Can't-Wait Wednesday: Fence: Striking Distance

 "Can’t-Wait Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted over at Wishful Endings, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, what's really got my pages in a twist is...

Fence: Striking Distance

Sarah Rees Brennan

Publication Date: September 29, 2020

Hardcover, 368 pages, Little, Brown Books

Genres: YA, LGBTQ+, Contemporary

Goodreads

The boys of Kings Row bout with drama, rivalry, and romance in this original YA novel by The New York Times bestselling author Sarah Rees Brennan--inspired by the award-nominated comic series by C.S. Pacat and Johanna The Mad.

Sixteen-year-old Nicholas Cox is the illegitimate son of a retired fencing champion who dreams of getting the proper training he could never afford. After earning a place on the elite Kings Row fencing team, Nicholas must prove himself to his rival, Seiji Katayma, and navigate the clashes, friendships, and relationships between his teammates on the road to state championships--where Nicholas might finally have the chance to spar with his golden-boy half-brother.

Coach Williams decides to take advantage of the boys' morale after a recent victory and assigns them a course of team building exercises to further deepen their bonds. It takes a shoplifting scandal, a couple of moonlit forest strolls, several hilariously bad dates, and a whole lot of introspection for the team to realize they are stronger together than they could ever be apart.

The first installment of this enticing original YA novel series by Sarah Rees Brennan, rich with casual diversity and queer self-discovery, explores never-before-seen drama inspired by C.S. Pacat's critically acclaimed Fence comic series and boasts original cover and interior art by Johanna The Mad.

My Thoughts

I had no idea there was going to be a novelization of the Fence graphic novels by C.S. Pacat. I adored Pacat’s adult fantasy trilogy, so I was curious about her next works. Unfortunately, I don’t really like graphic novels, so I missed out on her new endeavors. I’m simply not a picture person; I like words better. Needless to say, I am uber excited I don’t have to miss out now. I am a little hesitant that it’s not Pacat who’s writing this. While I’ve enjoyed some works by Brennan, she’s not an author I’ve closely followed.

What book are you waiting for this Wednesday?