RULE

By: Ellen Goolett

Location: FIC Goo
Genre: Fantasy

Magic, mystery, and blackmail abound in this heart-stopping fantasy debut. 

Three Dark Crowns meets Pretty Little Liars in this sensational and striking new fantasy from debut author Ellen Goodlett, which New York Times bestselling author Elly Blake calls "dazzling" and "pulse-pounding".

The king is dying, his heir has just been murdered, and rebellion brews in the east. But the kingdom of Kolonya and the outer Reaches has one last option before it descends into leaderless chaos. Or rather, three unexpected options...



Zofi has spent her entire life trekking through the outer Reaches with her people. She would do anything to protect the band, her family. But no one can ever find out how far she's already gone.



Akeylah was raised in the Eastern Reach, surrounded by whispers of rebellion and abused by her father. Desperate to escape, she makes a decision that threatens the whole kingdom.



Ren grew up in Kolonya, serving as a lady's maid and scheming her way out of the servants' chambers. But she could be hanged for treason if anyone ever discovers what she's done.


When the king summons the girls, they arrive expecting arrest or even execution. Instead they learn the truth: they are his illegitimate daughters, and one must become his new heir. But someone in Kolonya knows their secrets, and that someone will stop at nothing to keep the sisters from their destiny...to rule.

Mass Effect

By: Drew Karpyshyn
Location: FIC KAR
Genre: Sci Fi- Video games



"For Mass Effect fans, this is a must-read. There's a lot of backstory revealed here, and it adds a ton of context to what we see happening in the games."


Every advanced society in the galaxy relies on the technology of the Protheans, an ancient species that vanished fifty thousand years ago. After discovering a cache of Prothean technology on Mars in 2148, humanity is spreading to the stars; the newest interstellar species, struggling to carve out its place in the greater galactic community.

On the edge of colonized space, ship commander and Alliance war hero David Anderson investigates the remains of a top secret military research station; smoking ruins littered with bodies and unanswered questions. Who attacked this post and for what purpose? And where is Kahlee Sanders, the young scientist who mysteriously vanished from the base hours before her colleagues were slaughtered?

Sanders is now the prime suspect, but finding her creates more problems for Anderson than it solves. Partnered with a rogue alien agent he can't trust and pursued by an assassin he can't escape, Anderson battles impossible odds on uncharted worlds to uncover a sinister conspiracy . . . one he won't live to tell about. Or so the enemy thinks. 

The Stig Series

By: Jon Claydon and Tim Lawler
Location: Eas CLA
Genre: The Stig- Top Gear!!!!

 A new series for STIG lovers and fans of Top Gear

Bunsfold, Surrey, and the nights are drawing in. And something wicked this way comes. A thick fog descends on the town and refuses to disperse. Is a malign spectre really afoot in the town? Or just mass paranoia? The junior Top Gear gang - Sam, Buster, Cabriola and Ford - have a theory. Four hundred years ago to the week, the God-fearing and righteous villagers of Bunsfolde burnt a sinister crone who lived deep in the woods - and she appears to be making a return.

But are the sightings simply publicity ruses engineered by the Cruiser Corps? Or has the ghost of the old crone really risen to seek revenge on the descendants of her village persecutors? What greater scheme does PT Cruiser have up his sleeve? The junior Top Gear gang investigate - with the help of one very special white-suited chap stepping in just when he is needed - to race, and to save humanity ...

                                               

