Enter for a chance to win an ARC of Past Present Future and a paperback copy of Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon!

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The Waxways series is an AMAZING immersive dark fantasy series that kicks off with book one, A Door in the Dark, and book two, A Whisper in the Walls, is out this month!! If you’ve already read A Door in the Dark and don’t have time for a full reread before A Whisper in the Walls is here (or if you just need a quick refresher on where we left Ren at the end of book one, we’ve got you covered with this recap from author Scott Reintgen himself with this summary of A Door in the Dark!

WARNING! Spoilers ahead for A Door in the Dark!

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Key Terms for Book One:

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Balmerick – The most prestigious university in Kathor. Ren attends on a scholarship.

Bond Magic – A rare magic that’s established when two people choose to bond together magically—usually reserved for marriage or kin relationships

Breath – A hallucinogenic drug that’s harvested from the corpses of dragons

Delvea – The main continent featured in the book

Devorium – A magical artifact that steals ‘time’ from dying people and stores it in a single vessel that can be activated. These items are illegal

Dires – The only unsettled territory in all of Delvea and home to some of the most dangerous predators remaining in the world. Once the home of the last dragons.

Enhancer – A rare type of wizard whose main ability is strengthening other people’s magic

The Five Great Houses – Brood, Graylantian, Proctor, Shiverian, Winters. These are the five main families that discovered the magical veins beneath Kathor and founded the first city

The Heights – A floating section of the city that was created by the great houses. It is home to Balmerick University, as well as some of the wealthiest citizens in the world.

Kathor – The largest city on the eastern seaboard and the capital of Delvea

The Lower Quarter – The district in Kathor where Ren grew up. Home to many of the poorest citizens in the city.

Ockleys – The average amount of magic required to cast a simple spell. Wizards are given a certain number of ockleys per month depending on what tax bracket they’re in

Revenant – A magical entity that occupies a recently dead body for the purpose of revenge

Seventeen-String – An instrument that’s commonly played by three musicians simultaneously

Tusk – The other people group that occupy the western half of the continent

Vessel – An item that a wizard uses for storing their spell arsenals. Most wizards use wands for vessels, but other items—like jewelry, staves, or orbs—can also be used.

Waxways – The primary method of travel. Wizards can burn specific candles that allow them to travel to other places—as long as they have an established visual or memory of that place.

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Recap of A Door in the Dark:

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Ren Monroe is entering the final year of her studies at Balmerick University. Even though she’s ranked fifth in her class, she has no offers from the great houses. This is unacceptable, as her larger goal—to take revenge on House Brood for her father’s death—will require access to more power and resources. Desperate to work on her social connections, she agrees to go to a big party with her best friend—Timmons Devine. It doesn’t take long for the night to go awry as Ren realizes the host of the party is Theo Brood—the son of the man she hates most in the world. The night ends when a drunken Theo performs a disastrous party trick—dropping a large stringed instrument off the balcony, crashing down on a poorer city district below.

When the morning papers leave his name out of the story, Ren’s frustration with her fate—and the general inequality of the city—reach their peak. She heads for the portal room to return home with Timmons for winter break. The room functions as a group teleportation spell and only a small group of students—mostly the ones on scholarship—tend to use it. Ren and Timmons are regularly joined by Cora Marrin (a medical student) and Avy Williams (a combat specialist). But two other students join them this time: Clyde Winters and Theo Brood.

Both are direct heirs of the great houses. Entitled, spoiled, and exactly who Ren needs to impress to make her way forward in her revenge. Before she can decide what to say, a fight breaks out between Avy and Theo over what happened at the party the night before. Clyde steps in, hitting Avy with several spells, just as the teleportation room activates.

Instead of being ported home, all six wizards land in the wilderness. When they arrive, Clyde is dead. They do their best to get their bearings, only to realize they’re on the wrong side of a mountain chain. Stranded in the infamous Dires with little magic and even less food. The group backtracks and find that Clyde’s corpse has been taken. Worried the animal might start hunting them, the group begins a grueling trek through the night.

The group must ration their spells, relying mostly on Theo, who has the most magic stored in his vessels by far, as his family is the wealthiest. Ren’s clever spellwork is on display and helps them cross a river. However, right as they’re about to arrive at the opposite shoreline, the entity that’s been trailing them appears. It’s Clyde. Not eaten, as they assumed, but resurrected as a revenant.

In the first encounter, Avy tries to physically challenge Clyde, who paralyzes him with some kind of dark spell. Avy is killed and the rest of the group escapes. Cora reveals that revenants exist when there is unrest in a soul. They return seeking revenge—and can actually come back to life they consume everyone who witnessed their death. Knowing Clyde will keep hunting them, the group pushes on toward the mountain pass that’s their best path back to Kathor.

The journey pushes them all to their physical limits, but it also gives Ren an informal interview with Theo Brood. She impresses him so often that he starts relying on her for all the spellwork they’re doing. The group also begins experiencing nightmares. Ren figures out they’re being forced on the group by their hunter—Clyde. Each of them is having to relive their own worst memories over and over each night. For Ren, that’s the day her father died.

