I love pre-ordering books, but I hardly ever do it way in advance.
If bookstores would take the money off my card when I place the order – I’d feel differently. But since the funds never leave until the book is shipped – I don’t. I hate having to make sure that there is enough money on my card and/or I have the money in my budget.
But if you tell me, it’s an exclusive edition, or that there is an insanely good pre-order incentive – I’m more inclined regardless.
These four books have Exclusive Barnes & Noble Editions – so you know I snatched them up really quickly. I wasn’t sure if there were limited amounts, and honestly – I learned my lesson with A Court of Silver Flames. So, I bit the bullet and pre-ordered them all way in advanced. Now, I was planning on pre-ordering them to begin with, just closer to their respective release dates. And you know I’m keeping my receipts since I’m sure there are going to be pre-order incentives!
I’m really excited for all of these books. I can’t wait to see them on my shelves, in person and I really can’t wait to read them. I highly recommend that if you like collecting various editions and/or covers you get to pre-ordering. I don’t know how many of the BN Editions are available for each.
But let’s take a look at the four books I broke my Pre-Ordering rule for!
Defy the Night (Defy the Night #1) – Brigid Kemmerer
Pub. Date: September 14, 2021
Pages: 496
Pub: Bloomsbury YA
Genre: YA Fantasy
Barnes & Noble Special Edition
The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand.
King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents’ shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King’s Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion–it’s the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited.
Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most–but it’s still not enough.
As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King’s Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it’s even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.
Set in a richly imaginative world with striking similarities to our own, Brigid Kemmerer’s captivating new series is about those with power and those without . . . and what happens when someone is brave enough to imagine a new future.
Small Favors – Erin A. Craig
Pub. Date: July 27, 2021
Pages: 480
Pub: Delacorte Press
Genre: YA Fantasy Horror
Barnes & Noble Special Edition
Ellerie Downing lives in the quiet town of Amity Falls in the Blackspire Mountain range–five narrow peaks stretching into the sky like a grasping hand, bordered by a nearly impenetrable forest from which the early townsfolk fought off the devils in the woods. To this day, visitors are few and rare. But when a supply party goes missing, some worry that the monsters that once stalked the region have returned.
As fall turns to winter, more strange activities plague the town. They point to a tribe of devilish and mystical creatures who promise to fulfill the residents’ deepest desires, however grand and impossible, for just a small favor. But their true intentions are much more sinister, and Ellerie finds herself in a race against time before all of Amity Falls, her family, and the boy she loves go up in flames.
Kingdom of the Cursed (Kingdom of the Wicked #2) – Kerri Maniscalco
Pub. Date: October 26, 2021
Pages: 448
Pub: Hodder & Stoughton
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy Romance
Barnes & Noble Special Edition
Books-A-Million Special Edition
(This book will also have a Bookish Box Edition & possible a FairyLoot Edition)
One sister.
Two sinful princes.
Infinite deception with a side of revenge…Welcome to Hell.
After selling her soul to become Queen of the Wicked, Emilia travels to the Seven Circles with the enigmatic Prince of Wrath, where she’s introduced to a seductive world of vice.
She vows to do whatever it takes to avenge her beloved sister, Vittoria…even if that means accepting the hand of the Prince of Pride, the king of demons.
The first rule in the court of the Wicked? Trust no one. With back-stabbing princes, luxurious palaces, mysterious party invitations, and conflicting clues about who really killed her twin, Emilia finds herself more alone than ever before. Can she even trust Wrath, her one-time ally in the mortal world…or is he keeping dangerous secrets about his true nature?
Emilia will be tested in every way as she seeks a series of magical objects that will unlock the clues of her past and the answers she craves…
Once Upon a Broken Heart – Stephanie Garber
Pub. Date: September 28, 2021
Pages: 416
Pub: Flatiron Books
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Barnes & Noble Special Edition
Evangeline Fox was raised in her beloved father’s curiosity shop, where she grew up on legends about immortals, like the tragic Prince of Hearts. She knows his powers are mythic, his kiss is worth dying for, and that bargains with him rarely end well.
But when Evangeline learns that the love of her life is about to marry another, she becomes desperate enough to offer the Prince of Hearts whatever he wants in exchange for his help to stop the wedding. The prince only asks for three kisses. But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’s pledged. And he has plans for Evangeline that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy…
I’ve linked all the retailers I usually shop from – so all special editions might not be listed. So, if you are a collector, make sure you do your own research and snag any additional copies. And if I did miss some – let me know in the comments! Also let me know which one of these books you are most excited for – or if you’re like me and can’t choose – all of them lol!
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