Julie C. Dao

14 Young Adult short stories from bestselling and award-winning authors make a splash in Mermaids Never Drown - the second collection in the Untold Legends series edited by Zoraida C rdova and Natalie C. Parker - exploring mermaids like we've never seen them before A Vietnamese mermaid caught between two worlds. A siren who falls for Poseidon's son. A boy secretly pining for the merboy who saved him years ago. A storm that brings humans and mermaids together. Generations of family secrets and pain. Find all these stories and more in this gripping new collection that will reel you in from the very first page Welcome to an ocean of hurt, fear, confusion, rage, hope, humor, discovery, and love in its many forms. Edited by Zoraida C rdova and Natalie C. Parker, Mermaids Never Drown features beloved authors like Darcie Little Badger, Kalynn Bayron, Preeti Chhibber, Rebecca Coffindaffer, Julie C. Dao, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Adriana Herrera, June Hur, Katherine Locke, Kerri Maniscalco, Julie Murphy, Gretchen Schreiber, and Julian Winters.

Check out acclaimed author Julie C. Dao's debut middle grade series, featuring a team of kids ready for any challenge-even saving the fantasy world of Pantaera from dark forces and certain ruin In Team Chu and the Epic Hero Quest, the popular fantasy video game War of Gods and Men is being adapted for reality television. Team Chu and company are competing for the title of child hero: the young person destined to unite the forces of Pantaera to save it from a sinister fate. Over the next week, they'll be challenged by sirens, vampires, elves, and more in Tests of Courage, Determination, Humility, Intelligence, and Strength. Popular athlete Clip is confident he'll take the prize, if it weren't for that test of humility. And despite claiming not to care about the game, Sadie finds herself pulled into the immersive world of Pantaera and rising to meet the challenges thrown her way. And her best friend, Jeremy, proud nerd and last pick for P.E. teams, wants more than anything to save the world of the game he loves, no matter the cost. Join Clip, Sadie, Jeremy, and their friends on a thrilling adventure through an extraordinary fantasy world to learn who among them has what it takes to become Pantaera's child hero

Freshly vampiric Lucy Westenra thirsts for revenge in the second and final book of this Dracula retelling from critically acclaimed author Julie C. Dao.Lucy Westenra, the flirtatious, wealthy, and beautiful debutante who once dazzled London society, is no more. Manipulated into thinking that Vlad understood her fervent darkness, she has become his bitter, blood-spattered, and lifeless bride.Now en route to join his other brides in the Carpathians, Lucy writhes in pain each time she attempts to speak Vlad's name. She dreams of finding solace in the arms of her loved ones: her suitor, Arthur Holmwood, and her best friend, Mina Murray Harker. Instead, she is hunted by her former friends Dr. Van Helsing and Quincey Morris and tormented by the memory of the people she has killed in bloodlust.But Lucy will not relinquish hope nor give up on escaping Vlad's violent grip. Much like the monster who once wandered into her dreams and gave her a glimpse of his heart's desire, she is determined to commune with Mina and Arthur, no matter the outcome. She must know once and for all whether their love for her persists--and if it can withstand her abandonment of her own humanity.The long journey ahead will take Lucy to places unknown, where both familiar darkness and new light await. But will she step out of the mist and into the sun to embrace the vastness of her new immortal existence?The stunning conclusion of a duology that reimagines Dracula from the perspective of Lucy Westenra, So Blooms the Dawn is perfect for fans of Penny Dreadful and Danielle L. Jensen.Praise for Now Comes the Mist "A lush, thoughtful, seductive reimagining of the Dracula mythos that had me under its thrall from page one, Dao's darkly dreamy book will leave you thirsting for more. Let Lucy sink her teeth into you and draw you into her new world." --Kiersten White, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Hide, Mister Magic, and Lucy Undying "This novel will leave you breathless and make you question what you thought you knew about the original tale. Julie C. Dao is the master of nuanced, complex female leads who will not just demand but forcibly take exactly what they deserve." --Beth Revis, New York Times-bestselling coauthor of Night of the Witch " A] refreshing and clever gothic romance . . . Haunting and atmospheric . . . Fans of dark vampire romance will be delighted." --Publishers Weekly "A wonderful read I was spellbound by this vivid reimagining of a Dracula myth that is at once enthralling, haunting, and darkly romantic." --Sue Lynn Tan, USA Today-bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess "Dazzling, sensual, sparkling with danger. Lucy Westenra is a force of nature in Dao's capable hands, taking control of her own story with a vengeance long overdue. A vibrant, chilling reimagining that feels wholly its own." --Natalie Mae, author of the Kinder Poison trilogy"A sultry gothic that hooked me from the first sentence. Every page of this lush Dracula retelling is imbued with danger and darkness. It's a beguiling book and one I can't recommend enough." --Alexis Henderson, author of The Year of the Witching "Wild, wicked, sensuous fun. Now Comes the Mist is for all the dark romantics, the lovers of drama, and the ones who want to get bitten." --Wendy Xu, bestselling author and illustrator of The Infinity Particle

