The Fandom’s Most Anticipated YA Books: February 2017

Listed in alphabetical order.

Besides having some of the best book covers around, V.E. Schwab‘s Shades of Magic series is smart, sexy, and seriously enchanting. The author has teased this conclusion so much that we’re pretty much ready to burst!

London’s fall and kingdoms rise while darkness sweeps the Maresh Empire—and the fraught balance of magic blossoms into dangerous territory while heroes and foes struggle alike. The direct sequel to A Gathering of Shadows, and the final book in the Shades of Magic epic fantasy series, A Conjuring of Light sees Schwab reach a thrilling culmination concerning the fate of beloved protagonists—and old enemies.

Out February 21st. Pre-order now via Amazon.

 

Victoria Aveyard nearly killed us with the end of Glass Sword, so now we’re desperate to see how things go for Mare now that she finds herself in King Maven’s control. And we expect more awesome powers, major battles, and amazing character moments!

Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother’s web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.

As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare’s heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.

When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down.

Out February 7th. Pre-order now via Amazon.

 

In a time when empathy and political discourse are really going off the rails, Angie Thomas‘ debut novel this offers perspective on race, police brutality, the damnation of public opinion, and the Black Lives Matter movement feels more necessary than ever. We’re going to do our best to read with open eyes and open hearts.

Sixteen-year-old Starr lives in two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she was born and raised and her posh high school in the suburbs. The uneasy balance between them is shattered when Starr is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, Khalil, by a police officer. Now what Starr says could destroy her community. It could also get her killed. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this is a powerful and gripping YA novel about one girl’s struggle for justice.

Out February 28th. Pre-order now via Amazon.

 

If you need some ladies rising up and taking action, this novel is one for you. Fallon is a Celtic warrior princess, but when she’s captured and enslaved in Rome, every battle becomes life or death. Surrounded by a vast new culture, Fallon must make a name for herself as a gladiatrix, defeat her foes, and manipulate the city’s socialites to survive. We already had a chance to read this one and we loved it. Review coming soon!

The youngest daughter of a proud Celtic king, Fallon has always lived in the shadow of her older sister Sorcha’s legendary reputation as a warrior. But when Fallon was a young child, the armies of Julius Caesar invaded the island of Britain and her beloved older sister was killed in battle.

On the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Fallon is excited to follow in her sister’s footsteps and earn her rightful place in her father’s royal war band. But she never gets the chance. Instead, Fallon is captured by a band of ruthless brigands who sell her to an exclusive training school for female gladiators—and its most influential patron is none other than Julius Caesar himself. In a cruel twist of fate, Fallon’s worst enemy, the man who destroyed her family, might be her only hope of survival.

Now, Fallon must overcome vicious rivalries, chilling threats and the dangerous attention of Caesar himself to survive the deadly fights that take place both in and out of the arena—and claim her place in history among the Valiant.

Out February 14th. Pre-order now via Amazon.

 

My love for The Labyrinth as a child was almost embarrassing, so when I heard a more classic retelling of the story was coming our way, I was ENTHUSIASTIC to say the least. Wintersong offers up plenty of originality within the context of a story we love and I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

All her life, nineteen-year-old Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, mysterious Goblin King. He is the Lord of Mischief, the Ruler Underground, and the muse around which her music is composed. Yet, as Liesl helps shoulder the burden of running her family’s inn, her dreams of composition and childish fancies about the Goblin King must be set aside in favor of more practical concerns.

But when her sister Käthe is taken by the goblins, Liesl journeys to their realm to rescue her sister and return her to the world above. The Goblin King agrees to let Käthe go—for a price. The life of a maiden must be given to the land, in accordance with the old laws. A life for a life, he says. Without sacrifice, nothing good can grow. Without death, there can be no rebirth. In exchange for her sister’s freedom, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King. He accepts.

Down in the Underground, Liesl discovers that the Goblin King still inspires her—musically, physically, emotionally. Yet even as her talent blossoms, Liesl’s life is slowly fading away, the price she paid for becoming the Goblin King’s bride. As the two of them grow closer, they must learn just what it is they are each willing to sacrifice: her life, her music, or the end of the world.

Out February 7th. Pre-order now via Amazon.

By Molly

Molly is a proud Canadian who is currently attending university in Scotland. She loves to read, write, watch films, and talk about Sarah J. Maas books. If not snuggled up with a book, Molly can usually be found tapping at the dance studio, or writing yet another essay.