Released two years after the first instalment of the new The Book of Dust trilogy and almost two decades after His Dark Materials trilogy, The Secret Commonwealth might be the most complex addition to Lyra’s world so far.

In The Amber Spyglass, we saw a chapter in Lyra’s life coming to an end. It was a satisfying, justified, if heart-breaking conclusion. One thing, however, was clear; while a circle closed for Lyra, a new season was beginning, full of learning, inspired by her wish to lead a fulfilling life and inspire others to do the same.  Such an ending is full of possibilities, leaving the reader with the impression that the characters live on after the book.

As is the case with most beloved book series, many fans craved yet another book about Lyra. While Pullman did release a short story called Lyra’s Oxford (2003), and another one, Serpentine, in 2020 as we wait for the third Book of Dust instalment, The Secret Commonwealth is the first full-length book about Lyra since The Amber Spyglass. With La Belle Sauvage (2017) focusing on a new character, Malcolm, who embarked on a perilous journey to protect Lyra when she was a baby, we had to wait a long time to find out more about Lyra’s future. As it turns out, The Secret Commonwealth was worth the wait.

As early as chapter 1, we are re-introduced to twenty-year old Lyra, now a university student. Clearly, she has grown in many ways. While she started His Dark Materials without close female friends and resistant to the influence of women in her life, the adult Lyra attends a girls’ college, is friendly with her old caretaker, Alice Lonsdale, and studies to the alethiometer under the tutelage of Hannah Relf. The core aspects that made her unique, such as her adventurous spirit, her creativity and curiosity are initially toned down. But the biggest change is her relationship with her daemon, Pan. While The Amber Spyglass left them in relatively good terms, Lyra’s choices have changed their dynamic forever. In stark contrast to the comfort and warmth they once shared, most of their interactions in The Secret Commonwealth are forced and awkward. They no longer truly listen to each other, and Pan doesn’t like the woman Lyra is becoming as he thinks she has lost her imagination, and sense of wonder.

Pan is not completely wrong. The almost ten-year lapse has changed Lyra. She is no longer the girl who found joy in every aspect of her journey. She has grown serious, melancholic and firmly grounded in the non-magical aspects of her world. The magic and wonder she once took for granted are questioned and replaced by obscure philosophical ideas that Pan hates. But the unimaginative books that make Lyra a sceptic – while deepening her rift with Pan – are far from their only problem. As a child, Lyra altered the fate of all worlds and survived the theocratic Magisterium’s deathly plots against her. This doesn’t mean she’s safe. The murder she and Pan witness early on shows that the stakes are high as ever. People are still persecuted, and the world has taken a sudden interest in a type of rose that grows in the deserts of Lop Nor and is rumoured to be associated with the Dust, a central concept in His Dark Materials. Once more, Pullman has crafted an interesting, well-written mystery that combines science (in this case botany) with the fantastic. Prosecuted and increasingly entangled in incomprehensible mysteries, Lyra must once again rely on her inventiveness to survive. Following her in her dangerous journey, we discover new aspects of her world – one that is parallel but different to our own.

This world, already complete and full of wonder in His Dark Materials is greatly expanded. We visit different locations, from Prague to Asia Minor and meet characters from different backgrounds, adding diversity compared to the previous books’ focus on England and the North. Moreover, The Secret Commonwealth focuses on a previously unseen group of people: those who have been separated from their demons, forcibly or voluntarily, but are still functional, though rejected by society at large. This condition, more common than His Dark Materials would have us think, is used to explore real-life issues such as mental illness, exclusion and fear of the unknown. The backstories of minor characters who are afflicted in this way adds a nice touch to the main plot.

At over 650 pages, The Secret Commonwealth might be a slow read for some, especially since the many point-of-view characters, ranging from mains we already know, such as Lyra, Pan and Malcolm, to minor characters, might initially be confusing. This is particularly true since the main villains, who also get point-of-view passages, can read a bit as interchangeable and decidedly less memorable compared to the terrifying Mrs Coulter and the ambiguous Lord Asriel.

Still, the constant suspense and dangers Lyra and Malcolm navigate make the book increasingly hard to put down. The writing is beautiful, and concepts such as imagination and scepticism are explored in poetic yet digestible ways. The one possible drawback is that while His Dark Materials had its dark moments, the narrative was riddled with the joy Lyra derived from her travels. This, and Pullman’s subtlety, meant that younger readers could still enjoy the trilogy and simply understand any age-inappropriate parts when older. In comparison, the mood of The Secret Commonwealth is more sombre, influenced by the adult Lyra’s struggles. Of course, as a main character grows, their problems are likely to become increasingly mature, and given all that Lyra’s gone through, her anguish is very believable. It should be noted, however, that this book is definitely not suitable for children. Apart from sexuality, discussed subtly but still more explicitly than in His Dark Materials, the book also contains triggering scenes including sexual assault. The hints of a possible romance between two characters with a big age difference might also be disturbing to some. This is not yet explicit, but it does seem a bit unnecessary so far, so we can only wait and see how this is going to unfold in book 3.

Speaking of which, for those enjoyed The Secret Commonwealth, book 3 – which doesn’t have a release date yet – can’t come out soon enough. In true Subtle Knife fashion (also a second book!) the ending of The Secret Commonwealth is ambiguous and little is resolved. Hopefully, the final instalment will give us a satisfying conclusion. Be prepared, though. Since this is Philip Pullman we are talking about, some heartbreak might as well be expected.

Although it has its pitfalls and lacks much of the original trilogy’s playfulness, The Secret Commonwealth is a highly imaginative, memorable book that expands Lyra’s world in believable ways. It might be a more enjoyable read for people who already loved Pullman’s work and eagerly awaited any new content, but even on its own, The Secret Commonwealth is an impressive literary achievement that leaves the reader wanting more.

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

Will you be picking up The Secret Commonwealth? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

It is twenty years since the events of La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One unfolded and saw the baby Lyra Belacqua begin her life-changing journey.

