Sadly, this century’s 20s have so far failed to provide us with the glamor and sultry decadence we associate with the original Roaring 20s. I know I’m not the only one who moped her way through lockdown while fantasizing about the excessive and perhaps even destructive 1920s-style parties that would hopefully emerge on the other side of the pandemic. Sadly, two years into our own 20s and still no mysterious self-made billionaire is inviting us to parties huge and lavish enough to draw his long-lost love along with the crowds of free-loaders. And so, as it so often does, it falls to books to make up for the deficiencies of reality. Here are six fabulous new and upcoming books set in the 1920s with all the glitz and adventure we’ve been missing.

RISE OF THE SNAKE GODDESS by Jenny Elder Moke
(June 7th, 2022)

Samantha Knox is back for another adventure in this 1920s female-driven mystery-adventure series!

Sam Knox’s second adventure takes her to the island of Crete, just off the coast of Greece, where she discovers the ancient Snake Goddess’s golden girdle in the depths of a cave shrine that has been buried for decades. After having been belittled by her archaeology professor throughout her first college semester, Sam knows this triumph will prove her worth in the field, but before she can take credit for the find, the girdle is stolen and the island is hit with a series of earthquakes that don’t feel quite geological.

Soon Sam, Bennett and Jo are embroiled in a wild hunt―one that takes them to tiny island shops, a glamorous auction party and a near fiery death―to find the girdle before someone can use it to raise an ancient goddess from her slumber. The final battle features gryphons, a labyrinth, the minotaur of legend and lots of snakes. Lots.

OUR VIOLENT ENDS by Chloe Gong
(November 16th, 2021)

The year is 1927, and Shanghai teeters on the edge of revolution.

After sacrificing her relationship with Roma to protect him from the blood feud, Juliette has been a girl on the warpath. One wrong move, and her cousin will step in to usurp her place as the Scarlet Gang’s heir. The only way to save the boy she loves from the wrath of the Scarlets is to have him want her dead for murdering his best friend in cold blood. If Juliette were actually guilty of the crime Roma believes she committed, his rejection might sting less.

Roma is still reeling from Marshall’s death, and his cousin Benedikt will barely speak to him. Roma knows it’s his fault for letting the ruthless Juliette back into his life, and he’s determined to set things right—even if that means killing the girl he hates and loves with equal measure.

Then a new monstrous danger emerges in the city, and though secrets keep them apart, Juliette must secure Roma’s cooperation if they are to end this threat once and for all. Shanghai is already at a boiling point: The Nationalists are marching in, whispers of civil war brew louder every day, and gangster rule faces complete annihilation. Roma and Juliette must put aside their differences to combat monsters and politics, but they aren’t prepared for the biggest threat of all: protecting their hearts from each other.

A SISTERHOOD OF SECRET AMBITIONS by Sheena Boekweg
(June 1, 2021)

Behind every powerful man is a trained woman, and behind every trained woman is the Society. It started with tea parties and matchmaking, but is now a countrywide secret. Gossips pass messages in recipes, Spinsters train to fight, and women work together to grant safety to abused women and children. The Society is more than oaths—it is sisterhood and purpose.

In 1926, seventeen-year-old Elsie is dropped off in a new city with four other teenage girls. All of them have trained together since childhood to become the Wife of a powerful man. But when they learn that their next target is earmarked to become President, their mission becomes more than just an assignment; this is a chance at the most powerful position in the Society. All they have to do is make one man fall in love with them first.

FIRE BECOMES HER by Rosiee Thor
(February 1st, 2022)

In Rosiee Thor’s lavish fantasy novel with a Jazz Age spark, a politically savvy teen must weigh her desire to climb the social ladder against her heart in a world where magic buys votes.

Flare is power.

With only a drop of flare, one can light the night sky with fireworks . . . or burn a building to the ground — and seventeen-year-old Ingrid Ellis wants her fair share.

Ingrid doesn’t have a family fortune, monetary or magical, but at least she has a plan: Rise to the top on the arm of Linden Holt, heir to a hefty political legacy and the largest fortune of flare in all of Candesce. Her only obstacle is Linden’s father who refuses to acknowledge her.

So when Senator Holt announces his run for president, Ingrid uses the situation to her advantage. She strikes a deal to spy on the senator’s opposition in exchange for his approval and the status she so desperately craves. But the longer Ingrid wears two masks, the more she questions where her true allegiances lie.

