Debut December, what an exciting month! Each year, starting in summer I already am getting excited for the next year’s debut books coming out. I love reading debuts, as there is just such charm about them. Each year, I also feel I get more and more excited for the next year’s debuts. This year is definitely one of those cases, as 2012 is a year for quite a few debut fantasies! Fantasy is just about my favorite genre – so 2012 shall be a good year. I wanted to talk about some of the fantasy debuts I am most excited for next year that haven't already been featured!
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo: This fantasy that is inspired by Tsarist Russia, how cool is that? Getting past that, everything about this one sounds brilliant. It looks like there’s drama, a quest, intrigue, and so much at stake! I can’t wait for this one.
Alina Starkov doesn’t expect much from life. Orphaned by the Border Wars, all she’s ever been able to rely on is her best friend and fellow refugee, Mal. And lately not even that seems certain. Drafted into the army of their war-torn homeland, they’ve been sent on a dangerous mission into the Fold, a swath of darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. When their convoy is attacked, all seems lost until Alina reveals a dormant power that not even she knew existed. She is torn from everything she knows and whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. He believes that she is the answer the people have been waiting for: the Sun Summoner. Only her power can destroy the Fold. Overwhelmed by luxury, envied as the Darkling’s favorite, Alina struggles to keep her wits about her without Mal by her side. But nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her mastery of her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha—and the secrets of her heart.
Above by Leah Bobet: This is one of my most highly anticipated books of 2012 in general. It is fantasy with what sounds like a hint of dystopian edge, all mixed with some mystery. Plus, have you seen the cover? How gorgeous!
Matthew has loved Ariel from the moment he found her in the tunnels, her bee's wings falling away. They live in Safe, an underground refuge for those fleeing the city Above--like Whisper, who speaks to ghosts, and Jack Flash, who can shoot lightning from his fingers.
But one terrifying night, an old enemy invades Safe with an army of shadows, and only Matthew, Ariel, and a few friends escape Above. As Matthew unravels the mystery of Safe's history and the shadows' attack, he realizes he must find a way to remake his home--not just for himself, but for Ariel, who needs him more than ever before.
Shadows Cast by Stars by Catherine Knutsson: This book sounds so intriguing to me. It sounds so unique and different, and like Above, sounds to have a dystopian edge to the world of fantasy. I am curious to see how the storyline will play out.
Two hundred years from now, blood has become the most valuable commodity on the planet - especially the blood of aboriginal peoples, for it contains antibodies that protect them from the plague that is ravaging the rest of the world.
Sixteen-year-old Cassandra Mercredi might be immune to the plague, but that doesn't mean she's safe. Government forces are searching for those of aboriginal heritage to harvest their blood. When a search threatens Cass and her family, they flee to the Island, a mysterious and idyllic territory protected by the Band, a group of guerilla warriors, and by an enigmatic energy barrier that keeps outsiders out and the spirit world in. And though the village healer has taken Cass under her wing, and the tribal leader's son into his heart, the spirit world is angry, and it has chosen Cass to be its voice and instrument...
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks: This is another one of my most highly anticipated books for the new year. I love books with mermaids, and it sounds like this one takes quite an original take on the issue. Add in the beautiful cover, and it sounds like we have a winner!
Emma and her friend Chloe are spending vacation in Florida. When Emma (literally) runs into a hot guy named Galen on the beach, little does she know he’s a prince of the Syrena. Galen and Emma both feel something strange – is it attraction? – and Galen suspects that Emma might well be the girl he’s heard of – a human who can communicate with fish.
What follows is a deadly scene with a shark in which Galen witnesses Emma’s gifts. He must know more about her, and follows her back to New Jersey, and high school, to find out for sure if she’s the key to saving his kingdom. Soon, Emma can’t deny her feelings for him, but can’t explain them, either – and both she and Galen must learn more about where she comes from and what her powers are before they can trust one another and their feelings.
This is only the beginning of fantasies coming out next year! If you love fantasy too, make sure to check out the 2012 MG/YA Fantasy Challenge! All the information can be found on this page here. It is going to be a fun year of fantasy.