We’re sure you all know the feeling. You read a book, you love it even, but there is that part of you that wishes that these characters were queer. So, our contributors Mimi and Simone asked their Instagram followers for their favourite straight reads that they wish were a little… not so straight. 

Now, we would like to present to you: “If you liked… then you’ll like… “ QUEER EDITION. 

We have paired each straight book with a queer book we think you will really enjoy if you’ve liked the original. Our picks vary from all-time classics, to sweet teenage romances, and to fabulous fantasy adventures. We are sure that there is one pick for everyone here!

CLASSICS

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen → Gay Pride and Prejudice by Kate Christie

Pride and Prejudice:

Since its immediate success in 1813, Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work “her own darling child” and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, “as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print.” The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen’s radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.

Gay Pride and Prejudice:

Like other variations on Jane Austen’s classic romance novel, Gay Pride & Prejudice poses a question: What if some among Austen’s characters preferred the company of their own sex? In this queer revision of the classic original, Kate Christie offers an alternate version of love, friendship, and marriage for Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and others among their circle of friends. But even as the path to love veers from the straight and narrow, the destination remains much the same.

Dracula by Bram Stoker → The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Dracula:

When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula purchase a London house, he makes horrifying discoveries in his client’s castle. Soon afterwards, disturbing incidents unfold in England: an unmanned ship is wrecked; strange puncture marks appear on a young woman’s neck; and a lunatic asylum inmate raves about the imminent arrival of his ‘Master’. In the ensuing battle of wits between the sinister Count and a determined group of adversaries, Bram Stoker created a masterpiece of the horror genre, probing into questions of identity, sanity and the dark corners of Victorian sexuality and desire.

The Deathless Girls:

They say the thirst of blood is like a madness – they must sate it. Even with their own kin. On the eve of her divining, the day she’ll discover her fate, seventeen-year-old Lil and her twin sister Kizzy are captured and enslaved by the cruel Boyar Valcar, taken far away from their beloved traveller community.

Forced to work in the harsh and unwelcoming castle kitchens, Lil is comforted when she meets Mira, a fellow slave who she feels drawn to in a way she doesn’t understand. But she also learns about the Dragon, a mysterious and terrifying figure of myth and legend who takes girls as gifts. They may not have had their divining day, but the girls will still discover their fate… 

ROMANCE

Josh and Hazel’s Guide To Not Dating by Christina Lauren → Tell Me It’s Real by TJ Klune

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating:

Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take—and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun.

Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met—when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes—to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air. Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them…right?

Tell Me It’s Real:

Do you believe in love at first sight? Paul Auster doesn’t. Paul doesn’t believe in much at all. He’s thirty, slightly overweight, and his best features are his acerbic wit and the color commentary he provides as life passes him by. His closest friends are a two-legged dog named Wheels and a quasibipolar drag queen named Helena Handbasket. He works a dead-end job in a soul-sucking cubicle, and if his grandmother’s homophobic parrot insults him one more time, Paul is going to wring its stupid neck.

Enter Vince Taylor. Vince is everything Paul isn’t: Sexy, confident, and dumber than the proverbial box of rocks. And for some reason, Vince pursues Paul relentlessly. Vince must be messing with him, because there is no way Vince could want someone like Paul.

But when Paul hits Vince with his car – in a completely unintentional if-he-died-it’d-only-be-manslaughter kind of way – he’s forced to see Vince in a whole new light. The only thing stopping Paul from believing in Vince is himself – and that is one obstacle Paul can’t quite seem to overcome. But when tragedy strikes Vince’s family, Paul must put aside any notions he has about himself and stand next to the man who thinks he’s perfect the way he is.

Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane → Almost Like Being In Love by Steve Kluger

Don’t You Forget About Me:

If there’s one thing worse than being fired from the grottiest restaurant in town, it’s coming home early to find your boyfriend in bed with someone else.

Reeling from the indignity of a double dumping on the same day, Georgina snatches at the next job that she’s offered – barmaid in a newly opened pub, which just so happens to run by the boy she fell in love with at school: Lucas McCarthy. And whereas Georgina (voted Most Likely to Succeed in her school yearbook) has done nothing but dead-end jobs in the last twelve years, Lucas has not only grown into a broodingly handsome man, but also has turned into an actual grown-up with a business and a dog along the way.

Meeting Lucas again not only throws Georgina’s rackety present into sharp relief, but also brings a dark secret from her past bubbling to the surface. Only she knows the truth about what happened on the last day of school, and why she’s allowed it to chase her all these years… 

Almost Like Being In Love:

A high school jock and nerd fall in love senior year, only to part after an amazing summer of discovery to attend their respective colleges. They keep in touch at first, but then slowly drift apart.

Flash forward twenty years. Travis and Craig both have great lives, careers, and loves. But something is missing …. Travis is the first to figure it out. He’s still in love with Craig, and come what may, he’s going after the boy who captured his heart, even if it means forsaking his job, making a fool of himself, and entering the great unknown.

Told in narrative, letters, checklists, and more, this is the must-read novel for anyone who’s wondered what ever happened to that first great love.

FANTASY

Cinder by Marissa Meyer → Tarnished Are The Stars by Rosiee Thor

Cinder:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Tarnished Are The Stars:

A secret beats inside Anna Thatcher’s chest: an illegal clockwork heart. Anna works cog by cog — donning the moniker Technician — to supply black market medical technology to the sick and injured, against the Commissioner’s tyrannical laws.

Nathaniel Fremont, the Commissioner’s son, has never had to fear the law. Determined to earn his father’s respect, Nathaniel sets out to capture the Technician. But the more he learns about the outlaw, the more he questions whether his father’s elusive affection is worth chasing at all.

