Lauren Kate: White Lights

For the 23rd episode of THE NERD TEA, I'm joined by author Gretchen Powell Fox to discuss the Shattered Crown trilogy.ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Gretchen Powell Fox spent her childhood in far-off places—figuratively and literally. She grew up with her nose buried in books and her feet on foreign soil. Both, she found, were essential in forming her deep fascination with stories.Now, she crafts fantastical and futuristic worlds—along with the fiery heroines destined to change them for the better.ABOUT THE BOOK:The trilogy begins with "Smoke and Scar." An ancient grudge has kept humans and the magical races of Arcanis at odds for centuries. The Arcane Crucible offers a chance for peace.Elyria Lightbreaker, once a celebrated fae war hero, is drowning in grief. vCedric Thorne’s lifelong goal to conquer the Crucible on humanity’s behalf is finally within reach. Elyria and Cedric must navigate deadly trials that test their strength, spirit, and magic… as well as their increasingly complex feelings for each other.Birthed in shadow. Forged in fire.A Splintered Kingdom. A Haunted Warrior. A Vengeful Knight. An Unwinnable ChallengeThis is the Arcane Crucible.What to expect:FantasyEnemies to loversDeadly competitionForced proximitySlow burnDual povCompleted trilogy

For the 22nd episode of THE NERD TEA, I'm joined by author V.L. Bovalino to discuss "The Thief and the Traitor Bride," which is the fantasy romance spinoff of her popular novel "The Second Death of Locke."ABOUT THE AUTHOR:V.L. Bovalino is the bestselling author of “The Second Death of Locke.” She loves obscure academic facts, folklore, and oversized sweaters.She also writes books for young adults as Tori BovalinoABOUT THE BOOK:A ruthless spy. A deadly mission. A thief who could ruin it all.Nore Gordon is the favored spy of the Lindle crown. Tasked with infiltrating enemy lands in search of a powerful relic, Nore is forced to engage the services of her estranged husband, Caspian. As danger closes in, Nore finds herself tangled in a web of lies and deceit-and though Caspian is at the center of it all, she may not hate him as much as she once did. But Caspian has betrayed her before, and trust can be far more deadly than deception.What to expect:FantasySpy vs ThiefEspionageSecond chance romanceEnemies to loversForced proximityBONUS:About "The Second Death of Locke"Love. Loyalty. Sacrifice.The Second Death of Locke is a devastatingly romantic epic fantasy and about the undying bond between a knight and their mage.What to expect:FantasyLady knightWars & battlesChosen oneFriends to loversBonded pair

For the 21st episode of THE NERD TEA, I'm joined by author Marve Michael Anson to discuss the first book in her Yoruba-inspired fantasy series, "Firstborn of the Sun."ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Marve Michael Anson has been writing for over a decade.When she's not weaving fantastical tales, you can find her exploring life as a serial hobbyist, delving into everything from obsessing over myths and histories, collecting books and passionately assembling her own personal library to indulging in an unapologetic obsession with all things Christmas. ABOUT THE BOOK:L'ore has a secret. She is the only one without agbára – the ability to harness power from the sun. When the gods declare her best friend Alawani an Àlùfáà – a great honour where he will serve the gods and the Kingdom – L'ore accidentally channels an icy shadow magic that she learns originated from a forbidden, secret land beyond Oru.Now, she and Alawani must seek sanctuary and discover a secret that could bring the Kingdom to its knees.What to expect:- Yoruba-inspired fantasy- Secrets & betrayals- Political power struggle- Generational burdens & trauma- Multi-pov- Hidden magic- Romance- First in trilogy

For the 20th episode of The Nerd Tea, I'm joined by hybrid author Stacia Stark to discuss her new adult, Gladiator-inspired fantasy series, "We Who Will Die." ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Stacia Stark is a New York Times, USA Today, Sunday Times, and Amazon bestselling author of fantasy romance. Her books have been translated into over 16 languages. She loves writing romantasy filled with found families, female friendship, self-reliant heroines, and brooding, grumpy heroes. ABOUT THE BOOK:To save her younger brothers, Arvelle makes a magically binding vow to kill the emperor, an ancient vampire. But first, she must enter the Sundering—an arena where only the fastest, strongest, and deadliest survive long enough to be selected for the emperor’s elite guard.To survive the arena and complete her mission, Arvelle has no choice but to ally with the man who once shattered her heart… and with the emperor’s sadistic son, Rorrik—two vampires whose motives are impossible to pin down. What To Expect• HIGH FANTASY• GLADIATOR-INSPIRED• VAMPIRES & MAGIC• CHILDHOOD ROMANCE• ENEMIES TO ALLIES• REBELLION• FIRST IN SERIES

