Scribes & Archers

Okay, so “anticipated releases” might be an inaccurate title for this post since my version of looking at new releases is going “Oh that looks super cool!”, adding them to my TBR, and then watching them sit there for years and years afterward. Plus… a lot of these have already come out by now, since it’s the end of March already. But, all the same, here are some of the coolest-looking books coming out this year (because there are a lot of awesome-looking books coming out this year).

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

So as it turns out, a lot of the coolest-looking books this year also have some of the coolest-looking covers. I mean… all of these are stunning.

And a lot of them are inspired by various Asian cultures, which is super cool. I’m very excited to be releasing an Asian-inspired fantasy among such lovely company this year. ^-^

Anyway, Daughter of the Moon Goddess came out in January and it looks amazing. The mother-daughter dynamic and the inspiration from Chinese mythology are probably the two biggest selling points, for me. But I’ll let you check out the synopsis yourself:

A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm.

Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor’s son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting, romantic duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.

Sounds cool, right? This one got added to my TBR real fast.

Add on Goodreads | Buy on Bookshop* | Buy on Amazon

ETA: My review

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross

I actually ended up with an ARC for this one, unexpectedly! (Or a review copy, anyway; I guess it’s not technically an ARC since A River Enchanted came out on February 15th.) I signed up to Harper Voyager’s mailing list in hopes they’d send me Daughter of the Moon Goddess and they ended up sending A River Enchanted instead, which I’m pretty okay with considering A River Enchanted was also high on my TBR (and I didn’t realize it was an upcoming release until they sent me the ARC!).

The whole vibe of this one just sounds so cool. Plus, music. Music is always a good selling point. I’m anticipating sort of a mix of To Best the Boys and The Scorpio Races in terms of vibe? But we’ll see. Whatever the case, I’m eager to dive into this one.

House of Earth and Blood meets The Witch’s Heart in Rebecca Ross’s brilliant first adult fantasy, set on the magical isle of Cadence where two childhood enemies must team up to discover why girls are going missing from their clan.

Jack Tamerlaine hasn’t stepped foot on Cadence in ten long years, content to study music at the mainland university. But when young girls start disappearing from the isle, Jack is summoned home to help find them. Enchantments run deep on Cadence: gossip is carried by the wind, plaid shawls can be as strong as armor, and the smallest cut of a knife can instill fathomless fear. The capricious spirits that rule the isle by fire, water, earth, and wind find mirth in the lives of the humans who call the land home. Adaira, heiress of the east and Jack’s childhood enemy, knows the spirits only answer to a bard’s music, and she hopes Jack can draw them forth by song, enticing them to return the missing girls.

As Jack and Adaira reluctantly work together, they find they make better allies than rivals as their partnership turns into something more. But with each passing song, it becomes apparent the trouble with the spirits is far more sinister than they first expected, and an older, darker secret about Cadence lurks beneath the surface, threatening to undo them all.

With unforgettable characters, a fast-paced plot, and compelling world building, A River Enchanted is a stirring story of duty, love, and the power of true partnership, and marks Rebecca Ross’s brilliant entry on the adult fantasy stage.

Add on Goodreads | Buy on Bookshop* | Buy on Amazon

ETA: My review

(I am so glad, in retrospect, that Harper sent me this book and not Daughter of the Moon Goddess.)

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

(Look at the detail in that cover art. I am in love.)

The mythological flavor of this one sounds really interesting to me, and I’m very curious about the settings to be explored.

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…

Add on Goodreads | Buy on Bookshop* | Buy on Amazon

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

Maps are cool and I get fantasy vibes from this book. And, to be honest, I really enjoy the “relative leaves behind a secret for their heir to figure out” trope. And the cover is books, so that’s another point in its favor. This one came out on the 15th!

From the critically acclaimed author of The Book of M, a highly imaginative thriller about a young woman who discovers that a strange map in her deceased father’s belongings holds an incredible, deadly secret—one that will lead her on an extraordinary adventure and to the truth about her family’s dark history.

What is the purpose of a map?

Nell Young’s whole life and greatest passion is cartography. Her father, Dr. Daniel Young, is a legend in the field, and Nell’s personal hero. But she hasn’t seen or spoken to him ever since he cruelly fired her and destroyed her reputation after an argument over an old, cheap gas station highway map.

But when Dr. Young is found dead in his office at the New York Public Library, with the very same seemingly worthless map hidden in his desk, Nell can’t resist investigating. To her surprise, she soon discovers that the map is incredibly valuable, and also exceedingly rare. In fact, she may now have the only copy left in existence… because a mysterious collector has been hunting down and destroying every last one—along with anyone who gets in the way.

