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’ve been loving, this March.
Lava Red Feather Blue
By Molly Ringle
Out Now
Cinderella with witches, magic, charms, cryptic puzzles, fae, and LGBTQ+, that’s what I’m getting from this blurb. Why wouldn’t you want to read this?!
Just in case that didn’t catch your attention, I’ll explain a bit further. Modern-day witch, Merrick, experiments with some mysterious charms and ends up in a hidden burrow, waking up Prince Larkin from a spelled sleep. Larkin, who was cursed as part of the truce between fae and humans, wakes Ula Kana with him, a fae who is bent on the destruction of humans. Merrick and Larkin have to form an alliance to defeat Ula Kana, and save the crumbling truce. But to stop him, they will have to go into the hostile land of fae and survive long enough to become heroes.
Are we all in now?
– Tahlia, QBD Books Albury, NSW
Wings of Fury (Wings of Fury #1)
By Emily R. King
Out Now
From the author of the much-loved Hundredth Queen series, King gives us the first look at her new series with Wings of Fury, an epic adventure set in the Golden Age, following the fates of Althea, and Zeus, son of Cronus.
On the southern isle of Crete, Althea is determined to control her destiny and survive the cruelty Cronus has brought to the lands. But the Fates have other ideas. She must follow their visions as they have been foretold, and she must defeat the Almighty with the help of the Boy God. After an unfortunate falling out with his father and the Titans, Zeus was believed to be dead by all, but will this surprise ally be precisely what the rebellion needs to overthrow the God of Gods? Joining forces against Cronus will cause quite the disturbance, but can Althea and Zeus free their land from tyranny?
I am super excited to see a take on earlier Greek mythology than what has been previously represented, making Wings of Fury one of my most anticipated reads for March.
– Steph, QBD Books Innaloo, WA
Chain of Iron (The Last Hours, #2)
By Cassandra Clare
Out Now
This is one of those books that I’m so nervous to read, and have no idea where the author is going to take the story. Chain of Gold left a lot of things up in the air and I can’t wait to see where everything is going to go.
I’m so ready to be back in the world with Cordelia Carstairs and James Herondale and the Merry Thieves. I’m ready to cry, laugh and smile. With a killer on the loose, they all have everything to lose. Throw in some dark secrets and, well, it’s going to be an interesting journey. I expect nothing less from Cassandra Clare.
– Angelique, QBD Books Emporium Melbourne, VIC
A History of What Comes Next
By Sylvian Neuvel
Out Now
This is a sci-fi thriller being compared to Andy Weir and Blake Crouch, which already gets me excited, but then it also takes place during the development of rocket technology in the 1940s in the lead up to the Arms Race, and eventually the Space Race, which really is my jam.
Protagonist Mia is trying to shape the future by convincing a Nazi rocket scientist to defect and join the American team of scientists. But Mia is not the first – she is not human, and she is the 99th in a line of genetically identical women who have sought to influence the future of the American space program. And there are others out there seeking to steer the path of destiny in a completely different direction. This sounds like an action-packed, but super smart, science fiction that I can’t wait to wrap my brain around!
– Jeremy, QBD Books Support Office, NSW
Phoenix Flame
By Sara Holland
Out Now
This time last year I was diving into Havenfall, a book that became one of my best reads of 2020, so it is easy to see why I am looking forward to Phoenix Flame, the second book in this series.
In book two, we return to Maddie and her family-run Inn in the Colorado mountains. While Maddie may have thought things were about to settle down towards the end of book one, we now know better.
Some of my top questions from book one… why were the doors to Solaria really closed in the first place? Have we really been given all the information? And what is going to happen now they have been reopened?
– Emily, QBD Books Knox City, VIC
Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie, Volume 2
By Keigo Maki
Out Now
Izumi is not a very fortunate person. Plagued by accidents throughout his life, he is used to dealing with whatever terrible hand life deals him. That is, before he starts dating Shikimori.
Shikimori is the perfect counterpart to Izumi – she’s strong, determined, and quick to save Izumi from any danger he may find himself in. While dealing with the challenges they both face, Izumi and Shikimori discover ways they can each grow as people, with their friends and with each other.
A nice slice-of-life series, with some genuine heart-warming moments and lovable characters (plus a well-deserved anime adaptation on the horizon), Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie is a great read for fans of the genre.
– Rory, QBD Books Miranda, NSW
Doors: Colony
By Markus Heitz
Out Now
A millionaire’s daughter is missing. To find her, he calls in a group of seemingly mismatched people: free-climbers, a geologist, a parapsychologist and even a medium. This unusual group of consultants makes more sense when we learn she was lost in an underground network of caves, abandoned long ago, and that the rescuers aren’t the only ones looking for her. Other things lurk in the dark underground, dangerous and unknown. The rescuers come to three doors; the missing girl must be behind one of them. But which one do they choose? And where will it take them?
There are three different books coming out for this series, and they definitely have a ‘choose your own adventure’ feel to them. Each book, a different door is chosen. And each door has a different adventure behind it. Plus, it’s set in a forgotten, underground labyrinth – I’ll take one of each!
– Tahlia, QBD Books Albury, NSW
The Infinity Files
By S. M. Wilson
Out Now
When you introduce a character as having “the courage of Princess Leia and the skills of Doctor Who” I will always be ready to devour the story. Honestly, Star Wars and Doctor Who are two of my nerdy delights, so when I stumbled across The Infinity Files, I became incredibly excited to see this story unfold.
Ash is a budding starfighter pilot who crashes and fails in her final test, but somehow manages to land the most powerful job in the universe. From here on out it is up to Ash, now Guardian of the Infinity Files, to planet-hop throughout the galaxies; stealing and returning items that have the power to start or stop wars. The stakes are raised when Ash’s own planet is the one at war, but is Ash really the best person to save it?
