If you’re searching for your new favourite book and/or author, look no further! We invited our friends from QBD Books to tell us which titles they are most looking forward to from August.
The Erasure Initiative
By Lili Wilkinson
Out Now
You wake up on a self-driving bus. You don’t remember your name. You don’t know where you’re going. But someone is testing you. And passing this test may be a matter of life and death!
This YA thriller is set to be a one hell of a ride. Six strangers with no memory of their lives are forced into simulations of a number of ethical dilemmas. Their task? Decide the best outcome. But what if neither outcome is best? And what if the stakes just keep getting higher?
The premise of this reminds me of ‘The Trolley Problem’ episode of The Good Place. A powerful being torturing a group of ordinary humans with simulations of moral dilemmas. But deciding the best course of action, in theory, is one thing. To actually have real lives on the line is another!
Like a deadly game of ‘Would You Rather’, this book is bound to dig deep beneath your skin, leaving you utterly shattered as you question your own moral judgements.
– Alyssa, QBD Books Penrith, NSW
Midnight Sun
By Stephenie Meyer
Out Now
It’s been a long time coming to satisfy my teen vampire novel indulgence in the form of Midnight Sun, and I cannot wait to sink my teeth into this!
Teased all those years ago, we finally get to view Twilight from the brooding, 100+ year-old, topaz eyes of Edward Cullen. We can expect this to be a much darker take on the iconic story, as we delve into Edward’s internal monologue of his insatiable, tortured love for Bella. I’m looking forward to learning more about Edward’s history, and how he came to be the serious, impossibly beautiful, mind-reading vampire the world’s teenage population fell in love with. Here’s hoping this companion novel shines as brightly as a vampire in the sun!
– Megan, QBD Books Traralgon, VIC
Bleach: Can’t Fear Your Own World
By Tite Kubo
Out Now
Almost four years after Tite Kubo’s hit series Bleach ended, the world of Soul Society makes a grand return in Can’t Fear Your Own World. Set after the events of the Thousand Year Blood War, this series follows one of the characters from the original series, Shuhei Hisagi.
This time, Hisagi must attempt to defuse a civil war brewing in Soul Society after Tokinada Tsunayashiro enacts a plan to create a new Soul King. This light novel is perfect for fans of the series that want a new spin on a beloved classic. It rounds out a lot of the lore of the Bleach world and revisits old characters that fans will almost certainly want to see more of. While the Bleach series may be old, it is definitely still a great read, and with a continuation of the anime adaptation coming soon, hopefully we’ll see more from this series!
– Rory, QBD Books Miranda, NSW
Ever Cursed
By Corey Ann Haydu
Out Now
I stumbled across this one by accident, and the more I read about it, the more I knew I needed to read it! Five beloved princesses of Ever receive their curse on their 13th birthday. Each of the princesses are cursed to go without: eat, sleep, love, remember or hope. When the youngest princess is bestowed with her burden, so begins a quest to rectify the situation and rid themselves of their curses.
Told from the perspective of Jane, the eldest princess, and Reagan, the very witch who cast the curse, Ever Cursed promises to be the feminist fairy tale we all need! It clearly explores many issues young girls encounter, and the gorgeous cover art is just the cherry on top.
– Megan, QBD Books Traralgon, VIC
Loveless
By Alice Oseman
Out Now
A new Alice Oseman novel! One thing I’ve come to expect from her novels is a contemporary view on issues surrounding teenagers and the challenges they face in love, relationships and self-discovery. Loveless is not going to disappoint in that respect, focussing on the character of Georgia.
Georgia realises that love and relationships are foreign to her. Never been kissed, or even had a crush, Georgia is obsessed with fan fiction romances. Surely she will find her own fairy tale love one day, right? With a fresh start at a new University, in a new town, along with her friends Pip and Jason, Georgia is determined to find romance. But things don’t go as smoothly for her as they seem to for everyone else. Georgia’s journey to find out about herself, and the nature of true love, is bound to be another gripping read!
– Megan, QBD Books Traralgon, VIC
Agnes at the End of the World
By Kelly McWilliams
Release Date: Tuesday, 11 August 2020
Agnes thought she loved the place she lived. There, she cares endlessly for her younger siblings. What Agnes doesn’t know is that the place she calls home is a cult. Then Agnes meets Danny, an outsider, and she starts to question everything that she once knew. As the Prophet grows more dangerous, Agnes knows that she has to leave with her young brother, who would die without insulin. But the world outside isn’t better. A viral pandemic is sweeping the world. As Agnes goes on, a connection grows between her and the virus. And Agnes will need to choose between saving her family, or the world.
