Hi, Patrick! What made you want to return to the world of Chaos Walking?

It was purely the idea. I had been very clear in my head that Chaos Walking was finished, although I always said ‘never say never’ when people asked if there would be more, while secretly thinking probably never.  But then I got an idea centred around the Pied Piper, and I thought, oh, that feels really interesting and honestly, a little terrifying, because I didn’t want to go back to the trilogy and potentially screw it up. Being fruitfully nervous is the best way to write for me, because the worry that I’m going to mess it up means that I will really, really pay attention.

Has it been an enjoyable process?

Is writing books enjoyable? I was talking to a writer friend over the weekend, who was saying that he was deep in edits and how much he hated them. And I love edits but hate first drafts. I hate the blank page; I find that such a slog. But when that first draft’s done, then I can go back and turn it into a book. So it’s the same with Piper, it’s enjoyable and I love being back in the world. But the process is still as difficult as it ever was.

Can you introduce Piper at the Gates of Dusk to us in your own words?

Piper at the Gates of Dusk is the first book in a new trilogy that is set about 20 years after the original Chaos Walking trilogy. It’s about the sons of our heroes from the first trilogy Todd and Viola, Ben and Max. Something approaches in the night sky, and it’s sending a signal that may be causing some real problems on New World… It turns out that there is an even bigger threat than they thought.

Has anything surprised you during the writing of Piper?

Oh, I always get surprised when writing.

In fact, when I talk about writing I often talk about letting your book and your characters surprise you, and I always use Chaos Walking as an example.  Wilf, who becomes a main character in the original trilogy and is a character in this new book/ trilogy, didn’t exist until I sat down that day to write that scene. And so, yeah, I do get surprises and I try to allow room for them to happen because they can sometimes give you a Wilf.

How did you approach the rebuilding of the world – or the re-exploration of the world that you first created 20 years ago?

It’s really challenging. I get world building questions a lot, which I always find really interesting because I never consciously think that I’m building a world other than a slightly more macro version in that every book is a world made of words. I feel like all I’m going to do is convince you that my story can logically take place in this world, whatever that world looks like. So it’s the same process; of constantly asking what’s the truth? What really happened here? And the real challenge – because that’s always a challenge – the real challenge this time was how much backstory to fill in. That’s tricky in technical terms because you don’t want it getting in the way. I want my stories to propel forward constantly and I want them to grab you – and lots of exposition isn’t going to grab you. So I tried to view it as a creative challenge. How can I get across information in the shortest, fastest possible way?

The power of accepted cultural, propaganda, and conquering narratives are clearly set out in your work. Can you talk a little about why it’s so important that young people should train themselves to question an accepted narrative?

It’s interesting, the political questions about this book, because I never thought of it as political. This is simply what we’re all going through. This is what the world is like and I consider it just a reflection of our current state without trying to make it political one way or another.

In the time since the first trilogy, social media and the internet have really expanded – and the malignant part of it has also greatly expanded. AI is also now making the situation even worse, and so it becomes what do you believe in? Can you be manipulated? And the answer is, of course, you can be manipulated, we can all be manipulated.

I really wanted to show someone who did it and that they think they have good reasons to do it. And, and you might even agree with some of those reasons. But always ask in terms of any information given, is what is the agenda of person behind this?

You can agree with everything they say, and you can agree with the information. But you must also think about what is their agenda? Are they leaving something out? Always, always, always ask, always get a second opinion, a third opinion, because there are people who will take advantage of you if you don’t.

Have any pieces of current culture, whether books, films, music or any other art form, been a strong influence on Piper?

