Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Wesley Chu’s The Art of Legend, which releases on August 26th 2025.

Once in a faraway kingdom there was a man prophesied to be the chosen one, who would defeat a great villain, the Eternal Khan, and save the kingdom.

But then the Eternal Khan died . . . and the prophecy was broken.

For Jian, the fated hero, this could have been a moment to succumb to despair. But instead, he chose to create his own destiny. He studied under Taishi, his curmudgeonly but beloved mentor, to become a great warrior.

With war on the horizon—and rumors of the Khan’s return brewing—a band of unlikely allies are also on their own missions. There’s Sali, a gruff warrior who is also forging a path different from the one her culture created for her, and Qisami, an assassin whose cold heart might actually be made of gold. And Taishi has gathered a band of other elderly grandmasters to help Jian live up to his destiny.

Because some heroes aren’t simply born legends—they choose to become legendary. And great heroes do not stand alone but are stronger together.

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The post Read An Excerpt From ‘The Art of Legend’ by Wesley Chu appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

When I was five years old, I got sent home because I bit the principal’s son’s nose. The guy stole my toy, and in the rural jungles of kindergarten in Taiwan back during the 70s, a kid can’t let that slide.
My grandfather, who raised me while my parents were studying in the States, picked me up in his moped. The only thing he said was he asked why I didn’t let go. The biting wasn’t good, but it was the clamping down like a snapping turtle for a whole two minutes that got me in trouble.

When I was my nine-year-old’s age, I had a yellow bike with a banana seat with pink streamers. It was all my teaching assistant parents could afford. Floor a glorious summer, I zoomed through dirt tracks hidden in the cornfields and jumped ramps on that glittering thing like gawd damn Evel Knievel. I may also have thrown self-smithed metal ninja stars from the back of that bike.

When I was twelve, my sixth-grade class had set up a monetary system where kids can earn scholar dollars for doing good deeds and getting good grades, which they could use to buy silly perks and trinkets. I was voted the class banker and proceeded to create the most sophisticated racketeering ring in the history of elementary schools.

Since then, I was a member of the Screen Actors guild, a stuntman, and an underwear model (kinda kidding, kinda not). I have a computer science degree and once worked as a corporate exec. I trained in several schools of Kung Fu, was once a raid officer in a top World of Warcraft guild, and have summited Kilimanjaro.

I also write books.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

Like every author, it all started when I was kid. Seriously, I do not know any author who did not love to read at a young age. We should nurture that practice in our children. Parents, get your kids hooked on books! That habit will pay so many dividends over a lifetime.

The seed of becoming a writer was not planted until the second grade. I wrote a short story for class. It was about all the planets in our solar system always running into each other, which was why they all had crater marks. The King Sun got so annoyed with all their accidents, so he enforced their gravitational rotation upon them. My English professor father read it and said—and I will never forget— “Son, this doesn’t suck.”

In the old country, that is a big compliment to a kid.

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

I learned my first English word at age five on my first day of kindergarten at Lincoln Nebraska, and I said “no” to everything for the next three weeks. My father, who was getting his PhD in English, was worried that I wasn’t picking up the language. He took me to the university bookstore to buy workbooks, and then led me to the Shakespeare aisle to get reading material. You know, because Early Modern English and Beowulf are exactly what a little islander kid needed to integrate into the 1980s Midwest playground life.

I ended up fleeing A Midsummer Night’s Dream and ended up at other end of the store ogling the books with the shiny swords and dragons. I ended up choosing two books, The Misenchanted Sword by Lawrence Watt-Evans, and A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony. Technically it was manticore, not a dragon. Those two fine authors are responsible for sparking my lifelong passion for reading that led a career writing novels.

That and I also hated my day job. Like really, really hated my day job.

What can readers expect from your new book The Art of Destiny?

Wesley Chu books are known for their humor and worldbuilding. My plotting is considered high concept, and my writing style cinematic. Action scenes are often my happy place. I’m a heavy plotter but am a big fan of my characters’ free will, so expect some unexpected. Fun and cinematic are common descriptions for my work.

My characters are often stupidly honest veering toward stupid, but dang you will swear you know someone just like that in real life.

