About For No Mortal Creature: In this romantic, lush fantasy inspired by Wuthering Heights, a girl with the power to move between life and death must travel into the afterlife to save her grandmother. But to survive she’ll have to rely on her mortal enemy, as well as the ghost of the boy who once betrayed her. OUT NOW.

Love it or loathe it, the recent trailer for Emerald Fennel’s upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation definitely set tongues wagging. The film itself, which features Australian stars Margot Robbie as Cathy Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as the infamous Heathcliff, is described on IMDb as an exploration of the “intense and destructive relationship” between the two. Certainly the sneak peek seems to channel the wild, chaotic sensuality that churns unsettlingly beneath the surface of the original Brontë novel. However, critics of the casting have pointed out that choosing 35-year-old blonde Robbie to play what is canonically a dark-haired teenager, and Elordi to play what many scholars believe is a person of colour, is problematic. Regardless of personal opinion, the film, which is set to release in February 2026, will almost certainly be a loose and fast interpretation of the source material.

Wuthering Heights has long served as inspiration for other art forms, and books are no exception. For me, personally, the novel has shaped my own relationship with gothic and classic fiction over my lifetime. Its rawness, brutality, depictions of classism and racism, and portrayals of intergenerational trauma, left a deep impression on me as a teenager reading it for the very first time. And upon each re-read (and there have been many!) this work sinks its hooks into me even deeper – much like the lifelong obsession Heathcliff has for Cathy.

This is why, when it came to write my upcoming gothic Young Adult novel For No Mortal Creature, I used Wuthering Heights as one of my key inspirations.

If you’re like me, and you’re a little bit Wuthering Heights obsessed too, then here are some books to feed your addiction…

What Souls Are Made Of by Tasha Suri

This 2022 Young Adult retelling of Wuthering Heights is part of the Remixed Classics series, where authors from marginalised backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lenses to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male conventions of classic literature. In this retelling, Tasha Suri, an award-winning fantasy author, casts Heathcliff as the abandoned son of a lascar – an Indian sailor, which ironically is closer to canon than Jacob Elordi is. Catherine herself is reimagined as a British Indian teenager who is struggling with her own relationship between love and duty.

Ruthless Devotion by Rebecca Kenney

In this dark, spicy retelling of Wuthering Heights, Cathy and Heathcliff find each other in a small cult community. In this book, Cathy Earnshaw has a secret: she can sense death. And Heathcliff, who was stolen as a child and raised by necromancers, has secrets of his own. As the two embark on a romance at once violent and tender, they are forced to reckon with a community – and a world – that’s determined to keep them apart. Described as a Southern Gothic retelling with a magical, fantastical twist, this book is the third book in the Gilded Monsters series of interconnected standalones and sits firmly within the New Adult age category.

For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow

My own book, a gothic Young Adult novel that released on the 7^th of October, is set in a world where ghosts can die and become ghosts of ghosts – and no one knows how deep the afterlife truly goes. Jia Yi must delve through the many layers of the death realm in order to save her grandmother. In order to survive, she must rely on her two mortal (and immortal enemies): the ghost of Lin, the boy who once betrayed her; and the cold, aloof Essien Lancaster, prince of a rival kingdom. Brimming with romance, atmosphere, and Chinese superstitions, it’s like Inception crossed with Wuthering Heights, but with ghosts.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo

From the moors of Northern England to the ice rinks, this contemporary retelling of Wuthering Heights was released in January 2025 and immediately took the world by storm. This novel follows Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha as they navigate, as teens, the cutthroat world of competitive ice dancing, until a shocking incident at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games brings their partnership to an abrupt end. Set ten years after the fact, alternating between narrative text and clips from a fictional 2024 documentary, The Favorites transplants the savage, toxic love between Cathy and Heathcliff into a thoroughly modern setting.

Heathcliff by Karina Halle

While there aren’t many details about book, since it’s not due to come out until next year, it’s described as being a Gothic vampire romantasy retelling of Wuthering Heights; Halle suggests that Heathcliff himself will be portrayed in “all his broody glory”.

The post Five Wuthering Heights-Inspired Novels To Add To Your TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

About His Face Is The Sun (out May 6th 2025): A new reign is coming…Romance, magic, adventure, and horror collide in the start to this lush, epic, Ancient Egyptian inspired trilogy perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J. Maas.

