‘Cemetery Boys’ Sequel Releasing In 2024

On June 28, Aiden Thomas, NYT Bestselling author of Cemetery Boys and Lost In The Never Woods, revealed through Twitter that he will be releasing a sequel to his beloved trans YA paranormal romance slated for a Fall 2024 release with Feiwel & Friends.

In the first novel, Yadriel, a trans gay boy, is trying to prove himself to his family as a true brujo, but summons a ghost on accident, who also happens to be bad boy Julian Diaz. As Julian’s looking to tie up some loose ends before he leaves, Yadriel isn’t expecting to fall in love with him during their adventures.

According to the announcement thread the currently untitled “Cemetery Boys 2” will be told from Julian’s POV, centering around a monster who starts creating “malingo spirits” in East L.A.

Longlisted for the 2020 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, is a YALSA 2021 Best Fiction for Young Adults Top Ten pick and has been described by Entertainment Weekly as “groundbreaking.” Cemetery Boys was originally published in September of 2020 under the Swoon Reads imprint (with Fierce Reads).

Thomas commissioned art celebrating the announcement which was created by @/mmarsloud on Twitter.

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.

When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas is out now!

‘The Lunar Chronicles’ Optioned For Animated Film

On January 25, Deadline reported that Marissa Meyer’s #1 NYT Bestselling Series, The Lunar Chronicles, was optioned as an animated film adaptation with Locksmith Animation.

Starting with Cinder, followed by Scarlet, Cress and Winter, each novel follows a sci-fi twist on a classic fairytale set in a society where tensions rise between Earth and a moon colony by the name of Luna.

“Marissa’s books successfully turn well known fairy tales into an epic, modern saga that will be engaging and relevant to today’s audiences,” stated Co-Founder and President of Production Julie Lockhart. “We could not be more thrilled about collaborating with her on bringing her vision to life through animation.”

Meyer had this to say about the news: “I am absolutely thrilled to be working with the team at Locksmith to adapt The Lunar Chronicles for the screen. Everyone has shown so much enthusiasm for these books and characters, and hearing about Locksmith’s vision for the project gives me the best kind of chills. I am as eager as readers are to see Cinder, Prince Kai, and the rest of the Rampion Crew brought to life with stunning animation, and a lot of love!”

Locksmith Animation is a London-based studio which had its debut project ‘Ron’s Gone Wrong’, debut in October of 2021.

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg.

She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

What are your thoughts on this news regarding an animated adaptation?

Warrior Of The Wild by Tricia Levenseller Adapted For Webtoons

As of June 15, Tricia Levenseller announced through Twitter that her 2019 YA Viking-inspired fantasy novel Warrior Of The Wild officially launched as a webcomic adaptation for Webtoons.

The official comic summary reads: Rasmira trained her whole life to become a warrior and replace her father as head of their village. But when her coming-of-age trial is sabotaged and she fails the test, she’s banished to the monster-infested Wild. Her only shot at returning home and reclaiming her honor is to kill the sinister god who controls the realm – or die trying.

According to her Instagram post from June 7, although Levenseller had “no hand in making it,” it was a project 2.5 years in the making. Webtoon also hired their own writer for the adaptation.

The Webtoon will update every Wednesday according to the comic’s main page, with 3 episodes currently out. The writer is Brian Koffler, while artwork is done by @/Jinglestan and @/doxolove.

How do you kill a god?

As her father’s chosen heir, eighteen-year-old Rasmira has trained her whole life to become a warrior and lead her village.

But when her coming-of-age trial is sabotaged and she fails the test, her father banishes her to the monster-filled wilderness with an impossible quest: To win back her honor, she must kill the oppressive god who claims tribute from the villages each year or die trying.

Warrior Of The Wild by Tricia Levenseller is out now!

A Magic Steeped In Poison by Judy I. Lin Cover Reveal

On May 6, Fierce Reads revealed the cover to Judy I. Lin’s upcoming YA fantasy debut inspired by Chinese history and mythology titled A Magic Steeped In Poison, set to be released in Spring 2022!

