Releasing on January 30th 2024, The Dark Fable is a heart-stopping, seductive fantasy with magical heists, deadly secrets, and so much more…perfect for fans of Six of Crows!

When I wrote The Dark Fable, I didn’t have a true name for my thieves, modern incarnations of a secret society begun in Medieval France. Since the thieves’ powers took the forms of strange animals, I wanted a name that reflected this element. I also considered what might be the most important value among criminals: Truth.

When Evie is invited to join the society of thieves, she’s told she’ll eventually learn their stories—but they already seem to know hers. After she hears the histories of Dev, Mad, and Queenie, in individual conversations, she becomes one of them. Their pasts are their truths, free of the artifice that makes up so much of their lives. In the outside world, they wear facades—but, amongst one another, the masks are off. The thieves’ stories are a figurative unmasking for the newest member of their crew, a tradition begun when the thieves’ society originated in Medieval Paris, with an aristocrat’s daughter-turned-courtesan, a vigilante highwayman, and a student of medicine. These three told their histories to one another and became a formidable entity.

As Jason, the young private eye hunting the thieves, tells Evie: “I know all their stories. Those broken pasts are what make them so dangerous.” Even the private eye has his own tale.

When we read stories, we become a part of those worlds. We empathize. We feel we’ve been given an invitation that isn’t extended to everyone. Stories are more than a form of escapism—they are a means of communicating to one another. It’s believed storytelling dates back 30,000 years, with cave drawings discovered in Chauvet and Lascaux, France, the oldest tales involving humanity’s covenant with natural forces, usually represented by animals. Stories make us feel there is order to the world, that the good will be rewarded and the bad punished. Stories were shared information that helped humanity survive; tales involved weather occurrences, how animals acted, the properties of plants . . . and those tales honed our knowledge of the world around us. How did one explain a frightening occurrence when humanity had no scientific knowledge? Give it a story. Give something frightening a history of its own and it becomes understandable, something to be reasoned with rather than reckoned with.

From drawings, to oral storytelling, sharing stories has been a way to experience other lives. And it instills within the psyche a form of belief that transforms the ordinary. But storytelling, once the realm of spiritual creators, changed when it turned to the written form. From symbols in stone, to words written on expensive paper (often with the need of an education), stories shifted to those with power. And those with power were able to change history in their favor.

This transition helped me decide the name of my secret society, part of their motto being “We are the ink spilled over the stories of tyrants.” I decided to call the thieves La Fable Sombre, the Dark Fable. What better word for thieves whose stories are talismans of faith than the term that originates from ‘fabula,’ Latin for ‘story?’ And, because the Dark Fable’s powers manifest as animal spirits, sometimes malevolent, always eerie, I also liked another aspect of the word ‘fable;’ it was a term used for the tales of the Greek storyteller, Aesop, mainly featuring anthropomorphic animals teaching a moral lesson.

After meeting La Fable Sombre, Evie’s entire worldview changes. As a foster child struggling to make a living, she always felt unseen. She only learns the truth of her uncanny talent when Ciaran, the leader of the Dark Fable, reveals it to her. So, the story Evie has told herself all of her young life—that people don’t see her because she has no value—changes when she becomes a vital part of the Dark Fable. And Evie finds her power. Her own story.

The post Learning One Another’s Stories: How I Named The Dark Fable appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Ready for some new YA books? There are so many new books to look forward to in January 2024 with new releases from the likes of Brigid Kemmerer, Ayana Gray, Emma Lord, Kaylie Smith, Goldy Moldavsky, and many more, along with those making their exciting debut!

A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Circe goes YA in this unapologetically feminist retelling of the Medusa myth steeped in Indian mythology, a YA epic fantasy addition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

Out of Our League: 16 Stories of Girls in Sports

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A compelling YA anthology from editors Dahlia Adler and Jennifer Iacopelli about the trials and triumphs of girls in sports with stories from Carrie S. Allen, Sara Farizan, Juliana Goodman, Maggie Hall, Leah Henderson, Sarah Henning, Naomi Kanakia, Miranda Kenneally, Yamile Saied Méndez, Cam Montgomery, Marieke Nijkamp, Amparo Ortiz, Aminah Mae Safi, and Kayla Whaley.

Destroy the Day by Brigid Kemmerer

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In the thrilling conclusion to the Defy the Night series, New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer crafts heartrending twists and devastating turns that will keep readers breathless to the very end.

My Fair Brady by Brian D. Kennedy

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Fair Lady meets the classic teen film She’s All That in this charming and swoony new rom-com from Brian D. Kennedy, author of A Little Bit Country. Perfect for fans of What If It’s Us and She Gets the Girl.

