21 exciting new YA book releases arriving in the summer of 2021

Of Princes and Promises by Sandhya Menon. Image courtesy Simon & Schuster
Of Princes and Promises by Sandhya Menon. Image courtesy Simon & Schuster /
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Mark of the Wicked August book cover
Mark of the Wicked by Georgia Bowers. Image courtesy Macmillan Publishers /

Mark of the Wicked – Georgia Bowers

A young witch tries to unravel the mystery of who is framing her for dark magic in Georgia Bowers’ creepy YA debut fantasy, Mark of the Wicked.

A late summer spooky read with a decidedly morally gray protagonist, Mark of the Wicked follows the story of Matilda, a young witch who blames her mother and the coven for her dad leaving town. She relies on her magic for her friendship, relationships, and even payback. But her power comes with consequences – every time Matilda hurts someone else, their name appears carved into her skin. But when strange events start happening – blackouts, dead animals with her name carved into them, a schoolgirl who disappears – she’ll have to figure out what’s happening to her before it’s too late.

The official synopsis has more details about the story.

"All her life, Matilda has been told one thing about her magic: You use only when necessary. But Matilda isn’t interested in being a good witch. She wants revenge and popularity, and to live her life free of consequences, free of the scars that dark magic leaves on her face as a reminder of her misdeeds. When a spell goes awry and the new boy at school catches her in the act, Matilda thinks her secret might be out. But far from being afraid, Oliver already knows about her magic – and he wants to learn more. As Oliver and Matilda grow closer, bizarre things begin to happen: Animals show up with their throats slashed and odd markings carved into their bodies, a young girl dies mysteriously, and everyone blames Matilda. But she isn’t responsible — at least, not that she can remember. As her magic begins to spin out of control, Matilda must decide for herself what makes a good witch, and discover the truth…before anyone else turns up dead. Mark of the Wicked is available on August 10."