Hello and welcome back! How have you been since we last spoke for the release of Oath of Fire?

It’s been an exciting time! Since then I’ve changed jobs and moved all the way across the country. In a lot of ways it feels like I’m in a new era of my life—one I really like.

Daughter of the Hunt is the second installment in your Oath of Fire and it’s out March 17^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Sapphic survivalist story, ropes involved.

For those who haven’t picked up Oath of Fire, what can readers expect?

This one is fairly standalone! It ties in only at the beginning at end, so you’re totally cool to pick this one up if you haven’t read Oath. In this setting, gods exist in a kind of parallel world to ours. A god exists in both their humanoid form and in the court they rule—a kind of pocket dimension tied to whatever they rule over.

Daughter of the Hunt retells the myth of Artemis and Iphigenia: a girl is sacrificed so that her family can win a war, and Artemis trains her as a handmaiden. It’s a book about learning to stand on your own, finding things to live for, and the healing power of the wilderness. It’s also about kink.

And for those who have, what’s to come in Daughter of the Hunt?

There are plenty of new gods to meet—we get to see Ares in this one, along with Hermes and some of the others. Plus there’s a cameo from Eros, as well!

What was the inspiration behind selecting the myth of Iphigenia and Artemis?

I’ve always loved this one. There aren’t many truly happy stories in Greek myth, and the idea of a goddess saving you from your terrible family always appealed to me. It’s also an interesting piece of the backdrop to the greater Trojan war. We hear a lot about Helen, of course, and lately a lot about Clytemnestra—but Iphigenia herself is usually used as a plot device. I wanted to explore what it was like to be her.

I think sacrificing for others is something we can all relate to. And I think sometimes we’re all looking for someone who will see us and teach us how to live for ourselves.

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

Honestly, the kink scene! I was hard stuck on this book for a long while (more on that shortly), but it really came together when I understood this scene better. Romance novels live or die on their chemistry and there’s so much you don’t know about your characters until you see them get intimate. Their whole dynamic really clicked for me here.

Did you face any challenges? How did you overcome them?

I was hard stuck on this book for ages. I’ve never been so stuck on a novel before, really. Originally I had planned for this to be a polyam work, but when I couldn’t make those pieces fit the way I wanted them to, I had little idea how to keep going. It wasn’t until I had a discussion with a friend about Ace-spectrum folks and kink that I figured out how I wanted to approach it. I’ve always found the dynamics of topping and bottoming very interesting—dom and sub also—so I decided to really lean into those here.

Were there any key lessons learned from your previous retelling that helped with Daughter of the Hunt?

I didn’t want to stick too closely to the myth this time—and I wanted to keep all the other elements I’d introduced into the plot simple. The retelling should be able to stand on its own. I got a little lost in the sauce of the worldbuilding on Oath of Fire; this is a much more focused project. Keeping my attention trained on just Iphigenia and Artemis for so much of it let them grow in what I hope to be a very organic way.

What’s next for you?

Nothing I can talk about! But whatever it is, it’s definitely going to be queer or nerdy and more than likely both.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?

Omens of Chaos, by Seanan McGuire, is dropping pretty soon! I can’t wait to dig in.

Will you be picking up Daughter of the Hunt? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: K. Arsenault Rivera, Author of ‘Daughter of the Hunt’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

Of course! I’m a terminally online turbo nerd of all kinds. For most of my life I’ve lived in New York City, these days with my two partners and my Magic the Gathering collection. Oath of Fire is my fourth book–my debut was The Tiger’s Daughter. I’ve been fascinated by fantasy pretty much my whole life.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

Very young. English actually isn’t my first language–when I moved to the mainland, all I spoke was Spanish. There was some pretty relentless bullying at school as a result. Stories were a big way for me to practice my English.

By the time I was in fifth grade, I’d gone from not speaking any English at all to reading anything I could get my hands on. Often books way above my reading level. Even back then, though, I had an abiding love for Greek Myth.

So. . .I was probably always going to write a Greek myth retelling some day.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The Hero and the Crown, Robin McKinley
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Lioness Quartet, Tamora Pierce
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I think my loved ones would be content if I never said the names ‘Carmilla’ or ‘Sheridan LeFanu’ again.

