Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
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From USA Today bestselling author T. Kingfisher, Thornhedge is the tale of a kind-hearted, toad-shaped heroine, a gentle knight, and a mission gone completely sideways.

Medusa’s Sisters by Lauren J. A. Bear
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The story follows the lives of Medusa and her sisters, Stheno and Euryale, through their various adventures and encounters with mortals and Greek Gods. As they struggle against the inherent conflict between sisterhood and individuality, myth and truth, vengeance and peace, Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa’s story will keep readers hooked until the very last page

Bridge by Lauren Beukes
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A grieving daughter’s search for her mother becomes a journey across alternate realities in Bridge, a wildly entertaining, reality-bending new thriller from Lauren Beukes, author of the AppleTV+ smash hit The Shining Girls.

The Midnight Kingdom by Tara Sim
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The second book in Tara Sim’s sweeping dark fantasy series, in which the four heirs to four noble houses—each gifted with a divine power—must defy their gods in a fight for the fate of the world. 

Where Peace Is Lost by Valerie Valdes
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A brand-new space fantasy novel from master world-builder Valerie Valdes! A refugee with a secret, a dangerous foe, and a road trip that could either save a planet or start a war. 

Cassiel’s Servant by Jacqueline Carey
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Returning to the realm of Terre d’Ange which captured an entire generation of fantasy readers, New York Times bestselling author Jacqueline Carey brings us a hero’s journey for a new era.

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
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The sequel and series conclusion to She Who Became the Sun, the accomplished, poetic debut of war and destiny, sweeping across an epic alternate China. Mulan meets The Song of Achilles.

Prophet by Sin Blaché and Helen Macdonald
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From the extraordinary minds of award-winning and New York Times–bestselling author of H Is for Hawk Helen Macdonald and first time author Sin Blaché, Prophet is their electric debut, a tantalizing adventure fusing noir, sci-fi and a slow burn queer romance―set in a universe just one perilous step from our own.

Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
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The Martian meets 127 Hours in this “powerfully humane” (Owen King, New York Times bestselling author) and scientifically accurate thriller about a scuba diver who’s been swallowed by an eighty-foot, sixty-ton sperm whale and has only one hour to escape before his oxygen runs out.

The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
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Inspired by a classic of martial arts literature, S. L. Huang’s The Water Outlaws are bandits of devastating ruthlessness, unseemly femininity, dangerous philosophies, and ungovernable gender who are ready to make history—or tear it apart.

The Blue, Beautiful World by Karen Lord
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As first contact transforms the Earth, a group of gifted visionaries race to create a new future in this wondrous science fiction novel from the award-winning author of The Best of All Possible Worlds.

Forged by Blood by Ehigbor Okosun
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A brilliant new voice brings a brilliant new novel: debut author Ehigbor Okosun’s first book in an action-packed, poignant duology inspired by Nigerian mythology–full of magic and emotion and set in a highly atmospheric, complex world in which a young woman fights to survive a tyrannical society, having everything stripped away from her, and seeks vengeance for her mother’s murder and the spilled blood of her people.

What August fantasy and sci-fi book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post August 2023 Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Her second novel Lucie Yi Is Not A Romantic is out June 21 and is available at your local indie or  here. Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter here: @HelloLaurenHo.

I love me a good, old-fashioned listicle, especially a bookish one in time for the hottest (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) quarter of the year: who has time to read chunky blocks of words when you’re zipping out to soak up the precious sun, a cold brew in one hand and aviators in another? Not you! Certainly not me either, but then again I live in the tropics, and we’re blasé about the sun. What we yearn for instead is the sweet embrace of snow, gently enveloping all the mosquitoes around us in slow, horrible, unpreventable deaths.

Anyway, where was I? Yes, for all of you anticipating summer, here’s my listicle, or an article craftily masquerading as a listicle, of all of my must-read beach reads, both current titles and backlisted ones, broken down by category with barely any plot details to help you out. So sue me, I’m a vibes girl. You’re welcome anyway.

THE LIST!

Transportive Contemporary Romance: Where We End and Begin by Jane Igharo: Lagos becomes a sizzling backdrop to a beautiful second-chance romance that also serves up a side helping of family drama.

‘Destroy me’ romance/women’s fiction: The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang: delicately wrought, beautifully fleshed out love story with a timely spotlight on burnout in the age of social media, and layered ASD rep.

