Archives de catégorie : Young Adult

THE SCORPION AND THE NIGHT BLOSSOM d’Amélie Wen Zhao

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Song of the Last Kingdom series comes the beginning of a dark and opulent fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Kingdom of the Wicked and Fourth Wing. In a world invaded by demons, one girl faces the ultimate test: to save her dying mother, she must enter into a fabled, ancient competition for a chance to save her mother’s soul…or die trying.

THE SCORPION AND THE NIGHT BLOSSOM
The Immortality Trials Series, Book 1
by Amélie Wen Zhao
Delacorte, January 2025
(via Park & Fine Literary and Media)

Nine years ago, the Kingdom of Night began to seep into the mortal realm, and the Kingdom of Rivers was invaded by mó: beautiful and deadly demons that lure in humans with their appearance, then feast on their bodies and drink their souls. Those that survived the mó’s initial invasion now live behind protective wards, hoping to get through to another day.

Àn’yīng hasn’t forgotten the face of the demon who killed her father and drank her mother’s soul. Àn’yīng was helpless then, but now, armed with her crescent blades and her father’s magical practitioning texts, she’s determined to heal her mother’s soul, and the Immortality Trials are her only hope.

Hosted by the Immortals in the Kingdom of the Sky, the Trials have taken place for centuries. Open to mortals who can find their way to the Kingdom of Sky, those who complete all eight trials and prove their merit are granted a pill of immortality—a prize Àn’yīng believes can restore her mother’s soul. But competition is fierce, and if the Trials themselves don’t kill her, the other contestants might.

Who is friend and who is foe? And who is the irresistibly handsome and frustratingly arrogant contestant who keeps appearing when Àn’yīng least expects it—and most needs help? Danger is everywhere, and Àn’yīng is beginning to see signs that not all is right in The Kingdom of Sky. Night is coming for the Immortals–and when they fall, all is lost.

Amélie Wen Zhao（赵雯）was born in Paris and grew up in Beijing, where she spent her days reenacting tales of legendary heroes, ancient kingdoms, and lost magic at her grandmother’s courtyard house. She attended college in the United States and now resides in New York City, working as a finance professional by day and fantasy author by night. Amélie is the NYT bestselling author of the Song of the Last Kingdom duology and the Blood Heir trilogy.

THE ONLY LIGHT LEFT BURNING d’Erik J. Brown

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

THE ONLY LIGHT LEFT BURNING
by Erik J. Brown
Balzer & Bray, May 2024
(via Dystel, Goderich & Bourret)

After a long and treacherous journey south, Andrew and Jamie have finally found safety in the Florida Keys. But they soon learn that safety doesn’t always mean happily ever after.

Settling into life in the Islamorada colony with other survivors of the bug, Andrew believes they’ve finally found themselves a home, even a family. But anxious Jamie is less comfortable in their new community and is eager to return north to keep the promise they made to their friend Henri—to bring her to the colony and reunite her with her daughter—so Andrew and Jamie can return to the cabin where they met.

When a hurricane and a shocking betrayal force them to leave the colony in search of new shelter, it brings their tensions to a head—and puts them in the path of some old enemies. Andrew and Jamie must set aside their differences to survive once more and find a new home. But what if « home » means different things to each of them?

Erik J. Brown (he/him) is an award-winning writer based in Philadelphia, PA. His debut Young Adult novel, All That’s Left in the World, was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award, shortlisted for the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize and won the UK reader’s choice Books Are My Bag award. In 2021 he was selected as a Lambda Literary Emerging Writers Fellow. His second novel for young adults, Lose You to Find Me, came out in May 2023.

UNDER THE SURFACE de Diana Urban

A twisty survival-thriller set in the catacombs of Paris from rising YA star, Diana Urban, perfect for fans of Natalie D. Richards, Stephanie Perkins, and Jessica Goodman.

UNDER THE SURFACE
by Diana Urban
Razorbil, August 2024
(via Dystel, Goderich & Bourret)

Ruby has always dreamed of her senior class trip to Paris and is dead set on capturing original content for her travel YouTube channel while abroad. Bonus? It means she will get to spend more time with her crush/video editor Sean.