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A trans boy searches for a future―and a romance―in which he can live and love openly as himself in this heartrending young-adult reimagining of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, part of the Remixed Classics series.

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amélie Wen Zhao

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The epic sequel to the book Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, is a fast-paced, riveting YA fantasy inspired by the mythology and folklore of ancient China.

Okay, Cupid by Mason Deaver

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the bestselling author of I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, the story of a cupid who thinks they know everything about love… until they fall in love themselves.

Beasts of War by Ayana Gray

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this epic conclusion to her New York Times bestselling series, Ayana Gray delivers a heart-pounding fantasy adventure filled with mythos, monsters, and mortal heroes who are astoundingly human.

The Getaway List by Emma Lord

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Inescapably romantic and brimming with New York Times bestselling author Emma Lord’s signature cheer, The Getaway List is an uplifting and romantic read that will settle into your heart and never leave.

Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the author of Counting Down with You and A Show for Two comes a new YA contemporary about a girl who accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band and falls for the guitarist while secretly trying to make up for her mistake.

The Atlas of Us by Kristin Dwyer

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Following her critically-acclaimed debut novel, Some Mistakes Were Made, Kristin Dwyer is back with The Atlas of Us, a novel about deep grief, found family, and a raw love story that will have readers crying and laughing in equal measure.

Dungeons and Drama By Kristy Boyce

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

What do you get when you pair a charming gamer with a stubborn theatre nerd? Dungeons and Dragons is a new rivals-to-lovers gaming romance from Kristy Boyce, author of Hot British Boyfriend and Hot Dutch Daydream!

If I Promise You Wings by A.K. Small

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Hold Still meets You’ve Reached Sam in this lyrical novel about one young woman’s journey through the Paris fashion scene as she chases promises, overcomes grief, and falls in love.

Sky’s End by Marc J Gregson

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Plummet into a kill-or-be-killed competition where a scrappy underdog hell-bent on revenge must claw his way to the top in this thrilling YA fantasy debut

Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
An unforgettable YA debut about two Latina teens growing up in East Oakland as they discover that the world is brimming with messy complexities, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Erika L. Sánchez.

That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From a gripping new voice comes a YA thriller with amnesia, stalking, abduction and twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat, perfect for fans of Natalie D. Richards and Vincent Ralph.​

Just Happy to Be Here by Naomi Kanakia

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this YA standalone perfect for fans of Tobly McSmith and Meredith Russo, the first out trans girl at an all-girls school must choose between keeping her head down or blazing a trail.

Somewhere in the Deep by Tanvi Berwah

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the author of Monsters Born and Made comes an action-packed South Asian inspired fantasy that will have your heart racing at every turn. 

Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment by Arushi Avachat

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Save the Date meets Never Have I Ever in this sparkling debut rom-com about a high school senior whose life suddenly gets a Bollywood spin when her sister gets engaged.

Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Graphic novel superstars Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham join forces in this heartwarming rom-com about fate, family, and falling in love.

Red by Annie Cardi

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A Christian girl is stigmatized by her peers after seeking an abortion in this modern retelling of The Scarlet Letter for the #MeToo era.

Just Say Yes by Goldy Moldavsky

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Inspired by Goldy’s childhood as an undocumented immigrant, Just Say Yes is full of heart and laugh-out-loud humour, while also tackling important themes related to immigrant issues with honesty and nuance.

A Reckless Oath by Kaylie Smith

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this sequel to the spellbinding A Ruinous Fate, more action, romance, and magic abound as Calla and friends must deal with their losses and come to grips with their own part to play in the Fates’ War ahead.

A Place For Vanishing by Ann Fraistat

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A teen girl and her family return to her mother’s childhood home, only to discover that the house’s strange beauty may disguise a sinister past, in this contemporary gothic horror from the author of What We Harvest.

Not Dead Enough by Tyffany D. Neiheiser

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Girl in Pieces meets Cracked Up to Be in this raw and candid look at trauma about a girl who is being haunted and stalked by her definitely dead ex-boyfriend.

The Dark Fable by Katherine Harbour

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Magical heists. Deadly secrets. Come along for the ride . . . if you dare. This heart-stopping, seductive fantasy is perfect for fans of Six of Crows.

Wander In The Dark by Jumata Emill

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this new pulse-pounding thriller from the author of The Black Queen, two brothers must come together to solve the murder of the most popular girl in school after one of them is caught fleeing the scene of her death.

The Summer Queen by Rochelle Hassan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
This captivating sequel to The Buried and the Bound draws readers into the twisted and irresistible world of the Fair Folk―perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Hazel Wood.

What January YA books are you looking forward to picking up? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 28 YA Books Hitting Bookshelves In January 2024 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.