At the beginning of the year, I did an April – July round-up of my most anticipated books of the first half of the year. Some odd things have happened with that list so far and it’s going to be really interesting doing an end of year round-up for those novels (ahem) but, in the meantime, allow me to present to you my July – December 2011 most anticipated books.
July
A Dance With Dragons by George R. R. Martin
Publication Information: Harper Voyager / 12 Jul 2011 / 1040 pages
This is what I consider to be the best addition to the month of July that the month of July has ever seen! This book was a complete surprise for fans of A Song of Ice and Fire being as the blogosphere in general has only recently (as in on April 28th) had confirmation that George R. R. Martin has at last honestly completed A Dance With Dragons and that it’s due to be released in hardback in July! The AV Club perhaps rightfully calls the release of A Dance With Dragons “one of the industry’s bigger ongoing in-jokes” with several failed dates appearing in quick succession, GRRM’s own admission that he had finished and then he hadn’t finished writing it, and the fact that it has been six years in the making. I, however, can honestly say that while that might be the case, I personally couldn’t care less whether we have had to wait six years, or whether GRRM has swiveled from done-to-not-done. I care that we’re getting it and we’re getting it soon. As in 22 days from now which is less than a month which is really really really soon (lack of grammar in this sentence can be widely attributed to wetting-myself-glee).
I’ll be doing a post later this week about why everyone should read A Game of Thrones along with my review of it following my reread so keep an eye out for that one. (Oh, and for those of you wondering why I didn’t include a blurb for this one – it’s because I don’t want to run the risk of spoiling anyone who hasn’t read the series yet. It’s too good to jeopardise.)
August
What, there are books coming out in August? I was only really thinking about the A Song of Ice and Fire 2012 calendar of awesome, personally, but okay! If you say so!
The Jewel and Key by Louise Spiegler
Publication Information: Clarion Books / 29 Aug 2011 / 464 pages
An earthquake and the discovery of a mysterious antique mirror unleash forces that jolt sixteen-year-old Addie McNeal back to 1917 Seattle, just as the United States is entering World War I. Addie finds herself shuttling back and forth between past and present, drawn in both times to the grand Jewel Theater. In both decades the existence of the Jewel is threatened and war is looming . . . and someone she cares about is determined to fight.
Eventually, Addie realizes that only she has the key to saving the Jewel—and the lives of her friends. But will she figure out how to manipulate the intricately woven threads of time and truly set things right?
The Jewel and Key is the kind of book that has… oh, all of my hooks in it from start to finish? So discovery of old creepy item – check. A time period in one of my favourite and over-romanticised cities – check. World War I – check. Theatre – check. Hrm. What is there not to like about this book? There has to be something… Seriously, though, this one has had really, really good reviews so far on Goodreads from people lucky enough to get early ARCs. I’m really looking forward to it.
A big fat duh also goes to waiting for Simone Elkeles’ Chain Reaction, you know? More on this series to come from us shortly, too. Oh, the controversy!
September
Have you any IDEA how many books are coming out in September? No, you probably don’t. Not at all. But there are. Lots and lots and lots of them. Too many to count. So many that I could spend this entire section just giving honourable mentions to the ones that I like the best. Instead I will say this: you might not see me much in September.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Publication Information: Harvill Secker / 15 Sep 2011 / 400 pages
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
September might be bountiful month in terms of books this is the one I’m most looking forward to (and one which I might have to get in hardback and paperback because of the inverted black/white covers which are both awesome). Anyone who knows me will by now know that I am completely obsessed with circuses and have been ever since I was introduced to John Wayne in The Magnificent Showman as a child. I will one day write that book that’s in my head. Until then, however, I’ll enjoy Ms Morgenstern’s efforts in The Night Circus.
It would be remiss of me not to give honourable mentions for September, however, so I also have to highlight the YA titles Burnout (a memory-loss tale with a dangerous twist), Going Underground (teen-boy drop-out who gets a job digging graves), and Lie (a twisted tale about a young girl who is witness to a horrifying crime… involving her boyfriend and two young El Salvadoran boys).
October
If I’m honest, October isn’t a month which holds very many titles that make me sit up and scream. I’m looking forward to reading Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins but I have formed this opinion without having read Anna and the French Kiss so I’ll be reading both in October when this comes out.
Another novel I’m really looking forward to is Terry Pratchett’s Snuff, his 39th Discworld novel. For any fellow fan of the series, you’ll all recognise this as bittersweet giving Terry’s diagnosis a few years ago.
It isn’t fair not to also mention the awesome novel Girl’s Don’t Fly (a girl making rapid, radical changes in her life), either, but October is a month I might just spend being sad.
November
November is possibly just as good as July. Do you want to know why November is just as good as July? Of course you do. It is because November finally has…
The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch
Publication Information: Gollancz / 17 Nov 2011 / 488 pages
Having pulled off the greatest heist of their career, Locke and his trusted partner in thievery, Jean, have escaped with a tidy fortune. But Locke’s body is paying the price. Poisoned by an enemy from his past, he is slowly dying. And no physiker or alchemist can help him. Yet just as the end is near, a mysterious Bondsmagi offers Locke an opportunity that will either save him – or finish him off once and for all.
Magi political elections are imminent, and the factions are in need of a pawn. If Locke agrees to play the role, sorcery will be used to purge the venom from his body – though the process will be so excruciating he may well wish for death. Locke is opposed, but two factors cause his will to crumble: Jean’s imploring – and the Bondsmagi’s mention of a woman from Locke’s past . . . Sabetha. The love of his life. His equal in skill and wit. And now his greatest rival.
If I’m honest, I’m almost as desperate for The Republic of Thieves as I am for A Dance With Dragons. Scott Lynch has been quote open with his battles with mental health since beginning the Gentleman Bastard series in 2006 and the release date of the book has been set back multiple times. I’ll elaborate a little more on the series and why it has my emotions wrapped around its rather particular little finger in my Why You Should Read A Game of Thrones post but it can be safely said that The Republic of Thieves will be gone pretty much within a day or so of it landing into my grubby, sticky, fantasy-loving mitts. I am absolutely going to be contacting Scott before the book is released with the hopes that he’ll be able to come on the blog and give us an interview about himself and the series so watch this space.
Honourable mentions for November must by requirement include Amplified (kicked out of her house, Jasmine takes what she has of her savings and runs off to Santa Cruz to become a music star) and Death Watch (Silas’ father dies and he discovers he’s not only a mortician but an Undertaker, trusted with the peace of the dead).
December
Ah, December. You quaint little month that I will spend buying crap for people who want crap and not buying nearly enough books for people who want books. How I love thee. NOT. (Actually, I do, I just don’t like the commerical-everything and impulse buying and bath salts. Blah.)
One of the most unfortunate things about December, however, is that it’s bookless for the Elle! I haven’t found anything coming out in December that I’m looking really forward to. I’m sure I’m missing lots of goodies but none have caught my eye. Anyone have any suggestions?
