Hello second half of 2023 and hello to all the incredible upcoming book releases we can look forward to!

In this round up, we take a look at some of the most exciting titles to be released between the months of July and December with releases from the likes of Rachel Lynn Solomon, Temi Oh, Chuck Wendig, VE Schwab, Cassandra Clare, Rebecca Yarros, Christina Henry, and many more, along with delightful debuts from new authors you should keep on your radar!

Read on to discover just a few of our favourite July to December 2023 releases and tell us in the comments if you’re looking forward to any of them! Looking for our January to June releases? Check them out here.

JULY

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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A ghostwriter and a struggling actor help each other on the page and in the bedroom in this steamy romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Talk.

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong
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Inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, Immortal Longings is a fiery collision of power plays, spilled blood, and romance amidst a set of deadly games.

Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates
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From bestselling author Darcy Coates comes Dead of Winter, a remote cabin in the snowy wilderness thriller that will teach you to trust no one. There are eight strangers. One killer. Nowhere left to run.

Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino
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Jenny Han meets CODA in this big-hearted YA debut about first love and Deaf pride at a summer camp.

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle
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A searing and earnest horror debut about the demons the queer community faces in America, the price of keeping secrets, and finding the courage to burn it all down.

Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto
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Gideon the Ninth meets the Game of Thrones White Walkers in this dark young adult fantasy about a disgraced ghost-fighting warrior who must journey into a haunted wasteland to rescue a kidnapped prince.

Light Bringer by Pierce Brown
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Darrow returns as Pierce Brown’s New York Times bestselling Red Rising series continues in the thrilling sequel to Dark Age.

The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey
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Four women come together to save the summer camp that changed their lives and rediscover themselves in the process in this moving new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil and the Peachtree Bluff series.

Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson
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An exhilarating and expansive new novel about fathers and sons, faith and friendship from Caleb Azumah Nelson, the no.1 bestselling, award-winning author of Open Water.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
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From New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center comes Hello, Stranger, a novel about finding love, confronting a haunting past, and figuring out what, and who, really matters…

The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons
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From the USA Today bestselling author of The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett comes a heartwarming story of found family, love, and making connections through books set against the bombing of London during WWII.

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem
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A fugitive queen strikes a bargain with her greatest enemy that could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever in this unmissable Egyptian-inspired epic fantasy debut. 

AUGUST

Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt
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A teen girl looking for the truth about her missing mother forms a reluctant alliance with her former best friend…in exchange for hiding him from his cult-leading family.

I’m Not Done With You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto
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Some friends–and friendships–are worth killing for in this dark, twisty suspense novel by national bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto.

The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
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Inspired by a classic of martial arts literature, S. L. Huang’s The Water Outlaws are bandits of devastating ruthlessness, unseemly femininity, dangerous philosophies, and ungovernable gender who are ready to make history—or tear it apart.

Accidentally in Love by Danielle Jackson
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A delightful rom-com where grumpy-meets-sunshine collides with enemies-to-lovers in this perfect summer novel, written for fans of Kate Stayman-London, Olivia Dade, and Denise Williams.

Guardians of the Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones
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Sailor Moon meets Cinder in Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, the start of a new, richly imagined fantasy series from S. Jae-Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong.

The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter
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The New York Times bestselling YA author of the beloved Gallagher Girls series bursts onto the adult scene with a fast-paced, hilarious road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

More Perfect by Temi Oh
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A reimagining of the Greek myth of Eurydice and Orpheus, for fans of Becky Chambers and William Gibson by Alex Award–winning author Temi Oh.

Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine
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The Push meets The Silent Patient in a gripping thriller that follows a woman convinced a sinister figure is going to great lengths to make sure her pregnancy never happens—while the men in her life refuse to believe a word she says.

Actually Super by Adi Alsaid
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A globetrotting novel that takes a determined teen from Japan to Australia and to Argentina and Mexico on a quest to prove that humanity is more good than bad from the author of Let’s Get Lost and Before Takeoff.