Your latest novel, Oath of Fire, is out August 13^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Contemporary, wistful, resilient, secretive, fantastical.

What can readers expect?

Eros and Psyche have one of the oldest and most interesting stories out there. Psyche becomes one of the very few heroes to travel into the Underworld and come out victorious–and she does that by building a community around her to help. That’s at the beating heart of this version of the story. Psyche starts out in a very lonely, isolated place; one I think a lot of people can relate to. She’s desperately trying to find the place she belongs.

Eros is also looking for a sense of purpose. Being the God of Love isn’t an easy task. For millennia her only interaction with love has been as work. Sometimes very brutal work, at that, which starts wars or long feuds. She wants to find something real again.

The two wind up colliding at a sexy masquerade ball.

Where did the inspiration for Oath of Fire come from?

Before I dropped out of college I took a bunch of classes on Classics. They’d always been one of my great passions and I wanted to learn as much as I could. We must have spent about half a semester talking about Eros and Psyche alone; they really stuck with me as a result. When you think of the people who have successfully journeyed through the Underworld (not you, Orpheus), you’ve really got only three or four people. Hercules is one. . .and Psyche is another.

Combine that with a recent fixation of mine on Fey and stuff like that and it was just a natural thing. Gods in myths are always a little unknowable, and the modern day idea of Fey is very similar. I wanted to give them rules, to make them dangerous beings that could and might harm you at any moment. Which only makes them hotter, really.

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

There’s a sequence toward the end of the book that involves a chase through the Prospect Park Zoo and into the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. I made pretty much the same walk every week when I was a kid. Of course, the stakes weren’t so life and death, but it was awesome to be able to have such a nostalgic place be a setpiece in my book!

Can you tell us a bit about your process bringing Oath of Fire to life?

I really focused on the first three chapters. They came first, carefully crafted to draw the reader in just as Psyche was being pulled into the fey realm. I wanted to make sure the sense of decadence–and the sense of danger–were there from the start.

While I focused on that, I also wrote a top level outline of where the rest of the book would go. It was pretty standard after that–I just wrote to my outline. There were a lot of spots I have to fill in, since the you that writes the outline is never the you that writes the book, but that sort of thing is always a fun conversation with yourself.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on the followup to Oath of Fire! You’ll probably also see my name on some other work soon, but I can’t say exactly what.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?

I loved I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea. The sequel is coming out in November and I’d love to get my hands on it!

Will you be picking up Oath of Fire? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: K. Arsenault Rivera, Author of ‘Oath of Fire’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and take a peek at Our Joy, Our Power by Julian Winters. Cool. Awkward. Black. is out January 10th 2023.

A girl who believes in UFOs; a boy who might have finally found his Prince Charming; a hopeful performer who dreams of being cast in her school’s production of The Sound of Music; a misunderstood magician of sorts with a power she doesn’t quite understand.

These plotlines and many more compose the eclectic stories found within the pages of this dynamic, exciting, and expansive collection featuring exclusively Black characters. From contemporary to historical, fantasy to sci-fi, magical to realistic, and with contributions from a powerhouse list of self-proclaimed geeks and bestselling, award-winning authors, this life-affirming anthology celebrates and redefines the many facets of Blackness and geekiness–both in the real world and those imagined.

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The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Cool. Awkward. Black.’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Magic, monsters, meddling mothers, mysteries, and more all await you amongst 2023’s upcoming young adult books! From authors such as Marie Lu, Alexandra Bracken, Ibi Zoboi, Steven Salvatore, and Adiba Jaigirdar, along with those making their dazzling debut this year, there are so many books to look forward to.

We’ve rounded up 72 YA books releasing between the months of January and June, so you will definitely find quite a few exciting new reads within this list. Be sure to check out our other 2023 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, Romance, Middle Grade, and Queer Books lists!

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below what you are looking forward to!