Their first true obstacle is a nest of kobolds. They negotiate with the creatures, who allow them through, but unintentionally lead them straight to a wyvern’s nest. Theo surprises the group by removing his shirt and performing a ceremonial dance. It puts the wyvern to sleep and they nearly make it around the creature when it wakes up. Theo suffers critical wounds and the group escapes to a nearby cave. Cora Marrin performs minor surgery to save Theo. In the cave, Ren and Theo’s feelings continue to develop—which is particularly difficult for Ren because of her hatred for his father.

Eventually, the group continues on, not knowing how much progress Clyde has made while they’ve been holed up. The path turns into a climb and as they scale the side of the mountain, Clyde attacks. He uses a chain spell that traps the target inside of a dark memory, which also renders their physical forms useless. During the fight, Theo lands a crucial spell that knocks Clyde off the cliff—but as he falls, he grabs Timmons by the hair, dragging her to her death.

The three survivors press on. In her grief, Ren seeks distraction in Theo and makes out with him for the first time. They make a plan to stop running and face Clyde on their own terms. It very nearly works, as they briefly trap the revenant, who escapes at the last minute. This gives the group a small head start as they finally reach the pass that leads to the other side of the continent.

There, they stumble upon people for the first time. A farm. The group agrees to go ask for a meal, but not to stay long, as they don’t want Clyde to hurt any innocent bystanders. Della and Holt—the owners—invite them in, but during dinner, Ren starts to feel sick. She realizes too late that they’ve been drugged. Ren, Theo, and Cora wake up bound in a dark shed. The farm is a front for breath harvesters—people who use the corpses of buried dragons to create Kathor’s most popular and addictive drug. Ren faces torture as Della suspects them of being city spies—and they only escape when Cora activates a devorium. An illegal artifact that rewinds time.

The three of them return to the moment just before dinner and make their escape. Chased by Della and her fieldhands, they run right into Clyde. Caught between both, they take a side-hatch that leads straight into the dragon’s burial chamber. Even dead, the creature attempts to manipulate Ren, promising to deliver Theo and his family to her. They resist and make it through the chamber only to be ambushed again. In a split-second moment, Ren saves Theo—and Cora Marrin is killed by a crossbow. She and Theo escape into the woods.

They push on for hours, hoping to get close enough to Kathor to use the only waxway candle they have on them. Ren is out of magic, though, and any dueling from this point on would just be Theo against their pursuers. Theo surprises Ren again and asks to bond with her. A rare magic that’s normally reserved for marriage. He knows it would give her access to his magic, though, and he clearly likes her a lot. Ren agrees, but with the secret understanding that this might be exactly what she needed to get inside House Brood.

The two make a final stand on a bridge as their waxway candle burns. Two of Della’s fieldhands arrive, but it becomes clear they’re not attacking on their own. Clyde is there, mind-controlling them as a distraction. But Ren has a plan. They purposefully allow Clyde to draw them into their darkest memories. Ren noticed a key difference between her nightmares and Theo’s. For some reason, when she dreamed, Clyde was present. Forcing her to watch the terrible memory. But in Theo’s worst moment—the failed party trick—there was no sign of the revenant.

And Ren figured out why. This time, she experiences her worst memory with Theo there as a witness. He watches her father die and is surprised to see his own father in the memory. The two of them travel together into Theo’s darkest memory, and Ren’s guess is there. The revenant version of Clyde isn’t in the dream because the real Clyde already exists there. He attended the party. And this version of Clyde is vulnerable. Ren and Theo attack him there, which reverses his own spell—paralyzing the current Clyde—and allowing them to destroy him, once and for all.

The victory is short-lived, as Theo suffers a knife wound from one of the other fighters. Pushed by her bond and her own growing feelings, Ren uses magic to save Theo—and then teleports to Balmerick. Just in time to get Theo the treatment he needs to survive. Ren gets her first face to face with Landwin and it’s clear he doesn’t remember her. The ruler of House Brood attempts to dismiss her, but Ren mentions that she and Theo are bonded and have every intention of remaining together.

Once the immediate impact of her ordeal has worn off, Ren attends the funerals of Clyde and her friends, and mentally promises to destroy Landwin and all of the other great houses. She returns with Theo to the city district that was affected that was destroyed by his failed party trick, and encourages him to make amends by helping those who were impacted by the accident. He agrees, showing that there’s hope for him yet, and Ren leaves him to visit campus.

She arrives at the spot where it all began, and reveals that SHE is the reason that they were all transported into the wilderness. Ren had intended for only herself, Theo, and Clyde to be transported, but her spellwork had accidentally pulled in Timmons, Avy, and Cora too, and had gotten them all lost. Ren leaves campus with one final goodbye to her fallen friends, and the story ends with Ren mentally promising to destroy Landwin and all of the other great houses.

 

All caught up? Start reading A Whisper in the Walls for free!

We have an AMAZING group of must-read books coming out this April! With everything from a highly-anticipated novella to a gorgeous contemporary novel in verse, there’s something for everyone on this list. Which of these books are you most looking forward to reading?

Did someone say new Free Reads? Yes, that’s right, we did! And we are so excited for April’s Free Reads. This month’s theme for Free Reads is in celebration of National Poetry Month! Plus, check out all of April’s new releases with extended excerpts.

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Free Reads are only available to Simon Teen members! Not a Simon Teen member yet? It’s free and easy to sign up! Click here to set up your account now. 

