10 new YA books you need to read this April

Wicked Saints – Emily A. Duncan

Out of everything we’re talking about this month, this is probably the novel you’ve heard of already. Everyone seems to be excited about it. Basically, just put it in your TBR pile right now.

The first installment in the fabulously titled Something Dark and Holy Trilogy, Wicked Saints is a Gothic dark fantasy that follows the story of a trio of misfits in a kingdom torn apart by endless war.

"A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself. A prince in danger must decide who to trust. A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings. Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war."

This buzzy novel apparently includes dark enchantments, villainous love interests, and tons of plot twists – and aims for the sort of high concept storytelling that pretty much guarantees it’s going to garner a lot of fans.

Wicked Saints will be released April 2.

The Red Scrolls of Magic – Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu

A perfect treat for Shadowhunters fans still reeling over the TV series’ cancellation: A new book all about Malec!

This latest Shadowhunters novel, a co-production between Cassandra Clare and novelist Wesley Chu, tells the story of Alec Lightwood and Magnus Bane’s romantic European vacation. Well, that’s what it would be about if this were not a Cassandra Clare novel, anyway.

Instead, Alec and Magnus discover a demon-worshipping cult known as the Crimson Hand, realize that Magnus may at least be partially responsible for its anarchist ways, and vow to take down its leader. How romantic!

"Magnus Bane, a centuries old High Warlock, has taken possession of one of the great relics of the supernatural world, a powerful spell book of dark magic known as The Book of the White and there are many who want to claim it for themselves. After the Mortal War where the part-human and part-angel Shadowhunters teamed with the part human-demon Downworlders to fight against the incursion of an army of demons, Magnus and his new lover, the mortal Alec Lightwood celebrate their survival and victory by escaping the supernatural battlefield of New York City by touring the world, but the world won’t leave them alone."

The Red Scrolls of Magic will be released on April 9.