About This Monster of Mine (released 1 April 2025): A dazzling Ancient Rome-inspired romantasy debut, This Monster of Mine is a bloodbath of manipulation, deception, and forbidden love.

Morally-grey has become fantasy’s favourite colour, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Once relegated to painting antiheroes and villains, the past decade has seen a resurgence of protagonists and broody love interests all swathed in the same murky shade. Perhaps it’s the nuance in these characters or their subtle flirtation with darkness that entrances us, or perhaps we’re living our best life through them. So, whether your preference is a darker shade of heroism or full-on villainy, here’s a curated list of book and tv show character recommendations based on your favourite shade of grey.

Heavy fog blinding the skyscrapers on an overcast day = Nasir from Hafsah Faizal’s Sands of Arawiya duology

Hafsah Faizal’s exquisite debut plants a conflicted assassin and a huntress disguising her identity in the middle of a kingdom encircled by a deadly forest. Nasir is known far and wide as the Prince of Death, but he takes no pleasure in the title. The reality is that he’s the hitman for his father, the Sultan, and has had to do away with everyone his father wants gone. This isn’t a role Nasir plays willingly and one that he wishes he could escape. That chance comes when he’s sent on a mission to bring back a long-lost artifact and kill off an infamous archer known as the Hunter. Little does he know that said Hunter is the girl he’s starting to have feelings for.

Despite all the death Nasir’s dealt out, he’s an assassin with a conscience and a deeply empathetic man who fears the consequences of his father discovering that he has a heart—not to himself but to those he cares for. Faizal’s duology paints the portrait of a man struggling with what he has done and who he wants to be. He’s grey, but he never wanted the colour.

Light glinting off steel = Inej from Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology

Slight, reserved, and brilliant, Inej Ghafa is often considered the beating heart of The Six of Crows. She may carry fourteen knives on her person, but holds deep moral convictions about how she uses them, despite working as a spy for Kaz’s gang, the Crows. Inej’s friendship is hard won but deeply felt, and she’s violently protective of the other Crows, especially her leader and her love interest, Kaz. 

Nicknamed, the Wraith, Inej is familiar with the scent of death and has doled it out often. Yet, her motivations are always fair, and Bardugo brilliantly conveys that she only operates outside the law, because the law itself is not willing to correct injustice. She’s impossible not to love.

Seething and roiling storm clouds with snaps of lightning = Galadriel from The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power

To call Galadriel a hothead in her younger years would be the understatement of the millennia. Long before she was the regal elven queen of LOTR fame, she was 3,400 years old and a military commander with an enemy to grind to dust—Morgoth, the orcs who formed his army, and his righthand man, Sauron (who’s going to be relevant pretty soon). And Galadriel does this so well that her elven compatriots start having difficulty distinguishing her from the evil they’re fighting.

She has a kill count higher than the population of a small country, and the fact that she’s eradicating an entire species in the name of fighting evil doesn’t entirely hit her until later on—a deliciously nuanced incorporation by the showrunners. Galadriel is vengeful, prideful, and determined to prove that she’s right to her fellow elves, but she’s also deeply compassionate, kind, and fair. All of which makes her a fascinating character, lovingly brought to life by Morfydd Clark.

Ash spewing from a volcanic eruption = Connor Rogan from Ilona Andrew’s Hidden Legacy Series

There are men, and there is Connor Rogan. Nevada Baylor, private investigator, learns that the day she takes on a run-of-the-mill assignment for a House—egomaniacal, magical dynasties with their own armies, global corporations, and deeply entrenched corruption—and runs afoul of the man who’ll change her life. Connor Rogan aka Mad Rogan earned his nickname as a military vet, and compounds it every day by keeping powerful Houses in check. As a Prime—a rare magic user with an ungodly quantity of magic—and the head of a House himself, he has it all, wealth, power, and looks. And he decides he wants Nevada.

What follows is no billionaire-seeking-to-wear-down-a-woman, but rather a game of intellect and strength between two equally matched individuals who give as good as they get. Connor is ruthless, driven, has decimated entire cities with sheer power, and is a mass murderer who thinks nothing of dropping a building on those in his way. But he’s also one of the most deeply-devoted men ever written and would drop a building on himself for Nevada in a heartbeat. Impossible not to stan.

A Chartreux cat sitting on top of your keyboard = Lanfear from The Wheel of Time

Lanfear is the very definition of “black cat energy.” Competent, power-hungry, and consistently inconsistent in her loyalties, she’s one of the thirteen Forsaken—a group of magic-users who had dedicated themselves to darkness and got themselves imprisoned for it. When released back into the world, Lanfear takes immense joy in destabilizing it and seeking out her former lover’s reincarnation thousands of years since, because she never did get over him dumping her.

Lanfear will gladly kill everything in sight between her and her goals (having the world at her feet), but she’s also hilariously petulant, gorgeous, has an incredible wardrobe, and is an occasional ally to the good guys when it suits her. She’s pretty hard to dislike. Trusting her is a terrible idea, but you can bet that she’ll make even falling off a cliff a rollicking good time.

Hornfels cliffs on a warm summer evening = The Stranger from The Acolyte

Hornfels rock is a unique sight. Smooth and fine-grained yet extremely durable, with natural striations of grey and white throughout. So is the Stranger, who could be the finest Sith Star Wars has ever seen. In addition to having a delicious penchant for wearing a mask and a voice modulator and being a ruthless killing machine, the Stranger has a hero’s quest of his own and subscribes to a philosophy that doesn’t seem too off-base.

Convinced that “the Jedi justify their galactic dominance in the name of peace,” the Stranger seeks to train a powerful acolyte of his own, who can take on the Jedi’s quasi-colonial empire and disrupt their forcible training of children to suppress emotion in the name of learning control. Is he a mass murderer who has killed innocents and corrupt Jedi alike? Absolutely. But it’s hard to dislike him when the Jedi keep proving him right by focusing more on the threat he poses rather than the evil within their ranks. And look at his arms? Who wouldn’t follow those anywhere?

Veins of galena running through granite = Kadra from This Monster of Mine

Part lead and part silver, galena is a mesmerizing mineral not unlike Drenevan bu Kadra, the enigmatic Tetrarch at the heart of my debut, This Monster of Mine. One of the four judges ruling the country and a monstrously powerful magic-user to boot, Kadra is renowned for his commitment to justice and eradicating corruption—the brutal way with beheadings and burnings. Naturally, when a rash of deaths plague the capital, Kadra becomes suspect #1. And no one is more convinced that he did it than the new prosecutor assigned to work with him: Sarai. Four years after being pushed off a tower and left for dead, Sarai is back with a new face, a new identity, and deep determination to hunt down the man responsible for her near-death. When Kadra’s voice matches the bits she remembers of her assailant’s, she’s determined to see him ruined. But nothing is truly as it seems in the capital, and Kadra may be the biggest surprise of all.