Contemporary fiction featuring a woman who feels trapped by her life: Fault Lines by Emily Itami: an affair in metropolitan Tokyo unfurls to shimmering prose you can snap your fingers to. Also, Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason: Funny, poignant, layered, heartbreakingly wonderful, of a woman’s (and her family’s) experience of an unnamed mental illness.

Contemporary fiction with a polarising lead: Milk Fed by Melissa Broder. Melissa Broder’s writing, like most port-novelists, grips. Compelling, erotic and honest, it follows a young woman obsessed with her diet who becomes smitten with a froyo scooper. Bonus: Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda: a mixed-race millennial vampire dreams of eating human food—and more.

Suspenseful general adult/Women’s fiction: At Least You Have Your Health by Madi Sinha: Shady wellness business, impressionable doctor-mom, witty dialogue, Liane-Moriarty energy and pacing.

Heart-warming Fantasy: The House On The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune: I’ve never called a book ‘delightful’ until I read this.  A cozy hug of a fantasy book.

‘Hear me Roar’ Fantasy: She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan: punchy, cinematic, brilliant.

‘Destroy me’ young adult romance: You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao: Bring tissues and cancel your weekend.

Clever, compelling middle grade murder mystery from SE Asia: Queen of The Tiles by Hanna Alkaf: Hanna, who’s Malaysian like me, is the queen of fierce, character-driven writing. Twisty and fun, with great hijabi rep.

Folkloric middle grade from SE Asia: Mist Bound by Daryl Kho: Atmospheric, touching, richly illustrated and written, featuring folktales from this part of the world.

Funny, fun contemporary romance: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. Chemistry of the best kind.

General adult/women’s fiction exploring identity and culture:  Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal.

Moving Bildungsroman:  Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart: heartrending, utterly memorable from its first line.

Thriller, ish: Girl A by Abigail Dean: suspenseful and heart-breaking, it lingers.

Quiet, meditative fiction: Brood by Jackie Polzin: Wry observational humour, surprising, tender, with no fowl play (sorry! I couldn’t resist the pun!)

Sheer chaotic genre-bending fun: Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto. She took all my Asian auntie nightmares, added murder, and somehow made it LOL. Sorcery.

Sheer romance: Seven Days in June by Tia Williams: Exuberant, sexy, funny, and just absolutely smashing. Also, The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren.

Pure joyful, romcom escapism: Twelve Days in May by Niamh Hargan: Witty, delicious Cannes escapism. Also, On a Night like this by Lindsey Kelk: Nobody writes romcom like Lindsey.

Meta beach reads: Beach Read by Emily Henry. All the feels, all the prose, the angst, the banter.

A modern classic to cherish and re-read: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy: prepare to have the map of your literary world re-drawn.                        

Bonus category (auto-read writers): Am I even Asian if I don’t throw this in? And it’s a two-fer!

Poetry: Anything by Li-Young Lee

Short story collections: Anything by George Saunders

And if you liked my listicle and want more beach reads, you could check out my debut romcom/contemporary adult fiction novel, Last Tang Standing, about a woman in her early thirties who navigates societal and familial pressures to get married while she attempts to make partner at her law firm, or my second romcom/women’s fiction novel, Lucie Yi Is Not A Romantic, which follows a woman in her late thirties who attempts to have a family her way, platonically, and the fun and fallout of that decision.

The post The Ultimate Chaotic, Vibes-Only Beach Reads List appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Shelley! Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hello, and thanks for having me! I spent my errant 20s in one of those poorly-understood expat jobs that led people at parties to ask, “so, are you really a spy?” to which I’m like: have you met me? I have the social skills of a potato. I deal terribly with excitement and adventure in real life. I far prefer sitting comfortably at home in the ‘World’s Most Liveable City’ (that would be Melbourne, Australia), and putting fictional characters through the wringer.

When did you first realise that you wanted to be a writer?

I always wanted to be a writer! I was writing terrible stories and flinging them onto the internet from my teens onwards. I used to be like: I’m going to write Literature and get a Pulitzer Prize one day. I was so dumb I didn’t even realise you have to be American to be eligible for a Pulitzer. But my parents were pretty adamant that being an English major wasn’t something that would lead to, you know, being able to feed myself. So I did other things for a while. And now I’m older and wiser, and I’ve had the epiphany that you may as well write what brings you joy. A commercial romance or fantasy novel may never win a Pulitzer, but you can say as much about the world with one as you can with capital-L Literature.

