Hi again! We’re continuing our week-long preview of the fabulous books releasing from September-December 2020. Today we’re also looking at Late 2020 Youth & Speculative New Releases. I group these two categories together because so many young adult novels are speculative that when I first started doing this I couldn’t decide where to feature them so I put them together to make my brain feel better lol. And then I started kiddy lit too because I could. 🙂
Here is the schedule of posts for the week so you can zero in on your fave genre!
Wednesday: Contemporary Fiction (non-Amish & non-suspense)
Thursday: Historical Fiction (non-Amish & non-suspense)
Friday: Mystery/Suspense
Today (earlier) : Amish Fiction
TODAY: Speculative/Youth
Sunday: Non-Fiction
Check out Wednesday’s post for the lowdown on how this works.
Here we go!
spotlight on titles i’m most giddy about
FORSAKEN ISLAND
(The Dancing Realms #2)
Sharon Hinck
Enclave / September 15, 2020
On an uncharted world, happiness is effortless and constant … but can true joy exist without sacrifice? The people of Meriel have long believed their island world floats alone in the vast ocean universe, so they are astonished when another island drifts into view. With resources becoming scarce, Carya and Brantley quickly volunteer to search the new land for supplies. After navigating a barrier of menacing trees, the pair encounter a culture of perpetually happy people who readily share their talents and their possessions. But all is not what it seems. At the core of the island is a horror that threatens everyone, including Brantley and Carya.
BEHOLDEN
(The Fairest Maidens #1)
Jody Hedlund
Northern Lights Press / September 22, 2020
In a land where being the fairest maiden is a curse . . . Upon the death of her wealthy father, Lady Gabriella is condemned to work in Warwick’s gem mine. As she struggles to survive the dangerous conditions, her kindness and beauty shine as brightly as the jewels the slaves excavate. While laboring, Gabriella plots how to avenge her father’s death and stop Queen Margery’s cruelty. Prince Vilmar of Scania enslaves himself in Warwick’s gem mine as part of a royal test to prove himself the most worthy of three brothers to become the king’s successor. Amidst the hardships, he doesn’t anticipate his growing compassion for the other slaves, especially tenderhearted Gabriella. As the annual summer ball looms nearer, Gabriella sets into motion her plan to end Queen Margery’s evil. When Vilmar learns of Gabriella’s intentions, he resolves to come to her aid and fight against Warwick’s queen. But doing so may require him to give up his chance of becoming Scania’s next king, perhaps even cost him his life.
DEAR HERO
Hope Bolinger & Alyssa Roat
INTense Publications / September 28, 2020
Cortex and V need a new nemesis. Cortex’s last villain dumped him, and V got a little overeager and took out her hero prematurely. They meet on Meta-Match, a nemesis pairing site for heroes and villains. After throwing punches at each other behind coffee shops and hiring henchman to do their bidding (mostly just getting them coffee), they realize they have a lot more in common than meets the eye. And they may have a lot more hero and villain inside than they realize.
THE A’ZYON WARRIOR
(The Armoured Butterfly #1)
Trudy Adams
Ambassador International / October 6, 2020
The fate of a kingdom rests in the hands of a girl who cannot remember her own name. Seventeen-year-old Adaliah is the warrior and Lady of Targe, but when she wakes up in the Kest River, presumed dead by the world, she has lost her memory and is being hunted by unknown forces. Injured and alone, she must put together the pieces of her broken past and shattered kingdom. The world is at war with a tyrannical king who is searching for four powerful swords. If King Cades finds them, his victory will be sealed, and his power over life and death will be complete. The only hope of survival is in the hands of Adaliah-can she find her place in this war-torn world?
HELLO LITTLE DREAMER
Kathie Lee Gifford
Thomas Nelson / October 13, 2020
Children glow with joy and a sense of security when they know God made them for a purpose. Four-time Emmy Award winner and New York Times bestselling author Kathie Lee Gifford reminds her young readers that God has been dreaming for them since even before they were born. Some dreams reveal themselves quickly while others take time to develop, but each dream adds to the beautiful picture of who a child is becoming.
BEGUILED
(The Fairest Maidens #2)
Jody Hedlund
Northern Lights Press / October 20, 2020
Princess Pearl flees for her life after her mother, Queen Margery, tries to have her killed during a hunting expedition. Pearl finds refuge on the Isle of Outcasts among criminals and misfits, disguising her face with a veil so no one recognizes her. She lives for the day when she can return to Warwick and rescue her sister, Ruby, from the queen’s clutches. Amidst his royal testing on the Isle of Outcasts, Prince Mikkel of Scania has kept his identity a secret. Captured by a warring band of outcasts and condemned to die, he finds himself making friends with an intriguing but feisty young veiled woman. Intending to win her trust and gain her help to escape, he soon finds himself coerced to wed her. Mikkel reluctantly agrees to the union to save his life, and Pearl hopes the marriage will provide protection for her and Ruby. But the queen is more determined to kill her daughter than either Pearl or Mikkel realizes and has a sinister reason neither expects—one that could rip their new love apart forever.
THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
Joanna Gaines
Thomas Nelson / November 10, 2020
The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be, the second children’s book by New York Times bestselling author Joanna Gaines, illustrated by Julianna Swaney, celebrates how creativity and acceptance can come together to make for a bright and beautiful adventure. The book follows a group of children as they each build their very own hot-air balloons. As the kids work together, leaning into their own skills and processes, to fill the sky with beautiful colors, we discover that the same is true for life–it’s more beautiful and vibrant when our differences are celebrated.
LOVE AND OLIVES
(Love & Gelato #3)
Jenna Evans Welch
Simon Pulse / November 10, 2020
Liv Varanakis doesn’t have a lot of fond memories of her father, which makes sense—he fled to Greece when she was only eight. What Liv does remember, though, is their shared love for Greek myths and the lost city of Atlantis. So when Liv suddenly receives a postcard from her father explaining that National Geographic is funding a documentary about his theories on Atlantis—and will she fly out to Greece and help?—Liv jumps at the opportunity. But when she arrives to gorgeous Santorini, things are a little…awkward. There are so many questions, so many emotions that flood to the surface after seeing her father for the first time in years. And yet Liv doesn’t want their past to get in the way of a possible reconciliation. She also definitely doesn’t want Theo—her father’s charismatic so-called “protégé”—to witness her struggle. And that means diving into all that Santorini has to offer—the beautiful sunsets, the turquoise water, the hidden caves, and the delicious cuisine. But not everything on the Greek island is as perfect as it seems. Because as Liv slowly begins to discover, her father may not have invited her to Greece for Atlantis, but for something much more important.
BESOTTED
(The Fairest Maidens #3)
Jody Hedlund
Northern Lights Press / November 17, 2020
Queen Aurora of Mercia has spent her entire life deep in Inglewood Forest, hiding from Warwick’s Queen Margery, who seeks her demise. As the time draws near for Aurora to take the throne, she happens upon a handsome woodcutter. Although friendship with outsiders is forbidden and dangerous, she cannot stay away from the charming stranger. Only two months away from completing his royal testing, Prince Kresten of Scania is ready to be finished with the poverty and hardships of being a woodcutter. When he meets a beautiful peasant woman, he doesn’t plan to fall in love, especially when he must soon leave and return to his homeland. As Queen Margery’s forces close in, Aurora finds herself in mortal danger. Kresten knows a future with Aurora is impossible, but he is desperate to save her and bring an end to the queen’s threat. To do so, he joins the ultimate battle against the evil queen, risking everything, including his chance at true love.
TANI’S NEW HOME
Tanitoluwa Adewumi
Thomas Nelson / November 24, 2020
Tani Adewumi’s moving true story of immigrating to America, developing his talent for chess, and finding a new home will inspire families looking for stories of hope and kindness. Tani was just six years old when he and his family fled persecution in Nigeria and became refugees in New York City. Tani was amazed, and a little overwhelmed, by all the new things in America. But one new experience turned out to be the most wonderful discovery–chess! With joy and determination, Tani studied hard, practicing chess for hours on the floor of his room in the homeless shelter. Less than a year later, he won the New York State Chess Championship, and through one act of kindness after another, found a new home.
DAWN OF VENGEANCE
(Droseran Saga #2)
Ronie Kendig
Enclave / December 8, 2020
Once a formidable bounty hunter, Marco Dusan is plagued by insecurity as he tours the realm he now rules. This quiet, backwater planet is not as untouched as he’d once thought. Evidence of collusion between Droseran factions and the powerful Symmachians with their forbidden technology litters his encounters. Worse, all signs indicate Xisya, the alien who tortured him, is still snatching Kynigos Brethren-but to what end? Corporal Eija Zacdari works hard to win a coveted place on the Symmachian hyperjump program, but instinct tells her their intel is flawed. Despite nearly failing the tests, she is assigned to the team-and lands in the middle of a bewildering conspiracy. Haunted by a prophecy that promises pain and war, Marco forges alliances to protect the primitive world against Symmachia’s devastating influence. But one truth becomes painfully clear: the biggest threat to their world may be much, much closer to home.
TEN THING I LIKE ABOUT YOU
(Edenvale Arts Academy #5)
Liwen Y. Ho
December 30, 2020
Spoiler alert: Realizing your best friend is totally your type could be the best thing to happen to your relationship … or the worst. The Edenvale Arts Academy series brings you the sweetness and innocence of young love amidst a backdrop of the performing arts. Combining creativity and romance, this YA series is perfect for fans of swoony kisses and sigh-worthy happy ever afters.
add these to your wish list
all the new releases by each separate month
(amazon affiliate links used)
my fave covers?
What about you? Which Late 2020 Youth & Speculative New Releases are you most anxious to read? Which covers are your favorites?
If you don’t see your book mentioned here or in my goodreads/amazon lists, I apologize! It’s impossible to keep up with all the books LOL! Please feel free to leave your release info for Christian / clean fiction in the comments.
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