Will she stand with the Holts, or will she forge her own path?

DEAD DEAD GIRLS by Nekesa Afia
(June 1st, 2021)

Harlem, 1926. Young black girls like Louise Lloyd are ending up dead.

Following a harrowing kidnapping ordeal when she was in her teens, Louise is doing everything she can to maintain a normal life. She’s succeeding, too. She spends her days working at Maggie’s Café and her nights at the Zodiac, Manhattan’s hottest speakeasy. Louise’s friends might say she’s running from her past and the notoriety that still stalks her, but don’t tell her that.

When a girl turns up dead in front of the café, Louise is forced to confront something she’s been trying to ignore–several local black girls have been murdered over the past few weeks. After an altercation with a local police officer gets her arrested, Louise is given an ultimatum: She can either help solve the case or let a judge make an example of her.

Louise has no choice but to take the case and soon finds herself toe-to-toe with a murderous mastermind. She’ll have to tackle her own fears and the prejudices of New York City society if she wants to catch a killer and save her own life in the process.

THE CHOSEN AND THE BEAUTIFUL by Nghi Vo
(June 1st, 2021)

Immigrant. Socialite. Magician.

Jordan Baker grows up in the most rarefied circles of 1920s American society―she has money, education, a killer golf handicap, and invitations to some of the most exclusive parties of the Jazz Age. She’s also queer, Asian, adopted, and treated as an exotic attraction by her peers, while the most important doors remain closed to her.

But the world is full of wonders: infernal pacts and dazzling illusions, lost ghosts and elemental mysteries. In all paper is fire, and Jordan can burn the cut paper heart out of a man. She just has to learn how.

Nghi Vo’s debut novel reinvents this classic of the American canon as a coming-of-age story full of magic, mystery, and glittering excess, and introduces a major new literary voice.

The post 6 Glitzy 1920s-Set Novels with All the Adventure We’ve Been Missing appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The YA genre is not holding back when it comes to 2022’s upcoming book releases! Between the months of January and June, readers are going to be delighted as to what they can get their hands on with books from favourite authors, to those making their debut!

From stories of love, magic, and mystery, to retellings, anthologies, and sequels, you will surely find several new reads to add to your TBR and we apologies in advance for adding to it!

Looking for more releases? Check out our Most Anticipated 2022 Releases and our Must-Have 2022 Queer Releases.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below which ones you’re looking forward to!

JANUARY

When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A bighearted novel about falling in love, making a mess, and learning to let go, When You Get the Chance is the next effervescent novel from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of the Reese Witherspoon YA Book Club pick You Have a Match.

Hopepunk by Preston Norton
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A heartfelt and funny new novel about forgiveness and redemption, and about how hope is the ultimate act of rebellion, perfect for fans of John Green and Becky Albertalli.

The Red Palace by June Hur
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

June Hur, critically acclaimed author of The Silence of Bones and The Forest of Stolen Girls, returns with The Red Palace—a third evocative, atmospheric historical mystery perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Kerri Maniscalco.

Into The Midnight Void by Mara Fitzgerald
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Fans of Holly Black and Kendare Blake will obsess over the conclusion to this deliciously dark YA fantasy duology!

Serendipity, edited by Marissa Meyer
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From stories of first love, unrequited love, love that surprises, love that’s been there all along, 10 of the brightest and award-winning authors writing YA have taken on some of your favourite romantic tropes, embracing them and turning them on their heads. Readers will fall for this collection of stories that celebrate love at its most humorous, inclusive, heart-expanding, and serendipitous. Contributors include Elise Bryant, Elizabeth Eulberg, Leah Johnson, Anna-Marie McLemore, Marissa Meyer, Sandhya Menon, Julie Murphy, Caleb Roehrig, Sarah Winifred Searle, and Abigail Hing Wen.

Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Kathryn Barker’s Waking Romeo is a spectacularly genre-bending retelling of Romeo & Juliet asking the big questions about true love, fate, and time travel

Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Meg Long’s Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a captivating debut about survival, found family, and the bond between a girl and a wolf that delivers a fresh twist on classic survival stories and frontier myths.

Salaam, with Love by Sara Sharaf Beg
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This heartfelt and humorous YA contemporary follows Dua, who spends the month of Ramadan making unexpected discoveries about family, faith, and first love.

Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Prepare yourself for something unlike anything: A smash-up of art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is to be Black. In America. Right Now. Written by #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jason Reynolds.

The Kindred by Alechia Dow
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

To save a galactic kingdom from revolution, Kindred mind-pairings were created to ensure each and every person would be seen and heard, no matter how rich or poor…

Medusa by Jessie Burton
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A dazzling, feminist retelling of Greek myth from the internationally bestselling author of The Miniaturist, stunningly illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill.

Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A gothic tale full of mystery and romance about a willful female surgeon, a resurrection man who sells bodies for a living, and the buried secrets they must uncover together.

FEBRUARY

And We Rise by Erica Martin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A powerful, impactful, eye-opening journey that explores through the Civil Rights Movement in 1950s-1960s America in spare and evocative verse, with historical photos interspersed throughout.

Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity by Angela Velez
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Booksmart meets Never Have I Ever in this Latinx road trip adventure—a big-hearted, voice-driven YA about two sisters who couldn’t be more different, but become begrudging partners on their school’s cross-country college trip—from debut author Angela Velez.

Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Extasia by Claire Legrand
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From New York Times bestselling author Claire LeGrand comes a new, bone-chilling YA horror novel about a girl who joins a coven to root out a vicious evil that’s stalking her village. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Grace Year.

All the Right Reasons by Bethany Mangle
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Bachelor meets Gilmore Girls in this laugh-out-loud young adult romance about a girl who joins her mother on a reality dating show for single parents—only to fall for a contestant’s son.

League of Liars by Astrid Scholte
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this fantasy thriller, four teens charged with murder and the illegal use of magic band together to devise the ultimate jailbreak. Perfect for fans of Six of Crows and How to Get Away with Murder.

You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this compelling and thought-provoking debut novel, after a terrorist attack rocks the country and anti-Islamic sentiment stirs, three Black Muslim girls create a space where they can shatter assumptions and share truths.

Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A spellbinding story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. Immerse yourself in the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series.

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A heartbreaking novel about finding your first love and what happens when it’s over too soon. Ashley Schumacher’s Full Flight is about how first love shapes us—even after it’s gone. 

Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For fans of Sandhya Menon and Adam Silvera, a prom-night romantic-comedy romp about a Sikh teen’s search for love and identity

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The sweeping romance of Passenger meets the dark fantasy edge of This Savage Song in this stunning contemporary fantasy debut from Vanessa Len, where the line between monster and hero is razor thin.

These Deadly Games by Diana Urban
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Author of All Your Twisted Secrets, Diana Urban’s explosive sophomore novel, These Deadly Games, will keep you riveted until the final twist is revealed.

MARCH

The One True Me and You by Remi K. England
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A big-hearted, joyful romance and a love letter to all things geek, Remi K. England’s The One True Me and You is a *witness me* celebration of standing up for, and being, yourself.

Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This Pride & Prejudice retelling brings New York Times bestselling Sayantani DasGupta’s trademark wit and insight to her bright and funny YA debut!

A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, Traci Chee, comes a Japanese-influenced fantasy brimming with demons, adventure, and plans gone awry.

This Golden State by Marit Weisenberg
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Marit Weisenberg’s This Golden State follows a family on the run, a restless teenage daughter hungry for the truth, and the simple DNA test that threatens their carefully crafted world

Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A smart, sexy YA novel about a boy band star, his first breakup, his first rebound, and what it means to be queer in the public eye, from award-winning author Adib Khorram.

Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A ragtag band of misfits gets swept up in Holy Land politics in Travelers Along the Way by Aminah Mae Safi, a thrilling YA remix of the classic legend of Robin Hood.

Message Not Found by Dante Medema
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An emotionally complex portrayal of secrets, loss, and grief from Dante Medema, Indies Introduce author of the Indie Next Pick title The Truth Project. 

A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of Sing Me Forgotten comes a lush new fantasy novel with an art-based magic system, romance, and murder…

Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For fans of Jenny Han and Jane Austen, a rom-com that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt about the unexpected consequences of one teen’s quest to help her friends find love, from the author of A Taste for Love.

Cinder & Glass by Melissa de la Cruz
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Blockbuster author Melissa de la Cruz’s YA retelling of Cinderella, set in 17th Century Versailles.

