He was born and raised in Northern Virginia and is a first generation Indian-American with all the baggage that comes with. He’s offended a long list of incalculable ancestors by choosing to drop out of college and not pursue one of three pre-destined careers: a lawyer, doctor, engineer. Instead, he decided to chase his dream of being an author. His family is still coping with this decision a decade later. He expects them to come around in another fifteen to twenty years.

About The Doors of Midnight: Myths begin, and a storyteller’s tale deepens, in the essential sequel to R.R. Virdi’s breakout Silk Road-inspired epic fantasy debut, The First Binding.

Mythology. We’ve all heard the term, and we’re likely familiar with a variety of myths, predominantly Western ones through media and retellings, along with a healthy dash of Disney, and probably Wishbone (for you 90’s kids). But what exactly is it?

The agreed upon take for mythology is that: it is a collection of stories pertaining to a particular religious and or cultural tradition. These would your Greek myths, for example consisting of all the little stories you might have heard of Hercules, and not just the animated accounts of his tales, but the many retellings across film and television and literature of his labors. They would include Homer’s Iliad and The Odyssey. From South Asia, we have Ramayama, and then Mahabharata.

We’re familiar with mythology in the ancient tradition and how those stories live on—how they’re retold. But what about how they’ve influenced a lot of the “new” stories we tell today. Do their bones, and perhaps spirit, still live on in the continued trade of storytelling across all the new mediums we’ve managed to create?

In short, yes.

You might have heard of Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth, more commonly known as, The Hero’s Journey. It’s often thought as a blueprint or outline in how to write a mythic story. In truth, it’s not that all. If you’re being kind, it’s a template. If you’re harsh, it’s an oversimplification, codification, and reduction of a lot of story/mythic beats to form an outline of a variety of epics/myths, but not accounting for many others to arrive to the structure.

However, it’s not to say that there are not comparative/similar beats and tropes throughout mythology. There is an entire study dedicated to this called, you guessed it, Comparative Mythology.

The beats in the Hero’s Journey are a bit oversimplified, but it did get something right: there is a lot of similarity in a lot of great myths (and the epics) from across the world.

One of those beats? The dragon, and the slaying of said dragon. The dragon, going back to some of the oldest myths across cultures, has often been the Big Bad! The thing to defeat. The grand obstacle…or, if you’re looking at it from a writerly structural mind…the climax!

If we take two famous dragon slaying myths for example, the climax of Thor’s life, killing Jörmungandr (the Midgard Serpent, or the Norse sea serpent of most-monstrous size. And it’s important to note the earliest dragons were often aquatic sea serpents, not the common fire-breathing variants we’re more familiar with today), and the climax of Indra (the South Asian storm god and ruler of the heavens) killing Vritra (the Asura who took the form of a three-headed dragon (most commonly)), we see some parallels. Those are that both serpents are associated with water (as mentioned above), calling it their home or holding all the waters of the world hostage in the case of Vritra. Both gods are storm gods who also wield similar weapons with similar properties. We have the famous Mjolnir from Thor, imbued with all the powers of lightning and thunder. In the case of Indra, we have his proto club or hammer, like Thor, named Vajra. Three guesses what powers it is imbued with, and the first two don’t count.

That’s correct, lightning and thunder.

But the stories don’t stop there. In fact, there is a laundry list of storm gods fighting dragons. Perun vs. Veles. Marduk vs. Tiamat. Hadad | Ba’al vs. Lotan. And this theme continues down to the more mortal characters such as Siegfried of Germanic heroic legend who goes on to slay the dragon Fafnir.

So, how does this contribute to modern storytelling? Well, let’s look at what the dragon was back in the old day. Our early ancestors worshipped storm gods because of what they brought for us: the rains. Storm gods were essentially to both early nomadic people and especially agricultural, and dragons were a threat to this. They inhabited the bodies of waters we needed to live—to sustain our crops. And in some legends, they stole that very water. This theme of theft and withholding important resources continued along with our own societal growth. The dragon stole and hoarded what we needed or valued.

After the rains and water it was cattle once we reached a larger cattle rearing capability. Eventually it would become gold and princesses as our wealth and kingdoms grew. And so the dragon became The Obstacle to overcome in stories. The climax. At least, a very common and fun one to use.

In fact, for defeating Vritra, Indra earned the epithets, Slayer of the First Born of Dragons, as well as, Remover of the Obstacle.

The dragon was the great threat that put all your knowable life at risk and hostage under its power as well as taking something from you. But let’s move away from fantasy for a moment and consider another time and place. A galaxy far, far away.