Growing up, nothing fascinated me more than mythology. Who doesn’t love reading about creation stories, gods, monsters, and the heroes that face them? For me, Ancient Egyptian mythology was the most captivating, and led me all these years later to create the first book in my Throne of Khetara trilogy, His Face Is the Sun, which launches on May 6. In it, we follow four different characters in an Ancient Egyptian-inspired fantasy world: a princess, a priestess, a rebel, and a tomb robber, as they are ripped from their lives and intertwined in a tale of magic, murder, war, and monsters by an ancient, forgotten oracle. If you like Game of Thrones, The Mummy, and The Kane Chronicles—then this one is for you!

While Ancient Egypt has always been my favorite mythology to read about and study, there are so many absolutely incredible mythologies to enjoy from all around the globe—and so many captivating books out there that explore those stories. Be sure to add these fabulous entries to your TBR!

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

This lush and magical adventure sweeps readers away to the world of 18^th century Cairo, where we follow a powerful con woman who summons a djinn warrior. An immersive series that includes mythical creatures and a magic system based on Middle Eastern mythology. Definitely a must-read!

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Inspired by Mexican folklore, this is a gorgeous fairy tale is set in 1920s Mexico. In it, a young woman unwittingly releases the Mayan god of death, who asks for her help on a divine mission that takes her across jungles, cities, and all the way to the underworld!

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Full of music, magic, and many twists and turns, this is a story about a powerful heroine faced with an impossible task: win a place on the Crown Prince’s council, then after she’s gained his trust—kill him. A wildly original Young Adult duology inspired by West African myth and legend.

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

A captive princess and a maidservant-turned-priestess find their destinies entangled in this enchanting, action-packed trilogy inspired by the epics of India. There’s forbidden magic, quests for revenge, steamy romance—I mean, what more does one need?

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

In this beautiful Young Adult retelling of a Korean folktale, a girl sacrifices herself to the Sea God to save her brother’s beloved. But instead of drowning in the sea, she is swept away to a magical realm filled with gods and beasts and spirits of all kinds. If you liked Spirited Away, you’ll love this!

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

In this Jamaican-inspired Young Adult duology, two sisters with an unbreakable bond uncover long-buried secrets about their world and the empire that once ruled over it. Gods-given powers, political intrigue, and—oh yes!—dragons make this series about loyalty and leadership unmissable.

The post Fantasies With Fascinating Mythologies From Around The World appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Tasha Suri’s The Lotus Empire, which is out November 12th 2024.

Malini has claimed her rightful throne as the empress of Parijatdvipa, just as the nameless gods prophesied. Now, in order to gain the support of the priesthood who remain loyal to the fallen emperor, she must consider a terrible bargain: Claim her throne and burn in order to seal her legacy—or find another willing to take her place on the pyre.

Priya has survived the deathless waters and now their magic runs in her veins. But a mysterious yaksa with flowering eyes and a mouth of thorns lies beneath the waters. The yaksa promises protection for Ahiranya. But in exchange, she needs a sacrifice. And she’s chosen Priya as the one to offer it.

Two women once entwined by fate now stand against each other. But when an ancient enemy rises to threaten their world, Priya and Malini will find themselves fighting together once more – to prevent their kingdoms, and their futures, from burning to ash.

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The post Read An Excerpt From ‘The Lotus Empire’ by Tasha Suri appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Given that I write fairy-tale retellings, it may surprise you to learn that I’m a bit of a skeptic where true love is concerned. As a young reader, most stories I read were about the true love between a prince and princess. Seeing as a fair number of those princesses were sleeping when they met their alleged soul-mates, I was extremely skeptical about the prospect of their happily ever after. How could a single kiss could break a curse? And why was the princess always falling for some guy? Weren’t there other kinds of love? 

As an author, I’ve tried to reclaim some of these stories and allow them to represent the love that felt true to me. My upcoming novel, THE CRIMSON CROWN, is a queer reimagining of the rise of Snow White’s Evil Queen, packed with angsty sapphic romance.

But though I wrote a love story for that iconic villainess, I don’t believe romance is the only kind of true love that exists. In fact, I could argue that the wicked Queen was already in love before I found her–with herself. And while being obsessed with youth and beauty might have been the Queen’s downfall, can’t we say the same for romantic love? And just because love might look different–does that make it any less true? 

In answer to that question, here some of my favorite novels that examine true love in a wholly new lens: 

IMMORTAL LONGINGS by Chloe Gong

Though this is a retelling of Anthony and Cleopatra–one of the most famous love stories of all time–readers will not find fairytale romance at its murderous heart.

