Book with one word titles

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Are you looking for a book that packs meaning, insight, and emotion into just one word? Check out this list of incredible books with one-word titles and find your next great read!

Writing a book is no small feat – and coming up with the title is often one of the most challenging aspects of the process. However, there are some authors who have mastered this challenge by creating incredible stories with only one-word titles.

If you’re looking for some great books to add to your reading list, check out these incredible titles. From award-winning novels to memoirs and thrillers, there’s a one-word title book for everyone.

Happy Reading!

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2023 One Word Title Books

Exiles book cover

Exiles

by Jane Harper

As federal investigator Aaron Falk travels to a small town in southern Australian wine country for the christening of an old friend’s baby, he is drawn into the mystery of a missing mother who vanished one year ago on the night of her daughter’s busy town festival. In the lush valley, Falk meets Kim Gillespie’s friends and loved ones as he dives into the case and uncovers long-ago truths. As he searches for answers, he must confront dark questions: What would make a mother abandon her child? And what happened to Kim Gillespie?

Amazon | Goodreads 

Wildblood book cover

Wildblood

 by Lauren Blackwood

Eighteen-year-old Victoria is a Wildblood, a powerful magical being who takes turns using her magic to protect travelers in the Jamaican jungle. When denied an earned promotion to team leader in favor of her ex-boyfriend, she’s determined to prove herself and takes on a mission with renowned gold miner Thorn. As they grow closer, Victoria must find the strength to battle the monsters of the jungle and her own demons to find true belonging.

Amazon | Goodreads 

Mothered book cover

Mothered

 by Zoje Stage

Grace reluctantly agrees to let her newly widowed mother, Jackie, move in with her and help out with the mortgage during a pandemic. But soon their relationship begins to fracture as old wounds fester and new ones open. Grace starts having nightmares about her disabled twin sister, who died when they were kids, and Jackie discovers that Grace has been catfishing people online. Jackie’s accusation against Grace sends her spiraling into a sleep-deprived madness as the walls close in on them both.

Amazon | Goodreads 

upcoming-releases-2023

Homecoming book cover

Homecoming

by Kate Morton

A shocking crime, an unsolved mystery, and a family saga spanning generations – Homecoming by Kate Morton is a sweeping novel of secrets, lies, and love. Set in the late 1950s in Adelaide Hills, Australia, the story begins with a shocking discovery at the grand house of Tambilla. Years later, Jess, a journalist in search of a story and getting laid off from her job, receives an unexpected call to return home to Sydney. At her grandmother’s house, she finds a book with the story of the Turner Family Tragedy of Christmas Eve 1959 – and discovers a shocking connection between her family and the once-infamous event.

Amazon | Goodreads 

Must Read One Word Title Books

Circe book cover

Circe

 by Madeline Miller

Circe, the daughter of the mighty god Helios, possesses the power of witchcraft but is not gifted with her father’s strength or her mother’s beauty. Banished to a deserted island, Circe honed her craft and encountered many of mythology’s most famous figures, including the Minotaur, Medea, and Odysseus. As she struggles to find her place in a man’s world and protect what she loves most, Circe must summon her strength to face one of the most terrifying and vengeful Olympians. With vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and suspenseful plot twists, Circe celebrates female power in an endlessly fascinating tale that readers won’t be able to put down!

Amazon | Goodreads 

Rebecca book cover

Rebecca

 by Daphne du Maurier

A classic psychological thriller about a young, naïve woman who marries Maxim de Winter, an older, wealthy widower with a mysterious past. Rebecca takes place mainly at Manderley, the de Winter estate in England, and follows Maxim and his new bride as they attempt to start a new life in the shadow of Maxim’s dead wife, Rebecca. As secrets from the past start to unravel, the story becomes more and more suspenseful as readers are left with questions about what will happen next.

Amazon | Goodreads 

Fingersmith book cover

Fingersmith

by Sarah Waters

This gripping novel tells the story of Sue Trinder, an orphan living with a “baby farmer” in London’s slums. When Gentleman, an elegant con man, arrives with a lucrative plan to defraud Maud Lilly, a wealthy heiress, of her inheritance by having Sue pose as her maid and aid him in seduction, Sue reluctantly agrees. But as plans unfold, Sue finds herself pitying her helpless mark and caring for Maud in unexpected ways. In this gothic thriller of thrills and reversals, nothing is as it seems and secrets long buried emerge with dangerous consequences.

Amazon | Goodreads 

Arranged book cover

Arranged

by Catherine McKenzie

Anne Blythe’s had enough of bad relationships and decides to take her love life into her own hands by enlisting the help of an exclusive, expensive arranged marriage service. She is whisked away to a Mexican resort where she will meet and marry Jack one weekend. But soon Anne discovers that Jack and the company that set them up are not what they seem. Catherine McKenzie’s novel takes readers on an unexpected journey as Anne discovers the power of true connection, even in the most unlikely circumstances.

Amazon | Goodreads 

25 best books with one-word titles

Emma book cover

Emma

 by Jane Austen

Jane Austen’s beloved novel Emma is a story of youth, love, and growing up. In the small village of Highbury, Emma Woodhouse is a privileged young woman with an independent spirit and sharp wit. Despite her wealth, she still feels confined by society’s restrictions and yearns for something more in life than expected. Her meddling in the affairs of friends and neighbors often leads to disastrous results, but through these misadventures, she learns important lessons about love, friendship, and self-discovery.

Amazon | Goodreads 

Dumplin' book cover

Dumplin’

 by Julie Murphy

Dumplin’ is a heartwarming and empowering story about an ordinary girl who takes on her small town’s beauty pageant. Willowdean Dickson, or ‘Dumplin’, is unashamedly plus-sized and determined to break the status quo of what it means to be beautiful. With the help of her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, and a former hot jock named Bo, Willowdean sets out to prove she deserves to be up on stage as much as any other girl. She shocks the hell out of Clover City in the process! Full of self-discovery and unexpected friendships, Dumplin’ will make you laugh and cry equally.

Amazon | Goodreads 

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Violeta book cover

Violeta

 by Isabel Allende

The story of a woman’s remarkable life, set against the backdrop of some of history’s most tumultuous events. Written as a love letter to someone she loves above all others, Violeta’s evocative and passionate story speaks of the power of resilience in the face of adversity, sweeping readers through times of devastating heartbreak and passionate affairs, poverty and wealth, terrible loss, and immense joy. As Violeta navigates her way through these events with an unforgettable passion, determination, and sense of humor, Isabel Allende takes readers on a fiercely inspiring and deeply emotional epic journey.

Amazon | Goodreads 

Americanah book cover

Americanah

by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

A powerful story of race, identity, love, and success, Americanah tells the story of Ifemelu and Obinze, two lovers who must find their place in two different worlds. As they live through the unique challenges of Nigeria and America, they find themselves forced to confront their identities. Americanah is a gripping novel full of thought-provoking themes and vivid characters. Adichie’s writing style is captivating, and her unforgettable characters make readers feel deeply connected to the story.

Amazon | Goodreads 

Pachinko book cover

Pachinko

by Min Jin Lee

Min Jin Lee’s acclaimed novel follows the life of a Korean family through four generations. Spanning from the early 1900s to 1989, the story follows Sunja, a young woman who finds herself pregnant and alone after being seduced by a wealthy stranger. She soon marries an impoverished minister bound for Japan, and together they build a life in another land. The novel is filled with multidimensional characters, from suffering mothers and sisters to ambitious sons who struggle through poverty and prejudice toward an uncertain future. With vivid detail and captivating prose, Pachinko captures the complex lives of Koreans living in Japan, exploring themes of resilience, identity, and loyalty.

Amazon | Goodreads 

Queenie book cover

Queenie

by Candice Carty-Williams

An unforgettable journey of self-discovery and celebration. The story follows Queenie as she navigates love, family, friendships, career, and life while trying to figure out who she is and wants. Queenie’s journey is full of laughter, tears, joy, and sorrow – but ultimately, a reminder that we all deserve happiness. The book paints an honest portrait of life as a young woman of color in modern-day Britain and her daily struggles. Candice Carty-Williams has written a beautiful, funny, and thought-provoking novel that will stay with readers for years to come.

Memphis book cover

Memphis

by Tara M. Stringfellow

Joan’s life is upended when her family flees Memphis in the summer of 1995 to escape her father’s explosive temper. Seeking refuge at her mother’s ancestral home, Joan encounters a mysterious neighbor who claims to know something about curses and helps her uncover her family’s secrets. Spanning seventy years and told through an unforgettable chorus of voices, Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow is a unique portrait of inheritance, exploring the complexities of what we pass down in our families and as a country: brutality and justice, faith and forgiveness, sacrifice and love.

