Hello! I’m back again with another anticipated book releases entry. On October, there are more new books released and all of them are intriguing enough for me to whether it’s from the title, cover or the blurb. As usual, I write down everything based on their title and released date, not in other special order. Please note that, this entry is not a sponsored one, nobody paid me to make this long post, I simply just enjoy finding new books and collect them so I can refer back some time when I need some recommendations.

OCTOBER 5

1. Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan

Release date : October 5 2021

Keywords : Middle-grade, Fantasy, Magic School, Ocean, Mystery

It’s a stand-alone middle-grade fantasy that revolves around ocean and water. So, if you are participating a readathon that has water-related prompt, this book can be a choice for you. This book is about Ana who is a freshman in Harding-Pencroft Academy which the graduates are the best marine scientiest, navigator or ocean explorers. She only has her older brother while her parents died on an expedition 2 years ago. This academy has a rival academy named Land Institute. In the middle of their trial in the ocean, the freshmen witnessed something terrible that might be related to this rival school. The “war” has been going for 150 years, it’s said that they have to survive the danger because of this.

Goodreads | Amazon | Mizan Store (Indonesian translated version)

2. Everything Within and In Between by Nikki Barthelmess

Release date : October 5 2021

Keywords : Young Adult, Contemporary, Family

This is the first YA contemporary in this list. Everything Within and In Between is telling about Ri, who lives with her strict Mexican grandmother. Her grandmother never allows her to learn Spanish nor socialize with their neighbors, because she wants Ri to achieve the ideal American Dreams. But one day, Ri found a letter from her mom who disappeared years ago, begging for a visit. So, Ri thinks that her grandmother hide something from her. But her mom isn’t someone she would have imagined before. It mentioned about mixed heritage, identity and family, so I think it’s an interesting topic to discuss.

Goodreads | Amazon

3. Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

Release date : October 5 2021

Keywords : Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

It’s the first book in a YA fantasy series, Little Thieves which is about Vanja, a maid of Princess Gisele, who stole something enchanced that made her a princess and a jewel thief, while the real Princess Gisele is left out there penniless. This way Vanja could pay her debt to her adopted god-mothers, so she can be free. One wrong step lead her to a curse that turns her into a jewel in 2 weeks. With the help of Gisele’s fiancee and a detective, she has to figure out how to break the curse.

Goodreads | Amazon

4. Needlework by Julia Watts

Release date : October 5 2021

Keywords : Young Adult, Contemporary, Family

Another YA contemporary about family secrets and stuff. Here we follow our main character, Kody, a 16 year old boy who loves knitting and watching Golden Girls with his grandmother while the other boys his age would play football. Together with his grandmother, they take care of his mother whose drug addiction. Here Kody’s life will be about taking care of his mother and making sense of everything about himself, especially when the society isn’t so kind to a boy who doesn’t do the majority of “normal” boys do.

Goodreads | Amazon

5. Playing the Cards You're Dealt by Varian Johnson

Release date : October 5 2021

Keywords : Middle-grade, Contemporary, Family

This is the next book about family, expectations and secrets. We are following Anthony Joplin or Ant who just turned 10, meaning he can play in the spades tournament where everyone in Joplin family has always won. So his mind will be about cards and how to win the tournament so he can fulfill his father expectations. When his partner gets grounded, he has to find another partner. The only one left is a clever and noisy girl named Shirley. He decides to keep his plan as secret until the tournament, while his father also hides another secret that might tear the family apart.

Goodreads | Amazon

6. Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall (Author), Lisa Sterle (Illustrator)

Release date : October 5 2021

Keywords : Graphic novel, Young Adult, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller, Queer

This graphic novel follows Becca who gets transferred to an elite school of San Fransisco. Surprisingly she gets invited to join the popular girls gang in the school. It turns out the three of popular girls are werewolf who hunt slimy boys who take advantages of girls. When one of the girls’ boyfriend gets killed, the police begin the investigation for a serial killer. Becca has turned into a werewolf and found a place where she feels belong, as she finds out she falls in love with one of her new friends.

Goodreads | Amazon

OCTOBER 12

1. Imaginary by Lee Bacon (Author), Katie Wu (Illustrator)

Release date : October 12, 2021

Keywords : Middle-grade, Magical Realism, Contemporary

This story follow Zach whose father died 5 years ago, best friend who leaves him and classmates who tease him, so all he wants is escaping the reality. That’s why his imaginary friend, Shovel, doesn’t disappear even after Zach turning eleven and occasionally brings him to the fantasy world. It’s an interesting book about friendship, loss, and growing up which is told by the imaginary friend of Zach.

