Most Anticipated Releases of Second Half of 2019
Hello, hello awesome nerds and happy Monday everyone!
I honestly cannot believe how quickly this year is passing by and that it’s finally time for me to share with you some of my most anticipated releases of the second half of 2019, aka the books that are going to be released from July onwards.
So, sit back comfortably, folks, and get ready for some serious book recommendations!
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1. THE STORM CROW (THE STORM CROW, #1), BY KALYN JOSEPHSON
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“In the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, magical, elemental Crows are part of every aspect of life…until the Illucian empire invades, destroying everything.
That terrible night has thrown Princess Anthia into a deep depression. Her sister Caliza is busy running the kingdom after their mother’s death, but all Thia can do is think of all she has lost.
But when Caliza is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the crown prince of Illucia, Thia is finally spurred into action. And after stumbling upon a hidden Crow egg in the rubble of a rookery, she and her sister devise a dangerous plan to hatch the egg in secret and get back what was taken from them.”
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this beauty, as it was the second featured book in the December FairyLoot box, if I remember correctly, but The Storm Crow is officially being released on July 9th, 2019, and I highly suggest you guys add it on your TBR piles, if you haven’t done so already.
And if you need a little more push to do so, feel free to read my SPOILER FREE review here.
2. SPIN THE DAWN (THE BLOOD OF STARS, #1), BY ELIZABETH LIM
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“Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.
Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There’s just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.
Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia’s task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.
And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor’s reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.
Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this young adult fantasy is pitch-perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Renée Ahdieh.“
Now, give me a Mulan retelling, Chinese culture, girl-power and fantasy and I am all in! I’m super excited about this book, I know Anissa has already read it and I can only hope that FairyLoot is going to feature it in one of their future boxes!
Regardless of that though, I’m definitely going to buy this because IT’S PRETTY! Plus the story seems very, very promising! And, honestly now, dearies, I do need a new fantasy series in my life!
Spin the Dawn is also being released on July 9th, 2019, so mark your calendars, awesome people!
3. HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS, BY ERIN A. CRAIG
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“In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.
Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls’ lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.
Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn’t sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?
When Annaleigh’s involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it’s a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next.”
I have already shared this in a previous post, but well, you know me by now, when I feel passionate about something, I can’t stop talking about it.
As it appears, this is going to be a standalone novel (fingers crossed it turns into a series, though) and as I enjoyed The Wicked Deep A LOT and I am about to start reading To Kill A Kingdom, something tells me that I’m going to enjoy this beauty, too.
House of Salt and Sorrows is going to be released on August 6th, 2019, so it’ll be the perfect read for my summer break!
4. OF ICE AND SHADOWS (OF FIRE AND STARS, #2), BY AUDREY COULTHURST
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“The long-awaited sequel to Of Fire and Stars—in which Mare and Denna travel to a new and dangerous kingdom where Denna must be trained to tame her magic by a mysterious queen who is not all she seems. Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and Tamora Pierce.
Princesses Denna and Mare are in love and together at last—only to face a new set of dangers.
Mare just wants to settle down with the girl she loves, which would be easier if Denna weren’t gifted with forbidden and volatile fire magic. Denna must learn to control her powers, which means traveling in secret to the kingdom of Zumorda, where she can seek training without fear of persecution. Determined to help, Mare has agreed to serve as an ambassador as a cover for their journey.
But just after Mare and Denna arrive in Zumorda, an attack on a border town changes everything. Mare’s diplomatic mission is now urgent: She must quickly broker an alliance with the Zumordan queen to protect her homeland. However, the queen has no interest in allying with other kingdoms—it’s Denna’s untamed but powerful magic that catches her eye. The queen offers to teach Denna herself, and both girls know it would be dangerous to refuse.
As Denna’s powers grow stronger, Mare does her best to be the ambassador her kingdom needs. Her knowledge of Zumorda and its people grows, and so too do her suspicions about the queen’s intentions. With rising tensions and unexpected betrayals putting Mare and Denna in jeopardy and dangerous enemies emerging on all sides, can they protect their love and save their kingdoms?”
This beauty is going to be released on August 13th, 2019, and as I loved Of Fire and Stars, naturally, I’m super excited about the sequel and I can’t wait to dive right into it!
5. DARKDAWN (THE NEVERNIGHT CHRONICLE, #3), BY JAY KRISTOFF
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“A ruthless young assassin’s journey for revenge comes to a stunning end in the conclusion of this acclaimed epic fantasy trilogy.
The Republic of Itreya is in chaos. Mia Corvere has assassinated Cardinal Duomo and rumors of Consul Scaeva’s death ripple through the street of Godsgrave like wildfire. But buried beneath those same streets, deep in the ancient city’s bones, lies a secret that will change the Republic forever.
