1. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black - January 02 2018
Holly Black's The Darkest Part of the Forest was one of the best books I read in 2017 (Link) and apparently this book about faeries that is somehow related to that book, so when I heard that rumour this book jumped up to my must reads of 2018. This book follows the story of Jude, whose family was murdered and she and her sisters stolen away to live with the fey. A decade later, Jude wants nothing more to live with the fey, many of whom hate humans - especially Prince Cardan. So we have fey court politics and what is shaping up to be a forbidden romance and I am so in. My hopes for this book keep getting higher as I keep reading so many rave reviews on Goodreads, and I'm very stoked to go pick this up and read it. I love faeries, I love faerie romances and I love dark faerie romances so this sounds like it ticks off all the boxes.
2. Everless by Sara Holland - January 02 2018
This book wasn't on my radar for ages, but after reading some reviews on Goodreads about how surprisingly good it is I've decided to add it to my anticipated reads. Everless takes place in the Kingdom of Sempera - where blood is currency and the rich have it in spades, while the poor - like our main character Jude - are forced to suffer and give their lives away. This premise alone sounds intriguing, but it sounds like there will also be some soap-y drama (like a love triangle, and a manor house full of secrets) that may make this a guilty pleasure read I may love.
This is the third book in the Veronica Speedwell series, which follows the aforementioned Veronica Speedwell, a scientist, and adventuress in 1888 London - who just so happens to have a penchant for getting entangled and solving mysteries. This third book promises to delve more into past of Veronica's colleague Stoker - and I need to find out more about them. This book as so much built up romantic tension between its two main characters that I am dying to see what happens after the last book. The sexual tension you can cut with a knife and I just really want them to get it on in the next book because I will scream FINALLY!
4. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert - January 30 2018
This books sounds like a dark and twisty fairy tale-esque stories. The book follows Alice, whose grandmother is a famous author of dark fairy-tales that take place in The Hazel Wood. After the woman's death, Alice's mother is taken by what appears to be characters from her grandmother's famous stories. It sounds dark and forboding and the sort of dark fairy story I love. Plus, LOOK AT THE COVER. Even in a photo one can see that it's gorgeous.
Shaila, a princess of the desert, sacrifices her happiness to become the Queen of the Bone Lands - a land where elemental magic is forbidden. Before she is even crowned however, Shaila discovers her inherent earth magic abilities - and must deal with hiding these abilities from her elemental-hating husband, while dealing with the politics of her kingdom. I love the idea of elemental magic so I really hope this book is good! I am a bit nervous though that it will be like Roar by Cora Carmack, which I didn't like because it was just so derivative of every other YA fantasy novel. But I'm praying this one is good!
6. Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller (Daughter of the Pirate King #2) - February 27 2018
I can't give much away about this book without spoiling the first one (which the title already where Daughter of the Pirate King left off. IN the first novel, we followed Alosa as she was captured - purposely- onto a pirate ship by the orders of her father, the Pirate King, on a dangerous mission to find a legendary map. Along the way she flirts, and fights and snarks her way into the hearts of readers. The first book took me by surprise with how much I enjoyed it - and with how much I couldn't put it down because I needed to see what happened next. I'm excited to see where the story continues, especially because Alosa is just the right amount of snark and spunk I like in a female character without being insufferable.
7. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo - March 6 2018
This is a dark re-telling of the Little Mermaid. Now to be honest, The Little Mermaid, and mermaids and general are probably my least favourite folklore and fairy tales - I always find them so disappointing and the Little Mermaid story (both the original fairy tale and the Disney Movie) have always bothered me to know end. However; this retelling - which follows Princess Lira - a lethal siren who has the hearts of seventeen men - sounds promising. The story gets even darker when you find out that the next heart Princess Lira must steal is that of a siren-hunting prince. It sounds dark and twisted and exactly like my kind of fairy tale.
8. Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (Illuminae Files #3) - March 13 2018
I absolutely loved the Illuminae Files in 2017 - I read both Illuminae and Gemina in one sitting and ADORED them. They were so addicted, and had such heart-pounding, have to turn-the-page action. The Illuminae Files are told in a unique manner - told through "found" documents and photos (hence the name files), rather than a traditional narration. While I was sceptical, I found the story-telling style completely captivating in the first two books - which follows the action and adventures following the invasion of a planet by a greedy inter-galactic corporation. I can't give more detail without spoiling the books. Anyways, I NEED THIS BOOK NOW. I am totally anticipating once again staying up all night to read this.
9. The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton - March 27th 2018
IT'S A KING LEAR RETELLING AHHHHHHHHHH!!!! That is all I need to know - anything Shakespeare and I AM IN.
10. Circe by Madeline Miller - April 10th 2018
Look it's an adult book! This book follows the bestselling The Song of Achilles, which I recently read and really enjoyed. The writing was poetic and epic and a delight to read - so I am very excited to see how the next re-telling of a Greek myth goes! This is a re-telling of the greek myth of Circe - which is horribly tragic. Circe is always depicted as a cruel and selfish woman and I am looking forward to seeing how the author captures her dual nature of mother and monster - and whether she will entice sympathy from the reader. I love Greek Mythology, and I love re-tellings and I LOVE this cover so I am really excited to see how this book is.
