Happy (almost) New Year! The beginning of the year is always my favorite time. It’s a time for resolutions, reflections, and setting new goals.

One of my biggest goals of the past few years has been to read outside my comfort zone. In particular, I’ve been trying to read more diverse books — not just books with protagonists of color, but books with characters who are differently abled than me, have different sexualities than I do.

Everyone at Riveted agrees, so this year, we decided to set a reading challenge for ourselves. Not just a number of books we want to read — but the types of books we want to read, ones we don’t always pick up.

Here are the 25 goals we’re setting for ourselves this year. Join us using the hashtag #ResolvedToRead — we want to see your shelfies, see your bookstagrams, and know what you’re reading to fulfill our challenges! If you’re having trouble finding a book, tweet us @SimonTeen, comment here, or check out the hashtag! We’ll be here to help you every step of the way.

Happy reading! And happy 2018!

1. Read a book written in verse
2. Read a fantasy or science fiction novel with explicitly queer characters
3. Start a new series
4. Read a sequel
5. Read a YA nonfiction book
6. Read a debut by an author of color
7. Read a book (any genre) starring a queer character of color
8. Read a book that’s been longlisted for a National Book Award (any year!)
9. Read a book that’s over 500 pages long
10. Read a science fiction book with a female protagonist
11. Read a book that confronts or discusses sexism
12. Read a book that confronts or discusses racism
13. Read a book with a first-generation immigrant main character
14. Read a work of historical fiction
15. Read a sci-fi novel written by a woman
16. Read a book featuring a dysfunctional family dynamic
17. Judge a book by its cover! Read something exclusively based on how good the cover art looks.
18. Read a book that has a person of color on the cover
19. Read a romance (comedy or drama) with two PoC protagonists
20. Read a YA anthology (fiction or nonfiction!)
21. Read a book about a character who’s struggling with mental illness
22. Read a book about toxic friendships
23. Read a book based on a true story
24. Read a book with an interracial relationship
25. Read a book where a sport is a major focus/plot element

Holiday season is upon us! Hooray!

If you’re anything like me, the day after Thanksgiving means you’re officially in full Holiday mode. I have my hot chocolate, I have my ugly Christmas sweater, and I have my long list of people I need to buy gifts for.

As a bookish person from a bookish family and surrounded by bookish friends, my go to gift is usually, you guessed it — books. And this year is no exception. But I always feel like I could do a little more, add a little flavor to my gifts, go for something a little more surprising. Which is exactly why I’ve complied the following list of Bookish gifts that aren’t books. Perfect for Christmas, Hanukah, or the Capricorn in your life, these gifts are guaranteed to make book-lovers swoon. Check out the list, and then let me know what you’re getting your friends and family for the holidays in the comments below. Happy shopping everyone!

This candle that smells like antique books will be perfect the library lovers out there

Or you can make your room smell like Nocturn Alley or Narnia Pine with these candles:

What’s a better way to unwind than with literary inspired teas?

Get your feminist bookish friend this awesome Jane Eyre shirt:

An ornament is always a good gift — I’m particularly fond of this Olivia one:

These Banned Book socks will keep your mind open and your feet warm:

Litographs prints entire books on t-shirts with awesome designs. I’m partial to this Nancy Drew one myself, but they have everything from classics like Pride and Prejudice, to modern YA titles like We Were Liars, Throne of Glass and Cinder:

Deck your halls with this fantastic Alice in Wonderland print:

Or with this literary map of the US is great for placing authors where they write:

Bookmarks are small, easy, and generally cheap. I’m a fan of this Enchantment of Ravens one:

Sip some tea and show off your bookish pride with this mug:

Or if you’re a coffee person, go for this punny Harry Potter mug instead:

Carry your library books around with this Hermione Granger inspired tote bag:

Or bring the library home with you with these library card pillows:

Or make your home the library (and never lose a book leant to a friend again!) with this handy personal library kit:

Bring some life to your shelves with these potted plant bookends:

Give the e-reader in your life this awesome e-reader cover (that comes in a ton of different styles!):

