Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis (Thieves’ Gambit book 1)

“At only seventeen years old, Ross Quest is already a master thief, especially adept at escape plans. Until her plan to run away from her legendary family of thieves takes an unexpected turn, leaving her mother's life hanging in the balance.

In a desperate bid, she enters the Thieves' Gambit, a series of dangerous, international heists where killing the competition isn't exactly off limits, but the grand prize is a wish for anything in the world--a wish that could save her mom. When she learns two of her competitors include her childhood nemesis and a handsome, smooth-talking guy who might also want to steal her heart, winning the Gambit becomes trickier than she imagined.

Ross tries her best to stick to the family creed: trust no one whose last name isn't Quest. But with the stakes this high, Ross will have to decide who to con and who to trust before time runs out. After all, only one of them can win.” - taken from Goodreads.

Ross Quest just wants a tiny bit of normalcy in her life. When her getaway plan goes awry, her only option to save her mother’s life is to take her chances in the Thieves’ Gambit to win an unattainable prize. Can Ross keep her eyes on the prize or will her heart get in the way? Needless to say, that ending was a shocker!

Book two is due out in 2024.

Visit Kayvion Lewis’ website.

The Crimson Fortress by Akshaya Raman (The Ivory Key book 2)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The Ivory Key, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“The search for the Ivory Key has brought royal siblings Vira, Ronak, Kaleb, and Riya closer than they have been in years as they try to restore magic and stability to Ashoka. But despite finally getting their hands on the long-lost key, uncovering its cipher has proved more complicated and dangerous than they ever expected.

Their missions force them to split up and disperse them across Ashoka and beyond. When a rash decision by the council strips Vira of her power, her journey to reclaim her throne takes on new meaning. Kaleb travels to the neighboring country of Lyria to uncover its emperor’s motives and meets a prince seeking answers of his own. Ronak’s efforts to escape his arranged marriage and exonerate his brother lead to a series of risky deals that only bring him closer to what he’s running from. And Riya’s newfound power has turned unpredictable, but her search for answers only raises more questions.

When their attempts at decoding the key release an ancient power, the siblings must align to face the past and save their future once and for all. In a quest that culminates in a deadly labyrinth, there’s only one way they will succeed: together.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a fantastic finish to this duology. Never missing a beat or dragging the storyline, our four siblings split up in order to save Ashoka. When an unimaginable complication occurs, can the four siblings put their differences aside to save their kingdom?

Visit Akshaya Raman’s website.

The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahruin (The Scarlet Veil book 1)

 

SPOILER ALERT! The Scarlet Veil is set in the same world as the Serpent & Dove trilogy. Be warned for possible spoilers!

“Six months have passed since Célie took her sacred vows and joined the ranks of the Chasseurs as their first huntswoman. With her fiancé, Jean Luc, as captain, she is determined to find her foothold in her new role and help protect Belterra. But whispers from her past still haunt her, and a new evil is rising—one that Célie herself must vanquish, unless she falls prey to the darkness.” - taken from Goodreads.

This book picks up several months after the conclusion of the Serpent & Dove trilogy and allows the reader to see how our beloved characters are doing. The story focuses on Célie and what happens when she stumbles upon a series of murders involving magical beings. Readers would enjoy this book more if they are familiar with the previous trilogy even though several new characters are introduced. Fans will be clamoring for the final book after that killer cliffhanger ending.

Book two is expected in 2024.

Visit Shelby Mahruin’s Instagram.

The Counselors by Jessica Goodman

“Camp Alpine Lake is the only place where Goldie Easton feels safe.

She's always had a special connection to the place, even before she was old enough to attend. The camp is the lifeline of Roxwood, the small town she lives in. Alpine Lake provides jobs, money and prestige to the region. Few Roxwood locals, though, get to reap the rewards of living so close to the glam summer that camp, with its five-figure tuition and rich kids who have been dumped there for eight weeks by their powerful parents. Goldie's one of them.

Even with her "townie" background, Goldie has never felt more at home at camp and now she's back as a counselor, desperate for summer to start and her best friends, Ava and Imogen, to arrive. Because Goldie has a terrible dark secret she's been keeping and she is more in need of the comfort than ever.

But Goldie's not the only person at camp who has been lying. When a teen turns up dead in the lake late one night, she knows that the death couldn't have been an accident. She also knows that Ava was at the lake that same night.

