Hello Rena! Thank you so much for joining us! Your very first MG novel, Maya and the Rising Dark, is coming out on September 22! What can readers expect?

Hello! Happy to be back on The Nerd Daily. I’m so excited to share Maya and the Rising Dark with readers. The story centers on twelve-year-old Maya Abeola from the south side of Chicago who discovers that her father is the guardian between our world and the mysterious Dark world. When the sinister Lord of Shadows kidnaps her father, Maya will have to fight a horde of spooky creatures to get him back. Readers can expect a heroine who isn’t afraid to face her fears as she discovers her own celestial powers.

What inspired you to tell Maya’s story?

When I got the idea for the story, I knew that I wanted Maya to live on the south side of Chicago. I modeled her neighborhood after a neighborhood I lived in for several years. It’s a neighborhood that usually makes the news for the wrong reasons. I remember thinking, I wish people could see the other side of the story.

With Maya’s characterization, I wanted to show a Black girl living her best life. She could love comic books, save the world, and still have to do math tutoring the next day.

At the beginning of the book, you talk about how, as someone not raised within the traditions of your ancestors, it wasn’t easy for you to write a story based on their myths and legends. What kind of research did you do before writing this book?

I’ve read books, watched YouTube conversations, listened to music, talked to people. Yet, none of my research could ever scratch the surface of truly understanding traditions that I am only beginning to learn about as an adult. Instead of attempting to write a story that speaks to my ancestors’ traditions, I chose to make up a new mythology that could account for how someone like Maya (and me!) fit into the larger narrative. In other words, I made space for myself to engage in a way that feels authentic to me

My favourite thing about the book is the focus on Maya’s relationship with her father, and I loved the way you showed her coming to terms with the consequences of some of the things he had to do to protect the human world. What made you decide to take on such a difficult topic in a middle-grade book?

I’ve always thought of storytelling as a safe space to help children deal with tough topics. It’s an opportunity to have them explore, learn, and ask questions. It would be disingenuous to write a world in which the “good guys” never make a mistake or face the consequences. Plus, kids are smart. They’ll be able to tell if a book is talking down to them.

You also mention at the beginning of the book how you put a little of your own twelve-year old self in Maya and each of her two friends. During the writing process, which character did you find yourself relating to the most?

I definitely relate to Maya, Frankie, and Eli equally. In some ways, they’re a doorway into understanding twelve-year-old me. Like Maya, I loved superheroes. I grew up watching everything in the Marvel and DC universes. Frankie represents my love of science and Eli represents my lifelong obsession with the paranormal.

Without spoiling anything, can you tell us about a scene in the book that you really enjoyed writing?

By far, one of my favorite scenes is at Comic-Con. It’s so wacky. Maya and her friends are running around with darkbringers (“the bad guys”) dressed up as stormtroopers on their tail. At some point, someone turns popcorn into worms, and plastic birds come to life.

It’s probably too early to ask this question, but could you give us some hints as to where the story takes us in book two? 

Now a guardian-in-training, Maya spends her days helping Papa patch up tears in the veil and stopping rogue darkbringers from wreaking havoc in the human world. But when Maya and her friends discover that something went terribly wrong during their mission to save her father, they are forced to return to The Dark to search for the powerful weapon they left behind—the one thing keeping the veil from falling.

What are your favourite and least favourite things about writing?

I really enjoy when a story starts to feel close to my vision. I struggle the most with first drafts because they’re so rough to start, and the story is still unclear. I tend to like revising a lot more for that reason.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently finishing up revisions on Maya and the Return of the Godlings, the sequel to Maya and the Rising Dark. I’m also finishing up Reaper of Souls, the sequel to my YA series, Kingdom of Souls.

And finally, do you have any book recommendations for us?

There are so many great books in the middle-grade space. So happy that we’re getting to see more diverse authors and casts. I recommend Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia, Just South of Home by Karen Strong, From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks, My Fate According to the Butterfly by Gail D. Villanueva, Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia, and Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi.