I’m really intrigued by the whole concept of this novel. A cult? A pandemic? Some of that might hit a little close to home right now, but the world sounds fascinating. I really want to know what this connection is. Will Agnes escape? What is this Prophet doing? I just need answers!
– Angelique, QBD Books Broadmeadows, VIC
The First Sister
By Linden A Lewis
Release Date: Tuesday, 11 August 2020
A mysterious religious order. Divided loyalties. War and espionage. In space!
Descriptions of The First Sister take me back to my Firefly days; and while I am certain The First Sister will blaze her own way through space, I am holding out hope that this story will help fill the hole left by the crew of Serenity.
This debut novel by Linden A Lewis is bound to be a hit with any sci-fi fan. Filled with social commentary, Lewis is not afraid to hit on hard topics while creating a world within the space opera genre.
If you are a fan of such things as Doctor Who, The Hitchhiker’s Guide, Dune and Star Trek, then The First Sister is sure to entertain!
– Emily, QBD Books Knox City, VIC
The Jackal
By J. R. Ward
Release Date: Tuesday, 11 August 2020
I absolutely cannot wait for The Jackal by J. R. Ward! Her ability to create such unique stories in such an intricate world is incredible, and I especially love that all of her characters are strong, fierce and forever loyal! Can’t wait for this newest addition to the Black Dagger Brotherhood world. If her previous books were anything to go by, then this will be unreal!
– Monique, QBD Books Penrith, NSW
Persona 5 Volume 3
By Hisato Murasaki
Release Date: Wednesday, 19 August 2020
Welcome to the great artist Madarame’s museum! After the Phantom Thieves’ success with their first target, they decide to up the stakes and go after a world-famous artist, plagiarising his students’ work. However, they need an in with the artist to access his Palace. Enter Yusuke Kitagawa, Madarame’s eccentric student who has a strange fascination with Ann.
This volume begins the Phantom Thieves’ first heist after the official formation of their group, which means that their already established dynamic has space to develop even further. For fans of stylish heists and stylish fights, the Persona 5 series is the place to look.
– Rory, QBD Books Miranda, NSW
RWBY Official Manga Volume 1: Beacon Arc
By Bunta Kinami
Release Date: Wednesday, 19 August 2020
In the world of Remnant, terrible creatures of Grimm roam the land, attracted to the negative emotions of the people living there. Enter the Huntsmen and Huntresses, a group of elite warriors tasked with fighting the Grimm with a variety of colourful and crazy weapons.
Ruby Rose dreams of helping people by becoming a Huntress and fighting against the Grimm. She is scouted by the enigmatic Professor Ozpin to attend Beacon Academy, a school for Huntresses-in-training. Here, she is placed in the role of leader for Team RWBY (pronounced “Ruby”), despite being 2 years younger than her peers. Will Ruby be able to step up to the plate and achieve her dream of becoming a Huntress?
– Rory, QBD Books Miranda, NSW
Forest of Souls
By Lori M Lee
Release Date: Saturday, 22 August 2020
After coming from nothing, Sirchsa has trained long and hard to be the next royal spy. But then the unthinkable happens – her best friend is killed. In a moment of desperation, Sirscha manages to bring Saengo back to life. Revealed to be a soulguide, Sirchsa must accept her new status, and use it to control the ancient Dead Wood – a forest possessed by souls. With war on the horizon, Sirscha must learn to control the trees, lest they shatter the fragile peace holding the kingdom together.
This epic, dark fantasy promises strong female characters, along with an unbreakable friendship. One of my favourite things to read in books is strong friendships, where the characters will go to any length to protect each other. If you are a fan of the Truthwitch series by Susan Dennard, this book is definitely for you.
– Ashley, QBD Books Mandurah, WA
The Order of The Pure Moon Reflected in Water
By Zen Cho
Release Date: Saturday, 22 August 2020
I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but judge I did, and wow what a beautiful cover it is! I am a sucker for beautiful cover art, and the cover of this book fills me with so much joy.
While reading the synopsis for this book, I fell in love with it even more. A bandit walks into a coffee house, and it all goes downhill from there!
The Order of The Pure Moon Reflected in Water is a found family, wuxia-inspired fantasy novella. I absolutely love wuxia movies! If you do not know what that is, think Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero, and House of Flying Daggers. Basically, wuxia is a genre of Chinese fiction featuring warriors of ancient China, who seem to be capable of superhuman feats of martial arts, while telling a compelling story.
– Emily, QBD Books Knox City, VIC