It is seven years since readers left Lyra and the love of her young life, Will Parry, on a park bench in Oxford’s Botanic Gardens at the end of the ground-breaking, bestselling His Dark Materials sequence.

Now, in The Secret Commonwealth, we meet Lyra Silvertongue. And she is no longer a child . . .

The second volume of Sir Philip Pullman’s The Book of Dust sees Lyra, now twenty years old, and her daemon Pantalaimon, forced to navigate their relationship in a way they could never have imagined, and drawn into the complex and dangerous factions of a world that they had no idea existed.

Pulled along on his own journey too is Malcolm; once a boy with a boat and a mission to save a baby from the flood, now a man with a strong sense of duty and a desire to do what is right.

Theirs is a world at once familiar and extraordinary, and they must travel far beyond the edges of Oxford, across Europe and into Asia, in search for what is lost – a city haunted by daemons, a secret at the heart of a desert, and the mystery of the elusive Dust.

The post Review: The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Some stories are complete, and they don’t need sequels or new additions… but they keep haunting the author and the readers anyway, so adding to them just feels natural. Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials is one such story.

Published about two decades after the ending of the original trilogy, and between the second and much awaited third instalment of The Book of Dust (a new trilogy comprising a prequel book and two sequels focusing on Lyra as a young adult), Serpentine is a sweet short story. According to The Guardian, it was first written in 2004, a fact confirmed in the author’s note, and it was initially auctioned for charity. Sixteen years definitely seems like a long time but, in fact, the publication feels very timely.

With the book being only 80 pages long, and art taking up a large percentage of those pages, it is hard to talk about Serpentine without spoiling anything. However, it’s safe to say that the issues it addresses make it a fitting prologue to The Secret Commonwealth, which is the second instalment of The Book of Dust and the first to focus on an adult Lyra.

Serpentine serves as a bridge between the twelve-year-old girl we left at the end of the first trilogy and the twenty-year-old woman of the second. In this short story, Lyra is a teenager; still adventurous, daring, and most of all curious, always ready to interact with others and demand answers. This is not to say that her experiences in His Dark Materials haven’t changed her and her beloved daemon, Pan. Most of all, the relationship between the two of them, the only constant in their shared life, has altered. After Lyra’s necessary, but devastating actions, their once uncomplicated love has shifted into a cautious dynamic that none of them fully understands. Serpentine alludes to that, setting the stage for the strife that will follow in Lyra’s adult life and – while we cannot yet confirm that – perhaps concealing some sort of hint for Lyra and Pan’s future. The yet unnamed Book 3 of The Secret Commonwealth, possibly to be titled Roses from the South or The Garden of Roses according to Pullman, will hopefully tie all loose ends.

For the moment, Serpentine did the trick of keeping our interest alive until then and reminding us that there is still so much to find out about Pullman’s universe. Lyra’s journey back north and her meeting with an old friend has some bitterness about it. Lyra has lost something of her plucky, positive attitude in The Northern Lights. Still, there are also glimmers of hope; hope of connection with oneself and others, and of better understanding of one’s world.

All in all, Serpentine is a very well-written piece, with good dialogue and beautiful imagery. If there is one negative, it is that it does not stand very well on its own. Much like the “lantern slides” section in certain special editions of His Dark Materials (bonus content about the characters, presented as a snapshot, rather than a story), Serpentine is a quick episode, more picture than story. It will be enjoyed by fans eager to see more of Lyra and Pan (and even hear about some other characters we know and love!), but there is no real plot about it, only an issue that will be better explored in The Book of Dust trilogy. That being said, the picture offered to us in this little book is still tender, and the illustrations by Tom Duxbury only makes it more so. Like the short story Lyra’s Oxford before it, Serpentine does not significantly add to or alter Pullman’s universe. It nevertheless reads as a sweet, brief homecoming to a beloved world.

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

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

Synopsis | Goodreads

A brand new short story set in the world of His Dark Materialsand The Book of Dust by master storyteller, Philip Pullman. 

Serpentine is a perfect gift for every Pullman fan, new and old. 

‘Lyra Silvertongue, you’re very welcome . . . Yes, I know your new name. Serafina Pekkala told me everything about your exploits’

Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon have left the events of His Dark Materials far behind.

In this snapshot of their forever-changed lives they return to the North to visit an old friend, where we will learn that things are not exactly as they seem . . .

Illustrated throughout by Tom Duxbury, the perfect re-entry for fans of His Dark Materials and a wonderful companion to The Book of Dust.

The post Review: Serpentine by Philip Pullman appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Alanna by Tamora Pierce
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Faithful is one of the best familiars in fantasy. He’s wise, snarky, and he has his own seat on Alanna’s warhorse saddle so that he can ride with her into adventure and battle. If you grew up in the 90s wanting a cat, or wishing your cat could talk, this might be the reason why.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
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A very high percentage of Gaiman’s works feature disdainful and grudgingly helpful cats, but Coraline stands out to me because the cat is one of rather few characters, and he plays such a large role. Obviously Coraline is magnificent for lots of other reasons, but Gaiman absolutely nails both the hauteur and affection that every cat owner will recognise.

Tailchaser’s Song by Tad Williams
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There was a bit of a rage in the 90’s not just for lots of garrulous animal companions, but also for animal protagonists. This is a great example of the latter, and not just because it’s one of Tad Williams’s few books of reasonable length. Tailchaser’s journey to rescue his love interest turns into a quest to save cats from wicked magic and nefarious science, and is a solid fantasy even if you don’t like cats (though obviously it helps).

The Wild Road by Gabriel King
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Another 90’s installation of Cat Protagonists, this also featured quests, magic, and the larger animal world. Tag has to find and save the King and Queen of cats, even though he’s just a kitten. Further instalments of this series expand the mythology, which is very much in line with high fantasy epics–just with cats.

