About Hell To Pay: Oceans Eight meets Six of Crows in this supernatural heist novel about a teenage con artist and her ragtag crew teaming up for their toughest job yet: stealing a soul from the Afterlife. Released July 28th 2026.

My favorite heist stories aren’t the ones where everything goes to plan. They’re the ones where the plan catches fire approximately five minutes in and a group of thieves with wildly incompatible skill sets has to somehow improvise their way to the prize and out of certain doom. 

So, it’s no wonder that when I wrote my own heist, I didn’t set out to write the kind of sleek, meticulously executed job you see in Ocean’s Eleven or Mission Impossible. I wanted to write the kind of caper where every carefully constructed plan collides with magic, ego, and bad decisions. Hell to Pay is my love letter to exactly this kind of glorious criminal chaos, where the plan falls apart but the crew comes together. And if your favorite flavor of heist is fantasy, here are five stories that prove the best heists are often the messiest ones. 

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

If we’re talking about chaotic fantasy heists, there’s no avoiding Six of Crows. Kaz Brekker (absolute icon) always seems like he’s in complete control, but the real fun is watching what happens when he isn’t. His greatest strength isn’t planning for every possibility—though he definitely has schemes for days—it’s adapting when everything that can go wrong, does.

The Ice Court job is impossible from the start, and somehow the crew still manages to make it even more complicated. Because in addition to their individual skill sets, each member of the crew brings enough emotional baggage to fill a getaway tank. If your favorite heists are the ones where people who barely get along slowly become willing to risk everything for one another, this is the gold standard. 

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl (and Wes Anderson)

On paper, stealing chickens from three farmers shouldn’t require this much planning. In practice, it’s symmetrically-framed all-out war.

Mr. Fox has the confidence of someone who cannot accept their own fallibility, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. His increasingly ambitious schemes drag his reluctant family and friends into one disaster after another, and the result is a heist story that’s hilarious, yet heartfelt. What starts as a fox pulling one last job (or three) becomes a community looking out for one another. Like the best fantasy capers, success depends less on the original plan than on everyone’s willingness to work together.

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

Technically, Little Thieves is more of a long con than a traditional heist, but the chaotic criminal energy is the same. After all, heists are just cons with lockpicks and an acrobat friend. 

Vanja survives through wit, audacity, and stubbornness. The very qualities she’s been told are improper, unladylike, or selfish turn out to be exactly what she needs to survive. The cons are clever, the banter is sharp, and every victory feels earned because she’s constantly one terrible decision away from losing everything. And as the story unfolds, she slowly learns that even the best con artist can’t do everything alone. 

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Every member of this crew has fortes and foibles. Edgin can talk his way through anything, but makes impulsive decisions. Simon has incredible magical potential, but no self-confidence. Holga’s solution to most problems involves hitting them very hard, and to be fair, that often works.

Each character brings their questionable skills and tragic backstories to the table to create magic (in some cases literally). Their strengths cover each other’s weaknesses, every setback forces them to trust each other a little more, and by the end they’re less of a crew than a family.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Hear me out: The Princess Bride is a fantasy heist.

Think about it. There’s an impossible target: a princess locked inside a heavily guarded castle. A crew assembled with varying motivations and skill sets. Disguises. Infiltrations. Extractions. Escapes.

Like any great fantasy heist, the original plan barely survives contact with reality. Instead,

Westley, Inigo, Fezzik, and Buttercup improvise their way through increasingly absurd obstacles (including being mostly dead) with just enough competence and luck to pull it off, and discover that achieving the impossible takes a team. If that isn’t a heist, I don’t know what is.

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Director: Matthew Warchus
Writer: Dennis Kelly
Cast: Alisha Weir, Lashana Lynch, Andrea Riseborough, Stephen Graham, Emma Thompson

The story of Matilda Wormwood has seen quite a few iterations. First as a book by Roald Dahl released in 1988, a movie was eventually released in 1996 starring Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito and Rhea Pearlman. The story has also seen a musical adaptation that first began performances in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010, followed by a West End transfer in 2011, with several other productions having occurred worldwide since then.

Now, the story has been adapted again, into another movie, this time based on the musical. Matilda Wormwood (Alisha Weir) is a bright young girl, unfortunately with neglectful parents (Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough). After forgetting to sign her up for school, Matilda’s parents send her to Crunchem Hall, a school run by Miss Agatha Trunchbull (Emma Thompson), an evil headmistress.

