Category: Highlights

We think that we’re finally in the clear up here in Minnesota when it comes to snow, which is always nice. And with nicer weather means more opportunities to go outside and enjoy the scenery (responsibly, of course). This means backyard patio time to be sure, and what better way to enhance that kind of relaxation than with a book or two? Here are the new titles we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Age of Empyre” by Michael J. Sullivan

Publication Date: May 5, 2020

Why I’m Interested: It’s finally here! The last book in the “Legends of the First Empire” series! It’s gone by all too quickly (though this is, of course, nothing against the amazingly fast publication schedule the author has set for himself, love that!). The last book ended on a pretty massive cliff-hanger with several of our heroes seeming to fall to their doom and the most powerful of them is still caught in enemy territory. I also have to say that I love this cover and am really interested to see who the person with the sword is. And is that Suri’s dragon? Or…did the enemies manage to create one themselves? The grand finale will be something else! I’m so nervous.

Book: “House of Dragons” by Jessica Cluess

Publication Date: May 12, 2020

Why I’m Interested: While I was kind of burned by the end of the last trilogy I read by Cluess, she did create a pretty fascinating new fantasy world. And, of course, I’m a sucker for anything and all dragons. This book seems to be a combination of the *sigh* oh so prevalent ensemble POV YA stories and some type of “Throne of Glass”/”Hunger Games” competition. Five different royal houses are meant to compete for the dragon throne. But this time things are different and a group of outcasts end up competing instead. I’m definitely interested in checking it out, but if I get many whiffs of love triangles, love squares, etc., I’m probably out.

Book: “Girl, Serpent, Thorn” by Melissa Bashardoust

Publication Date: (now) July 7, 2020

Why I’m Interested: You may have noticed that this book is set to be published in July, not May. Well, a bunch of books on my May list have pushed back publication dates due to the pandemic. So…I’m cheating. I’ll include some of the others when they do come out, but I thought I’d throw this one in here anyways (let’s be honest, most of them were switched and I was running out). In this original fairytale, a young princess is cursed with a fatal touch, dooming her to a life of distance and lack of physical contact. But as her brother’s marriage approaches, Soraya begins to question the direction her life is headed. Is she a monster or is she gifted with a power beyond reckoning? This book sounds super interesting and you know I’m all about original fairytales! I have an advanced copy due to NetGalley, so I’m sure I’ll be taking advantage of having that and not needing to wait until the delayed publication date!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Something Is Killing the Children (Vol. 1)” by James Tynion IV

Publication Date: May 26, 2020

Why I’m Interested: I am always on the lookout for a solid horror graphic, and the title alone of “Something Is Killing the Children” gives me the serious creeps. When children start to go missing in a small town, everyone is scared that their kid will be next. It’s when a mysterious woman shows up and tells the children that are left that it’s monsters that are behind it, and that she is going to take care of it, that a little bit of hope can be seen. Monster hunting, a scary premise, and a badass heroine with some baggage and a will to kick ass? I’m into it! I’ve read some of James Tynion IV’s work in the past, so I am very interested in seeing what he does with this concept.

Book: “The Silence” by Susan Allott

Publication Date: May 19, 2020

Why I’m Interested: This has had some comparison’s to Jane Harper’s books, and given that I’ve become a fan of hers over the years, I am absolutely interested in giving any read-alikes a whirl. And this one involves family secrets, the darkness of small towns, and a disappearance, all things I LOVE. In 1967, a woman named Mandy disappeared from her Sydney neighborhood, and people assumed that she had left her family to start life anew. But years later, no one can find her, and people start to suspect that her neighbor at the time, Joe, had something to do with her disappearance, as he was the last person to see her alive. Now his daughter Isla is having to confront that past, when Joe and Mandy and their spouses were neighbors, and things weren’t always as they seemed. Definitely sounds twisty and mysterious, so I’m very interested in getting my hands on this one.