The Book of Night with Moon by Diane Duane
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Cats and wizards protecting New York City and hopping through portals? Yep, it’s the 90’s!

Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin
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This utterly charming work from the great LeGuin was a childhood favourite of mine, and merits re-reading now and again on rainy days or lazy afternoons. Cats! With wings! Enough said.

Mort(e) by Robert Repino
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This is a unique book that didn’t get too much press, but which impressed me with its meditations on animal rights and what humans have to offer. It’s a bit odd–animals gain the ability to stand upright and take up guns and fight, and an enormous anthill holds the key to the war–but it’s smart and sweet. All Morte wants to do is find his beloved friend, but to do so he has to discover the reason for the sudden anthropomorphism of the world’s pets.

Catswold Portal by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
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This might be the 90s-est book on the list, and that’s saying something. A woman who can shapeshift into a cat is secretly a lost princess, and will have to undertake a quest in two worlds to find a lost amulet and claim her throne. Lots of romance, lots of journeys to strange places, and lots of cats. It’s a fun ride.

His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman
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There are several talking cats in these books, most notably Will’s Kirjava and Malcolm’s Asta, and of course Pan before he settles. All are daemons, the externalised souls of people who can interact with the world and provide comfort and advice. With the new BBC/HBO show airing, there’s never been a better time to pick them up.

The Ghatti’s Tale by Gayle Greeno
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Psychic cats in space! Well, kind of. There are psychic cat-like beings who bond with human settlers to another world. Together the bonded pairs travel the settlements and serve as mediators and judges. Someone has been attacking these pairs, though, and it’s up to Doyce and Khar’pern to defeat them. Obviously you can’t have a 90s fantasy without random apostrophes in names, or without a quasi-medieval setting, so if that’s your thing, this whole trilogy is here for you. 

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

The post 10 Books Featuring Not-So Creepy Cats appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Beyond the Black Door is a young adult dark fantasy about unlocking the mysteries around and within us―no matter the cost …

The Throne of the Five Winds by S.C. Emmett
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Two queens, two concubines, six princes. Innumerable hidden agendas. Yala, lady-in-waiting to the princess of a vanquished kingdom, must navigate their captors’ treacherous imperial court.

Crier’s War by Nina Varela
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From debut author Nina Varela comes the first book in an Own Voices, richly imagined epic fantasy duology about an impossible love between two girls—one human, one Made—whose romance could be the beginning of a revolution.

The Secret Commonwealth (The Book of Dust #2) by Philip Pullman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Return to the parallel world of His Dark Materials in the second volume of Philip Pullman’s new bestselling masterwork The Book of Dust, and discover what comes next for Lyra.

Salvaged by Madeleine Roux
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In this dark science fiction thriller, a young woman must confront her past so the human race will have a future. A woman on the run. A captain adrift in space. One of them is infected with an alien parasite…

The Vagabond King by Jodie Bond
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In a land where immortality can be bought, cruelty thrives… Exiled and alone, Threon is torn from a life in the palace to scrape a living on the streets of a foreign land. Once a prince whose every whim was obliged, now this vagabond must adapt to survive. Throwing his lot in with a witch, a rebel soldier and a woman touched by a god, he seeks retribution for the wrongs committed against his family.

The End and Other Beginnings: Stories from the Future by Veronica Roth
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Bestselling Divergent and Carve the Mark author Veronica Roth delivers a stunning collection of novella-length stories set in the future, illustrated with startling black-and-white artwork.

The Library Of The Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the first book in a brilliant new fantasy series, books that aren’t finished by their authors reside in the Library of the Unwritten in Hell, and it is up to the Librarian to track down any restless characters who emerge from those unfinished stories.

Escaping Exodus by Nicky Drayden
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Compton Crook award–winning author of The Prey of Gods and Temper returns with a dazzling stand-alone novel, set in deep space, in which the fate of humanity rests on the slender shoulders of an idealistic and untested young woman—a blend of science fiction, dark humor, and magical realism that will appeal to fans of Charlie Jane Anders, Jeff VanderMeer, and Nnedi Okorafor.

The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy
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In the city of Craewick, memories reign. The power-obsessed ruler of the city, Madame, has cultivated a society in which memories are currency, citizens are divided by ability, and Gifted individuals can take memories from others through touch as they please.

The Black Hawks by David Wragg
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Dark, thrilling, and hilarious, The Black Hawks is an epic adventure perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie and Scott Lynch.

How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse
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How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse is a feminist reimagining of familiar fairytale tropes and a story of resistance and self-determination—how small acts of rebellion can lead a princess to not just save herself, but change the course of history. First in a duology that reimagines fairy tale tropes within a space opera—The Princess Bride meets Princess Leia.

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

The post October 2019 Book Releases: Fantasy + Sci-Fi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The rest of 2019 sees new YA books from popular authors such as Kasie West, Kami Garcia, Katharine McGee, Jenn Bennett, Ruta Septys, Philip Pullman, Natasha Ngan, Tomi Adeyemi, and Kiersten White! Plus there’s debuts, tales of Sabrina, Mulan, and Camelot, and plenty more for you to enjoy!

Read on to discover a few of the YA books coming out between July and December! Tell us in the comments below which ones you’re excited to read!

JULY

Maybe This Time by Kasie West
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Beloved author Kasie West brings her signature witty banter and rom-com fun to a bold, fresh format. Think Four Weddings and a Funeral for YA.

Season of the Witch by Sarah Rees Brennan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the creator of Riverdale comes the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, a new Netflix series based on the classic Archie comic series. This prequel YA novel tells an all-new, original story.

Destroy All Monsters by Sam J. Miller
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A crucial, genre-bending tale, equal parts Ned Vizzini and Patrick Ness, about the life-saving power of friendship.

Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia and first-time graphic novel artist Gabriel Picolo comes this riveting tale of finding the strength to face who you are and learning to trust others–and yourself.