Amazon | Goodreads 

25 top books with one-word titles

Insomnia book cover

Insomnia

 by Sarah Pinborough

Emma Averell is a woman with a seemingly perfect life—a high-powered legal career, two beautiful children, and a loving husband who stays home to take care of them. But all that perfection masks the truth of her past: Emma and her older sister were placed in foster care after a traumatic incident with their mother when she was five years old. Emma can only remember her mother as the monster who emerged on her fortieth birthday, and now that she is approaching that same milestone, the memories of her past begin to haunt her. As if sleepless nights weren’t enough to contend with, strange things start happening around her, making her wonder if the madness in her blood is beginning to take control.

Amazon | Goodreads 

Dreamland book cover

Dreamland

 by Nicholas Sparks

An emotionally charged story of love, loss, and the power of making dreams come true. It follows three people whose lives unexpectedly intersect: Beverly, a single mother on the run from her abusive husband; Colby, a failed musician seeking escape in Florida; and Morgan Lee, a music prodigy with big dreams of Nashville stardom. In the course of a single week, these characters’ lives will be changed forever as they search for elusive happiness and discover meaning in their unique circumstances. With its captivating narrative and powerful themes about family, identity, and love, Dreamland is sure to be a must-read novel from Nicholas Sparks.

Amazon | Goodreads 

Counterfeit book cover

Counterfeit

by Kirstin Chen

A sharp, fast-paced, and witty novel set in the worlds of luxury handbags and Chinese factories, it follows Ava Wong—a successful lawyer with a young son, a crumbling marriage, and an expensive law degree she hasn’t used in years—and her enigmatic college roommate Winnie Fang, who has become a world-traveling entrepreneur with an ingenious counterfeit scheme. As Ava and Winnie’s business takes off, they find themselves in over their heads, and the consequences of their choices slowly but surely catch up to them. With an unpredictable plot full of twists and turns, Counterfeit is a thrilling ride and an unforgettable novel about identity, ambition, and the lengths to pursue our dreams.

Amazon | Goodreads

READING CHALLENGE COVER

Educated book cover

Educated

by Tara Westover

An inspiring memoir that follows Tara Westover’s journey from a constrained upbringing in the mountains of Idaho to an education at Cambridge and Harvard universities. Despite extreme violence, poverty, and mental health difficulties within her family life, Westover was able to break free from their oppressive environment and pursue an education. While this book isn’t an easy read, it is an inspiring and uplifting story of courage and perseverance.

Amazon | Goodreads 

Becoming book cover

Becoming

by Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama’s Becoming is a candid and inspiring memoir that gives readers an intimate look into her life as a young girl in Chicago to the White House years with her beloved husband, Barack Obama. She reflects on how she faced challenges and overcame obstacles to become the powerful voice in the American society that she is today. Michelle weaves in moments of strength and resilience throughout her memoir, ultimately encouraging readers to fight for their dreams. Becoming is a must-read for every woman looking for guidance and motivation to create change in their lives.

Amazon | Goodreads 

Sadie book cover

Sadie

by Courtney Summers

An unforgettable thriller that follows the desperate hunt of nineteen-year-old runaway Sadie Hunter. When popular radio personality West McCray receives a mysterious phone call imploring him to find her, he discovers that she fled home after the brutal murder of her little sister Mattie. With a switchblade in hand, Sadie is determined to make her sister’s killer pay with his own life. As West traces her path, a deeply unsettling mystery begins to unfold—one bigger than both. Alternating between Sadie’s voice and the podcast transcripts tracking her clues, this is an intensely gripping story about the lengths we go to protect the ones we love and the high price of vengeance.

Amazon | Goodreads 

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Less book cover

Less

by Andrew Sean Greer

Less, by bestselling author Andrew Sean Greer, is a humorous and poignant story about love, loss, and self-discovery. Arthur Less embarks on a journey of self-exploration as he navigates his way through heartache and regret while trying to escape the reality of his life. His travels take him around the world in a bid to find the courage and strength he needs to come to terms with himself. During his travels, he meets a variety of people who help him gain insight into himself, ultimately leading him down the path of self-acceptance and understanding.  Less is an inspiring story about finding your place in the world and learning how to love yourself.

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You book cover

You

by Caroline Kepnes

You is the dark and twisted story of Joe Goldberg, an enigmatic bookseller in New York City with deep dark secrets that threaten to unravel Beck’s world and expose his dark intentions. As dark events unfold, the line between love and obsession starts to blur in this page-turning thriller. A gripping story of passion, betrayal, and manipulation that, with unexpected plot twists and an unbearably tense atmosphere, will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Amazon | Goodreads 

Room book cover

Room

by Emma Donoghue

Room follows Jack’s journey to freedom as he and his mother attempt to re-enter the world after years in captivity. The novel explores the psychological effects of captivity on both mother and son and their longing for freedom. It is a story of resilience and hope, showing how even in the darkest of times, love can still be found, and strength can be forged. With engaging prose and a gripping plot, Room is an unforgettable read that will leave you with a lasting impression.

Amazon | Goodreads

Wild book cover

Wild

by Cheryl Strayed

Wild is the powerful story of one woman’s journey to find herself. Following the death of her mother and her own failed marriage, Cheryl Strayed embarks on a solo adventure along the Pacific Coast Trail, facing physical and emotional challenges she could never have anticipated. Wild captures the trail’s beauty and loneliness with vivid detail and a gripping narrative as Strayed struggles to rebuild her life and make amends with the past. Heart-wrenching and inspiring, Wild is a deeply moving look into the power of resilience.

Amazon | Goodreads

What’s your favorite book with a single-word title? Share it with us in the comments below. I’d love to hear about why you enjoyed it and what made it stand out from other books you’ve read.

«Here’s a fact: You are never going to read all the books you want to read. But half the fun of reading is discovering things you might like to read despite that fact. Which is why these lists are so great, even if the criteria might seem very specific. There’s a whole new opportunity for discovery! So here are 100 books with one-word titles for your perusal. May you find lots of new ideas for Mount TBR.»

avg. score: 4 of 100 (4%)

required scores: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 

How many have you read?

1Q84

1Q84

2666 (Roberto Bolano)

2666 (Roberto Bolano)

Americanah (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)

Americanah (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)

Angelmaker (Nick Harkaway)

Angelmaker (Nick Harkaway)

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Annabel (Kathleen Winter)

Annabel (Kathleen Winter)

Annihilation

Annihilation

Ash (Melinda Lo)

Ash (Melinda Lo)

Atonement (Ian McEwan)

Atonement (Ian McEwan)

Away (Amy Bloom)

Away (Amy Bloom)

Autumn (Ali Smith)

Autumn (Ali Smith)

Battleborn (Claire Vaye Watkins)

Battleborn (Claire Vaye Watkins)

Beloved (Toni Morrison)

Beloved (Toni Morrison)

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Binti (Nnedi Okorafor)

Binti (Nnedi Okorafor)

Bonsai (Alejandro Zambra)

Bonsai (Alejandro Zambra)

Bruja (Wendy C.Ortiz)

Bruja (Wendy C.Ortiz)

Calf (Andrea Kleine)

Calf (Andrea Kleine)

Celine (Peter Heller)

Celine (Peter Heller)

Christodora (Tim Murphy)

Christodora (Tim Murphy)

Clockers

Clockers

Columbine (Dave Cullen)

Columbine (Dave Cullen)

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Confessions (Kanae Minato)

Confessions (Kanae Minato)

Cryptonomicon (Neal Stephenson)

Cryptonomicon (Neal Stephenson)

Damnificados (JJ Amarow Wilson)

Damnificados (JJ Amarow Wilson)

Dancer (Colum McCann)

Dancer (Colum McCann)

Deathless (Catherynne M. Valente)

Deathless (Catherynne M. Valente)

Dumplin' (Julie Murphy)

Dumplin’ (Julie Murphy)

Duplex

Duplex

Edinburgh (Alexander Chee)

Edinburgh (Alexander Chee)

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Emma (Jane Austen)

Emma (Jane Austen)

Euphoria (Lily King)

Euphoria (Lily King)

Fan (Danny Rhodes)

Fan (Danny Rhodes)

Fences (August Wilson)

Fences (August Wilson)

Ficciones (Jorge Luis Borges)

Ficciones (Jorge Luis Borges)

Fingersmith (Sarah Waters)

Fingersmith (Sarah Waters)

Flicker (Theodore Roszak)

Flicker (Theodore Roszak)

Flygirl (Sherri L. Smith)

Flygirl (Sherri L. Smith)

Fobbit (David Abrams)

Fobbit (David Abrams)

Freeman (Leonard Pitts, Jr.)

