Though 2016 may not have been the most favored year, there were a few bright parts about it; such as the handful of anticipated books that finally got released. Here’s a list of some of those most sought out novels.

“Heartless”

Credit: https://www.amazon.com/Heartless-Marissa-Meyer/dp/1250044650

    “Heartless” by Marissa Meyer, was held at high expectations after Meyer’s popular, bestselling series, the “Lunar Chronicles”. It seems to have filled its expectations reaching, and remaining for seven weeks, on the Young Adult Hardcover New York Times Bestseller List. The novel takes place in the world of Alice’s Wonderland and is centered around Catherine, a girl who’s expected to marry the King, but hesitates once she meets the Jest.  

Excerpt: http://thelunarchronicles.com/heartless/excerpt/

“Crooked Kingdom”

Credit: http://www.leighbardugo.com/books/crooked-kingdom/

    This sequel to “Six of Crows” by Leigh Bardugo, has proven to be a success with it’s multitude of awards and recognition. It debuted number one on the New York Times Bestseller List, was selected as one of Amazon’s Best Books of the Month in October 2016, and was one of Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA’s) Top Ten Books of 2016. The novel is about Kaz Brekker and his team who had just completed a heist of breaking into the most secure prison in the world, but right when the group thought their lives were set, they’re back to fighting for their lives.

Excerpt: https://grishaverse.com/six-of-crows/

“A Torch Against the Night”

Credit: http://sabaatahir.com/book/book-2/

    This New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling sequel to “An Ember in the Ashes” has received numerous positive ratings. It’s about Laia and Elias and their journey to free Laia’s brother from the Kauf Prison. This book, written by Sabaa Tahir, has received many promising reviews.

“[An] action-packed, breathlessly paced story.” —Booklist, starred review

Excerpt:http://ew.com/article/2016/04/18/torch-against-the-night-cover-excerpt-sabaa-tahir/

“Lady Midnight” (“Dark Artifices” Book One)

    This book by Cassandra Clare takes place five years after the events in the “City of Heavenly Fire” (the sixth installment of the “Mortal Instruments” series) where Emma Carstairs is determined to uncover what killed her parents. Though this book is connected with the “Mortal Instrument” series, many readers find that it isn’t necessary to read the first books in the series in order to make sense of “Lady Midnight”, which is a plus in case you want to jump right into reading this book.

Excerpt: http://shadowhunters.com/excerpt-lady-midnight/

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”

Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Cursed_Child

    Okay, let’s be honest here, this was highly anticipated. This 8th story in the Harry Potter book series dealt with it Harry and his son, Albus’s lives, nineteen years after the 7th book ended. The play was written by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany. It hit it big with ranking as the number one bestselling book of 2016 on Amazon. It sold more than two million copies in North America during the first 48 hours of its release, and the play is also being performed at the Palace Theater in London.