Will you be picking up Maya and the Rising Dark? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Rena Barron, Author of ‘Maya and the Rising Dark’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Maya and the Rising Dark is an exhilarating ride through and through. The story jumps quickly into action as Maya learns that the forces of the Dark are about to invade the human world and she is the only one with the power to prevent them. Barron’s writing style is quirky and delightful, it pulls you in and keeps you captivated until the very last page. I especially loved that Barron didn’t shy away from exploring and discussing some quite dark themes, despite it being a middle grade book. As the story progresses, Maya comes to see how even heroes can mess up and misuse their powers, how sometimes seemingly heroic deeds come at someone’s expense and have lasting consequences, and how our heroes can also be someone else’s monsters at the same time.

Maya is a wonderful, fierce protagonist; most readers, regardless of their age, will find themselves relating to her at least a little bit. As many other middle grade novels, Maya and the Rising Dark too highlights beautiful and heart-melting friendship dynamics. The bond between Maya and her two friends is at the heart of the book, Eli and Frankie’s insistence to stick with Maya no matter what propels the plot forward. What sets Maya’s story apart, however, is the focus on the relationship between Maya and her dad; a father-daughter duo fighting a bunch of bad guys is a very rare occurrence in fantasy novels, and that’s why it was quite possibly my favourite scene in the whole book.

Maya and the Rising Dark does leave a few things to be desired when it comes to the characterisation. While Maya is a complex and layered character, none of the secondary characters go through much development, which was especially disappointing in the cases of Frankie and Eli. They both play important roles in the story, and the main antagonist, who ended up being one-dimensional and quite boring, but that may be because we didn’t really get to see much of him. I couldn’t help feeling like if they had a little more build-up and if we got to know a bit more about their backgrounds, it’d have been easier for me to connect with the story in general.

The few small quibbles aside, I really enjoyed Maya and the Rising Dark, and I can’t wait to find out where the future instalments in Maya’s story take us! If you’ve read and loved Roshani Chokshi’s Aru Shah and the End of Time, Kwame Mbalia’s Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky or Claribel A. Ortega’s Ghost Squad, I highly recommend checking this one out!

Maya and the Rising Dark is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 22nd 2020.

Will you be picking up Maya and the Rising Dark? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

In this highly anticipated contemporary fantasy, twelve-year-old Maya’s search for her missing father puts her at the center of a battle between our world, the Orishas, and the mysterious and sinister Dark world. Perfect for fans of Aru Shah and the End of Time and The Serpent’s Secret.

Twelve-year-old Maya is the only one in her South Side Chicago neighborhood who witnesses weird occurrences like werehyenas stalking the streets at night and a scary man made of shadows plaguing her dreams. Her friends try to find an explanation—perhaps a ghost uprising or a lunchroom experiment gone awry. But to Maya, it sounds like something from one of Papa’s stories or her favorite comics.

When Papa goes missing, Maya is thrust into a world both strange and familiar as she uncovers the truth. Her father is the guardian of the veil between our world and the Dark—where an army led by the Lord of Shadows, the man from Maya’s nightmares, awaits. Maya herself is a godling, half orisha and half human, and her neighborhood is a safe haven. But now that the veil is failing, the Lord of Shadows is determined to destroy the human world and it’s up to Maya to stop him. She just hopes she can do it in time to attend Comic-Con before summer’s over.

The post Review: Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barron appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Be sure to add this one to your Goodreads and you can pre-order it from Amazon, IndieBound, or your local bookstore! Learn more about the book below and the full fourth chapter is just below to give you an exciting taste of what’s to come!

Twelve-year-old Maya is the only one in her South Side Chicago neighborhood who witnesses weird occurrences like werehyenas stalking the streets at night and a scary man made of shadows plaguing her dreams. Her friends try to find an explanation—perhaps a ghost uprising or a lunchroom experiment gone awry. But to Maya, it sounds like something from one of Papa’s stories or her favorite comics.

When Papa goes missing, Maya is thrust into a world both strange and familiar as she uncovers the truth. Her father is the guardian of the veil between our world and the Dark—where an army led by the Lord of Shadows, the man from Maya’s nightmares, awaits. Maya herself is a godling, half orisha and half human, and her neighborhood is a safe haven. But now that the veil is failing, the Lord of Shadows is determined to destroy the human world and it’s up to Maya to stop him. She just hopes she can do it in time to attend Comic-Con before summer’s over.

