During the spring-summer months there is nothing I like more than sitting by the fan with a good book. Well, okay, if we're being honest I do that all year round, just switching the fan for the heater in the winter.
Being as I am a sucker for newly released books, here are the ones that I am most looking forward to in the final months of the year.
Number 10
Expected publication date is October 27th, 2015
Summary: Hope City, Antarctica. The southernmost city in the world, with only a glass dome and a faltering infrastructure to protect its citizens from the freezing, ceaseless winds of the Antarctic wilderness. Within this bell jar four people–some human, some not–will shape the future of the city forever:
Eliana Gomez, a female PI looking for a way to the mainland.
Diego Amitrano, the right-hand man to the gangster who controls the city’s food come winter.
Marianella Luna, an aristocrat with a dangerous secret.
Sofia, an android who has begun to evolve.
But the city is evolving too, and in the heart of the perilous Antarctic winter, factions will clash, dreams will shatter, and that frozen metropolis just might boil over…
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
Listen ya'll, I have a deep love for stories set in Antarctica ever since reading The White Darkness. I have an even deeper love for Fantasy. Pair those two elements with what is looking to be a diverse set of characters and you have me absolutely hooked. I need this book in my life, and I need it now!
Number 9
Expected publication date is September 15th, 2015
Summary: For twenty years, the Palomas and the Corbeaus have been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows—the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find.
Lace Paloma may be new to her family’s show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are pure magia negra, black magic from the devil himself. Simply touching one could mean death, and she's been taught from birth to keep away. But when disaster strikes the small town where both families are performing, it’s a Corbeau boy, Cluck, who saves Lace’s life. And his touch immerses her in the world of the Corbeaus, where falling for him could turn his own family against him, and one misstep can be just as dangerous on the ground as it is in the trees.
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
Are you kidding? I love carnivals and carnival weirdos, especially when there is actual magic involved. This paired with the stellar early reviews it's gotten so far has made me so excited. I cannot wait for September 15th!
Number 8
Expected date of publication is September 22nd, 2015
Summary: In 1818 Geneva, men built with clockwork parts live hidden away from society, cared for only by illegal mechanics called Shadow Boys. Two years ago, Shadow Boy Alasdair Finch’s life shattered to bits.
His brother, Oliver—dead.
His sweetheart, Mary—gone.
His chance to break free of Geneva—lost.
Heart-broken and desperate, Alasdair does the unthinkable: He brings Oliver back from the dead.
But putting back together a broken life is more difficult than mending bones and adding clockwork pieces. Oliver returns more monster than man, and Alasdair’s horror further damages the already troubled relationship.
Then comes the publication of Frankenstein and the city intensifies its search for Shadow Boys, aiming to discover the real life doctor and his monster. Alasdair finds refuge with his idol, the brilliant Dr. Geisler, who may offer him a way to escape the dangerous present and his guilt-ridden past, but at a horrible price only Oliver can pay…
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
Frankenstein! Retellings! Male protagonists! CLOCKWORK MEN! What more could anybody ever ask for?
Number 7
Drift & Dagger - Kendall Kulper
Expected publication date is September 8th, 2015
Summary: As a boy in the late nineteenth century, Mal's only friend was Essie, daughter of the Roe witch, and it was she who discovered that he is a "blank," not affected by magic, setting him on a career as a con artist, traveling the globe in search of a legendary magical dagger that can steal a witch's power.
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper was one of the best books I read in 2014 by a landslide. It was charming, it was vivid, it drew me in right from the first page. Ever since, I've been waiting on Kulper to release something new. I'm super stoked for this book and I'm hoping it's every bit as good as Salt & Storm was.
You can find my review of Salt & Storm here
Number 6
Gathering Deep - Lisa Maxwell
Expected publication date is October 8th, 2015
Summary: When Chloe Sabourin wakes in a dark, New Orleans cemetery with no memory of the previous days, she can hardly believe the story her friends tell her. They say Chloe was possessed by a witch named Thisbe, who had used the darkest magic to keep herself alive for over a century. They tell her that the witch is the one responsible for the unspeakable murders that nearly claimed the life of Chloe's friend, Lucy. Most unbelievable of all, they say that Thisbe is Chloe’s own mother. As she struggles with this devastating revelation and tries to rebuilt her life, Chloe wants nothing to do with the magic that corrupted her mother…especially since she feels drawn to it.
Now, a new series of ritualistic killings suggests that Thisbe is plotting again, and Chloe is drawn unwillingly back into the mystical underworld of the French Quarter. To stop Thisbe before she kills again, Chloe and her friends must learn what they can from the mysterious Mama Legba. But when her boyfriend Piers vanishes, Chloe will have to risk everything and embrace her own power to save the one person she has left… even if that means bringing down her mother.
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
After reading Fiendish (Brenna Yovanoff) and Beware the Wild (Natalie C Parker), I'm really hoping Gathering Deep will continue on my lucky sweep of having read exclusively amazing dark and magical stories set in the South. Please, Lisa Maxwell, don't let me down.