Dracula's Lucy Westenra like you've never seen her before: In this retelling from critically acclaimed author Julie C. Dao, the perfect woman bites back.Lucy Westenra is beautiful, rich, loved by three men-every inch a lady. But beneath this sparkling, flirtatious facade, she is fascinated by death, which has stalked her throughout her short life. For her, the dead do not slip away easily, as they do for her best friend, Mina; they linger.When Lucy departs for Whitby, her nightly sleepwalks introduce her to the mysterious Vlad, who seems to see parts of her she has never let show before. Vlad makes her an offer: Every century, he seeks out the "perfect woman of the age," who embodies all the values of her society, to live with him in immortality-and Lucy could very well be this woman. For the first time, she feels herself able to share her darker side with someone. Thinking herself dreaming, she agrees to cheat death with him.When Vlad finally appears in the light, it is aboard a ship covered in corpses. He toys with Lucy and mocks her in Mina's presence. And one night, he drains a corpse dry right before her eyes. He is a vampire, a monster ready to take her. He expects a good Victorian lady, appalled by his darkness, a victim. But Lucy is only enraptured. When Vlad reacts with violence, Lucy has no choice but to fight for her agency, even if it means giving up her humanity. And her tormentor will soon find she is no easy opponent . . .The first book of a duology that retells Dracula from the point of view of Lucy Westenra, this gothic romance is perfect for fans of Penny Dreadful and Danielle L. Jensen."A lush, thoughtful, seductive reimagining of the Dracula mythos that had me under its thrall from page one, Dao's darkly dreamy book will leave you thirsting for more. Let Lucy sink her teeth into you and draw you into her new world." -Kiersten White, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Hide, Mister Magic, and Lucy Undying"This novel will leave you breathless and make you question what you thought you knew about the original tale. Julie C. Dao is the master of nuanced, complex female leads who will not just demand but forcibly take exactly what they deserve." -Beth Revis, New York Times-bestselling coauthor of Night of the Witch"A wonderful read I was spellbound by this vivid reimagining of a Dracula myth that is at once enthralling, haunting, and darkly romantic." -Sue Lynn Tan, USA Today-bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess"Dazzling, sensual, sparkling with danger. Lucy Westenra is a force of nature in Dao's capable hands, taking control of her own story with a vengeance long overdue. A vibrant, chilling reimagining that feels wholly its own." -Natalie Mae, author of the Kinder Poison trilogy"A sultry gothic that hooked me from the first sentence. Every page of this lush Dracula retelling is imbued with danger and darkness. It's a beguiling book and one I can't recommend enough." -Alexis Henderson, author of The Year of the Witching "Prepare to be swept away by this tale of romance, power, and immortality as Dao's enchanting Lucy Westenra fully embodies the dark feminine lurking within us all." -Jessica Rubinkowski, author of The Bright & the Pale"Wild, wicked, sensuous fun. Now Comes the Mist is for all the dark romantics, the lovers of drama, and the ones who want to get bitten." -Wendy Xu, bestselling author and illustrator of The Infinity Particle