Chloe Gong’s adult debut follows Calla Tuoleimi, disgraced princess of San-Er, who spends her days plotting how to pick off the royal family who wronged her. Her chance arrives when San-Er’s deadly body-jumping competition is announced. If Calla wins, she’ll get her shot to kill the king and end her blood-feud. But what should be an easy victory complicates when Calla meets Anton Makusa, an ex-aristocrat who has also entered the games–for his own reasons. As the games progress, Calla and Anton form a tenuous–and steamy–alliance. But Calla knows that there can only be one winner of the competition and she must decide how far she will go–and who she will sacrifice–in order to be named the victor.  

While Chloe Gong packs her pages with enough steam to fog your mirror, the love in this book is less between our lead characters and more between Calla and power itself. You’ll be rooting for that couple until the bitter end.

THE JASMINE THRONE by Tasha Suri

This Indian-inspired epic fantasy series offers more romance than Chloe Gong’s blood-soaked battle of a novel, but Tasha Suri stuffs it with just as many knives (and every one of them is aimed at readers’ hearts). 

THE JASMINE THRONE is the story of Malini, a princess held captive by her power-hungry brother, and Priya, a maidservant with a magical secret. When Malini discovers Priya’s abilities, she enlists the reluctant young woman to help her depose her brother and save the empire. As the two embark on their deadly quest, their arrangement blossoms into a passion neither woman expected. But as much as they might care for each other, love itself might not be enough to hold them together. 

Don’t get me wrong–Malini and Priya’s love story is swoon-worthy. But what I appreciated most about this book was that, even though Malini and Priya harbored genuine feelings for one another, their true love was for their people. And they’d do anything to defend those they love the most–even from each other. 

SOLOMON’S CROWN by Natasha Siegel 

If you wanted Lion in Winter to be gay, Natasha Siegel has your back. I’ve not stopped thinking about the rival princes in her gorgeously written novel since I met them. 

SOLOMON’S CROWN is a historical re-imagining of twelfth-century rulers Philip, King of France, and Richard, Duke of Aquitaine. Bookish and brooding Philip is determined to use his reign to bring France back to glory. Richard is a careless party-boy who finds himself the unexpected heir to England’s throne. When Richard’s father, King Henry, makes it his personal mission to crush France, Philip and Richard form an unlikely alliance–which quickly turns to forbidden affection. But with war looming and their crowns in the line, Richard and Philip must decide whether their love is worth the cost of their thrones. 

Though Siegel herself admits in the author’s note that her work is by no means historically accurate, I love the idea that this story between Richard and Philip could have been true. If it was, Natasha Siegel presents these two rulers in an entirely new light–and gives them the story they deserve. 

IN A GARDEN BURNING GOLD by Rory Power

If you’ve ever wondered what Succession would look like set in a Greek mythology-inspired fantasy world, this book is it. And just like our toxic Roy clan, the love (if we’re calling it that) in Rory Power’s glittering novel is that between family. 

IN A GARDEN BURNING GOLD follows Rhea, her twin brother, Lexos, and their siblings as they all scrabble for their domineering father’s approval. Gifted with god-like powers, Rhea and her siblings use their magic to harness the natural elements of their country–all while their father rules with an iron fist. But when his position begins to slip, Rhea and Lexos decide to make their own plan to seize power and control the realm for themselves. Predictably, their father isn’t going to let his empire be taken from him, and it will take all of Rhea and Lexos’s cunning to survive the fallout of their coup. 

Rory Power takes sibling rivalry to literal god-tier status with this one. What I loved best about the novel was that, no matter how much they schemed, it was clear that the siblings cared for each other. Their love and loyalty were true, if complicated. But don’t worry–the story is filled with enough backstabbing and betrayals to make even the Roys’ heads spin. 

The post Sick Of That Same Old Love: Four Novels That Look At True Love In A New Lens 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.

An unyielding and vibrant tale of feminist resistance, Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne unravels a story of magic, love, and the ruin of empires. This lushly passionate Indian-inspired fantasy about “morally grey lesbians setting an empire ablaze” will hits shelves today! Join us as we chat with the author about her latest release, her future plans, and what four books best describe her!

Hi, Tasha. Thank you so much for joining The Nerd Daily today, we’re really happy to have you! How would you describe your new novel The Jasmine Throne?

Thanks so much for having me!

I often describe The Jasmine Throne as a big, chonky multi-pov epic Indian-inspired fantasy about morally grey lesbians setting an empire ablaze. But I try and be a bit more detailed now for anyone curious to know more, so here’s another description: The Jasmine Throne is the story of a captive, vengeful princess and a maidservant with secret magical gifts who work together to bring down the princess’s tyrannical brother. It’s also the story of a vicious rebel leader, a cinnamon roll prince with a prophetic name, a demure noblewoman with secret past, and a mysterious illness that makes flesh grow flowers.