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Full Reads

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1. Your Heart, my sky by Margarita Engle

Acclaimed author Margarita Engle tells a “deeply felt and engrossing” (Horn Book Magazine) story of love in a time of hunger inspired by her own family’s struggles during a dark period in Cuba’s history.

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Start reading now!

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2. Lawless Spaces by Corey Ann Haydu

Perfect for fans of Deb Caletti, this “powerful, absorbing, and beautiful” (Booklist) coming-of-age novel in verse follows a teen girl who connects with the women of her maternal line through their journals and comes to better understand her fraught relationship with her mother.

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Start reading now!

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3. Spin by Rebecca Caprara

The Song of Achilles and Circe get a sapphic, young adult twist in this “exciting, richly textured, thought-provoking” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) retelling of the myth of Arachne spun in moving verse.

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Start reading now!

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4. Crank by Ellen Hopkins

The #1 New York Times bestselling tale of addiction—the first in the Crank trilogy—from master poet Ellen Hopkins.

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Start reading now!

5. After the Kiss by Terra Elan McVoy

This moment changes everything. 

Camille and Becca have never met, but their lives will unravel and intertwine in surprising ways as they deal with what happens after the kiss.

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Start reading now!

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Extended Excerpts

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1. Otherworldly by F.T. Lukens

A skeptic and a supernatural being make a crossroads deal to achieve their own ends only to get more than they bargained for in this lively young adult romantic adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of Spell Bound and So This Is Ever After.

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Start reading now! 

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2. King of Dead Things by Nevin Holness

For fans of Legendborn, Neil Gaiman, and Leigh Bardugo, this urban young adult fantasy steeped in Afro-Carribbean folklore follows two Black teens searching for a powerful artifact in the hidden magical side of London.

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Start reading now! 

3. Powerful by Lauren Roberts

Set during the time of the New York Times bestseller Powerless, fan favorite Adena gets a story all her own in this captivating novella as she attempts to survive on the streets of Loot…and falls for a mysterious—and dangerous—Elite.

Start reading now! 

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4. Finally Fitz by Marisa Kanter

A bisexual teen girl tries to make her ex jealous by faking an Instagram romance that leads to surprisingly real feelings in this hijinks-filled rom-com perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and She Gets the Girl.

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Start reading now! 

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5. A Whisper in the walls by Scott Reintgen

In this sequel to the New York Times bestselling, “pulse-pounding” (Publishers Weekly) A Door in the Dark, Ren’s intellect and cunning are stretched to the limit in her quest to take down the system that stole her father’s life.

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Start reading now! 

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6.Wild Dreamers by Margarita Engle

In this stirring young adult romance from award-winning author Margarita Engle, love and conservation intertwine as two teens fight to protect wildlife and heal from their troubled pasts.

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Start reading now! 

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7. Where Was Goodbye? by Janice Lynn Mather

After her private school is rocked by a gruesome murder, a teen tries to find the real killer and clear her brother’s name in this psychological thriller perfect for fans of The Taking of Jake Livingston and Ace of Spades.

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Start reading now! 

8. Powerless by Lauren Roberts

Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, this young adult fantasy follows the forbidden romance between a powerful prince and an ordinary girl as they try to survive their kingdom’s grueling laws pitting them against each other.

Start reading now! 

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9.These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Start reading now! 

10. Lady of Rapture by Sarah Raughley

Start reading now! 

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Extras

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1. The Eid Gift by S.K. Ali

The Eid Gift is a companion short story to Love from A to Z. Adam and Zayneb —engaged but continents apart for so long— are finally in the same city!

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Start reading now!

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2. Love at First Fight by Sandhya Menon

Join Dimple and Rishi as they do an escape room in this exclusive short story from Sandhya Menon! You’ll also see how Pinky and Samir met for the first time before you can read about them in 10 Things I Hate About Pinky.

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Start reading now!

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3. As Kismet Would Have It by Sandhya Menon

Will Dimple and Rishi find their happily ever after? Find out in this funny, romantic, endlessly charming e-novella sequel to When Dimple Met Rishi!

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Start reading now!

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4. The Thief by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell

A short story prequel to Sky Without Stars about the origins of fan-favorite character, Chatine!

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Start reading now!

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5. These Precious Scars by Emily Suvada

A haunting short story prequel to the Mortal Coil series.

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Start reading now!

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6. Better Than the Prom by Lynn Painter

A swoonworthy short story from Wes’s perspective from Better Than the Movies.

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Start reading now!

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7. Uncharted Dreams by Pascale Lacelle

Romie Brysden is a Dreamer, the best at the prestigious Aldryn College for Lunar Magics. She knows the realm of dreams like a sea captain knows the tides. And she’s gone deeper into this vast sleepscape than any Dreamer ever has. This is a prequest short story to A Curious Tides.

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Start reading now!

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8. The Priest and the Shepherd by Chloe Gong

Set six years before the events of Foul Lady Fortune, The Priest and the Shepherd follows Orion’s sister, Phoebe, and his best friend, Silas!

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Start reading now!

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Did someone say new Free Reads? Yes, that’s right, we did! And we are so excited for March’s Free Reads. This month’s Free Reads are dark fantasies. Plus, check out all of March’s new releases with extended excerpts.

