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Monique
Our Science Fiction and Fantasy expert. Also likes Manga and Romance novels.
Get to know more about Monique and her taste in books below:
More about me
1. Who are your auto-buy (you'll buy absolutely anything they write - even their shopping list) authors?
Chloe Liese, Marissa Meyers, Helen Hoang and Shannon/S.A Chakraborty.
2. What's your favourite genre/s?
Fantasy - especially retellings and books based on mythology
Science Fiction - particularly dystopias
Romance - more so rom-coms
3. Do you judge a book by its cover?
Yes! I will read a book I'm interested in no matter what the cover looks like but it makes my heart glad when the cover is as beautiful as the book. I will also be more drawn to a book and likely to pick it up if the cover is stunning. What can I say... I have no shelf-control.
4. What's your most anticipated releases of 2024?
The Hurricane Wars book 2 - Thea Guanzon
Amina Al-Sarafi books 2 and 3 - Shannon Chakraborty
Dancers of the Dawn - Zulekh'a Afzal
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands - Heather Fawcett
A Fate Inked in Blood - Danielle L. Jensen
Thief of Night - Holly Black
The Darkness Within Us - Tricia Levenseller
My Salty Mary - Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows
The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years - Shubnum Khan
5. How do you organise your personal bookshelves?
My organisation of my books might bring some people to tears, but here it is...
I seperate my books by genre, themes and format.
I have all my magazines, manga, comics, textbooks, cookbooks and coffee books (i.e. books you either read in one sitting or continually reference and flick through) on one bookshelf.
Another bookshelf is dedicated solely to books with Autistic (ASD) and mental health representation, both fiction and non-fiction and is organised by colour.
My third bookshelf is dedicated to fantasy, historical, contemporary romance and ocean books (all colour co-ordinated) with a dedicated shelf to books about books and some very (one book dating to 1835) old books (not colour co-ordinated but rather by size).
A fourth bookshelf holds all my children's books (from my childhood and some from my mother and grand-mother), Greek mythology, Norse mythology, books set in Africa and the Middle-East and my collection of Arabian Nights (these are not organised by colour or size but rather grouped in kind).
My fifth bookshelf holds all my sci-fi, crime/thrillers (mainly spy books and romantic suspense) and some non-fic (these are all colour co-ordinated).
I then have crates filled with arcs (uncorrected advance reader copies courtesy of working in a bookshop) borrowed books, colouring books, journals, travel books, language books and religious texts.
Hey it makes sense to me!
6. What books are high on your TBR (to be read pile) this year?
Holly Black's YA novels
A Brandon Sanderson novel
Blake Crouch's backlist
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet - Becky Chambers
Wakers - Orson Scott Card
Speed of Dark - Elizabeth Moon
Norse Ancient Origins, Stories of People and Civilization - J.K Jackson
Assistant to the Villain - Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Curious Tides - Pascale Lacelle
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman
Sword Catcher - Casandra Clare
Aurora Rising - Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride - Roshani Chokshi
The Last Namsara - Kristen Ciccarelli
Zoro - Isabel Allende
Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match - Sally Thorne
Favourites of 2024 so far:
How to Free a Jinn, Raidah Shah Idil
Fast-paced middle fiction fantasy featuring a curious girl discovering a big family secret. Full of intrigue, humour, warmth, action, jungle spirits, a perilous unseen realm and ghostly battles. A wonderful debut, perfect for readers who love Jaclyn Moriarty and Jessica Townsend.
I have a terrifying superpower. I, Insyirah Abdullah, can see jinn.
Insyirah's calm, orderly world falls into chaos when her proud nenek (grandmother) has a bad fall, and Insyirah and her mother must move back to Malaysia to take care of her.
Her new home holds wild and dangerous mysteries, and while finding her feet, Insyirah discovers a shocking secret: the women in her family can control jinn - powerful, ancient jungle spirits - and, one day, she will inherit one of her own. What's more, her new school is haunted by an evil spirit determined to force her out of Malaysia.
As Insyirah discovers the fascinating ways of the seen and unseen worlds, she finds that risk is everywhere. And when her family situation changes, she must gather all her resilience to overcome unexpected obstacles and make a life-changing decision.
Thrilling and mysterious yet also warm and funny, this page-turning middle-grade fantasy announces a fabulous new talent.
I have a terrifying superpower. I, Insyirah Abdullah, can see jinn.
Insyirah's calm, orderly world falls into chaos when her proud nenek (grandmother) has a bad fall, and Insyirah and her mother must move back to Malaysia to take care of her.
Her new home holds wild and dangerous mysteries, and while finding her feet, Insyirah discovers a shocking secret: the women in her family can control jinn - powerful, ancient jungle spirits - and, one day, she will inherit one of her own. What's more, her new school is haunted by an evil spirit determined to force her out of Malaysia.
As Insyirah discovers the fascinating ways of the seen and unseen worlds, she finds that risk is everywhere. And when her family situation changes, she must gather all her resilience to overcome unexpected obstacles and make a life-changing decision.
Thrilling and mysterious yet also warm and funny, this page-turning middle-grade fantasy announces a fabulous new talent.
In a Jam, Kate Canterbary
When Shay Zucconi's step-grandmother died, she left Shay a tulip farm-under two conditions.
First, Shay has to move home to the small town of Friendship, Rhode Island. Second-and most problematic since her fiancé just called off the wedding-Shay must be married within one year.
Marriage is the last thing in the world Shay wants but she'll do anything to save the only real home she's ever known.
Noah Barden loved Shay Zucconi back in high school. Not that he ever told her. He was too shy, too awkward, too painfully uncool to ask out the beautiful, popular girl.
A lifetime later, Noah is a single dad to his niece and has his hands full running the family business. That old crush is the farthest thing from his mind.
Until Shay returns to their hometown and turns his life upside down.
CW/TW: absentee parent(s), brief mention of parent death, brief mention of parent chronic illness, mention of incarceration, mention of temporary foster care placement, reference to teenage teasing/bullying (not detailed, not explicit), brief incidence of fat-shaming, living with a neurodivergent child
First, Shay has to move home to the small town of Friendship, Rhode Island. Second-and most problematic since her fiancé just called off the wedding-Shay must be married within one year.
Marriage is the last thing in the world Shay wants but she'll do anything to save the only real home she's ever known.
Noah Barden loved Shay Zucconi back in high school. Not that he ever told her. He was too shy, too awkward, too painfully uncool to ask out the beautiful, popular girl.
A lifetime later, Noah is a single dad to his niece and has his hands full running the family business. That old crush is the farthest thing from his mind.
Until Shay returns to their hometown and turns his life upside down.
CW/TW: absentee parent(s), brief mention of parent death, brief mention of parent chronic illness, mention of incarceration, mention of temporary foster care placement, reference to teenage teasing/bullying (not detailed, not explicit), brief incidence of fat-shaming, living with a neurodivergent child
The Co-Op, Tarah DeWitt
A steamy second chance romance about restoration and renovation, and uncovering all the things that build character within ourselves, from the popular TikTok author, perfect for fans of Lucy Score, B.K. Borison and Sarah Adams.Readers say !'Tender, vulnerable, emotional, sheer perfection'A beautifully crafted, character driven romance. An absolute joy to read'So we have second chance romance, forced proximity, and marriage of convenience?! Sign me up!'By far one of the best books ever! It's fun, real, and so filled with deep love'.......................They say love and construction don't mix. By that logic, hate and construction may as well be condemned. LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Leeds had one short and contentious summer fling when they were teens - certainly nothing to build a foundation on. But a decade later, when their grandmothers have left them with shared ownership of their dilapidated Santa Cruz building, they're thrust back together and have to figure out how to brace up the pieces. LaRynn has the money, but in order to access her trust, she has to be married. Deacon has the construction expertise, but lacks the funds. A deal is struck: Marry for however long it takes to fix up the property, collect a profit, and cut ties. Thrust into a home without walls, LaRynn and Deacon quickly learn that it's easy to hide behind emotional ones, even in a marriage. But with all the exposure and pitfalls that come with living with the opposite sex (and none of the perks, much to their growing mutual frustration) they'll also have to learn what it means to truly cooperate as a team. .......................Praise for Tarah DeWitt:'It's everything I look for in a romance, deftly blending heart, humour, and the perfect amount of angst' AMY LEA 'Pure romance catnip and a master class in yearning. Tarah DeWitt's writing simply wraps you up in joy. Cozy, tender, sexy, hilarious - I adored every word' RACHEL LYNN SOLOMON 'Sweet, soft, and brimming with A+ pining . . . a perfect curl-up on the couch read' ROSIE DANAN'Gave me actual LOL moments and so much swoon' LANA FERGUSONDon't miss Tarah's other hit rom-coms, Funny Feelings and Rootbound - out now!
Next of Kin, Hannah Bonam-Young
Two bickering strangers trying to foster their younger siblings team up to create a stable home, but the undeniable chemistry between them threatens to ruin everything.
When she discovers her biological mother has had a new baby, Chloe doesn't hesitate to provide a home for her. Failing to meet social services' financial evaluation, she's forced into a new initiative: joining households with another prospective guardian. Surly garage mechanic Warren, who is trying to gain custody of his deaf teenage brother, does not make a great first impression. But as their lives intertwine, Chloe and Warren discover they have more in common than they thought. So much so that the chemistry between them threatens everything they've fought for...
'Funny and huge-hearted and romantic and real.' — New York Times bestselling author Talia Hibbert
When she discovers her biological mother has had a new baby, Chloe doesn't hesitate to provide a home for her. Failing to meet social services' financial evaluation, she's forced into a new initiative: joining households with another prospective guardian. Surly garage mechanic Warren, who is trying to gain custody of his deaf teenage brother, does not make a great first impression. But as their lives intertwine, Chloe and Warren discover they have more in common than they thought. So much so that the chemistry between them threatens everything they've fought for...
'Funny and huge-hearted and romantic and real.' — New York Times bestselling author Talia Hibbert
Road To Ruin, Hana Lee
An electrifying, gritty fantasy from debut author Hana Lee that takes a royal messenger on a high-speed chase across a climate-ravaged wasteland, featuring motorcycles, monsters, and magic.