If you have a friend who needs a new book every month, there are TONS of great subscription boxes for you to send out. This handy site even gives out some coupons for some thrifty-gifting:

If you can’t stop re-reading The Mortal Instruments (like me), you definitely need these adorable Shadowhunter bookmarks:

Or spruce up your laptop or e-reader with these awesome rune decals:

A book light is the perfect gift for the friend who can’t stop reading after dark:

Or you can shed even more light on the situation with these book lamps:

Hide something in plain sight with this secret book box:

This set of Jane Austen inspired perfumes is sure to snag you your own Darcy:

Or spend your day smelling like books with this scented and shaped soap:

Jewlery-wise, you can’t go wrong with this sweet, subtle bracelet:

Or show off your favorite book cover with this adorable book-shaped pendant:

Or keep it sweet with this little sloth pin:

Keep warm all winter with this bookshelf scarf:

And of course, you go wrong with notebooks. And lucky for you, I have a whole list of cute notebooks to check out right here!

I love books. I love movies. I love TV shows. So of course, I love it when my favorite books are turned into movies and TV shows. Every part of the process is so exciting — seeing who’s cast, watching the behind-the-scenes action, getting to watch the movie, and then discussing what it got right and what it got wrong with my fellow bookish friends. Some of my favorite movies from the past years have been based on fantastic YA literature — the Harry Potter films and The Fault in Our Stars, for example — and I’m always most excited to see what new YA books are going to get picked up for film adaptions.

I always keep my eyes peeled for YA-into-film news, and there are some really exciting projects that are coming up! Here’s a list of my most anticipated upcoming (or just occurring) book-to-film adaptations. Let us know what you’re most excited to see in the comments below!

Drink Slay Love

In Sarah Beth Durst’s novel, sixteen-year-old vampire Pearl learns that a unicorn attack has made her immune to sunlight, allowing her to go out in the daytime. To take advantage of this, her family sends her to high school to Hunt. But Pearl’s starting to have a conscience too, and discovering that slaying her friends might not be too easy. This funny, sexy book was just made into a Lifetime Original Movie.

The Mortal Instruments

Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunters have not one, but two adaptations. A traditional adaptation of the first Mortal Instruments book, City of Bones, hit movie screens in 2013. A looser television adaptation, Shadowhunters, has been airing on Freeform since 2016, and just got picked up for a third season.

Nancy Drew — forthcoming TV show

It’s been a few years since the Emma Roberts helmed Nancy Drew movie, and I for one am ready for more Nancy Drew action! Luckily, NBC is producing a new TV series. This version revolves around the author of a popular teen detective series who winds up thrust into a real-life murder mystery. She turns to her two childhood best friends, who were the inspiration from her books — and aren’t pleased about the way they were portrayed in them. It’s definitely a big twist on classic Nancy, but I’m excited about it!

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before — in production

The first book in Jenny Han’s sweet trilogy follows hopeless romantic Lara Jean, who handwrites letters to every boy she’s ever loved and then sticks them away in a hatbox. Her love life goes from non-existent to spectacularly out of control when the letters somehow get mailed, and all the boys learn her feelings. The film adaptation of this series wrapped filming just a few weeks ago, with X-Men’s Laura Condor in the lead role, and we could not be more excited. For updates on the film, check out Jenny Han’s Twitter and Instagram! She’s the best at keeping us up-to-date!

Beast Is An Animal — in production

Amazon will be producing a TV series based on Peternelle van Arsdale’s gothic and poetic novel with Alien and Blade Runner director Ridley Scott’s production company. Alys was seven the first time she saw the soul eaters that live in the woods. They attacked Alys’ village, killing most of her family. Alys was spared and sent to live in a neighboring village, where the devout people taught her to fear the soul eaters, and the Beast who rules over them. But the Beast isn’t who the villagers think he is — and neither is Alys, who feels connected to the soul eaters and longs for the freedom of the forest. This novel is lush and eerie, and we can’t wait to see it come to life on TV.

