2019 was a great year for literature, particularly young adult literature. Series began, capturing the hearts of readers and leaving them on memorable cliffhangers. Series ended, wrapping up significant plotlines with a nice little bow. Stand-alone stories proved that sometimes the best work can be done in just one novel. Not every book of 2019 was a smash hit, but here are three that truly were.
Bronze Medal:
“King of Scars” by Leigh Bardugo
The first entry in Bardugo’s new duology, “King of Scars” took readers on a wild ride. This novel featured many characters fans of Bardugo already knew, as the novel takes place shortly after the conclusion of her previous series, the “Six of Crows” duology and the Grisha trilogy, novels that led fans through the nasty world of thieves and magicians. “King of Scars” is a bit tricky to get into if you haven’t read the series, relying heavily on the premise that you already understand the world that Bardugo has created. We follow a few different characters: Nina Zenik, the badass Heartrender from “Six of Crows” who just lost the man she loved; Zoya Nazyalensky, the summoner and military leader who is just as pretty as she is powerful; and, of course, the king of scars himself, King Nikolai Lantsov, the ex-privateer with a strong moral code. Each character has a new challenge to work through in this novel as they explore the plot lines Bardugo set up for them in the conclusions of her other works. Nina has joined the military in her home country, but her tasks turn out to be far harder than she expected. It also doesn’t help that she’s being haunted by the ghost of her dead boyfriend. Zoya is finally in a place of power, but being the King’s right hand man isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. That’s because this king is no typical king—Nikolai is still reeling with side effects of dark magic that turned him into a feral monster. He is mostly human, but he still can’t fully control the beast. Bardugo takes fans back into the world of the Grisha, but, like any good series starter, leaves the fans on edge for book two.
Silver Medal:
“The Queen of Nothing” by Holly Black
“The Queen of Nothing” is a stunning conclusion to Black’s “The Folk of the Air” trilogy. Both “The Cruel Prince” and “The Wicked King” led readers through the mystical world of Elfhame, a land of magic, faeries, betrayal and deceit. Led by heroine Jude Duarte, this novel explores the family issues between Jude, her twin sister Taryn and her Uncle Madoc; the relationship between Jude and High King Cardan Greenbriar; and the struggles of running a country that is on the brink of war, led by an unpopular leader. “The Wicked King” left fans on a gut-wrenching cliffhanger, watching her get exiled from the kingdom. “The Queen of Nothing” allows readers to see how Jude finds her way back into the kingdom. She gets help from an unexpected source: Taryn, the sister who has backstabbed her countless times. This novel is full of character growth from all parties, cleanly fixing the messes that have been made throughout the rest of the series. That’s not to say that it’s not interesting; the plot is still captivating and takes twists that readers won’t see coming. However, instead of leaving fans hungry for more, this book will leave them completely satisfied.
Gold Medal:
“Red, White & Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston
Easily my favorite book of 2019, “Red, White & Royal Blue” might just be my favorite novel of all time. Casey McQuiston’s debut is everything that I am looking for in a novel. The book follows lead Alex Claremont-Diaz, the First Son of the United States. Right off the bat, readers are thrown into the world of U.S. politics and international relations, as Alex shoves Prince Henry of Wales into a cake at Henry’s brother’s wedding. This chaos doesn’t let up until the very last page, letting readers follow Alex’s messy life as a 22-year-old college senior.
Every character in this novel is my favorite; I genuinely can’t choose just one. Prince Henry is compassionate, brilliant and secretly a giant softie. June Claremont-Diaz is a great older sister as well as an incredible journalist trying to navigate an unbiased career while having her mother lead the country. Best friend to Alex, Nora Holleran is a Jewish (!!) legend who is extremely gifted when it comes to computers and cracking codes. Best friend to Henry, Pez Okonjo is the energetic and charming life of the party that never fails to make the room smile. Ellen Claremont, the first female president of the United States and best mom of the year, is maybe the most underappreciated character in the story. Even as her campaign for re-election is threatened, her first concern is always the well-being of her children.
Plus, this novel has literally every trope that I’ve ever loved. Like many romance authors, McQuiston knows that every good romance has at least one cheesy trope. However, unlike many romance authors, she is able to perfectly balance a myriad of recognizable plots, including but not limited to the main character being the last person to realize that he’s in love.
Out of the 60+ books I read this year, these three were top new releases. With such a strong showing, I can’t wait to see what the new year, and the new decade, will bring!