The Guinevere Deception

By: Kiersten White
Location: FIC WHI
Genre: Fantasy, retelling

*THE FIRST BOOK IN THE CAMELOT RISING TRILOGY*

Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom's borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution--send in Guinevere to be Arthur's wife . . . and his protector from those who want to see the young king's idyllic city fail. The catch? Guinevere's real name--and her true identity--is a secret. She is a changeling, a girl who has given up everything to protect Camelot. To keep Arthur safe, Guinevere must navigate a court in which the old--including Arthur's own family--demand things continue as they have been, and the new--those drawn by the dream of Camelot--fight for a better way to live. And always, in the green hearts of forests and the black depths of lakes, magic lies in wait to reclaim the land. Arthur's knights believe they are strong enough to face any threat, but Guinevere knows it will take more than swords to keep Camelot free. Deadly jousts, duplicitous knights, and forbidden romances are nothing compared to the greatest threat of all: the girl with the long black hair, riding on horseback through the dark woods toward Arthur. Because when your whole existence is a lie, how can you trust even yourself?
"The Guinevere Deception was such a stunning read, rending the legend of Arthur back to life through the eyes of Guinevere herself. Never have I been more mesmerised by the way Kiersten White wove her words together and readers will fall in love with each and every character they encounter, even the villains. It’s a special quality that Kiersten has, loving our tenderly vicious villains.- Goodreads review

Patron Saints of Nothing

By: Randy Ribay
Location: FIC RIB
Genre: Contemporary Fiction- Realistic, coming of age

“I will try not to judge because I have no idea what you were struggling with in your heart, what complicated your soul. None of us are just one thing, I guess."

"Brilliant, honest, and equal parts heart-breaking and soul-healing. I’ll give this astounding book to all the teens and adults in my life. I suspect you will, too. I’d give it 50 stars if I could." Laurie Anderson

A coming-of-age story about grief, guilt, and the risks a Filipino-American teenager takes to uncover the truth about his cousin's murder.

Jay Reguero plans to spend the last semester of his senior year playing video games before heading to the University of Michigan in the fall. But when he discovers that his Filipino cousin Jun was murdered as part of President Duterte's war on drugs, and no one in the family wants to talk about what happened, Jay travels to the Philippines to find out the real story.

Hoping to uncover more about Jun and the events that led to his death, Jay is forced to reckon with the many sides of his cousin before he can face the whole horrible truth -- and the part he played in it.

Serpent & Dove

By: Shelby Mahurin
Location: FIC MAH
Genre: Fantasy/ Romance/Dark Magic

Best Cover so far this year!

Bound as one, to love, honor, or burn. Book one of a stunning fantasy duology, this tale of witchcraft and forbidden love is perfect for fans of Kendare Blake and Sara Holland.

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

As a huntsman of the Church, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.

Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, must make a choice. And love makes fools of us all.

Set in a world of powerful women, dark magic, and off-the-charts romance, book one of this stunning fantasy duology will leave readers burning for more.

ICO- Castle in the Mist

By: Miyuki Miyabe
Location: FIC MIY
Genre: Video Game, Fantasy, Asian

Based on the video game filmmaker Guillemo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth) called a "masterpiece", Japan's leading fantasist Miyuki Miyabe has crafted a tale of magic, loss, and love that will never be forgotten.

When a boy named Ico grows long curved horns overnight, his fate has been sealed-he is to be sacrificed in the Castle in the Mist. But in the castle, Ico meets a young girl named Yorda imprisoned in its halls. Alone they will die, but together Ico and Yorda might just be able to defy their destinies and escape the magic of the castle.

"It is the novelization of a beloved video game, so there is some possibility that my joy in reading it is biased by my fond memories of the engaging mystery and emotion of the game. That being said, I think it would also be a great read for lovers of fantasy who have NOT played the game, even if they do not recognize the places and moments that conjure up game nostalgia for those who HAVE played it. The author takes some artistic liberty filling in gaps in the game world's story, but I am assured that she does so with the blessing of the game's creators - and everything written jives perfectly with my internal version of the game's backstory. I was concerned that removing the vaguery left by the writers would also dismantle much of the mystery, but to my pleasant surprise the mystery remains." Jesse- Goodreads

PET

By: Akwaeke Emeze
Location: FIC EME
Genre: Fantasy LGBT

Pet is here to hunt a monster.

Are you brave enough to look?