JANUARY

Cool. Awkward. Black.
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A multi-genre YA anthology of bestselling, critically acclaimed Black authors challenging the concept of the geek, featuring contributions from Amerie, Kalynn Bayron, Terry J. Benton-Walker, Roseanne A. Brown, Elise Bryant, Tracy Deonn, Desiree S. Evans, Isaac Fitzsimons, Lamar Giles, Jordan Ifueko, Leah Johnson, Amanda Joy, Kwame Mbalia, Tochi Onyebuchi, Shari B. Pennant, K. Arsenault Rivera, Julian Winters, and Ibi Zoboi.

A Ruinous Fate by Kaylie Smith
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A Ruinous Fate series will take readers’ imaginations to new heights on an adventure of dark secrets, witches, and forbidden magic.  

Retro by Jarrod Shusterman & Sofía Lapuente
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What starts off as a light-hearted competition to live without modern technology for a year turns into a fight for survival in this unputdownable young adult thriller by New York Times bestselling author Jarrod Shusterman and debut author Sofía Lapuente.

The Buried and the Bound by Rochelle Hassan
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A contemporary fantasy YA debut from Rochelle Hassan about monsters, magic, and wicked fae, perfect for fans of The Darkest Part of the Forest and The Hazel Wood.

Friday I’m in Love by Camryn Garrett
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It’s too late for a Sweet Sixteen, but what if Mahalia had a coming-out party? A love letter to romantic comedies, sweet sixteen blowouts, Black joy, and queer pride.

Brighter Than the Moon by David Valdes
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Lauded writer David Valdes offers a heartfelt, clever, and thought-provoking story about how we figure out who we want to be–online and IRL–for fans of David Levithan and Adam Silvera.

Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman
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Twin sisters, both on the run, but different as day and night. One, a professional rogue, searches for a fabled treasure; the other, a changeling, searches for the truth behind her origins, trying to find a place to fit in with the realm of fae who made her and the humans who shun her. 

City of Nightmares by Rebecca Schaeffer
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Gotham meets Strange the Dreamer in this thrilling young adult fantasy about a cowardly girl who finds herself at the center of a criminal syndicate conspiracy, in a city where crooked politicians and sinister cults reign and dreaming means waking up as your worst nightmare.

The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim
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To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets Pride and Prejudice in this delightful and heartfelt rom-com about a Bangladeshi American teen whose meddling mother arranges a match to secure their family’s financial security—just as she’s falling in love with someone else.

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
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The Davenports delivers a totally escapist, swoon-worthy romance while offering a glimpse into a period of African American history often overlooked.

Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare
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James and Cordelia must save London—and their marriage—in this thrilling and highly anticipated conclusion to the Last Hours series from the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare. Chain of Thorns is a Shadowhunters novel.

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao
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In a fallen kingdom, one girl carries the key to discovering the secrets of her nation’s past—and unleashing the demons that sleep at its heart. An epic fantasy series inspired by the mythology and folklore of ancient China.

FEBRUARY

The Headmaster’s List by Melissa de la Cruz
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Set against the glitz and glamour of an elite LA private school, Melissa de la Cruz’s first YA thriller is an addictive mystery perfect for fans of Gossip Girl and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.

The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa
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El Diablo is in the details in this Latinx pirate fantasy starring a transmasculine nonbinary teen with a mission of revenge, redemption, and revolution.

This Time It’s Real by Ann Liang
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Get ready to fall in love in this hilarious romcom about a girl who begins a fake relationship with the famous actor in her class, perfect for fans of Meg Cabot and Jenny Han.

My Flawless Life by Yvonne Woon
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Yvonne Woon, author of If You, Then Me, has crafted a slow-burn thriller about fixing—our friends, ourselves, and our complicated pasts. For fans of Allegedly and We Were Liars, My Flawless Life features a compelling narrator who grapples with the secrets of her private school classmates as well as her own life.

Revelle by Lyssa Mia Smith
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Inspired by Moulin Rouge! and set on an island in a magical version of Prohibition-era New York, Revelle is a breathtaking YA stand-alone fantasy full of dazzling magic, romance, and mystery from debut author Lyssa Mia Smith.