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Author Bio: Rena Barron grew up in small-town Alabama where stories of magic and adventure sparked her imagination. After penning her first awful poem in middle school, she graduated to writing short stories and novels by high school. Rena loves all things science fiction and fantasy, ghosts, and superheroes. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading or brushing up on her French. Find Rena at renabarron.com, and onTwitter and Instagram at @renathedreamer

The post Exclusive Excerpt: ‘Maya and the Rising Dark’ by Rena Barron appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Black History Month is a month to reflect on the African American experience and how they have shaped society. So, what better way than to explore books about black main characters written by black authors? In the recent years of young adult fiction, there’s been a rapid growth of authors spreading their voices and work through young characters, so here is a list of titles to check out during Black History Month, along with any time of the year!

American Street by Ibi Zoboi | Goodreads

The story about a girl moving back to the U.S, only to have her mother taken away by authorities who accuse her of overstaying her visa date. This book became a finalist in the 2017 National Book Award for Young Adult’s Literature.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas | Goodreads

A Goodreads Choice Winner about a girl who lives in a low-class neighborhood yet attends a preppy school. She tries to keep them separate but everything comes crashing down when a fatal shooting occurs right before her.

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson | Goodreads

When a white baby is killed, all fingers point to the black woman who was in the baby’s care at the time. Fighting for justice doesn’t come easy when years down the line she has to fight for her own baby.

Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America edited by Ibi Zoboi | Goodreads

A heart-wrenching anthology written by various authors about the lives of modern African American teenagers.

Slay by Brittney Morris | Goodreads

Fans of The Hate u Give and Warcross will definitely enjoy this. A game developed by a black girl for the young black community receives controversy when a gamer is killed and Slay is labelled as racist.

Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett | Goodreads

An HIV-positive girl has to deal with the trials and tribulations of a new school. Things only get harder when she starts to fall in love.

Legacy of Orisha series by Tomi Adeyemi | Goodreads

Fantasy lovers will enjoy Zéila as she tries to bring back the unspeakable magic that once was in Orisha. She must learn to calm her fury for those who took her mother but instead grows a liking toward the enemy.

Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron | Goodreads

A fantasy driven tale where a girl struggles to gain magic. With an evil lurking about, will she exchange her own life for the magic to save everyone?

The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus | Goodreads

This tender story about two black girls living separate lives then falling in love is bound to catch your heart.

Who Put this Song On? By Morgan Parker | Goodreads

A story about a black girl being the outcast in her town. Yet when she discovers her people, she also begins to discover her true self.

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi | Goodreads

When war strikes, two sisters must fight and survive their way through to an end where they’ll hopefully still be together.

Hope is our Only Wing by Rutendo Tavengerwei | Goodreads

As a girl grieves over her father’s death, she becomes friends with someone who’s diagnosed with cancer.

Girls Like Us by Randi Pink | Goodreads

Told from different perspectives in the summer of 1972, all the girls reveal what it’s like to be a pregnant when you’re a teenager.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone | Goodreads

A teenage boy with a bright future has to deal with the law and looks to Dr. Martin Luther King for guidance.

There’s so many more to cover but these cover a range of topics. Do you have any recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post YA Books To Read During Black History Month appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Happy September, everyone! Today, we’re bringing you a selection of our most anticipated debut releases for this month, all ready to be added to your TBR! Our list for today is dominated with YA books, specifically everything fantasy and magical! From characters who are confused about their superpowers to the ones who created a secret coven, or the ones who embarked a magical journey, and of course we don’t want to miss out on the one who’s willing to wake up the dragons to save her kingdom!

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This is a story of Alaine Beauparlant and her journey in Tahiti, where she is sent for a volunteering project because she accidentally messed up a school presentation. What she didn’t expect was how this journey turns into a good one, where she met a cute intern and uncovers her family secrets.

Have a Little Faith in Me by Sonia Hartl
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Have a Little Faith in Me is a novel from debut author Sonia Hartl, about CeCe and her goal to get her ex-boyfriend back after she previously gets dumped right after they had sex. During this journey, she is accompanied by her best friend, Paul. What she discovers along the way, might surprise her, because maybe her ex-boyfriend isn’t that nice and maybe, just maybe, she started growing feelings towards Paul.