Scythe —in production

Universal snagged the film rights for Scythe before the book even came out. Although not much is known about the production, we’re still excited for the potential for Shusterman’s eerie and brilliant novel about Citra and Rowan, two teens who live in a utopian future where death and sickness have been eradicated. Population is kept in check by Scythes, a group of specially selected people who are tasked with deciding who dies and when. When Citra and Rowan are selected to be Scythe apprentices, they’re thrown into a world of dangerous politics and high-pressure stakes. While you’re waiting for more movie news, be sure to grab the sequel, Thunderhead, which is hitting shelves in January!

The Diabolic —in production

Sony acquired the film rights to The Diabolic just around a year ago, and now that the sequel The Empress is out, we’re more excited than ever for this book to come to life on screen. SJ Kincaid’s sci-fi adventure follows Nemesis, a genetically engineered superhuman called a Diabolic who’s tasked with protecting one person — Sydonia, the daughter of a senator. When the power-mad emperor calls on Syndonia to act as a hostage at the galactic capital, Nemesis goes in her place, entering a world of high-stakes political maneuvering.

Confession time: I’m bad at Halloween. I never plan ahead and it always sneaks up on me. I’m the girl who wears jeans and a t-shirt to the Halloween party and then tries to make up a costume around it — oh, yeah, I’m totally Jessica Jones, haven’t you watched it yet?

If you’re like me, you’re probably a little concerned about the upcoming holiday. What are you going to wear? How are you going to stand out next to your friends and their super elaborate Justice League get up? Well, no worries friends, because I have a solution for you! Super-easy, super-cheap, super-last-minute bookish Halloween costumes. All of these involve things you either already own, or that you can make in an hour or less.

Because this is Riveted, where YA fiction is our addiction, I pulled my inspiration from YA literature. This is great because obviously, we all love YA, but also because these characters are mostly regular, every day teens. Easy! Check out my list for some inspiration, and let me know your go-to YA costumes in the comments! And if you wind up using one of these ideas, definitely post it, and definitely tag Riveted in it! We love to see you guys in costume. Happy Halloween!

Andie — The Unexpected Everything

The Unexpected Everything is one of my All-Time Favorite Books, and it’s super simple to put together a classic Andie look. If you’re trying to be more like the cover, white denim shorts and a patterned tank-top are the way to go. That said, you can probably get away with any shorts, any tanks, and a pair of sunglasses (if you’re in a place where it gets chilly on Halloween, throw a pair of tights on under your shorts!) The key to this look (to many of these looks, actually) is props! Grab a few stuffed dogs — you can fashion fake leashes out of rope or construction paper — to really get Andie in her dog-walking element. If you’re feeling crafty, make yourself a Representative Walker campaign sign or pin, or create a fake CB Mcallister book jacket to wrap around a book you own (plus, then you have an excuse to bring a book and sneak some reading in!)

Lara Jean — To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before

Lara Jean is also a person with Halloween anxiety, so I find her immensely relatable. She’s very chic and pastel — a cute sweater, a black circle skirt, knee-high socks, and some boots should do the trick. Bring some cookies to the party (real or fake!), or make your own “To All The Boys” letters — you can even pass them around the party if you’re feeling quirky. Bonus points if you get your own Peter K to come with!

Dimple — When Dimple Met Rishi

Dimple wears a lot of well-described, traditional Indian clothing, like kurtas, in the book. If you own that, fantastic! If you don’t own that, grab some jeans and a t-shirt. If you’re trying to match the cover, you can’t go wrong with a bright splash of orange. If you’re more trying to channel Dimple’s character, I’d go with something tech-y, or maybe a Stanford t-shirt. If you’re feeling fun, grab a plain t-shirt you’re not in love with and create your own InsomniaCon swag! Grab and iced coffee to complete the look (which, as Dimple proved, can double as a weapon against anyone trying to sneak some of your candy.)