Goodreads | Amazon

2. The Corpse Flower (A Kaldan and Schäfer Mystery #1) by Anne Mette Hancock

Release date : October 12, 2021

Keywords : Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Journalism, Suspense

First released on 2017, this mystery thriller first book in A Kaldan and Schafer Mystery series follow Heloise Kaldan, a 36 year old Danish journalist who might lose her job and received a mysterious letter from a killer. Anna Kiel hasn’t been seen since her stabbing a lawyer 3 years ago. But a detective Erik Schafer investigates a reporter who wrote Ana’s case found murdered in his apartment, but every clue leads to Heloise. While Heloise keeps receiving the mysterious letters that hint the connection between her and Anna. She must visit her dark past and someone she doesn’t want to meet in order to uncover Anna’s stories.

Goodreads | Amazon

3. The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta

Release date : October 12, 2021

Keywords : Young Adult, Contemporary, Queer, Romance, Foods

It’s another interesting contemporary, which as bonus, it has baking and bakery inside. This story follows Syd, who has just been broken up and decided to work at Proud Muffin, a queer bakery and community in Austin. The interesting thing of Syd’s baking is that everyone who eats it, will break up, including the Proud Muffin’s owners, Vin and Alec, that also brings the danger to the bakery. Then a cute delivery person named Harley, believes that Syd’s magical baking can also fix everything too.

Goodreads | Amazon

4. The Keeper of Night (The Keeper of Night #1) by Kylie Lee Baker

Release date : October 12, 2021

Keywords : Young Adult, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Mythology

This first book in a YA fantasy series, The Keeper of Night follows Ren, a half English Reaper and Japanese shinigami finding her place among the reapers. While she feels not belong to the reaper society, she flees to Japan to join the shinigami society to serve the Goddess of Death. But, here she also has to prove herself worthy and earns the respect, so she receives an impossible task to beat three demon yokai.

Goodreads | Amazon

5. The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu

Release date : October 12, 2021

Keywords : Middle-grade, Fantasy, Boarding School, Magic School, Mystery

A middle grade fantasy about a girl named Marya Lupu who goes unnoticed as her brother, Luka, is someone who is expected to be a sorcerer, just like any other boys in their family. When the sorcerers came to test Luka’s magic, Marya made terrible mistake and this made her gets invited to a mysterious school named Dragomir Academy. This school promises all the girls to fit in and make themselves useful for the country’s sorceres. But then Marya finds out something that threaten the balance of her country there.

Goodreads | Amazon

OCTOBER 19

1. Barakah Beats by Maleeha Siddiqui

Release date : October 19, 2021

Keywords : Middle-grade, Contemporary, School, Muslim, Music

This book follows 12 years old Nimra Sharif who has spent her early life in Islamic school. When she finally goes to the public school, she doesn’t feel fit there. The teachers are mean, the schedule is confusing, and her best friend – Jenna starts avoiding her because of her hijab. One day, a popular boy band in the school invites her to join in. She secretly joins the band to get back with Jenna, then once everything is normal, she would resign from the band. But this is not as easy as she thought because everyone in the band respects Nimra and the band applied to a talent show, and her secret will be known by her parents.

Goodreads | Amazon

2. Fifty-Four Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers by Caela Carter

Release date : October 19, 2021

Keywords : Middle-grade, Contemporary, Realistic fiction, School

It sounds an interesting book when it focuses on Gwendolyn who is considered troublesome by her school with 54 problems in her. If she can’t get those things under control, she would never get allowed to join the camp. Nobody can’t help her, so she decided to follow the steps her mother took to cure herself. It’s a middle-grade and a standalone about someone learns about herself, what differences that make her, and that those things are neither right or wrong.

Goodreads | Amazon

OCTOBER 26

1. As the Wicked Watch (Jordan Manning #1) by Tamron Hall

Release date : October 26, 2021

Keywords : Mystery, Thriller, Adult, POC, Journalism

The first book in a mystery thriller series Jordan Manning, As The Wicked Watch follows Jordan Manning, a brilliant crime reporter with a forensic education background moving to Chicago. She is the only people of color in the newsroom, and she covers murders of black women which are mostly soon to be forgotten. Then, a murder of Masey James whose body found in an abandoned lot with 3 boys are charged for this, but Jordan believes there’s a serial killer hiding somewhere.

