Hey book-lovers!!
2020 is finally coming to an end, and even though the pandemic is still here, there is still a kind of a relaxing relief to see this year finally end. Also, every new year comes with a fresh start and more opportunities to do better, so I don’t know about you but I willing be working extra hard to complete my reading goal in 2021. I already have quite of a lot of things to look forward to when the new year will begin, namely, books!! 💕
So let’s have a look at all the amazing books coming out in 2021 that I should start saving up for....
1)The Inheritance Games sequel by Jennifer Lynn Barnes- The title hasn't been revealed for the sequel yet, but it has been confirmed that it will be released in fall 2021.
Since the moment I finished this book I have been dying to read the sequel because I absolutely loved Inheritance Games. It was a perfect fall-time read, with its mysterious and spooky vibe. It did this thing where it didn't really end with a cliff-hanger, but with a big question mark and and an unbearable itch to know what actually happened, as if the protagonists think that they have resolved the mystery, but there's still this huge chunk of tangled mess that they don't even know about... it's just, it's truly amazing!
If you want to know more of my thoughts on this book, it was featured in my December Reading Wrap-up.
2) Children of Blood and Bone Book 3 (Legacy of Orisha series) by Tomi Adeyemi- Again, the title and cover for this are still under wraps, but it doesn't make us any less excited for the conclusion to this amazing, mind-blowing series!
I've already talked a lot about this book in my YA Fantasy Recommendations post recently, and I still don't get tired talking about it because it's just that good. It ends on a torturous cliff-hanger and a huge twist in the story. I don't really know much about it because the synopsis hasn't been released, yet so we don't even know what to expect. But I guess we have to wait.
3) Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell (Carry On book 3)- This book is set to come out in March 2021, but I still feel that even that three month long wait is too much. Honestly, sometimes I think I should just quit reading books that are from an unfinished series and just read them when the last book comes out just so I can spare myself the wait, but this story was just so irresistible! It was one of the most unique fantasy series I’ve ever read, and not just because funny fantasies are so rare, but because it is such a great satire on the Chosen One trope.
Goodreads description: In Carry On, Simon Snow and his friends realized that everything they thought they understood about the world might be wrong. And inWayward Son, they wondered whether everything they understood about themselves might be wrong.
In Any Way the Wind Blows, Simon and Baz and Penelope and Agatha have to decide how to move forward.
For Simon, that means deciding whether he still wants to be part of the World of Mages -- and if he doesn't, what does that mean for his relationship with Baz? Meanwhile Baz is bouncing between two family crises and not finding any time to talk to anyone about his newfound vampire knowledge. Penelope would love to help, but she's smuggled a cursed American Normal into London, and now she isn't sure what to do with him. And Agatha? Well, Agatha Wellbelove has had enough.
Any Way the Wind Blows takes the gang back to England, back to Watford, and back to their families for their longest and most emotionally wrenching adventure yet.
This book is a finale. It tells secrets and answers questions and lays ghosts to rest.
Carry On was conceived as a book about Chosen One stories; Any Way the Wind Blows is an ending about endings. About catharsis and closure, and how we choose to move on from the traumas and triumphs that try to define us.
If you haven’t started this series yet, it follows the story of this boy named Simon Snow, who is a wizard going to the Watford School of Mages, and is the worst Chosen One in the history of Chosen Ones. You can always know more about it in my YA Fantasy Recommendations post.
There is no comparison for Rowell when it comes to characters, because her characters are one of the most genuine, realistic and complex characters you'll ever see. She doesn't shy away from making a bold statement with the representation in her books, and talks about so many important things that are not touched upon in fantasy.
So if you haven't read this book yet, I highly recommend picking this one up before the third book comes out.
4) Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo- This book will be coming out in February 2021, and booking for pre-orders and book boxes have already begun, so if you're as big a Grishaverae fan as I am, then I suggest you hurry!
This book is the sequel of King of Scars in the Nikolai duology, and possibly the last book in the Grishaverse. I know people have a lot of really mixed opinions about this duology, but I personally really enjoyed Nikolai's story. He was definitely one of my characters in the Grisha trilogy, and if you're not convinced by that, then you have to stay for Nina's adventure because she is incredible!