The Book of Living Secrets by Madeleine Roux
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Perfect for fans of The Hazel Wood, this genre-bending page-turner from New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Roux follows two girls who transport themselves into the world of their favorite book only to encounter the sinister alternate reality that awaits them. 

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A romantic YA fantasy perfect for fans of Erin A. Craig and Margaret Rogerson, about two people who find themselves competing for glory – and each other’s hearts – in a magical fox hunt.

APRIL

Year on Fire by Julie Buxbaum
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

What secrets will people keep—or reveal—to protect those they love? This novel, set against the frightening backdrop of an encroaching fire season, sparks reflection about friendship, the allure of romantic love, and loyalty to family.

This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Fountains of Silence meets Spinning Silver in this rollicking tale set amid the 1956 Hungarian revolution in post-WWII Communist Budapest from Sydney Taylor Honor winner Katherine Locke.

Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

They Wish They Were Us meets The Queen’s Gambit in the world of competitive Scrabble when a teen girl is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend a year after the fact when her Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts and messages.

K-Pop Revolution by Stephan Lee
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

She thought that debuting in a K-Pop band was the finish line, but it was only the beginning. Because now it’s not only her company judging her—it’s the entire world. If K-Pop Confidential was about finding your voice, K-pop Revolution is about finding the courage to stand by your beliefs, even when powerful forces are trying to shame and silence you.

My Dearest Darkest by Kayla Cottingham
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Wilder Girls meets The Craft in this Sapphic horror debut that asks: what price would you be willing to pay to achieve your deepest desires?

Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sarah Dessen meets Adam Silvera in the debut YA romance everyone is talking about!

Very Bad People by Kit Frick
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this dark academia young adult thriller for fans of The Female of the Species and People Like Us, a teen girl’s search for answers about her mother’s mysterious death leads to a powerful secret society at her new boarding school—and a dangerous game of revenge that will leave her forever changed.

My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by Sajni Patel
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A fresh, witty rom-com romp set against the backdrop of a high-profile music competition and a riotous Indian wedding.

Flirting With Fate by J.C. Cervantes
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Jane the Virgin meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes’s charming, romantic YA debut.

This May End Badly by Samantha Markum
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When a high stakes boarding school prank war leads to a fake dating scheme, two teens must decide if they are ready to take the ultimate risk — falling in love.

The Genesis Wars by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Black Mirror meets Marie Lu’s Warcross in Nami’s continuing adventures as she fights to free her friends in this high-stakes sequel to The Infinity Courts by award-winning author Akemi Dawn Bowman.

All the Best Liars by Amelia Kahaney
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Amelia Kahaney’s All the Best Liars is a dark, modern psychological thriller and coming-of-age story about obsession, manipulation, and the intensity of those first friendships that take hold of you and never let go

MAY

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of Today Tonight Tomorrow comes a magical romance in the vein of Groundhog Day about a girl forced to relive her disastrous first day of college—only to discover that her nemesis is stuck in the time loop with her.

Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An ancient city plagued by dragons. A flamenco dancer determined to save her ancestral home. A dragon hunter refusing to teach her his ways. They don’t want each other, but they need each other, and without him her world will burn.

Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Salem’s Lot meets The Darkest Part of the Forest in this horror-fantasy retelling of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market.”

A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New from the author of Counting Down with You comes a sparkling YA romance about an aspiring screenwriter who falls for the indie film star who goes undercover at her school.

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Who killed Brooke Donovan? It’s the biggest mystery of the summer, and everyone in Castle Cove thinks it’s the wrong guy. Fans of One of Us Is Lying and Riverdale can’t miss this page-turning who-done-it that’s sure to be the next must read Young Adult thriller!

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this complex and emotionally resonant novel about a Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth.

Destination Unknown by Bill Konigsberg
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From Stonewall Award winner Bill Konigsberg, a remarkable, funny, sexy, heartbreaking story of two teen boys finding each other in New York City at the height of the AIDS epidemic.

Murder for the Modern Girl by Kendall Kulper
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Gatsby-era glamour, a swoon-worthy love story, and an indomitable heroine dazzle in this romp that captures the extravagance of the Roaring Twenties and the dangers of vigilante justice.

Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Hitch meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this witty and romantic teen novel about a self-professed teen love doctor with a popular radio segment who believes he can get a girl who hates all things romance to fall in love with him in only three dates.

Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

What would you do if the world’s biggest K-pop star asked you to prom? Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sandhya Menon, this hilarious and heartfelt novel brings the glamour and drama of the K-pop world straight to high school.

