Children’s Books

Starting with the littlest readers, here are some children’s books sure to captivate your kiddo with enchanting illustrations and thought-provoking themes:

Gwei the Hungry Ghost written by Emeline Lee; illustrated by Basia Tran

With Chinese folklore, mouthwateringly vivid food, and a thoughtful exploration of loneliness and the power of community, Gwei the Hungry Ghost is the perfect read for foodies longing to explore the Hungry Ghost Festival alongside the sweetest ghost friends.

Mr. Chow’s Night Market written by Emily Sun Li; illustrated by Yu Ting Cheng 

Powerful, welcoming, and heartwarming, Mr. Chow’s Night Market celebrates the joy and power of community, creativity, being yourself, and trying new things, highlighting the importance of collaboration and asking for help when you need it amidst the backdrop of Taiwan’s first night market.

Music of the Bells written by Anitha Rao-Robinson; illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

Vibrant and empowering, Music of the Bells beautifully highlights the power of movement and dance, introducing readers to Kathak (a classical Indian dance form) and exploring dance as a storytelling medium.

Where Do Stories Live? by Meenal Patel

Where Do Stories Live? enchants as it brilliantly emphasizes the power of stories and the myriad ways in which they are born through beautifully peaceful, calming illustrations. 

Middle-Grade Books

For middle-grade readers, here are some sweeping stories with magic and adventure galore:

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

Brimming with Hindu mythology, found family, and a hilarious cast, Aru Shah and the End of Time is the cinematic first book in the Pandava series. 

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

With Korean mythology, fox-magic, and gripping action, Dragon Pearl is an unputdownable space opera.

Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry Lien 

Joyful, playful, and fierce, Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword is a delightful fantasy that blends martial arts and figure skating. 

Squalo & Mage vs. the Rage of the Bakunawa: A Graphic Novel by Kara Bodegón-Hikino 

Filipino folklore, an action-packed journey perfect for fans of Pokémon games, and heartwarming friendship await readers in Squalo & Mage vs. the Rage of the Bakunawa: A Graphic Novel.

Young Adult (YA) Books

For YA readers, here are some irresistible reads with everything from horror to fantasy to romance to game-show shenanigans:

A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen 

Heartfelt, sweet, and scrumptious, A Bánh Mì for Two is a sapphic romance set in Vietnam featuring street food, family, and friendship.

Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim 

Celestial Banquet is a riveting, delicious fantasy with Chinese and Southeast Asian folklore and a propulsive, vicious cooking competition.  

Coming Out Perfect by Richard Mercado

Coming Out Perfect beautifully explores Filipino culture and the weight of familial expectations, fitting in, and coming out, offering a welcoming and uplifting graphic novel. 

Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee 

With sea-swept imagery, a compelling murder mystery, and a dash of romance, Heiress of Nowhere delivers an immersive historical mystery set on Orcas Island, Washington, in 1918.

I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang

Evocative and immersive, I Am Not Jessica Chen thoughtfully presents themes of burnout, imposter syndrome, and love against a dark academia backdrop.

Just Between Us by Adeline Kon

Just Between Us is an addictive, fierce, and romantic YA graphic novel with a swoon-worthy sapphic romance and figure skating.

Midnights with You by Clare Osongco

With a tender romance, late-night driving lessons, and a powerful exploration of family trauma, Midnights with You is an emotional, romantic contemporary novel.

Seyoon and Dean, Unscripted by Sujin Witherspoon

Featuring an action-packed wilderness game show, a witty cast of characters, and an adorable romance, Seyoon and Dean, Unscripted is an addictive, cinematic contemporary novel.

Strike the Zither by Joan He

Strike the Zither is a fierce retelling of the Chinese classic The Three Kingdoms, filled with political intrigue and star-crossed lovers.

That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall 

Haunting, propulsive, and raw, That Which Feeds Us is a horror-infused thriller with sisterhood and sapphic love that celebrates and honors Hawaiian culture, history, folklore, and resilience.

The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha

The Fox Maidens is a sweeping graphic novel set in 16^th-century Korea with a sapphic romance and Korean mythology.

The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker 

Immersive, gritty, and magical, The Keeper of Night brilliantly weaves Japanese folklore into a gripping adventure that takes readers to London, Japan, and the Japanese underworld.

The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le

Medical-inspired magic and a Vietnam-inspired world unite in The Last Bloodcarver, a lush and mystery-infused fantasy.

The Last Tiger by Julia and Brad Riew

Inspired by true stories from the authors’ grandparents’ love story, The Last Tiger is a powerful, romantic, and adventurous tale with hope, high stakes, and magic.

Zhara by S. Jae-Jones

Zhara is a witty, creative, and addictive fantasy with East Asian mythology, found family, and a pinch of Cinderella.

Adult Books

For adult readers, here are some books to satisfy your literary cravings, from mythology to monsters to magic to mystery:

A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa

Magical, cozy, and emotional, A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang serves up a heartfelt and compelling story set in an enchanted bakery.

Aunt Tigress by Emily Yu-Xuan Qin

Splendidly strange and wonderfully haunting, Aunt Tigress is a compelling urban fantasy with sapphic love inspired by Chinese and First Nation mythology.

Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil

Vibrant and propulsive, Black Salt Queen captivates with its Filipino-inspired world, powerful cast, and political intrigue.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a spellbinding, romantic fantasy with Chinese mythology and lush prose.

Local Heavens by K.M. Fajardo

Set in New York City, 2075, Local Heavens delivers an addictive reimagining of The Great Gatsby, filled with cyberpunk technology, queer love, lyrical prose, and a Filipino American Nick Carraway.

Red City by Marie Lu

Vicious, dark, and magical, Red City presents an alternate Los Angeles with alchemy and star-crossed love.

The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung 

A cinematic standalone featuring Chinese culture, a powerful mother-daughter bond, and political intrigue, The Last Mandarin is a gripping thriller from start to finish.

The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg 

Adventure, love, and Thai mythology meet in The Last Phi Hunter, a witty and action-packed fantasy debut.

The Manor of Dreams by Christina Li

A twisty and haunting gothic thriller, The Manor of Dreams delivers a compelling concoction of sapphic love, family drama, mystery, and a haunted garden.