Their game of cat and mouse takes an abrupt turn when Eliza, a skilled assassin and spy, arrives. Her mission is to learn the Commissioner’s secrets at any cost — even if it means betraying her own heart.

When these uneasy allies discover the most dangerous secret of all, they must work together despite their differences and put an end to a deadly epidemic — before the Commissioner ends them first.

Vicious by VE Schwab → The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune

Vicious:

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

The Extraordinaries:

Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right? After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick’s best friend (and maybe the love of his life).

YOUNG ADULT

Geekerella by Ashley Poston → Ship It by Britta Lundin

Geekerella:

Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first.

Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons—before he was famous. Now they’re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.

Ship It:

CLAIRE is a sixteen-year-old fangirl obsessed with the show Demon Heart. FOREST is an actor on Demon Heart who dreams of bigger roles. When the two meet at a local Comic-Con panel, it’s a dream come true for Claire. Until the Q&A, that is, when Forest laughs off Claire’s assertion that his character is gay.

Claire is devastated. After all, every last word of her super-popular fanfic revolves around the romance between Forest’s character and his male frenemy. She can’t believe her hero turned out to be a closed-minded jerk. Forest is mostly confused that anyone would think his character is gay. Because he’s not. Definitely not.

Unfortunately for Demon Heart, when the video of the disastrous Q&A goes viral, the producers have a PR nightmare on their hands. In order to help bolster their image within the LGBTQ+ community-as well as with their fans-they hire Claire to join the cast for the rest of their publicity tour. What ensues is a series of colorful Comic-Con clashes between the fans and the show that lead Forest to question his assumptions about sexuality and help Claire come out of her shell. But how far will Claire go to make her ship canon? To what lengths will Forest go to stop her and protect his career? And will Claire ever get the guts to make a move on Tess, the very cute, extremely cool fanartist she keeps running into?

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins → This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kheryn Callender

Lola and the Boy Next Door:

Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket, a gifted inventor, steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

This is Kind of an Epic Love Story:

Nathan Bird doesn’t believe in happy endings. Although he’s the ultimate film buff and an aspiring screenwriter, Nate’s seen the demise of too many relationships to believe that happy endings exist in real life.

Playing it safe to avoid a broken heart has been his MO ever since his father died and left his mom to unravel—but this strategy is not without fault. His best-friend-turned-girlfriend-turned-best-friend-again, Florence, is set on making sure Nate finds someone else. And in a twist that is rom-com-worthy, someone does come along: Oliver James Hernández, his childhood best friend.

After a painful mix-up when they were little, Nate finally has the chance to tell Ollie the truth about his feelings. But can Nate find the courage to pursue his own happily ever after?

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

The post If You Liked, You’ll Like: Queer Edition appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Welcome to the most beautiful month of the year, Pride Month! Usually, this month is packed with parades, events and festivals, but due to all of us #stay(ing)athome, Pride will have to find a way to take place online even more than the years before. But we are not The Nerd Daily for nothing, after all; we specialise in making the online world as welcoming, engaging, and inclusive as possible!

Let’s make this month as colourful as we can! To help you kick off, we present you: The LGBTQ+ Literary Alphabet. We will take each letter (and as many of the letters from the ‘+’ category as we can) and will recommend you some fantastically diverse books that are simply perfect for a good pride month read. 

And we’ll start right here! Our letter today is: L as in Lesbian. We’ve divided our bookish recommendations into genres, so that every single one of you bookworms can find a book that fits your tastes and reading habits! From adult and YA, all the way to middle-grade fiction, we’ve got you covered!

Happy reading!

Adult Fiction

Carol by Patricia Highsmith | Goodreads

Patricia Highsmith’s story of romantic obsession may be one of the most important, but still largely unrecognized, novels of the twentieth century. First published in 1952 and touted as “the novel of a love that society forbids,” the book soon became a cult classic.

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters | Goodreads

With dreams of paying back the kindness of her adopted family, Sue agrees to a plan. Once in, however, Sue begins to pity her helpless mark and care for Maud Lilly in unexpected ways, but no one and nothing is as it seems in this Dickensian novel of thrills and reversals.

The Wicked Cometh by Laura Carlin | Goodreads

Even in the darkest of times, you cannot bury the truth . . . A debut historical novel that will appeal to fans of Sarah Waters and The Silent Companions.

Disobedience by Naomi Alderman | Goodreads

Steeped in Jewish philosophy and teachings, Disobedience is a perceptive and thoughtful exploration of the laws and practices that have governed Judaism for centuries, and continue to hold sway today. Throughout the novel, Alderman retells stories from the Torah — Judaism’s fundamental source — and the interplay between these tales and the struggles of the novel’s unique characters wields enormous power and wisdom, and will surely move readers to tears.

Young Adult Fiction

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth | Goodreads

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a stunning and unforgettable literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules.

Juliet Takes A Breath by Gabby Rivera | Goodreads

A gutsy, queer YA coming-of-age story perfect for fans of The Poet X, Roxanne Gay and Feminists Don’t Wear Pink.

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan | Goodreads

Leila has made it most of the way through Armstead Academy without having a crush on anyone, which is a relief. As an Iranian-American, she’s different enough; if word got out that Leila liked girls, life would be twice as hard. But when beautiful new girl Saskia shows up, Leila starts to take risks she never thought she would. As she carefully confides in trusted friends about Saskia’s confusing signals, Leila begins to figure out that all her classmates are more complicated than they first appear to be, and some are keeping surprising secrets of their own.

The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth | Goodreads

Two girls embark on a summer of montage-worthy dates (with a few strings attached) in this hilarious and heartfelt lesbian rom-com that’s perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Jenny Han.

