About To Drown A Witch: A criminal and a royal guard are drawn into the hunt for a dangerous witch—and an unexpected romance—in this YA enemies-to-lovers romantasy, the first in a duology. Perfect for fans of Heartless Hunter. Released July 14th 2026.

Is my novel, TO DROWN A WITCH, part of a trilogy? No, it’s a duology. But it is considered young adult romantasy. As a genre, romantasy hasn’t been around for very long. The mashup of fantasy and romance as a term only started getting thrown about five or so years ago. Before that books had to be either fantasy or romance and anything in between had to choose a side. Growing up, I read my way through plenty of the young adult fantasy section at bookstores, but, most often, I gravitated towards the novels that walked the line between romance and fantasy. As a result, I think I can safely say if the below novels were published today instead of 15+ years ago (wow!) they would have been dubbed young adult romantasy.

The Darkest Powers Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong (THE SUMMONING, The AWAKENING, and The RECKONING)

Starting off strong with a trilogy that contains three beloved tropes: forced proximity, the love triangle, and enemies to lovers. Although, I would personally classify the relationship between Chloe and Derek more as haters to lovers, but let’s not get too technical here. While set in a version of our world, the fantasy elements—werewolves, sorcerers, necromancers, and demons abound—are woven throughout the novel, making it very clear why this was labeled YA fantasy back in the day. However, alongside the mystery and magic, there is a strong romance plot line (I did mention a love triangle) with the main character, Chloe, torn between two brothers. With Chloe forced to share a home with both brothers, whilst trying to figure out her own powers, I’d say the romance and fantasy plots of the story share equal weight which, today, would land this series squarely within the romantasy genre.

The Starcrossed Trilogy by Josephine Angelini (STARCROSSED, DREAMLESS, and GODDESS)

Now the romance in this YA trilogy is strong and, unlike in the Darkest Powers trilogy, this story contains true enemies to lovers with its two lovers Helen and Lucas literally starting off trying to kill each other. And I do mean kill as in dead. It takes every ounce of their self control not to pummel the other person whenever they lay eyes on each other. However, I have to say (sans spoilers), their progression into lovers is not typical of today’s enemies to lovers tropes. Still, romance blossoms between the two all whilst Helen learns of her unique, fantastical heritage and her emerging powers. Although there is a good deal of time spent exploring the fantasy aspects of the novel, the romance in it is impossible to ignore. And you know what that means—if published today no doubt about it, the world would have labeled this trilogy romantasy.

The Hereafter Trilogy by Tara Hudson (HEREAFTER, ARISE, and ELEGY).

It feels a little on the nose to say this trilogy would be considered romantasy today. The story of a ghost girl and the boy she rescues from drowning who, it turns out, is the only person alive who can see her? I’m a little surprised this series didn’t jumpstart the romantasy genre 15 years ago. The romance is easily one of the strongest parts of the series. Were it not for the fact that the main character is dead, this series might have been grouped in with regular YA romances. But the main character, Amelia, is a ghost, and, throughout the series, she and her lover, Joshua, encounter problems of a far more fantastical nature compared to those of high school lovers in contemporary romances. So, again, how was this not classified as romantasy sooner?

The Paranormalcy Trilogy by Kiersten White (PARANORMALCY, SUPERNATURALLY, and ENDLESSLY).

I read most of these books when I was a teenager (or close to it), but the Paranormalcy trilogy is one I keep coming back to. I’ve reread this series a couple of times, most recently around seven years ago. With a whole slew of fantastical creatures hiding in plain sight, I just find it so much fun! That said, this series is a little less romance heavy compared to some of the other trilogies I’ve added to this list. But that doesn’t mean I don’t still think it belongs in the romantasy genre. In fact, I would go so far as to say the story doesn’t really get going until the main character, Evie, meets her love interest. That’s right, the love interest actually sparks the plot (or at least gets Evie to start asking all the questions she probably should have been asking her whole life). While the romance isn’t as prevalent throughout the entire series, there are still parts of the story that can’t progress without the romance between Evie and Lend. And you know what that means: with a solid mix of fantasy and romance this trilogy would have to be part of the romantasy genre today.

The Syrena Legacy Trilogy by Anna Banks (OF POSEIDON, OF TRITON, and OF NEPTUNE)

A trilogy with romance and mermaids? What more could you want in a series? As anyone close to me will tell you, I have a teensy, tiny, little obsession with mermaids. I definitely don’t have mermaid bookends or mermaid art or mermaid towels or mermaid mugs, and there is no way I have mermaid salt and pepper shakers, but I do love a good mermaid story and, for me, the Syrena Legacy scratched that itch. While the fantasy elements of this trilogy speak for themselves, the romance between the two main characters, Emma and Galen, is more than evident—their connection a driving force throughout the novels. And, similar to TO DROWN A WITCH, the story is told in the alternating POVs of two lovers (more interestingly those POVs switch between first person and third person). All of this lends this series to being labeled romantasy, even if the genre didn’t exist back then.

After reading through my list of YA romantasy trilogies, can you tell I’m feeling a bit nostalgic for these books? Do you have any sweet, romantic fantasy—eh hem, romantasy—novels you recommend? And while I do recommend you read TO DROWN A WITCH, my book is definitely not sweet. But it is exciting, romantic, and chock-full of dangerous magic which is why the powers that be labeled it romantasy. So, maybe when you’re done reading through the five trilogies listed here and are in need of a YA romantasy that’s a bit darker, you’ll pick up TO DROWN A WITCH.

The post Five YA Trilogies That Would Be Considered Romantasy Today appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Kiersten! Welcome back! It’s been almost six(!) years since we last spoke for the release of The Camelot Betrayal. How have you been and what have you been up to?

Six years! That’s wild. I simultaneously feel like all my previous books came out a few months ago but also another lifetime ago. Since then I’ve released eleven books across middle grade, young adult, and adult categories, plus a graphic novel adaptation of my first book for adults, HIDE. I’ve also been working on the seven (?) books I have coming out between now and 2028. So, that pretty much sums it up. People sometimes ask if I have any cool hobbies. The answer is: napping.

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

My love of writing hit very young. I was in first grade when I decided I was going to be an author. As I grew, reading voraciously and telling myself stories became coping mechanisms for anxiety. I feel really fortunate that I’ve been able to make a career out of it, because there’s literally nothing else I want to do. (Or am good at.)

