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

Sure thing! I’m probably best known for Falling Kingdoms, my six book YA high fantasy series that could be pitched as “Game of Thrones for teens.” My latest release is Legends and Liars, the second book in the Empire and Echoes duology. I live in Southern Ontario, and I love coffee, cats, travel, and expensive handbags. Not necessarily in that order.

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

At a very young age. I was a voracious reader by ten years old, and found that I was constantly making up different endings to the books I read if I wasn’t satisfied with the original story. Later, I realized that making stuff up and writing it down was something that could actually be a job. It took me a while (well, years and YEARS) to work out my creative process, but since then I’ve written nearly forty books under a couple of author names, and I’m still having a blast creating worlds and characters to amuse both me and my amazing readers.

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!

It’s a super oldie, but my mother introduced me to a series by Enid Blyton about a quartet of kids who fell into adventures together. I don’t remember all that much about the books, but I know I loved these books and that the kids had a cockatoo named Kiki as a pet. Which, of course, I desperately wanted for myself. Still haven’t achieved the cockatoo goal, though. Maybe one day! As far as a book I can’t stop thinking about…. I used to be (and still am, although I haven’t read anything by him lately) a huge Stephen King (and horror genre) fan. After watching the “It” movies, I’m newly inspired to dive back into King’s backlist and catch up….starting with an It reread.

Legends and Liars is the sequel to Echoes and Empires and it’s out June 13^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Ooh, good question… Okay, to describe Echoes and Empires in only five words – they would be: intrigue, magic, secrets, twists, & romance.

What can readers expect?

Without giving any spoilers, Josslyn Drake continues her quest for the truth in an empire full of lies, and with the help of a dangerous thief whose fate has become interwoven with hers, she’s in search of a warlock who will either help her or literally burn everything she cares about to ashes.

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

I must say, I did ejoy writing from Joss’s point of view in this duology. As a girl who’d lived a life of priviledge, and considered the queen herself an “aunt,” Joss has had a lot of harsh realities to face and a whole lot of growing up to do. But she never lost her sense of humor or her singleminded drive to fight for what’s right.

Did you face any challenges with writing the sequel?

The world in which Legends and Liars is set is a big one, with a lot of moving parts and a whole lot of subplots…so my biggest challenge was wrapping up this duology on a satisfying note!

What are your top tips when it comes to worldbuilding?

It depends on the writer, of course, since everyone is differnet… but for me or anyone like me – don’t overthink worldbuilding tooooo much at the beginning. I have wasted months upon months just brainstorming and worldbuilding and…well, this does’t lead to a lot of pages being written, does it? What it does lead to (for me, anyway) is doubting everything and then doing more brainstorming on top of that. So, basically, don’t overcomplicate it in the beginning. Pencil the worldbuilding in during the first draft and then come back and flesh it out. What’s important (again, for me) is dialogue and character arcs. The rest will develop organically.

What’s next for you?

I’m very excited about my next contracted book with Penguin Teen currently titled Bad Blood. It’s the first in a trilogy about two rival filthy rich rival vampire families in a resort town full of murder, mystery, and dangerous secrets. I’m calling it “Gossip Girl with vampires” and I’m having so much fun with it. Currently working on the edits for book one and it will be out Fall 2024!

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The post Q&A: Morgan Rhodes, Author of ‘Legends and Liars’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Desperate to rid herself of the magic before anyone finds out and has her executed, or worse, the magic has enough time to corrupt her, Josslyn finds herself striking a deal with the enigmatic criminal, Jericho Nox, who was responsible for the robbery that started this whole mess. In exchange for the magic he was supposed to steal, Jericho will help her find someone who can extract it from Josslyn. Though neither party is thrilled, Jericho and Josslyn soon learn that what they thought they knew of the other isn’t the whole truth. And when things go from dangerous to deadly, they need to learn to trust each other, despite the secrets keeping them apart. In an empire built on lies, the truth may just be the weapon they need to get out of this alive.

It’s just so lovely to live in a world where a new Morgan Rhodes book is a thing that’s happening. As long-time fan of Rhodes and avid devourer of the Falling Kingdoms series (and still weeping that A Spirit and Thieves never got its justified last installment), I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Echoes and Empires. And I was not disappointed.

Josslyn’s the daughter of the late former queen’s advisor who, thanks to the queen’s benevolence and her best friend who’s the daughter of the current queen’s advisor, has lived a very privileged life so far. Of course, Josslyn has her insecurities and problems but she hides them well behind faked smiles and an extravagant attitude. I can’t quite explain it, but the beginning of this book read like a supernatural Gossip Girl: Josslyn, who’s desperate for people to only see what she shows them, learns that her so-called friends regularly talk behind her back and pity her—not for the very public and painful loss of her father after an attack, but because of the way she acts. Having that sting followed by being caught up in a robbery that leaves her infected by magic—the one thing that could not only ruin her reputation but cost her her life—isn’t exactly what you’d call a walk in the park.

Despite that dilemma, though, Josslyn is a headstrong, stubborn, and fierce character. Watching her try to come to terms with everything that’s happening to her and finding ways to fix it truly is an adventure all on its own.