Tash — Tash Hearts Tolstoy

Tash’s outfits aren’t described a lot in Tash Hearts Tolstoy, but this is a great chance to make your own Unhappy Families swag. You truly can’t go wrong with a little fabric paint or permanent markers and a plain t-shirt. I recommend aiming for an old-timey font for the title, and maybe a little drawing of something — maybe a Scrabble board in honor of Unhappy Families most famous scene? If you’re not feeling super crafty, print out a fake Anna Karenina jacket to wrap around a book you own (or bring Anna Karenina if you’re a Tolstoy nut like Tash), wear a bookish t-shirt, and sling a camera bag around your shoulder. Done!

Any of the Shadowhunters — The Mortal Instruments

The key to this costume? Black. Lots of black. Black jeans, black t-shirt, black leather jacket (if you have one). If you’ve got some body paint and a steady hand (or an artistic friend or parent) try drawing a couple runes on your arm to really get it down. Or if you’re like me and have no artistic talent, print some out from the internet and pin them to a long-sleeved undershirt. This is also a great go-to group costume if you have a few friends who are last-minute kids too.

Any Scythe — Scythe

Do you have a big, solid colored blanket? The type of blanket you could tie creatively enough for it to look like a cloak? Yes? Well congratulations, you just passed your Scythe training! Bonus points if you give yourself a cool Scythe name.

October is one of my favorite months of the year. There’s a chill in the air, and with Halloween around the corner everything feels a little mysterious and a little magical. That’s why I choose this month to deep-dive into all the mystery and thriller books on the TBR list — it’s the perfect time of the year to get wrapped up in something exciting.

One of my big anticipated October releases is Maggie Thrash’s Strange Lies, the second book in her Strange series. In fact, we’re so excited about this book we’re offering a free extended excerpt on Riveted — check it out!

Part of the reason I’m so ready for this title is that I loved Strange Truth, the first book in the series. In that book, teen detectives Benny Flax and Virginia Leeds try to solve a intriguing mystery — why did popular cheerleader and school mascot Brittany Montague suddenly flee Friday night’s football game and hurl herself off a bridge into the Chattahoochee River? What seems like a straightforward case quickly goes off the rails, and Benny and Virginia find themselves in a truly strange situation.

In honor of our extended excerpt of Strange Lies, I’ve rounded up a few reasons for you to read the first installment of this awesome, mysterious series. Check it out, and let me know what some of your favorite mysteries are in the comments!

1. Nothing is as it seems.

After Brittany’s death, Virginia and Benny assume they have a pretty standard case on their hands. But it turns out there’s a lot more than meets the eye, with the crime expanding and taking on new depths. Nobody in this story is who they seem to be — not the cheerleaders, not the jocks, and not even the victim.

2. Scathing satire

Satire is when an author uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to expose and criticize certain cultural customs. Strange Truth is filled with satire, and a lot of it is gut-bustlingly funny. There’s a ton of critique about rape culture in this book, and the way we dismiss women and girls who have gone through it. The cavalier attitude of so many of the characters towards sexual harassment is outrageous and outraging, and a totally accurate lampooning of our own behaviors as a society. Maggie Thrash also takes aim at the culture of the deep south, where she was born and raised, discussing Confederate flags, guns, and, of course, good old American Football.

3. Oddball mystery

With the new season of Riverdale just around the corner and the reboot of Twin Peaks just behind us, I’ve been in love with oddball, small town mysteries — places where people don’t act like they’re supposed to, where everyone goes with a peculiar flow, and where nothing seems to fit quite right. Strange Truth takes place in a similar world, where all of the characters are just a bit off. There’s a wacky German exchange student, a boy who carries a Confederate Rifle everywhere, a girl-obsessed water boy, and a jazz band! It’s pretty wacky, so if wacky and weird is your thing, you’ll definitely love it.

4. Benny and Virginia

Benny and Virginia are not popular kids in the world of Strange Truth — they’re the only two members of the detective society, Benny’s kind of a jerk, and Virginia is just a lot. But while their classmates might find them annoying, I found them delightful. Both are realistically self-centered and foolhardy enough to feel like actual high schoolers, but they’re also pretty brilliant at piecing together the clues. Plus, their antagonistic yet loving friendship is both hilarious and weirdly sweet.

5. Maggie Thrash’s Writing

I’ve been a fan of Maggie Thrash’s since her graphic memoir Honor Girl. Her first foray into fiction has a lot of the same humor, honesty, and sweetness that Honor Girl has — plus murder, mayhem, and cheerleaders. What more could you want?

As a child I owned approximately 900 different notebooks. Every single time my mother took me to the bookstore, she’d try to talk me out of buying a new notebook — I had so many at home at I hadn’t filled (I was a terrible diarist), and I mostly wrote on the family computer in poorly labeled Word documents — but she rarely succeeded. The book collection at my childhood home is still filled with half-started diaries and rough drafts of the first quarter of novels and really terrible song lyrics.

I have gotten slightly better as an adult, reigning in my unbridled desire to always own the newest and shiniest and fanciest notebook. But every time I’m in a bookstore I’m still tempted by those little alluring books, just begging to be filled with my extremely bad handwriting. For those of you who, like me, can’t resist a good notebook — or those of you who are in the market for a new one because you’ve filled your old one up — I’ve rounded up some of my absolute favorites from the web. Check them out, and let me know your favorite ones in the comments below!

1. This lovely constellation cover for those who love to stargaze

2. Or this more detailed star chart for someone who always knows when Mercury is in retrograde

3. This travel notebook for someone with wanderlust (or someone who just loves Lord of the Rings)

4. A floppy-disk notebook for all the real 90s kids out there

5. Or a Game Boy notebook for those of you who were more into handheld than PC

6. This sweet treat for fans of The Grand Budapest Hotel

7. If you prefer your movies darker, how about a Handbook for the Recently Deceased for all you Bettlejuice lovers out there?

8. Any of these notebooks made from vintage books (my personal favorite is Nancy Drew!)

9. Or a Wonka Bar for someone with a sweet tooth?

10. This retro Wonder Woman notebook is perfect for those of you waiting anxiously for the DVD

11. You can take notes for your NEWTS in either of these Harry Potter House sets

12. Or you can manage some mischief with this Marauder’s Map

13. This Cthulhu notebook offers advice in the margins (although maybe you should be careful listening to an Eldritch Abomination)

14. Keep your alchemist notes in this vintage science experiment notebook

15. Unleash your inner wild thing with this animal notebook

16. This gem notebook will shine bright on your shelf

17. And you can put all your best craft ideas in this embroidery inspired rose book

18. Here’s a bubble-tea notebook for all you boba addicts

19. Unleash your inner-child in this Winnie-the-Pooh inspired book . . .

20. Or this sweet Snoopy one!

21. Let your colors shine through with this bright pop-art notebook

22. For those of you who like to keep it classy, there’s this marble-bound beauty

23. This succulent wood journal is great for the nature lovers

24. And so is this lovely floral one

25. Finally, grab these two to inspire yourself to finish up that To Do list you’ve been meaning to get to!

I’m a sucker for a good fantasy book any day of the week. But a fantasy book that introduces a new world, with different rules, unlike anything I’ve ever heard of before? Count me in! That’s why I was so interested when I heard the premise of An Enchantment of Ravens, Margaret Rogerson’s debut novel.

The story revolves around Isobel, a prodigy portrait artist whose clients are fair folk — immortal creatures who cannot perform any Craft of their own, such as baking, painting, weaving, or writing, without crumbling to dust. For that reason, the fair folk crave Craft objects with a near desperation — and Isobel is the best at what she does, so they come to her for their paintings. But everything changes when she meets her first royal fair folk patron, the Autumn Prince, Rook. She sees something in him — mortal sorrow — and paints it on the canvas, embarrassing him and threatening his throne. A furious Rook decides she must come to the Autumnlands to stand trial, but they’re quickly waylaid by trouble. There’s something dangerous brewing in the world of the fair folk, and no one is safe.

A book about fairies, featuring painting, politics, and romance? I was so excited to pick this one up, and I’m so glad I did! An Enchantment of Ravens was a ride from start to finish. Here are seven reasons to try it for yourself. Check out the list, and then check out our extended excerpt here on Riveted!

