Displaying 14 books

Six of Crows

2015

by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows is a fantasy novel written by the Israeli-American author Leigh Bardugo, published by Henry Holt and Co. in 2015. The story is set in the city of Ketterdam, loosely inspired by Dutch Republic-era Amsterdam, and follows a thieving crew.

The narrative unfolds from the third-person viewpoints of seven different characters. Kaz Brekker, a criminal prodigy, is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. However, he cannot pull it off alone and must rely on:

  • A convict with a thirst for revenge
  • A sharpshooter who cannot walk away from a wager
  • A runaway with a privileged past
  • A spy known as the Wraith
  • A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums
  • A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

Six of Crows is the first book in the Six of Crows Duology and is part of the larger Grishaverse.

Illuminae

For fans of Marie Lu comes the first book in an epic series that bends the sci-fi genre into a new dimension. “A truly beautiful novel that redefines the form." —Victoria Aveyard, bestselling author of Red Queen This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded. The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than a speck at the edge of the universe. Now with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit. But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it’s clear the only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again. Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, maps, files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes. “Prepare yourselves for Illuminae.” —EW.com “[Y]ou’re not in for an ordinary novel experience. . . .” —Bustle.com “A truly interactive experience. . . . A fantastically fun ride.” —MTV.com ★ “[O]ut-of-this-world awesome.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred ★ “…stylistically mesmerizing.” —Publishers Weekly, starred ★ “[A]n arresting visual experience.”—Booklist, starred ★ “[A] game-changer.” —Shelf Awareness, starred “Brace yourself. You're about to be immersed in a mindscape that you'll never want to leave.” —Marie Lu, bestselling author of the Legend trilogy "Genre: Undefinable. Novel: Unforgettable." —Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of Beautiful Creatures & author of Unbreakable “An exuberant mix of space opera, romance, zombies, hackers, and political thrills.” —Scott Westerfeld, bestselling author of Zeroes and Uglies “Stunningly creative. Smart, funny, and romantic.” —Veronica Rossi, bestselling author of Under the Never Sky “This is one of those rare books that will truly keep your heart pounding.” —Beth Revis, bestselling author of Across the Universe “This book is xxxxing awesome.” —Laini Taylor, bestselling author of Daughter of Smoke and Bone

White Cat

2015

by Holly Black

Cassel comes from a family of con artists and grifters, all of them curse workers but him. On top of that, Cassel is plagued by guilt that he killed his best friend, Lila, years ago. When Cassel begins to have strange dreams about a white cat and people around him are losing their memories, he starts to wonder what really happened to Lila, and what that means about his actions.

In Cassel's search for answers about Lila and himself, he realizes that his brothers have been conning him for years, and that the final piece in their quest for power is about to fall into place. Cassel has other ideas. He's going to create an even more elaborate trap and, with Lila's help, con a bunch of magic using conmen. This “beautifully realized dark fantasy...with prose that moves from stark simplicity to almost surreal intensity in a moment” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) is rife with the unexpected. “Readers will be hooked” (Booklist) on White Cat.

Kitchen

Kitchen is an enchantingly original book that juxtaposes two tales about mothers, love, tragedy, and the power of the kitchen and home in the lives of a pair of free-spirited young women in contemporary Japan. Mikage, the heroine, is an orphan raised by her grandmother, who has passed away. Grieving, Mikage is taken in by her friend Yoichi and his mother (who is really his cross-dressing father) Eriko. As the three of them form an improvised family that soon weathers its own tragic losses, Banana Yoshimoto spins a lovely, evocative tale with the kitchen and the comforts of home at its heart.

In a whimsical style that recalls the early Marguerite Duras, Kitchen and its companion story, Moonlight Shadow, are elegant tales whose seeming simplicity is the ruse of a very special writer whose voice echoes in the mind and the soul.

The Boy Most Likely To

Surprises abound and sparks ignite in the highly anticipated, utterly romantic companion to My Life Next Door.

Tim Mason was The Boy Most Likely To:

  • find the liquor cabinet blindfolded
  • need a liver transplant
  • drive his car into a house

Alice Garrett was The Girl Most Likely To:

  • well, not date her little brother's baggage-burdened best friend, for starters.

For Tim, it wouldn't be smart to fall for Alice. For Alice, nothing could be scarier than falling for Tim. But Tim has never been known for making the smart choice, and Alice is starting to wonder if the "smart" choice is always the right one. When these two crash into each other, they crash hard.

Then the unexpected consequences of Tim's wild days come back to shock him. He finds himself in a situation that isn't all it appears to be, that he never could have predicted... but maybe should have. And Alice is caught in the middle.

Told in Tim's and Alice's distinctive, disarming, entirely compelling voices, this return to the world of My Life Next Door is a story about failing first, trying again, and having to decide whether to risk it all once more.

Isla and the Happily Ever After

Love ignites in the City That Never Sleeps, but can it last? Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined.

But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart. Featuring cameos from fan-favorites Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket, this sweet and sexy story of true love—set against the stunning backdrops of New York City, Paris, and Barcelona—is a swoonworthy conclusion to Stephanie Perkins's beloved series.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

2015

by Jesse Andrews

Seventeen-year-old Greg has managed to become part of every social group at his Pittsburgh high school without having any friends, but his life changes when his mother forces him to befriend Rachel, a girl he once knew in Hebrew school who has leukemia. Greg's life is one of careful invisibility among his classmates, and he spends most of his time making mediocre films with his only friend, Earl.

Greg's mother insists he rekindle a friendship with Rachel, who is struggling with her illness. This new connection brings both awkwardness and genuine human moments. As Rachel decides to stop treatment, Greg and Earl set out to make a film for her, which leads to unexpected personal growth and emotional revelations for the boys. The story navigates the complex terrain of adolescence, illness, and self-discovery with a blend of wit and sensitivity.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

2015

by Sarah J. Maas

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world.