I’ve been reading a lot by the sci-fi writer, Adrian Tchaikovsky, and it does what I love in, in really good fiction, which is it establishes a world with authority and even though the world is strange and alien to you and alien to experience, it still makes sense. And it’s still humanity, inside it. And I love that. I loved the authority of Sinners. And I loved the authority of The Secret Agent – I think because they’re idiosyncratic and they are single voiced, and that’s what I love; the weirdness that you don’t expect that comes from nowhere. So why is Sinners about vampires? I mean, it makes sense in retrospect, but for the first hour, it’s not a vampire movie. And then it is, and it’s incredible. I love the daring.  Then that scene, the famous music scene.  That sort of daring in that I am going to follow this story to whatever weirdness it takes me – I hugely admire it, that bone deep conviction that this is the story I’m telling and the path I’m on, I’m taking a huge swing because it’s right.

What were you like as a teen reader? Any stand out books/ reading memories?

You know, I grew up pre-internet and so it was omnivorous reading – the YA market wasn’t nearly as vast as it was. There were a few books and authors, it tended to be either Sweet Valley High or Judy Blume. No complaints, I’m not dissing either of those. Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary I always say are the two people who are why I’m a writer.

I read completely unchaperoned, which I think is the best way to do it. I would just wander into the library and pick up anything that looked interesting. It wasn’t always good and it wasn’t always interesting, but I found the books of Tom Robbins, who was an American counter-cultural writer and who showed me that books can be playful, and they didn’t have to be polite. That was hugely influential.

There’s no one teenage book that sticks out to me because I was just reading anything I get my hands on. And of course, any precocious reader will always read way above what they’re supposed to read. So when I was 15 or 16, I read Beloved and it is not a YA book, but wow, what a world changer.

So I always recommend that you read as an omnivore and pick up anything and try not to let anybody know what you’re doing

When I was in 11th grade, so year 10 here, our English teacher in advanced English took us to see the Seattle Repertory Company production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. I think she thought she was getting the nice cleaned up version, but that was not what we got. We got the absolute full text, with all of the gay stuff, all the bad language… I think she was shocked, but it is truly my formative creative experience; seeing that play and thinking you can say these things out loud and you can talk about them on stage and it can be this sexy and this unusual, beautiful language.

What’s next – can you give us a tiny hint as to the next instalment?

Let’s just say there are some surprises in store about where the missing young people might be and what might be hunting them and who might have stolen them…

Will you be picking up Piper At The Gates of Dusk? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Patrick Ness, Author of ‘Piper At The Gates of Dusk’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

By #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue.

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Oryx and Crake is at once an unforgettable love story and a compelling vision of the future. 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The haunting story centers on twelve-year-old Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community.

The Absolute Book by Elizabeth Knox

A bewitching epic fantasy about a revenge killing, a mysterious scroll box that has survived centuries of fires, and the book that changed everything

The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness

A magical novel, based on a Japanese folk tale, that imagines how the life of a broken-hearted man is transformed when he rescues an injured white crane that has landed in his backyard.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

William Goldman’s modern fantasy classic is a simple, exceptional story about quests—for riches, revenge, power, and, of course, true love—that’s thrilling and timeless.

Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

USA Today bestselling author Talia Hibbert returns with another charming romantic comedy about a young woman who agrees to fake date her friend after a video of him “rescuing” her from their office building goes viral…

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl is a coming-of-age tale of fanfiction, family, and first love.

On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers

Nominated for the Locus and World Fantasy Awards, On Stranger Tides is the book that inspired the motion picture Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides—non-stop, breathtaking fiction from the genius imagination that conceived Last Call, Expiration Date, and Three Days to Never.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman comes a remarkable quest into the dark and miraculous—in pursuit of love and the utterly impossible.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

A dazzling novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived, from the internationally bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive and How To Stop Time.

The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author, a thrilling and addictive new novel—a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth—set in England at the dawn of a new era: the Middle Ages.

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

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

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

An isolated mansion. A chillingly charismatic aristocrat. And a brave socialite drawn to expose their treacherous secrets. . . . From the author of Gods of Jade and Shadow comes “a terrifying twist on classic gothic horror” (Kirkus Reviews) set in glamorous 1950s Mexico.

