A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Rose #4)

by Sarah J. Maas

Although Nesta isn't my favorite character out of the ACoTaR world, but Cassian is. I don't want Nesta to soften, but I do want her to understand who her friends are. I can't wait to reenter Maas's world and see where all the characters are now in their lives.

I like the new covers for the series. I'm not a fan of a character on the front trend. I want to imagine the characters from the author's description and get a hint what the story is about from the cover.

Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky #1)

by Rebecca Roanhorse

Okay, technically this book came out October of 2020, but I started this book this week and it's worth a mention because holy giant raven riding gods, this book is going to win ALL THE AWARDS (at least in my mind). Black Sun is not a Euro-centric fantasy, or told like one. The story is told from multiple perspectives and switches between the present and the past, yet I'm keeping up with the narrative effortlessly. Black Sun is riveting.
I discovered Roanhorse through her novel Trail of Lightning. I loved her prose. Her writing is, in a word, dope. If you haven't read her work, you should. Roanhorse is going to be known to future generations as one of the masters of the art of story.

The Last Graduate (The Scholomance #2)

by Naomi Novik

This book is a sequel to the novel A Deadly Education. The first book was told from the point of view of a girl, who should have been a villain, or at the very least, an antihero, but her actions prove her to be a better person than the chosen one trope. I can't wait to see what will happen in the aftermath from the first book.

Jade Legacy (The Greenbone Saga 3)

by Fonda Lee

Jade Legacy is the third installment of The Greenbone Saga. If you like the Warrior on HBO Max, the God Father movies, or Kung Fu Theater back in the day, you're going to love these books. They're the story of the fictional Kaul family, the heads of the No Peak clan. In Lee's world, jade is a magical substance that activates superhero abilities in "greenbones" born on Kekon Island. The books are told from the Kaul family members point of view, with interludes into the mythology and history of the fictional world, all related to the layers of plot and intrigue.
I quickly grew attached to the characters and didn't mind learning all the clan names and motives. The first book made me bawl. The best part of the second book was when (Kaul) Shae fought Ayt Mada. It did not go as I thought it would, but it was one of the best written fight scenes ever.

Jada Legacy is projected to publish in 2021, but there are no preorders up on Amazon yet. These books are so good, so rich, I'm willing to wait another year for the next one.

Also, The Greenbone Saga is going to be a television series: https://deadline.com/2020/08/jade-city-series-books-peacock-dave-kalstein-breck-eisner-dean-georgaris-1203011700/

A Vow So Bold and Deadly

(Cursebreakers #3)

by Brigid Kemmerer

Give me ALL the fairy tale retellings, especially Beauty and the Beast. A Vow So Bold and Deadly is the third and final book in the Cursebreakers series. The first being A Curse So Dark and Lonely. Just by the title, you know you're going to get some lyrical fantasy prose.

I like these books because they don't have the same protagonist for each. Protagonists are presented, but it's hard to tell who I want to root for, and I am here for that kind of story. Not knowing what's going to happen--if the brothers will ever make peace or let the past destroy them is killing me. I want them to unite against the one who placed the original curse, but Kemmerer wasn't answering my emails whether she would go through with writing MY ending.

Kidding. I don't know the author and wouldn't dream of being so...creepy.

This is a book I'm going to love/hate to pick up.

Warrior Tithe

by T.J Deschamps

My own fantasy novel, Warrior Tithe will be coming out in 2021. It's a standalone novel, but features the characters Aoife and Fergus (Fagan in the upcoming novel) from Tam Lin: A Modern, Queer Retelling. Here is the synopsis:

Aoife is the daughter of Manannan Mac Lir, God of the Sea and ruler of the seafolk. More importantly, she's a kelpie, who spends her days bringing mortal evildoers to their watery deaths. How does she know they're evil? Whatever you imagine, whatever memory pops in your head, she can see it.

Although his charm and looks fooled her at first, her sight is how Aoife discovers she does not want to marry the sorcerer king, Roi. She learns during a battle for her hand that Roi doesn't lover her let alone value her as a person. He wants to use her sight to gain power. Her sisters help her escape a trap the king and their father lay for Aoife to marry Roi.

Fagan is a peasant, who has lost his family to hard times. After burying the last of his kin, he has nothing left to live for and hope is an ember long gone cold and hard. That is, until he finds a kelpie caught in one of his iron traps. Seeing the poor thing suffer proves his heart is not dead. Fagan decides to save her, even if it means forfeiting his life.

Bound by this act, and for other reasons, the unlikely pair, travel through Scotland to reach the door that leads the Sidhe Queen's castle. Fagan hopes to become an immortal fae knight and Aoife, a member of the court under Queen Mab's protection. However, Roi has other plans and won't let his betrothed get away so easily.

It's going to be a fun ride! Follow this blog for updates and a cover reveal!

What fantasy novels are you looking forward to in 2021? Post your recommendations in the comments below.

©TJDeschamps 2020