Alex C. Vick's Blog, page 2

Standout Standalones: YA Fantasy ✨📖✨

“Like all sweet dreams, it will be brief, but brevity makes sweetness, doesn't it?”
― Stephen King
I love reading YA books, but I especially love reading YA fantasy/romantasy. And the thing about stories involving magic is the world-building—there’s a lot of it. Often far too much to fit into one book. That means I read a lot more series than I do standalones.
I’m definitely a fan of the series format, both as a reader and a writer. But I’m also a fan of mixing up my reading choices because I discovered some of my favourite books that way. And so I got to thinking about standalone YA fantasy books. When I made my New Year reading choices a few months ago, I included Revelle, by Lyssa Mia Smith, and I really enjoyed it ☺. I decided to search for more standalones to add to my TBR. Today’s blog post contains my top five, and I can’t wait to read them! I hope you enjoy my choices, and thank you very much for visiting my blog today 💕.
1️⃣ Dreams Lie Beneath, by Rebecca Ross
Do not trust your eyes alone…
The realm of Azenor has spent years plagued by a curse. Every new moon, magic flows from the nearby mountain and brings nightmares to life. Only magicians—who serve as territory wardens—stand between people and their worst dreams.
Clementine Madigan is ready to take over as the warden of her small town, but when two magicians arrive to challenge her, she is unknowingly drawn into a century-old conflict. She seeks revenge, but as she gets closer to Phelan, one of the handsome young magicians, secrets—as well as romance—begin to rise.
To fight the realm’s curse, which seems to be haunting her every turn, Clementine must unite with her rival. But will their efforts be enough to save Azenor from the nightmares that lurk around every corner?
Seven magicians had kept detailed dream recordings before Papa had come to Hereswith, and I had always hoped to become the ninth magician, after my father retired. But I felt the weight of those inked dreams of people now dead and buried. I felt them as if I had embraced a millstone. 
I met Papa’s gaze, and he saw my shock. I hadn’t realized it until now. The weight he carried as the town’s magician. And suddenly… I didn’t know if I was strong enough to bear it. 
“Come here, daughter,” he whispered.
I crossed the room, the book heavy in my arms, and sat on the edge of his bed. I could feel the feverish heat rolling off him in waves, and it made me worry. 
“I’ve taught you all that I know,” he said. “You’ll do just fine recording this dream, so long as you stick to the rules and pre-determined spells.” He paused to study me with squinted eyes. “You know, it’s not a bad thing to be fearful every now and then. The fear reminds you of limits, of what lines you should not cross. Of the doors you shouldn’t open.”

2️⃣ Where the Dark Stands Still, by A. B. Poranek
A cursed forest. A twisted bargain. A love eternal.
Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters.
After Liska unleashes her own powers with devastating consequences, she is caught by the demon warden of the wood - the Leszy - who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.
Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska makes an unsettling discovery: she is not the first person to strike this bargain and all of her predecessors have mysteriously vanished. If Liska wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host's spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.
Those who enter the wood do not always return…
“Yes, I am he,” said the demon. He is tall and lean in stature, holding himself with the elegance of an aristocrat. “As for you, I will only ask once more. What is your name?”
“Kasia,” Liska says quickly.
The demon goes still, and so does the wood around him, as if every bracken and bough is straining to listen to their conversation. Then he murmurs, “I can hear the skips in your heartbeat, little liar. Try again.”
Liska’s throat constricts with shock. She swallows, then speaks once more, chastened now. “L-Liska.” That is all she will give him. Her surname is hers to keep. 
He chuckles warmly. “Liska, Liseczka … oj, lisku. You’re not a very clever fox, are you?”

3️⃣ A Face Like Glass, by Frances Hardinge
Child, thief, madman, spy, which speaks the truth and which one lies?
In the underground city of Caverna the world's most skilled craftsmen toil in the darkness to create delicacies beyond compare – wines that can remove memories, cheeses that can make you hallucinate and perfumes that convince you to trust the wearer, even as they slit your throat. The people of Caverna are more ordinary, but for one thing: their faces are as blank as untouched snow. Expressions must be learned, and only the famous Facesmiths can teach a person to show joy, despair or fear – at a price.
Into this dark and distrustful world comes Neverfell, a little girl with no memory of her past and a face so terrifying to those around her that she must wear a mask at all times. For Neverfell's emotions are as obvious on her face as those of the most skilled Facesmiths, though entirely genuine. And that makes her very dangerous indeed…
In the fleeting second before the door closed between them, Neverfell glimpsed something that made her heart stumble in its pace. Madame Appeline was watching her with a Face she had never seen before. It was unlike anything from the many Facesmith catalogues Neverfell had treasured over the years, nor was it smooth and beautiful like the other Faces Madame Appeline had worn during her visit. It contained a smile, but one with a world of weariness behind the brightness, and sadness behind the kindness. There was something a little haggard around the eyes as well, that spoke of sleeplessness, patience and pain.
Next instant the image was gone, and Neverfell was left staring at the door as it clicked to. Her mind was crazed with colour and jumbled thoughts. It took her a moment or two before she remembered that she should be throwing all the bolts.
That extraordinary Face had sent a throb through her very soul, like a breeze shivering the string of a harp, and she could not account for it.

4️⃣ The Forbidden Wish, by Jessica Khoury
She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world…
When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years—a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?
He stands still for a moment, watching me. He has tied the lamp to his belt, and his hand strokes it absently. It’s an affectation common to Lampholders, and he’s picked it up already.
“How old are you?” he asks.
A cool wind flows between the dunes, pulling my hair across my face and ruffling his patched cloak.
“Three thousand and one thousand more.”
“Great gods,” he says softly. “But you look no older than me.”
“Looks are deceiving.” I don’t tell him that the face I wear is stolen, its possessor five hundred years dead. Of course, I have a face of my own, one slightly younger than yours. I was seventeen the day I was first put into the lamp, when I ceased aging and became the timeless slave I am now. I have little desire to wear that face anymore. It is the one that betrayed you to your death, Habiba. The face of a monster.
5️⃣ The Wicked Deep, by Shea Ernshaw
Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…
Two centuries ago, in the small, isolated town, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town. Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return from the depths, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them down to their watery deaths.
Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into or the fact that his arrival will change everything…
Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.
But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.
Tourist season starts tomorrow. And with it comes an influx of outsiders and the beginning of an eerie and deadly tradition that has plagued Sparrow since 1823—ever since the three Swan sisters were drowned in our harbor. Tonight’s party is the start of a season that will bring more than just tourist dollars—it will bring folklore and speculation and doubt about the town’s history. But always, every year without fail or falter, it also brings death.
It starts as a low croon that rolls in with the tide, a sound so faint it might just be the wind blowing through the clapboard shutters, through the portholes of docked fishing boats, and into narrow cracks along sagging doorways. But after the first night, the harmony of voices becomes undeniable. An enchanting hymn sailing over the water’s surface, cool and soft and alluring. The Swan sisters have awakened.

Xytovian World-building: Poetry and Props 🖋📖

“There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds.”
― G.K. Chesterton
One of the things I love about writing fantasy is the world-building. When the world is entirely of your own making, you don’t have to worry about limits or conditions. Of course, entirely is a relative concept because it’s impossible not to be influenced by personal life experience and the reality you see every day. But that’s half the fun of it—finding a reference point from the real world before letting your imagination take over.

Today’s blog post is about the world-building for Xytovia, the setting for the Beyond Androva series. At first, I thought Beyond Androva was going to be a duology because Serena’s and Art’s character development wrapped up so neatly at the end of Engraved in Magic. Although I wanted to explore Kellan’s backstory, I didn’t feel like it was strong enough to stand alone (sorry, Kellan ☺). 
That’s where Averine came in. She would be the link between Kellan’s past and his future, but more than that, she allowed me to explore what it was like to be a cotidian and an alchemist instead of a magician. And the world-building all started with a poem—two characters trapped in different Dimension Cells dreaming of something they didn’t think they could ever have.
After the poem came the props! I happened to be visiting a small town on the south coast of England famous for its fossils, and I discovered a shop selling all kinds of beautiful crystals. As soon as I saw them, I thought they looked magical and exactly like the kind of ingredients a Xytovian alchemist would probably use. Soon after that, I started writing Lost in Magic to continue the series. 
Which fictional worlds are your favourites? In the past few months, my imagination and I have visited Elfhame, the Magnificent North, and Charmant, and I loved all of them! Thank you very much for visiting my blog today 💕.
Dimension Cell Dreaming
Every night he falls asleep
A promise he has sworn to keep
The line between dimensions blurs
No regrets, his heart is hers
Every day he wakes the same
Memories erased again
Knowing not how great the cost 
Two prisoners, one love, divided, lost

Every time she sees him leave
She doesn’t know what to believe
She tells herself it isn’t real
Pretend, deflect, play games, conceal

They cannot ever be together
For one day he will leave forever
A maze of magic and mixed-up feelings
No future in Dimension Cell dreaming
― Alex C. Vick

Five Fairy Tales: Rumpelstiltskin 💰

“The way to read a fairy tale is to throw yourself in.”
― W.H. Auden
Fairy tales have been around for a very long time—long before literary documents were even a thing. That they survived for thousands of years until finally being written down is evidence of their enduring appeal.
The very first fairy tale, The Smith and the Devil, can apparently be traced back all the way to the Bronze Age. It’s about a metalsmith who sells his soul to an evil being in exchange for a supernatural power of some kind. The story ends happily for the metalsmith when he uses his new power to cheat the evil being and keep his soul. 
Which brings me onto the subject of today’s blog post—YA fairy tale retellings. After previous posts on Beauty and the Beast and Rapunzel, this time it’s the turn of Rumpelstiltskin. I chose Rumpelstiltskin because just like The Smith and the Devil, it involves a high-stakes contract for magical gain, and I love the idea that the first fairy tale might have inspired other stories ☺. 
Rumpelstiltskin begins with a boastful miller telling anyone who will listen that his daughter can spin straw into gold. This extraordinary claim catches the interest of the king. The king locks the daughter in a roomful of straw and gives her an ultimatum. She has until morning to spin the straw into gold. If she fails, she’ll be executed.
Cue the arrival of Rumpelstiltskin. Spinning straw into gold turns out to be his thing, and the daughter gives him her ring in exchange for his help. The next night, she gives him her necklace. The night after that, there’s a twist. The king promises to marry her if she successfully creates a third roomful of gold. Unfortunately, she’s all out of jewelry, so Rumpelstiltskin suggests he take her firstborn child instead. The daughter accepts the deal. Given that the alternative is certain death, what else can she do? 
Time passes. She marries the king, and they have a child. Unfortunately for the new queen, Rumpelstiltskin returns to collect what he’s owed. She begs him to reconsider, offering him money instead, but he refuses. After all, he doesn’t need money. He can make his own gold whenever he likes.

Eventually, he agrees to let her out of the deal if she can guess his name, and he gives her three days. She tries her best, but none of her many guesses are correct. Her time is almost up when, in desperation, she searches the woods for clues about his identity and chances upon Rumpelstiltskin’s cottage. He’s outside, dancing around a fire and singing a gleeful song about taking the queen’s baby. This song isn’t as upsetting for the queen as you might think because Rumpelstiltskin reveals his name in the lyrics!
On the third night, the queen makes a show of continuing to guess incorrectly before finally using Rumpelstiltskin’s name. Enraged at losing his prize, he stamps his foot, pushing it so far into the ground that he tears himself in half when he tries to pull it out. And so the end of the story is also the end of Rumpelstiltskin.
When I started researching Rumpelstiltskin retellings, I was really looking forward to finding out how the original fairy tale had been used as inspiration. Unlike some other fairy tales, Rumpelstiltskin isn’t heavy on the romance, and several of the characters are presented in an unlikeable way. It leaves a lot of room for interpretation. In the end, it was a challenge to keep to only five books! I hope you find my choices interesting, and thank you very much for visiting my blog today 💕.
Gold Spun, by Brandie June
If Nor can’t spin gold, she can always spin lies.
When seventeen-year-old Nor rescues a captured faerie in the woods, he gifts her with a magical golden thread she can use to summon him for a favor. Instead, Nor uses it for a con—to convince villagers to buy straw that can be transformed into gold. Her trick works a little too well, attracting the suspicion of Prince Casper, who hates nobody more than a liar. Intent on punishing Nor, he demands that she spin a room of straw into gold and as her reward, he will marry her. Should she refuse or fail, the consequences will be dire.Desperate for help, Nor summons the faerie’s aid, launching a complicated dance as she must navigate between her growing feelings for both the prince and faerie boy and who she herself wishes to become.
“But aren’t the most dangerous creatures the beautiful ones?”
“They usually are.” He looked like he wanted to say more but decided against it.
“This won’t come off.” The thread was so thin, I couldn’t understand why I was unable to yank it off my wrist. I bit it, but it held fast.
“Ah, gold you have, but can never spend.” He smiled and winked. “Elenora Molnár, you should know that all faerie magic comes at a price. Consider yourself lucky that the trick I played on you was so small.”
My Unfair Godmother, by Janette Rallison
Be careful what you wish for—at least when your fairy godmother is in training.
Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father never has enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn't exactly how she wanted to get his attention. That trip to prison was really not her best moment.
Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's all-too-teenage fairy godmother. Chrissy is still training, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if mistakenly bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. That fairy tale is so much creepier when it’s happening to you.
Tansy will need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control.
Mortals are always going on about how important family is to them. They even believe it’s true. When Tansy Miller was seven, her father used to tell her he wouldn’t trade her for a mountain of gold. Of course, she should have been suspicious of this claim, since it was hard to prove. Very few gold-mountain owners are interested in bartering for little girls. But still, Tansy believed him.

The Crimson Thread, by Suzanne Weyn
"Once upon a Time" is timeless.
The year is 1880, and Bertie, having just arrived in New York with her family, is grateful to be given work as a seamstress in the home of textile tycoon J. P. Wellington. When the Wellington family fortune is threatened, Bertie's father boasts that Bertie will save the business, that she is so skillful she can "practically spin straw into gold."
Amazingly, in the course of one night, Bertie creates exquisite evening gowns -- with the help of Ray Stalls, a man from her tenement who uses an old spinning wheel to create dresses that are woven with crimson thread and look as though they are spun with real gold. Indebted to Ray, Bertie asks how she can repay him. When Ray asks for her firstborn child, Bertie agrees, never dreaming that he is serious…

He grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her close. “Then give me my payment now. Kiss me, and that will prove to you how much you love me.”
She yanked away. “No! I will pay you anything else, but you can’t make me feel what I do not feel! What else shall I pay you to make things square between us? Name your price, but it will not be me!”
He laughed bitterly, scornfully. “I don’t know. Why don’t I take your firstborn child?”
Small Favors, by Erin A. Craig
In Amity Falls, nothing is more dangerous than a wish come true.
Ellerie Downing is waiting for something to happen. Life in isolated Amity Falls, surrounded by an impenetrable forest, has a predictable sameness. Her days are filled with tending to her family's beehives, chasing after her sisters, and dreaming of bigger things while her twin, Samuel, is free to roam as he wishes.
Early town settlers fought off monstrous creatures in the woods, and whispers that the creatures still exist keep the Downings and their neighbors from venturing too far. When some townsfolk go missing on a trip to fetch supplies, a heavy unease settles over the Falls.
Strange activities begin to plague the town, and as the seasons change, it's clear that something is terribly wrong. The creatures are real, and they're offering to fulfill the residents' deepest desires, however grand, for just a small favor. These seemingly trifling demands, however, hide sinister intentions. Soon Ellerie finds herself in a race against time to stop Amity Falls, her family, and the boy she loves from going up in flames.
“But it would be nice to be able to call you something—anything, really,” I persisted. The seconds ticked by unfilled. “You’re truly not going to tell me?”
“No,” he laughed. “I’m really not. There’s a power in names, don’t you think? Once your name is given away, you can’t help but be pulled along by those who have it.”
Gilded, by Marissa Meyer
Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller's daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.
Or so everyone believes.
When one of Serilda's outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her… for a price. Love isn't meant to be part of the bargain.
Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.
The golden spokes radiating across her gaze made most people uncomfortable. She had sometimes wondered if the god chose to mark her irises because you’re not supposed to be able to look someone in the eye when you’re lying to them. But Serilda had never had any trouble holding someone’s gaze, whether she was lying or not. It was everyone else in this town who struggled to hold hers. 
Except the children.

Ten Awesome Openers: Round Seven 🔖

“A vital part of the journey is the beginning. It is perhaps the most vital part.”

― Richelle E. Goodrich
Although I'm a big fan of beautiful covers and creative titles, it's the first few lines of a new story that really draw me in. Whether it's the voice of a character I can't wait to meet, or a scene-setter that's so intriguing I just have to find out what happens next, the introduction is what convinces me to read on.
And one of the (many!) great things about Young Adult books is that there's no shortage of brilliant beginnings. Today's blog post contains another ten examples ☺. I hope you enjoy my choices, and thank you very much for visiting my blog today.
1️⃣ “Today, Ruwen would finally die for the first time.”
Shade's First Rule, by A.F. Kay
2️⃣ “The trees have to be tied down by sunset. When the Woodsmen come, they always try to run.”
The Wolf and the Woodsman, by Ava Reid
3️⃣ “Magnalia House was the sort of establishment where only wealthy, talented girls mastered their passion. It wasn't designed for girls who were lacking, for girls who were illegitimate daughters, and certainly not for girls who defied kings. I, of course, happen to be all three of those things.”
The Queen's Rising ,  by Rebecca Ross
4️⃣ “Once upon a time, on the coldest night of midwinter, in the darkest heart of the forest, Death and Fortune came to a crossroads.”
Little Thieves ,  by Margaret Owen
5️⃣ “When hunting for secrets and scandal during the London season, then there is really only one place to go: the opera. All those people dressed up in their finery, packed in tight, pretending to watch the drama onstage while actually watching each other? The place is a perfect hotbed for intrigue. Which is precisely why I was there.”
The Agency for Scandal ,  by Laura Wood
6️⃣ “We must, by law, keep a record of the innocents we kill.”
Scythe ,  by Neal Shusterman
7️⃣ “It's impossible to ignore an alarm that's going off inside your head. Which is probably why Syntex put it there instead of on my bedside table.”
Mindwalker ,  by Kate Dylan
8️⃣ “I was not born a monster. People forget that. The cruel ones sneer and tell me I'm demon spawn. They think the words will hurt me, but they are closer to the truth than they know. It is the kind ones who lie. 'You have a good heart, like your sister,' they say in their pitying tones. 'Deep down, you are beautiful ― like your sister.' I am nothing like my sister.”
Her Radiant Curse ,  by Elizabeth Lim
9️⃣ “Today was the day a thousand dreams would die and a single dream would be born.”
The Kiss of Deception ,  by Mary E. Pearson
🔟 “The last person who called me by my true name was my mother, with her dying breath. When I was six years old, my hand was still small enough that hers covered it completely. She squeezed it so painfully tight that I hardly noticed anything else. So tight that I hardly noticed the silver of the knife pressing against her throat, or the fear in her eyes. 'You know who you are,' she said to me. Her voice didn't waver, even as drops of blood bloomed where the blade cut her skin. 'You are our people's only hope, Theodosia.' And then they cut her throat and they took my name.”
Ash Princess ,  by Laura Sebastian

Three Bookish Poems To Welcome The New Year 📅📚

“And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.”