1. ISOBEL

Isobel is a smart, capable main character. She knows the tricks of the fair folk and refuses to fall for them — but she has her flaws, and her stubbornness can definitely get in her way. She narrates the book, and her voice totally makes it. She’s funny, she’s clear-eyed, she’s brilliant. Isobel is such a fun character. I wish it was possible for us to be friends.

2. ROOK

Rook is the Autumn King, an ancient fair folk lord who rules over the Autumn lands. He is also a touch broody, ridiculously handsome, and oftentimes just ridiculous. At the end of the day, he’s a complicated and deep character — which makes his job (ruler of fair folk who believe feelings are a weakness) a lot harder. I really loved Rook from basically the moment I met him, and that only deepened as I learned more about his life.

3. THE ROMANCE

These two! This romance has everything — awkwardness from a misunderstanding of human customs and fair folk ones; two head-strong characters who refuse to bend to the other’s will; the underlying knowledge that them being together is largely impossible. It’s a great, sweet love story.

4. THE BANTER

Have I mentioned how funny this book is yet? There is so much banter. Rook is incapable of lying, which makes for lots of unfortunately-harsh-but-fortunately-hilarious moments. He’s also incapable of being purposefully rude — if someone bows to him he has to bow back — and Isobel uses this to her advantage. This book has a great atmosphere that gets dark and creepy, but Rogerson knows how to break it up with levity and joy.

5. THE WORLD

Isobel lives in Whimsy, where humans practice craft and spring is eternal. The Fae live in different worlds based on the season — most of the book takes place in the Autumnlands and the Spring Court, but we get glimpses of the Winterlands and the Summerlands as well. The Fae are the perfect mix of beautiful and terrifying, and the world they inhabit is equal parts lush and creepy. It’s a world I got lost in while reading, and unlike anything I’ve read about before.

 6. YE OLDE ROAD TRIPPE NOVEL

The Road Trip Novel is probably my favorite YA trope. It’s got everything to make a perfect romance story pop — closed quarters, ample opportunities for both excitement and conflict, and a destination or time limit the characters are forced to work within. Enchantment of Ravens is a fantasy that takes place in a medieval-inspired world, so there’s no cars, obviously, but this still hits all the same sweet spots of a great road trip novel. Think of this as The Princess Bride meets a Sarah J. Maas book — just excellent.

 7. THAT COVER!

I’m a firm believer in judging books by covers, and this one is decidedly swoonworthy! It really was a deciding factor in me picking this book up, and I am so glad I did!

Every year I like to give myself a reading challenge in an effort to expand the type of books I read (and my list of favorite authors.) This year, I decided to really try to read more diverse books — books by authors of different backgrounds starring characters who lives were different from mine. A big thing I wanted to do was read more narratives about mental illness. Lately there’s been a huge push for more, and better, depictions of mental health in movies, television, and books. I wanted to read some of these emerging narratives for myself!

That’s why I super excited to hear about Obsessed, a new memoir from Allison Britz. It’s the true story of her struggles with OCD, the symptoms of which emerged for her in high school. It’s a sensitive, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story, and I loved every moment of it. I know you’ll love it to, which is why I put together a list of five reasons you should read Obsessed. Check out the book and then let me know what you thought of it in the comments below!

1. It’s a memoir about mental illness

Mental illness is a big, important, misunderstood topic. A lot of teens go through struggles with mental illness every day, and can feel isolated and alone because the lack of material out there that’s sympathetic, empathetic, and understanding of what they’re going through. But Allison Britz really went through everything she describes in Obsessed. Her personal struggles with OCD at fifteen portray an important, real-world narrative of how hard it can be to struggle with mental illness — as well as how you can find hope and get to a better place with the help of others.

2. It’s nonfiction YA

I have said this before, and will say it again — YA nonfiction is one of my favorite genres. True stories about real teens and their struggles are relatable, interesting, and generally pretty awesome.

3. It reads like a novel

Of course, Obsessed is a very specific type of nonfiction — a memoir. It’s all written in first-person present tense, so it reads a lot like a novel even though every portrayed really happened. That means that it’s super exciting and interesting while also being totally, 100% true. What a combo!

