On this episode, I’m joined by debut YA author Jasmine Smith to talk about her dark contemporary fantasy Death Card, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers and on sale August 11, 2026.

Death Card follows Mikaela Broussard, an eighteen-year-old witch in New Orleans who is expected to become the next Witch Queen of her coven. While doing a tarot reading in her family’s occult shop, Mikaela pulls the Death card and sees a vision of herself being murdered by a beautiful stranger named Joelle. Instead of staying away from Joelle, Mikaela keeps her close to learn why she would want to kill her — only to find herself falling for the very girl from her vision.

As witches begin losing their magic, Mikaela has to unravel the mystery, face the politics of her coven, and decide whether fate is something she must accept or something she can fight.

We talk about tarot, witchcraft, New Orleans atmosphere, sapphic romance, Black girls in YA fantasy, and writing a debut novel about power, fear, love, and choosing your own future.

#JasmineSmith #DeathCard #DeathCardBook #YAFantasy #ContemporaryFantasy #BlackGirlMagic #BlackGirlsInFantasy #Tarot #WitchBooks #NewOrleansMagic #SapphicYA #QueerYA #DebutAuthor #WeMakeChildrensBooks #Storycomic

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