Which authors did you look up to before beginning to write? Do you feel like their works have influenced your own writing?

I love beautiful prose that’s a reason to read, in its own right. I love descriptions. When I read, I want to travel to another reality. So when I was just starting to write, I was probably following classic travel writing: Wilfred Thesiger, Jonathan Raban, HV Morton. And these days I’m in awe of the great nature stylists: Helen Macdonald, Robert Macfarlane, Olivia Laing. But in terms of storytelling, I’m probably most influenced by fantasy authors like Naomi Novik, CS Pacat, Sarah Rees Brennan, and Holly Black. Their books are this perfect blend of action-adventure and emotional catharsis.

If you could describe She Who Became the Sun using just three emotions, which ones would they be?

Oh, I only need one: shame. This book is all about shame: those whose lives are driven by it, and those who refuse it. Move over, Brené Brown. We Asians know shame.

If you could talk to every reader who picks up your novel, what would you tell them? And what do you hope readers get from your novel?

I’d say: don’t learn history from this book. Seriously, don’t: I’ve taken every liberty imaginable. And it’s not a mainland Chinese TV drama of the kind you’ll see on Netflix. It’s an eastern-western mashup, in terms of both style and themes, and that’s how I intended it. I wanted to write something fun, and escapist, that was also about how what the world views as a weakness can be a strength. But apart from that: I feel like a novel needs to stand on its own. Not every reader vibes with every book, which is the natural way of the world. No amount of me telling people how they should feel about it is going to make them actually feel that.

She Who Became the Sun is a novel that toes the line between history and fiction, as it is based on the Red Turban Rebellion that took place between 1351 and 1368. What approach did you take to find that perfect balance between reality and imagination? And what was the hardest part about the process?

When it comes to history vs fiction, I think you have to be clear at the outset what kind of story you’re telling. I was never telling a story about those specific historical events. I wanted to tell a story about individuals within a system that denies them aspects of their personhood— whether that be their sexuality, or their gender, or even their right to life. It’s a story about contemporary identity, and the history is just a frame. So with that in mind, I never had any compunctions about changing what I needed to change to best serve the themes. I turned one historical figure into two characters who each exemplified one aspect of the original. I created a major character out of nothing, because I needed a specific kind of foil for my protagonist. I compressed the timeline so that plot events tracked at the same pace as the character arcs and relationships. That wasn’t so hard. The truly challenging part was creating characters who were strong enough, epic enough, to be worthy of the world-changing events they were inciting. I’m always a bit ‘meh’ about Chosen One stories where you have to work hard to suspend your disbelief about some pissy teenager’s ability to save the world. (Yes, Luke Skywalker, I’m looking at you.) It was hard coming up with a characterisation for Zhu that was both plausible as a world-conqueror, and likeable. Relatively speaking.

Desire and wanting are some of the central topics of She Who Became the Sun. Why do you feel it is important to acknowledge these feelings?

There’s so much misery in the world because of people being told, don’t want what you want. It’s part of the human condition to want. I’m not just talking sexual desire, but any kind of desire. The desire to be, or do, or have, or to experience. You can’t cut it out of people. You can tell them not to want something, you can even get them to believe it, but that desire is still going to be there on some level. Relegate it to the subconscious, but it’ll come out in all sorts of other ways that will be detrimental to everyone involved. The characters in She Who Became the Sun are constantly being told they shouldn’t want this or that. Even Zhu Yuanzhang, who says, “well, fuck that” and goes and pursues her wants anyway, does it in the most ruinous way because of how the world is set against her. As a society, we really need to stop with the endless moralising and just let people want what they want. What are we all so goddamn afraid of?

If you had to recommend a book that matches the personalities of your main characters, which ones would they be?

For Zhu Yuanzhang and her unquenchable drive for greatness: Mary Renault’s classic Fire From Heaven, which covers the early rise of Alexander the Great. For General Ouyang’s destructive self-hate: H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald, specifically the parts about the sad, cruel, closeted life of TH White.

Finally, what’s in store for you in the future?

Before the pandemic, I used to answer this question by saying, “I want to level up! I want to do a Madeline Miller, and write the Circe to my The Song of Achilles.” Ha! The hubris. As for many writers I know, 2020 crushed the creativity out of me. Now I just want to write something—anything. What I know for sure is that I’m done with imperial China. Maybe I’ll write a romance for a change of pace. Maybe it will even have a happy ending.

