Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish. This week I'll be talking about the debut authors whose second books I can't wait to read!

1. Sarah Ayoub




I really loved Hate Is Such A Strong Word, and so I was so excited to find out that The Yearbook Committee will be released next year! As a side note, that cover looks pretty awesome, I'm liking the vintage vibes.

2. Victoria Aveyard





Not everyone loved Red Queen, though personally I did end up enjoying it. That cliffhanger at the end makes reading the second book a must!

3. Amy Ewing





Another debut author, another dystopian series - I own The White Rose and can't wait to start it!

4. Kathryn Barker

This debut is one of my top reads of 2015 - seriously powerful and definitely in possession of some wow factor. I am so curious to see what Kathryn Barker will come up with next!

5. Fleur Ferris

There have been a few outstanding #LoveOzYA titles this year, and Risk is one of them. Chilling and yet so worth a read, this book has impressed me and so I can't wait to check out the next book from this author which will be released in July 2016!

6. Sandy Hall

For those cute, sweet romances, Sandy Hall nails it. I have Signs Point to Yes so will be checking it out soon! 

7. Maria Dahvana Headley

Magonia is a book that is as weird as it is wonderful. As the first book in a series, I am intrigued to see where on earth (or in the skies) the rest of the story will go. 

8. Thalia Kalkipsakis

Lifespan of Starlight tackled time travel in an Australian landscape, and from an angle which I haven't read before. Technically she's not exactly a debut author, but this is her debut series so I've put it on this list.

9. Stephanie Oakes

This book was another big hit for me, since it was so intense and thought provoking. As a debut it shines, and so I am eagerly awaiting the release of The Arsonist, a YA mystery novel by Stephanie Oakes coming out in 2016 .

10. Amy Zhang





Falling Into Place left me with SO MANY EMOTIONS, and I'm getting the feeling that This is Where the World Ends will be just as heartbreaking.

What debut authors have you anticipating their second novel? 

ARC Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Released: 10th February 2015
Series: Red Queen Trilogy #1
Published by: Orion
Genre: YA Dystopian
Source: Publisher/Netgalley
Pages: 320
My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Goodreads | Bookworld | Book Depository

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change. Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most.

She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control. But power is a dangerous game.

And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Book cover source 

Thank you to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I've seen Red Queen being compared to 'The Hunger Games' and 'The Selection' - but let me tell you. in my personal experience it is so much more unique than either of them. Sure, it may contain a few of what have become the 'typical' YA tropes of the rich versus the poor and a rebellion on the rise, but the overall plotline, worldbuilding and characters that Victoria Aveyard has created in her debut make this novel stand out from the rest. In my opinion, the hype surrounding this release is warranted. To all you readers who are tired of the same old dystopian formula, I would recommend giving this book a try as it definitely has the means to impress.

The concept of power and how those who possess it use their influence for their own gain is a constant theme in dystopias, but made even more prominent and comprehensively explored in Red Queen. Mare Barrow, a once typical 'Red', where her blood, like her peers, determines her rank - would never think that she could be part of the 'Silver' society. The are the elite, in the upper echelons of the society Aveyard has formed, where power comes to those worthy of possessing it - as they are the ones with powers of their own. I love how this book not only takes us into the world of a repressed people where the social divide is greater than ever, but also one where there are some supernatural/fantasy elements as well. 

The Silvers are the ones who have their own special abilities, from being able to control the elements, to manipulating objects around them. The turn of events where Mare discovers that she is an anomaly with her own specialty was an expected, yet still fascinating one. Through her perspective, taking a glimpse into the royal family who rule the city exemplified the extent of the thorough worldbuilding which was definitely a plus. Each description is rich in detail without being overwhelming, and I could picture each scene with clarity in my mind, providing a holistic reading experience. 

Anyone can betray anyone.

The different relationships in the storyline are certainly complex, and though the budding crush that Mare develops on one of the princes is obvious to the rest of us, it is something foreign to her as she had never had the opportunity to think in that way. While there were certainly snippets of a 'romance' (though not in the full extent of the word), it was refreshing to see that it did not take away from the rest of the plot. Cal and Maven had their own ties with Mare, but there isn't a love triangle *cue sigh of relief*. What really stood out to me was the sinister undercurrent of how the leaders of this world exploited their wealth and influence to squander the chances of rebellion, at whatever the cost. There were some shocking betrayals and times of emotional turmoil and shock. You don't find THAT in every dystopian novel, which makes Red Queen even more refreshing. Basically, watch out girls - don't fall for what may seem like 'the knight in shining armour' - despite all the charm.

Another big plus in my books when it comes to novels like this in general, is the action. Aveyard wasn't afraid to include some pretty epic fight scenes at the end which were truly intense. The rest of the storyline was relatively light, but there were always wheels turning as the masterminds plotted their next move. In all, this is a book that has the perfect balance of character development, intrigue and action to keep you hooked.

FINAL THOUGHTS

2015 is already shaping up to be a fantastic one for YA, and Red Queen is continuing on with that trend. Victoria Aveyard has made herself an author to watch after this fantastic debut, and now all that's left is to wait for book two!

Waiting on Wednesday: Red Queen

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where the participants tell their readers about an upcoming release they are waiting to read. This week I've picked Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. 

A thrilling new fantasy trilogy for fans of DIVERGENT and THE HUNGER GAMES.

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers. To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Admittedly, it is getting a little tiresome reading more and more books being compared to the likes of Divergent and The Hunger Games, but nonetheless, this book has been pretty hyped-up already and I'll be curious to see how other bloggers rate it as the release date comes closer.

Releasing 10th February 2015