Out of Character by Jenna Miller
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Dumplin’ meets Geekerella in debut author Jenna Miller’s queer, body-positive love story that explores online and offline relationships in all of their messiness.

Lola at Last by J. C. Peterson
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This Pride and Prejudice–inspired tale, a companion to J. C. Peterson’s Being Mary Bennet, spins a modern Lydia Bennet’s life into a tumultuous and hilarious coming-of-age journey, complete with misadventures, misunderstandings, mayhem, and a romance worthy of Darcy and Elizabeth themselves. 

She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
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A House with a terrifying appetite haunts a broken family in this atmospheric horror, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic.

When You Wish Upon a Lantern by Gloria Chao
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Acclaimed author Gloria Chao creates real-world magic in this luminous romance about teens who devote themselves to granting other people’s wishes but are too afraid to let themselves have their own hearts’ desires—each other.

Chaos Theory by Nic Stone
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The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin delivers a gripping romance about two teens: a certified genius living with a diagnosed mental illness and a politician’s son who is running from his own addiction and grief. Don’t miss this gut punch of a novel about mental illness, loss, and discovering you are worthy of love.

Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim by Patricia Park
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The award-winning author of Re Jane makes her young adult debut in a funny, poignant, and powerful novel about a multicultural teen struggling to fit into her whitewashed school, her diverse Queens neighborhood, and even her own home as her family reels from the loss of her father.

Nightbirds by Kate J. Armstrong
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In a dazzling new fantasy world full of whispered secrets and political intrigue, the magic of women is outlawed but four girls with unusual powers have the chance to change it all.

MARCH

Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute by Sayantani DasGupta
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New York Times bestselling Sayantani DasGupta brings her trademark wit and insight to this bright and funny Sense and Sensibility retelling!

Made of Stars by Jenna Voris
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Inspired by the lawless love story of Bonnie and Clyde, Jenna Voris’s heart-stopping tale of passion and crime will have you seeing stars.

Dear Medusa by Olivia A. Cole
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This searing and intimate novel in verse follows a sixteen-year-old girl coping with sexual abuse as she grapples with how to reclaim her story, her anger, and her body in a world that seems determined to punish her for the sin of surviving.

Study Break: 11 College Tales from Orientation to Graduation
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Study Break, a collection of interconnected contemporary Young Adult short stories written by Gen Z authors, explores different parts of “the college experience,” from questioning your major to questioning your identity.

Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa
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A young adult graphic novel about high school wallflower Belle Hawkins, who ends up in a love triangle after tutoring the girlfriend of her crush.

Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell
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Perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson and Tamora Pierce, this standalone YA debut is a stunning cottagecore fantasy romance about a girl with powerful and violent magic, which she must learn to control—or lose everything she loves.

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu
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The Hating Game meets Mission: Impossible in this smoldering new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu about a superstar tapped to become a secret agent and the reluctant young spy assigned to be his partner.

Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz
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In this explosive fantasy debut, a provincial girl must work with an infuriatingly handsome prince to escape a nightmarish curse that forces them to relive the same night over and over.

The Memory Eater by Rebecca Mahoney
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A teenage girl must save her town from a memory-devouring monster in this piercing exploration of grief, trauma, and memory, from the author of The Valley and the Flood.

Royal Blood by Aimée Carter
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An American girl becomes the British Monarchy’s greatest nightmare in this thrilling new series where royal scandals just got deadlier.

There Goes the Neighborhood by Jade Adia
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A raised fist against the destructive forces of gentrification and a love letter to communities of color everywhere, Jade Adia’s unforgettable debut tells the darkly hilarious story of three best friends willing to do whatever it takes to stay together.

Into The Light by Mark Oshiro
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For fans of Courtney Summers and Tiffany D. Jackson, Into the Light is a ripped-from-the-headlines story with Oshiro’s signature mix of raw emotions and visceral prose―but with a startling twist you’ll have to read to believe.

APRIL

An Improbable Season by Rosalyn Eves
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For fans of Bridgerton, a Regency romance by Rosalyn Eves about three young women, their big dreams, and a London Season gone awry.