Book: “If It Bleeds” by Stephen King

Publication Date: April 21, 2020

Why I’m Interested: This is a bit of a cheat, I concede that. But in my defense, I thought that Stephen King’s new novella collection was coming out in May until it’s release date in late April. So I’m just going to highlight it here because IT’S STEPHEN KING! This time he takes four novellas and puts them into a collection. One involves a phone that can perhaps exact revenge beyond the grave. Another involves an author who is desperate to write another hit, and makes a deal with an unusual, and perhaps dangerous, animal to do so. And another involves my girl Holly Gibney, trying to solve a mass murder where someone planted a bomb at a middle school. I’m so very happy to be able to read more King! I like feeling like some things have consistency in times like these, and King brings that to me.

Love is in the air, but so is the snow and wind up here in Minnesota. February is both fun for romance, but also kind of the middle of the longest (seeming) season. Luckily, we have books to look forward to! Here are the titles that have captured our interests this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Age of Death” by Michael J. Sullivan

Publication Date: February 4, 2020

Why I’m Interested: I’ve been enjoying the heck out of this action-packed, yet surprisingly heart-wrenching, epic fantasy series. And the last book, oof, talk about a cliffhanger! Unfortunately, I hear this one also has a cliffhanger, but, luckily, thanks to the author’s self-publication schedule, it will only be another short wait until this summer before the final book is out. As it stands, after the last book, I’m excited to see all of my heroes tackle what they find in the underworld. And, of course, poor Suri who is captured in the heart of enemy territory. Things are definitely starting to feel like a sprint to the end, and I can’t wait to see what this penultimate book has to offer!

Book: “Storm from the East” by Joanna Hathaway

Publication Date: February 11, 2020

Why I’m Interested: The first book in this series came out of nowhere to really strike my interest. It’s definitely a more politically focused story in a fantasy world. But instead of court politics (though there are those too), this book takes a much larger focus on the manueverings of large countries with and against each other. But at the heart are two young people on opposing sides who have somehow formed a connection. However, neither knows the full truth of not only the other one, but often, not even their own country or allies. In this second book, again separated, Athan and Aurelia once again find themselves caught up in the schemes of the powers around them. The first book had a crushing prologue, and I’m both intrigued and also super nervous to see how our characters end up in the future situation that was presented there. I think this is a trilogy, however, so I’m not sure how close we’ll get in this second book.

Book: “Night Spinner” by Addie Thorley

Publication Date: February 11, 2020

Why I’m Interested: The book is being marked as a mix of the Grishaverse (mixed feelings about this) and a retelling of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (intrigued by this). It tells the story of Enebish, a young woman who only a short time before had been on the cusp of becoming a great leader for her people. Now, after a terrible accident, she’s exiled and mocked, crippled and shunned. But when she’s offered a chance at redemption, she finds herself with only more questions, about herself, her country, her sister, and the mysterious criminal she’s sent to track down. There are elements of that description that seem way too familiar (mostly the “mysterious criminal”), but I’m still interested enough in the “Hunchback of Notre Dame” angle that I’ll be giving it a shot soon.

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Deathless Divide” by Justina Ireland

Publication Date: February 4, 2020

Why I’m Interested: I greatly enjoyed Ireland’s zombie/alternate history/historical fiction novel “Dread Nation”, which reimagines Reconstruction with a zombie story. So yeah, I’ve definitely been looking forward to “Deathless Divide”, the sequel to this breakout horror hit! Picking up after the events in “Dread Nation”, Jane is hoping to keep moving through a zombie ravaged America and to find her mother out West in California. With her is Katherine, the less combat savvy but still sharp companion that Jane doesn’t think she needs. As they suffer more losses and have to deal with zombies and the awfulness of a racist society, Jane and Katherine have to stick together if they hope to stay alive. I am VERY interested in seeing what Katherine gets to do in this story, as she was one of the more intriguing characters in the first book.

