Listen. I don’t know how we got here, but 2020 is apparently already half over, and if you’ll just check your bingo cards for this year, I really just need zombies, giant asteroid, stomach-eating parasite, or vampire pigs flying to win this round.
So if any of you can make any of that happen, let’s get it done. You’ve only got six months left. Might as well go out a winner.
I have done so many anticipation posts this year already that I’m sure you’re probably sick of reading them. I’m almost sick of writing them (ha, that’s a blatantly lie, I would never). The problem is that I’ve already yelled about all the books I’m most anticipating ad nauseum, because that’s what I do. I’m a professional. *puffs breath onto shiny professional badge and rubs it until it sparkles*
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is most anticipated releases for the second half of 2020, but as I’ve said … been there, done that.
If you’re particularly curious, you can go find them in my Summer 2020 Most Anticipated Releases, where I did through fall releases because it was efficient. So I’m not going to do that again here, because I trust that you’ve already taken all my lovely recommendations and have thusly added five more years to your TBR’s lifespan. You’re welcome.
What I haven’t done as much, though, is specifically shout out some diverse books that are coming up this year that may have flown slightly under your radar.
And why not? Well, beats me. (No, really. Literally. My TBR beats me. Send help.) So today’s post is all about the upcoming diverse releases. Best hope you get to them before the zombies get to you. Or the vampire pigs. All I’m saying is WE DON’T KNOW, OKAY? GO HOME, 2020, YOU’RE DRUNK.
The Only Good Indians
Diversity rep: American Indians
Why I’m Anticipating It:
- More books about American Indian culture and lore, please!
- Super creepy sounding nature revenge book.
- Is it a Skinwalker?! Please let it be a skinwalker. *crosses fingers*
- I need some more thrillers in my life.
- What is sleep? Overrated, that’s what it is.
The Year of the Witching
Diversity rep: Biracial, Witches
Why I’m Anticipating It:
- Biracial witchy goodness.
- Dark dystopian, Puritanical society.
- The Handmaid’s Tale meets Salem sounds brilliant.
- Emotional feminist fantasy.
Paola Santiago and the River of Tears
Diversity rep: Hispanic (Mexican)
Why I’m Anticipating It:
- La. Llorona. *shudders* This legend was my childhood.
- I love Rick Riordan presents books.
- Female protagonist obsessed with science!
- Non-Western European mythology.
- Lots of action and adventure!
Every Bone A Prayer
Diversity rep: rural Appalachia
Why I’m Anticipating It:
- Hoping for some Melungeon rep, maybe?
- I now live in an area nearby rural Appalachia, so the setting caught my attention.
- I have several friends who grew up in rural Appalachia, and it’s a whole different culture.
- No, really, you wouldn’t believe the stories.
- Sounds like a really important, emotional read.
Cemetery Boys
Diversity Rep: Latinx, LGBTQ+
Why I’m Anticipating It:
- Cemeteries are the best places, ever. End of story.
- LGBTQ romance.
- Latinx male witch (a.k.a brujo).
- Ghost summoning gone wrong sounds kind of fun.
- Bad boy ghosts are the best kind of ghost.
Silvered Serpents
Diversity rep: Indian, LGBTQ+
Why I’m Anticipating It:
- I am all about the heist tropes this year.
- Also Indian-inspired worlds. So much yes.
- I love Roshani Chokshi’s other YA series (The Star-Touched Queen)
- LGBTQ+ romance
- I’m all for lost powerful artifacts.
The Way Back
Diversity rep: Jewish
Why I’m Anticipating It:
- Jewish mythology! Why isn’t this a thing more often?!
- I have a thing for books about demons, in case you hadn’t noticed.
- Death as an antagonist? Color me intrigued!
- Sounds like a really good adventure.
The Fallen Hero
Diversity rep: Chinese
Why I’m Anticipating It:
- Chinese mythology!
- Look at that super cuuuute cover! *squee*
- More demons. There seems to be a theme here.
- Sibling troubles. Yikes! But maybe also sibling bonds? We’ll see.
- THE MONKEY KING! I love the Monkey King.
Ring Shout
Diversity rep: Black
Why I’m Anticipating It:
- Very timely social commentary.
- I love all these books lately that are layering magic onto history.
- Dark, supernatural historical fiction.
- MAGIC SWORD! If it talks, I’m done. Best book ever.
- A protagonist that runs bootleg whiskey. Whaaat? Yes. Heck yes.
Tristan Strong Destroys the World
Diversity Rep: Black
Why I’m Anticipating It:
- DID YOU THINK THIS WOULDN’T BE ON THIS LIST? Bwahaha, so naive.
