About This House Will Feed: Amidst the devastation of Ireland’s Great Famine, a young woman is salvaged from certain death when offered a mysterious position at a remote manor house haunted by a strange power and the horror of her own memories in this chillingly evocative historical novel braided with gothic horror and supernatural suspense for readers of Katherine Arden’s The Warm Hands of Ghosts and The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins. Released January 27th 2026.

I’m so happy to see that Gothic and horror are having their moment once again, and with more debut authors to choose from than ever before, it lightens the heart to think that so many readers will have the opportunity to be introduced to my first love: Gothic historical fiction.

I find it interesting that one of the consistent themes in reviews for This House Will Feed is surprise that most of the horror comes from the historical events that allow Maggie’s story to unfold. To fans of Gothic historical fiction, the source of that horror should come as no surprise, as the very hallmark of a true Gothic tale is that the horror is grounded in reality, whether it’s an event, or something supernatural that can be explained away once the main character has all the information. At its core, Gothic horror bleeds into psychological thriller, blurring the lines between reality and human nature in ways that should leave the reader in a state of contemplation.

To that end, I’d like to introduce you to six other Gothic books — not all Gothic historical fiction — that utilize either history, folklore, or human nature to tell a story; books that would fall apart without those elements, ones with the ability to spark conversation and leave you staring at the wall as you parse through every twist and turn.

Conjure Women by Afia Atakora

One of my favorite reads of 2020, Conjure Women utilizes the uncertainty of post-Civil War-era to weave a story, in dual-timeline, that uses the supernatural to complement the realistic struggle of former slaves as they strive to find their identities in a kind of limbo between slavery and freedom. The history is horrific, the supernatural is creepy, but the spotlight shines brightly on character development and the resilience of people in the face of adversity.

Parting the Veil by Paulette Kennedy

I’m an avid Kennedy fan, and her 2021 debut was a standout release for me. It’s packed with all the hallmarks of a traditional Gothic — a heartbreaking past, a sexual orientation that was most definitely frowned upon in the 1809s, a ramshackle estate, a broody love interest, and things that go bump in the night. The twist in this book will have you re-reading for clues — and those clues are there — only to marvel at the beautiful way the entire story came together.

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

Like Parting the Veil, The Hacienda sports all the hallmarks of a classic Gothic, giving us a slow burn that turns to a gallop as we race to the end. A spectacular story that dives into colonization, forbidden romance (we stan a questionable priest!), and the energetic imprint of real-life horror turning into something supernatural, this book uses historical events to delve into the horror aspects that make this novel a must-read.

She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran

Taking a slight detour into the world of YA, She Is a Haunting takes no prisoners, planting us firmly into the ominous from page one. With a classic slow burn that allows the creepiness and supernatural to slowly seep into our veins, we’re as surprised as Jade when we find ourselves in the thick of it. With a complicated family dynamic, and secrets that threaten to drown the house, She Is a Haunting utilizes the in-between and disconnect of living in the diaspora — something that resonates for me as an immigrant — as the catalyst for the horror, and it’s executed flawlessly.

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

Another YA, White Smoke isn’t the first book one thinks of when the term “Gothic” is tossed around. However, for me, this was an obvious Gothic. We have the house, things that go bump in the night, the slow, creeping horror, a complex character, and a twist firmly rooted in reality. This book had all the ingredients I love, including an “is it/is it not” thread as the haunting of the house echoes a haunting of another kind: Mari’s addiction. The reality twist in this book preyed upon a very real fear of mine, so needless to say, I was left breathless by the end!

Hokuloa Road by Elizabeth Hand

Swerving back into the world of Adult, Hokuloa Road jets us into modern day Hawaii to give us a Gothic steeped in folklore, mystery, and terror. Not a conventional Gothic, it still carries the hallmarks, where the setting (in this case, a compound instead of a crumbling mansion) fuels the supernatural forces, and the goal of those forces is to protect the land, and its people, from the incursion of tourists and those who would destroy the land for profit. This one not only left me staring at the wall, but rocking back and forth. I don’t scare easily, but this one left me reeling.