Freeman (Leonard Pitts, Jr.)

George (Alex Gino)

George (Alex Gino)

Ghostwritten (David Mirchell)

Ghostwritten (David Mirchell)

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What’s in a Name?

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At Merriam-Webster we know that words have the power to shape worlds both real and imagined. And we know that writing is hard work. To distill a story, its characters, and all the associated emotions into a single word is no small feat.

That’s why we’ve partnered with eleven of our favorite authors who have shared the story and significance behind their one-word-title books.

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Photo: Michael Trevillion

The book began with a word — the title — Possession. Earlier novels have begun with characters, or themes, but Possession began when I was watching the great Canadian Coleridge scholar, Kathleen Coburn, working in the British Museum and thought — «she cannot have had a thought that was not his thought for the last 30 or 40 years.» And then I thought — «and what I know about him is mediated through her — she edited all his notebooks, checked the sources of the quotations, etc.»

And then I thought, «I could write a novel called Possession about the relationship between a dead poet and a living scholar.» And the word possession would have all sorts of senses — daemonism, ownership, obsession……

I was working on Henry James and The Bostonians and Hawthorne — The Blithedale Romance – at the time, so spiritualism and those senses of possession came to mind too.

Several years later, working on the Brownings, I had the crucial idea of two poets and two scholars, which brought in both the sexual meaning of the word possession and the ideas of feminism, and the different attitudes to love and romance in the nineteenth century and now.

Website: asbyatt.com

Order a copy of Possession here.

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When I was writing Queenie, the character herself had no name, and the working title was Trauma until my agent told me that I was doing a total disservice to a novel that, while it explored the various traumas of my character, was actually very funny. And so, it was back to the drawing board with character name and title. I was sitting with my mum one day, who is both the funniest and most irritating person I know, and I turned to her and asked ‘…what name would you give a girl that is ultimately nice, but she might be annoyed by?’ and she paused for a second, then said ‘Queenie?’ and so I had a sort of Eureka and/or lightbulb moment through my mother because suddenly I realised that this character, this young black girl who is trying to reign the crumbling land that is her own life, should have a name that says as much. It mainly felt exactly right given that black women have been using the term Queen to define, express and empower ourselves in a way that we haven’t been able to. So even though my character’s path is a bit of a reckless one, through the novel she begins to understand her true value and lives up to the name that she’s been given.

Instagram: @candicec_w
Twitter: @candicec_w

Order a copy of Queenie here.

Lauren Elkin, Flâneuse

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Flâneuse [flanne-euhze], noun, from the French. Feminine form of flâneur [flanne-euhr], an idler, a dawdling observer, usually found in cities.

That is an imaginary definition. Most French dictionaries don’t even include the word. The 1905 Littré does make an allowance for flâneur, -euse. Qui flâne. But the Dictionnaire Vivant de la Langue Française defines it, believe it or not, as a kind of lounge chair.

I called my book about the liberating power of walking in cities Flâneuse because I wanted to queer the flâneur, so to speak, with a change of gender reclaiming the concept of urban idling from a normative mythologized figure into one of rebellion and difference. The flâneuse is not merely a female flâneur, but a figure to be reckoned with, and inspired by. She voyages out, and goes where she’s not supposed to; she forces us to confront the ways in which words like home and belonging are used against women. She is a determined, resourceful individual keenly attuned to the creative potential of the city, and the liberating possibilities of a good walk.

Twitter: @LaurenElkin
Instagram: @drlaurenelkin

Order a copy of Flâneuse here.

Jeffrey Eugenides, Middlesex

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When I’m writing a book, I like to know the title beforehand. It’s reassuring in the way a life ring is to a person who’s fallen overboard.

A good title tells you what the book’s about. It reminds you, when you lose heart, why you started writing it in the first place. I saw an interview with Francis Ford Coppola once where he said that he likes to boil down his films into one word. For The Godfather, the word was “succession.” Whenever Coppola decided something, even a small thing like a costume detail, he reminded himself of his theme in order to make everything cohere, from the storyline right down to the gangsters’ hats.

With two of my novels, The Virgin Suicides and The Marriage Plot, I knew the titles before I even started writing. I wasn’t so lucky with Middlesex. For years I had a terrible working title for that book, so bad I won’t even mention it here.

It took me something like eight years to write Middlesex, and by year five, I still didn’t have a good title. The novel begins in 1960 with the birth of the narrator; then it goes back to 1922 and slowly works its way back to 1960 before telling the story of the narrator’s life. The narrator of the book, Cal Stephanides (formerly Calliope) is intersex. As a result of an inherited genetic mutation, he has a condition called 5-alpha-reductase deficiency syndrome. Cal is raised as a girl; later on, after puberty, he assumes a male gender identity.

One day as I was writing about Cal’s early years and recalling my own childhood, it occurred to me that the street I’d grown up on, in Grosse Pointe, was called Middlesex Blvd.

Americans name a lot of things “Middlesex.” When I lived in New Jersey, the next county over was Middlesex County. I stayed at a hotel once that had a conference room called “The Middlesex Ballroom.” “Middlesex” sounds classy to us.

And so for both these reasons, my intersex narrator and his suburban upbringing, I realized that I had found the perfect title at last. It had been there ever since I started third grade: on the street sign at the end of my block.

Order a copy of Middlesex here.

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With Misery, it was the name of writer Paul Sheldon’s main character (he wrote bodice-rippers about a hot chick named Misery Chastain), and the situation he found himself in as Annie Wilkes’s prisoner. So the title was pretty much a no-brainer.

Website: stephenking.com
Twitter: @StephenKing
Facebook: OfficialStephenKing

Order a copy of Misery here.

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Photo: Author photo by Sharona Jacobs

My novel Ash is a retelling of “Cinderella.” In many versions of the story, the main character sits in the hearth to keep warm, and thus is covered in ashes. This is why she’s named Cinderella (Cendrillon in French and Aschenputtel in German), implying a girl covered in cinders or ashes. In From the Beast to the Blonde: On Fairy Tales and Their Tellers, Marina Warner called attention to the significance of ashes in the story, explaining that it was a sign of bereavement. Warner wrote: “Cinderella, in her rags, in her sackcloth and ashes, is a daughter who continues to grieve.”

Many people know “Cinderella” as the story of a poor servant girl who grows up to marry a prince, but the story begins when a young girl loses both of her parents. Grief and loss are the underpinnings of this tale, given symbolic expression by the way she sleeps in the ashes of the kitchen fire. Without this darker beginning, the true love that sets her free at the end wouldn’t have nearly as much impact.

I’m not sure when I chose to name my Cinderella character Ash, but it seemed crystal clear to me that it was the only name she could have. Her story might begin in darkness, but she rises out of the ashes of her grief like a phoenix.

Website: malindalo.com

Order a copy of Ash here.

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A word is many things: its meaning, and its execution, the feeling it evokes, and the way it cuts across your tongue. Telling a story with no heroes, but many kinds of villain, I needed to find a word that linked them all. Vicious: two syllables, sibilant, but sharp, and undeniably evocative. A step beyond cunning, right of cutthroat, and left of cruel.

Twitter: @veschwab

Order a copy of Vicious here.

Curtis Sittenfeld, Prep

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Photo: Josephine Sittenfeld

My first novel, Prep, was published in 2005. It told the story of an awkward girl named Lee who left her home in Indiana to attend a fancy Massachusetts boarding school. Its cover was a pink and green ribbon belt, and its pages contained passages about crushes, English class, and embarrassing parents.

Seven years later, in 2012, the FDA approved a drug called Truvada to prevent HIV and AIDS in high-risk populations. The method is known as Pre-exposure prophylaxis…or PrEP. The big, wonderful thing this means is that now there’s an extremely effective way to prevent HIV infection. The tiny and personal thing it means is that sometimes I stumble upon headlines such as—this one ran in the New York Times last July—Why Don’t More Americans Use PrEP? In such instances, for about a second, my brain is befuddled. Then I realize, Oh, right, that PrEP.

As it happens, I didn’t come up with the title of my own novel; a friend of my editor did. Perhaps that’s why I don’t feel a particular sense of ownership of the word, and, if anything, am honored to share it with a medicine that literally saves lives. In general, I’m fascinated by the way language changes and evolves, sometimes rapidly, and how linguistic shifts can reflect shifts in society. For example: thirst trap. Enby. On fleek. Whenever someone says, by way of criticism, that a word is made-up, I always think, They all are! And that’s so cool.