The Poet Empress by Shen Tao

The Poet Empress is a lush, immersive, and vicious fantasy with court politics, magic, and Chinese mythology.

The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei 

The Stardust Grail delivers an innovative and unputdownable adventure with a treasure hunt, found family, and riveting heist.

The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard 

Brimming with Indian mythology, hilarious characters, and swoon-worthy romance, The Starlight Heir is a sweeping romantasy.

The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu

The Subtle Art of Folding Space delivers a heartfelt, propulsive, and creative sci-fi novel with delicious dim sum, generational trauma, and physics.

These are just some of the countless incredible books waiting to join your TBR list this AANHPI Heritage Month! Many are out now, and some release later this year, making it the perfect time to preorder to continue the celebration and amplify AANHPI stories throughout 2026. Happy AANHPI Heritage Month, and happy reading!

The post 36 Books To Add To Your AANHPI Heritage Month TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

From sapphic romances and a Mulan-inspired fantasy, to thrilling adventures and street racing, there’s some immensely delightful new young adult books hitting shelves this month! 

Read on to discover a few of our picks and let us know in the comments below if you’re looking forward to any!

Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon

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They fell for each other in just twenty-four hours. Now Rowan and Neil embark on a long-distance relationship during their first year of college in this romantic, dual POV sequel to Today Tonight Tomorrow.

Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen

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Mulan meets Iron Widow in this thrilling silkpunk fantasy about a girl who must disguise herself as a boy and enter the famed and dangerous Engineer’s Guild trials to unravel the mystery of her father’s murder.

Wish You Weren’t Here by Erin Baldwin

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This sapphic romance novel has everything you could want in a summer vacation read—swoony interactions, childhood nostalgia, and a slow-burn romance you’ll root for the whole time!

The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim

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In this sly and dazzling contemporary fantasy, the most notorious nine-tailed fox in Korea pairs up with a trickster god–turned–detective to track down a wrathful demon . . . before it can destroy the mortal world.

Four Eids and a Funeral by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jaigirdar

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Ex-best friends, Tiwa and Said, must work together to save their Islamic Center from demolition, in this romantic story of rekindling and rebuilding by award-winning authors Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé & Adiba Jaigirdar!

Moonstorm by Yoon Ha Lee

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In a society where conformity is valued above all else, a teen girl training to become an Imperial pilot is forced to return to her rebel roots to save her world in this adrenaline-fueled sci-fi adventure—perfect for fans of Iron Widow and Skyward!

The Color of a Lie by Kim Johnson

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In 1955, a Black family passes for white and moves to a “Whites Only” town in the suburbs. Caught between two worlds, a teen boy puts his family at risk as he uncovers racist secrets about his suburb. A new social justice thriller from the acclaimed author of This Is My America!

Crashing into You by Rocky Callen

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In this fiercely moving YA romance novel, Leti Rivera’s love of street racing is put to the test when tragedy strikes her family and threatens to tear her apart from the boy she’s falling for.

We Shall Be Monsters by Tara Sim

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Frankenstein meets Indian mythology in this twisty, darkly atmospheric fantasy where the horror is not the monsters you face but the ones you create.

Love, Off The Record by Samantha Markum

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The Hating Game meets Alex, Approximately in this smart, chemistry-filled teen rom-com about two rival journalism students competing for the same position on their university newspaper.

Furious by Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos

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There’s nothing more thrilling than being behind the wheel when the flag drops, a stretch of track ahead and her foot on the gas. Racing is in Jojo’s blood. Or at least . . . it was.

The Calculation of You and Me by Serena Kaylor

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A calculus nerd enlists her surly classmate’s help to win back her ex-boyfriend, but when sparks start to fly, she realizes there’s no algorithm for falling in love.

The Wilderness of Girls by Madeline Claire Franklin

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An unflinching YA debut about a troubled teen who discovers a pack of feral girls in the woods and is swept up in the ensuing mystery: Are the Wild Girls of Happy Valley lost princesses from a faraway land, as they believe, or are they brainwashed victims of a deranged kidnapper?

Looking For Smoke by K.A. Cobell

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In her powerful debut novel, Looking for Smoke, author K. A. Cobell (Blackfeet) weaves loss, betrayal, and complex characters into a thriller that will illuminate, surprise, and engage readers until the final word. 

Heiress Takes All by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

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The Inheritance Games meets Ocean’s 11 in this thrilling adventure about a teenager determined to pull off the perfect heist in the middle of her father’s wedding.

The Breakup Artists by Adriana Mather

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Adriana Mather, New York Times bestselling author of How to Hang a Witch, brings her signature wit, wild imagination, and all the feels to her new YA novel, The Breakup Artists.

What June YA books are you looking forward to picking up? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 16 Young Adult Books Hitting Bookshelves In June 2024 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

From magic, fairytales, romance, and thrillers, to monsters, rebels, pirates, and friends, there’s certainly something for everyone to look forward to amongst the young adult books releasing between January and June 2024! From new releases from the likes of Emma Lord, Brigid Kemmerer, Kacen Callender, Morgan Matson, Tomi Adeyemi, Kalynn Bayron, Rachel Lynn Solomon, and many more, to those making their dazzling debut, you will be spoilt for choice!

Read on to discover some wonderful new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other 2024 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated and our Swoonworthy Romance lists!

JANUARY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

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A trans boy searches for a future―and a romance―in which he can live and love openly as himself in this heartrending young-adult reimagining of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, part of the Remixed Classics series.

The Getaway List by Emma Lord

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Inescapably romantic and brimming with New York Times bestselling author Emma Lord’s signature cheer, The Getaway List is an uplifting and romantic read that will settle into your heart and never leave.

If I Promise You Wings by A.K. Small

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Hold Still meets You’ve Reached Sam in this lyrical novel about one young woman’s journey through the Paris fashion scene as she chases promises, overcomes grief, and falls in love.

Just Happy to Be Here by Naomi Kanakia

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In this YA standalone perfect for fans of Tobly McSmith and Meredith Russo, the first out trans girl at an all-girls school must choose between keeping her head down or blazing a trail.

