Random Fridays: Spring 2015 Reads

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Hello, everyone! This week's Random Friday theme is Spring 2015 Reads. In theory, spring should be just around the corner- though, the view outside my window says that warmer weather is still at least a few blocks away! However, whether or not sunshine and spring flowers will be arriving soon, lots of awesome new books are releasing in the next few months, and today, I'm going to share with you the ones I'm most excited for.

 1. Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman (releases March 10)
Shadow Scale is the sequel to Seraphina, one of my favorite reads of last year. I'm super excited to return to this world, to see what'll happen to Seraphina and her friends, especially Orma- hopefully, he'll be in this one and not off hiding because of the events of Seraphina. I look forward to finding out how the conflict between humans and dragons develops, as well as seeing more of Seraphina's world. (Reading about this on Goodreads, though, I did find out that apparently there won't be a third book in the series. I am highly disappointed.)

2. Out of Darkness Rising by Gillian Bronte Adams (releases March 15)
I just read Gillian's other book, Orphan Song, at the beginning of this week and absolutely loved it, so I'm really excited to read more of Gillian's writing. Out of Darkness Rising looks like it'll be really awesome. From the prologue excerpt and the book trailer, it sounds like it'll be along the lines of Tales of Goldstone Wood and The Door Within trilogy, both of which are favorites of mine. As a note, Gillian is running a giveaway of this book on her blog, so you should definitely check that out.

 

3. Omega Dragon by Bryan Davis (releases March 20)
I said this before, but I'll said it again: I cannot believe this multi-series is actually ending. The first book was published eleven years ago, in 2004; I read it in . . . 2010, I think? Maybe 2009? Since then, I've always assumed that there would always be another book coming out, another adventure of Billy, Bonnie, Walter, Ashley, and the rest of their friends and family. But now this is the last one. And ever since Mr. Davis released a sneak peek of the first chapter on his site, I've been a little scared that a lot of people are going to die in this one. Not that I don't believe that Omega Dragon will be amazing- I know it will be. Odds are, it'll be even better than I think it will be, because Bryan Davis is just that good. But I'm still worried for my favorite characters and sad that this is the end.

4. The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall (releases March 25)

Though I don't read a lot of contemporary books, I love the Penderwicks series. The Penderwicks in Spring takes place five years after The Penderwicks at Point Mouette, and I'm not entirely sure what to think about the time change. On one hand, I can see why the author chose to skip ahead, but on the other hand, I like Skye and Jane best (particularly Jane, with whom I've always identified closely) and I've heard that this book will mostly focus on Batty and Ben rather than the older sisters. All the same, I look forward to seeing what the Penderwick family is up to now, and I'm sure it'll be enjoyable.

 

5. Stolen Magic by Gail Carson Levine (releases April 21)
A Tale of Two Castles is my favorite of the Levine fairytale retellings, so I'm quite excited that the sequel is finally coming out! I look forward to seeing more of Mastress Meenore and Elodie. Also, if this is anything like A Tale of Two Castles, 'twill be a nice fantasy-mystery, a genre I've been wanting to read more of lately. I'm not crazy about the cover, admittedly, but I don't doubt the story will be good. (And now I need to reread A Tale of Two Castles to prepare!)

6. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson (releases May 12)

I love Melanie Dickerson's fairytale retellings, and I'm looking forward to seeing how she handles the two stories that make up Huntress: Robin Hood and Swan Lake. Hopefully my library will get it in quickly, instead of making me wait like it has with The Princess Spy. 

7. Lion Heart by A. C. Gaughen (releases May 19)

Speaking of Robin Hood retellings, Lion Heart, the third and final book in the Scarlet series is also coming out this spring. Part of me is a little hesitant to read it because Lady Thief was . . . not my favorite book in the world. I mean, it wasn't terrible, it just wasn't as awesome as I wish it had been. All the same, I want to know how the series ends, so I'll most likely try to read Lion Heart. 

 

8. Illusionarium by Heather Dixon (releases May 19)
STEAMPUNK. Yes, yes, yes. I need more steampunk. And just to make it even better, Illusionarium is by the author of one of my favorite fairytale retellings, Entwined. I haven't been able to find much information about the actual plot, but it's steampunk and I love, love, love Heather Dixon's style, so that's enough for me. (Plus, I've been waiting for ages for Heather Dixon to release a new book, so, yeah. I'm very happy that the wait is over.)

 

 9. Draven's Light by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (releases May 25, 2015)
Last but definitely not least, we have a new Goldstone Wood book! Let us begin by taking a minute to appreciate the beauty of this cover. I mean, as a general rule, Goldstone Wood covers are really pretty, but Draven's Light is one of my top three- maybe even top two, since I can't decide if I like its cover or that of Golden Daughter better. Anyway, moving on. I'm excited for just about anything Goldstone Wood, but that's because the books are always really amazing, and having read the excerpt available on the book page, I'm sure that Draven's Light will be no exception. Apparently it goes back further in Parumvir's history than any other Goldstone Wood book to date, so that should be interesting. (Why must May be so far away?)

 

What new books are you looking forward to this spring? Please tell me in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

-Sarah (Leilani Sunblade)