What did Ava see and what does she know? Why hasn't she said anything to Goldie about the death? Worse--what did Ava do?

But asking questions offers no answers, only broken bonds of lifelong friendship, with hidden danger and betrayals deeper than Goldie ever imagined.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was another great whodunit by the author that will keep you on your toes until the end. Told by Goldie between Then and Now, readers will be haunted by all of the secrets she keeps and uncovers during one summer at the ultra prestigious Camp Alpine Lake. 

Visit Jessica Goodman’s website.

Vengeance of the Pirate Queen by Tricia Levenseller (Daughter of the Pirate King book 3)

 

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

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first book.

“You can’t be afraid of the dark when you’re the monster lurking in the shadows.

As an assassin working for the pirate queen, Sorinda is surprised when Alosa’s next task for her is not to kill a new target, but to captain a handpicked crew on a rescue mission. Unfortunately, her sailing master is Kearan. He may be the best helmsman the pirate queen has, but Sorinda finds him a real pain in the arse. Sadly, there are few places on a ship to hide from an attentive man.

As the crew of the Vengeance faces dangerous waters and deadly sea creatures, they accidentally awaken the King of the Undersea, a being who can control the dead. Their rescue mission quickly turns into a fight to save the world, but first, Sorinda must save herself from becoming an undead queen. - taken from Goodreads.

Picking up after the last book, the story switches from Alosa who is now the pirate queen to Sorinda. Alosa charges Sorinda to captain a rescue mission, effectively putting her out of her comfort zone. On top of it, Alosa sends Kearan, who has a crush on Sorinda, as part of her crew. Readers will be furiously turning the pages to see whether or not Sorinda will complete or fail at her mission. Fans of the series will be glad to be back in the world of the Pirate Queen.

Visit Tricia Levenseller’s website.

Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello

 

“Charming, handsome Trey Anderson balances the pressures of school popularity with a job at his family’s beloved local bookshop, Wonderland.

Quirky, creative Ariel Spencer needs tuition for the prestigious art program of her dreams, and an opening at Wonderland is the answer. When Trey and Ariel learn that Wonderland is on the brink of being shut down by a neighborhood gentrifier, they team up to stop the doors from closing before the Christmas Eve deadline—and embark on a hate-to-love journey that will change them forever.” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a cute Christmas romance that takes place in a London bookshop. Ariel needs tuition money to attend the same art school that her father did. She walks into Wonderland hoping for a position. Enter Trey, Ariel’s secret crush whose family are the longtime owners of the store. He has to tell her that they aren’t hiring. When Trey’s father falls from a ladder and breaks his leg, his mother hires Ariel to help out. It’s not long before Trey and Ariel realize that the bookshop is in financial trouble and must work together to save the business before Christmas Eve and discover love along the way.

Visit Abiola Bello’s website.

The Name Drop by Susan Lee

“When Elijah Ri arrives in New York City for an internship at his father’s massive tech company, Haneul Corporation, he expects the royal treatment that comes with being the future CEO—even if that’s the last thing he wants. But instead, he finds himself shuffled into a group of overworked, unpaid interns, all sharing a shoebox apartment for the summer.

When Jessica Lee arrives in New York City, she’s eager to make the most of her internship at Haneul Corporation, even if she’s at the bottom of the corporate ladder. But she’s shocked to be introduced as the new executive-in-training intern with a gorgeous brownstone all to herself.

It doesn’t take long for Elijah and Jessica to discover the source of the they share the same Korean name. But they decide to stay switched—so Elijah can have a relaxing summer away from his controlling dad while Jessica can make the connections she desperately needs for college recommendations.

As Elijah and Jessica work together to keep up the charade, a spark develops between them. Can they avoid discovery—and total disaster—with their feelings and futures on the line?” - taken from Goodreads.

When a case of mistaken identity turns out to be good fortune for both Jessica and Elijah, they never imagined how their summer plans would change. Elijah, son of the CEO, is excited to finally not have the pressure of his family overshadowing him as he hangs out with the other interns and is treated like a regular person. Jessica sees her opportunity to shine as she takes  Elijah’s place as the VIP executive intern to get some much needed references for college. As they work together on a final project, sparks begin to emerge but will their friendship survive when their true identities are discovered?

Visit Susan Lee’s website.

Foxglove by Adalyn Grace (Belladonna book 2)

 

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

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher of the first book.

