We’re not too far into the year yet, but I already feel like this is gonna be a good year for books. So many amazing-sounding ones coming out! Quite a few of them in March and April. I decided to focus this post on mostly March books though and will get the rest of the April books in the next one. I also really liked including Kickstarters I found last time, so I think I’m gonna make that a regular thing! I can’t afford to back them all myself, but I still like supporting creators who are doing cool things and also helping you all find more books and graphic novels to enjoy š So here are some March and April books to check out!
The Fever King by Victoria Lee // Mar 1
Blurb:
In the former United States, sixteen-year-old Noam Ćlvaro wakes up in a hospital bed, the sole survivor of the viral magic that killed his family and made him a technopath. His ability to control technology attracts the attention of the minister of defense and thrusts him into the magical elite of the nation of Carolinia.
The son of undocumented immigrants, Noam has spent his life fighting for the rights of refugees fleeing magical outbreaksārefugees Carolinia routinely deports with vicious efficiency. Sensing a way to make change, Noam accepts the ministerās offer to teach him the science behind his magic, secretly planning to use it against the government. But then he meets the ministerās sonācruel, dangerous, and achingly beautifulāand the way forward becomes less clear.
Caught between his purpose and his heart, Noam must decide who he can trust and how far heās willing to go in pursuit of the greater good.
My Thoughts:
Magic, technology, Jewish rep, LGBT+ rep, a slow-burn romance—sounds like a great combo!
Goodreads | Amazon | Publisher
The Municipalists by Seth Fried // Mar 19
Blurb:
A novel about an unlikely pair of lonely outsiders–one human, one AI–on an adventure to save the great American city of Metropolis written by “one of the most exciting new voices in fiction” (Charles Yu)
In Metropolis, the gleaming city of tomorrow, the dream of the great American city has been achieved. But all that is about to change, unless a neurotic, rule-following bureaucrat and an irreverent, freewheeling artificial intelligence can save the city from a mysterious terrorist plot that threatens its very existence.
Henry Thompson has dedicated his life to improving America’s infrastructure as a proud employee of the United States Municipal Survey. So when the agency comes under attack, he dutifully accepts his unexpected mission to visit Metropolis looking for answers. But his plans to investigate quietly, quickly, and carefully are interrupted by his new partner: a day-drinking know-it-all named OWEN, who also turns out to be the projected embodiment of the agency’s supercomputer. Soon, Henry and OWEN are fighting to save not only their own lives and those of the city’s millions of inhabitants, but also the soul of Metropolis. The Municipalists is a thrilling, funny, and touching adventure story, a tour-de-force of imagination that trenchantly explores our relationships to the cities around us and the technologies guiding us into the future.
My Thoughts:
I haven’t even met this AI character yet, but I love him already. This book sounds like so much fun, and I love the sound of these two opposites working together!
Goodreads | Amazon | Publisher
The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson // Mar 22
Blurb:
Set in 1491 during the reign of the last sultanate in the Iberian peninsula, The Bird King is the story of Fatima, the only remaining Circassian concubine to the sultan, and her dearest friend Hassan, the palace mapmaker.
Hassan has a secret–he can draw maps of places he’s never seen and bend the shape of reality. When representatives of the newly formed Spanish monarchy arrive to negotiate the sultan’s surrender, Fatima befriends one of the women, not realizing that she will see Hassan’s gift as sorcery and a threat to Christian Spanish rule. With their freedoms at stake, what will Fatima risk to save Hassan and escape the palace walls?
As Fatima and Hassan traverse Spain with the help of a clever jinn to find safety, The Bird King asks us to consider what love is and the price of freedom at a time when the West and the Muslim world were not yet separate.
My Thoughts:
This one sounds so unique and fantastical and like it also has a great friendship. Plus it’s got a jinn š
Goodreads | Amazon | Publisher
Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan // Apr 2
Blurb:
A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.
A prince in danger must decide who to trust.
A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings.
Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.
In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncanās devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy.
My Thoughts:
I’ve been hearing a lot about this one, and it sounds like a deliciously dark start to a fantasy series with some interesting characters!
Goodreads | Amazon | Publisher
Verse Book 1 by Sam Beck // Ends Mar 1
Description:
The first arc of Verse begins with Fife, an unassuming kid who just wants to apprentice as a sword-smith. His plans are quickly thrown into disarray when a girl, Neitya, seems to appear out of nowhere. This is odd because people haven’t been able to use true Magic in centuries. Stranger yet, she sports a set of horns and no memory, which might be a problem.
You see, the world of Verse is plagued by Vel, creatures that can somehow tap into forgotten Magic. The Vel sometimes have horns and other anomalies, and they are dangerous. Going against his better judgment, Fife decides to travel with Neitya and the two find themselves caught up with deserters to the crown, cultists, and the ever pressing question of who Neitya really is.
My Thoughts:
The art for this one looks great, and the fantasy story about two strangers coming together sounds great too!