Fantasy & Sci-Fi

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon | Goodreads

From the internationally bestselling author of The Bone Season, a trailblazing, epic high fantasy about a world on the brink of war with dragons – and the women who must lead the fight to save it.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone | Goodreads

Co-written by two award-winning writers, THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR is an epic love story spanning time and space.

The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave | Goodreads

Gothic, intoxicating, feminist and romantic – this is the breathtakingly imagined untold story of the brides of Dracula, by bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave in her much-anticipated YA debut.

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron | Goodreads

This fresh take on a classic story will make readers question the tales they’ve been told, and root for girls to break down the constructs of the world around them.

Classics & Poetry 

The Color Purple by Alice Walker | Goodreads

A powerful cultural touchstone of modern American literature, The Color Purple depicts the lives of African American women in early twentieth-century rural Georgia. Deeply compassionate and beautifully imagined, Alice Walker’s epic carries readers on a spirit-affirming journey towards redemption and love.

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu | Goodreads

A classic Victorian vampire novella, which influenced Bram Stoker’s later treatment of the vampire mythos in Dracula. Secret fans of the fantastic YouTube adaptation of this novella may find themselves drawn in even further by the original novella that started it all.

Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown | Goodreads

Bawdy and moving, the ultimate word-of-mouth bestseller, Rubyfruit Jungle is about growing up a lesbian in America–and living happily ever after.

Middle-Grade Fiction

In The Role of Brie Hutchens by Nicole Melleby | Goodreads

An own-voices LGBTQ novel from the acclaimed author of Hurricane Season, about eighth-grader Brie, who learns how to be true to herself and to her relationships with family, friends, and faith.

The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake | Goodreads

Twelve-year-old Sunny St. James navigates heart surgery, reconnections with a lost mother, first kisses, and emerging feelings for another girl.

Kenzie Kickstarts a Team by Kit Rosewater | Goodreads

A highly illustrated middle-grade series that celebrates new friendships, first crushes, and getting out of your comfort zone

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake | Goodreads

In the wake of a destructive tornado, one girl develops feelings for another in this stunning, tender novel about emerging identity, perfect for fans of The Thing About Jellyfish.

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

The post LGBTQ+ Alphabet Recommendations: L for Lesbian Fiction appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Genre: Fantasy fiction

In the magical land of Ingary, people live their lives by fairy tale tropes. So unfortunate Sophie, the eldest of three sisters and destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate, has resigned herself to spending a dull lifetime running the family hat shop. But everything changes when she encounters the powerful Witch of the Waste and a spell turns her into an old crone. Her only chance at reversing the curse is the self-absorbed and freakish Wizard Howl. Sophie now must seek out Howl’s ever-moving castle in the hills, make a deal with the a demon and ultimately, face the Witch of the Waste.

Even though the 2004 Studio Ghibli adaptation of Howl’s Moving Castle (that everyone and their grandma has probably seen at least once) is more popular than the actual book, it’s definitely worth a shot because the story is whimsical and downright enchanting. It’s written in a simple yet elegant way, includes a wacky romance between a shallow, over-dramatic boy and a spirited girl who appears as a ninety year old lady, and yes it’s better than the movie.

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Genre: Fantasy fiction, mythological fiction

Aru Shah has a habit of stretching the truth a bit too far in order to fit in at school. While her classmates are flying off to family vacations in exotic locales, Aru will be spending a boring and lonely autumn break at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and culture. That changes when three of her classmates show up at her doorstep and dare her to light the cursed Lamp of Bharata. Aru accidentally frees the Sleeper, an ancient demon who freezes her mother and classmates in time. Now with the help of a long-lost half sister and a talking pigeon, Aru must find the Sleeper before he successfully wakes up the God of Destruction.

Hindu mythology and folklore blend seamlessly into the modern day world with Chokshi’s effortless, exquisite writing. The result is a bright, exhilarating and fast paced story crackling with humour that will leave you wanting more. Good thing the sequel is already out and book three comes out on April 7th!

Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Genre: Contemporary fiction

August Pullman was born with a facial difference. He has gone through quite a lot of surgeries since then. After years of being homeschooled, Auggie is now starting 5th grade at a mainstream school- and it just might be the greatest challenge he has ever had to face. He finds himself being bullied and unable to make friends, just as he had feared.

A soulful, compassionate and very special book, Wonder does a great job of letting the reader see August and the way he impacts the people around him from several perspectives. It’s one of those books that everyone should experience at least once in their lives. You might want to give the movie a try too, it’s one of the most honest book-to-screen adaptations out there.

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
Genre: Paranormal fiction

Cassidy Blake’s parents are professional ghost hunters, but Cass is the one who can really see them. Ever since she almost drowned and was saved by her now best friend Jacob- who also happens to be a ghost, she has been able to enter the world of spirits. When her parents go to Edinburgh for their TV show, she and Jacob unwillingly follow. There Cass encounters Lara, a girl with the same abilities as herself. On a new mission to send spirits permanently beyond the Veil, Cass encounters the sinister Red Raven haunting the city, and gets involved in a fight that stretches through both of her worlds.

Victoria Schwab’s delicious and intriguing writing is reason enough to read her works. Pick this one up for the vivid world building, the chills that will inevitably run down your spine, and Jacob. He’s adorable, you’ll see.

Stargazing by Jen Wang
Genre: Graphic novel

Christine’s new next door neighbour Moon has gradually become her best friend. Impulsive, fearless, creative Moon is everything Christine isn’t, her ways of thinking and looking at the world amaze and inspire Christine. Moon even trusts Christine with her deepest secret- that she sometimes has visions from otherworldly beings who reassure her that earth isn’t where she really belongs. Their friendship is unexpectedly tested when jealousy, social expectations and Moon’s worsening medical condition threatens to push them apart. Can they get over all that to be there for each other?