Will you be picking up She Who Became The Sun? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Shelley Parker-Chan, Author of ‘She Who Became The Sun’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
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Mulan meets The Song of Achilles in Shelley Parker-Chan’s She Who Became the Sun, a bold, queer, and lyrical reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty from an amazing new voice in literary fantasy.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
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In A Psalm for the Wild-Built, Hugo Award-winner Becky Chambers’s delightful new Monk & Robot series gives us hope for the future.

Notes from the Burning Age by Claire North
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Ven was once a holy man, a keeper of ancient archives. It was his duty to interpret archaic texts, sorting useful knowledge from the heretical ideas of the Burning Age—a time of excess and climate disaster. For in Ven’s world, such material must be closely guarded so that the ills that led to that cataclysmic era can never be repeated. But when the revolutionary Brotherhood approaches Ven, pressuring him to translate stolen writings that threaten everything he once held dear, his life will be turned upside down. Torn between friendship and faith, Ven must decide how far he’s willing to go to save this new world—and how much he is willing to lose.

Capture the Crown by Jennifer Estep
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Bestselling author Jennifer Estep returns to her Crown of Shards world with an all-new trilogy and a bold new heroine who protects her kingdom from magic, murder, and mayhem by moonlighting as a spy. 

Assassin’s Orbit by John Appel
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On the eve of the planet Ileri’s historic vote to join the Commonwealth, the assassination of a government minister threatens to shatter everything. Private investigator Noo Okereke and spy Meiko Ogawa join forces with police chief Toiwa to investigate – and discover clues that point disturbingly toward a threat humanity thought they had escaped. A threat that could destroy Ileri and spark an interplanetary war… unless the disparate team can work together to solve the mystery.

The Freedom Race by Lucinda Roy
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The Freedom Race, Lucinda Roy’s explosive first foray into speculative fiction, is a poignant blend of subjugation, resistance, and hope.

Sidewinders by Robert V.S. Redick
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Two brothers flee an army of fanatics across a vast and magical desert in this white-knuckle sequel to Master Assassins from Robert V.S. Redick, author of The Red Wolf Conspiracy.

The Empire’s Ruin by Brian Staveley
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Brian Staveley, author of The Emperor’s Blades, gives readers the first book in a new epic fantasy trilogy based in the world of his popular series the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, The Empire’s Ruin.

Breeder by Honni van Rijswijk
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Will Meadows is a seemingly average fifteen-year-old Westie, who lives and works in Zone F, the run-down outermost ring of the Corporation. In the future state of the Corp, a person’s value comes down to productivity: the right actions win units, the wrong ones lose them. If Will is unlucky and goes into unit debt, there’s only one place to go: the Rator. But for Zone F Breeders, things are much worse–they’re born into debt and can only accrue units through reproduction.

The Past Is Red by Catherynne M. Valente
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Catherynne M. Valente, the bestselling and award-winning creator of Space Opera and The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland returns with The Past is Red, the enchanting, dark, funny, angry story of a girl who made two terrible mistakes: she told the truth and she dared to love the world.

Savage Bounty by Matt Wallace
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The sequel to the acclaimed, spellbinding epic fantasy Savage Legion by Hugo Award–winning author Matt Wallace about a utopian city with a dark secret…and the underdogs who will expose it—or die trying.

A Desert Torn Asunder by Bradley P. Beaulieu
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The final book in The Song of the Shattered Sands series closes the epic fantasy saga in a desert setting, filled with rich worldbuilding and pulse-pounding action.

What July fantasy and sci-fi releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post July 2021 Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

We’re halfway done with 2021 and what another wild year it has been! But despite all that, we’ve had many positive things to love forward to, including more Sapphic representation in SFF Books, yes you read that correctly! Read on to discover 10 Sapphic SFF books that have released this year and you can’t get in your hands ASAP!

Persephone Station by Stina Leicht
A space opera that is very queer with a high-stakes adventure! Hugo Award Nominated author Stina Leicht creates a world full of POCs and Queer characters within the science fiction genre, friendships with representation, and exploration of gender.

The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner
From the author of Unnatural Magic comes a new historical sapphic bodyguard romance. Full of action, and Victorian feels, witches and necromancers, and a band of strong women to fight against the bad.

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
This is a reimagining of Dracula’s brides, in a lyrical and dreamy way. A story of desire, obsession, and anticipation. Sapphic yearning at opera with a gothic backdrop, a blood soaked tale where the heroine embraces monstrosity, kisses in Cathedrals, polyamorous relationships, and vengeance all await you.

