Category: Riot Rundown

Sponsored by DC

It’s a new day in Gotham. Bane’s been vanquished, but both the city and its champion are struggling to pick up the pieces. Deathstroke is back and soon Batman is surrounded by assassins—as well as Gotham’s own dangerous players, from the Riddler to the Penguin to Harley Quinn. As the Caped Crusader draws closer to uncovering the figure pulling the strings, the love of his life, Catwoman, holds the sinister secret in her claws. Can Batman pry it from her without tearing their relationship apart? And will it be enough to stop the coming plot against him?

Sponsored by Wednesday Books

No one speaks of the grace year. It’s forbidden. In Garner County, girls are banished for their sixteenth year to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive. Tierney James dreams of a better life—but as her own grace year draws near, she quickly realizes that there’s more to the annual ritual than she imagined. Their greatest threat may very well be each other. “A visceral, darkly haunting fever dream of a novel” (Libba Bray, bestselling author).

Sponsored by Julian at the Wedding by Jessica Love

Julián and his abuela are going to a wedding. Better yet, Julián is in the wedding. Weddings have flowers and kissing and dancing and cake. And this wedding also has a new friend named Marisol. It’s not long before Julián and Marisol set off for some magic and mischief of their own, and when things take an unexpected turn, the pair learns that everything is easier with a good friend by your side. Jessica Love returns with a joyful story of friendship and individuality in this radiant follow-up to Julián Is a Mermaid.

Sponsored by Elsewhere by Dean Koontz

Since his wife, Michelle, left seven years ago, Jeffy has worked to maintain a normal life for himself and his 11-year-old daughter, Amity. But when a local eccentric shows up on their doorstep with a strange and dangerous device, everything changes. This device allows them to jump between parallel universes and Jeffy and Amity can’t help but wonder if Michelle is just a click away. A man with a dark purpose is in pursuit though, determined to use the device’s grand potential for profound evil. Now the fate of the world is in the hands of Jeffy and Amity.

Sponsored by The Lives of Saints from bestselling author Leigh Bardugo with Fierce Reads

Experience the Grishaverse like never before. .

Out of the pages of the Shadow and Bone trilogy, from the hands of Alina Starkov to yours, soon to be part of a Netflix original series—immerse yourself in the epic world of international bestselling author Leigh Bardugo with this beautifully illustrated replica of The Lives of Saints, the Istorii Sankt’ya. These tales include stunning full-color illustrations of miracles and martyrdoms from familiar saints plus strange and obscure stories drawn from the novels and beyond.

“This is what fantasy is for.” —The New York Times

Sponsored by A Drop of Midnight by Jason Diakité

He traced his Black ancestry through time and across continents. What he found is a story only he can tell. From hip-hop artist Jason Diakité comes a stunning account of riding a delicate cultural and racial divide as someone born in Sweden to interracial American parents. A Drop of Midnight is Jason’s remarkable memoir and an unflinching look at his own history and that of generations affected by the trauma of the African diaspora. Jason draws on conversations with his parents, research, and personal experiences to craft a vivid memoir. Read or listen for free with Prime.

Sponsored by Natalie Portman's Fables by Natalie Portman with Macmillan Children's

“A powerful twist on classic children’s tales . . . allowing children to see themselves—and all others—reflected.” —Entertainment Weekly

From realizing that there is no “right” way to live to respecting our planet and learning what really makes someone a winner, the messages at the heart of Natalie Portman’s Fables are modern takes on timeless life lessons.

Told with a playful, kid-friendly voice and perfectly paired with Janna Mattia’s charming artwork, Portman’s insightful retellings are ideal for reading aloud and are sure to become beloved additions to family libraries.

Sponsored by Rural Voices: 15 Authors Challenge Assumptions About Small-Town America edited by Nora Shalaway Carpenter

For most of America’s history, rural people and culture have been casually mocked, stereotyped, and, in general, deeply misunderstood. Now an array of short stories, poetry, graphic short stories, and personal essays, along with anecdotes from the authors’ real lives, dives deep into the complexity and diversity of rural America and the people who call it home. Fifteen extraordinary authors—diverse in ethnic background, sexual orientation, geographic location, and socioeconomic status—explore the challenges, beauty, and nuances of growing up in rural America. From a mountain town in New Mexico to the gorges of New York to the arctic tundra of Alaska, you’ll find yourself visiting parts of this country you might not know existed—and meet characters whose lives might be surprisingly similar to your own.

Sponsored by Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer with Fierce Reads

A new spin from #1 bestselling author Marissa Meyer!

Prudence Daniels is always quick to cast judgment on the residents of her coastal town. Her dreams of karmic justice are fulfilled when, after a night out with her friends, she wakes up with the sudden ability to cast instant karma on those around her.

When Pru starts to uncover the truth, her newfound karmic insights reveal how thin the line is between virtue and vanity, generosity and greed . . . love and hate… and fate.

Sponsored by Scribner, publisher of She Come By It Natural by Sarah Smarsh

The National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author of Heartland focuses her laser-sharp insights on one of the most unifying figures in American culture: Dolly Parton.

Infused with Smarsh’s trademark insight, intelligence, and humanity, She Come By It Natural is a sympathetic tribute to the icon Dolly Parton and—call it whatever you like—the organic feminism she embodies.

“Smarsh and Parton are a perfect pairing for the kind of in-depth examination into gender and class and what it means to be a woman and a working-class hero that feels particularly important right now.” —Refinery29