All Signs Point to Yes, edited by G. Haron Davis, Cam Montgomery, and Adrianne White
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A YA anthology of love stories for each of the star signs that will showcase multicultural characters and celebrate the myriad facets of love, from meet-cutes to the lesser-explored love expressed by aromantic people, featuring 13 bestselling and award-winning multicultural authors.

A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Half-fae Arlo becomes entangled in the courtly intrigue at the Seelie Summer palace as danger for ironborns mounts in this gripping sequel to A Dark and Hollow Star that’s The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones.

JUNE

Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Secrets. Lies. Super-bad choices. Witchcraft. This is Our Crooked Hearts, a darkly gripping contemporary fantasy from Melissa Albert, the New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

The Song That Moves the Sun by Anna Bright
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This sweeping YA fantasy romance full of star-crossed love, complex female friendship, and astrological magic is perfect for fans of Laini Taylor, Alexandra Bracken, and V.E. Schwab. From the acclaimed author of The Beholder.

This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Emily Thiede’s exciting fantasy debut, This Vicious Grace, will keep readers turning the pages until the devastating conclusion and leave them primed for more!

Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the sequel to Victoria Aveyard’s instant #1 New York Times bestselling Realm Breaker, a divided world must rally, an unstoppable enemy must be defeated, and the fate of the world rests on a blade’s edge.

This Place Is Still Beautiful by XiXi Tian
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A sweeping debut novel about first love, complicated family dynamics, and the pernicious legacy of racism. Perfect for fans of Tahereh Mafi, Jandy Nelson, and Emily X.R. Pan, with crossover appeal for readers of Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half and Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You.

Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Two teen vigilantes set off on an action-packed investigation to expose corruption and deliver justice in Valiant Ladies, Melissa Grey’s YA historical fiction novel inspired by real seventeenth century Latinx teenagers known as the Valiant Ladies of Potosí.

Rise of the Vicious Princess by C.J. Redwine
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The first in a YA political fantasy duology about a fierce princess determined to bring lasting peace to her kingdom regardless of the cost to her heart —from C.J. Redwine, the author of the Defiance series and the New York Times bestselling Ravenspire series. Perfect for fans of These Violent Delights, And I Darken, and Ash Princess.

Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Dream Runners by Shveta Thakrar
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Go Hunt Me by Kelly deVos
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For Dracula lovers and fans of Diana Urban’s All Your Twisted Secrets, this spine-tingling thriller follows seven horror buffs as their dream trip to a remote Romanian castle turns into a nightmare when they begin to be killed one by one.

Game of Strength and Storm by Rachel Menard
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Game of Strength and Storm is a YA gender-bent Hercules retelling. Teenagers of Olympia Gen and Castor race to be the first to complete six nearly impossible challenges to obtain their greatest desire. Only one will win. The other walks away with nothing—if she walks away at all.

Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

I Killed Zoe Spanos meets The Cheerleaders in this haunting mystery about an island town with a history of unsolved deaths—and a girl desperate to uncover the mystery behind it all.

What 2022 YA book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 72 Upcoming YA Book Releases To Add To Your TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Thea longs to step outside the looming shadow cast by her intense mother and become an alchemist in her own right. But when her mother creates, then destroys in a fit of madness, the famed Philosopher’s Stone, Thea finds herself sent off to Oxford and a father she has never known. The alchemists in Oxford, her father amongst them, do not believe Thea about the madness caused by the stone and seek to create the stone for their own glory. With treachery and madness circling her, Thea must find a way to master the stone’s curse and save those she loves.

This is a solid debut from Samantha Cohoe. You can see the time and effort put into studying the time period, alchemy, and the creation of atmosphere. But to my dismay, there seemed to be little put into character building beyond Thea, and though she is a mostly admirable main character, everything falls flat around her, leaving the story somewhat lacklustre.

So, let’s start with the good: atmosphere. A Golden Fury is rich with atmosphere. From the idyllic, golden spring in France that becomes marred with Thea’s mother’s descent into madness to the dreary, mysterious Oxford where Thea must navigate the gentleman scholar’s world.  You can practically feel the worlds around you as Cohoe builds her scenes. Whether you are a historical fiction reader or not, it would be difficult to not get swept away in Cohoe’s writing style.