Never Satisfied Book 1 by Taylor Robin // Ends Mar 2
Description:
Never Satisfied is a tale of magic apprentices pitted against each other in competition, dealing with issues of privilege and how difficult it can be to understand others. It is hosted by Hiveworks and can be read online here. It stars Lucy Marlowe, a non-binary magicianās apprentice out to prove they belong in this world of magic just as much as anyone else, though thatās easier said than done…
In this world, all magicians have an animal familiar as a companion, and use their skills in tandem with their jobsāanything from baking to guarding the city. To have magic is to have access to a much wider array of opportunities, but one opportunity is more coveted than the rest… earning the title of Representative. Apprentices compete in a series of tasks, demonstrating their abilities, until there can be only one champion of their city!
My Thoughts:
Who doesn’t love a good magic competition? This one sounds like a lot of fun, plus it has some great diversity!
Paint the Town Red Vol. 1.1 by Tasha Mukanik (Windy) and J Kiakas // Ends Mar 7
Description:
Paint The Town Red is a noir-inspired rom-com about monster babes (of the more femme persuasion) who kiss, date and have dramatic pasts, presents and futures! Paint the Town Red includes traditional favourite monsters: vampires, werewolves and demons all learning to try and co-exist with one another.
This particular Volume follows the life of Winona “Winny” Barlowe as she comes to terms with her new life as a werewolf. She is taken under the wing of Odile Brady, a seasoned werewolf themself, and the two maintain a shelter for wayward werewolves. One night, however, they two are faced with a new dilemma, a lost and wounded vampire in need of shelter…
The book we consider to be rated 16+ It contains swears, violence and sexual themes.
My Thoughts:
Supernatural creatures! Need I say more? This one sounds really cute and inclusive.
Yeah 2019 seems like it’s gonna be awesome for books, I agree. I keep finding new stuff too. And Kickstarter’s like a rabbit hole- there is SO much good stuff out there right now.
The Municipalists sounds like one I might ant to try. And Paint The Town Red definitely sounds fun. A werewolf shelter!
I think it’s… July? when there are just soooooo many coming out. But it’s exciting to have lots of great books coming out!
Of all the books here, I’m most excited for The Municipalists, it sounds so good!
Paint the Town Red sounds fantastic. The Bird King is one I definitley want to read as well. So many great books.
It sounds so fun! And The Bird King sounds like it’s gonna be really good!
I can’t believe it’s almost time to read The Municipalists! I’d better start looking at my reading scheduleš And Wicked Saints is coming up fast too. Why is this year going by so quickly??
Your reading is so organized! I’m really excited to start The Municipalists too! Unfortunately I didn’t get a copy of Wicked Saints š
Wicked Saints is one that I’m very excited for. Deliciously dark sounds like an apt description for it too. š
I hadn’t heard of The Bird King before but I think it sounds wonderful and will be adding it to my TBR.
It seemed fitting, haha. They both sound so good!
I have been seeing some good buzz for The Fever King. It sounds like a really interesting and magical tale incorporating current issues.
Me too! It does sound really good.
I think the Municipalists won me over with that cover and that blurb — bureaucrats save the day (sort of lol)
Yes! I love both the cover and the blurb too and am so excited for the book!
I’m super excited for The Wicked Saints!
It sounds great!
I’ve just read Wicked Saints and it’s SO GOOD. Very dark, very intense, but also beautiful. And the cover is stunning as well š
Yay, glad to hear it’s so good!!
Oh you got two favorite of mine here! The Bird King and Wicked Saints! I hope to get to the ARCs next I love how the Fever King sounds! undocumented immigrants, refugees rights, magic and politics! Yeah!
I first saw The Bird King on your blog! It sounds really interesting though. I didn’t get an ARC of Wicked Saints š Sounds good too though! And The Fever King does seem like something you’d like!
The only one I have seen around a lot is The Fever King. All the other ones were unfamiliar to me so I was learning more about the others when reading this post. I don’t think there is much I am excited for DD: I have been on a buying ban so I haven’t been looking ahead as I can’t buy anything in any case. I am looking forward to… reading some of the books I already own š
Yay for learning about new books! š But aww, that’s ok, you can totally be excited for books you already own š
February and march had quite a few releases and ARCs for books I was eager for. The book I am most anticipating this month is probably SJ Pajonas next cozy mystery book, the next HY Hanna book and hopefully Carol Van Natta’s next book.
The fever King sounds pretty unique and interesting. The Muncipalist sounds fun too, I like the sound of the two opposites working together and I imagine it will have some great scenes with the two of them.
Verse Book 1 sounds interesting and the art looks pretty good too. Never satisfied sounds interesting with the magic competition and how they use magic alongside their work.
I’m reading The Municipalists right now, and it is a lot of fun seeing these opposites work together.
I love the sound of so many comics on Kickstarter!