Goodreads | Amazon

2. The School Between Winter and Fairyland by Heather Fawcett

Release date : October 26, 2021

Keywords : Middle-grade, Fantasy, Magic school, Dragon

This middle-grade fantasy follows Autumn Malog in search for her twin brother. She is a servant at Inglenook School where young magicians study to become monster hunters. In her spare time, she would find clues where her twin brother is, since she believes he’s within the castle wall, while everyone else his disappearance is related the Hollow Dragon. When Cai Morrigan comes to her for help to destroy the Hollow Dragon, she agrees with one condition, that they will find her twin brother. Together they uncover the secrets behind Inglenook School.

Goodreads | Amazon

3. These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant

Release date : October 26, 2021

Keywords : Mystery, Suspense, Adult, Contemporary

It’s a book that follows a father and daughter in a remote mountain because of the father’s secrets. There they live with no electricity, no family and no connection to outer world. The only people who know their existence is a hermit named Scotland and a friend named Jake (who brings foods every winter). But Jake doesn’t come this year and brings some events to the two. Then some stranger came, and the obsession of the daughter of the outer world might bring the danger to them. So, it’s up to the father to keep hiding or to face his past.

Goodreads | Amazon

Is there any of the books above your anticipated book release for October? Or do you have your own anticipated book release list? Tell me down below. That’s all for today’s entry, see you on my next entry probably a book review or my September reading wrap up. Bye bye!

Book shelf photo by Luisa Brimble on Unsplash

Title picture and infographics by lailiving

Hi friends! How are you?

The last half of September was the busiest part of the month for me. On September I read some heavy and big books which required a lot of re-reading and full concentration. So, for October, I want to read some lighter books and hopefully some easy to read books. That’s why I participated to one readathon by Grace with Books on Youtube titled Scaredy Cat Readathon. It doesn’t require a lot of books to read or complicated prompts to participate. While doing this readathon, I’m also going to finish the rest of the Magical Readathon Orilium prompts for Character Building. Here I want to change the books from my September 2021 Reading Plans and add some books to build my character.

Scaredy Cat Readathon

In this readathon, I chose Haunted Mansion Path which has the following two main prompts, and one extra prompt :

1. Eat Your Brains : read a book with a brainy main character

Book I chose : The Dead of False Creek (Journal Through Time #1) by Sarah M. Stephen

2. Haunted Mansion : read a book set in a haunted location

Book I chose : Phantom of The Opera by Gaston Leroux

3. Movie Night : read a book with a movie adaptation

Book I chose : Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Magical Readathon : Orilium The Novice Path Character Building Prompts

Some books from September Reading Plans are changed because I want to change my character a little bit, so here we will have half Elf half Earthling who was born in Irtheria but then she moved to Darkmeadow before taking a journey to Orilium.

4. Elf : moon or stars in the cover or title

Book I chose : The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

5. Earthling : book with elemental magic or an elemental word in the book or series title

Book I chose : With Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

6. Urban : book set in a city or town

Book I chose : Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono

7. Other book I want to read

Rosemary and The Book of The Dead by Samantha Giles

I want to read this since I have the arc of it, and it’s going to be released on October.

So, that’s all the seven books I want to read on October. Do you plan to read some interesting books too? Or is there any of the above books which also you planned to read? Tell me down below.

Title photo by Tanya Trukyr on Unsplash

Title graphic by lailiving

I know it’s not a good idea to join too many readathons in one month, especially some of them took only the first 14 days of the month. This is what happened to me on August. I joined 4 readathons as I mentioned on my August 2021 Reading Plans, with 3 additional prompts from my tarot deck. On the first 2 weeks, I have finished some books and 2 readathons. But then I got sick on third week, so I lost my reading mood.

Here the short reviews and thoughts about every book I finished reading during the month of August

1. My Cat Called Red by Jane Lightbourne

The first ARC I finished this month. This is about a grumpy boy who deals with family loss and he met his grandfather where he told him a story about the red cat that came to their house. It’s a cat adventure story that tells about friendship, courage and love. A nice short story which you can finish in one sitting.