Rethink the way you approach writing in this "honest, useful craft book that all fledgling writers need" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) from fourteen diverse authors that demystifies craft and authorship based on their experiences as writers of color--perfect for fans of Fresh Ink and Our Stories, Our Voices. So, you're thinking of writing a book. Or, maybe you've written one, and are wondering what to do with it. What does it take to publish a novel, or even a short story? If you're a writer of color, these questions might multiply; after all, there's a lot of writing advice out there, and it can be hard to know how much of it really applies to your own experiences. If any of this sounds like you, you're in the right place: this collection of essays, written exclusively by authors of color, is here to encourage and empower writers of all ages and backgrounds to find their voice as they put pen to page. Perhaps you're just getting started. Here you'll find a whole toolkit of advice from bestselling and award-winning authors for focusing on an idea, landing on a point of view, and learning which rules were meant to be broken. Or perhaps you have questions about everything beyond the first draft: what is it really like being a published author? These writers demystify the process, sharing personal stories as they forged their own path to publication, and specifically from their perspectives as author of color. Every writer has a different journey. Maybe yours has already started. Or maybe it begins right here. Contributors include: Julie C. Dao, Chloe Gong, Joan He, Kosoko Jackson, Adiba Jaigirdar, Darcie Little Badger, Yamile Saied M ndez, Axie Oh, Laura Pohl, Cindy Pon, Karuna Riazi, Gail D. Villanueva, Julian Winters, and Kat Zhang.

Sadie and Clip Chu love laser tag. When a new arena opens in their town with state-of-the-art courses and virtual reality headsets, they couldn’t be more excited—or more competitive. But when a mysterious boy who claims to be part of the game tricks Clip into getting trapped with him, Sadie and the rest of their friends must find a way to save Clip and fight their way out. As they team up to beat the obstacles in store, the Chu siblings learn that they're far better off working with instead of against each other. An action-packed fantasy adventure set in an imaginative virtual fantasy world, this light hearted romp is a joyful celebration of the fierceness of sibling rivalry and supportive friendships.

Check out acclaimed author Julie C. Dao's debut middle grade series, featuring a team of kids ready for any challenge-even saving the fantasy world of Pantaera from dark forces and certain ruin In Team Chu and the Epic Hero Quest, the popular fantasy video game War of Gods and Men is being adapted for reality television. Team Chu and company are competing for the title of child hero: the young person destined to unite the forces of Pantaera to save it from a sinister fate. Over the next week, they'll be challenged by sirens, vampires, elves, and more in Tests of Courage, Determination, Humility, Intelligence, and Strength. Popular athlete Clip is confident he'll take the prize, if it weren't for that test of humility. And despite claiming not to care about the game, Sadie finds herself pulled into the immersive world of Pantaera and rising to meet the challenges thrown her way. And her best friend, Jeremy, proud nerd and last pick for P.E. teams, wants more than anything to save the world of the game he loves, no matter the cost. Join Clip, Sadie, Jeremy, and their friends on a thrilling adventure through an extraordinary fantasy world to learn who among them has what it takes to become Pantaera's child hero

A rollicking, action-packed adventure of laser tag and fierce sibling rivalries, Team Chu and the Battle of Blackwood Arena is the first book in a commercial middle grade fantasy series by Julie C. Dao. Clip and Sadie Chu couldn't be more different. Popular, athletic Clip wants to become his school's first seventh-grade soccer captain, while brainy star student Sadie is determined to prove that she can do anything her boastful brother can. They have just one thing in common: they love laser tag. Like, really love it. When the Blackwood Gaming Arena comes to town, bringing virtual reality headsets and state-of-the-art courses, they couldn't be more excited--or competitive. But then a mysterious figure appears and claims to be a part of the game, forcing the Chus and their friends to save themselves from a sinister force lurking inside the simulation. Together, they must fight their way through epic battlegrounds that will test their speed, skills, and smarts . . . but will Clip and Sadie learn that they're far better off working together than competing for the ultimate victory? A 2023 CBC Teacher and Librarians Favorite