For the 19th episode of The Nerd Tea, I'm joined by author Lauren Kate to discuss her new adult paranormal series, "White Lights."ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Lauren Kate is the author of 15 novels, including the FALLEN series, now an Emmy-winning television series on AMC+.Her latest trilogy, WHITE LIGHTS, is an angel-focused adult romantasy trilogy.ABOUT THE BOOK:When mysterious Rafe de la Cruz rolls into Desdemona’s life to recruit her to the elite film school Acheron, Dez has no reason to trust him—and no other option. A violent attack has just put her brother in the hospital…and Dez is the only suspect. Guilt-ridden and grieving, she finds herself running from the law to chase her longtime dream of making movies, at a school she’s never heard of.As she delves deeper into the secret work being done at Acheron, she finds herself trapped in an existential conflict on a cosmic scale—with more than her heart on the line.What to expect:ACADEMIAANGELSSEMI LOVE-TRIANGLESPICE1ST IN SERIES

For the 18th episode of The Nerd Tea, I'm joined by author Sasha Peyton Smith to discuss her historical romantasy duology, "The Rose Bargain" and "The Thorn Queen."ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Sasha Peyton Smith is the New York Times best-selling author of The Witch Haven and The Witch Hunt.She’s passionate about well-curated road trip playlists, soup recipes, and stories about complicated girls. ABOUT THE BOOK:London, 1848—For four hundred years, England has been under the control of an immortal fae queen. As Ivy Benton prepares to make her debut, the queen announces a competition for her fae son’s hand.Ivy soon finds herself with an unexpected ally: Prince Bram’s brother, the rakish Prince Emmett, who promises to help Ivy win his brother’s heart…for a price. But all faerie bargains come with a cost, and Ivy may have discovered hers too late.What to expect:HISTORICAL FANTASYDARK COMPETITIONLOVE TRIANGLEPLOTS & BETRAYALSCOMPLETED DUOLOGY

For the 17th episode of The Nerd Tea, I'm joined by author Rachel Griffin to discuss her standalone novel "The Sun and the Starmaker."ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Rachel Griffin writes novels inspired by the magic of the world around her.She is the #1 New York Times, #1 Indie, Sunday Times, and USA Today bestselling author of The Sun and the Starmaker, Bring Me Your Midnight, The Nature of Witches, and Wild is the Witch.ABOUT THE BOOK:There once was a village so far north that most considered it the top of the world... and in that village, the Sun fell in love with her Starmaker. Aurora Finch grew up on tales of the Starmaker's magic, never imagining she'd one day meet him. The Starmaker senses a powerful magic within her and demands that she come study under his guidance. With her newfound abilities tied to the survival of the village, Aurora is swept away to his ice-covered castle at the mountain's peak.The Starmaker is as cold and distant as the dark woods, leaving Aurora to explore his enchanted castle with only an immortal rabbit for company. Yet the more she discovers about the sorcerer, the stronger their ruinous attraction grows, pulling her closer to the secrets he refuses to share.What to expect:- Whimsical fantasy- Grumpy v sunshine romance- Forced proximity- Magical curse- Standalone

For the 16th episode of The Nerd Tea, I'm joined by romantasy author Rachel Schneider to discuss the first installment of her indie-turned-trad book "Metal Slinger."ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Rachel Schneider is a romantasy author who lives in South Louisiana with her husband and daughter. She loves curse words, crawfish, and all things romance.ABOUT THE BOOK:Brynn has spent her life among the Alaha, training to be a guard and waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta–the very same people who exiled her adopted community to a life at sea.But Brynn does not anticipate breaking a century-long peace treaty while there.Nor does she plan for the intense encounter with an enemy soldier that now threatens to unwind the fragile coexistence between their people–and everything Brynn once believed about herself to be true.

For the 15th episode of The Nerd Tea, I'm joined by fantasy author Shannon J. Spann to discuss her debut novel, "A Stage Set for Villains."ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Shannon J. Spann is a debut writer and social media strategist. In her spare time, she loves knitting, wandering her local bookstore, and of course, theatre.ABOUT THE BOOK:"A Stage Set for Villains"The gods are dead. All that’s left are the Players…The performers of the Playhouse are as worshipped as they are feared, their enchanting shows bending hearts, minds, and even reality itself. Vicious, godlike, lethal.An encounter with a Player left eighteen-year-old Riven Hesper with a curse that is slowly killing her. When the Playhouse announces the spectacle of a lifetime, Riven infiltrates the competition. There, she finds Jude, the Playhouse’s brilliant, merciless Lead Player, whose charm is as dangerous as his Craft, and strikes a deadly bargain to save her life.But with time running out and the Playhouse’s secrets unraveling into a disturbing picture, Riven faces a grim possibility: she might not be the hero of her story after all. In fact, she may be the villain.

For the 14th episode of The Nerd Tea, I'm joined by debut fantasy author and book content creator Cait Jacobs!ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cait is a new author who has found escape through the fictional worlds of books. Their love of literature inspired them to found BookTok and The Bookington Book Club.ABOUT THE BOOK: Their debut novel"The Princess Knight" features a princess desperate to win back the prince who broke her heart. She follows him to his kingdom’s prestigious military academy—and in doing so, falls in love, saves the realm, and continues to look fabulous.