2019 Books I am looking forward to.
So 2018 was a satisfying year for me - in terms of reading goals, I crept back to a yearly target of 40 + that I had missed last couple of years in a row. So this year, maybe I will up my target to 50 books.
And looking at the amazing spread ahead of me, I cannot resist myself! It's going to be another wonderful year with some fantastic titles coming out, some series-ending, some middle books, a few new series starters by ever-favorite authors and quite a few stand-alone books that promises the sun, moon and stars. Here's a few that I picked out, which I personally am quite kicked about.
This swirling chaotic and yet spellbinding tale of Man vs God ( vs Demons vs Zombies and lots more!) that is Tides of War, is heading off the cliff in this third installment and I am getting ring-side tickets to watch this madness. Brogan McTyre is a man on a mission, to slay the Gods. He doesn't really have a choice because the fickle capricious angry Gods are ending this world. and the Gates of the Dead is where this heady climax will play out. ( Jan 1st by Angry Robot)
John Gwynne stormed into my world early last year - with his new series, A Time of Dread that builds up on the last quartet that he won truck-loads of awards for. Rousing tale of heroes who raid against the new threats in the lands, it's a familiar fantasy story that almost seems familiar but John ups the ante significantly well with his mind blowing non-stop action and razor-wire narrative that takes no prisoners.
This book has a lot of hype going on for it by all the big names vouching for the crazy inventiveness in it's narrative and the unapologetic grim-dark layers around it. Gareth is sure to be a name to watch out for - I started reading this and it's a crazy ride, alright.
I confess I haven't read Jordana's first series but the premise of this, I just couldn't resist. A re-imagining of the early forages of the Vikings into North America, spun around on it's head and Jordana's clever bold imagination embellishing a coming-of-age story with local folklore. What more do you want, I ask?
This one's another hyped up novel - but the extracts i read from Tor books, mark it out to be a really special debut indeed. It could well turn out to be your new epic fantasy obsession! Start of a new series called War in Heaven series, the story follows a street thief turned Prince, who has to decide whether his new founded powers would lead him to save this world or plunge it straight unto an apocalyptic cataclysm.
End of the Books of Babel series, Hod King is an eagerly awaited conclusion by fans and writers alike. Acclaimed self publishing success story Josiah, whose books got picked up by Orbit went onto become a 2018 poster boy for writers - but with all good reasons. A highly original steampunk-ish fantasy story set in a bizarre but extremely fascinating world. [ And my goal also, is to pick up the first two books - Towers of Babel and the Sphinx Arm before April ]
African Game of Thrones? Brutal bloody politics? Man Booker 2016? I am so frickin' thrilled. Sign me up.
One of the best books of 2017, it is in 2019 that Daevabad beckons again. But now the world has expanded beyond just the City of Brass, into a full fledged kingdom. Lands beyond, Djinns and all sorts of fun elements of world building. This one's going to be as good as the debut or even better.
Ann Leckie having crushed Science Fiction, now turns her hand to full fledged epic fantasy - with malicious gods and ambitious lords. A God is speaking and we want to listen. What's not to love! Eagerly anticipated.
I am yet to jump onto this one, despite having got both the books in the series early last year. So many good books, so little time! A game of thrones set in the moon between mining business families, this is exciting stuff that I cannot wait to get into.
A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie
<No cover yet. Sept publication >
Good news! We might see the king of grim-dark, Joe Abercrombie back in action in our favorite world of First Law trilogy, yet again. With A Little Hatred. Six years have passed since Red Country came out. His foray into YA- wasn't too bad but our heart was always set in Adua and that world. Here's the possible cover copy - from his site.
“The chimneys of industry rise over Adua and the world seethes with new opportunities. But old scores run deep as ever.
On the blood-soaked borders of Angland, Leo dan Brock struggles to win fame on the battlefield, and defeat the marauding armies of Stour Nightfall. He hopes for help from the crown. But King Jezal’s son, the feckless Prince Orso, is a man who specialises in disappointments.
Savine dan Glokta – socialite, investor, and daughter of the most feared man in the Union – plans to claw her way to the top of the slag-heap of society by any means necessary. But the slums boil over with a rage that all the money in the world cannot control.
The age of the machine dawns, but the age of magic refuses to die. With the help of the mad hillwoman Isern-i-Phail, Rikke struggles to control the blessing, or the curse, of the Long Eye. Glimpsing the future is one thing, but with the guiding hand of the First of the Magi still pulling the strings, changing it will be quite another…”
I just LOVED Trail of Lightning - the world of Dinetah, Maggie the ferocious protagonist and her partner-in-crime Kai and all the other Gods and Monsters come alive post the Big Water. Cannot wait to get back in there - with the second book Storm of Locusts coming out in April.
Rosewater was one of the boldest and craziest re-imagining of our near-future. A story of alien-contact and the consequences thereof. Bizarre, wild and a rollicking ride - I cannot wait to see the rest of the wormwood trilogy and how Tade's brilliant imagination will work to twist this story in part two - Rosewater Insurrection.
I loved the Miriam Black series - thought honestly I didn't yet get back onto that band-wagon post Thunderbird came out. This book, though - touted to be Station Eleven meets The Stand has all the right vibes, packaged in Chuck's creepy deliciously dark writing style. July 2nd!
I have read two of Silvia's previous works and I am a huge fan. Signal to Noise and Beautiful Ones were two very different novels - and I loved Signal to Noise a lot better, set in the world of music tapes and magical mayhem in a 1980's mexico city. This book promises the Mayan undergrounds, prehispanic fairy-tales and 1920's Mexico city. With Jazz music to boot. What fun I say!!
There. I will keep adding onto this list as I get more updates - but what books are you amped up about, in 2019? Happy New Year, People. Its going to be GLORIOUS.
And looking at the amazing spread ahead of me, I cannot resist myself! It's going to be another wonderful year with some fantastic titles coming out, some series-ending, some middle books, a few new series starters by ever-favorite authors and quite a few stand-alone books that promises the sun, moon and stars. Here's a few that I picked out, which I personally am quite kicked about.
Gates of the Dead by James A Moore.
This swirling chaotic and yet spellbinding tale of Man vs God ( vs Demons vs Zombies and lots more!) that is Tides of War, is heading off the cliff in this third installment and I am getting ring-side tickets to watch this madness. Brogan McTyre is a man on a mission, to slay the Gods. He doesn't really have a choice because the fickle capricious angry Gods are ending this world. and the Gates of the Dead is where this heady climax will play out. ( Jan 1st by Angry Robot)
A Time of Blood by John Gwynne.
John Gwynne stormed into my world early last year - with his new series, A Time of Dread that builds up on the last quartet that he won truck-loads of awards for. Rousing tale of heroes who raid against the new threats in the lands, it's a familiar fantasy story that almost seems familiar but John ups the ante significantly well with his mind blowing non-stop action and razor-wire narrative that takes no prisoners.
The Gutter Prayer by Gareth Hanrahan
This book has a lot of hype going on for it by all the big names vouching for the crazy inventiveness in it's narrative and the unapologetic grim-dark layers around it. Gareth is sure to be a name to watch out for - I started reading this and it's a crazy ride, alright.
The Wolf in the Whale by Jordana Max Brodsky
I confess I haven't read Jordana's first series but the premise of this, I just couldn't resist. A re-imagining of the early forages of the Vikings into North America, spun around on it's head and Jordana's clever bold imagination embellishing a coming-of-age story with local folklore. What more do you want, I ask?
The Ruin of Kings by Jenny Lyons.
This one's another hyped up novel - but the extracts i read from Tor books, mark it out to be a really special debut indeed. It could well turn out to be your new epic fantasy obsession! Start of a new series called War in Heaven series, the story follows a street thief turned Prince, who has to decide whether his new founded powers would lead him to save this world or plunge it straight unto an apocalyptic cataclysm.
The Hod King by Josiah Bancroft
End of the Books of Babel series, Hod King is an eagerly awaited conclusion by fans and writers alike. Acclaimed self publishing success story Josiah, whose books got picked up by Orbit went onto become a 2018 poster boy for writers - but with all good reasons. A highly original steampunk-ish fantasy story set in a bizarre but extremely fascinating world. [ And my goal also, is to pick up the first two books - Towers of Babel and the Sphinx Arm before April ]
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
African Game of Thrones? Brutal bloody politics? Man Booker 2016? I am so frickin' thrilled. Sign me up.
Kingdom of Copper by S A Chakraborty
One of the best books of 2017, it is in 2019 that Daevabad beckons again. But now the world has expanded beyond just the City of Brass, into a full fledged kingdom. Lands beyond, Djinns and all sorts of fun elements of world building. This one's going to be as good as the debut or even better.
The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie
Ann Leckie having crushed Science Fiction, now turns her hand to full fledged epic fantasy - with malicious gods and ambitious lords. A God is speaking and we want to listen. What's not to love! Eagerly anticipated.
Luna: Moon Rising by Ian McDonald
I am yet to jump onto this one, despite having got both the books in the series early last year. So many good books, so little time! A game of thrones set in the moon between mining business families, this is exciting stuff that I cannot wait to get into.
A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie
<No cover yet. Sept publication >
Good news! We might see the king of grim-dark, Joe Abercrombie back in action in our favorite world of First Law trilogy, yet again. With A Little Hatred. Six years have passed since Red Country came out. His foray into YA- wasn't too bad but our heart was always set in Adua and that world. Here's the possible cover copy - from his site.
“The chimneys of industry rise over Adua and the world seethes with new opportunities. But old scores run deep as ever.
On the blood-soaked borders of Angland, Leo dan Brock struggles to win fame on the battlefield, and defeat the marauding armies of Stour Nightfall. He hopes for help from the crown. But King Jezal’s son, the feckless Prince Orso, is a man who specialises in disappointments.
Savine dan Glokta – socialite, investor, and daughter of the most feared man in the Union – plans to claw her way to the top of the slag-heap of society by any means necessary. But the slums boil over with a rage that all the money in the world cannot control.
The age of the machine dawns, but the age of magic refuses to die. With the help of the mad hillwoman Isern-i-Phail, Rikke struggles to control the blessing, or the curse, of the Long Eye. Glimpsing the future is one thing, but with the guiding hand of the First of the Magi still pulling the strings, changing it will be quite another…”
Storm of Locusts by Rebecca Roanhorse
I just LOVED Trail of Lightning - the world of Dinetah, Maggie the ferocious protagonist and her partner-in-crime Kai and all the other Gods and Monsters come alive post the Big Water. Cannot wait to get back in there - with the second book Storm of Locusts coming out in April.
Rosewater Insurrection by Tade Thompson
Rosewater was one of the boldest and craziest re-imagining of our near-future. A story of alien-contact and the consequences thereof. Bizarre, wild and a rollicking ride - I cannot wait to see the rest of the wormwood trilogy and how Tade's brilliant imagination will work to twist this story in part two - Rosewater Insurrection.
Wanderers by Chuck Wendig
I loved the Miriam Black series - thought honestly I didn't yet get back onto that band-wagon post Thunderbird came out. This book, though - touted to be Station Eleven meets The Stand has all the right vibes, packaged in Chuck's creepy deliciously dark writing style. July 2nd!
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Morena-Garcia
I have read two of Silvia's previous works and I am a huge fan. Signal to Noise and Beautiful Ones were two very different novels - and I loved Signal to Noise a lot better, set in the world of music tapes and magical mayhem in a 1980's mexico city. This book promises the Mayan undergrounds, prehispanic fairy-tales and 1920's Mexico city. With Jazz music to boot. What fun I say!!
There. I will keep adding onto this list as I get more updates - but what books are you amped up about, in 2019? Happy New Year, People. Its going to be GLORIOUS.
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