There are SO many books I can’t wait to read next year. Whilst there are sequels to some of my favourite books coming out in 2019, such as the next Ash Princess and Children of Blood and Bone, I wanted to compile a list of debut authors that people may not have heard of that I’m also excited for. And don’t forget to pre-order books if you are able! Pre-ordering is a fantastic way to support authors and show publishers how excited you are.
Here are five YA fantasy books I can’t wait to bury my nose in, in order of their release:
Crown of Feathers
I’m a big fan of the girl-disguised-as-boy trope as evidenced by the amount of books on this list which share the same trope, and by my own writing. Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto offers another take on this trope, but the heroine, Veronyka, is an orphan in a war-torn world ruled by warrior queens and… mountable phoenixes who bond with their human riders?? Count me in! Crown of Feathers sounds like an epic fantasy of battle and betrayal, and is coming February 12th.
The Tiger at Midnight
I love reading diverse fantasy based on unique settings. The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala draws inspiration from Indian history and Hindu mythology, and is the story of Esha AKA the Viper, a legendary assassin who clashes with Kunal, the loyal soldier sent to catch her. It sounds like a fiery game of cat-and-mouse and also promises an enemies-to-lovers romance. You’ll be able to read The Tiger at Midnight on April 22nd.
We Hunt the Flame
I’ve previously raved about how excited I am to read this fantasy tale of Zafira, a girl who disguises herself as the legendary Hunter and strikes a fiery rivalry with the Prince of Death. Set in a world inspired by ancient Arabia, We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal promises swashbuckling adventure and an enemies-to-lovers romance to die for. It’s released on May 14th.
The Storm Crow
I’ll admit, when I heard of this book my first thoughts were of the crows from Tamora Pierce’s Trickster series. The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson is set within a tropical world where magical elemental crows grow large enough to mount, however the crows, as well as Princess Anthia’s kingdom, have all been lost. Dealing with such terrible loss, Anthia comes across a hidden crow egg and launches a plan to hatch it whilst stirring the seeds of rebellion. The Storm Crow not only sounds like great fantasy, but also explores the realities of coping with depression. I can’t wait to read more on July 9th.
Spin the Dawn
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lin is one of the more unique YA fantasy concepts I’ve come across. The main character, Maia, is no warrior but instead seeks to become a tailor for the emperor. However, such a simple task means disguising herself as a boy within the imperial palace and competing against other tailors in an impossible task to create a magical dress. Spin the Dawn promises a unique adventure, intriguing magic, and forbidden romance in a word inspired by Chinese culture. You’ll be able to read it on July 30th.
Which YA fantasy books are you excited for in 2019? I’m always up for book recommendations!
