Alex Stern's ability to see the dead has always brought trouble. At least until it brings a once-in-a-lifetime chance to leave behind her past and start fresh at Yale as part of Lethe House, the one thing keeping the secret societies on campus in line as they practice powerful magic. Now someone is using that magic to kill local girls and the administration is trying to cover it up. As one of "those" girls, Alex is determined to solve the murder before its lost to time. I've read this book four times as of 2023 and I love it more with each read.
Alex Stern is back and better than ever! I waited almost three years for this sequel and it was so totally worth the wait. All of your favorite characters are back (Darlington included) and the mystery, magic, and mayhem have all been taken to the next level. Bardugo has outdone herself, I loved being back in New Haven, and I can't wait for the third book to come out! (Fingers crossed we don't have to wait another three years.)
Yes, this is a vampire novel, but it's also a fundamentally queer novel that celebrates its community and all the kinds of love you can find there. A genuine, heartfelt romp set somewhere foggy in Victorian England that will have you wishing for a calming cup of tea and a stiff drink before you know it.
(P.S. This is one of the steamiest books I've read in a while if you needed another reason to read this book!)
Young Lord Cassia, now just Cas, has survived three long years of war, imprisonment, and plague. Now he has the chance to return home. Instead of the reunion and peace he craves, he's met with political intrigue and assassination attempts against the queen.
While filled with drama, adventure, and a truly delightful romance, I fell in love with this book because of how it dealt with the healing process and how to operate in a world post-plague. (spoiler: the answer is with patience, love, and hope.)
This book is a mind-bending fever dream that left me crying over the state of my skin and wanting to call my Mom. Awad's junior novel is a stunning look into the world of beauty, trauma, and grief. I couldn't put it down even if I wanted to.
Are you a fan of Big Forests filled with things that go bump and sisters with odd (yet practical) magics?
Then this is the book for you!
I quickly fell in love with the James sisters and Caball Hollow, and the mystery kept me guessing until the very end. This book is perfect fot long summer days and cozy falls nights.
Reading this series started as a guilty pleasure but has quickly become a genuine obsession over the world and characters. Each book is delightfully smutty and satisfies a different romantic craving.
The first book is a Hades x Persephone retelling that features political intrigue, steamy romance, and a fresh, modern take on Greek mythology.
This book combines all the best parts of horror and westerns. An unlikely crew of outcasts? Check! Run-ins with the law? Check! Witches, demons, and ghouls? Check, Check, and Check!
This delightfully episodic western will leave with chills running down your spine, a warmth in your heart, and a tickle in your funny bone. It's the perfect book for chilly fall days and telling stories around the campfire.
The most notorious woman in the Bible only wanted her name to be remembered.
Jezebel is a willful child who comes into the world screaming, and intend on leaving the same way. After making the best of her marriage to Ahab and move to Israel, Jezebel is betrayed by someone she once held close. Now she must decide how far she's willing to go to secure her country and her legacy.
A stunning debut that is reminiscent of Madeleine Miller's Circe. Barnard is sure to snare the hearts of many with her portrayal of Jezebel.
Ren Yu is a Swimmer. Ren Yu scares the shit out of me. I also want to be Ren Yu. Ren Yu wants to be a mermaid. No one is going to be happy at the end of this story. (Except maybe Ren Yu... maybe.) You will be equal parts awed and horrified by this glimpse into the life Ren Yu.
TW: Self-mutilation
Simi is a Mami Wata- a mermaid- that serves Yemoja by escorting souls that have been lost at sea to the afterlife. When she breaks the ultimate rule by the saving the life of a boy, she must then go on a quest to save Yemoja and her Mami Wata sisters.
This Yoruban-inspired retelling of the Little Mermaid is vibrant, thrilling, and deeply satisfying. The characters and setting leap off the page and give new life to the original tale.