Victoria Schwab is a twenty-something wizard of sci-fi and fantasy. As V.E. Schwab, she’s penned the Shades of Magic series. And as Victoria, she writes for a YA audience with sophistication and tenacity.

Her books are always fast-paced and fascinating — they include the very best elements from the fantastical tradition, like coats of many colors, windows into alternate cities and pirates, and add fierce feminist protagonists.

Her latest book is called This Savage Song. On Nerdette, she tells hosts Greta Johnsen and Tricia Bobeda about her Master’s in Monsters and how monsters are a reflection of human fears. Victoria discusses what it’s like to be a young author with vulnerability, anxiety and hustle. She says This Savage Song is the most personal book she’s written because it poses questions about what we can change about ourselves and what we must accept.

Also in honor of the monster theme, we remember a Great Lady Nerd of History with a pop quiz. This lady nerd wrote a superb, monstrous short story, which is also your homework this week. Can you guess who it is?