Lara Swanson has released a young adult fantasy novel, The Second Day. On the island of Ladria, 15-year-old Mithia lives in fragile peace, hemmed in by the constant presence of ominous guards and the cruel silence of unanswered questions—like why her mother is just one of many adults on the island succumbing to a mysterious illness.

When her homeland is attacked by the evil Nyx, Mithia is thrust into a dangerous world of vengeful queens, mythical beings, and mysterious enchantment. After befriending a young spy named Tristan, Mithia begins to uncover her true identity. Unearthing the past forces her to confront perilous consequences as she unravels secrets that plunge her into the center of a world on the brink of war.

Though nocturnal by nature, Lara Swanson can typically be found dragging herself out of bed at unnatural hours (sans coffee) for the sheer love of history and middle schoolers. Lara grew up on a farm in Illinois, but currently lives in Bloomington, Minn., where the harp to cat ratio in her home remains fixed at 3:1.

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