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

When Frank Li stuck with his parents’ strict rule to date Korean only, he meets Joy Song who apparently is facing the very same problem as him. Making a pact to fake date and thinking it as a perfect plan to trick his parents, soon the relationship starts to change into something else. Frankly in Love explores the culture in the Korean community, self-identity, and conflicts within families.

The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Based on her award-winning podcast, The Bright Sessions, Lauren Shippen’s debut, The Infinite Noise, is a story of atypical Caleb Michaels who has a power of sensing someone’s feelings. His life is getting way more complicated when he meets Adam with his big and all-consuming feelings. His therapist suggests he explores his connection with Adam, and as Caleb learns more about his ability, he also starts to realise how dangerous an atypical can be.

The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When Esme Pearl, a proud babysitter’s club owner meets Cassandra Heaven, an attractive and stylish rebel, she didn’t expect that she would have so much in common with her. Together, they’re solving the mysterious note from Cassandra’s mother and what it truly means to become a babysitter.

SLAY by Brittney Morris
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Seventeen-year-old Kiera Johnson is an honour student by day and a game developer by night. But when the game she developed causes a murder case, Kiera must preserve her secret identity and harness what it means to be unapologetically Black in a world intimidated by Blackness. Can she protect her game without losing herself in the process?

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

In the early 1900s, January Scaller discovers a strange book, that has scent of other worlds and tells a tale of secret doors, and of love, adventure, and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.

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

In this gothic psychological thriller debut, Mavi escapes to an isolated school at the very southern tip of South America. Mavi tries to embrace the strangeness of the place, but when one of the students is missing and the others behave like they’re possessed, Mavi can’t ignore it any longer. In order to survive, she must solve a cosmic mystery—and then fight for her life.

Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Arrah, a descendant from a long line of the most powerful witch doctors in the land, failed at magic and couldn’t even cast a simple spell, she can’t help but feel disappointed at herself. When children in the kingdom begin to disappear, Arrah undergoes the dangerous and scorned process of selling years of her life for magic, but this borrowed magic is far more dark and dangerous than she could ever imagine.

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

The witch, Louise le Blanc and the Chasseur, Reid Diggory were never meant to meet each other. But a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.

There Will Come A Darkness by Katy Rose Pool
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For generations, the Seven Prophets guided humanity. Using their visions of the future, they ended wars and united nations―until the day, one hundred years ago, when the Prophets disappeared. All they left behind was one final, secret prophecy, foretelling an Age of Darkness and the birth of a new Prophet who could be the world’s salvation… or the cause of its destruction. A prince, a ruthless killer, a once-faithful leader, a reckless gambler, and a dying girl are set on a collision course. Will they save the world or will they destroy it?

Stormrise by Jillian Boehme
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Disappointed at her colourless future because of her gender, Rain takes a chance by disguising herself as a boy when an army of nomads invades her kingdom, and a draft forces every household to send one man to fight. As war looms and Rain is enlisted into an elite, she begins to realise this dragon tincture may hold the key to her kingdom’s victory.

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

The post 12 Debut Authors To Check Out In September 2019 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The lush world building of Children of Blood and Bone meets the sweeping scale of Strange the Dreamer in this captivating epic YA fantasy debut.

Cold Storage by David Koepp
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For readers of Andy Weir and Noah Hawley comes an astonishing debut by the screenwriter of Jurassic Park: a wild and terrifying adventure about three strangers who must work together to contain a highly contagious, deadly organism.

The Bone Ships by R.J. Barker
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A brilliantly imagined saga of honor, glory, and warfare, The Bone Ships is the epic launch of a new fantasy from David Gemmell Award-nominated RJ Barker.

The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A mind-bending and thought-provoking speculative thriller about a group of time-traveling geologists who are trying to prevent a dark future from coming to pass.

The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Debut author Jennifer Giesbrecht paints a darkly compelling fantasy of revenge in The Monster of Elendhaven, a dark fantasy about murder, a monster, and the magician who loves both.

The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the Forgotten Empires magic is forbidden, dreams are destiny, and love is the greatest power of all…

The Nightjar by Deborah Hewitt
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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

The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A young woman is both a bard–and a warrior–in this thrilling historical fantasy from the author of the Sevenwaters novels.

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From New York Times bestselling author Joe Abercrombie comes the first book in a new blockbuster fantasy trilogy where the age of the machine dawns, but the age of magic refuses to die.