There are no more monsters anymore, or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. With doting parents and a best friend named Redemption, Jam has grown up with this lesson all her life. But when she meets Pet, a creature made of horns and colours and claws, who emerges from one of her mother's paintings and a drop of Jam's blood, she must reconsider what she's been told. Pet has come to hunt a monster, and the shadow of something grim lurks in Redemption's house. Jam must fight not only to protect her best friend, but also to uncover the truth, and the answer to the question-How do you save the world from monsters if no one will admit they exist?

In her riveting and timely young adult debut, acclaimed novelist Akwaeke Emezi asks difficult questions about what choices a young person can make when the adults around them are in denial.

'" We're alive because we can be hurt; we're alive because we can heal.'

THIS WAS GREAT. Somewhat repititive despite being short, but with some very powerful messages regarding family, identity, choices, justice and abuse.

Pet is an own voices book about a trans main character however, where the author is non-binary, Jam identifies as female. Pet is set in a contemporary fantasy world where angels once battled the monsters and overcame them. The terms are used as allegories for the kinds of humans there can be, which I think is a pretty interesting move on the author's part.

Jam is a great main character but I really loved Redemption's character the most. He's also probably the most developed and complex one but Pet of course, outshines everyone else. Jam's support system is great and I loved her parents right away. Redemption has three parents one of whom is non-binary, which was also great to see.

What I particularly liked about Pet is how it's a world that's basically a utopia to the extent that those are more abstract concepts than anything that was ever really real. Obviously, that changes which is the whole point of Pet but as a utopia, Pet totally works and for that, I'm appreciative." Sana - Goodreads

The Eleventh Trade

By: Alyssa Hollingsworth
Location: FIC HOL
Genre: Middle Grade, Refugee, Friendship

My heart is so full right now. I've just closed the book, and my heart is both crying and singing in joy. It has been a while that a book has moved me so much. But The Eleventh Trade is one of a kind and I know it will remain in my heart forever. It's one of those books you want to shout from the rooftops about, and especially thank the author sincerely for writing it and making the world a better place.

They say you can't get something for nothing, but nothing is all Sami has. When his grandfather’s most-prized possession—a traditional Afghan instrument called a rebab—is stolen, Sami resolves to get it back. He finds it at a music store, but it costs $700, and Sami doesn’t have even one penny. What he does have is a keychain that has caught the eye of his classmate. If he trades the keychain for something more valuable, could he keep trading until he has $700? Sami is about to find out.

The Eleventh Trade is both a classic middle school story and a story about being a refugee. Like Katherine Applegate, author of Wishtree, Alyssa Hollingsworth tackles a big issue with a light touch.

Jackpot

By: Nic Stone

Location: FIC STO
Genre: Realistic Fiction- Romance - Contemporary

"It is funny, deep, and real. I wish it wasn’t over" Carli

Nic Stone, the New York Times best-selling author of Dear Martin and Odd One Out, creates two unforgettable characters in one hard-hitting story about class, money - both too little and too much - and how you make your own luck in the world

From the author of the New York Times best seller Dear Martin - which Angie Thomas, the best-selling author of The Hate U Give, called "a must read" - comes a pitch-perfect romance that examines class, privilege, and how a stroke of good luck can change an entire life.

Meet Rico: high school senior and afternoon-shift cashier at the Gas 'n' Go, who after school and work races home to take care of her younger brother. Every. Single. Day. When Rico sells a jackpot-winning lotto ticket, she thinks maybe her luck will finally change, but only if she - with some assistance from her popular and wildly rich classmate, Zan - can find the ticket holder who hasn't claimed the prize. But what happens when have and have-nots collide? Will this investigative duo unite...or divide?

Read this in one afternoon because I couldn't put it down- Sarah

Tiger Heart

By:  Penny Chrimes
Location: FIC CHR
Genre: Magical Adventure 

...this is a really lovely story which I’d recommend to anyone who loves magical adventures and those who love animals" Strawberry

One magical friendship. One roaring adventure.

The magical tale of a bold young chimney sweep and a remarkable tiger, a dangerously hypnotic ruby and a mystical land found across an ocean and through a storm. 

Perfect for fans of The Girl of Ink and Stars and Pax.