Book: “The Chill” by Scott Carson

Publication Date: February 11, 2020

Why I’m Interested: I’m honestly not completely sure what to expect of this one. The description is a bit vague, but in it’s vagueness it’s capturing my attention. Is this cosmic horror? Occult horror? Folk horror? I don’t know. But I do know that Stephen King gave it a positive blurb! At the turn of the 20th Century, a small town in upstate New York was purposely flooded by the construction of a dam, deemed necessary for the good of the many over the good of the few. Now a century later, things are getting strange at the dam, and an inspector sees something that cannot be explained. And it becomes more clear that those who were displaced by the dam’s construction may not have gone too far, and some may not have left. And that something is looking for a new sacrifice. What does this mean? I don’t know. Do I want to find out? Why, yes I do.

Book: “Follow Me” by Kathleen Barber

Publication Date: February 25, 2020

Why I’m Interested: This sounds like a mix of an Instagram influencer’s dramatic shenanigans and Caroline Kepnes’s “You”. So I, of course, want to read it NOW NOW NOW. Audrey’s social media presence covers hundreds of thousands of followers. Now that she’s working a prestigious job at the Smithsonian, she has the opportunity to carefully mold and shape it even more, and to show all her followers the interesting work she’s doing. What she doesn’t realize is that someone has been watching her online for years, and her new job in D.C. has brought her even closer to him. Now he’s more determined than ever to possess Audrey, and is willing to use the dark web to do it. I’m ready to be creeped out!!

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

Happy New Year and Happy New Decade! It really seems like we are getting a fresh new start as we roll into a new version of the roaring twenties. What will the new year, and new decade, bring? Well we know that January will bring a new slew of books! Here’s what we are looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Woven in Moonlight” by Isabel Ibanez

Publication Date: January 7, 2020

Why I’m Interested: The cover alone is enough to make me want to check this book out. Beautiful and unique, it’s always lovely to see covers put together with such care. I’m sure it will get picked up off bookstore shelves quite frequently. Beyond that, it’s a YA fantasy novel inspired by Bolivian history and politics. I know next to nothing about these topics, so I’m excited to see what this book has to offer. The main character, Ximena, has been serving as a double for the Condesa, the last member of a royal family who is now living in exile with her people. But when the usurper “offers” a political marriage, Ximena goes in her place in search of a way to restore her people to their homeland. So far the reviews seem very positive, so I’m excited to see what this book has to offer!

Book: “Hostile Territory” by Paul Greci

Publication Date: January 28, 2020

Why I’m Interested: I love survival stories, and it’s been a long time since I’ve read one. To be fair, I also know I have unreasonable standards for survival stories and often end up coming down rather hard on them. Knowing that, I have to limit myself so I don’t just go into a rage over the entire genre. But given that it’s been a while, this book about a group of teens who end up stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after an earthquake takes out their camp and some of their friends sounded like a prime opportunity to get back in the genre. I’m a little concerned about the reference to military aspects in the cover and description. But then again, I loved “Tomorrow, When the War Began” and that was both a survival story and a military action adventure. We’ll see what this one brings!

Book: “The Bard’s Blade”  by Brian D. Anderson

Publication Date: January 28, 2020

Why I’m Interested: Another fun cover, another hooked reader! I haven’t read any of Anderson’s books, though I know he’s written several fantasy series. This one, about two young people who grow up in an idyllic country, protected from evil and the outside world by a magical barrier, who now have to venture out to stop a growing malevolent force, sounds pretty fun. I’m curious to see what role music will play in the story since it’s part of the title, and one of the main characters, Lan, is mentioned as being a talented musician. Is there a magical element to music? I’m really not sure about much about this book, but it will be fun to dive in and find out!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Jane Anonymous” by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Publication Date: January 7, 2020

Why I’m Interested: Usually when you read a thriller that involves a kidnap victim, you are going to get one of two scenarios. The first is that it’s going to be from the side of the investigators and/or family members who are hoping that the victim will come home safe. The second is that it’s going to be from the perspective of the victim themself during the ordeal. So the fact that “Jane Anonymous” is both from the victim’s perspective during their captivity AND following her in the aftermath really caught my attention. “Jane” is trying to readjust to her life after she was held prisoner for almost a year. While her family and friends are happy she is home, she isn’t feeling connected to them, and is having a hard time coping with coming back to a life she will possibly never relate to again. It sounds dark and deep, and I love that Stolarz wanted to explore a reality that victims may have to come home to, and how hard it can be.