The post Six Intriguing Gothic Reads To Pick Up Next appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Guadalupe García McCall is the award-winning author of Secret of the Moon Conch, Under the Mesquite, Summer of the Mariposas, Shame the Stars, All the Stars Denied, and Echoes of Grace. She has received a Pura Belpré Author Award, a Westchester Young Adult Fiction Award, and the Tomás Rivera Mexican-American Children’s Book Award, and was a finalist for the William C. Morris Award and the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy. She advocates for literacy and diverse books. She lives with her husband in Texas.

Releasing June 11, Hearts of Fire and Snow sees award-winning authors David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall reimagine a beloved Aztec tale of star-crossed lovers with one last chance to reunite.

There’s nothing more alluring than a shady porch swing on a warm, sunny afternoon when it’s too hot to get out but too beautiful to stay indoors. The luxury of such a space can only be made even more relaxing when we lose ourselves within the pages of a great book. And while there are many genres to entice us, none is quite as delicious and tempting as the Romantic Fantasy or Romantasy.

Whatever the contours be—Epic Fantasy, Alternative History, Urban Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, Steampunk, Historical Fantasy, xianxia, etc.—the sheer joy of slipping into a book filled with not just romance but all kinds of magical, mystical, and fantastical elements truly appeals to readers young and old.

On that note, David Bowles and Guadalupe McCall have curated a list of six swoony romantasies guaranteed to make you curl up on that porch swing dreaming of extraordinary worlds with heroic characters engaged in wondrous, magical adventures while they fall in love.

Some suggestions from Guadalupe:

The Vampire’s Bargain by Jasmine Walt

There are two things I love more than anything in a novel: Vampires is one and Witches are a very close, very marginal, third to Werewolves. So, when I saw the title and then read the description, I was all in! 

Kitana Nightshade is one of the most powerful witches in Valentaera. A fierce defender of witchkind and humanity, she stands against the vicious threat of the vampire kingdom until her lover betrays her in cold blood, sealing her away in a magical prison. For fifty long years, Kitana dreams of vengeance. But when she is finally freed, it is by Maximilian, an enigmatic vampire lord. He offers a bargain—assassinate the vampire king, and he’ll help her take back her coven and get revenge. Kitana wouldn’t normally work with a vampire. (Me? I would totally ally, marry, hunt with and do all kinds of vampire things till the end of days.) But the world has changed. The sun has disappeared, the vampires have conquered the human kingdoms, and the witches are nowhere to be found. In a world shrouded by darkness and abandoned by the gods, she needs help. But she’s not expecting to fall for Maximilian.

If you’re ready for a great enemies-to-lovers slow burn romance, then go ahead, take a bite out of this book.

Tales of the Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan

I have to admit, I haven’t read Sue Lynn Tan’s Celestial Kingdom romance fantasy novels yet, but they’re in my pile. So when I saw this collection of short stories, I thought it would be the best way to dig into her highly acclaimed, bestselling books, especially because the tales are all set before, during, and after the events in Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior.

Tales from the Celestial Kingdom collects nine spellbinding stories set in the enchanting world of Sue Lynn Tan’s stunning debut. Filled with magic and mythology, friendship and love, these stories intertwine through the past, present, and future of the two novels, told from the perspectives of multiple characters, including Chang’e, Shuxiao, Liwei, and Wenzhi.

Another feature I adore in books is artwork and this book is beautifully illustrated by Kelly Chong. If you love to have your mind, heart, and eyes completely immersed in a whole other world, full of the kind of drama that carries you away, then this book is for you!

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of my most beloved authors. She never fails to bring on the chills and squeals out of me. Mexican Gothic is still my favorite book from her thus far. If you haven’t read it already, then now is the time to do so.

However, when I saw she had another book coming soon, I  just had to put it on this list. Even though it doesn’t drop until August 6, The Seventh Veil of Saloma  is technically still a summer read, so I say let’s all pre-order it and sit on our hands on our metaphorical porch and wait for it. Because based on this description, it’s going to be epic!

A young woman wins the role of a lifetime in a film about a legendary heroine—but the real drama is behind the scenes in this sumptuous historical epic. It’s 1950s Hollywood, and every actress wants to play Salome in a big-budget movie about the legendary woman and her tragic obsession with John the Baptist.