Mia and her brother Jonnen must journey through the depths of the ancient metropolis. Their quest will take them through the Godsgrave underdark, across the Sea of Swords, back to the library of the Quiet Mountain and the poisoned blades of Mia’s old mentors, and at last the fabled Crown of the Moon. There, Mia will at last discover the origins of the darkin, and learn the destiny that lies in store for her and her world. But with the three suns now in descent, and Truedark on the horizon, will she survive?
New York Times and internationally bestselling author Jay Kristoff’s writing has been praised by critics and readers alike and has won many awards, including five Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, and David Gemmell Morningstar and Legend awards.”
All I can say is… GIVE IT TO ME NOW! I simply cannot wait until the 3rd of September to read it! I need to know what’s going to happen NOW! And when I say NOW, I mean like… YESTERDAY!
Oh, and, *SPOILER ALERT*, Mia dies at the end of the book. We were told so at the beginning of Nevernight, ok?
6. THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK, BY ADRIENNE YOUNG
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“The new gut-wrenching epic from the New York Times bestselling author of Sky in the Deep.
For as long as she can remember, Tova has lived among the Svell, the people who found her washed ashore as a child and use her for her gift as a Truthtongue. Her own home and clan are long-faded memories, but the sacred symbols and staves inked over every inch of her skin mark her as one who can cast the rune stones and see into the future. She has found a fragile place among those who fear her, but when two clans to the east bury their age-old blood feud and join together as one, her world is dangerously close to collapse.
For the first time in generations, the leaders of the Svell are divided. Should they maintain peace or go to war with the allied clans to protect their newfound power? And when their chieftain looks to Tova to cast the stones, she sets into motion a series of events that will not only change the landscape of the mainland forever but will give her something she believed she could never have again—a home.”
Now, that’s intriguing! It reminds me a lot of Beyond A Darkened Shore for some kind of reason and Adrienne Young is such a talent, kind and sweet woman, that I’m sure I’m going to love her new book!
The Girl the Sea Gave Back is going to be released on September 3rd, 2019, so stay tuned for more, folks!
7. SERPENT & DOVE (SERPENT & DOVE, #1), BY SHELLY MAHURIN
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“Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.
Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.
Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou’s, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.
The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou’s most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.
And love makes fools of us all.”
Why do I have a feeling that this is going to be a enemies-to-lovers kind of book and that I’m going to ADORE it?
This little gem is also going to be released on September 3rd, 2019, and as the nights will have started getting longer, this will be the perfect read for an autumn evening. Don’t you agree, folks?
8. INTO THE CROOKED PLACE, BY ALEXANDRA CHRISTO
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“Into the Crooked Place begins a gritty two-book YA fantasy series from Alexandra Christo, the author of To Kill a Kingdom.
The streets of Creije are for the deadly and the dreamers, and four crooks in particular know just how much magic they need up their sleeve to survive.
Tavia, a busker ready to pack up her dark-magic wares and turn her back on Creije for good. She’ll do anything to put her crimes behind her.
Wesley, the closest thing Creije has to a gangster. After growing up on streets hungry enough to swallow the weak whole, he won’t stop until he has brought the entire realm to kneel before him.
Karam, a warrior who spends her days watching over the city’s worst criminals and her nights in the fighting rings, making a deadly name for herself.
And Saxony, a resistance fighter hiding from the very people who destroyed her family, and willing to do whatever it takes to get her revenge.
Everything in their lives is going to plan, until Tavia makes a crucial mistake: she delivers a vial of dark magic—a weapon she didn’t know she had—to someone she cares about, sparking the greatest conflict in decades. Now these four magical outsiders must come together to save their home and the world, before it’s too late. But with enemies at all sides, they can trust nobody. Least of all each other.”
I have really high expectations of this book and, depending on how much I will enjoy To Kill A Kingdom, I’ll see whether I will preorder this book or whether I’ll wait to see what the other members of the bookish community have to say about it.
Into the Crooked Place is going to be released on October 8th, 2019, and I feel this is going to be the perfect read for the Halloween season.
9. TEARS OF FROST (HEART OF THORNS, #2), BY BREE BARTON
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“The electric second book in the Heart of Thorns trilogy explores the effects of power in a dark magical kingdom—and the fierce courage it takes to claim your body as your own.
Mia Rose is back from the dead. Her memories are hazy, her body numb—but she won’t stop searching. Her only hope to save the boy she loves and the sister who destroyed her is to find the mother she can never forgive. Pilar is on a hunt of her own. Betrayed by her mother, and plagued by a painful secret, she’s determined to seek out the only person who can exact revenge. All goes according to plan… until she collides with Prince Quin, the boy whose sister she killed.
As Mia, Pilar, and Quin forge dangerous new alliances, they are bewitched by the snow kingdom’s promise of freedom and opportunity. But with the winter solstice drawing near, they must confront the truth beneath the glimmering ice, as lines between friend, foe, and lover vanish like snowflakes on a flame.”