Jin-Lu has the most dangerous job in the wasteland. She’s a magebike courier, one of the few who venture outside the domed cities on motorcycles powered by magic. Every day, she braves the wasteland’s dangers—deadly storms, roving marauders, and territorial beasts—to deliver her wares.
Her most valuable cargo? A prince’s love letters addressed to Yi-Nereen, a princess desperate to escape the clutches of her abusive family and soon-to-be husband. Jin, desperately in love with both her and the prince, can’t refuse Yi-Nereen’s plea for help. The two of them flee across the wastes, pursued by Yi-Nereen’s furious father, her scheming betrothed, and a bounty hunter with mysterious powers.
A storm to end all storms is brewing and dark secrets about the heritability of magic are coming to light. Jin’s heart has led her into peril before, but this time she may not find her way back.
Jin-Lu has the most dangerous job in the wasteland. She’s a magebike courier, one of the few who venture outside the domed cities on motorcycles powered by magic. Every day, she braves the wasteland’s dangers—deadly storms, roving marauders, and territorial beasts—to deliver her wares.
Her most valuable cargo? A prince’s love letters addressed to Yi-Nereen, a princess desperate to escape the clutches of her abusive family and soon-to-be husband. Jin, desperately in love with both her and the prince, can’t refuse Yi-Nereen’s plea for help. The two of them flee across the wastes, pursued by Yi-Nereen’s furious father, her scheming betrothed, and a bounty hunter with mysterious powers.
A storm to end all storms is brewing and dark secrets about the heritability of magic are coming to light. Jin’s heart has led her into peril before, but this time she may not find her way back.
Love Under Contract, Cassie Connor
‘What can I say, I loved this book. It has all my favorite tropes. Fake dating – check! Grumpy/ sunshine (reversed) check! One bed – check!’ Reader review
When you can’t find the perfect date for the holidays you hire him!
Hotshot lawyer Rebecca Madison is dreading the annual family Thanksgiving break where the question on everyone’s lips will be ‘why are you still single?’.
When it comes to her career, she’s the best of the best, hired for her take-no-prisoners approach and sharp instincts. But when it comes to her love life…well, she hasn’t found the loophole for happy ever after yet.
So when she has a one night stand with a gorgeous stranger she meets in a bar, Becca decides to do what she does best: make a deal with Mr One Night to be her Mr Right (just for the holidays).
With an iron-clad contract setting out the terms for their fake relationship, Becca has one important point. Clause 1.a. No kissing, no sex (as mind-blowing as it was), and absolutely no emotional attachment!
But five thousand miles from home and spending every waking moment in the company of a man who makes her feel things she’s never felt before, just how easy will it be for Becca to stick to her own rules…
Readers are LOVING Cassie Connor:
‘Fake dating is one of my absolute favorite tropes but then ya throw in holiday romance and I'm completely sold…Freaking loved it and I look forward to reading many more books like it from this phenomenal, talented author!’
‘The perfect rom com with some funny moments and some amazing banter…Read if you like: The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa and The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas’
‘Completely exceeded my expectations…loved the grumpy/sunshine aspect of it. I couldn't put it down!’
‘Absolutely adored this fake dating holiday romance…Definitely a new holiday favorite!’
‘I absolutely loved this book!…one of my favorite reads of the year’
‘This book could have been written for me…I can't wait to read more from this author’
‘A great five-star read…warmed my cold heart’
When you can’t find the perfect date for the holidays you hire him!
Hotshot lawyer Rebecca Madison is dreading the annual family Thanksgiving break where the question on everyone’s lips will be ‘why are you still single?’.
When it comes to her career, she’s the best of the best, hired for her take-no-prisoners approach and sharp instincts. But when it comes to her love life…well, she hasn’t found the loophole for happy ever after yet.
So when she has a one night stand with a gorgeous stranger she meets in a bar, Becca decides to do what she does best: make a deal with Mr One Night to be her Mr Right (just for the holidays).
With an iron-clad contract setting out the terms for their fake relationship, Becca has one important point. Clause 1.a. No kissing, no sex (as mind-blowing as it was), and absolutely no emotional attachment!
But five thousand miles from home and spending every waking moment in the company of a man who makes her feel things she’s never felt before, just how easy will it be for Becca to stick to her own rules…
Readers are LOVING Cassie Connor:
‘Fake dating is one of my absolute favorite tropes but then ya throw in holiday romance and I'm completely sold…Freaking loved it and I look forward to reading many more books like it from this phenomenal, talented author!’
‘The perfect rom com with some funny moments and some amazing banter…Read if you like: The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa and The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas’
‘Completely exceeded my expectations…loved the grumpy/sunshine aspect of it. I couldn't put it down!’
‘Absolutely adored this fake dating holiday romance…Definitely a new holiday favorite!’
‘I absolutely loved this book!…one of my favorite reads of the year’
‘This book could have been written for me…I can't wait to read more from this author’
‘A great five-star read…warmed my cold heart’
The Bride Test, Helen Hoang
*Re-Read*
'Original, smart, knowing, and finely observed. The story never flags and the portrayal of the autistic protagonist avoids the cliches and stereotypes. . .Hoang's fast-paced and often funny romance touches on some important themes without ever seeming heavy-handed. A terrific cast of characters, deftly portrayed. We know from the outset that we're in sure hands, and the book delivers on its promises' - Graeme Simsion
Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions - like grief. And love. He thinks he's defective. Khai's family, however, understand that his autism means he processes emotions differently. As he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride. As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can't turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn't go as planned. Esme's lessons in love seem to be working...but only on herself. She's hopelessly smitten with a man who's convinced he can never return her affection. With Esme's time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he's been wrong all along. And there's more than one way to love.
'Original, smart, knowing, and finely observed. The story never flags and the portrayal of the autistic protagonist avoids the cliches and stereotypes. . .Hoang's fast-paced and often funny romance touches on some important themes without ever seeming heavy-handed. A terrific cast of characters, deftly portrayed. We know from the outset that we're in sure hands, and the book delivers on its promises' - Graeme Simsion
Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions - like grief. And love. He thinks he's defective. Khai's family, however, understand that his autism means he processes emotions differently. As he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride. As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can't turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn't go as planned. Esme's lessons in love seem to be working...but only on herself. She's hopelessly smitten with a man who's convinced he can never return her affection. With Esme's time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he's been wrong all along. And there's more than one way to love.
The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang
*Re-read*
'I just adored every page. I really can't wait to see what Helen Hoang writes next.' -New York Times bestselling author SARAH J. MAAS
'Original and sexy and sensitive.' New York Times bestselling author ROXANE GAY
Stella Lane thinks mathematics is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases - a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with and far less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old. It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice…with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. Gorgeous and conflicted, Michael can't afford to turn down Stella's offer and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan, from foreplay to more-than-missionary position. Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses but to crave all of the other things he's making her feel. Their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic . . .
'An unexpectedly sweet erotic romance that left me with a huge smile on my face. I dare you not to fall in love with these two characters and their story. Helen Hoang's debut is quite simply delightful!' New York Times bestselling author NALINI SINGH
'Hoang knocks it out of the park with this stellar debut' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
'I loved The Kiss Quotient so much, that I've already begun pushing it into the hands of my friends begging them to read it!' THE BOOKTOPIAN
'I just adored every page. I really can't wait to see what Helen Hoang writes next.' -New York Times bestselling author SARAH J. MAAS
'Original and sexy and sensitive.' New York Times bestselling author ROXANE GAY
Stella Lane thinks mathematics is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases - a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with and far less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old. It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice…with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. Gorgeous and conflicted, Michael can't afford to turn down Stella's offer and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan, from foreplay to more-than-missionary position. Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses but to crave all of the other things he's making her feel. Their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic . . .
'An unexpectedly sweet erotic romance that left me with a huge smile on my face. I dare you not to fall in love with these two characters and their story. Helen Hoang's debut is quite simply delightful!' New York Times bestselling author NALINI SINGH
'Hoang knocks it out of the park with this stellar debut' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
'I loved The Kiss Quotient so much, that I've already begun pushing it into the hands of my friends begging them to read it!' THE BOOKTOPIAN
Cities Of Smoke And Starlight, Alli Earnest
Two lost souls. One dangerous mission.
Kase is a screw up, and when he takes the blame for nearly killing a fellow pilot, he faces serious charges. Seeking to clear his name, he flies a ragtag crew to establish trade with a hostile race and help his nation avoid the looming war. If only he didn't have to work with the infuriating bookshop attendant who insulted him with Shakespeare...
After Hallie loses her bookshop job and the promise of school tuition, she's desperate to avoid the ghosts of the past awaiting her return home. When offered a substantial sum to negotiate an alliance for her country, she says yes before the nice government agent can finish his sentence. Now if she could just ignore the ungrateful, arrogant prat of a pilot...
In a world of hoverships and crumbling First Earth artifacts, Hallie and Kase must accomplish the impossible: secure an alliance with an elusive, mystical race to help defend against a kingdom with dangerous technology and ancient magic. If they fail, the war will be lost before it even begins.
Cities of Smoke and Starlight is a science fantasy novel perfect for fans of Dune, Pride and Prejudice, and anyone who believed Rogue One needed a romantic subplot.
Kase is a screw up, and when he takes the blame for nearly killing a fellow pilot, he faces serious charges. Seeking to clear his name, he flies a ragtag crew to establish trade with a hostile race and help his nation avoid the looming war. If only he didn't have to work with the infuriating bookshop attendant who insulted him with Shakespeare...
After Hallie loses her bookshop job and the promise of school tuition, she's desperate to avoid the ghosts of the past awaiting her return home. When offered a substantial sum to negotiate an alliance for her country, she says yes before the nice government agent can finish his sentence. Now if she could just ignore the ungrateful, arrogant prat of a pilot...
In a world of hoverships and crumbling First Earth artifacts, Hallie and Kase must accomplish the impossible: secure an alliance with an elusive, mystical race to help defend against a kingdom with dangerous technology and ancient magic. If they fail, the war will be lost before it even begins.
Cities of Smoke and Starlight is a science fantasy novel perfect for fans of Dune, Pride and Prejudice, and anyone who believed Rogue One needed a romantic subplot.
