Here’s what we’re anticipating for the final month of 2026.

When Shadows Burn (When Shadows Burn Duology, 1) by Vanessa Le
Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) – Dec. 1

Vanessa Le’s new fantasy duology starter follows a demon-hunting duo in an exorcist university layered with magic, murder, and corruption ― perfect for fans of BABEL and DIVINE RIVALS.

In Yennington, exorcism is a job for two: a demon caller, and a demon slayer. Kiet Sren is a hotshot caller despite dropping out of the esteemed Phenbridge University; his blood attracts any demon. Song Sarna is the top slayer of her class; her blade and wit kills any demon. Together, they run Inkspill Agency.

When one day Kiet’s estranged family hires them to hunt an aberrant demon, they are propelled into the most dangerous job of their lives ― an investigation that reveals the workings of a deadly group seeking to destroy the university from the inside out.

But as their search dredges up long-buried history, they discover that the one behind this criminal group is closer to home than they realized, and that perhaps the upstanding Phenbridge University is hiding secrets of its own. To exorcize the aberrant demon and put an end to the deadly possessions, Kiet and Song must decide how much they’re willing to bleed: for their families, for their city ― and for each other.

Vanessa Le’s latest crossover fantasy combines dark academia with a propulsive detective tale at its finest ― with a slow-burn romance and medical magic system as intricate as lab work.

Maker of Gods (Mistress of Bones, 2) by Maria Z. Medina
Wednesday Books – Dec. 7

Necromancer Azul del Arroyo only wanted one thing: to steal her sister back from Death by reclaiming her sister’s bones. But after inadvertently uncovering a plot to reawaken the gods and suffering a great loss, she feels further from her goal than ever.

In exchange for a chance to save her sister, Azul’s only choice is to work together with Death to uncover an underground group set on finding the rest of the gods in the blood-red city of Bremón. And with his mysterious motivations, silver tongue, and magnetic interest in Azul, Death does not make it easy.

With Nereida, the Count, and Esparza determined to get revenge on the Faceless Witch, the trio also find their way to Bremón to join Azul, but soon discover that Death is not the only god who has already awakened…and the rest of the gods are not as merciful.

Lies, games, and gods collide in Maria Z. Medina’s masterful follow-up to Mistress of Bones, where the only thing stronger than the divine is human will.

Slow Burn by Trinity Nguyen
Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks

Lizzie Ly is determined to win when she’s invited to compete on Sweet Heat―a reality cooking show where young cooks compete for a mentorship under world famous chef, Harrison Moss. Victory would mean finally fulfilling her culinary dreams and honoring her mother’s memory.

But then Ethan Huang walks into the kitchen.

Lizzie never forgot when the arrogant foodstagrammer nearly destroyed her kitchen confidence with a harsh review, and now he’s her competition? Ethan, however, has plans of his own. He’s ready to prove to his parents and the world that cooking isn’t just a hobby, it’s his future. And he’s not about to let Lizzie Ly stand in his way.

From collaborating on team challenges, enduring the show’s meddling producers, and one upping each other in their private late-night cookoffs, Lizzie and Ethan clash at every turn. But as the competition comes to a boiling point, they begin to realize that their rivalry might be the very thing pushing them to become their best selves…

Lizzie and Ethan are falling in love…but can they turn up the heat without getting burned?

They Called Us Wicked by Gloria Muñoz
Holiday House

They’re a coven of four: Lucy, who can hear a whisper in a crowded room. Clara, who can read your innermost thoughts. Fabiola, who can see the future. And Sirena, who can manipulate your every emotion. They’ve been best friends since they met on the astral plane as kids, each of them hiding their gifts from a world that insists magic and witchcraft are a threat to humanity.

But they’ve never met in the real world. . .until now.

As a new student at the prestigious Fletcher University, Lucy is looking forward to a perfect freshman year full of in-person coven hangs and covert witchy fun. But something is off with Lucy’s roommate, Retta, almost like she might have latent magic powers she’s unaware of (not possible…right?). So, when Retta disappears, Lucy knows it’s up to her and her coven to investigate—that is, if they can make time for occult recon amid college classes, flirty crushes, and friendship group growing pains.

As the search for Retta leads to an enchanted forest hidden under Fletcher’s campus, Lucy uncovers a chilling truth: maybe Fletcher is just another arm of the anti-magic regime. But are supernatural powers and ride-or-die friends enough to take down an oppressive authority that thinks you shouldn’t exist?

Equal parts coming-of-age friendship story and supernatural dystopia, this dazzling novel finds resistance to oppression in the extraordinary and the ordinary, from magic and spellcraft to friendship, heritage, and love.

 Papa Drew a Thousand Birds by Ahmadjan Amini, Maren Amini, Marianne Martens (illustrator)
Levine Querido

Ahmadjan dreams of becoming an artist, but finds few opportunities in tumultuous Afghanistan. So he leaves … and thus begins a colorful, zigzagging path that is not just a powerful meditation on art, war, and the meaning of life―as well as a stunning collection of a myriad of different illustration forms―but a singular retelling of the legendary Persian epic The Conference of the Birds.

By the end of Papa Drew a Thousand Birds, you realize Ahmadjan and his daughter Maren are telling this story together, and their birds have flown their way into your heart.

The Queen of the Spirit Woods by Sharon Choe
Atheneum Books for Young Readers

A kingdom on the brink of colonization.
Ten thousand nature spirits and deities seeking a vessel.
A genial nobleman and a grumpy prince uncovering the secrets at Court…
And the girl at the center of it all.

