FOLKLORE

Folklore retellings are undeniably spellbinding, often blending whimsy with magical beings and a twisty bargain or two… 

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

With a captivating cast of characters, addictive romance, and an action-packed plot, A Curse So Dark and Lonely delivers a delightful YA retelling of “Beauty and the Beast.”

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

A Sorceress Comes to Call enchants as it reimagines the Brothers Grimm’s “Goose Girl,” blending forbidden magic, secrets, and murder in an irresistible Gothic atmosphere.

Call Forth a Fox by Markelle Grabo

Cozy with a tinge of darkness and filled with fae, curses, and sapphic love, Call Forth a Fox reimagines the story of “Snow-White and Rose-Red.”

Cinder House by Freya Marske

Cinder House is a “Cinderella” retelling brimming with haunting, magical world-building; an addictive queer romance; and a creative, propulsive plot that presents a fresh interpretation of Cinderella’s story while delivering delightful familiarity.

Gilded by Marissa Meyer

Gilded is a YA “Rumpelstiltskin” retelling filled with a tender romance, a haunted castle, wonderfully creepy beasts, and a dark yet welcoming atmosphere that captures the feeling of curling up in a blanket, a fire crackling beside you as a storm thunders outside. 

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher

In Hemlock & Silver, Kingfisher’s darkly enchanting prosepresents Snow White’s story through the gaze of a healer named Anja, adding even more adventure, poison, magic, love, and wit to the tale.

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

Ghosts, mystery, sisterhood, secrets, and horror fill the captivating Gothic atmosphere of House of Salt and Sorrows, presenting a new take on “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.”

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

Lady Tremaine explores Cinderella’s story from the “evil” stepmother’s point of view, revealing a whole new side of the story—one of motherhood, survival, glamor, decay, and love.

No Better Than Beasts by Z.R. Ellor

No Better Than Beasts reimagines the Nutcracker story with whimsical world-building and a twisty, addictive plot.

The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder

The Bone Spindle reimagines “Sleeping Beauty”with an Indiana Jones twist, delivering a cinematic YA fantasy of love, adventure, and found family.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a whimsical YA retelling of “The Tale of Shim Cheong” filled with mythical creatures and vivid world-building perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli.

The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer

Murder, mystery, magic, mythology, and monsters unite to retell the tale of Bluebeard in The House Saphir.

Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods

Combining “Cinderella” and “The Little Mermaid,” Woods creates a thoroughly spellbinding story of love, magic, seduction, secrets, and history in Upon a Starlit Tide, set in Saint-Malo, Brittany, in 1758.

CLASSICS

Retellings of classics delight as they explore old, beloved stories through modern lenses. Whether you’re new to classics or an avid reader of them, these retellings are the perfect way to introduce yourself to these timeless tales or revisit an old favorite.

For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga

For She Is Wrath is a fierce and addictive Pakistani YA retelling of The Count of Monte Cristowith action, romance, and female friendship.

Hungerstone by Kat Dunn

With a haunting, Gothic atmosphere; sapphic love story; and captivating horror and history, Hungerstone delivers a thrilling retelling of Carmilla.

Local Heavens by K.M. Fajardo

The Great Gatsby emerges with a cyberpunk twist in Local Heavens, featuring queer dystopian romances, tech-modified bodies, and a Filipino American Nick Carraway.

One for All by Lillie Lainoff

Sword fighting, sisterhood, secrets, and self-love abound in One for All, a gender-bent YA retelling of The Three Musketeers following a fierce heroine with a chronic illness. 

Sing the Night by Megan Jauregui Eccles

Sing the Night is a sweeping retelling of The Phantom of the Operathat brims with vivid imagery, magic, and music. 

Strike the Zither by Joan He

Strike the Zither is a cinematic YA reimagining of the Chinese novel The Three Kingdoms,filled with political intrigue, found family, and a gripping love story.

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood

Haunting and romantic, Within These Wicked Walls is an unputdownable Ethiopian-inspired YA retelling of Jane Eyre. 