“A duke has been murdered. The lord of Thorn Grove has been framed. And Fate, the elusive brother of Death, has taken up residence in a sumptuous estate nearby. He's hellbent on revenge after Death took the life of the woman he loved many years ago...and now he's determined to have Signa for himself, no matter the cost.

Signa and her cousin Blythe are certain that Fate can save Elijah Hawthorne from prison if they will entertain his presence. But the more time the girls spend with Fate, the more frightening their reality becomes as Signa exhibits dramatic new powers that link her to Fate's past. With mysteries and danger around every corner, the cousins must decide if they can trust one another as they navigate their futures in high society, unravel the murders that haunt their family, and play Fate's unexpected games—all with their destinies hanging in the balance.

Dangerous, suspenseful, and seductive, this sequel to Signa and Death's story is as utterly romantic as it is perfectly deadly.” - taken from Goodreads.

This second book in the series starts off with a death and the mystery of who really did it. Unfortunately, the storyline was slow to build for me in the beginning. Once Blythe discovers some of Signa’s secrets, the action really picks up when Signa goes home to Foxglove. With Fate adamant that Signa belongs with him and she is determined to save what’s left of her family, the ending sets up the final installment of the series with Wisteria.

The trilogy concludes with Wisteria, due out on August 20, 2024.

Visit Adalyn Grace’s website.

The Legacies by Jessica Goodman

 

“Old money. New secrets. One killer party.

Scoring an invitation for membership to the exclusive Legacy Club in New York City is more than an honor. It gives you a lifetime of access to power and wealth beyond any prep school doors and guaranteed safety and security as Legacy Club members always look out for their own. That is, after you make it through a rigorous week of events and the extravagant gala, the Legacy Ball.

So it’s not surprising when Excelsior Prep seniors Bernie Kaplan, Isobel Rothcroft, and Skyler Hawkins are nominated as Legacies; their family pedigrees have assured their membership since birth—even if they're all keeping secrets that could destroy their reputations. But scholarship kid from Queens Tori Tasso? She’s a surprise nominee, someone no one saw coming. Tori’s never fit in this world of designer bags, penthouse apartments, and million-dollar donations. So what did she do to secure her place?

The night of the Legacy Ball is supposed to be the best night of these seniors’ lives, a night of haute couture, endless champagne, and plenty of hushed gossip.

Everyone expects a night of luxury and excess.

No one expects their secrets to come out.

Or for someone to die trying to keep them hidden.” - taken from Goodreads.

A great book that propels you forward to the very last page wondering who and why because secrets are worth killing for. A definite read for fans of Karen McManus.

Visit Jessica Goodman’s website.

Never Vacation With Your Ex by Emily Wibberly & Austin Siegemund-Broka

“Seventeen-year-old volleyball star Kaylee Jordan lives a life of player rankings, constant training, and a carefully curated social media full of followers watching to see if she'll go pro out of high school like her famous mom. Her one refuge, and the thing she looks forward to every summer? The vacation her family spends in Malibu with the Freeman-Yus. This year, there’s only one problem: Kaylee and their son, Dean, dated for the past three months, and Kaylee just unceremoniously dumped him.

Hoping to spare them the worst summer ever, Kaylee comes to Dean with her unconventional solution: she’s going to walk him through her rules for getting over an ex. When Dean grudgingly cooperates, Kaylee’s got her work cut out for her. But helping Dean follow her own rules starts becoming difficult when the pressures of Kaylee’s family legacy and perfect life start to feel less like a plan and more like a prison… and amid warm California nights and stolen laughs, Kaylee feels herself falling for Dean for the same reasons and some new ones.

With their trip coming to an end, Kaylee has to make the complicated choice between doing what’s expected and taking a (second) chance on love.” - taken from Goodreads.

Kaylee Jordan wasn’t this author duo’s best love interest. She didn’t treat Dean like she should have. Kaylee also places a lot of pressure on herself and it affects her relationships. She dumped Dean after only two months of dating, making for a rough family vacation. Dean takes Kaylee up on her offer to help him move on from her but what happens when Kaylee isn’t able to follow her own advice?

Visit Emily & Austin’s website. 

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

 

“Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. She’s had no choice. Since childhood, she’s been haunted by visions of the Fairy King. She’s found solace only in the pages of Angharad - author Emrys Myrddin’s beloved epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, and then destroys him.

Effy’s tattered, dog-eared copy is all that’s keeping her afloat through her stifling first term at Llyr’s prestigious architecture college. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to design the late author’s house, Effy feels certain this is her destiny.

But Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task: a musty, decrepit estate on the brink of crumbling into a hungry sea. And when Effy arrives, she finds she isn’t the only one who’s made a temporary home there. Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar, is studying Myrddin’s papers and is determined to prove her favorite author is a fraud.

As the two rival students investigate the reclusive author’s legacy, piecing together clues through his letters, books, and diaries, they discover that the house’s foundation isn’t the only thing that can’t be trusted. There are dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspiring against them - and the truth may bring them both to ruin.” - taken from Goodreads.

This book was incredible! Fantasy, books, and romance, what more could you ask for. I loved everything about the story; the mystery, the slow burn romance, the lyrical writing, Effy’s attitude. I couldn’t wait for the ending to see if my suspicions came true. Definitely a top 10 book of the year for me.

Visiting Ava Reid’s website.

Fangirl, Vol. 3: The Manga by Rainbow Rowell

 

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

“Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, everybody is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath just can’t let go…

Everything in Cath’s offline life is going wrong. Just when she’s started to realize her feelings for Levi, she sees him kissing someone else. Plus, her writing partner, Nick, is acting strange, and her twin sister, Wren, is suddenly making time for their mother—the same woman who walked out of their lives ten years ago!

When their dad ends up in the hospital, Cath decides it’s time to rethink her plans for the future.

But how can she leave the past behind when it keeps showing up at her door?” - taken from Goodreads.

And of course, volume 3 ends on another major cliffhanger. Good news is that volume 4 will conclude the story.

The story will be finished with volume 4 due out in 2024.

Reign by Katharine McGee (American Royals book 4)

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

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher of the first three books.

“A queen's life hangs in the balance, and her siblings’ decisions—about what to do, and most of all, who to love—could change the course of history. Romance. Duty. Power...only one can triumph in this stunning conclusion to the New York Times bestselling American Royals series.

America's royal family is in shambles. Queen Beatrice is in a coma and Princess Samantha has gone missing—from the look of things, she ran away with her boyfriend, Lord Marshall Davis. Which means that Prince Jefferson is currently on the throne. For some in America, it's exactly what they wanted: a King ruling the country. And for Daphne Deighton, who has tricked Jefferson into dating her again, it's the ultimate dream come true. 

Surely this is all just temporary. Won’t Beatrice wake up and reclaim her rightful place? Samantha can't really be gone…can she? And Prince Jefferson will never truly be over his childhood crush, Nina Gonzalez. Right?

For the Washington family, the stakes are higher than ever. Love might save the throne….if secrets don’t destroy everything first.” - taken from Goodreads.

Oh, how I am going to miss this series. Without giving anything away, I will say that Reign wrapped up the story for all four of our main characters that will satisfy fans.

Visit Katharine McGee’s website.

How to Find a Missing Girl by Victoria Wlosok

 

“A year ago, beloved cheerleader Stella Blackthorn vanished without a trace. Devastated, her younger sister, Iris, launched her own investigation, but all she managed to do was scare off the police’s only lead and earn a stern Once she turns eighteen, more meddling means prison-level consequences.

 

Then, a year later, the unthinkable happens. Iris’s ex-girlfriend, Heather, goes missing, too—just after dropping the polarizing last episode of her true crime podcast all about Iris’s sister. This time, nothing will stop Iris and her amateur sleuthing agency from solving these disappearances.

 

But with a suspicious detective watching her every move, an enemy-turned-friend-turned-maybe-more to contend with, and only thirty days until she turns eighteen, it’s a race against the clock for Iris to solve the most dangerous case of her life.”- taken from Goodreads.

This book reminded me of Courtney Summers’ Sadie. With the podcast aspect from Heather, the second missing girl who was trying to uncover information about the first girl who disappeared. For Iris Blackthorn, it’s personal. Her older sister Stella went missing just before the homecoming dance, never to be heard from again. Along with her friends, Samy and Imani, the trio start their own amateur detective agency in order to find some answers. After getting nowhere with Stella’s case, including a warning to stay out of the matter from the police, the trio work small cases at their high school.

When Iris’ former girlfriend Heather hires them to see if her boyfriend is cheating on her, Iris and her friends stumble onto their biggest case yet when Heather goes missing herself.

Visit Victoria Wlosok’s website.

Last Violent Call by Chloe Gong (Foul Lady Fortune book 1.5)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Foul Lady Fortune, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first book.