That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally

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From a gripping new voice comes a YA thriller with amnesia, stalking, abduction and twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat, perfect for fans of Natalie D. Richards and Vincent Ralph.​

A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel

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Circe goes YA in this unapologetically feminist retelling of the Medusa myth steeped in Indian mythology, a YA epic fantasy addition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

The Atlas of Us by Kristin Dwyer

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Following her critically-acclaimed debut novel, Some Mistakes Were Made, Kristin Dwyer is back with The Atlas of Us, a novel about deep grief, found family, and a raw love story that will have readers crying and laughing in equal measure.

Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta

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An unforgettable YA debut about two Latina teens growing up in East Oakland as they discover that the world is brimming with messy complexities, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Erika L. Sánchez.

Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment by Arushi Avachat

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Save the Date meets Never Have I Ever in this sparkling debut rom-com about a high school senior whose life suddenly gets a Bollywood spin when her sister gets engaged.

Somewhere in the Deep by Tanvi Berwah

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From the author of Monsters Born and Made comes an action-packed South Asian inspired fantasy that will have your heart racing at every turn. 

Out of Our League: 16 Stories of Girls in Sports

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A compelling YA anthology from editors Dahlia Adler and Jennifer Iacopelli about the trials and triumphs of girls in sports with stories from Carrie S. Allen, Sara Farizan, Juliana Goodman, Maggie Hall, Leah Henderson, Sarah Henning, Naomi Kanakia, Miranda Kenneally, Yamile Saied Méndez, Cam Montgomery, Marieke Nijkamp, Amparo Ortiz, Aminah Mae Safi, and Kayla Whaley.

Destroy the Day by Brigid Kemmerer

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In the thrilling conclusion to the Defy the Night series, New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer crafts heartrending twists and devastating turns that will keep readers breathless to the very end.

FEBRUARY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender

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Infinity Alchemist is a spellbinding fantasy novel about a quest that leads three young alchemists toward dangerous truth, legendary love, and extraordinary power.

My Big, Fat Desi Wedding

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These genre-bending stories focus on the magic (and tension) of the biggest family gathering. Both award-winning and debut authors share stories of broken hearts, rekindled flames, unlikely romances, and one particular auntie who loves to meddle with stories from Prerna Pickett, Syed Masood, Tashie Bhuiyan, Aamna Qureshi, Payal Doshi, Sarah Mughal, Noreen Mughees, and Anahita Karthi.

This Day Changes Everything by Edward Underhill

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Dash & Lily meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in Edward Underhill’s new whirlwind rom-com about two queer teens who spend one life-changing day together in New York City.

Daughter of the Bone Forest by Jasmine Skye

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Two girls reluctantly bound by fate must weather a dangerous courtship as a prophesied war grows ever closer in Jasmine Skye’s high-stakes, queernormative dark fantasy debut, Daughter of the Bone Forest.

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

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From the New York Times–bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame comes the first book in a hotly-anticipated fantasy duology teeming with romance and revenge, led by an orphan girl willing to do whatever it takes to save her self-made kingdom.

The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert

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NYT bestselling author Melissa Albert returns with THE BAD ONES, a supernatural horror novel about four mysterious disappearances in a town haunted by a sinister magical history

Kindling by Traci Chee

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From bestselling and award-winning author Traci Chee comes a standalone fantasy set against a war-ravaged world where kindling warfare—the use of elite, magic-wielding teenage soldiers—has been outlawed. In this rich and evocative novel, seven kindlings search for purpose and identity as they prepare for one final battle. For fans of the classic films Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven.

I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang

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Unforgettable, snarky, and romantic, I Hope This Doesn’t Find You is Never Have I Ever meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before if Lara Jean wrote hate emails instead of love letters.

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

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Enemies-to-lovers doesn’t get more high stakes than a witch and a witch hunter falling in love in bestselling author Kristen Ciccarelli’s latest romantic fantasy

If Only I Had Told Her by Laura Nowlin

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An intensely emotional and gripping companion novel to Laura Nowlin’s USA Today and New York Times Bestselling novel If He Had Been With Me about the love that both breaks and heals us. Perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and Jenny Han.

With a Little Luck by Marissa Meyer

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After being magically gifted with incredible luck, a boy discovers this gift just may be a curse when it comes to love, in this sweet romantic comedy by #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer.

Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek

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A girl with dangerous magic makes a risky bargain with a demon to be free of her monstrous power in this young adult fantasy perfect for fans of An Enchantment of Ravens and House of Salt and Sorrows.

MARCH 2024 BOOK RELEASES

The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le

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The tantalising romance of These Violent Delights meets the mechanical wonders of Cinder in The Last Bloodcarver , the first in a two-book debut – with a riveting medical magic system and lush Vietnam-inspired fantasy world.

Bad Like Us by Gabriella Lepore

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Two friend groups collide when someone turns up dead over spring break in this heart-thumping YA thriller for fans of One of Us Is Lying and We Were Liars

The Summer She Went Missing by Chelsea Ichaso

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From the author of Dead Girls Can’t Tell Secrets and They’re Watching You, a compelling new thriller!

Icarus by K. Ancrum

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Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, this suspenseful queer YA romance from critically acclaimed author K. Ancrum reimagines the tale of Icarus as a star-crossed love story between a young art thief and the son of the man he’s been stealing from—think Portrait of a Thief for YA readers.

Promchanted by Morgan Matson

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Modern-day teens wander into Disney’s Sleeping Beauty in this enemies-to-lovers rom-com from New York Times bestselling author Morgan Matson.

One Last Breath by Ginny Myers Sain

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The New York Times bestselling author of Dark & Shallow Lies delivers another chilling supernatural thriller filled with murder, romance, and a decades long mystery that haunts a small Florida town.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

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In Where Sleeping Girls Lie ― a YA contemporary mystery by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, the New York Times-bestselling author of Ace of Spades ― a girl new to boarding school discovers dark secrets and coverups after her roommate disappears.

We Are Mayhem by Beck Rourke-Mooney

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Filled with messy, complicated characters, We Are Mayhem is a debut YA novel about finding your strength, embracing your weird, and being who you truly are – no matter what.

Ariel Crashes A Train by Olivia A. Cole

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Exploring the harsh reality of OCD and violent intrusive thoughts in stunning, lyrical writing, this novel-in-verse conjures a haunting yet hopeful portrait of a girl on the edge. From the author of Dear Medusa, which New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed called “a fierce and brightly burning feminist roar.”