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Free Reads are only available to Simon Teen members! Not a Simon Teen member yet? It’s free and easy to sign up! Click here to set up your account now. 

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Full Reads

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1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still. Discover the “compulsively readable” (Booklist) first book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy, prequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series! Clockwork Angel is a Shadowhunters novel.

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Start reading now!

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2. The Ones We Burn by Rebecca Mix

Love and duty collide in this richly imagined young adult debut about a witch whose dark powers put her at the center of a brewing war between the only family she’s ever known and the enemy who makes her question everything. Featuring a brand-new short story and character art!

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Start reading now!

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3. Vespertine by margaret Rogerson

From the New York Times bestselling author of Sorcery of Thorns and An Enchantment of Ravens comes a thrilling, “dark coming-of-age adventure” (Culturess) about a teen girl with mythic abilities who must defend her world against restless spirits of the dead.

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Start reading now!

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4. Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw

From New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep comes a haunting romance perfect for fans of Practical Magic, where dark fairy tales and enchanted folklore collide after a boy, believed to be missing, emerges from the magical woods—and falls in love with the witch determined to unravel his secrets.

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Start reading now!

 

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Extended Excerpts

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1. The Revenant Games by Margie Fuston

All of Us Villains meets Kingdom of the Wicked in this action-packed fantasy following a teen determined to win the competition held by warring vampire and witch kingdoms, only to develop complicated feelings for the vampire she’s supposed to hand over.

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Start reading now! 

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2. the Lady of Rapture by Sarah Raughley

Penny Dreadful meets The Gilded Wolves in this breathtaking finale to young adult historical fantasy Bones of Ruin trilogy!

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Start reading now! 

3. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Start reading now! 

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4. The No-Girlfriend Rule by Christen Randall

Julie Murphy meets Casey McQuiston in this unforgettable queer romance about a teen girl whose foray into fantasy tabletop roleplaying brings her new confidence, true friends, and a shot at real, swoon-worthy love.

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Start reading now! 

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5. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny han

Lara Jean’s love life gets complicated in this New York Times bestselling “lovely, lighthearted romance” (School Library Journal) from the bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series.

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Start reading now! 

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6.Where the dark stands still by A.B. Poranek

A girl with dangerous magic makes a risky bargain with a demon to be free of her monstrous power in this young adult fantasy perfect for fans of An Enchantment of Ravens and House of Salt and Sorrows.

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Start reading now! 

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7. Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury

After her private school is rocked by a gruesome murder, a teen tries to find the real killer and clear her brother’s name in this psychological thriller perfect for fans of The Taking of Jake Livingston and Ace of Spades.

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Start reading now! 

8. Powerless by Lauren Roberts

Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, this young adult fantasy follows the forbidden romance between a powerful prince and an ordinary girl as they try to survive their kingdom’s grueling laws pitting them against each other.

Start reading now! 

–

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Extras

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1. The Eid Gift by S.K. Ali

The Eid Gift is a companion short story to Love from A to Z. Adam and Zayneb —engaged but continents apart for so long— are finally in the same city!

–

Start reading now!

–

2. Love at First Fight by Sandhya Menon

Join Dimple and Rishi as they do an escape room in this exclusive short story from Sandhya Menon! You’ll also see how Pinky and Samir met for the first time before you can read about them in 10 Things I Hate About Pinky.

–

Start reading now!

–

3. As Kismet Would Have It by Sandhya Menon

Will Dimple and Rishi find their happily ever after? Find out in this funny, romantic, endlessly charming e-novella sequel to When Dimple Met Rishi!

–

Start reading now!

–

4. The Thief by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell

A short story prequel to Sky Without Stars about the origins of fan-favorite character, Chatine!

–

Start reading now!

–

5. These Precious Scars by Emily Suvada

A haunting short story prequel to the Mortal Coil series.

–

Start reading now!

–

6. Better Than the Prom by Lynn Painter

A swoonworthy short story from Wes’s perspective from Better Than the Movies.

–

Start reading now!

–

7. Uncharted Dreams by Pascale Lacelle

Romie Brysden is a Dreamer, the best at the prestigious Aldryn College for Lunar Magics. She knows the realm of dreams like a sea captain knows the tides. And she’s gone deeper into this vast sleepscape than any Dreamer ever has. This is a prequest short story to A Curious Tides.

–

Start reading now!

–

8. The Priest and the Shepherd by Chloe Gong

Set six years before the events of Foul Lady Fortune, The Priest and the Shepherd follows Orion’s sister, Phoebe, and his best friend, Silas!

–

Start reading now!

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Spring is approaching, and with it comes amazing new releases! We have three must-read new books hitting shelves this March, including a gorgeous special edition of a fan favorite, a feel-good queer romance, and a thrilling vampires vs. witches fantasy read! How many of these books have made it onto your TBR?

We’re looking forward to a TON of amazing books that are coming out in 2024! There are so many more that we could add to this list, but we had to ask everyone to pick just one read to recommend. Check out this list of all the upcoming books we can’t for you to read this year, and be sure to add them all to your TBR.

Simon Teen Reveals Week is here!

What, you ask, is Simon Teen Reveals Week? It’s that special time of year when we show you all the shiny new covers for books coming out in just a few seasons. From February 5 – 9, we’re showing you all the new covers for our Fall 2024 young adult books. So get your Goodreads shelf ready because you’re going to want to add all of these books to your TBR!

