Fantasy

In this epic dark fantasy panel, three rising stars of the genre: Andrea Stewart, Madeleine Nakamura, and Evan Leikam plunge readers into worlds where power corrupts, gods wage war, and survival demands impossible choices. From grimdark assassins to divine battlefields to queer magic under siege, these stories ask: what does it cost to defy a king, or a god? Moderated by Flight of the Fallen fantasy author Hana Lee, the conversation will explore morally complex heroes, ruthless magic, and the shadowed spaces where crowns are claimed and shattered. In Anji Kills a King, Evan Leikam delivers a brutal, high-velocity debut in which a servant assassinates a king and becomes the target of legendary, magic-wielding mercenaries. As the hunt intensifies, alliances shift and a kingdom’s future hangs in the balance. Angel Eye by Madeleine Nakamura returns to a world of inquisitors, forbidden magic, and psychological peril. A string of murders ignites suspicion and witch hunts, forcing a traumatized scholar of magic to confront both external threats and his own unraveling mind. In The War Beyond, bestselling author Andrea Stewart escalates a divine conflict as sisters stand on opposing sides of a war between gods. Faith, loyalty, and destiny collide in a sweeping tale of rebellion and sacrifice.

The heroines of this thrilling romantasy panel risk it all for freedom, never expecting to find romance along the way. Bita Behzadi’s Letters from the Last Apothecary features Josephine Pinova’s fortuitous job offer from a magic apothecary and her anonymous letter exchange with a sensitive scholar as they study together for a graduate magic program. Unbeknownst to either of them, the fellow scholar just happens to be the shop’s prickly apothecarist, whom Josie must work together with to save the beloved shop against a tide of anti-magic sentiment amidst the city’s industrialization. In Angela Montoya’s Carnival Fantástico, a spectacle of magic and mischief, fortune-teller Esmeralda aims for the lead role in the Big Top Show to win freedom from her former employer, the commander of the King’s army. She makes a deal with Ignacio, the handsome boy who once broke her heart and has resurfaced at this fortuitous moment: she’ll help him expose his father’s corruption if he helps her secure the main act. Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana features a desperate deal between a human woman and a ruthless Fae lord who trapped her village in a forested prison. Although no Fae can enter the cursed doors of an enchanted library, a human might be able to, so she navigates the hostile world outside with the help of two Fae males in an attempt to find magic of her own. Strike a deal and try your hand at this riveting panel, moderated by Danielle DeVeaux, host of the Dark Romance Book Club and Romantasy Book Club at Books Inc. San Leandro!

Join us for an engaging exploration of mystery and magic in young adult fiction, where the fantastical reveals deeply human truths. Emily Renk Hawthorne, Ama Ofosua Lieb, Lio Min, and S. Hati each craft imaginative worlds shaped by secrets, identity, and transformation. In Of Mountains and Seas, hidden histories and stolen magic ripple beneath the ocean’s surface. Goldenborn follows Akoma as she searches for the truth behind her father’s mysterious coma, weaving Ghanaian myth with moral reckoning. The L.O.V.E. Club blends music, queer youth culture, and magical realism while asking what really happened to a missing classmate. And in Morbid Curiosities, a teen uncovers unsettling clues, investigates the academy that isn’t what it seems, and ultimately must decide how far she’s willing to go for the truth. Moderated by playwright and novelist Michelle Ruiz Keil, author of Summer in the City of Roses, this panel explores how YA authors use mystery and magic to uncover powerful truths about belonging, loss, and courage.

As technology plays an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, the novels of this timely panel grapple with the implications of a technological future and its impact on young people’s mental health. Kelly Yang illustrates the impact of social media in Finally Heard, a heartpounding novel about ten-year-old Lina’s quest to go viral and her struggle to break free from the allure of comparison and become her authentic self in this fast-paced world. Immersed in an AI-generated, virtual-reality environment, The Vale is Abigail Hing Wen’s cautionary tale about thirteen-year-old Bran’s technological world that grows by the power of imagination, and the chaos that ensues when it begins to have a mind of its own. Given all the dangers of technology, some parents may decide to send their teenagers off to Mexico for an unplugged summer, as Celi and Elio’s parents do in Stream. Aida Salazar’s heartwarming dual narrative imagines what happens in the middle of nowhere—without internet, electricity, or even running water—amidst the stark beauty and cultural richness of rural Mexico, with crushes blooming, when teenagers can finally shed their online selves to embrace nature, connect to culture, and cultivate authenticity. With a future of technology written on the horizon, Berkeley High School librarian Allyson Bogie and Berkeley High School senior Penelope will moderate this panel and provide a youth perspective to this thoughtful conversation about technology, mental health, and creating a sustainable digital future.