Waiting on Wednesday (5)

It's been a while since we've had one of these, but there are plenty of books I'm waiting on...

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


1. DREAMS OF GODS AND MONSTERS (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3) by Laini Taylor

Not gonna include the book blurb in case any of you are new to the series, but I AM SO EXCITED about getting to see how this ones turns out. I'll be honest, I wish I loved the main characters more, but the world building and writing are just incredible - enough to make up for my lack of great fondness for the MCs. Laini Taylor is probably my #1 current writer crush.


2. CLARIEL (Abhorsen #4) by Garth Nix

The blurb is safe to post here because this book is like a prequel that takes place hundreds of years before the rest of the Old Kingdom/Abhorsen books.

Book blurb from Goodreads: Clariel is the daughter of the one of the most notable families in the Old Kingdom, with blood relations to the Abhorsen and, most importantly, to the King. When her family moves to the city of Belisaere, there are rumors that her mother is next in line for the throne. However, Clariel wants no part of it—a natural hunter, all she ever thinks about is escaping the city’s confining walls and journeying back to the quiet, green world of the Great Forest.

But many forces conspire against Clariel’s dream. A dangerous Free Magic creature is loose in the city, her parents want to marry her off to a killer, and there is a plot brewing against the old and withdrawn King Orrikan. When Clariel is drawn into the efforts to find and capture the creature, she discovers hidden sorcery within herself, yet it is magic that carries great dangers. Can she rise above the temptation of power, escape the unwanted marriage, and save the King?

Guys, you don't know how THRILLED I am that this book is finally coming out! I adore Garth Nix's Old Kingdom/Abhorsen books! They remain some of the best YA fantasy books ever to me, and I fell in love with SABRIEL (Book 1) back when I was actually a young adult myself. I discovered the books in high school and remember coming to the cliffhanger at the end of LIRAEL and having to wait for ABHORSEN to come out like 2 years later!

Anyway, for a long time now, there were rumors that a 4th book about Clariel was in the works, but it didn't happen. It has been years and years! And now, WE WILL FINALLY HAVE A BOOK. SO EXCITE!!!


Of course, there are plenty of other books I am eager to read, but you know listing all of them would be an exercise in futility. So, what are you waiting on?


P.S. Here's a picture from Loki's birthday!

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Considering recent events, I think we're all in need of happy-making things. Since we're all readers and writers around these parts, there's nothing like anticipating books to brighten the day. Here are a few we're looking forward to.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

1) THE OATHBREAKER'S SHADOW by Amy McCulloch

Blurb from Goodreads: Fifteen-year-old Raim lives in a world where you tie a knot for every promise that you make. Break that promise and you are scarred for life, and cast out into the desert.

Raim has worn a simple knot around his wrist for as long as he can remember. No one knows where it came from, and which promise of his it symbolises, but he barely thinks about it at all—not since becoming the most promising young fighter ever to train for the elite Yun guard. But on the most important day of his life, when he binds his life to his best friend (and future king) Khareh, the string bursts into flames and sears a dark mark into his skin.

Scarred now as an oath-breaker, Raim has two options: run, or be killed.

Fantasy is the genre of our heart, and this one sounds like it's going to be a good one. We love our girl MCs, but it's nice to get a male YA POV in there once in a while, and we're all for non-typical, non-European fantasy settings. This one is out in June, so the wait isn't too bad.


2) ROSE UNDER FIRE by Elizabeth Wein

Blurb from Goodreads: While flying an Allied fighter plane from Paris to England, American ATA pilot and amateur poet, Rose Justice, is captured by the Nazis and sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious women's concentration camp. Trapped in horrific circumstances, Rose finds hope in the impossible through the loyalty, bravery and friendship of her fellow prisoners. But will that be enough to endure the fate that’s in store for her?

Elizabeth Wein, author of the critically-acclaimed and best-selling Code Name Verity, delivers another stunning WWII thriller. The unforgettable story of Rose Justice is forged from heart-wrenching courage, resolve, and the slim, bright chance of survival.

