Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly blog meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
This week’s prompt was actually to list 10 books that give you the travel bug, but I always struggle with those sorts of topics because… well, as someone who reads mostly fantasy, most of what I read takes place in worlds I don’t want to visit!
Instead, I decided to re-do a list I’ve done before that you guys were pretty fond of: my most anticipated diverse releases, in order of release date!
1. A Thousand Beginnings and Endings — Ellen Oh & Elsie Chapman
rep: Filipino, Chinese, Hmong, Punjabi, Vietnamese, Korean, Gujarati, Indian, Japanese
This is an anthology of Asian authors retelling Asian folklore and myths, and is totally gorgeous and worth picking up. Review here!
RELEASES JUNE 26, 2018 — YA fantasy
2. Fresh Ink — Lamar Giles
rep: Asian-American, black, Native American, Muslim, Japanese, Iranian, Latinx, Filipino, trans, f/f
This is an anthology of authors of color telling stories about life as a teen of color in today’s society. Very hard-hitting, 100% worth a read. Review here!
RELEASES AUGUST 14, 2018 — YA contemporary
3. To Be Honest — Maggie Ann Martin
rep: fat
Savannah, a plus size teen, has to survive one more year of high school – but she has to do it alone, with her weight-obsessed mother. Ouch!
RELEASES AUGUST 21, 2018 — YA contemporary
4. Mirage — Somaiya Daud
rep: Moroccan
Amani is forced into servitude as a cruel princess’ body double, but an unexpected relationship with the princess’ fiance shakes things up.
RELEASES AUGUST 28, 2018 — YA fantasy
5. Summer Bird Blue — Akemi Dawn Bowman
rep: ace/aro, Hawaiian, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Samoan
After Rumi’s younger sister Lea dies in a car accident, Rumi is sent to work through her grief and rage with her aunt in Hawaii, where she slowly falls back in love with music, life, and herself. I adored this one. Review coming soon!
RELEASES SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 — YA contemporary
6. The Storm Runner — J.C. Cervantes
rep: Mayan, disability
Zane is a lonely child, whose only friend is a dog named Rosie. When exploring a dormant volcano, Zane manages to wake an evil Mayan god, and is set off on an adventure to save the world – and, more importantly, his dog.
RELEASES SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 — MG fantasy
7. The Sisters of the Winter Wood — Rena Rossner
rep: Jewish
Sisters Liba and Laya have escaped the suffering of Jews like them by living in a sheltered, quiet village, but when they are left to themselves, they discover that fairy tales sometimes come true in the worst ways.
RELEASES SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 — adult fantasy
8. Blanca & Roja — Anna-Marie McLemore
rep: Latinx, f/f, trans
Blanca and Roja are two cursed sisters, who have always known their curse would find them someday, and trap one of them in the body of a swan.
RELEASES OCTOBER 9, 2018 — YA fantasy
9. Girls of Paper and Fire — Natasha Ngan
rep: Asian, f/f
When Lei is taken to become a Paper Girl – a girl in training to become a consort of the king’s – she falls in love with a fellow Paper Girl in training, and is wrapped into a plot of treason and revenge.
RELEASES NOVEMBER 6, 2018 — YA fantasy
10. Empire of Sand — Tasha Suri
rep: Indian
Mehr is the descendant of desert spirits, but her own powers to manipulate the gods’ dreams are hidden even from her, until the Emperor’s cruel mystics recognize her strengths and capture her in an attempt to make her one of their own.
RELEASES NOVEMBER 13, 2018 — adult fantasy
What upcoming diverse title(s) are YOU most excited for? Were any of these already on your TBR, or have you read them?
booksofteacups
June 12, 2018A Thousand Beginnings and Endings was fabulous!!! I wish that there was more stories included because I had so much fun reading it! I also changed my topic for the week too! Here is my TTT:https://booksofteacups.wordpress.com/2018/06/12/top-ten-tuesday-lgtb-books-i-cant-believe-i-havent-read-yet/
Dani
June 12, 2018I’m also looking forward to To Be Honest 🙂
Priyasha
June 12, 2018I am looking forward to sooooooooo many of them ❤? awesome post ?