A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
A wholesome Queer found family within this Toronto based urban fantasy! This is a story of revenge, vengeance, love, and friendship. A Dark and Hollow Star follows four Queer teens as their paths and worlds collide. Full of mythology, it’s blended perfectly with the modern era, fae court politics, and fury revenge.

Sweet and Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley
This novel follows Tamsin, a witch who is cursed to never love, when she meets meets Wren who is willing to provide her all the love she needs if she can save their Queendom from the magical plague. Love bargains with life-or-death consequences!

The Unbroken by C.L. Clark
An incredible epic fantasy that is politically charged, about choosing sides, and loyalty. It follows Touraine, a soldier who is off to put down a rebellious colony, and in between assassinations and murders, war rooms and politics, two girls haggle over the price of the nation and what price everyone has to pay when their destinies entangle.

Malice by Heather Walter
A sapphic queer, dark, magical retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but this time the princess doesn’t fall for the Prince, but instead she falls in love with the evil sorceress. A tale of forbidden love, a darker side of a fairytale…

These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy
A sapphic retelling of the Russian folktale The Firebird with plenty of political intrigue, a Queendom without a queen, and the sisters left with the mystery of the dead queen. Destructive magical powers, richly detailed, court politics, and a bodyguard romance will cause you to devour this book whole!

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark
A stunning fantasy story that is set in an alternate universe Cairo and comes from Nebula, Locus, and Alex Award-Winner P. Djèlí Clark. The novel follows a lesbian detective amidst murder, chaos, and magic, whilst trying to restore the peace to the city from the imposter who is trying to create unrest.

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
A bold, lyrical, queer reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty and can be described as Mulan meets Song of Achilles. This is powerful, brutal fantasy with war and an appealing anti-heroine who will do anything to achieve her goal. Emotionally charging, unforgiving, brutal, and blood soaked.

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

The post 10 Recent Sapphic SFF Book Releases You Will Love appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

With half of 2021 almost behind us, it’s now time to start looking towards the next six months, and more importantly, the new books releasing between July and December 2021! Your to-buy lists are about to become even longer as it’s packed with books you’ll want to have your hands on ASAP from debut authors, as well as releases from some favourites, including Elizabeth Lim, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Samantha Downing, Anthony Ryan, TJ Klune, and so many more!

Read on to discover a few of our picks and be sure to tell us in the comments if you are looking forward to any of them too, plus stay tuned for our genre specific round-ups!

JULY 2021

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
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A fast-paced, thrilling horror novel that follows a group of heroines to die for, from the brilliant New York Times bestselling author of The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires.

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
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Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who is cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town… where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong. 

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
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Mulan meets The Song of Achilles in Shelley Parker-Chan’s She Who Became the Sun, a bold, queer, and lyrical reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty from an amazing new voice in literary fantasy.

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
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A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse… Drawing from fairy tales and East Asian folklore, this original fantasy from the author of Spin the Dawn is perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel
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The New York Times bestselling author of the The Book of Lost Names returns with an evocative coming-of-age World War II story about a young woman who uses her knowledge of the wilderness to help Jewish refugees escape the Nazis—until a secret from her past threatens everything.

These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
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From New York Times best-selling author Lexi Ryan, Cruel Prince meets A Court of Thorns and Roses in this sexy, action-packed fantasy about a girl who is caught between two treacherous faerie courts and their dangerously seductive princes.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
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In A Psalm for the Wild-Built, Hugo Award-winner Becky Chambers’s delightful new Monk & Robot series gives us hope for the future.

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing
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USA Today bestselling author Samantha Downing is back with her latest sneaky thriller set at a prestigious private school—complete with interfering parents, overeager students, and one teacher who just wants to teach them all a lesson…

AUGUST 2021

The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould
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Courtney Gould’s thrilling debut The Dead and the Dark is about the things that lurk in dark corners, the parts of you that can’t remain hidden, and about finding home in places―and people―you didn’t expect.

Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier
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A sweet, queer teen romance perfect for fans of Heartstopper and Check, Please!

The Pariah by Anthony Ryan
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The Pariah begins a new epic fantasy series of action, intrigue and magic from Anthony Ryan, a master storyteller who has taken the fantasy world by storm.

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
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From the author of the beloved national bestseller Migrations, a #1 IndieNext pick, a gorgeous and pulse-pounding new novel set in the wild Scottish Highlands.