4. It’s intense and visceral

The writing in this book is just fantastic. It really puts you directly into Allison’s shoes, and makes you feel like you’re right there with her. Check out this passage:

“With a deep breath, I clumsily practice the steps we’ve been working on for weeks now. I look down, taking my eyes away from the mirror ahead, and see my foot plant itself across a crack in the surface of the stage. Pausing mid-movement, I look closer. There’s another crack. And another crack. And an explosion. CRACKS, CRACKS, CRACKS, CRACKS, crackscrackscrackscracks. Cracks cause brain cancer. Cracks cause brain cancer.

My head bursts with a searing pain above my ear and I fall forward, resting against my knees, trying frantically to adjust the position of my toes so they’re off the cancer cracks. I feel my hand slap hard against my ear, right on top of the site of the new tumor that’s sprouting in my brain. No, no, no. Please no.”

It totally hooked me from the start, and it’ll hook you too!

5. It’s super inspiring

Allison Britz struggles a lot in this novel with going through OCD. But these are experiences from when she was a teenager — now she’s a grown adult with a job and a steady life. The novel charts her deterioration but it also covers her hopeful recovery. And while it’s not an easy process, it is a doable process, offering hope to anyone else who feels like they’ll never get out of the situation, circumstances, or troubles they’re in.

Everyone here at Riveted is super excited for Michael Vey 7: The Final Spark, the final book in the Michael Vey series.  I both love it and hate it when a good series ends — on the one hand it’s so great to see how it all plays out, but on the other I feel a void in my life where excitement for the next book used to be.

But then it occurred to me that there may be those of you out there who’ve yet to dive into the Michael Vey books, and I got excited all over again! For those of you who haven’t had a chance yet, here are seven reasons to read the Michael Vey series. Check out the list, and then check out the series — we have the first book up as a free read this week!

1. It has an awesome supernatural premise

In the first Michael Vey book, Michael — an absolutely average fourteen-year-old — discovers that he has special electric powers. At first Michael is excited to have something unique about him. But then he discovers he’s not alone — a cheerleader named Taylor also has new mysterious powers. Taylor and Michael team up, joined by Michael’s friend Ostin, to discover why this happened — and accidentally attract the attention of a powerful group that wants to control their powers in order to control the world. This series is filled with mystery, conspiracy, and tons of twists and turns!

2. It’s a full-fledged, seven book series

I know duologies and trilogies are all the rage these days, and don’t get me wrong — I love them. But I also love longer-form series. I haven’t read a seven-book series since Harry Potter wrapped up! Michael Vey is perfect for those of you who, like me, like their stories long and twisty.

3. It has a main character with Tourette Syndrome

Before I read Michael Vey, I knew next to nothing about Tourette Syndrome. But Tourette Syndrome can manifest in lots of way, through ticks and facial movements, or through vocalization. Michael’s representation of the syndrome is super accurate because the series is written by Richard Paul Evans, who also has Tourette Syndrome. It’s great to have a main character that represents the syndrome so well, and gives audiences an opportunity to learn more about it.

4. It has a great core friendship

Michael and his friends — dubbed the Electroclan — are an awesome friend group. The Electroclan is made up of people from all different backgrounds. Michael and Ostin are more outcasts than popular, Taylor is a cheerleader, and as the series go on they gain more friends — all of whom are super well-developed characters. I want to be part of the Electroclan too!

5. It has an awesome villain

I love a book with a great villain. Dr. Hatch and the Elgen are super, super creepy. They’re definitely terrifying and compelling enough to get you through the books. Plus, the mystery of what they want and what they plan to do is really compelling!

6. It’s in the same vein as other great YA series, like Maximum Ride and Artemis Fowl

As a fantasy and sci-fi lover, I’m a big fan of series that feature characters with inexplicably cool powers fighting against massive conspiracies, government agencies, or other evil forces. Michael Vey reminds me a lot of two of my favorite series — Maximum Ride and Artemis Fowl, both of which deal with similar premises. If you’re a fan of either of those books and looking for your next fix, definitely give Michael Vey a shot!

