2019 Most Anticipated SFF Books Pt.2 – Underhyped​

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

Goodreads page for The Deep

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.

Goodreads page for The Test

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.

Goodreads page for Never Die

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

Goodreads page for Gumiho

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

Goodreads page for Reverie

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.