A Hunger of Thorns by Lili Wilkinson
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Be swept away by a lush, witchy tale about forbidden magic and missing girls who don’t need handsome princes to rescue them. Perfect for fans of The Hazel Wood.

Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick
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Perfect for fans of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Five Feet Apart, this tender solo debut by the coauthor of New York Times bestseller She Gets the Girl is a romantic ode to the strength of love and the power of choosing each other, against odds and obstacles, again and again.

This Delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham
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From the author of the New York Times bestselling My Dearest Darkest comes another incredible sapphic horror. When four best friends with a hunger for human flesh attend a music festival in the desert they discover a murderous plot to expose and vilify the girls and everyone like them. This summer is going to get gory.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
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When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever.

If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robbie Couch
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From the author of The Sky Blues and Blaine for the Win comes a speculative young adult romance about a teen stuck in a time loop that’s endlessly monotonous until he meets the boy of his dreams.

Never Vacation with Your Ex by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
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The Summer I Turned Pretty meets People We Meet on Vacation in a YA second chance romance from fan-favorite author couple #Wibbroka!

Pieces of Me by Kate McLaughlin
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The next gut-punching, compulsively readable Kate McLaughlin novel, about a girl finding strength in not being alone.

The Other Side of Infinity by Joan F. Smith
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They Both Die at the End meets The Butterfly Effect in this YA novel by Joan F. Smith, where a teen uses her gift of foreknowledge to help a lifeguard save a drowning man—only to discover that her actions have suddenly put his life at risk.

Queen Bee by Amalie Howard
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A teen girl seeking retribution against her backstabbing former best friend finds her plans slightly derailed once she catches the eye of a familiar, handsome marquess. Bestselling author Amalie Howard delivers a delightful, anti-historical Regency-era romp that’s Bridgerton meets The Count of Monte Cristo!

That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams
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A stunning YA fantasy debut, perfect for fans of Holly Black and Justina Ireland, about a Black girl (and sword expert) fighting a Fae uprising in Shakespearean London.

Silver In The Bone by Alexandra Bracken
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Bracken cements her status as one of the top fantasy authors writing today in this stunning series opener inspired by Arthurian legend and fueled by love, revenge, and pure adrenaline!

MAY

If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St. Jude
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We Are Okay meets They Both Die at the End in this YA debut about queer first love and mental health at the end of the world-and the importance of saving yourself, no matter what tomorrow may hold.

The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro
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The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro is a seductive YA paranormal romance following a runaway queer teen’s deepening and dangerous ties to a mysterious family of werewolves.

Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi
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From Ibi Zoboi, bestselling, award-winning author of American Street and co-author of Punching the Air, comes a bold new YA coming-of-age story, which explores race, feminism, and complicated family dynamics, about a girl whose father is the leader of a Black liberation group. The ideal next read for fans of Roxane Gay, Jacqueline Woodson, and Elizabeth Acevedo.

They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody
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Jonah and Dylan get along like oil and water. Until a fake dating ploy gives them new perspective, and they realize that “falling for your enemy” isn’t as impossible as it seems.

Something Like Possible by Miel Moreland
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In this compelling YA contemporary from author Miel Moreland, a bisexual teen’s path to political staffer stardom is in jeopardy, until she convinces a cute new candidate to team up with her on the campaign trail.

I Like Me Better by Robby Weber
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I Like Me Better is joyful  queer summer romance from the author of If You Change Your Mind.

Court of the Undying Seasons by A.M. Strickland
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Sarah J. Maas meets A Deadly Education in A.M. Strickland’s lush, queer YA dark fantasy novel. Court of the Undying Seasons is a deliciously dark romantic novel and a pitch perfect modern take on classic vampire tropes.

No Perfect Places by Steven Salvatore
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From lauded author Steven Salvatore comes a moving YA novel about twins whose incarcerated father dies and leaves behind a life-changing secret, perfect for fans of I’ll Give You the Sun and Euphoria.

Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian
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From the Stonewall Honor–winning author of Like a Love Story comes a sweeping story of three generations of boys in the same Iranian family. Perfect for fans of Last Night at the Telegraph Club and Darius the Great Is Not Okay.