Code Name Verity was my favorite YA book last year (only narrowly beat out for my favorite book overall of the year by The Song of Achilles), because it was so unexpectedly moving and powerful. I still can't get over how good it was, and I will review it one day when I finally have the coherent words to do so. Yes, I recommend it THAT MUCH. So it's a no-brainer that I freaked out when I heard Code Name Verity was getting a companion novel. I CANNOT WAIT for this one!


3) VICIOUS by Victoria Schwab

Blurb from Goodreads: Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will.

Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

I was impressed by Victoria Schwab's beautiful, atmospheric writing in The Near Witch, so I was intrigued to hear that she was writing an adult novel. While the blurb is certainly attention-grabbing, it's the cover that I love. So gorgeous.

Q4U: What books are you waiting on?

And for an added dose of happy for all of this week, here's a gif of a puppy.

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

It's been a while since our last Waiting on Wednesday, and now that it's 2013, there are SO MANY books we're looking forward to. Here's 3 for you to consider adding to your TBR.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

1) CONTROL by Lydia Kang

Blurb from Goodreads: After the violent death of her father, 17 year-old Zelia loses her younger sister, Dylia, during an abduction at a foster care agency. It turns out her sister Dylia isn’t just pretty and sweet – she’s illegal. In the year 2150, DNA must be pure by law, and anyone with enhanced genes face death. Zelia’s only allies are the freak-show inhabitants of her new, underground foster home. Along with the unexpected love of a very strange boy, she will need her flaws and their illicit traits to save the only family she has left.

We adore Lydia around here, and since we heard about her book deal, we've been excited to see a cover. That cover was finally revealed on Monday, so we can finally put it in a WoW post. We love the glow!


2) BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA by April Genevieve Tucholke

Blurb from Goodreads: You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand...

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

This book sank its hooks into us since we read the blurb for it sometime mid-2012. The cover reveal only made the waiting worse! It's gothic and moody, a visually perfect fit for the story the jacket copy implies. I love the ornate font that dominates the image.


3) THE NIGHT ITSELF by Zoë Marriott

Cover copy: When fifteen year old Mio steals the katana - her grandfather's priceless sword - she just wants to liven up a fancy dress costume. But the katana is more than some dusty heirloom, and her actions unleash an ancient evil onto the streets of modern-day London. Mio is soon stalked by the terrors of mythical Japan, and it is only the appearance of a mysterious warrior that saves her life. If Mio cannot learn to control the sword's legendary powers she will lose not only her own life... but the love of a lifetime.

We were so impressed by Zoe's book Shadows on the Moon that we were eager to see what she came up with next. And it's certainly something else - an apparent mix of ancient magic and modern chic, the story is wonderfully complemented by the book's recently revealed cover. I'm so in love with the bold and unusual design that I had to post the entire jacket. Just look at this thematically subtle but eye-catching piece of art!

What are some books you're looking forward to in 2013?

Waiting on Wednesday (2): More Beautiful Covers

Our second Waiting on Wednesday, and in keeping with the theme of our first WoW post, these books all have beautiful covers!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

There were so many beautiful cover releases recently, many for books we're eagerly anticipating (like Ellen Oh's PROPHECY, for example). So it was very difficult to choose, but here are 3 WoW picks...

1) OCD LOVE STORY by Corey Ann Haydu

Blurb from Teen Writers Bloc: When Bea meets Beck, she knows instantly that he’s her kind of crazy. Sweet, strong, kinda-messed-up Beck understands her like no one else can. He makes her feel almost normal. He makes her feel like she could fall in love again.

But despite her feelings for Beck, Bea can’t stop thinking about someone else: a guy who is gorgeous and magnetic…and has no idea Bea even exists. But Bea knows a lot about him. She spends a lot of time watching him. She has a journal full of notes. Some might even say she’s obsessed.

Bea tells herself she’s got it all under control, but this isn’t a choice, it’s a compulsion. The truth is, she’s breaking down…and she might end up breaking her own heart.