After a calm first night, Ruby’s best friend Val convinces Ruby and two other girls—including Ruby’s ex best friend and current nemesis—to sneak out of the hotel and attend a once-in-a-lifetime party with a sexy new Parisian friend, within the catacombs, the dark uncharted maze of bones beneath the streets of the City of Light.

As the group travels the miles of twisted tunnels, the eternal resting place to countless, anonymous souls, it becomes clear: they’re hopelessly lost. The deeper they venture, the darker the secrets revealed about the catacombs become. But Ruby’s biggest problem may not be the strange noises coming from those dark narrow halls or the bones of the dead fortifying the walls but instead the people she thought she could trust the most.

Diana Urban is an author of dark, twisty thrillers, including All Your Twisted Secrets (HarperTeen) and These Deadly Games (Wednesday Books, 2022). When she’s not torturing fictional characters, she works in digital marketing for startups. She lives with her husband and cat in Boston and enjoys reading, playing video games, fawning over cute animals, and looking at the beach from a safe distance.

THE GHOSTKEEPER de Johanna Taylor

For fans of Lockwood & Co and The Haunting of Hill House.

THE GHOSTKEEPER
by Johanna Taylor
Putnam BYR, July 2024
(via KT Literary)

Dorian Leith can see ghosts. Not only that, he listens to their problems and tries to help them move on to the afterlife. It’s a gift that’s made him an outcast to everyone in town. That is except for his dearly departed grandmother, who he’s partnered with to turn this paranormal ability into an honest living, and the local bookshop owner, who seems to be the only non-deceased person willing to give him a chance. But it’s all worth it to Dorian, who feels like he’s been given a bigger purpose. A chance to save those who cannot save themselves.

Then one day, the key to Death’s Door is stolen, trapping all the ghosts in the land of the living. Since he’s only one who can see them, the spirits rely on Dorian to retrieve the key before it is too late. If they can’t move on, they’ll soon be consumed by a ghostly rot that has begun to plague them.

Johanna Taylor is an American freelance illustrator, concept artist with a BFA in Animation. THE GHOSTKEEPER is her debut.

PERFECT LITTLE MONSTERS de Cindy R.X. He

Someone has murdered the queen bee of Sierton High School. All the dead girl’s friends are suspects. And each one has a reason for wanting her to die.

PERFECT LITTLE MONSTERS
by Cindy R.X. He
Sourcebooks Fire, May 2024
(via Dystel, Goderich & Bourret)

Ella Moore was the most popular girl in school…and also the most hated. When she’s murdered at her own party, there are too many suspects to count. And too many people who think she deserved it.

The police’s prime suspect is the new girl, Dawn Foster. Dawn was the last to hand Ella a drink on the night she died. Plus, all of Ella’s friends with a motive for wanting her dead are more than willing to throw Dawn under the bus if it means keeping the heat off themselves.

But Dawn refuses to go down without a fight. She’s determined to clear her name. As she delves deeper into the past, she discovers that Ella and her friends had major enemies, and someone is out for revenge. Dawn must uncover the truth before the police arrest the wrong suspect… and before the next person dies.

« A dark, voicey, and inventive debut from an explosive new talent. Prepare to be captivated from start to pulse-pounding finish, and blown away by the many twists and turns. Perfect Little Monsters is at once a fast-paced thriller and a thoughtful, incisive look at the impact of bullying. » ― Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of The Girls Are All So Nice Here and All Eyes On Her

« This tense and twisty thriller will keep readers looking over their shoulder. » ― Natalie D. Richards, New York Times bestselling author of Five Total Strangers

Cindy R.X. He was born and raised in multicultural Singapore. She has always enjoyed losing herself in the pages of a book, and started reading Stephen King at a much earlier age than she should have. Her favorite works are by Shirley Jackson, Courtney Summers, and Catriona Ward. She currently resides in the French Alps with her husband, children, and rescue cat.