But wait we forgot about you! How would your characters describe you? 

I don’t think I’d survive long in the world of my characters, so they probably wouldn’t have much to say about me! I’m a mild and serious librarian with a deep undercurrent of low-level rage, so maybe Malini and Priya – as two women with a lot of hidden rage between them – would empathise with me over that. But I’d keep well away from any adventures. I like hanging out in my house with my rabbits and my yowly, operatic cat.

There is a complexity of power and strength in The Jasmine Throne, embodied most strongly (though not uniquely) by your two core characters, Malini and Priya. Did you set out writing them seeking to explore the many kinds of strength that can exist differently in many kinds of people?

I’ve always been interested in strength and power that come in different and atypical forms, and I wanted to explore that through the different characters in The Jasmine Throne. Malini is a disgraced prisoner, stripped of her old power as a princess, drugged into compliance. But her strength lies in her determination, her cunning, and her willingness to use any weapon she has – even her perceived fragility – to achieve her goals. Priya is ‘just’ a maidservant, but her strength is her stubbornness and her unfailing kindness. Both of them have a kind of strength that I think is often typically coded as feminine, and accordingly denigrated – and that’s exactly the kind of strength I love to read about, and write about too.

What did the relationship between Malini and Priya, and between all characters in the story, allow you to explore?

There’s a big range of relationships in story from familial to friendship to fealty, and all of these allowed me to explore the ways the people we love or admire can still hurt us, or have terrible power over us. The limits of love, I suppose.

That sounds very dark, and I don’t mean it to be! The ways love can be complicated by, well – life – is fascinating to me. And in Priya and Malini I had the chance to explore a romantic love that is thorny and difficult but also allows both of them to be so much more than they believe they’re capapble of being. I love sapphic romances that are Complicated, and I got to write that.

Besides compelling characters, The Jasmine Throne has a fascinating magic system. Can you talk more about what inspired it and its place in this world?

I wanted the magic to be tied with the different faiths of the empire, and feel like something real and embedded in the world. So there’s water-based magic and plant-based; magic around sacrifice and magic in prophetic names, and all of it is real and recognised by the people of the empire of Parijatdvipa. I was inspired by real world beliefs – around nature spirits and ritual water immersion, and names decided by the stars you’re born under – and twisted them to my own terrible purposes.

From The Jasmine Throne to The Books of Ambha, you’ve built incredible worlds of Fantasy that are also unabashedly romantic. Romance has an equally important place in your world as magic and quests. What do you think is romance’s standing in today’s Fantasy scene and how does your work dive into it?

I think there’s a lot of Fantasy that doesn’t centre romance, but equally there are amazing books that do, that have received a lot of love from audiences and from critics. That’s what I love about Fantasy: it’s a huge genre with room for all sorts of books and readers.

My work often centres romance, and it’s certainly a big part of The Jasmine Throne. I find love stories really compelling, because they’re all about two people learning the truth about each other in ways that make them both vulnerable, bring out their worst and best selves, and forcing them to confront their own desires. Desire can be so fascinating because it’s not just about wanting a person – it’s about wanting a certain life, or future, or a certain way of being. When that kind of character stuff happens in an epic Fantasy context, where wants can change the fate of a world? Romance suddenly becomes even more high stakes, and I just love watching that unfold.

Emotive and spellbinding, your writing evokes such intensity. Each page pulls us in with its narrative, as well as its world. Do you consciously focus your writing on the sensorial experience or is that more instinctual?

Thank you so much! It’s instinctive. When I imagine a scene, I always naturally imagine how the moment must feel to the characters – the colours, the sounds, the emotions they’re feeling. I always feel like all I want to do is capture that in a meaningful way when I write, so I’m really glad the intensity comes through for you!

Speaking of your way with wor(l)ds, can you walk us through your research process? Do you research what you want to put in your books or does your research unearth things you then must build into your worlds?

A little bit of both, really. If I’m stuck on something, I’ll go and research about it. For example, I did a lot of research on weapons for The Jasmine Throne, purely so I could have some throwaway lines about things like sword whips (which are incidentally extremely cool). But I also found just reading research books broadly about medieval and early modern India, and wandering around museums in the Before Times, gave me little pieces of inspiration that I stitched together into something new once I began planning the book. Often the most random bits of research are the most inspiring.

Taking a cue from Twitter trends, how would you describe yourself in 4 books?