When the film’s director casts unknown Mexican actress Vera Larios in the lead role, she becomes the talk of the town and an object of envy for Nancy Hartley, a bit player whose career has stalled and who will do anything to win the fame she believes she richly deserves. Two actresses, both determined to make it to the top in Golden Age Hollywood make for a sizzling combination. Add to it a series of love interests that reflect the legend of Salome, and you get the interwoven stories of three women torn between duty and the yearning of their heart. Before the curtain comes down, there will be tears and tragedy aplenty in this sexy Technicolor saga. I have to admit, I love the promise of a heartbreaking, harrowing premise on this one!

Some suggestions from David:

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

Vampires of El Norte combines elements of horror, romance, and historical fiction to create a chilling narrative. The book alternates POV chapters between Nena and Néstor, initially a teenage couple in northeastern Mexico in 1837, a time when tensions are on the rise between local Mexican ranchers and Anglo settlers crossing the border from Texas. Nena is fascinated by her grandmother’s folktales, especially of the menacing Cuco, that sucks the blood of its victims and leaves them to die.

One night, the teens’ planned tryst is interrupted by a monstrous being that drains Nena of her blood. Néstor, believing her dead, withdraws from the world for nine long years. Néstor drowns his sorrows in a life of debauchery, while Nena, who has survived and believes herself abandoned by her beloved, trains as a healer in the art of home remedies.

Nena and Néstor unexpectedly reunite when the Anglos bring a full-scale war to Mexico. Nena struggles to forgive Néstor for leaving her and succumbing to a life of vice. But (of course) their romance slowly rekindles in the sweet middle portion of the book, even as the Mexican-American War breaks out and the couple grapples with fear of the unspeakable horror they encountered.

Isabel Cañas carefully balances the historical, romantic, and Gothic folk horror aspects of the novel while offering a freshly creative and compelling depiction of vampires, which she uses as cyphers for the real terrors of aggression and nationalist war. A stunning and swoony Weird Western love story!

Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

In an alternate world where humans, elves, and fae have fought to carve out spaces for their separate peoples, Yeeran is a warrior in the elven army. She has known nothing but violence her whole life. Her sister, Lettle, makes a living as a diviner while seeking prophecies of a better future. When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran’s exile from the Elven lands, they are both forced into the terrifying wilderness beyond their borders. There they encounter the impossible: the fae, who haven’t been seen for a millennium. But Yeeran and Lettle are thrust into the seductive fae court and find themselves torn between their loyalty to their elven homeland and each other, and to their hearts. For the sisters find themselves drawn inexorably toward two people: Yeeran to the genderfluid fae “princess” Furi, whom she lusts after even while initially hating, and Lettle to Rayan, the Captain of Yeeran’s regiment, who has followed the sisters into this realm … and whose tragic fate Lettle is devastated to augur.

The first book of a trilogy, Faebound plays brilliantly with the tropes of the genre, giving us Black elves and lots of queer representation, from Sapphic love to nonbinary fae. Highly recommended! 

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (translated by Suika)

Xianxia is a genre of fantasy popular in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, a blend of magic and martial arts. One of the main elements is the existence of mage warriors who “cultivate” (add to and strengthen) their spiritual energy (chi) through various means, making themselves more powerful and often virtually immortal.

A danmei (gay) webnovel in this genre that took the world by storm is 魔道祖师 (Mó Dào Zǔ Shī, popularly referred to as MDZS), translated into English as five bestselling volumes titled Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. The series centers on two very different men. One is Wei Wuxian, orphaned as a child, who, while fiercely loyal and just, is also a sarcastic rogue with little patience for tradition and tendency to see the world in shades of gray. The other is Lan Wangji, his polar opposite, a quiet proponent of tradition and proper cultivation from a very respectable clan.

The two study together as young men and become very close (each harboring an unspoken, unrequited desire for the other). But various twists of fate lead Wei Wuxian to start cultivating using darker energy derived from ghosts and revenants. He is eventually killed in a massive conflict among clans … but returns thirteen years later in a new body, reconnecting with Lan Wangji as they try to understand the villains behind the scenes. They realize they feel more for each than friendship, and a really amazing romance blossoms between them.