Mirae has a dangerous secret: She has faked her way into a job as a royal kitchen maid with the hope of sending money to her family. And life in the kitchens isn’t easy. The palace is in an uproar after a recent assassination attempt on the king, and Mirae nearly gets fired after inadvertently getting in the crosshairs of Jae, the prickly crown prince, during his investigation.

Her position gets even more precarious when a chance encounter with a witch in the mysterious spirit woods makes her the vessel of ten thousand spirits and deities. When her new powers spill out into the palace kitchens, Wonshik, a kind nobleman, lends a helping hand. Soon Mirae finds herself embroiled in a power struggle between the queen and Wonshik’s best friend, Prince Jae.

With the help of a fellow kitchen maid and a meddlesome ghost, Mirae must untangle the web of lies to find the traitor within the palace. But an encroaching threat from the empire to the east looms ever closer, and the palace is rife with lies and shadowy allegiances. Who can Mirae trust?

 A Drop of Color by Elizabeth Ese
Scholastic Press

For as long as she can remember, seventeen-year-old Gabrielle’s existence has been a balancing act. Between begrudgingly accepting her role as her predominantly white school’s Token Black Girl, and performing the role of the dutiful Nigerian daughter at home, she’s not left with much time to simply exist as Gabby. But as far as she’s concerned, survival is her main priority – even if it means perpetually walking on eggshells in both spaces.

With her senior year in full swing, Gabrielle can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. But when a racist incident erupts within her social circle, Gabrielle can no longer justify letting it slide and breaks the Oakmont Academy’s unspoken code: no snitching. Suddenly, social butterfly Gabrielle is transformed into a social pariah.

Now on the outs with the Oakmont student body, Gabrielle is faced with a choice: fighting to return to the idea of ‘normal’ she’d worked for years to curate, or finally reckoning with the aspects of her identity that she’s trained herself to subdue ― her Blackness, her Nigerian-ness, and the space where the disconnect between those identities exists.

With razor-sharp honesty and emotional depth, debut author Elizabeth Ese delivers a coming-of-age story that will resonate with readers navigating identity, belonging, and the weight of expectation.

Perfect for fans of The Hate U Give, All American Boys, and The Black Kids, A Drop of Color is a timely and compelling novel that challenges readers to reckon with racism, embrace their heritage, and discover the power of self-acceptance.

Ghosted by Talia Tucker
Feiwel & Friends

What if you got ghosted and had the chance to do the funniest thing by haunting him right back? What if it consumed your every waking thought like a girl possessed, fighting for brain space with your sleep paralysis demon and your first serious girl crush?

What then???

Keziah is very familiar with ghosts―after all, a sleep paralysis demon has been her closest companion for the last few years, and she’s constantly getting ghosted. Which isn’t really helping her get a date for the Homecoming dance. And then she meets a guy who just transferred to the all-boys school nearby. He’s charming, cute, and―unlike with her other dates―she actually sees potential with him.

Too bad he ghosts her, too.

This time, though, she isn’t going to take it so easily. Not when Guy and his friends mess with her real true love, Mr. Kim’s food truck, and especially not when she finds out the real reason Guy transferred in the first place. If he wants to ghost, she’ll haunt him right back to where he came from.

Enacting revenge while her sleep paralysis demon keeps bugging her certainly won’t be easy but, with help from a cute girl, let the real (and well-deserved) ghosting begin!

The Silver Kingdom by Radiya Haifa
Salaam Reads

The savior will rise and lead an army to the gates of darkness. Only when the fire has fallen can light prevail.

Prince Zayd, heir to Dakaria, the Silver Kingdom, spends his days defending the land from pirate raids. Princess Layla, heir to Sawan, dreams of running away and escaping her cruel, power-hungry mother.

When the two meet, sparks fly. But the royals are destined to marry other people and tensions between their kingdoms are high—one wrong move could threaten the fragile peace between them.

As dark forces begin to threaten Dakaria, a centuries-old prophecy is set into motion, and Layla discovers she has a latent power, one that she doesn’t understand and begins to fear. Magic has been forbidden for a hundred years. Could Layla be the key to uniting their kingdoms, or will the young royals’ forbidden love plunge them all into a devastating war?

Sharpest Court (Thorn Season, 2) by Kiera Azar
Storytide

Alissa has defied the odds, escaping her kingdom—and King Erik’s clutches—with the coveted Spellmade compass. Burdened by guilt over her old friend Garret’s sacrifice, and struggling with her own growing power, she vows to destroy the compass before it can harm any more Wielders.

But when she lands in the Wielder-ruled kingdom of Ansora, she finds herself pulled again into Keil’s orbit—and into the political landscape of a nation at war. Fearing Erik’s reach, and his wrath, Alissa has no choice but to accept when the formidable Empress of Ansora offers her protection…at a very steep price.

As Alissa dons the vicious mask of a courtier once more, she and Keil delve secretly into the compass’s sinister nature, and also delve tentatively into a relationship free from King Erik’s hovering presence. But Erik is closer than they realize, and as Alissa grows even more uncertain of her place in Ansora, she must decide whether protecting the compass—and protecting Wielders everywhere—is worth losing all she holds dear. And whether trusting fellow Wielders might be the most dangerous move of all.