Goodreads description: The wolves are circling and a young king will face his greatest challenge in the explosive finale of the instant #1 New York Times-bestselling King of Scars Duology.
The Demon King. As Fjerda's massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm—and even the monster within—to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king's gift for the impossible.
The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected, and she refuses to bury another friend. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her country needs. No matter the cost.
The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart.
King. General. Spy. Together they must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall.
This might be the last time we get something from the Grishaverse, other than maybe a novella or two (at least I’m hoping?), and I really wanna know what happens because the books ends with a big unresolved mystery.
5) Threads of Power by Victoria Schwab- Ok, I think this is the book we know the least about out of all of the books in the list. If you don't know what this book is about, it is set in the same world as Schwab's Shades of Magic series, a few months post the events of A Conjuring of Light, and some characters from that series make an appearance as well. I think that's the part I'm most excited about, seeing how Kell and Lila, my precious, precious friends are doing in their new life. And of course, it's always great to be back in the world that Victoria Schwab has created. They are always so unique and different from others, and it's so easy to get pulled into the world and immerse yourself in the story.
There is no Goodreads synopsis yet, but from what information I could get from WikiFandom, here us what we know:
Known information
All three installments will be interconnected and each will feature a different protagonist:
"a female tinkerer who can pull the threads of magic"
"a noble who has her birthright stolen"
"a con artist born with a lucky streak but no power"
If these characters aren't enticing enough to convince you to read this series, I don't know what will...
6) Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare- I don't think I really need to give an explanation as to why this series is on my lis, because if you've been following my blog even for a little while, you'll know that I am a huge Shadowhunter fan! I love this world, I love the magic system and I love Magnus Bane... I mean, what else do you need? If you don't know much about this book, it is the sequel to Chain of Gold, the first book in the Last Hours trilogy, and follows the story of James Herondale, Matthew Fairchild and Cordelia Carstairs. Release Date- 2nd March 2021
Goodreads description: Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. She’s engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has loved since childhood. She has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie Herondale and James’s charming companions, the Merry Thieves. She is about to be reunited with her beloved father. And she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary hero’s blade.
But the truth is far grimmer. James and Cordelia’s marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordelia’s reputation. James is in love with the mysterious Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. Cortana burns Cordelia’s hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace.
Together with the Merry Thieves, Cordelia, James, and Lucie must follow the trail of the knife-wielding killer through the city’s most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial. And that he himself may be the killer they seek.
Chain of Gold was truly beautiful, heart-breaking (I sobbed almost through almost half if it), and so, so incredible! Personally, I believe that this is among Cassandra Clare's best works, right below the Infernal Devices, because of it's quite whimsical writing style, and exceptional storyline. There is great representation with the charactera, especially this time, where Cordelia has a Persian heritage and speaks Farsi (Persian). Its great to see a person from a different ethnicity as a protagonist in media as popular as this.
So if you haven't read Chain of Gold yet, I highly recommend picking it up before Chain of Iron comes out.
7) Flamefall by Rosaria Munda (Aurelian Cycle Book #2)- Okay, first of all, dragons, people!! And then to to top it of, a kick-ass female character and a mind-boggling, complex political conflict. An irresistible combination! Fireborne, the first book, was really fast-paced, with a lot of high-stakes action. You can never stop turning the pages. It ends on a really big surprise ending, so I’m literally sitting on the edge of my seat now waiting for sequel to come out. Come for the dragons, and stay for the characters!
Annie is my QUEEN, with her genuine and relatable personality, and even though she is made as a slightly unlikeable character on purpose, you can’t help empathise with her on some level. I was also really hesitant towards the romance as a sub-plot, but I really enjoyed it in the end.
Goodreads description: After fleeing the revolution and settling into the craggy cliffs of New Pythos, the Dragonlords are eager to punish their usurpers--and reclaim their city. Their first order of business was destroying the Callipolan food supply. Now they're coming for the Dragonriders.
Annie is Callipolis's new Firstrider, and while her goal has always been to protect the people, being the government's enforcer has turned her into public enemy number one.
Lee struggles to find his place after killing kin to prove himself to a leader who betrayed him. He can support Annie and the other Guardians . . . or join the radicals who look to topple the new regime.
Griff, a lowborn dragonrider who serves New Pythos, knows he has no future. And now that Julia, the Firstrider who had protected him, is dead, he is called on to sacrifice everything for the lords that oppress his people--or to forge a new path with the Callipolan Firstrider seeking his help.
With famine tearing Callipolis apart and the Pythians determined to take back what they lost, it will be up to Annie, Lee, and Griff to decide what to fight for--and who to love.
8) Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout- I would like to first just mention that this is not actually a YA book. Because of some explicit scenes, it leans more towards the New Adult side.
Crown of Gilded Bones is the third book in the Blood and Ash trilogy, the first being From Blood and Ash, and A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire being the second book.
I highly enjoyed reading this series. It was really unique, and the world was unlike anything I've ever read. Also, the romance was exceptionally enjoyable, which I did not expect, although it was very clearly a fantasy-romance novel. The magic system is really well-developed and intense, and yet so easy to understand, which keeps you hooked throughout.
You can read my complete review for this book in my December Reading Wrap-Up post.
9) Half sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian- Half Sick of Shadows is a new standalone fantasy novel that is said to be an Arthurian retelling, based on Lady Shallot. I really loved her Ash Princess trilogy, with its fast-paced political intrigue and action, and I’m really eager to read more of her writing. Another point in the bag is that I’m interested in reading more and more retellings in the coming year, and a King Arthur retelling is the perfect way to begin. Plus, the synopsis sounds awesome...
Goodreads description: Everyone knows the legend. Of Arthur, destined to be a king. Of the beautiful Guinevere, who will betray him with his most loyal knight, Lancelot. Of the bitter sorceress, Morgana, who will turn against them all. But Elaine alone carries the burden of knowing what is to come--for Elaine of Shalott is cursed to see the future.
On the mystical isle of Avalon, Elaine runs free and learns of the ancient prophecies surrounding her and her friends--countless possibilities, almost all of them tragic.
When their future comes to claim them, Elaine, Guinevere, Lancelot, and Morgana accompany Arthur to take his throne in stifling Camelot, where magic is outlawed, the rules of society chain them, and enemies are everywhere. Yet the most dangerous threats may come from within their own circle.
As visions are fulfilled and an inevitable fate closes in, Elaine must decide how far she will go to change fate--and what she is willing to sacrifice along the way.
10) A Vow so Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer (Book #3 of Cursebreakers)- If you're wondering, the pre-orders for this books have also started and it will be a great way to spend your saved up money, especially with all the extra perks you'll be getting. Moving on, this was a pretty recent read, therefore a last-minute addition to this list. This series is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but with a lot more intricate magic sytsem and political intrigue. You will be surprised at the amount of well though-out political conflicts and high stakes situation that it sets up to go along with the romance. Some people might underestimate and sideline it as a cliché romance, but it is so much more than that. It has a lot of shocking twists and I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on the last book!!
11) War of Dragon by Jessica Cluess (House of Dragons Book #2)- Again, I read this book pretty recently, like second-last week of December, but I am so happy that I found this book.
Content Warning: Just wanna point out that even though it's a book classified in the YA category, it is pretty descriptive with its violence, so if you're a person who gets queasy or nervous with a lot of violence in books, this might not be the ideal read for you.
You can read my full reveiw for this book in my December Reading Wrap-up post.
This book is kinda like Hunger Games meets Six of Crows, but with dragons. I mean, dragons, dude!! What more do you need?
I really enjoyed the multiple POVs, especially 'cause I am a huge sucker for ensemble cast of characrers. They were really distinct, so you're never confused. And then it fully delivered on its promise of cool dragons. They were a huge part of the storyline, really detailed and given the focus they deserve. They are not shoved to the background like in many other books that claim to have dragons, but then they just sprinkle them here and there.
This book ended with a slightly different kind of ending, like there was a kind of closure with the way the events concluded, but it still left enough space for the series to continue.
Alright, so those were all Most Anticipated Releases for 2021! What are some of the books you’re looking forward to this coming year? Do any of the books on my list match yours? Any special recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!
Until next time,
Bye!
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