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La Casa Muerta K'ree
by Will PayneLa espada maldita de la Navegante despierta de su profundo letargo y está sedienta de sangre. Bajo amenaza de muerte, el último hijo de la Casa Muerta K'ree debe recuperar la espada para su egocéntrico abuelo. En la travesía que le espera en una tierra asolada por la peste, deberá enfrentarse a los demonios que atormentan su pasado si pretende llegar a tiempo a la Ciudad de los Eruditos. Mientras lucha contra bestias feroces, horrores sobrenaturales y la crueldad humana en el antiguo camino imperial, un poeta blasfemo languidece en la prisión de un cruel magistrado, una prodigio intimidada libra una guerra silenciosa contra los espíritus malignos que rondan su infame academia, y una huesa trenzada se embarca en un peligroso viaje a la tierra de los muertos para salvaguardar una ciudad que la desprecia. ¿Podrá el último descendiente de la Casa K'ree resucitar la antigua magia familiar antes de que la vengativa espada de la Navegante envíe más almas aberrantes al Palacio de Cadáveres? Ajústate el tahalí, asegura un puñal y sube a bordo de un uro de guerra en la primera entrega de la aventura de fantasía oscura titulada Una Blasfemia de Huesos.
Zombie Wars Online
by Marla BrazielAls Matt sich bei Zombie Wars Online einloggte, hatte er eine weitere spaßige Nacht des Zombie Tötens mit seinen Freunden aus dem Internet erwartet. Unter dem Einfluss der Felote, eines Spielapparats, der Spieler in einen kontrollierten Tiefschlaf versetzt, verschwimmt die Realität und innerhalb des Spiels beginnt ein neues Leben. Die perfekte Flucht vor dem harten Alltag. Als aber ein bösartiger Hacker das Spiel kontrolliert, beginnt ein neuer Albtraum, weit schlimmer als Matt und seine Freunde es sich je hätten vorstellen können. Zombie Wars Online vereint das Beste von Horror und Gaming in einer sich stets wandelnden Welt, wo jeder Band eine neue, vom Hacker geschaffene, schauerliche Erfahrung hinzufügt. Inhaltswarnung: Enthält Erwachsenensprache und grafische Darstellungen, die für Leser unter 16 Jahren unpassend sein können. Das ist Teil 1 einer fortlaufenden Reihe.
Der Spuck von Hawks Moor: Eine Viktorianische Gothic-Romanze
by Camille OsterDas viktorianische London zeigt wenig Gnade, als Anne Kinelly nach einer Scheidung mittellos und von ihrem Mann verlassen zurückbleibt. Ihre düstere Zukunft wird abgewendet, als das barmherzige Handeln ihres Anwalts zu einem Glücksfall führt: Sie findet ein Haus, das von früheren Generationen vergessen und vererbt wurde. Die trostlosen Moore von Yorkshire werden ihre Heimat, während sie versucht, ein verlassenes Haus wiederzubeleben, in dem der Wind um die Fensterbänke flüstert. Schon bald entdeckt Anne, dass die Warnungen, die ihr von den Menschen in der Gegend gegeben wurden, mehr als nur abergläubischer Unsinn sein könnten. Als die brutale Geschichte des Hauses und seines Gründers, Richard Hawke, ans Licht kommt, entdeckt Anne, dass es in dem Haus möglicherweise mehr Wesen gibt als nur sie selbst und ihr Dienstmädchen.