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2/5: Cover Reveals Day 1

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With Love, Echo Park by Laura Taylor Namey

From the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, this novel follows two Cuban teens in LA’s Echo Park neighborhood who clash over their visions for the future, the secrets between their families…and the sparks flying between them.

Seventeen-year-old Clary is set to inherit her family’s florist shop, La Rosa Blanca—one of the last remnants of the Cuban business district that once thrived in Los Angeles’s Echo Park neighborhood. Clary knows Echo Park is where she’ll leave a legacy, and nothing is more important to her than keeping the area’s unique history alive.

Besides Clary’s florist shop, there’s only one other business left founded by Cuban immigrants fleeing Castro’s regime in the sixties and seventies. And Emilio, who’s supposed to take over Avalos Bicycle Works one day, is more flight risk than dependable successor. While others might find Emilio appealing, Clary can see him itching to leave now that he’s graduated, and she’ll never be charmed by a guy who doesn’t care if one more Echo Park business fades away.

But then Clary is caught off guard when an unexpected visitor delivers a shocking message from someone she thought she’d left behind. Meanwhile, Emilio realizes leaving home won’t be so easy—and Clary, who has always been next door, is who he confides in. As the summer days unfold, they find there’s something stronger than local history tying them together.

You can preorder a copy here and add it to your Goodreads shelf!

 

A Wild and Ruined Song by Ashley Shuttleworth

Arlo and her friends struggle to rally against an overwhelming foe before time runs out in this gripping final book in the Hollow Star Saga, the urban fantasy series about fae in Toronto that’s The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones!

Arlo Jarsdel has lost everything. Her family. Her freedom. Her name. And now that she’s sharing her body with Ruin, the formidable titan of devastation, she’s even beginning to lose herself.

In their most dangerous game of deception yet, Arlo has just one goal: destroy the three Bone Crowns corrupting the mortal and immortal realms before her time runs out and Ruin takes permanent control of her being.

With Celadon fighting on the political front against the ruthless High Queen Riadne—now armed with the cataclysmic power of her Crown, the Sins, and Ruin—Vehan and Aurelian are scrambling in secret to build an army to rival the Riadne’s infernal forces. Meanwhile, Nausicaä will do whatever it takes to save her girlfriend from obliteration, despite knowing the odds of survival are nearly nonexistent.

When the line between hero and villain becomes blurred, and bonds are put to the ultimate test, it has never been more imperative—or more difficult—to stand united. For this is not the first lifetime that these five friends have faced the evil behind this impending war, but if they can’t find their way back to each other, it might just be their last.

You can preorder a copy here and add it to your Goodreads shelf!

 

bridge across the sky by freeman ng

A raw and honest historical novel in verse about a Chinese teen who immigrates to the United States with his family and endures mistreatment at the Angel Island Immigration Station while trying to navigate his own course in a new world.

Tai Go and his family have crossed an ocean wider than a thousand rivers, joining countless other Chinese immigrants in search of a better life in the United States. Instead, they’re met with hostility and racism. Empowered by the Chinese Exclusion Act, the government detains the immigrants on Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay while evaluating their claims.

Held there indefinitely, Tai Go experiences the prison-like conditions, humiliating medical exams, and interrogations designed to trick detainees into failure. Yet amid the anger and sorrow, Tai Go also finds hope—in the poems carved into the walls of the barracks by others who have been detained there, in the actions of a group of fellow detainees who are ready to fight for their rights, in the friends he makes, and in a perceived enemy whose otherness he must come to terms with.

Unhappy at first with his father’s decision to come to the United States, Tai Go must overcome the racism he discovers in both others and himself and forge his own version of the American Dream.

You can preorder a copy here and add it to your Goodreads shelf!

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2/6: Cover Reveals Day 2

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stranger skies by pascale lacelle

Ninth House meets The Hazel Wood in this riveting sequel to the New York Times bestselling dark academia fantasy Curious Tides, following Emory, Baz, Romie, and Kai on their desperate quests through space and time!

Opening locked doors has a price—even for those who hold a key.

After going through the door that called to them both in dreams, Emory and Romie find themselves in the Wychwood: the same verdant world written of in Song of the Drowned Gods, albeit a twisted, rotting version of it. A sinister force has awoken with their arrival, intent on destruction as it spills across realms, and now Emory and Romie must stop it before it reaches their own shores.

Meanwhile, Baz and Kai are desperate to follow their friends through the door to other worlds, but a mishap pulls them back in time instead—where they come face to face with Cornus Clover himself, famed author of Song of the Drowned Gods. Stuck together in the past, they must navigate a very different Aldryn as they unravel the school’s darkest secrets.

Across time and worlds, Emory, Romie, Baz, and Kai find their fates eerily interwoven with the heroes from Clover’s book. But when stories can’t be trusted, friendships are put to the test, and deadly enemies are not always as they seem, they must decide who gets to be a hero—and who is desperate enough to see themselves become a villain.

You can preorder a copy here and add it to your Goodreads shelf!

 

the hysterical girls of st. bernadette’s by hanna alkaf

An all-girls private school is struck with mysterious cases of screaming hysteria in this chilling dark academia thriller haunted by a deeply buried history clawing to the light.