There Will Come A Darkness by Katy Rose Pool
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows meets Kristin Cashore’s Graceling, with a dash of Winter is Coming, in this showstopping debut YA fantasy!

Stormrise by Jillian Boehme
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A combat warrior will risk everything to awaken the dragons and save her kingdom in Jillian Boehme’s epic YA Fantasy debut, Stormrise, inspired by Twelfth Night and perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce.

Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From Annie Sullivan, author of A Touch of Gold, comes Tiger Queen, a sweeping YA fantasy adventure that tells the story of a fierce desert princess battling to save her kingdom. Fans of Rebel of the Sands and Meagan Spooner will devour this retelling of Frank Stockton’s famous short story, “The Lady, or the Tiger?”

Will you be picking up any of these September 2019 releases? Tell us in the comments below!

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

This debut novel inspired by West African culture and mythology was very detailed, intricate, haunting, and intense! Following Arrah’s story was a heart pounding experience and it was a book I couldn’t just devour overnight. I purposely took my time with it, really getting enriched in this poetic storyline.

Born into a family of powerful witch doctors, Arrah yearns for magic of her own. But each year she fails to call forth her ancestral powers, while her ambitious mother watches with growing disapproval. There’s only one thing Arrah hasn’t tried, a deadly last resort: trading years of her own life for scraps of magic. Until the Kingdom’s children begin to disappear, and Arrah is desperate to find the culprit.

Kingdom of Souls moved at a steady pace but along the way, we discovered something new whether it was Arrah or her family or a West African legend relating to witch doctors and demons. Although Arrah is about 11 years old when this story starts, the content and themes of this book is definitely more suitable for older readers. I really enjoyed this as I love books that have a cultural inspiration or infusion with a fantasy or fiction story and with this book, you’ll really felt Rena’s purpose in writing this book. I cannot thank her enough for opening up a gateway to her culture and legends.

We had the pleasure of chatting to author Rena Barron about her incredible debut novel Kingdom of Souls, writing, and more! Check out the interview below!

Hi Rena! Tell us a little about yourself!

Hi Annie! I’m a space nerd who loves all things science fiction, ghosts, and superheroes. My favourite genre to write and read is hands down fantasy, and magic is my favourite story element.

What can readers expect from Kingdom of Souls?

At the core of Kingdom Of Souls is this idea that you don’t have to be special to affect positive change in your community and the world around you. There is also the question of how much one person is willing to sacrifice to save their loved ones. Finally, there is a coming of age thread in the story that explores the dynamics of developing your own opinions and actions that may not align with what you’ve been taught.

Why did you feel it was so important to write Kingdom of Souls?

It was important for me to tell a story that felt true to my identity while not feeling like I needed to live up to anyone’s else expectations.

Were a lot of the characters in your book inspired by your own family and friends? Where did you draw your inspiration from?

I always draw inspiration from the people around me, whether it be family, friends, or a stranger at a café or on the train. I’ve always been fascinated with the human psyche and how, when faced with the same challenges, people have such a varied range of reactions.

Do you have a favourite legend from home and was it featured in Kingdom of Souls?

I don’t, which is part of the complicated history that I carry with me as a descendant of a people stolen from their lands and forced into slavery. The mythology in Kingdom Of Souls was initially sparked by snippets of rumors I heard about people in my community who practiced voodoo, turned into a story completely of my own imagination.

Is it challenging for you to write a book that represents your own culture and heritage or did it come easy as it is an own voice story?

I don’t think it’s ever easy to write about oneself. There is so much self-exploration that has to happen, and moments of feeling vulnerable that you have to push through. When you haven’t read many books that reflect your experience or culture, there’s always the fear that people won’t get it or think it’s weird.

What are you hoping for your readers to take away from this book?

I hope that readers will connect with the universal themes in Kingdom Of Souls of love, sacrifice, family, and friendship.

Who are your author role models?

Margaret Atwood, Leigh Bardugo, Holly Black, Octavia Butler, Suzanne Collins, N.K. Jemisin and Toni Morrison, to name a few.

When you are not writing, what would you be doing?

I love hiking and traveling to new places.

What advice or tip could you give to someone who is an emerging writer, trying to bring their own culture, legend and heritage out onto the page?