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

I would love to introduce my debut novel’s main character, Roen Tan from The Lives of Tao, to my newest favorite character, Ling Taishi from The Art of Prophecy. The two are in most ways complete opposites and occupy very specific slices of my psyche.

When my English professor father read an early draft of The Lives of Tao, he called me, “Son. I read your book.” Long pause. “It doesn’t suck, but there’s something off about it. Your main character… He’s a bit likable, but mostly not that likable, which may be a problem.” Another long pause. “Was he modelled after you?”

Can you tell us about any challenges you faced whilst writing and how you were able to overcome them?

Novel writing is a strange beast. In most professions, people become more confident the more experienced they are in a field. They understand the nuances. They can engage quicker. They can solution problems quicker because they’ve seen it before. That confidence doesn’t work with storytelling. Every book I wrote was the hardest book I ever written, and I *never* feel better about it. I’m a dang newborn foal every time I start working on a new book.

The one difference however—the one skill—that I’ve developed and can consistently rely on, is that while writing never gets easier, I know when something doesn’t work. I don’t know when something is good, but I absolutely know when something is bad, or isn’t working. That makes a big difference.

Yet another stunning cover! Were you involved in the process of what the cover would look like?

The final product for The Art of Prophecy and the upcoming The Art of Destiny is a beautiful and amazing product.

I would like to say I was involved with this knockout cover and the general art direction, but I feel that a ‘yes’ is an exaggerated description of my contribution. Yes, absolutely Del Rey solicited extensive feedback during the cover design process, but all glory and praise should go to the cover artist Tran Nguyen, the map illustrator Sunga Park, the art director Cassie Gonzales, and my incredible editor Tricia Narwani. Every aspect of both books’ production was a joy, and it shows in the final product.

What’s next for you?

My wife wants to climb Matterhorn. I’m also currently working on book 3 of the War Arts Saga. Between these two, I told her we don’t have enough life insurance.

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

Robert Jackson Bennett’s upcoming The Tainted Cup is an amazing and creative weird mystery thriller everyone should read. It’s a fun trippy adventure that will sink roots into your head for a long time.

Will you be picking up The Art of Destiny? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Wesley Chu, Author of ‘The Art of Destiny’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Fragile Threads of Power by V. E. Schwab
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V. E. Schwab, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, opens another door to a new fantasy series set in the dazzling world of Shades of Magic.

Dreambound by Dan Frey
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In this thrilling contemporary fantasy novel, a father must uncover the secret magical underbelly of Los Angeles to find his daughter, who has seemingly disappeared into the fictional universe of her favorite fantasy series.

The Salvation Gambit by Emily Skrutskie
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A hotheaded hacker must outwit the AI at the heart of a rogue warship–turned–penal colony if she and her crew of con women want to escape with their lives in this electrifying sci-fi thriller from the acclaimed author of Bonds of Brass.

The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft
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The first book in a wildly inventive and mesmerizing new fantasy series from acclaimed author Josiah Bancroft where magical mysteries abound and only one team can solve them: The Hexologists. 

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
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Enter a land of gods and monsters, soldiers and mercenaries, secrets and wishes—the explosive #1 internationally bestselling fantasy debut in a new trilogy for fans of The Witcher and Gideon the Ninth.

The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth
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Be gay, solve crime, take naps—A witty and quirky fantasy murder mystery in a folkloric world of witches, faeires, vampires, trolls and ghosts, for fans of Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey and T. J. Klune’s Under the Whispering Door.

Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig
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A small town is transformed by dark magic when a strange tree begins bearing magical apples in this new masterpiece of horror from the bestselling author of Wanderers and The Book of Accidents.

Herc by Phoenicia Rogerson
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A queer revisionist retelling of the story of Hercules, for fans of The Song of Achilles, A Thousand Ships and Ariadne.

Starter Villain by John Scalzi
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Inheriting your uncle’s supervillain business is more complicated than you might think. Particularly when you discover who’s running the place.

Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo
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The wandering Cleric Chih returns home to the Singing Hills Abbey for the first time in almost three years, to be met with both joy and sorrow. Their mentor, Cleric Thien, has died, and rests among the archivists and storytellers of the storied abbey. But not everyone is prepared to leave them to their rest.

