5 YA Books on Center Stage

2 Books already published and 3 will be hitting the shelves Sept/Oct

This summer, I made a commitment to read at least 50 pages a day, which is not much by any means, but to my surprise, it worked out perfectly for my busy schedule.

I've been reading a lot of great books lately, but my BookClub does not really choose YA books, which means, I get to pick and choose what to read on my non-book club free time (free time?).

Some might say: "But I'm an adult, why would I want to read YA books?"
I actually read somewhere that 55% of YA readers are adults.  And did you know that in the UK the Harry Potter books were published with 2 different covers: 1 for adults and 1 for kids? I guess because "adults" don't want to be seen reading books written to the younger generations?

Don't let the Young Adult category fool you.  These books are well-written, imaginative, tackle serious issues and will provide you many hours of entertainment - plus who doesn't want to fall in love with a handsome alien, kick some tyrant's behind, avenge a murder, bring down a beast and play a game? (not necessarily in that order)...

CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE by Tomi Adeyemi
Published: March 6, 2018
This is book # 1 of a trilogy.
It was Jimmy Fallon's summer BookClub pick, and a Movie is currently in development with FOX 2000.  Read the book before the movie comes out!

Click here to read my review.

The novel introduces King Saran and his raids across Orïsha. Before the raids, the two cultures of the land, maji and kosidán, were still always competing for power. The maji have always been oppressed by the elite kosidán, the nobles, but the raids were an act of genocide. King Saran killed all the maji, rid the land of magic, and silenced most of the prayers to gods he did not recognize as his own. The kingdom went through a culture change where the power dynamics were more clearly defined and uneven. The Children of Blood and Bone takes place eleven years after the raids, following Zélie, a divîner (one of magical blood). Chosen by the gods, Zélie, Tzain, and Amari, the Princess of Orïsha, are sent on a journey to collect three sacred artifacts and bring them to the Holy Temple. By completing this quest, magic, which has been missing since before the raids, will be brought back to Orïsha. Along this quest, Zélie must evade King Saran’s forces, led by Inan, the crowned prince, and reach the Holy Temple before the solstice. If Zélie fails, Orïsha will lose magic forever...

♥♥♥♥♥

LEGENDARY by Stephanie Garber
Published: May 29, 2018
This is book # 2 of the Caraval trilogy.

A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.
The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval...the games have only just begun.

♥♥♥♥♥

SADIE by Courtney Summers
Will hit the shelves on September 4, 2018 (only a few days away!)
Click here to read my review.

Sadie hasn't had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she's been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water.
But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie's entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring her sister's killer to justice and hits the road following a few meager clues to find him.
When West McCray—a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America—overhears Sadie's story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie's journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it's too late.

If she dies, she takes the truth with her... Click here to listen/subscribe to the new podcast based on Sadie and help reporter West McCray #FindSadie.

Courtney Summers has written the breakout book of her career. Sadie is propulsive and harrowing and will keep you riveted until the last page.

♥♥♥♥♥

BONELESS MERCIES by April Genevieve Tucholke
Will hit the shelves on October 2, 2018

Frey, Ovie, Juniper, and Runa are the Boneless Mercies—girls hired to kill quickly, quietly, and mercifully. But Frey is weary of the death trade and, having been raised on the heroic sagas of her people, dreams of a bigger life.
When she hears of an unstoppable monster ravaging a nearby town, Frey decides this is the Mercies' one chance out. The fame and fortune of bringing down such a beast would ensure a new future for all the Mercies. In fact, her actions may change the story arc of women everywhere.
Full of fierce girls, bloodlust, tenuous alliances, and unapologetic quests for glory, this elegantly spun tale challenges the power of storytelling—and who gets to be the storyteller.

♥♥♥♥♥

THE DARKEST STAR by Jennifer L Armentrout
Will hit the shelves on October 30, 2018
Click here to read my review.

When seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher is caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she meets Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen...but he is in fact something much more powerful. Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she'd only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head...

♥♥♥♥♥

So that's my TOP 5 YA Books.
Let me know what YA books you're reading and/or waiting to read.



Note: As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase using the links provided, I’ll earn a small commission (no additional cost to you).