Colette Tamburini – Staff Writer
Spring has finally arrived in South Florida! Clear skies, blooming flowers, and of course, the ever-looming time of cramming in homework, projects and studying for those midterm/final exams.
These next few weeks are going to be a lot for many students, which is why it is a good idea to spend some free time and pick up a book!
There are a ton of recent and upcoming books that I’m very excited to dive into, but to dwell on them will be endless. So, to keep things interesting, I’ve compiled a short but great list of Young Adult and New Adult novels that will be releasing this Spring (from March-May).
GALLANT
Since the viral and bestselling sensation of the 2020 novel The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, fans of V.E. Schwab’s work wondered what story was up next under the author’s sleeve. Well, they don’t have to wait longer because Schwab’s latest novel, Gallant, just came out a couple weeks ago. It follows Olivia who receives a letter that invites her to Gallant- a strange, haunted mansion that is filled with as many secrets as there are ghouls. With Schwab’s staple lyrical prose and emotional themes, this standalone novel is perfect for all ages to be sucked into this mysterious world. (Released March 1, 2022)
BLOOD SCION
With the brutal Lucis’ rule looming over her head, Sloane’s powers are kept secret and it could mean death if they’re discovered. When her fifteenth birthday arrives, she is forcefully enlisted in the army and as vengeance, she seeks to take it all down within. But as she rises to the ranks, Sloane slowly loses her own self and risks becoming the monster she swore to fight against. Inspired by Yoruba-Nigerian mythology, Deborah Falaye’s Blood Scion takes readers on a journey of power, injustice, magic, revenge, and magic that’ll be sure to become a hit with audiences. (Released March 8, 2022)
PORTRAIT OF A THIEF
Grace D. Li’s Portrait of a Thief is for those who love a good heist. Will Chen is suited into the role of the Perfect American student, aiming to please his parents. But Chinese benefactors scoop him-along with four other fellow diaspora- on a (kind of illegal) mission to steal back Chinese sculptures stolen from Beijing. The reward? Five million dollars and put themselves on the history books. But to fail would be a failed attempt to take back what colonialism has already stolen and continues to do in modern times. Both a reflection of the Chinese American identity and a critical look of how colonialism lingers on through the years, Portrait of a Thief is a novel readers cannot miss. (Releases April 5, 2022)
BOOK OF NIGHT
As a huge fan of Holly Black, I’m highly anticipating the release of her adult debut novel, Book of Night. Charlie Hall’s world is filled with shadows that can be manipulated. While some folks prefer to use them for entertainment or to alter appearance, others rather seek its power. From controlling feelings to changing memories, using the puppetry of shadows has the cost of losing days or years of one’s life. Or perhaps a shadow can have its own life. When Charlie is thrown back into chaos, she’ll have to face her past and deal with doppelgangers, thieves, billionaires and even her own sister as they all try to harness shadow magic. (Releasing May 3, 2022)
tambc@mail.broward.edu