Nosferatu Unbound
by Steven Paulsen Christopher SequeiraNosferatu began his reign of stark, silent, chiaroscuro terror over the public consciousness in 1922, when he first crawled onto cinema screens. No glamourous, cultured European vampire like the literary gothic titan whose legend he was trying to usurp. No: he was a thing of blade-like, angled animal talon and fang; hideous by any measure.Inspired by F. W. Murnau' s masterpiece of German Expressionist cinema, supported by Max Schreck' s sinister portrayal of Nosferatu – an unauthorised adaptation of Bram Stoker' s 1897 novel Dracula – this book presents a powerful collection of fiction by some of the best voices in contemporary horror. Look inside and be astounded.Alongside these amazing new stories of Graf Orlok, Nosferatu, you will find an important account by Dacre Stoker, revealing for the first time the damaging impact the illicit breaching of the DRACULA copyright had on the Stoker family, and Dracula Society member Julia Kruk provides a tour of the actual locations – which still stand – where the 1922 classic was filmed.Nightmare awaits within; as silent as death.The contributors to this enthralling anthology are:Leverett ButtsSal Ciano and Peter RawlikJack DannClaire FitzpatrickAaron HarvieNancy Holder and Alan PhilipsonSteve KilbeyJim KruegerJulia KrukBrad MengelKirstyn McDermottJason NahrungDeborah SheldonJim ShepardDacre StokerHelen StubbsSteve Rasnic Temand an introduction by Leslie S.Klinger
Bite Risk: The perfect horror for fans of Skulduggery Pleasant (Bite Risk)
by S.J. Wills'A riotously absorbing horror-comedy for readers of 12 and up.' – The Guardian&‘Pure, thrilling brilliance!&’ – Louie Stowell'This high-concept dystopian tale with a werewolf twist has tension and scares galore and is perfect for fans of Stranger Things and Big Bad Me.' – Irish IndependentWhen everyone's a vicious beast, it's hard to spot the monsters . . . The first book in S. J. Wills' blockbuster teen horror series, perfect for fans of Stranger Things, Fear Street and Skulduggery Pleasant. Sel Archer lives in a normal town with normal residents, except for one night a month . . . When the full moon comes out, almost all of the adults turn into werewolves, and it's up to the young people to protect themselves from danger. But, as this quiet life begins to unravel, and the Turned start to escape, can Sel and his friends uncover exactly who – or what – is watching their every move, before it's too late?Welcome, to the TOWN OF THE TURNED – OUT NOW!Praise for Bite Risk &‘Bite Risk by the most talented S. J. Wills will have you turning each page feeling sheer horror and laughter.&’ – A. M. Dassu &‘I inhaled this book. A concept that crackles, watertight world building, characters you care deeply about, & then the twists & turns . . . &’ – Nicola Penfold &‘Fun, gripping and deliciously gory.&’ – Amy McCaw &‘I devoured Bite Risk with ruthless ferocity, or perhaps the book devoured me – I&’m not too sure!&’ – Sophie Kirtley 'Smart, pacy, twists and turns with a hero who feels real. Exciting, thrilling but not too scary.' – Emma Norry &‘A gripping, fast-paced thriller.&’ – Nizrana Farook &‘Bite Risk sinks its claws into you and doesn't let go until its page-racing end.&’ – Maria Kuzniar &‘Fresh, exciting and just what teenagers everywhere need!&’ – Catherine Emmett &‘Incredible. Astonishing. Sweeps you away and afterwards, there is just SO much to think about.&’ – Rashmi Sirdeshpande 'S. J. Wills proves a dab hand at world creation, sketching friendships and rivalries against a backdrop of post-disruption normality.' – The Observer
Caught Dead (Bite Risk #2)
by S.J. WillsWelcome back to the Town of the Turned in the smash-hit sequel to Bite Risk. The Rippocalypse turned the whole world upside down, but Rippers are now free, happy and calm once a month… Until they suddenly become uncontrollably angry after Howl Night.