A Market of Dreams and Destiny by Trip Galey
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Enter the bazaar of the bizarre—where fate and fortunes are for sale just beneath Covent Garden—in this high-stakes historical fantasy debut set in 19th-century London, perfect for fans of Neverwhere and The Night Circus.

The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan
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The first adventure in the Mirror Realm Cycle, a Spanish Inquisition-era fantasy trilogy inspired by Jewish folklore, with echoes of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden.

Hex Education by Maureen Kilmer
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A guilt-ridden former coven is forced to tap into the magic of their past . . . if they want to stop their lives from going up in flames again.

The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu
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A lyrical, queer sci-fi retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet as a locked-room thriller.

The Sky Vault by Benjamin Percy
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The third book in Percy’s innovative and acclaimed Comet Cycle, The Sky Vault, follows an investigation of a mysterious weather phenomena in Fairbanks, Alaska, and a government secret buried since WWII.

The Art of Destiny by Wesley Chu
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A hero once believed to be the chosen one must find a new path with the help of a band of unlikely allies in the sequel to The Art of Prophecy, an epic fantasy ode to martial arts and magic from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Wesley Chu.

The Circumference of the World by Lavie Tidhar
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In a story that is cosmic, inventive, and sly, multi-award-winning author Lavie Tidhar (Central Station) travels from the emergence of life to the very ends of the universe.

The Free People’s Village by Sim Kern
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From environmental journalist and founder of the #TransRightsReadathon Sim Kern, comes the eat-the-rich climate fiction you won’t want to put down.

The Never Wars by David Pedreira
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In The Never Wars–a mind-bending mix of Interstellar and The Expanse–a group of disgraced Special Forces are given one chance to redeem themselves. The question is whether they’ll survive long enough for it to matter.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
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For fans of Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is a debut novel that explores the shields we build around our hearts to retain our own magic.

What fantasy and sci-fi books will you be picking up this month? Tell us in the comments below!

The post September 2023 Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases 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.

Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood just want some quiet time to relax with each other and their son, but being a warlock and shadowhunter, there is always an apocalypse or demon uprising on the horizon. When two past associates of Magnus break into his and Alec’s apartment to steal the Book of the White, things get out of hand quickly and soon Magnus and Alec find themselves heading to Shanghai, with Clary, Jace, Isabelle, and Simon in tow. But with Magnus’ magic acting up after being stabbed by a mysterious weapon during the break in, the team find themselves in a much more complicated situation than anticipated.

We’ve had novels in the Shadowhunter universe for over a decade at this point and while going into this read, I was a little worried I’d feel burnout, but I was pleasantly surprised to feel a flare of nostalgia and enjoyment with being back with these characters. Clare and Chu brought a sense of maturity to our group and lessened some of the melodrama that is prevalent in the core Shadowhunter books.

While The Lost Book of the White falls onto the Shadowhunter universe timeline in between large events that happen in other books, Clare and Chu were able to craft a story that balanced the knowledge lifelong Shadowhunter readers would already know, while keeping the story open for new readers. The fact that they were somehow able to get decades worth of history and inside jokes into this novel without clunky info dumps or confusion, is a feat that few authors can manage. New readers won’t feel left out and longtime readers will get the fun of catching up with past characters.

What really makes The Eldest Curses trilogy stand out is the focus on Magnus and Alec. In The Lost Book of the White, their relationship is firmly established, so instead of focusing on angst and melodrama, we can see these two fan favourites flourishing. Each moment of Magnus and Alec interacting is like a little hit of serotonin in these dark times of 2020. Their relationship is not always perfect, but if you ignore the whole warlock and heavenly blessed demon hunter thing, they are a deeply realistic couple.

Having the rest of the core Shadowhunter crew from The Mortal Instruments series worried me at first, but I was wrong to think they would overwhelm Magnus and Alec’s story. Clare and Chu kept Magnus and Alec in the forefront, but Clary, Jace, Isabelle, and Simon brought their signature snark and friendship to round out the story. And I’ll say it again, but since relationships are already established, we get the fun and silly side of everyone without getting bogged down in angst. That’s not to say there isn’t drama in this story, it just isn’t so overloaded that it becomes the driving force of the plot.

Where The Lost Book of the White falters is its middle book syndrome. This story is fun and action-packed, and made me smile a lot…but it still kinda felt like a transition into the end game of this trilogy. Everything that happened in this book felt like set up to bigger and badder plots for the next book. All the set up was great fun, but it was set up nonetheless.