However, inside the school, there is a glimmer of kindness in Miss Honey (Lashana Lynch), one of the only adults who understands that Matilda is smart beyond her years, and therefore attempts unsuccessfully to advocate to Miss Trunchbull for her to be placed in a higher grade level. Other glimpses of kindness come from Mrs. Phelps (Sindhu Vee), a traveling librarian who we meet at the beginning of the film, when Matilda is reading at her library past closing time.

The film also boasts a robust children’s ensemble, who portray Matilda’s fellow students at Crunchem Hall, from students in Matilda’s class, to Prefects in “School Song”, to roles in the first song discussing the birth of Matilda, “Miracle”.

If you’re familiar with any iterations of Matilda’s story, a lot in this movie will likely seem familiar. However, the film also has many unique aspects as well, that set it apart from the other iterations, so you likely won’t be bored while watching it.

One particularly unique aspect of this film is the casting. Each actor brings their all to their respective roles. As Matilda Wormwood, Weir exudes the confidence and determination needed for standing up to the evil adults she faces. Lynch brings an incredible level of depth to the role of Miss Honey. It is clear from the beginning of the film that there is more to her character than what initially meets the eye. Graham and Riseborough are able to balance moments of comedy with villainous moments quite well, something not often seen. Thompson creates a particularly imposing, fear-inducing Trunchbull, that I found too intense at times.

The kids ensemble is also incredibly well-cast. Their immense talent not only allows them to act and sing parts small and large alike well, but perform the wonderful choreography by Ellen Kane with ease.

The film also contains a new song, “Still Holding My Hand”. Songwriter Tim Minchin (who also wrote songs for the stage musical) has done a wonderful job creating a song that wraps up the film well. It chronicles the journeys both Matilda and Miss Honey went on, to eventually find their way to each other.

Overall, this film is very well done. While there are some particularly intense, dark scenes that potential viewers should be made aware of, those who are completely unfamiliar with Matilda’s story, and those who are familiar with every adaptation alike are still likely to find something in the film that they do enjoy.

What did you think of the musical to movie adaptation? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Movie Review: Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Books written from a child’s perspective or with a child as the protagonist offer a limited but yet unbiased and honest view of the world around them. In this case when it comes to fiction, particularly adult fiction, adult readers typically have a better understanding of what is happening in the story, which is what makes the child’s viewpoint interesting, especially when touching on issues within books such as familial, mental health, world tragedy, and war.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Written in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel with the story taking place in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama and following Jean Louise (Scout) Finch, who is six years old when the novel begins and nine when it ends. Herself and her brother are raised by their widowed father, Atticus, who is a lawyer and the majority of the action takes place when he represents Tom Robinson, a man accused of rape.

The Client by John Grisham

Mark Sway and his younger brother, Ricky, witness a suicide attempt by Romey Clifford, a lawyer for a mafia hitman. Romey confesses his secrets to Mark before he dies and Mark must do everything he can to avoid the cops, the mob who are now looking for him, and the FBI. He needs serious help and legal representation which introduces Reggie Love, a recovered alcoholic and a children’s rights expert. She goes above and beyond the call of duty to help and protect Mark. Together, they tackle court proceedings while avoiding attacks from hitman Barry ‘the blade’ Muldano. It’s a truly gripping suspense story with a child at the heart of it. 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 

This historical fiction book is set in Germany with an unusual narrator—Death. The story follows a young girl named Liesel who must stay with her foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann, as tragedy has struck her family and war is escalating with a constant worry of food shortages. Liesel befriends Max, a Jewish man who her foster parents are sheltering whilst also discovering a love of books and the power of words.

Wonder by R.J Palacio

Ten-year-old August (Auggie) Pullman is the hero of this powerful story as he struggles with his facial anomaly while starting mainstream school. His family are his support system as he tries to make friends. The book has multiple points of view which tells the story from different perspectives to outline the importance of being kind and accepting. This book sat at number 1 on the New York Times bestseller list for 140 weeks.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Written in 1988, this story is a children’s literature classic for all ages, young and old. Matilda Wormwood is a bookworm who is extremely intelligent, but lives with her nasty parents and brother. At school, she meets her lovely teacher, Miss Honey, and her horrible headmistress. Matilda discovers she can move things with her mind which gets her out of trouble. Unfortunately, you can’t pick your family, however Matilda is a special girl. The happy ending of this novel is unexpected but wonderful. 