2. AfterMath by Emily Barth Isler

I listened the audiobook version narrated by the author herself. One word to describe this book : BRILLIANT. This book follows Lucy who just moved to a new place after her brother death. Everyone in her new school suffered from the tragedy happened several years ago involved shooting and gun, death and wounds. Told in the first person point of view, we can know Lucy’s thoughts, fears, insecurities, as well as her love for Math. Every character in this book is written beautifully and in realistic way. This book shows the importance of communication between family member and taking medication or therapy for mental health issues. I love the narrator’s voice and how she brought the story to my head. It’s a heavy topic for middle grade age range, yet I feel this is not something unrealistic. This can be happening anywhere to anyone. I can deeply relate to everyone especially Lucy yet I didn’t expect her to do something here to avoid her own pain. I simply trust the author. It can be an eye-opening book that is told from the perspective of a 12-year-old Lucy. I believe this story can be a good read for young adults and adults to understand trauma better and for a reference in a discussion about mental health and family matter. I listened the ARC provided by Netgalley, however I’m going to buy the paperback once it’s released, as this book has been in my September 2021 Anticipated Book Releases.

3. Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

The first chapter was confusing with so many new names mentioned there, you have to take notes of which names is who before continuing the story unless you have good memory of Japanese names. This book shows what it needs and someone has to sacrifice to obtain something they want that is considered as impossible. Consists of some touching one chapter-length stories revolved around Funiculi Funicula’s customers and the staff. One book that dug my emotions up when it came to a story of the siblings and mother-daughter. I love the vibe of the café and the people inside, all the characters are well built along with the backstory which made them going to the café.

4. Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon

Told in dual point of views which I actually am not really into. I like Grey and Isha, and can understand Jaya with all the weird things she does. Jaya is smart and has the confident and courage despite the situation her family is currently in. Typical plot that happened inside a romance book. I didn’t see anything surprising from the revelation and the solution. I wish it has some explanations about the curses and the missing ruby (not only those they acquired from the jewelry guy) and what really happened with the gem (is it really curse or only the mind doing its business to people who believes it).

5. Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

I love the writing that builds the entire environment in the book and keeps the reader sticking in. The first half is interesting, however the second half I started to not care about anything happening in the story since some are repetitive and there some trigger warnings especially about pain, menstrual pain, illness and self-harm.

6. Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of The Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I can deeply relate to the grumpy Ari. A realistic character with all his rage and kindness in one body. Communication and sharing thoughts with people we cared about (or close to) is important or else we can be forever in misunderstanding and living in our own assumptions.  I love the family, the jokes and the openness Dante offered.

7. A World without Princes by Soman Chainani

I like the first book better than the second. In this book, we can’t see the consistency of Agatha’s character and what she had to decide. What I didn’t like here is the miscommunication thing that stirred the difficult situation (it’s personal thing, so if you’re okay with miscommunication and lies and deception to add into the chaos, ignore this). The revelation is always unexpected and I always can sympathize Sophie for her life in the village.

8 – 17. Kitchen Princess Vol 1 – 10 by Natsumi Ando & Miyuki Kobayashi

I finished 10 volumes of one of my favorite manga during 8^th grade. This story is about Najika in her new luxurious school, in order to find her “prince” she met back in her childhood. She comes from an orphanage in Hokkaido and is very good at cooking. I love the drawing style and the delicious sweet fashionable chapter title. Every chapter has delicious foods or refreshing drinks. I love the sweet vibe from this manga and how food can connect people and recall memories. I love the friendship, love and support shown in this story. It has family loss, grief, trauma, and eating disorder, but it’s wrapped in a such warm and reassuring atmosphere. Also! There are the recipe pages in the end of each book.

18. Zodiac P. I Vol. 1 by Natsumi Ando

This is the first manga that made me learning about astrology. I always felt drawn to the star and space thing, but I haven’t had the chance to figure out what is the thing that made me curious about it. This manga just declared that one thing I was curious about is the constellations and astrology and mythology related to it. So, this manga is about a girl named Riri Hoshizawa who is an astrologer. She has a friend named Hiromi Oikawa. Together, the two works together to solve the mystery behind every criminal acts. If you are familiar with the drawing here, especially Oikawa, yes he does look like Daichi from Kitchen Princess because they have the same mangaka. I love the cute zodiac spirits summoned in every case and how it made me curious as an 8^th grader. The crime cases weren’t like those you can find from a mystery thriller manga like Kindaichi or Meitantei Conan, it has simpler and (some are impossible to do) less thrilling mystery. This manga also runs on the most basic astrology which reads through sun signs and doesn’t have certain magic system like you can find in Cardcaptor Sakura. It’s simple and sweet and cheerful and nice.