Secret of the Moon Conch by David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall
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Award-winning authors David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall join forces to craft a sweeping fantasy romance about falling in love despite all odds.

When the Vibe Is Right by Sarah Dass
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From the author of Where the Rhythm Takes You comes a delightful enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance set during Trinidad’s Carnival celebration.

In Nightfall by Suzanne Young
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In the quaint town of Nightfall, Oregon, it isn’t the dark you should be afraid of—it’s the girls. The Lost Boys meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this propulsive novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Treatment.

JUNE

Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou
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In a world where the children of the gods inherit their powers, a descendant of the Greek Fates must solve a series of impossible murders to save her sisters, her soulmate, and her city.

Wolfpack by Amelia Brunskill
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Perfect for fans of We Were Liars, Wolfpack is an unforgettable and unputdownable novel that will hold you breathless all the way to its shocking finale.

Kismat Connection by Ananya Devarajan
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In this charming YA debut, a girl who’s determined to prove her star chart wrong ropes her longtime best friend into an experimental relationship—not knowing that he has been in love with her for years.

Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton
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In this dark and seductive YA fantasy debut, a siren must choose between protecting her family and following her heart in a prejudiced kingdom where her existence is illegal.

Some Shall Break by Ellie Marney
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This sequel to the New York Times bestselling None Shall Sleep is an equally electrifying, chilling thriller that brings us back into the lives of junior FBI consultants Travis Bell and Emma Lewis with a new case that may unravel everything they’ve been working for.

You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
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At Camp Mirror Lake, terror is the name of the game . . . but can you survive the night? This heart-pounding slasher by New York Times bestselling author Kalynn Bayron is perfect for fans of Fear Street.

Ride or Die by Gail-Agnes Musikavanhu
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Gail-Agnes Musikavanhu’s adrenaline-packed joyride of a debut is an ode to Gen Z and chaotic teens—perfect for fans of Grace D. Li, Ebony Ladelle, and Baby Driver.

Invisible Son by Kim Johnson
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From the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of This Is My America comes another thriller about a wrongly accused teen desperate to recclaim both his innocence and his first love.

Always Isn’t Forever by J.C. Cervantes
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From New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes comes a sparkling, unforgettable YA romance, perfect for fans of You’ve Reached Sam.

Plus One by Kelsey Rodkey
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Fans of Emma Lord and Rachel Lynn Solomon will revel in Kelsey Rodkey’s latest swoon-worthy YA rom-com as self-proclaimed matchmaker Lahey finally puts her own heart on the line—to find a date in just one week.

The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar
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A pun-filled YA contemporary romance, The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar finds a teenage girl competing in a televised baking competition, with contestants including her ex-girlfriend and a potential new crush – perfect for fans of The Great British Bake Off and She Drives Me Crazy!

Borrow My Heart by Kasie West
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When a girl overhears a guy getting verbally destroyed by his friends for being catfished, she jumps in to save the day—and pretends to be his online crush. A young adult romance from the critically acclaimed author of Places We’ve Never Been.

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

The post YA Book Releases To Add To Your TBR In 2023 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Godserfs Trilogy by N. S. Dolkart
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While the LGBTQIA+ storylines don’t really appear until the second book, they’re worth waiting for. Though I love stories about falling in love, I also really appreciate the chance to see established and/or married queer people thriving. This series has both, and also a supportive environment for a trans child. Each successive book is better than the one before, culminating in an amazing capstone novel full of humour and heart.

Sisters of the Vast Black by Lina Rather
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Nuns on an interstellar mission of mercy uncover a conspiracy, and even though that’s plenty for a brief novella, there’s also a quiet and beautiful romance. Thoughtful and brave, this story isn’t about religion vs. government, but truly about good vs. evil.

The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher
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This is not the “Snow Queen” you remember: it’s better. Gerta sets out to rescue her friend Kay from a magical and mysterious lady, but she has no idea what to expect. Fortunately, a talking raven, a robber girl, and the mystic strength of the reindeer are there to help her. Kingfisher always finds ways to make you laugh, cry, and sigh, and this is one of her best.