When the novel was adapted for TV (the English title is Untamed), the Chinese government’s prohibition of LGBTQ content meant their love became more brotherly, though clearly gay-coded. If you decide to watch it, I recommend reading the books first.

The post Six Swoony Romantasies For Warm, Sunny Afternoons appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas, which is out now!

As the daughter of a rancher in 1840s Mexico, Nena knows a thing or two about monsters—her home has long been threatened by tensions with Anglo settlers from the north. But something more sinister lurks near the ranch at night, something that drains men of their blood and leaves them for dead.

Something that once attacked Nena nine years ago.

Believing Nena dead, Néstor has been on the run from his grief ever since, moving from ranch to ranch working as a vaquero. But no amount of drink can dispel the night terrors of sharp teeth; no woman can erase his childhood sweetheart from his mind.

When the United States attacks Mexico in 1846, the two are brought abruptly together on the road to war: Nena as a curandera, a healer striving to prove her worth to her father so that he does not marry her off to a stranger, and Néstor as a member of the auxiliary cavalry of ranchers and vaqueros. But the shock of their reunion—and Nena’s rage at Néstor for seemingly abandoning her long ago—is quickly overshadowed by the appearance of a nightmare made flesh.

And unless Nena and Néstor work through their past and face the future together, neither will survive to see the dawn.

Nena
Octubre 1837

It was often said that a strange kind of magic ran in the water of Rancho Los Ojuelos, the kind that made the Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca go mad, the kind that made mustangs swift and the land rich. Nena knew, even as a child, that magic was a turn of phrase. A way that adults talked about bounty and blessings: with reverence, and perhaps a bit of fear, for when you had much, you never knew how much of it could be lost.

She and Néstor were thirteen that year. She knew that magic, in as many words, was not real. But as summer’s heat stretched thin and reached into fall, there was something she sensed whenever she set her palms to the soil of the herb garden behind la casa mayor or turned her face to the twilight-bruised sky. A strangeness. A ripple of unease. An understanding, though timid at first, that perhaps there was some truth to the stories of blood-hungry, nightmarish beasts and river ghosts that the abuelas on the rancho spun to keep children close to home after sunset. A sense that there was a reason to watch one’s back when shadows grew long.

Perhaps magic was the wrong word altogether.

For what Nena and Néstor found that night was monstrous.

For the second time that week, Nena slipped out from under her blankets, stone floor cool beneath her bare feet. She had waited for hours, sleepless, her mind racing as she counted the heavy breaths of her younger sister and cousins. At last it was time. The moon hung full outside the bedroom’s single window, heavy as a bag of coins. By its light, she snatched an already dirty dress and slipped it over her head. It already had a muddied hem; the plans she and Néstor had would make it dirtier still. He would already be waiting for her by the anacahuita trees, a shovel in hand. Ready to dig. Ready to test the last of the fireside stories that they still believed.

Of all of Néstor’s Abuela’s stories, the tale of the Spanish count’s buried silver paled in comparison to the lurid imagery of El Cuco, cloaked and carrying a child’s severed head in the crook of his arm. When the children of the rancho settled around Abuela’s feet in a crescent of devout supplicants, they begged for La Llorona’s wails or the long talons of La Lechuza, not the tale of a well-heeled Spaniard perishing of exhaustion in the chaparral. Nena no longer feared boogeymen or ghosts snatching at her plaits when rain lashed the rancho and lightning fractured the broad, black sky. In the last year, Tejas had been ripped out of México, leaving a gaping wound in its wake. She had learned that there were real monsters to be mindful of now.

Which was why the tale of buried silver beckoned her. Its promise was a coin with two gleaming sides: the first, protection for the rancho at a time when its safety hung in the balance.

The second: a life of her choosing.

After the events of the last week, she knew she would not be at ease until she had both. Until she felt certainty about her future as concretely as cold metal in the palm of her hand.

When she pushed the bedroom door, it gave a mournful, arthritic creak. She froze, heart drumming in her ears. If Mamá woke and found her now, she would receive a sharp slap and be sent back to her room; the next morning open with a lecture on how inappropriate it was for a young woman of her age to be sneaking into the night.