ChrissiReads
June 12, 2018I love a diverse read! Wonderful list. 🙂
Anne@Headfullofbooks
June 12, 2018I haven’t heard of any of these books but I rarely am up on upcoming books…always a little behind the times. TTT Books that Make Me Want to Travel
dezzyyw
June 12, 2018I love this post! I’m looking forward to reading so many of these books. I’m definitely adding these to my TBR list. Thank you for sharing! <3
Annemieke
June 12, 2018Great list. A Thousand Beginnings and Endings I must get at some point this year. <3
Fanna
June 12, 2018Girls Of Paper and Fire is on my list too! The cover and premise looks stunning and I can’t wait for it to release <3
Kayleigh @ My Endless Shelf
June 12, 2018I just added most of these to my TBR lol – great list! Here’s mine: https://myendlessshelf.weebly.com/home/toptentuesday-books-that-awaken-the-travel-bug-in-me
sleepysamreads
June 12, 2018I am SO excited for Girls of Paper and Fire. I can’t wait for publication day!
everythingalyce
June 12, 2018I already had most of these books on my TBR, but you’ve introduced me to a couple of new ones that I’m now excited about reading. So glad that you decided to skip this week’s prompt!
Here’s my Top Ten Tuesday!
pcochrun
June 12, 2018Mirage is v v good!
May @ Forever and Everly
June 12, 2018Oh, I”m SO excited for you to read Girls of Paper and Fire! It was absolutely stunning and I have a feeling you’re going to love it. <3 And aahh I'm so glad that we both loved Summer Bird Blue! Such a beautiful story and I'm blessed to have buddy read it with you! ?
justonemorepaige
June 12, 2018I like this change up! I have had Fresh Ink on my radar, but I’m loving the look of Bianca and Roja too!
Aymee (@asphaltcowgrrl)
June 12, 2018I’m weird in that I don’t really like to travel, so I like your take this week! Also, I can relate a little too well to the blurb for To Be Honest. Sounds like a good book.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thanks!
tasya @ the literary huntress
June 12, 2018I can’t wait for A Thousand Beginnings and Endings, 2018 is a great year for Asian rep!
MetalPhantasmReads
June 12, 2018Definitely that Thousand Beginnings and Storm Runner for me 🙂 I haven’t heard of Empire of Sand until now so I’ll check that one out. Great list!
Books With B
June 12, 2018WOW! You’ve got some great diverse options on this list! I’m going to have to add some of these to my tbr!
iloveheartlandx
June 12, 2018Mirage and Blanca and Roja both sound great!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/06/12/top-ten-tuesday-163/
Flavia
June 12, 2018Yeeeeees! This post gives me LIFE! <3
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 18, 2018Bahahah thank you, Flavia! ♥
Ellyn
June 12, 2018Soo many amazing books! I’m so excited for To Be Honest, Storm Runner & Blanca & Roja!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 18, 2018Don’t they all sound so good?! I actually saw someone with an ARC up for trade of The Storm Runner today and was so tempted to try to trade for it, but I decided to just wait on my pre-order since I’ve already paid for it lmao.
La La in the Library
June 12, 2018I am looking forward to reading A Thousand Beginnings and Endings.! ?
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 18, 2018It was sooooo amazing! I hope you love it as much as I did 🙂
liveforbroadway
June 13, 2018I had a hard time with this week’s topic too! Love your spin on things. And I can’t wait for To Be Honest and A Thousand Beginnings and Endings.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 18, 2018Thank you so much! A Thousand Beginnings and Endings was so amazing. I think I might go ahead and pick up To Be Honest this week or maybe early next week. 🙂
Kathy @ Books & Munches
June 13, 2018Just give me a box filled with all these books, please. Me’d be happy. <3 Haha. :')
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 18, 2018Bahaha, right? I saw someone with an ARC of The Storm Runner earlier today and was drooling everywhere.
shelfishforbooks
June 13, 2018These all look so good! I can’t wait for them to come out!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 18, 2018Same, for sure! It’s a good year for diverse releases!
Eve Langell
June 13, 2018Oh these look really good. I have an ARC of Mirage now and can’t wait for it to come out. The others are new to me but sound amazing! My Top Ten
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 18, 2018Have you read Mirage yet? I have it on my July TBR and can’t wait!
(Danielle) Books, Vertigo and Tea
June 13, 2018I am not sure how I missed this ? My feed is so broken lately. I am really looking forward to Fresk Ink, Mirage and The Sisters of the Winter Wood! Although being honest, all of these are on my radar for various reasons ?
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 18, 2018Aww, no worries, a lot of people’s feeds are super messed up lately, mine included! It sucks! 🙁 But yesss, they all sound so good, and that cover of The Sisters of the Winter Wood literally makes me want to cry a little for how much I love it lol.
(Danielle) Books, Vertigo and Tea
June 19, 2018I have total cover envy with that one as well!
downrightdystopian
June 14, 2018To Be Honest sounds great. I’m currently reading Fresh Ink and I’m enjoying it. Great list!
Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 18, 2018Thank you, Krystianna! I’m so glad you’re enjoying Fresh Ink. I could hardly put that one down!
Lauren @ Always Me
June 14, 2018I have an ARC of Fresh Ink and I can’t wait to get started on it. 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 18, 2018It’s such a good one! I hope you love it, Lauren!