In looking at every Shadowhunter story I’ve ever read, I think this is the one that was the most fun to read. And while that is strictly a personal opinion, I think a lot of other readers may feel the same about this Magnus and Alec focused trilogy and specifically about this book. If you are looking for a book that has action, fantastic atmosphere, and a cast of characters that will quickly feel like the best friends you ever could have asked for, then I highly recommend The Lost Book of the White. 2020 being what it is, we could all use a book that makes us smile.

The Lost Book of the White is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like you local bookstore.

Will you be picking up The Lost Book of the White? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

From #1 New York Times bestselling authors Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu comes the second book in the Eldest Curses series and a thrilling new adventure for High Warlock Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood, for whom a death-defying mission into the heart of evil is not just a job, it’s also a romantic getaway. The Lost Book of the White is a Shadowhunters novel.

Life is good for Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood. They’re living together in a fabulous loft, their warlock son, Max, has started learning to walk, and the streets of New York are peaceful and quiet—as peaceful and quiet as they ever are, anyway.

Until the night that two old acquaintances break into Magnus’s apartment and steal the powerful Book of the White. Now Magnus and Alec will have to drop everything to get it back. They need to follow the thieves to Shanghai, they need to call some backup to accompany them, and they need a babysitter.

Also, someone has stabbed Magnus with a strange magical weapon and the wound is glowing, so they have that to worry about too.

Fortunately, their backup consists of Clary, Jace, Isabelle, and newly minted Shadowhunter Simon. In Shanghai, they learn that a much darker threat awaits them. Magnus’s magic is growing unstable, and if they can’t stop the demons flooding into the city, they might have to follow them all the way back to the source—to the very realm of the dead. Can they stop the threat to the world? Will they make it back home before their kid completely wears out Alec’s mom?

The post Review: The Lost Book of the White by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

This series takes place between City of Glass and City of Fallen Angels. Remember those postcards Izzy received? Yup, they have been written at the beginning of this book.

After defeating Valentine all Magnus wants to do is spend some time with his new boyfriend, Alec. A normal date would not do it for him, so he takes Alec across the big pond. In Paris, Magnus tries everything to make this trip unforgettable. Who would not be in awe of having dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower with the most beautiful man sitting across the table? But Alec just can’t relax and enjoy his first ever vacation as his mind is on high alert since Magnus is his first boyfriend and he has no clue what he should do or what is expected of him.

When Alec notices something strange above Paris’s roofs, he switches to hunting mode and wants to help his French colleagues. Little does he know that he would replace their vacation with an investigation of a greater demon worshipping cult called the Crimson Hand, which was founded by Magnus and his best friend Ragnor Fell. They may not be on vacation anymore, but that does not mean they cannot travel through Europe to stop the cult from summoning someone, who Magnus never wanted to see again.

Compared to the other Shadowhunters books, Red Scrolls, with its 300 pages, is quite short. For those, who have read everything Cassandra Clare has written, at first, not much is new. We know that Malec went to Europe for a while and we read a bit about this trip in the second trilogy of The Mortal Instruments. However, it is nice to have Alec at the center of a book. Clare already wrote a book of short stories about different parts of Magnus life, which also included Alec, titled The Bane Chronicles.

However, it always felt, like the readers would never really get as much as they wanted to of him. The perfect soldier, who built walls so high around his heart to not show a single emotion, finally shows us that he is so full of them and quite shy and unsure in this new situation. These feelings go both ways. Alec cares about his home, New York, the Institute, and for his family and friends. The only person he completely trusts is his sister Isabelle, besides his parabatai Jace, of course, so you do get some very beautiful moments between the siblings. You will shed a tear when Max’s name comes up and cry from laughter when Jace fights Izzy for the phone.

And then there is Alec’s vulnerable side. He loves Magnus with all his heart, but he still does not know much about him and probably never will know him completely. There’s also this “problem” that Magnus is way more experienced as he is and Alec feels lost when he only things about going further with him.