May a Divine Awaken (The Divine Awakens Series) by Michael A. Tinsley
Storehouse Voices

For sixteen-year-old Marcus Azure, the unusual blemishes on his skin have always made him feel insecure and unwanted. Orphaned at a young age, stares and whispers incite rumors of him being cursed. But all Marcus wants is to gain respect as a worthy soldier and a protector for his land.

Hoping to gain acceptance and silence the rumors, Marcus competes for a coveted spot in the Land of Aypha’s elite military. Before Marcus can earn his place, a mysterious group of assassins incinerate his village, destroying all he knew. On his own once again, Marcus’s quest for answers takes him on a journey across new lands where he discovers his world is ruled by Divines—powerful warriors with abilities to manipulate metals, harness the wind, and control the shape of water. As Marcus plunges deeper into the Divine world, he encounters the former Queen of the Aminas, Sinclair Bonet. She reveals the attack on his land is tied to something far worse. A war across the eight Divine Lands of Pyris is coming. If Marcus and others are to survive, he’ll need to awaken a secret yet volatile power within him.

As the battle rages closer and secrets unravel, Marcus must confront the truth of whether the blemishes he was shunned for are truly a curse or a sign of something greater.

The Revolution of Olivia Witherson by S. Isabelle
HarperCollins US

In this engrossing companion to The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick set in 1860s Paris, prim and proper Olivia Witherson is poised to become the wife of a wealthy businessman, until she’s shown a side of the city she’s never seen—and considers a potential future she never imagined. Perfect for fans of Bridgerton and The Davenports.

Olivia Witherson has it all figured out. Once she’s married to Samuel Desir, a handsome (and rich) businessman in the making, she’ll be able to step into the life of upper-class comfort she’s always known she’s destined for. Getting kidnapped by a gang of ruffians and being held for ransom in their grubby headquarters on the outskirts of Paris… was not part of the plan.

Olivia is sure that Jac Santil, head of the Saints Tristes gang, is the most loathsome, infuriating person she’s ever met. But the longer she spends with the Saints, the more good she sees them doing—distributing food and medicine to the poor, taking in orphaned children, and organizing the exploited laborers of Paris, the same workers who staff Samuel’s factories. Soon, Olivia must acknowledge that there may be more to the Saints, and to Jac, than meets the eye, and that the life of luxury she’d always dreamed of may never come to fruition.

Our Aimless Nights, Volume 2 by Koumori
Ink Pop

Golden retriever girl meets black cat boy! Two teen opposites fall for each other during quiet nights at a convenience store in this popular digital manga — now in print for the first time in English.

Peppy high school girl Chika and quiet boy Waya seem like they have nothing in common. However, they share a secret. They meet every week outside the convenience store where Waya works. Slowly, the two start learning more about each other. Before either of them knows it, something begins to bloom between them in the moonlight.

My Life as an Internet Novel, Volume Three by A Hyeon and Yu Han-rye
Ink Pop

The loving parody of teen romance stories continues! Dani is still reeling from suddenly jumping back into the real world. Unfortunately, there’s little down time to recover because the story throws a new wrench into her life; a brand new pretty-boy protagonist who’s instantly taken with her!

Three years have passed in a blur since Dani woke up and discovered herself a character in a romance-trope filled internet novel. Despite her efforts to stay away from the pretty heroine and the four handsome boys who are meant to compete for her love, she’s become good friends with them all.

Things only get more complicated at the start of high school, when Dani is put in a separate class from all of her friends and sat next to a good looking newcomer. And if that weren’t bad enough, this new character seems to be head over heels for Dani right away!

Luck of the Draw by Christine Suggs
Little, Brown Ink

It’s the summer before senior year, and Mar Ortega is holding a ticket out of town: an acceptance letter to a prestigious pre-college program at an elite art school in Baltimore. Suddenly, Mar’s deepest desires are within reach: studying illustration, making a real friend group … and maybe even using new pronouns?

At the Baltimore Institute of Art, everything feels perfect. Mar is thrilled by the artsy community and incredible, engaging instructors, but when the time comes to buy painting supplies, the hefty price tags feel like a slap in the face. In fact, everything about this college is expensive, and there aren’t many students that look like Mar. As the days go by, Mar begins to wonder if they truly belong at art school … but it’s also the only place they’ve ever felt truly at home.

The Rediscovery of America for Young People: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of US History by Rebecca Stefoff (adapter) and Ned Blackhawk (author)
Triangle Square

Weaving five centuries of Native and non‑Native histories, from Spanish colonial exploration to the rise of Native American self-determination in the late twentieth century and its evolution in the twenty-first century, Blackhawk ‘rediscovers’ America, guiding readers to a new understanding of our nation’s past and, hopefully, our collective future. The book shows how

• European colonization in the 1600s was never a predetermined success;
• the first shots of the American Revolution were prompted by Indian affairs in the interior;
• California Indians targeted by federally funded militias were among the first casualties of the Civil War;
• twentieth-century reservation activists refashioned American law and policy;
• Native history is alive; it is not a relic of the past as it is often presented in history books and lessons.

The most enduring feature of U.S. history is the presence of Native Americans, yet most histories focus on Europeans and their descendants. Adapted by Rebecca Stefoff, Blackhawk’s The Rediscovery of America for Young People fills a pressing need in the teaching of American history. The book acknowledges the enduring power, agency, and survival of Indigenous peoples, revealing anew the varied meanings of America.

Includes maps, period photos, and other visuals.

Salt Water Blood by Manuia Heinrich
Sarah Barley Books / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

An Indigenous teen who hears the sea’s prophetic thoughts must rely on the gift she’s always feared to save her brother and her island home in Manuia Heinrich’s debut novel, Salt Water Blood.