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker
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Beloved author Lucy Parker pens a delicious new romantic comedy that is a battle of whisks and wits.

Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
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From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic comes a “delicious, twisted treat for lovers of noir” about a daydreaming secretary, a lonesome enforcer, and the mystery of a missing woman they’re both desperate to find.

How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
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The Hating Game meets I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter in this irresistible romance starring a Mexican American teen who discovers love and profound truths about the universe when she spends her summer on a road trip across the country.

The Desert Prince by Peter V. Brett
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A brand-new epic fantasy adventure set in the beloved world of the Demon Cycle, following a new generation of heroes, from New York Times bestselling author Peter V. Brett

SEPTEMBER 2021

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
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From the New York Times bestselling author of Sorcery of Thorns and An Enchantment of Ravens comes a thrilling new YA fantasy about a teen girl with mythic abilities who must defend her world against restless spirits of the dead.

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
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Beautiful World, Where Are You is a new novel by Sally Rooney, the bestselling author of Normal People and Conversations With Friends.

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
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In this witty and heartwarming romantic comedy—reminiscent of Red, White & Royal Blue and One to Watch—an awkward tech wunderkind on a reality dating show goes off-script when sparks fly with his producer.

Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune
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A Man Called Ove meets The Good Place in Under the Whispering Door, a delightful queer love story from TJ Klune, author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
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Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers.

Nice Girls by Catherine Dang
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A pulse-pounding and deviously dark debut, written with the psychological acuity and emotional punch of Luckiest Girl Alive and All the Missing Girls, that explores the hungry, angry, dark side of girlhood and dares to ask what is most dangerous to a woman: showing the world what it wants to see, or who she really is?

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
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From the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, a gloriously entertaining novel of heists, shakedowns, and rip-offs set in Harlem in the 1960s.

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
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From the New York Times bestselling author of the Nevernight Chronicle, Jay Kristoff, comes Empire of the Vampire, the first illustrated volume of an astonishing new dark fantasy saga.

OCTOBER 2021

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
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The highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, multiple award-winning novel Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is an achingly romantic, tender tale sure to captivate fans of Adam Silvera and Mary H.K. Choi.

All the Feels by Olivia Dade
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Following Spoiler Alert, Olivia Dade returns with another utterly charming romantic comedy about a devil-may-care actor—who actually cares more than anyone knows—and the no-nonsense woman hired to keep him in line.

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
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USA Today bestselling author Alix E. Harrow’s A Spindle Splintered brings her patented charm to a new version of a classic story.

The Mother Next Door by Tara Laskowski
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From award-winning author Tara Laskowski, The Mother Next Door is an atmospheric novel of domestic suspense in which the strive for perfection ends in murder…

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw
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Cassandra Khaw’s Nothing But Blackened Teeth is a gorgeously creepy haunted house tale, steeped in Japanese folklore and full of devastating twists.

City of Shattered Light by Claire Winn
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As darkness closes in on the city of shattered light, an heiress and an outlaw must decide whether to fend for themselves or fight for each other.

Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest
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A psychic travel agent and a Seattle PD detective solve a murder in this quirky mystery in the vein of Lisa Lutz’s The Spellman Files and Charlaine Harris’s Aurora Teagarden series.

Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper
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Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets The L Word in this fresh, sizzling rom-com by Lana Harper.

NOVEMBER 2021

Her Name is Knight by Yasmin Angoe
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A smash debut novel from rising star Yasmin Angoe, Her Name Is Knight features an elite assassin heroine on a mission to topple a human trafficking ring and avenge her family.

Noor by Nnedi Okorafor
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From africanfuturist luminary Okorafor comes a new science fiction novel of intense action and thoughtful rumination on biotechnology, destiny, and humanity in a near-future Nigeria.

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
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Red White & Royal Blue meets Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell in debut author Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light, featuring an Edwardian England full of magic, contracts, and conspiracies.

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman
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The blockbuster co-writing debut of Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman, All of Us Villains begins a dark tale of ambition and magick…

You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith
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When a huge snowstorm hits, Adam and Whitney suddenly find themselves trapped inside the arcade. Cut off from their families, their worlds, and their responsibilities, the tension between them seems to melt away, leaving something else in its place. But what happens when the storm stops?

Never Fall for Your Fiancée by Virginia Heath
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The first in a new historical rom-com series, a handsome earl hires a fake fiancée to keep his matchmaking mother at bay, but hilarity ensues when love threatens to complicate everything.

