Most Anticipated New Releases, January–June 2019

January 8, 2019 Top Ten Tuesday 10

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature/meme now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. The meme was originally the brainchild of The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Most Anticipated Books of the First Half of 2019.

As usual, the new releases I’m most excited to read in the next six months are an eclectic lot: mysteries both historical and cozy, historical romance and romantic suspense, and fantasy of various subgenres and age levels.

I’ve listed them here in publication order by date:

 

  • A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer (A Curse So Dark and Lonely #1), 1/29/19. A Beauty and the Beast retelling with a twist: the disabled heroine is from our world. I love B&B retellings, and something about the descriptions of this one appeals to me.
  • Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert (Blue Ridge Mysteries #3), 2/12/19. The third in a cozy mystery series I’ve really been enjoying, set in my home state. (Reviews of book 1; book 2)
  • Thornbound by Stephanie Burgis (Harwood Spellbook #2), 2/14/19 (cover not yet released.) I loved Snowspelled (review), the first book in this alt-history fantasy romance series. Elves and dangerous magic in an alt-regency-era Britain where women are the political Powers and men’s sphere is magic. Enchanting!
  • The Vanishing Man by Charles Finch (Charles Lenox Mysteries, Prequel #2),  2/19/19. The Charles Lenox mysteries are among the best historical mysteries I’ve come across; his plotting is meticulous (and compelling) and his prose is reserved but sensitive… much like his protagonist. I’ve loved every book I’ve read so far. (Reviews of book 1,book 2, book 3, book 7, book 8, book 9, book 10, the Christmas novella, and the first prequel, The Woman in the Water.)

 

  • Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas (Ravenels #5), 2/26/19. Ravenels meet Wallflowers (again!) as Evie and Sebastian’s daughter widowed daughter Phoebe falls in love with reformed reprobate West Ravenel. I can’t wait!
  • Cyanide with Christie by Katherine Bolger Hyde (Crime with the Classics #3), 3/01/19. This is another cozy mystery series I’ve really enjoyed. I’m currently reading the ARC, so I debated putting on my “most anticipated” list (because I’m no longer anticipating; I’m already reading it!) (Review of book 2.)
  • A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn (Veronica Speedwell #4), 3/12/19. This Victorian-era historical mystery series stars a highly-connected and most unconventional heroine (by Victorian standards) and a hero who has likewise stepped outside the rules of Victorian high society. The series is witty, suspenseful, and well-plotted, and the partnership between the main characters simmers with unresolved romantic tension. Delicious! (Review of book 1.)

 

  • Once and Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy (Once and Future #1), 3/26/19. A genderbent future-fantasy retelling of the Arthurian myths, with lots of POC and LGBTQIA representation. It’s getting mixed reviews as regards pacing and writing, but I’ve been a fan of the Arthurian myths since middle school, and a female reincarnation of Arthur on a future Earth is just too intriguing to pass up.
  • Dragonfell by Sarah Prineas, 3/26/19. A “middle grade fantasy stand-alone novel that pits magic against modernity as factories and industry weaken the once-majestic dragons, whose fate rests in the hands of two independent young heroes.” Given my affinity for dragons and my affection for good middle-grade fantasy, how can I not read this?
  • Tightrope by Amanda Quick (Burning Cove #3), 5/07/19. Quick is one of my auto-read authors, as in, I’ll read pretty much anything she writes. I enjoyed the first two books in this historical romantic suspense series set in 1930s California; they’re not deep but they’re absorbing. (Review of book 1.)

 

Which new books are you looking forward to?

Related Posts

10 Responses to “Most Anticipated New Releases, January–June 2019”

    • Lark_Bookwyrm

      I love this series! But to answer your question, “in order” is a little tough to determine for this series. Do you start with the prequels, or with the original book 1? Finch completed 10 books, then decided to write several from early in his detective’s career: in other words, before book 1. If I were starting now, I think I would read them in publication order, beginning with A Beautiful Blue Death (the original “book 1”) and going through book 10 and the Christmas novella, then go back for the prequels, but you could begin with the prequels. The books do follow the main character’s life, by which I mean that the years pass and his various relationships change and develop. I wouldn’t read the whole series out of order unless you’re ok with knowing ahead of time things like who the main character is going to marry.

      Personally, I started with book 7, simply because I was offered a review copy. I didn’t have a problem reading them out of order, but I’m not too bothered by spoilers of that sort. (I’d rather not spoil the mystery, but I’m ok with details about the main character’s life.)

  2. Melissa (My World...in words and pages)

    I’ve seen a few of these anticipation posts. It’s bringing to my attention a few great books to come that I didn’t know of. Thank you!

  3. Rita @ View From the Books

    Nice selection. Several I’d like to look into further. I once read half of the first Charles Finch book in the series but didn’t continue, but now that I’m on my historical fiction and HF mysteries kick, I should give it another try. I might be more open to the premise. Lisa Kleypas can be fun too– I’ve read 3 of hers, but awhile ago. Enjoy them, Lark!