19. Saving Fable by Scott Reintgen

Mind blowing book! It’s for middle grade but I do love the idea behind the story which took the idea as the main plot. It took place in the Imaginary, the place where all ideas exist for the authors to pick for a story. It has certain system and rules for a character to be chosen by the author, one is through a school which Indira has been dreaming. I don’t know which things I should mention here without spoiling the story. Haha. The revelation is unexpected. And I love how it shows the most common plot happened in every story about hero, and how Indira tries to not follow the path.

20. Night Shift Witch by Cate Lawley

21. Witching Moon by K. E Bonner

It sets in the 1940s, so the there are some difficult words embedded in every conversation. The first quarter of the book is interesting since it introduces the reader to the world, characters and the problem arises. But, once the adventure begins, the characters just ran into one problem to the other and met people whose existence didn’t influence the story, only to add more chapters. I expected some magic development and learning through the long journey, but it focuses more on to the problems and the pursuers and the torturing and the pain. It becomes faster when reaches some last chapters of the book, and I wasn’t really interested at how the people come together there.

22. The Magic Ocean Slide by Emma Beswetherick

It’s a reading recommendation for children which introduces the environment awareness and provides some simple steps we can start from home.

23. Bear Wants to Sing by Cary Fagan

A cute graphic book with wonderful monochrome drawing in browns. A short and sweet story that delivers the message in a flowing way.

24. People Who Love to Eat Are Always the Best People: And Other Wisdom by Julia Child

25. The Gatekeeper of Pericael by Hayley Reese Chow

Current Reads

Books I'm going to finish on September, as I mentioned in my September 2021 Reading Plans where I participate on Magical Readathon The Novice Path to Orilium Academy :

1. Charting Stars by Micheline Ryckman

2. The Crowns of Croswald by D.E Night

3. Zodiac P. I Vol. 2 by Natsumi Ando

So, that's all for my August reading wrap up. Did you find some good books on August? Tell me down below!

Reading graphics by lailiving / shainalite

Photo by Lizzie on Unsplash

Hi friends! How are you? I know this might be unusual for me to post another entry for September, yet I want to post this one because I want to share some books that caught my eyes on which will be released someday this month (some of them might have been released by the time this post being published). There are some books I’m curious about by reading their blurbs, and some other are the ones I love because I received their ARCs before and I’m planning to buy them. The books I mentioned below will be sorted based on their released date (since there are some different released dates for different countries, I chose to use the amazon version of released dates for easier access). A disclaimer, it's not a sponsored post. I simply put the books I found here, and for the ARCs, I put them only when I love them. I believe there are way more books which have interesting premises and blurbs out there. So, let me know if there is an interesting book released on September that I haven't mentioned below!

September 2021 Anticipated Book Releases

1. Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain

Genre / Keywords : Young Adult, Fantasy, Thriller, Mystery, Paranormal

Length : 433 pages

Release date : September 2, 2021

“A teen girl disappears from her small town deep in the bayou, where magic festers beneath the surface of the swamp like water rot, in this chilling debut supernatural thriller for fans of Natasha Preston, Karen McManus, and Rory Power.

La Cachette, Louisiana, is the worst place to be if you have something to hide.

This tiny town, where seventeen-year-old Grey spends her summers, is the self-proclaimed Psychic Capital of the World--and the place where Elora Pellerin, Grey's best friend, disappeared six months earlier.

Grey can't believe that Elora vanished into thin air any more than she can believe that nobody in a town full of psychics knows what happened. But as she digs into the night that Elora went missing, she begins to realize that everybody in town is hiding something - her grandmother Honey; her childhood crush Hart; and even her late mother, whose secrets continue to call to Grey from beyond the grave.

When a mysterious stranger emerges from the bayou - a stormy-eyed boy with links to Elora and the town's bloody history - Grey realizes that La Cachette's past is far more present and dangerous than she'd ever understood. Suddenly, she doesn't know who she can trust. In a town where secrets lurk just below the surface, and where a murderer is on the loose, nobody can be presumed innocent--and La Cachette's dark and shallow lies may just rip the town apart.”

Goodreads | Amazon 

2. After/Math by Emily Barth Isler

Genre/Keywords : Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Mental Health

Length : 217 pages

Release date : September 7, 2021

“After her brother's death from a congenital heart defect, twelve-year-old Lucy is not prepared to be the new kid at school--especially in a grade full of survivors of a shooting that happened four years ago. Without the shared past that both unites and divides her classmates, Lucy feels isolated and unable to share her family's own loss, which is profoundly different from the trauma of her peers.