- First book was DA FREAKING BOMB.
- Literally. Blew my mind. Should be considered a dangerous weapon.
- I’m suffering from Gum Baby withdrawal.
- Action. Adventure. Other A things.
- All the Black mythology I grew up with as a child.
Yes, rural Appalachia is a whole different culture for sure. I grew up sorta near there, too.
My TTT .
Lydia recently posted…Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: My “Go To” Movie for a Pick-Me-Up
I’ve got friends who grew up there, and the stories are sometimes unbelievable. I love listening to them!
Great list of diverse books!
Kristi @ConfessionsofaYAReader recently posted…Blog Tour for Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust (review)
Thanks!
Tristan Strong, yeay~ I hadn’t heard of The Way Back but I like the look of it so I’ll be checking it out.
Annemieke recently posted…24 Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2020| #toptentuesday 244
You should! it sounds super unique and fun to read. (And of course, we’re all going to obviously love Tristan Strong 2. should go without saying.)
Tristan Strong, fancy seeing you here… again.
I’m gonna keep it short and sweet: Great list, adding a lot to my Goodreads TBR right now, yay for diversity!
Oh yeah, The Only Good Indians caught my eye this morning and now it’s showing up here, can anyone say “fate”???
Oh! My ex walked the Appalachian Trail for 6 months… random Bri’s Facts.
That about covers it.
Were you surprised? I bet you were surprised. Probably never expected to see Tristan Strong here. xD
Obviously fate. Definitely means you should read it!
Did he?! That’s so neat. I could never do that. I like air conditioning and very much dislike bugs. xD
Same reasons I didn’t go with him 😅
La Llorona is new to me, I only know about the tale a teeny bit that I looked up after watching the movie Coco, so I’m interested in Paola Santiago but I don’t have any expectations on what that one will be. I’m obviously looking forward to more Tristan Strong, too. And Ring Shout! I want to read all of P. Djeli Clark’s works, so I’m excited about that one, too! I didn’t know it had a release date in 2020, though. Cool!
Nicole @ BookWyrm Knits recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday ~ Anticipated 2020 Releases (part 2)
Oh man, you should definitely look up some La Llorona myths and scary stories! They’re fantastic and spooky. I want to read all of their books, too! I bought a couple and just … they disappeared onto my Kindle, ok? It happens. I need to work on that. xD
This is such a great list of books! I didn’t know about a lot of these but I’ve added some to my TBR. This weeks topic is so dangerous for my TBR! Haha
I hear you there. I’ve added so many books, too. xD But on the plus side, yay for new books to be excited about!
haha!! Yes, I can never be upset about new books!! 🙂
I hope you get to read The Only Good Indians. It’s amazing, disturbing, scary and very sad. OMG all the emotions!
Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy recently posted…Most Anticipated Books of 2020 – Third Quarter
I will FOR SURE be reading that one. I have an ARC, and I’m running a bit behind on them (are you surprised? Shocked, right?), but it’s still way up there on my list.
Lovely list! I still need to read the Gilded Wolves, but I’ve heard a ton of good things about that series!
I’m going to confess that I still need to read The Gilded Wolves, too. xD I’ve been holding off so I can read them back to back lol.
Such a great list! Half of these are already on my TBR – I am super keen to pick up Ring Shout and The Only Good Indians in particular.
Bec @ bec&books recently posted…Books I’m Reading in July
I’ve heard REALLY good things about The Only Good Indians so far. 😀
Great list! I’m really excited for so many of these, too–the cover of Ring Shout is so sinister but it sounds amazing.
Jess @ Jessticulates recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | More Anticipated 2020 Releases
Right? It sounds like it’ll definitely be a dark read, but a good one.
I’ve been very intrigued by The Only Good Indians. I’ll be anxious to hear what you think!
Dedra @ A Book Wanderer recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Book Releases for 2020 | July – December
I’ve heard wonderful things about it so far, which has me super excited to read it!
Yes! I love this list. So many of the books on your list are ones I’m looking forward to as well. Happy reading!
FYI–The Silvered Serpents is available until tomorrow (I think) as Read Now on Netgalley!
Leah recently posted…{Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge} The Last Place I Traveled To and Why
Thanks for the heads up! I managed to get it … pfft foreverrrr ago. Before they pushed back the publication date, like, twice. xD I think it’s currently the ARC I’ve had for the longest on my list lol. I definitely passed that info on to a few other bloggers, though. 😉
THE SILVERED SERPENTS is sooo good! It seriously broke my heart and now I will be in pain until the third book comes out.
I have a feeling a lot of my books these coming months are going to do that to me. xD So glad that you liked it, though! I’m excited to pick it up.