I’m quite biased about this one, but Kadra’s a lovely dark gray. Few hard lines in the way of morality? Check. A kill count in the thousands? Absolutely. Ice-cold and in control? Almost always. If you’re curious, you know where to find him!

The depths of the Fold = the Darkling from Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone trilogy

No good list of morally grey men is complete without the Darkling. Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone trilogy and Six of Crows duology hosts some of recent fiction’s most memorable characters, but none as beloved as the Darkling. General Kirigan is a Shadow Summoner and a reminder of a problem that plagues the country: the Fold—a swath of impenetrable darkness that splits the land in half and within which monstrous creatures reside.

Being descended from the man who created the Fold, the Darkling despairs of putting things to rights until he meets Alina Starkov, Shadow and Bone’s heroine, a rare Sun Summoner and who seems the answer to his every dream. But few of those dreams are benign and the Darkling keeps dangerous secrets as Alina rapidly finds out. Played to perfection by Ben Barnes in the Netflix adaptation, the Darkling is a complex, unforgettable experience, megalomania and all.

The bowels of a silver mine = Sauron fromThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

I could go on about hot Sauron for the next two eons, but suffice it to say that the Dark Lord is seriously smoking. Fans of The Lord of the Rings books will know that Sauron was never actually a giant eye atop a tower as depicted in the movies but rather a stunning demigod who fell from grace, and warped his body into a monstrous form during his quest for power (Sauron means “the Abhorred”). The show took that portion of the lore quite seriously.

Sauron’s as power-hungry as most of the people on this list, but for a different reason. This demigod loves order. His entire plan for world domination revolves around healing the world of chaos and misery. By taking away everyone’s free will of course, but no more war and no one has to pay for clean water. It’s quite a compelling argument at times. Sauron isn’t without some humanity, as demonstrated in the show’s depiction of the fact that he felt something for Galadriel. But his narcissism, devaluing of anyone he deems as beneath him, ruthless manipulation of everything and everyone around him, and remorseless constant murder make experiencing him like entering the depths of a silver mine. Sure, it glitters, but it’s primarily just darkness.

The ocean floor = Empire from the Foundation TV show based on the books by Isaac Asimov

If “the bar is the floor” was a person, that person would be Brother Day. Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series posits what would happen if one man, Cleon, sought to keep his rule infinite by cloning himself over and over. The result is a ruling trio of Cleon clones, also known as Empire—Brother Dawn (teenage Cleon aka emperor-in-training), Brother Day (the currently reigning Cleon), and Brother Dusk (retiree-age Cleon who serves as an advisor to Brother Day).

Of these, Brother Day, played to the hilt by the impeccable Lee Pace, is utterly magnetic. Alternatingly narcissistic, vicious, and maniacal but deeply insecure and occasionally fearful, Day is a brilliant depiction of a man who truly has it all and will do anything for more. Unlike Sauron, he has his Empire, but it’ll never be enough. The man simply is cancerous craving, and it’s still impossible to take your eyes off him. It’s no wonder he’s been called “Intergalactic Emperor Daddy.”

And that’s a wrap on this morally grey list! If you’re also a fan of every shade, then there’s loads to binge and read here. And if you’re interested in Kadra, you can also pick up a copy of my book THIS MONSTER OF MINE, available everywhere now!

The post 10 Character Recs Based On Your Favourite Shade of Morally Grey appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews, which is out January 17th!

Kate, Curran and their son, Conlan have left Atlanta, vowing to keep a low profile, and are settling into a new city and new house…but some things never change! Magical mayhem is about to erupt when Kate undertakes the rescue of a kidnapped youth, while Curran guards the homefront.

It should be a simple retrieval, but with monsters on land and sea, Kate’s got her work cut out for her. Still, she’s never let her blade dull or her purpose falter. And that low profile? It’s about to wash away with the raging tides!

Chapter One
Kate

Ms. Vigue adjusted her bright red glasses and peered at me from her perch on the sofa in our second living room. We were in the middle of renovations, and the second living room was one of the four functional rooms in the entire place.

Ms. Vigue was in her early fifties, with lightly tanned skin and ash-blond hair cropped short and brushed back from her face. Her eyes behind the lenses were either gray or pale blue. She wore a silky green blouse with a light gray skirt and looked put together enough to attend a business brunch.

I wore a pair of old shorts and a paint-stained tank top over a sports bra, because I had been painting one of the spare bedrooms when Ms. Vigue arrived unannounced. I’d pulled my brown hair into a bun and pinned it in place with an old bandana to minimize the paint exposure, and since that side of the house had neither fans nor any other way of cooling, I smelled like a lumberjack after a long day at work. Making a great first impression on a school administrator—check.

We smiled at each other. Ms. Vigue was doing her best to appear approachable, while I did my best to appear harmless. We were both lying as hard as we could.

Making small talk was not among my few virtues. “I was under the impression that we were already done with admissions. You sent us the acceptance letter.”

Which was part of the reason we moved here and got stuck in renovation hell.

“You are correct.” Ms. Vigue offered me a quick, humorless smile. “Our school is unique.”

You could say that again. It was so unique, it cost an arm and a leg. We jumped through two months’ worth of hoops and paperwork just for the privilege of an interview, and then spent another month waiting for their decision. They came highly recommended, but I was done with their nonsense.

“We like to think of our student body as being truly representative of the diverse world we live in.”

Ms. Vigue slid into her speech mode. It probably worked wonders on trustees and alumni during their fundraising.

“It’s a special place where students of different backgrounds come together. This interview will help us to better understand your child’s needs and enable us to ensure their safety and help them thrive in our vibrant community.”

Aha. This wasn’t a get-to-know-you visit. This was a threat assessment. We already went through that during admissions. Why was she yanking our chain again?

I smiled. Curran and I had agreed to maintain a low profile after moving. Think normal suburban thoughts. How hard could this be, right? We were just a small family renovating our new home.

“Of course, my husband and I will answer any reasonable questions. Please feel free to ask.”

She took out a leather folder, unzipped it, and checked the contents. “You’ve been recommended by one of our patrons. How do you know Dr. Cole?”

Telling her that Doolittle had patched me up far too many times to count would just derail the conversation. “He was our family doctor. He delivered Conlan and treated him frequently over the years. We consider him a family friend.”

Ms. Vigue nodded and made a note in her folder. “Your son’s assessment scores are quite remarkable.”

Was this a compliment? If I took it as a compliment, she wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. “Thank you.”

“Our school’s reputation ensures that we get the most outstanding applicants. Your son will be among his intellectual peers.”

That would be a tall order, but I didn’t need him to find his intellectual equals. I just needed him to learn to act like a person and interact with other children without the weight of his identity dragging him down.

“It’s my understanding that your child is a shapeshifter.”

Here we go. “Yes.”

“What is the nature of his beast?”