Before I Disappear by Danielle Stinson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Danielle Stinson’s Before I Disappear is an action-packed YA novel where a young woman has to find her little brother after her town disappears into thin air.

The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Told in alternating timelines, Thelma and Louise meets Gone Girl in this twisted psychological thriller about the dark side of obsessive friendship.

AUGUST

Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman
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Ever Alice by H.J. Ramsay
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Alice’s stories of Wonderland did more than raise a few eyebrows—it landed her in an asylum. Now at 15 years of age, she’s willing to do anything to leave, which includes agreeing to an experimental procedure.

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
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From the critically-acclaimed author of Under a Painted Skyand Outrun the Moon and founding member of We Need Diverse Books comes a powerful novel about identity, betrayal, and the meaning of family.

Bright Star by Erin Swan
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Erin Swan’s YA fantasy debut, Bright Star, is an action-packed adventure tale of rebellion, romance, and finding one’s voice in the heart of a storm.

Here There Are Monsters by Amelinda Bérubé
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The Blair Witch Project meets Imaginary Girls in this story of codependent sisterhood, the struggle to claim one’s own space, and the power of secrets

Hello Girls by Brittany Cavallaro and Emily Henry
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Thelma and Louise gets remade in this powerful, darkly funny teen novel from acclaimed authors Brittany Cavallaro and Emily Henry. Two teenage girls who have had enough of the controlling men in their lives take their rage on the road to make a new life for themselves.

SEPTEMBER

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
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A speculative thriller in the vein of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Power. With sharp prose and gritty realism, The Grace Year examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in-between.

The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan by Sherry Thomas
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Inspired by wuxia martial-arts dramas as well as the centuries-old ballad of Mulan, The Magnolia Sword is perfect for fans of Renee Ahdieh, Marie Lu, or Kristin Cashore–a thrilling, romantic, and sharp-edged novel that lives up to its beloved heroine.

Six Goodbyes We Never Said by Candace Ganger
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Candace Ganger’s Six Goodbyes We Never Said is no love story. If you ask Naima, it’s not even a like story. But it is a story about love and fear and how sometimes you need a little help to be brave enough to say goodbye.

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

American Royals by Katharine McGee
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What if America had a royal family? If you can’t get enough of Harry and Meghan or Kate and William, meet American princesses Beatrice and Samantha.

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Sky in the Deep in this bewitching, historical horror novel, perfect for fans of Holly Black and V.E. Schwab.

OCTOBER

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray comes a gripping, unforgettable portrait of love, silence, and secrets amidst a Spanish dictatorship.

The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis
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Westworld meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this stunning fantasy adventure from debut author Charlotte Nicole Davis.

The Secret Commonwealth (The Book of Dust #2) by Philip Pullman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Return to the parallel world of His Dark Materials in the second volume of Philip Pullman’s new bestselling masterwork The Book of Dust, and discover what comes next for Lyra.

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Frozen meets Mad Max in this epic teen fantasy duology bursting with star-crossed romance, immortal heroines, and elemental magic, perfect for fans of Furyborn.

Into the Crooked Place by Alexandra Christo
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In a world thriving with black magic, four young crooks embark on a quest to take down their criminal leader after they discover the plot behind his dangerous new magic.

10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston
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A light-hearted and romantic contemporary novel set during the holiday season and full of humor, heart and heartbreak.

NOVEMBER

Across A Broken Shore by Amy Trueblood
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The last thing eighteen-year-old Wilhelmina “Willa” MacCarthy wants is to be a nun. It’s 1936, and as the only daughter amongst four sons, her Irish–Catholic family is counting on her to take her vows—but Willa’s found another calling. Each day she sneaks away to help Doctor Katherine Winston in her medical clinic in San Francisco’s Richmond District.

The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
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From New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White comes a new fantasy series reimagining the Arthurian legend, set in the magical world of Camelot.

All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney
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All-American Muslim Girl is a relevant, relatable story of being caught between two worlds, and the struggles and hard-won joys of finding your place.

Crown of Oblivion by Julie Eshbaugh
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In this mesmerizing YA fantasy mash-up of The Road meets The Amazing Race, one girl chooses to risk her life in a cutthroat competition in order to win her freedom.

Eight Will Fall by Sarah Harian
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Lovers of dark, high-octane adventure will be enthralled by Sarah Harian’s Eight Will Fall, a genre-bending YA fantasy standalone, perfect for fans of Kendare Blake and Leigh Bardugo.

Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this mesmerizing sequel to the New York Times bestselling Girls of Paper and Fire, Lei and Wren have escaped their oppressive lives in the Hidden Palace, but soon learn that freedom comes with a terrible cost.

DECEMBER

Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Legacy of Orïsha #2) by Tomi Adeyemi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Children of Virtue and Vengeance is the stunning sequel to Tomi Adeyemi’s New York Times bestselling debut Children of Blood and Bone, the first title in her Legacy of Orïsha trilogy.

The Weight of A Soul by Elizabeth Tammi
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When Lena’s younger sister Fressa is found dead, their whole Viking clan mourns—but it is Lena alone who never recovers. Fressa is the sister that should’ve lived, and Lena cannot rest until she knows exactly what killed Fressa and why—and how to bring her back. She strikes a dark deal with Hela, the Norse goddess of death, and begins a new double life to save her sister.

Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things by Jacqueline Firkins
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In this charming debut about first love and second chances, a young girl gets caught between the boy next door and a playboy. Perfect for fans of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Dangerous Alliance by Jennieke Cohen
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The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Jane Austen in this witty, winking historical romance with a dash of mystery!

To Whatever End by Lindsey Frydman
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Quinn Easterly is cursed. With one touch, she can see the end to someone’s life. Everyday deaths, and ones that haunt her in her daydreams. Ones that have always proven impossible to prevent. She has finally learned to go about life as usual until she meets Griffin.

Watch Over Me by Mila Gray
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From the author of Come Back to Me comes a striking new novel about a young woman— desperately trying to protect her family from their violent father—who finds safety, and a passionate romance, with an ex-Marine.