Lin’s forthcoming novel follows Ning, a commoner who unknowingly brews a poison tea that killed her mother and now threatens to take her sister, Shu. To have a chance at saving her, she enters the kingdom’s magical tea-brewing competition. But the other competitors, court politics and secrets make it far more impossible, even dangerous than she imagined.

According to the blog post, Lin stated that the cover artist, Sija Hong, captured “so many elements” such as, “the water lilies and lotus flowers, the carps and snakes, and then my main character Ning is in the center. Holding a teacup, wielding her magic. Scared, but defiant.”

Lin has stated that her novel will be filled to them brim with her love of “Taiwanese tea / HK Wuxia movies / Chinese Legends / Song Dynasty ~vibes~”

Cover artist is Hong and designer is Rich Deas. Lin’s duology will be titled “The Book Of Tea.”

I used to look at my hands with pride. Now all I can think is, “These are the hands that buried my mother.”

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it’s her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

A Magic Steeped In Poison by Judy I. Lin is set to be released March 22, 2022!

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh Cover Reveal

On March 26, Fierce Reads revealed the cover to Axie Oh’s upcoming YA Fantasy set to be released in 2022 which is a retelling of the classic Korean folktale ‘The Tale of Shim Cheong,” titled, The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea.

Oh’s forthcoming fantasy novel is pitched as an “enthralling feminist retelling…with echoes of Miyazaki.” The novel will follow Mina, whose homeland has been ravaged by war and floods. To appease the Sea God who people believe has cursed them, each year they send a beautiful maiden into the sea to be his bride. Mina takes the place of the most beautiful girl in the village being sent to the Spirit Realm, where she plans to wake the Sea God from an enchanted sleep.

According to the blog post, Oh stated she dreamed of publishing the book for 7-8 years and despite facing doubt and rejection, she never gave up on Mina’s story.

“When I first saw [Kuri Huang’s gorgeous art], I felt like I’d fallen into a fairy tale. There are so many beautifully rendered details—the Red String of Fate that plays such a pivotal role in the story (in East Asian mythology, the Red String of Fate connects soul mates), the lotus flowers that are a nod to the original folktale, as well as the Korean magpie. And her hanbok, with the elegant jacket and her skirt that is the sea. Lastly, the shadowy figure in the background—who is he? Soon, you’ll find out!”

Cover artist is Kuri Huang (@/kuri_huang) and designer is Rich Deas.

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of Shin—a mysterious young man with no soul—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits, Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh is set to be released February 22, 2022!

The Red Palace by June Hur Cover Reveal

On March 22, June Hur revealed the cover to her upcoming Historical Fiction Mystery novel titled The Red Palace through Twitter, which is being released early 2022!

Hur has pitched her novel as a “romantic YA historical mystery about a palace nurse and a royal investigator teaming up to look into a pattern of grisly murders when the Crown Prince becomes the prime suspect.”

The Red Palace will feature “a tragic crown prince, slow-burn romance, and a killer on the loose,” according to her cover reveal tweet.

Cover artist is Sunga Park and designer is Liz Dresner. Hur is an author of historical mystery novels and began writing after “obsessing over books about Joseon Korea.” Novels include The Silence Of Bones and The Forest Of Stolen Girls.

June Hur, critically acclaimed author of The Silence of Bones and The Forest of Stolen Girls, returns with The Red Palace—a third evocative, atmospheric historical mystery perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Kerri Maniscalco.

To enter the palace means to walk a path stained in blood…

Joseon (Korea), 1758. There are few options available to illegitimate daughters in the capital city, but through hard work and study, eighteen-year-old Hyeon has earned a position as a palace nurse. All she wants is to keep her head down, do a good job, and perhaps finally win her estranged father’s approval.

But Hyeon is suddenly thrust into the dark and dangerous world of court politics when someone murders four women in a single night, and the prime suspect is Hyeon’s closest friend and mentor. Determined to prove her beloved teacher’s innocence, Hyeon launches her own secret investigation.