Pulpit Rock: The Isles of Scilly Mysteries: 4
by Kate RhodesTHE ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES #4 &‘Clever, atmospheric and compelling, it&’s another masterclass in plotting&’ WOMAN'S WEEKLY 'Rhodes is a published poet and every one of her sentences sings' FINANCIAL TIMESWITH A KILLER ON THE LOOSE As the scorching summer sun beats down on St Mary&’s in the Isles of Scilly, DI Ben Kitto and his team are training for the annual Swimathon, until they discover a body hanging from Pulpit Rock, dressed in a bridal gown.ON A TINY ISLAND An obsessive killer is hunting for female victims. Kitto has no choice but to stop anyone leaving St Mary&’s, but soon another woman is attacked.EVERYONE IS A SUSPECT The killer must be a trusted member of the community. Kitto&’s investigation is being watched closely, the killer always one step ahead, as the next victim is chosen . . .NO ONE IS SAFE PRAISE FOR KATE RHODES: &‘Gripping, clever and impossible to put down. I&’ve been a Kate Rhodes fan for years and in Ben Kitto she has created a detective who is just as complex and compelling as Kate&’s elegant plotting and stunning prose. The claustrophobia and paranoia of the island are so brilliant evoked, I could almost feel the tide encroaching as time ran out to find the killer' ERIN KELLY &‘Absorbing and complex, Hell Bay kept me guessing until the final pages&’ RACHEL ABBOTT 'A vividly realised protagonist whose complex and harrowing history rivals the central crime storyline' SOPHIE HANNAH 'Beautifully written and expertly plotted; this is a masterclass' GUARDIAN 'Expertly weaves a sense of place and character into a tense and intriguing story' METRO 'Rhodes does a superb job of balancing a portrayal of a tiny community oppressed by secrets with an uplifting evocation of setting' Jake Kerridge, SUNDAY EXPRESS &‘The whole book tingles with tension. I hope it does for the Scilly Isles what Ann Cleeves did for Shetland' MEL MCGRATH 'I love reading Kate's books in the way I love reading Sophie Hannah – a poet writing crime fiction is a great thing . . . It is at once a locked-room mystery, a story of the returning hero, and an examination of fear and abuse. It has the air of a twenty-first century Agatha Christie' JULIA CROUCH
Otherworldly
by F.T. LukensA sceptic and a supernatural creature get more than they bargain for when they make crossroads deal to save themselves. A perfect LGBT+ romantic fantasy for fans of Rainbow Rowell, Margaret Rogerson and Adam Silvera! Ellery doesn&’t believe in magic. Sure, they&’ve been stuck in a five-year winter, but there&’s got to be a scientific explanation for that. They&’re more concerned with working hard to send money back to the family farm than with whether there&’s a goddess out there who could put a stop to it.Knox has been trapped in the human realm for years. In service to a powerful witch for a decade, Knox is finally freed when her crossroads deal meets its terms. But Knox isn&’t sure he wants to return to the Other World, especially since his queen seems to have abandoned him. When a chance encounter finds Ellery coming to Knox&’s rescue, they're suddenly face to face with a (annoyingly attractive) guy who claims to be a supernatural familiar – something they definitely don&’t believe. But Ellery needs a way to stop the endless winter and save their family farm, and Knox needs a human who can tether him to their realm. A crossroads deal can&’t go wrong, can it?Funny, subversive, romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author F. T. Lukens. Look out for So This is Ever After, In Deeper Waters and Spell Bound.
Rewitched
by Lucy Jane WoodIn this spellbinding warm and cozy debut novel, a burned-out witch will need to turn to her friends and trust in herself to find the magic in her own life again.Belladonna Blackthorn hasn&’t lost her magical spark, precisely . . . but she hasn&’t seen it in a while either.With her witchcraft under wraps and a toxic boss making her days miserable, Belle is struggling to keep her beloved Lunar Books afloat and just make it through the day. The last thing she has time for is perfecting her magic. So when her thirtieth birthday brings a summons from her coven and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle fears the worst. With only the month of October left to prove herself or risk losing her magic forever, Belle will need all the help she can get—from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure and even from an infuriating coven watchman who&’s sworn to protect her...