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman
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From the beloved New York Times bestselling author of The Marriage of Opposites and the Practical Magic series comes an enchanting novel about love, heartbreak, self-discovery, and the enduring magic of books.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
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From USA Today bestselling author T. Kingfisher, Thornhedge is the tale of a kind-hearted, toad-shaped heroine, a gentle knight, and a mission gone completely sideways.

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
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Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast.

SEPTEMBER

This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin
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Fake dating gets a magical twist in this enchanting queer romantic comedy where a witch worries that the real feelings brewing between her and her crush were sparked by an accidental love potion, and the only way out of the disastrous spell is a healthy dose of the truth–drink up, witches.

The Fragile Threads of Power by V. E. Schwab
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V. E. Schwab, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, opens another door to a new fantasy series set in the dazzling world of Shades of Magic.

Dreambound by Dan Frey
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In this thrilling contemporary fantasy novel, a father must uncover the secret magical underbelly of Los Angeles to find his daughter, who has seemingly disappeared into the fictional universe of her favorite fantasy series.

The September House by Carissa Orlando
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A woman is determined to stay in her dream home even after it becomes a haunted nightmare in this compulsively readable, twisty, and layered debut novel.

The Salvation Gambit by Emily Skrutskie
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A hotheaded hacker must outwit the AI at the heart of a rogue warship–turned–penal colony if she and her crew of con women want to escape with their lives in this electrifying sci-fi thriller from the acclaimed author of Bonds of Brass.

Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig
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A small town is transformed by dark magic when a strange tree begins bearing magical apples in this new masterpiece of horror from the bestselling author of Wanderers and The Book of Accidents.

The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie
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A spellbinding YA fantasy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathryn Purdie, where fairy tales come to life with dark, deadly twists.

The Long Game by Elena Armas
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A disgraced soccer exec reluctantly enlists the help of a retired soccer star in coaching a children’s team in this smalltown love story in the vein of Ted Lasso and It Happened One Summer —from the New York Times bestselling author of The Spanish Love Deception.

The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan
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The first adventure in the Mirror Realm Cycle, a Spanish Inquisition-era fantasy trilogy inspired by Jewish folklore, with echoes of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden.

Mermaids Never Drown: Tales to Dive For
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14 Young Adult short stories from bestselling and award-winning authors make a splash in Mermaids Never Drown – the second collection in the Untold Legends series edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker – exploring mermaids like we’ve never seen them before!

Fly With Me by Andie Burke
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A sparkling and steamy opposites-attract romance, Fly with Me by Andie Burke is filled with sharp banter and that sweet, swooping feeling of finding “the one” when and where you least expect it.

Champion of Fate by Kendare Blake
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake is back with an epic duology starter that follows a young woman training to join a fabled order as she attempts to lead a hero to his critical first victory. A must-read for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Victoria Aveyard.

OCTOBER

Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender
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The National Book Award-winning author of  Felix Ever After  delivers a beautifully tender story of two grumpy/sunshine, fake-dating actors navigating their love story both on and offscreen—perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Alexis Hall.

Making It So: A Memoir by Patrick Stewart
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A revealing portrait of an artist whose astonishing life—from his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England, to the heights of Hollywood and worldwide acclaim—proves a story as exuberant, definitive, and enduring as the author himself

Unholy Terrors by Lyndall Clipstone
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Midnight Is The Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead
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From the critically acclaimed author of In My Dreams I Hold A Knife and The Last Housewife comes a gothic Southern thriller about a killer haunting a small Louisiana town, where two outcasts—the preacher’s daughter and the boy from the wrong side of the tracks—hold the key to uncovering the truth.

Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco
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The adult debut of #1 New York Times bestselling author Kerri Maniscalco, Throne of the Fallen is a seductive new standalone novel set within her fan-favorite Kingdom of the Wicked world, perfect for readers of fantasy, romance, and mystery alike.

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
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Two outcasts find themselves caught in a web of forbidden love, dangerous magic, and dark secrets that could change the world forever in the start of a riveting epic fantasy series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Shadowhunter Chronicles.