Greek Mythology

Greek mythology retellings often feel nostalgic as I’m transported back to the plotlines, drama, magic, and chaos of the Greek mythology tales I adored as a child. If you haven’t yet dove into the treasure trove that is Greek mythology, never fear—these retellings are perfect for new and old fans alike:

Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews

Daughter of Sparta is an action-packed, fierce, and empowering YA reimagining of the story of Apollo and Daphne. 

Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald

Girl, Goddess, Queen is a fierce and addictive YA retelling of Hades and Persephone’s story, brimming with banter, fake dating, and a compelling cast of characters. 

I, Medusa by Ayana Gray

Exploring sisterhood, love, power, and feminine rage, I, Medusa is a lush retelling of the story of Medusa featuring a Black protagonist.

The Witch of Colchis by Rosie Hewlett

The Witch of Colchis retells the story of Medea with feminine rage, magic, and action.

Arthurian Legend

While I adore Arthurian legend, its portrayal of women is frequently less than favorable. Morgan le Fay often appears as a villainous crone, and Queen Guinevere’s character is usually passive and underdeveloped. Thus, I was beyond delighted when I discovered these retellings of Arthurian legend that shine a light on the power of women:

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Legendborn powerfully reimagines King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, presenting a YA dark academia novel with magic that powerfully explores racism and grief.

Morgan is My Name by Sophie Keetch

Morgan is My Name reimagines the early life of Morgan le Fay, highlighting her strength and presenting her tale with atmospheric world-building, lyrical prose, and political intrigue.

The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty

The Once and Future Queen reimagines Queen Guinevere’s story with a cozy, adventurous, darkly magical atmosphere and a captivating cast of characters, including the spunky and fierce new Guinevere, Vera.

Shakespeare

William Shakespeare’s works brim with wit, drama, and even magic. His tragedies and his comedies are equally sweeping, and these retellings beautifully capture the exhilaration of reading (or watching) a Shakespearean play:

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

Lady Macbeth retells the story of Lady Macbeth, presenting a Gothic atmosphere; Scottish folklore; themes of power, patriarchy, and revenge; and a compelling main character who redefines what it means to be a witch.

Salt & Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho

Heart-warming, mouth-watering, and swoon-worthy, Salt & Sugar reimagines Romeo & Juliet in present-day Brazil. 

The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye

Romantic, bingeable, and emotional, The Hundred Loves of Juliet retells Romeo & Juliet with a modern, magical twist. 

The post 30 Must-Read Retellings To Add To Your TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Lauren Blackwood’s The Dangerous Ones, which is out May 14th 2024.

1863, Pennsylvania

War doesn’t scare Jerusalem—she’s a Saint. Thanks to powerful demigod-style reflexes, endurance, and strength, she’s fearless. And ever since the Confederates declared civil war, partnering with the vampires who benefitted off slavery, she and her battalion of Saints are essential to the Union army.

Jerusalem herself had been enslaved by a vampire, escaping North only after her family was murdered. She knows the enemy better, hates the enemy more than anyone in her battalion, and has been using it to her advantage since she joined the war a year ago. More than anything she wants revenge, but if she can help Black people gain freedom and equality without having to steal it for themselves like she had to, then all the better.

But she never expects to have to team up with a vampire to do it. Alexei is one of those handsome, arrogant Ancient Vampires. But he’s on the Union’s side, and in the year they’ve known each other, has never done anything but prove he’s on hers.

Together, they set out to change the course of the war and take down the vampire who destroyed everyone Jerusalem loved. But for her, it’s about more than justice.

It’s about killing a god.

Pennsylvania June 29, 1863
One year later

American prey was less exciting than the prey back home.

But then, vampires were still considered Creatures of the Night over in Russia. Superstitions, myths, terrifying stories parents used to get their children home by sundown. There, hunting took planning. Skill. Here, we were a common part of life. Owning plantations, wandering where we pleased, when we pleased. Still at the top of the food chain, but with far less need to stalk our prey.