Lucy clings to her love of math, which provides the absolute answers she craves. But through budding friendships and an after-school mime class, Lucy discovers that while grief can take many shapes and sadness may feel infinite, love is just as powerful.”

Goodreads | Amazon | Scribd

I read this book on August in audiobook format provided as an arc by Netgalley. I love this book and I’m planning to buy the paperback edition. You can read my short review about how brilliant this book in my August 2021 Reading Wrap Up.

3. Loteria by Karla Valenti

Genre/Keywords : Middle Grade, Fantasy, Magic

Length : 311 pages

Release date : September 7, 2021

“The turn of a card could change your destiny... The Phantom Tollbooth meets Coco in this captivating magical realist adventure based on the Lotería card game.

A perilous game of chance.

A journey among myths and monsters.

A girl whose fate hangs in the balance...

It is the hottest hour of the hottest day in Oaxaca City when Life and Death walk into town, ready to begin a new game of la Lotería. But first, they need a pawn, a child whose fate will be determined by the winner of the game: a long and prosperous life or an untimely death. Fate finds this child in a robin-egg blue house, tucked beneath a massive jacaranda tree. And so, the game begins.

Every card reveals a new twist in Clara's fate: a tree, a scorpion, a fateful arrow, a mermaid, a deer, a treacherous rose. But Clara knows none of this. All she knows is that her cousin Esteban has vanished, and she’ll do whatever it takes to save him, traveling to the mythical Kingdom of Las Pozas in her search. And although it seems her fate was sealed as soon as the cards were dealt, Clara just might have what it takes to shatter the game and choose a new path.”

Goodreads | Amazon

4. Never Saw You Coming by Erin Hahn

Genre/Keywords : Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Length : 310 pages

Release date : September 7, 2021

“Raised by conservative parents, 18-year-old Meg Hennessey just found out her entire childhood was a lie. Instead of taking a gap year before college to find herself, she ends up traveling north to meet what’s left of the family she never knew existed.

While there, she meets Micah Allen, a former pastor’s kid whose dad ended up in prison, leaving Micah with his own complicated relationship about the church. The clock is ticking on Pastor Allen’s probation hearing and Micah, now 19, feels the pressure to forgive - even when he can’t possibly forget.

As Meg and Micah grow closer, they are confronted with the heavy flutterings of first love and all the complications it brings. Together, they must navigate the sometimes-painful process of cutting ties with childhood beliefs as they build toward something truer and straight from the heart.”

Goodreads | Amazon

5. Pahua and The Soul Stealer by Lori M. Lee

Genre/Keywords : Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mythology, Adventure, Asian Literature

Length : 345 pages

Release date : September 7, 2021

“Pahua Moua has a bit of a reputation for being a weirdo. A lonely eleven-year-old Hmong girl with the unique ability to see spirits, she spends her summer days babysitting her little brother and playing with her best friend, a cat spirit no one else can see.

One day Pahua accidentally untethers an angry spirit from the haunted bridge in her neighborhood--whoops. When her brother suddenly falls sick and can't be awoken, Pahua fears that the bridge spirit has stolen his soul. She returns to the scene of the crime with her aunt's old shaman tools, hoping to confront the spirit and demand her brother's return. Instead, she summons a demon.

Thankfully, a warrior shaman with a bit of an attitude problem shows up at the last minute and saves her butt. With the help of this guide, Pahua will have to find her way through the spirit worlds and rescue her brother's soul before it's too late. Little does she know she'll have her own discoveries to make along the way. . . .”

Goodreads | Amazon

6. Snowflake by Louise Nealon

Genre/Keywords : Adult, Contemporary, Coming of Age, Irish Literature

Length : 262 pages

Release date : September 7, 2021

“Eighteen-year-old Debbie was raised on her family’s rural dairy farm, forty minutes and a world away from Dublin. She lives with her mother, Maeve, a skittish woman who takes to her bed for days on end, claims not to know who Debbie’s father is, and believes her dreams are prophecies. Rounding out their small family is Maeve’s brother Billy, who lives in a caravan behind their house, drinks too much, and likes to impersonate famous dead writers online. Though they may have their quirks, the Whites’ fierce love for one another is never in doubt.

But Debbie’s life is changing. Earning a place at Trinity College Dublin, she commutes to her classes a few days a week. Outside the sheltered bubble of her childhood for the first time, Debbie finds herself both overwhelmed and disappointed by her fellow students and the pace and anonymity of city life. While the familiarity of the farm offers comfort, Debbie still finds herself pulling away from it. Yet just as she begins to ponder the possibilities the future holds, a resurgence of strange dreams raises her fears that she may share Maeve’s fate. Then a tragic accident upends the family’s equilibrium, and Debbie discovers her next steps may no longer be hers to choose.”