Are there any YA books you’re excited for? Tell us in the comments below!

The post YA Books Releasing Between July & December 2019 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

At the beginning of the year, we released The Nerd Daily 2018 Reading Challenge, consisting of 52 challenges, one for each week of the year. One of those challenges is pretty straightforward – read an audiobook. I came around to audiobooks about two years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Do you ever wish you had more time in the day to read? With audiobooks, you will! You can read during your commute, while cooking a meal, or while cleaning your house. So whether you’re new to the format or you’re already an audiobook lover, these 10 full-cast audiobooks will help you not only check off a box on The Nerd Daily’s 2018 Reading Challenge, but will also help you fit a little more reading time into your busy schedule.

Read on to discover 10 full-cast audiobooks perfect for any reader. Do you plan on giving any of these titles a listen? Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials #1)  by Philip Pullman

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Here lives an orphaned ward named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars at Oxford’s Jordan College is shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors. First, her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North, including photographs of a mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust and the dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs. Coulter, an enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her uncle has long refused her. In this multilayered narrative, however, nothing is as it seems.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Length: 19 hrs and 39 mins

Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. All he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life. But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow’s best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and a rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself. Soon Shadow learns that the past never dies . . . and that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing—an epic war for the very soul of America—and that he is standing squarely in its path.

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins

February 1862. The Civil War is less than one year old. The fighting has begun in earnest, and the nation has begun to realize it is in for a long, bloody struggle. Meanwhile, President Lincoln’s beloved eleven-year-old son, Willie, lies upstairs in the White House, gravely ill. In a matter of days, despite predictions of a recovery, Willie dies and is laid to rest in a Georgetown cemetery. “My poor boy, he was too good for this earth,” the president says at the time. “God has called him home.” Newspapers report that a grief-stricken Lincoln returns, alone, to the crypt several times to hold his boy’s body. From that seed of historical truth, George Saunders spins an unforgettable story of familial love and loss that breaks free of its realistic, historical framework into a supernatural realm both hilarious and terrifying.

Meet Cute: Some People are Destined to Meet by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins

Whether or not you believe in fate, or luck, or love at first sight, every romance has to start somewhere. Meet Cute is an anthology of original short stories featuring tales of “how they first met” from some of today’s most popular YA authors. This incredibly talented group of authors brings us a collection of stories that are at turns romantic and witty, epic and everyday, heartbreaking and real.

The Handmaid’s Tale: Special Edition by Margaret Atwood

Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins

“Are there any questions?” The final line in Margaret Atwood’s modern classic, The Handmaid’s Tale, has teased and perplexed fans since the book’s original release more than 30 years ago. Now, in this Audible Original production, listeners get some of the answers they’ve waited so long to hear. Featuring an all-new interview with Professor Piexoto, written by Atwood and performed by a full cast, The Handmaid’s Tale: Special Edition is a must-listen for both fans and newcomers alike. Emmy Award winner Claire Danes (Homeland, Temple Grandin) gives a stirring performance of this classic in speculative fiction, where the message (and the warning) is now more timely than ever.

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins

Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins

This elegant young adult novel captures the immigrant experience for one Indian American family with humor and heart. Told in alternating teen voices across three generations, You Bring the Distant Near explores sisterhood, first loves, friendship, and the inheritance of culture – for better or worse. From a grandmother worried that her children are losing their Indian identity, to a daughter wrapped up in a forbidden biracial love affair, to a granddaughter social activist fighting to preserve Bengali tigers, Perkins weaves together the threads of a family growing into an American identity.

Sour Heart by Jenny Zhang

Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins

Centered on a community of immigrants who have traded their endangered lives as artists in China and Taiwan for the constant struggle of life at the poverty line in 1990s New York City, Zhang’s collection examines the many ways that family and history can weigh us down and also lift us up. From the young woman coming to terms with her grandmother’s role in the Cultural Revolution to the daughter struggling to understand where her family ends and she begins, to the girl discovering the power of her body to inspire and destroy, these seven stories illuminate the complex and messy inner lives of girls struggling to define themselves.

The Largesse of the Sea Maiden: Stories by Denis Johnson

Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins

The Largesse of the Sea Maiden is the long-awaited new story collection from Denis Johnson. Written in the luminous prose that made him one of the most beloved and important writers of his generation, this collection finds Johnson in new territory, contemplating the ghosts of the past and the elusive and unexpected ways the mysteries of the universe assert themselves. Finished shortly before Johnson’s death, this collection is the last word from a writer whose work will live on for many years to come.

Everything Here Is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee

Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins

Two sisters: Miranda, the older, responsible one, always her younger sister’s protector; Lucia, the vibrant, headstrong, unconventional one, whose impulses are huge and, often, life changing. When their mother dies and Lucia starts to hear voices, it’s Miranda who must fight for the help her sister needs — even as Lucia refuses to be defined by any doctor’s diagnosis. Told from alternating perspectives, Everything Here Is Beautiful is, at its core, a heart-wrenching family drama about relationships and tough choices — how much we’re willing to sacrifice for the ones we love, and when it’s time to let go and save ourselves.

Nine Women, One Dress by Jane L. Rosen

Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins

Natalie is a Bloomingdale’s salesgirl mooning over her lawyer ex-boyfriend, who’s engaged to someone else after just two months. Felicia has been quietly in love with her boss for 17 years and has one night to finally make the feeling mutual. Andie is a private detective who specializes in gathering evidence on cheating husbands – a skill she unfortunately learned from her own life – and lands a case that may restore her faith in true love. For these three women, as well as half a dozen others in sparkling supporting roles – a young model fresh from rural Alabama; a diva Hollywood star making her Broadway debut; and an overachieving, unemployed Brown grad who starts faking a fabulous life on social media, to name just a few – everything is about to change thanks to the dress of the season, the perfect little black number everyone wants to get their hands on….