Say you have a mighty empire. Let’s just call it The Empire for simplicity’s sake. In this empire, you have an uppity group of rebels doing what they do best, a rebellion. And golly gee willikers, it’s freaking frustrating. So, you create an almighty weapon to hold the galaxy in the grip of fear. This weapon in one single breath of dragon’s fire—I mean laser energy beam fire—snuff out worlds. Maybe you kidnap something or someone of great value to this community of rebels. Could be a soldier, a general, or, let’s just pretend a princess.

A princess works wonderfully. You store this princess on board you mighty space dragon that no one can beat. And it certainly doesn’t have any chinks in the ole armor. That would preposterous. After all, that would be the myth of impenetrability.

What’s that you ask? Well, that’s a myth where heroes such as Achilles, or Karna from the South Asian epic Mahabharata were granted protection in the form of impenetrable armor and were still killed anyways. Or the same Siegfried mentioned above who bathes in the blood of Fafnir after killing him to gain the impenetrability of dragon scales (only terms and conditions applied). Sadly, a linden leaf sticks to the small of his back, preventing a spot from getting the magical blood, and so, a mortal vulnerability remains. You can guess what happens, yes indeedy, he is killed through that spot.

Before any pedantry arises, you’ll notice I didn’t bring up Achilles’ ole foot. That’s because in the Iliad, he never dies. His death is foretold. The shot to the foot comes from a later Roman add-on poem in where he’s dipped in the Styx and then shot in the foot. In original Greek artwork, our hero’s death showcases a shot through the torso most commonly, and Homer makes great mention of the detail and quality of Achilles’ protective armor that was created by the god of the forge, Hephaestus, at Thetis’ (Achilles’ mother) request. It was said the armor was the impenetrable piece of protection.

We can flip this to how Tolkien most famously applied the myth of impenetrability to his villain in, The Hobbit, the dragon, Smaug. This uppity worm also had the same myth about him, only, someone had tested this with a black arrow. One that happened to find its mark and leave a chink in the ole dragon scales. Maybe the mighty dragon isn’t as impervious to harm as we thought.

So, back to our space dragon. The big villain. The climax. The obstacle to defeat. If you’re working with the idea of the big bad dragon that has no weakness, it’s kind of a great technique to add that little disclaimer: okay, no weaknesses except maybe one little thing. It’s a silly thing. Not exactly a broken dragon scale. It’s just a silly little exhaust port you can shoot a photon torpedo down. It doesn’t do anything though. Not really. No real harm. Not like piercing Smaug in the same spot and killing him.

. . .it only causes the cataclysmic exploding of the Death Star and destroying our green laser beam breathing space dragon and everyone on board. But other than that. . .it’s a perfect design. The most unbeatable obstacle dragon for this story structure.

Totally.

So you can set an entire story to the idea of what the dragon represents, and in fact, keep the dragon. And the dragon is the obstacle. It’s the thing your protagonist/s must defeat because it is holding something at risk: the fate of the world, your crops (so back to your world), the empire/rebellion/galaxy, and thus creates the overarching story with a goal.

Because x happens due to y, z (protagonist) must undergo (insert quest) to defeat/stop/convince y to save the world.

Sauron is the dragon, the obstacle in Lord of the Rings. He remains, however diminished, through the One Ring, and that in turn is his one weakness. He is Middle Earth’s possible oppressor once again, and the obstacle to overcome. Should we not defeat this dragon, all of Middle Earth will resemble a shady Walmart parking lot out in the sticks.

Or, Thanos. He holds all of creation at risk, and ironically (or maybe not so much), the very way to defeat him is by using the tools he so desperately thought to use to erase creation. The use of the Infinity Stones wiped him out instead. Rest in Peace, Tony Stark.

And that is certainly something that hasn’t been done before.

Dormammu, I’ve come to bargain. Hit the rewind button. . . a lot. An all-powerful being, saved for the climax—the big obstacle to defeat, and nothing can stop them. They hail from a dark dimension and seem impervious to everything.

. . .except one thing. In this case, time loops. There’s that one little weakness again.

Perhaps you’re an immortal empire ruling The Final Empire. You’re immortal through magic. You are the great obstacle (at least at first), and you have no weaknesses. Not one. Okay, maybe one. Maybe the very magic you’re using. But it’s okay, because like the Death Star plans, it’s a totally safe secret and no one can or will figure it out.

You’re safe, Mr. Dragon Emperor. Wink-wink.

