Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2019

Ahh, the mid-year mark! The one where I look through the bookish goals I set myself, evaluate how much I’m failing them, judge my reading progress so far, and complete the Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag. Now one question that threw me was the one asking “your most anticipated releases for the second half of 2019?” A few came to mind, but looking through all the books on my wishlist afterwards made me realise there’s so many I’m waiting (im)patiently for. So why not talk about them some more?

I could’ve been helpful and listed these in chronological order, but by the time I realised that would be a good idea I’d kind of already yelled by way through half of them so…enjoy? I have listed the release date next to the Goodreads link though, so at least I’m giving you something, right?

Let me know if any of these are on your wishlist, or if there are any you think I should add!

The Starless Sea

by Erin Morgenstern

Zachary is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovered a mysterious book hidden in the stacks of others. He becomes entranced with the story inside, until it suddenly turns to a recognisable one…the story of his life. When trying to discover how his life came to be recorded, he comes across a series of clues that lead him into stranger places each time.

This book just sounds weird and wonderful. Seriously, go read the Goodreads description if you don’t believe me because it goes even further into the stranger details. NowI have to admit, I’m…unsure what I’ll think of this one. But if you know me at all then you’ll know that The Night Circus is one of my all-time favourite books, and this is the only other story Erin Morgenstern has released since. So I have to read it. And I’m excited (but also slightly terrified).

Goodreads | Released: November 5th

We Hunt The Flame

by Hafsah Faizal

Zafira is a skilled hunter, disguising herself as a man to sneak into the forest and catch food for her people. She cannot be discovered as a girl. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating on behalf of his father. He cannot display an ounce of compassion, lest he risk the brutal punishment of his father. Both are legendary figures, yet neither wants to be. And with a brewing war sending them both on a journey to discover a lost artefact, their paths cross in the most dangerous of ways…

I’m itching to get my hands on this. So much so, I requested a copy from the publisher but unfortunately lucked out this time. So my anticipation continues. From what I can tell, this book falls on the younger side of YA, and everybody who was lucky enough to read it already is yelling about how good it is. I need to see why!

Goodreads | Released: August 8th

Illustrated Goblet of Fire

by JK Rowling and Jim Kay

Does this really need explaining? Honestly, the illustrated editions are the only Harry Potter related content/merch I’d buy now. But my gosh are they stunning. We didn’t get one last year, presumably because this is the first of the chunky books and so took a lot more time to illustrate. Either way, I’m excited to see how the Triwizard Tournament is drawn, especially the dragons. I always need more draconic content in my life.

Released: October 8th

Kingdom of Souls

by Rena Barron

Born into a powerful family of witchdoctors, Arrah yearns for magic of her own, but each year that passes marks another year gone without any sign of her ancestral powers. Getting more desperate, Arrah realises there’s one final thing she hasn’t tried – trading years of her life for a scrap of the magic she should feel. But Arrah soon uncovers something worse. A long imprisoned Demon King is rising, and unless Arrah pays the price for her magic to try and stop him, the world will be brought to its knees….

Erm hello?! I love anything to do with ancient magic, especially the powerful ancestral sort (yes I have preferences in these things, ok). And set in a West African inspired fantasy world, I’ve heard this is one steeped in rich world building. I. cannot. wait.

Although I might have to, because again this is one with no apparent paperback release. *sigh* Maybe I’ll give in and get the hardback. Or maybe I’ll see if my library can get it in. Either way, I want it.

Goodreads | Released: September 19th

Daughters of Nri

by Reni K Amayo

After a gruesome war marks the departure of the old gods from Earth, the only remnants of their existence lies in two girls – twins, separated at birth. Both girls begin a journey to find each other again, awakening a power deep within them as they do so…

Doesn’t that just sound amazing?! I can’t wait. Anything inspired by ancient mythology – this one being African mythology – wins my heart immediately. And if that hadn’t done so, the cover certainly would have done.

Goodreads | Released: October 1st

The Testaments

by Margaret Atwood

A sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale years after its release? Of course this has been dubbed a money-grab after the success of the TV show, but either way I’m intrigued. I didn’t love The Handmaid’s Tale – but I also can’t imagine where the story would go from there. So how do I find out? I read the damn book.

When the news of this was announced, I kind of jokingly suggested hosting a readathon for The Handmaid’s Tale before the release of The Testaments. Only, it got a massively positive response, so now it looks like I WILL be hosting a readathon. So, whether you haven’t read The Handmaid’s Tale before or if you want to reread it with me, stay tuned because apparently, I’ll be hosting a readathon lmao.

Goodreads | Released: September 10th

Ninth House

by Leigh Bardugo

Alex is an unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Having dropped out of school, worked dead end jobs and gotten involved with the shady world of drug dealing, people say Alex threw her life away. By age 20, however, she is the sole survivor of a homocide, and while laying in her hospital bed is offered a second chance – to attend one of the world’s most prestigious universities, no charge. On arriving, Alex is tasked with monitoring Yale’s secret societies, the haunts of the future rich and powerful. But once inside, these societies prove to be more occult and sinister than imagined…

Honestly, I thought I was done with Leigh Bardugo. I read the Grisha trilogy years ago, found it ok, read Six of Crows and never had the motivation to pick up Crooked Kingdom. And hey, that’s fine. But then this li’l one came along, her first adult book and – by the sound of it – distinctly not fantasy. But still, I wasn’t won over…until I heard it was a pretentious dark academia type book. And then I was SOLD.

I don’t know if I’ll get to this one right away because I’ll probably get the paperback, but the release date for that hasn’t come out yet. So maybe I’ll have to wait a bit longer, or borrow it from my library instead. But either way, it’s on my radar.

Goodreads | Released: October 1st

So those are my anticipated releases for the rest of 2019!

Let me know if any of these sound like your cup of tea, or if there are any I should definitely add to this list. I don’t usually keep up with releases, so it feels good to finally have a list aha!

Until next time,