It's winter. Again. It's cold and snowy and UGH. Why does this season have to happen every year? If you can't tell, winter isn't my favorite. Though I am looking forward to these awesome upcoming YA releases! They'll surely keep me cozy in the dark months ahead!
December
23
This
Shattered World—Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
What it’s about: Jubilee Chase and Flynn
Cormac should never have met. Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to
crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists and Flynn is the rebellion’s leader. Desperate
for any advantage against the military occupying his home, Flynn does the only
thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her
as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking
girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him
forever. He and Lee escape base together, caught between two sides in a
senseless war.
Why I’m excited: Because These Broken Stars is a brilliant, epic science fiction tale, and
I’m expecting the same from this companion! I’m a little heartbroken that Lilac
and Tarver aren’t the main characters of this book, but I have high hopes for
Lee and Flynn!
January
13
The
Darkest Part of the Forest—Holly Black
What it’s about: Hazel lives with her
brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side
by side. The faeries' seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel
knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did,
once. At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests
right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as
pointy as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy
has slept there for generations, never waking. Until one day, he does...
Why I’m excited: Because this book sounds
like a fairy tale. But it doesn’t sound like one I’ve heard before, and if anyone
could write a new fairy tale, it’d be Holly Black!
January
20
All
Fall Down—Ally Carter
What it’s about: Grace Blakely is absolutely
certain of three things: She is not crazy, her mother was murdered and someday
she is going to find the killer and make him pay. As certain as Grace is about
these facts, nobody else believes her -- so there's no one she can
trust. Not her grandfather, a powerful ambassador. Not her new friends, who all
live on Embassy Row. Not Alexei, the Russian boy next door, who is keeping his
eye on Grace for reasons she neither likes nor understands. Everybody wants
Grace to put on a pretty dress and a pretty smile, blocking out all her
unpretty thoughts. But they can't control Grace -- no more than Grace can
control what she knows or what she needs to do. Her past has come back to hunt
her . . . and if she doesn't stop it, Grace isn't the only one who will get
hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world stand like dominoes,
and one wrong move can make them all fall down.
Why I’m excited: BECAUSE A NEW ALLY CARTER
SERIES! Squeeee!!! Ally Carter's other series, Gallagher Girls and Heist Society are two of my all-time favorites. They have an
easy, elegant greatness that I adore!
February
10
Red
Queen—Victoria Aveyard
What it’s about: Mare Barrow's world is
divided by blood—those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite,
who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief
in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the
Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she
has an ability of her own. To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her
to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own
sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and
uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard—a growing Red rebellion—even as
her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her
death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.
Why I’m excited: Because this debut fantasy
is being billed as similar to Graceling
by Kristin Cashore, which is one of my favorites! Plus, it promises
betrayal, which almost always makes for a good read.
The
Shadow Cabinet—Maureen Johnson
What it’s about: Rory and her friends
are reeling from a series of sudden and tragic events. While racked with grief,
Rory tries to determine if she acted in time to save a member of the squad. If
she did, how do you find a ghost? Also, Rory’s classmate Charlotte has been
kidnapped by Jane and her nefarious organization. Evidence is uncovered of a
forty-year-old cult, ten missing teenagers, and a likely mass murder. Everything
indicates that Charlotte’s in danger, and it seems that something much bigger
and much more terrible is coming. Time is running out as Rory fights to find
her friends and the ghost squad struggles to stop Jane from unleashing her
spectral nightmare on the entire city. In the process, they’ll discover the
existence of an organization that underpins London itself—and Rory will learn
that someone she trusts has been keeping a tremendous secret.
Why I’m excited: Because Maureen Johnson is
one of my favorite YA personalities, and this third book in the series promises to be a thrilling read! I've really grown to love the Shades of London series for it's solid writing and general Londonness, so I can't wait to dive into this one!
March
3
The
Winner’s Crime—Marie Rutkoski
What it’s about: A royal wedding is what
most girls dream about. It means one celebration after another: balls,
fireworks, and revelry until dawn. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of
her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth
about her engagement: that she agreed to marry the crown prince in exchange for
Arin’s freedom. But can Kestrel trust Arin? Can she even trust herself? For
Kestrel is becoming very good at deception. She’s working as a spy in the
court. If caught, she’ll be exposed as a traitor to her country. Yet she can’t
help searching for a way to change her ruthless world
. . . and she is close to uncovering a shocking secret.
Why I’m excited: Because I already know it’s
awesome! I got ahold of the DRC and flew through this second book in the
series. There’s one scene with Kestral and Arin that tore my heart to pieces in
the best and worst imaginable way. Also, the cliffhanger! I can’t wait to see
this jewel on the shelves.
March
10
Orphan
Queen—Jodi Meadows
What it’s about: When Princess Wilhelmina was
a child, the Indigo Kingdom invaded her homeland. Ten years later, Wil and the
other noble children who escaped are ready to fight back and reclaim Wil's
throne. To do so, Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate the Indigo
Kingdom palace with hopes of gathering information that will help them succeed.
But Wil has a secret—one that could change everything. Although magic has been
illegal for a century, she knows her ability could help her save her kingdom.
But magic creates wraith, and the deadly stuff is moving closer and destroying
the land. And if the vigilante Black Knife catches her using magic, she may
disappear like all the others. . . .
Why I’m excited: Because I have this DRC
waiting in my queue of books and I’m eager to dive into my first Meadows novel.
Invasions, illegal magic, vigilantes… YUM.
What books are you looking forward to in the new year?
Stay warm! Happy Holidays!
*Book descriptions were adapted from those on
BN.com.