Iron Axe (The Books of Blood and Iron)
by Steven HarperDeath asks a half-troll and his friends to save the world in this epic fantasy series debut by the author of the Clockwork Empire series. Although Danr is the son of a human mother, his father was one of the hated Stanes, trolls from the mountains. Now the barrel-chested teenager is condemned to hard labor on a farm where he endures taunts of &“Troll boy&” from the others. Yet no matter how bad things get, he always remembers the advice of his recently departed mother: be gentle and do not unleash the monster inside. One of Danr&’s few friends in the village, Aisa, was sold into slavery by her father and is now controlled by an abusive man. She keeps herself covered from head to toe and dreams of a better future. She and Danr hope to escape and make their way to freedom, but a series of dark events soon stirs up chaos. Strange creatures come down from the mountains, slaughtering villagers. Spirits of the dead haunt the land, terrifying those that are still alive. As rumors spread about the Stanes&’ involvement, Danr decides to find out the truth, taking Aisa and an amnesiac new friend with him. Soon they are called up by Death herself to set things right. At Death&’s request, the group sets out to recover the Iron Axe. Crafted by the dwarves, it is capable of restoring balance in the world—and destroying it, too. Along the way, Danr must call upon the monster within to face fierce and fantastic creatures while discovering truths that will change their lives forever. &“[Turns] common tropes on their heads. . . . [Harper&’s] reinterpretations of trolls, giants, and fae folk give this series opener a fresh feeling, while his nods to Norse mythology and folklore root it strongly in fantasy tradition.Readers will be eager to see what&’s in store for Aisa and Danr.&” —Publishers Weekly &“Brought back fond memories of a classic fantasy book while still offering a wonderfully unique take on the genre. . . . Steven Harper created a world that I never got tired of exploring.&” —The Qwillery &“The story holds all of the adventure, magic, and mystery I have come to expect from the genre. . . .[It] follows a hero&’s journey . . . with energy and artfulness.&” —Wicked Little Pixie
Bone War (The Books of Blood and Iron)
by Steven HarperA brave half-troll must stop an evil elf queen from destroying the world in this epic fantasy trilogy finale by the author of Blood Storm. The three Fates tend the sacred Garden, which orders all lives both mortal and immortal. But everything is thrown out of order when the evil elf queen abducts one of the fates. The future of every being, including Death herself, is now in jeopardy. There is only one hero who can defeat the elf queen: Danr the half-troll. But first, Danr must first find the fabled Bone Sword. With it, he can free the Fate and destroy the evil queen. Unfortunately, he must do so without the help of his companions, as they are busy hunting down a dangerous creature with a terrifyingly familiar face. Danr and Aisa must go it alone and they must hurry before the Garden dies and all is lost. But even if they do succeed, Danr may still need to make his greatest sacrifice yet . . .Praise for Iron Axe &“Steven Harper created a world that I never got tired of exploring.&” —The Qwillery &“[Harper&’s] reinterpretations of trolls, giants, and fae folk give this series opener a fresh feeling, while his nods to Norse mythology and folklore root it strongly in fantasy tradition. Readers will be eager to see what&’s in store for Aisa and Danr.&” —Publishers Weekly &“The story holds all of the adventure, magic, and mystery I have come to expect from the genre. . . .[It] follows a hero&’s journey . . . with energy and artfulness.&” —Wicked Little Pixie
Blood Storm (The Books of Blood and Iron)
by Steven HarperA half-troll and his companions must recover a forgotten magic to rescue their friends in this epic fantasy adventure by the author of Iron Axe. Danr the half-troll saved the kingdom of Erda from destruction and restored peace to the realm. His own life, however, is far from peaceful. Going out in public, he draws attention from fans and from those who still see him as an evil half-breed. When he learns of a people who once wielded the power of the shape, he dreams of becoming fully human and settling down on a quiet farm with his beloved. But others would like to possess such magic. Slavers abduct Danr&’s friends, ransoming them for the power of the shape. Now Danr, Aisa, and their friend, Talfi the undying, must embark on a perilous quest that will force them to confront the Fates, Death, and a giant wyrm that dwells at the bottom of the sea. If he hopes to survive, Danr must become the hero he is so reluctant to be . . .Praise for Iron Axe &“[Harper&’s] reinterpretations of trolls, giants, and fae folk give this series opener a fresh feeling, while his nods to Norse mythology and folklore root it strongly in fantasy tradition. Readers will be eager to see what&’s in store for Aisa and Danr.&” —Publishers Weekly &“Steven Harper created a world that I never got tired of exploring.&” —The Qwillery &“The story holds all of the adventure, magic, and mystery I have come to expect from the genre. . . . [It] follows a hero&’s journey . . . with energy and artfulness.&” —Wicked Little Pixie
A Song of Ash and Moonlight (The Middlemist Trilogy #2)
by Claire Legrand"A lush and bewitching gothic romance, where the inner lives of the characters are just as intricately crafted as their sumptuously magical world. I was completely swept away." — Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in DrowningNew York Times bestselling author of Furyborn, Claire Legrand, enchants with a lush, steamy enemies to lovers fantasy romance perfect for fans of Bridgerton and A Court of Thorns and Roses.THE OLD WAR IS OVER. A NEW ONE IS JUST BEGINNING.The curse plaguing the Ashbourne and Bask families has finally been broken, but Farrin, the eldest Ashbourne daughter, still struggles to find peace. Unflappable and tireless, her composure masks a seething sorrow. Since her mother abandoned the family, Farrin has been their rock—managing her father's temper, running the estate, keeping tight control over her dangerous musical power, and ignoring her own need for rest, distraction, and most of all, love.In Ryder Bask, Farrin's stubborn strength has met its match. The man infuriates her. He's coarse, arrogant, annoyingly handsome. He's as tired of their feuding parents as she is, and he brims with some secret anger that mirrors Farrin's frustrated rage.But Farrin must work with every ally she can—even the man she has been raised to hate. With every rising dawn, the Middlemist weakens further. Anointed magicians are disappearing. A fiery Olden creature is stalking Farrin. Strange visions haunt the High Queen Yvaine. And as Farrin and Ryder race to find stolen loved ones, they begin to realize a horrifying truth:The gods are not dead. They're waking up. And someone is hunting them.