Blue-Skinned Gods by S.J. Sindu
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From the award-winning author of Marriage of a Thousand Lies comes a brilliantly written, globe-spanning novel about identity, faith, family, and sexuality.

Everything We Didn’t Say by Nicole Baart
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From the author of Little Broken Things, a “race-to-the-finish family drama” (People) following a mother who must confront the dark summer that changed her life forever in order to reclaim the daughter she left behind.

DECEMBER 2021

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich
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Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich’s “If This Gets Out is an absolute showstopper! Equal parts edgy and adorable, this bright, joyful book has everything I look for in a queer YA romance.” ―Phil Stamper, bestselling author of The Gravity of Us

A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw
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The New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep weaves a richly atmospheric adult debut following three residents of a secluded, seemingly peaceful commune as they investigate the disappearances of two outsiders.

The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska
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The Wicked Deep meets House of Salt and Sorrows in this new standalone YA fantasy set in a snow-cloaked kingdom where witches are burned, and two enchantresses secretly compete for the heart of a prince, only to discover that they might be falling for each other.

Absynthe by Brendan Bellecourt
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In his sci-fi debut, Bellecourt explores an alternate roaring 20s where a shell-shocked soldier must uncover latent telepathic abilities to save himself and the people around him.

Safecracker by Ryan Wick
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In this wicked debut, safecracker Michael Maven must pull off the most dangerous theft of his long career–or his friends and family will be killed.

Here’s to Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
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Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera reunite to continue the story of Arthur and Ben, the boys readers first fell for in the New York Times bestselling rom-com What If It’s Us.

Smile and Look Pretty by Amanda Pellegrino
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A whip-smart, piercing debut novel, Smile and Look Pretty follows four assistants who band together to take on their toxic office environments in the ultimate comeuppance.

I Know Your Secret by Daphne Benedis-Grab
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One of Us is Lying meets Pretty Little Liars for middle-grade readers.

What 2021 releases are you looking forward to releasing between July and December? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Get Your Hands On These Anticipated July To December 2021 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

With the new year, booklovers around the world are looking forward to seeing what the year will bring with new books and authors to discover! So, we’ve rounded up 10 books that are currently the most anticipated science fiction and fantasy releases (excluding new instalments in a series) of 2021 according to Goodreads members!

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (March 2nd 2021)
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Klara and the Sun is a magnificent new novel from the Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro–author of Never Let Me Go and the Booker Prize-winning The Remains of the Day.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (May 4th 2021)
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A lone astronaut must save the earth from disaster in this incredible new science-based thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Martian.

Hummingbird Salamander by Jeff VanderMeer (April 6th 2021)
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Hummingbird Salamander is Jeff VanderMeer at his brilliant, cinematic best, wrapping profound questions about climate change, identity, and the world we live in into a tightly plotted thriller full of unexpected twists and elaborate conspiracy.

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (June 1st 2021)
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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.

For the Wolf by Hannah F. Whitten (June 5th 2021)
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For fans of Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale comes a dark, sweeping debut fantasy novel about a young woman who must be sacrificed to the legendary Wolf of the Wood to save her kingdom. But not all legends are true, and the Wolf isn’t the only danger lurking in the Wilderwood.

Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune (March 2nd 2021) 
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Under the Whispering Door is a contemporary fantasy with TJ Klune’s signature “quirk and charm” (PW) about a ghost who refuses to cross over and the ferryman he falls in love with

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan (July 20th 2021)
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Mulan meets The Song of Achilles in Shelley Parker-Chan’s She Who Became the Sun, a bold, queer, and lyrical reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty from an amazing new voice in literary fantasy.

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff (September 7th 2021)
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From the New York Times bestselling author of the Nevernight Chronicle, Jay Kristoff, comes the first illustrated volume of an astonishing new dark fantasy saga.

The Last Watch by J.S. Dewes (April 20th 2021) 
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The Expanse meets Game of Thrones in J. S. Dewes’ fast-paced, sf adventure The Last Watch, where a handful of soldiers stand between humanity and annihilation.

The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey (February 16th 2021)
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The Echo Wife is a non-stop thrill ride, perfect for readers of Big Little Lies and enthusiasts of “Killing Eve” and “Westworld­”

What SFF books are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Most Anticipated SFF Books of 2021; According to Goodreads Members appeared first on The Nerd Daily.