April 2022 Anticipated releases
Honestly, how is it April already?!
I feel like I just sat down last week to set my 2022 yearly goals, yet here we are with the 1st Quarter already gone! I wanted to share my anticipated releases for April, and even though it’s a bit late, hopefully, you will still be able to find this post helpful. Please let me know in the comments if any of these are also on your anticipated release list! I’m listing these according to their release dates, each one I’m curious about for different reasons, but they are all on my TBR.
April 2 - Legend of the Huntress
Skylahr Reed had been nothing more than the outcast for her twenty-two years and has finally grown to accept it. But when a fever hits the village of Noorde Point, she is the only one who can find the courage to venture past the town’s gates in hopes of finding a cure.
Forced to venture into the unknown lands of Elrin, Skylahr soon discovers every tale she had been told as a child had been false. The war of the Gods was not just a myth and the evil Goddess; the Seductress and her Crimson army, are well and truly alive.
Thrust into a world of chaos and death, Skylahr is forced to make impossible choices and trust those around her. Including the dark and dangerous Kalian, a man who always seems to be waiting in the shadows. But what secrets is he hiding and will Skylahr be able to protect her untouched heart from him?
Legend of the Huntress is one I'm curious about. I always love a story with a badass heroine, and I hope not to be disappointed in this New Adult Fantasy debut. The synopsis reminds me of a romantasy the likes of From Blood and Ash. Upon visiting the authors' Instagram, there are many familiar tropes, including morally grey romance, chosen one, and found family. I'm sure to love this new series if this is the case. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this book.
April 5 - Hotel Magnifique
For fans of Caraval and The Night Circus, this decadent and darkly enchanting YA fantasy, set against the backdrop of a Belle Époque-inspired hotel, follows seventeen-year-old Jani as she uncovers the deeply disturbing secrets of the legendary Hotel Magnifique.
All her life, Jani has dreamed of Elsewhere. Just barely scraping by with her job at a tannery, she’s resigned to a dreary life in the port town of Durc, caring for her younger sister Zosa. That is, until the Hotel Magnifique comes to town.
The hotel is legendary not only for its whimsical enchantments, but also for its ability to travel—appearing in a different destination every morning. While Jani and Zosa can’t afford the exorbitant costs of a guest’s stay, they can interview to join the staff, and are soon whisked away on the greatest adventure of their lives. But once inside, Jani quickly discovers their contracts are unbreakable and that beneath the marvelous glamour, the hotel is hiding dangerous secrets.
With the vexingly handsome doorman Bel as her only ally, Jani embarks on a mission to unravel the mystery of the magic at the heart of the hotel and free Zosa—and the other staff—from the cruelty of the ruthless maître d’hôtel. To succeed, she’ll have to risk everything she loves, but failure would mean a fate far worse than never returning home.
This is one I was fortunate enough to be a part of a bookstagram book tour with @tbrandbeyond tours and received an eArc of this book. It was a little different from my usual fantasy reads as this is more of a mystery and historical fiction story surrounding a magical hotel. It’s full of twists and turns that are sure to delight any reader. I immensely enjoyed this book and rated it a solid four stars. I recommend it to any reader that wants a quick, easy, fantasy read.
April 5 - The Bladed Faith
A usurped prince prepares to take up the mantel of a deadly assassin and reclaim his kingdom, his people, and his slain gods in this epic fantasy from a USA Today bestselling author.
Cyrus was only twelve years old when his gods were slain, his country invaded, and his parents—the king and queen—beheaded in front of him. Held prisoner in the invader's court for years, Cyrus is suddenly given a chance to escape and claim his revenge when a mysterious group of revolutionaries comes looking for a figurehead. They need a hero to strike fear into the hearts of the imperial and to inspire and unite the people. They need someone to take up the skull mask and swords and to become the legendary "Vagrant"—an unparalleled hero and assassin of otherworldly skill.
But all is not as it seems. Creating the illusion of a hero is the work of many, and Cyrus will soon discover the true price of his vengeance.