As she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, Tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But something is not right in the faerie lands. An ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Since You've Been Gone

2015

by Morgan Matson

Since You've Been Gone explores the story of Emily, a quiet teenager whose sociable and daring best friend, Sloane, has vanished, leaving behind nothing but a random list of bizarre tasks. Emily would never normally consider completing these tasks, but with the unexpected assistance from popular classmate Frank Porter, she decides to give them a try.

The summer that follows is one of self-discovery and adventure as Emily embarks on each task, hoping that they might somehow lead her to Sloane. What starts as an intimidating challenge becomes an exciting journey that pushes Emily out of her comfort zone and into a series of firsts that could change her life forever.

An Ember in the Ashes

2015

by Sabaa Tahir

An Ember in the Ashes tells the gripping tale of Laia, a slave, and Elias, a soldier, both of whom are shackled in their own ways under the oppressive Martial Empire. In a society where defiance against the Empire equates to a death sentence, Laia resides with her grandparents and older brother in the impoverished backstreets, living a life of fear and subjugation.

Their fragile existence is shattered when Laia's brother is taken prisoner for treason. Faced with his impending execution, Laia makes a perilous choice to seek aid from rebels who vow to save her brother. In return, she must infiltrate the Empire's premier military academy as a spy. It is within these walls that she encounters Elias, the academy's most distinguished—and most reluctant—soldier.

As Laia embarks on her dangerous mission, her path intertwines with that of Elias, leading them both to question their roles in a society rife with tyranny and injustice. Their decisions will have far-reaching consequences, not just for their own fates, but for the future of the entire Empire.

Cruel Beauty

2015

by Rosamund Hodge

Cruel Beauty is a dazzling fantasy novel that intertwines the romance of Beauty and the Beast with the adventure of Graceling, creating a story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny. This gorgeously written debut is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom, Nyx has always known her fate was to marry him, kill him, and free her people from his tyranny. But on her seventeenth birthday, when she moves into his castle high on the kingdom's mountaintop, nothing is as she expected—particularly her charming and beguiling new husband. As Nyx tries to save her homeland, she must contend with her feelings for her sworn enemy, who has complicated her mission by stealing her heart.

Single, Carefree, Mellow

2015

by Katherine Heiny

Single, Carefree, Mellow is that rare and wonderful thing: a debut that is superbly accomplished, endlessly entertaining, and laugh-out-loud funny.

Maya is in love with both her boyfriend and her boss. Sadie's lover calls her as he drives to meet his wife at marriage counseling. Gwen pines for her roommate, a man who will hold her hand but then tells her that her palm is sweaty. And Sasha agrees to have a drink with her married lover's wife and then immediately regrets it. These are the women of Single, Carefree, Mellow, and in these eleven sublime stories they are grappling with unwelcome houseguests, disastrous birthday parties, needy but loyal friends, and all manner of love, secrets, and betrayal.

In Cranberry Relish Josie's ex—a man she met on Facebook—has a new girlfriend he found on Twitter. In Blue Heron Bridge Nina is more worried that the Presbyterian minister living in her garage will hear her kids swearing than about his finding out that she's sleeping with her running partner. And in The Rhett Butlers a teenager loses her virginity to her history teacher and then outgrows him.

In snappy, glittering prose that is both utterly hilarious and achingly poignant, Katherine Heiny chronicles the ways in which we are unfaithful to each other, both willfully and unwittingly. Maya, who appears in the title story and again in various states of love, forms the spine of this linked collection, and shows us through her moments of pleasure, loss, deceit, and kindness just how fickle the human heart can be.

Golden Son

2015

by Pierce Brown

As a Red, Darrow grew up working the mines deep beneath the surface of Mars, enduring backbreaking labor while dreaming of the better future he was building for his descendants. The Society he faithfully served was built on lies. Betrayed and denied by their elitist masters, the Golds, the only path to liberation for Darrow's kind is revolution.

To honor the greater good for which Eo, his true love and inspiration, laid down her own life, Darrow sacrifices himself. He becomes a Gold, infiltrating their privileged realm to destroy it from within. As a lamb among wolves in a cruel world, Darrow finds friendship, respect, and even love—but also the wrath of powerful rivals. To wage and win the war that will change humankind's destiny, Darrow confronts treachery, overcomes his desire for retribution, and strives for a hopeful rebirth rather than violent revolt.

The road ahead is fraught with danger and deceit, but Darrow must follow Eo's principles of love and justice to free his people. He must live for more.

Shadows of Self

Shadows of Self is the sequel to The Allow of Law, part of the Mistborn series. When family obligations forced Waxillium Ladrian to forsake the frontier lands and return to the metropolis of his birth to take his place as head of a noble House, he little imagined that the crime-fighting skills acquired during twenty years in the dusty plains would be just as applicable in the big city.

He soon learned that there too, just being a talented Twinborn —one who can use both Allomancy and Feruchemy, the dominant magical modes on Scadrial —would not suffice. This bustling, optimistic, but still shaky society will now face its first test by terrorism and assassination, crimes intended to stir up labor strife and religious conflict. Wax, his eccentric sidekick Wayne, and brilliant, beautiful young Marasi, now officially part of the constabulary, must unravel the conspiracy before civil strife can stop Scadrial's progress in its tracks.

Sanderson's fantasy world partakes equally of steampunk, early industry, and the Wild West, and he cleverly incorporates the metal-shaping magic of feruchemists and allomancers. Fantasy fans will savor this exciting escapade.

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