I smiled even sweeter. “That’s a highly illegal question, Ms. Vigue. The nature of one’s beast is confidential and cannot be used as basis for discrimination by any educational institution in this country.”

I knew this because my husband had dumped massive amounts of money and effort into lobbying for those laws to be passed before we had met.

Ms. Vigue pushed her glasses up her nose with her middle finger.

Aha. Screw you too. “Would you like me to cite the relevant federal and state statutes protecting shapeshifter rights, or can we skip the formalities?”

“Of course, we cannot compel you to release that information. However…”

“Your next words will determine what I tell Dr. Cole tonight when he calls to check how we are settling in. And he will call. He is very thoughtful and thorough. I’m sure he and his seven thousand associates will take a dim view of your school attempting to discriminate against a shapeshifter child.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re going to be difficult, aren’t you?”

You have no idea. “I don’t know what you mean, Ms. Vigue. Did you have any other questions?”

“I will come straight to the point.”

“I wish you would.”

“Can you guarantee that your child will not snap and attack his classmates?”

“Absolutely. He is very much like his father. It’s important to him that his resorting to violence is viewed as a deliberate choice rather than a loss of control on his part.”

She blinked at me.

No matter how much social outreach shapeshifters did, other humans never forgot that each one of them was a potential spree killer-in-waiting. I had expected better from a person who worked with children.

“Since we’ve decided to be blunt, if my child decides to go on a rampage, the combined security of your school won’t be able to stop him. If something alarming happens, which it won’t, you will call us, and either I or his father will come and take care of it.”

“Are you suggesting that we make no effort to contain him?”

“Conlan won’t attack you if you don’t present a threat. Your best strategy is to sit still and look down. Don’t run because he will chase you, and he is very fast. Cringing and urinating on yourself will also remove you from his target list.”

She blinked again.

“As I said, this is highly unlikely. Your vibrant student body will be perfectly safe. Now I have a question for you. Did the school send you here or did you take it upon yourself to conduct this interview?”

“As Vice Dean of Students…”

Just as I thought. She came on her own. I gave her my pretty smile. Ms. Vigue went silent mid-word.

Normal was overrated anyway.

“I’m so glad we had this chat, Ms. Vigue. Would you like some iced tea for the road?”

Three minutes later, I stood in the doorway to the main building and watched her get into her Chevy Malibu and roll down the road heading west. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The air smelled like sea and sun. It should’ve been calming, but it wasn’t.

The past few days brought one minor calamity after another, starting with the floor in the utility room caving in and getting worse from there. Ms. Vigue’s visit was just a rotten cherry on top of this cake of woe.

My husband, my son, and I had toured the school, and all three of us liked the teachers and what they were teaching. We had liked the administrative staff for the most part as well. The same couldn’t be said about the Office of the Dean of Students. I had met three members of it so far, including Ms. Vigue, and every one of them tried my patience. I wouldn’t have had a problem reassuring them if they had made the slightest effort to communicate with us on equal terms.

I needed to vent some steam in the worst way.

My son emerged from behind the wall with an unfamiliar boy in tow. Conlan was large for his age, with my dark hair and his father’s gray eyes. The boy next to him was about the same size but probably a year or two older, maybe 9 or 10. Thin, dark haired, with bronze skin and brown eyes, he seemed like he wasn’t sure what would happen next. A bit jumpy.

Conlan stopped in front of me. “Hi, Mom. This is Jason. He is Paul’s nephew.”

Paul Barnhill was our general contractor. Jason gave me a hesitant wave.

“Can we have some sandwiches?” Conlan asked.

When it came to making friends, my son took his cues from his father. Food first. And he knew where the fridge was and had been making his own sandwiches since he was 2 years old.

“Absolutely.”

“Thank you. Jason’s brother was kidnapped.”

Ah. So, it wasn’t about the sandwiches.

Conlan turned to Jason. “Come on.”

The two of them went inside. Grendel, our mutant black poodle, trotted out from behind the wall, gave me a lick on the leg in passing, depositing a small army of foul-smelling bacteria on my thigh, and bounded after them.

Food had a particular significance to shapeshifters. They didn’t share it with just anyone. Conlan brought Jason to me, made sure I saw Jason’s face, made sure that I knew he was about to make him a sandwich, and then informed me that Jason had a problem. A problem I now wanted to know more about, because Jason wasn’t some abstract child my son casually knew but someone he accepted and wanted to share a meal with.

“Kidnapped” could mean a lot of things to a 9-year-old boy. The first night after we moved in, a half-naked Conlan informed me that Grendel had been kidnapped by pirates. I grabbed my sword and ran to the shoreline, to find Grendel in a boat tied to a beached tree, floating 5 feet away from shore and barking his head off, while a Jolly Roger my son drew with wall primer on his black T-shirt flew overhead. But we lived in unsafe times. Real kidnappings weren’t uncommon, especially if the victim was, in Ms. Vigue’s words, “vibrant” enough.

The fort around me vanished, and for a painful second I was sprinting down the street, ice-cold from fear, desperately searching the ruins around me for the spark of baby Conlan’s magic and wishing with every fiber of my being that I would find him before his would-be kidnappers did.

I sighed and went to look for Paul.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Magic Tides’ by Ilona Andrews appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

This novel truly packs a punch. In my head I see the authors having sat down and decided that they’re going to bring out the big guns this time and it was not going to be just for show. Andrews have rolled up their sleeves and thrown plot twists and emotional moments at the readers in ways we won’t be ready for.

The secondary characters in Ruby Fever we’ve seen over the last five books, the authors somehow manage to always have them all feel exactly as they’ve felt in the previous books. However, at the same time, they write unique individual growth arcs for each of them that fit perfectly to their situations and personalities. The secondary characters get a first mention simply because of how well developed and well written they are.

The best part of the primary characters that Andrews write is that they never write characters, couples, or relationships that aren’t flawed. Alessandro and Catalina bring some of their struggles to their relationship and, truly, only Andrews could write a healthy argument. As a reader, we may all have half a mind to take notes on good communication in difficult situations.

The plot is complex, because the plot has a bigger purpose than just telling a story. The plot reveals. There are multiple threads of sub-plots that coalesce into one gigantic plot that we almost never see coming. The book has connections across the series that as a reader we won’t be prepared for.

The pace of the book is fantastic. The editing clearly has been done to perfection with not a single moment or scene being more or less than it needs to be. This is the first book where I specifically felt that there wasn’t a single moment to waste or breathe; events just kept happening on the heels of one another. Perhaps this was because it was the conclusion of one part of the series and the foundation for the next part of the series.

I would recommend the readers do a complete series reread before starting this book, simply so that the connections that happen across series are better understood and the impact of the story is greater. This is especially helpful because some of the worldbuilding in this book builds on the awareness the readers have of the past and connects it to the present scenario.

