Since I’m always late to the game I’m sharing a few covers for anticipated releases coming out later this year (that I didn’t get to experience at the beginning of the year).
These are in no particular order.
I only found four covers from my initial list. There are still a couple of titles that have yet to have their covers released, but I’ll probably save those for my anticipated releases for the second half of 2021. (Or just share them on my tumblr.)
I’m not particularly in any rush to read them, but they’ve been on my radar for a while. I thought it would be a struggle to find a title I would want to read but there are a few titles out there. It also turns out that some books that I thought were old were actually younger than me which always surprises me. I wanted to go retro on the covers, but there was just so much to choose from.
I tried not to include authors that I’ve recently mentioned in previous posts and shine some light on other authors I’ve read from.
Dun dun dun dun.
It’s that time of the year again. With some free time I’ve decided to try something different this year (not that did I much last year). I’m attempting a newsletter-esque style post with all the tools that I can use/incorporate (which is not much). This new block style post is nice and useful, but I’m still exploring and getting used to it.
So on my Goodreads I don’t mark most of the manga or children’s books that I’ve read. I’m also not sharing the graphic novels I’ve read because I read so few to dedicate a page for them.
I had a lot of fun creating this last minute idea with zero planning.
| TLDR: Book Overview | page 2 |
| Book Stats | page 3 |
| Series I Completed in 2020 | page 4 |
| Manga Overview | page 5 |
| Manga Series I Completed in 2020 | page 6 |
| Miscellaneous | page 7 |
Technically first half of 2021 + 1. This is a continuation of my Top Ten Tuesday post which can be found here. There are no repeats. I’m only including titles where the release dates have been announced. Most are sequels to series I want to continue and a handful are authors I will like to read more from.
I’ve only included books that are either standalones or the first in a series. I’ll be making another post with all the books I’m looking forward to in the first half of 2021 which includes all the sequels. There are some books that I wanted to put on the list but the release date is currently unknown.
February
/ 2 / Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell
But the Jainan suspects his late husband’s death was no accident. And Prince Kiem discovers that Jainan is a suspect himself. But broken bonds between the Empire and its vassal planets leaves the entire empire vulnerable, so together they must prove that their union is strong while uncovering a possible conspiracy.
A famously disappointing minor royal and the Emperor’s least favorite grandchild, Prince Kiem is summoned before the Emperor and commanded to renew the empire’s bonds with its newest vassal planet. The prince must marry Count Jainan, the recent widower of another royal prince of the empire.
In the shadows of a secret past an insecure future, Kiem an Jainan must come together to protect both of their worlds.
/ 2 / The Night Parade of 100 Demons by Marie Brennan
Chaos has broken out in the isolated Dragon Clan settlement of Seibo Mura. During the full moon, horrifying creatures rampage through the village, unleashing havoc and death. When the Dragon samurai Agasha no Isao Ryotora is sent to investigate, he faces even greater danger than expected. To save the village, he must confront his buried past – not to mention an unexpected Phoenix Clan visitor, Asako Sekken, who has his own secrets to hide. The quest to save Sebo Mura will take the two samurai into the depths of forgotten history and the shifting terrain of the Spirit Realms… and bring them face to face with an ancient, terrifying evil.
/ 23 / The Hedgehog of Oz by Cory Leonardo
Marcel the hedgehog used to live with his beloved owner Dorothy, but since getting hopelessly lost, he’s tried to forget the happy home he left behind. Now, Marcel lives a quiet life in the abandoned balcony of The Emerald City Theater where he subsists on dropped popcorn and the Saturday showings of The Wizard of Oz.
But when he’s discovered, Marcel is taken far away from everything he knows and ends up lost once more. His quest to return to The Emerald City Theater leads him to Mousekinland, where he meets Scamp, a tiny mouse armed with enormous spirit (and a trusty sling-shooter). Before long, they’re joined by an old gray squirrel, Ingot, who suffers from bad memories and a broken heart and Tuffy, a baby raccoon lost and afraid in the forest. And the travelers attract the attention of an owl named Wickedwing, who stalks them as they search for the old theater.
From field to forest, glittering theatre to the gutter, the animals’ road home is a dark and winding journey. But sometimes you need to get a little lost before you can be found.
March
/ 2 / The Bright and the Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski
Seventeen-year-old Valeria is one of the few survivors of the freeze, a dark magical hold Knnot Mountain unleashed on her village. Everyone, including her family, remains trapped in an unbreakable sheet of ice. Ever since, she’s been on the run from the Czar, whose sole mission is to imprison anyone who managed to escape. Valeria finds refuge with the Thieves Guild, working odd jobs with her best friend, Alik, the only piece of home she has left. That is, until he is brutally murdered.