Eighteen-year-old Moe hears the sea’s prophetic thoughts—not just hears them…she feels them. That’s how she experienced her father’s death before he did and how she felt her mother’s relief when she abandoned Moe and her younger brother, Tao, months after.

So when the sea warns Moe that Tao will drown, she’s determined to get in fate’s way and secures them passage off their island home. But those plans are ruined when Tao’s girlfriend goes missing and Tao is found where she was last seen, with blood on his hands—and no memory of what happened.

Moe will do anything she can to clear her brother’s name, even if it means swallowing her pride and teaming up with her annoyingly clever school rival, Temanea. And even if it means relying on the sea’s prophecies. Because her dreaded gift may be the only way to save her brother—and uncover the truth behind the sickness poisoning her community.

Deadlock (The StrangeLoom Trilogy) by Chloe Gong
Margaret K. McElderry Books

The danger ramps up as Lia works as a double agent against NileCorp in this second book in the dystopian Strangeloom trilogy, in which humanity has moved to virtual reality to flee their deteriorating world, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong.

One wrong move will end the world…

The nation can’t stop talking about Eirale Ward. After a perilous mission with the enemy, she has been rescued and returned to NileCorp. Her gracious employer cleared her charges of treason and restored her status as an elite soldier.

Once, that would have been enough—but she is not that same Eirale anymore. She is a spy for the Coalition, tasked to take down NileCorp from the inside.

Meanwhile, everyone in Atahua is watching Nik Grant. Though he succeeded in his mission to retrieve Project Wit, he has put a target on his loved ones, and NileCorp will stop at nothing to bring him in. Working for the Coalition was supposed to help him destroy NileCorp, but the Coalition is pushing restraint while he wants action. He’s running out of time.

When Atahua’s charismatic vice president joins the scene at NileCorp, the company grows untouchable. Kieren is unwavering in his belief in Lia and her ability to rupture the power in virtual reality—but NileCorp sees all, and it has long set its trap. Before total and absolute control can land in NileCorp’s hands, Lia must embrace what she was built to do…

Either change the world or burn it all down.

The Peacock Throne by Zeba Shahnaz
Delacorte Press

In this lush, South Asian-inspired epic fantasy a young woman must uncover her secret past to free her kingdom from terrible colonial forces—if the Throne doesn’t kill her first.

She was the last Damadi princess.

She had to be.

Seventeen-year-old Eshaal Bibi is just another orphan. At least, that’s the story her family has always told her—that her parents were among the many killed during the fall of the Azzamin empire. But what if that isn’t entirely true? What if the dreams Eshaal had while struck by a magical malady—the ones where she is a princess, the last heir to the Peacock Throne, and the would-be savior of Azzamin—are real?

Eshaal becomes possessed by the idea, but her pursuit of the truth quickly draws the attention of colonial authorities. To save herself, Eshaal is forced to flee and marry the heir of a secret loyalist family, the handsome and infuriating Imran Mirza. But with a possible princess in his sights and revolution on the horizon, Eshaal’s new husband will let nothing stop him from taking back their country—not even the simmering tension between them.

With her enemies circling, Eshaal will be put to the test, the fate of Azzamin itself in the balance. And whether she’s a princess or just a pretender, Eshaal knows one thing to be true: Nothing is more powerful—or deadlier—than belief.

Spirit Lands (The Spice Road Trilogy #3) by Maiya Ibrahim
Delacorte Press

The daring, world-bending conclusion to Spice Road, a sweeping Arabian folklore-inspired fantasy series from critically acclaimed author Maiya Ibrahim.

New monsters have appeared after the collapse of the Spirit Lands, roaming the desert under a shattered sun and spreading across the Sahir, ruthless and hungry in their attacks. No matter how Imani and Qayn battle the monsters, it has become clear that combat will not be enough to stop the violent onslaught or solve the magical mysteries plaguing their land.

To Imani’s shock, Qayn determines there is only one way to save the Sahir and the entire mortal realm: They must venture to the home of the monsters themselves, the Everlasting Tower.

Reaching it and the shadowy Tower Lord who lives there will be Imani’s most dangerous undertaking yet, but she would never let Qayn make the journey alone. As Imani, Taha, and their group head toward their final battle, they will find that someone from Qayn’s past is seeking revenge at any cost, and secrets of love turned to madness could leave a legacy of scars if they survive—or destroy them all.

In this shocking finale to the Spice Road series, Maiya Ibrahim masterfully shows the monstrosities of a war-torn country and the dangers of power in a fantasy allegory of our time, destined to be a classic.

Author: Ryan Douglass

Genres:  Horror/Thriller

Pages: 304

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Copy: ARC from publisher

Availability: Available now

Summary: Mara is a horror buff whose only fond memories of her dad are bonding over movies by Jack Stanley—the producer of the eighties. Stanley’s campy slasher movies may have kept Mara’s fraught parental relationship on life support and gained a cult following, but the man himself has faded from the public eye…until he announces a contest centered around Asylum, his most terrifying film. Five teen influencers will be invited to spend the night on the fully constructed set; whoever sticks it out until morning wins a hundred thousand dollars.

Stuck in a dead-end job, Mara seriously needs that cash. She may not be a famous influencer, but there has to be a way to manufacture an online presence that will capture Stanley’s attention. With the help of her brother and best friend, Mara finds some creative solutions to her dilemma and lands herself onto the roster of the lucky chosen few by way of her engaging authenticity.

