New year! New reads! Below, in no particular order of awesomeness, you’ll find five fantasies for YA fans that I am particularly looking forward to…
Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman
Expected publication: February 27th 2018 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Hartman’s dragon adventures, Seraphina and Shadow Scale, soared with musical prose and characters brimming with humor, courage, and compassion. This new book is the first half of a duology charting the adventures of Seraphina’s younger sister, the titular Tess.
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
Expected publication: June 12th 2018 by Razorbill
Writing instructors often say, “Build plot by putting your characters through the worst possible situations,” and I’m not sure anyone harrows their protagonists more than Sabaa Tahir. She pulled no punches in the first two books of her quartet and will surely put Laia, Elias, and Helene (and readers!) through more gut-wrenching twists in this upcoming third book!
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Expected publication: March 6th 2018 by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Like everyone in the YA community, I eagerly await this breakneck, high-stakes fantasy debut from Tomi Adeyemi, inspired by West African mythology. I’ll always have a soft spot for the British/Celtic/Norse-style fantasies that have long dominated the canon but it’s high time the market opened to other traditions and this will be one of the novels leading non-Eurocentric fantasy to the fore.
The Traitor’s Game by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Expected publication: February 27th 2018 by Scholastic
I devoured Nielsen’s Ascendance Trilogy for Middle Grades this past year and can’t wait to see her delve into the added depth and peril of YA fantasy in The Traitor’s Game, featuring protagonist Kestra who faces both conniving kidnappers and a cruel immortal king.
Chainbreaker by Tara Sim
Published January 2nd 2018 by Sky Pony Press
This steampunk sequel to Timekeeper came out at the start of January, so you need not wait to get your mitts on it! I gave the first book a rave review for its tender friendships, queer romance, and fascinating worldbuilding where ancient clock towers literally control time–and stop it completely if destroyed. I’m thrilled to be on board for the Chainbreaker blog tour and will be reviewing Danny, Colton, and Daphne’s continued adventures on Feb 16th!
Now… I’ve got some reading to do!