Then, of course, there’s the unlikely alliance between Josslyn and Jericho that captivated me from the very beginning. I’m a sucker for forced proximity and having to work together when all you want is to rip each other’s heads off and this dream team certainly delivered. Jericho’s dark wit and hidden past made him as enigmatic as enticing. Pair that with his wrong beliefs about Josslyn who has depths to her that no one really knows about and you have one hell of a communication problem. On the other side, we have Josslyn who’s been told her entire life that magic is the devil incarnated. Having to deal with the disillusionment of her beliefs while also discovering new things about herself all while being dragged through the mud to find someone who can help her get rid of this magic kept me on my toes the entire time I was reading. This, in parts, is attributed to the hilarious back and forth banter—or squabbling—Jericho and Josslyn have got going. I loved how the seriousness of this novel—Josslyn basically adapting to a new reality and Jericho running out of time to get his hands on the magic for his employer—was infused with the two of them wanting to have the last word in every interaction. Safe to say, I can’t wait to see how their relationship is expanded on in future installments.

What I think I liked most about this book was the pacing. Firsts in fantasy series can be boggled down by info dumping or stretched endlessly to keep enough space for the sequels, but this felt like such a well-rounded novel. There was never a dull moment on Josslyn and Jericho’s journey and yet, the reader does get some “breathers” between shocking reveals. And speaking of shocking reveals, Echoes and Empires proves that Rhodes’ still got it when it comes to unpredictable plot twists. While I guessed one pretty early on, I was so focused on that upcoming reveal that I was completely blindsided by a few others that happen in here.

Beyond the incredible characters, the snarky yet undeniable chemistry and intrigues and lies that go well beyond Josslyn’s widest imaginations, the world this story is set in of course also delivers. Rhodes manages to paint a clear picture of the setting of this novel (and of the places Josslyn and Jericho end up during their quest) and invites readers into a truly fascinating world. It’s a sort of effortless world-building that’s so easily palatable and truly my favorite in fantasy. Rhodes doesn’t forfeit complex magic systems or place descriptions but instead makes them such an intricate part of the story that you feel like you get to know the characters through the setting, which I really appreciated. All in all, Echoes and Empires was an amazing read. Rhodes’ talent of captivating readers with her authentic characters and unexpected twists is as present as ever and I can’t wait for the sequel!

With an enemies-to-lovers romance, heaps of deceit and plot twists that will leave you reeling, Echoes and Empires is a promising first installment in Rhodes’ new YA fantasy series. Intoxicating, eye-opening, and magical, Echoes and Empires is perfect for fans of headstrong heroines and witty bad boys banding together to make some magic!

Echoes and Empires is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 4th 2022.

Will you be picking up Echoes and Empires? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

A snarky seventeen-year-old must team up with an enigmatic criminal to cure herself of dangerous forbidden magic in the first book of a new fantasy duology from Morgan Rhodes, the New York Times bestselling author of the Falling Kingdoms series.

Josslyn Drake knows only three things about magic: it’s rare, illegal, and always deadly. So when she’s caught up in a robbery gone wrong at the Queen’s Gala and infected by a dangerous piece of magic—one that allows her to step into the memories of an infamously evil warlock—she finds herself living her worst nightmare. Joss needs the magic removed before it corrupts her soul and kills her. But in Ironport, the cost of doing magic is death, and seeking help might mean scheduling her own execution. There’s nobody she can trust.

Nobody, that is, except wanted criminal Jericho Nox, who offers her a deal: his help extracting the magic in exchange for the magic itself. And though she’s not thrilled to be working with a thief, especially one as infuriating (and infuriatingly handsome) as Jericho, Joss is desperate enough to accept.

But Jericho is nothing like Joss expects. The closer she grows with Jericho and the more she sees of the world outside her pampered life in the city, the more Joss begins to question the beliefs she’s always taken for granted—beliefs about right and wrong, about power and magic, and even about herself.

In an empire built on lies, the truth may be her greatest weapon.

The post Review: Echoes and Empires by Morgan Rhodes appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sleeping Beauty meets Indiana Jones in this thrilling fairytale retelling for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and All the Stars and Teeth. Set in a lush world inspired by beloved fairytales, The Bone Spindle is a fast-paced young adult fantasy full of adventure, romance, found family, and snark.

Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier
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A destitute woman deceives her way into the guesthouse of a Hollywood Hills mansion and inadvertently becomes a target in the twisted game of the wealthy family upstairs in the next intoxicating novel from Eliza Jane Brazier.

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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A TV meteorologist and a sports reporter scheme to reunite their divorced bosses with unforecasted results in this charming romantic comedy from the author of The Ex Talk.

The Amber Crown by Jacey Bedford
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In this new epic fantasy, three societal outcasts must work together to fulfill the orders of a dead king’s ghost or risk their nation falling to a tyrant

Echoes and Empires by Morgan Rhodes
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Falling Kingdoms series comes the first book in a brand-new duology about forbidden magic and dangerous secrets, for readers of Victoria Aveyard and Margaret Rogerson.