– Emily, QBD Books Knox City, VIC
Lost in the Never Woods
By Aiden Thomas
Release Date: Tuesday, 30 March
A reimagining of the classic Peter Pan story, Wendy and her brothers must confront their lost past as danger threatens the children of their town. Five years earlier, the three siblings went missing in the woods and returned with only vague memories of their time there. Now, children from town are disappearing as questions bring forth frightening memories of their past.
When Wendy almost runs over a boy in her attempt to flee town, she is asked to help him find the lost children. Together, Peter and Wendy must venture into the woods and confront what has been waiting for her.
This modern adaptation has everything from mystery to romance, and paints a tale of resilience even in the darkest parts of the forest.
– Olivia, QBD Books Support Office, QLD
The Witchling’s Girl
By Helena Coggan
Release Date: Tuesday, 30 March
Generally, we say “I want (insert book title here)”, but honestly, I NEED Helena Coggan’s, The Witchling’s Girl. Having heard about it late last year, I’ve become obsessed, and FINALLY we near its release date!
Witchlings are healers, midwives, mediums, modern-day Charons, ferrying the dead to the Underworld. At the age of seven, protagonist Haley is abandoned by her mother, and left at the doorstep of the Witchling’s home to be trained as her successor.
Yet this is no mere story of magic and witches. Coggan weaves us a tale of self-discovery, sadness, and hope, with the central theme that some of us are born into a world that wishes to silence us.
I am fully prepared, willing, and even excited, to sob my heart out while reading this book.
– Karina, QBD Books Mt Druitt, NSW
Remote Control
By Nnedi Okorafor
Release Date: Tuesday, 30 March
Afrofuturism is so hot right now, and whilst Okorafor is probably best known for her Binti series, I’m loving the blend of future worlds and African culture that she has presented in Who Fears Death and The Book of Phoenix. This book promises to continue to showcase powerful young African women, but in a much darker tone than her previous works.
Remote Control is set in Ghana, and follows the story of 14-year-old Fatima – after a catastrophic event, she discovers that she has the power to take away life from others. Accompanied by a fox, she takes on the name Sankofa – the adopted daughter of the Angel of Death – and roams the land. This is a short read at only 160 pages, but it sounds like an amazing story, and Okorafor knows how to pack a lot into a small package.
– Jeremy, QBD Books Support Office, NSW
Ariadne
By Jennifer Saint
Release Date: Tuesday, 30 March
I was ecstatic when I heard about this book! Ariadne promises to be a lushly beautiful retelling of the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, but told instead from Ariadne’s perspective. Her story is far more interesting, and sure to be both human and heartbreaking.
Falling for Theseus, Ariadne is put in an impossible situation: let the man she loves die, or betray Crete to save him.
Opting to save Theseus, her troubles don’t end there, while she has put love before everything, he has not.
This book is going to be a classic for fans of Madeline Miller and Silence of the Girls.
– Vanessa, QBD Books Parramatta, NSW
The Unbroken
By C. L. Clark
Release Date: Tuesday, 30 March
Rebellion, espionage, assassinations, turncoats and soldiers – this empire in the sand is crumbling down. C. L. Clark’s epic fantasy follows Touraine, a loyal soldier since infancy, as imperial princess Luca draws her into her efforts to dethrone her uncle.
This is a book about loyalty and picking sides, challenging what you know, and fighting for what you want. The further through you get, the more intense the story becomes. The world-building is vivid and character arcs are beautifully paced, with unexpected twists and a taste of magic. Add in a dash of romance and it’s a guaranteed great read with a sequel already in the works.
– Olivia, QBD Books Support Office, QLD
The Prison Healer
By Lynette Noni
Release Date: Tuesday, 30 March
I have been wanting to get into Lynette Noni’s books for years! A friend of mine never stops raving about The Medoran Chronicles, and The Whisper Series sounds so intriguing, I don’t know how I haven’t read any of them yet. But now that The Prison Healer is coming out, I am definitely going to read this one straight away!
For the past ten years, Kiva has been locked away in the death prison, Zalindov, surviving by keeping her head down, and finding work in the least laborious jobs. Her latest position: The Prison Healer. But one day, a prisoner comes along who will force Kiva to give up her (reasonably) safe role, and dive straight into danger. The Rebel Queen.
The Queen, now a prisoner, is due to face the Trial by Ordeal – a harsh and gruelling punishment in which the worst of criminals are to battle against the elements of air, earth, wind and fire. To save the already weakened Queen from almost certain death, Kiva volunteers to fight in her place. But no-one has ever survived the Trial before. Will Kiva survive and win freedom for the both of them?
I can’t wait to get stuck into this one! I received an early reading copy, and so far, the opening is giving me Tattooist of Auschwitz vibes, with a real Hunger Games twist. I think we’re in for one wild, and emotional ride!
– Alyssa, QBD Books Mt Druitt, NSW
Rule of Wolves (King of Scars #2)
By Leigh Bardugo
Release Date: Wednesday, 31 March
Leigh Bardugo is having a particularly productive 2021! Preceding the upcoming release of the Shadow and Bone Netflix adaption is Bardugo’s conclusion to the Nikolai Duology, Rule of Wolves.
Set once more in Bardugo’s beloved Grishaverse, the sequel is sure to delight. In this book, we are invited to follow protagonist Nikolai Lantov, as he prepares his country for war. As a fan of Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology, I’m excited for this once, particularly as it will once more feature a personal favourite character of mine, Nina Zenik.
If you’re looking for a book with exceptional world building, rich characterisation and are any sort of fantasy fan, I definitely recommend dipping into the series!
– Karina, QBD Books Mt Druitt, NSW
