Kelly McMurtrey, Young Adult Services Specialist

Ruthless Vows  by Rebecca Ross

The ending to a duology that absolutely broke my heart while simultaneously putting it back together, this book manages to be both tender and excruciating. It 's the conclusion to two young rival journalists' story as they navigate a war between gods

 What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez

Technically this came out last year, but I couldn't bring myself to read it until this year because I knew I was going to need to read the sequel immediately. Written as a love letter to the movie The Mummy (1991), this book is full of magic, mystery, betrayals, and it reminded me why 8 year old Kelly was so obsessed with Ancient Egypt.

These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang

Imagine Inheritance Games combined with the movie Knives Out, but with magic, and you'll have something like These Deadly Prophecies. This standalone YA is full of witty banter and enough murders to keep me turning the pages!

The Shadows Rule All by Abigail Owen

I've been waiting for the conclusion to this trilogy FOREVER (okay, maybe just two years...). Full of magic, epic battles, and heartbreaking romance, I'm genuinely going to miss this fantasy world.

Podcast: deviant women (available wherever you get your podcasts)

Alicia and Lauren discuss women from history, fiction, mythology, and the contemporary world. A fun listen if you're interested in learning not only the stories of these women, but the interesting ways that their stories are told.

Podcast: Lore (available wherever you get your podcasts)

Learn about the darker side of history with this podcast that explores history and stories from around the world!