For over a hundred years, girls have fought to attend St. Bernadette’s, with its reputation for shaping only the best and brightest young women.

Unfortunately, there is also the screaming.

When a student begins to scream in the middle of class, a chain reaction starts that impacts the entire school. By the end of the day, seventeen girls are affected—along with St. Bernadette’s stellar reputation.

Khadijah’s got her own scars to tend to, and watching her friends succumb to hysteria only rips apart wounds she’d rather keep closed. But when her sister falls to the screams, Khad knows she’s the only one who can save her.

Rachel has always been far too occupied trying to reconcile her overbearing mother’s expectations with her own secret ambitions to pay attention to school antics. But just as Rachel finds her voice, it turns into screams.

Together, the two girls find themselves digging deeper into the school’s dark history, hunting for the truth. Little do they know that a specter lurks in the darkness, watching, waiting, and hungry for its next victim…

You can preorder a copy here and add it to your Goodreads shelf!

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2/7: Cover Reveals Day 3

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nothing like the movies by lynn painter

In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling Better than the Movies, Wes and Liz struggle to balance their feelings for each other with the growing pains of being a college student.

For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: strong-willed girl-next-door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off to UCLA to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process.

Flash forward months and months later and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him.

Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only…Liz will have none of it. Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend…a guy friend.

Still, Wes won’t give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.

You can preorder a copy here and add it to your Goodreads shelf!

 

how to lose a best friend by jordan k. casomar

When a teen expresses romantic interest in his best friend, her unexpected reaction sends their relationship into a tailspin in this heartfelt and honest novel giving a new look at first love—and outcomes that aren’t happily ever after.

Zeke’s world is crashing down around him, but there’s one thing—or rather one person—keeping him afloat. Imogen. His ride or die. His day one homie. His best friend. The only thing that has kept him from asking Imogen out is her parent’s “no dating until sixteen” rule. Now with Imogen’s sixteenth birthday around the corner, Zeke can finally be her boyfriend.

Only, Imogen doesn’t seem to be in tune the unspoken understanding Zeke thought they had: that in their will-they-won’t-they, they definitely would. Instead, Imogen starts going out with her crush, Trevor, and Zeke makes it his mission to show her she made the wrong choice.

Meanwhile, Imogen has been thrown off-kilter by everyone’s reactions to her move in the game she didn’t know she was playing. Suddenly, she’s hit with accusations of leading Zeke on for years, and she doesn’t even have a best friend to lean on after finding out Zeke was always counting down the days until their friendship could turn romantic—shattering her trust.

Tensions reach a boiling point at a disastrous party, and Zeke insists Imogen choose between him and Trevor. Torn between the easy option and following her heart, Imogen makes the only call she can…but is she prepared for the consequences?

You can preorder a copy here and add it to your Goodreads shelf!

 

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2/8: Cover Reveals Day 4

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make my wish come true by alyson derrick and rachael lippincott  

‘Tis the season for holiday hijinks in the newest sapphic rom-com about a rising star and a small town girl going on twelve fake holidates from the New York Times bestselling authors of She Gets the Girl, Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick!

Twelve days of fake dates. Two holidays. One chance to convince everyone they’re in love.

Arden James is Hollywood’s hottest teen actor. Infamously reckless, she’s a constant in the tabloids. But when her messy reputation costs her an audition for her dream role, Arden and her publicist make up a lie to flip the script. Only, for the lie to work, she’ll have to head home for the holidays for the first time in four years.

Caroline Beckett has spent those last four years shining up a stellar portfolio that will get her into a top journalism program and convincing herself she could not be less interested in what her former best friend and first crush has been up to since she left without a word. But when Arden suddenly shows up at her doorstep with the promise of a real byline in Cosmopolitan in exchange for a write up on their “secret romance” and twelve snow-covered holidates in their Christmas-obsessed hometown, Caroline can’t help but be tempted into playing along.

It should be easy enough to stand each other for twelve days to make their dreams come true, right? But when old feelings start to bubble up, so do new holiday wishes that might just have Arden and Caroline falling faster than that Christmas Eve snow…

You can preorder a copy here and add it to your Goodreads shelf!

 

the ballerina of auschwitz by dr. edith eva eger

In this young adult edition of the bestselling, award-winning memoir The Choice, Holocaust survivor and renowned psychologist Dr. Edith Eger shares her harrowing experiences and gives readers the gift of hope and strength.

Edie is a talented dancer and a skilled gymnast with hopes of making the Olympic team. Between her rigorous training and her struggle to find her place in a family where she’s the daughter “with brains but no looks,” Edie’s too busy to dwell on the state of the world. But life in Hungary in 1943 is dangerous for a Jewish girl.

Just as Edie falls in love for the first time, Europe collapses into war, and Edie’s family is forced onto a train bound for the Auschwitz concentration camp. Even in those darkest of moments, Edie’s beloved, Eric, kindles hope. “I’ll never forget your eyes,” he tells her through the slats of the cattle car. Auschwitz is horrifying beyond belief, yet through starvation and unthinkable terrors, dreams of Eric sustain Edie. Against all odds, Edie and her sister Magda survive, thanks to their sisterhood and sheer grit.