Language doesn’t belong to any of us; Prep was never mine alone.

Website: curtissittenfeld.com
Twitter: @csittenfeld

Order a copy of Prep here.

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Finding the right title for the book was a long process with no immediate consensus. At the final hour, my publisher suggested In the Heartland. I mused, «How about just Heartland

The word doesn’t appear once in the text of the book. It’s not a term I use to refer to my rural Midwestern home. It’s a loaded word, culturally—often used sentimentally by proud residents of «Middle America,» sometimes resented by coastal or urban Americans as an implication that their home is peripheral to the country’s metaphorical center. It’s the name of many businesses where I live, from medical offices to beverage distributors to moving companies. «Heartland» can be a benign cliche or a weaponized political idea.

I wrote a book about where I come from in order to validate a place and experience long overlooked in news media and caricatured in popular culture. The truth in it, I hope, might dispel stereotypes, condescending narratives, and romanticized tales alike. So calling my book «Heartland» felt like an appropriate and satisfying reclaiming of a term. It’s a beautiful word that, like the book, joins two parts: the deeply intimate and the broader environment. There is an edge of irony about it, too, when followed by the subtitle, «A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth.» Only poetry can do so much with one word, so I think we made a poetic choice.

Website: sarahsmarsh.com
Twitter: @sarah_smarsh
Facebook: sarahjsmarsh

Order a copy of Heartland here.

Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation & Borne

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Annihilation
Annihilation came to me as a title mysteriously—I cannot tell you what my subconscious was up to. But then my conscious mind thought about it and realized the novel was about a giving up of the self to something new. And in a sense that is an “annihilation”—a word we think of as a negative thing, but the more I thought about it could be a good thing. It speaks to the fact that science tells us the difference between self and not-self is more tenuous than we thought and the idea of the body being permeable means there’s less distinction between outside and inside, so to speak. An annihilation, then, could be a removal of an artificial barrier. And, of course, the title pertains to a specific moment in the novel but also to the annihilation of self imposed on the expedition before it enters Area X.

Borne
Borne features a giant psychotic bear, so borne being the past-tense of “bear” is a pun worthy of one of the other characters, named Borne, because as one character explains “I had to born him, but had to bear him.” What can be borne by what is born in a post-apocalyptic setting? What is burden? Why does a word that is about trials and tribulations in some ways contain the word for new life within it?

Twitter: @jeffvandermeer
Facebook: jeff.vandermeer

Order a copy of Annihilation here and Borne here.

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Wanderers was not always the book’s name. Originally it was Exeunt — which is a lovely-sounding title that nobody would ever be able to pronounce or spell, which, ha ha, is not the best way to sell a book, probably. And so came the search to find another title, and given that the book begins with an epidemic of sleepwalkers walking across the country to some unknown purpose, the line ‘Not all who wander are lost’ from Tolkien had a certain critical resonance, and given the epic nature of the story, it felt apt to use Wanderers as the title. Especially given how we are all wandering a bit, right now, trying to find our way in — and through— a time of upheaval.

Website: terribleminds.com.
Twitter: ChuckWendig

Order a copy of Wanderers here.

One of the categories for A RAD Reading Challenge for 2021 is “a one word title” and I wanted to help you find one to read! I scrolled through my Goodreads of all the books I’ve read in the last few years and rounded up a bunch of books from all different genres to help give you inspiration.

Here are 30 ideas of books with one word titles that I’ve read and liked:

They all received 3, 4, or 5 stars from me!

books on my tbr list:

This was a prompt on an Instagram photo challenge the other day, and I thought it would make for a fun list. I took a look at my shelves, and I pulled a selection of books that have one-word titles. I thought that these would be a bit difficult to find, but I had a lot more than I originally assumed that I would.


Atonement by Ian McEwan

Goodreads Synopsis:

On a hot summer day in 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis witnesses the flirtation between her older sister, Cecilia, and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant. But Briony’s incomplete grasp of adult motives and her precocious imagination bring about a crime that will change all their lives, a crime whose repercussions Atonement follows through the chaos and carnage of World War II and into the close of the twentieth century.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

Goodreads Synopsis:

Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

Decked out in empire-waist gowns, Jane struggles to master Regency etiquette and flirts with gardeners and gentlemen;or maybe even, she suspects, with the actors who are playing them. It’s all a game, Jane knows. And yet the longer she stays, the more her insecurities seem to fall away, and the more she wonders: Is she about to kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist

Goodreads Synopsis:

“The idea of bittersweet is changing the way I live, unraveling and re-weaving the way I understand life. Bittersweet is the idea that in all things there is both something broken and something beautiful, that there is a moment of lightness on even the darkest of nights, a shadow of hope in every heartbreak, and that rejoicing is no less rich even when it contains a splinter of sadness. “It’s the practice of believing that we really do need both the bitter and the sweet, and that a life of nothing but sweetness rots both your teeth and your soul. Bitter is what makes us strong, what forces us to push through, what helps us earn the lines on our faces and the calluses on our hands. Sweet is nice enough, but bittersweet is beautiful, nuanced, full of depth and complexity. Bittersweet is courageous, gutsy, audacious, earthy. “This is what I’ve come to believe about change: it’s good, in the way that childbirth is good, and heartbreak is good, and failure is good. By that I mean that it’s incredibly painful, exponentially more so if you fight it, and also that it has the potential to open you up, to open life up, to deliver you right into the palm of God’s hand, which is where you wanted to be all long, except that you were too busy pushing and pulling your life into exactly what you thought it should be. “I’ve learned the hard way that change is one of God’s greatest gifts, and most useful tools. Change can push us, pull us, rebuke and remake us. It can show us who we’ve become, in the worst ways, and also in the best ways. I’ve learned that it’s not something to run away from, as though we could, and that in many cases, change is a function of God’s graciousness, not life’s cruelty.” Niequist, a keen observer of life with a lyrical voice, writes with the characteristic warmth and honesty of a dear friend: always engaging, sometimes challenging, but always with a kind heart. You will find Bittersweet savory reading, indeed. “This is the work I’m doing now, and the work I invite you into: when life is sweet, say thank you, and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you, and grow.”

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Goodreads Synopsis:

A true masterwork of storytelling, Dracula has transcended generation, language, and culture to become one of the most popular novels ever written. It is a quintessential tale of suspense and horror, boasting one of the most terrifying characters ever born in literature: Count Dracula, a tragic, night-dwelling specter who feeds upon the blood of the living, and whose diabolical passions prey upon the innocent, the helpless, and the beautiful. But Dracula also stands as a bleak allegorical saga of an eternally cursed being whose nocturnal atrocities reflect the dark underside of the supremely moralistic age in which it was originally written — and the corrupt desires that continue to plague the modern human condition.

Emma by Jane Austen

Goodreads Synopsis:

Emmafirst published in 1816, was written when Jane Austen was at the height of her powers. In a novel remarkable for its sparkling wit and modernity, Austen presents readers with two of literature’s greatest comic creations–the eccentric Mr. Woodhouse and that quintessential bore, Miss Bates. Here, too, we have what may well be Jane Austen’s most profound characterization: the witty, imaginative, self-deluded Emma, a heroine the author declared “no one but myself will much like,” but who has been much loved by generations of readers. Delightfully funny, full of rich irony, Emma is regarded as one of Jane Austen’s finest achievements.

Fable by Adrienne Young

Goodreads Synopsis:

For seventeen-year-old Fable, the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home she has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one, and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father, and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.

But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him, and Fable soon finds that West isn’t who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they’re going to stay alive.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Goodreads Synopsis:

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival mega-corporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than a speck at the edge of the universe. Now with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra — who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it’s clear the only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents — including emails, maps, files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more — Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Goodreads Synopsis:

My name is Katniss Everdeen.
Why am I not dead?
I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss’s family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans—except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss’s willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels’ Mockingjay—no matter what the personal cost.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Goodreads Synopsis:

Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen’s most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne’s family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love?

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Goodreads Synopsis:

Queenie Jenkins is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither. She works at a national newspaper, where she’s constantly forced to compare herself to her white middle class peers. After a messy break up from her long-term white boyfriend, Queenie seeks comfort in all the wrong places…including several hazardous men who do a good job of occupying brain space and a bad job of affirming self-worth.

As Queenie careens from one questionable decision to another, she finds herself wondering, “What are you doing? Why are you doing it? Who do you want to be?”—all of the questions today’s woman must face in a world trying to answer them for her.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Goodreads Synopsis:

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again . . .