Stargazing is a deeply personal story from Jen Wang’s own childhood. The genius storytelling, stunning and expressive art style, and the lovely tale of friendship will win you over.

The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Genre: Fantasy fiction

Isabella Riosse is forbidden to leave the island of Joya just like everyone else, but that never stopped her from dreaming of the lands beyond that her father once mapped. When her friend goes missing, she volunteers to lead the search. Armed with her father’s maps and her knowledge of the stars, Isabella sets out to bring back her friend. Soon she finds out that an ancient  fire demon is stirring from its sleep. Following her maps, her heart and an ancient myth, Isabella discovers the true end of her journey: to save the island itself.

With her enchanting writing, Hargrave crafts a beautiful Moana-esque story of a dauntless young girl on a quest to find the truth behind the legends of her island. Read it for the lovely prose, the strong female protagonist, and the gorgeous maps.

The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell
Genre: Adventure fiction, historical fiction

When Vita Marlowe’s grandfather gets cheated out of his mansion by a powerful realty tycoon with ties to the mob, Vita takes it upon herself to recover the house and make him happy again. She gathers a crew of her own- a pickpocket and two boys with extraordinary skills- and hatches a plan to outwit the enemy and steal back what’s rightfully her grandfather’s. 

This book is for you if you love a gripping, action packed adventure story with strong, quirky characters who embrace their individualities instead of trying to fit in.

The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Genre: Fantasy fiction

Arrietty Clock lives with her parents Pod and Homily Clock beneath the kitchen floor. They ‘borrow’ whatever they need from the humans who live above. Only Pod is allowed to do the ‘borrowing’ though, since the risk of being seen by the humans is too great. Arrietty is used to boredom, until the day Pod comes home from his latest expedition to tell them about the new boy. Her parents say Borrowers who are found by humans get lost forever, but desperate for a friend, Arrietty is determined to meet him.

Yet another book that has been adapted by Studio Ghibli (a lesser known movie, Arrietty is delightful nonetheless), once again with an altered story. If you love fairy tales, you’ll love this book as the writing is appropriately atmospheric and surreal.

Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunn
Genre: Contemporary fiction

Cat has been taking care of her brother Chicken for as long as she can remember. Chicken is autistic, and Cat is the only one who gets him. When their summer plans change unexpectedly, they end up having to spend their break at their grandparents- whom they have never met before. For the first time, Cat gets to be a kid too! Her journey takes her on the path to figure out why exactly their mother drifted apart from her parents.

Caterpillar Summer shows how strained, damaged relationships can be healed too- sometimes all we have to do is take the time to see things from others’ perspectives. If you are looking for a short, feel good read, this just might be the perfect book for you.

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
Genre: Science fiction

Sal Vidón prides himself on being an excellent magician. So when a raw chicken appears out of nowhere in school bully Yasmany’s locker three days after Sal started at Culeco Academy of the Arts, student council president Gabi Reál is determined to prove that Sal is the one to blame. How did Sal do it though? Was it sleight of hand? Was it… actual magic? What happens when Gabi finds out Sal can conjure bigger, scarier things that might tear the universe apart?

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe tells a bizarrely original story that is hard to describe without explaining things like why Sal’s Mami Viva is now suddenly Mami Muerta. With Hernandez’s flowing, witty, and utterly unique writing, well developed characters, and the excellent handling of the sci-fi aspects of the book, this is bound to become a story you’d want to revisit.

The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf
Genre: Contemporary fiction

The story begins with an empty chair, and the kid who comes to occupy it. Ahmet, the newest student in the class, is very quiet, he doesn’t talk to anyone and has an older lady help him with his lessons. Four of his classmates desperately want to befriend him. They find out Ahmet is a refugee, who had to leave his home and run away because of a war. A real one- where there are bombs and fire and people who hurt other people. Now, the kids start looking for a way to help their new friend.

Onjali Q. Rauf’s debut novel brings into light a glaring issue rarely acknowledged, in a way that will help children understand it well. The kids are determined to help Ahmet in any way they can once they realise what the term ‘refugee’ means, showing the non-judgemental, innocent mindset children possess. Written in an honest and heartwarming way, this one is a quick yet impactful read.

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
Genre: Fantasy fiction

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III does not fit his name, or the rest of his Viking clan, the Hairy Hooligans. He is too weak to even capture a dragon, let alone train it- at least that’s what everyone thinks. This is the first installment in the story of the mighty Viking hero known throughout the Vikingdom as The Dragon Whisperer, of how he befriended the dragon Toothless and became a hero.

I know, I know, you have probably seen the movies, they are some of Dreamworks’ best to date! Don’t go into the book expecting it to be anything like them though, the stories are very different. However, in case the promise of Toothless and Hiccup’s incredible dynamic and the presence of dragons of every shape and size aren’t enough to convince you to read the book, the audiobook is narrated by David Tennant, in his Scottish accent! Just saying…

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

The post 12 Middle Grade Novels You Should Check Out appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you are looking forward to any of them!

The Antidote for Everything by Kimmery Martin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this whip-smart and timely novel from acclaimed author Kimmery Martin, two doctors travel a surprising path when they must choose between treating their patients and keeping their jobs.

The Last Smile in Sunder City by Luke Arnold
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A former soldier turned PI tries to help the fantasy creatures whose lives he ruined in a world that’s lost its magic in a compelling debut fantasy by Black Sails actor Luke Arnold.

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Propulsive and addictive, and perfect for fans of “You,” The Other Mrs. is the twisty new psychological thriller from Mary Kubica, the New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl.

