Bookworms Unite: Five New Books To Look Out For This Year And Why

There are hundreds of books coming out this year and I suggest you read them all, I know I’ll try. Books are perhaps one of the best forms of escapism, the minute you open up a book and start reading you’re transported to a different place where your imagination runs rampant. So I have here a list of five rather highly anticipated novels of 2014, mostly of the Young Adult, Sci-Fi and/or Fantasy persuasion,  and why I, in particular, am looking forward to them. This is a spoiler free zone, for any books that are part of a series I promise not to spoil preceding books. Now on with the list dear reader!

Photo courtesy of Goodreads
Photo courtesy of Goodreads


Raging Star
 
part of the ‘Dust Lands’ trilogy by Moira Young.

When: April/May 15th 2014 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Why: Blood Red Road and Rebel Heart were both engrossing and although Moira Young may have an interesting way of writing that takes some getting used to, the payoff is quite worth it. After the events of Rebel Heart it would be an absolute travesty to not find out what happens next, as Raging Star is the final instalment of the ‘Dust Lands’ trilogy and will address the lurch Rebel Heart leaves you as a reader. If the first two books are anything to go by Raging Star is set to be a doozy. If you haven’t read Blood Red Road I highly recommend you give it a shot and don’t look back once you start.

Photo courtesy of Little Brown
Photo courtesy of Little, Brown & Company


Dreams of Gods & Monsters
 
part of the ‘Daughter of Smoke & Bone’ trilogy by Laini Taylor.

When: April 8th 2014 by Little, Brown & Company

Why: If you haven’t read the Daughter of Smoke Bone and Days of Blood & Starlight, I suggest you do so before the 3rd book is released this year. The imagery is rather beautiful and the plot rather intriguing but what appeals to me most of all is the influence of mythology and lore from our world on the world Taylor has built for her readers. We have a kickass heroine and some well-developed characters but also an onslaught of feels from about half-way through the first book that hasn’t yet let up. As the final in the ‘Daughter of Smoke & Bone’ trilogy, Dreams of Gods & Monsters has a quite the job to do in resolving any and all issues set up in the first two books and perhaps, hopefully, providing its readers with some closure.

Photo courtesy of Goodreads
Photo courtesy of Goodreads


The World of Ice and Fire
by George R. R. Martin and Westeros.org founders Elio M. Garcia and Linda Antonssen.

When: October 28th 2014 by Bantam

Why: If you’re a fan of the book series ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’, as well as the TV Show Game of Thrones, and want to be as well-versed in Westeros as Martin himself, then this companion volume, known as a ‘world book’, is exactly what you never knew you needed. Originally scheduled for release in 2013 and pushed back to this year, as the novel became more than a ‘history of Westeros’ as Martin’s contribution grew. Martin himself describes the book as “a compendium of the history and legends of the world of Westeros.” Advising us that it will also contain “never-before revealed details of Aegon’s Conquest, the War With the Faith, The Dance of the Dragons, the Paramours of Aegon the Unworthy, etc.” Fans of both the show and the series will love it, and I certainly can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.


Untitled 3rd book
in the ‘Penryn & the End of Days’ trilogy by Susan Ee.

When: June 5th by Skyscape

Why: Ee’s series about a 17-year-old girl trying to survive a post-apocalyptic world overrun by douche-bag angels was something I never expected to like as much as I did. However, as a fan of Supernatural, I shouldn’t have been so surprised. Although not yet titled the 3rd, and final, book in this trilogy should be just as action-packed as the first two. The heroine is a quick-witted girl just trying to keep her family alive in the worst of times, sound familiar? I just like strong female characters, okay? Sure the angels are hot, when are they not? (Looks up at ‘Daughter of Smoke & Bone’, okay there are a few examples.) But that’s not all this trilogy has going for it.

Photo courtesy of Katherine Tegen Books
Photo courtesy of Katherine Tegen Books

The Castle Behind Thorns by Merrie Haskell.

When: May 27th 2014 by Katherine Tegen Books

Why: Because it sounds interesting and I’m keen for a fantasy set in a castle at this point- Martin’s Winds of Winter is still a long way off and the other books on this list have been very post-apocalyptic in their scopes. Granted when I read the synopsis for The Castle Behind Thorns I decided the inital premise sounded a tad like The Maze Runner but the fact that it’s set in a fantasy world with magic means I plan to let this slide. Especially when the basis for this comparison stems, pun not intended, from the first sentence: “When Sand wakes up alone in a long-abandoned castle, he has no idea how he got there.” The rest of the synopsis speaks of magic, a lost heir and castle secrets.

There you have it, five books I’m looking forward to getting my hands on. However I know for a fact that there are so many more awesome books coming out this year that I’ve neglected to mention. So if you feel I’ve missed out a book you’re absolutely dying to read, but won’t be released until this year, let us know in the comments. If it’s part of a series that I haven’t yet read I will read it just so I can commiserate with you.

Honourable Mention:

There’s an ‘as yet untitled’ John Green novel being published this year. We know nothing about it other than the fact that it’s set to be released to the world in 2014. But ask any any Nerdfighter or avid reader of Green’s work, and they’ll tell you that it will probably be witty, funny and will ultimately break your heart. Can’t wait.

Are there any other books you are particularly looking forward to this year? We would love to hear about them

Mata Haunts
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