A year later, Valeria discovers Alik is alive and being held captive. In exchange for his freedom, she must lead a group on a perilous expedition to the very mountain that claimed her loved ones. But something sinister slumbers in the heart of Knnot.
And it has waited years for release.
/ 23 / Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas
When children start to go missing in the local woods, a teen girl must face her fears and a past she can’t remember to rescue them in this atmospheric YA novel from the author of Cemetery Boys.
Something sinister waits within the trees . . .
It’s been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into the light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road . . .
Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, asks for Wendy’s help to rescue the missing kids. But, in order to find them, Wendy must confront what’s waiting for her in the woods.
/ 30 / The Accidental Apprentice by Amanda Foody
The last thing Barclay Thorne ever wanted was an adventure.
Thankfully, as an apprentice to the town’s mushroom farmer, Barclay need only work hard and follow the rules to one day become the head mushroom farmer himself. No danger required. But then Barclay accidentally breaks his town’s most sacred rule: never ever EVER stray into the Woods, for within the Woods lurk vicious magical Beasts.
To Barclay’s horror, he faces a fate far worse than being eaten: he unwittingly bonds with a Beast and is run out of town by an angry mob. Determined to break this bond and return home, Barclay journeys to find the mysterious town of Lore Keepers, people who have also bonded with Beasts and share their powers.
But after making new friends, entering a dangerous apprenticeship exam, and even facing the legend.
April
/ 20 / In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens
Prince Tal has long awaited his coming-of-age tour. After spending most of his life cloistered behind palace walls as he learns to keep his forbidden magic secret, he can finally see his family’s kingdom for the first time. His first taste of adventure comes just two days into the journey, when their crew discovers a mysterious prisoner on a burning derelict vessel.
Tasked with watching over the prisoner, Tal is surprised to feel an intense connection with the roguish Athlen. So when Athlen leaps overboard and disappears, Tal feels responsible and heartbroken, knowing Athlen could not have survived in the open ocean.
That is, until Tal runs into Athlen days later on dry land, very much alive, and as charming—and secretive—as ever. But before they can pursue anything further, Tal is kidnapped by pirates and held ransom in a plot to reveal his rumored powers and instigate a war. Tal must escape if he hopes to save his family and the kingdom. And Athlen might just be his only hope…
May
/ 25 / The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley
In 1898, England is a peaceful colony of the Republic of France. Everything from the street signs to the newspapers is written in French, and only the terrorists in Scotland speak English. In soot-blackened, smog-ridden London, the slave trade is thriving, and the ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral are surrounded by the factories that keep France’s empire and army fitted out with steel.
But Joe Tournier doesn’t remember any of this. His first memory is of being 43 years old and stepping off a train. Joe is diagnosed with a kind of epilepsy, one that causes amnesia and which results in periodic visions of a mysterious man. The only clue Joe has about his former identity is a century-old postcard of a Scottish lighthouse that arrives in London the same month Joe does.
Two years later, Joe accepts a job to repair that lighthouse. He’s drawn to the building, and to the mystery of the place: the previous lighthouse keepers have vanished and the brand-new lighthouse is in need of repair. But what Joe finds in Scotland will change the way he sees the world, its history, and, most importantly, himself.
June
/ 8 / The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reed
In her forest-veiled pagan village, Évike is the only woman without power, making her an outcast clearly abandoned by the gods. The villagers blame her corrupted bloodline—her father was a Yehuli man, one of the much-loathed servants of the fanatical king. When soldiers arrive from the Holy Order of Woodsmen to claim a pagan girl for the king’s blood sacrifice, Évike is betrayed by her fellow villagers and surrendered.
But when monsters attack the Woodsmen and their captive en route, slaughtering everyone but Évike and the cold, one-eyed captain, they have no choice but to rely on each other. Except he’s no ordinary Woodsman—he’s the disgraced prince, Gáspár Bárány, whose father needs pagan magic to consolidate his power. Gáspár fears that his cruelly zealous brother plans to seize the throne and instigate a violent reign that would damn the pagans and the Yehuli alike. As the son of a reviled foreign queen, Gáspár understands what it’s like to be an outcast, and he and Évike make a tenuous pact to stop his brother.
