A Fate So Cold by Amanda Foody & C.L. Herman (A Fate So Cold book 1)

“For most of the year, Summer reigns peacefully over Alderland. Then, for six brutal weeks, Winter rages, obliterating towns and wreaking casualties. Magicians bond with powerful wands of Summer to defend the nation, a duty that costs many their lives.

Domenic Barrow never wanted such responsibility―but destiny hasn’t granted him a choice. The greatest Summer wand has awakened for the first time in a century, warning that an icy cataclysm looms on the horizon. And despite his reputation as the least suited of his classmates, the wand Chooses Domenic to wield it.

Ellery Caldwell spent years striving to be a perfect Summer magician―and burying her fears of her own power. But her worst suspicions are proven true when she accidentally creates the first ever Winter wand.

Now, as the unprecedented Chosen Two, Domenic and Ellery must thwart the oncoming cataclysm together. And in trying to fulfill their destinies, they wonder if they were brought together for a second fate: to fall in love.

Until they discover the unthinkable truth. The Chosen Two aren’t fated allies, but eternal rivals, and the only way to save their home is for one of them to slay the other.

This is no love story. It's a tragedy.” - taken from Goodreads.

The first book in a unique duology, this opening story begins the tale of two magicians who are brought together by a horrific fate that sets them at odds against their wills. In the battle of summer versus winter, two unlikely champions have been chosen. For Dominic and Ellery, it seems like kismet has brought them together. As they join forces to battle winter from completely taking over summer, they soon realize that in order to win, only one of them can be standing at the end.

Beautiful storytelling, vivid scenes, and a heartbreaking romance that places during the heat of battle, readers will be left hanging over what’s to come in this story’s conclusion.

Book two is due out in 2026.

Visit Amanda Foody’s website.

Visit C.L. Herman’s website.

Beth is Dead by Katie Bernet

 

“When Beth March is found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer.

Suspects abound. There’s the neighbor who has feelings for not one but two of the girls. Meg’s manipulative best friend. Amy’s flirtatious mentor. And Beth’s lionhearted first love. But it doesn’t take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives each one of the March girls had for doing the unthinkable.

Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt—money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister…but her boyfriend might have, and she’ll protect him at all costs.

Despite the growing suspicion within the family, it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home. After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. Beth could have been killed by anyone.

Beth’s perspective told in flashback unfolds next to Meg, Jo, and Amy’s increasingly fraught investigation as the tragedy threatens to rip the Marches apart.” - taken from Goodreads.

I have never read the book Little Women but one only needs to know the basics of the story to enjoy this modern day retelling. The father, Mr. March has written a controversial best selling novel based on the lives of his four daughters, Little Women. Just like in the original story, Beth dies in the book. Only in real life, Beth is still alive…until she isn’t.

This book is told in four POVs, between before Beth’s death and after and begins with Jo and Amy finding Beth’s body on the morning of January 1. As the March sisters begin to tell their stories and the pieces come together surrounding the mystery over Beth’s death, readers will be shattered by the ending.

Visit Katie Bernet’s website.

Fearful by Lauren Roberts (Powerless book 3.5)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first three books in the Powerless series, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Love too grand, it kills.

Mara never intended to set foot in Ilya again. But when the king makes a life-altering decision, her interest is piqued, and Death is determined to understand Kitt Azer’s mind if he is destined to join her in the Mors.

Spending time with the king while observing the castle’s inhabitants reminds Mara that there is more to life than just death. There is love. But even the purest of intentions spur revenge and the pursuit of power. And fate will have its way with all of them—to live, to rule, to love, and most certainly, to die….” - taken from Goodreads.

The main focus of this story is between Kitt as he is suffering from the effects of the plague and Mara, Death personified. Also throw in Blair and Lenny to explore their story deeper. A read for true fans.

Visit Lauren Roberts’ website.

The Thrashers by Julie Soto

“Welcome to the Thrashers, the elite friend group at New Helvetia High.

They’re everything everyone wants to be.

Jodi Dillon was never meant to be one of them. Julian, Lucy, Paige, and the infamous Zack Thrasher are rich, sophisticated, and love attention. Jodi feels out of place, but Zack’s her childhood best friend, so she’s in.

Then Emily Mills, who desperately wanted to be a Thrasher, dies—and the whispers about the Thrashers begin. As Emily’s journal surfaces, detectives close in, and Jodi faces an impossible choice: betray her friends or protect herself.

But as eerie messages and strange occurrences escalate, it becomes clear—Emily isn’t done with them yet.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a book that kept you on the seat of your pants until the very end trying to uncover what really happened. Emily MIlls dies by suicide on prom night. She desperately wanted to fit in with a group of popular students known as the Thrashers. Soon, fingers start pointing at Jodi and her friends when Emily’s journal portrays a climate of bullying with Zach Thrasher being the leader. Jodi, not rich like her friends, soon discovers that she is the key to figuring out what really happened. As secrets begin to unfold, Jodi soon realizes that maybe she does not know who her so-called friends really are.

Visit Julie Soto’s website.

Spectacular by Stephanie Garber (Caraval book 3.5)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first three books in the Caraval series, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Snowflakes are falling.

Invitations are arriving.

And holiday magic is swirling in the capital city of the Meridian Empire.

It’s Great Holiday Eve Eve. Scarlett Dragna is planning a spectacular Holiday celebration for the city. Donatella is searching for the perfect gift. Julian is looking ridiculously handsome in green. And Legend . . .

Well, sadly Legend is not fond of the Great Holiday. Tella is hoping her perfect gift will change his mind. Unfortunately, she hasn’t found this perfect gift just yet. But it is Great Holiday Eve Eve . . . surely there’s some holiday magic swirling around.

Welcome, welcome back to the world of Caraval, where even holidays are not as they seem.” - taken from Goodreads.

Visit Stephanie Garber’s instagram.

Holly by Adalyn Grace (Belladonna book 3.5)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first three books in the Belladonna series, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Something strange is happening at Wisteria Gardens, the magical manor that Blythe and Aris call home. All they want is a peaceful holiday season with their family, but a group of restless spirits is determined to threaten their festivities. With a new mystery to solve, Signa, Death, Blythe, and Fate must uncover what happened to Wisteria’s ghostly inhabitants and help the spirits move on before it’s too late.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a nice wrap-up to the Belladonna series. Taking place during the Christmas holiday, all of our favorite characters are back to solve one last mystery. With that ending, the author may have one more book up her sleeve.

Visit Adalyn Grace’s website.

Watch Us Crack by Gabriella Lepore

“Sadie Morelli and Cason Tano were friends in middle school, back before Cason’s mom died and Sadie transferred to a new school. When they meet again as high school juniors at the local ice rink where Sadie waitresses and Cason’s hockey team plays, what was once friendship blooms into something more. Given the intensity of the rivalry between their schools, their budding romance is a secret for them alone.

But then someone turns up dead at the local train station. Sadie and Cason were both at the station the night of the murder, and both have a reason to want to hurt the victim. With accusations flying and secrets being held close to the chest, Sadie and Cason must decide the lengths they’re willing to go to to clear their own names—and to protect each other.” - taken from Goodreads.

Sadie & Cason knew one another in middle school but drifted apart when she moved to a rival high school. Now as juniors, the two meet again at a local ice rink but decide to keep their relationship to themselves. When someone is found dead at the train station near Sadie’s house, suspicion is cast upon everyone near the victim, including Sadie & Cason. Can the two of them crack the case without destroying their relationship? Just who killed Kai?

Visit Gabriella Lepore’s website.