The Deep by Rivers Solomon
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Yetu is the historian for her mermaid kindred, the living repository of memories so awful that they threaten the peaceful life they have built below the sea. For the mermaids were born from pregnant women thrown from slave ships, heirs to unspeakable trauma. But the intensity of those memories is slowly driving Yetu to despair. She must discover the will to put her own needs before those of the community, and also find a way to let memories of love speak louder than horror. Also, Yetu is implied to be on the spectrum (and not because she’s a mermaid, or any other dehumanising reason like that. She just happens to have particular sensitivities and neurological differences), which is extra cool.

The Name of All Things by Jenn Lyons
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Janel is a paragon of Disaster Bisexuals, and a genderqueer queen to boot. (Well, technically she’s a count.) She’s stronger than ten fighters combined, can talk to horses, and she doesn’t need any fridging to motivate her. She’s plenty motivated on her own to save her homeland, her friends, and maybe her world. Note, though, that this is the second book in the Chorus of Dragons series and you really need to read the first one, which is somewhat less queer.

Armed in Her Fashion by Kate Heartfield
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This is a very well-researched book, except for the parts that are entirely fabricated. Like for instance the Beast of Hell emerging from the earth and recruiting soldiers, all of whom are transformed into strange chimeras. But Claude, a transman and a soldier, doesn’t want to be anything other than what he is. He’s part of a larger cast of colourful characters

The Merro Tree by Katie Waitman
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This book was way ahead of its time in its depiction of a beautiful pansexual, polyamorous relationship between two men of different species. It’s still extremely timely in its defense of the arts, too.

The Tiger’s Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera
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The love between Shizuka and Shefali is truly epic. Their relationship defies demons, overthrows empires, and transcends legends.

Full Fathom Five by Max Gladstone
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Kai’s job is to create and monitor gods for profit. Yeah, no big, just manipulating the fabric of the universe while she’s also contemplating issues of colonialism and her relationships. She also happens to be a transwoman. Badass.

City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders
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Humans on January have always lived on the edge of a knife, existing on the non-rotational planet in the thin band of dusk between the frozen night side and the boiling sun side. Sophie lives on an even thinner edge, a queer girl in a city of endless rules, expected to stay in line and produce babies. But her love, her curiosity, and her tenacity leads her to other cities, to other paths, and ultimately to a magnificent and transformative revelation.

Honorable Mentions

Because this is SFF, dead doesn’t always mean forever. The following are books in which a queer person technically dies, but gets better. I won’t reveal who dies, but please be aware that slight spoilers follow.

Down Among the Sticks and Bones and Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
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Even among the many wonders of the Wayward Children series, Jack and Alexis’s love is something special. Death (and various other forms of Gothic mayhem) is more of a challenge than an absolute to a mad scientist like Jack, and thank goodness for that. Also, Jack’s OCD is treated with respect and thoughtful research.

The Nevernight Chronicles by Jay Kristoff
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In a series overflowing with blood and murder it’s still surprising and tragic when this particular character dies. But adherents to the goddess of murder don’t play by the same rules, fortunately for all of us who love queer love.

The Shadow Quartet by Lila Bowen
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Rhett is a bisexual transman of colour in the Wild West, a time and place made even more unforgiving by the presence of monsters. Gorgons, shapeshifters, vampires and more stalk the towns and deserts, and Rhett is charged with hunting the bad ones down. His journeys are action-packed adventures, but also full of self-discovery and moments of tenderness.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
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The queer death is a bit more permanent in this one, but there is some form of endurance beyond the grave. And in a trilogy about necromancers that’s already broken all the rules, I suspect we’ve not seen the last of quite a number of characters.

Breath of the Sun by Isaac R. Fellman
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This won the Lambda this year for LGBTQ SFF/Horror, and I want to make everyone read it immediately. However, it’s important to note that there is a queer death in it, and it is not reversed, although it happens before the book begins. I thought it was worth including, though, because there are other deep and meaningful queer relationships, and because there’s so much peace and joy that our queer narrator discovers for herself.

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

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