Goodreads | Amazon

7. Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs

Genre/Keywords : Middle Grade, Historical Fiction

Length : 288 pages

Release date : September 14, 2021

“It is 1913, and twelve-year-old Petra Luna's mama has died while the Revolution rages in Mexico. Before her papa is dragged away by soldiers, Petra vows to him that she will care for the family she has left―her abuelita, little sister Amelia, and baby brother Luisito―until they can be reunited. They flee north through the unforgiving desert as their town burns, searching for safe harbor in a world that offers none.

Each night when Petra closes her eyes, she holds her dreams close, especially her long-held desire to learn to read. Abuelita calls these barefoot dreams: "They're like us barefoot peasants and indios―they're not meant to go far." But Petra refuses to listen. Through battlefields and deserts, hunger and fear, Petra will stop at nothing to keep her family safe and lead them to a better life across the U.S. border―a life where her barefoot dreams could finally become reality.”

Goodreads | Amazon

8. Defy The Night (Defy The Night #1) by Brigid Kemmerer

Genre/Keywords : Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, High Fantasy

Length : 354 pages

Release date : September 14, 2021

“The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand.

King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents' shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King's Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion--it's the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited.

Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most--but it's still not enough.

As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King's Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it's even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.”

Goodreads | Amazon

9. White Smoke by Tiffany D Jackson

Genre/Keywords : Young Adult, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal, Ghost

Length : 384 pages

Release date : September 14, 2021

“Marigold is running from ghosts. The phantoms of her old life keep haunting her, but a move with her newly blended family from their small California beach town to the embattled Midwestern city of Cedarville might be the fresh start she needs. Her mom has accepted a new job with the Sterling Foundation that comes with a free house, one that Mari now has to share with her bratty ten-year-old stepsister, Piper.

The renovated picture-perfect home on Maple Street, sitting between dilapidated houses, surrounded by wary neighbors has its . . . secrets. That’s only half the problem: household items vanish, doors open on their own, lights turn off, shadows walk past rooms, voices can be heard in the walls, and there’s a foul smell seeping through the vents only Mari seems to notice. Worse: Piper keeps talking about a friend who wants Mari gone.

But “running from ghosts” is just a metaphor, right?

As the house closes in, Mari learns that the danger isn’t limited to Maple Street. Cedarville has its secrets, too. And secrets always find their way through the cracks.”

Goodreads | Amazon

10. Breaking Badlands (Talespinners #3) by Scott Reintgen

Genre/Keywords : Middle Grade, Fantasy, Book about Books, Magic, Adventure

Length : 344 pages

Release date : September 21, 2021

“Having saved Imagination twice now, Indira is on a well-earned vacation when she is kidnapped by the Anti-Heroes. The covert group has one goal: overthrow the tyrannical leader of Fester and Antagonist Academy. After they plead their case, Indira agrees to join their secret mission and go undercover as a student at the legendary school for villains-in-training--where she gets drawn into a virtual warfare competition known as the Badlands.

Facing monster teachers, plotting classmates, distracting love interests and combative old foes is all second nature to a hero like Indira. But what happens when that heroic nature is turned against her like a weapon? Can Indira get to the bottom of what's going on in Fester before this virtual battlescape spills over into a real war for ultimate control of Imagination?”

Goodreads | Amazon

I read Saving Fable which is the first book in Talespinners series and I love it. The idea behind this book is genius. I love Indira as main character here. I haven't read the second book and didn't know the third book is coming out this month yet I'm excited for this release. You can read my short review in my August 2021 Reading Wrap Up.

11. Under The Whispering Door by T.J Klune

Genre/Keywords : Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, LGBT, Romance, Ghost, Paranormal

Length : 390 pages

Release date : September 21, 2021

“When a reaper comes to collect Wallace Price from his own funeral, Wallace suspects he really might be dead.

Instead of leading him directly to the afterlife, the reaper takes him to a small village. On the outskirts, off the path through the woods, tucked between mountains, is a particular tea shop, run by a man named Hugo. Hugo is the tea shop's owner to locals and the ferryman to souls who need to cross over.

But Wallace isn't ready to abandon the life he barely lived. With Hugo's help he finally starts to learn about all the things he missed in life.

When the Manager, a curious and powerful being, arrives at the tea shop and gives Wallace one week to cross over, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in seven days.”

