Given that the day is already waning, we’re guessing than Veronica Roth fans are deep into “Allegiant,” the third book in her “Divergent” trilogy — many have finished, if the Amazon reviews are any indication (watch out for spoilers!). To prepare those intrepid readers out there for the withdrawal, MTV News has compiled a list of excellent upcoming YA novels you can pre-order today — after you look up blinking and blinded from your marathon reading session, that is.
“Allegiant” marks the last book in Roth’s trilogy, in which Beatrice “Tris” Prior navigates a dystopian iteration of Chicago where all citizens are divided into factions. Born into an Abnegation (selfless) family, Tris never quite feels like she belongs among her loved ones, which makes sense: after taking an aptitude test that all members of society are given as teens, Tris discovers that she is “divergent” — which means she fits into multiple factions. When given the choice, however, she chooses to join Dauntless (the brave), setting her on a dark journey to discover who she is and where she comes from.
After you turn the last page of “Allegiant,” all of your questions — and Tris’s — should be answered. So the new question becomes: Where do you go from here? What will you until Roth pens another book — or the movie version of the first book, “Divergent,” opens in March of 2014?
How about throwing yourself into yet another series, leaving yourself no time to mourn the characters you left behind? We’ve got five upcoming book releases that you can mark down on your calendar right now:
“Fractured (Guards of the Shadowlands, Book Two),” by Sarah Fine (Ocober 29)
If you’re down with “Divergent,” you’re also likely down with strong leading ladies and equally strong leading men. Enter: “Guards of the Shadowlands.” After her best friend, Nadia, commits suicide, 17-year-old Lela Santos — who has attempted to kill herself in the past — is confused and forlorn. While attempting to say goodbye to her friend in a cliffside ceremony, Lela plunges to her death, finding herself in the afterlife where, instead of making her way to heaven, she heads through the suicide gates, hoping to save her friend from the listless, mediocre non-life than waits within. There she finds all manners of friends and foes — including the sexy Malachi in the former category, and some terrifying creatures in the latter.
“Fractured” sees Lela back in the land of the living, and the hellish world behind the gates leaking across the boundaries of life and death. Dropping on October 29, this sequel is primed to be the perfect pre-Halloween read.
“Champion: A Legend Novel,” by Marie Lu (November 5)
Kids today, they just can’t get enough of those dystopian alternate realities! Check out another version of the future in the “Legend” series, in which the western U.S. has been rendered the warlike “Republic,” and 15-year-old prodigy June is destined to be part of the military elite. All that goes awry, however, when her brother Metias is murdered, sending June on a hunt for Day, one of the country’s craftiest criminals. Romance, inevitably, ensues.
The last book in the “Legend” series finds the duo working within the Republic’s government as a plague threatens to ravage the land. On November 5, we’ll find out if June and Day make it out alive.
“Cress (Lunar Chronicles),” by Marissa Meyer (February 4)
If there are two things everyone loves: a good Cinderella story and cyborgs. Well, this series from Marissa Meyer combines those two things — like metal and flesh — with Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg who falls in love with the handsome Prince Kai. “Happily ever after” doesn’t come so easily, though; while the duo’s romance blossoms, the world is overtaken by a terrifying disease and a lunar species menaces New Beijing from the skies.
In the third book in the fairytale-themed series, Cinder and her friends must face off against an evil lunar queen — with the help of hacker Cress— and save the world. Cinderella was never this badass.
“Ignite Me (Shatter Me)” by Tahereh Mafi (February 4)
There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned love triangle — especially when said love triangle takes place between a bunch of mutants, one of which can kill with her only her touch. “Unravel Me” marks the third book in a fantasy series by Tahereh Mafi. It all starts with “Shatter Me,” which tells the tale of Juliette Ferrars, a girl imprisoned by new government order “The Reestablishment” because she can kill with only the touch of her hand.
The Reestablishment soon collects Juliette, hoping to use her as a weapon against the rebels, and in the process she falls in love with rebel solider Adam — and catches the eye of seemingly evil government higher-up, Warner. After escaping from Warner, Juliette learns that there are others with gifts and joins the fight against the oppressive government.
In “Ignite Me,” Juliette must overthrow The Reestablishment once and for all — and, perhaps more difficult, decide who she loves most: loyal Adam or the tortured Warner. Finally, something to look forward to in February — aside from that whole Valentine’s Day thing.
“The Retribution of Mara Dyer (The Mara Dyer Trilogy)” by Michelle Hodkin (June 10)
This book may be more than a few months away, but, trust us, it’s worth the wait. The third in Michelle Hodkin fantasy thriller series, “The Retribution of Mara Dyer” is set to bring the saga of the mysterious titular character to a close. In the first book, “The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer,” Mara wakes up in the hospital after an accident that killed her friends and boyfriend — an accident she can’t recall. After moving to a new school, Mara starts seeing the ghosts of her dead friends everywhere, and, after a few coincidences too many, suspects she might be able to kill with her mind.
We won’t give away too much, but we’re certain all secrets — and there are many — will be revealed come next summer.
No Comments