The No-Girlfriend Rule by Christen Randall

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Julie Murphy meets Casey McQuiston in this unforgettable queer romance about a teen girl whose foray into fantasy tabletop roleplaying brings her new confidence, true friends, and a shot at real, swoon-worthy love.

The Hedgewitch of Foxhall by Anna Bright

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In this gorgeous stand-alone fantasy romance perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson and Allison Saft, a rebellious witch undertakes a last-ditch quest to restore magic to medieval Wales—as two princes vie for her heart.

The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

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The Poisons We Drink is a potent YA debut about a world where love potions are weaponized against hate and prejudice, sisterhood is unbreakable, and self-love is life and death.

APRIL 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Something Kindred by Ciera Burch

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Magical realism meets Southern Gothic in this commanding young adult debut from Ciera Burch about true love, the meaning of home, and the choices that haunt us.

We’re Never Getting Home by Tracy Badua

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HBO’s Insecure meets Dazed and Confused in this messy, tender YA novel about a friendship breakup, set against the backdrop of a chaotic night at a music festival, from rising talent Tracy Badua.

The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray by Christine Calella

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The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray follows the asexual daughter of a notorious pirate queen and her anxious half-sister braving the sea and its pirates to find themselves

Fate Be Changed: A Twisted Tale by Farrah Rochon

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What if the witch gave Merida a different spell? This New York Times best-selling series twists Disney Pixar’s Brave into a fast-paced story in which Merida is sent back in time.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

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From the author of the multimillion-copy bestselling A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series and Five Survive comes a new true-crime fueled mystery thriller about a girl determined to uncover the shocking truth about her mother’s disappearance while filming a documentary on the unsolved case.

Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo

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Not Like Other Girls is a stunning debut that takes a hard look at how we treat young women and their trauma, through the lens of a missing girl and a girl trying to find herself again.

Otherworldly by F.T. Lukens

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A skeptic and a supernatural being make a crossroads deal to achieve their own ends only to get more than they bargained for in this lively young adult romantic adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of Spell Bound and So This Is Ever After.

The Misdirection of Fault Lines by Anna Gracia

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Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants goes to the French Open in an emotionally honest and openhearted novel for fans of Yamile Saied Méndez and Mary HK Choi.

To A Darker Shore by Leanne Schwartz

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A da Vinci-esque teen girl inventor on a Dante-esque journey through hell to save her best friend.

Draw Down the Moon by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

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New York Times bestsellers P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast return with a new duology set in a dark and magickal world filled with incredible danger and irresistible romance.

Finally Fitz by Marisa Kanter

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A bisexual teen girl tries to make her ex jealous by faking an Instagram romance that leads to surprisingly real feelings in this hijinks-filled rom-com perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and She Gets the Girl.

Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin

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Judy I. Lin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Magic Steeped in Poison, weaves a dreamy gothic romance worthy of the heavens in Song of the Six Realms.

MAY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

The Worst Perfect Moment by Shivaun Plozza

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Equal parts tender and edgy, this inventive queer romance imagines what it might feel like to come of age in the afterlife.

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur

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June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace, crafts a devastating and pulse-pounding tale that will feel all-too-relevant in today’s world, based on a true story from Korean history.

Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams

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A teenager on the run from his past finds the family he never knew existed and the community he never knew he needed at an HBCU for the young, Black, and magical. Enroll in this fresh fantasy debut with the emotional power of Legendborn and the redefined ancestral magic of Lovecraft Country.

The Ballad of Darcy and Russell by Morgan Matson

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From New York Times bestselling author Morgan Matson comes a sweeping romantic novel about love, fate…and that one night that can change everything.

The Only Light Left Burning by Erik J. Brown

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What If It’s Us meets They Both Die at the End in this sequel to the beloved postapocalyptic queer YA adventure romance All That’s Left in the World by USA Today bestselling author Erik J. Brown.

The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe

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Four teens. Three henchmen. Two thousand acres of remote forest. One very bad man. And a whole lot of new secrets to unearth. The unmissable, thrilling follow-up to THE GIRLS I’VE BEEN (soon to be a Netflix film).

I Wish You Would by Eva Des Lauriers

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To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets You’ve Reached Sam in this love story in which explosive secrets threaten to tear everyone apart, including best friends (or maybe more?), Natalia and Ethan.

Bite Me, Royce Taslim by Lauren Ho

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Acclaimed author of Last Tang Standing and Lucie Yi is Not a Romantic in her YA debut: a sharp yet sweet rivals-to-romance romp through Kuala Lumpur—perfect for fans of Emiko Jean, Abigail Hing Wen, and Kat Cho.

The Lamplighter by Crystal J. Bell

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In a quaint 19th century whaling village, a young woman seeks to expose the dark truth behind the village’s eerie disappearances at the risk of the lives of everyone she loves . . . assuming anyone will listen to a female in the first place.

In the Shallows by Tanya Byrne

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From the acclaimed author of Afterlove comes a beautiful sapphic second-chance love story drenched with longing, loss and mystery.

Keepers of the Stones and Stars by Michael Barakiva

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Keepers of the Stones and Stars is a witty young adult contemporary fantasy about a group of five teens chosen by magical gems to save the world.

Have You Seen This Girl by Nita Tyndall

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Fans of Courtney Summers and Tess Sharpe will devour this standalone YA thriller following a nonbinary teen investigating a series of copycat murders targeting girls in their small town—murders based on their serial killer dad’s MO.

JUNE 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi

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Tomi Adeyemi’s #1 New York Times -bestselling Legacy of Orïsha series comes to an earth-shaking conclusion.

Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth

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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six (under the penname Olivie Blake) comes Twelfth Knight, a YA romantic comedy and coming of age story about taking up space in the world and learning what it means to let others in.

Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon

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They fell for each other in just twenty-four hours. Now Rowan and Neil embark on a long-distance relationship during their first year of college in this romantic, dual POV sequel to Today Tonight Tomorrow.

Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen

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Mulan meets Iron Widow in this thrilling silkpunk fantasy about a girl who must disguise herself as a boy and enter the famed and dangerous Engineer’s Guild trials to unravel the mystery of her father’s murder.