Mayhem Sam (Splatter Western)
by J. D. GravesFinally, the legendary true story unfolds in all its gory detail. In 1867, a series of unfortunate events sees the teenage Samantha Gray marry the famous Captain Jakes. Once his bride is installed at Sweet Pine, her charming fairy tale honeymoon unravels with diabolical intensity. When Samantha discovers the Captain's amorous interests in her younger sister, Sweet Pine becomes the young bride's prison. Now forced into a life of unrelenting servitude, Samantha plots her revenge. However, rumors of the Captain's ill-gotten riches have drawn the attention of a ruthless gang of cutthroats. And this unwanted intrusion threatens to ruin all of Mrs. Jakes best laid plans. Mayhem Sam is a rip-roaring tall-tale of revenge that drags a coffin of stolen confederate gold across the hellscape of Reconstruction Texas, the red dirt plains of Oklahoma, and explodes at the top of a Colorado mountain. Mayhem Sam is the true story of Texas's tallest tale and its deepest, darkest legend.
Such Lovely Skin
by Tatiana Schlote-BonneViv isn’t known for telling the truth, but she’s not lying about having an evil doppelganger.After spending the summer wracked with guilt about causing the accident that killed her little sister, ambitious gamer and chronic liar Viv returns to Twitch streaming. She never told her parents the truth about the accident, but she hopes that maybe making it big in streaming and giving the money to them is penance enough for her mistakes. The weekend before school starts, Viv finds the perfect horror game to make her Twitch comeback, and during an offline practice run, an NPC asks Viv for a secret. She decides to tell them the truth about her sister’s death since a game could never share her secret—in doing so, she accidentally welcomes a demonic mimic into her life. No one believes Viv when she tells them about her evil doppelganger. Viv has lied to get her best friend’s sympathy and has spread rumors for attention, so why should anyone trust her now? The only person who believes her is Ash, a cute social outcast whom Viv once bullied. In trying to clear her name and kill the mimic, Viv discovers that her lies have hurt people who never deserved it, herself included.