The Ex-Husband by Karen Hamilton
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From international bestselling author Karen Hamilton comes another pulse-pounding domestic thriller set against a lush, tropical backdrop as a woman fleeing her past as a con artist finds herself trapped aboard a cruise ship with someone who not only knows about that past, but will stop at nothing to get revenge.

Battle of the Linguist Mages by Scotto Moore
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In modern day Los Angeles, a shadowy faction led by the Governor of California develops the arcane art of combat linguistics, planting the seeds of a future totalitarian empire in Scotto Moore’s Battle of the Linguist Mages.

The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher
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The dramatic story of how a humble bookseller fought against incredible odds to bring one of the most important books of the 20th century to the world in this new novel from the author of The Girl in White Gloves.

Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi
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In his adult novel debut, Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and NAACP Image Award finalist and ALA Alex and New England Book Award winner Tochi Onyebuchi delivers a sweeping science fiction epic in the vein of Samuel R. Delany and Station Eleven.

Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long
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Meg Long’s Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a captivating debut about survival, found family, and the bond between a girl and a wolf that delivers a fresh twist on classic survival stories and frontier myths.

Dream, Annie, Dream by Waka T. Brown
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In this empowering deconstruction of the so-called American Dream, a twelve-year-old Japanese American girl named Annie Inoue grapples with, and ultimately rises above, the racism and trials of middle school she experiences while chasing her dreams.

Road of Bones by Christopher Golden
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A stunning supernatural thriller set in Siberia, where a film crew is covering an elusive ghost story about the Kolyma Highway, a road built on top of the bones of prisoners of Stalin’s gulag.

What January 2022 book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post January 2022 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Welcome to 2022, but more importantly, welcome to a whole lot of new book releases to look forward to over the next year!

In this round up, we take a look at an array of highly anticipated books releasing between the months of January and June. From new releases from favourite authors such as Rachel Lynn Solomon, Sarah J. Maas, Tahereh Mafi, Marlon James, Emily St. John Mandel, Holly Black, Christina Lauren, Ryan Sager, and many more, to absolutely dazzling debuts, you’re sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list!

Stay tuned as we’ll be releasing more 2022 lists for several genres!

Read on to discover just a few of our favourite January to June 2022 releases and tell us in the comments if you’re looking forward to any of them! 

JANUARY

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A TV meteorologist and a sports reporter scheme to reunite their divorced bosses with unforecasted results in this charming romantic comedy from the author of The Ex Talk.

Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A destitute woman deceives her way into the guesthouse of a Hollywood Hills mansion and inadvertently becomes a target in the twisted game of the wealthy family upstairs in the next intoxicating novel from Eliza Jane Brazier.

Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Anything But Fine is a hilarious coming of age story about a gay ballerina who loses his dancing dreams, but finds his true self and his first love. 

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Three years ago, Katrina Freeling and Nathan Van Huysen were the brightest literary stars on the horizon, their cowritten books topping bestseller lists. But on the heels of their greatest success, they ended their partnership on bad terms, for reasons neither would divulge to the public. They haven’t spoken since, and never planned to, except they have one final book due on contract.

Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In his adult novel debut, Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and NAACP Image Award finalist and ALA Alex and New England Book Award winner Tochi Onyebuchi delivers a sweeping science fiction epic in the vein of Samuel R. Delany and Station Eleven.

Echoes and Empires by Morgan Rhodes
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Falling Kingdoms series comes the first book in a brand-new duology about forbidden magic and dangerous secrets, for readers of Victoria Aveyard and Margaret Rogerson.

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
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A troubled young mother yearns for a shot at redemption in this heartbreaking yet hopeful story from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins
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From Rachel Hawkins, the New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs, comes Reckless Girls, a deliciously wicked gothic suspense, set on an isolated Pacific island with a dark history, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.

A Thousand Steps by T. Jefferson Parker
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A Thousand Steps is a beguiling thriller, an incisive coming-of-age story, and a vivid portrait of a turbulent time and place by three-time Edgar Award winner and New York Times bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker.

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
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Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly
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The first openly nonbinary contestant on America’s favorite cooking show falls for their clumsy competitor in this delicious romantic comedy debut “that is both fantastically fun and crack your heart wide open vulnerable.” (Rosie Danan, author of The Roommate).

The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman
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In this epic YA fantasy debut, magic, a prized resource, is the only thing between peace and war. When magic runs out, four estranged royal siblings must find a new source before their country is swallowed by invading forces. The first in an Indian-inspired duology that’s perfect for fans of There Will Come a Darkness, The Gilded Wolves, and We Hunt the Flame.

FEBRUARY

Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson
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When fate and tacos bring Ramón and Julieta together on the Day of the Dead, the star-crossed pair must make a choice: accept the bitter food rivalry that drives them apart or surrender to a love that consumes them—perfect for fans of Jane the Virgin!

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List comes a new locked room mystery, set in a Paris apartment building in which every resident has something to hide… 

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
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Clashing empires, forbidden romance, and a long-forgotten queen destined to save her people—bestselling author Tahereh Mafi’s first in an epic, romantic trilogy inspired by Persian mythology.