The North Wind, Alexandria Warwick
A lush and enchanting fantasy romance, inspired by Beauty and the Beast and the myth of Hades and Persephone. Beloved by readers on TikTok.
Wren of Edgewood is no stranger to suffering. With her parents gone, it is Wren’s responsibility to ensure she and her sister survive the harsh and endless winter, but if the legends are to be believed, their home may not be safe for much longer.
For three hundred years, the land surrounding Edgewood has been encased in ice as the Shade, a magical barrier that protects the townsfolk from the Deadlands beyond, weakens. Only one thing can stop the Shade’s fall: the blood of a mortal woman bound in wedlock to the North Wind, a dangerous immortal whose heart is said to be as frigid as the land he rules. And the time has come to choose his bride.
When the North Wind sets his eyes on Wren’s sister, Wren will do anything to save her – even if it means sacrificing herself in the process. But mortal or not, Wren won’t go down without a fight.
Wren of Edgewood is no stranger to suffering. With her parents gone, it is Wren’s responsibility to ensure she and her sister survive the harsh and endless winter, but if the legends are to be believed, their home may not be safe for much longer.
For three hundred years, the land surrounding Edgewood has been encased in ice as the Shade, a magical barrier that protects the townsfolk from the Deadlands beyond, weakens. Only one thing can stop the Shade’s fall: the blood of a mortal woman bound in wedlock to the North Wind, a dangerous immortal whose heart is said to be as frigid as the land he rules. And the time has come to choose his bride.
When the North Wind sets his eyes on Wren’s sister, Wren will do anything to save her – even if it means sacrificing herself in the process. But mortal or not, Wren won’t go down without a fight.
The Rosie Project, Graeme Simsion
The international bestseller. Over three million copies sold worldwide.
Don Tillman is getting married. He just doesn't know who to yet.
But he has designed the Wife Project, using a sixteen-page questionnaire to help him find the perfect partner. She will most definitely not be a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.
Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also fiery and intelligent and beautiful. And on a quest of her own to find her biological father—a search that Don, a professor of genetics, might just be able to help her with.
The Wife Project teaches Don some unexpected things. Why earlobe length is an inadequate predictor of sexual attraction. Why quick-dry clothes aren't appropriate attire in New York. Why he's never been on a second date. And why, despite your best scientific efforts, you don't find love: love finds you.
'An extraordinarily clever, funny, and moving book about being comfortable with who you are and what you're good at. I'm sending copies to several friends and hope to re-read it later this year. This is one of the most profound novels I've read in a long time.' Bill Gates
Winner, Australian Book Industry Awards, Book of the Year, 2014
Winner, Australian Book Industry Awards, General Fiction Book of the Year, 2014
Winner, Victorian Premier's Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript, 2012
Shortlisted, ABA Nielsen BookData Booksellers Choice Award, 2014
Shortlisted, Fiction Book of the Year, Indie Awards, 2014
Shortlisted, Waverton Good Read Award, 2014
Longlisted, International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, 2015
Don Tillman is getting married. He just doesn't know who to yet.
But he has designed the Wife Project, using a sixteen-page questionnaire to help him find the perfect partner. She will most definitely not be a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.
Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also fiery and intelligent and beautiful. And on a quest of her own to find her biological father—a search that Don, a professor of genetics, might just be able to help her with.
The Wife Project teaches Don some unexpected things. Why earlobe length is an inadequate predictor of sexual attraction. Why quick-dry clothes aren't appropriate attire in New York. Why he's never been on a second date. And why, despite your best scientific efforts, you don't find love: love finds you.
'An extraordinarily clever, funny, and moving book about being comfortable with who you are and what you're good at. I'm sending copies to several friends and hope to re-read it later this year. This is one of the most profound novels I've read in a long time.' Bill Gates
Winner, Australian Book Industry Awards, Book of the Year, 2014
Winner, Australian Book Industry Awards, General Fiction Book of the Year, 2014
Winner, Victorian Premier's Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript, 2012
Shortlisted, ABA Nielsen BookData Booksellers Choice Award, 2014
Shortlisted, Fiction Book of the Year, Indie Awards, 2014
Shortlisted, Waverton Good Read Award, 2014
Longlisted, International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, 2015
Viral Nation, Shaunta Grimes
After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.
Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.
When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined… and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever.
Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.
When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined… and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever.
Whispers of the Deep, Emma Hamm
One of the many engineers that keeps Beta, the city under the sea, running, Mira only wants to make her family proud and to prove herself worthy. She knows the mysterious city better than anyone and it’s her dream to help it flourish.
But then, on a solo job in an abandoned section of the city, she encounters a monster of legend. An undine. A dangerous merman from an ancient civilization, long forgotten.
Arges has fought his entire life for his people. With deadly creatures under his control, he plans to eradicate Beta once and for all to protect his kind and their peaceful way of life. But when a human woman saves him, she unknowingly creates a bond between them, one he can’t ignore. Even though her flaming red hair haunts his dreams, he needs her for information on the undine’s enemies.
So he steals her. Keeps her. Feeds her. Only to realize their bond is far deeper than captor and captive. He cannot let her go—but he cannot keep her under the sea. In a battle to determine if love can survive a war beneath the waves, it will be their decision that changes the tides.
But then, on a solo job in an abandoned section of the city, she encounters a monster of legend. An undine. A dangerous merman from an ancient civilization, long forgotten.
Arges has fought his entire life for his people. With deadly creatures under his control, he plans to eradicate Beta once and for all to protect his kind and their peaceful way of life. But when a human woman saves him, she unknowingly creates a bond between them, one he can’t ignore. Even though her flaming red hair haunts his dreams, he needs her for information on the undine’s enemies.
So he steals her. Keeps her. Feeds her. Only to realize their bond is far deeper than captor and captive. He cannot let her go—but he cannot keep her under the sea. In a battle to determine if love can survive a war beneath the waves, it will be their decision that changes the tides.
Emily Wilde's Map Of The Otherlands, Heather Fawcett
'Forget dark academia: give me instead this kind of winter-sunshined, sharp-tongued and footnoted academia, full of field trips and grumpy romance' Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light
An intrepid professor must uncover faerie secrets in the delightful and heart-warming second instalment of the Sunday Times bestselling Emily Wilde series.
Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore, and has catalogued many secrets of the Hidden Folk in her encyclopaedia with her infuriatingly charming fellow scholar, Wendell Bambleby, by her side.
But Bambleby is more than just a brilliant and unbearably handsome scholar. He's an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother, in search of a door back to his realm.
By lucky happenstance, Emily's new project, a map of the realms of faerie, will take them on an adventure to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambleby's realm, and the key to freeing him from his family's dark plans.
But with new friendships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors, and of her own heart.
Praise for this series:
'A darkly gorgeous fantasy that sparkles with snow and magic, this book wholly enchanted me' Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
'A thoroughly charming academic fairy tale, complete with footnotes and a low-key grumpy romance' Guardian
'Enchanting in every sense of the word. . . This book is real magic' H. G. Parry, author of The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep
'A book so vividly, endlessly enchanting, so crisply assured, so rich and complete and wise and far-reaching in its worldbuilding that you'll walk away half ensorcelled, sure Fawcett found Emily Wilde's journal in some sea-stained trunk' Melissa Albert
'The ideal book to curl up with on a chilly winter's evening. . . this book is an absolute delight.' Megan Bannen, author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
'A charmingly whimsical delight. . . Five dazzling, gladdening stars' India Holton, author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
'I enjoyed every word of this gorgeously written fairy tale featuring a grumpy heroine and an utterly charming love interest' Isabel Ibanez, author of Woven In Moonlight
An intrepid professor must uncover faerie secrets in the delightful and heart-warming second instalment of the Sunday Times bestselling Emily Wilde series.
Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore, and has catalogued many secrets of the Hidden Folk in her encyclopaedia with her infuriatingly charming fellow scholar, Wendell Bambleby, by her side.
But Bambleby is more than just a brilliant and unbearably handsome scholar. He's an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother, in search of a door back to his realm.
By lucky happenstance, Emily's new project, a map of the realms of faerie, will take them on an adventure to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambleby's realm, and the key to freeing him from his family's dark plans.
But with new friendships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors, and of her own heart.
Praise for this series:
'A darkly gorgeous fantasy that sparkles with snow and magic, this book wholly enchanted me' Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
'A thoroughly charming academic fairy tale, complete with footnotes and a low-key grumpy romance' Guardian
'Enchanting in every sense of the word. . . This book is real magic' H. G. Parry, author of The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep
'A book so vividly, endlessly enchanting, so crisply assured, so rich and complete and wise and far-reaching in its worldbuilding that you'll walk away half ensorcelled, sure Fawcett found Emily Wilde's journal in some sea-stained trunk' Melissa Albert
'The ideal book to curl up with on a chilly winter's evening. . . this book is an absolute delight.' Megan Bannen, author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
'A charmingly whimsical delight. . . Five dazzling, gladdening stars' India Holton, author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
'I enjoyed every word of this gorgeously written fairy tale featuring a grumpy heroine and an utterly charming love interest' Isabel Ibanez, author of Woven In Moonlight
Belladonna, Adalyn Grace
'A deliciously deadly Gothic romance' Stephanie Garber
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
For as long as Signa Farrow has been alive, the people in her life have fallen like stars . . .
Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her wellbeing - and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy.
Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family's waning reputation and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother's restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger, and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.
Signa's best chance of uncovering the murderer, though, is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he's made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful - and more irresistible - than she ever dared imagine.
From New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace, Belladonna brings to life a highly romantic, gothic-infused world of wealth, desire, and betrayal.
PRAISE FOR BELLADONNA
'This book is a true pleasure to read from beginning to end' Jennifer L. Armentrout
'A darkly romantic tale' Adrienne Young
'Utterly original and completely addictive' Rachel Griffin
'Darkly twisted and deliciously gothic' Renee Ahdieh
'Decadently atmospheric' Kerri Maniscalco
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
For as long as Signa Farrow has been alive, the people in her life have fallen like stars . . .
Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her wellbeing - and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy.
Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family's waning reputation and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother's restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger, and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.
Signa's best chance of uncovering the murderer, though, is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he's made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful - and more irresistible - than she ever dared imagine.