Evil in Me
by BromEvil in Me is bestselling author Brom's newest novel of possession, damnation, and rock 'n' roll, where one woman must get the world singing in order to save her soul.This devilish tale includes nearly two dozen of Brom’s immersive paintings and brilliant endpapersAspiring musician Ruby Tucker has had enough of her small rural town and dysfunctional family. But a falling out with her best friend and bandmate has killed her dreams of escaping and making it big in the Atlanta punk scene.While helping her eccentric neighbor organize his religious artifacts, an ancient ring clamps down on her finger—possessing her with the spirit of a blood-thirsty demon. There’s no exorcizing it unless hundreds of people chant a spell to set Ruby free. And what’s worse, the ring is a beacon for evil, drawing an unimaginably wicked mob straight to Ruby, hungry for her flesh. If Ruby can get her band back together, she has a shot at salvation. It's time for her to face the music and put her whole soul into a song—one powerful enough to raise some Hell.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Hampton Heights: One Harrowing Night in the Most Haunted Neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
by Dan Kois"Splendid . . . what really sells this imaginative, scary, verge-of-growing-up tale is its characters, each with a distinct voice and personality. . . . Kois' surprising second novel is a natural for fans of the character-based horror fiction of Grady Hendrix or Paul Tremblay and will win him a whole new sphere of readers." —Booklist"Marvelous, tender, and unpredictable, Hampton Heights captures the uncanniness and discomfort of early adolescence. There’s a pinch of Ray Bradbury, a soupçon of Stephen King, a dash of fairy tale logic, but Dan Kois makes something entirely his own out of this familiar and always pleasurable territory."—Kelly Link, author of The Book of Love"Like Stand by Me mixed with Stranger Things and The Twilight Zone, Hampton Heights is a rollicking chronicle of youth set loose among mystery and monsters. Dan Kois deftly conjures a boundless world that's chilling, wondrous, and delightful."—Adam Sternbergh, author of The Eden TestFrom the author of the Washington Post notable novel Vintage Contemporaries, something completely unexpected: a hair-raising and rollicking adventure set on one night in 1987, when six paperboys must confront a slew of monsters as well as their own personal demons in a haunted Midwestern neighborhood.On a cold winter’s evening in 1987, six middle-school paperboys wander an unfamiliar Milwaukee neighborhood, selling newspaper subscriptions, fueled by their manager Kevin’s promises of cash bonuses and dinner at Burger King. But the freaks come out at night in Hampton Heights. Sent out into the neighborhood in pairs, the boys will encounter a host of primordial monsters—and triumph over them.Sigmone, who is bussed to a white school, is stuck with Joel, a white kid who idolizes Black culture. Mark, who's wrestling with his sexuality, joins his secret crush, Ryan. Nishu and Al are outsiders; one is a second-generation immigrant, the other a poor kid in a rich school. Over the course of one eventful evening, the three pairs will encounter the wild things of Hampton Heights—werewolves, witches with a centuries-old story to tell, and a creepy, ancient monster who feeds on memories. Meanwhile, Kevin is having an adventure of his own, seducing a beautiful woman in the neighborhood’s tavern . . . but who is actually in control?Funny, thrilling, outrageous, and sneakily beautiful, Dan Kois’s Hampton Heights captures without sentimentality the dreams and fears of teenage boys in a tender horror-comedy about camaraderie, bravery, vulnerability, and the terrifying prospect of growing up.
Camp Twisted Pine
by Ciera BurchWhispering Pines meets Small Spaces in this spooky middle grade novel about a girl whose first summer camp experience is disrupted by a menacing creature abducting her fellow campers.Eleven-year-old Naomi loves all things outdoors—birds and beetles, bats and bunnies—in theory. She explores nature in the best possible way: the cold, hard facts in books. So when her parents&’ announcement of their impending divorce comes hand in hand with sending Naomi and her younger twin brothers to summer camp while they figure things out, it&’s salt in the wound for Naomi and her avoidance of hands-on experience. Camp Twisted Pine could be worse. The counselors are nice, and Naomi likes her cabinmates, especially Jackie, whose blunt personality and frank dislike of the camp draws Naomi in quickly. Jackie is also hard of hearing and uses a hearing aid, and the girls quickly develop a routine of sign language lessons in their free time, which Naomi sees as a welcome break when all the s&’mores-making and nature walks get to be a bit much. But the campers aren&’t the only ones who roam the grounds of Camp Twisted Pine. When people start to go missing, including Jackie, Naomi has to find a way to save everyone—and herself. Her practical knowledge of the outdoors may still be rudimentary at best, but she has years of studying and the scientific method to fall back on. Can Naomi identify and stop the dangerous predator before it&’s too late?