As their mission takes them from the bitter northern tundra to the smog-choked capital, their mutual loathing slowly turns to affection, bound by a shared history of alienation and oppression. However, trust can easily turn to betrayal, and as Évike reconnects with her estranged father and discovers her own hidden magic, she and Gáspár need to decide whose side they’re on, and what they’re willing to give up for a nation that never cared for them at all.
/ 22 / Arrow by Samantha M. Clark
For the first twelve years of Arrow’s life, he has grown up as the only human in a lush, magical rainforest that’s closed off from the rest of the world. He was raised by the Guardian Tree, the protector of the forest, which uses the earth’s magic to keep it hidden from those who have sought to exploit and kill it. But now the magic veil is deteriorating, the forest is dying, and Arrow may be the only one who can save it.
Arrow has never seen another human until one day, a man in a small airplane crash-lands in the forest. Then, a group of children finds their way in, escaping from their brutal, arid world where the rich live in luxurious, walled-off cities and the poor struggle for survival.
The Guardian Tree urges Arrow to convince the trespassers to leave by any means necessary. Arrow is curious about these newcomers, but their arrival sets off a chain of events that leave him with a devastating choice: be accepted by his own kind or fight to save the forest that is his home.
The Bright & the Pale
Book 1 in The Bright & the Pale Duology
by Jessica Rubinkowski
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Release Date: March 2, 2021
Seventeen-year-old Valeria is one of the few survivors of the freeze, a dark magical hold Knnot Mountain unleashed on her village. Everyone, including her family, remains trapped in an unbreakable sheet of ice. Ever since, she’s been on the run from the Czar, whose sole mission is to imprison anyone who managed to escape. Valeria finds refuge with the Thieves Guild, working odd jobs with her best friend, Alik, the only piece of home she has left. That is, until he is brutally murdered.
A year later, Valeria discovers Alik is alive and being held captive. In exchange for his freedom, she must lead a group on a perilous expedition to the very mountain that claimed her loved ones. But something sinister slumbers in the heart of Knnot.
And it has waited years for release.
Inspired by Russian folkore with Slavic elements. The first book in a duology. What drew me to the book? Winterscape cover.
My concerns. 336 pages for the first book in a duology. I’m wondering how involved I’ll be with the book/how detailed the book will be. Will it be short and to the point? Will some details be grazed over? Time leaps?
I’ll most likely look up what Slavic elements are for a more immersive read.
Master Artificer
Book 2 in The Silent Gods
by Justin T. Call
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: May 4, 2021
This is one of those books where I have to read the first book first. So I’m not going to post the summary since spoilers. I’m going to get on top of my backlist ARC titles in 2021 and this is a priority.
The first book is called Master of Sorrows and its summary.
Every dark lord has an origin.
The Academy of Chaenbalu has stood against magic for centuries. Hidden from the world, acting from the shadows, it trains its students to detect and retrieve magic artifacts, which it jealously guards from the misuse of others. Because magic is dangerous: something that heals can also harm, and a power that aids one person may destroy another.
Of the academy’s many students, only the most skilled can become Avatars-warrior thieves, capable of infiltrating the most heavily guarded vaults-and only the most determined can be trusted to resist the lure of magic. More than anything, Annev de Breth wants to become one of them.
But Annev carries a secret. Unlike his classmates who were stolen as infants from the capital city, Annev was born in the village of Chaenbalu, was believed to be executed, and then unknowingly raised by his parents’ killers. Seventeen years later, he struggles with the burdens of a forbidden magic, a forgotten heritage, and a secret deformity. When Annev is subsequently caught between the warring ideologies of his priestly mentor and the Academy’s masters, he must finally decide whether to accept the truth of who he really is … or embrace the darker truth of what he may one day become.
Temple Alley Summer
written by Sachiko Kashiwaba
illustrated by Miho Satake
translated by Avery Fischer
Publisher: Restless Books
Release Date: July 6, 2021
Kazu knows something odd is going on when he sees a girl in a white kimono sneak out of his house in the middle of the night―was he dreaming? Did he see a ghost? Things get even stranger when he shows up to school the next day to see the very same figure sitting in his classroom. No one else thinks it’s weird, and, even though Kazu doesn’t remember ever seeing her before, they all seem convinced that the ghost-girl Akari has been their friend for years!