Book: “One of Us Is Next” by Karen M. McManus

Publication Date: January 7, 2020

Why I’m Interested: I loved the first in the series, “One of Us Is Lying”, and I also loved Karen M. McManus’s second book “Two Can Keep A Secret”. So it’s really no surprise that I’m feeling VERY excited for the follow up to “One of Us Is Lying”, “One of Us Is Next”. It looks like this time around we’re back to Bayview High, and dealing with a new malicious app and group of students! Instead of a gossip app it’s now a game, and if you don’t play by the rules your truths will be exposed. Oh hell yes. I am hoping that McManus will be three for three with her YA thriller mysteries, and given how strong she has been with her past two books she will probably deliver!

Book: “American Dirt” by Jeanine Cummins

Publication Date: January 21, 2020

Why I’m Interested: This one is less thriller and more of a literary work, but given how much buzz I’ve heard about it, I couldn’t leave it off this list. Lydia is a book seller in Acapulco, and has mostly been shielded from the slowly building violence that is being perpetrated by the cartels. But one day, one of the higher ups in a cartel comes to her store, and takes interest in two of her favorite books. Lydia is unaware that this man is a powerful and dangerous individual, and the fact that her husband is about to publish a tell all expose on him is going to rock all of their lives. This sounds like it’s going to be a guy punch of a novel, and I, for one, cannot wait to read it.

Edit 1/26: In light of all the controversy surrounding “American Dirt”, I have to walk back my choice to highlight this book. I’ll keep it up for transparency, but if you want information on why I’m changing my mind, HERE and HERE are two great articles why. 

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

Thanksgiving has passed and the rest and most jovial part of the holiday season is upon us! As we prepare for Christmas and Hanukkah we look forward to time with family and friends, and time with some good books. Here are the ones we are most looking forward to this month! 

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Dangerous Alliance: An Austentacious Romance” by Jennieke Cohen

Publication Date: December 3, 2o19

Why I’m Interested: There are a million and one retellings of Austen’s stories, most especially “Pride and Prejudice” and “Emma” (there’s another “Emma” movie coming out in only a few months, even!). But what sold me on this book was the concept of Vicky, a young woman living in Regency England who just so happens to love the novels of this brand new author, a lady named Austen. When Vicky’s own life begins to take a sudden turn with mysterious accidents, nefarious gentleman, and suitors with their own secrets, Vicky begins to ask her self “What would Austen’s ladies do in such circumstances?”

Book: “Reverie” by Ryan La Sala

Publication Date: December 3, 2019

Why I’m Interested: The cover? Well, at least that was what first inspired me to do a bit more digging into what this book was about. The story is compared to “Inception” and reading through the description, I can definitely see that. Kane is discovered half dead on the banks of a river with very few memories only a general sense of “wrongness” in both himself and the world around him. From there it’s all portal jumping into strange and mysterious worlds that weave in and out of each other. In some ways, this sounds a lot like “The Starless Sea” which I absolutely adored. So I have high hopes for this!

Book: “The Weight of a Soul” by Elizabeth Tammi

Publication Date: December 3, 2019

Why I’m Interested: Another book for which I have cover lust! Seriously, it’s just gorgeous. Props to whoever designed it! Set in a Viking village, Lena and Fressa are two sisters who are as close as can be. But when Fressa is found suddenly dead, while the village as a whole mourns, Lena cannot rest until she discovers the truth. From there the story jumps into deals with Norse gods and adventures that somehow become connected to Ragnarok, the Norse myth of the end of the world. Can Lena bring her sister back? And is it worth the steep cost? I’m really excited by the premise for this book and am especially curious to see who the Norse gods and Ragnarok are depicted. Sadly, likely not like this:

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Trace of Evil” by Alice Blanchard