When Mara and the other contestants arrive on set, it’s a horror fan’s dream being immersed in the asylum setting, but as the night wears on, they realize the danger is more than movie magic… They’re not there to win or lose but to live or die. As Mara fights to survive, she discovers an inner ruthlessness she didn’t know she had. Just how far will she go to see the sunrise—and will she still recognize herself by the end?

Review: I find it so interesting that my first review and last review of 2026 are novels by the same author and yet are completely 2 entirely different novels. I love that I got to experience the diversity of Douglass’s writing as “The Great Disillusionment of Nick & Jay” was a wonderful adaptation that captured the feeling of Gatsby but with a fresh voice and point of view.  With “Night of Madness” Douglass returns to his horror roots with a novel that is particularly creepy and nerve-wracking as Mara goes through the asylum.

The premise is a relatively new trope where the main character, who really needs money, goes on a reality show and all is not what it seems. This book is the horror version, however it is so much more than that. Mara has to “audition” for the show in a public way and she does a number of cringe-worthy activities that put her in potential trouble. Mara puts on a very tough exterior saying that not much gets too her, but privately she’s a mess. She’s still dealing with the abandonment of her father and the disconnect with her mother. She feels the weight of having to help out her family financially, which is a burden that a teen shouldn’t have but unfortunately many do. Mara carries a weight on her and it’s revealed in the quiet moments of the story, which is also what Jack Stanley somehow manages to know and exploit. At times it felt like Stanley was almost a supernatural figure in the way he was worshipped by many and by what he seemed to know. When the truth was revealed, however, a shudder ran through me because it was so much worse than I could have imagined. Mara and Stanley have a connection that I was able to figure out halfway through the novel but the plot twist that Douglass gave just really added to the creep factor of the novel. And turned fantastical horror to realistic horror, which is why I shuddered.

Douglass also really leans into the gore with this novel as it is full of action scenes where the contestants are fighting for their lives and not all win. Douglass doesn’t hold back with his descriptions of  the asylum; think of your typical scary haunted maze, but then make it real. That’s what this book was like. Most haunted mazes don’t scare me because I like to take them apart in my mind and think about the technical aspects of the scenes, which is how I handled the horror in the novel. However, the way Douglass wrote them I honestly couldn’t figure it out which gave the novel an extra element of creepy as the asylum felt almost supernatural in nature.

And with the way Douglass ended the novel, I’m still not entirely convinced the asylum was just an elaborate production. And the ending was left open so I wouldn’t be surprised if Douglass writes a companion novel.

After all the asylum in Night of Madness is based on a fake horror movie franchise so it’s begging for a sequel.

I’m excited for the books we found this week.

Heaven Lies Beneath (BUUZA!! Volume 2) by Shazleen Khan
Abrams Fanfare

Get ready for a second helping as BUUZA!! returns in Volume 2: Heaven Lies Beneath . . .

The events set in motion by Zhen’s fateful misdialed call continue to unfold against the backdrop of the lush, low-fantasy world of Dalwat Al-Harir; in Kashgar, Zhen has finally embraced his career as a photographer, but his past is swiftly catching up with him.

Across the continent, in Salwa, Sam and Zach continue to build a new life as roommates, but their friendship with the heir to the infamous Faris family, Musa, may put all their bonds to the test.

Sun Chasers by Kacen Callender
Amulet Books

You stood still. Stared out at the ocean. Like you were searching for something. Maybe the same thing I was searching for, too. Something that belongs in my chest. Warm and bright.

Kole has mastered the art of deflection. He explains away the real reason why he had to move to St. Thomas to live with his father and his new family. He makes excuses for any bruises or limps people notice. He starts dating a girl at his new school to avoid questions about who he’s really attracted to.

But he can’t seem to hide how drawn he is to Gabriel.

Gabriel wishes he could disappear. But everywhere he goes on the island he calls home, he can’t escape the people who misgender him, who threaten him. He’s haunted by the memories of a painful past. And with his single mother barely making ends meet, he knows there’s no hope for a better life after high school.

As Kole and Gabriel slowly start to share their struggles with each other, their connection becomes a lifeline. But can a young love survive in a world determined to tear them down? Are there some wounds that can never be healed?

For Ever More by Sue Lynn Tan
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

The breathtaking sequel to the New York Times bestselling Never Ever After, this epic fantasy finds Yining on the run and fighting to save her family and her kingdom.

After the explosive events of Never Ever After, Yining flees the Iron Mountains with her unlikely allies, seeking the truth about her newfound powers amid the secrets surrounding her ancestral home. But with a traitorous queen ruling the Three Kingdoms from a stolen throne, nowhere is truly safe, and Yining must decide whom to trust to keep her family―and her heart―from harm.

Breathmarked #2 Mark of the Warrior by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee
Wednesday Books

Two brothers. Two nations. One destiny.

Exiled as a traitor after the Guardian’s Tournament, Li Jun has vowed to retrieve the stolen Scroll of Heaven and to honor his father’s dying request: find his mother and twin brother, Sai.

Fleeing into the East in search of their friend Ren, Jun and his longtime rival Yin Yue have no choice but to trust the two breathmarked women who saved their lives but who answer to the mysterious and draconian Council of Virtue that tore Jun’s family apart and banished him and his father a decade ago.