So, how does mythology inspired modern pop culture/fiction? Well, if you have one good villain who is the obstacle, you might want to thank a dragon (if you can find one) for that. Because historically as far as our old stories go, they were often one of the big baddies we featured as an obstacle to overcome. The obstacle. One of the structural climaxes we still rely on today.

And who doesn’t love a good quest to bring down a dragon, whether they’re made of flesh and scales, or whatever a giant fully armed and operational space station is made from.

Every story has a dragon, somewhere. Even yours. It’s just an obstacle. So go forth and slay your dragons!

Please be careful about dragon slaying within the workplace, though.

The post Myth-understanding: How Mythology Shaped Our Entertainment appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

I grew up in Northern Virginia and surrounded by cars and books. So I ended up very early interested in the automotive scene: working on cars, racing them, restoring them. The other end of most of my life me saw me diving head first into nonstop reading. Most of my early life passed by with me under a hood or nose deep into a novel.

I still have those loves and they’re still among my favorite things to do.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

At age 18, Summer before college. I started writing the most god awful fantasy ever but the process itself hooked me. That was it. I knew writing was for me. But the novel itself is banned under grounds of that it’s considered torture to read for people.

Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!

There wasnt one that made me want to be an author per se. But my favorite series is the Dresden files. Favorite standalone novel? Ooof. Treasure island? Never where? Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist.

Your new novel, The First Binding, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Epic lyrical theater kid fantasy!

What can readers expect?

Well…a lot of the above to be honest. XD

Where did the inspiration for The First Binding come from?

The idea of the most interesting life ever lived like in Forest Gump but set along the silk road in a fantasy world is a concise version of that.

Can you tell us a bit about the challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?

Having the time for it honestly. There was a point I had two jobs at the same time. My solution? I carved out time when I could at cost of sleep, going to bed late or waking up early. Sometimes I’d bring a USB drive to work on my projects. Eventually I did the math and realized the best way to have more writing time was quit my dayjobs!

This…was a questionable decision.

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

Radi, because he is my preening chaotic chaos gremlin bard.

So…he’s a musical theater student, really.

I love you all music theater nerds. Truly.

Were there any ‘must-haves’ you wanted to incorporate when it came to writing your novel, such as tropes, topics, characteristics etc?

The theme of storytelling and Ari’s quiet interpretation of musical notes as unsaid words and stories

What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?

Best: you don’t have a muse, you have a mortgage

Worst: they must have been so bad I don’t remember them now.

What’s next for you?

Book four of the grave report. Editing book two of this series. Cupcakes? Oh Dragoncon!!

Lastly, do you have any 2022 book recommendations for our readers?

Sunyi Dean’s The Book Eaters, Richard Swan’s The Justice of Kings, Clay Harmon’s Flames of Mira, and Scott Drakeford’s The Rise of the Mages

The post Q&A: R.R. Virdi, Author of ‘The First Binding’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hello second half of 2022 and hello to all the incredible upcoming book releases we can look forward to!

In this round up, we take a look at some of the most exciting titles to be released between the months of July and December with releases from the likes of Sarah Gailey, Ruth Ware, Alexis Hall, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Courtney Summers, and many more, along with delightful debuts from new authors you should keep on your radar!

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

JULY

Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen
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A darkly enchanting fantasy debut about a morally gray witch, a cursed prince, and a prophecy that ignites their fate-twisted destinies—perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and Serpent & Dove.

Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey
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Just Like Home is a darkly gothic thriller from nationally bestselling author Sarah Gailey, perfect for fans of Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House as well as HBO’s true crime masterpiece I’ll Be Gone in the Dark.

The Accidental Pinup by Danielle Jackson
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Rival photographers are forced to collaborate on a body-positive lingerie campaign, but they might have to readjust their focus when sparks fly.

Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark
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The masterful story of a lifelong friendship between two very different women with shared histories and buried secrets, tested in the twilight of their lives, set across the arc of the 20th century.

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows
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The It Girl by Ruth Ware
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The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the “claustrophobic spine-tingler” (People) One by One returns with an unputdownable mystery following a woman on the search for answers a decade after her friend’s murder.

Youngblood by Sasha Laurens
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For fans of Vampire Diaries and dark academia, two queer teen bloodsuckers at an elite vampire-only boarding school must go up against all of Vampirdom when they uncover a frightening conspiracy on campus.

