May 2019 Releases – My Top Five Books

This is honestly the publishing month that I have been waiting for. I have been desperate to read some of these books for a LONG TIME. I highly recommend that you check out what is releasing this month but to help you, as always, here are my top five picks for this month!

Aurora Rising

Title: Aurora Rising

Authors: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Published: 7th May 2019

Publisher: Rock the Boat

Genre: YA Sci-fi

I have been waiting to read this book for SO LONG. This is one of those books that everyone is excited about. Like a lot of other book bloggers I requested an advanced reader copy but sadly it was not to be. I also spent 8 hours on the phone to Goldsboro, whilst living on their website to try to get a numbered copy but my luck really wasn’t there for this one! However, the publication date is almost here and I am SO excited. I know I will receiving a copy in my Illumicrate box but I will definitely be reading the ebook before it arrives.

If you haven’t heard all about Aurora Rising and its internet-breaking powers then here is what you need to know. Aurora Rising is a YA Science Fiction novel set in the year 2380 at the Aurora Academy. As everyone puts together teams for their first missions Tyler Jones, a star pupil, finds himself recruiting the dregs of the academy that no-one else wants. His Z-list squad turns out to be one of the smaller problems when they discover a catalyst that could start the war of the millennia. For a full synopsis checkout Goodreads here.

Finale

Title: Finale

Author: Stephanie Garber

Published: 9th May 2019

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Genre: YA Fantasy

This is going to be at the top of a lot of TBR piles this month. The aptly named finale of the Caraval series. I haven’t finished reading the first two books so I am looking forward to reading the whole series straight through. The book is set two months after the last Caraval concluded but the greatest game of all is just beginning…. I won’t say any more than that in case you are yet to pick the series up but for everyone else you can geek out over the full synopsis on Goodreads here. I do have an exciting Fairyloot edition of Finale coming in their special edition box, which I cannot wait for!

We Hunt the Flame

Title: We Hunt the Flame

Author: Hafsah Faizal

Published: 14th May 2019

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Genre: YA Fantasy

Yet another long awaited release of mine! Hafsah Faizal’s street team have done a wonderful job of spreading excitement for her debut YA Fantasy novel. The first chapter was available to read online and I really loved it. I can already tell that the world building is superb and the ancient Arabia setting is wonderfully rich from the beginning. The novel focuses on Zafira, the Hunter, who braves the cursed forest to aid her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, who can show no mercy. The shadow of the Arz forest grows. An ancient evil stirs. The Hunter and the Prince of Death undertake a quest to retrieve an artifact but there are greater threats than just each other.

Stepsister #Gifted

Title: Stepsister

Author: Jennifer Donnelly

Published: 14th May 2019

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling

I mentioned this book in my Fairy Tale February Six for Sunday post – Fairy Tale Retellings Releasing in 2019. Since then I was lucky enough to be gifted an Advanced Reader Copy so my review will be with you very soon. You are going to love this one! I love that Jennifer Donnelly decided to write a story about one of the ‘ugly’ stepsisters and was excited to hear it described as a ‘fiercely feminist re-imagining of Cinderella’. There is a VERY interesting chapter in Daisy Buchanan’s The Sisterhood, which talks about her perspective of the ugly sisters and how perhaps it is Cinderella that we should have an issue with.

Isabella has spent her life trying to live up to her mother’s expectations. She even chops off her toes in an attempt to win the hand of the handsome prince! Sadly it seems that she is not meant to be truly happy. When Isabelle learns that she could alter her destiny… well, who wouldn’t jump at the chance?

I Wish You All the Best

Title: I Wish You All the Best

Author: Mason Deaver

Published: 14th May 2019

Publisher: Push

Genre: YA Contemporary. LGBTQIAP+

I Wish You All the Best promises to be a very good read and has an extremely high Goodreads rating. The book has a nonbinary protagonist and is written from an own voices author. Ben De Backer is thrown out of their house when they come out as nonbinary to their parents. Forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Ben sincerely wishes to stay unnoticed at school until their senior year is complete. When Ben starts to spend time with Nathan however, plans begin to change and may lead to a happier new life. For more information and the full synopsis check out Goodreads here.

What are your top picks for books releasing this month?