Teeth in the Mist by Dawn Kurtagich

Three generations of women uncover an ancient evil in this epic genre-bending horror-fantasy — a “fearless” Faustian tale perfect for fans of Kendare Blake and Ransom Riggs (Cat Winters).

The post 15 Books That Will Help You Escape appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If you prefer to read the book first, Libby is the perfect tool for checking these reads off your lis!. Ebooks and audiobooks can be downloaded instantly and synced to your device for free from your local public library using the Libby app.

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter. But suddenly they are together for real—and it’s far more complicated than when they were pretending! Lana Condor and Noah Centineo return with Jordan Fisher starring as John Ambrose McClaren.

Death On The Nile by Agatha Christie

The tranquillity of a cruise along the Nile is shattered by the discovery that Linnet Ridgeway has been shot through the head. She was young, stylish and beautiful, a girl who had everything — until she lost her life. Kenneth Branagh (Murder on the Orient Express), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Armie Hammer (Call Me By Your Name), Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones), and Letitia Wright (Black Panther) will star.

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

Doctor Dolittle takes on an apprentice, Tommy Stubbins, as they set out to find Long Arrow, the world’s greatest naturalist. Their quest takes them to the Mediterranean, to South America, deep under the sea, and even to a floating island.  Starring Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Emma Thompson (Love Actually), and Michael Sheen (Masters of Sex).

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

A dystopian thriller follows a boy and girl on the run from a town where all thoughts can be heard – and the passage to manhood embodies a horrible secret. Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming) and Daisy Ridley (Star Wars) star.

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke

With a lonely boy named Ben on board, the brave young dragon Firedrake sets out on a magical journey to find the mythical place where silver dragons can live in peace forever.

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Just Mercy is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice. Starring Brie Larson (Room) and Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther).

The Witches by Roald Dahl

Grandmamma loves to tell about witches. Real witches are the most dangerous of all living creatures on earth. There’s nothing they hate so much as children, and they work all kinds of terrifying spells to get rid of them. Her grandson listens closely to Grandmamma’s stories—but nothing can prepare him for the day he comes face-to-face with The Grand High Witch herself!  Starring Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada), Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures), and Stanley Tucci (Easy A).

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

The Invisible Man of the title is Griffin, a scientist who theorises that if a person’s refractive index is changed to exactly that of air and his body does not absorb or reflect light, then he will be invisible. Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Oliver Jackson-Cohen (The Haunting of Hill House) star.

The Good Shepherd by C.S. Forester

A WWII naval thriller of “high and glittering excitement” (New York Times) from the author of the legendary Hornblower series. The adaptation is titled Greyhound and will star Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump).

Dune by Frank Herbert

A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction. Starring Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Fallout), Timothée Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name), Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones), and Oscar Issac (Star Wars: The Force Awakens).

The Devil All The Time by Donald Ray Pollock

In The Devil All the Time, Donald Ray Pollock has written a novel that marries the twisted intensity of Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers with the religious and Gothic over­tones of Flannery O’Connor at her most haunting. Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Robert Pattinson (Twilight), and Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) star.

Without Remorse by Tom Clancy

From Tom Clancy, the celebrated author of the Jack Ryan series, comes the #1 New York Times bestseller that puts CIA operative John Clark front and center…. Starring Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther), Cam Gigandet (Twilight), and Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot).

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Inspired by a true story, this is the beautifully written tale of how a mighty gorilla wins his freedom.  Featuring the voices of Angelina Jolie, Helen Mirren, Danny DeVito, and Sam Rockwell.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Twelve-year-old Artemis is a millionaire, a genius-and above all, a criminal mastermind. But Artemis doesn’t know what he’s taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. Starring Josh Gad (Beauty and the Beast), Hong Chau (Watchmen), and Judi Dench (Skyfall).

News of the World by Paulette Jiles

In the aftermath of the Civil War, an ageing itinerant news reader agrees to transport a young captive of the Kiowa back to her people in this exquisitely rendered, morally complex, multilayered novel of historical fiction from the author of Enemy Women that explores the boundaries of family, responsibility, honour, and trust. Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump) will star.

