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A Snake Falls to Earth is a breathtaking work of Indigenous futurism. Darcie Little Badger, author of National Indie Bestseller, Elatsoe, draws on traditional Lipan Apache storytelling structure to weave another unforgettable tale of monsters, magic, and family. It is not to be missed.
New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer breathes new life into the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, infusing the familiar story with dark fae and inventive twists. Cursed by the god of lies, Serilda possesses a silver tongue, able to captivate with her fantastical tall tales. When she runs afoul of the brutal Erlking and his undead hunters, Serilda convinces him she can spin straw into gold. Believing her, the king abducts her, intent on extorting the proof of her claim. Serilda is certain she will be killed, but a mysterious boy named Gild appears just in time, offering to complete the impossible task...for a price. With fascinating worldbuilding and star-crossed romance, Gilded makes it easy to see why Meyer is the reigning queen of fairytale retellings. — Cortney, Assistant Children's Book Buyer
An unforgettable fantasy debut inspired by West African mythology, this is Children of Blood and Bone meets The Little Mermaid, in which a mermaid takes on the gods themselves.
A hauntingly atmospheric read set in historic France, in a world where those who die don't stay dead. Ghosts loom around corners and possession is a very real threat. Featuring a strong female lead whohones her skills in fighting these wraiths, while realizing the world isn't quite as it seems. A bit of romance, but of the sweet and stunningly charming variety instead of leaning heavily into the romance like other contemporary YA reads. — Allie, Lead Children's Book Specialist
The instant #1 New York Times bestseller! Once Upon a Broken Heart marks the launch of a new series from beloved author Stephanie Garber about love, curses, and the lengths that people will go to for happily ever after.
These are definitely not your childhood fairy tales! Soman Chainani twists 12 commonplace fairy tales into inventive and unsettling stories, full of surprises and just as dark as the fables by the Brothers Grimm. In each enchanting tale, Chainani explores various perspectives of unexpected characters or refashions the familiar until it’s nearly unrecognizable. Modernized ideals run throughout the tales: girls fight and save themselves instead of waiting for a prince and love takes many forms, not just romantic or paternal. NOTE: Contains innuendo and blood/brutality, recommended for mature middle graders up to adult readers. — Cortney, Assistant Children's Book Buyer
Touted as “Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale,” Zhao’s electrifying debut is full of female rage and brutal combat. Set in a futuristic Chinese city, humankind battles giant insectoid aliens with enormous machines called Chrysalises. Male yin and female yang power the Chrysalises, but female concubine-pilots usually die in battle, since their male counterparts drain their qi as they fight. Unwilling to accept this system, Zetian voluntarily enters service to kill the male pilot who murdered her sister. However, getting her revenge is just the start of the story. Absolutely unputdownable - read this and come yell about it with me! — Cortney, Assistant Children's Book Buyer
This book is so cool! I thought it was going to be a novel, an illustrated novel, of course, but it's much more than that. A kaleidoscope of stories that collectively tell one story of love and grief between two people. Beautifully done, as only Brian Selznick does. — Brandi, Children's Book Buyer
Shiori isn’t a proper princess: she hates sewing and other ladylike pursuits, she runs away from her betrothal ceremony to a barbarian lord, and worst of all she has magic, which is forbidden. After learning more about her abilities from a young dragon, Shiori’s growing powers make her a target. Shiori’s stepmother, also a sorceress, transforms Shiori’s brothers into cranes and curses Shiori - for every word she speaks, one of her brothers will die. To break the curse, Shiori will need all of her wits and cunning...but even that may not be enough. Set in a wondrous world and filled with action, emotion, and twists, this fantasy adventure will captivate you. — Cortney, Assistant Children's Book Buyer
Picture this: Pirates of the Caribbean mashed with the Little Mermaid, but gay. The detail given to world building by F.T. Lukens had me smelling the salty air, my blood pressure rising due to the political intrigue and high stakes, and face blushing from the depth of the affection and budding romance. Magic, kidnapping, treachery, and more abounds amidst themes of coming of age, queer identity, and family dynamics. — Allie, Lead Children's Book Specialist
Rae Carson's return to the world of Girl of Fire and Thorns does not disappoint! The little slave girl from Bitter Kingdom is all grown up and we get to see snippets of her past woven in alternating chapters to produce a well rounded, strong female character. Don't worry if you haven't read the trilogy, though, because this impressive stand-alone novel is a thrilling, action packed adventure that gives you a sampling of how exciting all of Rae Carson's books are. And while you won't find any romance here, your heart will be warmed by the strong family and friendship bonds. I found myself needing a tissue by the end. — Brandi, Children's Book Buyer
This heart-pounding queer fantasy is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It's filled to the brim with lush romance and complex, beautiful characters. While I know she has many other books, this is the first I've ever read by Tessa Gratton and I'm immediately impressed with her remarkable writing. My favorite take away from this gorgeous novel is how important the power of choice is, not just in love, but in life. The choice to be exactly who you are and having the strength to fight for this right even against the person you love most in the world. I'm overwhelmed with emotion after reading this book. — Brandi, Children's Book Buyer
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