Wish You Weren’t Here by Erin Baldwin

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Pitched as The Hating Game for teens, the story follows childhood rivals Juliette and Priya, who are forced to be summer camp cabinmates, and must decide what they want more: to kill each other, or to kiss.

Sleep Like Death by Kalynn Bayron

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New York Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation Kalynn Bayron returns to fairytales with a lush, thrilling and original YA Snow White retelling that brings a new and exciting voice to this familiar tale. Perfect for fans of Cinderella Is Dead.

Heiress Takes All by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

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The Inheritance Games meets Ocean’s 11 in this thrilling YA adventure about a vengeful daughter determined to pull off the perfect heist in the midst of her father’s wedding.

We Mostly Come Out At Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures

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An empowering cross-genre YA anthology that explores what it means to be a monster, exclusively highlighting trans and queer authors who offer new tales and perspectives on classic monster stories and tropes. Contributors include editor Rob Costello, Kalynn Bayron, David Bowles, Shae Carys, Rob Costello, H.E. Edgmon, Michael Thomas Ford, Val Howlett, Brittany Johnson, Naomi Kanakia, Claire Kann, Jonathan Lenore Kastin, Sarah Maxfield, Sam J. Miller, Alexandra Villasante, and Merc Fenn Wolfmoor.

Moonstorm by Yoon Ha Lee

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In a society where conformity is valued above all else, a teen girl training to become an Imperial pilot is forced to return to her rebel roots to save her world in this adrenaline-fueled sci-fi adventure—perfect for fans of Iron Widow and Skyward!

There Is a Door in This Darkness by Kristin Cashore

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A magic-tinged contemporary YA about grief and hope from the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of the Graceling Realm novels.

The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde

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A Darker Shade of Magic meets Six of Crows, in this alternate day New York where monsters live among humankind, from USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde.

Storm: Dawn of a Goddess by Tiffany D. Jackson

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Before she was the super hero Storm of Marvel’s X-Men, she was Ororo of Cairo—a teenaged thief on the streets of Egypt, until her growing powers catch the eye of a villain who steals people’s souls.

What YA books are you looking forward to picking up in 2024? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Here’s 72 Of The Most Anticipated YA Books Of 2024 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be picking any of them up!

The Lives of Saints by Leigh Bardugo
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Dive into the epic world of international bestselling author Leigh Bardugo with this beautifully illustrated replica of The Lives of Saints, the Istorii Sankt’ya, featuring tales of saints drawn from the beloved novels and beyond. Out of the pages of the Shadow and Bone trilogy, from the hands of Alina Starkov to yours, the Istorii Sankt’ya is a magical keepsake from the Grishaverse.

Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee
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Gyen Jebi isn’t a fighter or a subversive. They just want to paint. One day they’re jobless and desperate; the next, Jebi finds themself recruited by the Ministry of Armor to paint the mystical sigils that animate the occupying government’s automaton soldiers. But when Jebi discovers the depths of the Razanei government’s horrifying crimes—and the awful source of the magical pigments they use—they find they can no longer stay out of politics. What they can do is steal Arazi, the ministry’s mighty dragon automaton, and find a way to fight…

Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira by Lou Diamond Phillips
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Imagine the intrigue of Game of Thrones mixed with the star-crossed romance of Romeo and Juliet… but in space! Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairy tale of the same name, Soldier of Indira is perfect for fans of Dune, Aurora Rising, and Stardust. 

The Tower of Fools by Andrzej Sapkowski
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From the New York Times bestselling author of the legendary Witcher series–the books that inspired the Netflix show and the hit video games–comes the first in an epic new trilogy.

White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton
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 In a similar vein to G.L. Carriger’s San Andreas Shifters series and Kim Harrison’s The Hollows series, David R. Slayton blends darkness, comedy, and the importance of family bonds into an #OwnVoices contemporary fantasy that will leave readers wanting more.  

The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
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From the visionary, New York Times bestselling author of New York 2140 comes a near-future novel that is a gripping exploration of climate change, technology, politics, and the human behaviors that drive these forces. 

The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk
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From the beloved World Fantasy Award-winning author of Witchmark comes a sweeping, romantic new fantasy set in a world reminiscent of Regency England, where women’s magic is taken from them when they marry. A sorceress must balance her desire to become the first great female magician against her duty to her family.

Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz
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How to Train Your Dragon meets Quidditch through the Ages in this debut fantasy, set in an alternate contemporary world, in which dragons and their riders compete in an international sports tournament

Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick by David Wong
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New York Times bestselling author David Wong’s Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick is the latest―and arguably greatest―sci-fi thriller in the Zoey Ashe Series.

A Wild Winter Swan by Gregory Maguire
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After brilliantly reimagining the worlds of Oz, Wonderland, Dickensian London, and the Nutcracker, the New York Times bestselling author of Wicked turns his unconventional genius to Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Wild Swans,” transforming this classic tale into an Italian-American girl’s poignant coming-of-age story, set amid the magic of Christmas in 1960s New York.

Gatekeeper by Alison Levy
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Rachel Wilde comes from a dimension that exists adjacent to ours. The people there have structured their society around daemon collecting: they locate, catch, and repair malfunctioning daemons (creatures out of phase with our world that tempt people to do good or evil). Now Rachel has been given two unusual assignments: 1) find a person who has been trying to break down dimensional barriers, and 2) track down a missing line of gatekeepers, human placeholders for a daemon that was too badly damaged to repair.

The Archive of the Forgotten by A.J. Hackwith
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In the second installment of this richly imagined fantasy adventure series, a new threat from within the Library could destroy those who depend upon it the most.

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

The post October 2020 Book Releases: Fantasy & Sci-Fi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Fantasy novels that deal with colonialism and cultural imperialism, even ones that explore them through art, aren’t new, but they seem to tend to skew towards western-inspired settings and western points of view. Author Yoon Ha Lee himself said, in an article for Sci-Fi Now that, initially, the book had trouble coming together and realised that the problem was the setting:

“Coming into this novel, most of my familiarity, thanks to the vicissitudes of a Western education, was with Western art… I got 40,000 words and six months into the draft when it became clear that this approach had backfired. I might paint watercolor as a hobby, more or less in a Western style, and I might admire Renaissance art… but I didn’t feel any personal sense of connection to my setting… I knew of a historical setting I did have some personal connection to, even if I’d been avoiding it: Korea during the Japanese occupation (1910-1945). My family is Korean; one of my grandfathers went to university in Japan during that period.”

