| Steeplejack by A.J. HartleyFantasy. On the same day that apprentice steeplejack Berrit is murdered, a priceless glowing stone is stolen. Anglet "Ang" Sutonga, who'd been teaching Berrit how to repair the many steeples and spires of Bar-Selehm, suspects that the two events are connected. Ang's suspicions are confirmed after a shady politician hires her to investigate the crimes, leading her to uncover a conspiracy that could cause the simmering conflicts between the city's various classes and races to boil over into war. Set in a fictional land resembling Victorian-era South Africa, Steeplejack's breathless action and alternate history world-building will appeal to fans of Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan trilogy. |
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| Black River Falls by Jeff HirschScience Fiction. What would you do if everyone you loved forgot about you? It's a question that becomes terrifyingly relevant for 16-year-old Cardinal after a virus sweeps through his hometown of Black River Falls, erasing the memories of everyone it infects. As families break down and chaos takes hold, Card escapes to the forest, where he starts a camp for infected orphans. As one of the few remaining uninfected, Card feels responsible for his town, yet he can't help but wonder if it would be easier to forget. Similar to Megan Crewe's Fallen World trilogy, Black River Falls is a thought-provoking story of survival. |
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| Run by Kody KeplingerFiction. Their families couldn't be more different, but maybe that's why Bo and Agnes are best friends. Agnes, who's legally blind and fed up with her hyper-protective parents, is drawn to the free-spirited Bo, who's rumored to be just as wild as her notorious family. So when Bo tells Agnes that she's got no choice but to run away from their narrow-minded Kentucky town, Agnes decides to go with her. The secrets they reveal on the road, however, may push their loyalty to the breaking point. Alternating between past and present, Agnes and Bo take turns narrating this up-close look at a strong yet stormy friendship. |
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| The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz TashFiction. From their childhood love of Harry Potter to their more recent passion for comics, Graham and Roxy's close friendship is founded on shared fandoms. When Graham finds out that the reclusive creator of their favorite comic will be appearing at New York Comic Con, he sees it as a sign: the event will be the perfect time to finally confess his love for Roxy. Once they arrive at the con, however, Graham discovers that grand romantic gestures are lot easier in fiction than in real life. Pop culture in-jokes, quippy dialogue, and diverse characters all add to the charm of this quirky romantic comedy. |
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| And I Darken by Kiersten WhiteHistorical Fiction. She might not be a vampire, but Lada Dragwlya, daughter of Wallachian prince Vlad Dracul, has a biting personality. Along with her brother Radu, Lada is sent as a royal hostage to the court of the Ottoman Sultan, where she has to be brutal if she wants to survive long enough to restore her country's power. Even so, she can't ignore her dangerous attraction to the Sultan's son, Mehmed. If you're captivated by this trilogy opener, check out Eleanor Herman's Blood of Gods and Royals for another historically-inspired series featuring twists, treachery, and ruthless female characters. |
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| Conjured by Sarah Beth DurstFantasy. Bizarre abilities and visions of a grotesque carnival are the only clues Eve has to her true identity. Ever since she woke up with a new face, a new name, and no memories, she's had to depend on Witness Protection, who tell her that she's being targeted by a magic-using serial killer who's been murdering supernaturally gifted teens. Though she tries to build a new life (even starting a tentative relationship with sweet coworker Zach), Eve soon realizes that she can't trust Witness Protection -- or herself. Readers with a taste for dark fantasy will be spellbound by this unsettling blend of magic, horror, and psychological suspense. |
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| Loud Awake and Lost by Adele GriffinMystery. After a near-fatal car crash, 17-year-old Ember returns home from the hospital, but she's not the same. Though her body has healed, she can't remember the accident or the six weeks that came before it. As the jagged pieces of her memory slowly start to resurface, Ember follows a hunch to a dance club where she meets Kai, a strangely alluring artist who might be able to help her put the pieces together. The pace in this angsty psychological mystery accelerates steadily as Ember remembers more and more, building to a stunning conclusion that mystery fans won't want to miss. |
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| We Were Liars by E. LockhartFiction. Cadence "Cady" Sinclair is one of the Sinclairs, a powerful, privileged New England family. Every year, Cady looks forward to summer, when she reunites with her cousins Mirren and Johnny and their friend, Gat, on the family's private island. But during their 15th summer, something happens -- something so shattering that Cady can't remember it, and her family won't talk about it. A richly atmospheric setting combines with Cady's captivating narration to create a steadily increasing suspense that will keep you turning pages right up to the ending, which -- well, we won't spoil it, but it will definitely get people talking. |
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| Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am by Harry Mazer and Peter LerangisFiction. A talented high school actor, Ben Bright is expected to chase his Broadway dreams after graduation. Instead, he joins the army and suffers a devastating brain injury while deployed in Iraq. After waking from a coma, Ben can barely remember how to speak, much less remember anything about his identity or his loved ones. As Ben battles to relearn his own life, his parents, fiancée, and brother (who has autism) all try to find ways to connect with the person he's become. Though it's a quick read, this story of a young soldier is "as illuminating as a hand grenade, and just as powerful" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| More Happy Than Not by Adam SilveraScience Fiction. If you could erase your worst memories, would you do it? In Aaron Soto's near-future Bronx neighborhood, the Leteo Institute offers to do precisely that with their "cutting-edge memory-relief" procedure. Though Aaron certainly has awful memories (such as his father's bloody suicide), he's also got the support of his family, friends, and girlfriend. But would that support disappear if they knew about his attraction to Thomas, a fellow fantasy geek from a neighboring housing project? Would it be better for Aaron to just forget that he might be gay? If you like wrestling with complex issues surrounding identity, memory, and the cost of happiness, don't miss this gritty and provocative debut. |
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