Any other great audiobooks you would recommend? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Reading Challenge: 10 Audiobooks appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

While some book adaptations like The Hunger Games and Twilight had amazing box office sales when they hit the theatres, some weren’t so lucky.

You may remember some of these young adult adaptations, or perhaps you’ve tried to bury the memory of them as deep down as it can go so you don’t have to think about it ever again. We’ve compiled a list of YA movie fails for you to reminisce about, however, they won’t ever be receiving sequels, but perhaps we we’ll see them recreated in the future.

We haven’t included The Mortal Instruments as there’s now a new series (but still classified as a fail) and then there’s Percy Jackson because we all know why they stopped that franchise…

Read on to discover some YA book-to-film fails! Tell us in the comments below what series you miss or perhaps one that Hollywood should give another go!

Beautiful Creatures (2013)

Written by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl / Goodreads
This movie was called the next Twilight because of its fantasy plotline, except it only made $7.5 million at opening weekend (Twilight made $142,839,137) and made $60,000,000 overall. But like what happened with The Percy Jackson movies, it was not accurate and it ended with fans begging for Hollywood to not continue.

The 5^th Wave (2016)

Written by Rick Yancey / Goodreads
Unlike some adaptations, this film was quite accurate as it paid attention to the original source material, but it didn’t do well at the box office as it did not surpass its budget. Sony has said that news will come of The Infinite Sea movie and the hashtag #wewanttheinfiniteseamovie was all over the place after the first instalment came out. The books also did decline in popularity after The Last Star came out in 2016 and I personally have finished it and trust me, it is better than The Infinite Sea by a long shot, but it dragged significantly. Reviews for both The Infinite Sea and The Last Star had mixed opinions, so it’s doubtful we’ll ever see a sequel.

Inkheart (2008)

Written by Cornelia Funke / Goodreads
Personally, I have picked up this book so many times only to put it back down each time. After reading only half of the book, the film didn’t match up and it didn’t even have my favourite scene! The two other books were picked up for movies and even received a script, but it seems someone must have cast them aside as no movie news ever came.

If I Stay (2014)

Written by Gayle Forman / Goodreads
I think we can all agree that both the book and movie broke our hearts in some way. After If I Stay came to theatres, people wanted more and this saw Gayle Forman write a sequel titles Where She Went. The sequel followed the future of where Mia as a professional cellist and Adam as a rock star ended up in their separate lives. However, fans of the duology have still wanted the sequel to be made.

Vampire Academy (2014)

Written by Richelle Mead / Goodreads
Fans of this franchise went hardcore in an effort to get a sequel and it even saw and Indiegogo page to raise funds for it. Unfortunately, they didn’t reach their goal and the sequel wouldn’t be going ahead.

I Am Number Four (2011)

Written by Pittacus Lore / Goodreads
Although it was a decent film (especially because of Alex Pettyfer), the poor box office results meant fans wouldn’t be seeing a sequel.

The Golden Compass (2007)

Written by Philip Pullman / Goodreads
This cancellation of its sequel may surprise you. Although it did amazing at the box office, one popular group has been bashing about it, the Catholic Church. You may wonder, how the heck did the church get involved in it? Pullman has been known to have anti-Catholic views, but putting them in a children’s book is a different story. The Pope has even gotten his say in it saying that it can ruin Catholicism.

Ender’s Game (2013)

Written by Orson Scott Card / Goodreads
This author is a bit controversial because of his opinions on LGBTQIA+. Support groups of LGBTQIA+ even protested on opening weekend. The sequel will not happen because it was the biggest flop in 2013. Card had 26 comics and novels planned, but as time went on, he did not want the rest of them to be films because of the violence that happens throughout the series.

City of Ember (2008)

Written by Jeanne DuPrau / Goodreads
Again, this movie did not do so well. They had a $55 million budget and the majority of it was spent on making the set which is still loved to this day. However, the movie only made $7.8 million all together. So therefore, I don’t think a sequel will be happening for this one.

The post YA Book-To-Film Franchise Fails appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you have read or will be reading one!

From a Certain Point of View (Star Wars Disney Canon Novel) | Goodreads

In celebration of Star Wars’ 40th anniversary, it’s time to shine the spotlight on those unsung weirdos, heroes, and villains with a unique, new anthology. Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View will bring together more than 40 authors for 40 stories. Each will be told from the perspective of background characters of A New Hope — from X-wing pilots who helped Luke destroy the Death Star to the stormtroopers who never quite could find the droids they were looking for.

The Two of Swords, Volume 1 by K.J. Parker | Goodreads

A soldier with a gift for archery. A woman who kills without care. Two brothers, both unbeatable generals, now fighting for opposing armies. No-one in the vast and once glorious United Empire remains untouched by the rift between East and West, and the war has been fought for as long as anyone can remember. Some still survive who know how it was started, but no-one knows how it will end.

Children of the Fleet by Orson Scott Card | Goodreads

Ender Wiggin won the Third Formic war, ending the alien threat to Earth. Afterwards, all the terraformed Formic worlds were open to settlement by humans, and the International Fleet became the arm of the Ministry of Colonization, run by Hirum Graff. MinCol now runs Fleet School on the old Battle School station, and still recruits very smart kids to train as leaders of colony ships, and colonies. Dabeet Ochoa is a very smart kid. Top of his class in every school. But he doesn’t think he has a chance at Fleet School, because he has no connections to the Fleet. That he knows of. At least until the day that Colonel Graff arrives at his school for an interview.

Mageborn by Stephen Aryan | Goodreads

It’s been ten years since the battlemage war, where thousands died as mages sundered the earth and split the sky. Habreel believes eradicating magic is the only way to ensure a lasting peace. He will do anything to achieve his goal, even if it means murdering every child born with the ability. As deaths involving magic increase and the seat of magical learning – the Red Tower – falls under suspicion, two students and one lawbringer must do everything they can to combat Habreel and his followers, before magic disappears from the world for good.