Wildfire by Hannah Grace
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The latest in the TikTok sensation and deliciously “swoonworthy” (Elena Armas, New York Times bestselling author) Maple Hills series follows two summer camp counselors who reconnect after a sizzling one-night stand.

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker
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New from the author of The Keeper of Night comes a YA fantasy duology set in an alternate Tang Dynasty China, where a poor biracial girl with the ability to raise the dead gets caught up in the dangerous political games of the royal family.

The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey
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Bestselling authors Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey have teamed up to deliver a dark new story with magic, monsters, and mayhem, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman and Joe Hill.

Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros
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Frankenstein meets Inglourious Basterds in this stunning Jewish historical horror novel from the award-winning author of The City Beautiful.

The Intern by Michele Campbell
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A young Harvard law student falls under the spell of a charismatic judge in this timely and thrilling novel about class, ambition, family and murder.

Juniper’s Christmas by Eoin Colfer
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From acclaimed, mega-bestselling author Eoin Colfer comes a Christmas classic-in-the-making–a beautifully illustrated novel about an eleven-year-old girl’s wild adventure to find her mother, protect a public park, and save Christmas.

NOVEMBER

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
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In this clever and swoonworthy YA debut from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, life’s moving pieces bring rival chess players together in a match for the heart.

Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper
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Amara’s journey has taken her far; from a slave in Pompeii’s wolf den to a high-powered courtesan in Rome… though her story is not over yet. While Amara plays for power in Rome’s imperial palace, those dearest to her remain in Pompeii. But it is AD 79, and mighty Mount Vesuvius is about to make itself known…

Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry
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A sharp-edged, supremely twisty thriller about three women who find themselves trapped inside stories they know aren’t their own, from the author of Alice and Near the Bone.

The Future by Naomi Alderman
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From the award-winning, bestselling author of The Power comes a white-knuckle tour de force and dazzling exploration of the world we have made and where we are going.

Sun of Blood and Ruin by Mariely Lares – Publication has now changed to February 20, 2024
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Rumor has it on the streets of sixteenth-century New Spain, there’s a new vigilante in town serving justice. This reimagining of Zorro–featuring a heroic warrior sorceress–weaves Mesoamerican mythology and Mexican history two decades after the Spanish conquest into a swashbuckling, historical debut fantasy with magic, intrigue, treachery, and romance.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
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Murtagh by Christopher Paolini
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Master storyteller and internationally bestselling author Christopher Paolini returns to the World of Eragon in this stunning epic fantasy set a year after the events of the Inheritance Cycle. Join Dragon Rider—and fan favorite—Murtagh and his dragon as they confront a perilous new enemy!

Didn’t See That Coming by Jesse Q. Sutanto
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A hilariously fresh and romantic send-up to You’ve Got Mail about a gamer girl with a secret identity and the online bestie she’s never met IRL until she unwittingly transfers to his school, from the bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties, The Obsession, and Well, That Was Unexpected.

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
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The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in What the River Knows, Isabel Ibañez’s lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt and filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng
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Yellowjackets meets She Is a Haunting in this debut speculative thriller that follows a disgraced teen idol who comes face-to-face with the demons of her past in a glittering, cutthroat K-pop competition.

The Fascination by Essie Fox
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The estranged grandson of a wealthy collector of human curiosities becomes fascinated with teenaged twin sisters, leading them into a web of dark obsessions. A dazzlingly dark gothic novel from the bestselling author of  The Somnambulist.

Emmett by L. C. Rosen
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A modern-day gay YA Emma, with the spikey social critique of Austen plus the lush over-the-top romance of Bridgerton.

DECEMBER

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura
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Rival archaeologists must team up on a secret Aztec expedition, or it could leave their careers—and hearts—in ruins.

The Ruined by Renée Ahdieh
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The stunning conclusion to the instant New York Times bestselling quartet that began with The Beautiful.

