We added lots of great titles to the New Books Section at CA Library over the holiday break, along with eBooks and audiobooks available in the Sora digital reading app — here are some highlights in New Fiction:
Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear by Robin Wasley — Seventeen-year-old Sid lives in a tourist town where magic lies buried beneath the earth. Other than that, her existence is completely ordinary–until one day, her brother goes missing and the ground opens up, unleashing the magic and zombies within. Get the Audiobook
“A pitch-perfect balance of fantasy, horror, humor, and romance . . . this is a thrilling, moving, and fantastical apocalyptic novel that readers won’t want to put down” (Kirkus Reviews).
The Harrowing by Kristen Kiesling and Rye Hickman — Rowan Sterling should be worrying about normal teenage things like attending college and whether her best friend Lucas is maybe more than a friend. Instead, she’s having terrifying visions of blood and violence. Rowan seeks her father’s help, but instead finds herself drugged, kidnapped, and sent to a mysterious facility called Rosewood, a training center for teens with special abilities who are known as Harrows. Get the eBook
“For fans of Stranger Things and Wednesday . . . his stand-out graphic novel will have horror fans spellbound” (School Library Journal).
The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak — When her triplet sister Cara is diagnosed with leukemia, eighteen-year-old Stella puts her deams on hold to move home and be with her family, but when she starts spending time with the lead singer of Cara’s favorite band, will Stella resent him for taking her attention away from her sister — or will he help Stella find the courage to live her own life? Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“A fun summer romance that doesn’t shy away from the deeper issues of family, illness, and self-discovery” (School Library Journal).
My Fairy God Somebody by Charlene Y. Allen — The way Clae’s mom tells it, her dad took off when Clae was a baby, end of story. Ever since, it’s just been the two of them, living in the coastal city of Gloucester, where Clae is one of the only few Black girls. But when Clae discovers clues about a mysterious person she calls her fairy god somebody, she’s determined to know more. Her chance comes when she’s accepted into a summer journalism program in New York City, and with a couple of leads and a steel resolve, Clae leaves home for the first time to find out about her history. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“A richly drawn story that explores the precarious construction of identity and the pain of complex family dynamics” (Kirkus Reviews).
Night Owls by A.R. Vishny — A thrilling paranormal romance steeped in folklore. Owl-shifting female vampires from Jewish tradition, sisters Clara and Molly, who work their historic movie theater by day and feed on men in secret at night, must enter New York’s monstrous underworld to save Molly’s girlfriend, breaking all their rules of love, of life, and of death itself.
“Readers will be a little bit scared of and for Clara and Molly in a story jam-packed with sweeping action, historical asides, and threads to follow” (Booklist).
Nothing Special, Volume 1: Through The Elder Woods by Katie Cook — Two not-so-human teenagers and a friendly ghost radish face the fantasy adventure of a lifetime. The first season of mayhem, magic, vegetables, and adventure from Katie Cook’s beloved Webtoon, Nothing Special, is collected in this gorgeous graphic novel, which also features exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
“A fine idyll through a fabulistic world that’s an appealing read for cozy fantasy fans” (Library Journal).
On The Bright Side by Anna Sortino — When eighteen-year-old Ellie’s Deaf boarding school shuts down, she attends a public high school where she struggles to adjust, but finds an ally in Jackson, a soccer player going through a disability diagnosis of his own. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“Ellie and Jackson’s sweet courtship leans into missteps and aching human moments in this empathetic romance that intricately depicts Deaf and disabled experiences” (Publishers Weekly).
Stranger Skies (Drowned Gods, Book 2) by Pascale Lacelle — Ninth House meets The Hazel Wood in this riveting sequel to the dark academia fantasy Curious Tides. 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. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“Lacelle continues the strong worldbuilding she established in the previous book, populating the story’s new realms with complex systems of magic and interesting mythologies” (Kirkus Reviews).
That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally — Told in two voices, a seventeen-year-old battered and bruised girl struggles to remember who she or the man claiming to be her father is while seventeen-year-old Drew stops at nothing to find his missing girlfriend. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“The two immersive storylines bring to life the trials and frustrations each main character faces . . . a thrilling delight right up to the unexpected and bittersweet conclusion” (Kirkus Reviews).
Under The Heron’s Light by Randi Pink — Inspired by stories about the real-world Great Dismal Swamp, this acclaimed fantasy explores alternate history, a family’s supernatural connections to the swamp, and the strength that comes in knowing your roots. On a damp night in 1722, Babylou Mac and her three siblings witness the murder of their mother at the hands of the local preacher’s son — so Babylou kills him in retaliation. Three-hundred years later, college student Atlas comes home to North Carolina for the annual Bornday celebrations. But this year, Grannylou’s usual riddles and folktales about a marvelous paradise deep in the Great Dismal Swamp start to take on a tangible quality. Get the Audiobook
“A fierce, loving, and exquisite humanity-centered book” (Kirkus Reviews).