La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman | Goodreads

The companion series to the His Dark Materials trilogy follows eleven-year-old Malcolm Polstead and his dæmon, Asta. He lives with his parents at the Trout Inn near Oxford. Across the River Thames (which Malcolm navigates often using his beloved canoe, a boat by the name of La Belle Sauvage) is the Godstow Priory where the nuns live. Malcolm learns they have a guest with them, a baby by the name of Lyra Belacqua . . .

The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss | Goodreads

This deluxe, illustrated edition celebrates the tenth anniversary of the New York Times-bestselling series, The Kingkiller Chronicle, a masterful epic fantasy saga that has inspired readers worldwide. Featuring more than 50 pages of additional content, including illustrations, an updated world map, pronunciation guide, a new author’s note, and more.

Strange Weather by Joe Hill | Goodreads

A collection of four chilling novels: In “Snapshot”, a Silicon Valley adolescent finds himself threatened by a tattooed thug who possesses a Polaroid Instant Camera that erases memories, snap by snap; “Aloft” follows a young man take to the skies to experience his first parachute jump. . . and winds up a castaway on an impossibly solid cloud; “Rain” sees the clouds open up in a downpour of nails; and “Loaded” finds a mall security guard prevent a mass shooting and becomes a hero to the modern gun rights movement, until he unravels…

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia | Goodreads

Antonina Beaulieu is in the glittering city of Loisail for her first Grand Season, where she will attend balls and mingle among high society. Under the tutelage of the beautiful but cold Valérie Beaulieu, she hopes to find a suitable husband. However, the haphazard manifestations of Nina’s telekinetic powers make her the subject of malicious gossip. Yet dazzling telekinetic performer and outsider Hector Auvray sees Nina’s powers as a gift, and he teaches her how to hone and control them. As they spend more and more time together, Nina falls in love and believes she’s found the great romance that she’s always dreamed of, but Hector’s courtship of Nina is deceptive.

The Genius Plague by David Walton | Goodreads

What if the pandemic you thought would kill you made you more intelligent instead? In the Amazon jungle, a disease is spreading. To those who survive, it grants enhanced communication, memory, and pattern recognition. But the miracle may be the sinister survival mechanism of a fungal organism, manipulating the infected into serving it. Paul Johns, a mycologist, is convinced the fungal host is the next stage of human evolution, while his brother Neil, an analyst at the NSA, is committed to its destruction. Is the human race the master in this symbiotic relationship, or are we becoming the pawns of a subtly dominating and utterly alien intelligence?

The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand | Goodreads

On Christmas Eve five years ago, Holly was visited by three ghosts who showed her how selfish and spoiled she’d become. They tried to convince her to mend her ways, but she died instead. Now she’s stuck working for the top-secret company Project Scrooge–as the latest Ghost of Christmas Past. So far, Holly’s afterlife has been miserable, but this year, everything is about to change. . . .

A Plague of Giants by Kevin Hearne | Goodreads

In the city of Pelemyn, Fintan the bard takes to the stage to tell what really happened the night the giants came… From the east came the Bone Giants, from the south, the fire-wielding Hathrim – an invasion that sparked war across the six nations of Teldwen. The kingdom’s only hope is the discovery of a new form of magic that calls the world’s wondrous beasts to fight by the side of humankind.

The Stone in the Skull by Elizabeth Bear | Goodreads

The Gage is a brass automaton created by a wizard of Messaline around the core of a human being. His wizard is long dead, and he works as a mercenary. He is carrying a message from a the most powerful sorcerer of Messaline to the Rajni of the Lotus Kingdom. With him is The Dead Man, a bitter survivor of the body guard of the deposed Uthman Caliphate, protecting the message and the Gage. They are friends, of a peculiar sort. They are walking into a dynastic war between the rulers of the shattered bits of a once great Empire.

The post October Book Releases: Fantasy & Sci-Fi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Or perhaps something from Dan Brown or Ender’s Game author, Orson Scott Card, is more up your alley? Well you’re in luck because both of these talented authors have books coming out! Even the award-winning actor Tom Hanks is dabbling in writing short stories in his upcoming novel, Uncommon Type.

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

La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman  |  FANTASY  |  Goodreads

The companion series to the His Dark Materials trilogy follows eleven-year-old Malcolm Polstead and his dæmon, Asta. He lives with his parents at the Trout Inn near Oxford. Across the River Thames (which Malcolm navigates often using his beloved canoe, a boat by the name of La Belle Sauvage) is the Godstow Priory where the nuns live. Malcolm learns they have a guest with them, a baby by the name of Lyra Belacqua . . .

The Naturalist by Andrew Mayne  |  THRILLER + MYSTERY  |  Goodreads

Professor Theo Cray is trained to see patterns where others see chaos. So when mutilated bodies found deep in the Montana woods leave the cops searching blindly for clues, Theo sees something they missed. As a computational biologist, Theo is more familiar with digital code and microbes than the dark arts of forensic sleuthing. But a field trip to Montana suddenly lands him in the middle of an investigation into the bloody killing of one of his former students. As more details, and bodies, come to light, the local cops determine that the killer is either a grizzly gone rogue…or Theo himself.

The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli  |  FANTASY + YOUNG ADULT  |  Goodreads

The Namsara was the child of sky and spirit, but where there is light, there must be dark. The Iskari is the child of blood and moonlight. The destroyer. The death bringer. Asha, daughter of the king of Firgaard, grew up with these tales, but it isn’t until she becomes the fiercest, most feared dragon slayer in the land that she takes on the role of the next Iskari—a lonely destiny that leaves her feeling more like a weapon than a girl. Conquering each dragon, she is shackled until she’s offered the chance to gain her freedom in exchange for facing the most powerful dragon. Asha must shed the layers of her Iskari bondage and open her heart to love, light, and a truth that has been kept from her.