The Woman In The Window by AJ Finn

Twisty and powerful, ingenious and moving, The Woman in the Window is a smart, sophisticated novel of psychological suspense that recalls the best of Hitchcock. Starring Amy Adams (Sharp Objects), Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight), and Julianne Moore (Still Alice).

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

A masterpiece in ambivalence and the uncanny, The Turn of the Screw tells the story of a young woman who is hired as governess to two seemingly innocent children in an isolated country house. Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things) and Mackenzie Davis (Halt and Catch Fire) star in The Turning.

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

Telling the story of Buck, a domesticated dog whose wild instincts begin to kick-in while serving as a sled dog in the treacherous Yukon. Starring Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones) and Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy).

Which book-to-movie adaptations are you most looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Books Becoming Movies In 2020 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Written by the author of The Monsters Call and Chaos Walking, Patrick Ness, More Than This takes you on a self-exploring trip in which you are asked, if you could change something traumatic, would you?

Real life can be hard and unpleasant and sometimes everyone one of us wishes to stop time or rewind time to choose differently or erase something from happening. Ness explores this need of change. Seth drowns and wakes up in an empty house in which he lived with his family as a kid. He died in the USA and wakes up in England. That alone is strange, so of course he thinks he died and will be punished in hell for eternity. When he meets Regine and Tomasz, he finds out that this is not hell and that he is not dead, he just woke up after living in a virtual world for the past couple of years.

Lethe, an organisation who created a virtual reality, can upload your life into the program and let you live in an alternate reality in which you can overwrite bad events and live up to your full potential. The thing is, the moment you are linked to the framework, you forget that you are. So, while you live your life in a fake world, your real body lies wrapped up and plugged with tubes in a coffin to keep you alive. Torn between the life he lived and his new reality, Seth tries to understand everything and find his family, while also running away from the mysterious person called The Driver whose only goal is to catch everyone who escape from the framework.

For me, More Than This is a mix of The Lovely Bones and Lost River, with a bit of Ready Player One and a lot of The Matrix.

Nowadays we have the possibility to escape reality through the different platforms on the internet, whilst knowing that at some point we have to face reality again. Ness explores the possibility of a constant way of escape while also showing that no matter what you are doing, in the end you never will be able to. You just change the setting, but you are still human, and humans make mistakes.

At first, the framework feels perfect, but even there, Seth and his family had to face unpleasant things and their lives have been far from perfect. Their stories have been programmed to be happy and together, while you can feel that something is not right but neither the characters nor the reader can pinpoint what.

It is not possible to talk about this book and not spoil the most important parts of the story, without giving too much away. There are two plot twists which you do not see coming and take the book in another direction.

But what I can tell you is that More Than This teaches you that you’ll never truly escape your life and that you have to learn to deal with it the way it is and that in this, you can find something beautiful.

More Than This is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Have you read More Than This? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

A boy drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments. He dies. Then he wakes, naked and bruised and thirsty, but alive. How can this be? And what is this strange deserted place?

As he struggles to understand what is happening, the boy dares to hope. Might this not be the end? Might there be more to this life, or perhaps this afterlife?

From multi-award-winning Patrick Ness comes one of the most provocative and moving novels of our time.

The post Review: More Than This by Patrick Ness appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Release

Told through eight chapters—or parts, depending on how you look at it—Release follows a teenager trying to come to terms with being gay in a heavily religious family. The story takes place over the course of a single day and is jam packed full of events, revelations, farewells, heartache, dual narratives, and above all else, hope. It’s punchy and entertaining, truthful and heart wrenching, and it doesn’t back down from addressing some pretty big issues.