Goodreads | Amazon

I read the arc of this book this month provided by Netgalley. I really like the story especially the jokes and the compassion shown in every chapter. I read it as part of Magical Readathon in the month of September. It's a slow read for me, since I read it through my mobile app. You can read my short review about this book on September 2021 Reading Wrap Up.

12. Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray

Genre/Keywords : Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, High Fantasy, Magic

Length : 496 pages

Release date : September 28, 2021

“Magic doesn't exist in the broken city of Lkossa anymore, especially for girls like sixteen-year-old Koffi. Indentured to the notorious Night Zoo, she cares for its fearsome and magical creatures to pay off her family's debts and secure their eventual freedom. But the night her loved ones' own safety is threatened by the Zoo's cruel master, Koffi unleashes a power she doesn't fully understand--and the consequences are dire.

As the second son of a decorated hero, Ekon is all but destined to become a Son of the Six--an elite warrior--and uphold a family legacy. But on the night of his final rite of passage, a fire upends his plans. In its midst, Ekon not only encounters the Shetani--a vicious monster that has plagued the city and his nightmares for nearly a century--but a curious girl who seems to have the power to ward off the beast. Koffi's power ultimately saves Ekon's life, but his choice to let her flee dooms his hopes of becoming a warrior.

Desperate to redeem himself, Ekon vows to hunt the Shetani down and end its reign of terror, but he can't do it alone. Meanwhile, Koffi believes finding the Shetani and selling it for a profit could be the key to solving her own problems. Koffi and Ekon--each keeping their true motives secret from the other--form a tentative alliance and enter into the unknowns of the Greater Jungle, a world steeped in wild magic and untold dangers. The hunt begins. But it quickly becomes unclear whether they are the hunters or the hunted.”

Goodreads | Amazon

13. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Genre/Keywords : Adult, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Book about Books

Length : 637 pages

Release date : September 28, 2021

“Thirteen-year-old Anna, an orphan, lives inside the formidable walls of Constantinople in a house of women who make their living embroidering the robes of priests. Restless, insatiably curious, Anna learns to read, and in this ancient city, famous for its libraries, she finds a book, the story of Aethon, who longs to be turned into a bird so that he can fly to a utopian paradise in the sky. This she reads to her ailing sister as the walls of the only place she has known are bombarded in the great siege of Constantinople. Outside the walls is Omeir, a village boy, miles from home, conscripted with his beloved oxen into the invading army. His path and Anna’s will cross.

Five hundred years later, in a library in Idaho, octogenarian Zeno, who learned Greek as a prisoner of war, rehearses five children in a play adaptation of Aethon’s story, preserved against all odds through centuries. Tucked among the library shelves is a bomb, planted by a troubled, idealistic teenager, Seymour. This is another siege. And in a not-so-distant future, on the interstellar ship Argos, Konstance is alone in a vault, copying on scraps of sacking the story of Aethon, told to her by her father. She has never set foot on our planet.”

Goodreads | Amazon

14. Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

Genre/Keywords : Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, LGBT

Length : 363 pages

Release date : September 28, 2021

“Shizuka Satomi made a deal with the devil: to escape damnation, she must entice seven other violin prodigies to trade their souls for success. She has already delivered six.

When Katrina Nguyen, a young transgender runaway, catches Shizuka's ear with her wild talent, Shizuka can almost feel the curse lifting. She's found her final candidate.

But in a donut shop off a bustling highway in the San Gabriel Valley, Shizuka meets Lan Tran, retired starship captain, interstellar refugee, and mother of four. Shizuka doesn't have time for crushes or coffee dates, what with her very soul on the line, but Lan's kind smile and eyes like stars might just redefine a soul's worth. And maybe something as small as a warm donut is powerful enough to break a curse as vast as the California coastline.

As the lives of these three women become entangled by chance and fate, a story of magic, identity, curses, and hope begins, and a family worth crossing the universe for is found.”

Goodreads | Amazon

15. The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Genre/Keywords : Adult, Romance, Witches, Fantasy, Contemporary

Length : 282 pages

Release date : September 28, 2021

“Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.

That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.

Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.”

Goodreads | Amazon

Sooo, that’s all for today’s entry. This is the longest entry I made so far (I guess) haha. So, do you have anticipated books released on September? Tell me down below.

Note : I used the blurbs from Goodreads, and the page length is from Amazon Kindle (so it might be different if you buy the paperback version)

Title photo by lailiving

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash