The Savage Fortress

The Savage Fortress by Sarwat Chadda

Ash Mistry has always loved Hindu myths: the awesome weapons, the brave warriors, the gods watching over all. Visiting his aunt and uncle in India, he finds the country just as fascinating. When wealthy Lord Alexander Savage asks Ash's uncle to work for him, the family is overjoyed. But Ash knows something is wrong at Lord Savage's fortress, where the bodyguards all seem to have strangely long teeth....

Then Ash discovers a golden arrowhead once possessed by the great warrior-king Rama. In their hunger for the weapon, Savage's bodyguards reveal their true natures: They're rakshasas, demons of Indian myth, defeated by Rama many centuries ago. But why are they working for Savage? And what do they want with the arrowhead? As the myths come to life around him, Ash teams up with a beautiful rakshasa girl in a desperate battle to save not just the world, but reality itself.

Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Brandon Mull, The Savage Fortress introduces a terrific new fantasy hero.

Read an excerpt.

What do you think? Are you excited about this new fantasy book? Leave a Comment.

December Books of the Month!

Last month I made a beautiful word cloud out of your book recommendations on the Reading Buzz Board. I asked you to tell us what books you are reading now, and here they are! YOUR December book recommendations in Wordle-y wonderfulness! I think Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games series(for ages 12 and up) are tied, but Harry Potter is up there too!

I need your help for next month's Book Wordle. Leave a Comment with the title of the book you are reading right now. In January, I will make a new word cloud of all our reads for the whole month. So fun! I love Worldle-ing!

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

The Mysterious Benedict Society Readalikes

The Mysterious Benedict Society Readalikes

You know when you find an amazing book, and you never want it to end? How do you find another book to read after that? Our answer: Readalikes to the rescue! We hope our Readalikes will rescue you from the what-to-read-next question, and help you find lots of new amazing books.

Today's Readalikes are for The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. When 11-year-old Reynie answers this ad in the newspaper ("Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?"), he has no idea of the adventures he is about to get into. He and 3 other kids pass a series of strange tests that admit them into the Mysterious Benedict Society. That's when their lives start getting strange!

The Outsiders Readalikes

The Outsiders Readalikes

You know when you find an amazing book, and you never want it to end? How do you find another book to read after that? Our answer: Readalikes to the rescue! We hope our Readalikes will rescue you from the what-to-read-next question, and help you find lots of new amazing books.

Today's Readalikes are for The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Susan Eloise Hinton wrote The Outsiders while she was still in high school, and the story was inspired by 2 rival gangs at her school in 1965, the Greasers and the Socs.

Charlotte's Web Readalikes

Charlotte's Web Readalikes

You know when you find an amazing book, and you never want it to end? How do you find another book to read after that? Our answer: Readalikes to the rescue! We hope our Readalikes will rescue you from the what-to-read-next question, and help you find lots of new amazing books.

Today's Readalikes are for Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. Charlotte's Web is the story of a little girl named Fern who loved a little pig named Wilbur—and of Wilbur's dear friend Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful large grey spider who lived with Wilbur in the barn. With the help of Templeton the rat, Charlotte came up with a clever plan to save Wilbur from being turned into bacon.

Baby-sitters Club eBooks

The Classic Baby-sitters Club Returns on eBook!

Millions of girls have read The Baby-sitters Club—and now it’s your turn!

When Kristy Thomas has the great idea to form a baby-sitters club—a chance to earn money and spend time with her friends, all while doing something they love to do—she has no idea how much the club will change everything. Crank calls, uncontrollable toddlers, wild pets, untruthful clients. . . running a business is hard work! Kristy and her co-founders, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey, are sure they can handle anything. but only if they stick together!

The bestselling series began in 1986, and ever since then, girls all over the world have become best friends with the BSC. Now, the baby-sitters are back!

The first twenty books in The Baby-sitters Club series are now available with their classic cover look—exclusively as eBooks! And as if that weren’t enough to make you hyperventilate, each also includes a special letter from author Ann M. Martin. Join the girls in Stoneybrook and see what all the fuss is about. This is one club that everyone’s invited to join, so don’t miss out!

