VIRTUAL: In Conversation: Michelle Barry & Victoria Aveyard

River Bend Bookshop is proud to host Connecticut author Michelle A. Barry in conversation with New York Times Bestselling author Victoria Aveyard on Wednesday, February 8 at 7pm.  This virtual event is free; registration is required.  Signed and personalized books are available - order via Eventbrite, directly on our website, or in the Bookshop.

About the Books

The Secret Garden meets The City of Ember. Failed climate change policy, an intergalactic conspiracy, and the magical, unlikely heroine who could unearth it all. An explosive STEAM-inspired series starter perfect for young change makers.

Centuries ago, Earth's plants turned deadly, and humanity took to space to cultivate new homes. Myra Hodger is in her first year at an elite school on the Moon, and she's crumbling under the pressure. She doesn't fit in and, worse, the tattoos that signal her Number Whisperer magic aren't developing. In her heart, she knows she doesn't have a Creer, and soon everyone else will, too. Wandering the halls while cutting class, she discovers a secret lab hidden behind one of the unused classrooms and, beyond that, a secret garden overflowing with plants. Dangerous toxic plants. As she learns more about the garden, Myra begins to wonder if she does have a Creer after all--one that died out when the Earth did. One that could help solve the food shortages the government doesn't want anyone to know about. Re-envisioning The Secret Garden for a new generation, Moongarden weaves together STEAM themes and intense social pressures in a stunning series starter, and introduces a dynamic heroine who might just grow a revolution.

Irresistibly action-packed and full of lethal surprises, Realm Breaker begins where hope is lost and asks: When the heroes have fallen, who will take up the sword?

A strange darkness grows in Allward. Even Corayne an-Amarat can feel it, tucked away in her small town at the edge of the sea. She soon discovers the truth: She is the last of an ancient lineage—and the last hope to save the world from destruction. But she won’t be alone. Even as darkness falls, she is joined by a band of unlikely companions:

• A squire, forced to choose between home and honor.

• An immortal, avenging a broken promise.

• An assassin, exiled and bloodthirsty.

• An ancient sorceress, whose riddles hide an eerie foresight.

• A forger with a secret past.

• A bounty hunter with a score to settle.

Together they stand against a vicious opponent, invincible and determined to burn all kingdoms to ash, and an army unlike anything the realm has ever witnessed.

About the Authors

Michelle A. Barry grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, and was later cajoled over the border into Connecticut by her future husband. She has worked as a newspaper reporter, freelance writer and editor, and marketing professional. She currently lives in Connecticut with her charming husband and their two delightful children. Moongarden is her first novel.

Victoria Aveyard is an author and screenwriter, born and raised in a small town in Western Massachusetts. She has a BFA in Writing for Film & Television from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. She is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling and USA Today bestselling series, Red Queen, and the #1 New York Times bestseller Realm Breaker.  Her books have been translated into over 40 languages and counting.  She lives in Los Angeles with her partner and her dog, Indy.