Books by Mari Mancusi

Gamer Girl

by Mari Mancusi

Maddy's life couldn't get much worse. Her parents split and now she's stuck in a small town and at a new school. Most of the time, she retreats into her manga art, but when she gets into the Fields of Fantasy online computer game, she knows she's found the one place she can be herself. In the game world, Maddy can be the beautiful and magical Allora and have a virtually perfect life. And she even finds a little romance. But can Maddy escape her real-life problems altogether, or will she have to find a way to make her real world just as amazing as her virtual one?

New Dragon City

by Mari Mancusi

Set off on a high-stakes, action-packed adventure in this story about friendship, survival, and fighting for ones you love, perfect for fans of Wings of Fire and How to Train Your Dragon. No one predicted the dragon apocalypse. The dragons came suddenly and decimated the world as we knew it, including New York City. Now, three years later, Noah, his hardcore survivalist father, and a ragtag group of survivors are barely scraping by in this new reality. Kids scavenge not only for materials in abandoned homes but also for leftover books at the library. Adults spend their time establishing a make-shift society and defending their shelter... with any means available. At least for the few months the dragons are hibernating, until it’s no longer safe aboveground.

Noah has seen the damage these creatures can do firsthand. When it comes to dragons: It's kill or be killed. But a chance encounter between Noah and a young dragon causes him to question everything he thought he knew. With rumors spreading that there’s a group of survivors living in harmony with dragons instead of hiding underground, Noah teams up with his fire-breathing ally to find out if peace between humans and dragons is really possible. But the division runs deeper than scales versus skin because trying to follow his heart might just cost Noah his family too. If Noah and his father can’t see eye to eye, can he really get humans and dragons to?

New Dragon City

by Mari Mancusi

Set off on a high-stakes, action-packed adventure in this story about friendship, survival, and fighting for ones you love, perfect for fans of Wings of Fire and How to Train Your Dragon.

No one predicted the dragon apocalypse. The dragons came suddenly and decimated the world as we knew it, including New York City. Now, three years later, Noah, his hardcore survivalist father, and a ragtag group of survivors are barely scraping by in this new reality. Kids scavenge not only for materials in abandoned homes, but also for leftover books at the library. Adults spend their time establishing a makeshift society and defending their shelter... with any means available. At least for the few months the dragons are hibernating, until it's no longer safe aboveground.



Noah has seen the damage these creatures can do firsthand. When it comes to dragons: It's kill or be killed. But a chance encounter between Noah and a young dragon causes him to question everything he thought he knew. With rumors spreading that there's a group of survivors living in harmony with dragons instead of hiding underground, Noah teams up with his fire-breathing ally to find out if peace between humans and dragons is really possible. But the division runs deeper than scales versus skin because trying to follow his heart might just cost Noah his family too. If Noah and his father can't see eye to eye, can he really get humans and dragons to?

The Camelot Code: The Once and Future Geek (The Camelot Code, 1)

by Mari Mancusi

"Imagine The Sword in the Stone with a dash of Freaky Friday and a pinch of World of Warcraft--this funny, fast-paced adventure is chicken soup for the geek's soul." -- Zack Clark and Nick Eliopulos, authors of The Adventurers Guild series

When young Arthur of Camelot accidentally time-travels to the 21st century and Googles himself, he discovers the not-so-happily ever after in store for him once he pulls the sword from the stone. Yes, he'll go from squire to sovereign basically overnight, but he'll also lose the love of his life to his best friend and eventually die in battle. What's a once-and-future king to do? Easy: stay in the future, where he'll actually have a future--and join the football team instead.

Now, with the help of the great wizard Merlin, modern-day gamer-geeks Sophie and Stu find themselves in a race against time to get that sword pulled from the stone and the stubborn soon-to-be-king Arthur back to the past where he belongs.