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In Upright Women Wanted, award-winning author Sarah Gailey reinvents the pulp Western with an explicitly antifascist, near-future story of queer identity.

Belle Révolte by Linsey Miller
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of the Mask of Shadows duology comes a standalone fantasy where two young women must trade lives, work together to stay alive, and end a war caused by magic and greed.

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The secrets lurking in a rundown roadside motel ensnare a young woman, just as they did her aunt thirty-five years before, in this new atmospheric suspense novel from the national bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls.

All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Set in a kingdom where danger lurks beneath the sea, mermaids seek vengeance with song, and magic is a choice, Adalyn Grace’s All the Stars and Teeth is a thrilling fantasy for fans of Stephanie Garber’s Caraval and Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series.

Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Hailed as a “marvel of a book” and “brilliant and unflinching,” Alexis Schaitkin’s stunning debut Saint X is a haunting portrait of grief, obsession, and the bond between two sisters never truly given the chance to know one another.

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the award-winning author of Station Eleven, an exhilarating novel set at the glittering intersection of two seemingly disparate events-a massive Ponzi scheme collapse and the mysterious disappearance of a woman from a ship at sea.

The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Critically acclaimed author Mia Sosa delivers a sassy, steamy enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy about a woman whose new job requires her to work side-by-side with the best man who ruined her wedding: her ex-fiancé’s infuriating, irritating, annoyingly handsome brother. Perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory, Helen Hoang, and Sally Thorne!

Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Elana K. Arnold, author of the Printz Honor book Damsel, returns with a dark, engrossing, blood-drenched tale of the familiar threats to female power—and one girl’s journey to regain it.

The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

After a storm has killed off all the island’s men, two women in a 1600s Norwegian coastal village struggle to survive against both natural forces and the men who have been sent to rid the community of alleged witchcraft.

What February release are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post February 2020 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments if you’ll be picking up any of these releases!

JANUARY

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Already being hailed as “a Grapes of Wrath for our times” and “a new American classic,” Jeanine Cummins’s American Dirt is a rare exploration into the inner hearts of people willing to sacrifice everything for a glimmer of hope.

Followers by Megan Angelo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An electrifying story of two ambitious friends, the dark choices they make and the profound moment that changes the meaning of privacy forever.

All the Ways We Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The New York Times bestselling authors of The Glass Ocean and The Forgotten Room return with a glorious historical adventure that moves from the dark days of two World Wars to the turbulent years of the 1960s, in which three women with bruised hearts find refuge at Paris’ legendary Ritz hotel.

The Majesties by Tiffany Tsao
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this riveting and disquieting thriller about the secrets and betrayals that accompany exorbitant wealth—imagine Crazy Rich Asians as written by Gillian Flynn—two sisters from a Chinese-Indonesian family grapple with the past after one of them poisons their entire family.

The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Other Girl and Justice for Sara comes a thrilling psychological drama about a woman who believes she escaped a brutal murder years ago—but does anyone else believe her?

A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of The House of the Spirits comes an epic novel spanning decades and crossing continents, following two young people as they flee the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War in search of a new place to call home.

The Other People by C.J. Tudor
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A gripping thriller about a man’s quest for the daughter no one else believes is still alive, from the acclaimed author of The Chalk Man and The Hiding Place.

Long Bright River by Liz Moore
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Alternating its present-day mystery with the story of the sisters’ childhood and adolescence, Long Bright River is at once heart-pounding and heart-wrenching: a gripping suspense novel that is also a moving story of sisters, addiction, and the formidable ties that persist between place, family, and fate.

FEBRUARY

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the award-winning author of Station Eleven, an exhilarating novel set at the glittering intersection of two seemingly disparate events-a massive Ponzi scheme collapse and the mysterious disappearance of a woman from a ship at sea.

The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

After a storm has killed off all the island’s men, two women in a 1600s Norwegian coastal village struggle to survive against both natural forces and the men who have been sent to rid the community of alleged witchcraft.

The King at the Edge of the World by Arthur Phillips
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

“One of the best writers in America” (The Washington Post) delivers a mesmerising new novel in which Queen Elizabeth’s spymasters recruit an unlikely agent for an impossible mission: the only Muslim in England.

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare
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A powerful, emotional debut novel told in the unforgettable voice of a young Nigerian woman who is trapped in a life of servitude but determined to get an education so that she can escape and choose her own future.

Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes by Kathleen West
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Perfect for fans of Where’d You Go, Bernadette and Small Admissions, a wry and cleverly observed debut novel about the privileged bubble that is Liston Heights High–the micro-managing parents, the overworked teachers, and the students caught in the middle–and the fallout for each of them when the bubble finally bursts.

Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert
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A storm-struck island. A blood-soaked bed. A missing man. Senior Investigator Shana Merchant believes it all adds up to a killer in their midst—and that murder is a family affair.

The Love Story of the Century by Märta Tikkanen and Stina Katchadourian
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As much a story of resilience as it is suffering, The Love Story of the Century is a bittersweet account of the complexities of addiction, the power of creativity, and the redemption of love.

The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward
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The story of a vibrant but dysfunctional family trapped together on a ten-day Mediterranean cruise–a riveting, irresistible novel from bestselling author Amanda Eyre Ward

MARCH

The Sea of Lost Girls: A Novel by Carol Goodman
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In the tradition of Daphne du Maurier, Shari Lapena, and Michelle Richmond comes a new thriller from the bestselling author of The Lake of Dead Languages—a twisty, harrowing story set at a prestigious prep school in which one woman’s carefully hidden past might destroy her future.