But why?

To answer that question, Nell embarks on a dangerous journey to reveal a dark family secret, and discover the true power that lies in maps…

Perfect for fans of Joe Hill and V.E. Schwab, The Cartographers is an ode to art and science, history and magic—a spectacularly imaginative, modern story about an ancient craft and places still undiscovered.

Add on Goodreads | Buy on Bookshop* | Buy on Amazon

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

Okay THIS ONE. This one is probably TOPS on my list. It looks AMAZING. Tea magic? Accidental poisoning? Family dynamics? AND the whole thing is Asian-inspired? Yes please. I might actually buy this one closer to the time it comes out (a week from today), because it just looks so cool. (And look at the cover.)

Judy I. Lin’s sweeping debut A Magic Steeped in Poison, first in a duology, is sure to enchant fans of Adrienne Young and Leigh Bardugo.

I used to look at my hands with pride. Now all I can think is, “These are the hands that buried my mother.”

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it’s her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

Add on Goodreads | Buy on Bookshop* | Buy on Amazon

ETA: My review

A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson

Also coming out on March 29th, we’ve got A Forgery of Roses. Art magic is always interesting, and I have to admit I’m intrigued by the “redheaded poet.” This looks like it will have a really solid atmosphere and an intriguing plot.

Myra Whitlock has a gift. One many would kill for.

She’s an artist whose portraits alter people’s real-life bodies, a talent she must hide from those who would kidnap, blackmail, and worse in order to control it. Guarding that secret is the only way to keep her younger sister safe now that their parents are gone.

But one frigid night, the governor’s wife discovers the truth and threatens to expose Myra if she does not complete a special portrait that would resurrect the governor’s dead son. Desperate, Myra ventures to his legendary stone mansion.

Once she arrives, however, it becomes clear the boy’s death was no accident. Someone dangerous lurks within these glittering halls. Someone harboring a disturbing obsession with portrait magic.

Myra cannot do the painting until she knows what really happened, so she turns to the governor’s older son, a captivating redheaded poet. Together, they delve into the family’s most shadowed affairs, racing to uncover the truth before the secret Myra spent her life concealing makes her the killer’s next victim.

From Sing Me Forgotten author Jessica S. Olson comes a gothic fantasy murder mystery perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco and Erin A. Craig.

Add on Goodreads | Buy on Bookshop* | Buy on Amazon

ETA: My review

The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah

This one gives me Aladdin vibes. The Arab worldbuilding here sounds really interesting–I haven’t seen a whole lot of Arab fantasy I’ve enjoyed, yet, but I’m still looking–and this plot seems intriguing.

Neither here nor there, but long ago…

Loulie al-Nazari is the Midnight Merchant: a criminal who, with the help of her jinn bodyguard, hunts and sells illegal magic. When she saves the life of a cowardly prince, she draws the attention of his powerful father, the sultan, who blackmails her into finding an ancient lamp that has the power to revive the barren land.

With no choice but to obey or be executed, Loulie journeys with the sultan’s oldest son to find the artifact. Aided by her bodyguard, who has secrets of his own, they must survive ghoul attacks, outwit a vengeful jinn queen, and confront a malicious killer from Loulie’s past. And, in a world where story is reality and illusion is truth, Loulie will discover that everything—her enemy, her magic, even her own past—is not what it seems.

Add on Goodreads | Buy on Bookshop* | Buy on Amazon

Calligraphy Guild by R.M. Archer

You know it had to make the list. Exactly a month after The Stardust Thief comes out (May 17th), we’ve got Calligraphy Guild (June 17th)! I am so thrilled to finally release this book (relatively) soon!! I have so much planned to celebrate Calligraphy Guild and its release. I’m just super excited to finally be able to share Calligraphy Guild with more readers and to share this world and these characters and the heart of this story with all of you! I cannot wait. ^-^

Dragon ink gives calligraphers the power to set history in stone—or to change it.

Lai Duyên’s dreams are realized when she’s admitted into the ranks of the calligraphers, authors considered trustworthy enough to defend time from those who would change it. She’s thrilled at the opportunity to record her country’s history, and to work with the other calligraphers in her village.

But when Duyên’s guild is set upon by ancient dragons demanding a time-changer be destroyed, her world is flipped upside down. Her guildmates turn on each other, suspicion coloring their every move. To make matters worse, she’s begun hearing the dragons in her head and finds them impossible to block out: a condition that rendered her grandmother insane.