Magnus on the other hand does not worry about their relationship, but now with the cult, who he must stop, he does not know where he should start digging. How could he forget about it? The cult soon turns out to be even more personal as he would have thought and what could happen if they succeed with summoning a greater demon, he does not want to imagine it. A character such as Magnus’s has thousand stories to tell. I think that it never gets old to hear about his past from who he met, where he lived, and what adventures he has had.

What makes Clare’s book so special is that she never forgets to bring some other beloved characters into the story from Tessa saying hi, followed by Raphael, Helen, and Aline, along with Max and Ragnor being mentioned.

In case you are new to the Shadowhunter world, this timeline could help you guide through all the books and short novels which have been published so far.

The Red Scrolls of Magic is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Have you read The Red Scrolls of Magic? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

From #1 New York Times bestseller Cassandra Clare and award-winner Wesley Chu comes the first book in a new series that follows High Warlock Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood as they tour the world after the Mortal War. The Red Scrolls of Magic is a Shadowhunters novel.

All Magnus Bane wanted was a vacation—a lavish trip across Europe with Alec Lightwood, the Shadowhunter who against all odds is finally his boyfriend. But as soon as the pair settles in Paris, an old friend arrives with news about a demon-worshipping cult called the Crimson Hand that is bent on causing chaos around the world. A cult that was apparently founded by Magnus himself. Years ago. As a joke.

Now Magnus and Alec must race across Europe to track down the Crimson Hand and its elusive new leader before the cult can cause any more damage. As if it wasn’t bad enough that their romantic getaway has been sidetracked, demons are now dogging their every step, and it is becoming harder to tell friend from foe. As their quest for answers becomes increasingly dire, Magnus and Alec will have to trust each other more than ever—even if it means revealing the secrets they’ve both been keeping.

The post Review: The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Helena Hunting pens a fun new romantic comedy in Meet Cute, Cassandra Clare adds another instalment to her Shadowhunter Chronicles with The Red Scrolls of Magic, and Josh Malerman, author of Bird Box, writes a story about two schools for geniuses in Inspection.

Exciting debuts come from the likes of Joan He in her Chinese-inspired fantasy, Descendant of the Crane, while Emily A. Duncan’s fantasy novel Wicked Saints follows a century long war, and Melanie Golding’s Little Darlings is a new creepy thriller inspired by dark fairy tales.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be reading any!

Meet Cute by Helena Hunting
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Descendant of the Crane by Joan He
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In this shimmering Chinese-inspired fantasy, debut author Joan He introduces a determined and vulnerable young heroine struggling to do right in a world brimming with deception.

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding
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Compulsive, creepy, and inspired by some of our darkest fairy tales, Little Darlings will have you checking—and rechecking—your own little ones. Just to be sure. Just to be safe.

Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
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In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy.

Under The Northern Lights by S.C. Stephens
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From the number one New York Times bestselling author of the Thoughtless series comes a sweet, thoughtful romance set high in the Alaskan wilderness.

The Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent
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Two sisters raised in fear are about to find out why in a chilling novel of psychological suspense from the author of The Thinnest Air.

In The Neighbourhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton
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Partly inspired by the Atlanta temple bombing of 1958, In the Neighborhood of True is the thoughtful and provoking story of Ruth Robb, a young woman trying to fit in to the “in” crowd in her new hometown by hiding her Jewish heritage.

Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly
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The runaway bestseller Lilac Girls introduced the real-life heroine Caroline Ferriday. This sweeping new novel, set a generation earlier and also inspired by true events, features Caroline’s mother, Eliza, and follows three equally indomitable women from St. Petersburg to Paris under the shadow of World War I.

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu
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From #1 New York Times bestseller Cassandra Clare and award-winner Wesley Chu comes the first book in a new series that follows High Warlock Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood as they tour the world after the Mortal War. The Red Scrolls of Magic is a Shadowhunters novel.

Inspection by Josh Malerman
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Boys are being trained at one school for geniuses, girls at another. Neither knows the other exists—until now. The New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box invites you into a world of secrets and chills in a coming-of-age story like no other.

The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston
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The Prince and the Pauper gets a modern makeover in this adorable, witty, and heartwarming young adult novel set in the Geekerella universe by national bestselling author Ashley Poston.

The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth
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A twisty, compelling new novel about one woman’s complicated relationship with her mother-in-law that ends in death…

Will you be reading any of these April book releases? Tell us in the comments below!

The post April Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.