The Mirror: Broken Wish marks the first book in an innovative four-book fairy-tale series written by Julie C. Dao, Dhonielle Clayton, J.C. Cervantes, and L. L. McKinney, following one family over several generations, and the curse that plagues it. Sixteen-year-old Elva has a secret. She has visions and strange powers that she will do anything to hide. She knows the warnings about what happens to witches in their small village of Hanau. She's heard the terrible things people say about the Witch of the North Woods, and the malicious hunts that follow... When Elva accidentally witnesses a devastating vision of the future, she decides she has to do everything she can to prevent it. Tapping into her powers for the first time, Elva discovers a magical mirror and its owner--none other than the Witch of the North Woods herself. As Elva learns more about her burgeoning magic, and the lines between hero and villain start to blur, she must find a way to right past wrongs before it's too late. BROKEN WISH is a darkly glittering fairytale of shattered promises and powerful magic. Dao opens a door to an enchanting new world tucked within the seams of our own. - Emily A. Duncan, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked Saints An enchanting beginning to what promises to be a gripping family saga. BROKEN WISH whisks readers into a beautifully wrought fairy tale that is at once familiar and new, and introduces readers to Elva, whose family's past is riddled with secrets and curses. It will be hard to put down until the final page - Elizabeth Lim, New York Times bestselling author of the Twisted Tales books A clever tale about the importance of promises and the limits of friendship, perfect for a snug night by the fireside. - Liz Braswell, New York Times bestselling author of the Twisted Tales books

Will love break the spell? After cruelly rejecting Bao, the poor physician’s apprentice who loves her, Lan, a wealthy nobleman’s daughter, regrets her actions. So when she finds Bao’s prized flute floating in his boat near her house, she takes it into her care, not knowing that his soul has been trapped inside it by an evil witch, who cursed Bao, telling him that only love will set him free. Though Bao now despises her, Lan vows to make amends and help break the spell. Together, the two travel across the continent, finding themselves in the presence of greatness in the forms of the Great Forest’s Empress Jade and Commander Wei. They journey with Wei, getting tangled in the webs of war, blood magic, and romance along the way. Will Lan and Bao begin to break the spell that’s been placed upon them? Or will they be doomed to live out their lives with black magic running through their veins? In this fantastical tale of darkness and love, some magical bonds are stronger than blood.

The Wrath and the Dawn meets Snow White and the Huntsman in this dark and mystical East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl's quest to become Empress. A richly developed fantasy world . . . Julie C. Dao is a talent to watch.--Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Young Elites Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her. Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high? Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute. Set in an East Asian-inspired fantasy world filled with both breathtaking pain and beauty, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns possesses all the hallmarks of masterful fantasy: dazzling magic, heartbreaking romance, and a world that hangs in the balance. Fans of Heartless, Stealing Snow, and Red Queen will devour this stunning debut. Praise for Forest of a Thousand LanternsA Junior Library Guild Selection A richly developed fantasy world coupled with an ambitious anti-heroine of complex agency, this story shines and surprises at every turn. Julie C. Dao is a talent to watch.--Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Young Elites ★ A masterful reimagining of the early life of Snow White's Evil Queen.--Booklist, starred review ★ Lushly written . . . tantalizing reading.--Publishers Weekly, starred review Rich in detail and full of gore and blood, this dark novel will satisfy 'Game of Thrones' fans.--School Library Journal"A stunning reimagining of the Evil Queen. Filled with treacherous courtesans, dark magic, terrible choices, and bloody hearts, Julie Dao's exquisite take on this classic villain rises far above the average retelling."--Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval"Magnetic, seductive, and alluring, Dao's Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is a lush, captivating read about desire and the lengths to which we will go to find our true destiny."--S. Jae-Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong