These Violent Delights Sequel Title Reveal by Chloe Gong

As of January 13, Chloe Gong, New York Times Bestselling author of These Violent Delights announced the sequel title through a Twitter video which revealed Our Violent Ends.

The video, at only 24 seconds long, features a black screen with white flower motifs stating, “These Violent Delights have Violent Ends….” leading into the full title Our Violent Ends.

Gong’s historical fantasy debut is an imaginative Romeo & Juliet retelling set in Shanghai during the 1920’s. It follows former flapper Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov, her first love and betrayal. Cai is part of a criminal network above the law and Montagov is part of the rival gang, the White Flowers. However when danger arises, the two must work together before the city comes crumbling down.

Cover artist is Billelis. These Violent Delights was an instant NYT Bestseller, received over 4 starred reviews, and was even a Barnes & Noble Top 10 Best YA Science Fiction and Fantasy of 2020 pick.

Our Violent Ends is set to be released November 16, 2021.

The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.

A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.

But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong is out now!

The City Of Brass Optioned For Netflix!

It was revealed on May 19 that S.A. Chakraborty’s 2017 historical-fantasy debut The City Of Brass, will be in development with Netflix for a series.

According to Screen Daily, The City Of Brass was picked up by Complete Fiction, a debut production company. The team includes duo Edgar Wright and Nira park, alongside writer-director Joe Cornish and producer Rachael Prior.

As part of the company’s list of debut projects, The City Of Brass was optioned for development alongside two other science-fiction/fantasy titles.

According to Chakraborty’s Twitter she had this deal under wraps for over a year.

Complete Fiction is based in both London and Los Angeles, operating across film and television. The other projects included The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson in addition to the Lockwood & Co. novels by Jonathan Stroud.

No other details were announced about the adaptation, however it was mentioned that Cornish will be directing Lockwood & Co.

Complete Fiction is currently in post-production on Wright’s Last Night In Soho (which includes a role from Jessie Mei Li who stars in Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Shadow And Bone).

Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles.

But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass, a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.

In that city, behind gilded brass walls laced with enchantments, behind the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering. And when Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences.

After all, there is a reason they say be careful what you wish for…

The City Of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty is out now!

5 Audio Drama Podcast Recommendations For Readers Of Young Adult

The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen is officially out today! Inspired by her science-fiction podcast, The Bright Sessions, her debut follows a fan-favorite couple from the show: Caleb and Adam!

Lauren Shippen’s YA debut is a dual-perspective story following the relationship that develops between popular football player Caleb Michaels and lonely Adam Hayes, which runs parallel to the first few seasons of the podcast! Centering around their own introspective journeys, they’re navigating high school and learning more about themselves!

However, Caleb is Atypical meaning he has supernatural abilities and his is extreme empathy, which means he can sense the feelings of everyone around him and they get amplified through him! However, in the rough wave of high school emotions, Adam’s emotions allow him to find that peace he desperately needs.

His therapist, the mysterious Dr. Bright encourages him to pursue a friendship with Adam and as they grow closer, they learn more about each other and especially their own internal emotions!

On The Booked Shelf, I’ll be recommending 5 audio drama podcasts for readers of Young Adult!

If you don’t know, audio dramas are essentially fiction stories, which are told episodically through audio. They have a full cast, sound design, and are incredibly immersive forms of storytelling.

Also, the beauty of audio dramas is the diversity and variety of stories being told that you can’t really get with any other medium. If your looking for new and compelling stories, check out these podcasts!

1.The Bright Sessions created by Lauren Shippen

Told through therapy session (and other audio) recordings, The Bright Sessions follows therapist Dr. Bright and her patients, who have supernatural abilities (also known as “Atypicals”). As the story unravels, the listener learns more about each of these unique patients and the mysterious Dr. Bright. The Bright Sessions is an incredibly character-driven story that also discusses and explores mental health, government conspiracies, and so much more! If you’re new to the world of audio dramas, The Bright Sessions is the perfect podcast to start with.