The book brings a fantastic end to Catalina’s story and I still can’t believe it’s the last book in her series. I’ve related the most to Catalina so far and I can’t wait to go back and reread the series again.

Andrews have set the stage for the next part of the series and while I’m excited for what is coming next, I realised while I was reading this book that I would be ready to read a trilogy about any character in that series.

This book, like every other in the series, does have a lot of violence, blood, gore, threat to loved ones, and near-death situations, so please check trigger warnings before reading.

Ruby Fever is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Ruby Fever? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

#1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews is back with the newest book in the exciting Hidden Legacy series—the thrilling conclusion to her trilogy featuring fierce and beautiful Prime magic user Catalina Baylor.

An escaped spider, the unexpected arrival of an Imperial Russian Prince, the senseless assassination of a powerful figure, a shocking attack on the supposedly invincible Warden of Texas, Catalina’s boss… And it’s only Monday.

Within hours, the fate of Houston—not to mention the House of Baylor—now rests on Catalina, who will have to harness her powers as never before. But even with her fellow Prime and fiancé Alessandro Sagredo by her side, she may not be able to expose who’s responsible before all hell really breaks loose.

The post Review: Ruby Fever by Ilona Andrews appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Like the title suggests, everything is bigger in Texas. Hats. Trucks. Guns. And of course, the houses. A house with a 3,000 square foot footprint is considered… average.  Our Hidden Legacy series is set in Houston, and it features magic dynasties, very wealthy families of mages, who have insane homes, so we spend a lot of times on real estate sites browsing Texas mansions.  Here are three lessons we have learned.

Wood and Stone

Austin homes and Texas houses in particular are famous for “Austin limestone,” limestone rock that is queried in Hill Country area of Texas.  Here is a Humble house, a wee little mansion, only 6,000 sq ft, with a trademark limestone exterior.

Burled wood, earth tones, travertine, stone columns, all good things in moderation, but some Texans carry it way too far.  We present to you a listing we affectionately call the Boulder Potty.  Yes, that is a massive stone wall with an interior water feature showcased in photo #9.  Why would you want a stream inside the house next to a wall, with the moisture settling on those really difficult to clean rocks? Why not?

But the most important feature of this home isn’t the stream of future mold or the ridiculous outdoor waterfall pool – because it’s not like we are in the middle of historic drought and we must conserve water, and it isn’t even the treacherously cork-screw staircase.  No, the best feature is in the photos 32 and 33.

Who in the world thought that putting enormous boulders into the shower was a good idea? What if you slip? Also, how would such a shower be sold to the prospective homeowner?

Real Estate Agent: And here is the main shower.

Buyer: O.O

Real Estate Agent: It has no walls, so you will get cold in winter.  It has 3 rain heads but no detachable, handheld shower, because we are too cool for hygiene. There is no shelf for products or leg shaving, but you know what this shower has? Boulders! Big, beautiful boulders!

Style is for Poor People

Houston has several neighborhoods where the real estate must be seen to be believed.  One of the oldest is the River Oaks, where massive mansions sprawl like lazy beasts on manicured grass, commanding price tags of many millions. Some of these mansions are tasteful.  Others, not so much.

It is not at all uncommon to see a huge house that is a mash of several architectural styles inexplicably thrown together for absolutely no reason. The hero of our latest Hidden Legacy book is Italian by birth and that kind of off-the-cuff architecture hurts his soul.

Alessandro grimaced as we pulled up to the house and parked Rhino behind a stereotypical black SUV with federal license plates. 

“Snob.”

He gave me a pained look. “Why does it have a turret, Catalina? Are they expecting an army of medieval knights and trebuchets?”

“You never know,” I told him.

“It’s a Tuscan colonnade interrupted by a Scottish turret with Tudor windows.”

“You can hold on to my hand. I’ll lead you in while you avert your eyes.”

“No need.”

This is not an exaggeration.  Of course, the true hilarity occurs when such a house has to be sold, and a real estate agent must find some way to describe it.  They must assign a label to the house.

“English Manor Estate”
It is “storybook” because this house isn’t a novel, it’s an anthology.

“French Country”
With trapezoidal columns.

“If it has clay roof, call it Mediterranean”. Okay so some of the Mediterranean inspired homes are quite handsome, but it is amusing how wide that category stretches.

We ran out of stucco.

This is a classic Texas Mediterranean done on a massive scale.

Oy. Just… Who designed this?  Why? What is the purpose of the wooden thingies sticking out?  On the plus side, if any vampires turn into bats and assault the house, they will impale themselves for sure.

Which brings us to the final lesson.

Imagination Is Not Enough

No matter how active your imagination, it pales when confronted with the real thing.

Outdoor paradise

Stately Manor

A European Estate

There is no need to make things up when it comes to luxury in Houston real Estate.  One must only type Houston, TX into Zillow search window and set the filter by price High to Low.

The post Everything Is Bigger In Texas appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

We spoke with the husband and wife writing duo, Ilona and Andrew Gordon, to gain a little perspective on their thoughts on their new book and how writing works for them.

Hi Ilona and Andrew! Can you tell our readers a little about yourselves?

Andrew: Not too much to tell. I was born in FL, grew up in the Smokey mountains of NC, joined the Navy, came home, went to school at Western Carolina University, met a person much smarter than me and, somehow, successfully wooed her.

Ilona: Wooed! Hehehe. I was born in Russia, in a southern city, came to the US on scholarship, got another scholarship to college in the mountains of North Carolina, met my future husband, and the rest is history.

Your new novel, Blood Heir, is out now! What can readers expect?

A: An Atlanta that has seen better days, a prodigal daughter’s return, grisly murders, a mystery, monsters, a mad God King, and returning cast of fan favourites. It’s not a Kate book, per se, but we wanted the book to feel familiar to long-time fans and accessible to new readers.

I: And some funnies. There are always funnies.

What was the most challenging part of diving into a familiar world but with a different character perspective?

A: Making sure that Julie had her own unique voice and wasn’t just Kate 2.0. We also had to think about the years between Magic Triumphs and Blood Heir. What’s happened to the people who left Atlanta and to the people who stayed? Has the city changed for the better or worse? Also, math. We had to sit down and figure out how old everybody was, how old we wanted new characters to be. Did the timeline make sense?

I: It was a challenge to recap events of the previous eleven books while at the same time trying to retain a fresh feel to the narrative. We’ve seen a few reviews that said the book can be read without first reading Kate Daniels series, and I am very proud that it stands on its own.

Each and every plot of your books are unique and well explored. Where do you get your inspiration from?

A: Because we are giant nerds, everything. TV shows, movies, anime, books we read as children, cartoons we watched. The biggest common, influencer I guess, for both of us, was without a doubt, the classic Greek myths. Despite being raised in very different places, we had that in common. Our very first argument or bet was about who, in Greek myths, pulled the sun around the sky. Seriously, it was about Helios vs Apollo. I am, some twenty years later, pretty sure I was right.