Fly never meant to end up in a cage with a man-eating tiger. And though she's no princess, when the tiger bows to her, she can't help vowing to free him and return him home.

But the bird-filled jungles and cloud-topped mountains of the tiger's homeland are an ocean away. And not everyone wants the tiger to return.

With dark and dangerous forces working against them, will Fly be able to fulfil her promises, keep them both alive and - just maybe - become the queen her tiger knows her to be?

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

By: Pablo Cartaya

Location: FIC CAR

Genre: Friendship, Social Activism

Save the restaurant. Save the town. Get the girl. Make Abuela proud. Can thirteen-year-old Arturo Zamora do it all or is he in for a BIG, EPIC FAIL?

For Arturo, summertime in Miami means playing basketball until dark, sipping mango smoothies, and keeping cool under banyan trees. And maybe a few shifts as junior lunchtime dishwasher at Abuela's restaurant. Maybe. But this summer also includes Carmen, a cute poetry enthusiast who moves into Arturo's apartment complex and turns his stomach into a deep fryer. He almost doesn't notice the smarmy land developer who rolls into town and threatens to change it. Arturo refuses to let his family and community go down without a fight, and as he schemes with Carmen, Arturo discovers the power of poetry and protest through untold family stories and the work of Jose Marti.

"I absolutely loved this story! 

From the very beginning Arturo and his family brings you into their inner-circle of warmth and love. I so wanted to go to La Cocina de la Isla and sit down with them to eat their amazing food. I also wanted to sit in that restaurant and have Arturo's Abuela come and talk to me. I also wanted to stand next to each and every one of them as they fought against injustice. Do not miss this incredible story of family, friends, and love of a community!" Laurie from goodreads.com

SLAY

By: Brittney Morris
Location: FIC MOR
Genre:  Black Panther meets Ready Player One  

“As we duel, as we chat, there's an understanding that "your black is not my black" and "your weird is not my weird" and "your beautiful is not my beautiful," and that's okay. It' brings tears to my eyes if I think about it too long.”

 A fierce teen game developer battles a real-life troll intent on ruining the Black Panther-inspired video game she created and the safe community it represents for black gamers.

By day, seventeen-year-old Kiera Johnson is an honors student, a math tutor, and one of the only black kids at Jefferson Academy. By night, she joins hundreds of thousands of black gamers who duel worldwide as Nubian personas in the secret multiplayer online role-playing card game, SLAY.

No one knows Kiera is the game developer, not her friends, her family, not even her boyfriend, Malcolm.

But when a teen in Kansas City is murdered over a dispute in the SLAY world, news of the game reaches mainstream media, SLAY is labeled a racist, exclusionist, violent hub for thugs and criminals.

Driven to save the only world in which she can truly be herself, Kiera must preserve her secret identity. But can she protect her game without losing herself in the process?

"I fully recommend this book, for its poignancy and importance, its enjoyable story, and its strong characters. I can’t wait to see more people fall in love with the book and the game, and I think it’s a story everyone should read and remember." May from Goodreads.Com

Bianca and Roja

By: Anna-Marie McLemore
Location: FIC MCL
Genre: Fantasy Young Adult  



The biggest lie of all is the story you think you already know.


The del Cisne girls have never just been sisters; they’re also rivals, Blanca as obedient and graceful as Roja is vicious and manipulative. They know that, because of a generations-old spell, their family is bound to a bevy of swans deep in the woods. They know that, one day, the swans will pull them into a dangerous game that will leave one of them a girl, and trap the other in the body of a swan.


But when two local boys become drawn into the game, the swans’ spell intertwines with the strange and unpredictable magic lacing the woods, and all four of their fates depend on facing truths that could either save or destroy them. Blanca & Roja is the captivating story of sisters, friendship, love, hatred, and the price we pay to protect our hearts.

"My hope for you, reader, for all of us, is two sides of the same wish: that the world gives us each the space to write our own story, and that we leave room for each other’s stories. They are where our hearts survive."