The Herd by Andrea Bartz
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When an exclusive New York women’s workspace is rocked by the mysterious disappearance of its enigmatic founder, two sisters must uncover the haunting truth before they lose their friendships, their careers–maybe even their lives.

You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
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The #1 Bestselling authors of The Wife Between Us and An Anonymous Girl deliver a thriller about a circle of friends with deadly intentions–where trust is their weapon and revenge is their trigger….

The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Midwives and The Flight Attendant comes a twisting story of love and deceit: an American man vanishes on a rural road in Vietnam, and his girlfriend, an emergency room doctor trained to ask questions, follows a path that leads her home to the very hospital where they met.

The Sunday Potluck Club by Melissa Storm
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New friends can be found in unexpected places. For Bridget and Amy, that place was the cancer ward of an Anchorage hospital. Now, as each struggles to overcome loss, they lean on each other for support—sharing suppers, laughter and tears.

Conjure Women by Afia Atakora
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A mother and daughter with a shared talent for healing–and for the conjuring of curses–are at the heart of this dazzling first novel.

The Deep by Alma Katsu
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Brilliantly combining fact and fiction, the historical and the horrific, The Deep reveals a chilling truth in an unputdownable narrative full of unnerving moments and with a growing, inexorable sense of foreboding.

The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel
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A spellbinding story of a mother with nothing left to lose who sets out on an all-consuming quest for justice after her daughter is murdered on the town playground.

APRIL

The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

With The Year of the Locust, Hayes has penned a breathtaking story about cutting-edge science, a government conspiracy, and one man’s desperate attempt to unravel it all. (Note: According to some retailers, this title has been pushed back yet again to June 2020. The UK version is currently set to September 2020, but after years of previous release dates and delays, this could still change).

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A riveting debut novel set in contemporary Seoul, Korea, about four young women making their way in a world defined by impossibly high standards of beauty, secret room salons catering to wealthy men, strict social hierarchies, and K-pop fan mania.

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sheriff Sunshine Vicram finds her cup o’ joe more than half full when the small village of Del Sol, New Mexico, becomes the center of national attention for a kidnapper on the loose.

The New Husband by D.J. Palmer
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The New Husband is a riveting thriller about the lies we tell ourselves from D. J. Palmer, the author of Saving Meghan.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
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Fried Green Tomatoes and Steel Magnolias meet Dracula in this Southern-flavoured supernatural thriller set in the ’90s about a women’s book club that must protect its suburban community from a mysterious and handsome stranger who turns out to be a blood-sucking fiend.

The Ancestor by Danielle Trussoni
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of the Angelology series comes a bewitching gothic novel of suspense that plunges readers into a world of dark family secrets, the mysteries of human genetics, and the burden of family inheritance.

Something She’s Not Telling Us by Darcey Bell
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From the New York Times bestselling author of A Simple Favor comes an electrifying domestic thriller of how one woman’s life is turned upside down when her brother brings his new girlfriend to visit—and no one is telling the truth about who they really are.

Three Hours in Paris by Cara Black
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In June of 1940, when Paris fell to the Nazis, Hitler spent a total of three hours in the City of Light—abruptly leaving, never to return. To this day, no one knows why. The New York Times bestselling author of the Aimée Leduc investigations reimagines history in her masterful, pulse-pounding spy thriller, Three Hours in Paris.

MAY

Malorie by Josh Malerman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the thrilling sequel to Bird Box, the inspiration for the record-breaking Netflix film that starred Sandra Bullock and “absolutely riveted” Stephen King, New York Times bestselling author Josh Malerman brings unseen horrors to life.

The Paris Hours by Alex George
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Told over the course of a single day in 1927, The Paris Hours takes four ordinary people whose stories, told together, are as extraordinary as the glorious city they inhabit.

If It Bleeds by Stephen King
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author, legendary storyteller, and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary collection of four new and compelling novellas—Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, The Life of Chuck, Rat, and the title story If It Bleeds—each pulling you into intriguing and frightening places.

All Adults Here by Emma Straub
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In All Adults Here, Emma Straub’s unique alchemy of wisdom, humor, and insight come together in a deeply satisfying story about adult siblings, aging parents, high school boyfriends, middle school mean girls, the lifelong effects of birth order, and all the other things that follow us into adulthood, whether we like them to or not.

The Queen’s Secret: A Novel of England’s World War II Queen by Karen Harper
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If you love Jennifer Robson or The Crown you will love New York Times bestselling author Karen Harper’s novel about Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
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Peter Straub’s Ghost Story meets Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies in this American Indian horror story of revenge on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
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“Fans of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will adore The Jane Austen Society… A charming and memorable debut, which reminds us of the universal language of literature and the power of books to unite and heal.” —Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris

Don’t Make A Sound by T.R. Ragan
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Her own past could be a reporter’s biggest story in this twisting thriller about murder and family secrets by the New York Times bestselling author T.R. Ragan.

JUNE

The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell
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From Michele Campbell, the bestselling author of It’s Always the Husband comes a new blockbuster thriller in The Wife Who Knew Too Much.

Safecracker by Ryan Wick
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In this wicked debut, safecracker Michael Maven must pull off the most dangerous theft of his long career―or his friends and family will be killed.

The Half Sister by Sandie Jones
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From the New York Times bestselling author of the Hello Sunshine Book Club pick The Other Woman, comes a compelling new domestic suspense novel about a family who is forever changed when a stranger arrives at their door.

The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin
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In the irresistible new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All We Ever Wanted, a woman is falling hard for a man she’s just met when he disappears without a trace on 9/11.

The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton
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In 1935 three women are forever changed when one of the most powerful hurricanes in history barrels toward the Florida Keys in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton’s captivating new novel.