Recovering the Scrolls of Heaven or Earth in order to stop the brewing war that threatens to devastate East and West alike isn’t Jun’s only seemingly insurmountable challenge. The twin he was separated from in childhood is now the High Keeper who resides in the Sun Pagoda, protecting the precious Scroll of Earth from all potential enemies…including Jun.

The fate of the entire land hinges on an inevitable reckoning between brothers that will test their skills, their loyalties, and everything they thought they knew about themselves and the nature of destiny.

Mortal Things by Marie Lu
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Rose Lin Fairchild didn’t believe in gods, but one chose her anyway.

Rose despises Raven, the god of Death. His mysterious commands. His mercurial moods. His closed heart. But most of all, she loathes that she was forced to become his Harbinger, a human mercenary tasked to fulfill their god’s every want and whim. Still, she would do it again, because being a Harbinger is the only thing keeping her best friend alive.

When a murder rocks the world of the gods, Rose is suddenly thrust into the immortal realm’s spotlight as Raven’s heir. This is her chance to free her friend once and for all. But in order for her to ascend, she must first prove herself to the other gods―and the one person standing in her way is a fellow Harbinger.

Étienne Beauchard is notorious for his sly wit and charming good looks. Rose can’t stand that he is the one assigned to test her abilities, but as their initial hostility evolves into an intense attraction, they find that the gods’ secrets go deeper than they ever expected. Something is wrong in the immortal world, something that threatens to break their bond and engulf them all in war.

As Rose and Étienne fight to uncover the truth and trust each other with their hearts, they realize that everything hinges on the same question: How far would you go to save the person you love?

Where We Go at Night by Ikwo Ntekim
HarperCollins US

To name a thing is to see it, and no one can see the folk if they don’t want to be seen.
As far as seventeen-year-old Trixie Godfrey is concerned, her hometown of Woods Crossing would be perfect —if not for the dark world of fae and magic lurking in the shadows. Growing up, her grandfather, Pops, never allowed her to get close to them—those aberrations, Mama used to say.

But on graduation night, when Trixie sneaks home past curfew she witnesses Pops’ brutal murder in a moment so sudden, so inhuman she can no longer avoid the fae. Those without the Sight will blame wild animals, calling Pops’ death an accident, a tragedy, but Trixie knows the truth because she has the Sight. She spent years burying her “gift”, but she needs to revive it now.

Determined to get justice for Pops and rid Woods Crossing of its monsters, Trixie ventures into the intriguing but deceitful world of the fae—only to find herself caught in a power struggle between ancient families more terrible and crueler than hers could ever be. Or so she thinks….
Fae courts and forbidden alliances: Trixie is pulled into a dangerous conflict between the rival Seelie and Unseelie courts, where the lines between friend and enemy blur, and every alliance comes with a hidden cost.
Slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance: The tension between Trixie and faerie warrior Lariel builds chapter by chapter through mistrust, stolen glances, and reluctant acts of protection—the pull is undeniable long before either admits it.

Chosen one with a cursed legacy: Trixie carries a rare Second Sight and discovers she is the latest in a bloodline supernaturally bound to the fae through a dark ancestral bargain, making her both powerful and a target.
Mortal girl in an immortal world: Trixie, a Black teen from small-town South Carolina, is thrust into a glittering, treacherous faerie realm where time bends, glamours deceive, and her humanity is both her greatest vulnerability and greatest weapon.

Summary: When Shani returns to her elite, isolated boarding school after her father’s mysterious death, she just wants to finish senior year with her scholarship intact—which means focusing on her work and staying out of trouble. Even with her best friend, Pendo, by her side, she’s never quite fit in at Taji Academy. But soon, strange things start happening at school—not only are students coming down with odd, grotesque skin maladies, someone is causing chaos on campus after curfew. Are they night runners, the supernatural entities that terrorize rural neighborhoods in the dark?

The strict administration insists it’s just students pulling pranks. Everyone knows that night runners are just an urban legend. But when one of the popular students, Adila, goes missing—and Shani wakes up one morning with mud on her feet, torn clothes, and a pounding headache—she knows it’s more than that. As she and others at Taji begin to transform with no way to contact the outside world, she must figure out what is happening—before it’s too late.

Review: [Content warnings for the death of a parent, bullying, and body horror.]

My favorite horror stories heavily invest in the setting, and Peace Mbengei’s Taji Academy is a claustrophobic place, governed by image-obsessed, corrupt, and/or useless adults, and inhabited by a frightened student body that quickly turns against itself. It is clear from the start why Shani’s options for allies, let alone friends, are limited, and it makes sense why Shani is far more inclined to hide or to keep quiet as the problems with the night runners spread. This isolation heightens the potential risks of Shani’s decisions, so even slower or seemingly lower-stakes moments in the book have greater weight.

Shani’s grief for her father permeates the novel. Whether that’s the practical realities of financial hardship following his loss or the quieter moments of simply remembering him, his loss has changed Shani’s life. I also appreciated the times when this grief was shown to be complicated or messy, particularly between Shani and her mother. The intersection of Shani’s grief and her more outwardly obvious loss of control as she started night running made for a compelling and suspenseful read. (And some pretty gruesome moments of body horror!) I was very worried about where Shani would end up mentally and physically by the end of the book, which is a good thing when you’re reading a horror novel.

The mystery surrounding Shani’s father’s death and how it tied into the night runners appearing on campus was intriguing from the start. Without going into spoiler territory, there was one horror-related subplot that I didn’t enjoy, but I otherwise liked Shani’s multi-step investigation and felt that the mystery itself was compelling to follow. While there are still some unanswered questions by the end, I was largely satisfied with how everything played out with Shani’s story.