 

Your Book Recommendations

I don't know if you've noticed, but I recently discovered how to make Wordles and now I want to Wordle everything! I was looking at your book recommendations on the Reading Buzz Board and I knew they would make an awesome word cloud.

Check this out! YOUR book recommendations in glorious word-cloudy color!

Cool, right? Have you read all of these? Are your favorites on this list?

I need your help for next month's Book Wordle. Leave a Comment with the title of the book you are reading right now. In December, I will make a Wordle of all our reads for the whole month. If everybody on the STACKS leaves a Comment, it's going to be an epic Wordle!

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Warriors Readalikes

Warriors Readalikes

You know when you find an amazing book, and you never want it to end? How do you find another book to read after that? Our answer: Readalikes to the rescue! We hope our Readalikes will rescue you from the what-to-read-next question, and help you find lots of new amazing books.

Today's Readalikes are for the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by the powerful ancestors. But the warrior code is threatened, and the ThunderClan cats are in grave danger. The sinister ShadowClan grows stronger every day. Noble warriors are dying -- and some deaths are more mysterious than others.

Flipped Readalikes

Flipped Readalikes

You know when you find an amazing book, and you never want it to end? How do you find another book to read after that? Our answer: Readalikes to the rescue! We hope our Readalikes will rescue you from the what-to-read-next question, and help you find lots of new amazing books.

Today's Readalikes are for Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. The first time Juli saw Bryce, she flipped. The first time he saw her, he ran. That was the 2nd grade, but in the 8th grade everything gets turned upside down. And just as he's thinking there's more to her than meets the eye, she's thinking that he's not quite all he seemed.

PS. This book was made into a movie in 2010.

Million-Dollar Throw Readalikes

Million-Dollar Throw Readalikes

You know when you find an amazing book, and you never want it to end? How do you find another book to read after that? Our answer: Readalikes to the rescue! We hope our Readalikes will rescue you from the what-to-read-next question, and help you find lots of new amazing books.

Today's Readalikes are for Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica. Nate Brodie is nicknamed "Brady" not only for his arm, but also because he's the biggest Tom Brady fan. He's even saved up to buy an autographed football. And when he does, he wins the chance for something he's never dreamed of—to throw a pass through a target at a Patriots game for one million dollars. Can he make the million-dollar throw? PS. Good Luck Charlie star Bradley Steven Perry recommends this book to all Patriots fans!

Goosebumps Readalikes

Goosebumps Readalikes

You know when you find an amazing book, and you never want it to end? How do you find another book to read after that? Our answer: Readalikes to the rescue! We hope our Readalikes will rescue you from the what-to-read-next question, and help you find lots of new amazing books.

Today's Readalikes are for the Goosebumps series. Author R.L. Stine has said that Pinocchio, the story of a wooden puppet coming to life, inspired his Slappy character, and made him want to write about an evil ventriloquist dummy coming to life.

Sneak Peek Goosebumps Most Wanted: Son of Slappy

Sneak Peek Goosebumps Most Wanted: Son of Slappy

We've got an EXCLUSIVE preview for Goosebumps fans and Ink Splot 26 readers! The second book from the new Goosebumps Most Wanted series from fright master R.L. Stine doesn't release until January 2013, BUT we've got a sneak peek just for YOU! The evil puppet you love to hate is back for a brand-new scare in Goosebumps Most Wanted: Son of Slappy.

Jack Stander is every parent's dream. He doesn't get into trouble; he always does his homework, and he never lies. His teachers all trust him completely. He even volunteers at the local Youth Center. But that was all before Jackson came across an evil ventriloquist dummy. Now he must deal with Slappy as he wreaks havoc on his family and friends. Jackson will soon see that two Slappys are not better than one.

PREVIEW! Read a sample chapter of Goosebumps Most Wanted: Son of Slappy.