A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford
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From bestselling author and TikTok sensation A.K. Mulford comes the first riveting, enchanting book in the all-new Golden Court romantasy trilogy–A River of Golden Bones begins a journey of self-discovery, romance, and adventure for a young heir as she/they comes out of hiding to save her sister from a malicious, powerful sorceress and her dangerous sleeping curse.

Perfect Little Lives: A Novel by Amber and Danielle Brown
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Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson
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Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven, Abigail Johnson draws a searing and lyrical portrait of grief, forgiveness, and the kind of love that blooms in the aftermath.

Second Chances in New Port Stephen by T.J. Alexander
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A trans man returns to his Florida hometown for Christmas after his career goes up in flames, only to cross paths with his high school ex in this charming rom-com about family and second chances from the author of the “delectable” (Time) Chef’s Kiss.

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
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Two wolf shifters agree to be fake mates but unexpectedly find something real in this steamy paranormal romantic comedy by Lana Ferguson.

The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra
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A woman learns to follow her own road in this heartwarming novel inspired by The Wizard of Oz by New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra.

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

The post Get Your Hands On These Anticipated July To December 2023 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #3) by Holly Black
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, comes the highly anticipated and jaw-dropping finale to The Folk of the Air trilogy.

Fate of the Fallen by Kel Kade
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Everyone loves Mathias. Naturally, when he discovers it’s his destiny to save the world, he dives in head first, pulling his best friend Aaslo along for the ride. However, saving the world isn’t as easy, or exciting, as it sounds in the stories. The going gets rough and folks start to believe their best chance for survival is to surrender to the forces of evil, which isn’t how the prophecy goes. At all. As the list of allies grows thin, and the friends find themselves staring death in the face they must decide how to become the heroes they were destined to be or, failing that, how to survive.

The Deep by Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes
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The water-breathing descendants of African slave women tossed overboard have built their own underwater society—and must reclaim the memories of their past to shape their future in this brilliantly imaginative novella inspired by the Hugo Award–nominated song “The Deep” from Daveed Diggs’s rap group clipping

The Andromeda Evolution (Andromeda #2) by Daniel H. Wilson and Michael Crichton
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Fifty years after The Andromeda Strain made Michael Crichton a household name—and spawned a new genre, the technothriller—the threat returns, in a gripping sequel that is terrifyingly realistic and resonant.

Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan
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In this mesmerizing sequel to the New York Times bestselling Girls of Paper and Fire, Lei and Wren have escaped their oppressive lives in the Hidden Palace, but soon learn that freedom comes with a terrible cost.

Song of the Crimson Flower by Julie C. Dao
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From the acclaimed author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns comes a fantastical new tale of darkness and love, in which magical bonds are stronger than blood.

Life and Limb by Jennifer Roberson
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A biker and a cowboy must stop the apocalypse in the first book of the Blood and Bone modern western fantasy series.

Her Crown of Fire by Renee April
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In the dull, everyday world, seventeen-year-old Rose Evermore struggles to plan beyond her final year of high school. But when fire suddenly obeys her every command and her dreams predict the future, she becomes hungry for more of this strange power.

Rage by Jonathan Maberry
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Rage is the first title in Jonathan Maberry’s brand new Joe Ledger spin-off series of international weird science thrillers.

Wake, Siren: Ovid Resung by Nina MacLaughlin
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In voices both mythic and modern, Wake, Siren revisits each account of love, loss, rape, revenge, and change. It lays bare the violence that undergirds and lurks in the heart of Ovid’s narratives, stories that helped build and perpetuate the distorted portrayal of women across centuries of art and literature.

Knight of the Silver Circle (Dragonslayer #2) by Duncan M. Hamilton
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From the author of the beloved Society of Sword and Wolf of the North trilogies, Duncan M. Hamilton’s Knight of the Silver Circle –the sequel adventure-packed fantasy to Dragonslayer in The Dragonslayer trilogy–is perfect for fans of magical beasts and unexpected heroes.

Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep comes a haunting romance set deep in the magical snow-covered forest, where the appearance of a mysterious boy unearths secrets that awakens the enchanted, but angry, woods.

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

The post November 2019 Fantasy + Sci-Fi Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

You know what we bookish people love apart from reading about great characters and intricate stories? Amazingly designed covers!

Cover-buys are totally a thing and in the last few years, we have seen young adult designers upping their game and that is directly reflecting on our TBR stacks. This year is no exception and, as a result, it was really hard to narrow down this list!

10. Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix by Julie C. Dao
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Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix is the sequel to Forest of a Thousand Lanterns in the Rise of the Empress series, which went through a major cover change. Sometimes cover changes don’t really work and just make us angry, but this time we don’t mind! The new covers are so pretty that it’s difficult to stop staring at them. The flowery patterns and the bold red background make this book stand out on the bookshelves.

The series is an East Asian reimagining of the Evil Queen legend and revolves around the character of Xifeng, a girl who has to use her dark powers in order to fulfil her destiny and become the Empress.

9. The Truth Lies Here by Lindsey Klingele
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Let’s say you’re looking for a good young adult thriller. Everyone knows it’s not a good idea to read the synopsis (or at least the entirety of it) to have the best shocking reading experience. In this scenario, wouldn’t this cover make you immediately and unbiasedly want to buy The Truth Lies Here without having heard anything about it?

The smart use of the shadow created by the body of the girl to make the title suggests that the main character could have something to hide. The maroon shades of the woods also contribute to the atmosphere and the beauty of the cover.

No spoilers, of course, but this book revolves around Penny, an aspiring journalist who decides to work with two boys of completely different backgrounds in order to find her father and the truth behind multiple murders.

8. Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman
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After debuting with Starfish, Akemi Dawn Bowman released a new contemporary this year, and the cover looks as stunning as the previous one. The colours and the background wave immediately give a fresh summer-y vibe that are totally on brand given that this book takes place in Hawaii and features a surfer.

Rumi, the main character of this story, has to deal with the grief that comes with the loss of her sister, and she seems to be metaphorically represented by the bird taking flight.

7. My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows
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My Plain Jane is the second book in the hilarious Lady Janies series which retells the stories of different historical Janes in a fantastical and funny way. This cover totally represents the story and makes us laugh without even opening the book thanks to the little scribbled comments. However, the most amazing characteristic of this cover is the colour contrast. Who knew light blue and fluorescent yellow could work so well together? Let’s hope we get another outstanding colour combination on the cover for the next book!

6. Goodbye, Perfect by Sara Barnard
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Sara Barnard’s covers are always shiny and spectacularly artistic and Goodbye, Perfect is no exception. Every detail was perfectly taken care of: the gold foil sunflower, the typography and the colours all contribute to make this book stand out between all others on a bookshelf.

Goodbye, Perfect is about two best friends and the problems that arise when a big secret is revealed.

5. The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James
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This sci-fi with contemporary vibes was first published last year in the UK, but this year it was finally released in the United States as well with a different and amazing new cover.

The title and the illustration perfectly match in their message; the simplicity of it all is what makes the reader understand that the book is totally centred on the girl in the middle. Romy Silvers is in fact the main character and in the story she’s the only survivor on a spaceship directed to a new human colony which is… years and years apart.

4. Sadie by Courtney Summers
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Sadie is Courtney Summers’ first book published by the new Macmillan YA and adult coming-of-age imprint Wednesday Books, and we can see that in the style change of the author’s book covers. While her previous covers relied more on photography, Sadie’s cover is striking in its own way with a lot of white space that gives the beautiful central illustration of the main character, her red hoodie, the title and the author’s name the importance they deserve. The illustration is perfect to represent the vibe of the story: that is only the last detail that makes this cover one of the best of 2018.

This dark contemporary standalone talks about two sisters—one murdered, one in search of revenge—in an original podcast format.

