Am I the only person who finds it exceptionally difficult to get rid of books, ever? I have a number of books on my shelves that I actively despise. Whether that is because they were written poorly, they’re crammed full of spelling and grammatical errors, the characters are bland or the story is plain boring, I struggled through reading them. Still – it feels like the ultimate betrayal to all things bookish, to get rid, donate, recycle.

My partner has made me swear something though. We both hate living in cluttered houses and try to keep frivolous possessions to a minimum. Of course I don’t consider books frivolous – how dare you! I will concede however they can take up an extreme amount of space. So my other half has made me promise that every time I read a book and I don’t like it, I have to get rid. I can give it to a charity shop, add it to the community library in our building, it doesn’t matter but it does not get to stay in our flat.

Although I do sometimes still struggle with this, it does have one positive side-effect. My shelves are only full of books I genuinely enjoy and actively consider re-reading and I have space to buy more books! Like the ones on the list below, which are all due to be released next month! Have a look, perhaps your new favourite is among them.

First, Become Ashes by K.M. Szpara

Release date: 6th of April 2021
Publisher: Tor.com 

Synopsis:

‘ Lark spent the first twenty-four years, nine months, and three days of his life training for a righteous quest: to rid the world of monsters. Alongside his partner Kane, he wore the cage and endured the scourge in order to develop his innate magic. He never thought that when Kane left, he'd next see him in the company of FBI agents and a SWAT team. He never dreamed that the leader of the Fellowship of the Anointed would be brought up on charges of abuse and assault.

He never expected the government would tell him that the monsters aren't real--that there is no magic, and all the pain was for nothing.

Lark isn't ready to give up. He is determined to fulfil his quest, to defeat the monsters he was promised. Along the way, he will grapple with the past, confront love, and discover his long-buried truth.’

My thoughts:

What first sparked my interest is the intriguing combination of fantasy, magic and monsters with the detective genre routed in the present-day life. It’s no secret that both sides of that coin and very much favourites of mine so to see them combined in such a clever way is exciting. Additionally, there are a lot of early reviews floating around bearing severe content warnings. Perhaps this should deter me but, oh well – it makes me want to read the book, even more, to see what all the upset is about.

The Widow Queen by Elzbieta Cherezinska

Release date: 6th of April 2021
Publisher: Tor Books

 Synopsis:

‘ The bold one, they call her—too bold for most.

To her father, the great duke of Poland, Swietoslawa and her two sisters represent three chances for an alliance. Three marriages on which to build his empire.

But Swietoslawa refuses to be simply a pawn in her father's schemes; she seeks a throne of her own, with no husband by her side.

The gods may grant her wish, but crowns sit heavy, and power is a sword that cuts both ways’

 My thoughts:

Ever since reading Lancelot, my appreciation for historical fiction has been re-ignited. So reading about a Polish queen whose life and name had gone all but forgotten is certainly no chore. Besides, can we ever have too many stories about badass women fighting against societal expectations? Didn’t think so.

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

Release date: 13th of April 2021
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Synopsis:

‘ Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years fighting for survival in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, working as the prison healer.

When the Rebel Queen is captured, Kiva is charged with keeping the terminally ill woman alive long enough for her to undergo the Trial by Ordeal: a series of elemental challenges against the torments of air, fire, water, and earth, assigned to only the most dangerous of criminals.

Then a coded message from Kiva’s family arrives, containing a single order: “Don’t let her die. We are coming.” Aware that the Trials will kill the sickly queen, Kiva risks her own life to volunteer in her place. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom.

But no one has ever survived.

With an incurable plague sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious new inmate fighting for Kiva’s heart, and a prison rebellion brewing, Kiva can’t escape the terrible feeling that her trials have only just begun.

 My thoughts:

Sometimes, you have to go where the reviews points you and the reviews for this one are wild! While some seem to run out of words to sing its praise, others would sooner burn the book than open the cover on more time. Yes, it’s perverse but if the reviews are so polarizing, then there has to be something about it, right? Guess the only way I’ll ever find out is if I read the book myself.

Dustborn by Erin Bowman

Release date: 20th of April 2021
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

 Synopsis:

‘ Delta of Dead River has always been told to hide her back, where a map is branded on her skin to a rumoured paradise called the Verdant. In a wasteland plagued by dust squalls, geomagnetic storms, and solar flares, many would kill for it—even if no one can read it. So when raiders sent by a man known as the General attack her village, Delta suspects he is searching for her. 

Delta sets out to rescue her family but quickly learns that in the Wastes no one can be trusted—perhaps not even her childhood friend, Asher, who has been missing for nearly a decade. If Delta can trust Asher, she just might decode the map and trade evidence of the Verdant to the General for her family. What Delta doesn’t count on is what waits at the Verdant: a long-forgotten secret that will shake the foundation of her entire world.’

My thoughts:

Now this book is giving me some major ‘Dune’ meets ‘Westworld’ meets ‘Mad Max’ vibes. While not each of these was a winner for me, the combination might just hit the sweet spot. A personal plus is that this is a stand-alone book. Saving me from the torture of waiting and waiting and waiting until the sequel is finally released – I am looking at you George R. R. Martin!

Witches Steeped in Gold

Release date: 20th of April 2021
Publisher: HarperTeen

Synopsis:

‘ Divided by their order. United by their vengeance.

Iraya has spent her life in a cell, but every day brings her closer to freedom - and vengeance.

Jazmyne is the Queen’s daughter, but unlike her sister before her, she has no intention of dying to strengthen her mother’s power.

Sworn enemies, these two witches enter a precarious alliance to take down a mutual threat. But power is intoxicating, revenge is a bloody pursuit, and nothing is certain - except the lengths they will go to win this game.’

 My thoughts:

The cultural influences of this debut novel are perhaps what is most notable about it. The Jamaican influences, representation and diversity are what make this novel a force to reckon with. It offers us an insight into yet another magical and mythical background that is not just western European, and boy do I need more of it.

What are your thoughts? Have these been waiting patiently on your ‘to-be-read’ list, have they been pre-ordered for months or were you amongst those chosen ones who have received an Advanced Reader Copy? Let me know in the comment section below, but until then - just one more page!