The Girl from Widow Hills by Megan Miranda
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last House Guest—a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick—comes a riveting new novel of psychological suspense about a young woman plagued by night terrors after a childhood trauma who wakes one evening to find a corpse at her feet.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
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From The New York Times -bestselling author of The Mothers , a stunning new novel about twin sisters, inseparable as children, who ultimately choose to live in two very different worlds, one black and one white.

Self Care by Leigh Stein
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The female cofounders of a wellness start-up struggle to find balance between being good people and doing good business, while trying to stay BFFs.

What 2020 fiction releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Fiction Book Releases To Check Out In 2020 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Twins Lil and Kizzy are about to find out their fates when, on the eve of their divining, they are captured and enslaved by the evil Boyar Valcar. Orphaned and removed from their Traveller community, the twins are forced into work in the castle kitchens. It’s here where another slave girl, Mira, catches Lil’s attention. But soon, the terrifying reality of the Dragon will be enforced upon Lil and Kizzy, and mythology and story will take shape in a terrifying creature who collects girls and gifts. Soon, the girls will learn their fate.

So, what makes this novel tick? Most obviously, there’s the relationship between twin sisters Lil and Kizzy. It’s fair to say that this relationship is the most developed in the novel, and assists in moving the storyline along. Whereas their individual relationships with others, and their relationships with their repressers feel, at times, underworked and hasty, the bond between the two sisters has been well crafted from the start.

This ironclad bond between the sisters also ties in themes of women unity and sisterhood, creating a positive atmosphere in the novel where women are able to support each other in order to work through hardships. Further, by portraying them as twins, Millwood Hargrave accentuates their differences in personality and power by directly comparing them throughout the novel. This assists in the characterisation of Lil, who at first appears meek and submissive before evolving into someone more self-assured, making her character arc one of the most satisfying elements in The Deathless Girls.

The strong sense of setting and Traveller culture also help to refresh Stoker’s older tale. While this book does include vampires, it doesn’t read like a ‘typical’ vampire book. There is a strong emphasis placed on nature and one’s relationship with the land. Later on, this strong sense of place and culture assists in juxtaposing the nature of humans to that of the vampire, and how unnatural the latter is. This well fleshed out setting makes the story feel more authentic and creates guidelines in which to add gothic and magical elements to the tale.

The major drawback to this novel, however, is the misleading title and blurb. If you go into this novel expecting an action-packed tale involving multiple scenes with vampires throughout, you’re going to be disappointed. Rather, The Deathless Girls is a novel that slowly builds and inches towards an exciting but quick finale. The focus is more on the relationship between the two sisters, and what they will do for each other, rather than Stoker’s vampire in the original tale. Briefly put, The Deathless Girls fills in the gap of who two of Dracula’s brides were before they became just that.

So, if you’re after a novel that explores sisterhood, includes a same sex relationship, and depicts a Traveller like culture dripping with gothic elements, The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave could be the book for you. Just be prepared for more of a prequel type setting than a continuation of the original tale.

The Deathless Girls is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Will you be picking up The Deathless Girls? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

They say the thirst of blood is like a madness – they must sate it. Even with their own kin.

On the eve of her divining, the day she’ll discover her fate, seventeen-year-old Lil and her twin sister Kizzy are captured and enslaved by the cruel Boyar Valcar, taken far away from their beloved traveller community.

Forced to work in the harsh and unwelcoming castle kitchens, Lil is comforted when she meets Mira, a fellow slave who she feels drawn to in a way she doesn’t understand. But she also learns about the Dragon, a mysterious and terrifying figure of myth and legend who takes girls as gifts.

They may not have had their divining day, but the girls will still discover their fate…

The post Review: The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, but sometimes it’s hard not to when the cover is just so gorgeous. Here are 15 of the month’s most beautiful covers from September 2019!

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the early 1900s, a young woman searches for her place in the world after finding a mysterious book in this captivating and lyrical debut.

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Set in a world of powerful women, dark magic, and off-the-charts romance, book one of this stunning fantasy duology will leave readers burning for more.

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For fans of Before We Were Yours and Where the Crawdads Sing, a magnificent novel about four orphans on a life-changing odyssey during the Great Depression, from the New York Times bestselling author of Ordinary Grace.

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Sky in the Deep in this bewitching, historical horror novel, perfect for fans of Holly Black and V.E. Schwab.

The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Last Magician meets A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue in this thrilling tale filled with magic and set in the mysterious Carpathian Mountains where a girl must hunt down Vlad the Impaler’s cursed ring in order to save her father.

After The Flood by Kassandra Montag
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A compulsively readable novel of dark despair and soaring hope, After the Flood is a magnificent, action packed, and sometimes frightening odyssey laced with wonder—an affecting and wholly original saga both redemptive and astonishing.

The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Maine, 1846. Gabriel Stone is desperate to escape the ghosts that haunt him in Massachusetts, so he moves to Pale Harbor. Strange, unsettling things have been happening, and the townspeople claim that only one person can be responsible: Sophronia Carver, a reclusive widow who lives with a spinster maid in the eerie Castle Carver. Sophronia must be a witch, and she almost certainly killed her husband. As the incidents escalate, one thing becomes clear: they are the work of a twisted person inspired by the wildly popular stories of Mr. Edgar Allan Poe.

SLAY by Brittney Morris
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Ready Player One meets The Hate U Give in this dynamite debut novel that follows a fierce teen game developer as she battles a real-life troll intent on ruining the Black Panther–inspired video game she created and the safe community it represents for Black gamers.

A Treason of Thorns by Laura E. Weymouth
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Dark, gripping, and utterly unique, this atmospheric historical fantasy from critically acclaimed author Laura E. Weymouth is perfect for fans of The Hazel Wood and Caraval.

