Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2025

Love caused this war. At least, that’s what the stories will say.

When Cassandra’s patron god, Apollo, offers her the gift of prophecy – and all the power that comes with it – she seizes the opportunity. But when she fails to uphold her end of the bargain, she discovers just how very far she has to fall. No one believes her visions, which all seem to be of one girl – a girl who is going to start a war.

Helen fled Sparta in pursuit of love – but is finding it elusive. Now she must navigate the fierce politics and danger of the Trojan court - including from its princess, who seems intent on driving her from the city. . .

But when war finally strikes, Cassandra and Helen must deal with more than just the army at their walls. Cassandra and Helen's fates are more closely tied - and seemingly tragic - than they could have ever imagined. How can you change your future when the gods themselves are dictating your demise?

Ocellus: The Story of the Twelfth Stone, is the first book in the Ocellus Series, an epic fantasy-adventure for middle-grade to young adult. Shy, grieving, 11-year-old Joshua discovers a glassy-black, oval stone in a rock pool. Engraved on one face is a human eye, and Joshua senses the eye staring at him, so he decides to keep it. Later, he discovers there is much more to the mysterious artefact than meets the eye. Soon after, an alien confronts him, saying he has searched for the eye-stone (Ocellus) for trillions of years. He reveals that Ocellus, together with twelve other similar stones, is the source of all energy, matter and life, but trillions of years ago, evil creatures stole the thirteen stones and hid them across all the universes. Joshua naturally finds the alien's story too fantastic, so to prove his story, and promising no harm will come to him, the alien takes Joshua and his step-sister, Alessa, along with the stone, to his own universe where he becomes close friends with another alien his age. Together, they undertake a series of ever-more hazardous missions to help retrieve the missing stones. After one mission goes awry, the evil creatures attack and Joshua finds himself trapped in the other universe, where he discovers some information about Ocellus that calls into question everything the alien has told him. Can Joshua establish the truth about the thirteen stones? Can he help defeat the evil creatures, and bring peace to the universes? And can he ever find his way back to Earth? Immense in scope and deep in emotion, the story of Ocellus will live in the memory.

The only guy in the world who could kiss me was about to be taken out by some Nightling with a vendetta against his family.

Fallon Bane thought that being cursed to feel pain every time she was touched was the worst thing that would ever happen to her.

She was wrong.

The worst thing was finding and falling for Ariyon―the only person in the realm who can touch her―only to accidentally trap him in the land of souls and swap powers with him.

Now she must act as Maven healer to Queen Solana while trying to figure out how to sneak into the Realm of Eternity to save Ariyon.

She drove me crazy, in both good and bad ways, and all I wanted to do was finally kiss her, hold her, feel her body relax into mine like it'd found its missing other half.

Aryion Madden had enough to deal with: heir to the throne, Maven healing powers that meant he would die young, and orphaned by Marissa Bane. Then, he met Marissa's daughter and fell in love, upending everything he thought he knew.

Now, he has to fight for his life―and maybe his afterlife―against the undead using Fallon's dark magic.

And if that's not enough to worry about, all the while, the prophesied Nightling war is approaching.

JOURNEY INTO A WORLD OF INCREDIBLE CREATURES... The third thrilling adventure in a spectacular science-packed fantasy series from bestseller Jennifer Bell, bursting with incredible magical creatures, dramatic locations and amazing science. Fans of Pokémon, Skandar and Impossible Creatures won't be able to put this book down!

An incredible new invention can duplicate magicores! But when the device is sabotaged, rogue magicores escape across the globe. Bitsy and Kosh embark on a dangerous quest to hunt them down in an adventure that takes them from the Galápagos islands to the rainforest of Borneo. With the help of their Magicalia handbook, the friends must confront their greatest fears … or watch chaos destroy everything.

Don't miss the first two adventures in this incredible series - Magicalia: Race of Wonders and Magicalia: Thief of Shadows.

The third in an action-packed new adventure series from Blue Peter Awardwinning author Kieran Larwood and Waterstones Children's Book Prize winner Joe Todd Stanton. Young readers will love discovering the world of the Dungeon Runners!

"A funny and exciting fantasy adventure story" - Frank Cottrell-Boyce, The Times

ARE YOU READY FOR THE CHALLENGE? It's time to fight or take flight!

Kit thought he was ready for anything, but when he discovers the next dungeon is at the bottom of an ocean he's not so sure - he can't swim!

But with his trusty teammates, Sandy and Thorn, keen to do battle, solve puzzles and find treasure, Kit is up for the challenge. Now is his chance to prove himself as a hero, once and for all!

Have you got what it takes to survive the Dungeon?

Now is your chance to prove it!

"Nanny and Grandad read stories to me and this one begins with a Magical Tree. With fairies and elves and Erin, who's six, with a problem SO HUGE she just has to fix." * * * This charming story is just for you, to escape for a moment or even two. Dip your toes into fantasy land and imagine you're there with a helping hand. * * * When things go wrong, Bobbin must act and his journey along the way is packed. When he sees a challenge to overcome decisions are made to get the job done. He meets many characters during his quest all wonderful helpers so he can do best. So, in this world with time to spend everyone takes part right up to the end. * * * Further details: With every purchase of this book there are four free activity sheets to download. These are; a Colour-in Queen Fairy; The Elves' Jumbled Words; Queen Fairy's Crossword and The Magical Tree Word Search.