― Rainer Maria Rilke
I'm hoping that 2024 will be full of books. New books, old books, old books with fancy new covers, sequels, retellings, spin-offs... I'm not fussy ☺. 
Books are like doorways, and the worlds that wait to be discovered inside their pages are different for every reader, much like the doorway between one year and the next. With that in mind, New Year's Eve feels like a good time to share my three favourite poems about the magic of books and reading.
1️⃣ The biggestSurpriseOn the library shelfIs when you suddenlyFind yourself―(The hidden you)You wonder howThe author knew.― Beverly McLoughland
2️⃣ I could never have dreamt that there were such goings-onin the world between the covers of books,such sandstorms and ice blasts of words,such staggering peace, such enormous laughter,such and so many blinding bright lights,splashing all over the pagesin a million bits and piecesall of which were words, words, words,and each of which were alive foreverin its own delight and glory and oddity and light.― Dylan Thomas
3️⃣ I opened a book and in I strodeNow nobody can find me.I’ve left my chair, my house, my road,My town and my world behind me.
I’m wearing the cloak, I’ve slipped on the ring,I’ve swallowed the magic potion.I’ve fought with a dragon, dined with a kingAnd dived in a bottomless ocean.
I opened a book and made some friends.I shared their tears and laughterAnd followed their road with its bumps and bendsTo the happily ever after.
I finished my book and out I came.The cloak can no longer hide me.My chair and my house are just the same,But I have a book inside me.― Julia Donaldson
Today's blog post ends with a quick update on my reading and writing resolutions for next year 📚✍. Most of my reading choices are made on the spur of the moment (on account of my TBR being a little chaotic), but at this time of year, I enjoy choosing a bit more deliberately. For 2024, my list contains a standalone, a sequel, and a series.
The standalone: Revelle, by Lyssa Mia Smith
On the island of Charmant, magic flows like bootlegged champagne, and fantasies can be bought for the price of a gemstone.
The sequel: The Prisoner's Throne, by Holly Black
An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.
The series: The Old Kingdom, by Garth Nix
Magic, romance, and a fight against the Dead who will not stay dead. 
And as far as the writing goes, my resolution is pretty simple―keep writing ☺. After wrapping up the Beyond Androva series at the end of October, I've written a couple of potential prologues for a new story. As of now, Lignora is the world that looks the most promising, but we'll see how it goes when I tackle the first chapter...
Have you made any book-related resolutions? Thank you very much for visiting my blog today, and I wish you a happy and healthy 2024!

Mistletoe Magic 🌿🧙‍♀️

 “Mistletoe. I surmount all obstacles.”
― Vanessa Diffenbaugh
December brought with it a week of icy temperatures here in the UK, and only the most stubborn leaves are still clinging to the trees. As if in readiness for the holiday season, a thin layer of frost sparkles on every surface, and a few clusters of evergreen mistletoe are newly visible amongst the bare branches.
Mistletoe is a familiar decoration at this time of year, mostly thanks to the Victorians. Although kissing under the mistletoe apparently became a thing in the late 1700s, it was the Victorians in the nineteenth century who turned it into a tradition. 
However, mistletoe actually has a much more interesting backstory—one that long predates its place amongst the holiday lights and tinsel. I discovered it during some of my earlier writing research, and I was reminded just a few weeks ago (see 3️⃣ below!). Today’s blog post explains a little of mistletoe’s magical history and why it was once so much more than a holiday ornament.
1️⃣ The Aeneid, by Virgil (19 BCE)
An epic poem almost ten thousand lines long, The Aeneid tells the story of Aeneas—exiled prince of Troy who was also the son of Venus (the Roman goddess of love). It chronicles his adventures from the end of the Trojan War until he eventually settles in Italy as founder of the great city of Rome.

Aeneas faces a lot of challenges along the way. One of them involves a visit to the Underworld to see the ghost of his father. In order to safely navigate the land of the dead, he has to collect a “golden bough” as a gift for Proserpina, Queen of the Underworld. The golden bough is mistletoe. 
According to the myths, Proserpina only spends half the year in the Underworld, and her arrival in the land of the living triggers the start of spring. She is said to unlock the gates of the Underworld with a wand made from—you guessed it—mistletoe ☺.
I guess I should explain how The Aeneid showed up in my writing research. In the prologue of Seeking Magic, Jax and Shannon are trapped in Pompeii when Mount Vesuvius is about to erupt, setting the scene for their adventure in pre-treaty Terra. But I considered a few alternative times and places before I chose Pompeii, and one of them had Jax and Shannon in Troy just as the famous Trojan Horse came through the city gates!
2️⃣ Celts and druids 
The Celts were once the largest group of people in Ancient Europe, with hundreds of tribes that stretched all the way from Spain in the west to Turkey in the east. Druids were Celtic priests, though a druid’s role in society extended far beyond religion, encompassing matters of law, medicine, and politics too.
Because the Celts never kept a written record of anything they considered sacred, most of what we know about them comes from other people (like the Romans). The Romans described the Celts as barbarians, but then the Romans were the invaders, so they weren’t exactly impartial. And I doubt the Celts would have had anything complimentary to say about the Romans in return!
According to Pliny the Elder, a Roman living in Gaul (Western Europe) in the first century, mistletoe was revered by the druids. The plant’s evergreen leaves, and its ability to grow without any visible source of food or even roots, made it an emblem of fertility and immortality. Mistletoe could only be harvested with a golden sickle on a particular day in the lunar cycle, and it was believed to be an antidote to all poisons. 
When I was writing Surviving Magic, I wanted to include a (fictional!) Celtic spell when Galen and Claudia visit Britannia, so I did a bit of research on druids and magic for inspiration. Pliny wrote, “Even today Britain is still spell bound by magic.” Two thousand years later, I think that statement remains more true than not.
3️⃣ Norse mythology (circa 9th century CE)
“And why’d they include Balder? No one’s even heard of him.” 
I discovered the third and final example of mistletoe magic when I was writing Matched in Magic. Xytovian magicians wear protective amulets, and although I eventually decided the amulets would be made from a kind of crystal, I considered leaves and wood too. 
I should mention that there are a lot of different versions of this story, and this is only one of them! Balder was the god of light and universally loved on account of his kind and happy disposition and his beauty. So far, so good. Until, one day, Balder started dreaming of his own death. Frigga, his mother, was determined that Balder’s dreams would not come true, so she secured an oath from everyone and everything that they would not harm him.
Loki: Everyone and everything? Really?
Frigga: Yes. Oh, except I didn’t ask the mistletoe. It’s too small to do any harm.
Loki: […]
Shortly after that, Loki made an arrow from a piece of mistletoe. I’m sure you can guess what happened next. The arrow pierced Balder through the chest and killed him. He didn’t even get to go to Valhalla because he hadn’t died in battle. The other gods attempted to retrieve Balder from the death goddess, Hel, pleading for his return because everyone loved him so much. Hel requested proof in the form of tears, and Loki was the only person who refused to cry, thus ensuring that Balder stayed dead. 
Frigga apparently held the mistletoe to a promise that it would never do harm again. It became a symbol of protection, and enemies that met under mistletoe had to lay down their arms and call a truce.
I think it’s fair to say there’s a lot more to mistletoe than meets the eye☺. It also demonstrates why writing research is one of my favourite things because there’s always a new story to discover. Thank you very much for visiting my blog today, and I wish you happy holidays ⛄✨.