3. Fierce Like a Firestorm by Lana Popović
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As its predecessor Wicked Like a Wildfire, Fierce Like a Firestorm has a lovely flowery cover and a solid background. The inside of the book is also as beautifully written as the outside suggests. This fantasy with poetic imagery revolves around two sisters dealing with their magical powers and a curse that haunts their family line.

2. What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
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What If It’s Us is the collaboration everyone was waiting for: what is better than Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera working together on a LGBT contemporary, merging their cute and heartbreaking styles? What we weren’t expecting was that the book would have such a great cover. The pastel colour scheme works wonderfully to attract our attention but the best part is the detailed illustration of the main characters. Sometimes having characters on book covers stops us readers from imagining our own version of the characters, but this time the illustration is so fitting that we can only admire it and wish we could get more collaborations between these authors (and of course similar covers) in the future.

The book is about two boys who meet-cute at a post office and slowly fall in love with each other.

1. Blood of a Thousand Stars by Rhoda Belleza
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This cover couldn’t have not been the number one of this list. The sci-fi sequel and conclusion to Empress of a Thousand Skies has such a gorgeous cover that it outshines all others, including the cover of the first book. The galaxy plus the profile of the Asian model inside the pink nebula (we love inclusive covers!) make this cover an instant favourite and might encourage some readers to buy this book without even reading the synopsis. This duology follows two unlikely allies as they try to save the galaxy from a conspiracy.

Are there any other great YA book covers that you would add? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 10 Amazing YA Book Covers From 2018 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri
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A nobleman’s daughter with magic in her blood. An empire built on the dreams of enslaved gods. Empire of Sand is Tasha Suri’s captivating, Mughal India-inspired debut fantasy perfect for readers of City of Brass and The Wrath & the Dawn.

Toxic by Lydia Kang
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Cyclo, the first and largest biological ship of its kind, is dying. A small crew of mercenaries have handed over the rights to their life to document the death of the ship, but the abandoned ship is anything but abandoned—one girl has been left behind. Hana has known nothing but the isolation of a single room and the secret that has kept her there for seventeen years. When she meets Fennec, the boy assigned to watch her, she realizes that there is a world she has yet to experience but she is doomed to never meet.

Breach by W.L. Goodwater
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When Soviet magicians conjured an arcane Wall to blockade occupied Berlin, the world was outraged but let it stand for the sake of peace. Now after 10 years of fighting with spies instead of spells, the CIA has discovered the wall is failing. Operatives from East and West converge on the most dangerous city in the world to stop or take advantage of the crisis. Karen, a young magician with the American Office of Magical Research and Deployment, is sent to investigate the breach in the Wall and see if it can be reversed. Instead she will discover that the truth is elusive in this divided city, and that even magic itself has its own agenda.

How To Fracture A Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen
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Fantasy legend Jane Yolen presents a wide-ranging offering of fractured fairy tales. Yolen fractures the classics to reveal their crystalline secrets, holding them to the light and presenting them entirely transformed; where a spinner of straw into gold becomes a money-changer and the big bad wolf retires to a nursing home. Rediscover the tales you once knew, rewritten and refined for the world we now live in―or a much better version of it.

The Blue Salt Road by Joanne Harris
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So begins a stunning tale of love, loss and revenge, against a powerful backdrop of adventure on the high seas, and drama on the land. The Blue Salt Road balances passion and loss, love and violence and draws on nature and folklore to weave a stunning modern mythology around a nameless, wild young man.

Hazards of Time Travel by Joyce Carol Oates
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An ingenious, dystopian novel of one young woman’s resistance against the constraints of an oppressive society. Arresting and visionary, Hazards of Time Travel  is both a novel of harrowing discovery and an exquisitely wrought love story that may be Joyce Carol Oates’s most unexpected novel so far.

Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix by Julie C. Dao
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This fairy tale retelling lives in a mystical world inspired by the Far East, where the Dragon Lord and the Serpent God battle for control of the earthly realm; it is here that the flawed heroine of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns finally meets her match. An epic fantasy finale to the Rise of the Empress novels.