So when I caught the eye of the woman picking berries behind her house, and she immediately succumbed to my hypnosis, I nearly changed my mind. No chase, no excitement. Just me, looking very much human despite my incredible beauty, enthralling a woman with only a look.

To be honest, I was bored.

But I needed to drink something. Odessa had been gone on a stealth mission this entire week and, as a result, I’d been tasked with keeping Jerusalem under control. As if anyone could control Jerusalem—she’d sooner break your arm than listen to anyone but Odessa. So I just made sure she slept enough and stopped her from brawling with every soldier who looked at her wrong. It left little time to feed. And seeing as I was only in this country to assist the Union army in the War Between the States, I couldn’t very well feed on a random soldier. I had to venture away from camp, but only when Jerusalem was sleeping, which left me less than a four-hour window to scour the area. Not to mention animal blood was disgusting. All that to say, I hadn’t had a proper meal in a while.

It wouldn’t have even mattered if Jerusalem wasn’t . . . well, Jerusalem. If her blood wasn’t the sweetest thing I’d ever smelled in my life. I was an Ancient, not some stupid New Blood who couldn’t control his thirst. But her scent drove me mad in a way I could hardly process.

It was better to be safe than devastated.

And since Odessa and Gael had arrived from their mission this morning, I felt safe leaving to catch up on my hunting.

I held out my hand, refocusing on the woman, and she took it without question, as if in greeting. I sighed—this really was too easy—and leaned down, raising it to my lips.

Inches away, I turned her wrist slowly. She watched as if I were about to perform magic and she didn’t want to miss the trick. It was a trick, I supposed, hypnosis.

I sank my fangs into her wrist, where I knew the blood would flow freely, and drank. And she let me. As long as I kept her looking at me, she would let me suck her dry if I wanted to, without even processing what was happening. My kind preferred their blood from the throat, but breaking the connection resulted in frantic prey who would struggle and ultimately need to be killed. I hated wasting prey—her blood tasted good, as far as American blood was concerned—and she would make more blood for me later if I chose to find her again. So I stopped before the point of her eyes fluttering, her vision going black. She looked a bit trembly, but nothing a glass of water wouldn’t fix.

I licked her blood from my lips. She hadn’t been able to give enough before becoming lightheaded. I’d have to find dessert elsewhere.

“I’ll give this back to you,” I said, pressing her apron to her wrist and resting it against her stomach.

“Thank you, sir,” she replied, dazed.

I smirked. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to how some of them did that. Despite the revolution, the politeness of their former Mother England remained, and it was odd to say the least.

“You’re on your way home,” I said, her hypnotized mind clinging to my every word, “and have not encountered anyone on your way.”

And then I shifted into one of my other preferred forms—a black crow—and took off, snatching the basket of berries from her other hand as I rushed upward.

Flapping my wings was a nice relief from the heat. Not that I could feel hot or cold in that way—they didn’t affect me negatively, at least. But this was the northern territory of North America, and for some reason I’d always thought it would feel . . .

I don’t know, a little milder. Their Junes were hot enough that the odor of sweat filled the air just as thick as the smoke that veiled the sun. At least flying kept the stench away.

Even after two years out here, I still hadn’t found much to appreciate as far as views were concerned. Perhaps it was beautiful elsewhere, but there were only so many woods and farmlands I could look at before it became monotonous. I’d heard so many good things about America, but if wartime couldn’t make this country more interesting, then I couldn’t recommend it.

Go easy on it, Alexei. After all, the things I might have found beautiful as a human tended to become old news after three hundred years.

I shifted to my human form as I reached camp, carrying the berries with me. My arrival must have been awaited because a young soldier rushed up to me.

“Welcome back, sir,” he said.

John? No, Nathan. Something like that? There were a lot of those running around. I held the basket of berries out to him, hung on one finger. “Put this in my tent.”

“Of course, sir.” He cradled the basket like it was a baby and rushed off.

I scoffed and headed toward the war tent; I could smell Odessa, Gael, and Mills waiting for me. On the outskirts of camp, Jerusalem stood on a small boulder, doing her daily training exercises with her spear.

