May you prove yourself wrong.
The Secret Library: Spring 2025. Fantasy Releases, Book Recs, and Secret Snippets
Front Desk
I finished the book that almost bested me.
My brain is mushy but I can say with equal parts pride, joy, and disbelief, I reached The End of my third book.
I wasn’t sure that I ever would.
One of my insecurities as a writer is meeting and fulfilling deadlines. I’m a self-proclaimed slow writer and have also pushed too hard and as a result ended up in burn out before. So my fear was two-part: not being able to meet deadlines, and pushing too hard at the expense of my ability to write (which I have done before).
In December, I set a deadline of March 13 in order to submit to RevPit (a revision contest hosted by editors). I also told myself I wasn’t allowed to post on social media (no book rec videos!) until my book was done.
I wrote 43,000 words from January to March. I set boundaries with my writing to protect my mental health. I deleted the social media apps, texted trusted writing friends, and had many panicked-moments of “I’m not going to make my deadline.”
Reader, I completed my draft on March 7th with 90,000 words. I reached a deadline. I did not burn out.
And I have a completed manuscript.
Though I don’t foresee this draft being picked up for RevPit (it’s a first draft, even if it’s a solid one at that!) I am thankful that I proved myself wrong. That I showed up when reaching the end felt impossible. That I put one foot in front of the other when I was stuck in the murkiest of middles.
Sometimes, I write in spite of the rejections and barriers of the publishing industry.
And sometimes, I write in spite of myself.
So friend, if you find yourself in a place with dreams big and doubts high—
May you prove yourself wrong,
Nadine
From the Archives
Books I’ve read lately, that you should, too. Click on the image to go to each book’s GoodReads page.
Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson. Filled with dark academia, darker secrets, and atmospheric writing that’ll make you want to book a ticket to Scotland.
“A teen girl travels to an exclusive boarding school located deep within the Scottish moorlands after a deadly incident at her old school, but the wood-paneled halls of Agathion are built over centuries of secrets—including an ancient society which may have ties to demonic magic.”
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang. A dark academia fantasy novel following the first woman to be admitted to the High Magistry. I cannot do this book justice with a summary. It is filled with conspiracies and political injustice and the courage and bravery to take them on. Do not miss this book.
Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods. The cover first caught my attention, then the synopsis piqued my interest, but the true gem of this story is Kell Woods’ beautiful prose, lush setting, and emotional character relationships. With elements from both Cinderella and The Little Mermaid, this historical fantasy has both familiar notes while standing on its own as a wholly unique and enchanting read. So enthralled with this book, its pacing, its characters, and its heart, I finished the audiobook in just over a day and it has haunted me ever since.
New to the Stacks
Upcoming Fantasy Books Releasing Spring 2025
The Deathly Grimm by Kathryn Purdie (The Forest Grimm duology #2) March 25, 2025
“The spellbinding sequel to Kathryn Purdie's bestselling dark fairytale, where our main characters must return to the forest—and its monsters.” (Start with The Forest Grimm!)
The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton April 1, 2025
“A glamorous media darling, a surprise heiress, and the magical competition of a lifetime.”
The Sirens by Emilia Hart April 1, 2025
“A story of sisters separated by hundreds of years but bound together in more ways than they can imagine.”
Boys With Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell April 8, 2025
“We Were Liars meets The Raven Boys in this mind-bending YA debut about dark revenge, twisted desire, and the sinister secrets lurking behind the walls of an elite boarding school.”
The Floating World by Axie Oh April 29, 2025
“Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this romantic fantasy reimagining of the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens.”
Cruel is the Light by Sophie Clark May 20, 2025
“An epic new fantasy about a demon hunter and a foot soldier thrown together in a centuries-old war… and the forbidden love that could change the course of history.”
A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim June 3, 2025
“A breathtaking romantic fantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast about a girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord, bound by love and deception in a plot to bring down the gods.”
Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray Jun 3, 2025
“RED QUEEN meets SHADOW AND BONE in this explosive start to a YA romantasy trilogy about dangerous magic, forbidden love, and a cut-throat competition for the throne in an empire where crowns are not inherited -- they're won.”
A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena June 10, 2025
“A debut fantasy romance filled with hope after heartbreak, secrets, and betrayal, as a dancer-turned-spy must decide how far she will go to secure her freedom.”
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab June 10, 2025
“Three young women, their bodies planted in the same soil, their stories tangling like roots.
One grows high, and one grows deep, and one grows wild.
And all of them grow teeth.”
Study Room
Writing resources for my fellow writers.
Finding Your Voice: Writing as Only You Can by Sabaa Tahir.
This course is offered through The Writers Conservatory and is now available in their course library to take at your own pace.
Sabaa Tahir outlines specific hallmarks of a seemingly elusive subject—authorial voice—in a clear manner. She guides students through reading like a writer, discerning which voice elements students enjoy as a reader and strive for as a writer, and how to spot these attributes in the books writers read. Sabaa’s writing exercises stretch writers to experiment with different techniques to find which voice elements best suit their voice, and how awareness of writing weaknesses allows students to work on and harness them as strengths.
You can learn more about this course here.
From my Personal Collection
A first draft snippet from my freshly-completed manuscript.
Sam
…“Are you ready?” Etta whisper-asks.
No. I can’t bring the words to my lips so I nod instead.
“Okay,” she says.
But this is the last time I’ll see her. The quirk of her brow. The slope of her nose. The line of her jaw. The column of her neck.
The curve of her lips.
“You’re staring,” she says, echoing the words I gave her a performance not long ago.
“I know,” I say. “Just—remembering.”
Tears shine in her eyes. “Stop it,” she says. “You have a performance ahead.”
This is a good-bye I don’t want to have.
I wrap my arms around her waist and she wreathes hers around my neck. Her lavender scent envelops me once more and it will forever be the scent of her. “Thank you,” I say. Come with me is what I mean.
She lifts her head from my shoulder. Her gaze, deep and dark, meets mine.
I lower my mouth to hers. Brush a soft kiss against her lips. Though I want nothing more than to devour her here and every moment after, I hold close all the words left unsaid. Voice them with each press of my lips. Dip of my tongue.
I want her. I need her. My soul is hers.
And yet—
Etta releases me; presses her thumb to my bottom lip.
My fingers linger along her hips as she retreats. Tears wet her cheeks in sorrowful tracks.
I want nothing more than to stay. With her.
But I can’t put this off any longer.
I lower my mouth to her ear. “No box, no grave, can keep me from you.”
Etta squeezes my hand one last time. I squeeze back. Let go. Leave my heart in the wings.
And walk onto the stage.
Wishing you warm breezes, afternoons on the porch, and an abundance of good books.
I’m a real person. If you’d like to talk about books and/or writing, reply to this email or leave a comment below.
Nadine
Congrats on finishing your third manuscript! Not only did you do the thing, but I consider that third book to be such a milestone (even if I haven't done anything with any of the three besides rewrites yet lol). The first first draft feels like a fluke, the second proved you could do it again, but the third? The third means so much more. It really is where you prove your doubts wrong. You CAN do this whole writer thing. So really, sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, congratulations. I can't wait to see where you go from here!
I always enjoy reading your newsletter, Nadine! ♥️