The novel begins in Monte Carlo, where our heroine is swept off her feet by the dashing widower Maxim de Winter and his sudden proposal of marriage. Orphaned and working as a lady’s maid, she can barely believe her luck. It is only when they arrive at his massive country estate that she realizes how large a shadow his late wife will cast over their lives–presenting her with a lingering evil that threatens to destroy their marriage from beyond the grave.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Goodreads Synopsis:

“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”

Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.

Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.

The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.

But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

Goodreads Synopsis:

Dark, romantic, and unforgettable, Wintersong is an enchanting coming-of-age story for fans of Labyrinth and The Cruel Prince.

The last night of the year. Now the days of winter begin and the Goblin King rides abroad, searching for his bride…

All her life, Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, dangerous Goblin King. They’ve enraptured her mind, her spirit, and inspired her musical compositions. Now eighteen and helping to run her family’s inn, Liesl can’t help but feel that her musical dreams and childhood fantasies are slipping away.

But when her own sister is taken by the Goblin King, Liesl has no choice but to journey to the Underground to save her. Drawn to the strange, captivating world she finds—and the mysterious man who rules it—she soon faces an impossible decision. And with time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.


What books with one-word titles do you have on your shelves? What are some of your favorites? Have you read any of the books listed here?

Let’s chat in the comments!

Love and happy reading,

Whitney

Hoohoo, friends of the blade!

How are you on this  fine day?

I was in the mood for a new list and since I love both staring at my shelves and scrolling through my book excel sheet, I decided to collect One Word Titles I own. And there are more than I thought there would be! Sometimes, whole series have one word titles but I only put the first books of those onto this list. So, why not have a closer look at the books?



obsidianObsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Lux #1

Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring… until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens.
The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.
If I don’t kill him first, that is.

truthwitchTruthwitch by Susan Dennard
The Witchlands #1

Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.
Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she’s a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden – lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult’s true powers are hidden even from herself.
In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls’ heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

drachenreiterDrachenreiter by Cornelia Funke
Drachenreiter #1

Ganz hinten, in einem verlassenen Tal, herrscht Aufregung. Stimmt es wirklich, daß die Menschen kommen und das ganze Tal überfluten wollen? Die Drachen, die sich hierher zurückgezogen haben, beratschlagen, was zu tun ist. Lug, ein junger, mutiger und abenteuerlustiger Drache folgt dem Rat des weisen Schieferbart und macht sich auf, den Saum des Himmels zu suchen, die ursprüngliche Heimat der Drachen. Doch nicht nur er und das Koboldmädchen Schwefelfell sind dorthin unterwegs. Auch der geheimnisvolle Goldene hat schon seine Raben auf die Suche geschickt.

touchTouch by Natalia Jaster
Selfish Myths #1

They say I’m a celestial bad girl. But they’re wrong—I’m far worse.
My name is Love. I spend my immortal years hunting within a frosted forest, matching human hearts with each mischievous strike of my arrow.
But in all my centuries, I’ve never known desire—until now.
He’s a mortal. And the longer I’m with him, the more I crave his touch.
Yet binding myself to this human is forbidden. Without a doubt, it’s fatal.
When I discover that he possesses abilities beyond his knowledge—a force strong enough to eradicate my kind—I have to make a choice.
One, destroy him before he destroys my race.
Or two, contain his magic by sealing his heart with someone else’s.

bloodlinesBloodlines by Richelle Mead
Bloodlines #1

Sydney’s blood is special. That’s because she’s an alchemist – one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets – and human lives. But the last encounter Sydney had with vampires got her in deep trouble with the other alchemists. And now with her allegiances in question, her future is on the line.
When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she’s still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir – the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir – is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill’s guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places: a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one.
The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats, distractions, and forbidden romance lurk both outside – and within – the school grounds. Now that they’re in hiding, the drama is only just beginning.

cinderCinder by Marissa Meyer
The Lunar Chronicles #1

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg.
She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

sabrielSabriel by Garth Nix
Abhorsen #1

Sent to a boarding school in Ancelstierre as a young child, Sabriel has had little experience with the random power of Free Magic or the Dead who refuse to stay dead in the Old Kingdom. But during her final semester, her father, the Abhorsen, goes missing, and Sabriel knows she must enter the Old Kingdom to find him. She soon finds companions in Mogget, a cat whose aloof manner barely conceals its malevolent spirit, and Touchstone, a young Charter Mage long imprisoned by magic, now free in body but still trapped by painful memories. As the three travel deep into the Old Kingdom, threats mount on all sides. And every step brings them closer to a battle that will pit them against the true forces of life and death – and bring Sabriel face-to-face with her own hidden destiny.

jackabyJackaby by William Ritter
Jackaby #1

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary-including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it’s a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police-with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane-deny.

inepuInepu by Roxane Bicker
Die Herren des Schakals #1

München, 1889: In der Glyptothek wird eine mysteriöse Maske entwendet, die den Totengott Anubis darstellt, der Kurator ermordet und wie eine altägyptische Mumie drapiert.
Der Direktor des Museums betraut Rosa und Daisy mit diesem Fall, zwei private Ermittlerinnen, ohne die Gendarmerie zu informieren. Um kein Aufsehen zu erregen, sollen sie den Mord aufklären und vor allem die Maske zurückholen. In fünf Tagen findet eine wichtige Ausstellung statt.
Ein Wettlauf gegen die Zeit beginnt, in dem die zwei Frauen schauerliche und überraschende Entdeckungen erwarten – und ein Ritual, das Opfer fordert.

titheTithe by Holly Black
The Modern Faerietales #1

Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother’s rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms – a struggle that could very well mean her death.

gracelingGraceling by Kristin Cashore
Graceling Realm #1

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.
She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.
She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

tintenherzTintenherz by Cornelia Funke
Tintenwelt #1

In einer stürmischen Nacht taucht ein unheimlicher Gast bei Meggie und ihrem Vater Mo auf. Er warnt ihren Vater vor einem Mann namens Capricorn. Am nächsten Morgen reist Mo überstürzt mit Meggie zu ihrer Tante Elinor …
Elinor verfügt über die kostbarste Bibliothek, die Meggie je gesehen hat. Hier versteckt Mo das Buch, um das sich alles dreht. Ein Buch, das Mo vor vielen Jahren zum letzten Mal gelesen hat und das jetzt in den Mittelpunkt eines unglaublichen, magischen und atemberaubenden Abenteuers rückt – eines Abenteuers, in dessen Verlauf Meggie nicht nur das Geheimnis um Zauberzunge und Capricorn löst, sondern auch selbst in große Gefahr gerät.

caravalCaraval by Stephanie Garber
Caraval #1

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

rubinrotRubinrot by Kerstin Gier
Edelstein Trilogie #1

Manchmal ist es ein echtes Kreuz, in einer Familie zu leben, die jede Menge Geheimnisse hat. Der Überzeugung ist zumindest die 16-jährige Gwendolyn.
Bis sie sich eines Tages aus heiterem Himmel im London um die letzte Jahrhundertwende wiederfindet. Und ihr klar wird, dass ausgerechnet sie das allergrößte Geheimnis ihrer Familie ist. Was ihr dagegen nicht klar ist: Dass man sich zwischen den Zeiten möglichst nicht verlieben sollte. Denn das macht die Sache erst recht kompliziert!

imperiumImperium by Robert Harris
Cicero #1

When Tiro, the confidential secretary (and slave) of a Roman senator, opens the door to a terrified stranger on a cold November morning, he sets in motion a chain of events that will eventually propel his master into one of the most suspenseful courtroom dramas in history. The stranger is a Sicilian, a victim of the island’s corrupt Roman governor, Verres. The senator is Marcus Cicero—an ambitious young lawyer and spellbinding orator, who at the age of twenty-seven is determined to attain imperium—supreme power in the state.

pompeiiPompeii by Robert Harris

All along the Mediterranean coast, the Roman empire’s richest citizens are relaxing in their luxurious villas, enjoying the last days of summer. The world’s largest navy lies peacefully at anchor in Misenum. The tourists are spending their money in the seaside resorts of Baiae, Herculaneum, and Pompeii.
But the carefree lifestyle and gorgeous weather belie an impending cataclysm, and only one man is worried. The young engineer Marcus Attilius Primus has just taken charge of the Aqua Augusta, the enormous aqueduct that brings fresh water to a quarter of a million people in nine towns around the Bay of Naples. His predecessor has disappeared. Springs are failing for the first time in generations. And now there is a crisis on the Augusta’s sixty-mile main line—somewhere to the north of Pompeii, on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius.
Attilius—decent, practical, and incorruptible—promises Pliny, the famous scholar who commands the navy, that he can repair the aqueduct before the reservoir runs dry. His plan is to travel to Pompeii and put together an expedition, then head out to the place where he believes the fault lies. But Pompeii proves to be a corrupt and violent town, and Attilius soon discovers that there are powerful forces at work—both natural and man-made—threatening to destroy him.