Expected publication date is September 8th, 2015
Summary: As a boy in the late nineteenth century, Mal's only friend was Essie, daughter of the Roe witch, and it was she who discovered that he is a "blank," not affected by magic, setting him on a career as a con artist, traveling the globe in search of a legendary magical dagger that can steal a witch's power.
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper was one of the best books I read in 2014 by a landslide. It was charming, it was vivid, it drew me in right from the first page. Ever since, I've been waiting on Kulper to release something new. I'm super stoked for this book and I'm hoping it's every bit as good as Salt & Storm was.
You can find my review of Salt & Storm here
Expected publication date is October 8th, 2015
Summary: When Chloe Sabourin wakes in a dark, New Orleans cemetery with no memory of the previous days, she can hardly believe the story her friends tell her. They say Chloe was possessed by a witch named Thisbe, who had used the darkest magic to keep herself alive for over a century. They tell her that the witch is the one responsible for the unspeakable murders that nearly claimed the life of Chloe's friend, Lucy. Most unbelievable of all, they say that Thisbe is Chloe’s own mother. As she struggles with this devastating revelation and tries to rebuilt her life, Chloe wants nothing to do with the magic that corrupted her mother…especially since she feels drawn to it.
Now, a new series of ritualistic killings suggests that Thisbe is plotting again, and Chloe is drawn unwillingly back into the mystical underworld of the French Quarter. To stop Thisbe before she kills again, Chloe and her friends must learn what they can from the mysterious Mama Legba. But when her boyfriend Piers vanishes, Chloe will have to risk everything and embrace her own power to save the one person she has left… even if that means bringing down her mother.
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
After reading Fiendish (Brenna Yovanoff) and Beware the Wild (Natalie C Parker), I'm really hoping Gathering Deep will continue on my lucky sweep of having read exclusively amazing dark and magical stories set in the South. Please, Lisa Maxwell, don't let me down.
Number 5
Vengeance Road - Erin Bowman
Expected publication date is September 1st, 2015
Summary: When Kate Thompson’s father is killed by the notorious Rose Riders for a mysterious journal that reveals the secret location of a gold mine, the eighteen-year-old disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers and justice. What she finds are devious strangers, dust storms, and a pair of brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, she gets closer to the truth about herself and must decide if there's room for love in a heart so full of hate.
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
I have a very, very special place in my heart for Cowboys. Especially if those cowboys are female, and out for revenge. I actually have an ARC of this from Netgalley that is currently 40% read - and let me tell you, it does not disappoint!
Number Four
Underneath Everything - Marcy Beller Paul
Expected publication date is October 27th, 2015
Summary: Mattie shouldn’t be at the bonfire. She should be finding new maps for her collection, hanging out with Kris, and steering clear of almost everyone else, especially Jolene. After all, Mattie and Kris dropped off the social scene the summer after sophomore year for a reason.
But now Mattie is a senior, and she’s sick of missing things. So here she is.
And there’s Jolene: Beautiful. Captivating. Just like the stories she wove. Mattie would know; she used to star in them. She and Jolene were best friends. Mattie has the scar on her palm to prove it, and Jolene has everything else, including Hudson.
But when Mattie runs into Hudson and gets a glimpse of what could have been, she decides to take it all back: the boyfriend, the friends, the life she was supposed to live. Problem is, Mattie can’t figure out where Jolene ends and she begins. Because there’s something Mattie hasn’t told anyone—she walked away from Jolene over a year ago, but she never really left.
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
I've lived through toxic friendships. I've lived through abusive ones too. I've lived through those where all the lines are blurred and nothing makes sense anymore. I need this book like I need air in my lungs.
Number Three
An Inheritance of Ashes - Leah Bobet
Expected publication date is October 6th, 2015
Summary: The strange war down south—with its rumors of gods and monsters—is over. And while sixteen-year-old Hallie and her sister wait to see who will return from the distant battlefield, they struggle to maintain their family farm.
When Hallie hires a veteran to help them, the war comes home in ways no one could have imagined, and soon Hallie is taking dangerous risks—and keeping desperate secrets. But even as she slowly learns more about the war and the men who fought it, ugly truths about Hallie’s own family are emerging. And while monsters and armies are converging on the small farm, the greatest threat to her home may be Hallie herself
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
War stories. Strange magic. Monsters. Sisterly bonds. This book's blurb promises action and high stakes and I am so, so here for this.
Number Two
What We Left Behind - Robin Talley
Expected publication date is October 27th, 2015
Summary: Toni and Gretchen are the couple everyone envied in high school. They've been together forever. They never fight. They're deeply, hopelessly in love. When they separate for their first year at college—Toni to Harvard and Gretchen to NYU—they're sure they'll be fine. Where other long-distance relationships have fallen apart, their relationship will surely thrive.
The reality of being apart, however, is a lot different than they expected. As Toni, who identifies as genderqueer, falls in with a group of transgender upperclassmen and immediately finds a sense of belonging that has always been missing, Gretchen struggles to remember who she is outside their relationship.
While Toni worries that Gretchen, who is not trans, just won't understand what is going on, Gretchen begins to wonder where she fits in Toni's life. As distance and Toni's shifting gender identity begins to wear on their relationship, the couple must decide—have they grown apart for good, or is love enough to keep them together?
