From the screenplay of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, penned by the magnificent JK Rowling, to a new novel by George R.R. Martin, which follows the Targaryens centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones. Then there’s Skyward, a sci-fi novel by Brandon Sanderson, and a magical fantasy in Natasha Ngan’s Girls of Paper and Fire.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below which one you will be checking out!

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
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Defeated, crushed, and driven almost to extinction, the remnants of the human race are trapped on a planet that is constantly attacked by mysterious alien starfighters. Spensa, a teenage girl living among them, longs to be a pilot. When she discovers the wreckage of an ancient ship, she realizes this dream might be possible—assuming she can repair the ship, navigate flight school, and (perhaps most importantly) persuade the strange machine to help her. Because this ship, uniquely, appears to have a soul.

My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
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Satire meets slasher in this short, darkly funny hand grenade of a novel about a Nigerian woman whose younger sister has a very inconvenient habit of killing her boyfriends.

Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay by JK Rowling
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At the end of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald was captured in New York with the help of Newt Scamander. But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escapes custody and sets about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.

River Bodies by Karen Katchur
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A body just turned up in the small town of Portland, Pennsylvania. The crime is eerily similar to a twenty-year-old cold case: another victim, brutally murdered, found in the Delaware River. Lead detective Parker Reed is intent on connecting the two murders, but the locals are on lockdown, revealing nothing.

Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin
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With all the fire and fury fans have come to expect from internationally bestselling author George R. R. Martin, this is the first volume of the definitive two-part history of the Targaryens in Westeros. Centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones, House Targaryen—the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria—took up residence on Dragonstone. Fire and Blood begins their tale with the legendary Aegon the Conqueror, creator of the Iron Throne, and goes on to recount the generations of Targaryens who fought to hold that iconic seat, all the way up to the civil war that nearly tore their dynasty apart.

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
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In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. After seeing her mother snatched by royal guards a decade ago, the guards are back, and this time it’s Lei they’re after–the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king’s interest. Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king’s consort. But Lei isn’t content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable–she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she’s willing to go for justice and revenge.

Someone Like Me by M.R. Carey
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Liz Kendall wouldn’t hurt a fly. She’s a gentle woman devoted to bringing up her kids in the right way, no matter how hard times get. But there’s another side to Liz—one which is dark and malicious. A version of her who will do anything to get her way, no matter how extreme or violent. And when this other side of her takes control, the consequences are devastating. The only way Liz can save herself and her family is if she can find out where this new alter-ego has come from, and how she can stop it.

How She Died, How I Lived by Mary Crockett
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On the eve of Kyle’s sentencing a year after Jamie’s death, all the other “chosen ones” are coping in various ways. But our tenacious narrator is full of anger, stuck somewhere between the horrifying past and the unknown future as she tries to piece together why she gets to live, while Jamie is dead. Now she finds herself drawn to Charlie, Jamie’s boyfriend–knowing all the while that their relationship will always be haunted by what-ifs and why-nots. Is hope possible in the face of such violence? Is forgiveness? How do you go on living when you know it could have been you instead?

Those Who Knew by Idra Novey
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On an unnamed island country ten years after the collapse of a U.S.-supported regime, Lena suspects the powerful senator she was involved with back in her student activist days is taking advantage of a young woman who’s been introducing him at rallies. When the young woman ends up dead, Lena revisits her own fraught history with the senator and the violent incident that ended their relationship. Why didn’t Lena speak up then, and will her family’s support of the former regime still impact her credibility? What if her hunch about this young woman’s death is wrong?

The Moon Sister by Lucinda Riley
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The Moon Sister is the fifth epic story in the Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley. After the death of her father – Pa Salt, an elusive billionaire who adopted his six daughters from around the globe – Tiggy D’Aplièse, trusting her instincts, moves to the remote wilds of Scotland. There she takes a job doing what she loves; caring for animals on the vast and isolated Kinnaird estate, employed by the enigmatic and troubled Laird, Charlie Kinnaird. From the Scottish Highlands and Spain, to South America and New York, Tiggy follows the trail back to her own exotic but complex past. And under the watchful eye of a gifted gypsy bruja she begins to embrace her own talent for healing.