Ooh, a tough one! Let me think:

• Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett (because my final form will be a cantankerous witch, and I like a practical approach to fairytales)
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (sometimes I like to yell in fields)
• The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (I’m soft)
• Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers (I just related greatly to this; also you should read it, it’s wonderful)

Publishing can be a harsh, draining process, especially at times like these. What inspirations and ambitions keep you on this path?

Part of what drives me is practical. I took a badly timed break from full-time work right before the pandemic hit, so publishing is my major source of income. But when I feel like I’m struggling, it’s my love of stories that keeps me going. Sometimes I read a book or watch something and just feel this absolute love of stories – and getting to make my own! – overwhelm me. It always makes me feel happy to get writing again.

Do you ever look at your rabbits and they remind you of the Rabbit of Caerbannog scene?

I had to Google that… Cough. So, not often.

In my defense, my whole family love Monty Python, but I’m clueless! I also haven’t seen all the Star Wars films, one day my geek card is going to be revoked, and it’ll only be right and proper.

Lastly, in honor of The Jasmine Throne and the gospel of Sappho, what other sapphic books are you looking forward to this year? And what other stories are you cooking for the future?

I’m so excited about Zen Cho’s Black Water Sister, because Zen’s writing is always blisteringly good. (It’s out already in the USA, but it has the same release day as The Jasmine Throne in the UK, so it counts as something to look forward to for me!) She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan, which owns my whole heart already, and is out in July. And A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee is a book I’m aching to read, too, and it’s out in August.

I’m working on the sequel to The Jasmine Throne right now, which I’m very excited about, and will hopefully cause you great pain! I also have a YA remix/retelling of Wuthering Heights coming out in 2022.

Will you be picking up The Jasmine Throne? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Tasha Suri, Author of ‘The Jasmine Throne’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A rich, dark urban fantasy debut following a teen witch who is given a horrifying task: sacrificing her first love to save her family’s magic. The problem is, she’s never been in love—she’ll have to find the perfect guy before she can kill him.

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne begins the powerful Burning Kingdoms trilogy, in which two women–a long-imprisoned princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic–come together to rewrite the fate of an empire.

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
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Nghi Vo’s debut novel The Chosen and the Beautiful 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.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
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From the New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue comes the long anticipated romantic comedy that puts a queer spin on Kate & Leopold.

Neon Gods by Katee Robert
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He was supposed to be a myth. But from the moment I crossed the River Styx and fell under his dark spell… he was, quite simply, mine. Neon Gods is a modern retelling of Hades and Persephone that’s as sinful as it is sweet.

Star Eater by Kerstin Hall
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A phantasmagorical indictment of hereditary power, Star Eater takes readers deep into a perilous and uncanny world where even the most powerful women are forced to choose what sacrifices they will make, so that they might have any choice at all. 

We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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A wedding harpist disillusioned with love and a hopeless romantic cater-waiter flirt and fight their way through a summer of weddings in this effervescent romantic comedy from the acclaimed author of Today Tonight Tomorrow.

Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia
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The start of an exciting new historical mystery series set in 1920s Harlem featuring Louise Lloyd, a young black woman caught up in a series of murders way too close to home…

The 2000s Made Me Gay by Grace Perry
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From The Onion and Reductress contributor, this collection of essays is a hilarious nostalgic trip through beloved 2000s media, interweaving cultural criticism and personal narrative to examine how a very straight decade forged a very queer woman.

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
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Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada in this electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing.

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton
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A prim and proper lady thief must save her aunt from a crazed pirate and his dangerously charming henchman in this fantastical historical romance.

Pack Up The Moon by Kristan Higgins
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Every month, a letter. That’s what Lauren decides to leave her husband when she finds out she’s dying. Each month, she gives Josh a letter containing a task to help him face this first year without her, leading him on a heartrending, beautiful, often humorous journey to find happiness again in this new novel from the New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins.

What June 2021 releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post June 2021 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

After whatever that last year was, we’re certainly hoping that 2021 will be a significant improvement! Just like every single industry, the publishing industry faced its own challenges with many 2020 releases delayed by months or even years in some cases and it caused much concern for authors with either recent or upcoming releases.

But with every year, there’s also the improvement when it comes to diversity and whilst it still unfortunately takes devastating events to invoke some kind of change or even discussion, there’s great change heading our way with 2021 releases (and even 2022 and 2023 based on book announcements made thus far).

The year promises for more #ownvoices authors to be heard with stories of fierce Black characters taking the lead role (and also killing it on their covers), queer characters and their journeys offering hope, characters embracing their bodies and their culture, and so much more. Then there’s the continuing shift in perception on genres, including romance and YA, with some incredibly great stories and offering a new take on the genres altogether.