Tripping Arcadia by Kit Mayquist
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From debut author Kit Mayquist, a propulsive and atmospheric modern Gothic with all the splendor of The Great Gatsby . . . and all the secrets, lies, and darkness that opulence can hide.

The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson
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Three generations of abused women must navigate their chilling new reality as a mysterious epidemic of violence sweeps the nation in this compelling novel of self-discovery, legacy, and hope.

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
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A gut-wrenching, startling historical thriller about communist Romania and the citizen spy network that devastated a nation, from the #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray.

Moon Witch, Spider King by Marlon James
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Both a brilliant narrative device—seeing the story told in Black Leopard, Red Wolf from the perspective of an adversary and a woman—as well as a fascinating battle between different versions of empire, Moon Witch, Spider King delves into Sogolon’s world as she fights to tell her own story. Part adventure tale, part chronicle of an indomitable woman who bows to no man, it is a fascinating novel that explores power, personality, and the places where they overlap.

Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour
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The debut adult novel by the bestselling and award-winning YA author Nina LaCour, following two women on a star-crossed journey toward each other. (Edit: Yerba Buena will now publish on May 31st 2022)

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
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In this sexy, action-packed sequel to the #1 bestseller House of Earth and Blood, Sarah J. Maas weaves a captivating story of a world about to explode―and the people who will do anything to save it.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
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Axie Oh’s The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an enthralling feminist retelling of the classic Korean folktale “The Tale of Shim Cheong,” perfect for fans of Wintersong, Uprooted, and Miyazaki’s SpiritedAway.

Lease On Love by Falon Ballard
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Beach Read meets The Flatshare in this warmly funny and delightfully sharp debut rom-com about a down-on-her-luck young woman who turns an innocent mix-up between a dating app and a roommate app into a new chance at love.

The Verifiers by Jane Pek
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Introducing a sharp-witted heroine for the 21st century: a new amateur sleuth exploring the landscape—both physical and virtual—of New York in a debut novel about love, technology, and murder.

MARCH

Sundial by Catriona Ward
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Sundial is a new, twisty psychological horror novel from Catriona Ward, internationally bestselling author of The Last House on Needless Street.

Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye
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The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
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The much-acclaimed viral sensation from Olivie Blake, The Atlas Six—now newly revised and edited with additional content, is a dark academic debut fantasy with an established cult following that reads like The Secret History meets The Umbrella Academy.

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
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From the author of the breakout thriller Every Last Fear, comes Alex Finlay’s electrifying next novel The Night Shift, about a pair of small-town murders fifteen years apart―and the ties that bind them.

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir comes a brilliant, unforgettable, and heart-wrenching contemporary YA novel about family and forgiveness, love and loss, in a sweeping story that crosses generations and continents.

Lakelore by Anna Marie McLemore
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In this young adult novel by award-winning author Anna-Marie McLemore, two non-binary teens are pulled into a magical world under a lake – but can they keep their worlds above water intact?

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
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The Golden Couple is the next electrifying novel from Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, the #1 New York Times bestselling author duo behind You Are Not Alone, An Anonymous Girl, and The Wife Between Us.

Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma
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Nisha Sharma’s hilarious new romantic comedy inspired by The Taming of the Shrew features a love-phobic TV doctor who must convince a love-obsessed homebody they are destined to be together.

When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
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A mythic love story set in Trinidad and Tobago, Ayanna Lloyd Banwo’s radiant debut introduces two unforgettable outsiders brought together by their connection with the dead.

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James
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A true crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel.

A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch
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A wry and bold debut novel, which is at once an irresistible catastrophe waiting to happen and an unflinching exploration of how we narrate the stories of our lives, as an aspiring novelist finds herself stalking—and writing about—her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend.

The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta
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A stunning YA fantasy inspired by ancient Mesoamerica, this gripping debut introduces us to a lineage of seers defiantly resisting the shifting patriarchal state that would see them destroyed―perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi and Sabaa Tahir.

APRIL

An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan
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Romeo and Juliet meets Chinese mythology in this magical novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Astonishing Color of After.

Insomnia by Sarah Pinborough
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In this twisty, mind-bending thriller from the bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes, Emma Averell worries that her crippling insomnia is a sign that she’s slowly going insane—like the mother she’s worked so hard to leave in her past.

Reputation by Lex Croucher
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Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl with a dash of Jane Austen, in Reputation, a Regency-era historical romantic comedy with a deliciously feminist twist, from a hilarious new British voice, Lex Croucher.

Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor
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For fans of Caraval and The Night Circus, this decadent and darkly enchanting YA fantasy, set against the backdrop of a Belle Époque-inspired hotel, follows seventeen-year-old Jani as she uncovers the deeply disturbing secrets of the legendary Hotel Magnifique.

I Am the Ghost in Your House by Maria Romasco Moore
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From the author of Some Kind of Animal comes a wildly unique story about an invisible girl struggling to see herself in a world obsessed with appearances.