I: I was right. It was Helios. We read and watch very widely, everything from noir detective novels to Chinese comics.

Which character was both a favourite and a little challenging to write in your experience so far?

A: I would say Jim Shrapshire or Saiman. Jim is a very self-contained man who shows very little emotion. Because the books have almost always been from another’s character’s POV, we don’t really know what he’s thinking or why he does things. It can make him a bit unlikable. Saiman because he is largely devoid of any redeeming qualities. Kate may have a soft spot for him but he’s not her friend. Curran doesn’t like or trust him for very good reasons.

I: I agree on Jim. He is a character who is driven by a sense of duty and he will sacrifice his relationship on the altar of that duty. It makes him an effective leader but somewhat unlikeable to people who are trying to befriend him. Writing a very intelligent character is always a challenge.

Can you tell us about both of your processes of writing and how you co-author?

A: We have an office that is on the property but separate from the main house. After we have our coffee or tea, we drag our butts down to the office in put them into the two chairs we have in front of the one computer. We talk through the scenes and type them out. We used to have two desks and send the manuscript back and forth, but the one computer, two chairs thing has been our system for the last several books. Writing with a partner is like being in a marriage. You have to take your ego out of it. You learn to compromise and trust the other person.

I: Yes, because periodically the other person will dramatically sag in her chair and say things like, “I’m done. Let’s just give the advance back!” There was no advance for Blood Heir, since it was self-published, so that battle cry didn’t quite work.

The book you thought was your personal best?

A: I really liked Magic Strikes, Bayou Moon, and the last Hidden Legacy book, Emerald Blaze. We usually write a mystery but EB was more of a creature feature, which I really enjoyed writing.

I: They are all our best in a sense that each book is the absolute best we can make it at the time. Some are easier to write, some are very difficult, but our personal favorites rarely line up with what the readers like.

A character or a book you wish you’d written?

A: As far as older books or characters, Conan, Thundarr, (fine barbarians of a pre-history and post-apocalyptic Earth), Casca, the Eternal Mercenary, the Roman centurion who pierced the side of Christ, more recently, Jackal from Jonathan French’s The Grey Bastards. The world building is amazing, and if you’re a D&D fan, The Grey Bastards is must read.

I: Three Musketeers. But we would make it cooler.

Is there a genre you wish to explore?

A: For me, epic fantasy or alternative historical fiction. We are both huge fans of Harry Turtledove’s Civil War and WWII books. I’m currently re-reading and enjoying Harry Harrison’s The Hammer and the Cross series which is set in a dark or middle ages Europe. It probably helps that I’m also playing a lot of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Same setting, very similar time period.

I: I am not going to comment because we have a future project in the works that I am very reluctant to discuss.

Being such fantastic authors, you would often be approached for advice. What’s the most challenging part about giving writing advice?

A: We have to be very careful with this. We don’t claim to be experts, we’re not. We can only give advice based on our own experience and what worked for us. We didn’t go to school to be writers; we don’t have degrees in literature or creative writing. Some things we can safely say are read widely in the area you want to write in. Know the rules and tropes before you break them. Don’t edit while you write. Put words on page, then fix them. Lastly, stick with it, don’t give up. Nobody said it would be easy, the only easy day was yesterday. Embrace the suck and drive on.

I: It is so easy to crush someone by giving advice. Even if you come at it with all the tact you can muster, there is still a strong possibility that you will short circuit their creative process. We try to avoid giving advice as much as we can. If there is anything I’ve learned, it’s that the internet and aspiring writers can survive without the benefit of our “wisdom.”

Are you able to choose a favourite character from Blood Heir?

A: For me, it’s Julie’s “uncle” Namtur. I don’t want to be spoilery but he’s a funny old guy and one of the few survivors of the old Shinar. He’s seen a lot “stuff” man, and very little of this new world or its so-called power players impresses him.

I: I love Namur. I also love Lucifer. And Robert… And Erra… ::gathers the characters into a giant hug:: I love them all.

Lastly, what book recommendations do you have for our readers?

A: I read way too much Bigfoot and cryptid fiction, so I’m going to pass this on to the boss. Ilona?

I: This is hard because the last book I tried disappointed me to no end and now everything is still tainted by that disappointment. I will throw some names at you instead: Jeaniene Frost, Thea Harrison, T.A. White. If you happen to drop by our website and click on the blog, there is link in the menu to “Books we like.”  That’s where we put our recommendations.  We take them very seriously, so if a book is there, one of us had read it and enjoyed it.

Will you be picking up Blood Heir? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Ilona Andrews, Authors of ‘Blood Heir’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

As soon as I read the first word in Blood Heir, it sent me straight into town Good Mood for the rest of the month. Reading about all the familiar settings with our beloved characters from the previous series and finally being able to see what their future looked like felt like a real gift. Additionally, diving into the fantastically complex plot-line that is typical of Ilona Andrews, was even more exciting because their writing style is one of the most attractive aspects of their work.

Julie, who we see many years later, now has a narrative voice that sounds that much older. However, it is an age that comes with the gruelling experience of being witness and victim to hardship and having clawed her way out of dark pain and nightmares and having survived it with her sanity intact. Staying true to her journey, she also sounds like Kate a little bit but also retains her own personality at the same time. The meld of who she is inherently and who she inspires to be like and loves the most, is absolutely lovely and very believable.

So there are many things that we need to be caught on up on because the years that Julie has been away from home have been both pivotal and gone to further establish her as close to her family in her heart. Everything she does is almost always linked to or rooted in her love for her family and the experiences of her past. There are many other characters—both new and familiar—who appear and have a rather prominent presence in this book and I’m curious to see where Ilona Andrews are leading us. No matter where it is, I’m very ready, even if I were to be lead blind folded with cotton stuffed in my ears.

Derek was never really “young”. He was always much older than his age after having faced harder and more debilitating situations than those decades older than him. However, he has always survived. He survived the most cruel torture emotionally and then did it again, but with a brutal addition of physical torture the second time around. I wasn’t sure how he succeeded and did so beautifully later, but he did. He still does. I’m not sure why I expected Derek to have stayed who he was many years ago when Julie had changed so much. But seeing him was such a shock that even after everything I already knew about Ilona Andrews’ work I took a step back and paused because good gracious! Everyone, make room! There’s a new badass-extraordinaire book-boyfriend in the house and he could probably take down anyone you may have crushed on before.

The writing was perfect, with a tenor of its own but still fitting of the KD world. There was neither a single dull moment nor a predictable situation and as all Ilona Andrews’ books are, there was lots of action, whip-smart dialogue that were paired with a well fleshed out plotline, and layered with heart-wrenchingly real characters. Blood Heir is an easy ten for me without even having to think about it. It could be read as a standalone perhaps, but coming to Julie’s story after having been through Kate’s life brings a lot of meaning and a deeper connect to the characters as a whole.