YALC 2023 📕📖🖊

  “The unread story is not a story; it is little black marks on wood pulp. The reader, reading it, makes it live: a live thing, a story.”
― Ursula K. Le Guin
I think that’s why the vibe at YALC (the UK’s Young Adult Literature Convention) is so amazing. Hundreds of stories are brought to life in the same place at the same time, and it’s magical. Fictional characters get to cross over into the real world instead of existing around the edges of it.
It’s been almost a week since I went to YALC 2023 with my youngest daughter, and today’s blog post contains some of the highlights from our day. Starting with the books. Perhaps it goes without saying that YALC is a literal treasure trove of beautiful books, but I’m saying it anyway. Spoilt for choice doesn’t begin to cover it.

And all of the publishers did such an incredible job, with games, competitions, raffles, exclusive samples from upcoming releases, bookmarks, tote bags, pin badges, stickers… It was a lot of fun. (We took the Penguin quiz to find out what kind of readers we are, and some of the questions were really difficult! I was The Advocate, with a headline of: “You are defined by the things you love.” My daughter was The Connector: “You’re a social butterfly who values community.”)

Here’s a snapshot from the stack of books we came home with, including the taglines and opening paragraphs. Left to right: 
1️⃣ The advance copy we won 🎉Voyage of the Damned, by Frances White
A mind-blowing murder mystery on a ship full of magical passengers. If Agatha Christie wrote fantasy, this would be it!
My father always says: ‘You can’t run from your responsibilities,’ but he lacks imagination. Besides, I’m not running. I’m sidestepping. Crossing the road so me and my responsibilities don’t make eye contact and aren’t forced into awkward small talk both of us know isn’t going anywhere. 
2️⃣ The title we couldn’t resistA Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, by Sarah Hawley
Mariel Spark knows not to trust a demon, especially one that wants her soul, but what's a witch to do when he won't leave her side - and she kind of doesn't want him to?
“Oh, no.” Mariel Spark stared at the startled chicken that had materialized on her kitchen counter. “That wasn’t what I meant to do.”
At the kitchen table, Calladia Cunnington nearly choked on her tea. “Well, that’s surprising. At least they both have wings.”
Mariel gave her friend a look. She’d recited a summoning spell for an air sprite, not poultry. “Literally the only thing they have in common.”
3️⃣ The murder mystery, Holly Jackson style
Four Found Dead, by Natalie D. Richards
The last show has ended, but the nightmare is just beginning.
I’ll never lock these doors again. Maybe that’s why I linger at the thick glass, watching the stragglers make their way through the parking lot. They file to their vehicles in pairs and threesomes. Headlights bloom to life; cars reverse and dart. It’s an abstract automotive ballet snaking toward the exits. I’ve watched this routine unfold every Saturday night for three years, but this time is different. Maybe the last time is always different.
No blog post about YALC would be complete without mentioning the brilliant authors who came along to talk about their stories, meet their readers, and sign a lot of books. One of the panels we attended this year was called The Thrill of it All (chaired by Kathleen Glasgow with Holly Jackson, Kalynn Bayron, and ). It was fascinating to hear the differences and similarities between their individual writing styles and how they originally gravitated toward the thriller genre. 
The panelists were also asked what advice they would give to aspiring writers. Holly mentioned screenplays and how understanding three-act structure and emotional highs and lows could be helpful when writing a novel. Kalynn talked about the importance of finishing your first draft, and Frederico said to write what you were passionate about. Kathleen’s advice was to call yourself a writer, no matter how much or how little you’ve written. 
And last but not least… If you’ve ever come across my blog before, you might know that I absolutely love the Lockwood & Co. series, by Jonathan Stroud. I’ve been recommending it since Halloween 2019 😄. And now my copy of The Screaming Staircase has been signed! I also discovered that the skull in the jar—an important character who’s in the series right until the end—was originally supposed to be no more than a prop in Lucy’s interview. 
All of the authors we met were memorable in the best of ways, and they’re a big part of what makes YALC so special. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but the chance to have a conversation with the actual person who created the characters and worlds in your favourite books is kind of awesome. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a little scary too, but worth it!
I guess the only thing left to say is that we’re looking forward to next year already. Thank you very much for visiting my blog today 💕.

Beyond Androva: Book Four 📚

“I’d always thought the hard part would be falling in love with someone who loved me back. I never considered what came next.”— Averine Vernier
Today’s blog post is all about Xytovia. Bound in Magic, the fourth and final book in the Beyond Androva series, will be released later this month! 
Averine’s POV was a challenge at first because she’s not a magician, and the evolution of Xytovia as a blended society was way more complicated than I expected. I also discovered there was a lot more to her and Kellan’s story than the snapshot I wrote in Lost in Magic. 
As always, there is a short prologue to introduce a little context, then Averine takes over as the narrator. I hope you’ll enjoy finding out what happened to her as much as I did!
The pre-order for the eBook (21st October 2023) will be on Amazon very soon, and I’ll update this post with a link when it’s available. The price will remain at £0.99/€0.99/$0.99 until the release date.
Update ☺Amazon UK Bound in Magic
Amazon US Bound in Magic
The description and the prologue are below. Thank you very much for visiting my blog today, and if you decide to read Bound in Magic, I hope you enjoy it!
Divided loyalties. Stolen magic. Some bonds are made to be broken.
Averine’s biggest regret is thinking she could ever trust her father. On her seventeenth birthday, he forces her to accept a toxic gift. Mage-sickness. Creating a cure will bring him the power he craves, and he’s perfectly willing to risk his daughter to get it.
Trapped inside a Dimension Cell while her life hangs in the balance, Averine continues her alchemy training and hopes for a second chance. The last thing she expects is to receive a visitor. Kellan is a prisoner too, though his circumstances are nothing like hers. After a difficult start, they form a magical bond that will change their lives forever.
Outside of the cell, Xytovia is rebuilding after the long years of segregation. But not everyone believes magicians and cotidians are equal. Averine and Kellan only care about escaping. They don’t know the dangers waiting for them in the real world. Bonds can be exploited. And the consequences can be deadly.