The Mortal Word by Genevieve Cogman
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The fifth title in Genevieve Cogman’s witty and wonderful Invisible Library series, The Mortal Word is a rollicking literary adventure. Peace talks are always tricky, especially when a key diplomat gets stabbed. This rudely interrupts a top-secret summit between the warring dragons and Fae. As a neutral party, Librarian-spy Irene is summoned to investigate. She must head to a version of 1890s Paris, with her assistant Kai and her detective friend Vale, where these talks are fracturing. Here, she must get to the bottom of the attack – before either the peace negotiations or the city go up in flames.

City of Broken Magic by Mirah Bolender
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Five hundred years ago, magi created a weapon they couldn’t control. An infestation that ate magic—and anything else it came into contact with. Enemies and allies were equally filling. Only an elite team of non-magical humans, known as sweepers, can defuse and dispose of infestations before they spread. Most die before they finish training. Laura, a new team member, has stayed alive longer than most. Now, she’s the last—and only—sweeper standing between the city and a massive infestation.

Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch
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Join Peter Grant, detective and apprentice wizard, for a brand new case . . . Martin Chorley, aka the Faceless Man, wanted for multiple counts of murder, fraud, and crimes against humanity, has been unmasked and is on the run. Peter Grant, Detective Constable and apprentice wizard, now plays a key role in an unprecedented joint operation to bring Chorley to justice. But even as the unwieldy might of the Metropolitan Police bears down on its foe, Peter uncovers clues that Chorley, far from being finished, is executing the final stages of a long term plan. A plan that has its roots in London’s two thousand bloody years of history, and could literally bring the city to its knees.

Navigating The Stars by Maria V. Snyder
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Terra Cotta Warriors have been discovered on other planets in the Milky Way Galaxy. And Lyra Daniels’ parents are the archaeological Experts (yes with a capital E) on the Warriors and have dragged her to the various planets to study them despite the time dilation causing havoc with her social life. When one of the many Warrior planets goes silent, and looters attack her research base, Lyra becomes involved in discovering why the Warriors were placed on these planets. And, more importantly, by who.

Outrun The Wind by Elizabeth Tammi
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The Huntresses of Artemis must obey two rules: never disobey the goddess, and never fall in love. After being rescued from a harrowing life as an Oracle of Delphi, Kahina is glad to be a part of the Hunt; living among a group of female warriors gives her a chance to reclaim her strength, even while her prophetic powers linger. But when a routine mission goes awry, Kahina breaks the first rule in order to save the legendary huntress Atalanta.

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In case you missed it, Bloomsbury will be releasing another special house edition of Harry Potter this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Chamber of Secrets! Just like the special edition for Sorcerer’s Stone, this new house edition will contain “new artwork, house colours, and additional illustrations and content”.

To celebrate the new edition, we are going to give you some book recommendations according to hogwarts houses virtue! These virtues can be seen on the cover of the houses edition, and corresponds to the house represented in the cover.

Tell us which Hogwarts house is yours in the comments below!

GRYFFINDOR
COURAGE – BRAVERY – DETERMINATION

The Bear and The Nightingale by Katherine Arden: Set in medieval Russia, where women must marry and live a secluded life apart from society and where the old gods of Russia are fading by the power of Christianity, our main character Vasya fights hard to save herself, her family, and her village from ancient evil even though it caused people to label her as a witch and disgrace her family.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee: The classic, Atticus Finch courage, bravery, and determination in defending Tom Robinson’s is the finest example of Gryffindor’s traits.

The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh: A 1001 Nights retelling, our main character, Sharzhad, volunteer as the next bride to Khalid, even though it is a guaranteed death sentence for her to avenge her best friend death’s by his hand.

SLYTHERIN
PRIDE – AMBITION – CUNNING

Vicious by VE Schwab: The whole problem of this book starts from the ambition of Victor and Eli, thinking they are better than the rest and playing God with themselves. This ambition and pride of them causing one of them to go into prison while the others become a serial killer.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: No spoilers, but the characters in this book are all very cunning, it’s scary to read.