splinteredSplintered by A.G. Howard
Splintered #1

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

illuminaeIlluminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
The Illuminae Files #1

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.
The year is 2575, and two rival mega-corporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than a speck at the edge of the universe. Now with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra — who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it’s clear the only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.

legendLegend by Marie Lu
Legend #1

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

nocturnaNocturna by Maya Motayne
Forgery of Magic #1

To Finn Voy, magic is two things: a knife to hold under the chin of anyone who crosses her…and a disguise she shrugs on as easily as others pull on cloaks.
As a talented faceshifter, it’s been years since Finn has seen her own face, and that’s exactly how she likes it. But when Finn gets caught by a powerful mobster, she’s forced into an impossible mission: steal a legendary treasure from Castallan’s royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever.
After the murder of his older brother, Prince Alfehr is first in line for the Castallan throne. But Alfie can’t help but feel that he will never live up to his brother’s legacy. Riddled with grief, Alfie is obsessed with finding a way to bring his brother back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.
But when Finn and Alfie’s fates collide, they accidentally unlock a terrible, ancient power—which, if not contained, will devour the world. And with Castallan’s fate in their hands, Alfie and Finn must race to vanquish what they have unleashed, even if it means facing the deepest darkness in their pasts.

prophecyProphecy by Ellen Oh
The Dragon King Chronicles #1

Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope…
Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.

geekerellaGeekerella by Ashley Poston
Once Upon A Con #1

Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first.
Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons—before he was famous. Now they’re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.

revengerRevenger by Alastair Reynolds
Revenger #1

The galaxy has seen great empires rise and fall. Planets have shattered and been remade. Amongst the ruins of alien civilizations, building our own from the rubble, humanity still thrives.
And there are vast fortunes to be made, if you know where to find them.
Captain Rackamore and his crew do. It’s their business to find the tiny, enigmatic worlds which have been hidden away, booby-trapped, surrounded by layers of protection—and to crack them open for the ancient relics and barely-remembered technologies inside. But while they ply their risky trade with integrity, not everyone is so scrupulous.
Adrana and Fura Ness are the newest members of Rackamore’s crew, signed on to save their family from bankruptcy. Only Rackamore has enemies, and there might be more waiting for them in space than adventure and fortune: the fabled and feared Bosa Sennen in particular.

scytheScythe by Neal Shusterman
Arc of a Scythe #1

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.
Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.

renegadesRenegades by Marissa Meyer
Renegades #1

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies — humans with extraordinary abilities — who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone… except the villains they once overthrew.
Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice — and in Nova. But Nova’s allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

flawedFlawed by Cecelia Ahern
Flawed #1

Celestine North lives a perfect life. She’s a model daughter and sister, she’s well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she’s dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan.
But then Celestine encounters a situation where she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found flawed.

passengerPassenger by Alexandra Bracken
Passenger #1

Passage, n.
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.
In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.
Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them—whether she wants to or not.
Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home… forever.

seraphinaSeraphina by Rachel Hartman
Seraphina #1

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty’s anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.
Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen’s Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

aliceAlice by Christina Henry
The Chronicles of Alice #1

In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo with the screams of the poor souls inside. In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blonde, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place-just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood… Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago. Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful. And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.

unearthedUnearthed by Amie Kaufamn & Meagan Spooner
Unearthed #1

When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying’s advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.
For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study… as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don’t loot everything first. Mia and Jules’ different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance.
In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race’s secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race…

alienatedAlienated by Melissa Landers
Alienated #1

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.
Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.
Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.
But when Cara’s classmates get swept up by anti-L’eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn’t safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara’s locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.
Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she’s fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

warcrossWarcross by Marie Lu
Warcross #1

When a game called Warcross takes the world by storm, one girl hacks her way into its dangerous depths. For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. When Emika hacks into the game illegally, she’s convinced she’ll be arrested, and is shocked when she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem … and he wants Emika for the job.

furthermoreFurthermore by Tahereh Mafi
Furthermore #1

Alice Alexis Queensmeadow 12 rates three things most important: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and Father, who always loved her. Father disappeared from Ferenwood with only a ruler, almost three years ago. But she will have to travel through the mythical, dangerous land of Furthermore, where down can be up, paper is alive, and left can be both right and very, very wrong. Her only companion is Oliver whose own magic is based in lies and deceit. Alice must first find herself—and hold fast to the magic of love in the face of loss.

wantWant by Cindy Pon
Want #1

Jason Zhou survives in a divided society where the elite use their wealth to buy longer lives. The rich wear special suits that protect them from the pollution and viruses that plague the city, while those without suffer illness and early deaths. Frustrated by his city’s corruption and still grieving the loss of his mother, who died as a result of it, Zhou is determined to change things, no matter the cost.
With the help of his friends, Zhou infiltrates the lives of the wealthy in hopes of destroying the international Jin Corporation from within. Jin Corp not only manufactures the special suits the rich rely on, but they may also be manufacturing the pollution that makes them necessary.
Yet the deeper Zhou delves into this new world of excess and wealth, the more muddled his plans become. And against his better judgment, Zhou finds himself falling for Daiyu, the daughter of Jin Corp’s CEO. Can Zhou save his city without compromising who he is or destroying his own heart?

viciousVicious by V.E. Schwab
Villains #1

ictor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.
Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

internmentInternment by Samira Ahmed

Rebellions are built on hope.
Set in a horrifying near-future United States, seventeen-year-old Layla Amin and her parents are forced into an internment camp for Muslim American citizens.
With the help of newly made friends also trapped within the internment camp, her boyfriend on the outside, and an unexpected alliance, Layla begins a journey to fight for freedom, leading a revolution against the internment camp’s Director and his guards.

soulmatesSoulmates by Holly Bourne

Every so often, two people are born who are the perfect matches for each other. Soulmates. But while the odds of this happening are about as likely as being struck by lightning, when these people do meet and fall in love…thunderstorms, lightning strikes and lashings of rain are only the beginning of their problems.
Enter Poppy, the 17-year-old cynic with a serious addiction to banana milk, and Noah, the heart-throb guitarist; residents of mediocre Middletown, sometime students, and…soulmates.
After a chance meeting at a local band night, Poppy and Noah find themselves swept up in a whirlwind romance unlike anything they’ve ever experienced before. But with a secret international agency preparing to separate them, a trail of destruction rumbling in their wake, (and a looming psychology coursework deadline), they are left with an impossible choice between the end of the world, or a life without love…

bruisedBruised by Tanya Boteju

To Daya Wijesinghe, a bruise is a mixture of comfort and control. Since her parents died in an accident she survived, bruises have become a way to keep her pain on the surface of her skin so she doesn’t need to deal with the ache deep in her heart.
So when chance and circumstances bring her to a roller derby bout, Daya is hooked. Yes, the rules are confusing and the sport seems to require the kind of teamwork and human interaction Daya generally avoids. But the opportunities to bruise are countless, and Daya realizes that if she’s going to keep her emotional pain at bay, she’ll need all the opportunities she can get.
The deeper Daya immerses herself into the world of roller derby, though, the more she realizes it’s not the simple physical pain-fest she was hoping for. Her rough-and-tumble teammates and their fans push her limits in ways she never imagined, bringing Daya to big truths about love, loss, strength, and healing.

starfishStarfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Kiko Himura has always had a hard time saying exactly what she’s thinking. With a mother who makes her feel unremarkable and a half-Japanese heritage she doesn’t quite understand, Kiko prefers to keep her head down, certain that once she makes it into her dream art school, Prism, her real life will begin.
But then Kiko doesn’t get into Prism, at the same time her abusive uncle moves back in with her family. So when she receives an invitation from her childhood friend to leave her small town and tour art schools on the west coast, Kiko jumps at the opportunity in spite of the anxieties and fears that attempt to hold her back. And now that she is finally free to be her own person outside the constricting walls of her home life, Kiko learns life-changing truths about herself, her past, and how to be brave.

