If you love young adult series for the unfolding storylines, the detailed world-building and the characters you can’t wait to revisit time and time again, then 2016 is going to be a very good year for you!

Below are some of the most highly anticipated sequels in our favourite YA series, and you won’t have to wait too long to get your hands on them.

Throne of Glass Book 5: Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas

Celaena Sardothien is smart, fierce, and sometimes a little arrogant. She’s also one of the most dangerous people in the kingdom. Once just another forgotten orphan, Celaena has gone through a lifetime of training to become a skilled assassin.

Throughout the Throne of Glass series, Celaena competes in deadly contests, serves tyrannical rulers, navigates political schemes, and tries to stop her world from crashing down around her ears.

This is a breath-taking series with characters you’ll love, equal parts action and romance, and the highly-anticipated fifth book, Empire of Storms is sure to deliver even more thrills.

Due date: 6 September

Pre-order your copy here
Find the first book in the series here

Zeroes Book 2: Swarm by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan & Deborah Biancotti

Last year’s Zeroes was one of our big sellers over Christmas. A group of teens with incredible powers band together to put a stop to a criminal enterprise. But even superpowers won’t make it an easy task when they’re navigating the all-too-treacherous waters of their personal relationships.

Now the gang is back again, and this time they’re trying to launch an underground nightclub, but complicating things is the arrival of two strangers causing problems for the Zeroes.

This series is high-stakes, superhero action at its finest.

Due date: 1 October

Pre-order your copy here
Find the first book in the series here

Old Kingdom Book 5: Goldenhand by Garth Nix

Goldenhand takes the prize on this list for having the longest wait time for a new installment in a series. Sabriel, book one in the Old Kingdom series, came out in 1995, and what was originally meant to be a trilogy has expanded to include another two books – no complaints here!

Fans of Garth Nix’s books will already know what a masterful fantasy author he is, and Goldenhand is no exception. It takes up from where Abhorsen left off all those years ago, and readers will delight in meeting old favourite characters again while being introduced to new ones.

This is the kind of epic fantasy series you can’t wait to get lost in.

Due date: 1 October

Pre-order your copy here
Find the first book in the series here

The Illuminae Files 2: Gemina by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Interstellar battles? Check. Deadly viruses? Check? Destruction of the Space-time Continuum? Check.

Illuminae was another one of last year’s bestsellers, so no doubt there will be plenty of fans out there ecstatic to learn that book two, Gemina is right around the corner. This time we’ll be introduced to two new characters, Hanna and Nik – one’s the captain’s spoiled daughter, the other is the member of a criminal family. When they’re attacked by alien predators, they have to band together to protect their home.

Told through a series of transcripts, dossiers and chat logs, this series is unlike anything else you’ve ever read.

Due date: 1 November

Pre-order your copy here
Find the first book in the series here

Six of Crows Book 2: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Bardugo took YA readers by storm with her highly acclaimed Grisha series. The Six of Crows series is set in the same world as her first series, but introduces us to a whole new set of characters – namely the criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker and his gang of highly-skilled smugglers and convicts.

The story has been compared to Ocean’s Eleven, and with a plot centering on a high-stakes heist, it’s easy to see why. But this is also sure to appeal to lovers of fantasy YA, with Bardugo’s take on Russian mythology adding a fresh perspective to the wordbuilding with just the right dash of romance.

This is one of those series that you know everybody will be talking about, so if you haven’t already picked up your copy of Six of Crows, hurry up and devour it before Crooked Kingdom comes out!

Due date: 27 September

Pre-order your copy here
Find the first book in the series here

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Book 2: The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

Magnus Chase was a street kid down on his luck, until he learned he was the son of a Norse god. In book one, Magnus had to channel his newfound powers to head off an all-out war between the gods. Now those troublesome deities are at it again, and if he can’t find Thor’s missing hammer, it’s looking like the world might end. Even with Magnus’s skills this might be a hard task… Unless he can get some help from the trickster Loki.

While this is technically middle fiction, the Magnus Chase books are tremendous fun for older readers too. These are hefty tomes, but Rich Riordan’s skill for hooking readers (he brought us the world of Percy Jackson) means you’ll absolutely race through the 500+ pages.

Due date: 4 October

Pre-order your copy here
Find the first book in the series here

Maze Runner 0.6: The Fever Code by James Dashner

In 2009 readers were introduced to the heart-stopping thriller that was The Maze Runner: Thomas wakes up in an elevator, and all he can remember is his name. He has no clue how he got there, or why he’s there. But he quickly learns that there are others like him, and every morning they send somebody out to explore the mysterious maze that surrounds them. If they fail to return by night, the monsters that dwell in the maze’s depths quickly put an end to them.

The Fever Code is a prequel to the main series, and finally gives us answers to the questions that remain regarding the mysterious maze and its origins.

Due date: 4 October

Pre-order your copy here
Find the first book in the series here

Demon Road Book 3: American Monsters by Derek Landy

Derek Landy amassed a legion of fans with his Skulduggery Pleasant series, and when he brought that to a close, he proved he’s not a one-trick pony by introducing us to a whole new demonic world.

American Monsters is the third and final book in the Demon Road trilogy. Amber is back in one last showdown with her murderous parents, but thankfully she won’t have to go it alone – Milo is by her side again, ready to dispense wisecracks in the face of danger.

Amber’s past will be laid bare, and she has plenty of skeletons in her closet.

Due date: 1 September

Pre-order your copy here
Find the first book in the series here

Holly Harper