Check out the Riveted blog for a recap of Foul Lady Fortune.

“In A Foul Thing, Roma and Juliette have established themselves as the heads of an underground weapons ring in Zhouzhuang, making a living the way they do best while remaining anonymous in their peaceful, quiet life. But when they hear about several Russian girls showing up dead in nearby towns, they decide to investigate—and ultimately discover that this mystery is much closer to home than they ever imagined.

In This Foul Murder, Benedikt and Marshall have been summoned by Roma to find the elusive scientist, Lourens, and bring him to Zhouzhuang. Time is of the essence aboard the week-long Trans-Siberian Express, but when someone is murdered on board, Benedikt and Marshall convince the officer in charge not to stop the train so that they aren’t thrown off-schedule. Instead, they pretend that they are investigators and promise they can solve the murder, but as they dig deeper, they realize that the murder might having surprising ties to their own mission…” - taken from Goodreads.

I will say that I didn’t read these short stories until after I finished Foul Heart Huntsman and I think I’m glad that I didn’t know the spoiler about our favorite couple. Or maybe I would have been more invested in the story.

Visit Chloe Gong’s website.

Foul Heart Huntsman by Chloe Gong (Foul Lady Fortune book 2)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Foul Lady Fortune, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first book.

Check out the Riveted blog for a recap of Foul Lady Fortune.

“Winter is drawing thick in 1932 Shanghai, as is the ever-nearing threat of a Japanese invasion.

Rosalind Lang has suffered the worst possible fate for a national spy: she’s been exposed. With the media storm camped outside her apartment for the infamous Lady Fortune, she’s barely left her bedroom in weeks, plotting her next course of action after Orion was taken and his memories of Rosalind wiped. Though their marriage might have been a sham, his absence hurts her more than any physical wound. She won’t rest until she gets him back.

But with her identity in the open, the task is near impossible. The only way to leave the city and rescue Orion is under the guise of a national tour. It’s easy to convince her superiors that the countryside needs unity more than ever, and who better than an immortal girl to stir pride and strength into the people?

When the tour goes wrong, however, everything Rosalind once knew is thrown up in the air. Taking refuge outside Shanghai, old ghosts come into the open and adversaries turn to allies. To save Orion, they must find a cure to his mother’s traitorous invention and take this dangerous chemical weapon away from impending foreign invasion—but the clock is ticking, and if Rosalind fails, it’s not only Orion she loses, but her nation itself.” - taken from Goodreads.

Unfortunately, I found the beginning slow to start. I wanted the action and our characters to find one another sooner than they did. Once everyone is back together, the story really picks up. While the reader gets glimpses and more of several favorite characters, Rosalind and Orion are the heart of this book. I will say that each character received the ending they deserved. Definitely a worthy conclusion to the story.

Visit Chloe Gong’s website.

The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie (The Forest Grimm book 1)

 

“Where fairy tales come to life with dark, deadly twists...

"Tell me again, Grandmère, the story of how I die."

The Midnight Forest. The Fanged Creature. Two fortune-telling cards that spell an untimely death for 17-year-old Clara. Despite the ever-present warning from her fortune-teller grandmother, Clara embarks on a dangerous journey into the deadly Forest Grimm to procure a magical book - Sortes Fortunae , the Book of Fortunes - with the power to reverse the curse on her village and save her mother.

Years ago, when the villagers whispered their deepest desires to the book, its pages revealed how to obtain them. All was well until someone used the book for an evil purpose―to kill another person. Afterward, the branches of the Forest Grimm snatched the book away, the well water in Grimm’s Hollow turned rancid, and the crops died from disease. The villagers tried to make amends with the forest, but every time someone crossed its border, they never returned.

Now, left with no alternative, Clara and her close friend, Axel―who is fated never to be with her―have set their minds to defying fate and daring to accomplish what no one else has been able to before. But the forest―alive with dark, deadly twists on some of our most well-known fairy tales―has a mind of its own.” - taken from Goodreads.

I was not expecting this book to be a mashup of Grimm’s fairy tales, but I do think it works. Clara is determined to save her mother from the Forest Grimm, even if it costs her her life. She knows it will because her grandmother’s tarot card readings have always foretold her death. Armed with the knowledge to get past the deadly forest’s border, she and her friend Axel tempt fate on their journey to the Forest Grimm.

Book two, The Deathly Grimm, is set to be published in 2024.

Visit Kathryn Purdie’s website.