Blood Heir is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 12th 2021.

Will you be picking up Blood Heir? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

From Ilona Andrews, an all-new novel set in the Kate Daniels World and featuring Julie Lennart-Olsen, Kate and Curran’s ward. 

Atlanta was always a dangerous city. Now, as waves of magic and technology compete for supremacy, it’s a place caught in a slow apocalypse, where monsters spawn among the crumbling skyscrapers and supernatural factions struggle for power and survival.

Eight years ago, Julie Lennart left Atlanta to find out who she was. Now she’s back with a new face, a new magic, and a new name—Aurelia Ryder—drawn by the urgent need to protect the family she left behind. An ancient power is stalking her adopted mother, Kate Daniels, an enemy unlike any other, and a string of horrifying murders is its opening gambit.

If Aurelia’s true identity is discovered, those closest to her will die. So her plan is simple: get in, solve the murders, prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled, and get out without being recognized. She expected danger, but she never anticipated that the only man she’d ever loved could threaten everything.

One small misstep could lead to disaster. But for Aurelia, facing disaster is easy; it’s relationships that are hard.

The post Review: Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

2021 is absolutely jam-packed with fantasy and science fiction books that readers around the world are going to devour! Between the months of January and June, readers can expect magic, warring kingdoms, witches, magic, post-apocalyptic worlds, and so, so much more!

Read on to discover some of the January to June fantasy and sci-fi books we’re excited for and be sure to let us know in the comments what books you’re looking forward to!

Want more 2021 releases? Check out our lists for Most Anticipated 2021 Books, 2021 Queer Book Releases, 2021 Romance Book Releases, 2021 YA Book Releases, and 2021 Queer SFF Book Releases.

JANUARY

The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Darkly magical and intricately imagined, The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a rich and dazzling fantasy adventure in which a con artist, a vigilante, and a crime lord must unite to save their city.

The Frozen Crown by Greta Kelly
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A princess with a powerful and dangerous secret must find a way to save her country from ruthless invaders in this exciting debut fantasy, the first novel in a thrilling duology packed with heroism, treachery, magic, and war.

Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Epic fantasy featuring warrior priestesses and fickle gods at war, for readers of Brian Staveley’s Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne.

The Stranger Times by C. K. McDonnell
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

There are Dark Forces at work in our world (and in Manchester in particular) and so thank God The Stranger Times is on hand to report them. 

Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From award-winning author, Ilona Andrews, an all-new novel set in the New York Times #1 bestselling Kate Daniels World and featuring Julie Lennart-Olsen, Kate and Curran’s ward.

The Forever Sea by Joshua Phillip Johnson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The first book in a new environmental epic fantasy series set in a world where ships kept afloat by magical hearthfires sail an endless grass sea.

Brother Red by Adrian Selby
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From one of the most exciting new voices in dark epic fantasy comes an intensely brutal and brilliantly cinematic novel: the story of a soldier torn between loyalty to her family and her quest to preserve a kingdom’s future.

Knight’s Ransom by Jeff Wheeler
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From Jeff Wheeler, the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Kingfountain novels, comes an epic new series of warring kingdoms, deadly family rivalries, and fearless loyalty.

FEBRUARY

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Ancillary Justice meets Red, White & Royal Blue in Everina Maxwell’s exciting debut.

The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When a banished witch falls in love with the legendary trickster Loki, she risks the wrath of the gods in this moving, subversive debut novel that reimagines Norse mythology.

The Black Coast by Mike Brooks
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Epic world-building at its finest, in an upcoming author’s fantasy debut. The Black Coast is the start of an unmissable series filled with war-dragons, armoured knights, sea-faring raiders, dangerous magic and crowd-pleasing battle scenes.

Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Award-winning author Aliette de Bodard returns with a powerful romantic fantasy that reads like The Goblin Emperor meets Howl’s Moving Castle in a pre-colonial Vietnamese-esque world. 

Game Changer by Neal Shusterman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This high-concept novel from the National Book Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of the Arc of a Scythe series tackles the most urgent themes of our time, making this a must-buy for readers who are starting to ask big questions about their own role in the universe.

Sun-Daughters, Sea-Daughters by Aimee Ogden
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sun-Daughters, Sea-Daughters has all the wonder and romance of a classic sci-fi novel, with the timelessness of a beloved fairy tale. 

A History of What Comes Next by Sylvain Neuvel
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Showing that truth is stranger than fiction, Sylvain Neuvel weaves a sci-fi thriller reminiscent of Blake Crouch and Andy Weir, blending a fast moving, darkly satirical look at 1940s rocketry with an exploration of the amorality of progress and the nature of violence in A History of What Comes Next.

This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An #ownvoices debut YA fantasy, This Golden Flame is an epic adventure full of magic, rebellion, and finding where you truly belong.

MARCH

Dead Space by Kali Wallace
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An investigator must solve a brutal murder on a claustrophobic asteroid mine in this tense science fiction thriller from the author of Salvation Day. 

The Councillor by E.J. Beaton
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This Machiavellian fantasy follows a scholar’s quest to choose the next ruler of her kingdom amidst lies, conspiracy, and assassination

Skyward Inn by Aliya Whiteley
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Skyward Inn is Jamaica Inn by way of Ursula Le Guin, bringing the influences, too, of Angela Carter, Michel Faber and Jeff Vandermeer to create a fantastic story of love, belonging, and togetherness. Asking questions of ideas of the individual and the collective, of ownership and historical possession, and of the experience of being human, it is at once timeless and thoroughly of its time.

A Trial of Sorcerers by Elise Kova
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This is the first book in a young adult, epic fantasy that’s a tale of competition, coming of age, distant lands, elemental magic, and romance. It’s perfect for fans of the Legend of Korra, Truthwitch, and A Sorcery of Thorns.

Machinehood by S.B. Divya
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the Hugo Award nominee S.B. Divya, Zero Dark Thirty meets The Social Network in this science fiction thriller about artificial intelligence, sentience, and labor rights in a near future dominated by the gig economy.

Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this charming debut fantasy perfect for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Girls of Paper and Fire, a witch cursed to never love meets a girl hiding her own dangerous magic, and the two strike a dangerous bargain to save their queendom.

Burning Girls and Other Stories by Veronica Schanoes
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In Burning Girls and Other Stories, Veronica Schanoes crosses borders and genres with stories of fierce women at the margins of society burning their way toward the center. This debut collection introduces readers to a fantasist in the vein of Karen Russell and Kelly Link, with a voice all her own.

We Shall Sing a Song Into the Deep by Andrew Kelly Stewart
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A Canticle for Leibowitz meets The Hunt for Red October in We Shall Sing a Song into the Deep, a lyrical and page-turning coming-of-age exploration of duty, belief, and the post-apocalypse from breakout newcomer Andrew Kelly Stewart.

APRIL

The ​Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book three in her Blood and Ash series.