One of Us is Dead by Jeneva Rose
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Meet the women of Buckhead — a place of expensive cars, huge houses, and competitive friendships. Who amongst these women will be clever enough to survive Buckhead — and who will wind up dead? They say that friendships can be complex, but no one said it could ever be this deadly.

An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher
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This seething, gut-punch of a thriller can only have sprung from the fiendish brain of Tarryn Fisher, one of the most cunning writers of our time.

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow
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A spellbinding debut novel tracing three generations of a Southern Black family and one daughter’s discovery that she has the power to change her family’s legacy.

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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A searing and compassionate new novel about a young Black nurse’s shocking discovery and burning quest for justice in post-segregation Alabama, from the New York Times bestselling author of Wench.

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
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The award-winning, best-selling author of Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel returns with a novel of art, time, love, and plague that takes the reader from Vancouver Island in 1912 to a dark colony on the moon five hundred years later, unfurling a story of humanity across centuries and space.

The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa
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The USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man is back with a hilarious rom-com about two strangers who get trapped in a lie and have to fake date their way out of it…

The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann
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Thirty, flirty, and asexual Joy is secretly in love with her best friend Malcolm, but she’s never been brave enough to say so. When he unexpectedly announces that he’s met the love of his life—and no, it’s not Joy—she’s heartbroken. Malcolm invites her on a weekend getaway, and Joy decides it’s her last chance to show him exactly what he’s overlooking. But maybe Joy is the one missing something…or someone…and his name is Fox.

MAY

Book of Night by Holly Black
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black makes her stunning adult debut with Book of Night, a modern dark fantasy of shadowy thieves and secret societies in the vein of Ninth House and The Night Circus.

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

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
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The “reigning romance queens” (PopSugar) and New York Times bestselling authors of The Soulmate Equation and The Unhoneymooners present a charming and laugh-out-loud funny novel filled with adventure, treasure, and, of course, love.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
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From the New York Times bestselling author of One Last Stop and Red, White & Royal Blue comes a debut YA romantic comedy about chasing down what you want, only to find what you need…

Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer
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New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer expands the Cursebreaker world in an electrifying new series.

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
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From Ryan La Sala, the wildly popular author of Reverie, comes a twisted and tantalizing horror novel set amidst the bucolic splendor of a secluded summer retreat.

City of Orange by David Yoon
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This imaginative and affecting new novel is beloved, bestselling, and award-winning author David Yoon at his finest: thought-provoking and heart-piercing, by turns funny and challenging, and at all times deeply human. 

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
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Mexican Gothic meets Rebecca in this debut supernatural suspense novel, set in the aftermath of the Mexican War of Independence, about a remote house, a sinister haunting, and the woman pulled into their clutches…

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
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An insightful, delightful new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

My Summer Darlings by May Cobb
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Three lifelong friends plus a dangerous, sexy new stranger in town add up to a scorching summer of manipulation, obsession, and murder, from the acclaimed author of The Hunting Wives.

Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater
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Merida goes on an all-new, life-changing adventure in this original YA novel set several years after the close of Brave!

Boys, Beasts & Men by Sam J. Miller
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In Nebula Award-winning author Sam J. Miller’s devastating debut short-fiction collection, featuring an introduction by Amal El-Mohtar, queer infatuation, inevitable heartbreak, and brutal revenge seamlessly intertwine. Whether innocent, guilty, or not even human, the boys, beasts, and men roaming through Miller’s gorgeously crafted worlds can destroy readers, yet leave them wanting more.

JUNE

Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald
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From the author of the critically-acclaimed Blackwing trilogy comes Ed McDonald’s Daughter of Redwinter, the first of a brilliant fantasy series about how one choice can change a universe.

American Royalty by Tracey Livesay
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In this dangerously sexy rom-com that evokes the real-life romance between Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle, a prince who wants to live out of the spotlight falls for a daring American rapper who turns his life, and the palace, upside down.

Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
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A dazzling epic of betrayal, love, and fate that spans five generations of an Indigenous Chicano family in the American West, from the author of the National Book Award Finalist Sabrina & Corina.

This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron
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How much would you risk to save the ones you love? Would you tempt even the most dangerous fate?Bestselling author Kalynn Bayron continues the story of Briseis and her family’s deadly magic in the sequel to This Poison Heart.

Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond
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A people-pleasing bridesmaid-for-hire falls for the crushable new lesbian in town. Will she finally find her happily ever after—and her own voice? 

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
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With his trademark blend of sharp characters, psychological suspense and gasp-worthy twists, Riley Sager’s The House Across the Lake will shock readers until the very last page.

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
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A Discovery of Witches meets The Craft in this the first installment of this epic fantasy trilogy about a group of childhood friends who are also witches.

Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
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A furious, queer debut novel about embracing the monster within and unleashing its power against your oppressors. Perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and Annihilation.

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi
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In the first book of a visionary African and Arabian-inspired fantasy trilogy, three women band together against a cruel Empire that divides people by blood.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
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Evvie Drake Starts Over meets Beach Read in this heartwarming and hilarious novel about a divorced romance channel screenwriter whose script about her marriage’s collapse just might help her reclaim her life and find love.