Prologue

(Phidiom, Day 99, Year 6015)

“You puton quite a performance.” The woman’s voice was clipped and angry.

“Why, thankyou.”

“This isn’tfunny. We need a magician, and we need them now. Nothing else matters, and you… you let them leave. How could you be so careless?”

“Yes. I letthem leave.” Her companion gave no outward sign that he was offended. “All ofXytovia would have noticed the disappearance of Gentus and Vidian Bavois. Farbetter that they return to Vayl believing us weak and scared.”

“And sowhat if they disappeared?” she said. “Accidents happen, no matter how importantyou are.”

“Be reasonable,”he said. “They had three wardens with them. It was not the opportunity youthink it was.”

She madean impatient sound. “I don’t care if there were ten wardens. What about Rosa?What about my daughter? Her life is the one that matters. We should have takenthem and deactivated the mage-glass they used to get here. It takes a week tocross the ocean. That’s plenty of time to establish a cover story.”

“No,” hesaid, shaking his head. “The whole point of this plan is to keep it hidden. A searchparty from Vayl is the last thing we need. And closing the mage-glass doesn’t onlykeep people out. It keeps us in.”

The twoalchemists looked at each other. Friends since childhood, they had similar lightbrown hair and hazel eyes and were often mistaken for siblings. His expressionremained patient while hers was pinched with frustration.

“How canyou be so calm?” she said. “The magical core we stole from Maxia Jonville isalmost gone, and I can’t—”

Her voicebroke. She took a steadying breath. “Rosa will die without a new core to bondwith.”

“She won’tdie,” said the man. “Have a little faith.”

“In what?In what?”

He reachedfor her hand. “Taking Gentus and Vidian Bavois would have bought us some time. Iadmit that. But it would also have attracted a great deal of unwanted attention.And their force fields are damaged. A damaged forced field is likely to be a temporaryand imperfect solution. It’s no different to the Jonville girl.”

“Imperfectis the way things are, thanks to the war and the Poison Spells. We have nochoice.”

“I’m notso sure about that.”

“What doyou mean?”

“GentusBavois came here looking for something,” he said. “Looking for someone.”

“Who?”

“A magicianwith an undamaged force field.”

The woman’sgaze sharpened. “And? Is it another far-fetched story, or do we think thismagician actually exists?”

Hesmiled. “Based on the bottle of unfiltered lumien Gentus waved in front of my face,I believe they do.”

She returnedhis smile slowly, incredulously. “We have to find them before he does.”

“I wouldn’tworry. He’s barely competent, and you know how the laws of magic work. One undamagedforce field can ignite an untold number of new sparks. Gentus will never containthem all.”

She nodded.“And we only need one force field. One magician to save Rosa’s life.”

“Incorrect,”he said.

“What doyou mean?”

The warmthin his expression vanished. “Have you forgotten the original plan? Phidiomneeds lumien.”

“No,”she said. “I haven’t forgotten. But after what happened to Rosa…”

“A temporarysetback,” he said. “Her recovery will prove that my procedure works, and then wecan expand.”

When hisfellow alchemist did not reply, he leaned closer and lowered his voice.

“This isan opportunity to finally eliminate our dependency on magicians. No more givingaway our best sea silks and jewels in exchange for scraps of lumien. We’ll befree.” A pause. “My commitment to pursuing that opportunity hasn’t changed. Nomatter the cost.”

He raisedhis eyebrows. “I hope I can still count on your support.”

The wordshung in the air for a few seconds, as he waited for the woman’s reply. She swallowed.“Yes. Yes, you can.”

He pattedher hand. “Excellent.”

A Bookish Vacation 📚😎

 

“The odd thing about people whohad many books was how they always wanted more.”
― Patricia A. McKillip

 

Vacations are brilliant forlots of reasons, but most especially because they are so perfectly compatiblewith books. Having more time to read (and write) makes me very happy ☺.

 

We’re in the middle of summerhere in the UK, and I was lucky enough to escape to the south coast last week. Thanksto my Kindle and my laptop, I brought a lot of fictional worlds and characterswith me, and I had the best time discovering their stories. By the time I cameback to the reality of work, chores, and rush hour traffic, I felt like I’d hadmultiple vacations and met lots of new people.

 

These were my three readinggoals:
Something new
Something from my TBR
Something written by an authorattending YALC 2023

 

Something new
OK, so this was supposed to be onebook, but it turned into five, and I have no regrets. Also, the book thatstarted it all isn’t even published until October, so technically, it’s sixbooks…
I was browsing the top fiftynew releases on Amazon, and I clicked on A Curse For True Love, byStephanie Garber, because of the title and the beautiful cover. Then I read thetagline: Two villains, one girl, and a deadly battle for happily everafter . By the time I’d finished the description, I was invested.Jacks, the Prince of Hearts, sounds like an interesting character, Ithought. (I had no idea.)
A little research revealed thatA Curse For True Love is part of a spin-off from Caraval, atrilogy I’ve always been curious about. It seemed only logical to read thattoo. And now I’m counting the weeks until A Curse For True Love isreleased.

 

The Caraval Trilogy, by Stephanie Garber

Tagline: Welcome toCaraval, where nothing is quite what it seems…

 

“Legend brought people back tolife. Legend stole kingdoms with lies. Legend wrangled the stars.”

 

“If I told you the truth itwould spoil all the fun.”

 

“Would you havepreferred me to make the kiss kill you right away?”
Once Upon A Broken Heart and The Ballad of Never After, by Stephanie Garber
Tagline: How far wouldyou go for happily ever after?

 

“If you believe this is whatyou want, then you’re lying to yourself.”

 

“I hurt everyone, Little Fox.”

 

“There is nothing of equal valueto me.”

 

Something from my TBR
This particular book has beenon my TBR ever since I finished reading The Folk of the Air trilogy. Itwas so great to return to the dark world of Faerie as seen through the eyes ofSuren, and I’m really looking forward to Oak’s POV in the next book. To saythat things between Suren and Oak are complicated would be an understatement,and I have no idea where the story is going to go next.

 

The Stolen Heir, by Holly Black

Tagline: A runaway queen.A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.

 

“‘Is he your lover? Is this a balladwe’re in?’”
‘A murder ballad, maybe,’ Igrowl.
‘No doubt, by the end,’ hesays. ‘I wonder who will survive to compose it.’”

 

“If we were capable of puttingmistrust aside, we might be a formidable pair.”

 

“It can be brave to hate.Sometimes it’s like hope.”

 

Something written by an authorattending YALC 2023
YALC 2023 is being held inNovember, and I have tickets for Saturday 11th. I’d recommendchecking it out if you’re in the UK (or can travel here) because the lineup ofauthors is amazing, and everyone is so friendly and positive. Last year was myfirst time attending, and I smile whenever I think about it.

 

I decided to create a shortlist of threebooks, but it was really difficult choosing only three. The research wasfun because my youngest daughter is going to YALC too, and she has a shortlistof her own. Sometimes we love the same books, and sometimes we don’t!

 

To Kill a Kingdom, by Alexandra Christo

Tagline: The siren with ataste for royal blood and the prince who has sworn to destroy her.

 

“But now my memories are cruel dreams,twisting into merciless visions and accusing me of a past I can’t deny. Thetruth of what I am has become a nightmare.”

 

“Love and madness are two starsin the same sky.”

 

Influential, by Amara Sage

Tagline: Popularity comesat a price.

 

“How am I supposed to get thealgorithm of being a girl just right when the rules keep changing?”

 

“Reality can be what we want itto be, sweetie.”

 

The Outlaws Scarlett & Browne, by Jonathan Stroud

Tagline: Where gunfightsand monsters collide.

 

“‘The bank is closed.’
‘I know,’ the girl said.‘That’s kind of the point.’ One side of her mouth rose in a half-smile that didnot reach her eyes.”

 

“She was angry again; it seemedher default mode. The buzz of her thoughts beset him. But the boy, who had beenin the power of people who were never angry, yet who did terrible things tohim, was undaunted and even reassured.”

 

Writing update
And finally, an update on theconclusion to Beyond Androva. Everything is on track, and it won’t betoo much longer before I have a confirmed release date for Bound in Magic.Averine’s story is written, and in the next few weeks it will be edited,formatted, and wrapped up in a shiny new cover! In the meantime, here isan extract from the prologue, which is set in Phidiom during the timeline of Matched inMagic, the first book in theseries.

 

“Gentus Bavois came herelooking for something,” he said. “Looking for someone.”
“Who?”
“A magician with an undamagedforce field.”
The woman’s gaze sharpened.“And? Is it another far-fetched story, or do we think this magician actuallyexists?”
He smiled. “Based on the bottleof unfiltered lumien Gentus waved in front of my face, I believe they do.”

 

Thank you very much forvisiting my blog today 💕. I hope you get the chance to do some vacation readingthis summer, and if you’re going to YALC, maybe I’ll see you there ☺.

YA Romance Tropes A to Z ����

 

���Every great lovestarts with a great story.���

��� Nicholas Sparks

 

Thereare lots of reasons why I get invested in a story and its characters. It might be the creative world-building,or perhaps an intriguing mystery, or a great villain (even better if they havea redemption arc), or a seemingly insurmountable problem. But no matter the genre,I���m a bit of a hopeless romantic. If there���s a relationship to root for, I���ll be cheering it on.

 

Withthat in mind, today���s post is a tribute to all of the love stories in YA books.It���s only a snapshot of what���s out there, but it was a lot of fun to make, andmy TBR list is definitely longer as a result! Thank you very much for visitingmy blog today, and I hope you enjoy my latest A-Z ����.

 

Ais for Arranged (when parents think they know best)

Red Wolf by Rachel Vincent

������Thevillage of Ashbourne needs you. Whether they know it or not.���

Thefield seemed to spin around me as I tried to make sense of what I was hearing. ���You���reselling me in service to another village? To people I���ve never met? To ahusband I���ve never even seen?������

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

���Ashe ordered at the counter, he watched Dimple, totally relaxed in a way shehadn���t been with him, talking to Celia. And not for the first time in the pasthour, Rishi wondered how his parents could���ve made such a big mistake.���

 

Bis for Bad (the anti-hero love interest)

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

���Hissmile is laced with dynamite. ���Go to sleep.���

���Goto hell.���

Heworks his jaw. Walks to the door. ���I���m working on it.������

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

���NateMacauley tips his chair back and smirks at me. ���You make a wrong turn? This isdetention, not student council.������

 

Cis for Celebrity (ordinary character meets VIP)

Once Upon A Con (series) by Ashley Poston

���Ididn���t know what to say, but I wanted to reach out and touch his shoulder. Webarely knew each other, but it felt like he had just admitted something to methat he���d never told anyone else before. Maybe he realized that, too, becausehis shoulders went rigid. I stilled my hand to keep it by my side.���

 

Dis for Disguise (falling for someone you would never otherwise have fallen for)

Defy The Night by Brigid Kemmerer

���Iwonder if that���s the truth she���s told herself, too. That it doesn���t matter thatI was Weston Lark���because he���s dead. Now I���m just me.���

 

Eis for Enemies to Lovers (or, as Shakespeare wrote, ���My only love sprung frommy only hate!���)

To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

���Theycelebrate love as though it���s power, even though it has killed far more humansthan I ever have.���

Starflight by Melissa Landers

���How did he do that? A minute ago she wanted to break his jaw, and now she had to fight the urge to pat him on the head and give him a cookie. That had to be some kind of superpower. She finally understood how he got everything he wanted in life.���

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth

���Hesmells like clean laundry and summer and I hate it. I hate all of it.���

 

Fis for Friends to Lovers (seeing someone in a whole new light)

Ten Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

������Iwish it was me,��� he says quietly, and my head shoots up. ���You do?��� I ask. Hegets up from the chair and moves slowly toward me. ���I wish all the dates hadbeen mine.������

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

���Hekissed her, and she glowed with that feeling. The one with wings.

