New Books We Can’t Wait To Read: September 20
This week has plenty of new books, including some fresh YA offerings.
With news of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s divorce rocking the Internet, it’s time to retreat into a safer world. Yes, we’re talking about this week’s new books. Once again, there are hundreds of fresh titles to sift through, but we’ve narrowed it down to four this week, with some honorable mentions.
As per usual, title links will take you to Amazon. Also as per usual, we note that ebooks get delivered instantly, in case you just can’t wait two days for shipping or can’t get to a bookstore.
Three Dark Crowns
From Kendare Blake (Anna Dressed in Blood) comes this latest YA title. On the island of Fennbirn, three sisters are born. Each of them has a separate magical gift. Each is an heiress to the throne. However, only one can actually become queen, and she has to kill both of her sisters to do it. Once the three turn sixteen, it’s on. Goodreads reviews note that there are three separate points of view, one for each sister, and that it’s surprisingly dark for a YA novel. (Don’t worry, there are love interests, too.) HarperTeen; hardcover, 416 pages; list price: $17.99.
Magic Binds
Welcome back to the urban fantasy world of Kate Daniels. This time, author Ilona Andrews has gone for two pretty dangerous plots in this ninth entry in the series. First, Kate and former Beast Lord Curran are about to tie the knot, although a prophecy proclaims that Atlanta will burn should she marry the man she loves. Second, her father has kidnapped a demigod and is slowly killing said demigod for more power. (Generally speaking, killing demigods is a bad idea, but power’s so tempting, isn’t it?) One Goodreads review calls it Andrews’ best work to date. Basically, this series is a must-read for urban fantasy fans. Ace; hardcover, 336 pages; list price: $26.00.
Vassa in the Night
Also in the YA category is this retelling of a Russian fairy tale from Sarah Porter. Take the tale of “Vassilissa the Beautiful,” put it in Brooklyn, talk about the Brooklyn gentrification a little bit, add some magic (of course) and you get this book. One night, Vassa has to go out in the middle of the night for some lightbulbs. Never mind the curse on her neighborhood from local store owner Babs Yagg. According to Goodreads reviews, it goes for magical realism, and practically by necessity of the genre of magical realism, it’s a little weird, but still good. Tor Teen; hardcover, 304 pages; list price: $17.99.
Death’s End
Though Death’s End might not be magical realism, it will definitely have some weirdness to it if the previous two novels in Cixin Liu’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy are any indication. Although humanity has managed to repel the Trisolaran invasion, and the two civilizations seem to be reaching a harmonious co-existence, things may not be as rosy as they seem, especially when an engineer from the 21st century awakens from hibernation with dangerous knowledge. Ken Liu also returns to translate this work from the original Chinese. Start with The Three-Body Problem and The Dark Forest if you haven’t encountered this trilogy before, though. Goodreads praises its scope and scale. Tor Books; hardcover, 608 pages; list price: $26.99.
Next: Review: Empire of Storms, Sarah J. Maas
Also releasing this week is The Art of the Iron Giant, for fans of the animated classic. Fans of the website Atlas Obscura can also get their hands on the first book from its creators, Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras, and Ella Morton.
Which of these new books is first on your list? Also, keep an eye out: yours truly might be reviewing one or two of these selections here on Culturess.