Amber & Dusk by Lyra Selene
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Sylvie has always known she deserves more. Out in the permanent twilight of the Dusklands, her guardians called her power to create illusions a curse. But Sylvie knows it gives her a place in Coeur d’Or, the palais of the Amber Empress and her highborn legacies. So Sylvie sets off toward the Amber City and there the empress invites her in only as part of a wicked wager among her powerful courtiers. Sylvie must assume a new name, Mirage, and begin to navigate secretive social circles and deadly games of intrigue in order to claim her spot. Soon it becomes apparent that nothing is as it appears and no one, including her cruel yet captivating sponsor, Sunder, will answer her questions. As Mirage strives to assume what should be her rightful place, she’ll have to consider whether it is worth the price she must pay.

Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb
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After the end of her marriage, Kate Granger has retreated to her parents’ home on Lake Superior to pull herself together—only to discover the body of a murdered woman washed into the shallows. Tucked in the folds of the woman’s curiously vintage gown is an infant, as cold and at peace as its mother. No one can identify the woman. Except for Kate. She’s seen her before. In her dreams… One hundred years ago, a love story ended in tragedy, its mysteries left unsolved. It’s time for the lake to give up its secrets. As each mystery unravels, it pulls Kate deeper into the eddy of a haunting folktale that has been handed down in whispers over generations. Now, it’s Kate’s turn to listen.

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

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

Whenever I tell people I’m an author, their next question is almost immediately “what kind of books do you write?” More often than not, I become pre-emptive in my defensiveness about the fact that I am currently writing a series of fantasy books.

It’s a response that has caused me to do much soul-searching as to why I feel this vague sense of shame about the genre I love. I think the most significant factor for this is the not uncommon perception that fantasy is somehow beneath other genres, that it reserved for childish escapism, or unhealthy adulation, for children, or people who want to remain in some way, children.

When I duly did the rounds of pitching my first manuscript to agents or publishers, for those who were accepting unsolicited manuscripts, one of the few genres which consistently was not accepted was fantasy. Yet a recent study conducted by #loveozya (admittedly with limitations on the sample, but nevertheless an interesting indicator) had fantasy as the second highest element that respondents indicated they wished to see more of in books. We are told by publishers and agents who style themselves as guardians of the literary community, that fantasy doesn’t sell, or that it’s an oversaturated market. Yet fantasy books—certainly in the young adult and new adult categories—are among the biggest movers. Think only of Jay Kristoff’s Nevernight chronicles, Leigh Bardugo’s GrishaVerse, or anything by Sarah J Maas. And that’s without going into the ‘adult’ fantasy genres of George R R Martin, Brandon Sanderson, or Raymond E Feist (just to name the first three who popped into my head).

Please don’t mistake this as a dig at the literary industry. Certainly, there are elements of it which frustrate me, and I ultimately made the decision to become an indie author rather than pursue traditional publication at this time, but that doesn’t mean that the literary industry is some behemoth that cannot see past its own shadow to actually interpret reader trends. For the most part, it is filled with people who are passionate about books, who are champions for authors, and who do a wonderful job day in day out. This article is about the malign which is often aimed at fantasy, and it seeks to explore why that perception is a silly one.

So, why should we laud the fantasy genre?

Because it is fundamentally a place where the human experience is transposed into a different environment (I could go on about the creativity and fastidiousness required to build an internal consistent fantasy world, but perhaps let’s leave that for another article) and then examined. Fundamentally, contemporary human beings are put in situations far removed from the society in which we currently reside, and the experiences they undergo—even the fabric of the world created by the author—speaks to something about human nature, some facet which the author is seeking to explore.

What is particularly startling and wonderful about this is it enables a point to be made without it becoming enmired within contemporaneous politics which can at times, leave readers resistant to actually engaging with the message itself.

Let’s take for instance one of my favourite fantasy series of all time, The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce.

In essence, Pierce’s protagonist, Alanna, disguises herself as a boy to undergo knight’s training, because she lives in a silly society where it’s deemed only men are fit for such roles. Along the way, not only does Alanna succeed in becoming a knight, but she ends up being better than basically every man around her. In the world that she creates, Pierce masterfully conveys the message that women are just as capable as men, and that success and skill is the consequence of incredibly hard work.

Or, take The Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta (author of Looking for Alibrandi—studied by many Australian year 10 English classes). The first book has a consistent thread of how the refugees from Lumatere were treated, thus making it a very meaningful commentary on how the plight of refugees is inherently determined by those upon whose mercy they throw themselves.