The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Simmering in Patagonian myth, The Tenth Girl is a gothic psychological thriller with a haunting twist.

The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Gothic, intoxicating, feminist, darkly provoking and deeply romantic – this is the breathtakingly imagined untold story of the brides of Dracula, by bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave in her much-anticipated YA debut.

The Nightjar by Deborah Hewitt
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Nightjar by Deborah Hewitt is a stunning contemporary fantasy debut about another London, a magical world hidden behind the bustling modern city we know.

Butterfly Yellow by Thanhha Lai
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Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo, Ibi Zoboi, and Erika L. Sanchez, this gorgeously written and deeply moving own voices novel is the YA debut from the award-winning author of Inside Out & Back Again.

The Possible World by Liese O’Halloran Schwarz
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An astonishing, deeply moving novel about the converging lives of a young boy who witnesses a brutal murder, the doctor who tends to him, and an elderly woman guarding her long buried past.

No One’s Home by D.M. Pulley
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For fans of The Haunting of Hill House comes a dark tale of a mansion haunted by a legacy of tragedy and a family trapped by lies.

What do you think? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Most Gorgeous Book Covers of September 2019 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

We had the pleasure of chatting to Kiran Millwood Hargrave about her debut YA novel, The Deathless Girls, which is published by Hachette Children’s Group on September 19th in hardback at £12.99, along with book recommendations, and more!

Kiran will also be a judge for the BBC Young Writers’ Award 2019 with First Story and Cambridge University, and the shortlist will be announced on 22^nd September. Visit www.bbc.co.uk/ywa for more details.

The Deathless Girls is set to publish on September 19^th. Can you tell us what readers can expect?

This is an origin story for the so-called brides of Dracula, so expect something gothic and dark, but also full of hope and bravery and sisterhood. I want to immerse my reader in a possible history, one told slightly slant from our own, with enough space for magic.

Where did your inspiration for The Deathless Girls come from?

Of course, Stoker’s Dracula is the origin text, the one I specifically chose to reply to for the Bellatrix commission. But along the way, other influences came to the fore: Carmilla by Le Fanu, Deathless by Catherynne M Valente, Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan. Above all, the women in my life made me reach further. I wanted to explore what being a woman in a man’s world is like, how it complicates desire and body-image, how it sets women apart and against each other. Most of all, my friendships inspired me. My friends are my sisters.

Were there any particular parts of your novel that challenged you?

I wrote the beginning no less than four times. I couldn’t find the voice. I knew my two main characters, Kizzy and Lil, were Travellers, but I didn’t know which lens I wanted to tell their story through. I experimented with dual narrative, third person – but finally Lil started talking to me, her voice came to the fore, and I knew I’d found my narrator.

What do you hope your readers will take away from this book?

I want people to think about difference, and prejudice, and love. I have aimed to decentre whiteness, to destabilise a lot of what we expect from a vampire novel. But above all, I want people to enjoy reading this story, and care about the characters. That’s all I want for any reader of any of my books.

Do you have any book recommendations for us?

Aside from the ones mentioned as inspiration, I’ve recently devoured The Boneless Mercies by April Tucholke (a gender bent reimagining of Beowulf), Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (an epic fantasy of dragons and queendoms that flies by too fast), Song of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury (political plotting and swoony romance galore) and Ngan’s sequel to GOPAF, Girls of Storm and Shadow (the second in one of my favourite series ever).

Will you be picking up The Deathless Girls? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Author of ‘The Deathless Girls’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

Darkdawn (The Nevernight Chronicle #3) by Jay Kristoff
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The epic conclusion of the internationally bestselling Nevernight Chronicle from New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff.

The Testaments (The Handmaid’s Tale #2) by Margaret Atwood
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Margaret Atwood’s sequel picks up the story fifteen years after Offred stepped into the unknown, with the explosive testaments of three female narrators from Gilead.

The Institute by Stephen King
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

As psychically terrifying as Firestarter, and with the spectacular kid power of It, The Institute is Stephen King’s gut-wrenchingly dramatic story of good vs. evil in a world where the good guys don’t always win.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as necromantic skeletons. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Set in a world of powerful women, dark magic, and off-the-charts romance, book one of this stunning fantasy duology will leave readers burning for more.

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A stunning debut for author Evie Dunmore and her Oxford Rebels, in which a fiercely independent vicar’s daughter takes on a powerful duke in a love story that threatens to upend the British social order.

Frankly in Love by David Yoon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this moving novel, debut author David Yoon takes on the question of who am I? with a result that is humorous, heartfelt, and ultimately unforgettable.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the early 1900s, a young woman searches for her place in the world after finding a mysterious book in this captivating and lyrical debut.

We Are Lost and Found by Helene Dunbar
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A poignant, heartbreaking, and uplifting story in the tradition of The Perks of Being a Wallflower about three friends coming of age in the early 1980s as they struggle to forge their own paths in the face of fear of the unknown.

No Judgments by Meg Cabot
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The storm of the century is about to hit Little Bridge Island, Florida—and it’s sending waves crashing through Sabrina “Bree” Beckham’s love life…

The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Girl the Sea Gave Back is the new standalone novel set in the brutal, Viking inspired world of Sky in the Deep. It will follow the story of Halvard ten years after the battle for Hylli, his role in the evolution of the Aska and Riki clans, and the spinning of fate that brings his path to intersect with a new character who changes their world again.

The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Gothic, intoxicating, feminist, darkly provoking and deeply romantic – this is the breathtakingly imagined untold story of the brides of Dracula, by bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave in her much-anticipated YA debut.

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

The post September 2019 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.