If you’re after some new fantasy books, Chris Wooding’s The Ember Blade follows Aren as he sets on a quest for the Ember Blade, which is the sword of kings, the Excalibur of his people. Or perhaps Grace Draven’s Phoenix Unbound will be of more interest to you where a young woman is sacrificed every year from each village, but Gilene has been doing it for five years thanks to her magic, but now they want to put a stop to her once and for all…

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below which ones you are most excited for!

For A Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig
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A young woman with a dangerous power she barely understands. A smuggler with secrets of his own. A country torn between a merciless colonial army, a terrifying tyrant, and a feared rebel leader. Heidi Heilig creates a vivid, rich world inspired by Asian cultures and French colonialism. Her characters are equally complex and nuanced, including the bipolar heroine. For a Muse of Fire is an engrossing journey that weaves magic, simmering romance, and the deep bonds of family with the high stakes of epic adventure.

The Sisters of The Winter Wood by Rena Rossner
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Raised in a small village surrounded by vast forests, Liba and Laya have lived a peaceful sheltered life – even if they’ve heard of troubling times for Jews elsewhere. When their parents travel to visit their dying grandfather, the sisters are left behind in their home in the woods. But before they leave, Liba discovers the secret that their Tati can transform into a bear, and their Mami into a swan. Perhaps, Liba realises, the old fairy tales are true. She must guard this secret carefully, even from her beloved sister. Soon a troupe of mysterious men appear in town and Laya falls under their spell-despite their mother’s warning to be wary of strangers. And these are not the only dangers lurking in the woods…

The Ember Blade by Chris Wooding
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A land under occupation. A legendary sword. A young man’s journey to find his destiny. Aren has lived by the rules all his life. But then his father is executed for treason, and he and his best friend Cade are thrown into a prison mine, doomed to work until they drop. Unless they can somehow break free… Rescued by a man who hates him yet is oath-bound to protect him, pursued by inhuman forces, there is revolution is brewing, and Aren is being drawn into it. The key to the revolution is the Ember Blade. The sword of kings, the Excalibur of his people. Only with the Ember Blade in hand can their people be inspired to rise up… but it’s locked in an impenetrable vault in the most heavily guarded fortress in the land. All they have to do now is steal it…

And The Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness
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With harpoons strapped to their backs, the proud whales of Bathsheba’s pod live for the hunt, fighting in the ongoing war against the world of men. When they attack a ship bobbing on the surface of the Abyss, they expect to find easy prey. Instead, they find the trail of a myth, a monster, perhaps the devil himself… As their relentless Captain leads the chase, they embark on a final, vengeful hunt, one that will forever change the worlds of both whales and men.

Salvation by Peter F. Hamilton
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In 2204, humanity is expanding into the wider galaxy in leaps and bounds. A new technology of linked jump gates has rendered most forms of transportation–including starships–virtually obsolete. Every place on earth, every distant planet mankind has settled, is now merely a step away from any other. And all seems wonderful…until a crashed alien spaceship is found on a newly-located world 89 light years from Earth, harbouring seventeen human victims. And of the high-powered team dispatched to investigate the mystery, one is an alien spy…

Ignite The Stars by Maura Milan
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Everyone in the universe knows his name. Everyone in the universe fears him. But no one realises that notorious outlaw Ia Cocha is a seventeen-year-old girl. A criminal mastermind and unrivalled pilot, Ia has spent her life terrorising the Olympus Commonwealth, the imperialist nation that destroyed her home. Now captured and exposed, they see Ia’s age and talent as an opportunity. Soon, Ia is trapped at the Commonwealth’s military academy, desperately plotting her escape. But new acquaintances—including Brinn, a seemingly average student with a closely-held secret, and their charming Flight Master, Knives—cause Ia to question her own alliances. Can she find a way to escape the Commonwealth’s clutches before these bonds deepen?

The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes
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Feisty heroes, tricky gods, murderous demons, and spirited giants are just some of the pleasures that await in this fresh and funny take on Maya mythology, as rich and delicious as a mug of authentic hot chocolate.

Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton
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Long ago, a village made a bargain with the devil: to ensure their prosperity, when the Slaughter Moon rises, the village must sacrifice a young man into the depths of the Devil’s Forest. Only this year, the Slaughter Moon has risen early. Bound by duty, secrets, and the love they share for one another, Mairwen, a spirited witch; Rhun, the expected saint; and Arthur, a restless outcast, will each have a role to play as the devil demands a body to fill the bargain. But the devil these friends find is not the one they expect, and the lies they uncover will turn their town—and their hearts—inside out.

Time’s Convert by Deborah Harkness
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A passionate love story and a fascinating exploration of the power of tradition and the possibilities not just for change but for revolution, Time’s Convert channels the supernatural world-building and slow-burning romance that made the All Souls Trilogy instant bestsellers to illuminate a new and vital moment in history, and a love affair that will bridge centuries.

Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven
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Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire’s capital–her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village’s tithe has been the same woman. Gilene’s sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses. But this year is different. Azarion, the Empire’s most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion–and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. And unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan. To protect her family and village, she will risk everything to return to the Empire–and burn once more.

The Seclusion by Jacqui Castle
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In the year 2090, America has walled itself off from the rest of the world. When her father is arrested by the totalitarian Board, a young woman sets out to escape the only country she’s ever known. While on a routine assignment scouting the viability of dwindling natural resources outside the massive urban centers most American citizens call home, Patricia ’Patch’ and her co-worker Rexx discover a relic from the past containing dangerous contraband―unedited books from before The Seclusion. These texts will spark an unquenchable thirst for the truth that sees Patch’s father arrested by the totalitarian Board.

Daughters of Forgotten Light by Sean Grigsby
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Lena “Horror” Horowitz leads the Daughters of Forgotten Light, one of three vicious gangs fighting for survival on Oubliette. Their fragile truce is shaken when a new shipment arrives from Earth carrying a fresh batch of prisoners and supplies to squabble over. But the delivery includes two new surprises: a drone, and a baby. Earth Senator Linda Dolfuse wants evidence of the bloodthirsty gangs to justify the government finally eradicating the wasters dumped on Oubliette. There’s only one problem: the baby in the drone’s video may be hers.

Check out our other September book picks on our Goodreads list!

Any other releases you’re excited to read this month? Tell us in the comments below!

The post September Book Releases: Fantasy + Sci-Fi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Our entire nation had been lied to for decades. Millions murdered to fit a narrative. We had no idea what was taking place outside the Walls. Whether we were being protected as we were told, or caged. We lived lives guided primarily by fear.

I was given The Seclusion in exchange for an honest review! I am so happy to have had the opportunity to read and review Jacqui Castle’s debut novel!

Set in a dystopian future in the year 2090, America has enclosed itself to the outside world by building walls around all surrounding borders to keep out unwanted immigrants and terrorists. The Wall is meant to protect the residents of America. Sound familiar? The government controls everything. Where people live, what they watch, what they eat, where they go; every aspect of their lives is controlled by a faceless entity referred to as “The Board”.

The Board provides. The Board protects. I am grateful for the protection.

This phrase is ingrained into every citizens’ brain—including Patch. Patch is the protagonist of the story and wants nothing more in this life than to keep her head down. She wants to do her job by taking samples of the earth to determine the toxicity levels, and tend to her tiny garden in front of her apartment. Patch has always obeyed the laws, taking every video and public service announcement the Board sends out to heart. She shuns and steers clear of others who have turned their backs on the government and is constantly questioning why anyone would ever question the Board or want to leave the comfort of the Walls.

However, her point of view starts to shift when Patch and her friend Rexx discover an old broken-down van while on one of their assignments. Despite her initial reaction to immediately report the van, Patch and Rexx search the vehicle for any clues of what life was like before the Wall. What they find is simply a glimpse into life many years before their time. The van is loaded with maps and books; contraband that is illegal now that The Board is in charge. Hiding this discovery would surely mean punishment or perhaps even death. It’s too late to turn back now though, as Patch’s curiosity has sparked into a burning flame.

The duo decides to confide in her parents and show them the vehicle to hopefully garner some more information and truly understand what is happening. After an awkward car ride to the van, Patch and Rexx show them their discovery. Although shocked at the finding, her father is familiar with the books and recounts what his life was like during The Board’s overtaking of the country. Patch and Rexx are dumbfounded and can’t believe what they are hearing. They have been lied to their entire lives; knowing nothing other than what their parents and the Board has been feeding them.

After digesting this information, they return to their homes. However, after dropping off her parents and taking Rexx back to his apartment, they receive a message. “Geoffrey Collins is being held in federal custody on charges of treason. An investigation into the charges has begun. You will be informed of the results.” Patch’s father had already been taken into custody only shortly after returning home. Thoughts and fears race through their minds as they know it’s only a matter of time before The Board will be after them as well. They must decide—run and try to find life beyond the Wall, or stay, and most likely face their death for committing treason.

Rexx and Patch ultimately decide to take their chances to try to find a new life for themselves beyond their polluted city. The journey they embark on is filled with adventures, quirky new characters, and dangerous encounters.

I don’t want to further spoil anything, but this novel has been a fun surprise to read. The world that Jacqui Castle creates could potentially be a very relatable one sooner than we think and it is interesting to even think about this type of dystopian future.

Overall, I give this book an 8 /10. If you’re a fan of The Hunger Games or Divergent series, I highly recommend The Seclusion to you. The only reason I didn’t rate it higher is because of detail. I wish she would have delved into life before the Wall and maybe even did a deeper back story on Patch’s family. The full book is around 290 pages, but I sincerely believe it could have easily been 600 if she would have added more detail. Other than that, the book was a fantastic and exciting novel. I look forward to following Patch’s journey and other work from Jacqui Castle.

The Seclusion is now available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Will you be checking out The Seclusion? Or have you read it already? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

In the year 2090, America has walled itself off from the rest of the world. When her father is arrested by the totalitarian Board, a young woman sets out to escape the only country she’s ever known.

While on a routine assignment scouting the viability of dwindling natural resources outside the massive urban centers most American citizens call home, Patricia ’Patch’ and her co-worker Rexx discover a relic from the past containing dangerous contraband―unedited books from before The Seclusion. These texts will spark an unquenchable thirst for the truth that sees Patch’s father arrested by the totalitarian Board.

Evading her own arrest, Patch and Rexx set out across a ruined future United States, seeking some way to escape the only home they’ve ever known. Along the way, they learn about how their country came to be this way and fall in love. But their newfound knowledge may lead to their own demise.

The post Review: The Seclusion by Jacqui Castle appeared first on The Nerd Daily.