Publication Date: December 3, 2019

Why I’m Interested: I’m always on the lookout for a new mystery series to follow, as the Tempe Brennan books have taken a break, and one that has some tense thrills is just a bonus. So when I heard about “Trace of Evil” by Alice Blanchard, it seemed to hit the points I was looking for. It has a determined but haunted rookie detective, a central mystery that has high stakes (the murder of a cop’s wife, who’s pregnant to boot, is bound to be high priority), and a history of missing girls in a small town that may have some secrets. And on top of that, our detective, Natalie, has her own demons and traumas that she hopes to work through, involving herself and the murder of her older sister Willow. I would love it if this book kicked off a new series obsession for me, and I have high hopes that Detective Natalie Lockhart is going to be a new favorite of mine.

Book: “The Dead Girls Club” by Damien Angelica Walters

Publication Date: December 10, 2019

Why I’m Interested: Give me a good urban legend any day and I will probably become obsessed with it. I’ve long touted stories that have elements of scary urban legends to the plots, but also lamented that there have been so few and far between of this niche genre that I am a total sucker for. When I heard about “The Dead Girls Club”, I was given hope that a new book was going to give focus to an urban legend that is, excitingly, about a witch! In 1991 Heather’s and her best friend Becca are part of The Dead Girls Club, where friends share stories of the ghastly and macabre. Becca’s new story is about The Red Lady, a woman executed for witchcraft centuries ago. But then Becca was murdered. In the modern day Heather has moved on with her life, until she starts getting messages about Becca. Messages that may not only be from The Red Lady, but imply they know that Heather was responsible for Becca’s death. Spooky, I say!

Book: “Good Girls Lie” by J.T. Ellison

Publication Date: December 31, 2019

Why I’m Interested: A boarding school thriller!! With overachieving and bitchy girls, an outsider who may have secrets of her own, and murder most foul! Was this book written specfically for me? Because it checks so many guilty pleasure boxes! Recently orphaned Ash has left England for the U.S. to attend the prestigious Goode School, a boarding school that produces powerful and talented women. Ash has secrets of her own, but hopes to go under the radar at her new home. But she soon gets pulled into the life of friendship, secret societies, and the high expectations of her reputation. Things only get worse when someone ends up dead, and Ash may or may not have a hand in it. Guilty pleasure or not, “Good Girls Lie” sounds like a sudsy and gripping thriller!

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

 

It’s the month of thanksgiving, and you know what that means! We are ready to give thanks for all the new books coming our way! If between all the turkey and the babies we are able to keep our eyes open enough to read them that is. What are we talking about…OF COURSE we’ll make time for more reading! Priorities, am I right? Here are the book we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Pick:

Book: “Song of the Crimson Flower” by Julie C. Dao

Publication Date: November 5, 2019

Why I’m Interested: I’ve been meaning to read one of Dao’s books for a while now and just have never gotten around to it. So when I was given the opportunity to join in a blog tour for her latest title, I jumped on the chance to find out what all the fuss was about! The story follows Lan, a young woman who cruelly rejects the love of a poor village boy, Dao. From there, the story sounds like a version of “The Princess and the Frog” only this time the frog is a flute and the story is drawing from the author’s Vietnamese roots as inspiration for this fantasy world. YA fantasy romance can be very hit and miss for me, so I’m guessing a lot of my enjoyment of this book will come down to just how cruel we’re talking with regards to Lan’s rejection. On the other hand, a good redemption story for a heroine can also be pretty great, so here’s to hoping!

Book: “Sister of Shadow and Light” by Sara B. Larson

Publication Date: November 5, 2019

Why I’m Interested: This is another author who I’ve been meaning to check out. But as nice as it is to start a series that you know is concluded, it’s also a bit intimidating to start out, which has held me back from her “Defy” books for a bit. But no more excuses! She’s starting up a new series with this book, and we we all know I’m a sucker for sister stories, so now seems like the time. On top of that, the story seems to be a sort of fairytale fantasy, combining elements from both “Rapunzel” and “Sleeping Beauty” which sounds right up my alley. Trapped away in a tower, their lives have been filled with solitude and fear, until one day (of course) someone makes their way in. The longer description sounds a lot like Laini Taylor’s “Strange the Dreamer” story as well, so that adds an extra layer of intrigue!

