Allison Saft was born in a Philadelphia blizzard and has been chasing the sun ever since. After receiving her MA in English Literature from Tulane University, she moved from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast, where she spends her time hiking the redwoods and practicing aerial silks. Down Comes the Night is her debut novel.
The Knight and the Moth (2025) (Stonewater Kingdom, book 1) Rachel Gillig "The queen of Gothic romantasy returns! The Knight and the Moth is as dangerous as it is whimsical, and entirely unputdownable."
Where Shadows Meet (2025) Patrice Caldwell "Deeply emotional and utterly original, Where Shadows Meet charts the lengths we will go for love. Caldwell gives us two romances that span eons and vampires as you've never seen them before. Readers will be left ravenous for the sequel."
What Wakes the Bells (2025) Elle Tesch "An action-packed debut about duty and divinity, with layered family dynamics, a lovers-to-enemies romance to sink your teeth into, and a setting so vivid, you can feel the cold--and the toll of the Vesper Bells--in your bones. Moody, fun, and wholly original."
Fable for the End of the World (2025) Ava Reid "With her singular gift for metaphor, Reid has crafted a frighteningly prescient dystopia about the ravages of corporate greed - and also a beautiful love story between two girls determined to survive. Brilliant and devastating, Fable for the End of the World will arm you with the strongest tools we have: both anger and hope."
Blood Beneath the Snow (2025) (Blood & Souls Duology, book 1) Alexandra Kennington "Blood Beneath the Snow has got it all: ill-advised love with plenty of bickering; chemistry that sizzles hot against the wintry atmosphere; and a brewing rebellion. A fun, propulsive debut that will have readers clamoring for the sequel."
The Scorpion and the Night Blossom (2025) (Three Realms , book 1) Amélie Wen Zhao "A moonlit, romantic tale about the monstrosity of humans and the humanity of monsters. Zhao has created a world brimming with cruel beauty, dark magic, and layered characters who will tear your heart out. I loved it!"
A Curse for the Homesick (2025) Laura Brooke Robson "With her signature atmospheric prose and incisive eye for detail, Robson will make you yearn for a place you've never been. A bittersweet, hopeful tale about what it means to belong to a place - and how love is a risk worth taking."
Inheritance of Scars (2024) Crystal Seitz "A romantic, blood-soaked tale about forging your own path and the shifting lines between love and hate. I was swept away by this journey into the forest of Tiveden, where the cold is unrelenting and your heart can be as treacherous as the creatures that prowl the darkness. Fans of enemies-to-lovers - and vampires! - will adore this one."
Divine Mortals (2024) (Divine Mortals, book 1) Amanda M Helander "An absolute delight! Mona is a heroine after my own heart, navigating court intrigue, divine machinations, and an opposites-attract romance with crass humor and an iron will. With wit, whimsy, and fantastic worldbuilding, Divine Mortals will pull you in - and you might never want to resurface."
The Monstrous Kind (2024) Lydia Gregovic "Romantic, clever, and deeply emotional. The Monstrous Kind is the darkly glimmering crown jewel of YA Gothic fantasy."
The Dark We Know (2024) Wen-yi Lee "A haunting, unforgettable debut. With gorgeous prose, palpable atmosphere, and intricate character work, Lee examines what it means to belong to a place and fight for a better world. Like the song of Slater's mountains, The Dark We Know will settle into your bones and call you back again and again."
The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love (2024) (Love's Academic, book 1) India Holton "Holton's prose winks and sparkles with wit and magic, flitting expertly between laugh-out-loud hijinks, swoon-worthy romance, and adventure filled with fowl play. The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love is pure, rollicking fun - and will set your heart aflutter."
I Will Never Leave You (2024) Kara A Kennedy "Haunting, healing, and unforgettable... I absolutely adored Kennedy's emotional, atmospheric debut - and its narrator, Maya, a girl clawing her way back to herself. I Will Never Leave You has a high-stakes plot that will have you tearing through the pages but writing so gorgeous, you'll want to linger on every line."
Foul Days (2024) (Witch's Compendium of Monsters, book 1) Genoveva Dimova "Charming, wry, and emotionally resonant. Dimova's propulsive, assured prose captures a fresh, gritty world bursting with wonderful characters-and monsters galore! Get ready to meet your new favorite supernatural crime-busting duo."
The Honey Witch (2024) Sydney J Shields "As sweet and warm as honeyed tea. Shields' debut deftly explores love, loss, and loneliness-and the joy of seeing magic in all things, however small. With charming characters and a lush setting, The Honey Witch will delight fans of cosy fantasy."
The Absinthe Underground (2024) Jamie Pacton "Behold: the queer Belle Epoque fantasy of my dreams, brimming with yearning and adventure and written by a true master of whimsy! From cats in cozy clock towers to schemes in the glittering world of Fae, Pacton spins a tale thatenchants like a glass of absinthe."
Curious Tides (2023) (Drowned Gods Duology, book 1) Pascale Lacelle "With chewy, intricate worldbuilding; sparkling characters; and thrilling twists, Curious Tides pulled me under, and I never wanted to resurface from its richly imagined depths. An alluring, immersive debut."
