15 must-read YA book releases that will make staying inside a little easier this May

Forged in Fire and Stars by Andrea Robertson

Andrea Robertson is no stranger to writing YA series, and May marks the start of her latest with the release of Forged in Fire and Stars. Being marketed for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse and Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes, this book will likely appeal to fans of high fantasy — and let’s be honest, we could all use the escape right now.

The story centers on Ara, whose father died serving as the Loresmith for his kingdom. After the fall of that monarchy, Ara’s lived most of her life on the sidelines — but she’s always believed it was her destiny to become the next Loresmith. And just when she began to give up on that dream, the lost heirs of the previous monarch kidnap her and ask for her help in reclaiming their kingdom.

This kickstarts Aras adventure and her destiny, but it also leads her places she’s never imagined going — and forces her to confront her own family’s legacy as Loresmiths. The synopsis for Forged in Fire and Stars reads:

"“Their journey will take Ara on a dangerous adventure to discover new truths about her family’s legacy, and even to face the gods themselves. And with a mysterious thief as an unexpected companion, Ara must use all her skills to figure out just who she can trust, and forge the right path forward–for herself, her kingdom, and her heart.”"

Robertson’s latest promises to bring fantasy lovers everything they could ask for from a new release — politics, mystery, magic, and perhaps even a bit of romance. It’s exactly the kind of story we’d like to fall into this May — and it’ll give us a sequel to look forward to afterward as well.

Forged in Fire and Stars is available in print, ebook, and audiobook formats starting May 5.