Is this the end of the line for the Train of Dark Wonders?

Trouble is brewing at the Odditorium, where the gateway to the Land of Fairy Tales is about to open. For, as Bess knows only too well, fairy tales are nothing like the ones from the storybooks. Queen Cinderella wants her stolen magic slipper back and nothing will get in her way.

It soon becomes clear that Bess’s only choice is to travel to the Land of Fairy Tales and face Cinderella. With her friends by her side, she is determined to finish what her grandfather started by venturing to the queen’s legendary castle of illusions.

But as Bess and her friends fall victim to a series of sneaky tricks and enchantments, time is running out in their quest to find their happily ever after. And there's a chance they may never escape unless they defeat the evil fairy-tale queen once and for all...

Once upon a time there was a tiny kingdom called Cornucopia, as rich in happiness as it was in gold, and famous for its food. From the delicate cream cheeses of Kurdsburg to the Hopes-of-Heaven pastries of Chouxville, each was so delicious that people wept with joy as they ate them.

But even in this happy kingdom, a monster lurks. Legend tells of a fearsome creature living far to the north in the Marshlands... the Ickabog. Some say it breathes fire, spits poison, and roars through the mist as it carries off wayward sheep and children alike. Some say it's just a myth...

And when that myth takes on a life of its own, casting a shadow over the kingdom, two children - best friends Bert and Daisy - embark on a great adventure to untangle the truth and find out where the real monster lies, bringing hope and happiness to Cornucopia once more.

The bewitching classic children's novel by Neil Gaiman, featuring spellbinding illustrations from Chris Riddell and an exclusive new introduction by the author 'I was enthralled ... a marvellously strange and scary book' Philip Pullman 'A masterpiece' Terry Pratchett There is something strange about Coraline's new home. It's not the mist, or the cat that always seems to be watching her, nor the signs of danger that Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, her new neighbours, read in the tea leaves. It's the other house - the one behind the old door in the drawing room. Another mother and father with black-button eyes and papery skin are waiting for Coraline to join them there. And they want her to stay with them. For ever. She knows that if she ventures through that door, she may never come back. This deliciously creepy, gripping novel is packed with glorious illustrations by Chris Riddell, and is guaranteed to delight and entrance readers of all ages.

One choice could destroy them all. When eighteen-year-old Levi returned from Denver City with his latest scavenged finds, he never imagined he'd find his village of Glenrock decimated, loved ones killed, and many-including his fiancee, Jem-taken captive. Now alone, Levi is determined to rescue what remains of his people, even if it means entering the Safe Lands, a walled city that seems anything but safe. Omar knows he betrayed his brother by sending him away, but helping the enforcers was necessary. Living off the land and clinging to an outdated religion holds his village back. The Safe Lands has protected people since the plague decimated the world generations ago ... and its rulers have promised power and wealth beyond Omar's dreams. Meanwhile, their brother Mason has been granted a position inside the Safe Lands, and may be able to use his captivity to save not only the people of his village, but also possibly find a cure for the virus that threatens everyone within the Safe Lands' walls. Will Mason uncover the truth hidden behind the Safe Lands' facade before it's too late?

DETENTION JUST GOT DANGEROUS!

When Jack Digby is sent to Cyril Sniggs's Correctional Orphanage for Wayward Boys and Girls, he doesn't expect lessons in how to fire cannons and fend off pirate attacks. But perhaps he should, as the school, some say, was founded by a pirate.

Even stranger, at the end of each year, the four worst-behaved pupils are banished to the terrifying Sin Bin Island, where they must survive for a week. Legend has it, the island was once used to smuggle magic onto the mainland, but in over 300 years the magic has never returned.

Until now . . .

Sprankel het baie maatjies op die koraalrif waar sy woon, maar sy wil so graag ’n ander seeperdjie ontmoet – ’n maatjie net soos sy … Sy begin in die wye oseaan na ’n seeperd-maatjie soek, maar niemand het al een gesien nie! Dan verander alles toe sy ’n vis-nar help...

A special edition hardback of the final book in the million-copy bestselling Shepherd King duology, which began with One Dark Window. In this lushly gothic, mist-cloaked romantasy, Elspeth must face the consequences of what she's wrought.

Elspeth and Ravyn have gathered most of the twelve Providence Cards, but the last, and most important one remains to be found: The Twin Alders.

If they are going to find it before the Solstice and cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it, they will need to journey beyond the dangerous mist-cloaked forest that surrounds their kingdom.

And the only one who can lead them there is the monster that shares Elspeth's head. The Nightmare. And he's not eager to share any longer.

Discover the dark gothic fantasy taking the world by storm, from one of the most exciting voices in romantasy: the million-copy bestselling Rachel Gillig.

