March Book Picks

We’re now into March and WOW what a month this is going to be.  Below are my highlight picks and it’s not even close to everything releasing this month that has gone onto my TBR.  Among the missing are sequels to series I mean to start and new standalones from authors I haven’t read yet.  So here are the things I’m MOST looking forward to this month – what about the rest of you?

WILD COUNTRY by Anne Bishop
Release Date: March 5th, 2019
I am always down to read a new book from Bishop’s OTHERS series, which is set in an alternate Earth where supernatural creatures don’t just live in the open, they’re the dominant species on the planet.  WILD COUNTRY, like last year’s LAKE SILENCE, is a standalone book, albeit one with much more direct ties to the original OTHERS books.  In the wake of a retaliatory massacre of humans by the terra indigene (the Others) that swept the continent, the small town of Bennett is trying to rebuild.  The Others reluctantly are letting in a small wave of humans to repopulate the town – and not all those humans come with good intentions.

QUEEN’S SHADOW by E.K. Johnston
Release Date: March 5th, 2019
This marks the beginning of a deluge of new Star Wars books hitting the shelves this spring. QUEEN’S SHADOW is a tale of Padme Amidala, queen-turned-senator of planet Naboo, future mother to Princess Leia.  As Padme steps into a larger political role in the galaxy, she’ll have to learn to leave her old life behind and establish an identity beyond that of the young queen of a small planet.

THE PIONEER by Bridget Tyler
Release Date: March 5th, 2019
This YA sci-fi thriller is about a young girl who lands with her family as settlers on a new planet. Jo was supposed to be a pilot for the new colony, but an accident during the journey to the planet not only left her unable to fly, but also killed her brother.  Jo buries herself in the work of establishing the new colony as a way to deal with her grief, but as time goes on, she realizes that the colony is hiding secrets – ones that could destroy everything the colony is working for.

THE TRUE QUEEN by Zen Cho
Release Date: March 12th, 2019
Several years ago, when I was diving back into the book world in earnest, I stumbled across a regency fantasy called SORCERER TO THE CROWN.  A tale of a freed black man who ascends to the highest magical posting in London who must solve a crisis facing the magical community, I was immediately hooked into this world.  The characters, including co-lead Prunella, were delightful, and I highly enjoyed my time with them. THE TRUE QUEEN is a standalone sequel, following new characters who will eventually run across Zacharias and Prunella from book one.

THE PERFECT ASSASSIN by K.A. Doore
Release Date: March 19th, 2019
I’ve been hearing good things about this tale, a fantasy murder mystery from a debut author.  In the city of Ghadid, a novice assassin, reluctant to actually act upon his training, must figure out who has been assassinating prominent members of the city.  If he doesn’t find an answer soon, his patron family may be blamed – or worse, he may be the next target.

A MEMORY CALLED EMPIRE by Arkady Martine
Release Date: March 26th, 2019
It’s been a bit since I’ve had a new space opera to dive into, so I’m very much looking forward to this debut!  Mahit Dzmare, a new ambassador from a small mining colony, arrives at the heart of a massive expanding empire, only to learn that her predecessor died under mysterious circumstances.  Mahit must unravel the conspiracy behind his death before she too becomes a victim.