Recommendation: Get it soon, if you like horror. We Run the Night is a story about secrets, grief, and fear, and how those personal things can spread through a community and transform everyone it touches. I will be keeping an eye out for future horror books by Peace Mbegnei.

Extras: Q&A: Peace Mbengei, Author of ‘We Run The Night’ at Nerd Daily

Interview, with Peace Mbengei, Author of We Run the Night at Geeks Out

False Face Josh Galarza
Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Rusty is positive Todd with two D’s is a figment of his troubled mind. That’s the only explanation for why he breaks into musical numbers and lurks in the school bleachers to stare unabashedly at Burt, the cutest guy in school. But when Todd’s antics go a little too far, Rusty quickly finds himself in a dangerous situation. Little does Rusty know, the boy he’s head over heels for just might be the one to save his life.

By day, Burt Espinoza is the only out kid in school who’s ever maintained his social status. But by night, he is a real hero: a secret agent rescuing vulnerable queer kids in danger. His handlers (also his adoptive moms) are concerned he’s pushing himself too hard to be the man he thinks he needs to be. Now Burt has to prove that he’s ready for his biggest mission yet: saving the only boy he’s ever hurt.

A Lake with No Bottom by H.D. Hunter
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

When Sidney Cromwell moves to rural Forsyth County, Georgia from the big city of Atlanta, all he wants is to fit in at his new high school. But when Sidney nearly drowns in Lake Lanier, an allegedly haunted lake that is the site of numerous inexplicable freak accidents and deaths, he becomes a social pariah as he starts to suffer terrifying visions from the past and hauntings by apparitions calling him to Lanier.

Sidney returns to the lake for answers, and he finds in its murky depths the spirits of former residents from Oscarville, the Black town that lies beneath the man-made lake. They enlist Sidney to remind Forsyth of its devastating history and push its citizens to make amends so that the souls in Oscarville can finally rest.

But Sidney soon learns that people will go to great lengths to avoid facing truths they’d rather not hear. The people of Forsyth County refuse to acknowledge the past, and as Oscarville’s populace starts to lose their patience, their rage and thirst for vengeance rise like a tidal wave.

Last Night I Dreamed of Home by Sophie Li
Norton Young Readers

After botching the only exam that matters in China, Alice arrives at college eager to party like the North Americans on TV—not to hang out with a studious boy who reminds her why she left home.

All Haoran wants is a business degree. His father has spent all his money sending Haoran overseas, and in return, he must graduate and find a stable job. If only he could get rid of the nagging itch to draw a comic book.

From burnt cooking, a stuck elevator, and late-night bubble tea, Alice and Haoran’s unlikely friendship promises into something more—unless their differences drive them apart. When a creative opportunity arrives, Haoran must choose between his passion and his family, and Alice must discover her own identity or lose touch with her roots altogether.

Soot & Sacrifice by Qurratulayn
Page Street YA

Evan Wilde has her revenge. Born into the persecuted Magi class and made the victim of a botched ritual sacrifice, Evan used the last of her blood and breath to call down the devil Jack to kill as many of the Necro ruling class as she can before Jack claims her life once he’s fulfilled her deal. Yet unbeknownst to her, these killings have freed many devils from their Necro masters and weakened the veil separating the devils’ world from humanity.

Now Evan must figure out how to save what she’s nearly destroyed. But she’s not the only one trying to keep the devils at bay. Rhys has spent the last three centuries preserving the veil to keep humanity safe. Knowing his old flame, Jack, is trying to break the veil so devils can rule over humanity once more, he betrays his love to help Evan.

With the help of their allies, Evan and Rhys must find a way to restore the veil between their worlds, end the system of sacrifices forever, and stop before he Jack before he can destroy them all.

The Queen’s Command by Sarah Raughley
HarperCollins

Favored by Queen Victoria, Vicky Davies has survived royal courts, financial ruin, and the loss of her mother, Sarah Forbes Bonetta — the famous African princess turned royal goddaughter — but Cheltenham Ladies’ College is about to test her in new and wicked ways.

Every Thursday evening, the senior girls play a secret game and Vicky just became their latest pawn. Truths must be confessed, commands obeyed, and whoever claims the coveted title of winner will have her wish granted, no matter how outrageous and seemingly impossible it may be.

But when the game yields frightening and fatal results, Vicky vows to put an end to this ghoulish tradition that twists minds and makes enemies out of friends. With dangerous foes closing in and truths that could shatter her world clawing to the surface, Vicky must uncover the secrets buried not only in Cheltenham but by her own mother. In a school where survival is a gamble, will she emerge victorious — or fall victim to its deadly game?

An Auction of Souls by Amber Chen
Viking Books for Young Readers

Meng Lingxi and her grandmother run a legendary auction house, Meng Wu—the House of Dreams. But when a mysterious traveler arrives bearing a fragment of a soul, all that Lingxi knows changes in an instant. Her grandmother mysteriously vanishes, and restless spirits descend upon Meng Wu.

Then two unlikely allies—Yan Jun and Yan Shan, guardians of hell itself—come to Lingxi’s aid, revealing a shocking secret about the only home she’s ever known: Meng Wu sits upon the gateway to hell, and her grandmother serves the god of the underworld himself.

