#ya book series

[scarlethoodi]

Can I get some dark academia book recs?

Young adult, New adult, Adult, whatever.

I’ve already read Ace of Spades and Babel and I did not like The Atlas Six, but I’m opened to literally anything.

I want to write a dark academia book but I don’t have enough time experience with the genre to know how to approach it

[scifrey]

It's time to start the cover reveals!

I will be re-releasing six of my backlisted novels in the next handful of months, and I'm happy to share the brand new covers!

They were created by the crazy awesome and talented @once-upon-a-reblog!

First up, the two novels of The Skylark's Saga.

What do you think??? Gorgeous, right?

Both books will be re-released sometime in 2024, and I'm working hard for it to be early in the year.

In the meantime you can read excerpts here AND you can listen to the song by Victor Sierra inspired by the duology here!

[itsbooktimepeople]

Strange the Dreamer

★★★★☆

In middle school, I remember reading and really liking Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. That, and a friend's recommendation, inspired me to pick up Strange the Dreamer, and I'm so glad I did.

What is this book about? It's so creative and wonderful that it's hard to describe, but in short: Lazlo is an orphan obsessed with the lost city of Weep. Sarai is a half-goddess who lives in a giant floating citadel above the city. Lazlo accompanies other experts to Weep in order to help discover the secret of the citadel, and discovers the twisted history of the old murdered gods of Weep.

If that summary doesn't sound enticing, don't worry, because it doesn't do the book justice at all. On a more fundamental level, Strange the Dreamer is about love, both the power it gives us and has over us. It's about prejudice. It's about judging people for their parents' mistakes, and it's about what makes a hero or a villain.. (Let me just say, the themes in this book were presented excellently.)

So, as always, I will start with the things I liked.

High on the list is characterization, because holy smokes, Taylor knows how to write a protagonist. The scene where Lazlo first came to the library almost made me cry because it reminded me so much of why I fell in love with stories in the first place. He's a very genuine character, and something that really struck me was what a good person he is. I mean, lots of books have "good person" main characters, but we were never told that Lazlo is good. It's shown through his actions, and that makes all the difference. He's always willing to lend a helping hand, but he also knows when to back off, and understands that people have to star in their own stories.

And our other protagonist, Sarai, was also great. Her gift of entering and altering other people's dreams is explored deeply, and so is her relationship with Minya, who manipulated her into using her powers to bring nightmares to the citizens of Weep. A lot of Sarai's perspective dwells on her guilt and turmoil and longing to be considered a normal girl, but it never feels repetitive or annoying. When Sarai is sad, so is the reader, and when she's happy the reader rejoices.

Speaking of which, the romance also deserves a shout out. I'm not usually a fan of lovey-dovey books, but Sarai and Lazlo were so sweet together that I couldn't help but enjoy this one. They tell each other their deepest secrets and support each other's most difficult decisions. Maybe it's just me, but I also loved how slow they took their relationship. And, I think my favorite part was that, even though Sarai was raised to despise humans and Lazlo was told horrendous stories about the blue gods of Weep, they came to understand each other's people as well as love each other. And the ending completely broke my heart, but anyway

However, as wonderful as the characterization is, it pales in comparison to my favorite aspect of Strange the Dreamer, which is the sheer creativity. I think Laini Taylor must be a genius or something. I don't want to spoil the story, but let's just say the dilemma Weep is facing, the creatures that used to live there, the fact that everyone in the book has two hearts (one that pumps blood and one that pumps spirit), the tattoos the women of Weep receive, and of course the writing style... Reading this book really does feel like stepping into a dream.

To anyone who loves fantasy, I completely recommend Strange the Dreamer. I can't wait to read the sequel!

[lilibetbombshell]

[lannegarrett]

[oracleofmadness]

What a great read! I had no idea I would love this so much!

Marlow has been living in the marshes for the past year, working as a curse breaker. When her mother disappeared a year ago, she had to quickly leave the elite part of the city and make her own way. Now, one of those elite, Adrius, has found her to ask for her help breaking a curse put on him.

Fake dating, magic, and all sorts of soirees and balls, this book had me in its grip. I am also so happy that there will be a sequel, and I will be able to read more Marlow and Adrius!

Definitely recommend this as a ya fantasy!

Out June 20, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

[writingwithcrows]

Happy Release Day to The Howl of Kanta

Oh my gosh, another release day announcement!

All despite my internet deciding to go out in the middle of me posting everything. No big surprise there though, right?

