
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!
This week’s theme is ‘Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2021’ so, in the order that they’re being published, let’s take a look at 10 20 of the books being released from January-June 2021 that I’m looking forward to!

Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire: Jenna @ Falling Letters is to blame for this novella being on my most anticipated list after she informed me that unicorns and centaurs, two of the fantastical creatures I love, play a huge role in it. I’ve only read the first book in this series and I didn’t like it, but tell me a book has centaurs in it and I’m pre-ordering it. (12th January 2021)
Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long: This Viking-inspired fantasy debut sounds right up my street and I’m really looking forward to reading it! (19th January 2021)
The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick: Firstly, I’m loving the Venetian vibes coming from that cover, and secondly, I’m weak for fantasy novels starring con artists. (19th January 2021)
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston: I’ve been slowly but surely getting more and more into Middle Grade over the past year and so far I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about this new release. Dini’s review convinced me to pre-order it. (21st January 2021)
Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard: This novella is described as The Goblin Emperor meets Howl’s Moving Castle, so of course I want to read it. (9th February 2021)

The Black Coast by Mike Brooks: I’ve been lucky enough to receive an eARC of this beasty fantasy novel from NetGalley. It sounds brilliant. (16th February 2021)
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers: This is the final Wayfarers novel, which kind of breaks my heart, but if I love it anywhere near as much as I’ve loved the rest of this series then I can’t wait to read it. (18th February 2021)
The Councillor by E.J. Beaton: I saw ‘Machiavellian fantasy’ and knew I had to add this novel to my TBR. I love a political fantasy that I can sink my teeth into! (2nd March 2021)
The Conductors by Nicole Glover: Another novel I’ve been lucky enough to receive a copy of via NetGalley! It’s essentially a murder mystery in a fantasy novel featuring the Underground Railroad, and I love the sound of it. (2nd March 2021)
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert: I really enjoyed Get a Life, Chloe Brown and I loved Take a Hint, Dani Brown. As the youngest of three sisters myself, I’m ready to feel called out by this book. (9th March 2021)

The Unbroken by C.L. Clark: This debut novel is described as a political fantasy, which is right up my street, so I’m very excited to try it. (23rd March 2021)
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo: I still don’t know how I feel about the ending of King of Scars, but there’s no way I’m not going to pick this up and see how the story ends! (30th March 2021)
Common Bonds: An Aromantic Speculative Anthology ed. by Claudie Arseneault, C.T. Callahan, B.R. Sanders and RoAnna Sylver: A speculative anthology of aromantic stories sounds wonderful and, while we continue to see more and more wonderful LGBT+ rep out there, I do think aroace rep is something we still need more of. (1st April 2021)
Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart: A Jamaican-inspired fantasy with witches. What more could I want? (20th April 2021)
A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark: I loved the alternate early 20th century Cairo Clark introduced in A Dead Djinn in Cairo, so I’m very excited for a novel-length follow-up. (11th May 2021)

Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa: This West Africa-inspired fantasy sounds like a classic magical quest tale. I’m in love with the cover and something about that synopsis has me so excited. (11th May 2021)
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo: The Great Gatsby is my least favourite book in the whole world, and yet I’m still very intrigued by Vo’s debut novel which reinvents the character of Jordan Baker. (1st June 2021)
Glass Coffin by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch: I loved Darkwood and really enjoyed Such Big Teeth, so I’m looking forward to the next instalment in this Middle Grade series! (3rd June 2021)
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri: I read Suri’s debut, Empire of Sand, in 2020 and loved it. The Jasmine Throne is the first in a new Indian-inspired fantasy with a sapphic romance at its centre and I’m so excited for it! (10th June 2021)
The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison: What’s that? My favourite book of all time is getting a companion novel? I’m beyond excited, and also terrified, to return to this world. I’m relieved we’re not following Maia, as much as I love him, but I hope we hear about him and that he’s doing well. (22nd June 2021)
Yes for Witches Steeped In Gold! ☺️
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Amari and the Night Brothers is absolutely AMAZING, and I don’t think you’ll regret preordering it! I read it in December, and I’m already itching to re-read it again now.
So many of these books are on my radar, and I’m looking forward to them, as well! 2021 is already shaping up to be a great year for book releases!
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WHOOT WHOOT hope you enjoy Across the Green Grass Fields at least more than Every Heart a Doorway haha~
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I still need to read King of Scars, but once I do, I’ll be excited to pick up the newest one! Happy Reading in 2021!
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So many pretty covers! I hope you enjoy all of these when you get to them ♡
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The Chosen and the Beautiful and The Conductors both made my list! I almost put the Wayfarer book on my list but my dumb self isn’t caught up- I must rectify immediately! Hope you enjoy all of these, you have put a few new ones on my radar, I have to go check them out, so thank you!
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I am so excited for Amari and the Night Brothers. I really want to read more MG this year.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
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Hey Jess,
You, too!? I seriously am in LOVE with Middle Grade Fantasy now!! Did you catch my End of the Year Survey!? I posted it this week and I quite literally gave a 4x way tie to ALL the MGF I read in 2020 because they were all individually unique and wickedly written – I loved being in all those worlds and for taking those adventures! I have more MGF this year – on my shelf and at the library to fetch. I was on the Amari blog tour myself – was meant to interview the author but it fell through so I shared the book trailer and why it appeals to me to want to read inasmuch as I asked my regional library to order a copy!! Ha.
OOh! I even have “Esme’s Wish” on my shelf to read this year,… I didn’t want to rush/force it last year and the author understood thank heavens. I loved the first installment and I wanted to recapture that #booklove I had for it… plus there’s Anni Moon which I feel as if I’ve been reading that one as long as “Jane Eyre”! lol
What are your top MG Fantasy authors/series!?
PS: Happy New Year. One of my resolutions is not to just read the blogs I follow but to start re-engaging in the community of book blogging too. So, more likes/comments from me!! 🙂 🙂
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I’m currently reading (and loving!) Take a Hint, Dani Brown so I’m also very excited for Act Your Age, Eve Brown!
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Yay, Take a Hint, Dani Brown is my favourite in the series so far! I hope we both enjoy Eve’s story.
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Yep… I already see so many I forgot. I really am so intrigued by Amari! I’ve been into MG lately and I’ve seen so many good things about that one.
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Same – I’ve been in a real mood for MG recently and Amari sounds brilliant. I hope we both enjoy it!
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Me too.. all of November I read MG to help me out of a slump! Such wonderful gems in that genre!
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Yay for The Jasmine Throne! I cannot wait for that one to come out. Happy reading!
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I’m so, so excited for that one!
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So, so, SO excited for Eve Brown!
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Yes, that one sounds so fun!
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Completely in the same boat with the excited/terrified split for The Witness for the Dead.
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Haha I’m glad I’m not the only one!
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I’ve seen Witches Steeped in Gold on so many lists this week and I can’t believe it hasn’t been on my radar before now. It sounds ridiculously good.
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It does, doesn’t it? Here’s hoping we both enjoy it!
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Rule of Wolves was on my list this week too!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2021/01/05/top-ten-tuesday-297/
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🙂
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Rule of Wolves made my list as well! I also definitely want to finally read the Wayfarers series in 2021. Happy reading!
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The Wayfarers books are wonderful, I hope you enjoy them!
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So many exciting releases on here! Besides some sequels I cannot wait for Witches Steeped in Gold and The Unbroken!
My post!
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Here’s hoping we both enjoy them!
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Just me taking notes on all the books to add to my tbr… 👀
There are so many good fantasy novels out this year!! I think I need to clear my reading list so I have time for them all 😆
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Haha I know, 2021 looks like it’s going to be such a strong year for SFF!
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I didn’t realize there was another in the Seannan McGuire series coming out, nice!
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
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I’m looking forward to that one!
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I love how Talia Hibbert appeals to readers of all genres!
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Her books are so fun!
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I am SO excited for so many of these! I also haven’t heard of The Black Coast, but I am loving the sound it! I am especially excited for The Jasmine Throne. 🙂 I hope you get to read all of these!
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I hope we both enjoy The Jasmine Throne! 🙂
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‘The Galaxy, and the Ground Within’ is my absolute #1 must-read book of the year. Great list!
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I hope we both enjoy it!
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Witches Steeped in Gold is on my list as well! Super excited for it!
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It sounds so good!
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oh my goodness what an amazing list!!!! I’m especially excited for Common Bonds, I agree sm that we need more aroace books in this world ❤ i'm going to be so busy adding all these to my goodreads tbr lol :')
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Thank you! Haha I hope you enjoy any of these that you end up picking up. 🙂
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Amazing list! I have a lot of these on my list as well. Really excited for The Mask of Mirrors especially😁
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Thanks Tammy!
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I had hard time narrowing my anticipated releases to ten books, so I love that you included twenty instead! 🙂
I don’t think I’ve heard of most of these / knew they existed or were coming out but some sound so good!
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Haha I did consider narrowing it down, but it seemed mean to leave any out. 😉
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Completely understandable!
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Across the Green Grass Fields sounds amazing. Hope you like it! Thanks for stopping by earlier.
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Thanks, I hope so too!
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You’ve got so many great books on here! Some are on my TBR, and I just added some thanks to this post.
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I hope you enjoy them!
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YAS!! I really hope you love Amari! I can’t wait for you to read it 😍 I really need to get cracking on reading Becky Chambers’ books because I have a feeling I’m gonna really enjoy them. Thanks for adding soo many books to my neverending TBR 😂 I hope you enjoy all of these reads!
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DINI YES you need to read the Wayfarers novels, I think you’d love them. They’re such hopeful, slice-of-life sci-fi novels that will restore your faith in humanity. I can’t wait to read Amari!
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Great list! I’ve been seeing so many good things about the Brown sisters series I think I’ll have to give it a try ☺️
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They’re really fun, I hope you enjoy them if you pick them up!
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Thanks! I hope you enjoy the third 🙂
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Across the Green Grass Fields sounds great to me too- I was pretty excited to hear about centaurs and unicorns as well. And I feel the same way about The Wayfarers- I’m going to miss that universe.
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I’ll really miss it! It’ll be lovely to re-read them all in future, though.
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Sooo many amazing books on this list! Some of these are on my TBR but I will definitely be adding the rest. Also hope you love Amari, it’s a fantastic and magical MG book 😀
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I keep hearing such good things about it, I can’t wait to read it!
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