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Oskar Schell is a nine-year-old boy who is devastated after his dad died during the 9/11 attacks and suffers from extreme anxiety. After discovering a mysterious envelope with a key inside, Oskar travels around New York City to gather clues. Alongside this story, the story of Oskar’s grandparents runs parallel. 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Christopher Boone investigates murder of his neighbour’s poodle, Wellington, by questioning potential suspects and in turn goes on a journey of self-discovery. He is 15 years old and in some ways, he is wise beyond his years, along with his love for maths and lists. There are many unexpected twists in this novel that makes the reader empathise with Christopher as he comes to terms with his discoveries. The conversational tone and matter-of-fact dialogue makes it an enjoyable read.

Room by Emma Donoghue

Irish writer, Emma Donoghue, writes about the ultimate bond between parent and child whilst also including the harsh reality of the world in her story. It is told from the perspective of five-year-old Jack which means the dialogue is direct. Ma and Jack live in a room that belongs to Old Nick, it’s home to Jack since he was born, but it’s been a prison for Ma for the last seven years. This book is an emotional story of survival and escape. 

White Oleander by Janet Fitch

This story is unforgettable as it explores the intricacies of the mother-daughter relationship. It is about Ingrid, a poet who is imprisoned for murder and her daughter Astrid moves to various different LA foster homes. Astrid grows from being a girl to becoming a woman over the course of this novel. White Oleander is beautifully written with lyrical language that reads like poetry.

All The Lost Things by Michelle Sacks

Dolly Rust is seven years old and the narrator of this suspenseful story. She is overcome with excitement when she realises herself and her dad are going on an adventure, just the two of them. It’s all fun and games in the beginning until her father’s mood starts to change and paranoia sets in. Clemesta, Dolly’s toy horse, is the voice of reason as she only speaks to Dolly. She tries to get Dolly to understand what is happening. An interesting read from a child’s perspective.

The post 10 Fiction Books With Child Narrators and Protagonists appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

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

Death On The Nile by Agatha Christie

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

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

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

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

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

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke

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

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

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

The Witches by Roald Dahl

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

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

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

The Good Shepherd by C.S. Forester

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

Dune by Frank Herbert

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

The Devil All The Time by Donald Ray Pollock

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

Without Remorse by Tom Clancy

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

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

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

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

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

News of the World by Paulette Jiles

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

The Woman In The Window by AJ Finn

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

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

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

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

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

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

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

It is true most of the time that we love fictional characters more if they are fellow bookworms, who adore reading as much as we do. It’s the relatability we feel as we read a book that has a nerdy main character, seeing how books help them as they do us. There are many such bookish book characters, and I have compiled a list of some of my favourites!

Kelsea Raleigh Glynn
from The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

“Stories moved Kelsea most, stories of things that never were, stories that transported her beyond the changeless world of the cottage.” 

This strong queen is one hell of a book lover from the start to the end of the series.

William Herondale
from The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

“It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them.”

In my opinion, Will Herondale is an amazing person on the fictional planet. And when I saw that he reads, he became the best.

Celaena Sardothien
from Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

“No. I can survive well enough on my own— if given the proper reading material.”

Who cannot relate to this quote? Celaena is the best heroine ever and we loved her more because she comforted us in our nerdiness.

Hermione Granger
from Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

“Because that’s what Hermione does,” said Ron, shrugging. “When in doubt, go to the library.”

This list would be incomplete without the one and only Hermione. Without her being a bookworm, Harry would have been long dead. Seriously, how many times did she save the trio by reading one book or another?

Tessa Young
from After by Anna Todd

“The best thing about reading is to escape from your life, to be able to live hundreds or even thousands of lives.”

From the beginning of this epic love story to the end, Tessa was the hearty bookworm, with a relatable love for classic romances.

Matilda Wormwood
from Matilda by Roald Dahl

‘The books transported her into new worlds and introduced her to amazing people who lived exciting lives. She went on olden-day sailing ships with Joseph Conrad. She went to Africa with Ernest Hemingway and to India with Rudyard Kipling. She travelled all over the world while sitting in her little room in an English village.’

Matilda, “a reader of books,” is an intellectual child with telekinetic abilities. Her love for reading and for books is depicted throughout this iconic childrens book.

Cather Avery
from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

“I’m the kind of girl who fantasizes about being trapped in a library overnight.”

As the title suggests, the main character, Cath is a dedicated reader, fangirl and fan fiction writer. Her character in this coming-of-age novel is honestly one of the most relatable ones to the introverted bookworms out there.

Jo March
from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

“I like good strong words that mean something.”

The tomboy of the March sisters, Jo is a lover of reading and writing books.

Do you have any favourite bookworm characters? Tell us in the comments below!

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