Pages of Doom (Book of Screams #2)
by Jeff SzpirglasKey Selling Points In this second installment of the Book of Screams series, we re-enter Tanya's struggle to vanquish the sentient ink that steals people's nightmares; other stories include the tale of a rabbit carcass haunting a young boy, a teacher whose student just might be a werewolf, and a teddy bear that possesses its owner. As with book 1, Jeff Szpirglas does an excellent job of giving readers a variety of scares, from chilling old-school horror monsters like werewolves to an outlandish giant insect alien masquerading as a dentist, so that kids will get a thorough introduction to horror, but in a manner suited to their age level and in bite-sized format. Readers of Book of Screams will enjoy reconnecting with Tanya's story as she tries to outwit the evil ink—this time with a new friend by her side. The character of middle-grade horror novelist Joel Southland (Tanya's nemesis) is affectionately based on Canadian writer Joel Sutherland. Horror and supernatural stories continue to be in-demand these days, and these suspenseful and gripping narratives will pull in reluctant readers. Jeff Szpirglas teaches middle school, so he is keenly aware of what entertains kids of this age, and he cleverly sets many of these stories in the ever-relatable school setting.
Bendíceme, Ultima
by Rudolfo AnayaFull of &“sensual dreams [and] unexplained phenomena,&” this "best-known and most-respected" coming-of-age classic from the godfather of Chicano literature follows a young boy growing up in the llano, or plains, of post-World War II New Mexico, and the generous curandera who introduces him to the sacred side of life (New York Times).A PBS Great American Read · Winner of the Premio Quinto Sol Award · Recipient of the National Humanities Medal · With a new Foreword by author, playwright, and stage director Denise Chavez; a new Afterword by award-winning journalist and author Carmela Padilla; and a new essay by Manuel Muñoz, a Macarthur Fellow and winner of the Joyce Carol Oates Prize. &“I pulled this baby into the light of life . . . Only I will know his destiny.&” Antonio Marez is six years old when the woman who helped usher him into the world comes to stay with his family in New Mexico. Venerated by some as a miracle-worker—and disparaged by others as a bruja—Ultima, a curandera, or healer, opens Tony&’s eyes to the spiritual roots of his culture, and introduces him to a magical, if sometimes frightening, new world: a realm in which she operates as a shaman. Suddenly, the ordinary challenges and triumphs of childhood become extraordinary. As Ultima shows Tony how to cure ailments, reverse curses, and restore peace to those who have lost it, he embarks on a singular quest, one in which he probes the family ties that bind and rend him, questions the Catholicism that shaped him, and explores the Spanish, Mexican, and Native American influences that informed not only his heritage, but his very sense of self. And at each life turn there is Ultima, who was there the day he was born . . . and will nurture the birth of his soul. A rich and wondrous story that reveals universal truths about the human condition and celebrates the beauty of Chicano culture.Includes a Reading Group Guide.
Ruin Road
by Lamar Giles"My twin, Lamar, is a phenomenal innovative storyteller... A true king!" -- Tiffany D. Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of Grown and The Weight of BloodSometimes a little fear is a good thing...Cade Webster lives between worlds. He's a standout football star at the right school but lives in the wrong neighborhood--if you let his classmates tell it. Everywhere but home, people are afraid of him for one reason or another. Afraid he's too big, too fast, too ambitious, too Black.Then one fateful night, to avoid a dangerous encounter with the police, he ducks into a pawn shop. An impulse purchase and misspoken desire change everything when Cade tells the shopkeeper he wishes people would stop acting so scared around him, and the wish is granted...At first, it feels like things have taken a turn for the better. But it's not just Cade that people no longer fear--it's everything. With Cade spreading this newfound "courage" wherever he goes, anything can happen. Fearless acts of violence begin to escalate in both his neighborhood and at school. With the right moves, and brave friends, Cade might have one -- and only one -- chance to save all he loves. But at what cost? After all, the devil's in the details.
The School for Wicked Witches
by Will TaylorAva isn't ready to leave her home in Oz -- especially not to become a witch. Then the worst thing that could possibly happen occurs -- Ava's magic does very wrong and she is banished to a school for wicked witches. Perfect for fans of WICKED, WITCHLINGS, and THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL!In Oz, most girls and boys with magical powers are sent from the north, south, east, and west to renowned witch academies, where they are elevated and taught all the finer ways to be a responsible witch. But if you misbehave? Or are thought to harbor darker magic? You're sent to the equivalent of witch reform school -- The School for Wicked Witches. ONLY! Once you get there, you find that the witches running it are so powerful that they've managed to trick the rest of the outside world. Yes, it looks to outside like they are taming the wickedness out of the witches... but in truth, the school is run by wicked witches (who, incidentally, don't see themselves as wicked at all... although some of them really are.)Ava Heartstraw has never even considered being wicked. But when she goes to take her entrance test for a witch academy, she doesn't get the reaction she's expecting -- and is the first kid in memory from the west to be sent to the School for Wicked Witches.