The Camelot Code: The Once and Future Geek (The Camelot Code, 1)

by Mari Mancusi

When young Arthur of Camelot accidentally time-travels to the 21st century and Googles himself, he discovers the not-so-happily ever after in store for him once he pulls the sword from the stone. Yes, he'll go from squire to sovereign basically overnight, but he'll also lose the love of his life to his best friend and eventually die in battle. What's a once-and-future king to do? Easy: stay in the future, where he'll actually have a future-and join the football team instead.
Now, with the help of the great wizard Merlin, modern-day gamer-geeks Sophie and Stu find themselves in a race against time to get that sword pulled from the stone and the stubborn soon-to-be-king Arthur back to the past where he belongs. Complicating the plan? Lady Morgana-Arthur's sister and greatest enemy-has traveled to the future as well, determined to take Arthur out and seize the throne. Can Sophie and Stu use their gaming abilities to defeat the evil Morgana and set the timeline right? With the very existence of their friendship, their families, and the world as they know it (including pepperoni pizza!) at stake, they'll use every skill, power-up, and cheat code they know in their quest to save the day.

The Camelot Code: Geeks and the Holy Grail (The Camelot Code, 2)

by Mari Mancusi

Sophie must embark on her first official mission as a companion in the action-packed sequel to The Camelot Code!

In the second book in the Camelot Code series, Sophie is now tasked with protecting the spirit of King Arthur throughout the ages, so it's no surprise when she and Stu get sucked in to another Arthurian adventure: get the Holy Grail into King Arthur's hands so he can drink from it and recover from a deadly illness.

It's not easy, especially since Merlin's apprentice, Emrys, has accidentally turned the Grail into a gassy, fire-breathing baby dragon. And Merlin is the only one who can change it back. But Merlin's on spring break in modern-day Las Vegas (at the Excalibur, of course). And Sophie's super-popular (not to mention super-annoying) future stepsister, Ashley, has invited herself along for the ride.

From sneaking a baby dragon through airport security to the ultimate showdown with the sorceress Morgana, deep in the land of Faerie, this new Camelot Code adventure will test not only the two geeks' courage, but also their very friendship. Spring break just got epic!

Scorched (Scorched series, 1)

by Mari Mancusi

Trinity Foxx is used to her grandfather's crazy stories, so she doesn't believe the latest treasure he brought home to their failing West Texas museum is a real dragon's egg. Not until Connor Jacks, a dragon hunter from the future, tells Trinity that the world is about to be wiped out by a fiery dragon war—unless they find a way to stop it.

But Connor's not the only one after the egg. His twin brother Caleb believes dragons have the power to save mankind and must be protected. Caleb has seen too many dragons destroyed in the war-scorched future—he'll do whatever it takes to save this one. As they go on the run with a host of enemies hot on her heels, Trinity must decide who to believe--Connor the brave and loyal solider? Or Caleb the cocky, angry rebel?. And who to trust with her heart.

Golden Girl (mix)

by Mari Mancusi

A snowboarding prodigy tries to reclaim her standing as the “Golden Girl” at her elite winter sports academy in this brand-new M!X novel.

Lexi Miller—a.k.a. “Golden Girl”—is the snowboard cross queen. As the most promising student at her elite Vermont ski and snowboard school, Mountain Academy, Lexi is a shoo-in for the Olympic-level trial team. That is, until a freak fall during a snowboard-cross competition crushes her dreams and puts her future at stake.

A year later, Lexi’s back at school, physically healed, but still mentally scarred. Every time she straps on her snowboard, severe panic attacks set in. To make matters worse, her best friend has turned her back on her, her archenemy on and off the slopes is determined to make her life miserable, and everyone is treating her like an outcast.

The only person who seems to understand is Logan Conrad, a “staff rat” whose mother works on the mountain. Lexi finds herself drawn into his world just off the mountain, and discovers she has a knack for singing—something her new friends encourage. But Lexi’s dad—who also happens to be her coach and lead instructor at school—has different ideas about his daughter’s new friends and talent.

Will Lexi ever be able to figure out what exactly happened on the mountain a year ago while trying to balance her own dreams with the dreams her father has for her?

Dragon Ops

by Mari Mancusi

From the beloved author of The Once and Future Geek comes this action-packed adventure set in a futuristic world filled with magic, monsters, and high-tech video gaming.

One wrong move, and it's game over.

Welcome to Dragon Ops, the world's first augmented-reality video-game theme park. Set on a once-deserted island, our three beta players—classic gamer geek Ian; his adventure-seeking sister, Lily; and their too-cool-for-gaming cousin, Derek—have been lucky enough to score an invite to play before the fully immersive experience opens to the public.

But once inside, they find themselves trapped in a game taken over by a rogue AI dragon called Atreus, and suddenly the stakes go beyond the virtual world. With no cheat codes, guidebooks, save points, or do-overs, they'll need all their cunning and video-game hacks to beat the game . . . and survive in real life.

Action-packed and unputdownable, Dragon Ops will thrill gamers and reluctant readers alike with high-tech adventure and electrifying twists and turns.

Dawn of the Dragons

by Mari Mancusi

The dragons are coming...are you prepared? This thrilling, dystopian adventure story is perfect for fans of Wings of Fire and Impossible Creatures.



Lucas isn't having the best summer. While normally he'd be away at camp, this year he's stuck home, watching over his younger neighbor Noah and mourning the death of his beloved cat. Even going outside is dangerous, thanks to mysterious fires making the air unsafe to breathe. Fires that Noah claims are caused by real life dragons. At first Lucas laughs it off - Noah's dad has always been fond of conspiracy theories. But when the family suddenly flees town and strange rumors start spreading online, Lucas realizes he needs to find out for sure.



Meanwhile, young Cinder and her dragon herd are just trying to survive in a strange new world. They've found a haven high in the mountains and hope to finally live in peace. But when Cinder suffers a terrible fall, she's not sure she'll live long enough to see it.



Searching for dragons, Lucas finds Cinder, and he can't help but feel sorry for this tiny creature and together they begin to form an unlikely friendship. But a simple misunderstanding between scales and skin is all it takes to spark a worldwide inferno. As the dragon apocalypse looms, can Lucas and Cinder find a way to help keep their families safe?



Don't Miss:

New Dragon City

The Official Wednesday Cookbook The Woefully Weird Recipes of Nevermore Academy

by Mari Mancusi, Jarrett Melendez

Re-create macabre meals from Nevermore Academy in the comfort of your own oh-so-normal kitchen with sixty recipes inspired by the hit series Wednesday.
 
You are cordially invited to enter the wrought-iron gates of the Nevermore Academy to discover its darkest culinary delights. These sixty remarkable recipes from our illustrious and historic community offer something for everyone, whether you crave meat like a werewolf or grapple with special culinary requirements (like an allergy to food with any color in it). Vegetarian and pescatarian offerings abound, as well as substitutes for dishes that use gluten, dairy, or ritualistic murder—with torturously tasty photographs for all the recipes.
 
We dare you to try:
• Wednesday’s Woeful Waffles (which are pitch black, of course)
• Enid’s rainbow-sprinkled . . . well, everything
• Morticia’s Magnetic Migas
• Gomez’s Black Heart Chicken Breast
• Edgar Allen Poe’tatoes
• Uncle Fester’s Famous Brain Roast
 
This tome also shares expert tips on how to entertain Nevermore Academy-style, so you can throw your own Rave’N Ball, Freaksgiving Feast, or Secret Society Social. 
 
Join us at the Nevermore Academy table and prepare to eat like an Outcast.

Sally's Lament A Twisted Tale

by Mari Mancusi

Disney’s New York Times best-selling A Twisted Tale series meets perennial fan-favorite The Nightmare Before Christmas, asking
“What if Sally discovered Christmas Town instead of Jack?”

Sally has mostly loved her creepy hometown of Halloween Town. But lately, she can't help but want something more. In a place full of the frightening, you'd think living in the shadows wouldn't feel so . . . isolating. She knows she could do so much more if she wasn't always stuck in the lab of her creator, Dr. Finkelstein. Soon Sally is surprised to learn that the Pumpkin King, Jack, is longing for a change of his own. Determined to find a solution for them both, Sally follows a vision that could be the key to changing their fates.

But the more time Sally spends in the strange, jolly land of Christmas Town, the more suspicious she grows of the seemingly idyllic winter wonderland. What is lurking behind those dancing sugar plums? And what exactly does it mean to be put on the Naughty List? Will Sally be able to save the best of both towns—before it's too late?