ABOUT NINA
Nina Varela was born in a swamp, raised in the woods, and now lives in relentlessly sunny Los Angeles, which is why she spends her time writing about green things and shadows. She is the author of Crier’s War, Iron Heart, and Juniper Harvey and the Vanishing Kingdom. You can find her in the kitchen cutting into a loaf of freshly baked sourdough. You’re supposed to let it cool but she’s impatient. She will offer you a slice, with butter, obviously.
Photo credit: Kieryn Ziegler
SOCIAL MEDIA
twitter: @ninavarelas
instagram: @ninavarelas_
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ninavarela
website: https://www.ninavarela.com/
Note: I am white. I have a Hispanic name, but it’s Spain Spanish—I am not Latina. Please do not put me or my books on lists of diverse authors, authors of color, etc. Thank you!
BOOKS
CRIER’S WAR
Published October 1, 2019
Book One of the Crier’s War duology
YA sci-fi/fantasy, lesbian romance
After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, designed to be the playthings of royals, usurped their owners’ estates and bent the human race to their will.
Now Ayla, a human servant rising in the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging her family’s death…by killing the sovereign’s daughter, Lady Crier.
Crier was Made to be beautiful, flawless, and to carry on her father’s legacy. But that was before her betrothal to the enigmatic Scyre Kinok, before she discovered her father isn’t the benevolent king she once admired, and most importantly, before she met Ayla.
Now, with growing human unrest across the land, pressures from a foreign queen, and an evil new leader on the rise, Crier and Ayla find there may be only one path to love: war.
ISBN: 0062823965 (ISBN 10: 9780062823960)
The Crier’s War duology audiobooks are narrated by Kim Mai Guest.
Content warnings here.
IRON HEART
Published September 8, 2020
Book Two of the Crier’s War duology
YA sci-fi/fantasy, lesbian romance
For too long the cruel, beautiful Automae have lorded over the kingdom of Rabu, oppressing the humans who live there. But the human revolution is on the rise, and at its heart is Ayla. Once handmaiden, now fugitive, Ayla escaped the palace of Lady Crier, the girl Ayla had planned to kill… but instead fell in love with. Now Ayla has pledged her allegiance to Queen Junn, whom she believes can accomplish the ultimate goal of the human rebellion: destroy the Iron Heart. Without it, the Automae will be weakened to the point of extinction.
But playing at Ayla’s memory are the powerful feelings she developed for Crier. And unbeknownst to her, Crier has also fled the palace, taking up among traveling rebels, determined to find and protect Ayla.
As their paths collide, neither are prepared for the dark secret underlying the Iron Heart.
In this stunning sequel to acclaimed author Nina Varela’s Crier’s War, the love that launched a revolution must now pave the way for a whole new era . . . and the ultimate change of heart.
ISBN: 9780062823977 (ISBN 10: 0062823973)
JUNIPER HARVEY AND THE VANISHING KINGDOM
Published February 14, 2023
Book One of the Juniper Harvey duology
MG contemporary fantasy, queer/lesbian
When Juniper Harvey’s family moves to the middle of nowhere in Florida, her entire life is uprooted. As if that's not bad enough, she keeps having dreams about an ancient-looking temple, a terrifying attack, and a mysterious girl who turns into an ivory statue. One night after a disastrous school dance, Juniper draws a portrait of the girl from her dreams and thinks, I wish you were here. The next morning, she wakes up to find the girl in her room…pointing a sword at her throat!
The unexpected visitor reveals herself as Galatea, a princess from a magical other world. One problem—her crown is missing, and she needs it in order to return home. Now, it’s up to Juniper to help find the crown, all while navigating a helpless crush on her new companion. And things go from bad to worse when a sinister force starts chasing after the crown too.
Packed with adventure and driven by a pitch-perfect voice, this middle grade debut from Nina Varela is about one tween forging new friendships, fighting nightmarish monsters, and importantly, figuring out who she is and who she ultimately wishes to be.
ISBN-13: 9780316706780
Content warnings here.