With the weather cooling and school back in session, we say goodbye to summer reading. But do not mourn the loss of the season. For with the end of summer comes the exciting fall book releases! I’ve been pining for the likes of Lia Habel’s Dearly, Beloved, prequels like James Dashner’s The Kill Order and series enders such as Hidden by Sophie Jordan. All to make you forget that summer has departed for nine months.
Dearly, Beloved is a great way to kick off the Halloween season. Zombies are a classic for this time of year, and Habel’s series is very unconventional when it comes to zombies. There’s a civil war, with zombies and humans trying to coexist and reach a goal that makes the world a habitable and safe place for all. And there’s a human-zombie romance that seems destined to fail in the world’s current turmoil. Dearly, Beloved continues to follow Nora and Bram with some heart-wrenching twists and turns that leave you asking “why?” and “how long will I be waiting to know more?” when you turn the last page.
Anyone who loves the dystopian movement as much as I do has no doubt read James Dashner’s Maze Runner trilogy. When it ended, I felt closure but was also left with loss and questions. What was the origin of the Flare? How did the Maze come about? The Kill Order answered those questions and more. In true Dashner style, The Kill Order was fast-paced, and stomach knotting and it kept me from sleeping. This series appeals to men and women alike, and Dashner has done me a huge favor in writing books that have gained a solid male following in my community. But it’s a great read no matter who you are!
Endings always put a hitch in my giddyup. In my own personal fictional world where all of my book characters coexist together and live happily ever after, I have a jaded view about endings. My heart breaks when I lose characters I love. This is another reason I love books so much. Thank bookness for Sophie Jordan’s creativity! Her Draki world is an imaginative and thrilling place. Jordan makes you feel as you are there and fighting to save a precious species of dragons called Draki. Hidden was released at the end of September, and was an end in itself. I wish I could be a spoiler and gush about all the fantastic goings on of Hidden . . . but I’d be ruining it for anyone that has not read the series. If you have a love affair with dragons, well, first off we should be friends, and you need to start with Jordan’s Firelight and Vanish. But second and, most importantly, Jordan’s series is for you. Hidden is for sale now and does not disappoint.
Other fall releases that I have loved and recommend include Serpent’s Kiss by Melissa De La Cruz, Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick, Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake, Rapture by Lauren Kate and Betrayal by Gregg Olsen. Bravo authors!!! I love the fall . . .
Angela Hanson is addicted to young adult literature. She works at Klindt’s Booksellers & Stationers in The Dalles, OR, where she’s pretty famous for her curated, color-coded YA section.