Tuesday, 17th February

Four Eids and a Funeral by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jaigirdar

Paperback, Squarefish US

When Said Hossain’s favorite hometown librarian dies, he must return from boarding school for her funeral and for the summer. Too bad being home makes it a lot harder to avoid facing his ex–best friend, Tiwa Olatunji, or facing the daunting task of telling his Bangladeshi parents that he would rather be an artist than a doctor.

Tiwa doesn’t understand what made Said start ignoring her, but it’s probably that fancy boarding school of his. Though he’s unexpectedly home for the summer, she’s determined to take a page from him and pretend he doesn’t exist. Besides, she has more than enough going on, between grieving her favorite librarian and her broken family while helping her mother throw the upcoming Eid celebration at the Islamic Center―a place that means so much to Tiwa.

But when the center accidentally catches fire, the mayor plans to demolish it entirely. Tiwa and Said will need to put their feelings aside if they’re going to get the mayor to change his mind. Will all their efforts be enough to save the Islamic Center, save Eid, and maybe even save their relationship?

Thursday, 19th February

The Sun Blessed Prince by Lindsey Byrd

Paperback, Tor UK

Prince Elician is a Giver, so can heal wounds and return the dead to life. He also can’t be killed, so is cursed to watch his country wage an endless war. All this, while keeping his powers a closely guarded secret.

Cat is a Reaper and they can kill with a single touch. He’s been ordered to assassinate Prince Elician – and when he fails, he expects a terrible punishment. Instead, Elician offers Cat sanctuary on enemy territory. Cat hadn’t realized life could be worth living, until the prince. Yet Elician’s enemy plans to turn this kindness against him.

Meanwhile, Elician’s sister, Fen, must somehow master her volatile powers to serve her country as a deadly plot comes to light featuring treachery and forbidden magic. With tensions escalating from court to battlefield, can those who wield power find peace?