It’s so easy to self-censor or make your story more palatable for the masses, but the world needs your story in your own voice filled with your spirit and your heart. Write your truth as no one else can.

Will you be picking up Kingdom of Souls? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Interview: Rena Barron, Author of ‘Kingdom of Souls’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

To kick off the second half of 2019, July sees the release of new novels from Chuck Wendig, Pierce Brown, and David Wellington, along with Margaret Owen’s debut novel, Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican folklore inspired novel, and Duncan M. Hamilton’s Dragonslayer.

Moving on to August, we’ll read tales of gods from Micah Yongo, a cursed kingdom from Amy Harmon, and a future princess from Mara Rutherford. Meanwhile, John Birmingham will whisk you away on a sci-fi adventure, Brian Naslund will give you a dragon slayer, and Keren Landsman will bring the sorcerers.

September holds some exciting debuts from Jillian Boehme, Jennifer Giesbrecht, and Rena Barron, alongside new books from authors such as Annalee Newitz, Joe Abercombie, and Juliet Marillier.

What’s instore for us in October? Well Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, and more team up for an anthology about witches, Tochi Onyebuchi takes us to a futuristic, Black Panther–inspired Nigeria, and A.M. Strickland treats us to a dark fantasy. Divergent author Veronica Roth returns with a series of short stories, A.J. Hackwith introduces us to a librarian of the afterlife’s library, and Nicky Drayden takes us to deep space.

In November, Erin Morgenstern’s The Starless Sea is set in a secret underground world, Nina MacLaughlin retells Ovid’s Metamorphoses so the women can claim their stories, and Shea Ernshaw’s Winterwood is set in a magical snow-covered forest. The authors from Black Spot Books plan to “chill your bones and warm your heart for the Yuletide season” with short stories, E.E. Knight’s novel follows dragonriders, and Kacen Callender brings us a Caribbean-inspired fantasy world.

To end the year, James Islington’s Licanius Trilogy and Sebastien de Castell’s Spellslinger series conclude, while Milla Vane, Jeff VanderMeer, Rachel Atwood, and Charles Soule bring us new books.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below which books you’re most excited for!

July

The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Debut author Margaret Owen crafts a powerful saga of vengeance, survival, and sacrifice–perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kendare Blake–in The Merciful Crow. Read our review here!

Wanderers by Chuck Wendig
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A decadent rock star. A deeply religious radio host. A disgraced scientist. And a teenage girl who may be the world’s last hope. In the tradition of The Stand and Station Eleven comes a gripping saga that weaves an epic tapestry of humanity into an astonishing tale of survival.

Dark Age (Red Rising Saga #5) by Pierce Brown
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Morning Star returns to the Red Rising universe with the thrilling sequel to Iron Gold.

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this dark, one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore.

Dragonslayer by Duncan M. Hamilton
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In his magnificent, heroic, adventure fantasy, Dragonslayer, Duncan M. Hamilton debuts the first book in a fast-moving trilogy: a dangerous tale of lost magics, unlikely heroes, and reawakened dragons.

The Last Astronaut by David Wellington
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

August

Pale Kings by Micah Yongo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When the gods return to claim their world, the Five Realms will fall, in this earth-shaking epic fantasy thriller from the author of Lost Gods

The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author comes a breathtaking fantasy of a cursed kingdom, warring clans, and unexpected salvation.

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. But though every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine…

The Cruel Stars by John Birmingham
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

With a ruthless sect of humanity intent on wiping out their species, five intrepid heroes must think like their enemies in this epic sci-fi adventure for fans of The Expanse and Battlestar Galactica.

Blood of an Exile by Brian Naslund
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

After trying to assassinate a fellow noble, Flawless Bershad was given a death sentence. He’s never lost a fight, the most successful dragon slayer in history. But that is about to change. The man who sentenced Bershad to his fate has just given him an out. Kill a king and walk free forever. He doesn’t care about the fates of kings and kingdoms, until, that is, he discovers he is the only person able to save an innocent child and, possibly, the life of every creature in Terra.

The Heart of the Circle by Keren Landsman
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Sorcerers fight for the right to exist and fall in love, in this extraordinary alternate world fantasy thriller by award-winning Israeli author Keren Landsman.

