Kernels of Nonsense is a feature on my blog where I discuss random bookish and blogging topics. It’s my goal in 2019 to put together more of these posts and hey, this is already my third one this year. I recently was trying to figure out how many books I could preorder in 2019 without feeling like I had a problem. Turns out, I think I have a problem. I love preordering books and I don’t think I’m ever going to stop. I often use gift cards I get for my birthday or Christmas to preorder, so it always feels like I am giving myself lots of little gifts throughout the year at no cost to myself. Here’s a little secret, sometimes I buy myself gift cards to use for preorders so I’m not taken by surprised later on when I inevitably forget I used my debit card to buy them. I haven’t looked at the numbers, but my guess is a pretty big chunk of my book buys throughout the year are preorders. We are only a month into 2019 and I have already got a good amount of preorders lined up. So today I thought I’d share with you my 2019 preorders so far. As you can see, I like to get a head start on my preorders, taking advantage of those holiday deals that come around every year. Covers are linked to Goodreads.
1. The Wicked King by Holly Black (Preordered November 22, 2018/Release Date: January 8, 2019) – I was pretty sure I was going to preorder this one as soon as I finished The Cruel Prince. I was really good at picking this one up right away too, motivated by the need to avoid spoilers and a buddy read, I started this the day after its release. After finishing The Wicked King, I can pretty much guarantee I will be preordering the third novel.
2. The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi (Preordered November 22, 2018/Release Date: January 15, 2019) – I preordered this way back in November because Roshani Chokshi (that’s it, that’s my reasoning) and I am beyond excited she is starting a new series. I ended up reading an eARC of this one because I forgot I signed up to be a part of the blog tour, but that did not lessen my excitement to finally get my hands on a copy of this one. I could just stare at the cover all day.
3. We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia (Preordered November 26, 2018/Release Date: February 26, 2019) – I got a really really really good deal on this one from Target. It’s my most anticipated 2019 debut. This is one of those occasions when you don’t know someone personally, but you’ve followed them on Twitter for years and are just so happy for their success. I can’t wait to get to this one.
4. Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard (Preordered December 10, 2018/Release Date: February 12, 2019) – You might have seen my ARC review of this one (click here!), but before I got my hands on said ARC I had preordered this one. I have been waiting two years for this book. I fell in love with these characters with Truthwitch and Windwitch and have been counting down the days for when I get to return to this world. I can’t wait for everyone else to read this third installment. I’m already thinking about the fourth book.
5. The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton (Preordered December 10, 2018/Release Date: March 5, 2019) – I can’t praise The Belles enough. I loved how subtly creepy this one was. I knew it was about how deceptive beauty can be, but Dhonielle Clayton took it to a whole new level and after that ending, I am desperate for The Everlasting Rose. Also, look at how gorgeous this cover is. Both these covers deserve to be framed.
6. Storm of Locusts by Rebecca Roanhouse (Preordered December 28, 2018/Release Date: April 23, 2019) – If you had any doubts about my love for Trail of Lightning, let me extinguish them for one right here. I don’t know how Roanhouse did it, but when I was reading Trail of Lightning, it felt like the kind of book I’ve been waiting my whole life for. The first book I bought after receiving Christmas gift cards was Storm of Locusts. The only way I will survive the wait is by rereading Trail of Lightning.
7. Internment by Samira Ahmed (Preordered: January 5, 2019/Release Date: March 19, 2019) – There’s always that ongoing discussion about which writers should tackle which subjects and I’m usually on the side of #ownvoices because as much as I’d like white writers to write more diversely, I’m convinced that publishing thinks having white writers writing about PoC characters means publishing is becoming more diverse (just check the numbers in kidlit when it comes to how many books with PoC characters are written by authors of color vs. white people). Another author who will remain nameless wrote a book about a teen girl who finds a way to overcome prejudice by helping a Muslim teen escape the government’s internment camps. This author is white and it is this blogger’s opinion that anything dealing with Muslims in concentration camps (which if you have taken the temperature of Islamophobia in this country isn’t as implausible as one might believe) should be written by a Muslim author for several reason. One of which is authenticity, but another is they are more likely to avoid centering the white gaze and playing into a white savior narrative. That was the long answer, but in short, I will be supporting this #ownvoices book instead.
8. We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal (Preordered: January 20, 2019/Release Date: May 14, 2019) – Have I mentioned how much a sucker I am for the enemies-to-lovers trope? It makes me all weak in the knees. I was going to wait a little longer to decide whether or not to preorder this debut, but every time I see something on the TL about it, I get more and more excited. I just gave in to all those feelings. Sometimes you need to throw caution to the wind.
Do you preorder books? What persuades you a book is worth preordering? Which 2019 books have you already preordered? Let’s talk in the comments!