Add in a few steampunk elements to this setting, such as the automatons powered by mystical paints, and Phoenix Extravagant is a breath of fresh air. Another great aspect of the worldbuilding is the diversity woven into the fabric of the setting: polyamory, same-sex relationships, and non-binary people (referred to here as “geu-ae” which is what Jebi identifies as) are all normal to varying degrees, with small details like cues certain groups use to recognise each other (such as the asymmetrical haircuts geu-ae prefer). None of it is an afterthought.

Jebi is an interesting protagonist to have as a point of view character: they, initially, don’t have any revolutionary ideals or tendencies like their sister Bongsunga (who is more the type of protagonist you’d expect for this kind of narrative). They’re an artist, someone who is traditionally ‘married to their occupation’. They’re not a collaborator and they’re aware that, despite some of the beneficial things the Razanei government has done, such as the cleaner streets and reduction in crime. However, this has come at a great cost for many (including their own family) and that their culture and people are slowly being assimilated, but they’re willing to keep their head down for a quiet life so they can continue to paint. Their journey over the course of the novel is their gradual realisation that they can no longer continue to be neutral, yet the story never loses sight of the fact that they are an ordinary person caught up in extraordinary circumstances. The rest of the characters are equally well developed, from Arazi, the dragon automaton meant to be a war machine with the soul of a philosopher, to the primary antagonist, who’s made more complex by the fact he feels his actions are justified for the sake of the greater good.

The emphasis on art and painting gives the writing a poetic quality, added to by the elements of magic and mythology, which shows the depth of Lee’s research with a deft hand. By the novel’s end, the scope of the world and conflict have been expanded, so it will be very interesting to see where the story goes next.

Phoenix Extravagant is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of October 15th 2020.

Will you be picking up Phoenix Extravagant? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Dragons. Art. Revolution.

Gyen Jebi isn’t a fighter or a subversive. They just want to paint.

One day they’re jobless and desperate; the next, Jebi finds themself recruited by the Ministry of Armor to paint the mystical sigils that animate the occupying government’s automaton soldiers.

But when Jebi discovers the depths of the Razanei government’s horrifying crimes—and the awful source of the magical pigments they use—they find they can no longer stay out of politics.

What they can do is steal Arazi, the ministry’s mighty dragon automaton, and find a way to fight…

The post Review: Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Get ready to escape 2020 with its upcoming fantasy and sci-fi book releases! While there’s many, many exciting new books being released this year, we’ve picked a few titles that are releasing between January and June this year!

There’s plenty of favourites authors releasing new books, including Sarah J. Maas, Mark Lawrence, Veronica Roth, Max Brooks, Sarah Gailey, Yoon Ha Lee, and Tamsyn Muir, along with debut authors releasing their first novels!

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you are looking forward to any of them!

The post Must-Have 2020 Fantasy + Sci-Fi Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Need some sci-fi? Mike Chen’s Here and Now and Then sees a time-traveling secret agent from 2142 stuck in the 1990’s, while Eyal Kless’ The Lost Puzzler is a page-turning post-dystopian debut novel.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be adding any of them to your TBR!

The Binding by Bridget Collins
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In the tradition of Sarah Waters, Helene Wecker, and Jessie Burton, an atmospheric and mystery-laden historical novel set within a magical world where books are not stories but the repository of individual lives.

The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden
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Following their adventures in The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower, Vasya and Morozko return in this stunning conclusion to the bestselling Winternight Trilogy, battling enemies mortal and magical to save both Russias, the seen and the unseen.

Slayer by Kiersten White
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From New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White comes a brand-new series set in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that introduces a new Slayer as she grapples with the responsibility of managing her incredible powers that she’s just beginning to understand.

The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty
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S. A. Chakraborty continues the sweeping adventure begun in The City of Brass—”the best adult fantasy I’ve read since The Name of the Wind” (#1 New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir)—conjuring a world where djinn summon flames with the snap of a finger and waters run deep with old magic; where blood can be dangerous as any spell, and a clever con artist from Cairo will alter the fate of a kingdom.

Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye
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A thrilling new fantasy series full of magic and betrayal—from Evelyn Skye, New York Times bestselling author of the Crown’s Game series. Love, spies, and adventure abound as Sora and Daemon unravel a complex web of magic and secrets that might tear them—and the entire kingdom—apart forever.

Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer
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Echo Alkaev’s safe and carefully structured world falls apart after he mysteriously disappears. Believing he is lost forever, Echo is shocked to find him half-frozen in the winter forest six months later, guarded by a strange talking wolf—the same creature who attacked her as a child. The wolf presents Echo with an offer: for her to come and live with him for a year. In his enchanted house beneath a mountain, Echo discovers centuries-old secrets, a magical library full of books-turned-mirrors, and a young man named Hal who is trapped inside of them.

Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen
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A uniquely emotional genre-bending debut, Here and Now and Then captures the perfect balance of heart, playfulness, and imagination, offering an intimate glimpse into the crevices of a father’s heart, and its capacity to stretch across both space and time to protect the people that mean the most.

The Lost Puzzler by Eyal Kless
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A brilliantly written, page-turning, post-dystopian debut from Eyal Kless, about a society hoping to salvage the technology of a lost generation, a mysterious missing boy who can open doors no one else can, and a scribe who must piece together the past to determine humanity’s future.

Analiese Rising by Brenda Drake
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When a stranger gives Analiese Jordan a list of names before he dies, the last thing she expects to see is her own on it. Her search for answers leads to the man’s grandson, Marek, who has dangerous secrets of his own. Both are determined to unlock the mystery of the list. But the truth is deadly. Analiese is a descendant of the God of Death, known as a Riser, with the power to raise the dead and control them.

The Wolf In The Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky
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A young Inuit shaman’s epic quest for survival in the frozen lands of North America in 1000 AD. The Wolf in the Whale is a powerful tale of magic, discovery and adventure, featuring an unforgettable narrator ready to confront the gods themselves.

Vigilance by Robert Jackson Bennett
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Robert Jackson Bennett’s Vigilance is a dark science fiction action parable from an America that has permanently surrendered to gun violence.