Acts of Violet by Margarita Montimore
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From Margarita Montimore, the author of GMA Book Club pick and national bestseller Oona Out of Order, Acts of Violet is a dazzling and twisty new novel about a famous magician who disappears, leaving her sister to figure out what really happened.

The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne
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Everyone knows the story of Rapunzel in the tower, but do you know the story of the witch who put her there? Told from her own perspective, The Book of Gothel is a lush, historical retelling filled with dark magic, crumbling towers, mysterious woods, and evil princes. This is the truth they never wanted you to know, as only a witch might tell it.

What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri
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What Souls Are Made Of, British Fantasy Award-winning author Tasha Suri’s masterful new take on Brontë’s Wuthering Heights and fourth book in the Remixed Classics, will leave readers breathless.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
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From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic and Velvet Was the Night comes a dreamy reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
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New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard is unabashedly romantic, laugh-out-loud funny, and the perfect summer read.

AUGUST

Husband Material by Alexis Hall
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Luc and Oliver met, pretended to fall in love, fell in love for real, dealt with heartbreak and disappointment and family and friends…and somehow figured out a way to make it work. Now it seems like everyone around them is getting married, and Luc’s feeling the social pressure to propose. But it’ll take more than four weddings, a funeral, and a bowl full of special curry to get these two from I don’t know what I’m doing to I do.

These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall
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The Haunting of Hill House meets Knives Out in a bid for an inheritance that will leave Helen Vaughan either rich…or dead.

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
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New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace brings to life a highly romantic, Gothic-infused world of wealth, desire, and betrayal.

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
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Sunyi Dean’s The Book Eaters is “a darkly sweet pastry of a book about family, betrayal, and the lengths we go to for the ones we love. A delicious modern fairy tale.”― Christopher Buehlman, Shirley Jackson Award-winning author

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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In this powerful novel about the cost of greatness, a legendary athlete attempts a comeback when the world considers her past her prime—from the New York Times bestselling author of Malibu Rising.

Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim
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A new heartfelt novel about the power of loneliness and the strength of love that overcomes it by critically acclaimed author Roselle Lim.

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
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With a wicked wink to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Daisy Darker’s unforgettable twists will leave readers reeling.

The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu
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A “superb fantasy saga” (Helene Wecker) of martial arts and magic, about what happens when a prophesied hero is not the chosen one after all—but has to work with a band of unlikely allies to save the kingdom anyway, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lives of Tao

You’re Invited by Amanda Jayatissa
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What could be worse than your ex-boyfriend marrying your childhood best friend? Getting accused of her murder… From the author of My Sweet Girl comes a dangerously addictive new thriller about a lavish Sri Lankan wedding celebration that not everyone will survive.

The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead
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From the author of the acclaimed In My Dreams I Hold a Knife comes a pitch-black thriller about a woman determined to destroy a powerful cult and avenge the deaths of the women taken in by it, no matter the cost.

Luck and Last Resorts by Sarah Grunder Ruiz
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They have a second chance at love, but there are some rough seas ahead in the new contemporary romance from the acclaimed author of Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships.

The First Binding by R.R. Virdi
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A thrilling new take on Epic Fantasy, inspired by the many culturally divergent stops along a fantastical Silk Road, that follows a storyteller and a singer on the run from their old lives and secrets. 

SEPTEMBER

I’m the Girl by Courtney Summers
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Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne
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From USA Today bestselling author of The Hating Game Sally Thorne comes something a little unexpected… a historical rom-com that imagines Victor Frankenstein’s sheltered younger sister, and her attempts to create the perfect man.

Ithaca by Claire North
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This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca, famed wife of Odysseus, as it has never been told before. Beyond Ithaca’s shores, the whims of gods dictate the wars of men. But on the isle, it is the choices of the abandoned women—and their goddesses—that will change the course of the world.

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander
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From New York Times Bestselling author Kwame Alexander comes the first book in a searing, breathtaking trilogy that tells the story of a boy, a village, and the epic odyssey of an African family.

Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo
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From the author of To Kill a Kingdom comes Princess of Souls, a Rapunzel-inspired YA fantasy romance about a teen witch groomed to steal souls for an immortal king and the reckless, rebellious boy to whom her fate is tied.

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
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Tamsyn Muir’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling Locked Tomb Series continues with Nona …the Ninth?

The Gathering Dark: An Anthology of Folk Horror
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Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
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From New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young comes a deeply atmospheric story about ancestral magic, an unsolved murder, and a second chance at true love.

People Person by Candice Carty-Williams
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From an author with “a flair for storytelling that appears effortlessly authentic” (Time), People Person is a vibrant and charming celebration of discovering family as an adult.

