I *loved* The Traitor’s Kiss (Imprint, Macmillan, 2017) by Erin Beaty. A strong and smart heroine, a matchmaker, future brides, soldiers and spies, intrigue, danger, lies–this fantasy has it all. I really do love a story that keeps me guessing.
Sage Fowler does not want to be a lady. She does not want to go to the matchmaker for a “suitable” marriage. And she’s got the temper to share those facts. But what’s a girl without parents to do? She becomes the matchmakers apprentice which leads her to go on a bridal trip with a bunch of other girls and the soldiers guarding them. However, no one in their party knows that nefarious schemes are going on behind the scenes that could put the whole kingdom at risk.
This was author Erin Beaty’s debut novel–and you should really read her humorous bio here.
Plus, I’m excited to say a sequel The Traitor’s Ruin is coming out in July! Woo hoo! And on her blog, Erin says she’s working on book three of the trilogy.
Read more about both books here.
Tag: YA fantasy
Tempests and Slaughter
I’m a big Tamora Pierce fan and love the new book in her new series. Tempests and Slaughter (Random House, 2018) is about Arram Draper. Yes, if you’ve read the stories about Daine, you’ll probably recognize that name. This story is set farther back in time in Tortall.
Arram is only eleven, well, ten really, but he says he’s eleven. Because he’s always getting into trouble. Especially at the School of Mages where he’s attending with older students. Strange events happen around him. All the Masters know his name.
This story takes Arram through his mage training where he meets the two older students, Varice and Ozorne, who become his best friends. (Whose names again will sound familiar if you are a fan.) With friends by his side life is a bit easier, but the Masters keep adding more and more duties and harder classes. Throw in the crocodile god, the Graveyard Hag, and service in the arena, and Arram is juggling a lot. Will he be able to keep it all in balance?
I didn’t want to stop reading and when I reached the end, I was ready for the sequel, which isn’t out yet! I know I’ll be rereading this story.
If you aren’t familiar with Tamora Pierce, you can read about her here.
Infinity
A student told me about author Sherrilyn Kenyon. I found the first book in the Chronicles of Nick (a spin-off series from the Dark-Hunter® novels if you’ve read her adult work), infinity (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2010). So far, there are nine books in this series. You can see them here. But back to infinity.
You can’t necessarily judge a book by it’s cover, but maybe in the case of this contemporary fantasy you can. Isn’t that a beautiful cover?
Nick Gautier (Go-shay) is fourteen and mortified by the orange Hawaiian shirt his single mom bought him at Goodwill. Are those pink and gray trout? Salmon? He can’t be seen in school in this . . . hideous thing. It’s bad enough he’s a scholarship kid in a “snotty overprivileged school.”
But life is about to get worse. First, it’s a fight to defend his mom’s honor. Then he’s suspended from school. When Nick helps three hustler friends as their watchdog, he gets shot and is taken to the hospital by this guy Kyrian.
But then life looks up. Sort of. Kyrian wants him to work for him to pay off the hospital debt. Then there’s a werewolf, and the undead, and flesh-eating zombies. Nick has to hide his dangerous new world from his mom.
Sherrilyn Kenon is an author with an amazing list of bestsellers. You can read all about her here.
Strange the Dreamer
Strange the Dreamer (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2017) by Laini Taylor is a fascinating book. And it just was named a 2018 Printz Honor Book. Woo hoo!
Lazlo Strange–foundling, loner, and now librarian–has always been fascinated by the Unseen City, or Weep as it is now called, the city that was cut off from the rest of the world 200 years ago. As a librarian Lazlo has made his own books about the Unseen City from every scrap of information he can find. He’s even learned to speak the language. So when visitors from the Unseen City arrive in the Kingdom of Zosma asking for help, Lazlo must figure out a way to make the trek to the Unseen City and find out what their problem is.
As I neared the end of the book, I wondered how Laini was going to pull off a satisfying ending, and she did, but I was thrilled to find out there’s going to be a sequel. Maybe even this year…
Read about author Laini Taylor and her books here.
Six of Crows
Six of Crows (Henry Holt and Company, 2015) by Leigh Bardugo is a fascinating YA fantasy of a band of young people each with their own unique issues. The story is told in multiple viewpoints.
Kaz Brekker has an idea for the biggest heist ever. The item to steal isn’t jewels or money, but a man in an impregnable prison. Those he asks to go with him are Inej–the Suli girl also know as The Wraith, Jesper–a good shot and gambler, Nina–a heartrender–though some consider her a witch, Matthias–the foreigner who knows the layout of the Ice Palace, and Wylan–a run away who can setup explosions.
This crew isn’t the only one attempting this venture. But besides the riches to be had, they might just be the only ones to protect others from a very deadly drug.
What’s really exciting is that this NY Times bestseller has a sequel! It’s called Crooked Kingdom.
Go here to read about the author and to see her other books.