Book: “Flamebringer” by Elle Katharine White

Publication Date: November 12, 2019

Why I’m Interested: So we have a new standalone, the first in a new series, and now it’s time for the last in a series! Enter: “Flamebringer.” What started out as a standalone fantasy interpretation of “Pride and Prejudice” has turned into an enthralling fantasy series that has focused on some tough issues while presenting a fully fleshed out fantasy world all of its own. In the last book, Aliza and her husband seemed to discover the hints of a world-ending danger lurking in the shadows, so I’m sure that here that conflict will finally come to a head. But at its heart, this has always been a story about Aliza and the challenge of living in a world much bigger than the one in which she was born into. I’m sure she will rise to the occasion once again!

Kate’s Picks:

Book: “Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference, and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls” by Jessica McDiarmid

Publication Date: November 12, 2019

Why I’m Interested: True crime is a weakness of mine, but I will absolutely admit that a lot of the cases that get a lot of attention involve a predominantly white focus. An ongoing true crime mystery/tragedy is going on in Canada along Highway 16, in which dozens and dozens of Indigenous women and girls have gone missing, and a number have been found murdered. Many of the cases have gone unsolved, and the victims have been forgotten, an all too familiar outcome for victims who are POC. In “Highway of Tears”, Jessica McDiarmid seeks to give voices and stories to a number of the women who are remembered less as people, and more as nameless statistics, and to explore the societal factors such as racism, misogyny, and poverty that contribute to their victimization.

Book: “Anything For You” by Saul Black

Publication Date: November 5, 2019

Why I’m Interested: The Valerie Hart series is a gritty and dark crime procedural with a tough as nails female detective. I don’t follow too many mystery series, but Saul Black’s Valerie gives me a reason to keep coming back. It’s been a bit since we’ve seen a new book about her, but “Anything For You” is now here and we get to go back to Valerie and her complicated life, as well as a new mystery. This time Valerie is investigating the death of a prominent attorney (whom she had a history with), whose time as a prosecutor has garnered a long list of suspects who would want him dead. But as Valerie starts to dig into his life, including his wife and daughter, she comes upon a mysterious blonde woman who may have her own score to settle. It will no doubt be bleak and upsetting, but I wouldn’t expect any less from Saul Black.

Book: “The Deep” by Rivers Solomon

Publication Date: November 5, 2019

Why I’m Interested: This is a bit more of a fantasy or magical realism pick, but the premise was far too intriguing to pass up. A society of merpeople have learned to live in the sea, the descendants of pregnant African slave women who were thrown overboard during the Triangle Trade. The society has learned to forget of the traumas of the past, except for one single historian. The current historian, Yetu, has to bear the painful and horrific memories of the past, and the burden drives her to run away to the surface. While there she learns of the past and present of the people that she and others could have become, as well as her own. I imagine this is going to be a very powerful and emotional story, and cannot wait to read it.

What new books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

 

September signals the end of summer, the start of autumn, and the promise of cozy days and nights. While Kate is eager for the upcoming spooky season and cooler weather, Serena wonders why we can’t just get a LITTLE more sun and warmth before the doldrums of winter arrive. We have some new books on our personal lists that we’re looking forward to, however! Here’s what we can’t wait to read in September!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “The Harp of Kings” by Juliet Marillier

Publication Date: September 3, 2019

Why I’m Interested: Confession time: Last Monday while Kate so kindly implied that we both had not finished up the Highlights post, it was definitely all me. She, responsible and on-top-of-it blogger that she is, had her part all done and it was me who completely forgot that yes, the first Monday of the month was indeed already upon us! Thus, now my first highlight choice is a book that I’ve already reviewed. But never say I pass up a chance to brazenly endorse one of my favorite authors every chance I get! “The Harp of Kings” is a wondrous new fantasy novel that brings together pieces of many of Marillier’s past works while setting the stage for what looks to be a compelling new series. If you want to read my full review, it’s here. And, even more, don’t forget to enter our givewaway to win a free copy!