Thea starts off as a strong and smart 17-yea- old girl, who has the spirit that is held back by her mother’s ego and the patriarchy of that time period. Seeing the complexities of Thea’s relationship with her mother unfold is enthralling and you could see the internal dilemma of loving a parent, but needing to break free from their hold. Thea’s character continues to cut through the chapters as she comes face to face with her father and his colleagues. She never backs down and you come to love her for that. Then enters the lost first love and all that strength goes right out the window.

The problem is that Will and Thea’s romance mostly happens before the story, which leaves us with very little feeling about the feelings Thea has for Will. Yes, there is some rehashing of their past in the beginning of the book, but it doesn’t do enough to believable build up Thea throwing away her sanity for this boy that the reader will clearly be able to see is a wastrel. Had there been less emphasis on Will being the main reason for her choices, Thea could have come out of this story with more respect. While there is something to be said for the fact that Thea is 17 and “everyone makes silly choices when it comes to first love”, but the execution left Thea looking like a love sick idiot, rather than the strong, smart young woman I had hoped she would be.

The rest of the cast of characters get very little development, which is a shame. I would have loved a bit more about Thea’s mother, a lot more of Dominic, way more of Valentin, and hell, even more of Thea’s fool of a father. There was so much potential for a full, rich cast of characters, but it never came to be.

The same could be said about the plot. While it started strong, the moment Will shows up, the story stalls out. And while the alchemy was fascinating, I felt that it was overshadowed by the dramatics of the end plot.

At the end of the day, A Golden Fury just suffered from a want of more. More strength, more plot, more remembering that first loves in the 1700s are probably just going to screw you over in the end. Though there were a few missteps in this debut, Samantha Cohoe definitely shows potential for dark and decadent fiction and I look forward to seeing what she has in store for us in the future.

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

Will you be picking up A Golden Fury? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Thea Hope longs to be an alchemist out of the shadow of her famous mother. The two of them are close to creating the legendary Philosopher’s Stone—whose properties include immortality and can turn any metal into gold—but just when the promise of the Stone’s riches is in their grasp, Thea’s mother destroys the Stone in a sudden fit of violent madness.

While combing through her mother’s notes, Thea learns that there’s a curse on the Stone that causes anyone who tries to make it to lose their sanity. With the threat of the French Revolution looming, Thea is sent to Oxford for her safety, to live with the father who doesn’t know she exists.

But in Oxford, there are alchemists after the Stone who don’t believe Thea’s warning about the curse—instead, they’ll stop at nothing to steal Thea’s knowledge of how to create the Stone. But Thea can only run for so long, and soon she will have to choose: create the Stone and sacrifice her sanity, or let the people she loves die.

The post Review: A Golden Fury by Samantha Cohoe appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi Samantha! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer some questions for The Nerd Daily. First, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

Hi Kibby! I’m a Californian exile in Colorado, mother of several children, married to a philosopher. Until very recently, I was a Latin teacher, and before that I was a personal chef. Now I write books and tend to my very old and whimsical house. (There’s a library with a secret passage and a hobbit playhouse!)

Now tell us about A Golden Fury. What can readers expect?

A Golden Fury is a dark but hopeful story about the cost of ambition and the difficulty of finding your place in the world. Readers can expect a sharp heroine who is fiercely intelligent but not always wise.   The story is a mix of historical fiction, fantasy, and horror. The horror wasn’t really on purpose! The first time a reader remarked on the horror elements, I was a bit surprised, but they were right.

What was the process of writing this novel like? And what was one of your favorite parts of the writing process?

The writing process for A GOLDEN FURY was delightfully easy. This was the second story I’d written. The first took seven years of flailing, so I was really pleased to discover that this time around, I kind of knew how to do it! In particular, Thea’s mind was a really easy place for me to inhabit. I just knew her right away. That doesn’t always happen for me.

One of the things I loved most about this novel was how smart Thea was, and how her strength came from something other than a physical characteristic, like swordsmanship or fighting ability. Were there any influential women in your life or characters who inspired you to write a heroine like this?

Thank you! Yes, as much as I enjoy a good sword-fighting heroine, I’ve never identified with them. The women I look up to most have strength of character and will and mind. I’ve never seen any of them throw a punch. Not that I think they wouldn’t if the situation called for it! But I wanted to write a heroine who exemplified the kind of strength that I’ve found more useful in life.

