What to Read While Waiting!

Sarah J. Maas has confirmed she is just getting started! With more books on the way, and possibly a mega-verse in the works, Maas has her fans at the edge of their seats!

Her most recent book “House of Flame and Shadow”, released January 30, 2024. Sparking a huge amount of attention on all forms social media. It was book #3 of her acclaimed Crescent City Series.

Maas recently confirmed her next book will be in the ACOTAR universe. She has not confirmed a release date, yet, but at least readers know which realm to expect her next read.

We also now know that a 4th Crescent City Series book is definitely coming in the future, as well. This makes sense, as any world jumping seems to be in the hands of Bryce, with the horn in her possession.

In a recent interview with “Today”, she also alluded to an upcoming book that she has had in the back of her mind for quite some time. Although, she did NOT state which universe the book would take place.

So, we have A LOT to look forward to, we just have a bit of a wait for all the excitement.

What to read while waiting for the next Maas release??

The Serpent and The Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart.

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.

But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.

Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.

But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.

I am reading this book now! It pulled me in immediately. Oraya is a stellar primary character, and the novel is told from her point of view. I also loved Raihn right from the start, but I’m holding my emotions tight because I know a vampire kingdom won’t condone a human/vampire romance for long. I’m about halfway through now, and if you love Maas’ writing style, this will be a good read for you!

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Amentrout

A Maiden…Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.

A Duty…The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.

A Kingdom…Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel.

This is another fantastic first novel to a larger series. Poppy and Hawke are the perfect duo for our forbidden romance in this book! It’s an interesting premise, well-written and plenty of intrigue to keep you guessing as you make your way through the series!

The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die

If you’ve been living under a rock, you MIGHT not have heard of The Fourth Wing, yet! But, most of us have read and re-read this start to the Empyrean Series by Yarros. It has it all – action, romance, dragons and humor. A perfect combination of the most elegant features of a Romantasy Novel! Read my full review here!

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

Holly Black is quickly making a name for herself in an ever-growing list of newly up and coming female authors in the Fantasy genre. Rightfully so! She has a great repertoire of novels and series, and The Cruel Prince is the first book to her Folk of Air series. This is a great book/series! Jude, a young girl, is brought to the land of Fairie and the novel follows her growth and ascension to power with all the romance, heartbreak and magic along the way! Read my full review here!