“That brat is training without me,” I muttered, grinning despite her betrayal.

I immediately changed targets and headed toward her, staying out of her eyeline. As a vampire, I had a way of being light on my feet when I wanted to be, no matter how heavy my boots, so I simply walked up behind her. The boulder made her a few feet taller than me, and her waist was in perfect grabbing range . . . My fingers ached to touch her, but she would kill me for startling her while she was training, so I kept my hands in my pockets. As long as she didn’t turn around, she would never even notice I was there.

But where was the fun in that?

From The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood. Copyright © 2024 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Publishing Group.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘The Dangerous Ones’ by Lauren Blackwood appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Well, 2024 is almost here so it’s time to start thinking about all of the books which will be heading your way! In this round up, we take a look at an array of highly anticipated books releasing between the months of January and June! You can expect new releases from the likes of Sarah J. Maas, Jay Kristoff, Ali Hazelwood, Kristin Hannah, Stephen King, Tana French, Sally Hepworth, Leigh Bardugo, and many more, plus some dazzling debuts.

You’ll find quite a few exciting new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other January to June 2024 lists, which we’ll be releasing over the next couple of weeks! This article will also get updated with those links so you can easily find them… Your poor TBR!

You can find our Swoonworthy Romance Releases here, Anticipated YA Releases here, and our SFF releases here.

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

JANUARY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

The Fury by Alex Michaelides

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A masterfully paced thriller about a reclusive ex–movie star and her famous friends whose spontaneous trip to a private Greek island is upended by a murder ― from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient.

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt’s world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.

Come and Get It by Kiley Reid

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the celebrated New York Times bestselling author of Such a Fun Age comes a fresh and provocative story about a residential assistant and her messy entanglement with a professor and three unruly students.

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the author of New York Times bestseller House of Hollow comes a darkly seductive witchy thriller where, though both men and demons lurk in shadows, girls refuse to go quietly into the night.

Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this charming rom-com about two star-crossed lovers, a woman whose life is guided by her belief in the red-string of fate finds her perfect match—but his skepticism about true love puts a knot in their chances.

The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A dazzling magical realism western in the vein of Cormac McCarthy meets Gabriel García Márquez, The Bullet Swallower follows a Mexican bandido as he sets off for Texas to save his family, only to encounter a mysterious figure who has come, finally, to collect a cosmic debt generations in the making.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this romantic fantasy of manners from New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft, a magical dressmaker commissioned for a royal wedding finds herself embroiled in scandal when a gossip columnist draws attention to her undeniable chemistry with the groom.

The Longest Autumn by Amy Avery

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For fans of Ariadne, a spellbinding debut fantasy about a human who gets trapped with the god of Autumn, who brings with him life-threatening danger and a forbidden romance.

Don’t Want You Like A Best Friend by Emma R. Alban

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Review
A swoon-worthy debut queer Victorian romance in which two debutantes distract themselves from having to seek husbands by setting up their widowed parents, and instead find their perfect match in each other—the lesbian Bridgerton/Parent Trap you never knew you needed!

The Getaway List by Emma Lord

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

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins returns with a twisted new gothic suspense about an infamous heiress and the complicated inheritance she left behind.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late, in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.

FEBRUARY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
During the Great War, a combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise, in this hauntingly beautiful historical novel with a speculative twist from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale.

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A Holmes and Watson–style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist, from the Edgar-winning, multiple Hugo-nominated Robert Jackson Bennett

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From master storyteller Kristin Hannah comes the story of a turbulent, transformative era in America: the 1960s. The Women is that rarest of novels—at once an intimate portrait of a woman coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided by war and broken by politics, of a generation both fueled by dreams and lost on the battlefield.

Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A stunning Romantasy debut about an enchanted library, two handsome Fae, and one human who brings them all together. 

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the New York Times bestselling author of Seven Days in June, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde is an epic love story one hundred years in the making…

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis.

Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
After her private school is rocked by a gruesome murder, a teen tries to find the real killer and clear her brother’s name in this psychological thriller perfect for fans of The Taking of Jake Livingston and Ace of Spades.

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey launches a super sexy sports romance duology with a rom-com about a bad boy professional athlete who falls for his biggest fan…

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.

Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Set in 19th century Sri Lanka and inspired by local folklore, the daughter of a traditional demon-priest—relentlessly bullied by peers and accused of witchcraft herself—tries to solve the mysterious attacks that have been terrorizing her coastal village.

My Throat An Open Grave by Tori Bovalino

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Labyrinth meets folk horror in this darkly romantic tale of a girl who wishes her baby brother away to the Lord of the Wood.

How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Chemistry sizzles in this workplace rom-com set in the world of high school basketball as the author of Love & Other Disasters delivers a sapphic romance full of humour and heart.

MARCH 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Murder Road by Simone St. James

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A young couple find themselves haunted by a string of gruesome murders committed along an old deserted road in this terrifying new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Cold Cases.

The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In a country divided between humans and witchers, Venus Stoneheart hustles as a brewer making illegal love potions to support her family.

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For fans of Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club, an enormously fun mystery about a woman who spends her entire life trying to prevent her foretold murder only to be proven right sixty years later, when she is found dead in her sprawling country estate…. Now it’s up to her great-niece to catch the killer. 

The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black comes the stunning blood-soaked conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology.

Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
New York Times bestselling author Xochitl Gonzalez delivers a mesmerizing novel about a first-generation Ivy League student who uncovers the genius work of a female artist decades after her suspicious death

The Hunter by Tana French

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the writer who is “in a class by herself,” (The New York Times), a nuanced, atmospheric tale that explores what we’ll do for our loved ones, what we’ll do for revenge, and what we sacrifice when the two collide.

Three Kinds of Lucky by Kim Harrison

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Luck is its own kind of magic, in this first book in an electrifying new contemporary fantasy series from the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Hollows novels.

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A humorous and unique rom-com that sees two wedding crashers fall for each other. This intriguing premise delivers on its promise with so much feeling and so much fun.

In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati-Alexander

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The author of Love Buzz follows her acclaimed first novel with a delightful Caribbean-set romp about an ambitious designer of apocalyptic video games with a strategy for (almost) everything who discovers what happens when her best-laid plans go off course . . .

The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant and The Lioness, a Princess Diana impersonator and her estranged sister find themselves drawn into a dangerous game of money and murder in this twisting tale of organized crime, cryptocurrency, and family secrets on the Las Vegas strip.

The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist by Sophie Gonzales

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A fanfic writer brings her favourite TV character to life in this friends-to-enemies-to-lovers novel full of humour and heart.

Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Nevernight Chronicle, Jay Kristoff, comes the much-anticipated sequel to the #1 international bestselling sensation Empire of the Vampire.

APRIL 2024 BOOK RELEASES

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the New York Times bestselling author of Ninth House, Hell Bent, and creator of the Grishaverse series comes a highly anticipated historical fantasy set during the Spanish Golden Age.

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this magical epic fantasy, a young woman cursed with the power of death must decide if saving her family is worth betraying her country—the first installation of a gripping new series.

Funny Story by Emily Henry

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A thrilling page-turner of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder by New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth.

The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Paris Apartment meets The Wrong Family, this thrilling tale of crime, passion and murder is set in a run-down apartment complex packed with shady characters willing to go to deadly lengths to keep their darkest secrets from the stranger in their midst.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the author of the multimillion bestselling A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series and Five Survive comes a new true-crime fueled mystery thriller about a girl determined to uncover the shocking truth about her missing mother while filming a documentary on the unsolved case.

She’s Not Sorry by Mary Kubica

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
An ICU nurse accidentally uncovers a patient’s frightening past in this chilling thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Local Woman Missing and Just the Nicest Couple.

Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The author of Kiss Her Once for Me returns with a new queer rom-com following once childhood best friends forced together to drive their former teacher across the country.

Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
When a Mariachi star transfers schools, he expects to be handed his new group’s lead vocalist spot—what he gets instead is a tenacious current lead with a very familiar, very kissable face.

Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Zetian must balance dangerous politics with a new quest for vengeance in the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Iron Widow, a blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction.

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A sexy, sapphic, opposites-attract romance with Mazey Eddings’ signature sparkling voice!

Knife by Salman Rushdie

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From internationally renowned writer and Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie, a searing, deeply personal account of enduring—and surviving—an attempt on his life thirty years after the fatwa that was ordered against him

MAY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Step into a city where monsters feast on human emotions, knights split their souls to make their weapons, and witches always take more than they give.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Christina Lauren, the instant New York Times bestselling and “reigning romance queens” (PopSugar), returns with a delicious new romance between the buttoned-up heir of a grocery chain and his free-spirited artist ex as they fake their relationship in order to receive a massive inheritance.

The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Celebrants comes the much-anticipated sequel to the Thurber Prize-Winning novel The Guncle, in which Patrick O’Hara is called back to his guncle duties… this time for a big family wedding in Italy.

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace, crafts a devastating and pulse-pounding tale that will feel all-too-relevant in today’s world, based on a true story from Korean history.

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Harkening to Agatha Christie’s classic And Then There Were None, this high-tension and ingenious thriller follows five couples trapped on a storm-swept island as a killer stalks among them.

The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A romantic historical fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blackwood, set in the American Civil War with vampires and people with demigod-like abilities.

It Waits in the Forest by Sarah Dass

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The very first thriller from Rick Riordan Presents! Drawing from the darkest corners of Caribbean mythology, acclaimed author Sarah Dass crafts a chilling tale of magic, murder, and how far we’ll go to protect what’s ours—perfect for fans of Angeline Boulley and Tiffany D. Jackson.

Evocation by S.T. Gibson

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
When a family curse threatens David’s life, he will turn to the only person he’s ever trusted, his ex-boyfriend, Rhys—which means he will have to open his heart to Moira, Rhys’s wife. Dark academia and urban fantasy combine in this richly imagined novel set in a fictitious, magic-riddled Boston.

The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Honey Witch of Innisfree can never find true love. That is her curse to bear. But when a young woman who doesn’t believe in magic arrives on her island, sparks fly in this deliciously sweet debut novel of magic, hope, and love overcoming all.

You Like It Darker by Stephen King

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From legendary storyteller and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary new collection of twelve short stories, many never-before-published, and some of his best EVER.

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
An achingly nostalgic love story about two friends-with-benefits who can’t be together but can’t seem to stay apart. This Summer Will Be Different offers an idyllic coastal setting, enticing vacation descriptions, and a story that is equal parts sexy romance and female friendship. It has all the ingredients for another book of the summer!

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In classic Alex Finlay form, If Something Happens to Me is told by several distinct, compelling characters whose paths intersect, detonating into a story of twist after pulse-pounding twist. The novel cements Finlay as one of the leading thriller writers today.

JUNE 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Enlightenment by Sarah Perry

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A dazzling new work of literary fiction from the author of The Essex Serpent, a story of love and astronomy told over the course of twenty years through the lives of two improbable best friends.

Daydream by Hannah Grace

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The third in the New York Times bestselling Maple Hills series follows fan-favourite Henry and a bookish fellow student who come up with a plan to help them both overcome their respective challenges in a difficult year.

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In the latest jaw-dropping thriller from New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager, a man must contend with the long-ago disappearance of his childhood best friend—and the dark secrets lurking just beyond the safe confines of his picture-perfect neighbourhood.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center’s latest laugh out loud, feel good rom-com about writing your own story, perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Christina Lauren.

Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The interwoven destinies of the people of Meridian will finally be determined in this stunning conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Roanhorse’s Between Earth and Sky trilogy.

Icon and Inferno by Marie Lu

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Ally Carter, the dazzling sequel to #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu’s Stars and Smoke, is “a brilliant, breathtaking ride” – Tahereh Mafi, #1 internationally bestselling author.

