March 2020 New Titles I’m Looking Forward to

Hello hello, friends! Welcome back to Adele Is Reading.

My “Most Anticipated Books of (Month/Year)” posts are a monthly post where I basically drool over, and talk a little about the books I’m excited to read that are going to be published very soon.

The covers and synopsis’ for these books mentioned will be from NetGalley & GoodReads.

This March, I really only have 9 books that I’m looking forward to.

Enjoy!

March 3rd

• Wicked As You Wish (A Hundred Names for Magic, #1) by Rin Chupeco | Young Adult, Fantasy, Fiction

Many years ago, the magical Kingdom of Avalon was left desolate and encased in ice when the evil Snow Queen waged war on the powerful country. Its former citizens are now refugees in a world mostly devoid of magic. Which is why the crown prince and his protectors are stuck in…Arizona.
Prince Alexei, the sole survivor of the Avalon royal family, is in hiding in a town so boring, magic doesn’t even work there. Few know his secret identity, but his friend Tala is one of them. Tala doesn’t mind—she has secrets of her own. Namely, that she’s a spellbreaker, someone who negates magic.
Then hope for their abandoned homeland reignites when a famous creature of legend, and Avalon’s most powerful weapon, the Firebird, appears for the first time in decades. Alex and Tala unite with a ragtag group of new friends to journey back to Avalon for a showdown that will change the world as they know it.

I freaking adore Rin Chupeco’s writing. So much so that I’m wanting to read everything that Rin Chupeco manages to publish (and then some).

Wicked as You Wish sounds like such a fun book that I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy! As the synopsis described, the journey/ adventure that Alex and Tala go on sounds like one hell of a ride!

• Havenfall (Havenfall, #1) by Sara Holland | Young Adult, Fantasy

A safe haven between four realms. The girl sworn to protect it — at any cost.

Hidden deep in the mountains of Colorado lies the Inn at Havenfall, a sanctuary that connects ancient worlds — each with their own magic — together. For generations, the inn has protected all who seek refuge within its walls, and any who disrupt the peace can never return.

For Maddie Morrow, summers at the inn are more than a chance to experience this magic first-hand. Havenfall is an escape from reality, where her mother sits on death row accused of murdering Maddie’s brother. It’s where Maddie fell in love with handsome Fiorden soldier Brekken. And it’s where one day she hopes to inherit the role of Innkeeper from her beloved uncle.

But this summer, the impossible happens–a dead body is found, shattering everything the inn stands for. With Brekken missing, her uncle gravely injured, and a dangerous creature on the loose, Maddie suddenly finds herself responsible for the safety of everyone in Havenfall. She’ll do anything to uncover the truth, even if it means working together with an alluring new staffer Taya, who seems to know more than she’s letting on. As dark secrets are revealed about the inn itself, one thing becomes clear to Maddie–no one can be trusted, and no one is safe…

When I first saw Havenfall on Netgalley I was at a loss of words….I mean, that cover!! It’s so freaking eye-catching. All I could do was stare at it for a minute.

Of course I ended up clicking on the cover to learn more about the book. What I ended up discovering was that Havenfall drew me in so freaking fast. I want to get my hands on a copy of this book ASAP so I can dive into Havenfall and know what happens.

• The June Boys, by Court Stevens | Young Adult, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

The Gemini Thief could be anyone. Your father, your mother, your best friend’s crazy uncle. Some country music star’s deranged sister. Anyone.

The Gemini Thief is a serial kidnapper, who takes three boys and holds them captive from June 1st to June 30th of the following year. The June Boys endure thirteen months of being stolen, hidden, observed, and fed before they are released, unharmed, by their masked captor. The Thief is a pro, having eluded authorities for nearly a decade and taken at least twelve boys.

Now Thea Delacroix has reason to believe the Gemini Thief took a thirteenth victim: her cousin, Aulus McClaghen.

But the game changes when one of the kidnapped boys turns up dead. Together with her boyfriend Nick and her best friends, Thea is determined to find the Gemini Thief and the remaining boys before it’s too late. Only she’s beginning to wonder something sinister, something repulsive, something unbelievable, and yet, not impossible:

What if her father is the Gemini Thief?

I ended up reading The June Thief via Netgalley (and The Fantastic Flying Book Club).

What I thought would happen, did not happen at all. Which meant that The June Boys was an entirely different read that I thought it’d be.

Check out my review + favourite quotes here!

MARCH 9th

• The Raven and The Dove (The Raven and The Dove, #1) by Kaitlyn Davis | Sci-Fi, Retelling, Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Four fates collide in this avian-inspired, epic fantasy retelling of Tristan and Isolde perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo!

A princess longing to be free…

On the dawn of her courtship trials, Princess Lyana Aethionus knows she should be focused on winning her perfect mate, yet her thoughts wander to the open sky waiting at the edge of her floating kingdom. One final adventure calls. Upon fleeing the palace, the last thing she expects to find is a raven prince locked in a death match with a dragon.

A bastard aching to belong…

Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials. When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him.

Fate brought them together, now destiny will tear them apart…

Unknown to the world above, on the foggy sea ten thousand feet below, a young king fights a forgotten war. He believes Lyana is the queen prophesied to save the world, and with the help of his favored spy, hidden deep in the highest ranks of the dove royal house, he will stop at nothing to have her.

Three shocking betrayals. Two star-crossed lovers. One unforgettable journey. If you like fierce heroines, brooding heroes, forbidden romance, and action-packed magical adventures with twists you’ll never see coming, don’t miss The Raven and the Dove!

Low-key, I’ve been wanting to read The Raven and The Dove for sooooo long now. I’ve had my eye on a galley of the book for a few weeks (as when I’ve posted this) and….I kinda can’t stop thinking about it? I love the cover, I am spellbound by the synopsis…gah! I have got to read The Raven and The Dove!

If you’ve read The Raven and The Dove already, what’re your thoughts on it?

MARCH 10th

• The Dying Wolf (Familiar Empire, #02) by G. Bailey | Reverse Harem, Urban Fantasy

I’m Anastasia Noble, and atfer becoming a familiar, I thought I’d found my home. I was wrong.

The famous Familiar Empire is full of secrets but none as deadly as my own past that is slowly creeping up on me.
Alexander, Liam and Mason made a vow that means they cannot help me now.
No matter what they promised.
But can my angel in the shadows guide my way?

Welcome to the world of the Familiars…where no one has seen the worst yet to come.

18+ RH Romance

I’m a sucker for Reverse Harem romance. So much so that I’ve actually created a category here on Adele Is Reading, for all the Reverse Harem I’ve read (and plan to read).  The first book to the Familiar Empire series was ….. an explosive read. I’m always diving into Bailey’s stories headfirst, and I was the exact same way with The Missing Wolf.

With how The Missing Wolf ended, I’m very interested in reading The Dying Wolf as soon as I can. Like, I was counting down the days to when I could read The Dying Wolf. I actually expect that this second Familiar Empire novel will be…eye-opening for the character, as well as heartbreaking as I believe that there’s going to be a lot of sibling rivalry to work and get passed.

Other than that, I really don’t know what to expect from The Dying Wolf, and I can’t wait to find out.

• My Date with a Wendigo by Genevieve McCluer | Fantasy, LGBT

Elizabeth Rosseau and Abigail Lester were best friends. At twenty-one, they confess their feelings for each other before leaving for winter break. It should have been a love story, only Abigail never came back.
Six years later, Elizabeth contacts her one last time, and to her surprise, Abigail answers. Their chemistry is undeniable, but Abigail is hesitant to see her in person. She was in an accident that left her a monster, a wendigo. Now she’s in a support group for other inhuman cannibals and is mostly convinced that she could avoid eating Elizabeth, but Abigail doesn’t trust herself, and even more, she’s terrified that if Elizabeth finds out the truth, she’ll never want to see her again.
They want nothing more than to be together, but they belong to different worlds, different lives, and different food groups.

I was so excited to read My Date with a Wendigo that I requested this book as an ARC, but sadly, was denied. Nevertheless! I’m expecting to get my hands on a copy as soon as the 10th rolls around. I’m probably going to see if I can get a copy of this book through Kobo or Am@zon KU.

I’m a huge fan of Fantasy romance so I have high expectations for My Date with a Wendigo.

March 17th

• Crush the King (Crown of Shards, #3) by Jennifer Estep | Fiction, Fantasy

A fierce gladiator queen must face off against her enemies in an epic battle in this next thrilling installment of New York Timesand USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep’s Crown of Shards series—an action-packed adventure full of magic, murderous machinations, courtly intrigue, and pulse-pounding romance.

Queen Everleigh Blair of Bellona has survived the mass murder of the royal family, become a fearsome warrior trained by an elite gladiator troupe, and unleashed her ability to destroy magic. After surviving yet another assassination attempt orchestrated by the conniving king of Morta, Evie has had enough. It’s time to turn the tables and take the fight to her enemies.

There is no better opportunity to strike than during the Regalia Games, a time when warriors, nobles, and royals from all the kingdoms come together to compete in various sporting events. With the help of her loyal friends, Evie goes on the attack at the Regalia, but things don’t turn out the way she hopes. Soon, she is facing a terrifying new threat, and she will have to dig deep and learn even more about her growing magic if she has any chance of defeating her foes.

Because to secure her throne and ensure her kingdom’s survival, Evie must think like a true Bellonan: she must outsmart and outwit her enemies . . . and crush the king.

I haven’t got much to say about Crush the King because I just realized that Crush the King is the third book in the trilogy, and I haven’t yet read the second book, Protect the Prince. Soooo, I’m going to read the second Crown of Shards novel ASAP.

I haven’t even read the synopsis for Crush the King yet, because I don’t want to spoil myself for anything….

• Smoke Bitten (Mercy Thompson, #12) by Patricia Briggs | Urban Fantasy, Adult, Fiction

Mercy Thompson, car mechanic and shapeshifter, faces a threat unlike any other in this thrilling entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

I am Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman.
My only “superpowers” are that I turn into a thirty-five pound coyote and fix Volkswagens. But I have friends in odd places and a pack of werewolves at my back. It looks like I’m going to need them.

Centuries ago, the fae dwelt in Underhill–until she locked her doors against them. They left behind their great castles and troves of magical artifacts. They abandoned their prisoners and their pets. Without the fae to mind them, those creatures who remained behind roamed freely through Underhill wreaking havoc. Only the deadliest survived.

Now one of those prisoners has escaped. It can look like anyone, any creature it chooses. But if it bites you, it controls you. It lives for chaos and destruction. It can make you do anything–even kill the person you love the most. Now it is here, in the Tri-Cities. In my territory.

It won’t, can’t, remain.

Not if I have anything to say about it.

I’m so excited for Smoke Bitten! I love the Mercy Thompson series—I love the characters all around, and I absolutely adore that when Mercy gets into trouble (and she undoubtedly will), Mercy will always come out of it. I love the support she has around her, and I’m in love with the fact that the story keeps on going. Honestly, I love this series too much for it to end.

It will be a while until I read Smoke Bitten, and that is because I’m 100% petty and want to buy a Massmarket Paperback edition to match the previous 10 or 11 Massmarket editions I already own.

March 24th

• The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo | Fantasy, LGBT, Novella

With the heart of an Atwood tale and the visuals of a classic Asian period drama The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a tightly and lushly written narrative about empire, storytelling, and the anger of women.

A young royal from the far north is sent south for a political marriage. Alone and sometimes reviled, she has only her servants on her side. This evocative debut chronicles her rise to power through the eyes of her handmaiden, at once feminist high fantasy and a thrilling indictment of monarchy.

I’m interested in The Empress of Salt and Fortune because why wouldn’t I be?! What catches my attention the most is the last sentence of the synopsis. I can’t wait to see what will happen! The Empress of Salt and Fortune is only 112 pages long, so if I do end up reading it, it’ll be a fast read.

Have you read any of the mentioned books? If you have, what did you think of them? Are there any books that you’d recommend to me based on the titles listed in this post?

Thank you for stopping by!

See you soon, and Happy Reading!
Adele