Or, to pluck from one of the examples I initially listed, let’s examine Leigh Bardugo’s initial Grisha trilogy.

One of its central concerns is the nature of leadership and power. The books are quietly scathing in the negligence of leaders who simply accept their power, and also cautions against power for the sake of power.

In my own books, The Ruthless Land is set in a society where men are utterly subservient to woman to the point that they are forced to veil, whereas in Queendom of the Seven Lakes and King of the Seven Lakes, one of the central conceits is the horror with which the country reacts to the prospect of a man sitting on the throne.

The above settings are oft-used ones, but more commonly with women placed in those positions of subservience. In making the suggestion that such subjugation and prejudice is fundamentally unideal, I found that making such a point in a world of my own devising, rather than having a setting that even vaguely correlated to our own world, was a far softer way to make such a point.

Obviously, at the crux of any book is the desire to tell an engaging and enjoyable story which sweeps the reader along. But I would argue in fact that what engages readers is the questions of human behaviour and experience, which are at their most interesting when they are looking to explore a particular idea, or make a particular comment about issues that in fact pertain to our everyday lives. When those issues are removed from the context of modern society yet remain engaging, it conveys to the reader the importance of these issues, as well as the way through them but crucially—without being a didactic clubbing.

To me, this is one of the most spectacular capabilities of fantasy, a magic within the genre that often goes unappreciated.

What do you think of the fantasy genre? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Hidden Power and Importance of Writing Fantasy appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

My father didn’t tell me how to live. He lived and let me watch him do it. – Clarence Budington Kelland

In the United States, Father’s Day falls on June 17th this year, so, in the spirit of celebrating all the amazing fathers out there, here are eight of the greatest fathers in literature!

1. Ned Stark
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Perhaps one of the most honourable, decent, and kind fathers in all of literature, Ned Stark definitely deserves to be on this list. Like all fathers, he has some flaws and he makes some poor choices, but everything Ned Stark does is always motivated by his love for his children and family.

2. Hans Hubermann
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The relationship between Liesel and her adopted father, Hans, is the one of the focal points of the book. Hans dotes on Liesel and teaches her to read; thus, providing her a means of escapism in the midst of the horrors she sees as she lives through the events of World War II. His love and kindness provide a stark contrast to the terrible circumstances surrounding them.

3. Arthur Weasley
Harry Potter by JK Rowling

Arthur Weasley is everything a good dad should be. He’s interested and involved in the lives of his children. He loves the world he lives in and continually seeks to learn more about it. He’s undeniably devoted to his wife, children, friends, and the causes he believes in and helps everyone around him live their best life.

4. Jo Gargery
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Pip’s brother-in-law, Jo Gargery, is one of the most caring father-figures in all of literature. He has unending patience and remains devoted to Pip throughout Pip’s ups and downs as he matures into a grown man.

5. Marko
Saga by Brian K. Vaughan

Marko from Saga is the father of a daughter born from a relationship between two individuals from opposing sides of an ongoing space war. As a father, Marko is funny and loving, although sometimes reckless in his decision-making. But, whatever the circumstances, he demonstrates over and over his willingness to go the ends of the galaxy to protect his daughter.vcx

6. The Father
The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Road is a book about a father and a son wandering through a post-apocalyptic America. In this terrifying world, The Father does everything in his power to protect and keep his son alive. The Father continually shows a willingness to sacrifice himself for the good of his son.

7. Jamie Fraser
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

As a father, Jamie Fraser is exactly as he is in other areas of his life; he’s stubborn, demanding, and holds those around him to high standards. However, even though some of these qualities can cause him to come across as aggressive or abrasive, he is always willing to fight anyone who threatens the safety of his wife or children.

8. Atticus Finch
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Atticus Finch is, perhaps, the most well-known and admired fictional father. He sets the bar that all fathers should strive to meet. He is honourable, dignified, intelligent, sympathetic, and kind. He does not shy away from discussing difficult topics with his children; instead, he finds a way to discuss those difficult topics with his children on their level. He encourages his children to try to see the world from other people’s perspectives and his love and guidance provide his children with a reliable moral compass to help them navigate through life.

As we celebrate Father’s Day this year and honour the great fathers of this world, let’s take inspiration from the fathers we know and love, both in the real world and in the books we read.

Who are some other great fictional fathers that should be remembered? Let us know in the comments!

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