We only have a few more weeks left of 2018! What even is this life? But… it means we have a whole new batch of books to be excited for in the next year! I’m already making my list of books I want to be sure I pre-order and have holds at my library set to go!
Here are my most anticipated books of 2019 in order of release date. (At least the ones I’m aware of thus far.)
Even If I Fall by Abigail Johnson
Genre: YA Contemporary
Release Date: January 8
How I Plan to Obtain It: Library
Quick Summary: Dana takes a DNA test and discovers she has a secret half brother.
Back in July I read Abigail Johnson’s first book, If I Fix You, and absolutely loved it! In fact, I read it because I’d heard about this one which is being released in 2019 and wanted to get a taste of her writing beforehand. It did not disappoint and I can’t wait to see how this one is!
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
Genre: YA Contemporary
Release Date: February 5
How I Plan to Obtain It: Already pre-ordered
Quick Summary: Bri wants to follow in the footsteps of her rapper dad who died before he could make it big, but plans change when her mom loses her job.
In case you haven’t heard, the book The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is kind of a big deal. I absolutely loved it, but I sadly haven’t seen the movie yet. (I know… I fail at life. I’m sorry.) When I heard she had a second book coming out, I pre-ordered it almost immediately. I thought I heard On the Come Up was a sequel to THUG but it doesn’t say anything about that in the description on Goodreads. Either way, it’s gonna be fantastic if it’s anything like her first book.
The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Release Date: January 5
How I Plan to Obtain It: Library
Quick Summary: When Kihrin finds out he’s a long lost prince, he finds it’s not all he expected it to be and instead of saving the kingdom, he needs to destroy it.
This is Jenn Lyons debut novel and OH GOODNESS doesn’t it look epic? It has all of those classic epic fantasy elements, but looks like it’ll have all new spins. I can’t wait.
Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy
Release Date: February 5
How I Plan to Obtain It: Purchase
Quick Summary: To help protect her sisters, Sybella travels to France with the duchess only to find herself surrounded by enemies and she must find her fellow death handmaidens.
I am obsessed with the original trilogy, His Fair Assassins. I mean… nuns who serve the god of death and work as his assassins? HOW CAN YOU NOT WANT TO READ THAT? All three books are completely fantastic and I fell in love with them. But… then that was it. The trilogy was over and I had to move on with my life.
But then. BUT THEN.
I saw on Goodreads maybe a year or two ago that she was writing another book set in the same world. YEARS LATER! This hardly ever happens! I thought Robin LaFevers had put down her writing hat. NOW WE HAVE A SPIN OFF DUOLOGY AND IT’S FINALLY HERE!
If you can’t tell… I’m really pumped for this book. I can’t wait to be reunited with these characters and meet new ones. It’s going to be amazing.
Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Legacy of Orisha #2) by Tomi Adeyami
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: March 5
How I Plan to Obtain It: Purchase
Quick Summary: Zeile and Amari must deal with the consequences of the previous book and unite the maji.
The first book, Children of Blood and Bone was one of the big ones for 2018 and one of those “overnight success” author stories we all dream about. The book was fantastic (think The Hate U Give… but also epic fantasy with multiple POVs and a bit more romance) and I can’t wait to see where the rest of the series will go!
The Queen’s Resistance (The Queens’s Rising #2) by Rebecca Ross
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: March 5
How I Plan to Obtain It: Purchase
Quick Summary: Brianna is settling into her new roles and must learn to balance them as well as prepare for the future.
The Queen’s Rising was a happy surprise for me this year and I immediately became obsessed with the book, the world, and these characters! The quick summary I provided is a poor representation of how great it looks, and I want to see what happens next!
The Women’s War by Jenna Glass
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Release Date: March 5
How I Plan to Obtain It: Library
Quick Summary (I stole this from Goodreads because it was too good): “In a high fantasy feminist epic, a revolutionary spell gives women the ability to control their own fertility—with consequences that rock their patriarchal society to its core.”
I found this book as I was perusing Goodreads to find 2019 releases for this blog post in case I missed any.
Um… did you read that summary? I read that in the book description and didn’t need to go further to know I had to read it immediately. High fantasy where the women control their fertility and it breaks down the patriarchy?
YES PLEASE!
Heroine by Mindy McGinnis
Genre: YA Contemporary
Release Date: March 12
How I Plan to Obtain It: Purchase
Quick Summary: Mickey never understood the stories about teens who would overdose. But when she gets into a car accident and can’t play softball, she finds her answers in that small white pill given to deal with the pain.
Mindy McGinnis has become one of my auto-read authors, and there are hardly any other authors I’d trust more than her to handle this sensitive topic.
The Perfect Assassin by KA Doore
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Release Date: March 19
How I Plan to Obtain It: Library
Quick Summary: Amastan serves the assassins of Ghadid who are now being murdered and she must find the culprit before she’s the next victim.
I’ve been following KA Doore on Twitter for some time now thanks to PitchWars, and I am so excited her debut novel is finally being released and that it’s already being hyped as one of 2019’s most anticipated fantasies!
The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
Release Date: April 2
How I Plan to Obtain It: Library
Quick Summary: Magnus and Alec take a trip around the world while carrying The Book of White, and must evade those who want the book for themselves.
When the Shadowhunter books were first released, I was all about them. (The Infernal Devices are my fave and TEAM JEM FOREVER.) But, I’ve kind of gotten over the hype. I started to re-read them a year or two ago, then never finished.
Do you know who I’ll never tire of though from this series? MAGNUS BANE AND ALEC LIGHTWOOD.
There’s going to be a trilogy about them and written for an adult audience?
Yes please.
Storm of Locusts (The Sixth World #2) by Rebecca Roanhorse
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Release Date: April 23
How I Plan to Obtain It: Library
Quick Summary: Maggie finds out a friend may have fallen in with a cult and goes on the search for them.
The first book in this new urban fantasy, Trail of Lightning, was SO SO good! It was dark, intense, and Maggie is a fantastic leading character. But then how it ended? I couldn’t believe she left it like that and I needed to know what happens next like…. yesterday.
Lady Hotspur by Tessa Gratton
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Release Date: April 30
How I Plan to Obtain It: Library
Quick Summary: A retelling of Henry IV where centuries after The Queens of Innis Lear, we follow the story of women who are heirs to the thrones of warring kingdoms.
I read The Queens of Innis Lear in October and it was good - but not amazing. However, I did love the concept and I’m totally willing to read this author again. It’s another Shakespeare play I’m not totally familiar with - but I expect a lot of bloody deaths led by three fantastic women.
The Dragon Republic (The Poppy Wars #2) by RF Kuang
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Release Date: May 2
How I Plan to Obtain It: Purchase
Quick Summary: After the third poppy war ends, Rin is on the run and out for revenge.
I cannot say enough good things about the first book and Kuang’s debut novel, The Poppy War. It’s safe to say I’m 100% here for all of the fantasy novels featuring bad ass women who have intense dark streaks. Rin is a compelling character, the magic is fascinating, and it’s an amazing look into Chinese history and folklore. Also, isn’t this cover completely gorgeous?
The World of Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: September 3
How I Plan to Obtain It: Purchase
Quick Summary: It’s a guide to the world of Throne of Glass.
Do I need a guide/encyclopedia for the Throne of Glass books? Probably not.
Do I want one?
Obviously.
Is it just a marketing ploy so they can get more money?
Probably.
Do I care?
Not really.
Besides, there are so many names and places in this series that even ridiculous fangirls like me have a hard time keeping them straight.
Darkdawn (Nevernight Chronicles #3) by Jay Kristoff
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Release Date: September 3
How I Plan to Obtain It: Purchase
Quick Summary: In the final book of the Nevernight trilogy, Mia goes on a quest to find the origins of the darkin.
AHHHHHHHH THE FINAL NEVERNIGHT BOOK IS COMING!
I don’t know if I can handle it. This trilogy is so intense, but amazing. This book was supposed to come out in 2018 but the release date got pushed back to 2019. (Considering it was supposed to be the same day as Kingdom of Ash, for me personally this was probably a good thing because my feels would be a mess.) If you want a dark fantasy with a unique and snarky voice, you absolutely need to read these books!
Crescent City by Sarah J Maas
No cover has been given yet! Not even a stand in.
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Release Date: September 3? Maybe?
How I Plan to Obtain It: Purchase
Quick Summary: After her best friend is brutally murdered, Sidhe goes on the hunt for the killer.
Sarah J Maas is writing a new fantasy series but this time it’s not YA and it’s written for adults. (As some of her other books should have been…)
Have you not met me?????
I need it immediately.
I don’t need to know anything else. Just take my money.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Release Date: November 5
How I Plan To Obtain It: Purchase
Quick Summary: When graduate student Zachary picks up an old book and is entranced, he discovers a story about his own childhood and a mysterious doorway to a subterranean library.
Sorry Sarah J Maas… in a matter of a single Instagram post, Erin Morgernstern beat you for most anticipated book of 2019.
Some context for you all: Morgenstern’s debut novel, The Night Circus, is my all time favorite book (other than Harry Potter - obviously). She hasn’t written anything in the last 7 years. Then she posted on Instagram that she has a new book being released in November of 2019.
I’m pretty sure I had a panic attack. Or maybe a fangirl attack. I couldn’t really breathe.
I would read this author’s grocery lists. I don’t care what she writes. I need it in my possession. I can’t believe I have to wait a whole year for this book. If someone were to put a gun to my head and demanded I read only one new release for 2019, it would be this one hands down no questions asked.
Wicked Hour (Heirs of Chicagoland #2) by Chloe Neill
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Release Date: December 3
How I Plan to Obtain It: Purchase
Quick Summary: No description yet!
The first book in Chloe’ Neill’s spin off series from the Chicagoland Vampires wasn’t the greatest of all time. However, I still really enjoyed it and I love the world she’s created, and the end did make me curious as to where the series was going. Besides, the characters are all great and even if I just have glimpses of my faves from the original series I’ll be happy!
Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: TBA
How I Plan to Obtain It: Purchase
Quick Summary: All we know is that this is the sequel to her book Carry On.
Why yes, I will be singing “Carry On My Wayward Son” and think about the TV show Supernatural every time this book appears or comes up in conversation. You’ve been warned.
Anyway. This book was supposed to release in 2020, but it was bumped up to 2019! Woo hoo! We don’t have an exact date yet, but it’s coming. Carry On isn’t my all time favorite of Rainbow Rowell’s books, but I do love Simon and Baz (aka - Harry/Draco slash fiction) and am totally on board for reading more of their adventures.
What books are you all looking forward to in 2019? What makes something an absolute read for you?
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