I know! Two posts in one day? But wait! Before you panic, the earlier post was a review, which shouldn’t technically be on Fridays. It was only there because I made a mistake, so this is the real Friday Funday post!
This series is similar to the Top Ten Tuesday except it is part of a Goodreads group hosted by Whoo Gives A Hoot and Foxes and Fairy Tales. I have been following Foxes and Fairy Tales for a bit now and really love the blog! Every week we have a theme where we pick five books with a theme and talk about them. This week’s theme is most antcipated 2017 reads and since I issued my January disclosure, I figured I would give you a sneak and feature five of my favorites! So let’s begin shall we?
Beyond a Doubt, Number One is The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
Summary: This is a fantasy story set in Russia that features our young heroine who must battle both the evil forces in the woods as well as the very real threat of a religious battle between folk religion and Christianity. Vasya must be brave and courageous to fight for a community that would only condemn her and against a force she cannot comprehend, yet. She finds help in the smallest of places, but rallys forces around her to protect her family and community.
Why? Vasya is such a fierce character. She must do some really hard things and go against a lot of people to do what is right. They face a very real threat that only she can save them from and she embraces the hero status; even when it comes with sacrifices. I wish I had read this book when I was younger so I could embrace my inner Vasya.
Lucky Boy by Shanthi Sekaram
Summary: This is a story about two women: one who desperately wants to be a mother, and another for whom motherhood is thrust unexpectedly. Through a long series of events they are tied together by one boy, the lucky boy, who ends up with two mothers who must go through their own battles to love him.
Why? There are no easy good guys and this book does not shy away from presenting the unwinnable situation these women are in. It is an emotional roller coaster that hits you again and again. The characters are almost tragically human and you find yourself rooting for one or another.
Mexico by Josh Barkan
Summary: This is a collection of short stories all featuring Mexico City that look at different issues: poverty, gang conflict, and justice. The stories are fascinating, featuring a different slice of the city and try to give a comprehensive picture of what life looks like there.
Why? This collection of stories hooked me from the very first story. They are so clever and incredibly poignant. Each one of them is so real and they feature some fantastic characters.
The Bone Witch by Rin Chuperco
Summary: Tea is a powerful and dark sorceress, except she a) doesn’t know it quite yet and b) has no training of any kind. However she is one of the destined few able to put down the dead. Her job comes with a rigid hierarchy system and provides no real community perks, as society looks down upon her. Tea must navigate her own training, as well as expose some of the injustices in her society to ask herself: Can I change this?
Why? Tea’s character. She is thrust full on into this world she has never dreamed of and must survive. Her companion is also an intriguing choice. This is Memoirs of a Geisha meets fantasy. The ending made me so hungry for more. I am eager to know where the story is going.
And finally, Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
I confess, I haven’t read this one yet, the others I have, but not this one! So I am extra looking forward to this one.
Summary (from goodreads): It follows one Korean family through the generations, beginning in early 1900s Korea with Sunja, the prized daughter of a poor yet proud family, whose unplanned pregnancy threatens to shame them all. Deserted by her lover, Sunja is saved when a young tubercular minister offers to marry and bring her to Japan.
Why? This seems like a change of pace and I am really interested by the synopsis. Of course I will let you know how it is!
What books are you looking forward to in 2017? Any recommendations?
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Great choices! I’m really excited to read both The Bear and the Nightingale and The Bone Witch (I need to power through m NetGalley list a bit before I can let myself ). They both sound really original and I’m a sucker for such lovely covers. I really like the sound of the main characters in each book, I love books with characters you can really root for.
Haha yes I know how you feel about the netgalley list. Yes I was rooting for both and the covers are gorgeous! What’s your top tbr on netgalley?
I still have Heartless and Nobody’s Goddess from last year before I start on this years releases. I think I have 7 to read at the moment? How’s yours looking?
I have to read pachinko still and a few others I was recently approved for. Making my way through living a feminist life, but it’s a bit long! I also think seven is about right 🙂 always trying to stay above 80% haha
I’m super excited for Bone Witch. Everyone who has already read it seems to love it. I have an ARC so I’m hoping to get to it next month before its release.
I enjoyed it! I am awaiting the next sequel, tea grows into a character I want on my team!
AAAAA I’m so excited for The Bear and the Nightingale for two reasons, it’s Russia and THE COVER! So beautiful hahaha also the premise is interesting. And yes to The Bone Witch! I mean, the cover is perfection (and yes I judge book by its cover haha) but I’ve heard mixed reviews about it so I’m kind of less excited now :’) as for me my number 1 most anticipated book would be Caraval by Stephanie Garber! 😀
Yes! The cover is gorgeous 🙂 and the premise is good. I agree about the Bone Witch, I personally enjoyed the story, but it was a little slow and at the end I felt like it needed more. But I really enjoyed Tea’s character. So I hope you enjoy it. I keep hearing so much about that book!
I read the Bear and the Nightingale just recently and did really end up enjoying it. I’m sure you will as well. I’ve got the Bone Witch ARC on my TBR pile, hoping it will be good. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the author but have yet to read her yet. I hope you get these soon! Some books I’m waiting for this year are Riveted and Salvaged by Jay Crownover, Buns by Alice Clayton, Heart of the Storm by Michael Buckly, and Now I Rise by Kiersten White.
I have also heard a lot about the author, and I enjoyed it! Oh those sound good!