Reviews for the Avid Reader
March is around the corner so I thought I would share with you my favorite books I read in January and February, and the books I’m hoping to pick up in March!
I read some amazing books these past couple of months, and I’m honestly just looking for any excuse to talk about them.
Keep reading to to see all of my favorite reads of the year so far, plus my March TBR!
My Thoughts: A Vow So Bold and Deadly is exactly what I wanted in a finale. It was epic, full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, with amazing characters that I absolutely adored.
About the Book: This is the final book in the Cursebreakers series, following all four of our previous POV characters as they head towards that inevitable conclusion that we’ve been dreading.
Keep Reading For My Full Review and Rating!
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I feel like every year, there are just more and more new releases that I’m dying to read.
2020 has some impressive books lined up, and I would love to talk about all of them, but that would take days. Instead, I’ve decided to highlight my 20 most anticipated 2020 releases, and throw in an extra 140 amazing releases separated in lists so that you can check all of them out on your own!
Speaking of separate lists- I tried to organize these… somewhat. There are 4 different sections of releases:
New Series– the book is the first in a soon-to-be series
Sequels & Prequels– the book is a continuation of a series that has at least one book in it already
Standalones– the book has little to no affiliation with a series and can be read alone
The Untitled Section– can include any of those types of books above, but all of these books don’t have titles. I don’t know why I felt that needed a category, but I wanted to make one.
[ Related: 19 Best Debut Novels of 2019 (Recommendation Nation) ]
Release Date: 2/4/2020
Series: All The Stars and Teeth #1
Genre: YA Fantasy (Pirates)
Publisher: Imprint
Page Count: 384
When Princess Amora’s demonstration to prove her mastery of soul magic goes awry, she strikes a deal with a pirate, Bastian. In return for helping her prove she is fit for the throne, she must help him reclaim the magic that was stolen from him. I’ve been so excited for this book for years now, and I can’t wait to finally read it! Also, it comes out on my birthday, so I can tell this year is gonna be a good one.
Release Date: 2/4/2020
Series: Queen’s Secret #1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons
Page Count: 384
Caledon is the Queen’s only assassin, and the kingdom’s deadliest weapon. Shadow dreams of becoming an assassin like him, training to join the Guild, while also learning to control her magic that is forbidden in the kingdom. When an attack brings the two of them together, they must team up to hunt down Renovia’s newest threat.
Release Date: 3/3/2020
Series: The Last Hours #1
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Page Count: 544
Yet another new series in Cassandra Clare’s world of Shadowhunters. Chain of Gold takes place in Edwardian London, following the children of Will and Tessa Herondale- James and Lucie- as well as Cordelia Carstairs, whose name may sound familiar if you’ve read the The Dark Artifices series.
Read more for all of my most anticipated releases of 2020!! Trust me, you don’t want to miss them!
*I received an ARC at BookCon. All quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change.*
Overall: 4/5 Stars
Characters: 3/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4/5
Awesomeness Factor: 3/5
Review in a Nutshell: A Heart So Fierce and Broken is, overall, a great read, but some aspects left me conflicted.
“There is no path here. I feel as though the curse never ended. The players simply changed.”
[ Related: A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer- I’m So Glad I Finally Read It!! (Review) ]
// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Torture, Anxiety, Suicide Mention, Self Harm Mention, Rape Mention, Animal Death, War Themes, Mental Illness, PTSD //
Release Date: 1/7/2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 491
A Heart So Fierce and Broken is the sequel to A Curse So Dark and Lonely, this focusing on Grey, Rhen’s loyal guard who is on the run, and Lia Mara, the daughter of the queen of a rival kingdom.
“Choices are never easy. There are good or bad options, but the most dangerous is not to make any choice at all.”
Read more for all of my thoughts on A Heart So Fierce and Broken!
*Cue shock that 2019 is ending*
We all know what happens at the end of the year- the “Best of” lists start coming in. Well, I may be a little late to the party, but of course I had to make one! There were a lot of amazing books that came out this year, and I really want to talk about all of them. And by all of them, I mean 19 of them because I only have so much time on my hands.
Before we get started, I just want to let you know that this list won’t be including debut novels that were released this year. I actually have a whole separate list featuring my favorite debuts, so make sure you check that out!
[ Related: 19 Best Debut Novels of 2019 (Recommendation Nation) ]
Release Date: 10/8/2019
Series: Into The Crooked Place #1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Count: 384
Purchase: Indiebound | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
[ Click Here For My Full Review! ]
(I’m actually still reading this, but based on how much I’ve read so far, I know this book deserves a spot on the list)
Into The Crooked Place is Alexandra Christo’s sophomore novel, following her 2018 release To Kill A Kingdom, which was one of my favorite releases of that year. However, this book is very different from its predecessor, but definitely not in a bad way. It’s got major Six of Crows vibes, with four different protagonists who are entrenched in fantasy criminal underground, but it has plenty of factors that make it stand out.
Release Date: 1/15/2019
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA Retelling (Fantasy | East of the Sun, West of the Moon)
Page Count: 389
Purchase: Indiebound | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
[ Click Here For My Full Review! ]
I have to admit, I didn’t know much about “East of the Sun, West of the Moon”, the story that Echo North is a retelling of, but this book got me obsessed with it. If you, like me, don’t know much about it, the best way I can describe it is that it’s like “Beauty and the Beast” mixed with the story of Cupid/Eros and Psyche, but with an epic quest. Echo North is a unique take on this fairy tale with gorgeous writing and a fascinating setting.
Looking for some new books to read? Keep reading for all of my recommendations!
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