We All Fall Down by Rose Szabo
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The first book in a dark fantasy YA duology by the author of What Big Teeth, about the power and danger of stories and the untold costs of keeping magic alive, perfect for fans of Aiden Thomas and Marie Rutkoski.

Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert
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She was the face that launched a thousand ships, The fierce beauty at the heart of Olympus, And she was never ours to claim. A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Helen of Troy, Achilles, and Patroclus that’s as sinful as it is sweet.

What 2022 book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Most Anticipated 2022 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Deserve The Hype

Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo
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A band of misfits, led by Ketterdam’s criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker, goes on an epic heist promising glory and destruction in equal measures. That’s the premise of Leigh Bardugo’s enchanting and straight-up hilarious duology following six people who might just be able to go down in history as the ones who have it all – that is, if they don’t kill each other first. If you’re looking for some quick wit, breathtaking world-building and tense plot twists, Six of Crows should be right up your alley.

This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab
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In a city overrun with monsters, everyone must choose sides. In Verity, violence breeds actual monsters that need to be eradicated if the citizens ever want to feel safe again. But who’s the real monster here? The monsters – or the people whose violence creates them? V.E. Schwab excels in making you question your beliefs of good and evil and This Savage Song, told in alternating perspectives of two people who ask themselves whether they are on the right side of the fight, will make you question if it’s the side you’re standing on that’s wrong – or the fight in and of itself.

Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare
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It’s intimidating at first glance, I know. An entire fantasy world that, to date, encompasses twelve full-length novels and three short story collections – not exactly what you would call a quick beginning to your fantasy adventures, right? But here’s the thing: it is so worth it. Cassandra Clare has created a fandom and a world that she expands on in ways no one could ever imagine. Spanning centuries and everything from Shadowhunters who protect the world from demons to warlocks who just want to find love – Clare paints characters that will tug at your heartstrings. While The Mortal Instruments is the first series in this world, The Infernal Devices can also be read without any prior knowledge (and it’s a real favourite of the fans, trust me).

Fandom Favourites

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
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Have you ever wondered what would happen if the Chosen One…was kind of the worst person to be chosen to save humanity from disaster? Well, wonder no more! Carry On follows Simon Snow as he braves the many dangers of attracting way too much demonic attention (both from evil creatures that want to see him dead and his enigmatic roommate Baz who…also wants to see him dead, like, half of the time?) at the Watford School of Magicks and gets into all kinds of trouble – all while trying to solve a mystery that has everyone waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
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Following Jude Duarte, a human girl swept off to the magical land of Faerie, this is the story of a girl who will go to unimaginable lengths to get what she wants – even if it means spiting all the immortal beings that see her as weak, or maybe just to do that. Jude Duarte is unapologetic in her quest to make Faerie a more just place…but that does not mean that she’s not ready to break some of the rules herself. If you like morally grey characters, descriptive writing and plot twists that will leave you begging for the next instalment, The Cruel Prince will provide.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
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At this point, it is impossible to follow the YA fantasy genre and not encounter Sarah J. Maas. This author has spawned some of the most beloved characters, from Illyrian fighters to stubborn assassins. Her first series, Throne of Glass, follows Celaena Sardothien who, after a stint in the salt mines as punishment for her criminal indulgences, finds herself vying for the spot as the King’s personal assassin. Competing against men with more experience and sway in the court, Celaena has to hold her own – all while on the hunt for a greater destiny that might just change everything she thought she knew. That being said, over the course of the series, it becomes a little questionable as to whether we can call it YA.

Deserves More Attention

With new releases hitting the market every week, some older but amazing fantasies sometimes don’t get the attention they merit. If you’d like to read some lesser talked about series, these might be for you.

The Young Elites by Marie Lu
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You don’t want to read about the heroes of the world? Then you might consider Marie Lu’s Young Elites trilogy. This series chronicles the descent of Adelina, one of the few people that have survived the blood fever decimating the lands. Thought to have supernatural powers, Adelina finds herself taken away by strangers to work on her abilities…and questioning what is right and wrong. If you ever wondered what happens when the good guys turn bad, The Young Elites make a fascinating case for becoming the anti-hero you never picture yourself as.

The Winner’s Curse trilogy by Marie Rutkoski
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As a young woman in a war-hungry world, Kestrel has only two options: join the military or get married. Unsatisfied with either of those options, Kestrel tries to find her own path in life. Aided by a young slave she frees, Kestrel begins to figure out what she wants – only in time for everything to come crumbling down around her. A story of betrayal, love and death, this trilogy keeps you on the tip of your toes from beginning to end.

Fantasy Retellings

So you’d like to start your journey into the magical world of fantasy with some recognisable plot structure to ease you in? Fairytale retellings with a fantastical spin might be for you!

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
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For a retelling with a more contemporary feel to it, this reimagination of Beauty and the Beast is partly told in a Emberfall and Washington, D.C. Follow young Harper as she gets swept away into a magical world, meets a reluctant Prince and ends up wanting to save the world that is holding her captive.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
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Imagining the Queen of Hearts’ life before she became the ruthless ruler we all love to hate, Marissa Meyer spins a dramatic tale of a young girl who loses everything because of who she loves. Romantic, heartbreaking and leaving you breathless even though you know what happens at the end, this one will require some tissues for sure.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
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Based on 1001 Nights, this book (and its sequel The Rose and the Dagger) follows young Sharzad and King Khalid. King Khalid is cursed – to keep his kingdom, he has to kill his brides. Enter Sharzad, a resilient and stubborn woman who refuses to keep watching her friends marry the King and die – and gets selected as his new…and maybe last…bride.

Easy Starters

High fantasy can be really dense and hard to immerse yourself into. Down below, you will find two series that are long but have a flowing writing style that will have you turning pages in no time.

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
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The Falling Kingdoms is one of the best series to start your fantasy experience with. Easy-flowing writing, drama beyond anything you can imagine and pairings that will make you want to rip your hair out – or swoon on the spot.  Falling Kingdoms has it all. It reads a bit like a telenovela series in the magical lands of Mytica and, told in alternating perspectives,  will have you choose your favourite in a heartbeat and then sob because you just want everyone to be okay – even if you know they won’t be.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
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You heard it here first, ladies and gentlemen: Vampires are rising from the dead once more! With both Renee Ahdieh and Jay Kristoff set to release new vampire fantasy novels this fall, the YA world is set to take another spin at one of the most popular fantasy niches – supernatural creatures! For those of you who read Twilight (the beginning of it all, if you will), the Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead may be just right for you to get back into the undead groove. Filled with dhampirs to protect the elite vampires and evil Strigoi that want to make everyone immortal and – you know – evil, this six-book series seriously packs a bunch of action!

Not Interested In Young Adult?

You don’t want to read about young adults but would still like a nice start to the fantasy genre?

Then you might be more inclined to Victoria Schwab’s duology Vicious and Vengeful which follows two brilliant students who want to turn themselves into heroes – but end up toeing the line between playing god and playing villain more than once.

Alternatively, if you’re a fan of Harry Potter and would like to read more about young children taking on a magical world, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend might be of interest to you. Following a young girl, Morrigan Crow, who has been cursed to die as a child but ends up in a place called the Wondrous Society, this story will give you all the Harry Potter vibes with extravagant characters, lots of remarkable quests and a protagonist you just can’t help but root for.

Do you have any other YA fantasy suggestions? Tell us in the comments below!

The post A Guide To Young Adult Fantasy Books appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Then of course you could escape to 1917 in The Toymakers or perhaps if you prefer a little closer to our time, The Gone World is set in 1997.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if there are any other February 2018 releases you might add!

Immortal Reign by Morgan Rhodes | Goodreads

Jonas continues to willfully defy his destiny; Lucia knows there’s something special about her daughter and she’ll do anything to protect her; Amara’s grandma promises Amara power, revenge, and dominance if she agrees to be part of her scheme; and Magnus and Cleo’s love will be put to the ultimate test. Dark magic is causing widespread destruction throughout the kingdom. Enemies across the sea are advancing. And unrest is stirring throughout the land. Is their love strong enough to withstand the outside forces tearing them apart?

The Queen’s Rising by Rebecca Ross | Goodreads

When her seventeenth summer solstice arrives, Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron. While some are born with an innate talent for one of the five passions—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—Brienna struggled to find hers until she belatedly chose to study knowledge. However, despite all her preparations, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true—the solstice does not go according to plan and she is left without a patron. With war brewing between the two lands, Brienna must choose whose side she will remain loyal to—passion or blood. Because a queen is destined to rise and lead the battle to reclaim the crown. The ultimate decision Brienna must determine is: Who will be that queen?

The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch | Goodreads

Shannon Moss is part of a clandestine division within the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. In Western Pennsylvania, 1997, she is assigned to solve the murder of a Navy SEAL’s family–and to locate his teenage daughter, who has disappeared. Though she can’t share the information with conventional law enforcement, Moss discovers that the missing SEAL was an astronaut aboard the spaceship U.S.S. Libra–a ship assumed lost to the darkest currents of Deep Time. Moss knows first-hand the mental trauma of time-travel and believes the SEAL’s experience with the future has triggered this violence.

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre | Goodreads

Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that’s made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead moving with her family to Mars. Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she’s headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan—a race of sentient alien ships—to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

Of Gods and Men by Stephen Aryan and Matt Addis | Goodreads

An original epic fantasy novella by Stephen Aryan focusing on a fan-favourite character from Battlemage: the gruff and mysterious warrior know as Vargus.

Semiosis by Sue Burke | Goodreads

Only mutual communication can forge an alliance with the planet’s sentient species and prove that mammals are more than tools. Forced to land on a planet they aren’t prepared for, human colonists rely on their limited resources to survive. The planet provides a lush but inexplicable landscape–trees offer edible, addictive fruit one day and poison the next, while the ruins of an alien race are found entwined in the roots of a strange plant. Conflicts between generations arise as they struggle to understand one another and grapple with an unknowable alien intellect.