loreLore by Alexandra Bracken

Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality.
Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family’s sadistic murder by a rival line, turning her back on the hunt’s promises of eternal glory. For years she’s pushed away any thought of revenge against the man-now a god-responsible for their deaths.
Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend of Lore believed long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods.
The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and, at last, a way for Lore to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore’s decision to bind her fate to Athena’s and rejoin the hunt will come at a deadly cost-and still may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees.

afterloveAfterlove by Tanya Byrne

Ash Persaud is about to become a reaper in the afterlife, but she is determined to see her first love Poppy Morgan again, the only thing that separates them is death.
Car headlights.
The last thing Ash hears is the snap of breaking glass as the windscreen hits her and breaks into a million pieces like stars.
But she made it, she’s still here. Or is she?
This New Year’s Eve, Ash is gets an RSVP from the afterlife she can’t decline: to join a clan of fierce girl reapers who take the souls of the city’s dead to await their fate.
But Ash can’t forget her first love, Poppy, and she will do anything to see her again… even if it means they only get a few more days together. Dead or alive…

reputationReputation by Lex Croucher

Abandoned by her parents in favour of a sea view, middle class Georgiana Ellers has moved to a new town to live with her dreary aunt and uncle. At a particularly dull dinner party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy socialite and enchanting member of the in-crowd.
Through Frances and her friends, Georgiana is introduced to a new world of wild parties, drunken debauchery, mysterious young men with strangely alluring hands, and the sparkling upper echelons of Regency society.
But high society isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and the price of entry might be more than Georgiana is willing to pay . . .

wonderlandWonderland by Juno Dawson

Alice lives in a world of stifling privilege and luxury – but none of it means anything when your own head plays tricks on your reality. When her troubled friend Bunny goes missing, Alice becomes obsessed with finding her. On the trail of her last movements, Alice discovers a mysterious invitation to ‘Wonderland’: the party to end all parties – three days of hedonistic excess to which only the elite are welcome.
Will she find Bunny there? Or is this really a case of finding herself? Because Alice has secrets of her own, and ruthless socialite queen Paisley Hart is determined to uncover them, whatever it takes.
Alice is all alone, miles from home and without her essential medication. She can trust no-one, least of all herself, and now she has a new enemy who wants her head…

momoMomo by Michael Ende

Eine gespenstische Gesellschaft “grauer Herren” ist am Werk und veranlasst immer mehr Menschen, Zeit zu sparen. Aber in Wirklichkeit betrügen sie die Menschen um diese ersparte Zeit. Als die Not am größten ist und die Welt ihnen schon endgültig zu gehören scheint, entschließt sich Meister Hora, der geheimnisvolle “Verwalter der Zeit”, zum Eingreifen. Doch dazu braucht er die Hilfe eines Menschenkindes. Die Welt steht still und Momo, die struppige kleine Heldin der Geschichte, kämpft ganz allein, mit nichts als einer Blume in der Hand und einer Schildkröte unter dem Arm, gegen das riesige Heer der “grauen Herren”.

rickRick by Alex Gino

Rick’s never questioned much. He’s gone along with his best friend Jeff even when Jeff’s acted like a bully and a jerk. He’s let his father joke with him about which hot girls he might want to date even though that kind of talk always makes him uncomfortable. And he hasn’t given his own identity much thought, because everyone else around him seemed to have figured it out.
But now Rick’s gotten to middle school, and new doors are opening. One of them leads to the school’s Rainbow Spectrum club, where kids of many genders and identities congregate, including Melissa, the girl who sits in front of Rick in class and seems to have her life together. Rick wants his own life to be that … understood. Even if it means breaking some old friendships and making some new ones.

homegoingHomegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, are born into different villages in eighteenth-century Ghana. Effia is married off to an Englishman and lives in comfort in the palatial rooms of Cape Coast Castle. Unbeknownst to Effia, her sister, Esi, is imprisoned beneath her in the castle’s dungeons, sold with thousands of others into the Gold Coast’s booming slave trade, and shipped off to America, where her children and grandchildren will be raised in slavery. One thread of Homegoing follows Effia’s descendants through centuries of warfare in Ghana, as the Fante and Asante nations wrestle with the slave trade and British colonization. The other thread follows Esi and her children into America. From the plantations of the South to the Civil War and the Great Migration, from the coal mines of Pratt City, Alabama, to the jazz clubs and dope houses of twentieth-century Harlem, right up through the present day, Homegoing makes history visceral, and captures, with singular and stunning immediacy, how the memory of captivity came to be inscribed in the soul of a nation.

venetiaVenetia by Georgette Heyer

In all her twenty-five years, Venetia Lanyon has never been further than Harrogate.
Nor has she enjoyed the attentions of any man aside from her two wearisomely persistent suitors.
Then, in one extraordinary encounter, she meets a neighbour she only knew by reputation – the infamous Jasper Damerel.
Before she realises it, Venetia is encouraging a man whose way of life has scandalised the North Riding for years.

confessConfess by Colleen Hoover

Auburn Reed is determined to rebuild her shattered life and she has no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to become deeply attracted to the studio’s enigmatic artist, Owen Gentry.
For once, Auburn takes a chance and puts her heart in control, only to discover that Owen is hiding a huge secret. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything Auburn loves most, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it—but can she do it?

thornThorn by Intisar Khanani
Dauntless Path #1

Between her cruel family and the contempt she faces at court, Princess Alyrra has always longed to escape the confines of her royal life. But when she’s betrothed to the powerful prince Kestrin, Alyrra embarks on a journey to his land with little hope for a better future.
When a mysterious and terrifying sorceress robs Alyrra of both her identity and her role as princess, Alyrra seizes the opportunity to start a new life for herself as a goose girl.
But Alyrra soon finds that Kestrin is not what she expected. The more Alyrra learns of this new kingdom, the pain and suffering its people endure, as well as the danger facing Kestrin from the sorceress herself, the more she knows she can’t remain the goose girl forever.
With the fate of the kingdom at stake, Alyrra is caught between two worlds and ultimately must decide who she is, and what she stands for.

dramaramaDramarama by E. Lockhart

All-round theatre-enthusiast, Sarah – better known by her showbiz name, Sayde – is a girl with ambitions too big for the small and conventional town she lives in. Her life doesn’t have the razzle-dazzle she craves. For once she wants to feel special, noticed and be the centre of attention.
This summer Sadye has her talents set on Wildewood’s prestigious theatre summer camp. And with her best friend Demi – a flamboyant falsetto, who is equally thrilled to be leaving their small town of Brenton – they will both experience a season of hormones, hissy fits, jazz hands, song and dance, true love and unitards! But despite all the glitz and glam, there comes rivalry and competition, and Sadye will have to prove her talents more than she has ever had to before.
Summer at Wildewood will not only determine Sadye’s future – but will also test her friendships.

devotedDevoted by Jennifer Mathieu

Rachel Walker’s family and community have turned away from the world.
Every part of Rachel’s life is controlled, from what she reads to where she goes and what she wears. Her parents dictate how her life must be: marriage, modesty, children and obedience to her future husband. But when a former member of her community, a girl who escaped, moves back to her small Texas town, Rachel’s world turns upside down.
She realises that her life is her own. But can she find the courage to fight for it?

heartlessHeartless by Marissa Meyer

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.
At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king’s marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.
Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

circeCirce by Madeline Miller

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe has neither the look nor the voice of divinity, and is scorned and rejected by her kin. Increasingly isolated, she turns to mortals for companionship, leading her to discover a power forbidden to the gods: witchcraft.
When love drives Circe to cast a dark spell, wrathful Zeus banishes her to the remote island of Aiaia. There she learns to harness her occult craft, drawing strength from nature. But she will not always be alone; many are destined to pass through Circe’s place of exile, entwining their fates with hers. The messenger god, Hermes. The craftsman, Daedalus. A ship bearing a golden fleece. And wily Odysseus, on his epic voyage home.
There is danger for a solitary woman in this world, and Circe’s independence draws the wrath of men and gods alike. To protect what she holds dear, Circe must decide whether she belongs with the deities she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

slaySlay by Brittney Morris

By day, seventeen-year-old Kiera Johnson is an honors student, a math tutor, and one of the only black kids at Jefferson Academy. By night, she joins hundreds of thousands of black gamers who duel worldwide as Nubian personas in the secret multiplayer online role-playing card game, SLAY.
No one knows Kiera is the game developer, not her friends, her family, not even her boyfriend, Malcolm.
But when a teen in Kansas City is murdered over a dispute in the SLAY world, news of the game reaches mainstream media, SLAY is labeled a racist, exclusionist, violent hub for thugs and criminals.
Driven to save the only world in which she can truly be herself, Kiera must preserve her secret identity. But can she protect her game without losing herself in the process?