When Kazu’s summer project to learn about Kimyo Temple draws the meddling attention of his mysterious neighbor Ms. Minakami and his secretive new classmate Akari, Kazu soon learns that not everything is as it seems in his hometown. Kazu discovers that Kimyo Temple is linked to a long forgotten legend about bringing the dead to life, which could explain Akari’s sudden appearance―is she a zombie or a ghost? Kazu and Akari join forces to find and protect the source of the temple’s power. An unfinished story in a magazine from Akari’s youth might just hold the key to keeping Akari in the world of the living, and it’s up to them to find the story’s ending and solve the mystery as the adults around them conspire to stop them from finding the truth.
I’m always on the lookout for translated Japanese works. I don’t read much translated Japanese literature (besides manga) but I’m slowly getting into the mood to reading something magical. The last translated book I read was The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa & translated by Philip Gabriel. All. the. feels.
Some of these titles may not necessarily be favorites but they stand out from all the other books I’ve read this year. These titles are ordered from the dates that I read them.
A lot of TJ Klune on the list. I have to say that he is definitely a new favorite author now especially after reading a few other of this works. I love how he writes characters, the prominent parental figures, and the dialogue is always full of personality.
These past few months I’ve been enlightened by audiobooks. I’ve also found the beauty of starting a few books at once and pausing when the pacing got slow. This has been helping me get out of my slump. I’ve also been using my Goodreads to keep track of my reading progress each day.
While I didn’t participate in Believathon, a middle grade readathon created by Gavin from How to Train Your Gavin, I did try to pick up some middle grade titles I’ve been meaning to read.
/ 1st /
The Kiss of Deception [The Remnant Chronicles #1] written by Mary E. Pearson
It’s a love triangle. I thought I would hate the dramatics. I’m enjoying the book more than I thought I would. It’s a harsh reality of how unpredictable war is. I have the second and third audiobooks on hold through my library, but at this point I’m debating whether I should just get the physica. books from my library.
The Empress of Salt and Fortune [The Singing Hills Cycle #1] written by Nghi Vo
This book completely went over my head. I just couldn’t get into the story even though I was listening to it through audio. I couldn’t help but be reminded of This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar while I was listening to this story. Not very action-centric and while character-centric there is a certain flair in the writing that I just couldn’t vibe with.
/ 2nd /
Ink and Bone [The Great Library #1] written by Rachel Caine
A book I’m on the fence about. I love the idea of an alternative history where the library of Alexandria has survived with a fantasy twist added in. I am curious about the plot, but I’m just not clicking with the characters. I may pick up the second book sometime in the future, but I’m not in any rush.
/ 4th /
Blue Flag Vol 3 & 4 written & illustrated by KAITO
Another continuation of friendship and first loves. There is so much progress in these volumes that I can’t wait for volume 5.
/ 5th /
Anya and the Dragon [Anya #1] written by Sofiya Pasternack
A middle grade fantasy full of Jewish and Russian culture. As someone who does not have a lot of knowledge of either culture I learned a lot about them. I appreciated the insight and watching it unfold in a magical setting. Now the dragon doesn’t come into play until much later in the book, but when it does it’s a story about folklore and rumors may not necessarily be tue.
Timo the Adventurer [Timo the Adventurer #1] written by Jonathan Garnier& illustrated by Yohan Sacré
This is a middle grade graphic novel. We follow Timo as he goes on his first adventure once he has consumed all the stories in his town. This volume ends things at a high note as Timo is thrust into a dangerous situation. I love the artwork and how easy it is to follow the flow of the story.
Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire [Arlo Finch #1] written by John August
I enjoyed how the story first started until everything just came a bit convenient to continue on. It’s a very different read from all other urban fantasy out there for sure. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I wasn’t too caught up in the characters and just waiting for more of a reaction from them.
/ 6th /
The King of Attolia [The Queen’s Thief #3] written by Megan Whalen Turner
After reading The Queen of Attolia I was not going to continue on with the series. My attention keeps waning once the story lags for a bit while I was physically reading the books. This time around I wanted to give it a second chance through audio. I enjoyed the book. I’ll most likely continue on with the rest of the series through audio.
/ 7th /
Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! Vol 1 & 2 written & illustrated by Yuu Toyota
This was a random purchase and read. My brother recommended the adapted series, but I’m the type to read the original source if possible. It’s unbelievably cute and ridiculous.. So far in 2020 I’m in love with all the shounen ai releases. This series is yet another title on my radar.
Season of Storms [The Witcher #0.6] written by Andrzej Sapkowski
I still have yet to read Lady of the Lake, but I figured since this was a prequel of sorts I would be fine. Dandelion actually appears in the story for quite a while so I hoped to enjoy the book. I don’t know. Aside from the collection of short stories the series is not what I expected. Maybe its the writing style but the series felt slow.
