All for queen and country

sacrifices abound in this round up of ya books for the week.

Dork Diaries 13: Not So Happy Birthday Author: rachel renee russell Publisher: simon and schuster, contemporary fiction

NIKKI’S birthday is just around the corner and she, together with BFF’s Chloe and Zoey, is planning a birthday bash that will go down in history as the best one ever. But Nikki’s mum is less thrilled with the idea and says it will cost way too much. Just when Nikki is about to call off the party, though, help arrives in the most unexpected form.

Lady Smoke Author: Laura Sebastian Publisher: Macmillan, fantasy

THEO was kept a prisoner by the evil Kaiser for 10 long years. Now, she has taken back her rightful title but finds herself thousands of miles away from her throne and her people, who are still under the Kaiser’s rule.

Not only does she need an army to wrestle the kingdom and throne back from him, but she is told by her pirate aunt Dragonsbane that she needs to do something else that an Astrean Queen has never done before.

Circle Of Shadows Author: Evelyn Skye Publisher: harper, fantasy

SORA, an apprentice warrior of the Society of Taigas, can move as silently as a ninja and has mad skills at taking out her target with throwing stars.

When she and Daemon stumble upon a camp of soldiers while on a scouting mission, they decide that it would be a good decision to infiltrate the group.

After all, if they are destined to protect the kingdom, then maybe this is their chance to prove their mettle.

Four Dead Queens Author: Astrid Scholte Publisher: Penguin, fantasy

THE four queens in the kingdom have been murdered and no one knows who is behind it. Keralie and Varin, against their will, find themselves entangled in the conspiracy and now they are the hunted.

Can a thief and an honest man really work together in pursuit of a common goal? It looks like they might not have a choice, especially if they want to live.

Truly Devious (Truly Devious #1) Author: Maureen Johnson Publisher: Katherine Tegen, murder mystery

SHORTLY after Albert Ellingham founded Ellingham Academy, his wife and daughter were kidnapped.

The unsolved case is one of the great mysteries of American history, and bright new student Stevie Bell has an ambitious plan to get to the bottom of it when she begins her first year at the school.

Then death rears its ugly head and revisits its old friend, making her wonder just how much she wants to know.