Edie returns home filled with grief and guilt. Survival feels more like a burden than a gift—until Edie recognizes that she has a choice. She can’t change the past, but she can choose how to live and even to love again.

You can preorder a copy here and add it to your Goodreads shelf!

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2/9: Cover Reveals Day 5

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inheritance of scars by crystal seitz

House of Roots and Ruin meets The Darkest Part of the Forest in this gorgeous dark fantasy debut steeped in Norse mythology that follows a teen who accidentally awakens an imprisoned draugr and must follow him into a deadly magical forest to rescue her grandmother.

Never go beyond the stave church.

Within Tiveden Forest, bloodthirsty monsters known as draugr lurk behind every tree, and secrets run through the soil like twisted roots. When her grandmother vanishes into the forest, Astrid won’t let Crohn’s disease get in the way of finding her. But in searching for her lost loved one, Astrid soon uncovers an even greater mystery:

A conflict that’s haunted her village and family for generations.
An ancient blood oath her ancestor made to protect them.
A deadly draugr imprisoned for centuries…who Astrid accidentally awakens.

Newly revived, Soren first mistakes Astrid for her ancestor, his ex-lover turned enemy. Astrid can’t tell if he would rather kill her or kiss her. But Soren knows the forest better than anyone, and Astrid quickly realizes that she’ll need his help to rescue her grandmother.

The deeper they venture into Tiveden, the closer Astrid gets to the cold, alluring Soren and the truth behind her grandmother’s disappearance. To save her home, a dark ritual must be performed before Midwinter—and only Astrid can fulfill her ancestor’s blood oath…or break it.

That is, if Soren—or the forest—doesn’t break Astrid first.

You can preorder a copy here and add it to your Goodreads shelf!

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ADDITIONAL COVER REVEALS

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PRINCE OF FORTUNE by lisa Tirreno

Red, White & Royal Blue meets A Darker Shade of Magic in this swoony debut young adult romantic fantasy following a magical young prince and a noble seer who fall in love in the midst of war and intrigue.

Shy Prince Edmund will be a great king one day: it has been Seen again and again. With rare magic giving him dominion over the nation’s plants and weather, Edmund feels a great deal of pressure to live up to his nation’s many expectations, including making a perfect diplomatic alliance through marriage. That is, until he meets Lord Aubrey Ainsley.

Charming, romantic, and politically insignificant, Aubrey is a Seer, but not even he could have predicted catching the eye of Edmund, the Prince of Fortune—nor that the anxious prince who talks to plants more than people could feel so right for him. Aubrey’s dream-visions have been full of battle, not love, but to say that Prince Edmund has captured his fancy would be a grand understatement.

As the two become more and more intertwined, the nation of Saben falls under attack. War and dark sorcery loom on the horizon. To save their homeland, Edmund and Aubrey must resist the outside forces seeking to drive them apart and find the power within themselves to create a future for Saben—and each other—they never could have imagined.

You can preorder a copy here and add it to your Goodreads shelf!

ELEVEN HOUSES BY COLLEEN OAKES

Midnight Mass meets The Vampire Diaries in this epic romantic tale of a mysterious island and the houses who have stood for centuries to guard against the dreaded nightmare of beings waiting to strike from the ocean’s depths.

On a forgotten part of Nova Scotia, there lies an island.
On that island are Eleven Houses.
In those houses sit eleven ancient families.
And they are waiting…

Mabel is one of the last surviving members of House Beuvry, one of the eleven houses on the haunted island of Weymouth. Her days, like all the other teens on the island, are spent readying her house for The Storm: a once-a-decade event that pummels the island with hurricane-level wind, water, and waves. But that’s not all the Storm brings with it—because Weymouth Island is a gate between the world of the living and the dead.

When Miles Cabot arrives on Weymouth Island after the death of his mother, he realizes quickly it isn’t like other places—and Mabel Beuvry isn’t like other teenagers. There’s an intense chemistry between Miles and Mabel that both feel, yet neither understand—nor the deadly consequences that will come with it.

With the suspicious death of an island elder, a strained dynamic with her younger sister Hali, and the greatest Storm in years edging ever closer, Mabel’s life is becoming as chaotic as the weather. One thing becomes clear: if the fortified houses of Weymouth Island can’t stand against the dead, then she—and everyone she loves—will pay the price.

Fares Well the House That’s Ready.

YOU CAN PREORDER A COPY HERE AND ADD IT TO YOUR GOODREADS SHELF!

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Want to see more upcoming covers for new releases? Check out all the covers for the books coming out this summer!

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Did someone say new Free Reads? Yes, that’s right, we did! And we are so excited for February’s Free Reads. This month’s Free Reads are in celebration of Black History Month. Plus, keep an eye out #ReadYourHeartOut for free romance reads from 2/9 – 2/14 and check out all of February’s new releases with extended excerpts.

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Free Reads are only available to Simon Teen members! Not a Simon Teen member yet? It’s free and easy to sign up! Click here to set up your account now. 

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Full Reads

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1. Your Corner dark by Desmond hall 

American Street meets Long Way Down in this searing and gritty debut novel that takes an unflinching look at the harsh realities of gang life in Jamaica and how far a teen is willing to go for family.

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Start reading now!

