April Releases Part One: Young Adult

Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody (April 10th) ​

Synopsis: Welcome to the City of Sin, where casino families reign, gangs infest the streets… and secrets hide in every shadow. Enne Salta was raised as a proper young lady, and no lady would visit New Reynes, the so-called city of sin. But, when her mother goes missing, Enne must leave her finishing school- and her reputation -behind to follow her mother’s trail to the city where no one survives the uncorrupted. Her only lead is a name: Levi Glaisyer, a street lord and a con-man. They team-up to search for clues in this city of sin and casinos. As Enne unearths an impossible secret about her past, Levi’s enemies catch up to them, ensnaring him in a vicious execution game where the players always lose. To save him, Enne will need to surrender herself to the city… and she’ll need to play. Why I Need It: This city of sin sounds like a dark fantasy version of Las Vegas, which sounds like an awesome concept to me. I have been hearing really great things about Amanda Foody and this novel, that I can’t wait to have this book in my hands. Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertelli (April 24th)

Synopsis: Leah Burke - the girl band drummer, master of deadpan, and Simon Spier’s best friend - takes center stage in this novel of first love and senior-year angst. Her mother knows she’s bisexual, but she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends — not even her openly gay best friend, Simon. So Leah really doesn't know what to do when her rock-solid friend group starts to fracture in unexpected ways. With prom and college on the horizon, tensions are running high. It’s hard for Leah to strike the note while the people she loves are fighting — especially when she realizes she might love one of them more than she ever intended. Why I Need It: I read Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda very recently, and instantly fell in love with it. As Leah on the Offbeat is a spinoff of that much beloved book, I am really interested in seeing a different story of this contemporary world. While I wasn’t sure how I felt about Leah as a character in Simon, I am definitely interested in hearing her story. Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (April 3rd)

Synopsis: Jane McKeene was born just two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg and Chancellorsville — derailing the War Between the States and changing America forever. In this new nation, safety for all depends on the work of a few and laws like the Native and Negro Reeducation Act require certain children attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead. Almost finished with her etiquette and education at Miss Preston’s school of combat in Baltimore, Jane is set on returning to her Kentucky home and doesn't pay much attention to the politics of the eastern cities, with their talk of returning to America to the glory of its days before the dead rose. Why I Need It: The cover really intrigued me from the start, it really stood out to me in a powerful way. But, this also seems like an interesting take on fantasy historical fiction, mixed with a zombie army of sorts. Beyond A Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake (April 10th)

Synopsis: Ciara, Princess of Mide has never known a time when Eirinns kingdoms were not battling for power, or Northmen were not plundering their shores. A mysterious crow has been appearing to Ciara, whispering warnings of an even darker threat. Although, her clansmen dismiss her visions as Pagan nonsense, Ciara fears this coming evil will destroy not just Eirinn, but the entire world. Why I Need It: Once again, the cover and title enticed me to learn more about it. This fantasy seems different from a lot of fantasies that have been coming out recently, but does kind of remind me of the four-eyed-raven of Game of Thrones. Overall, it just sounds like a really cool book. Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett (April 3rd)

Synopsis: A modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets. Zorie and Lennon, best friends-turned enemies, find themselves stranded in the Northern California wilderness. With no one but each other, they have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults, as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting the forces of mother nature, makes getting out of the woods in one piece less likely. Why I Need It: The setting is honestly what drew me in to the story, as it is set in Northern California, a territory I am very familiar with. Also, the fact that two best-friends turned enemies, get stranded in the wilderness together, sounds like such an interesting plot-line to me. Something I haven't really seen in a contemporary setting before, so I am really excited to see how these two characters come together to find safety. Devils unto Dust by Emma Berquist (April 10th)

Synopsis: Ten years ago, a horrifying disease began spreading across the West Texas desert. Infected people- Shakes- attacked the living and created havoc and destruction. No one has ever survived the infection, Daisy Wilcox, also known as Willie, has been protecting her siblings within the relatively safe walls of Glory, Texas. When Willie’s no-good father steals a fortune from one of the most dangerous Shake-Hunters in town, she finds herself on the hook for his debt. Why I Need It: I feel like it’s been a good while, since I’ve been really excited about a Dystopian novel, which is a genre that I absolutely love. This one sounds a bit like a Western Walking Dead, which I am totally here for. 

Thank you all so much for reading this post, there seems to be a lot of books coming out in April that I’m really excited about. I will be posting a second part of this blog, revealing the Adult novels coming out in April, that I’m really excited to get into. 

TTFN and Happy Reading! 

Chynna Williams @TheCwTorch 

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