When a hungry little monster goes looking for food, everyone in her path gets a little nervous. Luckily, she finds her favorite lunch just in time! This book is perfect for beginner preschool and kindergarten readers. It features large type and easy words, paired with fun picture clues that will help new readers decode the story. Board book, Little Monster series, Story elements: setting, plot and character development: Little Monster, main character, strong illustration support, ask and answer questions, speech bubbles, rhythm and rhyme, sight word vocabulary. Comprehension strategies: re-tell story, predict outcomes, identify sequence of events, cause and effect relationships and problem and solution. Themes: Monsters, feeling hungry.

Unpack feelings using color with this bestselling character who helps young readers identify emotions and feel more in control.
 
One day, Color Monster wakes up feeling very confused. His emotions are all over the place; he feels angry, happy, calm, sad, and scared all at once! To help him, a little girl shows him what each feeling means through color. As this adorable monster learns to sort and define his mixed-up emotions, he gains self-awareness and peace as a result. Everyone will enjoy sharing this concept book that taps into both socio-emotional growth and color concepts in a simple, friendly way.

Perfect for:

• Reading to children who have strong emotions
• Starting conversations about feelings
• Introducing color concepts
• Inspiring art activities using colors with emotions themes
• Counselors, therapists, social workers, and caregivers of all kinds

A dark and thrilling vampire romance set in the world of the New York Times bestselling series Serpent & Dove!

Full of everything I love: a sparkling and fully-realized heroine, an intricate and deadly system of magic, and a searing romance that kept me reading long into the night.

Sarah J Maas on Serpent & Dove

Six months have passed since Célie took her sacred vows and joined the ranks of the Chasseurs as their first huntswoman. With her fiancé, Jean Luc, as captain, she is determined to find her foothold in her new role and help protect Belterra. But whispers from her past still haunt her, and a new evil is rising – leaving bodies in its wake, each one decorated with twin puncture wounds in its throat.

Now Célie has a new reason to fear the dark because someone – something – is coming for her. And the closer he gets, the more tempted Célie feels to give in to his dark hungers – and her own. . .

"Nothing short of a triumph." Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series From the superstar author of The Hate U Give comes a thrilling fantasy for readers aged 9+. It's not easy being Remarkable in a world where standing out is dangerous... Nic Blake is a Manifestor. All she wants is to learn the Gift, so she can be as powerful as her dad ... until she discovers a shocking secret. Now she must find a powerful magical weapon, or risk losing him for ever. Book 1 of Nic Blake and the Remarkables Praise for THE MANIFESTOR PROPHECY "Angie Thomas is such a phenomenal talent, and this truly is fantasy at its very best - a magnificent, exhilarating adventure in a richly imagined world. I loved it!" Sophie Anderson "Packed with humour and bursting with heart and imagination." B.B. Alston, New York Times bestselling author of Amari and the Night Brothers "A tantalizing first instalment in what is sure to be a blockbuster series." Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil series "Exploding with heart, humour, and all things Black Girl Magic." Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Marvellers Praise for Angie Thomas No. 1 New York Times Bestselling author Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Award Winner of Children's Book of the Year at The British Book Awards Winner of the Amnesty CILIP Honour for the Carnegie Medal "No one else writes like Angie. Phenomenal." The Guardian "Thomas has given a voice to her generation." Stylist "Unflinching yet accessible." Dazed "Witty, generous and real." Entertainment Weekly "Stunning, brilliant, gut-wrenching." John Green "Paints a deeply emotional and intricate picture of race and class." Variety "Undeniably wondrous." Woman's Way

A vision of Wonderland like none you've seen before, Heartless tells the untold story of the girl who would become the notorious Queen of Hearts. From New York Times bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles, Marissa Meyer. Long before she was the Queen of Hearts, Catherine Pinkerton was just a girl who wanted to fall in love. Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen. Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans . . .

The #1 Sunday Times bestseller is back with a festive winter treat, set in the world of the bestselling Caraval series! With gorgeous interior illustrations by Rosie Fowinkle.

Snowflakes are falling.
Invitations are arriving.
And holiday magic is swirling in the Capital City of the Meridian Empire.

It's Great Holiday Eve Eve. Scarlett Dragna is planning a spectacular Holiday celebration for the city.
Donatella is searching for the perfect gift. Julian is looking ridiculously handsome in green.
And Legend . . .

Well, sadly Legend is not a fan of the Great Holiday. Tella is hoping her perfect gift will change his mind. Unfortunately, she hasn't found this perfect gift just yet. But it is Great Holiday Eve Eve . . . surely there's some holiday magic swirling around.

Welcome, welcome back to the world of Caraval, where even holidays are not as they seem.

Set after Stephanie Garber's #1 New York Times bestselling Caraval series, this delightful novella will take readers on the ultimate holiday adventure, full of clockwork boys, poisoned candy, impish snow globes, merriment, and-if Tella gets her way-love.

Complete with gorgeous illustrations, this is the perfect edition for collectors, readers, dreamers, and lovers of holiday magic.