Wayward Son [Simon Snow #2] written by Rainbow Rowell
I didn’t enjoy Carry On so much so I was very wary about the sequel. Turns out I actually loved this story. It’s not necessarily a road trip story, but a self-discovery of sorts for all of our characters.
/ 8th /
The Wizards of Once [The Wizards of Once #1] written by Cressida Cowell
I was hoping to like this series, but I feel this just read a bit young. I’m not going to continue with the series. In this story we have two characters who are a bit different from their own race. We have a boy who does not have any magic even though he is a Wizard and a girl in search of magic even though she’s a Warrior whose Queen has banned magical objects. A story about identity and secrets that are dangerous.
/ 9th /
The Deck of Omens [The Devouring Gray #2] written by Christine Lynn Herman
This is my level of spooky that I find readable. In this book all the characters are more intune with their powers to the point where I could definitely see why they are the Founders. I was a bit disappointed by this because part of the allure was the not knowing. In this finale the Gray has turned more volatile and as our characters dive into the root of the problem the more chaotic the story is.
His Favorite Vol 11 written & illustrated by Suzuki Tanaka
A long awaited sequel. A bunch of silliness ensues with not much that helps progress the story. A volume that’s there for the side characters.
Secret XXX written & illustrated by Meguru Hinohara
A re-read. I missed the beautiful artwork.
/ 10th /
Gold Wings Rising [Skybound #3] written by Alex London
A finale where the stakes are higher and more dangerous than ever. I missed the world and the characters.
Hot Head [Hot Head #1] written by Damon Suede
I just needed a quick and random read to keep things interesting. There are times where I’m in a romance mood and I just want a quick story without all the emotional build-up. There is a tad bit of angst but, overall, I liked the story.
Peter Darling by Austin Chant
A transgender Peter Pan retelling. Do I need to say more?
/ 11th /
The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass [The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass #1] written by Adan Jerreat-Poole
Yet another read I couldn’t get into as much as I would have liked.
/ 12th /
The Dispatcher [The Dispatcher #1] written by John Scalzi
A very short listen with a very interesting premise. Basically if you are murdered you don’t necessarily die. You just wake up in a safe place far away from the dangerous predicament you were in.
/ 13th /
The Name of All Things [A Chorus of Dragons #2] written by Jenn Lyons
A drag because I didn’t care for the new characters introduced. A lot of world building and gender explorations in this book that’s great for discussions. I knew that I just had to continue on to get to the third book.
The Bone Witch [The Bone Witch #1] written by Rin Chupeco
I wanted to love this book/series so badly (especially since I owned the series on e-book). I just couldn’t get into the story or care enough for Tea, the main character, to continue on with the series. This book is very rich in culture though and explores the topic of prejudice.
Given Vol 4 written & illustrated by Natsuki Kizu
I just wanted to pick up something I was excited about and this happened. Finally a Haruki and Akihito centric volume, but definitely not the story I imagined it to be. An inch of sadness with a pinch of hope sprinkled throughout the volume. I’m excited for the next volume
Bond of Dreams, Bond of Love Vol 1-4 written & illustrated by Yaya Sakuragi
A re-read of an oldy but goody series. This was a pick-me-up read after The Bone Witch. I just needed to feel accomplished in something.
/ 14th /
The Bookworm Crush by Lisa Brown Edwards
I was wondering how this would go. This was a random ARC request because I saw the word “bookworm”. There are times where I found some of the scenes a bit comical even when they were not supposed to be. I did enjoy my time reading it since it felt a bit of a thoughtless read.
My Darling Duke [Sinful Wallflowers #1] written by Stacy Reid
I should know better by now, but I really wanted to give romance a random try. Very formulaic plot with not a lot of tension. I did like the twist of the male character having a physical trauma which makes me want to read a bit more in that category. I just need to start the researching process.
/ 15th /
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes [The Hunger Games #0.5] written by Suzanne Collins
It’s always interesting to see a person’s origin story. Yes, the story is very slow, but it’s interesting to see how the Hunger Games were before. I just liked exploring more of the world
/ 1st /
/ 3rd /
/ 4th /
/ 9th /
/ 13th /
/ 16th /
★ Fangirl* by Rainbow Rowell
★ The Lost Book of the White* (The Eldest Curses #2) by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu
★ The Girl Who Drank the Moon* by Kelly Barnhill
/ 18th /
/ 23rd /
/ 24th /
/ 30th /
(★)’s are physical book purchases
(*)’s are books I’ve read