The Stars Too Fondly by Emily Hamilton

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In her breathtaking debut – part space odyssey, part Sapphic rom-com – Emily Hamilton weaves a suspenseful, charmingly irreverent, and ultimately joyous tale of galaxy-spanning friendship, improbable love, and found family.

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The heart-tugging and hilarious story of a professional organizer whose life is a mess, and the summer she gets unstuck with the help of someone unexpected from her past, by the bestselling author of Same Time Next Summer and Nora Goes Off Script.

The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For fans of Piranesi and The Midnight Library, a stunning historical fantasy novel set on a grand express train, about a group of passengers on a dangerous journey across a magical landscape

Sleep Like Death by Kalynn Bayron

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
New York Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation Kalynn Bayron returns to fairytales with a lush, thrilling and original YA Snow White retelling that brings a new and exciting voice to this familiar tale. Perfect for fans of Cinderella Is Dead.

One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A struggling writer is forced to walk down the aisle at her best friend’s wedding with the man who gave her book a very public one-star rating in this fresh romantic comedy from Laura Hankin.

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Horror Movie is an obsessive, psychologically chilling, and suspenseful feat of storytelling genius that builds inexorably to an unforgettable, mind-bending conclusion.

What 2024 book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Most Anticipated 2024 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

Hey guys! I’m a forever New Yorker living in Virginia (wishing I was at Disney World). Also a musician and Twitter enthusiast, but I spend most of my time writing the tropes of my heart.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

I’ve always enjoyed writing—in fact, I still have a picture book I wrote and illustrated in elementary school (my teacher gave me an A+, I was a celebrated writer from an early age.)

Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!

Now that’s an impossible question—I read so much when I was a kid. Frog and Toad? Maybe? The book that really inspired me to write seriously was Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. And Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is one of my all-time favorites!

Your debut novel, Within These Wicked Walls, is out October 19^th 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Romantic, Creepy, Hopeful, Heartfelt, Funny

What can readers expect?

Some creepy vibes, a little bit of humor thrown in, a lot a bit of banter, and (my personal favorite) kissing!

Where did the inspiration for Within These Wicked Walls come from?

Two entirely separate thoughts! One day I was watching Jane Eyre and wondered “Why isn’t this house actually haunted?” The Ethiopian folklore came from my love of going down the rabbit hole that is Google, haha! One day I found a scholarly journal about the evil eye, and from there the idea was born.

Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?

Action scenes are generally my worst nightmare and take the longest to write. I find that if I break them down a beat at a time in my head as if choreographing a movie they usually work out in the end.

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

There’s a scene where it’s snowing inside, which I may or may not have written for my inner child.

What’s your writing process like? Did you find there were any changes or new additions that influenced you whilst writing Within These Wicked Walls?

I’m an underwriter, which means my first drafts are usually between 40-50k words long (with the finished goal being at least twice that length). That’s mostly because I don’t exactly know where the story is going until I get to know the characters—but after I do, they guide the narrative, and unexpected things start to happen. There’s one character whose influence on the story was significantly smaller before revisions, and now I have people tell me his relationship with the main character is one of their favorite parts of the story.

What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

Definitely a long one, but writing multiple projects over years can only make you better at your craft, so the journey was worth it. I also took part in a mentorship program for marginalized writers where I met the incredibly brilliant K.B. Wagers, who really helped me approach my writing in a new way. In 2019, my agent offered rep (on my birthday!). In 2020, Wednesday Books bought Within These Wicked Walls, which releases October 19^th, 2021.

What’s next for you?

All will be revealed in due time…

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

More than could fit on this page! But I’ll give you two—Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone and Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray.

Will you be picking up Within These Wicked Walls? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Lauren Blackwood, Author of ‘Within These Wicked Walls’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

There’s something about the dark—the unknown, the possibilities in the shadows. It’s thrilling, alluring, and makes an atmospheric backdrop for page turners. When Horace Walpole released what’s considered the first gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, in 1764, he proclaimed that he was attempting to blend two kinds of romance, the ancient and the modern. What does that mean? In my understanding, he wanted to give readers an entry point into the gothic through both romantic relationships and familial ones.

