Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.

Faced with her brother’s betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Attempted sexual assault
  • Blood & gore depiction
  • Physical injuries, including eyeball trauma
  • Suicide mentioned
  • Death of a parent recounted
  • Murder
  • Torture
  • War themes
  • Animal sacrifice
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

In an abandoned mansion at the heart of Barcelona, a young man – David Martin – makes his living by writing sensationalist novels under a pseudonym. The survivor of a troubled childhood, he has taken refuge in the world of books, and spends his nights spinning baroque tales about the city’s underworld. But perhaps his dark imaginings are not as strange as they seem, for in a locked room deep within the house letters hinting at the mysterious death of the previous owner. Like a slow poison, the history of the place seeps into his bones as he struggles with an impossible love.

Then David receives the offer of a lifetime: he is to write a book with the power to change hearts and minds. In return, he will receive a fortune, perhaps more. But as David begins the work, he realises that there is a connection between this haunting book and the shadows that surround his home…

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Suicide mentioned
  • Blood depiction
  • Murder
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black book cover

Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences. As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Slut-shaming and body-shaming
  • Slavery
  • Physical & psychological child abuse
  • Infidelity
  • Disownment
  • Nightmares mentioned
  • Coerced self-harm & suicide (on-page) and self-harm through mithridatism (the practice of building a tolerance to a poison by taking small, increasing amounts over time)
  • Alcohol consumption & abuse
  • Drug use & drugging
  • Death of a pregnant character mentioned*
  • Graphic blood, gore & injury depiction, including dead bodies, mentions of decapitation & dismemberment, & emesis
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of mother & father (prologue, on-page)
  • Death of friend
  • Death of a sister & brother
  • Death by a fall mentioned
  • Drowning
  • Murder & attempted murder
  • Torture
  • Knife and sword violence & stabbing
  • Strangulation
  • Kidnapping & captivity
  • Loss of autonomy (glamour magic)
  • War themes discussed
  • Bullying

*Context: A secondary character poisons his pregnant consort in an attempt to murder her and their unborn child.

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett book cover

Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern-day Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets. But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together. What could go wrong?

With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.

And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Ableist language
  • Lesbomisia
  • Racism
  • Islamophobia
  • Cheating
  • Anxiety attacks (on-page)
  • Depression mentioned
  • Suicide of a parent
  • Blood depiction & physical injury
  • Chronic illness (main character, specifically hives)
  • Hospitalisation mentioned
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a father & mother recounted
  • Physical assault
  • Plane crash mentioned
  • Animal attacks, specifically snake and bear attacks
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan

Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan

Oakleaf Bearers by John Flanagan book cover

Still far from home after escaping slavery in the icebound land of Skandia, young Will and Evanlyn’s plans to return to Araluen are spoiled when Evanlyn is taken captive. Though still weak, Will employs his Ranger training to locate his friend but soon finds himself fatally outnumbered. Will is certain death is close at hand, until Halt and Horace make a daring last-minute rescue.

But their reunion is cut short by the horrifying discovery that Skandia’s borders have been breached by the Temujai army – and Araluen is next in their sights.

Only an unlikely union can save the two kingdoms, but can it hold long enough to vanquish a ruthless new enemy?

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Addiction, including substance addiction (mentioned) and non-consensual drugging (mentioned)
  • Kidnapping
  • Knife violence, murder and attempted murder
  • Physical injuries
  • Suicide by self-sacrifice
  • Animal death and hunting
  • Banishment and exile
  • Slavery
  • War and military themes

*Alternative title The Battle for Skandia

Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

The Icebound Land by John Flanagan

The Icebound Land by John Flanagan

The Icebound Land by John Flanagan book cover

Kidnapped after the fierce battle with Lord Morgarath, Will and Evanlyn are bound for Skandia as captives aboard a fearsome wolfship. Halt has sworn to rescue Will, and he will do anything to keep his promise–even defy his King. Expelled from the Rangers he has served so loyally, Halt is joined by Will’s friend Horace as he travels toward Skandia. On their way, they are challenged constantly by freelance knights–but Horace knows a thing or two about combat. Soon he begins to attract the attention of knights and warlords for miles around with his uncanny skill. Even so, will they be in time to rescue Will from a horrific life of slavery?

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Alcohol consumption, addiction and non-consensual drugging
  • Body horror, physical injuries, physical illness and dead bodies/body parts
  • Verbal abuse
  • Hallucinations, delusions and suicide
  • Knife violence, murder and attempted murder
  • Banishment, exile and captivity
  • Blizzard
  • Whipping and flogging
  • Poverty themes
  • Animal death and hunting
  • War and military themes
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

The Program by Suzanne Young

The Program by Suzanne Young

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Depression
  • Sexual assault
  • Suicide (theme)
  • Self-harm
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Suicide Forest by Jeremy Bates

Suicide Forest by Jeremy Bates

Suicide Forest by Jeremy Bates book cover

Just outside of Tokyo lies Aokigahara, a vast forest and one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in Japan…and also the most infamous spot to commit suicide in the world. Legend has it that the spirits of those many suicides are still roaming, haunting deep in the ancient woods.

When bad weather prevents a group of friends from climbing neighboring Mt. Fuji, they decide to spend the night camping in Aokigahara. But they get more than they bargained for when one of them is found hanged in the morning–and they realize there might be some truth to the legends after all.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Suicide
  • Rape
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust book cover

Sixteen-year-old Mina is motherless, her magician father is vicious, and her silent heart has never beat with love for anyone—has never beat at all, in fact, but she’d always thought that fact normal. She never guessed that her father cut out her heart and replaced it with one of glass. When she moves to Whitespring Castle and sees its king for the first time, Mina forms a plan: win the king’s heart with her beauty, become queen, and finally know love. The only catch is that she’ll have to become a stepmother.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Sexism
  • Parental abuse
  • Suicide, suicidal ideation and self-harm
  • Physical injuries and amputation
  • Grief depiction and death of a parent
  • Violence
  • Bullying
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo book cover

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her—or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Ableism & ableist language
  • Body shaming
  • Suicide attempt by self-sacrifice
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Blood and gore depiction, including dead bodies
  • Physical injuries
  • Emesis
  • Murder & attempted murder
  • Physical and psychological torture
  • Knife violence
  • Gun violence
  • Explosions & bombings
  • Physical assault
  • Kidnapping & captivity
  • Hostage situation
  • Airship accident
  • War themes
  • Animal death
  • Animal dead bodies & body parts
  • Hunting
Support Us at Ko-Fi at ko-fi.com