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green  |  CONTEMPORARY + YOUNG ADULT  |  Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis. Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban (Illustrated Edition) by J.K. Rowling and Jim Kay | Goodreads

An extraordinary creative achievement by an extraordinary talent, Jim Kay’s inspired reimagining of J.K. Rowling’s classic series sees a fully illustrated edition of Prisoner of Azkaban. With new characters to illustrate, including Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Professor Trelawney, the book fizzes with magic and brimming with humour. The full-colour edition will captivate fans and new readers alike as Harry, now in his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, faces Dementors, death omens and – of course – danger.

Without Merit by Colleen Hoover  |  CONTEMPORARY + NEW ADULT  |  Goodreads

The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, there’s Merit who collects other people’s trophies. Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.

Uncommon Type: Some Stories by Tom Hanks  |  FICTION  |  Goodreads

A gentle Eastern European immigrant arrives in New York City after his family and his life have been torn apart by his country’s civil war. A man who loves to bowl rolls a perfect game–and then another and then another and then many more in a row until he winds up ESPN’s newest celebrity, and he must decide if the combination of perfection and celebrity has ruined the thing he loves. An eccentric billionaire and his faithful executive assistant venture into America looking for acquisitions and discover a down and out motel, romance, and a bit of real life.

Nightblade’s Vengeance by Ryan Kirk  |  FANTASY  | Goodreads

In a feudal land, a Kingdom is at risk. With no heir to the fragile throne, its future rests with the powerful members of the dying king’s Council, including Minori, a nightblade warrior, and Kiyoshi, a dayblade healer. The two men are bound by the sword but divided by two opposing principles: rule the land, or serve it. In their challenge for supremacy, a spark has been lit. Asa, a fierce nightblade warrior, has spent a decade in pursuit of the enigmatic general who killed her father in a violent revolt. Now, her desire for reckoning has led her to the village of Two Falls—and straight into the heart of an impending civil war. Minori and Kiyoshi are vying for her loyalty. And Asa must choose sides.

I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll  |  MYSTERY + THRILLER  |  Goodreads

When Ella Longfield overhears two attractive young men flirting with teenage girls on a train, she thinks nothing of it—until she realises they are fresh out of prison and her maternal instinct is put on high alert. The next day, she wakes up to the news that one of the girls has disappeared. A year later, the girl is still missing. Ella is wracked with guilt over what she failed to do, and she’s not the only one who can’t forget. Someone is sending her threatening letters—letters that make her fear for her life.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone  |  CONTEMPORARY + YOUNG ADULT  |  Goodreads

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. He looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out. Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack.

Children of the Fleet by Orson Scott Card  | SCIENCE FICTION  | Goodreads

Ender Wiggin won the Third Formic war, ending the alien threat to Earth. Afterwards, all the terraformed Formic worlds were open to settlement by humans, and the International Fleet became the arm of the Ministry of Colonization, run by Hirum Graff. MinCol now runs Fleet School on the old Battle School station, and still recruits very smart kids to train as leaders of colony ships, and colonies. Dabeet Ochoa is a very smart kid. Top of his class in every school. But he doesn’t think he has a chance at Fleet School, because he has no connections to the Fleet. That he knows of. At least until the day that Colonel Graff arrives at his school for an interview.

Origin by Dan Brown  |  MYSTERY  |  Goodreads

Here to witness the unveiling of a discovery that “will change the face of science forever”, Robert Langdon’s ex-student, Edmond Kirsch, is about to make the big reveal. The event soon erupts into chaos and Langdon is forced to flee and with him is Ambra Vidal, the museum director who worked with Kirsch to stage the provocative event. Together they flee to Barcelona on a perilous quest to locate a cryptic password that will unlock Kirsch’s secret. The pair must evade a tormented enemy whose all-knowing power seems to emanate from Spain’s Royal Palace itself . . . and who will stop at nothing to silence Edmond Kirsch.

The post October Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

A few months ago, BBC announced they would be adapting Philip Pullman’s bestselling His Dark Materials trilogy into a television series. The trilogy follows a young girl named Lyra Belacqua who lives in an alternate Oxford, England which is filled with magic and science. The book’s perspective is shared between Lyra and Will Parry as they traverse through parallel universes featuring witches, armoured polar bears and dæmons, which are the animal embodiments of their inner-selves.

In 2007, the first book was adapted into a movie titled The Golden Compass and starred Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman. However, like most book-to-screen adaptions, it didn’t do too well with all fans and the following sequels were cancelled due to various reasons.

As for the upcoming adaption, there has been little announced yet with no release date or any casting announcements. It has been rumoured that Dakota Blue Richards, who played Lyra in the film, may be linked to the series, but there is nothing more on that yet.

But what we do know is that the first season will be made up of eight episodes, although it’s unclear whether these episodes will cover the entirety of the first book, or whether it will be broken in half. Another rumour is also circulating that BBC is planning on producing 40 episodes and will spread across five seasons, but this still remains unconfirmed.

@beckprot It takes a long time to put a big thing like this together. But it’s started well and it’s moving smoothly.

— Philip Pullman (@PhilipPullman) November 4, 2016

It has been reported the series will be adapted by Jack Thorne, who recently co-wrote the script for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Along with Thorne, Philip Pullman will also be working with the writers and BBC to bring the series to life.

In February this year, Pullman announced he is writing a new companion series titled The Book of Dust, which is scheduled for release in October. The series will feature Lyra again in the first two books—the first will see Lyra as a baby and the second will take place ten years after the events of His Dark Materials. With this new series in the works, there’s a high chance the content and storylines could be carried over into the new television adaption.

Hopefully we will be hearing more news about the upcoming series this year as the project continues to move forward and you bet we will be posting the latest updates here on The Nerd Daily!

Are you hopeful about the new His Dark Materials adaption? Let us know in the comments below!

The post ‘His Dark Materials’: The Latest On The Upcoming TV Adaption appeared first on The Nerd Daily.