This book wasn't on my radar until I stumbled upon the cover reveal, and oh what a cover! I love the bright, pop colors and the scrawling, dynamic text. Plus, the story sounds delightful - equal parts contemplative and quirky.


2) THE NIGHTMARE AFFAIR by Mindee Arnett

Blurb from the jacket: 16-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.

Literally.

Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy is hard enough, but when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing.

But it does.

Eli is dreaming of a murder. The setting is Arkwell.

And then his dream comes true. Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target...

I'm pretty much a sucker for paper-cut-out / silhouette covers (i.e. previous WoW pick, Sarah Rees Brennan's UNSPOKEN), and this one definitely falls under that category. I love all the little details and the way the title type grows into branches, and the purple makes it all nice and spooky. And story-wise? I love some good supernatural sleuthing, and doing it through dreams? Awesome.

Tor.com did a sweet little article about the cover design process that I found fascinating. Plus, I loved seeing all the different iterations of the cover! Link: Cover Reveal for The Nightmare Affair

Oh and you can enter to WIN an ARC of this beauty at Mindee's website: The Nightmare Affair Cover Reveal Giveaway!


3) TAKEN by Erin Bowman

Blurb from goodreads: There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends...and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

I really adore this cover, and it's not just because I like Erin. No, there's just something about everything here that appeals to me. From the imagery to the colors to the composition, this cover is striking and so different from the covers I've gotten used to seeing in the YA section of the book store. It's a little bleak, a little futuristic, and a lot gorgeous. I love how the warm colors contrast imagery that is so typically rendered in cool tones. And don't get me started on how much I love the raised K in the title! Story-wise, this cover makes me really want to know, what's over the Wall and what is the Heist?

Erin did a fun and informative interview with her cover's designer over at Pub(lishing) Crawl. Link: TAKEN Cover Reveal!


Ah, all of these are 2013 books, but I want them all now!

What books are you looking forward to?

Waiting on Wednesday: Beautiful Covers

This is pretty exciting because I think this is our first official Waiting on Wednesday post. Usually, we just squee about stuff whenever we want, but I actually had the foresight to put this up on a Wednesday! :)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

We actually have 3 books we're eagerly waiting on, and they all have gorgeous covers. They are...

1) SERAPHINA by Rachel Hartman / Pub Date: July 10, 2012

Blurb from goodreads: Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

In her exquisitely written fantasy debut, Rachel Hartman creates a rich, complex, and utterly original world. Seraphina's tortuous journey to self-acceptance is one readers will remember long after they've turned the final page.

So, I actually am cheating on this one because I've read it! I received an e-ARC through Netgalley, and it was my most recent read. I LOVED IT, so much so that it's in my Waiting on Wednesday because I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this beautiful book (look at that cover!)!

I'll review it in depth closer to its publication date, but suffice to say, it was an excellent read, filled with unspoken but deeply felt things. The worldbuilding was detailed, the dragons fascinatingly alien, and the heroine touchingly insecure yet brave. She was a refreshingly strong female character whose strength doesn't come from her ability to kick butt; it comes from her smarts. KEEP YOUR EYE OUT FOR THIS ONE!


2) UNSPOKEN by Sarah Rees Brennan / Pub Date: September 11, 2012

Blurb from goodreads: Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

I love SRB's writing, her skilled handling of themes, and her amazing humor. This has been described as a modern gothic mystery, complete with a family of shady blonds and an intrepid young heroine, plus a dash of the supernatural. Awesome!

I've already read the first 3 chapters! You can too here: UNSPOKEN preview!


3) THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater / Pub Date: September 18, 2012

Blurb from goodreads: “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

I'm intrigued by the blurb, and I'm in love with the cover! Also, you may recall that I am deeply enamored with Maggie Stiefvater's last book, THE SCORPIO RACES (yeah, it's not a YA infatuation, it's true love). So I'm eager to see where her writing takes me next!

I'm saving these chapters, but you can read a 2 chapter preview here: The Raven Boys preview!


What books are you looking forward to?