My 5-Star Predictions | five books on my 2021 tbr

hey everyone !! 

I was going to create a ‘ten books on my 2021 TBR’ post but then I realised I have never done a ‘5-star predictions’ post hence this post that you are now reading. I decided to do five books for five stars, and these are books that I have been highly anticipating reading. I have a lot of high hopes for them, so shall we see what books they are?? (I’m sorry if you’re not a fantasy lover)

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson | adult

In a world where ash falls from the sky, and mist dominates the night, an evil cloaks the land and stifles all life. The future of the empire rests on the shoulders of a troublemaker and his young apprentice. Together, can they fill the world with color once more?

In Brandon Sanderson’s intriguing tale of love, loss, despair and hope, a new kind of magic enters the stage — Allomancy, a magic of the metals.

Mistborn has a lot of love and respect in the book community from a lot of different readers it seems so I am really curious to experience it, especially as thinking about it I don’t know that much about the plot 😅. I have really been in the mood for some big fantasy books, so I am hoping to read a few, and this is definitely one of them. 

WHY DO THINK I WILL RATE IT 5★? Well… the hype, the magic of the metals and the fact that is says ‘a troublemaker and his young apprentice’ (I do love a good apprentice).

The Dragon Republic by R. F. Kuang | adult

synopsis will include spoilers for The Poppy War, don’t read if you haven’t read it.

In the aftermath of the Third Poppy War, shaman and warrior Rin is on the run: haunted by the atrocity she committed to end the war, addicted to opium, and hiding from the murderous commands of her vengeful god, the fiery Phoenix. Her only reason for living is to get revenge on the traitorous Empress who sold out Nikan to their enemies.

With no other options, Rin joins forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who has a plan to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new Republic. Rin throws herself into his war. After all, making war is all she knows how to do.

But the Empress is a more powerful foe than she appears, and the Dragon Warlord’s motivations are not as democratic as they seem. The more Rin learns, the more she fears her love for Nikan will drive her away from every ally and lead her to rely more and more on the Phoenix’s deadly power. Because there is nothing she won’t sacrifice for her country and her vengeance.

I read ‘The Poppy War’ in 2019 and I really enjoyed it, but I don’t think I was ready for the darkness of the characters so I think I’m going to enjoy and appreciate this series even more now. I’m so eager to read this one as I have seen so many of my friends read this series and become more obsessed with each book it seems. Plus, I always find fantasy sequel to be stronger (on the most part) so let’s do it.

WHY DO THINK I WILL RATE IT 5★? I felt like the set up from the last novel was great in terms of experiencing new plots, situations, emotions and what happened to the characters (!!). I think TDR is going to be phenomenal and I’ve heard amazing things.

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokski | young adult

It’s 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.

To hunt down the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin calls upon a band of unlikely experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian banished from his home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in arms if not blood.

Together, they will join Séverin as he explores the dark, glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the course of history–but only if they can stay alive.

I feel like I’ve been meaning to read this book since I was like 12 and this is going to be the year. It is a heist book set in historical Paris with magic and a found family *wow I should really look up synopsises more because I know nothing, hence why I decided to go back and include all synopsises*. Anyway, I know this had mixed reviews (kinda), but I feel like I’m going to click with it especially as it might include puzzles (??).

WHY DO THINK I WILL RATE IT 5★? It says ‘a band of unlikely experts’, I’m literally sold. I can’t wait.

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger | young adult

Imagine an America very similar to our own. It’s got homework, best friends, and pistachio ice cream.

There are some differences. This America been shaped dramatically by the magic, monsters, knowledge, and legends of its peoples, those Indigenous and those not. Some of these forces are charmingly everyday, like the ability to make an orb of light appear or travel across the world through rings of fungi. But other forces are less charming and should never see the light of day.

Elatsoe lives in this slightly stranger America. She can raise the ghosts of dead animals, a skill passed down through generations of her Lipan Apache family. Her beloved cousin has just been murdered, in a town that wants no prying eyes. But she is going to do more than pry. The picture-perfect facade of Willowbee masks gruesome secrets, and she will rely on her wits, skills, and friends to tear off the mask and protect her family.

I don’t always hear about this book, but when I do it is gooood. Plus, it is illustrated, and you don’t get enough illustrated YA fantasy so I’m eager to experience it. Elatsoe is by a Native American author and our main character lives in an America shaped by legends of those indigenous to its land, as well as other legends.

WHY DO THINK I WILL RATE IT 5★? It sounds full of magic, mystery and friends. I think the world already sounds amazing and I’m intrigued to see where this story will go.

The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin | adult

This is the way the world ends. Again.

Three terrible things happen in a single day. Essun, a woman living an ordinary life in a small town, comes home to find that her husband has brutally murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. Meanwhile, mighty Sanze — the world-spanning empire whose innovations have been civilization’s bedrock for a thousand years — collapses as most of its citizens are murdered to serve a madman’s vengeance. And worst of all, across the heart of the vast continent known as the Stillness, a great red rift has been been torn into the heart of the earth, spewing ash enough to darken the sky for years. Or centuries.

Now Essun must pursue the wreckage of her family through a deadly, dying land. Without sunlight, clean water, or arable land, and with limited stockpiles of supplies, there will be war all across the Stillness: a battle royale of nations not for power or territory, but simply for the basic resources necessary to get through the long dark night. Essun does not care if the world falls apart around her. She’ll break it herself, if she must, to save her daughter.

N. K. Jemisin has been on my TBR for a while, in particular this book. As I have been on such a fantasy kick lately, I definitely want to pick it up. What initially drew me into this book was the use of perspectives (first, second and third) as I believe it changes for each person (??) which is such an interesting writing style. Plus, it should be complex with links to themes in the real world. It already sounds amazing, so I need to know more about everything in this book basically.

WHY DO THINK I WILL RATE IT 5★? As I mentioned, the narration and I’m excited to read a fantasy with an older protagonist who has her own family. Plus that first line of the synopsis, yessss !

…and, of course about 100 other books as well, but I couldn’t fit them all on this post.

What books are you hoping to read this year? Have you got any five-star predictions?

Have you read any of the books I’ve mentioned? What did YOU think to them?