I am PUMPED about all the great YA books being released this year. So, as a bit of a heads up, I wanted to share a few of the books I am most looking forward to reading.
1. Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh
Expected: June 5, 2018
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Romance
This is the sequel to Renee Ahdieh’s incredible action/fantasy/romance Mulan-esque novel, The Flame in The Mist (which I briefly reviewed in this post). It will pick up where the last book left off, with Okami captured by Mariko’s betrothed, Prince Raiden, and Mariko publicly planning her upcoming nuptials and secretly planning Okami’s escape. The series is a duology, so this will be the last in the series and will surely answer all the lingering questions and uncover all the mysteries from the first book. I can not wait to read it.
2. Shadowsong: A Novel by S. Jae-Jones
Expected: February 6, 2018
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
This is the sequel to Jae-Jones’ beautiful and haunting romance, Wintersong (which I reviewed here). And it is bound to be just as amazing. Shadowsong will pick up 6 months after the first novel ended, with Leisl living above ground with her younger brother Josef and adjusting to life away from Der Erlkonig and the Underground–though she is bound to be reunited with her husband Der Erlkonig at some point in the book. According to Goodreads, she’ll have to return to the Underground to save the barrier between the worlds from crumbling. I’m hoping that happens sooner rather than later because man oh man do I love that hot Goblin King and the love he and Leisl share. I’ve heard this book is a bit darker and creepier than the first in the series (how is that even possible?), and it will be the last in the series, so I’m already mentally preparing myself for the melancholic state I will be in when I finish this one.
3. A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena
Expected: February 27, 2018
Genre: Social Commentary, Coming of Age
I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this one (review can be found here), so I’ve already read it and loved it and I know my dear readers will too.
4. Love & War by Melissa de la Cruz
Expected: April 17, 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
I’m a sucker for historical fiction, so I really enjoyed this book’s prequel, Alex & Eliza, which told the love story between Alexander Hamilton and his wife, Eliza, and ended with their marriage. The sequel, just judging from the broken heart on the cover and my knowledge of Hamilton’s story from the infamous musical, is bound to be about Alex’s affair and their troubled marriage. Because of this, I’m sure it won’t be quite as fun of a read as its prequel, but it’s sure to be good nonetheless.
5. Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman
Expected: February 27, 2018
Genre: Fantasy
I love love love Hartman’s novel Seraphina and her musical and poignant prose in it. Its sequel, Shadow Song, disappointed me a bit, but my hopes are high for this novel, which, though not about Seraphina’s story, takes place in the same world. It’s a spin-off of sorts. As the world Hartman created in this series is one of my favorite things about Seraphina, this book is bound to be good, and at the very least will be beautifully written.
I hope you’ll keep an eye out for these books this year and will read and enjoy them with me!