11. A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir (Ember in the Ashes #3) - April 24 2018
I love love love this series so far and I have been DYING for this third book for so long - the second book came out in 2016! The first two books in this trilogy were completely addictive. The first book An Ember in the Ashes follows the tale of Elias and Laia - a boy and a girl on opposite ends of a struggle in a a conquered kingdom. Elias is a Martial, one of the powerful Roman-like ruling Elite, while Laia is a Scholar - a dominated peoples, essentially slaves in their own empire. The book is riveting, as is the sequel A Torch Against the Night, which follows the events of the first novel (and thus I can't give you more detail without spoiling it). Both are filled with politics and violence and bloodshed - and very much remind me of like a fantasy version of the TV show Rome. I will be buying this the day it comes out - and I can only hope that the fourth and final book doesn't take two years to come out like this one did! Because I will die, as Sabaa Tahir always ends each book in the most heart-wrenching ways.
12. The Queen of Sorrow by Sarah Beth Durst (Queens of Renthia #3) - May 15 2018
This is the third book in the Queens of Renthia series - so I can't give much of a synopsis without spoiling the first two books. This series takes place in the land of Renthia, where everything has a spirit - everything is alive - and unfortunately, everything in nature pretty much wants to kill all the humans and turn the land wild. To prevent this, a Queen is chosen from a select group of girls - skilled in the power to control the wild nature spirits. The first book in this series was brutal and pulled no punches and I loved it. It was a great fantasy - and it was actually a fantasy with only a bit of romance. I plan to read the second book in the series this year - and I'm sure it will be equally unforgiving and amazing. This series is really underrated so I hope this year more people pick it up - it is well thought out, well written and the world is something you get lost in - and don't get attached to any characters.
13. Sweet Black Waves by Kristin Perez - June 05 2018
This is yet another re-telling on the list! This is a Tristan and Isolde re-telling - but instead of following Isolde, we follow her lady-in-waiting Branwen - who also loves Tristan. Yes, this has a love triangle (I think) - but given the nature of the Tristan and Isolde myth I am intrigued to see how the "love potion" aspect of the story plays out. It says to aspect star-crossed lovers so I am expecting all the angsty romance, and hopefully a tragic tale (in keeping with the legend). I also clearly have a thing for retellings. Plus, there aren't enough Celtic retellings so this is definitely something new to look forward too!
This is yet another re-telling on the list! This is a Tristan and Isolde re-telling - but instead of following Isolde, we follow her lady-in-waiting Branwen - who also loves Tristan. Yes, this has a love triangle (I think) - but given the nature of the Tristan and Isolde myth I am intrigued to see how the "love potion" aspect of the story plays out. It says to aspect star-crossed lovers so I am expecting all the angsty romance, and hopefully a tragic tale (in keeping with the legend). I also clearly have a thing for retellings. Plus, there aren't enough Celtic retellings so this is definitely something new to look forward too!
14. My Plain Jane by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand and Jodi Meadows (The Lady Janies #2) - June 26 2018
My Lady Jane was one of the biggest surprises of 2016 for me and I reread it in 2017, and I can just categorically say that I love it. And I'm even more excited to see the twists that the authors will make on this retelling of Jane Eyre - I absolutely loved Jane Eyre so I am both apprehensive but equally excited. This Jane Eyre retelling will have a supernatural twist (as stated on the cover - Jane sees dead people) just like My Lady Jane, and hopefully it will be as funny and charming as the supernatural twist in of shape-shifters in My Lady Jane.
15. Mary B by Katherine J. Chen - July 2018
This is a Pride and Prejudice retelling following the perspective of poor overlooked, plain middle sister Mary. And I am HERE FOR IT. I don't know why I keep trying to read Pride and Prejudice retellings or continuations or adaptations when I pretty much hate them all but I can't help but hope that one day I will find one that is amazing and captures the original magic of the stories. If not, at least this is another book to add to my ever growing Pride and Prejudice shelf.
16. Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson - August 07 2018
I enjoyed the Remnant Chronicles series by Mary E. Pearson enough that I'm excited to see how this story about a thief and an emperor and forbidden love set in the same universe. It sounds like pretty standard YA but will hopefully be addictive.
17. Lady Helen #3 by Alison Goodman - September 2018
I just finished the second book in the Lady Helen Series, The Dark Days Pact - and while not as good as the first - I still need this third book because it ENDED ON A CLIFFHANGER and I need to see what happens - I predict the angst will be high in this book and I am going to love it.
18. Final Throne of Glass Book by Sarah J Mass - September 04 2018
I have yet to read Empire of Storms or Tower of Dawn, but I really want to finish the Throne of Glass series. Even though I have such a love-hate relationship with the series, I am hoping it ends on a high note. I probably won't buy it right away, I'll wait until reviews come out. But I will probably hated read this just to see how everything ends.
19. The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee (Guides #2) - October 02 2018
This is the sequel to The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue except this time we are following Monty's sister, Felicity, who was a badass in the first book. And because of the mention of Pirates I do so hope that means my favourite pirate characters will be returning! And I want to see how Monty and Percy are faring after the first novel! The first book was so surprisingly funny and fun that I can't wait for another joyous romp with this series.
20. Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare (The Dark Artifices #3) - December 04 2018
The story of Emma Carstairs and the Blackthorn family concludes in this final book of the Dark Artifices trilogy. I've really been enjoying this trilogy - much more so than The Mortal Instruments (but not as much as The Infernal Devices). The angst-y romance between Emma and Julian is my life, and the ending to the last book gutted me and ended on such a cliffhanger that I need to know!
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