Young Adult Fantasy

Gilded Lies by J. S. Martin

Posted By Fantasy Books Curator Leave a Comment

In the 1920s, this Peaky Blinders meets magic fantasy follows Lily Beth Winters and her reluctant journey to Boston to find a suitable husband to take over her failing family business. Once in Boston, Lily cannot help but fall deeper down into the enthralling world of old grudges and dark magic as she meets two enigmatic gangsters. With family secrets, deadly threats, and her reputation at stake, Lily must decide where her heart truly lies and in which world she belongs.

Targeted Age Group:: Young adult

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I am a former southern belle, now residing in Boston, Massachusetts and a lover of all things winter. The historical cultures of the north and south combined with my love for young adult literature pushed me to write this novel.

The Ivy Labyrinth: Volume 1 by Cady Hammer

Posted By Fantasy Books Curator Leave a Comment

Kristy Fitzpatrick just can’t catch a break.

As a mortal in a magical world, she often feels disconnected from the rest of her mystical, more exciting classmates. The only thing that she has to compete with in the classroom is her mind.

But even for a magical being like her impulsive naiad best friend, Brianna, life is far from stable. Centuries ago, when a fully formed labyrinth sprang from the ocean, the magic emanating from its ivy walls caused all kinds of devastating magical consequences that affect the planet every year from magical instability in beings all over the world to chaotic natural disasters.

Every year, four high school students are chosen to enter the labyrinth and try to break its hold on the world by solving a series of complex riddles and challenges. Most never come out.

But when Kristy’s school is selected as the home of the next four students, despite her lack of choice in the matter, she sees an opportunity to do something that no other student has managed to do so far: survive the labyrinth.

In Volume 1 of this Hunger Games-meets-Maze Runner high fantasy story from Kindle Vella and Radish, Kristy is about to learn whether her mind and body are up to the task. Because somehow, as she tests her own limitations, the Labyrinth is learning how to best her and her companions. There is no telling what kind of obstacles could come next.

Targeted Age Group:: Young Adult

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
This book was originally a concept I came up with in sixth grade while I was experimenting with stories to find my genre. I wanted to write something from multiple perspectives that would allow me to show off some of my favorite character archetypes and experiment with writing first person in the male voice. When I started work with Kindle Vella this past summer, I pulled this story out of the archives to revamp it and give it a new look. I aged up the characters, made the challenges a little more complicated, and played around with some more serious themes.

Gems of Fire by Diane E. Samson

Posted By Fantasy Books Curator Leave a Comment

Gems of Fire by Diane E. Samson

Palace of Sunderland. Paradise to the peasants. Prison to sixteen-year-old Anna, daughter of the king. She can never escape the castle’s cold walls and scorning disapproval of her father and his brute royal counsel, Seamus. She’ll always live in the shadow of her late mother the queen. Will they ever see her for who she really is?
A riding accident lands Anna in the hands of traders who sell her as a slave in distant Kasdod to none-other than her father’s enemy, Lord Anwar. After overhearing a dangerous plot to conquer Sunderland and kill the royal family, Anna must escape and warn her father, even if it means facing her greatest enemy.
With the doom looming over her, Anna is approached by a dangerous-looking man in the dark. He claims to want to help her, but can she trust him with her secrets? The perils of the journey ahead will push Anna to the limit and answer the one question that has always plagued her. Will she ever be enough?