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day? I could have looked at those books forever.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Probably a tie between Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery and the Redwall series by Brian Jacques
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Gorgeously eerie full color nightmare!

What can readers expect in this graphic novel adaptation?

It’s very faithful to the narrative of the novel, so whether you’ve already read Mister Magic or not, you can dive right in! The story follows the last cast of a cursed children’s program that ended in tragedy thirty years ago, reunited at a strange house in the middle of the desert to try and discover what the show actually was and why it’s haunted them all these years.

With the shift from prose to art, please expect Veronica Fish and Andy Fish to have delivered a) the most expressive, gorgeous cast, b) stunningly beautiful settings, and c) the trippiest, coolest atmosphere. It’s more creepy than disturbing, so if you’re not usually a horror reader, this is a great one to dip your toes into. I’d also recommend it if you’re not typically drawn to graphic novels. It’s very character driven and so a little more accessible if you’re still building visual literacy. (It’s a thing! If you didn’t grow up with the format, you really do have to put in some time to learn it.)

Jumping back to 2023 when Mister Magic published, where did the inspiration for the book come from?

One afternoon, my spouse mused, “What if the cast from Barney grew up and realized it had been real the whole time?” And I said, “Yes! Because their one friend who always insisted Barney was real turns up dead, with bite wounds from a creature that hasn’t existed in millions of years. Barney’s back, and he’s hungry.” And then my spouse asked why I always make things creepy, and I said he loves it, and he confirmed he does. After that I got thinking about the concept of a children’s show everyone assumed was make believe actually being real—and sinister, naturally—and it spun out from there.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed seeing come to life in the graphic novel?

There’s a quiet scene between two of the main characters, Val and Isaac, where they’re standing under the nighttime desert sky. When I wrote it, it was all interior thoughts and feelings. And somehow Veronica and Andy captured everything with one wordless panel. I’m getting chills just thinking about it. I know we joke that pictures are worth a thousand words, but they really can be.

They also did a phenomenal job tapping into a 90’s aesthetic for the flashback scenes from when the show was airing. It’s so fun!

Were there any challenges with the adaptation?

Honestly, not on my end. I’m a big fan of adaptation, and of creating the best story for whatever format you’re using, so changes weren’t a big deal to me. I also only did editorial; Scott Peterson, the adaptor, is so good at his job. I really thought studying his process with HIDE: The Graphic Novel would help me learn how to write graphic novels. Instead, it convinced me I shouldn’t try because it’s such a specific, technical, challenging format. He’s incredible to work with. And then when I was reviewing the art at various stages, the biggest challenge was finding anything helpful to say other than OH MY GOD and THIS IS AMAZING and ARE YOU TWO ACTUALLY WIZARDS BECAUSE I’M PRETTY SURE THIS IS MAGIC.

We did go back and forth on the depiction of Mister Magic himself—in the book, he’s a featureless black void, but for obvious reasons he needed to be a little more visually distinctive in the graphic novel. And again, some more, I think Veronica and Andy absolutely nailed it.

The graphic novel is illustrated Veronica Fish and Andy Fish. Is there any insight into the direction for this graphic novel that you can share?

Because Mister Magic and Hide take place in the same universe—there’s even a cameo from a couple of characters in Hide, and I was so excited to literally see them again—we wanted the art to have a similar feel. Which wasn’t difficult, because we lucked out in having the exact same team. I also want to shout out Kaitlin Ketchum, our incredible editor at Ten Speed Graphic, as well as Meggie Ramm, our designer. I know it’s my story, but I feel like I can take so little credit for what an incredible graphic novel it turned out to be.

What’s next for you?

I have two more releases this year! One is a middle grade book, Hiding From the Dark: A Star Wars Horror Novel. They let me scare children with Darth Vader! Sometimes my life feels like a dream.

And then in an opposite process from Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel, I was lucky enough to write the first prose novel in the world of Something Is Killing the Children, the incredible horror comic series from James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera. Something Is Killing the Children: Hope Is a Knife is out in October!

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

I’m really excited for the new Stephen Graham Jones, Off the Reservation, and I just secured a copy of Katee Robert’s upcoming fantasy The Tarot Trials.

I’ve had a great reading year so far. Some standouts were Veronica Roth’s urban fantasy novellas When Among Crows and To Clutch a Razor, Lauren Groff’s short story collection Brawler, the English translation of Korean novelist Kim Bohyun’s Mothersucker, and Melissa Albert’s delicious The Children.

Will you be picking up Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Kiersten White, Author of ‘Mister Magic’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Get ready to be whisked away with a new fantasy or sci-fi read because we’ve rounded up 72 upcoming reads that will be hitting shelves between January and June this year! From epic fantasy and speculative fiction, to space adventures and fantasy with more than a dash of romance, there’s something for every type SFF reader out there!

This year sees new releases from the likes of Jim Butcher, Isabel Ibañez, Kate Golden, Ava Reid, TJ Klune, Mike Chen, James S.A. Corey, Veronica Roth, RJ Barker, Shannon Chakraborty, Martha Wells, Sunyi Dean, Brandon Sanderson, and many more, plus some extremely exciting debuts!

You’ll be sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other 2026 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, Romance, and Young Adult lists!

JANUARY 2026 FANTASY & SCI-FI BOOKS

The Starseekers by Nicole Glover

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Indiana Jones meets Hidden Figures in this brand-new stand-alone historical fantasy set in the world of The Conductors, in which the space race of the mid-20th century will be determined by magic…if not murder.

Twelve Months by Jim Butcher

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, has always managed to save the day—but, in this powerful entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files, can he save himself?

Way of the Walker by Salinee Goldenberg

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Return to the Thai-inspired world of Suyoram in this vicious follow up to 2024’s The Last Phi Hunter, exploring mythology, colonialism, and feminine rage. A perfect read for fans of Iron Widow and The Sword of Kaigen.

City of Others by Jared Poon

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Dive into a world where magic lies hidden just below the surface in this charming urban fantasy full of workplace found family, queer romance, and supernatural creatures straight out of Southeast Asian lore, from debut author Jared Poon. 

Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
#1 New York Times bestselling author Isabel Ibañez makes her adult debut with a gorgeous, historical, and romantic fantasy perfect for fans of One Dark Window and Ever After. A lush tale full of enemies-to-lovers tension, whimsical magic, villain romance, and slow-burn desire, set in an enchanted, perilous Florence where forbidden power could ignite a war.

Enchanting The Fae Queen by Stephanie Burgis

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Stephanie Burgis delivers another irreverent, sparkling, and sexy installment in the Queens of Villainy series, where a seductive fae queen meets her unexpected match in the enemy empire’s valiant general.

We Who Have No Gods by Liza Anderson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In a world of witches, a human woman must hunt or be hunted in this explosive gothic dark academia fantasy filled with war-bent rivals, guarded secrets, and simmering chemistry.

Godstorm by Solitaire Townsend

Publisher | Amazon | Waterstones | Goodreads
Fast-paced and highly original, Godstorm transports the reader to a vivid, alternative Roman Empire, which has evolved into an oil-worshiping global superpower fueled by petrol, domination and greed.

Detour by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A space shuttle flight crew discovers that the Earth they’ve returned to is not the home they left behind in the first book of this emotional, mind-bending thriller series from the creator of the hit Netflix show Manifest and the bestselling author of The Warehouse.

Ballad of the Bone Road by A.C. Wise

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In the glittering city of Port Astor, where fae roads criss-cross human highways and ghosts whisper to the living, nothing is ever as it seems. This utterly original dark fantasy tale of faith and fanaticism, doomed love and desperate bargains is perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Ava Reid.

The Twice-Wanted Witch by Katie Hallahan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Six months after slaying an Archdemon, McKenna Ellerbeck is overworked and sidelined by the Council. When her friend faces trial and her ex goes missing amid demon plots and secrets, McKenna must uncover the truth and choose between power and justice.

The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
When you lose your way in life, the Elsewhere Express just might find you. Step on board the train that may take you to your life’s purpose in this wistful, Ghibli-esque fantasy from the bestselling author of Water Moon.

FEBRUARY 2026 FANTASY & SCI-FI BOOKS

The Fox Hunt by Caitlin Breeze

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Dive into the dark underbelly of England’s most ancient university, where behind closed doors a circle of privileged students enter into a dark pagan ritual–one that holds tantalizing power and comes at a terrible price.​

Strange Animals by Jarod K. Anderson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An ordinary man discovers a hidden world of supernatural creatures—and an unexpected home—in this enchanting contemporary fantasy debut.

Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A man must fight for his planet against impossible odds when gamers from Earth attempt to remotely annihilate it in this epic, fast-paced novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit Dungeon Crawler Carl.

A Day of Breath by Darby Cox

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A dark and imaginative coming of age adventure filled with demons and religious conspiracy, A Day of Breath is a perfect read for fans of Naomi Novik and N.K. Jemisin.

The Gods Must Burn by T.R. Moore

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A disgraced war hero is transformed into the Wolf God, protector of the Forest God, and must earn her trust in this healing dark fantasy for fans of The Wolf and the Woodsman and Princess Mononoke.

The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Debut author Cameron Sullivan tears the heart out of history with this darkly entertaining retelling of the hunt for the Beast of Gévaudan. Lifting the veil on the hidden world behind our own, it reimagines the story of Europe, from Imperial Rome to Saint Jehanne d’Arc, the madness of Gilles de Rais and the first flickers of the French Revolution.

Half City by Kate Golden

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
When a lone demon hunter is recruited by a reformed demon to enroll at a private school for hunters like herself, she will reckon with secrets from her deceased father’s past, her mixed feelings for a man she’s been taught to hate, and a series of mysterious attacks that threatens the lives of every student at Harker Academy.

The Apple and the Pearl by Rym Kechacha

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A richly atmospheric fantasy set across one day, as a ballet troupe of lost souls perform an ancient dance for the faerie realms, knowing they could be snatched away by their audience of faerie princes, imps and sprites at any moment.

Nightshade and Oak by Molly O’Neill

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An Iron Age goddess must grapple with becoming human in this delightful historical fantasy of myth and magic from the author of the instant hit Greenteeth.

The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer

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Readers will lose themselves in the mesmerising magic of this absorbing and utterly unputdownable page-turner, perfect for fans of Weyward, The Lost Apothecary and Practical Magic.

The Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox by Katrina Kwan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the author of The Last Dragon of the East comes a sweeping fantasy adventure with a dash of romance between a nine-tailed fox and the demon-hunter who captures her, banished to the underworld together and forced to form a reluctant alliance in order to escape the circles of Hell.

The Misheard World by Aliya Whiteley

Amazon | Goodreads
An interrogation of a famed spy by a military agent reveals deeper secrets about the beginnings of the war—and about the world itself—in the latest groundbreaking novel from the Arthur C. Clarke Award-nominated Aliya Whiteley.

MARCH 2026 FANTASY & SCI-FI BOOKS

The First Step by Tao Wong

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In a spectacular world of immortals, spirit beasts, and mystical martial arts, the young farmer Wu Ying’s life will be changed forever when he is unexpectedly invited to join an elite school of cultivation.

The Ascension of Souls by Bronte-Marie Wesson

Publisher | Amazon | Goodreads
The first in the Broken Cycle trilogy, The Ascension of Souls is an epic fantasy with intricate worldbuilding, complex characters, political schemes and a unique magic system.

Innamorata by Ava Reid

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A visionary and atmospheric gothic fantasy about necromancy, vengeance, and soul-consuming love, the first in a duology from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning and Lady Macbeth.

Voidverse by Damien Ober

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Dune meets Wool in this high-octane quest through the void, where two eternal forces are about to collide in an epic showdown.

The Fountain by Casey Scieszka

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Blending the spectacular with the everyday in a tale filled with humor and warmth, The Fountain explores what gives life meaning and how our understandings of our histories shape—and cage—us.

The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An obsession with a beautiful serial killer entangles a vampire hunter’s daughter in an immortal sapphic romance in this enthralling gothic fantasy from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lucy Undying.

Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel by Elizabeth Everett

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
When a magical hotel appears smack-dab in the middle of the most unmagical of worlds, the last thing the residents expect is to fall in love.

The Book of Fallen Leaves by A.S. Tamaki

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Shogun meets Game of Thrones in the blockbuster epic fantasy event of the year.  A. S. Tamaki weaves a powerful tale of ambition, vengeance and sacrifice in this masterful fantasy retelling of an ancient Samurai saga, packed with memorable characters, stunning worldbuilding and epic adventure.

Aicha by Soraya Bouazzaoui

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads|
Aicha is the story of Morocco’s warrior goddess, her strange magic, fierce rebellion, and devastating romance. Soraya Bouazzaoui weaves an epic tale of female rage and hidden myths, perfect for fans of The City of Brass and The Stardust Thief.

No Man’s Land by Richard K. Morgan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A compelling standalone dark fantasy set in a gritty post-WWI Britain that has been overrun by the fae, from the award-winning author of Altered Carbon.

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A breathtaking reimagining of Cinderella, as told through the eyes of its iconic “evil” stepmother, revealing a propulsive love story about the lengths a mother will go to for her children.

The Library of Amorlin by Kalyn Josephson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A brilliant con artist and a secretive librarian collide in New York Times bestselling author Kalyn Josephson’s enchanting adult fantasy debut packed with twists, tricks, slowburn romantic tension, and magical creatures — perfect for fans of S.A. MacLean, Mai Corland, and K.A. Linde.

APRIL 2026 FANTASY & SCI-FI BOOKS

The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The Subtle Art of Folding Space, is the exhilarating debut science fiction novel from Nebula and Hugo Award-winning author John Chu channels unhinged physics, generational trauma, and the comfort of really good dim sum. This isn’t your usual jaunt through quantum physics.

An Arcane Study of Stars by Sydney J. Shields

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From Sydney J. Shields, the breakout author of The Honey Witch, comes An Arcane Study of Stars, a historical dark academia fantasy filled with ancient secret societies, a swoon-worthy rivals-to-lovers romance, and dangerous deals made after dark. Perfect for fans of The Atlas Six and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

The Lighthouse at the End of the World by Philip A. Suggars

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Enter a London like no other in this fast-paced, captivating fantasy novel filled with warring gods, alternate realities and a working class kid caught in the middle of it all, perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab and Genevieve Cogman.

We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A heart-wrenching standalone novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, We Burned So Bright follows an elder gay couple on an end-of-the-world road-trip.

The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains by Reena McCarty

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A former changeling must return to the land of the Fae to right a bargain that’s gone terribly wrong in this delightful cozy fantasy debut packed full of charm, adventure, romance and heart.

Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A cursed princess must discover what her heart truly longs for in this charmingly cozy romantic fantasy for everyone who’s ever lost – or found – themselves in a bookshop.

Witch Queen Rising by Savannah Stephens

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A reclusive witch who fled the burden of her bloodline rises to be the greatest among them in this lush and haunting fantasy debut.

The Language of Liars by S. L. Huang

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Training to infiltrate the Star Eaters, Ro believes empathy will transform him rather than make him an imposter. Ignoring his elders’ warnings, he fails to realise that understanding an alien species may come at a devastating cost.

The Photonic Effect by Mike Chen

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A starship captain and her crew face conspiracies and betrayals as they clash with various factions of a galactic civil war in a thrilling space adventure by New York Times bestselling author Mike Chen.

The Faith of Beasts by James S.A. Corey

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
James S. A. Corey’s Expanse series has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 23 languages, establishing itself as a modern masterwork of science fiction. Now, the Hugo-award winning author returns with the second volume in their New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed space opera trilogy, The Captive’s War. 

The Radiant Dark by Alexandra Oliva

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Arrival meets Wild Dark Shore in this captivating novel that follows a family over fifty years—a bold and compassionate exploration of the universe around us and what it truly means to be human.

What We Are Seeking by Cameron Reed

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From Cameron Reed, the acclaimed author of The Fortunate Fall, comes a soaring novel of queer hope and transformation, perfect for readers of Ann Leckie and Amal El-Mohtar.

MAY 2026 FANTASY & SCI-FI BOOKS

The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A battle-worn corporate samurai undertakes one last mission on a merciless planet where death is always a mere breath away, in this standalone dystopian epic from the author of the modern fantasy classic Jade City. 

The Franchise by Thomas Elrod

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Game of Thrones meets The Truman Show in this epic tale of a Hollywood-owned fantasy world where nothing is quite as it seems to the people who live and die at the studio’s whim.

Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An epic, romantic dystopian fantasy begins in Seek the Traitor’s Son, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth.

Mortedant’s Peril by RJ Barker

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In a city of ancient automata, strange spirits, and sleeping gods, a cleric of death finds his own life on the line in this vividly imagined fantasy murder mystery from the acclaimed author of The Bone Ships and Age of Assassins.

Absence by Andrew Dana Hudson

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In this gripping, moving, and genre-blending speculative debut, the world is unraveling from an epidemic of human vanishing. Two rookie agents from the Bureau of Depopulation Affairs are dispatched to small-town Kansas to investigate a woman who claims to have returned from Spontaneous Human Absence, offering answers that could change everything.

Palaces of the Crow by Ray Nayler

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In Ray Nayler’s speculative novel of the recent past, four young teens caught between Nazis and the Red Army survive winter in the woods with the help of a flock of highly intelligent crows with a magnificent secret of their own to protect.

Magician by Tracy Lynne Oliver

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A dark magic debut novel featuring the Boy who becomes the Magician and the villainous Mother whose sadism might end it all—for fans of Our Share of Night and The Changeling.

A Curse of Beasts and Magic by Jeaniene Frost

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New York Times bestselling author of The Night Huntress series Jeaniene Frost returns with a brand-new series! It’s Beauty and the Beast meets The Witcher, except Beauty IS the Beast, and he’s the Warden keeping mythical beings in check in our world and beyond.

The Tapestry of Fate by Shannon Chakraborty

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New York Times bestselling author Shannon Chakraborty sets sail into the second adventure of pirate Amina al-Sirafi as her quest to track down magical artifacts brings her to the island lair of a sorceress whose woven enchantments are impossible to flee.

Platform Decay by Martha Wells

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Everyone’s favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment of Martha Wells’ bestselling and award-winning Murderbot Diaries series.

The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean

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From the USA Today bestselling author of The Book Eaters comes The Girl with a Thousand Faces, a stunning Gothic tale set in a historical Hong Kong that meshes ancient myths and local legends into a haunting story of ghosts, grief, and women who will not forgive.

Death’s Daughter by S.A. Barnes

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Perfect for fans of Ninth House, Nightshade, and Neon Gods, Death’s Daughter is a dark, spicy and deliciously autumnal contemporary romantic fantasy in a dark academia setting, in which the only daughter of Death is named his successor, making her both a powerful ally and a massive target, all while she tries to make it through her final year at college . . .

JUNE 2026 FANTASY & SCI-FI BOOKS

Heaven’s Graveyard by Grace Curtis

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From the Sunday Times-bestselling author of Floating Hotel and Idolfire comes a science fantasy tale of history and myth, magic and mystery, perfect for fans of Shelley Parker-Chan and A. K. Larkwood.

The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden

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With her country’s future and her own life at stake, an orphaned duchess must journey into a world of myth and there discover a power that may be her salvation—or her demise—in this enchanting new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the Winternight Trilogy and The Warm Hands of Ghosts.

Songs of the Dead by Brandon Sanderson and Peter Orullian

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A London rocker is faced with a life-or-death choice when he realizes that a powerful society of magic wielders are the only ones keeping London safe in this deft contemporary fantasy cowritten by #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson with author and musician Peter Orullian.

Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim

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Doppelgängers, corporate intrigue, heartbreak, betrayal, and the harsh permanence of the border: Sublimation is a thrilling and provocative debut for fans of Severance that asks what you’d sacrifice for a different life from award-winning author Isabel J. Kim.

The Winged Game by Sophie Kim

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Fantasy meets sports romance in this sizzling slow-burn novel in which the disgraced star of a brutal magical sport must team up with the rival who destroyed her career, from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The God and the Gumiho.

The Reimagining of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson

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A witch and her young ward discover a magical, walking house and learn the true meaning of home in this cozy, enchanting novel from New York Times bestselling author Jaleigh Johnson.

A Dance of Burning Blades by M. H. Ayinde

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War rages on in the second heart-pounding novel in M. H. Ayinde’s relentless epic fantasy series The Invoker Trilogy, a sweeping epic of revenge and rebellion set in a richly drawn world of warring clans and ancestor magic.

The Jellyfish Problem by Tessa Yang

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A marine biologist makes the discovery of a lifetime when called to rescue the inhabitants of a small Maine island being menaced by a giant, glowing jellyfish in this richly imagined, wholly original debut.

Obstetrix by Naomi Kritzer

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From the Hugo award-winning author Naomi Kritzer comes a tense portrait of a future we desperately hope to escape.

The Traveler by Joseph Eckert

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The Traveler is the story of a reluctant time-traveler and his son, and the bond between them that even millennia cannot break. An adventure full of heartbreak, hope, and futures beyond imagination.

The Sixth Nik by Daniel Kraus

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A startling hybrid of the Alien franchise and Ender’s Game, The Sixth Nik is the first sci-fi novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Whalefall and Angel Down.

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K England

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STARDEW VALLEY meets STUDIO GHIBLI in a charming cozy fantasy about healing, redemption, and the subtle magic of simple living. Perfect for fans of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea and The Spellshop. Welcome home, weary traveler.

What new fantasy and sci-fi book releases are you looking forward to picking up this year? Any from this list? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases To Devour In 2026 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Right from the opening, Kiersten White puts you straight into the deep end. You have this intense sense of foreboding even as the characters are first introduced to you. It is a startling opening that leaves you with plenty of questions, which will not be answered easily. I really enjoy the ambiguity and dripfeeding style White often employs in her work. There is a slightly bizarre and jarring quality to this story where you are not easily orientated, but perfectly mimics the way these characters’ powers informs how they navigate the world. They are not able to be fully rooted so the reader cannot be either. White doubles down on this with the use of multiple narrative perspectives. Initially, this is a little disorientating as you are confronted with a multitude of voices, but as they eventually start to come together and show the bigger picture, it is fantastic. The destination is well worth the journey. These different perspectives also help you to understand each character and their motivations, especially with the influence of their backgrounds and the way their powers may have fundamentally changed them. 

This is a fantastic and imaginative story with great twists and turns. It is fragmented and tricksy, not giving you everything as you may expect it to. This is the type of book where you will have to go down the dark corridors if you want the truth. There is a hunger that permeates every page and White ensures that you must mimic this in your desire for the secrets of this house and the people within. It is an extremely dark story at times, cantering around systemic child abuse, power and class. The world these characters inhabit has plenty of parallels to our own and you can see the historical references (and current) White has pulled on within this. The adage of those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it rings true within these pages. For me, it was a great example of using a fantastical space to tackle issues within our world. You can recognise the inferences but also White is screaming in rage—the messages cannot be missed. 

The world-building in this book is sublime. It is fascinating and often subtle, allowing you to be pulled into this story and then have the world unfold around you. Even within the first few pages, learning that your class is indicated by the species from which your name is drawn is a wonderful and intriguing touch. As a reader, you have plenty of questions and that’s before we even get into the bones of the story. The powers are so interesting and varied, but also have genuine consequences. These are devastating and add another layer to the story. It was very reminiscent of an even darker, Gothic take on the X-Men, but with White’s unique touch. This is no family, this is a ragtag bunch of misfits ostracised from society and brought to this house for unknown reasons. The house itself is an isolated and eerie setting that is truly its own character from the start. White brings the setting to life with vividly imagined descriptions of these dark corridors, forbidden rooms and secrets beneath the floorboards. There is an inherent darkness that starts to come to light as the pages flow. 

The House of Quiet is an all-consuming story that will stay with you longer after the final page. White proves once again that her brand of darkly entrancing horror sends shivers down your spine as the pieces start to come together.

The House of Quiet is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 9th 2025.

Will you be picking up The House of Quiet? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hide comes a dark fantasy about a girl who will risk everything—posing as a maid, confronting powerful enemies, and unraveling deadly secrets—all to save her missing sister from the enigmatic House of Quiet.

To save her sister, she must enter the House.

In the middle of a deadly bog sits the House of Quiet. It’s a place for children whose Procedure triggered powers too terrible to be lived with—their last hope for treatment. No one knows how they’re healed or where they go afterward.

Birdie has begged, bargained, and blackmailed her way inside as a maid, determined to find her missing sister, Magpie. But what she discovers is more mysteries. Instead of the destitute children who undergo the Procedure in hopes of social advancement, the house brims with aristocratic teens wielding strange powers they never should have been burdened with.

Though Birdie wants to ignore them, she can’t help being drawn to stoic and silent Forest, charmed by clever River, and concerned for the youngest residents. And with fellow maid Minnow keeping tabs on everything Birdie does, danger is everywhere.

In her desperate search for Magpie, Birdie unearths terrifying threats and devastating truths, forcing her to confront just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to save her own sister. Because in the House of Quiet, if you find what’s lurking beneath . . . you lose everything.

Unravel the mystery. Ignite the rebellion.

The post Review: The House of Quiet by Kiersten White appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover some of our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be picking up any!

The House of Quiet by Kiersten White

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hide comes a dark fantasy about a girl who will risk everything—posing as a maid, confronting powerful enemies, and unraveling deadly secrets—all to save her missing sister from the enigmatic House of Quiet.

It Had to Be Him by Adib Khorram

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Heartstopper meets Eat Pray Love in this swoony, spicy, second-chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Adib Khorram about two former classmates unexpectedly reuniting in Italy.

Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron

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New York Times bestselling author Kalynn Bayron is back with a Frankenstein-tinged horror romance, creating a hauntingly beautiful exploration of body horror, family secrets, grief and loss and love.

The Killer Question by Janice Hallett

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Janice Hallett, “the new queen of crime” (Electric Literature), returns with a fresh, edge-of-your-seat mystery that takes place at a pub’s weekly trivia night, revealed through quiz categories, phone messages, and email correspondence.

Night & Day edited by Ellen Datlow

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A horror anthology edited by the genre’s greatest, Ellen Datlow, with one side featuring stories about what haunts the night while the other side showcases the terrors that can exist in the light of day in this new addition to the Saga Doubles series.

Soul Searching by Lyla Sage

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The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Rebel Blue Ranch series returns with a brand-new story, featuring a small-town upholsterer in need of a fresh start, a photographer whose life has come to a screeching halt . . . and the supernatural forces that bring them together.

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman

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The unmissable new mystery in the Thursday Murder Club series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Osman, now streaming on Netflix.

The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino

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The Second Death of Locke is a devastatingly romantic epic fantasy about the undying bond between a knight and their mage, perfect for fans of Rachel Gillig and Alix E. Harrow.

House of Hearts by Skyla Arndt

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Solving her best friend’s murder means infiltrating a secret society, resisting a forbidden love, and running from a vengeful ghost in this sophomore novel by the author of Together We Rot.

You Are The Detective by Maureen Johnson

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November 1933. London. Seven people receive mysterious letters. Someone knows their terrible secrets. They are summoned to a posh townhouse where one is stabbed right in front of the others, but somehow no one saw a thing. Can you help Scotland Yard solve the mystery?

A Blood as Bright as the Moon by Andrea Morstabilini

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A vampire, desperately torn between worlds, is hunted down by a secret society bent on his destruction, in this timeless and unsettling queer gothic horror, perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher and Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Among the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon

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A story of human resilience in the face of dire circumstances, Among the Burning Flowers leads readers through the gripping and tragic events that pave the way for the opening of the million-copy bestseller The Priory of The Orange Tree.

Lady Like by Mackenzi Lee

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Two women set their sights on marrying the same duke, but instead of becoming enemies, they find themselves falling in love—though not with him.

When We Were Monsters by Jennifer Niven

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A simmering psychological thriller about a dead teacher at an elite boarding school, the students who had every reason to want her gone, and the tangled web of rivalry and romance concealing the truth—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places.

The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson

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From award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Kosoko Jackson comes his adult speculative debut, a stand-alone novel blending time travel and globe-hopping adventure, art history, and dark fantasy about magical paintings and the lengths people will go to collect them, destroy them…or be destroyed.

You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White

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Alien meets Midsommar in this chilling debut adult novel from award-winning author Andrew Joseph White about identity, survival, and transformation amidst an alien invasion in rural West Virginia.

Hopelessly Teavoted by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff

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After the deaths of his parents, a witch returns to his spooky family manor and joins forces with his former crush when his parents’ spirits warn them of a sinister threat in this witty and lyrically unique rom-com in the vein of The Crescent Moon Tearoom andThe Ex Hex.

Seven Reasons To Murder Your Dinner Guests by KJ Whittle

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Told from the perspectives of each of the seven guests, Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests is a spellbinding and mysterious exploration of mortality, begging the question: how would you live your life if you knew your number was up?

Holiday Ever After by Hannah Grace

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Clara Davenport wants to solve Fraser Falls’s biggest problem. According to Jack Kelly, Clara is Fraser Falls’s biggest problem.

What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller

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#1 New York Times-bestselling author Tricia Levenseller makes her adult debut in What Fury Brings, a sexy, empowering romantasy featuring a warrior general who must kidnap and train a husband in order to take her rightful place as queen.

Old Money by Kelsey Miller

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On the Fourth of July, a teenager dies at an exclusive country club. Twenty years later, her cousin returns to her hometown, seeking answers behind closed gates in this rich, atmospheric thriller for fans of Lucy Foley, Liz Moore and Ruth Ware.

A Mannequin for Christmas by Timothy Janovsky

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A Christmas romance for Barbie fans who wished Ken and Allan got their own love story.

Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the acclaimed author of The Stardust Grail comes the epic tale of two sisters who sail across oceans to find their missing third sister―and Earth’s environmental salvation.

The Dead of Summer by Ryan La Sala

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Stephen King meets Holly Jackson by way of We Were Liars in this action-packed story of queer horror from the acclaimed author of The Honeys!

What September books are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 24 Anticipated Books Releasing In September 2025 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If you’re looking for more of the film’s quirky horror and romance, you’re in luck! This list of books is compiled of those that emulate some part of the movie whether it’s the macabre romance or the comedic horror or somewhere in between, this list has something for every to get you out of the post-Lisa Frankenstein slump.

The Confession of Hemingway Jones by Kathleen Hannon

After a deadly accident, Hemingway Jones does what no doctor has been able to do: revive his father from the dead. While the result isn’t entirely human, the billionaire owner of the research center will stop at nothing to repeat the experiment.

The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky

As the new girl at Manchester Prep, Rachel Chavez already struggled to fit it. After a prank goes awry, Rachel attracts the attention of the Mary Shelly Club—a secret club of students set on coming up with the scariest prank—but when someone targets the club itself, Rachel must track down the real-life monster in their midst . . . even if it means finally confronting the dark secrets from her past.

The Stricken by Morgan Shamy

Every day in Clara’s world, a dark cloud descends upon her town. The storm comes like clockwork, erasing everyone’s memories. Everyone except Clara. But after Clara’s father mysteriously disappears, things change.

Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt

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.

Strange Unearthly Things by Kelly Creagh

Jane Reye is a psychic artist, and now that she’s of age, she can no longer return to the girls’ school she’s called home her whole life. When a mysterious invitation to partake in a study at Fairfax Hall, she takes it, but soon learns something is amiss. Turning to her art to unravel the mystery, Jane is shocked to find that her talents–and her growing affection for Elias–could be the key to saving him from a horrible fate.

Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

Elizabeth Lavenza is on the verge of being thrown into the streets until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything–except a friend. She does everything to make herself indispensable, but her new life comes at a price. Behind Elizabeth’s blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness.

This Delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham

Zoey, Celeste, Valeria, and Jasmine are all ghouls—people who, after an infection, now sustain themselves on synthetic human flesh—living in Southern California. As a last hurrah before their graduation, they decided to attend a musical festival in the desert. But on the first night of the festival Val goes feral and ends up killing and eating a boy. As other festival guests start disappearing around them the girls soon discover someone is drugging ghouls and making them feral. And if they can’t figure out how to stop it, and soon, no one at the festival is safe.

Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne

When Angelika runs out of suitors, she users her brother Victor’s ground-breaking experiment to build her own perfect man. Only, her resurrected beau has no memory and is hell bent on uncovering his true identity. As Angelika tries to ignore her feelings and help him, the quest brings them closer, but how will he feel when he learns what was done to him in the name of science, and love?

You may not be able to experience Lisa Frankenstein for the first time again, but these books will help you fill the gap!

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

The post Eight Books To Read For Your Lisa Frankenstein Fix appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on t o discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Hide: The Graphic Novel by Kiersten White, which is out September 12th.

What would you do for $50,000? For Mack, the prize money would be life changing. She knows her time at the women’s shelter is already up. And she’s good at hiding. At least this time, her life doesn’t depend on it–or so she thinks.

The challenge is simple. All fourteen competitors must spend seven days hiding in an abandoned amusement park from dawn to dusk. There’s only one rule: Don’t get caught.

But as the people around her begin disappearing one by one, Mack realizes this competition is more dangerous than she’d imagined, and that together might be the only way to survive.

Rendered in stunning full-color art by beloved comic artist Veronica Fish, this gripping graphic adaptation of Hide fully immerses you in the chilling and page-turning horror story of Mack and her fellow competitors as they fight to make it out of the Amazement Park.

Credit: Hide: The Graphic Novel, by Kiersten White, adapted by Scott Peterson, and illustrated by Veronica Fish and Andy Fish; published by Ten Speed Graphic, 2023

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Hide: The Graphic Novel’ by Kiersten White appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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 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.

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.

The Hurricane Blonde by Halley Sutton
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A former child starlet is plunged back into the dangerous glitter of Hollywood after discovering a young actress’s body in this scorching thriller about the deadly sides of both fame and family.

Oh God, The Sun Goes By David Connor
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Oh God, the Sun Goes is a hallucinatory and deadpan picaresque that suddenly swerves into a love story of soaring poignance. Truly “the stuff that dreams are made of” – or maybe nightmares?

Under the Tamarind Tree by Nigar Alam
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A compellingly heartbreaking debut novel about the echoes of Partition and four friends whose dark secrets lead to a life-changing night that comes back to haunt them decades later.

The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard
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From award-winning, internationally bestselling crime writer Catherine Ryan Howard comes The Trap: an unsettling mystery inspired by a series of still-unsolved disappearances in Ireland in the nineties, wherein one young woman risks everything to catch a faceless killer.

Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue
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A heartbreakingly gorgeous novel based on the true story of two girls who fall secretly, deeply, and dangerously in love at boarding school in 19th century York, from the bestselling author of Room and The Wonder.

The Continental Affair by Christine Mangan
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With gorgeous prose, European glamour, and an expansive wanderlust, Christine Mangan’s The Continental Affair is a daring literary caper that is quick on its feet and delightfully surprising.

After That Night by Karin Slaughter
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Will Trent and Sara Linton are back in an electrifying thriller featuring GBI investigator Will Trent and medical examiner Sara Linton from New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter.

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin
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Rachel Krall, the true crime podcaster star of Megan Goldin’s acclaimed The Night Swim, returns to search for a popular influencer who disappears after visiting a suspected serial killer.

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney
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Our Queen of Twists, bestselling author of Daisy Darker and Rock Paper Scissors Alice Feeney, returns with another thrilling mystery filled with drama and her trademark surprises.

Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
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From the bestselling, National Book Award–winning author Elizabeth Acevedo comes her first novel for adults, the story of one Dominican American family told through the voices of its women as they await a gathering that will forever change their lives.

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
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From James McBride, author of the bestselling Oprah’s Book Club pick Deacon King Kong and the National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird, a novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
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In this beautiful and moving novel about family, love, and growing up, Ann Patchett once again proves herself one of America’s finest writers.

Mister Magic by Kiersten White
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Who is Mister Magic? Former child stars reunite to uncover the tragedy that ended their show—and discover the secret of its enigmatic host—in this dark supernatural thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hide.

What August fiction releases are you looking forward to reading? Tell us in the comments below!

The post August 2023 Fiction Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Kiersten White’s Wretched Waterpark, which is out June 7th 2022!

Twelve-year-old twins Theodora and Alexander and their older sister Wilhelmina Sinister-Winterbottom don’t know how they ended up with their Aunt Saffronia for an entire summer. She’s not exactly well equipped to handle children. The twins are determined to make it a good vacation, though, so when Aunt Saffronia suggests a waterpark, they hastily agree.

But Fathoms of Fun is not your typical waterpark. Instead of cabanas, guests rent mausoleums. The waterslides are gray tongues extending from horrible gargoyle faces. The few people they encounter are very, very odd. And the owner disappeared under bizarre circumstances, lost to the Cold, Unknowable Sea—the wave pool.

When Wil goes missing, rule following, cautious Alexander and competitive, brave Theo will have to work together to solve the mystery of Fathoms of Fun. But are they out of their depth?

Fog drifted around their feet, clinging greedily, like it wanted to pull them into a watery grave.

And maybe, this being the worst summer ever, it would actually end that way.

“To save Wil,” Theo whispered.

“To save our friends,” Alexander whispered.

“To save—well, let’s just do those two first and worry about the rest if we survive.” Theo was always practical that way. Her brother nodded. They clutched each other’s hands and took a deep breath. Then they jumped into the pool, glowing green and hungry beneath them. Their dark hair floated behind them as they sank, slowly, to the bottom, took a few steps . . .

And then disappeared.

Chapter One

Their aunt was decidedly Sinister.

But only because she was from their mother’s side of the family. If she had been from their father’s side of the family, she would have been decidedly Winterbottom. It had been a great trial for each of the Sinister-Winterbottom children to learn how to write their own names, something their usually thoughtful parents had neglected to think through.

Another thing their parents had neglected to think through was the wisdom of dropping off sixteen-year-old Wilhelmina Sinister-Winterbottom (who had actually learned how to write her own name as a toddler), twelve-year-old Theodora Sinister-Winterbottom (who had never to this day written out her whole name, preferring Theo), and also twelve-year-old Alexander Sinister-Winterbottom (who had always insisted on each and every letter of his entire name and would not answer to Alex even if he were hanging off the side of the cliff and the search party was frantically shouting it) to spend the summer with their aunt Saffronia Sinister, whom the children had never met, and who, by all appearances, had never encountered an actual human child before.

Wil had been adopted as a baby. Theo and Alexander had joined the family four years later, born hand in hand. Sometimes, still, when they weren’t paying attention or they were nervous or scared, they reached for each other’s hands.

They weren’t reaching for each other’s hands now, though, because they weren’t nervous or scared. Just confused. Their noses—with matching freckles dotted across quick-to-sunburn white skin—wrinkled in unison.

“Do you remember getting here?” Alexander whispered.

“What?” Theo answered, shifting closer to him. Her short, spiky brown hair was pushed back from her forehead with a headband. Alexander’s was neatly combed and gelled into place.

“How did we get here?”

“The kitchen?”

“No, this house, in— Where are we? What town is this, Aunt Saffronia?”

But Aunt Saffronia spoke as though she didn’t hear Alexander’s question. “I wonder about your parents’ judgment, summoning me. I am not well suited to—” Aunt Saffronia gestured vaguely in their direction. “And I wonder if you will be suited to the grave tasks ahead. Still. They had no other options.”

“So you’re taking care of us. The whole summer.” Theo scowled.

Aunt Saffronia merely nodded. “How often would you say you need to eat? If I set out some food in the morning, will that be enough?”

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Wretched Waterpark’ by Kiersten White appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hide is a labyrinthine tale steeped in blood, gore, and challenging questions. It is brutal, violent, and unrelenting, but also dissects institutional privilege and the true cost of it. Horror has always been a genre within which authors can challenge societal norms and offer these unconventional, provocative and intellectual stories wrapped in blood and gore. Monsters are always never quite as they seem and Kiersten White explores this in a refreshing way. We are drip-fed details that slowly congeal into this sickening picture. White really digs into generational hierarchies and how far society would go to preserve these and the corresponding status quo they embody. This is a book that lingers in your mind.

White asks difficult questions that intentionally challenge and provoke the reader. In this way, she truly taps into the horror genre as a space in which to question societal conventions and challenge the hatred imbued in communities. The monsters here are truly bone-chilling because they are so believable and their root motivation is so mundanely evil. That being said, our central beast is pure nightmare fuel. I loved how little White gave away around the physical description of it for so much of the narrative. The imagination of a reader will always conjure up the most horrific images and White gives us just enough to encourage these terrifying glimpses.

The narrative itself reflects this, with a slowly burning sense of something out of place. That opening is instantly menacing and the writing style is gorgeously foreboding and terrifying. I picked up so many iconic references to mainstays of the genre, both in the literary and cinematic horror worlds. White mashes these together to concoct something entirely new and petrifying. The way she builds tension through the snippets of multiple perspectives is gorgeously done. It is razor-sharp, slick and obviously ends in a barrage of blood. White does not hold back on the horror. This is an incredibly dark and graphic read at times, knee deep in gore. It is reminiscent of the classic slashers in this tightrope act between the terror of foreboding symbols, the danger lurking in the shadows and these moments of pure chaos and blood. You know full well that this is going to go off the rails, but White makes it one hell of a ride. Several scenes will give you full body chills.

This book also really goes there in terms of exploring societal issues in a nuanced way. In particular, it examines the lasting effects of trauma and questions how far you would go to survive. Throughout the beginning, you get glimpses of Mack’s past and the heinous acts concealed there. This leads to an incredibly poignant and complex reveal later in the book. As White has crafted these characters to be so fragmented, vulnerable and easy to connect to, the ensuing devastation is that much more impactful. Most of them are so easy to fall in love with and White deftly sketches these fully embodied figures in such a short space of time. The pacing is also efficient and incredibly effective, making it such an addictive read. All of this culminates in a book you cannot extract from your head.

Hide blew my mind. White has crafted something that shakes your bones, something that whispers in the dark and leaves an uneasy feeling on your skin. This is a tour de force.

Hide is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

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

Synopsis | Goodreads

The challenge: spend a week hiding in an abandoned amusement park and don’t get caught.

The prize: enough money to change everything.

Even though everyone is desperate to win–to seize their dream futures or escape their haunting pasts–Mack feels sure that she can beat her competitors. All she has to do is hide, and she’s an expert at that.

It’s the reason she’s alive, and her family isn’t.

But as the people around her begin disappearing one by one, Mack realizes this competition is more sinister than even she imagined, and that together might be the only way to survive.

Fourteen competitors. Seven days. Everywhere to hide, but nowhere to run.

Come out, come out, wherever you are.

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

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