"It's important, just from a craft perspective, because we're always striving to create worlds that are believable, and the real world is diverse. So the more diversity you add into your fiction makes it that much more powerful to read. Then of course, from a more emotional standpoint, it's fantastic for readers to see themselves reflected in fiction."

Red Queen absolutely blew my mind! It is about a dystopian world where people are divided by blood: silver for the higher social order with supernatural powers and red for the poor and maltreated. When Mare, an ordinary red-blooded girl, discovers that she has silver powers, everything is changed forever. The big twist is just so unpredictable and unexpected that it makes you stop for at least 20 minutes to stare at the wall and just be amazed. As Aveyard says: Anyone can betray anyone.—Christina V.P.I was enthralled with the book from the start, but when the twist happened, I actually screamed in shock, horror, and surprise! I actually scared the other people in my house — they thought something was wrong and came running. 😳—Fionna Q.

Check out our favorite 2021 fantasy YA releases from authors that we love including books from Victoria Aveyard and Roseanne A. Brown!

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I know, I know. Some people claim that they're just not into the whole fantasy thing. The secret powers, the magic, and, often, the healthy dose of medieval-style intrigue. But when a novel has a great story and even greater characters, even people…