tomi Adeyemi
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Children of Virtue and Vengeance is the stunning sequel to Tomi Adeyemi’s New York Times bestselling debut Children of Blood and Bone, the first title in her Legacy of Orïsha trilogy.

The Wives by Tarryn Fisher
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Imagine that your husband has two other wives. But you love him so much you don’t care. Upon finding information about one of the wives, you track her down, and, under false pretenses, you strike up a friendship. She starts showing up with telltale bruises, and you realise she’s being abused by her husband. Who, of course, is also your husband. Who exactly is your husband, and how far would you go to find the truth? Would you risk your own life? And who is his mysterious third wife?

Are there any other July to December 2019 books you’re looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Book Releases You Cannot Miss In July-December 2019 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.