I love that, and it’s an ongoing tradition. While the definition of “gothic novel” may have changed and expanded over the years, these 2021 YA fantasy reads draw readers in with a few enduring gothic features—their dark, twisty settings, hauntings, the unknown, and relationships with a lot of heart.

SING ME FORGOTTEN by Jessica Olson (March 9, 2021)

This spellbinding retelling of The Phantom of the Opera gives us a perfectly dark heroine, Isda, and a love interest sweet enough to eat up. Isda is stuck in the opera house, isolated in its shadows, and when she meets Emeric, she sees a way out.

With a morally grey female main character and a heartfelt romantic relationship that feels so real in all its imperfections (and one that will realllly make you want some caramels), Olson delivers on the gothic elements we’ve come to expect with exciting new twists.

LAKESEDGE by Lyndall Clipstone (September 28, 2021)

A dark mansion, a brooding young man, the lord of the underworld—what else could you want in a gothic fantasy? Well, Clipstone has even more in store with a dedicated brother-sister relationship that will make you fall in love with both our main character Leta and her brother Arien.

I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy, and with both sizzling romance and strong sibling bonds, Lakesedge nails both of these gothic expectations. Inject this one in my veins, stat.

DOWN COMES THE NIGHT by Allison Saft (March 2, 2021)

A snow-drenched crumbling mansion sets the scene in Saft’s debut, and it’s the stage for an enemy-to-lovers romance between the main character, Wren and the love interest, Hal. Wren’s a healer called on to treat her enemy, but they both discover there’s something bigger at play than their animosity.

Saft paints the setting in the soft-blue, muted tones of a dark, frozen landscape but the romance is all heat.

A DARK AND STARLESS FOREST by Sarah Hollowell (Sept. 14, 2021)

A dark, spooky forest is a cornerstone in gothic fiction and this book looks like it has acres of it. According to the blurb, the main character, Derry, must confront the darkness in the forest and the darkness within herself when her siblings start to go missing—confronting the darkness within is one of my favourite gothic elements.

With a found family of 9 sisters and what sounds like it’s sure to be a twisty mystery, this is one of my most anticipated gothic reads of the year.

WITHIN THESE WICKED WALLS by Lauren Blackwood (Nov, 9, 2021)

Another advanced copy I was so fortunate to read, because people—this one exudes gothic atmosphere. In an old mansion in the middle of the desert, Andromeda goes to work as an exorcist hired to expel the evil eye from the house. The premise is incredible and I loved, loved, loved the way Blackwood wove Ethiopian culture into both the setting and Andromeda’s work.

This is a book with visual thrills—think bleeding rooms and spider-infested cupboards—and a romance that kindles between the walls of a creepy library and the haunted estate. Within these Wicked Walls manages to make us thrill us with both the romance and the mystery in its pages.

SMALL FAVORS by Erin. A. Craig (July 27, 2021)

Another of my most anticipated 2021 releases, Craig’s sophomore novel has been compared to M. Night Shyamalan’s movie, The Village and I am *here* for that kind of claustrophobic atmosphere in a gothic novel. Add in mysterious disappearances, a quest to save both family and a love interest, and a monster in the woods and it sounds like we’re in for a dark treat.

STALKING SHADOWS by Cyla Panin (yep, that’s me!) (Sept. 14, 2021)

Stalking Shadows is a feminist, gothic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, where Marie must select her sister’s victims to protect her, but when a child turns up dead she’s forced to break the curse or face who’s really become a monster. 

Okay, so that’s the pitch. Let me tell you about the heart. I wanted this book to focus on sibling relationships, particularly the nearly-unshakeable bond that can be born of shared trauma. There’s also a thread of romantic love because hey, that’s fun. Oh yeah, there’s also a creaking mansion, dark forest, brooding lord. Gothic elements—check, check, and check.

The post It’s Getting Dark In Here—7 Gothic and Dark Fantasies With Heart appeared first on The Nerd Daily.