The Helm of Midnight by Marina J. Lostetter
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A legendary serial killer stalks the streets of a fantastical city in The Helm of Midnight, the stunning first novel in a new trilogy from acclaimed author Marina Lostetter.

The Light of the Midnight Stars by Rena Rossner
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An evocative combination of fantasy, history, and Jewish folklore, The Light of the Midnight Stars is fairytale-inspired novel from the author of The Sisters of the Winter Wood.

The Last Watch by J.S. Dewes
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Expanse meets Game of Thrones in J. S. Dewes’ fast-paced, sf adventure The Last Watch, where a handful of soldiers stand between humanity and annihilation.

The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From award-winning author Akemi Dawn Bowman comes an incisive, action-packed tale that explores big questions about technology, grief, love, and humanity.

The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Set in a world where a virus stalks our male population, The End of Men is an electrifying and unforgettable debut from a remarkable new talent that asks: what would our world truly look like without men?

Fugitive Telemetry (The Murderbot Diaries, #6) by Martha Wells
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The New York Times bestselling security droid with a heart (though it wouldn’t admit it!) is back in Fugitive Telemetry, a new standalone adventure!

Unity by Elly Bangs
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Evoking the grittiness of Mad Max and the idealism of Sense8, this absorbing sci-fi debut is a dynamic vision of the fluidity of identity. With Unity, breakout author Elly Bangs has created a prescient, moving, and unforgettable adventure that expands upon human consciousness and its possibilities.

MAY

Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Hypnotic, propulsive, and utterly transporting, Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne forges a new epic, outside the traditional narratives of heroism and glory that leave no room for women.

Black Water Sister by Zen Cho
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A reluctant medium discovers the ties that bind can unleash a dangerous power in this compelling Malaysian-set contemporary fantasy.

Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In Blade of Secrets, the first book in Tricia Levenseller’s exciting new YA fantasy duology, a teenage blacksmith with social anxiety is forced to go on the run to protect the world from the most powerful magical sword she’s ever made. 

How to Mars by David Ebenbach
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

What happens when your dream mission to Mars is a reality television nightmare? This debut science-fiction romp with heart follows the tradition of Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles, with a dash of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and a hint of The Real World.

Spells Trouble by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Hunter and Mercy Goode are twin witches, direct descendants of the founder of their town of Goodeville. As their ancestors have done before them, it is now time for the twins to learn what it means to be Gatekeepers–the protectors of the Gates to different underworlds, ancient portals between their world and realms where mythology rules and nightmares come to life.

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon
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Rivers Solomon’s Sorrowland is a genre-bending work of Gothic fiction. Here, monsters aren’t just individuals, but entire nations. It is a searing, seminal book that marks the arrival of a bold, unignorable voice in American fiction

The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Set in a world of goblin wars, stag-sized battle ravens, and assassins who kill with deadly tattoos, Christopher Buehlman’s The Blacktongue Thief begins a ‘dazzling’ (Robin Hobb) fantasy adventure unlike any other. 

The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For fans of The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and David Mitchell, a genre bending, time twisting alternative history that asks whether it’s worth changing the past to save the future, even if it costs you everyone you’ve ever loved. 

JUNE

Star Eater by Kerstin Hall
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A phantasmagorical indictment of hereditary power, Star Eatertakes readers deep into a perilous and uncanny world where even the most powerful women are forced to choose what sacrifices they will make, so that they might have any choice at all.

The Tangleroot Palace: Stories by Marjorie Liu
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times bestseller and Hugo, British Fantasy, Romantic Times, and Eisner award-winning author of the graphic novel, Monstress, Marjorie Liu leads you deep into the heart of the tangled woods. In her long-awaited debut story collection, dark, lush, and spellbinding short fiction you will find unexpected detours, dangerous magic, and even more dangerous women.

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Practical Magic meets Twister in this debut contemporary fantasy standalone about heartbreaking power, the terror of our collapsing atmosphere, and the ways we unknowingly change our fate.

The All-Consuming World by Cassandra Khaw
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Cassandra Khaw’s debut novel is a page-turning exploration of humans and machines that is perfect for readers of Ann Leckie, Ursula Le Guin, and Kameron Hurley.

The Ninth Metal by Benjamin Percy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From award-winning author Benjamin Percy comes an explosive, breakout speculative thriller in which a powerful new metal arrives on Earth in the wake of a meteor shower, triggering a massive new “gold rush” in the Midwest and turning life as we know it on its head. The first of a cycle of novels set in a shared universe.

The Coward by Stephen Aryan
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Who will take up the mantle and slay the evil in the Frozen North, saving all from death and destruction? Not Kell Kressia, he’s done his part…

Play of Shadows by Sebastien de Castell
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Swordplay, magic, intrigue and friendships stronger than iron: the first volume in the new swashbuckling fantasy series by the bestselling author of The Greatcoats.

Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta
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Two girls on opposite sides of a war discover they’re fighting for a common purpose–and falling for each other–in Zoe Hana Mikuta’s high-octane debut Gearbreakers, perfect for fans of Pacific Rim, Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Saga, and Marie Lu’s Legend series.

What 2021 fantasy and sci-fi books are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 48 Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases To Look Out For In 2021 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover a few of our January picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be checking any of them out!

Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An alien artifact turns a young girl into Death’s adopted daughter in Remote Control, a thrilling sci-fi tale of community and female empowerment from Nebula and Hugo Award-winner Nnedi Okorafor.

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A delicious twist on a Gothic classic, Rachel Hawkins’s The Wife Upstairs pairs Southern charm with atmospheric domestic suspense, perfect for fans of B.A. Paris and Megan Miranda.

The Divines by Ellie Eaton
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

With the emotional power of Normal People and the reflective haze of The Girls, a compulsively readable literary debut set in a secluded boarding school, exploring the intoxicating, destructive relationships between teenage girls. 

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Public radio co-hosts navigate mixed signals in Rachel Lynn Solomon’s sparkling romantic comedy debut.

The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Darkly magical and intricately imagined, The Mask of Mirrors is the unmissable start to the Rook & Rose trilogy, a rich and dazzling fantasy adventure in which a con artist, a vigilante, and a crime lord must unite to save their city.

The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The USA Today bestselling author of The Au Pair returns with another delicious, twisty novel–about a grand estate with many secrets, an orphan caught in a web of lies, and a young woman playing a sinister game.

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black in this exhilarating debut middle grade fantasy, the first in a trilogy filled with #blackgirlmagic. Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, the Percy Jackson series, and Nevermoor.

The Frozen Crown by Greta Kelly
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A princess with a powerful and dangerous secret must find a way to save her country from ruthless invaders in this exciting debut fantasy, the first novel in a thrilling duology packed with heroism, treachery, magic, and war.

Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Project Runway goes to Comic Con in an epic queer love story about creativity, passion, and finding the courage to be your most authentic self.

Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A historical YA novel that takes place during the Greenwood Massacre of 1921, in an area of Tulsa, OK, known as the Black Wall Street.

If I Tell You the Truth by Jasmin Kaur
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Told in prose, poetry, and illustration, this heartrending story weaves Kiran’s and Sahaara’s timelines together, showing a teenage Kiran and, later, her high school–aged daughter, Sahaara.

Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From award-winning author, Ilona Andrews, an all-new novel set in the New York Times #1 bestselling Kate Daniels World and featuring Julie Lennart-Olsen, Kate and Curran’s ward.

What January 2021 releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post January 2021 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

As Prime magic users, Catalina Baylor and her sisters have extraordinary powers—powers their ruthless grandmother would love to control. Catalina can earn her family some protection working as deputy to the Warden of Texas, overseeing breaches of magic law in the state, but that has risks as well. When House Baylor is under attack and monsters haunt her every step, Catalina is forced to rely on handsome, dangerous Alessandro Sagredo, the Prime who crushed her heart. 

The nightmare that Alessandro has fought since childhood has come roaring back to life, but now Catalina is under threat. Not even his lifelong quest for revenge will stop him from keeping her safe, even if every battle could be his last. Because Catalina won’t rest until she stops the use of the illicit, power-granting serum that’s tearing their world apart. 

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The post Excerpt: Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The first three books focus on Nevada Baylor, a private investigator in a world where magical abilities are the norm and a person’s status in society is determined by their powers and their family bloodline’s track record of producing superior magical offspring. All kinds of abilities are displayed from the usual telepathy, telekinesis, and pyrokinesis to more bizarre and unusual abilities like summoning demons, animating inanimate objects, and purifying or weaponizing toxins. After Nevada’s story concluded, a new trilogy began with Sapphire Flames, which focuses on her sister Catalina and her struggles as she takes over leading the family business and functioning as the Head of House Baylor now that they’ve joined the ranks of the magical elite.

In order to review Emerald Blaze, I need to bring up a couple points regarding Sapphire Flames.

Catalina’s first book felt weaker to me than Nevada’s books, not because she was young and inexperienced (which is an interesting counterpoint to Nevada’s gung-ho, take-charge attitude), but because the love interest was so frustrating. The normal dynamic between the heroine and prospective romantic partner in other Ilona Andrews books has always been one of equals. There is certainly a lot of tension and bickering with ever-shifting power struggles to assert dominance over each other, but both male and female lead are on a level playing field and respect each other’s strength. Alessandro Sagredo was first introduced as a teenage Catalina’s crush and it felt like she never stopped being in awe of him, meaning that he continually walked all over her in Sapphire Flames without being challenged and the disrespect towards her was extremely grating.

Another criticism relates to the extremely out-of-character manner in which Nevada abandoned her position as Head of House, relegating it to Catalina in a fit of pique. It felt like a clunky plot contrivance to justify Catalina being repositioned as the lead of the series and a rare misstep from the writing duo who have released many cohesive and tightly plotted books.

I now stand corrected. If you’re one of the readers who felt as vexed as I did about the above points, PLEASE pick up Catalina’s second book because this was all for good reason! Instead of being poor characterisation or a plot hole, both these elements were INTENTIONALLY written into Sapphire Flames in order for us to see the character growth and plot progression in Emerald Blaze. Alessandro returns and attempts to redeem himself for his earlier arrogant behaviour, but Catalina is justifiably wary of him and certainly makes him work to prove that he’s a changed man! Such a relief that she didn’t simply swoon into his arms despite her hormones singing his praises, there was great tension between Catalina trying to remain professional and unmoved in the face of Alessandro’s sincere effort to reconcile and make amends.

And I won’t spoil the reason for Nevada’s exit from House Baylor, but once the reader find outs midway through this book, it’s absolutely diabolical and makes perfect sense in hindsight, plus it adds a whole new ominous nuance to certain interactions.

That’s it for justifying why reluctant readers should continue with this trilogy if you weren’t totally on board with Sapphire Flames, now let’s look at how Emerald Blaze stands on its own.

Catalina has grown up a lot, gaining more confidence, political savvy, and a more cynical worldview, both from her tutelage under her cold, devious grandmother intent on shaping her into the ideal Head of House and also due to her training under Linus Duncan as a warden. That’s a lot of responsibility to juggle and Catalina isn’t Wonder Woman, as we see in rare moments of vulnerability when she has a panic attack, but it’s a nice contrast to Nevada who always seemed effortlessly capable.

The Baylor family interactions are just as heart-warming and hilarious as ever! They are honestly fictional family goals, the bunch are so loving, kind and fiercely protective of each other, it’s easy to be invested in each member of the family. When danger threatens, it feels like high stakes because I couldn’t bear for any of them to be hurt or possibly killed.

And the romance is perfect here, such a compelling dynamic between a prickly Catalina who has her walls firmly up and a penitent Alessandro who I can finally root for in this book. The love interest who feels like he can EARN the love of the heroine is a toxic trope, but thankfully not present here at all as Alessandro is more focused on aiding Catalina in whatever way he can, regardless of whether or not she forgives him (although obviously he and the reader is hoping she will).

The world-building also just gets better and better, it’s impossible to predict the cool new ways that Ilona Andrews will expand this universe and I always wonder what new challenges could possibly form an obstacle to our super-powered characters, but Emerald Blaze blew me away all over again. The creatures and overarching threat introduced in this book were terrifying and grotesque, presenting a unique menace we haven’t seen before five books into the series while also unexpectedly picking up plot threads from earlier books and developing them further in fresh exciting ways.

Emerald Blaze is a fantastic continuation of this series and I already can’t wait to reread it! For an action-packed plot filled with thrilling magical battles and twisty political intrigue, swoonworthy romance, and sweet familial relationships, you can’t pass this one up. If you haven’t already discovered this series, start with Burn For Me, or if you’d like to skip to Catalina’s story, you can pick it up from the novella Diamond Fire, but I highly recommend you begin from the start!

Emerald Blaze is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 25th 2020.

Will you be picking up Emerald Blaze? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author, continues her spellbinding series set in the Hidden Legacy world where magic controls everything…except the hearts of those who wield it.

As Prime magic users, Catalina Baylor and her sisters have extraordinary powers—powers their ruthless grandmother would love to control. Catalina can earn her family some protection working as deputy to the Warden of Texas, overseeing breaches of magic law in the state, but that has risks as well. When House Baylor is under attack and monsters haunt her every step, Catalina is forced to rely on handsome, dangerous Alessandro Sagredo, the Prime who crushed her heart. 

The nightmare that Alessandro has fought since childhood has come roaring back to life, but now Catalina is under threat. Not even his lifelong quest for revenge will stop him from keeping her safe, even if every battle could be his last. Because Catalina won’t rest until she stops the use of the illicit, power-granting serum that’s tearing their world apart.

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