Book: “The Girl the Sea Gave Back” by Adrienne Young

Publication Date: September 3, 2019

Why I’m Interested: I really enjoyed “Sky in the Deep.” It was a historical fantasy novel where the balance definitely veered more towards the historical side with an emphasis on the warring nature of two Viking-esque clans and the young woman who must bring them together to save both. The fact that it was a standalone was also a huge perk. So I was pleased to find out that the author was releasing this book, another standalone, but one that is set in the same world, ten years later. It’s like having your cake and eating it too! More of the same world and mentions of familiar characters, but readers don’t have to wait for years for a continuation of a beloved story, biting their lips hoping for a happy ending! This story seems to follow Halvard, a boy we met in the first book and a young woman, Tova, whose origins and abilities are a mystery. I can’t wait to see how the author draws in past players and expands her world!

Book: “The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan” by Sherry Thomas

Publication Date: September 10, 2019

Why I’m Interested: This book is every reader’s dream come true, a favorite author taking on a beloved tale that hasn’t been done well in the past (yes, I mean you “Flame in the Mist.”) I’ve only ever read Thomas’s “Lady Sherlock” series, so I know that she can take famous characters and reimagine them in creative ways while also keeping the foundation of what made that character excellent to begin with. That said, I know this tale mostly from the Disney “Mulan” perspective, and I’m curious to see whether Thomas will draw more from the original material than that did? The description sounds pretty inline with the tale I know, a young woman going under cover dressed as a man to join the army. I can’t wait to get my hands on this!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “The Institute” by Stephen King

Publication Date: September 10, 2019

Why I’m Interested: Say it with me: STEPHEN KING!! My favorite author is always going to be at the top of the list whenever he has a new book coming out. But not only is this a new Stephen King book, it incorporates one of my favorite creepy tropes: a shady school setting where kids are in danger! Luke is kidnapped from his house in the middle of the night and taken to The Institute, where kids like him (with special powers) are held and studied. If you cooperate you’re rewarded, if you don’t you’re punished severely. And you can never leave. King seems to be revisiting themes he’s talked in books like “Firestarter”, and honestly I’m totally here for it. On top of that, I pre-ordered the audiobook, and Santino Fontana is going to be the one reading it. I can barely contain my excitement!

Book: “His Hideous Heart” by Dahlia Adler (ed.)

Publication Date: September 10, 2019

Why I’m Interested: I’m warming up to short stories collections, especially if they have a uniting theme and a number of different perspectives. “His Hideous Heart” really appeals to me because, not only is it a number of high profile YA authors, it’s their takes and spins on stories by Edgar Allan Poe! Poe is one of my favorite ‘classic’ authors, and I am very interested to see what a number of modern YA writers will do with his themes and his most famous stories. Some of the contributors are some of my favorites in the YA community, like Stephanie Kuehn and Tiffany Jackson, so that makes me all the more excited to get my hands on this book and devour it.

Book: “The Tea Dragon Festival” by Katie O’Neill

Publication Date: September 17, 2019

Why I’m Interested: A follow up to the adorable and gentle fantasy graphic novel “The Tea Dragon Society” was something that I had hoped for, but didn’t necessarily expect to happen. So when I saw that Katie O’Neill had written a follow up, I freaked out and was so excited to dive back into the world of Tea Dragons! When her mountain village is preparing for a festival to celebrate the Tea Dragons in town, Rinn stumbles upon an ACTUAL Dragon asleep in the woods. But when the Dragon, named Aedhan, wakes up, he tells her that he has been sleeping for decades, and doesn’t know how it happened. As Rinn tries to help Aedhan come back to society as their protector, some familiar faces arrive to try and find out what caused him to sleep for so long. Given how much I LOVED “The Tea Dragon Society”, this follow up is near the top of my anticipation list of the year!