In her hunt for the truth, she encounters Eojin, a young police inspector also searching for the killer. When evidence begins to point to the Crown Prince himself as the murderer, Hyeon and Eojin must work together to search the darkest corners of the palace to uncover the deadly secrets behind the bloodshed.

The Red Palace by June Hur is set to be released January 25, 2022!

Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta Cover Reveal

As of September 14, Fierce Reads revealed the cover to Zoe Hana Mikuta’s 2021 sci-fi mecha debut novel titled Gearbreakers!

In this cyberpunk novel featuring 200-ft mecha deities and two girls ready to take them down from the inside out, the reader meets Sona and Eris who find themselves teaming up to destroy a tyrannical rule from within.

Hana Mikuta has pitched her novel as “enemies-to-lovers cyberpunk sapphics who like tattooing one another.”

In the blog post, she had this to say about the Gearbreakers cover, “the girls look amazing, and terrifying, and ready to take down a deity or two. Sona’s sword and cyborg eye, Eris’s cryogloves and signature welding goggles…I cannot accurately describe the degree of excitement and love I have for seeing two Asian girls on the cover of a YA science fiction novel.”

She continued to state that seeing her main character Sona on the cover who is half-Korean and half-white just like her “quite literally made [her] burst into tears of joy.”

The cover artist is Taj Francis.

Two girls on opposite sides of a war discover they’re fighting for a common purpose—and falling for each other—in Zoe Hana Mikuta’s high-octane debut Gearbreakers, perfect for fans of Pacific Rim, Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Saga, and Marie Lu’s Legend series.

We went past praying to deities and started to build them instead...

The shadow of Godolia’s tyrannical rule is spreading, aided by their giant mechanized weapons known as Windups. War and oppression are everyday constants for the people of the Badlands, who live under the thumb of their cruel Godolian overlords.

Eris Shindanai is a Gearbreaker, a brash young rebel who specializes in taking down Windups from the inside. When one of her missions goes awry and she finds herself in a Godolian prison, Eris meets Sona Steelcrest, a cybernetically enhanced Windup pilot. At first Eris sees Sona as her mortal enemy, but Sona has a secret: She has intentionally infiltrated the Windup program to destroy Godolia from within.

As the clock ticks down to their deadliest mission yet, a direct attack to end Godolia’s reign once and for all, Eris and Sona grow closer—as comrades, friends, and perhaps something more…

Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta is set to release June 29, 2021!

City Of Spells by Alexandra Christo Cover Reveal

On June 19, Alexandra Christo revealed the cover to the sequel of Into The Crooked Place titled, City Of Spells.

This duology is pitched as a dark Young Adult Fantasy “full of magic, dark dealings, scheming, romance and so much more― perfect for fans of Six Of Crows!”

The cover was revealed via Christo’s Twitter where she mentioned “LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS WITH THE FALLING LEAVES…”

Into The Crooked Place follows four crooks along the deadly streets of Creije who have to come together save their world.

City Of Spells will be the follow-up and conclusion to the series. Set to be released in early March of 2021, the cover was designed by Yehrin Tong.

The sequel cover cleverly mirrors that of the first book, with the buildings and spires on the opposite side.

Alongside the cover reveal, Christo also mentioned that the UK cover would be coming soon.

Christo is also the author of To Kill A Kingdom, which released in March of 2018.

The streets of Creije are for the deadly and the dreamers, and four crooks in particular know just how much magic they need up their sleeve to survive.

Tavia, a busker ready to pack up her dark-magic wares and turn her back on Creije for good. She’ll do anything to put her crimes behind her.

Wesley, the closest thing Creije has to a gangster. After growing up on streets hungry enough to swallow the weak whole, he won’t stop until he has brought the entire realm to kneel before him.

Karam, a warrior who spends her days watching over the city’s worst criminals and her nights in the fighting rings, making a deadly name for herself.

And Saxony, a resistance fighter hiding from the very people who destroyed her family, and willing to do whatever it takes to get her revenge.