I've said it before, but one of my 2022 reading goals is to read more adult fantasy books. Except for Sarah J Maas's books, I've not read adult fantasy stories until this year. This year, I've made good on my goal so far, and I'm always looking for new authors to try to find my favorite adult fantasy stories and authors. This book sounds very intriguing. I love the idea of an assassin with an unknown identity. After reading some of the reviews on Goodreads, I'm more anxious than ever to start this book. A repeated mention of solid characters and pacing all add to an enjoyable read for me.
April 12 - The Hunger of the Gods
The Hunger of the Gods continues John Gwynne’s acclaimed Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, packed with myth, magic, and bloody vengeance.
Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest.
As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own – and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance.
Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her.
Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god.
Their hope lies within the mad writings of a chained god. A book of forbidden magic with the power to raise the wolf god Ulfrir from the dead . . . and bring about a battle that will shake the foundations of the earth.
This is hands down my most anticipated release so far this year! In January, I read the first book in this series, The Shadow of the Gods, for the buddy read on Book Roast’s Patreon. Also, being my first adult epic fantasy, I was blown away by this book! Although the first book is a setup for the subsequent books, I was enthralled by each character, the landscape, and the politics of this world. Nordic-inspired fantasy is something I want to read more of. We were left with a perfect setup for book two. I was lucky enough to get a copy of the eARC by the publisher on NetGalley, and I’m already 25% of the way through. I’m taking my time as I enjoy being back in this world! I’m not sure what I will do when I’ve finished reading!
April 26 - Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases
From the detective who found The Golden State Killer, a memoir of investigating America’s toughest cold cases and the rewards--and toll--of a life solving crime.
I order another bourbon, neat. This is the drink that will flip the switch. I don’t even know how I got here, to this place, to this point. Something is happening to me lately. I’m drinking too much. My sheets are soaking wet when I wake up from nightmares of decaying corpses. I order another drink and swig it, trying to forget about the latest case I can’t shake.
Crime-solving for me is more complex than the challenge of the hunt, or the process of piecing together a scientific puzzle. The thought of good people suffering drives me, for better or worse, to the point of obsession.
People always ask how I am able to detach from the horrors of my work. Part of it is an innate capacity to compartmentalize; the rest is experience and exposure, and I’ve had plenty of both. But I had always taken pride in the fact that I can keep my feelings locked up to get the job done. It’s only been recently that it feels like all that suppressed darkness is beginning to seep out.
When I look back at my long career, there is a lot I am proud of. I have caught some of the most notorious killers of the twenty-first century and brought justice and closure for their victims and families. I want to tell you about a lifetime solving these cold cases, from Laci Peterson to Jaycee Dugard to the Pittsburg homicides to, yes, my twenty-year-long hunt for the Golden State Killer.
But a deeper question eats at me as I ask myself, at what cost? I have sacrificed relationships, joy—even fatherhood—because the pursuit of evil always came first. Did I make the right choice? It’s something I grapple with every day. Yet as I stand in the spot where a young girl took her last breath, as I look into the eyes of her family, I know that, for me, there has never been a choice. “I don’t know if I can solve your case,” I whisper. “But I promise I will do my best.”
It is a promise I know I can keep.
A rare edition to my anticipated releases, this is a non-fiction book that I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from, and I’ve already started reading it, and I’m speeding through it. Being a lover of true crime stories, documentaries, and YouTube channels, I was interested after reading the synopsis. The tone of narration brings a different perspective and a very personal one. A must-read for anyone who loves true crime!
There you have it!
This month promises to be excellent for new reads to add to my TBR! I hope you have found one or two that piques your interest! As it’s my birthday month, I thank all these authors for sharing their stories! I can’t wait to see what I’m able to read this month and be back next month to share May’s releases with you as well!
If you enjoyed this post, let me know in the comments! I’m always looking for feedback to improve my content and make it informative and fun for you as much as myself!
Mellisa
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