2.Girl In Space created by Sarah Rhea Werner

X is a girl alone in space. Aboard her parents research vessel alongside her friendly AI companion Charlotte, she lives out her everyday life continuing their work on the ship. But when a mysterious organization known as Caldwell Enterprises learns of her ship and takes over, she begins to learn more about its crew and its mysterious motives. Girl In Space is a fantastic audio drama if your looking for a thought-provoking story set in space!

3.The Elysium Project created by Natalie Van Sistine

The Elysium Project is set in a near-futuristic US, there’s a mysterious organization, genetics, and mystery! Emma Greyson’s life becomes more complicated when she gets injected with a mysterious formula that gives her telekinetic abilities. But throughout the podcast, she learns how this formula is connected to her father, his top-secret job, and escaped test subjects who are teens just like her.

The storytelling, characters, plot, dialogue–essentially all the elements of this podcast, come together perfectly! The Elysium Project is one of the most cinematic podcasts I’ve ever listened to.

4. Victoriocity written by Chris Sugden & Jen Sugden

Set in 1887, Even Greater London, Victoriocity is a detective comedy drama following detective Archibald Fleet and determined journalist Clara Entwhistle as they team up to investigate a murder, but get tangled up in a conspiracy!

If you love steampunk, clever humor, interwoven with murder mystery, utterly magnificent world building, and a unique cast of characters that perfectly cement themselves in this captivating and sprawling place of Even Grater London, start listening RIGHT NOW you will not be disappointed!

5.Flyest Fables created by Morgan Givens

This anthology-style audio drama focuses on black and brown protagonists who encounter a magical book with their names mysteriously engraved on the cover. Offering the protagonist a fictional character who juxtaposes them, they find the inspiring messages or words they need at that very moment.

They quickly get immersed into a fable that’s much more than it seems upon first glance, . The story of Flyest Fables merges contemporary with fantasy, filled with hope and positivity!

If your a reader of YA and looking for more Audio Drama content, check out my feature Literary Listens!

The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen is out today!

The Kingdom Of Back by Marie Lu Cover Reveal

On June 28, Entertainment Weekly revealed the cover to Marie Lu’s first historical fantasy novel, The Kingdom Of Back.

Lu’s novel The Kingdom Of Back, is “about a musical prodigy and the dangerous lengths she’ll go to make history remember her. And it isn’t just any musical prodigy: Her heroine, Nannerl, is Mozart’s sister…”

” [The Kingdom Of Back] is a standalone historical fiction, which is different from what I’m used to and has been an intimidating experience. It’s a book about Wolfgang Mozart and his sister, Nannerl. Not a lot of people know about Nannerl, but she was a very accomplished pianist and composer and toured with Wolfgang. The book is about their adventures when they were younger, with some fantasy elements. It’s a huge departure for me and has required a heavier amount of research than past books…”

4 Questions for marie lu via Publishers weekly (september 2018)

Alongside the cover reveal (designed by David Curtis), EW also revealed an exclusive excerpt from The Kingdom Of Back!

The Kingdom Of Back Official Cover via Entertainment Weekly

Born with a gift for music, Nannerl Mozart has just one wish: to be remembered forever.

But even as she delights audiences with her masterful playing, she has little hope she’ll ever become the acclaimed composer she longs to be. She is a young woman in 18th century Europe, and that means composing is forbidden to her. She will perform only until she reaches a marriageable age; her tyrannical father has made that much clear. And as Nannerl’s hope grows dimmer with each passing year, the talents of her beloved younger brother, Wolfgang, only seem to shine brighter. His brilliance begins to eclipse her own, until one day a mysterious stranger from a magical land appears with an irresistible offer. He has the power to make her wish come true. But his help may cost her everything.

The Kingdom Of Back by Marie Lu is set to be released March 3, 2020!