7. It’s a book from a great literary family

Richard Paul Evans is a prolific writer, having written seventeen consecutive New York Times bestsellers — so you know he knows his stuff. He’s also the father of Jenna Evans Welch, author of Love & Gelato — another one of my favorite books! With credentials like that, you know you’re going to be in for a good series.

So far I am loving Riveted’s Summer of Supernatural! We’re spending these two weeks celebrating everything mystical, mysterious, or unexplainable with some great free reads and extended excerpts (check them out here!)

One of my favorite things about the different supernatural worlds that these books inhabit is that they all work on their own set of rules. Magic in books comes in all sorts of forms — the magic of Harry Potter is way different from the magic of, say, the Shadowhunters books, or The Last Magician. But there are some common rules in these books that are usually abided by or broken gleefully. In honor of one of my favorite supernatural genres, the magic and fantasy book, I’ve decided to take a closer look at some of the most famous rules of magic, and the books that use or refuse them. Check it out, and let me know what your favorite magical and supernatural books are in the comments below!

WANDS OR NO WANDS?

The classic image of magicians is a staple of pop culture — tuxedo, top hat, cape, white rabbit, and a wand. The magic wand actually traces back to old mystical and religious uses, dating as far back as Ancient Egypt. And in tons of high-fantasy worlds, wands are the weapons and tools of the magicians and mages. Books like Harry Potter use classic, handheld wands as tools for dueling and casting spells. But tons of other media stray towards staffs, which are basically just walking-stick sized wands — think Gandalf in Lord of the Rings.

MAGICAL SYMBOLS AND ARTIFACTS

If wands aren’t your magic universes thing, then maybe yours uses some other way to project and wield power — like magical artifacts, or symbols. The Potion Diaries has the Talenteds, who are able to choose their own magic items and pick basically whatever — one character, for instance, has a magical pair of gloves. In The Last Magician, Esta’s able to strengthen her time-hopping power using mystical artifacts like Ishtar’s Key to strengthen her power. And the entire plot revolves around a magic book that’s supposed to unlock the secrets of the Brink. The Shadowhunters on the other hand channel magic through runes drawn on their body that grant them special supernatural abilities and powers beyond those of the Mundanes.

FANTASTIC BEASTS

Some magical worlds are filled with fantastic creatures. For example, in Fate of Flames the world is terrorized by Phantoms, nightmare creatures that can only be defeated by the elemental power wielding Effigies. In the Shadowhunter books all the stories are true — meaning that werewolves, vampires, and faeries all exist — and they’re not all friendly, as Emma Carstairs finds out in Lady Midnight. One of this fall’s most anticipated reads, Enchantment of Ravens (available 9/26!) takes place in a world where there are immortal fair folk who rule the land — and who are basically unfeeling and incapable of creating any sort of craft. And of course, you can’t talk Fantastic Beasts without thinking of Newt Scamander and the Harry Potter universe.

 Magic: Law of the Land or Illegal to Wield?

Sometimes the magic folk rule themselves, or inhabit worlds where most or all of the people are magical. Other times, those who wield magic are few and far between, and their powers are feared and persecuted. And sometimes the world falls somewhere in the middle. In The Last Magician for instance, the sinister Order has created the Brink to prevent all magic people from leaving New York City, forcing them to live in the shadows. In the City of Bones magical creatures exist alongside largely oblivious Mundanes, similar to how the Muggles remain largely unaware of the Wizarding World in Harry Potter. And in The Potion Diaries series, the Talenteds and Ordinaries live in harmony each other, aware of each other’s existence and (mostly) at peace.

Magic As An Addictive Substance

In some worlds, magic is dangerous because of its power — a power so all-consuming people can actually become addictive to it. People can become consumed by the magic they wield, and it can have destructive effects on them. In Shimmer and Burn (currently a free read on Riveted!) Faris is tasked with smuggling stolen magic across a war-torn country willed with magic addicts who can sense it, crave it, and steal it easily. Similarly, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Willow is consumed by magic in the sixth season after a tragedy, turning into a bloodthirsty and ruthless killing machine.