Everything in their lives is going to plan, until Tavia makes a crucial mistake: she delivers a vial of dark magic—a weapon she didn’t know she had—to someone she cares about, sparking the greatest conflict in decades. Now these four magical outsiders must come together to save their home and the world, before it’s too late. But with enemies at all sides, they can trust nobody. Least of all each other.

City Of Spells by Alexandra Christo is set to be released March 9, 2021!

Young Adult Book Cover Reveals For Late May & Early June!

Today on The Booked Shelf we’ll be highlighting the fantastic cover reveals from the last few weeks!

1. Ravage The Dark by Tara Sim

On May 26, The NOVL revealed the cover to Ravage The Dark which is the sequel and conclusion to Tara Sim’s Scavenge The Stars which released earlier in January 2020. Alongside the cover reveal, was a summary:

For seven long years, while she was imprisoned on a debtor’s ship, Amaya Chandra had one plan: to survive. But now, survival is not enough. She has people counting on her; counting on her for protection, for leadership, for vengeance. And after escaping Moray by the skin of her teeth, she’s determined to track down the man who betrayed her and her friends: Boon.

Cayo Mercado has lost everything: his money, his father, his reputation. Everything except his beloved sister. But he’s well on his way to losing her, too, with no way to afford the treatment for her deadly illness. In a foreign empire also being consumed by ash fever, Cayo has no choice but to join Amaya in uncovering the mystery of the counterfeit currency, the fever, and how his father was involved in their creation. But Cayo still hasn’t forgiven Amaya for her earlier deception, and their complicated feelings for each other are getting harder and harder to ignore.

Through glittering galas, dazzling trickery, and thrilling heists, Cayo and Amaya will learn that the corruption in Moray goes far deeper than they know, and in the end the only people they can trust are each other.

Ravage The Dark by Tara Sim is set to be released March 2021!

2. Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney

The Root revealed the cover to L.L. McKinney’s upcoming graphic novel called Nubia: Real One on May 28. Alongside McKinney Nubia will have Black creatives such as artist Robyn Smith for illustrations and colorist Brie Henderson.

According to the article Smith stated, “Young black girls and their influence on art and culture has always been present but for the most part goes uncredited. I’d tell all the young black girls interested in art to take hold of what they create and keep going. Push past the discouragement of underrepresentation. Tell your stories because we need them.”

Nubia is considered to be one of the first Black women superheroes from DC Comics. Alongside the cover reveal was also an exclusive look at the art. Here’s the full summary:

Can you be a hero…if society doesn’t see you as a person?

Nubia has always been a little bit…different. As a baby she showcased Amazonian-like strength by pushing over a tree to rescue her neighbor’s cat. But, despite having similar abilities, the world has no problem telling her that she’s no Wonder Woman. And even if she was, they wouldn’t want her. Every time she comes to the rescue, she’s reminded of how people see her; as a threat. Her Moms do their best to keep her safe, but Nubia can’t deny the fire within her, even if she’s a little awkward about it sometimes. Even if it means people assume the worst.

When Nubia’s best friend, Quisha, is threatened by a boy who thinks he owns the town, Nubia will risk it all—her safety, her home, and her crush on that cute kid in English class—to become the hero society tells her she isn’t.

Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney, Brie Henderson, and Robyn Smith is set to be released February 2, 2021!

3. The Forest Of Stolen Girls by June Hur

June Hur revealed via her Twitter, the cover to her next YA historical mystery novel titled, The Forest Of Stolen Girls on June 8. The cover illustrator is Pedro Tapa. Her Here’s the full summary:

Hwani’s family has never been the same since she and her younger sister went missing and were later found unconscious in the forest, near a gruesome crime scene. The only thing they remember: Their captor wore a painted-white mask.

To escape the haunting memories of this incident, the family flees their hometown. Years later, Detective Min—Hwani’s father—learns that thirteen girls have recently disappeared under similar circumstances, and so he returns to their hometown to investigate… only to vanish as well.