Forest of A Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao: Retelling on the origin of the Evil Queen, Xifeng embodies the best and worst quality of Slytherin: pride and ambition that helps her reach what she wants but also cause her to be ruthless to people who are in her way, and cunning mind that help her strategize and think before making her move.

HUFFLEPUFF
DEDICATION – PATIENCE – LOYALTY

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: Even though Bod is a human, the graveyard ghosts are his family and their dedication, patience, and loyalty towards each other help set the tone of this book.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill: When Xan accidentally feed baby Luna moonlight, she decided to raise her together with the swamp monster Glerk and tiny dragon Fyrian. This family might look unusual, but they have a lot of love between them.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: 6 criminals working together to pull off an impossible heist… It seems impossible that this group could pull this off without killing each other but as the story goes, it became clear that this group has only loyalty towards each other.

RAVENCLAW
WIT – LEARNING – WISDOM

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: The well-known classic, Elizabeth and Darcy are both witty (a lot of verbal sparring here) and learned a lot about each other and the effect of first impressions.

Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub: Set after Romeo and Juliet, where Verona has plunged into chaos following the death of the famous lovers, Rosaline has to fend for herself to escape the feud and an arranged married using her mind only.

The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom: When Eddie was killed after saving a girl from a fallen ferris wheel, he learned that heaven is not a place, it’s where his life is explained by 5 people, revealing questions about his life. This is a book that definitely makes you think about your life and your connection with others.

Any books tickle your house pride? Tell us in the comments below!

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Snow White and the Evil Queen is arguably one of the most famous fairytales and we all know the story by heart, especially since there are countless of movies to remind us what is it about. This tale also caused many retellings to be created, whether it’s about Snow White, the prince, the dwarves, or the Evil Queen herself. A Forest of A Thousand Lanterns is about the latter and it is set against the backdrop of glittering East Asian empire in the city of Feng Lu.

The world building is one of the strong points in this book and it is lush, vivid, and detailed, but it’s not too detailed that it bores you. Feng Lu is obviously inspired by dynasty-time China, the  Imperial Palace itself is an imitation of The Forbidden City. It’s a delight to explore the palace, revel in the secret passages and splendour of the palace through the eyes of our main character, Xifeng.

This brings me to my next point, Xifeng is not your typical main character. She’s not nice and she’s not shy. She’s beautiful and she knows it—she wields her beauty as her weapon and uses it to fulfil her supposed destiny as the Empress of Feng Lu. She’s cunning, cold, ruthless, and vain. She should be the type of character that readers dislike, but the author paints her in such an amazing way that I couldn’t help being intrigued by her. She managed to enter the palace and survive the court politics through the combination of her beauty, cunning, and perseverance, so you can’t help but admire her.

Other people in the court are not helpless either; they are just as cunning and determined as Xifeng in holding onto their position. The queen, the princes, the concubines, the eunuchs… even the maid. However, they are not as fleshed out as Xifeng is, and since we see them through Xifeng eyes, what we get is what Xifeng feels about them—so about 99% of the time is perceiving them as a threat. Since Xifeng is pretty proud and vain with her beauty, there will be a lot of physical descriptions in this book and Xifeng’s judgement towards those people.

For a book that set in a palace, the politics and power struggle are not disappointing either. We could see the rise and fall, the push and pull of power within the palace. The plot moves nicely and allows us readers to be part of the politics and growth of characters. It unfolds the magical aspect of the stories, about Gods and Lords, in the right pacing, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the world and the stories about the kingdoms.

All in all, Forest of A Thousand Lantern is a strong series opener. With its lush world building, ancient magical power being at work, and an anti-hero as the main character, this book is definitely a page-turner and I’m intrigued of how Xifeng’s story would end. If you’re looking for a fairytale retellings, specifically about The Evil Queen, this book is for you.

Have you read this book? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

An East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl’s quest to become Empress–and the darkness she must unleash to achieve her destiny.

Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her. Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng’s majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high?

Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins–sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.

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