To be honest, it’s quite exciting and refreshing, and we at The Nerd Daily can’t wait to see what comes next and cover 2021 releases!

Read on to discover just a few of our favourite January to June 2021 releases and tell us in the comments if you’re looking forward to any of them! 

Want more 2021 releases? Check out our lists for  2021 Queer Book Releases, 2021 Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases, 2021 Romance Book Releases, 2021 YA Book Releases, and 2021 Queer SFF Book Releases.

JANUARY

Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor
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An alien artifact turns a young girl into Death’s adopted daughter in Remote Control, a thrilling sci-fi tale of community and female empowerment from Nebula and Hugo Award-winner Nnedi Okorafor

Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala
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Project Runway goes to Comic Con in an epic queer love story about creativity, passion, and finding the courage to be your most authentic self.

Lore by Alexandra Bracken
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From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Darkest Minds comes a sweepingly ambitious, high-octane tale of power, destiny, love and redemption.

The Push by Ashley Audrain
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A tense, page-turning psychological drama about the making and breaking of a family–and a woman whose experience of motherhood is nothing at all what she hoped for–and everything she feared.

Persephone Station by Stina Leicht
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Hugo award-nominated author Stina Leicht has created a take on space opera for fans of The Mandalorian and Cowboy Bebop in this high-stakes adventure.

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
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A delicious twist on a Gothic classic, Rachel Hawkins’s The Wife Upstairs pairs Southern charm with atmospheric domestic suspense, perfect for fans of B.A. Paris and Megan Miranda.

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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Public radio co-hosts navigate mixed signals in Rachel Lynn Solomon’s sparkling romantic comedy debut.

A Splendid Ruin by Megan Chance
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A spellbinding novel of dark family secrets and a young woman’s rise and revenge set against the backdrop of the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

FEBRUARY

Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado
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A sensitive, funny, and painful coming-of-age story with a wry voice and tons of chisme, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega tackles our relationships to our parents, our bodies, our cultures, and ourselves.

A Lady’s Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everett
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What is a Victorian lady’s formula for love? Mix one brilliant noblewoman and her enigmatic protection officer. Add in a measure of danger and attraction. Heat over the warmth of humour and friendship, and the result is more than simple chemistry—it’s elemental.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes an epic novel of love and heroism and hope, set against the backdrop of one of America’s most defining eras—the Great Depression.

The Project by Courtney Summers
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From Courtney Summers, the New York Times bestselling author of the 2019 Edgar Award Winner and breakout hit, Sadie, comes a sensational follow-up―another pulls-no-punches thriller about an aspiring young journalist determined to save her sister from a cult.

The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
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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.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
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In this world, girls are outcasts by blood and warriors by choice. Get ready for battle. The start of a bold and immersive fantasy series for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Black Panther.

A ​Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
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Sarah J. Maas’s sexy, richly imagined series continues with the journey of Feyre’s fiery sister, Nesta.

Do No Harm by Christina McDonald
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From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Behind Every Lie and The Night Olivia Fell comes an unforgettable and heart-wrenching novel about the lengths one woman will go to save her son.

MARCH

Can’t Take That Away by Steven Salvatore
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Steven Salvatore’s debut Can’t Take That Away is about Carey Parker, a genderqueer teen who dreams of being a diva like their hero Mariah Carey. When they are cast as the female lead in the school musical, they must fight against discrimination and injustice from their closed-minded school administration. 

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
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In Act Your Age, Eve Brown the flightiest Brown sister crashes into the life of an uptight B&B owner and has him falling hard—literally.

The Unbroken by C.L. Clark
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In an epic political fantasy unlike any other, two women clash in a world full of rebellion, espionage, and military might on the far outreaches of a crumbling desert empire.

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris
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Dear Martin meets They Both Die at the End in this gripping, evocative novel about a Black teen who has the power to see into the future, whose life turns upside down when he foresees his younger brother’s imminent death, from the acclaimed author of SLAY.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
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The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Huntress and The Alice Network returns with another heart-stopping World War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over.

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare
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The Shadowhunters must catch a killer in Edwardian London in this dangerous and romantic sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Chain of Gold, from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare. Chain of Iron is a Shadowhunters novel.

The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst
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From award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst, a standalone epic fantasy set in a brand-new world of towering mountains and sparkling cities, in which a band of ageing warriors have a second chance to defeat dark magic and avenge a haunting loss.

Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews
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For readers of The Silent Patient – a taut, twisty, character-driven suspense novel about a famous novelist and a small-town striver locked in a struggle for fortune and fame

APRIL

First, Become Ashes by K.M. Szpara
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K. M. Szpara follows Docile, one of the most anticipated science fiction novels of 2020, with First, Become Ashes, a fantastic standalone adventure that blends pain and pleasure and will make readers question what is real, and what is magical.

Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne
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From the USA Today  bestselling author of The Hating Game and 99 Percent Mine comes the clever, funny, and unforgettable story of a muscular, tattooed man hired as an assistant to two old women—under the watchful eye of a beautiful retirement home manager.

Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author and rom-com queen Becky Albertalli comes a buoyant new novel about daring to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight in love, life, and, yes, theater.

The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan
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Naomi and Ethan will test the boundaries of love in this provocative romance from the author of the ground-breaking debut, The Roommate.

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
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A dark, twisty modern fairytale where three sisters discover they are not exactly all that they seem and evil things really do go bump in the night.

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price
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Perfect for fans of the Lady Janies and Stalking Jack the Ripper, the first book in the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries series is a clever retelling of Pride and Prejudice that reimagines the iconic settings, characters, and romances in a thrilling and high-stakes whodunit.

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart
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Deadly, fierce, magnetically addictive: this Jamaican-inspired fantasy debut is a thrilling journey where dangerous magic reigns supreme and betrayal lurks beneath every word. 

Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson
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The New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Never Have I Ever builds on her success with this addictive novel of domestic suspense in which a mother must decide how far she is willing to go to protect her child and the life she loves—a chilling and thoughtful tale of power, privilege, lies, revenge, and the choices we make, ones that transform our lives in unforeseen ways.

MAY

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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From the New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six . . . Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever.

Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield
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In this sweeping debut, actress Asha Bromfield takes readers to the heart of Jamaica, and into the soul of a girl coming to terms with her family, and herself, set against the backdrop of a hurricane.

A Special Place for Women by Laura Hankin
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It’s a club like no other. Only the most important women receive an invitation. But one daring young reporter is about to infiltrate this female-run secret society, whose beguiling members are caught up in a dark and treacherous business.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
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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.

Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
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From one of the most exciting new storytellers in epic fantasy, the first book in the Nameless Republic trilogy is a sweeping tale of violent conquest and forbidden magic set in a world inspired by the pre-colonial empires of West Africa.

In the Ravenous Dark by A.M. Strickland
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A pansexual bloodmage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living and the dead, in this dark YA fantasy by A.M. Strickland, author of Beyond the Black Door, whom Richard Kadrey calls “a storyteller of both grace and power.”

The Hunting Wives by May Cobb
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The Hunting Wives share more than target practice, martinis, and bad behaviour in this novel of obsession, seduction, and murder.

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
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Irresistibly action-packed and full of lethal surprises, this stunning new fantasy series from Victoria Aveyard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Red Queen series, begins where hope is lost and asks: When the heroes have fallen, who will take up the sword?

JUNE

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
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Casey McQuiston’s One Last Stop is a magical, sexy, big-hearted romance where the impossible becomes possible as August does everything in her power to save the girl lost in time.

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Nghi Vo’s debut novel The Chosen and the Beautiful 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.

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A rich, dark urban fantasy debut following a teen witch who is given a horrifying task: sacrificing her first love to save her family’s magic. The problem is, she’s never been in love—she’ll have to find the perfect guy before she can kill him.

Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The start of an exciting new historical mystery series set in 1920s Harlem featuring Louise Lloyd, a young black woman caught up in a series of murders way too close to home…

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne begins the powerful Burning Kingdoms trilogy, in which two women–a long-imprisoned princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic–come together to rewrite the fate of an empire.

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada in this electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing.

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A prim and proper lady thief must save her aunt from a crazed pirate and his dangerously charming henchman in this fantastical historical romance.

Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams
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The New York Times bestselling author of Her Last Flight returns with a gripping and profoundly human story of Cold War espionage and family devotion.

What 2021 book releases are you excited for? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Most Anticipated 2021 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A nobleman’s daughter with magic in her blood. An empire built on the dreams of enslaved gods. Empire of Sand is Tasha Suri’s captivating, Mughal India-inspired debut fantasy perfect for readers of City of Brass and The Wrath & the Dawn.

Toxic by Lydia Kang
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Cyclo, the first and largest biological ship of its kind, is dying. A small crew of mercenaries have handed over the rights to their life to document the death of the ship, but the abandoned ship is anything but abandoned—one girl has been left behind. Hana has known nothing but the isolation of a single room and the secret that has kept her there for seventeen years. When she meets Fennec, the boy assigned to watch her, she realizes that there is a world she has yet to experience but she is doomed to never meet.

