A little fantasy, a little real life
The Queen’s Rising (The Queen’s Rising #1) Author: Rebecca Ross Publisher: Harper Teen, fantasy
IN Magnalia House, where the passions – art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge – are taught, orphaned Brienna takes a different path and studies all of them rather than “finding her singular passion” as girls are supposed to. Unsurprisingly, when her 17th summer solstice arrives, Brienna is not chosen by a patron and her greatest fear of being left behind comes true.
So when a lord suddenly offers her patronage, she jumps at the chance to work for him – even if he is a disgraced lord. But what if this lord is actually conspiring to overthrow the king of a neighbouring land and instal a queen with magical powers on the throne? And what if he chose Brienna because she has a dark connection to magic? Can she still work with him?
To Kill A Kingdom Author: Alexandra Christo Publisher: Feiwel and Friends, fantasy
THIS is a retelling of Little
Mermaid that sticks closer to the original macabre folk tale than the anodyne Disney version. Alexandra Christo’s princess is, like the original mermaids, a siren who lures humans to their deaths. With the hearts of 17 princes in her collection, Princess Lira is well on her way to prove herself worthy of following in the cruel footsteps of her mother, the Sea Queen. But when she slips up and allows siren-killing Prince Elian to get away, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into a human, and human she will remain until she delivers Elian’s heart.
And who should rescue the now-human Lira from drowning? Why, Elian, of course! He’s on a quest to find the key to destroying all of siren kind for good, and to stay close to him, Lira promises to help. How on earth is this totally opposed pair going to work together without killing each other?
Lifeline Author: Abbey Lee Nash Publisher: Tiny Fox Press, contemporary fiction
THE popular captain of the lacrosse team is dating the school’s hottest, most popular girl. So far, so cliched. But Eli Ross is hiding a secret behind the facade of a perfect life: He’s desperately unhappy at home where’s there’s a new stepdad and stepbrother, and he’s turned to drugs to cope. His habit is revealed when he overdoses, and his mother sends him to a rehab centre where he has 28 days to decide what his future will be.
There, Eli meets Libby, an artistic teen who self-harms, an ex-drug dealer counsellor, and other patients with their own stories to share. There, he learns that if he is to have any sort of future at all, he needs to confront the past and the pain of losing his dad.
Picture Us In The Light Author: Kelly Loy Gilbert Publisher: Disney Hyperion, contemporary fiction
DANNY Cheng is one lucky guy: not only are his Chinese parents very untraditionally allowing him to pursue a career in the arts, he’s also got a scholarship to the arts school of his dreams. And his tight group of friends are there to support him too. But life never remains perfect for long, does it?
Danny, his best friend Harry, and Harry’s girlfriend feel a lot of guilt over the death of their friend Sandra; now, contemplating a future without Harry by his side, Danny is beginning to panic. And then his dad loses his job and in the resulting move, Danny finds a box of documents that throws his entire family history into question. Danny isn’t feeling lucky anymore ....
Save The Date Author: Morgan Matson Publisher: Simon & Schuster, contemporary fiction
CHARLIE Grant’s older sister is getting married, so for the first time in years all her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is ecstatic because this is her last chance for a perfect family gathering before she, too, leaves home for uni and the family home is sold off.
Naturally, nothing goes according to plan! Everything from loudly malfunctioning alarms, a howling dog and a missing wedding planner to a brother bringing an unexpected girlfriend that everyone hates on sight happens on this supposedly perfect weekend.
As a storm threatens, fights break out and the wedding cake falls apart, Charlie gets increasingly desperate as she tries to re-create the rose-coloured past she remembers.
Then again, is staying in the past really a good thing? And is people changing as they grow up such a bad thing?