With the calligraphy guild in turmoil and Duyên’s ever-present fear of madness clouding her vision, will the group be able to discover which of their guildmates has altered time before the dragons pass judgment on them all?

Add on Goodreads | Buy signed (U.S. only) | Buy through Amazon

Harbinger of the End by Nicki Chapelway

Coming out in August, we’ve got Harbinger of the End by Nicki Chapelway! To be honest, I’ve followed Nicki for years and I have yet to read any of her books. *hides* But this one is based on Norse mythology, which means it has grabbed my full attention and is unlikely to let go. Plus, look at that cover! What did I tell you about this year’s cool-looking books looking cool?

There’s pretty much no information about this book yet, but it’s “a tale of Loki and Sigyn” which means I’m sold; Loki is a fascinating character in just about any iteration, and I can’t wait to see what Nicki does with this story!

Add on Goodreads

ETA: I had the pleasure of editing this one! The story is amazing, and I’m super excited to read the final version. ^-^

Once I Knew by Victoria Lynn

Victoria Lynn is another author I’ve been following for a long time and haven’t read any books by yet. In the past year or so, though, she’s been posting more and more content that I really connect with (or else I’ve been paying better attention, lol), and her newest project sounds like it will be right up my alley! Fantasy about a character who tries to avoid politics and finds them unavoidable? …Yep, sounds about right. Plus, I’m super excited to see how Victoria’s worldview comes through in her writing, since we seem to have so many values in common.

The cover for this one was only revealed TODAY, so happy cover release day to Victoria and Once I Knew! I’m super excited to take this opportunity to show y’all the cover. ^-^

And here’s the blurb:

Violet lives her quiet little life in her sleepy village. Trying to remain as dead to the politics that are threatening their world as possible. She follows the rules, stays out of trouble and does her best to remain out of sight of the dreaded and overbearing Kingsmen.

With the new regent on the throne, the country has been thrown into a turmoil. Unlike the kindly king before him, the new ruler is overbearing, frightening and tyrannical in his rule. Taxes are bleeding the people dry and without the money or goods to pay, they have been forced into penal servitude and imprisonment by the Kingsmen, who know no mercy. The despair and fear that has taken over their lives has ruled out any level of hope.

When Violet stumbles upon an unconscious and injured Kingsman in the woods, despite the consequences, she cannot help but take care of the injured man. When he wakes and has no memory of who he is, she takes the only precaution that will keep her and her grandmother safe; she destroys the evidence of his past life.

If Violet’s lowly Kingsman regains his memory, will she be able to live with the consequences? And will the Kingsman be able to live with his past life?

Add on Goodreads | Buy on Amazon | Buy from Victoria

There are some awesome pre-order goodies—including a limited edition hardcover—so definitely check out Victoria’s site for the print version! Pre-order extras are limited and likely to go fast, so be sure to look sooner rather than later!

ETA: My review

Wishtress by Nadine Brandes

This one is coming out in September and I am stoked! I’ll buy just about anything Nadine puts out; she’s an incredible author and person and I look up to her so much. But this one is a straight-up fantasy, and it sounds amazing. Tears that grant wishes? Curses? Reluctant-allies-turned-lovers? The whole thing sounds awesome. And if you haven’t added it to your TBR yet, you need to.

She didn’t ask to be the Wishtress.

Myrthe was born with the ability to turn her tears into wishes. It’s a big secret to keep. When a granted wish goes wrong, a curse is placed on her: the next tear she sheds will kill her. She needs to journey to the Well and break the curse before it claims her life–and before the king’s militairen track her down. But in order to survive the journey, she must harden her heart to keep herself from crying even a single tear.

He can stop time with a snap of his fingers.

Bastiaan’s powerful–and rare–Talent came in handy when he kidnapped the old king. Now the new king has a job for him: find and capture the Wishtress and deliver her to the schloss. But Bastiaan needs a wish of his own. When he locates Myrthe, he agrees to take her to the Well in exchange for a wish. Once she’s fulfilled her end of the deal, he’ll turn her in. As long as his growing feelings for the girl with a stone heart don’t compromise his job.

They are on a journey that can only end one way: with her death.

Everyone seems to need a wish–the king, Myrthe’s cousin, the boy she thinks she loves. And they’re ready to bully, beg, and even betray her for it. No one knows that to grant even one of them, Myrthe would have to die. And if she tells them about her curse . . . they’ll just kill her anyway.

Add on Goodreads | Pre-order on Amazon

ETA: My review

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What books are you most excited for this year? Did any of the books on this list catch your eye? Let’s talk books!

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