Do you have a few gift cards burning a hole in your pocket? There are so many amazing books out there and so many of them seem like they'd be great additions to your library but how do you know which ones to pick? Let us help you narrow down the options a bit. Here’s a list of books we think you would absolutely love (and therefore should obviously spend your gift cards on).

Black Wings Beating by Alex London

Black Wings Beating is book 1 in Alex London’s Skybound Saga. The best part? This series is complete. Yes, that's right, all three books in this series are out in the world, so the obvious thing to do here is to use your gift cards on the full set and get binge-reading ASAP—especially if you love epic and gritty LGBTQ+ fantasy adventures.      

The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen

If you’re looking for more finished series to binge ASAP (and more fantasy!), Margaret Owen’s The Merciful Crow is another excellent option. The series Fie, a young chieftan who strikes a bargain with Crown Prince Jasimir to protect her clan. The problem? Jasimir's path to the throne is in danger and Fie needs to help him take the throne to save her people. This duology is a page-turning saga of vengeance, survival, and sacrifice that you won’t want to put down.    

Traitor by Amanda McCrina

Love historical fiction and gripping thrillers? Set in Poland in 1944, Traitor by Amanda McCrina is the book for you. After the Soviet liberation of Lwów from Germany, the city remains a battleground, its loyalties torn between Poland and Ukraine. Seventeen-year-old Tolya Korolenko is both Polish and Ukrainian and feels the implications of this conflict on a personal level and so he joins the Soviet Red Army to keep himself safe. Then he “accidentally” shoots his unit's political officer in the street, and a squad of Ukrainian freedom fighters comes to his rescue. But Tolya still doesn’t trust them, and why would he? In a city where betrayal and secrets run rampant and self-preservation trumps loyalty, it’s difficult to know who to trust.

We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

Inspired by the folklore of Arabia, We Hunt the Flame is a can't-miss fantasy that is well worth the gift card spend. Zafira is a hunter disguised as a man, braving the cursed forest of Arz on a mission to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, tasked with assassinating anyone who would defy his father, the sultan. When both Zafira and Nasir are sent to retrieve an ancient artifact, they discover an ancient evil and realize there are forces much more dangerous than their enemies. We Hunt the Flame is now available in paperback—and don’t miss the sequel We Free the Stars, on sale January 19, 2021.  

All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace

Love fantasy settings and mermaids? Who doesn’t?! Don't miss Adalyn Grace’s All the Stars and Teeth, a fantasy set in a kingdom where danger lurks just underneath the sea, and where vengeful mermaids take down their enemies with a song. Amora Montara is the princess of the island kingdom of Visidia. While the rest of the kingdom has the freedom to choose their magic, Amora must prove herself as a master of souls in order to gain control of the kingdom. But when her demonstration goes wrong, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes up a bargain with Bastian, a mysterious pirate whom she promises to help reclaim his magic if he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule. The series finale to this duology, All the Tides of Fate, arrives on February 2, 2021 so mark you calendars now!

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Are you ready for a groundbreaking Latinx paranormal fantasy featuring a trans main character? Spend that gift card on Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas! Yadriel, a trans boy whose family is not ready to accept his true gender identity, is determined to prove to his family that he’s a true brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs a ritual to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. Unfortuantely, Yadriel actually summons Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy who’s determined to uncover the details of his death before he leaves this world. Yadriel agrees to help Julian, but the more time they spend together, the less Yadriel wants Julian to leave.

The Silence of Bones by June Hur

If you love a good mystery, use your gift cards on The Silence of the Bones by June Hur! This historical thriller set in 1800 Joseon (Korea) will keep you guessing until the very end. Sixteen-year-old Seol has been tasked with helping a young inspector investigate the mysterious murder of a noblewoman. As they get deeper into the investigation, Seol begins to form a friendship and a bond with the young inspector. However, all of that becomes extremely complicated when the inspector becomes one of the prime murder suspects. Will Seol be able to uncover the truth?