uprootedUprooted by Naomi Novik

Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.
Her people rely on the cold, ambitious wizard, known only as the Dragon, to keep the wood’s powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman must be handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as being lost to the wood.
The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows – everyone knows – that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia – all the things Agnieszka isn’t – and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.
But no one can predict how or why the Dragon chooses a girl. And when he comes, it is not Kasia he will take with him.

hexHex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

Welcome to Black Spring, a picturesque town with an ugly secret.
A 17th century woman with sewn-shut eyes and mouth walks its streets… enters its homes… watches its people while they sleep.
The call her the Black Rock Witch.
So accustomed to her presence, the townsfolk often forget what will happen if her eyes ever open. To protect themselves the Black Spring elders use high-tech surveillance to quarantine the town. Frustrated with the lockdown, the town’s teenagers decide to break the rules and go viral with the haunting.
But no one foresees the dark nightmare that awaits them all.

solitaireSolitaire by Allice Oseman

In case you’re wondering, this is not a love story.
My name is Tori Spring. I like to sleep and I like to blog. Last year – before all that stuff with Charlie and before I had to face the harsh realities of A-Levels and university applications and the fact that one day I really will have to start talking to people – I had friends. Things were very different, I guess, but that’s all over now.
Now there’s Solitaire. And Michael Holden.
I don’t know what Solitaire are trying to do, and I don’t care about Michael Holden.
I really don’t.

lovelessLoveless by Alice Oseman

Georgia has never been in love, never kissed anyone, never even had a crush – but as a fanfic-obsessed romantic she’s sure she’ll find her person one day.
As she starts university with her best friends, Pip and Jason, in a whole new town far from home, Georgia’s ready to find romance, and with her outgoing roommate on her side and a place in the Shakespeare Society, her ‘teenage dream’ is in sight.
But when her romance plan wreaks havoc amongst her friends, Georgia ends up in her own comedy of errors, and she starts to question why love seems so easy for other people but not for her. With new terms thrown at her – asexual, aromantic – Georgia is more uncertain about her feelings than ever.
Is she destined to remain loveless? Or has she been looking for the wrong thing all along?

campCamp by L.C. Rosen

Sixteen-year-old Randy Kapplehoff loves spending the summer at Camp Outland, a camp for queer teens. It’s where he met his best friends. It’s where he takes to the stage in the big musical. And it’s where he fell for Hudson Aaronson-Lim – who’s only into straight-acting guys and barely knows not-at-all-straight-acting Randy even exists.
This year, though, it’s going to be different. Randy has reinvented himself as ‘Del’ – buff, masculine, and on the market. Even if it means giving up show tunes, nail polish, and his unicorn bedsheets, he’s determined to get Hudson to fall for him.
But as he and Hudson grow closer, Randy has to ask himself how much is he willing to change for love. And is it really love anyway, if Hudson doesn’t know who he truly is?

frankensteinFrankenstein by Mary Shelley

Written when Mary Shelley was only nineteen-years old, this chilling tale of a young scientist’s desire to create life still resonates today. Victor Frankenstein’s monster is stitched together from the stolen limbs of the dead, and the result is a grotesque being who, rejected by his maker, sets out on a journey to reek his revenge. In the most famous gothic horror story ever told, Shelley confronts the limitations of science, the nature of human cruelty and the pathway to forgiveness.

sherwoodSherwood by Meagan Spooner

Robin of Locksley is dead.
Maid Marian doesn’t know how she’ll go on, but the people of Locksley town, persecuted by the Sheriff of Nottingham, need a protector. And the dreadful Guy of Gisborne, the Sheriff’s right hand, wishes to step into Robin’s shoes as Lord of Locksley and Marian’s fiancé.
Who is there to stop them?
Marian never meant to tread in Robin’s footsteps—never intended to stand as a beacon of hope to those awaiting his triumphant return. But with a sweep of his green cloak and the flash of her sword, Marian makes the choice to become her own hero: Robin Hood.

rowanRowan by Nancy Springer

Rosemary 13, her half-elf mother burnt as a witch, sets off for her unknown father Robin Hood. She disguises herself as a boy Rowan, befriends half-wolf Tykell, overgrown enchanting minstrel Lionel, and runaway princess Ettarde. Vicious Guy of Gisborne wears a black horse-head hide. But Robin says his camp is no place for a girl.

enchantéeEnchantée by Gita Trelease
Enchantée #1

Seventeen-year-old orphan Camille has to provide for her frail sister and her volatile brother. They survive by using the pretty magic she learnt from their mother – transforming scrap material into coins. But when things take a turn for the worse, Camille must pursue a more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s Versailles.
Using magic, Camille transforms herself into a glamorous Baroness. But as she is swept up into a dizzying world of riches and finery, suitors and revolutionaries, Camille soon discovers that she’s not the only one leading a double life.

heartstopperHeartstopper by Alice Oseman

Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more…?
Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn’t been too great, but at least he’s not being bullied anymore. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He’s heard a little about Charlie – the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months – but he’s never had the opportunity to talk to him.
They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner…

bloomBloom by Kevin Panetta & Savanna Ganucheau

Now that high school is over, Ari is dying to move to the big city with his ultra-hip band—if he can just persuade his dad to let him quit his job at their struggling family bakery. Though he loved working there as a kid, Ari cannot fathom a life wasting away over rising dough and hot ovens. But while interviewing candidates for his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easygoing guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it. As they become closer over batches of bread, love is ready to bloom . . . that is, if Ari doesn’t ruin everything.

tidesongTidesong by Wendy Xu

Sophie is a young witch whose mother and grandmother pressure her to attend the Royal Magic Academy—the best magic school in the realm—even though her magic is shaky at best. To train for her entrance exams, Sophie is sent to relatives she’s never met.
Cousin Sage and Great-Aunt Lan seem more interested in giving Sophie chores than in teaching her magic. Frustrated, Sophie attempts magic on her own, but the spell goes wrong, and she accidentally entangles her magic with the magic of a young water dragon named Lir.
Lir is trapped on land and can’t remember where he came from. Even so, he’s everything Sophie isn’t—beloved by Sophie’s family and skilled at magic. With his help, Sophie might just ace her entrance exams, but that means standing in the way of Lir’s attempts to regain his memories. Sophie knows what she’s doing is wrong, but without Lir’s help, can she prove herself?



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Do you know how many one word titles you own? Do you have a favourite one word title? What kind of list should I do next?



Until next time

Hello hello and welcome or welcome back to my little bookish corner of the internet. Today it’s time for another post in my Five Books With series, and after (way too much) some thought, I’ve picked “one word titles”.

Titles are always one of the first things that grab my attention, and while some words have become almost cliche to see on covers these days, it’s either the really long or really short ones that tend to stick in my mind. It’s for this reason that, when writing, I only ever named one of my novels; I can write a story, sure, but can I think of a catchy title? Nope.

Vespertine
This book absolutely ends up as one of my top reads of 2021 (blog post upcoming!), and it’s one I’ve been recommending to so many people, because it ticks so many different boxes. It’s incredibly clever, and had me hooked to the very last page. I also loved Sorcery of Thorns by the same author, and both are narrated by Caitlin Davies as well if you enjoy her on audio books.

Spellslinger
One of the things about this series that I enjoyed from the off was the catchy titles; they’re all one word titles, so I could have picked any of them. I went with the first to save on spoilers. Full of magic and mystery, these books truly do carve out a piece of your heart as you follow Kellen navigating the course life has put him on.

Hamnet
I wrote my review of this tragically beautiful historical fiction almost a blogging lifetime ago, but it’s still a book that has stuck in my mind. Based on the short life of Shakespeare’s son, it shows the impact of tough lives, tough loves, and tough luck in an era full of supistition and judgements. One of the things that really stayed with me is how the second part of the book is almost one constant stream, showing how utterly a life can be destroyed by death.

Caraval
The only book on this list that I haven’t read, I’ve been planning on reading this for a while, and am especially prompted to after really enjoying Once Upon A Broken Heart back in the summer. Here’s Caraval‘s synopsis:
Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of
love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Sabriel
Another fantastical adventure series, Sabriel is one of the most immediately atmospheric books I’ve read. You find yourself swept away right from the first page, both in the sense of wonder and the sense of magic, and it just keeps building. I’m planning on finishing reading the series in 2022, and if the first book is anything to go by, I’m in for a real journey.

Thanks for stopping by today for this fun post. I had a real struggling picking out the books to include, as it turns out there’s so many I could think of once the ball started rolling. I’ll be back with another post tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after, and…

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