Since summer has ended and school has begun (today marks the end of the second week, I thought I'd compile a list of books I'm looking forward to reading in the next six months:
A Whole New World: A Twisted Tale by Liz Braswell (September 1, 2015)
While there is a plethora of retellings of certain fairy tales - Cinderella and Snow White, for example - other classic stories haven't been rewritten nearly as much. I'm excited to read this version of Aladdin where Jafar gets ahold of the lamp first and a revolution is sparked.
Lock and Mori by Heather W. Petty (September 15, 2015)
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I love the BBC show Sherlock. I also love the original Sherlock Holmes stories, and while I tend to dislike modern screen adaptations other than Sherlock (because nothing is as amazing), I'm eagerly awaiting the release of this novel adaptation that imagines Sherlock and Moriarty as London high school students.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (September 15, 2015)
I'm pretty pumped to read the first novel in Leigh Bardugo's newest series (which takes place in the same universe as the Grisha series... so we might see more of Sturmhond/Nikolai Lantsov, which I would make me one very happy book blogger).
The White Rose by Amy Ewing (October 6, 2015)
I recently read The Jewel (the first book in the Lonely City series) and was intrigued - it combined dystopia, magic, and bioethics (think A Handmaid's Tale meets the Selection). I'm definitely excited to read the sequel and see what has become of Violet and the new world outside of the Jewel.
Spinning Starlight by R. C. Lewis (October 6, 2015)
As stated above, I like retelling of fairy tales - especially retellings of lesser known tales. Spinning Starlight is based off of The Wild Swans, a fantastic but lesser-known fairy-tale (Birdwing, another one of my favorites, is based off the same story); I've heard very good things about Stitching Snow, which Spinning Starlight is a companion book to, so I'm planning on reading that as well.
The Chess Queen Enigma by Colleen Gleason (October 6, 2015)
I love the Stoker and Holmes novels (the niece of Sherlock Holmes and the sister of Bram Stoker team up in an alternate-history steampunk Victorian London to solve crime, kill vampires, and fight misogyny - what's not to love?) so yeah, I'm pretty excited for the third installment in the series.
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (October 6, 2015)
Fangirl is one of my favorite books - Cath is incredibly relatable, and we share similar sentiments on college, fandoms, and people in general. While the readers were offered short glimpses of Cath's epic fanfiction, Carry On, throughout Fangirl, we never received the full story...until now. Needless to say, I can hardly wait for the release of Carry On this fall.
A Thousand Nights by E. K. Johnston (October 6, 2015)
As previously stated, I especially love retellings of lesser known fairy tales, so I'm eagerly anticipating the release of this spin on One Thousand and One Nights (which, save for the amazing The Wrath and the Dawn, hasn't been a recipient of the YA-retelling-love very much).
Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl (October 13, 2015)
An original Black Widow novel by Margaret Stohl of Beautiful Creatures fame? Enough said.
Neverseen by Shannon Messenger (November 3, 2015)
I unabashedly adore the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, and just because it's middle grade doesn't mean it isn't as fantastic as any of the other series on here. Neverseen is the fourth (and possibly last) book in the series, and I'm not sure I can make it until November...but I'll be forced to.
Winter by Marissa Meyer (November 10, 2015)
I've already explained my love for the Lunar Chronicles in my review of the awesome villain-backstory-prequel Fairest, but I'm still excited to see more of Luna and the fantastical sci-fi world of the series when the final book, Winter, is released this fall.
Soundless by Richelle Mead (November 20, 2015)
Set in a village without sound, Soundless explores Chinese folklore against a fantastical backdrop of fantasy and adventure. I'm excited for the book for so many reasons: an intriguing plotline, fantasy and magic, and the fact that the folklore it's based off of is not European (traditional folklore from continents and cultures outside of European tends to be pretty scarce, especially in YA).
See How They Run by Ally Carter (January 5, 2015)
Ally Carter (of Gallagher Girls and Heist Society fame) just started a new YA series, Embassy Row, last January with All Fall Down (you can read my review of it here). Exploring international politics and diplomacy through the eyes of the granddaughter of an American dignitary, All Fall Down did a brilliant job of exploring the delicacy and secrecy of international politics; I can't wait for the release of the next book in the series, See How They Run, this January.
Salt To The Sea by Ruta Sepetys (February 9, 2015)
Ruta Sepetys, famed for her deeply moving books Between Shades of Grey (exploring Stalin's ethnic cleansing in Lithuania during WWII) and Out of the Easy (the heartbreaking story of the hardworking daughter of a prostitute in 1950's New Orleans who fights tooth and nail to escape the French Quarter and go to college), is releasing a new novel exploring another tragedy: the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff during World War II. I already know that it'll be moving and brilliant, all at the same time.
Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard (February 9, 2015)
Red Queen (arguably one of the biggest YA breakout hits of 2015) was amazing, and I expect no less from Glass Sword, its highly anticipated sequel. Combining fantasy and dystopia, the Red Queen series is phenomenal and sure to please.
I hope you enjoyed my list of upcoming releases! Let me know what books you're looking forward to reading in the upcoming months in the comments or on Twitter @YALitFrenzy .
Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.