Breach by W.L. Goodwater
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When Soviet magicians conjured an arcane Wall to blockade occupied Berlin, the world was outraged but let it stand for the sake of peace. Now after 10 years of fighting with spies instead of spells, the CIA has discovered the wall is failing. Operatives from East and West converge on the most dangerous city in the world to stop or take advantage of the crisis. Karen, a young magician with the American Office of Magical Research and Deployment, is sent to investigate the breach in the Wall and see if it can be reversed. Instead she will discover that the truth is elusive in this divided city, and that even magic itself has its own agenda.

How To Fracture A Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen
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Fantasy legend Jane Yolen presents a wide-ranging offering of fractured fairy tales. Yolen fractures the classics to reveal their crystalline secrets, holding them to the light and presenting them entirely transformed; where a spinner of straw into gold becomes a money-changer and the big bad wolf retires to a nursing home. Rediscover the tales you once knew, rewritten and refined for the world we now live in―or a much better version of it.

The Blue Salt Road by Joanne Harris
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So begins a stunning tale of love, loss and revenge, against a powerful backdrop of adventure on the high seas, and drama on the land. The Blue Salt Road balances passion and loss, love and violence and draws on nature and folklore to weave a stunning modern mythology around a nameless, wild young man.

Hazards of Time Travel by Joyce Carol Oates
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An ingenious, dystopian novel of one young woman’s resistance against the constraints of an oppressive society. Arresting and visionary, Hazards of Time Travel  is both a novel of harrowing discovery and an exquisitely wrought love story that may be Joyce Carol Oates’s most unexpected novel so far.

Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix by Julie C. Dao
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This fairy tale retelling lives in a mystical world inspired by the Far East, where the Dragon Lord and the Serpent God battle for control of the earthly realm; it is here that the flawed heroine of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns finally meets her match. An epic fantasy finale to the Rise of the Empress novels.

The Mortal Word by Genevieve Cogman
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The fifth title in Genevieve Cogman’s witty and wonderful Invisible Library series, The Mortal Word is a rollicking literary adventure. Peace talks are always tricky, especially when a key diplomat gets stabbed. This rudely interrupts a top-secret summit between the warring dragons and Fae. As a neutral party, Librarian-spy Irene is summoned to investigate. She must head to a version of 1890s Paris, with her assistant Kai and her detective friend Vale, where these talks are fracturing. Here, she must get to the bottom of the attack – before either the peace negotiations or the city go up in flames.

City of Broken Magic by Mirah Bolender
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Five hundred years ago, magi created a weapon they couldn’t control. An infestation that ate magic—and anything else it came into contact with. Enemies and allies were equally filling. Only an elite team of non-magical humans, known as sweepers, can defuse and dispose of infestations before they spread. Most die before they finish training. Laura, a new team member, has stayed alive longer than most. Now, she’s the last—and only—sweeper standing between the city and a massive infestation.

Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch
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Join Peter Grant, detective and apprentice wizard, for a brand new case . . . Martin Chorley, aka the Faceless Man, wanted for multiple counts of murder, fraud, and crimes against humanity, has been unmasked and is on the run. Peter Grant, Detective Constable and apprentice wizard, now plays a key role in an unprecedented joint operation to bring Chorley to justice. But even as the unwieldy might of the Metropolitan Police bears down on its foe, Peter uncovers clues that Chorley, far from being finished, is executing the final stages of a long term plan. A plan that has its roots in London’s two thousand bloody years of history, and could literally bring the city to its knees.

Navigating The Stars by Maria V. Snyder
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Terra Cotta Warriors have been discovered on other planets in the Milky Way Galaxy. And Lyra Daniels’ parents are the archaeological Experts (yes with a capital E) on the Warriors and have dragged her to the various planets to study them despite the time dilation causing havoc with her social life. When one of the many Warrior planets goes silent, and looters attack her research base, Lyra becomes involved in discovering why the Warriors were placed on these planets. And, more importantly, by who.

Outrun The Wind by Elizabeth Tammi
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The Huntresses of Artemis must obey two rules: never disobey the goddess, and never fall in love. After being rescued from a harrowing life as an Oracle of Delphi, Kahina is glad to be a part of the Hunt; living among a group of female warriors gives her a chance to reclaim her strength, even while her prophetic powers linger. But when a routine mission goes awry, Kahina breaks the first rule in order to save the legendary huntress Atalanta.

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