But no one stirred. Not in the girls’ bedroom, nor in any of the other rooms of la casa mayor. Holding her breath, she crept across the great room to the door. Slipped on her boots with practiced silence, then tiptoed onto the patio.

Night slipped over her warm skin like stepping into cool water, sending a pleasant shudder over her shoulders. October days were hot, but when the sun set, autumn announced itself with a nip in the air, its smell piney and crisp with the promise of change.

Beyond the kitchen vegetable garden grew a copse of anacahuita trees. In the moonlight, their trunks gleamed silver with secrets. Néstor’s slim shadow waited for her there, leaning casually against the trunk of the largest tree. The boy who had kept step with her, as close as her own shadow, since they first met five years ago.

Nena hiked up her skirts and ran toward him.

He straightened at her approach. “There you are.”

His voice was like coming home. It loosened the unease that had curled in her chest all week.

“Sorry I’m late.” The words hitched as she caught her breath.

“I heard about the Anglos,” said Néstor softly.

She searched for his eyes in the dark. Had to tilt her chin up a bit more than usual to do so. It seemed as if every time he came back from three or four days in the chaparral with the other vaqueros, he was half a hand taller. His voice was changing, too. Sometimes it was ragged like torn cloth, other times it shifted and creaked like an oak in a playful breeze. But its tone was as it always had been: a question. An invitation. A door she could either open or shut.

That was the way it was with Néstor. If she chose to barrel through the door and pour out her thoughts like a torrent, he would listen. If she kept the door shut, he would ask no further questions.

Three days ago, when Néstor was in the chaparral, bearded strangers had appeared on Rancho Los Ojuelos seeking its patrón. Vaqueros brought them to la casa mayor, the great central house of the rancho, to speak to Nena’s papá, Don Feliciano Serrano Narváez. Nena had peered around the corner that separated la casa mayor’s outdoor kitchen from the patio, where the family dined and Papá received guests. The strangers were lean men, road-hardened and parched as strips of beef left out to dry into acecina. When they removed their hats, they revealed high points of faces reddened by wind and sun and pale, hungry eyes.

Nena’s mouth went dry when she realized they were Anglos. From Kansas, they said, their Spanish ripped and creased in all the wrong places. They had moved through Tejas and come farther south, seeking land. Did the patrón know of any for sale? Was he interested in selling any of his cattle?

It was like seeing El Cuco materialize before la casa mayor to ask after something as ordinary as horses for sale, one clawed hand caressing the severed head he always carried. These were the creatures of tall tales and nightmares come to life and walking in broad daylight.

Papá had kept the conversation brief, barely granting the strangers the courtesy of the shade of the patio. No, he said to all their questions. Firmly. Politely. No, and no again.

But as he watched their retreating backs, his black mustache twitched. Nena watched as he shifted his weight and clasped his hands behind his back, fidgeting with the signet ring he wore on his left hand. Apprehension circled over his shoulders like vultures. It spread to Nena. It spread to the rest of the rancho.

And so, the evening after the Anglos had appeared and left, she eavesdropped, ear pressed against her wooden bedroom door, straining to make out the irregular rise and fall of argumentative voices in la casa mayor. The women of the family had retreated from la sala as the men gathered: Papá, Nena’s elder brother Félix, and Mamá’s own brothers, the three de León uncles who also lived on the rancho. Everyone had heard of increases in cattle theft. Of good men—rancheros, even—vanishing in the night, leaving widows and unguarded land in their wake. Stories slinked like snakes through the ranchos of las Villas del Norte, the five great towns that hugged the lazy bends of Río Bravo, rattling their warnings from house to house. Had not some of Papá’s own vaqueros come to Los Ojuelos after fleeing the bloody seizure of the rancho where they used to live, the Dos Cruces land just south of San Antonio de Béxar?

Everyone knew that the appearance of a few Anglos was the harbinger of worse to come.

Excerpted from VAMPIRES OF EL NORTE by Isabel Cañas, published by Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. Copyright © 2023 by Isabel Cañas.

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Described as Mexican Gothic meets Rebecca, read on to learn more about her debut, writing, book recommendations and more!