Was alchemy something you researched before deciding to write A Golden Fury or did the research come afterwards? And what was the research process for this novel like?

I’ve always been fascinated by alchemy! Who doesn’t love a study that’s equal parts philosophy, theology, science, and magic? And if you’re interested in those subjects, as I am, alchemy keeps popping up in the weirdest places! So I would say I had a general awareness of it that inspired A Golden Fury, and then got to really dig in once I decided to write it. I spent a lot of time reading general historical books and listening to podcasts. One book in particular, The Secrets of Alchemy by Laurence Principe, was very helpful, because it laid out, very practically, many experiments that alchemists had done. I learned about alchemical processes and instruments from that.

A Golden Fury has one of my favorite covers of 2020 (Seriously, the Wednesday Books design time is always on point!). Did you get to be involved in the process at all and what was it like seeing the final cover design for the first time?

Thank you so much. I completely agree, I feel incredibly lucky to have the Wednesday Books design team (especially Kerri Resnick!) for my books. They were very good about involving me in the process. I was invited to send some ideas, cover comps, and inspirations to them early on, and then Kerri asked for my input on the early cover draft. I liked the initial drafts pretty well, but when I saw the final version I gasped so loudly my husband came running from the next room. I couldn’t be happier with it — and it looks SO gorgeous with the shiny gold foil!

Debut years always seem to be wild for novelists, but 2020 has been particularly odd (I can’t imagine any debut authors had “an actual pandemic” on their debut year bingo card). Even with things in the literary world being a bit chaotic, what have been some memorable debut author moments? And what are looking forward to after A Golden Fury releases?

It has been wild. I would say for me that my most memorable moments so far were cover-related. Seeing the design for the first time, my cover reveal on instagram with some really talented bookstagram accounts, seeing the hard-cover in person. That’s what has really brought home that my book is real now. The other thing, of course, is getting to see readers love the book and find something meaningful in it. It’s still amazing to me that something that existed only in my mind is now out there in the world having an impact on people.

And as far as what I’m looking forward to most — just the other day my younger son asked if my book will be in Barnes and Noble. I asked if he would respect me more if it were and he said yes, so I’m looking forward to taking him to Barnes and Noble to see my book and gain his respect. : )

Do you have any writing traditions that help get you in the right mindset for writing?

Yes, I get on the internet and mess around until I hate myself. I find that to be the perfect mindset for creative activity. : ) I’m in the market for new writing traditions, actually!

If you could recommend any 2020 book to our readers, what would you choose?

Ahhhh, you monster, this is so hard. OK, I’m going to cheat and pick a book that isn’t kidlit, because I can’t pick just one of those. An adult fantasy I loved recently was THE VANISHED QUEEN by Lisbeth Campbell. I recommend it for lovers of thoughtful fantasy with lush world-building who are feeling in the mood for revolution.

And lastly, can you tell us anything about what you are working on next?

 My next YA fantasy with Wednesday comes out Fall 2021! I think of it as Shakespeare’s Tempest meets The Great Gatsby. It’s got a glamorous, magical family behaving very badly, a mystery, and a stubbornly determined heroine. I can’t wait to share more about it!

Will you be picking up A Golden Fury? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Samantha Cohoe, Author of ‘A Golden Fury’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow (February 26, 2020)
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Can a girl who risks her life for books and an alien who loves forbidden pop music work together to save humanity? Ellie and M0Rr1S embark on a wild and dangerous road trip with a bag of books and their favorite albums, all the while making a story and a song of their own that just might save them both.

A Golden Fury by Samantha Cohoe (Release Date: October 13, 2020)
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In her debut novel, Samantha Cohoe weaves a story of magic and danger, where the streets of Oxford and London come to life, and the curse of the Philosopher’s Stone will haunt you long after the final page.

Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan (Release Date: 2020)
Goodreads 

Told in a dual POV narrative reminiscent of Ember in the Ashes, Jade Fire Gold is a YA fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology and folk tales. Epic in scope but intimate in characterization, fans of classic fantasies by Tamora Pierce and the magical Asiatic setting of Avatar: The Last Airbender will enjoy this cinematic tale of family, revenge, and forgiveness.

Beyond the Ruby Veil by Mara Fitzgerald (Release Date: October 13, 2020)
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After endangering their city’s waning water supply, Emanuela and Ale must travel through the mysterious, blood red veil that surrounds the city in order to uncover the secrets of the watercrea’s magic and find a way to save Occhia–by any means necessary.