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
As a person with a continuously shifting gender identity, with a non-binary partner, I am very interested in Robin Talley's take on this and the portrayal of a genderqueer character. I will most likely be buddy-reading this one with partner and putting up a review when it comes out.
Summary: When Kate Thompson’s father is killed by the notorious Rose Riders for a mysterious journal that reveals the secret location of a gold mine, the eighteen-year-old disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers and justice. What she finds are devious strangers, dust storms, and a pair of brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, she gets closer to the truth about herself and must decide if there's room for love in a heart so full of hate.
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
I have a very, very special place in my heart for Cowboys. Especially if those cowboys are female, and out for revenge. I actually have an ARC of this from Netgalley that is currently 40% read - and let me tell you, it does not disappoint!
Number Four
Expected publication date is October 27th, 2015
Summary: Mattie shouldn’t be at the bonfire. She should be finding new maps for her collection, hanging out with Kris, and steering clear of almost everyone else, especially Jolene. After all, Mattie and Kris dropped off the social scene the summer after sophomore year for a reason.
But now Mattie is a senior, and she’s sick of missing things. So here she is.
And there’s Jolene: Beautiful. Captivating. Just like the stories she wove. Mattie would know; she used to star in them. She and Jolene were best friends. Mattie has the scar on her palm to prove it, and Jolene has everything else, including Hudson.
But when Mattie runs into Hudson and gets a glimpse of what could have been, she decides to take it all back: the boyfriend, the friends, the life she was supposed to live. Problem is, Mattie can’t figure out where Jolene ends and she begins. Because there’s something Mattie hasn’t told anyone—she walked away from Jolene over a year ago, but she never really left.
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
I've lived through toxic friendships. I've lived through abusive ones too. I've lived through those where all the lines are blurred and nothing makes sense anymore. I need this book like I need air in my lungs.
Number Three
Expected publication date is October 6th, 2015
Summary: The strange war down south—with its rumors of gods and monsters—is over. And while sixteen-year-old Hallie and her sister wait to see who will return from the distant battlefield, they struggle to maintain their family farm.
When Hallie hires a veteran to help them, the war comes home in ways no one could have imagined, and soon Hallie is taking dangerous risks—and keeping desperate secrets. But even as she slowly learns more about the war and the men who fought it, ugly truths about Hallie’s own family are emerging. And while monsters and armies are converging on the small farm, the greatest threat to her home may be Hallie herself
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
War stories. Strange magic. Monsters. Sisterly bonds. This book's blurb promises action and high stakes and I am so, so here for this.
Expected publication date is October 27th, 2015
Summary: Toni and Gretchen are the couple everyone envied in high school. They've been together forever. They never fight. They're deeply, hopelessly in love. When they separate for their first year at college—Toni to Harvard and Gretchen to NYU—they're sure they'll be fine. Where other long-distance relationships have fallen apart, their relationship will surely thrive.
The reality of being apart, however, is a lot different than they expected. As Toni, who identifies as genderqueer, falls in with a group of transgender upperclassmen and immediately finds a sense of belonging that has always been missing, Gretchen struggles to remember who she is outside their relationship.
While Toni worries that Gretchen, who is not trans, just won't understand what is going on, Gretchen begins to wonder where she fits in Toni's life. As distance and Toni's shifting gender identity begins to wear on their relationship, the couple must decide—have they grown apart for good, or is love enough to keep them together?
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
As a person with a continuously shifting gender identity, with a non-binary partner, I am very interested in Robin Talley's take on this and the portrayal of a genderqueer character. I will most likely be buddy-reading this one with partner and putting up a review when it comes out.
Number One
The Scorpion Rules - Erin Bow
Expected publication date is September 22nd, 2015
Summary: A world battered by climate shift and war turns to an ancient method of keeping peace: the exchange of hostages. The Children of Peace - sons and daughters of kings and presidents and generals - are raised together in small, isolated schools called Preceptures. There, they learn history and political theory, and are taught to gracefully accept what may well be their fate: to die if their countries declare war.
Greta Gustafsen Stuart, Duchess of Halifax and Crown Princess of the Pan-Polar Confederation, is the pride of the North American Precepture. Learned and disciplined, Greta is proud of her role in keeping the global peace, even though, with her country controlling two-thirds of the world’s most war-worthy resource — water — she has little chance of reaching adulthood alive.
Enter Elián Palnik, the Precepture’s newest hostage and biggest problem. Greta’s world begins to tilt the moment she sees Elián dragged into the school in chains. The Precepture’s insidious surveillance, its small punishments and rewards, can make no dent in Elián, who is not interested in dignity and tradition, and doesn’t even accept the right of the UN to keep hostages.
What will happen to Elián and Greta as their two nations inch closer to war?
Why I'm Looking Forward to It:
This one promises a high-stakes, deadly game in a complicated, dystopian world. If done well, this book could well be the next Hunger Games. That or it could hopelessly flop. Either way, I am sure it will be a gripping, thrilling read.
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