Determined to find her father and solve the case that tore their family apart, Hwani returns home to pick up the trail. As she digs into the secrets of the small village—and reconnects with her now estranged sister—Hwani comes to realize that the answer lies within her own buried memories of what happened in the forest all those years ago.

The Forest Of Stolen Girls by June Hur is set to be released April 2021!

4. Perfect On Paper by Sophie Gonzales

On June 8 via Gonzales Twitter revealed the cover to her upcoming YA Contemporary titled, Perfect On Paper. Cover designer is Jonathan Bush. Here’s the full summary:

Everyone in school knows about Locker 89. If you slip a letter in outlining your relationship woes, along with a fiver, an anonymous source will email you with the best advice you’ve ever gotten.

Darcy Phillips, a quiet, sweet junior, is safe in the knowledge no one knows she’s the genius behind locker 89. Until Brougham, a senior, catches her.

The deal Brougham offers is tempting: in exchange for his silence–and a generous coach’s fee to sweeten the deal–Darcy can become Brougham’s personal dating coach to help him get his ex-girlfriend back.

And as for Darcy, well, she has a fairly good reason to want to keep her anonymity. Because she has another secret. Not too long ago, she abused locker 89 to sabotage the budding romance of her best friend, Brooke. Brooke, who Darcy’s been in love with for a year now.

Yeah. Brooke can’t find out about that. No matter what.

Perfect On Paper by Sophie Gonzales is set to be released March 2021!

Reclaimed Classics Series Is Coming In 2021!

On April 14, it was announced through Publishers Weekly that the Reclaimed Classics series will be released starting in Spring 2021 with Feiwel & Friends, featuring authors of color.

Four books in total will be part of this series, with release dates in 2021 (Spring & Fall) and 2022 (Winter & Spring).

The PW article states that these retellings will “uphold the core plot points, characters, and themes of the familiar versions of classic novels, yet these key components will be filtered through the lenses of the writers’ diverse experiences.”

C.B. Lee will kick-off the series with a Treasure Island retelling. Lee mentioned that it “was first on [her] list because when [she] was in school, [she] was fascinated by Chinese maritime history and for [her], re-envisioning this novel from a Chinese cultural perspective was a no-brainer.”

Second, Bethany C. Morrow plans to re-imagine Little Women featuring a Black family, which’ll be set “at the Freedmen’s Colony of Roanoke Island in 1863, a time when some of the residents were emancipated and some were not.”

Retelling this “supposedly universal story,” Morrow highlighted that “it takes place during the Civil War, but doesn’t involve or present any narratives of Black American women at the time.”

Morrow stated that if Little Women is a “universal story of love and sisterhood, then [her] novel will be a welcome adaptation among many.”

The third retelling will be written by Aminah Mae Safi, reimagining Robin Hood set during the Mideval 19th century.

Safi plans to center the story on a “Muslim girl’s adventure during the Third Crusade.” She added that “[Robin’s] someone who is deeply invested in the status quo and in his fight to rob the rich to give to the poor because he wants his own ancestral lands back. By taking this medieval legend of a crusader and turning that into the story of a young Muslim woman who is fighting to protect her own homeland from invaders and her own region’s fragile peace, I can also reclaim a piece of history. The medieval world was incredibly diverse and incredibly global. We all deserve to be able to see that.”

The final book in this series will be written by Tasha Suri who’ll be reimagining Wuthering Heights. Suri plans to weave in a “little-known part of history” when the British colonized India. White men traveled there, had children with Indian women and if the children passed as white, they were then sent back to England to be integrated into ‘proper’ white society.

Suri wants to “write a reclamation that says: everyone comes from somewhere, and colonialism may try to make us its monsters, but we don’t have to let it. I hope my re-imagining will also help make readers a little more aware of the long, long history of South Asians in Britain. There’s so much history that we’re not taught that young readers deserve to know…”

Emily Settle will be the assistant editor of this series and ” ‘absolutely’ anticipates that Reclaimed Classics will extend beyond the inaugural four titles…”

The series is now available to add on Goodreads!

Reclaimed Classics is set to be released in 2021!