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
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Rick Riordan Presents Yoon Ha Lee’s space opera about thirteen-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits. But you’d never know it by looking at her. his sci-fi adventure with the underpinnings of Korean mythology will transport you to a world far beyond your imagination.

Will you be checking out any of these books? Tell us in the comments below!

The post January Book Releases: Fantasy + Sci-Fi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Whether you’re looking to read fantasy and science fiction with gender-neutral, gender-fluid or transgender characters, or that include societies with non-binary gender identities, then this is the list for you!

We’ve compiled 25 SFF books (in no particular order) with interesting takes on gender!

Science Fiction

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
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A groundbreaking work of science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a lone human emissary to Winter, an alien world whose inhabitants can choose and change their gender. His goal is to facilitate Winter’s inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilisation. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the completely dissimilar culture that he encounters.

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
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On a remote, icy planet, the soldier known as Breq is drawing closer to completing her quest. Once, she was the Justice of Toren – a colossal starship with an artificial intelligence linking thousands of soldiers in the service of the Radch, the empire that conquered the galaxy. Now, an act of treachery has ripped it all away, leaving her with one fragile human body, unanswered questions, and a burning desire for vengeance.

Bone Dance by Emma Bull
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Sparrow’s my name. Trader. Deal-maker. Hustler, some call me. I work the Night Fair circuit, buying and selling pre-nuke videos from the world before. I know how to get a high price, especially on Big Bang collectibles. But the hottest ticket of all is information on the Horsemen—the mind-control weapons that tilted the balance in the war between the Americas. That’s the prize I’m after. But it seems I’m having trouble controlling my own mind. The Horsemen are coming.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
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Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space—and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe—in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star.

Golden Witchbreed by Mary Gentle
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Orthe – half-civilised, half-barbaric, home to human-like beings who live and die by the code of the sword. Earth envoy Lynne Christie has been sent here to establish contact and to determine whether this is a world worth developing. But first Christie must come to understand that human-like is not and never can be human, and that not even Orthe’s leaders can stop the spread of rumours about her, dark whisperings that could cost Christie her life. And on a goodwill tour to the outlying provinces, these evil rumours turn to deadly accusations. Christie is no offworlder, Church officials charge: she is a treacherous and cunning descendant of Orthe’s legendary Golden Witchbreed – the cruel, ruthless race that once enslaved the whole planet. Suddenly, Christie finds herself a hunted fugitive on an alien world, where friend and foe alike may prove her executioners. And her only chance of survival lies in saving Orthe from a menace older than time…

Lock In by John Scalzi
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Not too long from today, a new, highly contagious virus makes its way across the globe. Most who get sick experience nothing worse than flu, fever and headaches. But for the unlucky one percent – and nearly five million souls in the United States alone – the disease causes “Lock In”: Victims fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus. The disease affects young, old, rich, poor, people of every colour and creed. The world changes to meet the challenge. A quarter of a century later, in a world shaped by what’s now known as “Haden’s syndrome,” rookie FBI agent Chris Shane is paired with veteran agent Leslie Vann. The two of them are assigned what appears to be a Haden-related murder at the Watergate Hotel, with a suspect who is an “integrator” – someone who can let the locked in borrow their bodies for a time. If the Integrator was carrying a Haden client, then naming the suspect for the murder becomes that much more complicated.

Shadow Man by Melissa Scott
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Five human sexual identities are spread throughout the galaxy, and humanity has adjusted to this new culture. Except on Hara–there everyone must choose to be a man or a woman and that decision is final. Warreven, a Haran man, could have married the son of the ruler of the planet–if he had chosen to be a woman. The result of the conflict is one of the most bizarre identity crises in science fiction.

Lilith’s Brood by Octavia E. Butler
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Lilith Iyapo is in the Andes, mourning the death of her family, when war destroys Earth. Centuries later, she is resurrected — by miraculously powerful unearthly beings, the Oankali. Driven by an irresistible need to heal others, the Oankali are rescuing our dying planet by merging genetically with mankind. But Lilith and all humanity must now share the world with uncanny, unimaginably alien creatures: their own children. This is their story…

River of Gods by Ian McDonald
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River of Gods teems with the life of a country choked with peoples and cultures–one and a half billion people, twelve semi-independent nations, nine million gods. Ian McDonald has written the great Indian novel of the new millennium, in which a war is fought, a love betrayed, a message from a different world decoded, as the great river Ganges flows on.

Diaspora by Greg Egan
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Diaspora is the story of Yatima — a polis being created from random mutations of the Konishi polis base mind seed — and of humankind, Of an astrophysical accident that spurs the thousandfold cloning of the polises. Of the discovery of an alien race and of a kink in time that means humanity — whatever form it takes — will never again be threatened by acts of God.

Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
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The first installment of the trilogy, Ninefox Gambit, centers on disgraced captain Kel Cheris, who must recapture the formidable Fortress of Scattered Needles in order to redeem herself in front of the Hexarchate. To win an impossible war Captain Kel Cheris must awaken an ancient weapon and a despised traitor general.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells
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In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety. But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern. On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid — a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is. But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it’s up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

Ice Song by Kirsten Imani Kasai
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Sorykah Minuit is a scholar, an engineer, and the sole woman aboard an ice-drilling submarine in the frozen land of the Sigue. What no one knows is that she is also a Trader: one who can switch genders suddenly, a rare corporeal deviance universally met with fascination and superstition and all too often punished by harassment or death. The world through which the alternating lives of Sorykah and Soryk, her male alter-ego, travel is both familiar and surreal. Environmental degradation and genetic mutation run amok; humans have been distorted into animals and animal bodies cloak a wild humanity. But it is also a world of unexpected beauty and wonder, where kindness and love endure amid the ruins. Alluring, intense, and gorgeously rendered, Ice Song is a remarkable debut by a fiercely original new writer.

Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer
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Mycroft Canner is a convict. For his crimes he is required, as is the custom of the 25th century, to wander the world being as useful as he can to all he meets. Carlyle Foster is a sensayer – a spiritual counsellor in a world that has outlawed the public practice of religion, but which also knows that the inner lives of humans cannot be wished away. The world into which Mycroft and Carlyle have been born is as strange to our 21st-century eyes as ours would be to a native of the 1500s. It is a hard-won utopia built on technologically-generated abundance, and also on complex and mandatory systems of labelling all public writing and speech. What seem to us normal gender distinctions are now distinctly taboo in most social situations. And most of the world’s population is affiliated with globe-girdling clans of the like-minded, whose endless economic and cultural competition is carefully managed by central planners of inestimable subtlety. To us it seems like a mad combination of heaven and hell. To them, it seems like normal life.

