This is Part 2 of 2 posts about 2019 releases.
I’m looking forward to the new year both for the new books, the continued series and the new reading challenges and a fresh start 😁.
There are so many interesting books coming out next year, and I feel there is a lot of diverse fantasy coming out. 2018 was a very good year for diverse fantasy, and better than the previous years. Do you agree? Not only did we have diverse books and stories and characters, but we had a rise in diverse authors and #ownvoices books. This means it could only get better and even more diverse. Right?
I’ve decided to divide this list into 2 parts; hyped and underhyped. Hyped books (found here) is books I know other people are eagerly waiting for too. The second part (this post) is focused on underhyped book or book I have not heard that any people talk off.
These are YA books because that’s where the new interesting fantasy lays… 🤷♀️ I’m just not that keen on high fantasy but very keen on mythology and folklore based stuff that isn’t Greek.
Let’s talk about books in need of hype!!
Underhyped Books
The Deep by Rivers Solomon
I loved An Unkindness of Ghosts, Rivers Solomon debut novel (2015), which I read in 2018. My review for that book can be found here. Her new book is set underwater in a society inhabited by descendants of African slave women. Hell yeah! If her first book is anything this will be just as great. Pre-order here I come!
no cover yet
Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez
Bolivian fantasy? Ok, yeah I’m in.
Political fantasy about a magical weaver trying to reinstate a queen but finds corruption in many forms. I’m totally reading this for the Bolivian inspiration!
no cover yet
Goodreads page for Woven in Midnight
The Test by Sylvian Neuvel
A citizen test gone wrong. Idir, the main character, is given the power of life and death during the test. Its sci-fi and will probably go into the question of how a multiple choice question can reflect or not reflect a life or a death. In the current climate of Brexit and being foreign, this is definitely a book I want to pick up.
Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
the only thing its know about this book is that it comes out throught Rick Riordan’s publishing company which should mean its based in mythology. It also looks like the character on the cover is wearing a TRON suit and has a wolf shadow/spirit animal? Also, I think its middle grade. I’m so totally in!
Goodreads page for Dragon Pearl
Never Die by Rob J Hayes
The first thing that caught me with this book was the cover. It made me stop. Then I read the synopsis and I will definitely check it out. The main character has been assigned by the God of Death to kill the Emperor… but get this all of the characters fighting against the Emperor are dead. Hence the title.
The Gutter Prayers by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan
I know only that this is about magic wars and a group of thieves unhappy with their previous employment. I do enjoy thieves and band of misfits fighting for their rights type stories.
Goodreads page for Gutter Prayers
The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala
Female assassin. Do you need to know more? I sure don’t. But fine, how about: female assassin with a secret that could change the land as they know it. More? She cross paths with someone on the other side of an assignment and events happens. More? It draws inspiration from Indian history and Hindu mythology.
Goodreads page for Tiger at Midnight
Gumiho by Kat Cho
South Korean based fantasy set in modern-day Seul! Yup totally sold… The main character is a nine-tailed fox who must eat the soul of men to survive… what?!?! IM SO READING THIS!!!
no cover yet
Ragged Alice by Gareth L Powell
Urban fantasy set in Wales! a small town cop can see people soul of evil or something. It sounds amazing and I’m here for it!
no cover yet
Goodreads page for Ragged Alice
Reverie by Ryan La Sala
A gay teenager gets robes of his memories in an accident, at the same time a drag queen sorceress attempts to unravel his reality. It’s pitched as Inception meets The Magicians!
no cover yet
David Mogo, Godhunter by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
Urban fantasy set in Lagos, Nigeria. Another Nigerian author exploring the Orisha as this book is set after the Orisha Wars. David Mogo is a demigod living as a godhunter/assassin, as the title suggested.
There is a lot of quality Nigerian fantasy out for authors like Nnedi Okorafor and Tomi Adeyemi, I’m curious to see how Suyi Davies Okingbowa does it.
GoodReads page for David Mogo, Godhunter
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
This is how GoodReads synopsis starts: For her sixteenth birthday, Louise le Blanc’s mother gave her three things—a sacrificial altar, a ritual knife, and a wicked scar. 😱 – yup. And sold to the bidder typing this….! also it’s based on French folklore…
no cover yet.
Goodreads page for Serpent & Dove
What’s not to love?
I could travel the world with these selections!
Let me know in the comments which one of these caught your interest.
Ivys Well Used Library Card 
I’m so hyped for all of these 2019 release posts everywhere. I am SUPER thrilled to see some underhyped books though! I feel like all I see is the same books on everyone’s lists! The Test looks AMAZING!
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Same! Which is why I made this list to create something a bit fresh 😁 yes the test sounds really interesting and apparently quite short. Totally worth checking out when it’s published 😊
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I just had The Test on a post about what books I recently added to my TBR. A lot of books from your two posts made that list!
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Oh cool! I’ll check it out 😁 thanks!
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Wow! A lot of interesting book. Hope to hear more about them.
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Thanks! I will definitely share my opinion if I read them but I also hope other will talk about these a lot more throughout the year.
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The Dragon Pearl looks super amazing, and I hope there’ll be elements of unique mythology/fantasy in it that’ll really increase awareness to not just us but younger readers! ❤
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Exactly! I could not have said it better myself 😁 I hope so too.
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Great list! I’ll have to check some of these out. I’ve heard great things about The Gutter Prayer so far.
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Thanks 😁Im glad you fond some that caught your interest. There is more hype needed for these books. That’s good, I have yet to see any reviews for The Gutter Prayer, but I hope I do and that its good stuff.
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Under-hyped is an apt description! I haven’t heard of any of these. 😂😂 But Dragon Pearl looks/sounds amazing!!
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😂 I love finding new books especially new authors and new twists on fantasy genre. So this post is just something I had to do. I hope you check them out when you come across them 😁 I’m definitely checking them out.
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Hi Ivy, I nominated you for the myster blogger award. If you’d like to do it. No pressure 😀 https://honestavocado.wordpress.com/2018/12/18/mystery-blogger-award/
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Thank you!! I’m currently moving house (just bought my first house, very excited🥳) so I won’t have time nor Internet to do it for a while. But I will definitely try once I get settled! Thanks for thinking of me 😁 that’s really sweet 😊
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Wow that’s exciting! Congratulations! Yes, I understand. Sounds like things will be busy 😀
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Thank you! It’s very exciting and very stressful 🥳
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