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar (Release Date: August 11, 2020)
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Neil Gaiman’s Stardust meets a rich landscape of Hindu mythology and celestial intrigue in this sparkling YA fantasy debut.

Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles (Release Date: June 2, 2020)
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Where Dreams Descend is the startling and romantic first book in Janella Angeles’ debut Kingdom of Cards fantasy duology where magic is both celebrated and feared, and no heart is left unscathed.

Goddess in the Machine by Lora Beth Johnson (Release Date: June 30, 2020)
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When a girl wakes from a cryogenic sleep on a planet she doesn’t recognize, she must team up with the mysterious soldier who woke her to navigate a future world where technology is considered magic and its practitioners revered as Deities.

Shielded by KayLynn Flanders (Release Date: July 21, 2020)
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For fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Furyborn comes a thrilling new fantasy about a kingdom ravaged by war, and the princess who might be the key to saving not only those closest to her, but the kingdom itself, if she reveals the very secret that could destroy her.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna (Release Date: May 26, 2020)
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The start of a bold and immersive West African-inspired, feminist fantasy series for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Black Panther. In this world, girls are outcasts by blood and warriors by choice.

Crownchasers by Rebecca Coffindaffer (Release Date: September 29, 2020)
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Lara Croft meets Star Wars in this young adult space opera, in which a wisecracking intergalactic adventurer becomes the odds-on favorite to win a deadly, cross-galaxy contest to become the quadrant’s next emperor; too bad she has no intention of winning.

Don’t Call the Wolf by Aleksandra Ross (Release Date: April 28, 2020)
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A forest, besieged. A queen, unyielding. Fans of Leigh Bardugo and Holly Black will devour this deliciously dark Eastern European–inspired YA fantasy debut.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (Release Date: September 15, 2020)
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Filled with mystery and an intriguingly rich magic system, Tracy Deonn’s YA contemporary fantasy Legendborn offers the dark allure of City of Bones with a modern-day twist on a classic legend and a lot of Southern Black Girl Magic.

Elysium Girls by Kate Pentecost (Release Date: April 14, 2020)
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In this sweeping Dust Bowl-inspired fantasy, a ten-year game between Life and Death pits the walled Oklahoma city of Elysium-including a girl gang of witches and a demon who longs for humanity-against the supernatural in order to judge mankind.

Queen of Coin and Whispers by Helen Corcoran (Release Date: April 23, 2020)
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When teenage queen Lia inherits her corrupt uncle’s bankrupt kingdom, she brings a new spymaster into the fold … Xania, who takes the job to avenge her murdered father. Faced with dangerous plots and hidden enemies, can Lia and Xania learn to rely on each other, as they discover that all is not fair in love and treason?

In the Shadow of the Sun by EM Castellan (Release Date: February 11, 2020)
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France, 1661 – Henriette of England must navigate her arranged marriage to Louis XIV’s brother while keeping her magical abilities a careful secret from all at the Sun King’s court, but when a mysterious sorcerer uses a forbidden spell to murder royal magicians, she must decide if she will reveal her powers to help Louis defeat him and build a new, enchanted seat of power — the Palace of Versailles.

The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska (Release Date: June 2, 2020)
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The Wicked Deep meets A Curse So Dark and Lonely in this gripping, dark fairy-tale fantasy about two girls who must choose between saving themselves, each other, or their sinking island city.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne Brown (Release Date: June 2, 2020)
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The first in an immersive fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing attraction.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (Release Date: June 9, 2020)
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A trans boy determined to prove his gender to his conservative Latinx family summons a ghost who refuses to leave in this paranormal YA debut.

The Ninth Life by Taylor B. Barton (Release Date: September 15, 2020)
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Filled with heart, hope and beautiful prose, The Ninth Life is a wonderful, weird and unforgettable novel for readers looking for something unique, honest and real.

A Miracle of Roses by Diana Pinguicha  (Release Date: December 1, 2020)
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A Miracle of Roses is an f/f #OwnVoices retelling of the Portuguese miracle of the same name, where the Princess of Aragon enters a bargain with an Enchanted Moura so she can reverse her gift that turns all the food she touches into flowers.

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

The post 20 SFF YA Debuts To Watch Out For In 2020 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.