Night Owls
by A. R. VishnyIn this thrilling paranormal YA romance debut steeped in folklore, two estries—owl-shifting female vampires from Jewish tradition—face New York's monstrous underworld to save the girl one of them loves with help from the boy one of them fears before they are, all of them, lost forever.Clara loves rules. Rules are what have kept her and her sister, Molly, alive—or, rather, undead—for over a century. Work their historic movie theater by day. Shift into an owl under the cover of night. Feed on men in secret. And never fall in love.Molly is in love. And she’s tired of keeping her girlfriend, Anat, a secret. If Clara won’t agree to bend their rules a little, then she will bend them herself.Boaz is cursed. He can’t walk two city blocks without being cornered by something undead. At least at work at the theater, he gets to flirt with Clara, wishing she would like him back.When Anat vanishes and New York’s monstrous underworld emerges from the shadows, Clara suspects Boaz, their annoyingly cute box office attendant, might be behind it all.But if they are to find Anat, they will need to work together to face demons and the hungers they would sooner bury. Clara will have to break all her rules—of love, of life, and of death itself—before her rules break everyone she loves.In this stand-alone debut, A. R. Vishny interweaves mystery, romance, and lore to create an unputdownable story about those who have kept to the shadows for far too long.
Lola Reyes Is So Not Worried
by Cindy L. RodriguezIn this magical middle grade adventure by Cindy L. Rodriguez, a Guatemalan American girl fights to stop her cursed worry dolls before they blanket her friends and neighbors in anxiety—and the grief she carries over the loss of her father. Perfect for fans of The Doll People and The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez!Lola Reyes doesn’t want to leave Guatemala, a place full of warmth and sun, laughter and music—where her abuela and prima and tíos and tías surround her with love. Back in Sunnyside, it’s cold. There’s schoolwork and chores. And her mama transforms into Lola’s super-serious school principal, Dr. Reyes.Back at home...Lola can see, crystal clear, the empty place where Pop used to be. So Lola decides to bring a little bit of Guatemala—and Pop—back with her. She discovers his box of childhood worry dolls and sneaks them into her luggage, ignoring the warnings on the box not to use them. Later, when she tells them all her worries, from her friendship woes to the way Mama won’t talk about how sad she is, the worry dolls come to life. Worse—they escape.Lola has to enlist her neighbor and nemesis, Chance Townsend, to recapture the dolls because she discovers they’re cursed. And as they absorb worries, they’ll grow bigger and bigger. If Lola can’t find a way to stop them, they’ll burst, releasing all the worries they’ve absorbed a hundredfold on everyone in town. But when breaking the curse might mean confronting her own anxieties and grief, will Lola be able to face her emotions before it’s too late?
An Academy for Liars
by Alexis HendersonA student will find that the hardest lessons sometimes come from outside the classroom in this stunning dark academia novel from the acclaimed author of The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger.Lennon Carter&’s life is falling apart. Then she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, a school of magic hidden in a secret pocket of Savannah. Lennon has been chosen because—like everyone else at the school—she has the innate gift of persuasion, the ability to wield her will like a weapon, using it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself. After passing the test, Lennon begins to learn how to master her devastating and unsettling power. But despite persuasion&’s heavy toll on her body and mind, she is wholly captivated by her studies, by Drayton&’s lush, moss-draped campus, and by her brilliant classmates. But even more captivating is her charismatic adviser, Dante, who both intimidates and enthralls her. As Lennon continues in her studies, her control grows, and she starts to uncover more about the secret world she has entered into, including the disquieting history of Drayton College. She is increasingly disturbed by what she learns, for it seems that the ultimate test is to embrace absolute power without succumbing to corruption...and it&’s a test she&’s terrified she&’s going to fail.