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends comes the first book in a captivating new duology following an ill-matched pair of spies posing as a married couple to investigate a series of brutal murders in 1930s Shanghai.

Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco
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Full of court intrigue, queer romance, and terrifying monsters—this gothic epic fantasy will appeal to fans of Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree and the adult animated series Castlevania.

Direwood by Catherine Yu
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In this velvet-clad 1990s gothic horror, Aja encounters a charming vampire who wants to lure her into the woods―just like her missing sister.

OCTOBER

Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove by Rati Mehrotra
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In Rati Mehrotra’s Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove, a young guardswoman struggles with her unwitting role as a major pawn in the deadly games between two kingdoms in a monster-infested alternate medieval India.

Sign Here by Claudia Lux
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A darkly humorous, surprisingly poignant, and utterly gripping debut novel about a guy who works in Hell (literally) and is on the cusp of a big promotion if only he can get one more member of the wealthy Harrison family to sell their soul.

A Cosmic Kind of Love by Samantha Young
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Space is the last thing an event planner and an astronaut need in this charming new romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.

Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
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From the author of Twice Shy comes a sprightly Christmas novel, a rollicking romp through the absurdity of family holidays and the hope of new love.

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
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From the number one bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere, a deeply suspenseful and heartrending novel about the unbreakable love between a mother and child in a society consumed by fear.

The Storyteller’s Death by Ann Dávila Cardinal
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From International Latino Book Award-winning author Ann Dávila Cardinal comes a gorgeously written family saga about a Puerto Rican teenager who finds herself gifted (or cursed?) with a strange ability.

Dead Man’s Hand by James J. Butcher
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In the tradition of his renowned father, James J. Butcher’s debut novel is a brilliant urban fantasy about a young man who must throw out the magical rule book to solve the murder of his former mentor.

A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo
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Award-winning author Malinda Lo returns to the Bay Area with another masterful coming-of-queer-age story, this time set against the backdrop of the first major Supreme Court decisions legalizing gay marriage. And almost sixty years after the end of Last Night at the Telegraph Club, Lo’s new novel also offers a glimpse into Lily and Kath’s lives since 1955.

Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty
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Amateur detective Mallory Viridian’s talent for solving murders ruined her life on Earth and drove her to live on an alien space station, but her problems still follow her in this witty, self-aware novel that puts a speculative spin on murder mysteries, from the Hugo-nominated author of Six Wakes.

Jackal by Erin E. Adams
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A young Black girl goes missing in the woods outside her white Rust Belt town. But she’s not the first—and she may not be the last. . . .

Lavender House by Lev A.C. Rosen
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A delicious story from a new voice in suspense, Lev AC Rosen’s Lavender House is Knives Out with a queer historical twist.

Strike the Zither by Joan He
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A dazzling new fantasy from New York Times and Indie bestselling author Joan He, Strike the Zither is a powerful, inventive, and sweeping fantasy that reimagines the Chinese classic tale of the Three Kingdoms.

NOVEMBER

The Ones We Burn by Rebecca Mix
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Love and duty collide in this richly imagined, atmospheric young adult debut about a witch whose dark powers put her at the center of a brewing war between the only family she’s ever known and the enemy who makes her question everything.

She’s Gone by David Bell
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When 17-year-old Hunter Gifford wakes in the hospital on the night of homecoming, he’s shocked to learn he and his girlfriend, Chloe Summers, have been in a terrible car accident. Hunter has no memory of the crash, and his shock turns to horror when he is told Chloe’s blood has been found in the car—but she has disappeared.

Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade
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After All the Feels and Spoiler Alert, Olivia Dade once again delivers a warm and wonderful romantic comedy about two co-stars who once had an incredible one-night stand—and after years of filming on the same remote island, are finally ready to yield to temptation again…

The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
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From Susan Dennard, the New York Times bestselling author of the Witchlands series, comes a haunting and high-octane contemporary fantasy, about the magic it takes to face your fears in a nightmare-filled forest, and the mettle required to face the secrets hiding in the dark corners of your own family.

White Horse by Erika T. Wurth
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White Horse is a gritty, vibrant debut from Erika T. Wurth about an Indigenous woman who must face her past when she discovers a bracelet haunted by her mother’s spirit.

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun
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The author of the “swoon-worthy debut” (Harper’s Bazaar) The Charm Offensive returns with a festive romantic comedy about a woman who fakes an engagement with her landlord…only to fall for his sister.

Into the Forest: Tales of the Baba Yaga by Lindy Ryan and Christina Henry
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A collection of new and exclusive short stories inspired by the Baba Yaga. Featuring Gwendolyn Kiste, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Mercedes M. Yardley, Monique Snyman, Donna Lynch, Lisa Quigley, and R. J. Joseph, with a foreword by Christina Henry.

Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli
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A stunning and witty debut novel about a young woman’s emotional journey through unimaginable loss, pulled along by her tight-knit Nigerian family, a posse of new friends, and the love and laughter she shared with her husband. Onyi Nwabineli is a fresh new voice for fans of Yaa Gyasi, Queenie and I May Destroy You.

The Cloisters by Katy Hays
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The Secret History meets Ninth House in this sinister, atmospheric novel following a circle of researchers as they uncover a mysterious deck of tarot cards and shocking secrets in New York’s famed Met Cloisters.

Wait For Me by Sara Shepard
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Dating New York socialite Marcus Coleman, Casey has had trouble recognizing herself lately. But things only get stranger when she begins to hear a voice in her head: one that warns her of danger and leads her to the sleepy town of Avon, where she recognizes people and places she couldn’t possibly know, including a beguiling local boy who seems important to her past—and her present.

Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese
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Opposites become allies to fool their matchmaking friends in this swoony reimagining of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, Much Ado About Nothing.

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
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A rich, eccentric family. A time-honored tradition. Or a lethal game of survival? One woman is about to find out if she has what it takes to join her husband’s family in this riveting, must-read thriller from the author of Something in the Water, Mr. Nobody, and The Disappearing Act.

DECEMBER

Queen of Myth and Monsters by Scarlett St. Clair
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Queen becomes conqueror in this powerful follow-up to King of Battle and Blood where Queen Isolde de Lara has come into her own as the newly coronated queen of Cordova.  She and her mate, the vampire King Adrian, battle insurrection from the Nine Kingdoms…and a mysterious plague that turns humans to monsters. But hell hath no fury like Isolde’s wrath when she discovers that one of the vassal kings has enslaved her mother’s people.

A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar
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Adiba Jaigirdar, author of one of Time‘s Best YA books of all time, gives Titanic an Ocean’s 8 makeover in this nail-biting heist set onboard the infamous ship.

Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales
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A girl enters a reality dating competition to get revenge on her cheating, royal-adjacent ex-boyfriend, and ends up falling for another girl on the show—in fact, the girl he cheated on her with.

The Widowmaker by Hannah Morrissey
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A wealthy family shrouded in scandal; a detective tasked with solving an impossible cold case; and a woman with a dark past collide in Hannah Morrissey’s stunning new Black Harbor mystery, The Widowmaker.

A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson
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Sometimes two cooks in the kitchen are better than one in this swoony romantic comedy from the author of I’m So (Not) Over You.

The Last Invitation by Darby Kane
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Darby Kane, the author of the critically acclaimed and #1 International Bestseller Pretty Little Wife, has crafted another gripping and twisty suspense about an invitation to an exclusive club that comes with deadly consequences.

Acting the Part by Z.R. Ellor
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This delightfully tropey teen romance perfect for fans of Ashley Poston and Lyla Lee follows a queer teen actor navigating their gender identity—while pretending to date their co-star.  

All the Dark Places by Terri Parlato
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A savage murder rocks a quiet Massachusetts suburb, revealing the dark secrets at the center of a group of friends and setting two women – one with a traumatic past, the other a Boston police detective – on a hunt for truth in this stylish debut thriller for fans of Megan Miranda and Shari Lapena…

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
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For readers of Station Eleven and Where the Crawdads Sing comes a hopeful, sweeping story of survival and resilience spanning one extraordinary woman’s lifetime as she navigates the uncertainty, brutality, and arresting beauty of a rapidly changing world.

The Key to My Heart: A Novel by Lia Louis
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A heartwarming novel about hope after loss as a young widow receives mysterious messages of love from the “must-buy author” (Jodi Picoult) of Eight Perfect Hours.

The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
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My Dark Vanessa meets The Queen’s Gambit in this new novel of suspense about the bonds of family, the limits of talent, the risks of ambition, and the rewards of revenge.

Witcha Gonna Do by Avery Flynn
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An unlucky witch and her know-it-all nemesis must team up in the first of a new, spicy romantic comedy series from USA Today bestselling author Avery Flynn.

What July to December releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Get Your Hands On These Anticipated July To December 2022 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.