Veronica Roth Shares 10 Books She’d Love to Receive This Holiday Season

For everyone who wishes they could get their hands on Veronica Roth’s forthcoming sci-fi epic Carve the Mark this holiday season, we have the next best thing: a bookish gift list from Roth herself, full of books to buy your favorite book nerd (no points taken off if you are your own favorite book nerd).
While you’re waiting for Carve the Mark to hit shelves—a sci-fi fantasy novel that takes place in a galaxy far, far away, where everyone grows into a life-altering power known as their currentgift—here’s Roth on the books she’s jonesing for.

After the Fall, by Kate Hart
This book, which asks important questions about consent (questions that have, frankly, become even more important of late), doesn’t come out until January, but I would accept this gift in the form of a preorder, that’s how eager I am to read it in its entirety.

Packing For Mars, by Mary Roach
A friend told me a story from this book—about a fraudulent experiment temporarily convincing the Soviet government that they were going to be able to feed the entire planet with space onions—and I was sold.

How to Break A Boy, by Laurie Devore
I’ve read bits and pieces of this book already, but not the whole thing, and I can’t wait to hold it in my hands in January. Complex, not-always-nice female characters? More, please.

The Smaller Evil, by Stephanie Kuehn
Stephanie Kuehn is the master of odd, beautifully written books that mess with your mind, and I can’t get enough.

The Darkest Corners, by Kara Thomas
I’m not usually one for thrillers, but from what I’ve heard, this one is dark, fascinating, and a good place to start.

Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor
I’m basically working my way through Okorafor’s entire backlist, beginning with Akata Witch and Binti, both of which I loved. And this one sounds amazing.

Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet Book 1, by Ta-Nehisi Coates
I’m starting to get into graphic novels and comics these days, and this one comes highly recommended. Besides, I want to get familiar with Black Panther before the movie comes out in 2018. I HAVE NO CHOICE.

Paper Girls, Vol. 1, by Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang, and Matt Wilson
I’ve read all the volumes of Saga (also by Brian K. Vaughan) that exist, and this one, a mind-bendy story of teen girls in a town with various paranormal happenings, is right up my alley.

The Star-Touched Queen, by Roshani Chokshi
Romance! Fantasy! Royalty! Politics! This is basically Veronica catnip.

Shadowshaper, by Daniel Jose Older
I had the great fortune of moderating a panel with Older on it recently, and the more he talked about this book—set in a Brooklyn charged with artistic and supernatural happenings—the more I wanted to read it. If you can sell me on a book just by talking about its themes, I’m on board.