Together We Rot (2023) Skyla Arndt "All hail the new queen of YA horrormance! Arndt's unputdownable debut crackles with wit and seethes with terrors just beneath the surface. Equal parts tender and grisly, Together We Rot will sink its roots into you."
A Multitude of Dreams (2023) Mara Rutherford "A bloody, fast-paced, and starkly beautiful reimagining of a Gothic classic - with a determined, fierce heroine at its heart. You'll be lured into the rotten opulence of Eldridge Hall, and you won't ever want to leave."
A Warning About Swans (2023) R M Romero "R.M. Romero has woven a powerful, moving fairytale about finding belonging in the in-between and holding onto magic in a cruel world. A Warning About Swans carried me from hope to despair and back again on the wings of dreamy, wrenching verse. Entirely spellbinding."
The Third Daughter (2023) (Betrayal Prophecies, book 1) Adrienne Tooley "The Third Daughter is subtly vicious and achingly tender, with a charming cast and delightful twists to boot. In the queendom of Velle, divinity and royalty clash, romance and intrigue simmer, and betrayals abound-but at the novel's gentle heart is a story about the healing magic of being known. This is Adrienne Tooley at her most powerful."
Where Echoes Die (2023) Courtney Gould "Eerie, tender, and inventive, Where Echoes Die is a triumph. With atmosphere as stark and ruthless as the Arizona heat and a masterfully unspooling mystery, Gould crafts a tale about survival and moving on that had me completely arrested."
Court of the Undying Seasons (2023) A M Strickland "Strickland has done it again! Court of the Undying Seasons is blood-soaked, blade-sharp, and completely enthralling. With a wildly imaginative world, a delightful cast of characters, and prose that expertly threads the needle between creepy and camp, this is a book to be devoured."
Bitterthorn (2023) Kat Dunn "Both classic and novel, melancholy and tenderly wrought, Bitterthorn crackles with passion and warmth like a fire on a long winter night. With achingly atmospheric prose, Dunn has crafted characters I would die for and a love story as powerful and enduring as a fairytale. A must-read for fans of Gothic romance."
The Next New Syrian Girl (2023) Ream Shukairy "The Next New Syrian Girl is an engrossing, crackling debut. Shukairy kept me tearing through the pages with masterfully executed twists, fraught family dynamics, and the blossoming friendship between Khadija and Leene. Heart-wrenching, heartwarming, and altogether healing."
Midnight Strikes (2023) Zeba Shahnaz "Midnight Strikes is pure, high-octane fun. With whip-smart worldbuilding, spectacular twists, and the angsty romance of my dreams, Shahnaz's debut is guaranteed to keep you up reading until midnight. A masterclass in YA fantasy."
Lies We Sing to the Sea (2023) Sarah Underwood "Lies We Sing to the Sea is a lyrical, elegant debut bursting with imagination and heart. Underwood expertly weaves a tale about the inevitability of fate - and the love that makes us rail against it anyway. Bittersweet and wholly cathartic."
Flowerheart (2023) Catherine Bakewell "Flowerheart is like a garden in full bloom: vibrant and sweet, whimsical and wondrous."
Revelle (2023) Lyssa Mia Smith "Revelle is a jewel of a debut, as glittering and gritty as its Roaring Twenties setting. Lyssa Mia Smith has written a real showstopper, with a romance that's both sizzling and sweet, wildly imaginative worldbuilding, and twists that crescendo to a thrilling finale. I couldn't read it fast enough!"
The Whispering Dark (2022) Kelly Andrew "A masterclass in dark academia. Andrew dazzles with exquisite prose, sizzling romantic tension, and a clever, twisting plot."
Wake the Bones (2022) Elizabeth Kilcoyne "With atmosphere as close and thick as summer heat, Wake the Bones is an unflinchingly gruesome delight. Kilcoyne's lush, spellbinding prose kept me racing through the pages--and examines the ways small-town horrors soak into the very earth."
This Vicious Grace (2022) (Last Finestra, book 1) Emily Thiede "The perfect blend of humor and heart, This Vicious Grace is a high-stakes romp that brims with deadly magic, sparkling chemistry, and the deep yearning for connection in an alienating world. Prepare to fall head-over-heels with Alessa and Dante!"
What We Harvest (2022) Ann Fraistat "Clever, grotesque, and oozing with atmosphere, What We Harvest is a delightful, page-turning debut. Fraistat masterfully blends horror, fantasy, and science into a tale brimming with slow-creeping dread and explosive, long-buried secrets. I devoured it in one sitting."
The City Beautiful (2021) Aden Polydoros "Sinister and alluring, The City Beautiful will utterly transport you. With a keen eye for historical details, Polydoros deftly weaves together a gruesome murder mystery, a beautiful romance, and a rich depiction of Jewish life in the 19th century. I absolutely adored Alter, a boy on a quest for closure, love, and belonging in a hostile world."