Wow, you DO preorder a lot of books! I preorder once in awhile. (Frankly, it depends on my what’s in my wallet at that moment.) Mostly I preorder from authors I follow online when I find them interesting or humorous or super creative.
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Very understandable. I never preorder without being consciously aware of how much they cost and what form of payment I’m using. I don’t like to be surprised later.
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There are only a couple authors I pre-order from, and it’s nice getting the low-price guarantee from Amazon – I can usually get the hardcover at a decent price!
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Yes, it’s one of the reasons I preorder from there because of the price and the fact that they come real quick.
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LOL! I did NOT know you are a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers trope, but I can see why it’s fun. I read a campy book called Blow Me down about a mom who gets sucked into a VR game about pirates and ends up falling in love with her mortal enemy. I have a terrible tendency to pre-order books and not read them for years, but I can see why you wouldn’t be that way when so many of your pre-orders are books in series. I actually didn’t realize MOST of these books were series when you reviewed their previously-published editions. I’ve only pre-ordered one book this year, and it’s a new Mercedes Lackey that is already published, but not as paperback.
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I love the trope so much. It’s that tension that I just cant’t get enough of. Yes, many of these will probably be picked up by me almost right away.
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This year so far I’ve pre-ordered The Wicked King, Rebel, Ghosts of the Shadow Market, Chain of Gold, Four Dead Queens, and Priory of the Orange Tree. I plan to pre-order The End and Other Beginnings as soon as I get enough Amazon money.
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Ooh, I am eyeing Priory of the Orange Tree. I hope all those preorders work out for you!
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I don’t usually do pre-orders but I definitely want to pre-order Holly Black’s Folk of the Air series next book. I finished The Wicked King last month and can’t wait for the next book!
I like your gift card idea to buy books. I might just copy you and do that 🙂
Dinh@Arlene’s Book Club
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Yes, I am so excited for the third book by Holly Black. If I could just have it now, haha. Do it, it’s a great way to not be unexpectedly surprised when you forget you’ve preordered something.
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The cover art for The Everlasting Rose is so much different than for The Belles that I would never say that are in a series! I didn’t like the first book too much but I’m interested in the sequel nevertheless. Good thing I noticed this book on your list, or I wouldn’t know the second book in the series is coming out soon.
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I love how different they are since I suspect they are really going to be expressions of the tone each of the novels. Release dates come at you fast.
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I still try to get my books from the library so I don’t really preorder books now that I am not in charge of a library myself. I want to read the Gilded Wolves and We Set the Dark on Fire but I have to remember to get queued up on the list at the library and sometimes I am way back!
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Sometimes those hold lines can be really long. Hope you get your hands on these sooner rather than later!
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I don’t pre-order a lot especially since I’m an international reader. I do pre-order sometimes from my local bookstore but so far I haven’t done that although I’ll probably pre-order them a month before their release date 🙂
I’ve had Internment on my wishlist since I saw it last year.
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I really hope Internment gets the attention it deserves. I hope you get your hands on some good books this year!
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I haven’t been in the habit of pre-ordering books, mostly because my backlist TBR is so extensive I have trouble mentally justifying buying shiny new books. That being said, Storm of Locusts is DEFINITELY getting pre-ordered – I want that in my hands ASAP!
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If the only book you preorder this year is Storm of Locusts, you have made a wise decision. I am so stoked for that one.
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I definitely preorder – it’s pretty low risk via Amazon, considering they guarantee the lowest price and you can always cancel. I have Storm of Locusts ordered already too, plus a bunch of others (like the upcoming Gail Carriger and Stephen King releases for 2019).
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I am so excited for Storm of Locusts. I’m surprised it’s being published so quickly. I hope those two books end up being really good reads for you.
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Wow, you’re so on top of your preorders! I am… not so much recently. (Or ever.) I really seem to preorder things in batches of three or four, and then not very often… Storm of Locusts is definitely on my to-order list, whenever I next do that, thought!
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I usually do it in twos, so it doesn’t feel like I’m “spending” too much money at once. Yes, I cannot wait for Storm of Locusts.
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I’ve totally bought gift cards too! It’s a nice way to help defray a cost when you’re ready to make a purchase. Or I think so. 🙂
Hope you enjoy all of these, Alicia!!
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It’s my secret book buying weapon. Thanks!
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I don’t really preorder much. Sometimes a new Stephen King or Joe Hill book here or there. However, you do have some great looking ones on this list!
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Thank you so much!
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No surprise Bloodwitch is on here haha. Where I order We Hunt the Flame isn’t on yet so I can’t pre order that (and yeah you know that pesky money thing isn’t helping).
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Ugh, money, why must you be so elusive when there are so many books we want to read?
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All of these look so good. I am dying to get my hands on Internment and We Hunt the Flame!
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Both of those sound incredible. Really, this year is looking really great in terms of book releases.
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