Fantasy

The Mirror Empire by Kameron Hurley
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On the eve of a recurring catastrophic event known to extinguish nations and reshape continents, a troubled orphan evades death and slavery to uncover her own bloody past… while a world goes to war with itself. In the frozen kingdom of Saiduan, invaders from another realm are decimating whole cities, leaving behind nothing but ash and ruin. As the dark star of the cataclysm rises, an illegitimate ruler is tasked with holding together a country fractured by civil war, a precocious young fighter is asked to betray his family and a half-Dhai general must choose between the eradication of her father’s people or loyalty to her alien Empress.

Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
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In a faraway land where members of the royal family are named for the virtues they embody, one young boy will become a walking enigma. Born on the wrong side of the sheets, Fitz, son of Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard, cast out into the world, friendless and lonely. Only his magical link with animals – the old art known as the Wit – gives him solace and companionship. But the Wit, if used too often, is a perilous magic, and one abhorred by the nobility. So when Fitz is finally adopted into the royal household, he must give up his old ways and embrace a new life of weaponry, scribing, courtly manners; and how to kill a man secretly, as he trains to become a royal assassin.

River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey
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In the early 20th Century, the United States government concocted a plan to import hippopotamuses into the marshlands of Louisiana to be bred and slaughtered as an alternative meat source. This is true. Other true things about hippos: they are savage, they are fast, and their jaws can snap a man in two. This was a terrible plan. Contained within this volume is an 1890s America that might have been: a bayou overrun by feral hippos and mercenary hippo wranglers from around the globe. It is the story of Winslow Houndstooth and his crew. It is the story of their fortunes. It is the story of his revenge.

The Black Tides of Heaven by J.Y. Yang
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Mokoya and Akeha, the twin children of the Protector, were sold to the Grand Monastery as children. While Mokoya developed her strange prophetic gift, Akeha was always the one who could see the strings that moved adults to action. While his sister received visions of what would be, Akeha realized what could be. What’s more, he saw the sickness at the heart of his mother’s Protectorate. A rebellion is growing. The Machinists discover new levers to move the world every day, while the Tensors fight to put them down and preserve the power of the state. Unwilling to continue to play a pawn in his mother’s twisted schemes, Akeha leaves the Tensorate behind and falls in with the rebels. But every step Akeha takes towards the Machinists is a step away from his sister Mokoya. Can Akeha find peace without shattering the bond he shares with his twin sister?

The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells
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Moon has spent his life hiding what he is — a shape-shifter able to transform himself into a winged creature of flight. An orphan with only vague memories of his own kind, Moon tries to fit in among the tribes of his river valley, with mixed success. Just as Moon is once again cast out by his adopted tribe, he discovers a shape-shifter like himself… someone who seems to know exactly what he is, who promises that Moon will be welcomed into his community. What this stranger doesn’t tell Moon is that his presence will tip the balance of power… that his extraordinary lineage is crucial to the colony’s survival… and that his people face extinction at the hands of the dreaded Fell! Now Moon must overcome a lifetime of conditioning in order to save himself… and his newfound kin.

The Bone Palace by Amanda Downum
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Death is no stranger in the city of Erisín– but some deaths attract more attention than others. When a prostitute dies carrying a royal signet, Isyllt Iskaldur, necromancer and agent of the Crown, is called to investigate. Her search leads to desecrated tombs below the palace, and the lightless vaults of the vampiric vrykoloi deep beneath the city. But worse things than vampires are plotting in Erisín… As a sorcerous plague sweeps the city and demons stalk the streets, Isyllt must decide who she’s prepared to betray, before the city built on bones falls into blood and fire.

Wraeththu by Storm Constantine
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In this powerful and elegant story set in a future Earth very different from our own, a new kind of human has evolved to challenge the dominion of Homo sapiens. This new breed is stronger, smarter, and far more beautiful than their parent race, and are endowed with psychic as well as physical gifts. They are destined to supplant humanity as we know it, but humanity won’t die without a struggle.

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
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Swordplay, dragon magic–and a hero with a desperate secret Twelve-year-old Eon has been in training for years. His intensive study of Dragon Magic, based on East Asian astrology, involves two kinds of skills: sword-work and magical aptitude. He and his master hope that he will be chosen as a Dragoneye–an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune. But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a boy for the chance to become a Dragoneye. Females are forbidden to use Dragon Magic; if anyone discovers she has been hiding in plain sight, her death is assured.

The Bone Doll’s Twin by Lynn Flewelling
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For three centuries a divine prophecy and a line of warrior queens protected Skala. But the people grew complacent and Erius, a usurper king, claimed his young half sister’s throne. Now plague and drought stalk the land, war with Skala’s ancient rival Plenimar drains the country’s lifeblood, and to be born female into the royal line has become a death sentence as the king fights to ensure the succession of his only heir, a son. For King Erius the greatest threat comes from his own line — and from Illior’s faithful, who spread the Oracle’s words to a doubting populace.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
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Kell is one of the last Antari—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black. Kell was raised in Arnes—Red London—and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they’ll never see. It’s a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.

Pantomime by Laura Lam
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Gene’s life resembles a debutante’s dream. Yet she hides a secret that would see her shunned by the nobility. Gene is both male and female. Then she displays unwanted magical abilities – last seen in mysterious beings from an almost-forgotten age. Matters escalate further when her parents plan a devastating betrayal, so she flees home, dressed as a boy. The city beyond contains glowing glass relics from a lost civilisation. They call to her, but she wants freedom not mysteries. So, reinvented as ‘Micah Grey’, Gene joins the circus. As an aerialist, she discovers the joy of flight – but the circus has a dark side. She’s also plagued by visions foretelling danger. A storm is howling in from the past, but will she heed its roar?

Do you know of any more science fiction or fantasy novels with interesting takes on gender? Or have you read any of the above? Tell us in the comments below!

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