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

I’m a Mexican American writer who loves all things gloriously Gothic and spooky. I got my start writing fantasy and stumbled into horror when a story about a stubborn young woman, a priest with dark secrets, and a crumbling house of spirits seized me by the throat and wouldn’t let me go. That story became The Hacienda, my first novel. I love coffee, thunderstorms, the dozens of propagated pothoses currently staging a coup of my office, and daydreaming my afternoons away. The latter has somehow become my full-time job and I could not be happier!

How has the first half of 2022 been for you?

It has been a tempest! I finished writing my PhD dissertation and successfully defended it the day before The Hacienda was released. Finishing seven years of graduate school and publishing my first novel in the same 24-hour period was a seismic moment of change, and honestly, I’m still reeling from it.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

I have a distinct memory of dictating stories to my older sister before I even learned how to write. I must have been about four years old! I am blessed to come from a family of brilliantly witty storytellers—in one way or another, narrative has always been a central part of my life.

Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!

One of the first books I remember reading was Zlata’s Diary: A Child’s Life In Wartime Sarajevo, by Zlata Filipovic. I was about eight years old and homeschooled and a voracious reader who seized everything my mom brought into the house. In 2015, The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh was the first novel I read that made me realize that becoming an author was within reach. It was also the first time I flipped back to a book’s acknowledgements and looked up the author’s agent to put on a list to one day query. One novel I just can’t stop thinking about The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews—the chemistry in this book lives in my head rent free!

Your new novel, The Hacienda, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Atmospheric, Gothic, suspenseful, romantic, and eerie.

What can readers expect?

Haunted home improvement with a side of the hot priest from Fleabag… but make it Mexican. In all seriousness: The Hacienda is first and foremost a suspenseful, spooky yarn about things that go bump in the dark, but it also has witches where you least expect them, a bittersweet touch of romance, and a critical look at structures of power in post-colonial Mexico.

Where did the inspiration for The Hacienda come from?

As a child, I lived in many houses. My family moved about every four years between when I was born and when I moved away to university. I became aware at a young age of how houses have different atmospheres, different vibes, if you will, and had the misfortune of living in one or two that felt deeply uncomfortable. Were they haunted? Maybe, maybe not—but they certainly fed my already wild imagination and fear of the dark.

Can you tell us a bit about the challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?

As much as I love the Gothic, I’m actually a huge weenie when it comes to horror. I accidentally gave myself nightmares as I wrote the hauntings that plague Beatriz when she moves into Hacienda San Isidro! (The solution? Reader, I very maturely insisted that my husband be the one to turn off the lights at night.)

Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I really loved writing the quiet moments between Beatriz and Padre Andrés. Building their careful, tender friendship was my own respite from writing the terrors of Hacienda San Isidro.

What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?

Worst: I distrust anything that begins with you must or must not do x. Every writer (and every book!) is different. The great task of the writer’s life is to learn and relearn their own practice as the seasons of their lives change.

Best: Keep your eyes on your own paper. Professional jealousy can shred precious industry friendships, and nine times out of ten, it’s simply not a productive emotion. (That tenth time is when you can channel that jealousy into writing. Personally, spite has launched me into many a productive writing session, but YMMV!)

What’s next for you?

My next Adult novel with Berkley is scheduled for Summer 2023! I can’t say much about it yet, but it includes several elements that are similar to The Hacienda: 1) nineteenth-century Mexican history, 2) romance, and 3) that hair-raising sense, when the candles die, that something in the dark is watching you.

I’m in the midst of revising it and am absolutely obsessed with the characters. I hope readers will be too!

Lastly, do you have any 2022 book recommendations for our readers?

I just finished reading the Gothic and atmospheric fantasy novel House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson. Elegant, dark decadence doesn’t even begin to describe this lush tale of depravity, sensuality, and horror. It’s out in September, so preorder it now and thank me later!

You can find Isabel on Instagram and at her website.

Will you be picking up The Hacienda? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Isabel Cañas, Author of ‘The Hacienda’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

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

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

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

JANUARY

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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

Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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

Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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

Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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

Echoes and Empires by Morgan Rhodes
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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

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

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

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

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

FEBRUARY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MARCH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

APRIL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JUNE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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