I’m super happy that the final book in The Wolves of Kanta series is now out in the world today! This is my tenth book(!) if you can believe it, and since I’ve migrated away from working with small presses for my novels, it’s the tenth book I’ve indie published!

I’m in kind of a weird place right now, trying to figure out what to work on next as I leave this world after living in it for the past year. It’s a little surreal to be honest. But for the moment, I’m taking a breath and basking in the moment knowing this series has now been closed out.

Oh, and I also have book 1 in this series on sale for 99¢ for a limited time, so it’s a good time to explore the series.

THE SHE-WOLF OF KANTA BOOK 1

The daughter of a werewolf hunter will become so much more.

Thirteen-year-old Mercy Pinkerton thought her days of cleaning house, fixing the barricade, and wiring electric prongs were over. She would finally get to train to be a werewolf hunter, what she has always wanted.

She doesn’t know that there are worse monsters in Kanta than the werewolves that plague Kanta each night. Danger lurks around every corner. She’ll have to avoid her father’s temper and follow his orders, even if it means risking her life.

It is supposed to be Mercy’s big day, but will take a drastic turn for the worse. She’ll have to keep her wits about her, remember her training, and prepare for the ultimate test of bravery if she hopes to survive.

Get Your Copy at: https://books2read.com/She-Wolf

THE HOWL OF KANTA BOOK 5 Mercy must bring justice to Kanta.

After months of being held captive in her childhood home, Mercy returns to Farrell Mill, expecting a warm welcome from her friends. But there is none. Farrell Mill has been raided and left to rot. Everyone she knows and loves is missing and even her research is gone.

Thomas and Andrei have been arrested, accused of reselling werewolves, a crime they did not commit. But if they declare their innocence and reveal their true purpose at the mill of curing and freeing werewolves, they could put many lives in danger.

Mercy will need to face her most terrifying opponent yet: the people of Kanta. She will need to rally the goodwill of the werewolves she has helped and hope it will be enough to turn the tide in her favor. This time without masks, without lies, and without a disguise.

Can Mercy find her allies and free her friends without losing everything? The clock is ticking. An execution date looms closer and Mercy is scrambling to keep from losing the only family she has left.

Get Your Copy at: https://books2read.com/HowlOfKanta

[septemberkisses]

the fact that i'm no longer the same age as the protagonists of novels and films i once connected to is so heartbreaking. there was a time when I looked forward to turning their age. i did. and i also outgrew them. i continue to age, but they don't; never will. the immortality of fiction is beautiful, but cruel.

[gravey4rdshift]

can someone help me find a book series?? i used to read it in middle school and it’s been weeded out of my library since then. i can’t remember much, other than it had a white cover, it featured a blond girl as the protagonist, and i think she was like… similar to the protags of hunger games and divergent. she was incredibly witty, kept to herself, and had insane fighting skills she honed by herself, and ended up in a romance with a guy who i always thought looked like avan jogia. ik that isn’t much info to go on, but pls help me!!

[thequietesthing]

Suzanne Collins was really pissed when she saw all those edits of Snow as ‘daddy’ and whatever other bullshit after the TBOSAS movie, sat down at her laptop again and started typing “let’s see if you get the message now when HE KILLS 47 CHILDREN”

[scarlethoodi]

Mind you I am talking about my own unwritten story idea, but one thing that’s standing out as interesting to me compared to not only my other story ideas but the fantasy/sci-fi books I’ve read or heard about is I haven’t come across many with already established romance, usually there are tropes involved to explain how we get to the romance and if a series the later books will include the established couple, but I don’t know of any that just avoid that entirely.

And I don’t believe I’m creating something new, so if I look I think I could find some which I will for research purposes but it just makes me think. No “x” to lovers, no need to create situations of forced proximity or whatever, just a couple who WILL still be together by the end of things.

This post also is a call to ask for some recommendations, I’m tryna see something

[tea-cat-arts]

Shen Yuan getting transported into pidw isn't "the system punishing him for being a lazy internet hater," but instead representative of "step 1 of the creative process: getting so mad at something you decide to go write your own fucking book" in this essay I will

[itsbooktimepeople]

YA Series Round 1.12

[lilibetbombshell]

[lannegarrett]

The Court of Less

~Book Two: A Cursed Crow Series~

Now that she is on the run, her enemies realize they’ve Taken the very last Crow.

Coming soon: May 23, 2023

Amazon: a.co/d/bRVssmW

Chapters: http://surl.li/elbax