���Youbring the rain down on them, Pip.������

 

Gis for Ghost (the supernatural love interest)

Ghosted by Emily Barr

������Ican���t be a ghost,��� he said. ���I���m not dead. I���d know if I was dead, wouldn���t I?������

You've Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

������Idon���t want to open my eyes,��� Sam says. But the ride is about to come to itsend. I can feel it. I squeeze my eyes tighter, hoping to stop time or at leastslow it down. Because I don���t want to open mine, either. I don���t want to losehim. I want to keep them shut and live in this memory of us forever. I don���twant to open my eyes and see a world without Sam. But sometimes you just wakeup. No matter how hard you try not to.���

A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

���Thisgreen place in which I stood with James turned slowly around us like a musicbox. All my memories returning, and all his. I could see and feel each of hisdays and he mine ��� Our lives overlapped as naturally as two blades of grass brushingtogether.���

His for Historical (clothing and customs from a bygone era)

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price

���Lizziewas certain that her father secretly wished she���d been born a boy, and whileLizzie had no complaints about being a young woman, sometimes she wished sheweren���t a young lady.���

 

Iis for Insta Love (when lightning strikes)

Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds

���Don���tbe afraid. Take chances. And when those don���t work out, take more.���

 

Jis for Jilted (getting over a breakup by finding someone new)

A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

���Miamiheld my most cherished relationships, the ones I cry for in secret. Abuela.Andr��s. Stefanie. My heart and body and memory are not finished with them yet.���

 

Kis for Knight in Shining Armour (escaping a bad situation)

Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter

���ButLogan had to laugh when he realized that he was the maiden in this scenario.And he didn���t care one bit.���

 

Lis for Love Conquers All (anything is possible)

The Aurora Cycle (series) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

���Youwill not lose me. I am yours forever. When the fire of the last sun fails, mylove for you will still burn.���

 

Mis for Meet Cute (a memorable beginning)

Breaking Magic by Alex C Vick (because Cal and Alanna = one of my favourite couples)

������Don���texpect me to bend down and kiss your feet just because you said sorry,��� sheretorted.

���Kissmy feet?��� I repeated. I scrunched up my toes in their dusty brown boots. Sheblushed bright red. Zack and Albany grinned at each other.

���Idon���t want anything from you,��� I said nervously.

���Good,because you���re not getting it!���

���Good,because I don���t want it!������

 

Nis for Not Enough (not everything can be fixed)

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

���I���mbroken, and no one can fix it. I���ve tried. I���m still trying. I can���t loveanyone because it���s not fair to anyone who loves me back.���

 

Ois for Opposites Attract (having nothing in common but falling in love anyway)

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

���I���mnot going to fall in love with you.���

���Howdo you know?���

���Idon���t believe in love.���

���It���snot a religion,��� he says. ���It exists whether you believe in it or not.���

 

Pis for Proximity (characters forced together by factors outside of theircontrol)

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

���Youdon���t have to kiss me. You don���t even have to like me, Heiress, but pleasedon���t make me do this alone.���

Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber

���Hesighed as he straightened. ���I don���t want your money, Princess. And I don���t likethe term kidnapper. I���m really more of an accomplice. Shen, the middle man. I���mjust in charge of getting you from point A to point B.������

 

Qis for Quest (when love and adventure go hand in hand)

The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder

���Maybefalling in love wasn���t something you dreamed about, or something you left todestiny. Maybe it was something that happened when you were having too much funto notice.���

The Beholder by Anna Bright

���Ihad no idea what to make of the boy in front of me, or what to do with him,except to play his game and see if I liked it.���

 

Ris for Royalty (princes and princesses are just as clueless about love as the restof us)

The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano

���Asthough they were always meant to end up here: this boy who had murdered andstolen, and this girl made of secrets and lies, their cursed hearts pounding.���

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean

���Wewouldn���t have worked out long-term anyway. He likes girls who don���t wearmake-up. I like guys who don���t tell girls what to do with their bodies.���

 

Sis for School (love in the classroom)

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

���Mymom once told me that the world is divided into two kinds of people: the oneswho love their high school years and the ones who spend the next decaderecovering from them.���

All's Fair in Love, War, and High School by Janette Rallison

���Idon���t know why it���s so hard for me to find just one ideal guy. I���ve probablyread a hundred romances, and every single one of them has my ideal man in it.���

 

Tis for Triangle (it���s complicated)

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

���Fora moment, the three of us stare at one another in wordless comprehension. Ilook between the two of them���a fallen angel, and a king, the dark and thelight, and feel a deep, churning thrill at what I���ve done. What we���ve done.This is how it will be now. Oaths between us. Bound to each other. Forever.���

Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli

���They���reboth just going to make fun of us for having yet another communal crush.According to Riana, Anderson and I are enmeshed, which basically means we���recodependent. Apparently some people believe falling in love is a thing you���resupposed to do on your own.���

 

Uis for Unrequited (loving someone who doesn���t feel the same���or do they?)

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

���Onething I learned a long time ago is that even if you think you���re meant to bewith someone, that doesn���t necessarily mean you get to be with them.���

 

Vis for Vampire (a classic: the love interest with fangs)

Metallic Red by Jennifer Ann Shore

���Iclosed my eyes and tried my best to think of anything other than the delicious,metallic scent of blood. When the bell rang, I was relieved to open my eyes anddiscover that everyone around me was too caught up in their own selves to seethe half-human, half-vampire teetering on the brink of insanity.���

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

���Evenfrom the beginning, that was the problem. People liked pretty things. Peopleeven liked pretty things that wanted to kill and eat them.���

 

Wis for Wealth (one character has it and the other doesn���t)

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

������Andyou are?��� He meets my eyes.

���Herdaughter.��� I know he���s asking for my name, but I don���t want to give it. Thefirst thing I learned about the rich is that they find the common folk anamusing distraction but would never, ever want anything real. And that���sfine with me.���

 

Xis for Ex (when the Ex is still in the picture)

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

���Iam a Herondale. We love but once.���

���Thatis only a story.���

���Haven���tyou heard?��� James said bitterly. ���All the stories are true.���

Heartbreak Boys by Simon James Green

���Idon���t know why other people have to make things so hard.���

 

Yis for Your Own Perspective (there is no ���one size fits all��� when it comes tolove)

Loveless by Alice Oseman

���Iused to dream of a spellbinding, endless, forever romance. A beautiful story ofmeeting a person who could change your whole world. But now, I realised,friendship could be that too.���

 

Zis for Zigzag (���The course of true love never did run smooth��� ���Shakespeare)

This is Not the Jess Show (duology) by Anna Carey

���Itried to get a better view into the car, to see Kipps one last time, but the doorslipped down in front of me, closing him off. Then the car pulled away, rippingdown a deserted road. And just like that, Kipps was gone.���