Soon, Lingxi joins her two companions on a perilous journey to find her grandmother and unravel the mystery behind the dangerous fragment of soul. Along the way, the trio must outsmart humans, gods, and demons alike who try to stand in their way—before hell is let loose on earth.

Everything’s Not Lost by Frederick Joseph
Viking Books for Young Readers

As a sixteen-year-old Black girl with bipolar disorder, Ella Washington has plenty stacked against her. But following her beloved sister’s unexpected death and its turbulent aftermath, Ella is desperate to find any sense of normalcy. Worse still, someone at her school is determined to drive her deeper into despair.

It feels nearly impossible to find her way out of the fog of grief and loneliness, but through her love of art, some unlikely new friends, and the memory of her sister, Ella slowly learns that the pursuit of happiness and forgiveness is an endeavor that is more than worthwhile.

Told in Frederick Joseph’s perceptive and lyrical voice, Everything’s Not Lost is an achingly relatable story about finding points of light even in the darkest of times.

Legally Yours, Violet Lopez by Elba Luz
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Violet Lopez has planned exactly how her life will go: She’ll graduate valedictorian, attend Harvard, and become a big shot lawyer, all so that her injury-prone single dad can finally take a break.

As a member of her elite private school’s law society, Violet is proud to hold a near-perfect record of defending students against the disciplinary board. But when the popular and infuriatingly charming Theo Hudson is accused of a prank he swears he didn’t commit, Violet recuses herself from his case on the grounds of despising the school’s privileged golden boy, and not even a couple classmates’ offer of a four-figure payout to purposely tank his trial can change her mind.

Then Theo uncovers a secret Violet wants to keep under wraps and blackmails her into representing him. Sick of being pushed around by rich kids, Violet decides she can get sweet revenge on the arrogant jock and some much-needed cash at the same time. She’ll twist his alibi, lose key evidence, mislead witnesses—all while playing the perfect lawyer on the surface. Theo goes down, and Violet gets paid.

But the closer Violet gets to Theo, the more she sees beneath his devil-may-care attitude to someone caring and surprisingly sensitive…who she’s been planning to sabotage. Is it too late to change her mind? And even if she does, would Theo ever forgive her?

Violet can object to falling in love all she wants, but her heart overrules every time.

Knight of the God King by Lauren Blackwood
‎Wednesday Books

Calliope’s wish has always been to become a knight, an elite healer and protector who uses music to summon magic. Yet despite her exceptional skill, she’s stuck lifting up her talentless cousin, whose family begrudgingly took Cali in as a child. But when an opportunity to become the royal knight of the immortal God King arrives, Cali finally gets a chance at a fairytale life – until her cousin blackmails her.

Forced to bring her cousin to court so she won’t share Cali’s shameful past, Cali immediately snubs Beric, the alluring, handsome squire tending to her. Now she must contend with his ire, even while feeling helplessly drawn to him. If that wasn’t enough, her duty means accompanying the king into The Dark, a demonic entity that only the king’s magic is powerful enough to battle – a fight he has been waging for centuries. She must also keep the king’s secret under pain of death: He’s not a god at all, and the only thing keeping him alive is the magic held by the royal knight. It seems serving the God King isn’t a fairytale at all, and when people start dying around her, she and Beric realize that they have no choice but to take their fate – and that of an entire kingdom – into their own hands.

Huda F Would Love You?: A Graphic Novel by Huda Fahmy
Dial Books

It’s the summer after Huda’s high school graduation, and love is in the air! Or it’s about to be, anyway. Because Huda has the ingredients for a perfect love story: a butt-kicking girl power squad of new friends, and a plan to woo all the aunties into setting her up with their eligible sons. But when she finds herself caught between her friends and her heart, gender roles and ambitions, and her fears and dreams, Huda begins to realize that finding her own “happily ever after” might require changing herself—or her expectations.

Check out contributor Crystal’s review’s here: Huda F Would Love You?

On Your Way by Emily Chou
EMANATA

Wallflower Alison Wong has three constants in her life: school, studying, and clandestine guitar lessons from a ghost named Keefer. After her mom sets her up with a peer tutor to fix her unacceptable chemistry grades, Alison finds herself thrust into the thriving indie music scene of the late 90s. Finally, Allison feels like she belongs somewhere, but she has to decide if she’d rather give up on her newfound friendships in order to keep her mom happy, or if she’s brave enough to fight for the person she’s becoming.

Meanwhile, back in 1971, studious Katherine Chen lives in the shadow of her charismatic older brother, Keefer. She works tirelessly towards her dream of becoming a doctor, yet no one, least of all her father, takes her or her goals seriously. When she helps a mysterious shopkeer, she is granted a single wish as thanks. Katherine can finally have everything she ever wanted, but at what cost?

Beautiful to See You (Again) by Lygia Day Peñaflor
Sarah Barley Books / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Two years ago, she fell in love with her high school’s valedictorian Natty, the awkward boy who’d always adored her. But their summer together ended in tragedy. Now, instead of attending Columbia, Tia works as a dog walker, drifting through New York City and avoiding the future.

Then she discovers a hidden tunnel in Central Park…a tunnel that can take her back: back to Natty and their glorious summer, the summer she thought was gone forever.

But every visit comes at a cost. The more time Tia spends trying to change the past, the harder it becomes to return to the present—where the ambitious film student, Razor Ford, is determined to cast her in his short film…and maybe even pull her out of her grief and remind her that life is still waiting for her.

Caught between then and now, Tia must decide between holding on to what she’s lost—or moving forward to what might be the bravest love story of all.