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2. the Bones of Ruin by sarah raughley

An African tightrope walker who can’t die gets embroiled in a secret society’s deadly gladiatorial tournament in this “bloodily spectacular” (Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights) historical fantasy set in an alternate 1880s London, perfect for fans of The Last Magician and The Gilded Wolves.

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Start reading now!

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3. Daughters of oduma by moses ose utomi 

An elite female fighter must reenter the competition to protect her found family of younger sisters in this “absorbing, striking” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) young adult fantasy inspired by West African culture, perfect for fans of The Gilded Ones and Creed.

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Start reading now!

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4. Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow

I Killed Zoe Spanos meets The Cheerleaders in this “atmospheric and multi-layered mystery” (Kara Thomas, author of The Cheerleaders) about an island town with a history of unsolved deaths—and a girl desperate to uncover the mystery behind it all.

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Start reading now!

 

5. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds

In this New York Times bestselling novel, two teens—one black, one white—grapple with the repercussions of a single violent act that leaves their school, their community, and, ultimately, the country bitterly divided by racial tension.

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Start reading now!

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Extended Excerpts

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1. a Suffragist’s guide to the antarctic by Yi Shun Lai

A teen’s fight for suffrage turns into one of survival when her crew’s Antarctic expedition ship gets stuck in the ice in this historical novel told in journal entries perfect for fans of Gary Paulsen and The Downstairs Girl.

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Start reading now! 

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2. the Lady of Rapture by Sarah Raughley

Penny Dreadful meets The Gilded Wolves in this breathtaking finale to young adult historical fantasy Bones of Ruin trilogy!

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Start reading now! 

3. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Start reading now! 

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4. Dead Things are closer than they appear by Robin Wasley

A painfully average teen’s life is upended by a magical apocalypse in this darkly atmospheric and sweepingly romantic novel perfect for fans of The Raven Boys, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Rest of Us Just Live Here.

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Start reading now! 

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5. Conditions of a heart by Bethany Mangle

For fans of Talia Hibbert and Lynn Painter comes a funny and unflinchingly honest story about a teen who must come to terms with her disability and what it means for her identity, her love life, and her future.

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Start reading now! 

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6. Clarion Call by Cayla Fay

Neve faces her vengeful cousin, the leader of the legions of hell, forcing her to decide where her loyalties truly lie in this thrilling sequel to Ravensong that’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Celtic mythology.

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Start reading now! 

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7. Where the dark stands still by A.B. Poranek

A girl with dangerous magic makes a risky bargain with a demon to be free of her monstrous power in this young adult fantasy perfect for fans of An Enchantment of Ravens and House of Salt and Sorrows.

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Start reading now! 

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8. Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury

After her private school is rocked by a gruesome murder, a teen tries to find the real killer and clear her brother’s name in this psychological thriller perfect for fans of The Taking of Jake Livingston and Ace of Spades.

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Start reading now! 

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9. Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

The “worthy successor to an explosive debut” (Kirkus Reviews)—the New York Times bestselling and award-winning Legendborn—perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Margaret Rogerson!

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Start reading now! 

10. Miles Morales: Suspended by Jason Reynolds

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds comes the “action-packed…banter-filled” (School Library Journal, starred review) sequel to his groundbreaking young adult novel Miles Morales: Spider-Man about the adventures of the unassuming, everyday kid who just so happens to be Spider-Man.

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Start reading now! 

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Extras

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1. The Eid Gift by S.K. Ali

The Eid Gift is a companion short story to Love from A to Z. Adam and Zayneb —engaged but continents apart for so long— are finally in the same city!

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Start reading now!

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2. Love at First Fight by Sandhya Menon

Join Dimple and Rishi as they do an escape room in this exclusive short story from Sandhya Menon! You’ll also see how Pinky and Samir met for the first time before you can read about them in 10 Things I Hate About Pinky.

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Start reading now!

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3. As Kismet Would Have It by Sandhya Menon

Will Dimple and Rishi find their happily ever after? Find out in this funny, romantic, endlessly charming e-novella sequel to When Dimple Met Rishi!

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Start reading now!

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4. The Thief by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell

A short story prequel to Sky Without Stars about the origins of fan-favorite character, Chatine!

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Start reading now!

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5. These Precious Scars by Emily Suvada

A haunting short story prequel to the Mortal Coil series.

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Start reading now!

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6. Better Than the Prom by Lynn Painter

A swoonworthy short story from Wes’s perspective from Better Than the Movies.

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Start reading now!

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7. Uncharted Dreams by Pascale Lacelle

Romie Brysden is a Dreamer, the best at the prestigious Aldryn College for Lunar Magics. She knows the realm of dreams like a sea captain knows the tides. And she’s gone deeper into this vast sleepscape than any Dreamer ever has. This is a prequest short story to A Curious Tides.

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Start reading now!

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8. The Priest and the Shepherd by Chloe Gong

Set six years before the events of Foul Lady Fortune, The Priest and the Shepherd follows Orion’s sister, Phoebe, and his best friend, Silas!

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Start reading now!

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From a paperback with exclusive bonus content and an epic adventure based in history to the epic conclusion to a fantasy series and a mind-bending psychological thriller, this February is chock-full of riveting new book releases! As you continue making your TBR for 2024, be sure to add these must-reads to your list!