February 2016 YA Books » New Releases

Ahh — a fresh, new month means a fresh, new crop of YA releases and there are some amazing new releases in the YA world set for February 2016!   Browse below to find your most anticipated, upcoming book(s) and let me know what you're dying to get your hands on!

Revenge and the Wild » Michelle Modesto

 

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="315"] February 2[/caption]

The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.

Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways.

But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

This thrilling novel is a remarkable tale of danger and discovery, from debut author Michelle Modesto.

Personal Note:  A debut!  These are always exciting because it could mean you get a new, favorite author on the scene.  The blurb sounds intriguing.  I'll definitely check this one out although its the fourth western and gold rush-era book I've come across this season already.

The Forbidden Orchid » Sharon Biggs Waller

 

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="313"] February 2[/caption]

Staid, responsible Elodie Buchanan is the eldest of ten sisters living in a small English market town in 1861. The girls' father is a plant hunter, usually off adventuring through the jungles of China.

Then disaster strikes: Mr. Buchanan fails to collect an extremely rare and valuable orchid, meaning that he will be thrown into debtors' prison and the girls will be sent to the orphanage or the poorhouse. Elodie's father has one last chance to return to China, find the orchid, and save the family—and this time, thanks to an unforeseen twist of fate, Elodie is going with him. Elodie has never before left her village, but what starts as fear turns to wonder as she adapts to seafaring life aboard the tea clipper The Osprey, and later to the new sights, dangers, and romance of China.

But even if she can find the orchid, how can she find herself now that staid, responsible Elodie has seen how much the world has to offer?

Personal Note:  Back before the internet, people got obsessed over weird things like plants instead of cats.  Which means that rare plant hunters were an actual thing!  This intriguing book follows the daughter of a down-on-his-luck orchid hunter — KUDOS for not naming the book some ideation of The [insert here]'s Daughter.  

 

Assassin's Heart » Sarah Ahiers

 

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="315"] February 2[/caption]

In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down.

Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay.

With shades of The Godfather and Romeo and Juliet, this richly imagined fantasy from debut author Sarah Ahiers is a story of love, lies, and the ultimate vengeance.

Personal Note: I actually got to read an ARC of this one! I'll be posting my review a little closer to release, but I'm both pleased and reserved about the book.

 

Remembrance (Mediator #7) » Meg Cabot

 

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="316"] February 2[/caption]

In REMEMBRANCE, the seventh installment of the Mediator series, all Susannah Simon wants is to make a good impression at her first job since graduating from college (and becoming engaged to Dr. Jesse de Silva).

But when she stumbles across an ancient murder, old ghosts—and ex-boyfriends—aren’t all that come back to haunt her.

REMEMBRANCE will be the first ever adult installment of the Mediator, published by William Morrow, the adult division of HarperCollins, the company that brought you the YA books in the series.

Personal Note: Ah! The long awaited adult installment of my favorite YA series when I was actually a Young Adult reader!  My excitement for this book is high.  And I'll go ahead and wonder what everyone's thinking — is Jesse de Silva still waiting for marriage or has he given into passion with Suze?

Reign of Shadows » Sophie Jordan

 

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="314"] February 9[/caption]

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

With lush writing and a star–crossed romance, Reign of Shadows is Sophie Jordan at her best.

Personal Note: I have a contentious relationship with Sophie Jordan.  On one hand, she wrote my favorite marriage scene ever — two teenage dragons fulfill their vows by tucking their wings and plunging from the sky together. So romantic.  On the other hand, Sophie Jordan ruined everything by writing a terrible love triangle that didn't work out the way I wanted it to, spoiling triangles for me forever.  I might read this, but with EXTREME reservation.

Riders » Veronica Rossi

 

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="317"] February 16[/caption]

For eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake, nothing but death can keep him from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.

Recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can't remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen--Conquest, Famine, and Death--are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.

They fail.

Now--bound, bloodied, and drugged--Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he's fallen for--not to mention all of humankind--he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.

But will anyone believe him?

Personal Note: Veronica Rossi's trilogy, Under the Never Sky, happens to be one of my faves.  So I'm more than ready to read the start to her new series.

A Gathering of Shadows (A Darker Shade of Magic #2)  » V. E. Schwab

 

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="314"] February 23[/caption]

Four months have passed since the shadow stone fell into Kell’s possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Rhy was wounded and the Dane twins fell, and the stone was cast with Holland’s dying body through the rift, and into Black London.

In many ways, things have almost returned to normal, though Rhy is more sober, and Kell is now plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks like she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games—an extravagant international competition of magic, meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries—a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

But while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life, and those who were thought to be forever gone have returned. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning, and so it seems Black London has risen again—meaning that another London must fall.

Personal Note:  I was a bit disappointed by the first book in this series, A Darker Shade of Magic.  But I'm still definitely looking forward to the sequel!

Flirting With Fame » Samantha Joyce

 

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="306"] February 29 (ooh on leap day)[/caption]

Elise Jameson is the secret author behind the bestselling, cult hit Viking Moon series. But when a stranger poses as Elise, the painfully shy, deaf nineteen-year-old starts to see how much she’s missing. Can she really hide in the shadows forever? This clever, coming-of-age debut is for anyone who has ever felt unsure in their own skin.

After a freak childhood accident leaves her deaf and physically scarred, nineteen-year-old Elise Jameson retreats into a world of vibrant characters she creates on her laptop. She is shocked when her coping mechanism turns into a career as a phenomenal bestselling novelist. Fans are obsessed with Elise’s Viking Moon series and its author—a striking girl with zero resemblance to Elise who appears on the back covers. Elise sent the randomly Googled photo to her editor following a minor panic attack. Now, horrified to learn she is expected on set of the television pilot based on her novels, Elise tracks down her anonymous stand-in. To Elise’s surprise, Veronica Wilde has been taking credit for Viking Moon for years. She eagerly agrees to keep up the charade if Elise will pose as her assistant.

It’s hard for Elise to watch a stranger take credit for her work and get all the perks she desires, including admiration from the show’s heartthrob star. Edged onto the sidelines of her own life, Elise reconsiders her choice to stay anonymous. Is she ready to come to terms with her true identity—and with the long-buried secrets that could cost her her career, her fans, and the few precious friendships she’s made?

Personal Note: This summary sounds really interesting, and I'm getting a lot of Fangirl vibes from it!

My Most Anticipated Book of the Month...

Riders by Veronica Rossi

Even though there are a lot of books I'm excited about and intrigued over, I simply cannot wait to see if lightning strikes twice for Veronica Rossi. (Update: I've read a sneak peak of Riders and I'm both pleased and displeased. My excitement has been slightly quenched, do doubt about it, but I can't NOT be a fan of Rossi after she gave me the magical reading experience of Under the Never Sky and especially Through the Ever Night.)

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That's about it, folks!  Are you excited, yet?  Also, please forgive me if you know of a book that's missing from the list.  Leave a comment below, and I'll pop it up! And don't forget to tell me which book you're most anticipating!