At the center of this story is Adam Thorn. A young gay teen growing up in a small town, Adam faces homophobia in his heavily religious household through his father, local preacher Big Brian Thorn of The House Upon the Rock. Watching Adam struggle with his desire to love and be loved in return is one of the hardest aspects of this book—on one hand you have family man Brian Thorn who can’t accept his son for who he is and chooses to remain blissfully ignorant and on the other you have Adam collapsing under the weight of trying to be the ideal son while also staying true to himself and reaching for more.

“It’s only the yoke, Adam thought . . . and the yoke isn’t forever.”

The secondary characters are also worth their weight in gold and will leave the reader feeling warm or irritated, depending on the character. Angela is the best friend that everyone needs. Open-minded, smart, and caring, Ness is able to explore and open up numerous discussions on sexuality and the idea of labels through the use of this character. Marty, Adam’s older brother, is an honest representation of someone from his background reacting to his environment and certain decisions within the story. And then there’s Linus. If only we could all have a Linus-like understanding and compassion towards life and others as he does. There are also the adversaries in this book, who are all done so well that the reader will instantly either hate them or be frustrated by them. Ness is a master of characterisation, which is shown not only through his main protagonist, but also through his secondary characters.

In relation to the dual narrative structure and plot, Release includes similar components to a few of Ness’ other books, including The Rest of Us Just Live Here and The Crane Wife, while still being something completely new and different. Experimental in nature, the book combines two narratives that seem, at first glance, to have nothing to do with each other. Similar to the two books mentioned above, Ness includes glimpses into another version of fantastical events taking place at the same time as his main contemporary narrative—while Adam is the main focal point, there is also the intersecting narrative of the Queen and the Faun, and the potential end of the world.

Admittedly, these glimpses into the secondary narrative are jarring to begin with. One could even be forgiven for suggesting the book could stand on its own without the addition of the Queen and the Faun. But upon a second reading, the two narratives are so interwoven and crucial to each other, and to discovering how to let go and find one’s own release, that both strands become essential to unveiling the central messages of the book. One lends urgency to the other, and vice versa, creating a fast paced novel that will have readers racing towards the end.

Essentially, Release is a contemporary novel with a fantastical twist. It is arguably the author’s rawest, most vulnerable work to date. Like an exposed nerve, this book oozes heartache. It argues that family are those who accept you for who you are, and are not necessarily those who share the same blood. This reader consumed Release in a single day and cried on multiple occasions, and advises potential readers to ride out the secondary narrative, because it’s totally worth it in the end. Oh, and don’t forget the box of issues—you’ll need them.

Release is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Have you read Release? Or will you be checking it out? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Inspired by Mrs Dalloway and Judy Blume’s Forever, Release is one day in the life of Adam Thorn, 17. It’s a big day. Things go wrong. It’s intense, and all the while, weirdness approaches…

Adam Thorn is having what will turn out to be the most unsettling, difficult day of his life, with relationships fracturing, a harrowing incident at work, and a showdown between this gay teen and his preacher father that changes everything. It’s a day of confrontation, running, sex, love, heartbreak, and maybe, just maybe, hope. He won’t come out of it unchanged. And all the while, lurking at the edges of the story, something extraordinary and unsettling is on a collision course.

The post Review: Release by Patrick Ness appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If you’re after some new fantasy books, Chris Wooding’s The Ember Blade follows Aren as he sets on a quest for the Ember Blade, which is the sword of kings, the Excalibur of his people. Or perhaps Grace Draven’s Phoenix Unbound will be of more interest to you where a young woman is sacrificed every year from each village, but Gilene has been doing it for five years thanks to her magic, but now they want to put a stop to her once and for all…

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below which ones you are most excited for!

For A Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A young woman with a dangerous power she barely understands. A smuggler with secrets of his own. A country torn between a merciless colonial army, a terrifying tyrant, and a feared rebel leader. Heidi Heilig creates a vivid, rich world inspired by Asian cultures and French colonialism. Her characters are equally complex and nuanced, including the bipolar heroine. For a Muse of Fire is an engrossing journey that weaves magic, simmering romance, and the deep bonds of family with the high stakes of epic adventure.

