Most Anticipated Reads of 2019

Posted On January 17, 2019

Hey everyone! Last week I talked about my favorite books I read in 2018, but this week I’m looking ahead, and I’m going to be talking about the books I’m most excited about for this year.

I’m going to try to keep this short because when I started looking through the lists of books coming out this year, I went a little crazy and ended up with 15 (ish) books to talk about in this post. These books are ordered (more or less) by their release dates.

The Girl King by Mimi Yu – January 8, 2019

This book has actually been out for about a week at the time that this post goes up, but I’m writing it in the past, so for me, it’s not out yet. It follows two girls, sisters, one named Lu, who grew up knowing she would eventually become the Emperor, the other Min, who grew up expecting to forever be in her sister’s shadow. Then, when their father declares their male cousin the heir instead, Lu goes on the run to find a way to reclaim her birthright, and Min discovers a dark power within herself she never knew she had, a power that could either secure her cousin’s reign or allow her to take the throne for herself.

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi – January 15, 2019

You may already know this, but one of the quickest ways to hook me on a book premise is to have it be set in France. Bonus points if there is magic involved. I’m a French major, and while you’re reading this I’m actually in France. So really, all I needed to know about this book was that there is magic and it’s set in Paris and I was sold. I don’t know much else about it, but it’s coming out on the day this post is going up. I’ve heard a lot of good things about this author and I’ve been wanting to read something by her for a while. I can’t wait until I’ll be able to get my hands on it.

Stain by A.G. Howard – January 15, 2019

Also coming out today, this is a retelling of the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairytale The Princess and the Pea. It’s about a mute princess named Lyra who is forced out of her kingdom and saved by a witch who disguises her as a boy and renames her Stain. When she discovers her true identity and uncovers an impostor’s plan to steal her throne—and her betrothed—she must fight to get back what was hers. This is by the same author who wrote the Splintered Series, which I’ve heard good things about but have never read. I’m excited to get to this new book.

Enchantée by Gita Trelease – February 5, 2019

This is a historical fantasy book set in Paris, France on the eve of the French Revolution. It’s about a girl trying to provide for her family after her parents die using “la magie ordinaire” or petty magic. Then, after her brother absconds with what little savings her family has, she is forced to aim her sights higher: the court at Versailles. She disguises herself as a noblewoman and infiltrates the court in a desperate attempt to save what’s left of her family.

Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers – February 5, 2019

The first of a new duology, much of this book also appears to be set in France. It’s about two girls, Sybella and Genevieve, one who has trained to be the justice of Death, the other a spy hidden in the French court. They need each other, but will they be able to find each other before it’s too late?

I haven’t read the His Fair Assassin series by this author, and apparently this is set in the same world as that series, but it’s a separate story that doesn’t necessarily require you to read the other series before reading this one. I am interested in reading that series, though, so maybe I’ll try to read those before I jump into this one. Or maybe not. Either way, I’m excited about this book.

The Afterward by E.K. Johnston – February 19, 2019

This is a high fantasy about what comes after a happy ending, and it apparently features a female/female romance. I’ve heard a lot about E.K. Johnston’s books, and like a lot of the other authors on this list, I’ve been meaning to read one of them for a while. Maybe the book I finally read will be this one.

The Perfect Assassin by K.A. Doore – March 19, 2019

I don’t know much about what this book is about other than that the main character is a conflicted assassin, and that’s all I need to know. It’s coming out in March, and I hope to get it as soon as I can.

The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston –  April 2, 2019

I haven’t read Geekerella, which was the first book in this companion series, but I want to read it, and I want to read this one too. This is a retelling of the Prince and the Pauper, but it has to do with fandom culture and geekiness, and it seems like something that would be right up my alley. Now, if only I could get my hands on the first book…

Again, But Better by Christine Riccio – May 7, 2019

Okay, so you guys know I’m not the biggest fan of contemporary, or romance, and this is a YA contemporary romance book. But it also happens to be written by one of my favorite BookTubers, Christine from polandbananasBOOKS, and I’ve watched every single one of her videos talking about the process of writing this book—how can I not support her? Also, it’s about a girl going on a semester abroad in London, and it’s coming out right around the time when I’ll be getting back from my semester abroad in Paris, so it’s kind of perfect. I anticipate loving this book.

Middlegame by Seanan McGuire – May 7, 2019

I’ve read Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire and I didn’t love it, but I’m still interested in trying out some other books by this author, and this one sounds super interesting. It’s about two twins, Roger and Dodger, and their creator, Reed. The tagline at the end of the synopsis on Goodreads says “Godhood is attainable. Pray it isn’t attained,” which is super intriguing. I really hope I end up loving this one.

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone – July 16, 2019

I listen to Writing Excuses, a podcast including Brandon Sanderson and other writers where they give tips to aspiring writers, and one of the guest hosts that’s been on there recently is one of the authors of this book, Amal El-Mohtar. I heard her description of some of the writing process of this book, and also her description of what it was about, and I’m intrigued. Basically, it’s a epistolary novel about two agents on opposite sides of a time war who form a forbidden bond. It sounds really cool, and the cover also happens to be beautiful, so of course I have to have it.

Midnight Beauties by Megan Shepherd – September 10, 2019

The last book I read in 2018 was the first book in this duology, Grim Lovelies, and I loved it. So of course I want to get this one when it comes out. I just have to wait nine months. Oh well, such is the life of a reader.

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson – November 2019

This book doesn’t have a cover, or even a more specific release date than “November 2019,” but I just read the first book in this series at the end of last year and of course I need to get this one as soon as I can. It’s a continuation of the story from Skyward, which is about a girl named Spensa who has spent her whole life trying to prove that her father was not the coward everyone thinks he was, and neither is she. She signs up to become a pilot and help fight the neverending battle against the Krell, an alien race that has been trying to wipe out the last of humanity on the planet Detritus for the past three generations. We only got to see a hint of the world in the first book, and I’m excited to be able to learn more about it in the next one.

These last two books don’t have covers, real release dates, or even titles, but nevertheless I’m excited for them and I’m hoping that they do end up coming out this year.

Legend #4 by Marie Lu – 2019

All that Goodreads says about this book is that it’s supposed to come out in 2019, which I sincerely hope it does. As you all might know, the Legend trilogy is one of my favorite series ever, so when I heard that Marie Lu was going to be writing more books set in this world, I immediately knew I was going to read it. I don’t know what the plot is going to be, or anything about it at all, really, but whatever it is, I’m here for it.

Seafire #2 by Natalie C. Parker – ?

I don’t even know if this book is supposed to come out in 2019 or not, but I’m hoping it does because I loved the first book in this series and I want more. Similar to the last one, I don’t know any plot details or anything, but when this book comes out, whether it’s in 2019 or not, I’m probably going to be buying it.

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Okay! That was a monster of a post, but those are some of the books I’m most excited for that are coming out this year! Let me know down below what books you’re most excited for!

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you soon!

-Ariel