September

The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht
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Debut author Jennifer Giesbrecht paints a darkly compelling fantasy of revenge in The Monster of Elendhaven, a dark fantasy about murder, a monster, and the magician who loves both.

Stormrise by Jillian Boehme
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A combat warrior will risk everything to awaken the dragons and save her kingdom in Jillian Boehme’s epic YA Fantasy debut, Stormrise, inspired by Twelfth Night and perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce.

The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz
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Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron
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The lush world building of Children of Blood and Bone meets the sweeping scale of Strange the Dreamer in this captivating epic YA fantasy debut.

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie
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The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier
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A young woman is both a bard–and a warrior–in this thrilling historical fantasy from the author of the Sevenwaters novels.

October

Hex Life: Wicked New Tales of Witchery by Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, and Sherrilyn Kenyon
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Hex Life: Wicked New Tales of Witchery will take the classic tropes of tales of witchcraft and infuse them with fresh, feminist perspective and present-day concerns–even if they’re set in the past. These witches might be monstrous, or they might be heroes, depending on their own definitions. Even the kind hostess with the candy cottage thought of herself as the hero of her own story. After all, a woman’s gotta eat.

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi
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Two sisters are torn apart by war and must fight their way back to each other in a futuristic, Black Panther–inspired Nigeria.

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

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
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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
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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.

November

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Night Circus, a timeless love story set in a secret underground world–a place of pirates, painters, lovers, liars, and ships that sail upon a starless sea.

Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender
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An ambitious young woman with the power to control minds seeks vengeance against the royals who murdered her family, in a Caribbean-inspired fantasy world embattled by colonial oppression.

Novice Dragoneer by E E Knight
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In the first book in an exciting and charming new coming-of-age fantasy series from the author of the Age of Fire series, an impoverished girl enters into a military order of dragonriders, but her path won’t be as easy or as straightforward as she expected.

Wake, Siren: Ovid Resung by Nina MacLaughlin
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In voices both mythic and modern, Wake, Siren revisits each account of love, loss, rape, revenge, and change. It lays bare the violence that undergirds and lurks in the heart of Ovid’s narratives, stories that helped build and perpetuate the distorted portrayal of women across centuries of art and literature.

Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep comes a haunting romance set deep in the magical snow-covered forest, where the appearance of a mysterious boy unearths secrets that awakens the enchanted, but angry, woods.

A Midnight Clear by Sam Hooker, Seven Jane, Alcy Leyva, Laura Morrison, Dalena Storm, and Cassondra Windwalker
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Six stories of not-so-merry Yuletide whimsy from the authors of Black Spot Books including a woman so cold she hardens to ice on a winter’s eve. From a murder at the Stanley Hotel to demons of Christmas past, present, and future, and a mad elf and Santa’s Candy Court, the authors of Black Spot Books share their love for winter holidays in this collection of dark winter tales, destined to chill your bones and warm your heart for the Yuletide season.

December

The Light of All That Falls (The Licanius Trilogy #3) by James Islington
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Walk the Wild With Me by Rachel Atwood
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In this new historical fantasy, a young man must use the power granted by a goddess to infiltrate the realm of Faery and save a kidnapped victim before the door is sealed once again.

A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane
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A generation past, the western realms were embroiled in endless war. Then the Destroyer came. From the blood and ashes he left behind, a tenuous alliance rose between the barbarian riders of Parsathe and the walled kingdoms of the south. That alliance is all that stands against the return of an ancient evil—until the barbarian king and queen are slain in an act of bloody betrayal.

Crownbreaker by Sebastien de Castell
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Anyone: A Novel by Charles Soule
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Charles Soule brings his signature knowledge—and wariness–of technology to his sophomore novel set in a realistic future about a brilliant female scientist who creates a technology that allows for the transfer of human consciousness between bodies, and the transformations this process wreaks upon the world.

Dead Astronauts by Jeff VanderMeer
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Jeff VanderMeer’s Dead Astronauts presents a City with no name of its own where, in the shadow of the all-powerful Company, lives human and otherwise converge in terrifying and miraculous ways. At stake: the fate of the future, the fate of Earth—all the Earths.

What July to December 2019 fantasy and sci-fi releases are you most excited for? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Exciting Fantasy & Sci-Fi Books Out In July-December 2019 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.