14 new YA books to read during sweater season this October

Gravemaidens – Kelly Coon

The first installment in a new fantasy duology, Gravemaidens follows the story of three women chosen for their land’s greatest honor. Which, isn’t necessarily a good thing.

In the city-state of Alu, there’s a rather grim tradition when the ruler dies. Women – known colloquially as gravemaidens – are chosen to escort the king to the afterlife. It’s seen as a great honor, though it obviously men the lucky women themselves must die to complete their task.

Nanaea believes being chosen as one of the Sacred Maidens will help restore her family’s position in the city. But her sister Kammani doesn’t feel the same. She sees the ritual as barbaric and is determined to save Nanaea. And she’ll do so by saving the king’s life, even if it means risking her own.

The synopsis describes the story as follows:

"In the walled city-state of Alu, Kammani wants nothing more than to become the accomplished healer her father used to be before her family was cast out of their privileged life in shame. When Alu’s ruler falls deathly ill, Kammani’s beautiful little sister, Nanaea, is chosen as one of three sacred maidens to join him in the afterlife. It’s an honor. A tradition. And Nanaea believes it is her chance to live an even grander life than the one that was stolen from her. But Kammani sees the selection for what it really is—a death sentence. Desperate to save her sister, Kammani schemes her way into the palace to heal the ruler. There she discovers more danger lurking in the sand-stone corridors than she could have ever imagined and that her own life—and heart—are at stake. But Kammani will stop at nothing to dig up the palace’s buried secrets even if it means sacrificing everything…including herself."

Gravemaidens is available on October 29.