From New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace, Belladonna brings to life a highly romantic, gothic-infused world of wealth, desire, and betrayal.
PRAISE FOR BELLADONNA
'This book is a true pleasure to read from beginning to end' Jennifer L. Armentrout
'A darkly romantic tale' Adrienne Young
'Utterly original and completely addictive' Rachel Griffin
'Darkly twisted and deliciously gothic' Renee Ahdieh
'Decadently atmospheric' Kerri Maniscalco
Bride's Story vol. 1, Kaoru Mori
*Re-Read*
A slice-of-life tale about a twenty-year old bride who marries a twelve-year old boy in 19th-century Asia.
A slice-of-life tale about a twenty-year old bride who marries a twelve-year old boy in 19th-century Asia.
TBR (want to read list):
Love At First Book, Jenn McKinlay
The new novel from New York Times bestseller Jenn McKinlay- an enemies-to-lovers based in the world of books!
The beginning
Emily Allen has always been an introvert - but never afraid of adventure. When her favourite author, Siobhan Riordan, offers her a job in her bookstore, she moves to Ireland without a second thought.
The middle
Helping Siobhan overcome writer's block and finish the final book in her acclaimed series is a dream come true for Em. If only she didn't have to deal with Kieran - the grouchy manager of Siobhan's bookstore who clearly doesn't want her around.
The plot twist
Em falls deeply in love with the new life she's built - and, unexpectedly, with Kieran. But when she discovers the reason for his initial resistance, she finds herself torn between helping Siobhan find closure and what could be a new chapter in her own love story...
The beginning
Emily Allen has always been an introvert - but never afraid of adventure. When her favourite author, Siobhan Riordan, offers her a job in her bookstore, she moves to Ireland without a second thought.
The middle
Helping Siobhan overcome writer's block and finish the final book in her acclaimed series is a dream come true for Em. If only she didn't have to deal with Kieran - the grouchy manager of Siobhan's bookstore who clearly doesn't want her around.
The plot twist
Em falls deeply in love with the new life she's built - and, unexpectedly, with Kieran. But when she discovers the reason for his initial resistance, she finds herself torn between helping Siobhan find closure and what could be a new chapter in her own love story...
A Fate Inked In Blood, Danielle L. Jensen
From TikTok sensation and bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series comes this Norse-inspired fantasy romance, perfect for fans of Ava Reid, Katee Robert and Sarah J Maas.
A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king - while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son - in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.
Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband's back.
Freya's dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region's jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret- she possesses a drop of a goddess's blood, which gives her magic capable of repelling any attack. A
magic that was foretold would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath a king-the one who controls the shield maiden's fate.
Believing he's destined to rule Skaland, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders his son, Bjorn, to protect Freya from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. Except the greatest test of all may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.
A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king - while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son - in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.
Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband's back.
Freya's dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region's jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret- she possesses a drop of a goddess's blood, which gives her magic capable of repelling any attack. A
magic that was foretold would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath a king-the one who controls the shield maiden's fate.
Believing he's destined to rule Skaland, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders his son, Bjorn, to protect Freya from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. Except the greatest test of all may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.
Mania, Lionel Shriver
'Seldom is a book as funny, important and timely … I was laughing out loud at the same time as my blood was running cold' JOHN CLEESE
‘Viciously funny… an exhilarating satire’ THE TIMES
What if calling someone stupid was illegal?
In a reality not too distant from our own, where the so-called Mental Parity Movement has taken hold, the worst thing you can call someone is 'stupid'.
Everyone is equally clever, and discrimination based on intelligence is 'the last great civil rights fight'.
Exams and grades are all discarded, and smart phones are rebranded. Children are expelled for saying the S-word and encouraged to report parents for using it. You don't need a qualification to be a doctor.
Best friends since adolescence, Pearson and Emory find themselves on opposing sides of this new culture war. Radio personality Emory – who has built her career riding the tide of popular thought – makes increasingly hard-line statements while, for her part, Pearson believes the whole thing is ludicrous.
As their friendship fractures, Pearson's determination to cling onto the 'old, bigoted way of thinking' begins to endanger her job, her safety and even her family.
Lionel Shriver turns her piercing gaze on the policing of opinion and intellect, and imagines a world in which intellectual meritocracy is heresy. Hilarious, deadpan, scathing and at times frighteningly plausible, MANIA will delight the many fans of her fiction and journalism alike.
‘Viciously funny… an exhilarating satire’ THE TIMES
What if calling someone stupid was illegal?
In a reality not too distant from our own, where the so-called Mental Parity Movement has taken hold, the worst thing you can call someone is 'stupid'.
Everyone is equally clever, and discrimination based on intelligence is 'the last great civil rights fight'.
Exams and grades are all discarded, and smart phones are rebranded. Children are expelled for saying the S-word and encouraged to report parents for using it. You don't need a qualification to be a doctor.
Best friends since adolescence, Pearson and Emory find themselves on opposing sides of this new culture war. Radio personality Emory – who has built her career riding the tide of popular thought – makes increasingly hard-line statements while, for her part, Pearson believes the whole thing is ludicrous.
As their friendship fractures, Pearson's determination to cling onto the 'old, bigoted way of thinking' begins to endanger her job, her safety and even her family.
Lionel Shriver turns her piercing gaze on the policing of opinion and intellect, and imagines a world in which intellectual meritocracy is heresy. Hilarious, deadpan, scathing and at times frighteningly plausible, MANIA will delight the many fans of her fiction and journalism alike.
Deep Is The Fen, Lili Wilkinson
A bewitching journey behind the closed doors of a secret society, featuring sinister toadmen, resistance witches and a steamy enemies-to-lovers romance, from the acclaimed author of A Hunger of Thorns.
Merriwether Morgan doesn't need a happily-ever-after. Her life in the idyllic town of Candlecott is fine just as it is: simple, happy, and with absolutely no magic. Magic only ever leads to trouble.
But Merry's best friend, Teddy, is joining the Toadmen - a secret society upholding backward thinking and suspiciously supernatural traditions - and she is determined to stop him. Even if it means teaming up with her academic arch-nemesis, Caraway Boswell, an ice-cold snob who hides his true face behind a glamour.
An ancient Toad ritual is being held in the nightmarish Deeping Fen, and if Merry doesn't rescue Teddy, she'll lose him forever. But the further she travels into Deeping Fen's foul waters, the more Merry wonders if she can possibly save her friend - or if she's walking straight into a trap.
Because there's nothing the Toadmen love more than a damsel in distress . . .
Merriwether Morgan doesn't need a happily-ever-after. Her life in the idyllic town of Candlecott is fine just as it is: simple, happy, and with absolutely no magic. Magic only ever leads to trouble.
But Merry's best friend, Teddy, is joining the Toadmen - a secret society upholding backward thinking and suspiciously supernatural traditions - and she is determined to stop him. Even if it means teaming up with her academic arch-nemesis, Caraway Boswell, an ice-cold snob who hides his true face behind a glamour.
An ancient Toad ritual is being held in the nightmarish Deeping Fen, and if Merry doesn't rescue Teddy, she'll lose him forever. But the further she travels into Deeping Fen's foul waters, the more Merry wonders if she can possibly save her friend - or if she's walking straight into a trap.
Because there's nothing the Toadmen love more than a damsel in distress . . .
Earthlings, Sayaka Murata, Ginny Tapley Takemori
Mind blowing, dark and wild, the new novel from Sayaka Murata - author of bestseller Convenience Store Woman - asks: how far would you go just to be yourself?
Natsuki isn't like the other girls. She has a wand and a transformation mirror. She might be a witch, or an alien from another planet. Together with her cousin Yuu, Natsuki spends her summers in the wild mountains of Nagano, dreaming of other worlds. When a terrible sequence of events threatens to part the two children forever, they make a promise: survive, no matter what.
Now Natsuki is grown. She lives a quiet life with her asexual husband, surviving as best she can by pretending to be normal. But the demands of Natsuki's family are increasing, her friends wonder why she's still not pregnant, and dark shadows from Natsuki's childhood are pursuing her. Fleeing the suburbs for the mountains of her childhood, Natsuki prepares herself with a reunion with Yuu. Will he still remember their promise? And will he help her keep it?
Natsuki isn't like the other girls. She has a wand and a transformation mirror. She might be a witch, or an alien from another planet. Together with her cousin Yuu, Natsuki spends her summers in the wild mountains of Nagano, dreaming of other worlds. When a terrible sequence of events threatens to part the two children forever, they make a promise: survive, no matter what.
Now Natsuki is grown. She lives a quiet life with her asexual husband, surviving as best she can by pretending to be normal. But the demands of Natsuki's family are increasing, her friends wonder why she's still not pregnant, and dark shadows from Natsuki's childhood are pursuing her. Fleeing the suburbs for the mountains of her childhood, Natsuki prepares herself with a reunion with Yuu. Will he still remember their promise? And will he help her keep it?
Fathomfolk, Eliza Chan
'Prepare to be engulfed. Chan has superbly created a world as real and complex as our own, where oppression has no easy solutions and there is no success without sacrifice. Fast-paced action combined with true social depth make this an unforgettable, must-read fantasy'
Shelley Parker-Chan
Revolution is brewing in the semi-submerged city of Tiankawi, between humans and the fathomfolk who live in its waters. This gloriously imaginative debut fantasy, inspired by East Asian mythology and ocean folk tales, is a novel of magic, rebellion and change.
Welcome to Tiankawi - shining pearl of human civilization and a safe haven for those fleeing civil unrest. Or at least, that's how it first appears. But in the semi-flooded city, humans are, quite literally, on top: peering down from shining towers and aerial walkways on the fathomfolk - sirens, seawitches, kelpies and kappas - who live in the polluted waters below.
For half-siren Mira, promotion to captain of the border guard means an opportunity to help her downtrodden people. But if earning the trust and respect of her human colleagues wasn't hard enough, everything Mira has worked towards is put in jeopardy when Nami, a know-it-all water dragon and fathomfolk princess - is exiled to the city, under Mira's watch. When extremists sabotage a city festival, violence erupts, as does the clampdown on fathomfolk rights. Both Nami and Mira must decide if the cost of change is worth paying, or if Tiankawi should be left to drown.
'A vivid, textured tale of migration, prejudice and change. Wonderful and breathtaking'
Aliette de Bodard
'Life is better down with the fathomfolk. I was dazzled by this novel, which has as many turns as the tide, and hope to see much more of this world and this author'
Sarah Rees Brennan
'A richly envisioned world and finely crafted tale, Fathomfolk is a luxurious and thrilling story full of political intrigue, heart-wrenching characters and edge-of-your seat tension. A glittering and magical novel from a glorious new voice in fantasy'
Bea Fitzgerald
'From the glittering city heights to the criminal underbelly on the seafloor, the world of Fathomfolk feels deeply plausible and satisfyingly complex. If you want scheming sirens and snarky sea dragons then this is the book for you'
Thomas D. Lee
'Fathomfolk is a compelling tale about cultures colliding, set against a city backdrop that feels familiar yet fresh. Eliza Chan deftly and compassionately writes about the depths we'll plunge to, to change our world'
G. V. Anderson, World Fantasy Award winner
Shelley Parker-Chan
Revolution is brewing in the semi-submerged city of Tiankawi, between humans and the fathomfolk who live in its waters. This gloriously imaginative debut fantasy, inspired by East Asian mythology and ocean folk tales, is a novel of magic, rebellion and change.
Welcome to Tiankawi - shining pearl of human civilization and a safe haven for those fleeing civil unrest. Or at least, that's how it first appears. But in the semi-flooded city, humans are, quite literally, on top: peering down from shining towers and aerial walkways on the fathomfolk - sirens, seawitches, kelpies and kappas - who live in the polluted waters below.
For half-siren Mira, promotion to captain of the border guard means an opportunity to help her downtrodden people. But if earning the trust and respect of her human colleagues wasn't hard enough, everything Mira has worked towards is put in jeopardy when Nami, a know-it-all water dragon and fathomfolk princess - is exiled to the city, under Mira's watch. When extremists sabotage a city festival, violence erupts, as does the clampdown on fathomfolk rights. Both Nami and Mira must decide if the cost of change is worth paying, or if Tiankawi should be left to drown.
'A vivid, textured tale of migration, prejudice and change. Wonderful and breathtaking'
Aliette de Bodard
'Life is better down with the fathomfolk. I was dazzled by this novel, which has as many turns as the tide, and hope to see much more of this world and this author'
Sarah Rees Brennan
'A richly envisioned world and finely crafted tale, Fathomfolk is a luxurious and thrilling story full of political intrigue, heart-wrenching characters and edge-of-your seat tension. A glittering and magical novel from a glorious new voice in fantasy'
Bea Fitzgerald
'From the glittering city heights to the criminal underbelly on the seafloor, the world of Fathomfolk feels deeply plausible and satisfyingly complex. If you want scheming sirens and snarky sea dragons then this is the book for you'
Thomas D. Lee
'Fathomfolk is a compelling tale about cultures colliding, set against a city backdrop that feels familiar yet fresh. Eliza Chan deftly and compassionately writes about the depths we'll plunge to, to change our world'
G. V. Anderson, World Fantasy Award winner
Iron Flame, Rebecca Yarros
Discover the instant #1 New York Times bestseller! Now optioned for TV by Amazon Studios.
Accolades for Fourth Wing
Amazon Best Books of the Year, #4 - Apple Best Books of the Year 2023 - Barnes & Noble Best Fantasy Book of 2023 (Fourth Wing and Iron Flame) - NPR "Books We Love" 2023 - Audible Best Books of 2023 - Hudson Book of the Year - Google Play Best Books of 2023 - Indigo Best Books of 2023 - Waterstones Book of the Year finalist - Goodreads Choice Award, semi-finalist - Newsweek Staffers' Favorite Books of 2023 - Paste Magazine's Best Books of 2023
"The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity." --Xaden Riorson
Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College--Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.
Now the real training begins, and Violet's already wondering how she'll get through. It's not just that it's grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it's designed to stretch the riders' capacity for pain beyond endurance. It's the new vice commandant, who's made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is-unless she betrays the man she loves.
Although Violet's body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else's, she still has her wits--and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.
But a determination to survive won't be enough this year.
Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College--and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.
The Empyrean series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 Fourth Wing
Book #2 Iron Flame
Accolades for Fourth Wing
Amazon Best Books of the Year, #4 - Apple Best Books of the Year 2023 - Barnes & Noble Best Fantasy Book of 2023 (Fourth Wing and Iron Flame) - NPR "Books We Love" 2023 - Audible Best Books of 2023 - Hudson Book of the Year - Google Play Best Books of 2023 - Indigo Best Books of 2023 - Waterstones Book of the Year finalist - Goodreads Choice Award, semi-finalist - Newsweek Staffers' Favorite Books of 2023 - Paste Magazine's Best Books of 2023
"The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity." --Xaden Riorson
Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College--Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.
Now the real training begins, and Violet's already wondering how she'll get through. It's not just that it's grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it's designed to stretch the riders' capacity for pain beyond endurance. It's the new vice commandant, who's made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is-unless she betrays the man she loves.
Although Violet's body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else's, she still has her wits--and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.
But a determination to survive won't be enough this year.
Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College--and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.
The Empyrean series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 Fourth Wing
Book #2 Iron Flame
The Rosie Effect, Graeme Simsion
‘We’ve got something to celebrate,’ Rosie said.
I am not fond of surprises, especially if they disrupt plans already in place. I assumed that she had achieved some important milestone with her thesis. Or perhaps she had been offered a place in the psychiatry-training programme. This would be extremely good news, and I estimated the probability of sex at greater than 80%.
‘We’re pregnant,’ she said.
Don Tillman and Rosie Jarman are now married and living in New York. Don has been teaching while Rosie completes her second year at Columbia Medical School. Just as Don is about to announce that Gene, his philandering best friend from Australia, is coming to stay, Rosie drops a bombshell: she’s pregnant.
In true Tillman style, Don instantly becomes an expert on all things obstetric. But in between immersing himself in a new research study on parenting and implementing the Standardised Meal System (pregnancy version), Don’s old weaknesses resurface. And while he strives to get the technicalities right, he gets the emotions all wrong, and risks losing Rosie when she needs him most.
The Rosie Effect is as charming and hilarious as its predecessor.
I am not fond of surprises, especially if they disrupt plans already in place. I assumed that she had achieved some important milestone with her thesis. Or perhaps she had been offered a place in the psychiatry-training programme. This would be extremely good news, and I estimated the probability of sex at greater than 80%.
‘We’re pregnant,’ she said.
Don Tillman and Rosie Jarman are now married and living in New York. Don has been teaching while Rosie completes her second year at Columbia Medical School. Just as Don is about to announce that Gene, his philandering best friend from Australia, is coming to stay, Rosie drops a bombshell: she’s pregnant.
In true Tillman style, Don instantly becomes an expert on all things obstetric. But in between immersing himself in a new research study on parenting and implementing the Standardised Meal System (pregnancy version), Don’s old weaknesses resurface. And while he strives to get the technicalities right, he gets the emotions all wrong, and risks losing Rosie when she needs him most.
The Rosie Effect is as charming and hilarious as its predecessor.
Rebel Nation, Shaunta Grimes
Clover and Jude are doing their best to settle into classes at the Academy but concentrating is difficult. They know that a lot of the so-called history they're being taught is false. They know that West, Clover's brother, isn't dead and isn't the villain the Company has made him out to be. And after a secret meeting with Leanne, Clover's former Time Mariner trainer, they also know that they are running out of time...
Leanne knows that West is still alive and fears the Company may know it too. She's learned that Clover is going to be pulled from the Academy to work as a messenger in the Time Mariner program once again. And she fears that by helping Clover and Jude, she is going to be executed at the hands of James, Clover's father. After checking in with West at the ranch. they realize that if the rebellion is to continue, they need to find a place that is safe to coordinate their efforts and stay out of the Company's clutches. Can they trust the plans Waverly put in place for them before his untimely death? Can they fight the all-powerful Company, expose their misdeeds to the world, and manage to stay alive in the process?
Sixteen years ago, a plague wiped out nearly all of humanity. The Company's vaccine stopped the virus's spread, but society was irrevocably changed. Those remaining live behind impenetrable city walls, taking daily doses of virus suppressant and relying on The Company for continued protection. They don't realize that everything they've been told is a lie...
Clover Donovan didn't set out to start a revolution-quiet, autistic, and brilliant, she's always followed the rules. But that was before they forced her into service for the Time Mariners. Before they condemned her brother to death, compelling him to flee the city to survive. Before she discovered terrifying secrets about The Company.
Clover and the Freaks, her ragtag resistance group, are doing their best to spread the rebellion and stay under The Company's radar. But when their hideout is discovered, they are forced, once again, to run. Only this time, The Company has special plans for Clover, plans that could risk her life and stop the uprising in its tracks...
Leanne knows that West is still alive and fears the Company may know it too. She's learned that Clover is going to be pulled from the Academy to work as a messenger in the Time Mariner program once again. And she fears that by helping Clover and Jude, she is going to be executed at the hands of James, Clover's father. After checking in with West at the ranch. they realize that if the rebellion is to continue, they need to find a place that is safe to coordinate their efforts and stay out of the Company's clutches. Can they trust the plans Waverly put in place for them before his untimely death? Can they fight the all-powerful Company, expose their misdeeds to the world, and manage to stay alive in the process?
Sixteen years ago, a plague wiped out nearly all of humanity. The Company's vaccine stopped the virus's spread, but society was irrevocably changed. Those remaining live behind impenetrable city walls, taking daily doses of virus suppressant and relying on The Company for continued protection. They don't realize that everything they've been told is a lie...
Clover Donovan didn't set out to start a revolution-quiet, autistic, and brilliant, she's always followed the rules. But that was before they forced her into service for the Time Mariners. Before they condemned her brother to death, compelling him to flee the city to survive. Before she discovered terrifying secrets about The Company.
Clover and the Freaks, her ragtag resistance group, are doing their best to spread the rebellion and stay under The Company's radar. But when their hideout is discovered, they are forced, once again, to run. Only this time, The Company has special plans for Clover, plans that could risk her life and stop the uprising in its tracks...
Seven Days In June, Tia Williams
A REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
'A sexy, modern love story to start the summer off right' Reese Witherspoon
'A smart, sexy testament to Black joy ... I absolutely loved it' Jodi Picoult
'A vision of life as it truly is: complications and difficulties punctuated by profound joy' Rumaan Alam
Seven days to fall in love, fifteen years to forget, and seven days to get it all back again...
Eva Mercy is a single mother and bestselling erotica writer who is feeling pressed from all sides. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning novelist, who, to everyone's surprise, shows up unexpectedly in New York.
When Shane and Eva meet at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their buried traumas, but also the eyebrows of the Black literati. What no one knows is that fifteen years earlier, teenage Eva and Shane spent one crazy, torrid week madly in love. While they may be pretending not to know each other, they can't deny their chemistry - or the fact that they've been secretly writing to each other in their books through the years.
Over the next seven days, amidst a steamy Brooklyn summer, Eva and Shane reconnect - but Eva's wary of the man who broke her heart, and wants him out of the city so her life can return to normal. Before Shane disappears though, she needs a few questions answered . . .
With its keen observations of creative life in America today, as well as the joys and complications of being a mother and a daughter, Seven Days in June is a hilarious, romantic, and sexy-as-hell story of two writers discovering their second chance at love.
'Deliciously witty' Zoella Book Club
'Hilarious, romantic and incredibly sexy' Hello!
'Electric and alive' Kirkus
'A captivating love story' Melan Mag
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
'A sexy, modern love story to start the summer off right' Reese Witherspoon
'A smart, sexy testament to Black joy ... I absolutely loved it' Jodi Picoult
'A vision of life as it truly is: complications and difficulties punctuated by profound joy' Rumaan Alam
Seven days to fall in love, fifteen years to forget, and seven days to get it all back again...
Eva Mercy is a single mother and bestselling erotica writer who is feeling pressed from all sides. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning novelist, who, to everyone's surprise, shows up unexpectedly in New York.
When Shane and Eva meet at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their buried traumas, but also the eyebrows of the Black literati. What no one knows is that fifteen years earlier, teenage Eva and Shane spent one crazy, torrid week madly in love. While they may be pretending not to know each other, they can't deny their chemistry - or the fact that they've been secretly writing to each other in their books through the years.
Over the next seven days, amidst a steamy Brooklyn summer, Eva and Shane reconnect - but Eva's wary of the man who broke her heart, and wants him out of the city so her life can return to normal. Before Shane disappears though, she needs a few questions answered . . .
With its keen observations of creative life in America today, as well as the joys and complications of being a mother and a daughter, Seven Days in June is a hilarious, romantic, and sexy-as-hell story of two writers discovering their second chance at love.
'Deliciously witty' Zoella Book Club
'Hilarious, romantic and incredibly sexy' Hello!
'Electric and alive' Kirkus
'A captivating love story' Melan Mag
Song of the Abyss, Emma Hamm
Like a songbird in a cage, Anya has spent her entire life as the General's perfect daughter. He snaps his fingers, she jumps. He tells her to smile, she beams like she is made of the sun itself. But underneath all those games and glitter, she's working to destroy her father and save the city she loves.
When an undine sneaks his way into her city, intent on kidnapping her, she lets him take her.
Daios is plagued by the decisions of his past. Souls haunt him, memories follow his every move, and all he knows is that perhaps stealing this woman will absolve him of his sins. If he can bring her back to his people, then they can destroy the city where his hatred was born. He’s certain this will be easy. But then he sees the General’s daughter, and he knows nothing will ever be the same again.
Broken and damaged, he's certain no woman will ever love him. He shouldn't even try to encourage the mating instincts that ride him hard the moment he sees her.
But when he realizes that she's the same as he is, different from her people and on the outskirts of what others deem "normal", he knows he's a goner. Even if it means he has to risk everything to keep her.
When an undine sneaks his way into her city, intent on kidnapping her, she lets him take her.
Daios is plagued by the decisions of his past. Souls haunt him, memories follow his every move, and all he knows is that perhaps stealing this woman will absolve him of his sins. If he can bring her back to his people, then they can destroy the city where his hatred was born. He’s certain this will be easy. But then he sees the General’s daughter, and he knows nothing will ever be the same again.
Broken and damaged, he's certain no woman will ever love him. He shouldn't even try to encourage the mating instincts that ride him hard the moment he sees her.
But when he realizes that she's the same as he is, different from her people and on the outskirts of what others deem "normal", he knows he's a goner. Even if it means he has to risk everything to keep her.
The Italian Marriage, Jenna Lo Bianco
'The heir to the D'Adamo Family Trust must be the youngest, legal-aged, married male.'
- 15th century inheritance clause
The time has come. In order to secure the future of his family estate and fix his broken relationship with his father, workaholic lawyer Matthew D'Adamo needs a wife.
Enter Sarah Browne, a free-spirited event manager, who is looking for an escape from the emotional and physical toll of her endometriosis, and the incessant buzzer of her biological clock. With an ironclad prenuptial agreement, Matthew and his 'wife', Sarah, are moving to Florence to fulfil the D'Adamo inheritance clause.
There are just two problems. One: they've never met. Two: there's another claimant on the D'Adamo estate.
Matthew and the other potential heir will have to compete for the inheritance. 'Faking it' from their first meeting at Sydney airport, Matthew and Sarah's resolve will be tested at every turn. Will they have what it takes? And who said anything about love?
- 15th century inheritance clause
The time has come. In order to secure the future of his family estate and fix his broken relationship with his father, workaholic lawyer Matthew D'Adamo needs a wife.
Enter Sarah Browne, a free-spirited event manager, who is looking for an escape from the emotional and physical toll of her endometriosis, and the incessant buzzer of her biological clock. With an ironclad prenuptial agreement, Matthew and his 'wife', Sarah, are moving to Florence to fulfil the D'Adamo inheritance clause.
There are just two problems. One: they've never met. Two: there's another claimant on the D'Adamo estate.
Matthew and the other potential heir will have to compete for the inheritance. 'Faking it' from their first meeting at Sydney airport, Matthew and Sarah's resolve will be tested at every turn. Will they have what it takes? And who said anything about love?
The Book Of Doors, Gareth Brown
These books are like weapons. And possession is power. . . With a perfect combination of dark magical books, unforgettable characters, and a storyline that grabs the reader and simply doesn't let go, this is the heart-stoppingly exciting contemporary fantasy debut of 2024.
'A stunning fever dream of a story.' LEE CHILD
'Full of magic, wonder and heart.' ANITA FRANK
'A beautiful, unputdownable love letter to books.' BETH LEWIS
'A magical, mesmerising adventure from the very first page.' A. J. WEST
----------------------------------
Because some doors should never be opened.
New York bookseller Cassie Andrews is not sure what she's doing with her life. She lives quietly, sharing an apartment with her best friend, Izzy. Then a favourite customer gives her an old book. Full of strange writing and mysterious drawings, at the very front there is a handwritten message-
This is the Book of Doors. Hold it in your hand, and any door is every door.
Cassie is about to discover that the Book of Doors is a special book - a magic book. A book that bestows extraordinary abilities on whoever possesses it. And she is about to learn that there are other magic books out there that can also do wondrous - or dreadful and terrifying - things.
Because where there is magic there is power and there are those who will stop at nothing to possess it.
Suddenly Cassie and Izzy are confronted by violence and danger, and the only person who can help them is Drummond Fox who has a secret library of magical books hidden in the shadows for safekeeping, a man fleeing his own demons. Because there is a nameless evil out there that is hunting them all . . .
Because this book is worth killing for.
Addictive, brilliantly written and utterly irresistible, The Book of Doors is the spell-binding, mind-bending, heart-pounding new adventure that is perfect for fans of The Binding, The Midnight Library and A Discovery of Witches . . .
----------------------------------
'A clever and beautiful novel about the power of book.' SUNYI DEAN
'A real page-turner - incredibly ambitious and inventive.' ROSIE ANDREWS
'A stunning fever dream of a story.' LEE CHILD
'Full of magic, wonder and heart.' ANITA FRANK
'A beautiful, unputdownable love letter to books.' BETH LEWIS
'A magical, mesmerising adventure from the very first page.' A. J. WEST
----------------------------------
Because some doors should never be opened.
New York bookseller Cassie Andrews is not sure what she's doing with her life. She lives quietly, sharing an apartment with her best friend, Izzy. Then a favourite customer gives her an old book. Full of strange writing and mysterious drawings, at the very front there is a handwritten message-
This is the Book of Doors. Hold it in your hand, and any door is every door.
Cassie is about to discover that the Book of Doors is a special book - a magic book. A book that bestows extraordinary abilities on whoever possesses it. And she is about to learn that there are other magic books out there that can also do wondrous - or dreadful and terrifying - things.
Because where there is magic there is power and there are those who will stop at nothing to possess it.
Suddenly Cassie and Izzy are confronted by violence and danger, and the only person who can help them is Drummond Fox who has a secret library of magical books hidden in the shadows for safekeeping, a man fleeing his own demons. Because there is a nameless evil out there that is hunting them all . . .
Because this book is worth killing for.
Addictive, brilliantly written and utterly irresistible, The Book of Doors is the spell-binding, mind-bending, heart-pounding new adventure that is perfect for fans of The Binding, The Midnight Library and A Discovery of Witches . . .
----------------------------------
'A clever and beautiful novel about the power of book.' SUNYI DEAN
'A real page-turner - incredibly ambitious and inventive.' ROSIE ANDREWS
The Morningside, Tea Obreht
There's the world you can see. And then there's the one you can't. Welcome to The Morningside.
The Morningside was once the jewel of Island City. But now the luxury high-rise is crumbling and Island City is half-underwater.
The building's newest resident is an eleven-year-old girl, Silvia. Having arrived with only her mother, who is stubbornly secretive, Silvia knows little about the place they left behind. But her aunt, Ena, superintendent of the high-rise, delights in recounting the richly imaginative folktales of their demolished homeland to her little niece.
Suddenly Silvia's world fills with magic and myths. Myths that seem to be coming true, when she encounters the mysterious inhabitant of the building's penthouse, Bezi Duras, and her three massive dogs that may or may not be humans in disguise . . .
Consumed by curiosity, Silvia embarks on a mission to find out the truth about Bezi Duras, and her own haunted past.
'Obreht has prodigious talent for storytelling' GUARDIAN
'A tremendously talented writer' ANN PATCHETT
The Morningside was once the jewel of Island City. But now the luxury high-rise is crumbling and Island City is half-underwater.
The building's newest resident is an eleven-year-old girl, Silvia. Having arrived with only her mother, who is stubbornly secretive, Silvia knows little about the place they left behind. But her aunt, Ena, superintendent of the high-rise, delights in recounting the richly imaginative folktales of their demolished homeland to her little niece.
Suddenly Silvia's world fills with magic and myths. Myths that seem to be coming true, when she encounters the mysterious inhabitant of the building's penthouse, Bezi Duras, and her three massive dogs that may or may not be humans in disguise . . .
Consumed by curiosity, Silvia embarks on a mission to find out the truth about Bezi Duras, and her own haunted past.
'Obreht has prodigious talent for storytelling' GUARDIAN
'A tremendously talented writer' ANN PATCHETT
The Engraver's Secret, Lisa Medved
Two women, a mysterious map, and a family secret spanning hundreds of years ... A stunning art history thriller set around the life, times, and feuds of the artist Peter Paul Rubens.
'An inspired blend of history and suspense ... This wonderful debut novel will inhabit your dreams' Dominic Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos and Return to Valetto
'Art and history collide in this sumptuous novel of dark secrets, family, violence and treachery' Karen Brooks, bestselling author of The Good Wife of Bath, The Brewer's Tale and The Escapades of Tribulation Johnson
Innocence and delight, guile and misapprehension, the hint of indifference, even disdain on her pretty features. Fickle, he called her, a mixture of surprise and confidence. She is all that and more, brought to life with the ink strokes of a genius.
Spanish Netherlands, 1620s: raised by her father Lucas to know her mind, Antonia Vorsterman sees everything that goes on in her world - all the rivalries and jealousies that course through the artists' studios and workshops of Antwerp.
Drawn into the lively household of the artist Peter Paul Rubens, whose work her father engraves for a living, Antonia begins to see a life of colour and possibility for herself - until Lucas entrusts her with a terrible secret that will alter the course of their family's future.
Belgium, present day: haunted by the recent loss of her mother, art historian Charlotte Hubert moves to Antwerp to research her hero, the Baroque master Rubens, and to seek answers about the father she's never met.
But a startling discovery hidden inside an ancient map folio turns Charlotte's quiet academic life into a dangerous hunt for long-lost treasures, missing for 400 years. In the shadowy cloisters of the university, where ambition, obsession and violence run deep, nothing is as it seems.
Charlotte is certain of one thing - no one can be trusted.
Centuries apart, Charlotte's and Antonia's lives intertwine as they unearth long-buried secrets about a master and his engraver where theft, betrayal and the fallout of family loyalty run rampant.
What do you do when the weight of betrayal grows too heavy to bear?
PRAISE
'The Engraver's Secret is an inspired blend of history and suspense, braiding two stories of fathers and daughters and family secrets across time. Lisa Medved conjures Rubens' house and his world so vividly that Antwerp and this wonderful debut novel will inhabit your dreams.' Dominic Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos and Return to Valetto
'Perfect for fans of dark academia, The Engraver's Secret is a richly woven tale of intrigue, with two very determined women at its heart. A captivating debut that brings the art and history of the Baroque era to life on the page' Evie Woods, author of the #1 Wall Street Journal and Amazon Kindle bestseller The Lost Bookshop
'Art and history collide in this sumptuous novel of dark secrets, family, violence and treachery. Two extraordinary women, set apart by time, are beholden to a past and the men who shaped it. For the talented Antonia, it's the conflict between the magnificent artist, Peter Paul Rubens, and her frustrated engraver father that tears her life apart. Then, there's Charlotte, the brilliant Rubens'
'An inspired blend of history and suspense ... This wonderful debut novel will inhabit your dreams' Dominic Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos and Return to Valetto
'Art and history collide in this sumptuous novel of dark secrets, family, violence and treachery' Karen Brooks, bestselling author of The Good Wife of Bath, The Brewer's Tale and The Escapades of Tribulation Johnson
Innocence and delight, guile and misapprehension, the hint of indifference, even disdain on her pretty features. Fickle, he called her, a mixture of surprise and confidence. She is all that and more, brought to life with the ink strokes of a genius.
Spanish Netherlands, 1620s: raised by her father Lucas to know her mind, Antonia Vorsterman sees everything that goes on in her world - all the rivalries and jealousies that course through the artists' studios and workshops of Antwerp.
Drawn into the lively household of the artist Peter Paul Rubens, whose work her father engraves for a living, Antonia begins to see a life of colour and possibility for herself - until Lucas entrusts her with a terrible secret that will alter the course of their family's future.
Belgium, present day: haunted by the recent loss of her mother, art historian Charlotte Hubert moves to Antwerp to research her hero, the Baroque master Rubens, and to seek answers about the father she's never met.
But a startling discovery hidden inside an ancient map folio turns Charlotte's quiet academic life into a dangerous hunt for long-lost treasures, missing for 400 years. In the shadowy cloisters of the university, where ambition, obsession and violence run deep, nothing is as it seems.
Charlotte is certain of one thing - no one can be trusted.
Centuries apart, Charlotte's and Antonia's lives intertwine as they unearth long-buried secrets about a master and his engraver where theft, betrayal and the fallout of family loyalty run rampant.
What do you do when the weight of betrayal grows too heavy to bear?
PRAISE
'The Engraver's Secret is an inspired blend of history and suspense, braiding two stories of fathers and daughters and family secrets across time. Lisa Medved conjures Rubens' house and his world so vividly that Antwerp and this wonderful debut novel will inhabit your dreams.' Dominic Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos and Return to Valetto
'Perfect for fans of dark academia, The Engraver's Secret is a richly woven tale of intrigue, with two very determined women at its heart. A captivating debut that brings the art and history of the Baroque era to life on the page' Evie Woods, author of the #1 Wall Street Journal and Amazon Kindle bestseller The Lost Bookshop
'Art and history collide in this sumptuous novel of dark secrets, family, violence and treachery. Two extraordinary women, set apart by time, are beholden to a past and the men who shaped it. For the talented Antonia, it's the conflict between the magnificent artist, Peter Paul Rubens, and her frustrated engraver father that tears her life apart. Then, there's Charlotte, the brilliant Rubens'
Wild Love, Elsie Silver
"ELSIE SILVER'S WRITING IS A TRUE REVELATION!" ALI HAZELWOOD
Small-town, big characters, four addictive love stories . . . meet the single dads of Rose Hill's recreational bowling team. Perfect for fans of steamy romance, Lucy Score, and Elsie's smash hit Chestnut Springs series.
____
She's been driving him wild for years . . . the good kind of wild.
The kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend's little sister and knowing you can't have her.
Forbes may have labeled Ford Grant the World's Hottest Billionaire, but all he cares about is escaping the press and opening a recording studio in gorgeous small town Rose Hill. Something that comes to a screeching halt when he ends up face-to-face with a young girl who claims he's her biological father. Now, he spends his days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old, all while trying desperately to keep his hands the hell off his best friend's sister, Rosie Belmont.
After living in the city, Rosie came blasting back into town like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic. And one wide-eyed, desperate plea for a job is all it takes for Ford to hire her. He vows to keep her at arm's length. Tries to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her, verbal sparring is a type of foreplay?friction that soon turns to blistering heat.
Ford knows damn well he shouldn't cross this line. But shouldn't and can't are two very different things.
And the only thing he truly can't do is resist her.
READERS CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF WILD LOVE . . .
'Billionaire romance but make it rustic . . . Elsie Silver just hits the mark every time'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Hands-down my favorite book Elsie has written. HIGHLY recommend'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Did I devour this in a single day? You bet I did!'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Elsie Silver is the queen of small-town romances'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'The banter. The tension. The relationship between Ford & Rosie. The character development. Wow'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'I was hooked from the first chapter'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Small-town, big characters, four addictive love stories . . . meet the single dads of Rose Hill's recreational bowling team. Perfect for fans of steamy romance, Lucy Score, and Elsie's smash hit Chestnut Springs series.
____
She's been driving him wild for years . . . the good kind of wild.
The kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend's little sister and knowing you can't have her.
Forbes may have labeled Ford Grant the World's Hottest Billionaire, but all he cares about is escaping the press and opening a recording studio in gorgeous small town Rose Hill. Something that comes to a screeching halt when he ends up face-to-face with a young girl who claims he's her biological father. Now, he spends his days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old, all while trying desperately to keep his hands the hell off his best friend's sister, Rosie Belmont.
After living in the city, Rosie came blasting back into town like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic. And one wide-eyed, desperate plea for a job is all it takes for Ford to hire her. He vows to keep her at arm's length. Tries to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her, verbal sparring is a type of foreplay?friction that soon turns to blistering heat.
Ford knows damn well he shouldn't cross this line. But shouldn't and can't are two very different things.
And the only thing he truly can't do is resist her.
READERS CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF WILD LOVE . . .
'Billionaire romance but make it rustic . . . Elsie Silver just hits the mark every time'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Hands-down my favorite book Elsie has written. HIGHLY recommend'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Did I devour this in a single day? You bet I did!'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Elsie Silver is the queen of small-town romances'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'The banter. The tension. The relationship between Ford & Rosie. The character development. Wow'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'I was hooked from the first chapter'
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Wren In The Holly Library, K.A. Linde
Set in an alternate day New York filled with monsters, The Wren in the Holly Library is a dark, spicy romantasy loosely inspired by Beauty and the Beast — perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab and Leigh Bardugo.
She stole from a monster . . . now she must pay the price
Street thief Kierse should have known something wasn’t right. Now she’s trapped in a library — with a monster. She can’t run. She can’t hide. And this man – this being, filled with terrible power and darkness — is well within his rights to kill her.
By trespassing, Kierse has broken the fragile peace treaty between monsters and humans. But instead of killing her, Graves does the unexpected: he offers her a job. A chance to find out who she really is.
Kierse has always known she’s different. That she can do things a little better, a little faster. And there’s that sense she has when danger is only a breath away. But if the old tales are true, there are worse things in the world than monsters.
Like a threat more ancient than legend. Like Graves. Or like Kierse herself . . .
From bestselling author K. A. Linde comes the start of an addictive dark romantasy series where monsters live among humandkind, and ancient secrets threaten to destroy everything . . .
She stole from a monster . . . now she must pay the price
Street thief Kierse should have known something wasn’t right. Now she’s trapped in a library — with a monster. She can’t run. She can’t hide. And this man – this being, filled with terrible power and darkness — is well within his rights to kill her.
By trespassing, Kierse has broken the fragile peace treaty between monsters and humans. But instead of killing her, Graves does the unexpected: he offers her a job. A chance to find out who she really is.
Kierse has always known she’s different. That she can do things a little better, a little faster. And there’s that sense she has when danger is only a breath away. But if the old tales are true, there are worse things in the world than monsters.
Like a threat more ancient than legend. Like Graves. Or like Kierse herself . . .
From bestselling author K. A. Linde comes the start of an addictive dark romantasy series where monsters live among humandkind, and ancient secrets threaten to destroy everything . . .
Not In Love, Ali Hazelwood
A forbidden, secret affair proves that all's fair in love and science - from Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.
Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on; the financial stability she yearned for as a kid; and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down.
Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through - and he's a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can't stop thinking about. The woman who's off-limits to him.
Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business - one that plays for keeps.
Real readers are so in love with Not in Love:
'Ali Hazelwood's spiciest book so far...also one of the funniest. The dual pov was really fun! Loved this book!' Real Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Ali never, ever misses! Another incredible book with characters you simply cannot resist falling for...And the spice. Just wow. Absolute perfection!' Real Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'WOW...Intelligent, beautiful, profound in a gentle way, and entertaining from the get-go...I can't help but think about it days later, I'm obsessed. One of the easiest five stars I have ever given.' Real Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'ALI FINALLY DID DUAL POV!!!...The spice was also *chefs kiss* but there was a good mix of storyline and plot as well...100% recommended to any romance readers out there!' Real Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I loved this book so much!...I couldn't drag myself away...An absolutely gorgeous romance, and one I will be rereading and enjoying all over again' Real Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'ATTENTION: I HAVE A NEW FAVOURITE ALI HAZELWOOD BOOK. Not only is this Ali's spiciest book yet, but it's so full of heart and growth...Oh and did I mention it's dual POV?<
Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on; the financial stability she yearned for as a kid; and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down.
Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through - and he's a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can't stop thinking about. The woman who's off-limits to him.
Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business - one that plays for keeps.
Real readers are so in love with Not in Love:
'Ali Hazelwood's spiciest book so far...also one of the funniest. The dual pov was really fun! Loved this book!' Real Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Ali never, ever misses! Another incredible book with characters you simply cannot resist falling for...And the spice. Just wow. Absolute perfection!' Real Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'WOW...Intelligent, beautiful, profound in a gentle way, and entertaining from the get-go...I can't help but think about it days later, I'm obsessed. One of the easiest five stars I have ever given.' Real Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'ALI FINALLY DID DUAL POV!!!...The spice was also *chefs kiss* but there was a good mix of storyline and plot as well...100% recommended to any romance readers out there!' Real Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I loved this book so much!...I couldn't drag myself away...An absolutely gorgeous romance, and one I will be rereading and enjoying all over again' Real Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'ATTENTION: I HAVE A NEW FAVOURITE ALI HAZELWOOD BOOK. Not only is this Ali's spiciest book yet, but it's so full of heart and growth...Oh and did I mention it's dual POV?<
The Bookshop Woman, Nanako Hanada
'An irresistible treat for all bibliophiles' Waterstones
THE BOOKSHOP WOMAN IS A LOVE STORY, A LOVE STORY ABOUT BOOKS
Nanako Hanada's life has not just flatlined, it's hit rock bottom... Recently separated from her husband, she is living between 4-hour capsule hostels, pokey internet cafes and bookshop floors. Her work is going no better - sales at the eccentric Village Vanguard bookstore in Tokyo, which Nanako manages, are dwindling. As Nanako's life falls apart, reading books is the only thing keeping her alive.
That's until Nanako joins an online meet-up site which offers 30 minutes with someone you'll never see again. Describing herself as a sexy bookseller she offers strangers 'the book that will change their life' in exchange for a meeting. In the year that follows, Nanako meets hundreds of people, some of whom want more than just a book...
Acerbic and self-knowing, The Bookshop Woman is a soul-soothing story of a bookseller's self-discovery and an ode to the joy of reading. Offering a glimpse into bookselling in Japan and the quirky side of Tokyo and its people, this is a story of how books can help us forge connection with others and lead us to ourselves.
This is a story about the beauty of climbing into a book, free diving into its pages, and then resurfacing on the last page, ready to breathe a different kind of air...
'I'd say this fits the healing "fiction" kind of genre, but it's even better'
Amazon review
'It's such a beautiful ode to the power of books'
Amazon review
'I found it really hard to put down and could have finished it in one sitting. I was dying to find out who she was going to meet next!'
Goodreads review
'The Bookshop Woman was totally unexpected and led me to realize certain truths about my own self as I followed Nanako questioning what was most important to her'
Goodreads review
Bestseller in Japan in April 2018.
THE BOOKSHOP WOMAN IS A LOVE STORY, A LOVE STORY ABOUT BOOKS
Nanako Hanada's life has not just flatlined, it's hit rock bottom... Recently separated from her husband, she is living between 4-hour capsule hostels, pokey internet cafes and bookshop floors. Her work is going no better - sales at the eccentric Village Vanguard bookstore in Tokyo, which Nanako manages, are dwindling. As Nanako's life falls apart, reading books is the only thing keeping her alive.
That's until Nanako joins an online meet-up site which offers 30 minutes with someone you'll never see again. Describing herself as a sexy bookseller she offers strangers 'the book that will change their life' in exchange for a meeting. In the year that follows, Nanako meets hundreds of people, some of whom want more than just a book...
Acerbic and self-knowing, The Bookshop Woman is a soul-soothing story of a bookseller's self-discovery and an ode to the joy of reading. Offering a glimpse into bookselling in Japan and the quirky side of Tokyo and its people, this is a story of how books can help us forge connection with others and lead us to ourselves.
This is a story about the beauty of climbing into a book, free diving into its pages, and then resurfacing on the last page, ready to breathe a different kind of air...
'I'd say this fits the healing "fiction" kind of genre, but it's even better'
Amazon review
'It's such a beautiful ode to the power of books'
Amazon review
'I found it really hard to put down and could have finished it in one sitting. I was dying to find out who she was going to meet next!'
Goodreads review
'The Bookshop Woman was totally unexpected and led me to realize certain truths about my own self as I followed Nanako questioning what was most important to her'
Goodreads review
Bestseller in Japan in April 2018.
Something More, Jackie Khalilieh
A contemporary teen romance novel featuring a Palestinian-Canadian girl trying to hide her autism diagnosis while navigating her first year of high school, for fans of Jenny Han and Samira Ahmed.
Fifteen-year-old Jessie, a quirky loner obsessed with the nineties, is diagnosed as autistic just weeks before starting high school. Determined to make a fresh start and keep her diagnosis a secret, Jessie creates a list of goals that range from acquiring two distinct eyebrows to getting a magical first kiss and landing a spot in the school play. Within the halls of Holy Trinity High, she finds a world where things are no longer black and white and quickly learns that living in colour is much more fun. But Jessie gets more than she bargained for when two very different boys steal her heart, forcing her to go off-script.
Fifteen-year-old Jessie, a quirky loner obsessed with the nineties, is diagnosed as autistic just weeks before starting high school. Determined to make a fresh start and keep her diagnosis a secret, Jessie creates a list of goals that range from acquiring two distinct eyebrows to getting a magical first kiss and landing a spot in the school play. Within the halls of Holy Trinity High, she finds a world where things are no longer black and white and quickly learns that living in colour is much more fun. But Jessie gets more than she bargained for when two very different boys steal her heart, forcing her to go off-script.
Self-Care For Autistic People, Megan Anna Neff
Ditch the stigma, stop masking, and put yourself first with these 100+ exercises that reinforce the idea that neurodiversity is a strength and teaches you how to relax, destress, find your community, practice self-love, and more.
When you’re autistic, it can be tough to prioritize wellness.
Self-Care for Autistic People can help you engage in some neurodivergent self-care—without pretending to be neurotypical. You’ll find more than 100 activities that help you accept yourself, destigmatize autism, find your community, and take care of your physical and mental health. You’ll find solutions for managing the challenging aspects of autism, as well as ideas to bring out the many positive aspects. With expert advice from therapist Megan A. Neff, this book will help you make the most of your life and your diagnosis.
When you’re autistic, it can be tough to prioritize wellness.
Self-Care for Autistic People can help you engage in some neurodivergent self-care—without pretending to be neurotypical. You’ll find more than 100 activities that help you accept yourself, destigmatize autism, find your community, and take care of your physical and mental health. You’ll find solutions for managing the challenging aspects of autism, as well as ideas to bring out the many positive aspects. With expert advice from therapist Megan A. Neff, this book will help you make the most of your life and your diagnosis.
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Once There Was
Kiyash Monsef
Discover a world of extraordinary beasts and unexpected heroes in the dazzling debut from Kiyash Monsef.
Once was, once wasn’t . . .
So began the stories Marjan’s father told her as a little girl – tales of mythical beasts that filled her with curiosity and wonder: Griffons. Unicorns. Dragons.
But Marjan is not a little girl anymore. After her father’s sudden death, she is trying to hold it all together: her schoolwork, her friendships and her dad’s struggling veterinary practice. But a mysterious visitor soon reveals that Marjan’s father was no ordinary vet. The creatures from his stories are real – and he travelled the world to care for them.
Stepping into a secret world hidden in plain sight, where magical creatures are bought and sold, treasured and trapped, Marjan must take her father’s place. The deeper in she gets, the closer she comes to a shocking truth that will put both humans and beasts in terrible danger.
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