#32 - Instead of Screams, I Swear I Can Hear Music in the Air
AKA "capping off the year with a recap"
PROLOGUE
HOW is it December? HOW?? This introduction will be short because I have brain fog.
I’ve been reading For She is Wrath by Emily Varga again (see below for why). At the risk of going another year without playing Persona, the game franchise that half my friends adore, I’ve been making my sister play it for me while I watch her do it. And I’ve been listening to the Wicked Endeavors playlist (see below for what that is) as I work on the first draft of that story.
November was… a lot in many ways, but I did have some high points as well. Let’s get into those!
CHAPTER 1: BIG BOOK NEWS, PART 2
I usually use the December newsletter to do some reflections, but I want to actually get all the way to the end of my debut year before collecting my thoughts. For that reason, I’m saving the end of the year wrap-up for the January newsletter, and this will just be another news round-up. I’ve announced a lot of things since the last newsletter, after all!
WICKED ENDEAVORS ANNOUNCEMENT
Coming in Summer 2026, my next duology starts with WICKED ENDEAVORS, which is perfect for fans of For She is Wrath by Emily Varga and Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli. A powerless girl infiltrates witch high society in time for their Bridgerton-like social season in order to bring them down, only to be torn between an enemy prince and her childhood friend turned enemy. I’m currently drafting it, and I can’t wait to share more after THIS ENDS IN EMBERS is out!
THIS ENDS IN EMBERS UK COVER REVEAL
THIS ENDS IN EMBERS will have a different cover in the UK than in the US, and that cover has finally been revealed! Drawn by Taj Francis, the same artist who did the original SO LET THEM BURN cover, this absolutely stunning art left me breathless, and I’m glad everyone has responded so positively!
THIS ENDS IN EMBERS PREORDER CAMPAIGN
I finally revealed the THIS ENDS IN EMBERS preorder campaign! If you buy the book from Third Place Books, you’ll not only get a signed copy, but you’ll also get the new exclusive gold foil print of Faron, Elara, and their dragons, as well as a dust jacket you can put on your hardcover of SO LET THEM BURN so it will match the new cover direction for THIS ENDS IN EMBERS. However, there are only 100 dust jackets, so if you want one, preorder quickly!
MISCELLANEOUS SCREAMING
SO LET THEM BURN made the Opening Round of the Goodreads Choice Awards, in the Young Adult Fantasy category, an honor that made me cry and get sappy on Instagram. It also made Reactor’s Most Iconic Speculative Fiction of the 21st Century List, under Young Adult, in the Readers’ Choice poll that followed their original post. Indigo, Bookshop.org, and Den of Geeks also selected SO LET THEM BURN for their Best Books of 2024 lists
CHAPTER 2: THE REC ROOM
Welcome to the Rec Room, the section of my newsletter that I use to highlight books coming out each month I’m really excited about. For December, we have…
A CRUEL THIRST by Angela Montoya
HOCarolina Fuentes wants to join her family in hunting the bloodthirsty vampiros that plague her pueblo. Her father, however, wishes to marry her off to a husband of his choosing, someone who'll take her away from danger. Determined to prove she'd make a better slayer than wife, Carolina vows to take down a monster herself. But when she runs into un vampiro who is somehow extremely attractive and kind, her plan crumbles.
Lalo Villalobos was content leading a perfectly dull life until un vampiro turned him. Now forced to flee his city, he heads to the pueblo where he believes the first vampiro was made. Surely its residents must know how to reverse this dreadful curse. Instead of finding salvation, Lalo collides with a beautiful young woman who'd gladly drive a dagger through his heart.
Fortunately, Lalo and Carolina share a common enemy. They can wipe out this evil. Together. If his fangs and her fists can stay focused, they might just triumph and discover what it feels like to take a bite out of love.
CHAPTER 3: LOOK AT MY CAT!!!
She is Sora. See her roar. (OK, she was actually yawning, but still. Perfect shot is perfect.)
EPILOGUE
Thank you for subscribing and/or for sticking around! I hope you like rambles, shenanigans, and nonsense, because that’s truly all this is. Here’s hoping we can all end the year on a high note!