The Sisters of The Winter Wood by Rena Rossner
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Raised in a small village surrounded by vast forests, Liba and Laya have lived a peaceful sheltered life – even if they’ve heard of troubling times for Jews elsewhere. When their parents travel to visit their dying grandfather, the sisters are left behind in their home in the woods. But before they leave, Liba discovers the secret that their Tati can transform into a bear, and their Mami into a swan. Perhaps, Liba realises, the old fairy tales are true. She must guard this secret carefully, even from her beloved sister. Soon a troupe of mysterious men appear in town and Laya falls under their spell-despite their mother’s warning to be wary of strangers. And these are not the only dangers lurking in the woods…

The Ember Blade by Chris Wooding
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A land under occupation. A legendary sword. A young man’s journey to find his destiny. Aren has lived by the rules all his life. But then his father is executed for treason, and he and his best friend Cade are thrown into a prison mine, doomed to work until they drop. Unless they can somehow break free… Rescued by a man who hates him yet is oath-bound to protect him, pursued by inhuman forces, there is revolution is brewing, and Aren is being drawn into it. The key to the revolution is the Ember Blade. The sword of kings, the Excalibur of his people. Only with the Ember Blade in hand can their people be inspired to rise up… but it’s locked in an impenetrable vault in the most heavily guarded fortress in the land. All they have to do now is steal it…

And The Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

With harpoons strapped to their backs, the proud whales of Bathsheba’s pod live for the hunt, fighting in the ongoing war against the world of men. When they attack a ship bobbing on the surface of the Abyss, they expect to find easy prey. Instead, they find the trail of a myth, a monster, perhaps the devil himself… As their relentless Captain leads the chase, they embark on a final, vengeful hunt, one that will forever change the worlds of both whales and men.

Salvation by Peter F. Hamilton
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In 2204, humanity is expanding into the wider galaxy in leaps and bounds. A new technology of linked jump gates has rendered most forms of transportation–including starships–virtually obsolete. Every place on earth, every distant planet mankind has settled, is now merely a step away from any other. And all seems wonderful…until a crashed alien spaceship is found on a newly-located world 89 light years from Earth, harbouring seventeen human victims. And of the high-powered team dispatched to investigate the mystery, one is an alien spy…

Ignite The Stars by Maura Milan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Everyone in the universe knows his name. Everyone in the universe fears him. But no one realises that notorious outlaw Ia Cocha is a seventeen-year-old girl. A criminal mastermind and unrivalled pilot, Ia has spent her life terrorising the Olympus Commonwealth, the imperialist nation that destroyed her home. Now captured and exposed, they see Ia’s age and talent as an opportunity. Soon, Ia is trapped at the Commonwealth’s military academy, desperately plotting her escape. But new acquaintances—including Brinn, a seemingly average student with a closely-held secret, and their charming Flight Master, Knives—cause Ia to question her own alliances. Can she find a way to escape the Commonwealth’s clutches before these bonds deepen?

The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes
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Feisty heroes, tricky gods, murderous demons, and spirited giants are just some of the pleasures that await in this fresh and funny take on Maya mythology, as rich and delicious as a mug of authentic hot chocolate.

Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Long ago, a village made a bargain with the devil: to ensure their prosperity, when the Slaughter Moon rises, the village must sacrifice a young man into the depths of the Devil’s Forest. Only this year, the Slaughter Moon has risen early. Bound by duty, secrets, and the love they share for one another, Mairwen, a spirited witch; Rhun, the expected saint; and Arthur, a restless outcast, will each have a role to play as the devil demands a body to fill the bargain. But the devil these friends find is not the one they expect, and the lies they uncover will turn their town—and their hearts—inside out.

Time’s Convert by Deborah Harkness
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A passionate love story and a fascinating exploration of the power of tradition and the possibilities not just for change but for revolution, Time’s Convert channels the supernatural world-building and slow-burning romance that made the All Souls Trilogy instant bestsellers to illuminate a new and vital moment in history, and a love affair that will bridge centuries.

Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire’s capital–her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village’s tithe has been the same woman. Gilene’s sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses. But this year is different. Azarion, the Empire’s most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion–and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. And unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan. To protect her family and village, she will risk everything to return to the Empire–and burn once more.

The Seclusion by Jacqui Castle
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the year 2090, America has walled itself off from the rest of the world. When her father is arrested by the totalitarian Board, a young woman sets out to escape the only country she’s ever known. While on a routine assignment scouting the viability of dwindling natural resources outside the massive urban centers most American citizens call home, Patricia ’Patch’ and her co-worker Rexx discover a relic from the past containing dangerous contraband―unedited books from before The Seclusion. These texts will spark an unquenchable thirst for the truth that sees Patch’s father arrested by the totalitarian Board.

Daughters of Forgotten Light by Sean Grigsby
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Lena “Horror” Horowitz leads the Daughters of Forgotten Light, one of three vicious gangs fighting for survival on Oubliette. Their fragile truce is shaken when a new shipment arrives from Earth carrying a fresh batch of prisoners and supplies to squabble over. But the delivery includes two new surprises: a drone, and a baby. Earth Senator Linda Dolfuse wants evidence of the bloodthirsty gangs to justify the government finally eradicating the wasters dumped on Oubliette. There’s only one problem: the baby in the drone’s video may be hers.

Check out our other September book picks on our Goodreads list!

Any other releases you’re excited to read this month? Tell us in the comments below!

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

There are many great movies are coming out this year, and some also happen to be based on books. If you’re like me, then perhaps you prefer reading the book before seeing its adaptation. Read on to discover 10 books that you should be reading before seeing the movie!

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle
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Meg’s father had been experimenting with this fifth dimension of time travel when he mysteriously disappeared. Now the time has come for Meg, her friend Calvin, and Charles Wallace to rescue him. But can they outwit the forces of evil they will encounter on their heart-stopping journey through space? If you like strange and whimsical books, you might like this one!

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
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In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenager Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Set in the future and full of video game characters and references, who wouldn’t love that?

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
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When a despised passenger on the Orient Express is murdered, it’s up to Hercule Poirot to discover which of the thirteen passengers remaining is the suspect. Although the movie has already been released, if you haven’t seen it yet you should definitely read the book before you do. The best mystery written by the queen of mystery, Agatha Christie.

The House With A Clock In Its Wall by John Bellairs
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Uncle Jonathan has an issue in his house. The walls won’t stop ticking. He also happens to be a witch, and so is his next door neighbor. When Jonathan’s nephew Lewis comes to live with him, it’s up to the three of them to save the world from destruction.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
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Mary Katherine Blackwood lives in an estate with her sister and uncle. They live in isolation, but Mary senses that danger is approaching. This book is quite creepy and mysterious, and it’s definitely a must read!

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
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A disease strikes America and kills most of the children living there. Except there are some who survived, but they have strange uncontrollable abilities and that could be far worse than dying. A highly anticipated movie release for fans of the books, and if you love anything that spells out super powers, this books is probably for you!

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
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Many of us grew up watching Mary Poppins and probably wished that she was our nanny with all the singing and magical experiences, but did you know that there will be a remake/sequel? Now’s your chance to get a hold of the book that started it all!

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
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How would you feel if you lived in a town where you can hear everyone’s thoughts? And they can hear yours? And what would you do if you stumbled on a place where everything is completely silent? The movie is set to release next year, which gives us all plenty of time to explore this book.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
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I believe this book is important at a time like this where all these terrible things are happening in the world. We need more powerful books in the world, and Angie Thomas has just written one.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
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A book that takes the reader into the human psyche and explores the insanity of one, Esther Greenwood.

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

The post 10 Books To Read Before Watching The Movie appeared first on The Nerd Daily.