There’s a lot of great new books this year to check out for the holidays.  Some of them are continuations in specific series, and we’ll let you know which ones in our recommendations.  If you think we left out an important recommendation, leave a comment and let us know!

For Kids

Title: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
Author: Jacqueline Kelley
Price: $11.55
GA Amazon Link
An interesting story about a girl who teams up with her grandfather one summer in 1899 to learn why yellow grasshoppers are larger than the green ones.  It’s a good combination of a story about growing up, family and friendship as well as what it might’ve been like to be 11 at the turn of the century. ~Cherith

Title: A Really Short History of Nearly Everything
Author: Bill Bryson
Price: $11.69
GA Amazon Link
There’s an adult version of this book – The Short History of Nearly Everything, that I highly recommend, especially if you can grab it on audiobook.  The kids version is different in that it relates much of the information to a kid, as well as talks about some subjects that are very interesting to the younger fans, like dinosaurs.  Good for that kid on your holiday shopping list that always questions why things are, or how they came to be.  ~Cherith

For Teens

Title: Fade Out (Morganville Vampires #7)
Author: Rachel Caine
Price: $6.99
GA Amazon Link
Rachel Caine is the author of the adult Weather Wardens series, and has made a name for herself in the Urban Fantasy genre.  In the Morganville series, Claire, an extremely intellegent 16 year-old girl has moved to Morganville to attend the local college.  What she doesn’t realize until it’s too late is that the town is filled and run by Vampires.  Definitely a fun read, especially for that teen reader on your list that’s into the current Vampire craze.  If you want to know more, you can read an except on Caine’s site, here.  ~Cherith

Title: Leviathan
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Price: $10.79
GA Amazon Link
Scott Westerfeld is the author of the “Uglies” series and has made a name for himself with teenage stories with interesting backgrounds and unique characters, and Leviathan is sure to be no different.  ”Leviathan” takes place on the cusp of World War I, but in an Alternate History where the Austro-Hungarians and Germans have powerful steam-driven “Clankers”, the British have fabricated animals and the Leviathan is a huge whale air-ship in the British fleet.  The story follows Deryn Sharp a common girl working in a male disguise as an airman in service to the British.  This is sure to be a favorite for readers that love alternate histories and unique stories.  Check out this trailer below if you want to learn more. ~Cherith

Title: ArchEnemy (The Looking Glass Wars #3)
Author: Frank Beddor
Price: $12.23
GA Amazon Link

Frank Beddor is probably well known for his Looking Glass Wars series. ArchEnemy is the third, and last, installment in this series and picks up right where Seeing Redd left off. Wonderland is in disarray after the destruction of the Heart Crystal, and all of its inhabitents have lost their imaginations, even Alyss and Redd. Seeking to capitolize on a situation, King Arch leads an attack on the capitol of Wonderland in order to take control and become king. Alyss and Redd have to form a tentative alliance with each other in order to try and save the kingdom that they both care about.
~Stealthyslyth

Title: Going Bovine
Author: Libba Bray
Price: $12.23
GA Amazon Link
Libbra Bray is well known as the author of the teen Rebel Angels series.  With Going Bovine Bray tells the story of 16 year old Cameron who gets sick.  A loopy/punk angel hooked on sugar appears and tells Cam there’s a cure, but he has to search for it.  Cam has what he thinks is “mad cow” disease, and with the help of some unusual sidekicks sets off about the country looking for his cure.  ~Cherith

For Adults

Title: First Lords Fury (Codex Alera #9)
Author: Jim Butcher
Price: $9.00
GA Amazon Link
Jim Butcher, known for his popular Harry Dresden urban fantasy series, has also written the fantasy series, Codex Alera.  Next up is “First Lords Fury” to be release two days before Thanksgiving, November 24th.  If you’ve got a Jim Butcher fan on your list, this is a must buy.  ~Cherith

Title: By the Mountain Bound
Author: Elizabeth Bear
Price: $17.15
GA Amazon Link
As long as she keeps churning out books, I’ll probably recommend Elizabeth Bear every year in our Holiday Guides.  This year,  I specifically want to point your towards “By the Mountain Bound” the prequel to Bear’s “All the Windcracked Stars”.  The story takes place after Ragnarök has occurred, and there’s a lot that needs to happen to cleanse the world.  Even if you haven’t read anything by Bear before, if you’re a fan of Norse mythology, great storytelling, unique characters or all of the above, it’s worth checking out.  Do yourself (or your holiday recipient) a favor and grab “All the Windcracked Stars” while your at it.   ~Cherith

Title: Hammer of God
Author: Karen Miller
Price: $7.99
GA Amazon Link
Hammer of God is the third and final book in Karen Miller’s Godspeaker trilogy, and it’s quite the read! Rhian, after leading a force to reclaim her rightful position of queen sits on the throne of Ethrea but her problems have continued. Her once trusted friend, Dexterity, has been banished from court, and her newfound warrior, Zandakar is now imprisoned after being revealed as the son of the woman who is hell bent on taking the entire world that they live in as her own. Rhian also has to contend with pressing matters of court, rebellious dukes and skeptical ambassadors while trying to figure out if Zandakar can be trusted. All the while the great army of Mijak marches on to their cries of “Chalava! Chalava! Chalava, Zho!” ~Stealthyslyth

Title: A Touch of Dead (Sookie Stackhouse: The Complete Stories)
Author: Charlaine Harris
Price: $12.93
GA Amazon Link
This is the perfect companion for any friends or family who are fans of True Blood and/or the Sookie Stackhouse series. In A Touch of Dead, five short stories by Harris that expand upon the Sookie Stackhouse universe. Previously published seperately, this is a great book to get for someone who may just be starting out reading about the materials that inspired the TV show. And many Harris fans may enjoy receiving a nice anthology of these five stories to add to their collection!  ~Stealthyslyth

Title: And Another Thing
Author: Eoin Colfer
Price: $19.49
Read Yukino’s Review here!
GA Amazon Link
Bringing us back to the far reaches of the Galaxy, And Another Thing is the continuing tale of Arthur Dent, Trillian, their daughter Random, and their need to escape once more from the Vogons. Accompanied by Ford Prefect and Zaphod Beeblebrox, our favourite intergalactic travellers visit new planets, anger Nordic gods, and discover there is a chance they could maybe become a somewhat functional family.  ~Yukino

Title: The Meteoric Rise and Fall of Nat Nelson: Vaudevillian Extraordinaire
Author: Heatherlyn Egan
Price: $13.95
Create Space store link
“I’m already Nat Nelson, the Vaudevillian…but now I’m your Vaudevillian.”
This premiere novel from Heatherlyn Egan tells the story of Nat Nelson, a small town boy who winds up getting a lucky break into the Vaudeville scene. But when Nat’s ambition becomes to great he risks destroying his career and reputation. Based on inspiration from her own family history, Egan has crafted an amazingly detailed story full of facts and places from the rich vaudeville history of the US. The characters have great personalities and really draw you into the novel and make you care when Nelson decides to make some bad decisions and you just want to yell at him. As a bonus for the holiday season to Gaming Angels readers, order this book now through the above link and use the code CTXVEMLN at checkout to get a 25% discount! ~Stealthyslyth