Hero At The Fall by Alwyn Hamilton | Goodreads

When gunslinging Amani Al’Hiza escaped her dead-end town, she never imagined she’d join a revolution, let alone lead one. But after the bloodthirsty Sultan of Miraji imprisoned the Rebel Prince Ahmed in the mythical city of Eremot, she doesn’t have a choice. Armed with only her revolver, her wits, and her untameable Demdji powers, Amani must rally her skeleton crew of rebels for a rescue mission through the unforgiving desert to a place that, according to maps, doesn’t exist.

The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale | Goodreads

It is 1917, and London has spent years in the shadow of the First World War. In the heart of Mayfair, though, there is a place of hope. A place where children’s dreams can come true, where the impossible becomes possible – that place is Papa Jack’s Toy Emporium. Now his sons, Kaspar and Emil, are just old enough to join the family trade. Into this family comes a young Cathy Wray – homeless and vulnerable. The Emporium takes her in, makes her one of its own. But Cathy is about to discover that while all toy shops are places of wonder, only one is truly magical…

The Clarity by Keith Thomas | Goodreads

Dr. Matilda Deacon is a psychologist researching how memories are made and stored when she meets a strange eleven-year-old girl named Ashanique. Ashanique claims to harbor the memories of the last soldier killed in World War I and Matilda is at first very interested but skeptical. However, when Ashanique starts talking about being chased by the Night Doctors—a term also used by an unstable patient who was later found dead—Matilda can’t deny that the girl might be telling the truth and be in immense danger.

The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller | Goodreads

Eighteen-year-old Robert Weekes is a practitioner of empirical philosophy—an arcane, female-dominated branch of science used to summon the wind, shape clouds of smoke, heal the injured, and even fly. When a deadly accident puts his philosophical abilities to the test, Robert rises to the occasion and wins a scholarship to study at Radcliffe College, an all-women’s school. At Radcliffe, Robert hones his skills and strives to win the respect of his classmates, a host of formidable, unruly women.

Dreadful Young Ladies and Other Stories by Kelly Barnhill | Goodreads

From award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Kelly Barnhill comes a stunning collection of stories, teeming with uncanny characters whose lives unfold in worlds at once strikingly human and eerily original.

The Viking’s Chosen by Quinn Loftis | Goodreads

His orders are clear: launch a raid against England and bring home the spoils of war. But the prophecy is also clear: General Torben will take a foreign bride—one who is a seer and healer just like his mother. The eldest princess of England is said to be just that…a beautiful, charming, and headstrong woman. But he’s a Viking army general and she’s an English princess—and one who is already promised to the king of Tara.

Will you be checking out of these books? Tell us in the comments below!

The post February Book Releases: Fantasy + Sci-Fi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

I don’t know about you, but I think television and books go really well together. Maybe not always book adaptions (because we all know they can sometimes be a disappointment), although the trailers for Anne and The Handmaid’s Tale may be a glimmer of hope for the growing world of book-to-screen adaptions.

If you fancy skipping your next Netflix binge, we’ve paired a few television shows with some YA books so you can still enjoy your favourite themes but read all about it instead!

Let us know if you’ll be reading one of these books in the comments below!

Agent Carter >>> Code Name Verity/Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
Agent Carter is one of my all-time favourite shows and Rose Under Fire is one of my all-time favourite books. These two go hand-in-hand as this duology written by Elizabeth Wein is about female spies and pilots in World War II, so naturally there’s a connection between these books and Agent Carter. Not to mention, the characters are as badass as Peggy and they have just as much heart to them.

Downton Abbey >>> The Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray
This one may be a little bit of a stretch as The Gemma Doyle trilogy is more Downton Abbey meets Merlin perhaps. It has all the historical, scandalous and intriguing elements of Downton Abbey, but with a touch of magic and witches. The first book, A Great and Terrible Beauty is set in a London boarding school for Victoria ladies. It’s a fun series, but it also explores and features some serious topics, great female friendships and some incredible world-building and magic. The main character Gemma could be considered as a cross between Mary and Sybil and not to mention, the author Libba Bray is incredibly talented so it’s worth checking out.

Game of Thrones >>> Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
Although I personally am not much of a fan of Game of Thrones, the Falling Kingdoms series is fantastic read for those who are. Like Game of Thrones, there are quite a few characters that the story follows and they are all very intriguing in their own ways, just like how the characters greatly differ in the television series. Being a fantasy series, the world is complex and rich, which always makes for fascinating read.

Sherlock >>> Every Breath
Every Breath is an Australian YA trilogy by Ellie Marney which tells the story of Rachel Watts and her best friend, James Mycroft. You may have notices it’s loosely based around Sherlock Holmes, but the modern Melbourne setting sets it apart from the rest. James is very reminiscent of Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock—absolutely brilliant, but slightly less knowledgeable when it comes to people and communicating. Rachel is not a sidekick to Mycroft at any point, and she has a bigger purpose than merely making him look smart since she’s brilliant in her own way, and I think many readers can appreciate that.

The post If You Like, You’ll Like: TV To Books appeared first on The Nerd Daily.