Waiting On Wednesday #7 - City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Insturments 5) by Cassandra Clare

Meme borrowd from Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Just so you know, I've been waiting for this one for a long time. My fingers are itching to grab it and place it alongside the others on my shelf...so this will be a Waiting on Wednesday with a difference.

Today's book: City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Insturments 5) by Cassandra Clare

Release date: May 8th, 2012

Strangely, this one doesn't have much of a Goodreads summary:

In City of Lost Souls, the Shadowhunters struggle to piece together their shattered world after a betrayal by one of their own leaves them reeling. 

However, if you look over there you can see the placeholder cover that was there for a while, so you have some extra tidbits that you wouldn't usually get instead :) Aaand, over here on the right, the ACTUAL cover!

IT IS AWESOME. So awesome I can't bear to put my thoughts on it in a tiny little caption underneath. THE AWESOMENESS NEEDS TO BE RIGHT HERE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE. Finally, Jace and Clary together! And we have FACES for them! No more vague torsos! (however lovely Jace's may be.)

But enough of the overexcited squealing for now. I've found some teasers for you, just to make up for lack of the summary (and also because y'all know why I'm looking forward to this one, so explaining further isn't really necessary.)

So we know there's a traitor. But now it's the turn of the classic whodunnit to take over this spellbinding, bestselling paranormal/actin/romance series.

Will Jace be the one to betray the Shadowhunters, as the bond  that links him to Jonathan/Sebastian steers him toward darkness?

He reached her and held his hands out; she took them, and let him pull her to her feet. His pale gold eyes searched her face. “I want you with me,” he said. “But I want it to be your choice. Once we go, there’s no coming back."

Or it could just as well be Alec. Everyone knows he'd slowly fallen in lvoe with the warlock Magnus Bane. And whenthe question of Alec's mortality is brought up, a spell contained within the Book of White mentioned, one that could potentially freeze Alec's aging and make him immortal, could the use of the forbidden spell condemn Alec to traitorhood? Could another method be explored, such as vampirism?

“He is a Shadowhunter,” said Jocelyn. “His loyalty will be to Clave and Covenant.” 

“He’s my friend,” said Magnus coldly. “His loyalty is to me.” 

However, Isabelle is the most volatile of the group. She wears her heart on her sleeve. Could a relationship with a Downworlder - something she's known to indulge in - wind up costing her her place as a Shadowhunter? 

“Every time we see each other we fall into bed — and I know I started it, I’m not blaming you— it’s just that maybe we should talk.” 

In order to save Jace from Jonathan/Sebastian's eeeeeeevil power, could Clary take on the help of the Downworlders or dark powers? Could her love for Jace steer her off course, and alienate her from her friends?

“You have a dark heart in you, Valentine’s daughter,” he said. “You just won’t admit it. And if you want Jace, you had better accept it. Because he belongs to me now.” 

Though not a Shadowhunter, Simon has a profound loyalty to his friends. Could a proposition from Camille end with him turning his back on his friends and joining the Night Children once and for all? 

“You think I’m gone, but I’m not. I’m still watching you. All of you. Especially you … Simon.” 

Seeing that her son, Jonathan, is still alive, could Jocelyn break away from the Clave to save him from the evil forces that threaten to take over them all?

“Well, hello there, Mother,” Sebastian said in a voice like silk. “Surprised to see me?”

Though they're minor characters, Robert and Maryse did lose their beloved son, Max, during the attack on Idris. Could bereavement and anger at the Clave for allowing such a thing to happen drive Robert or Maryse to do the unthinkable? 

All right. There you have it. All the runners and riders, and the all important release date. Remember, comments are always welcome, so feel free to start up a discussion over these findings...

Allie

January Release: Try Not To Breathe by Jennifer R. Hubbard

All right, time for a special January Release post!

Very intriguing, isn't it?

My Pick:  Try Not To Breathe by Jennifer R. Hubbard

Release Date: January 19th

Learning to live is more than just choosing not to die, as sixteen-year-old Ryan discovers in the year following his suicide attempt. Despite his mother’s anxious hovering and the rumors at school, he’s trying to forget the darkness from which he has escaped. But it doesn’t help that he’s still hiding guilty secrets, or that he longs for a girl who may not return his feelings. Then he befriends Nicki, who is using psychics to seek contact with her dead father. This unlikely friendship thaws Ryan to the point where he can face the worst in himself. He and Nicki confide in one another the things they never thought they’d tell anyone—but their confessions are trickier than they seem, and the fallout tests the bound of friendship and forgiveness.

At last a YA romance that really seems to have a unique plot, as well as a male viewpoint, with plenty of dark themes and characters, but also a little bit of hope thrown in there for good measure. The plot looks set to be physically complex and emotionally tough, but sometimes it's the things about a novel that make you want to stop that also make you want to keep reading. I love the premise of the story, and if I'm lucky enough to get my hands on it anytime soon I'm sure I won't be able to put it down. 

Even the title promises mystery, suspense, and drama, as well as tentative friendship and the relatively new experiences it will be for the characters to let others in. Although I do generally prefer bright colours on covers, considering the topics and material included in this book, it does give a taster of what's to come.


I don't know about you, but I'd be looking out for this one!


Allie

January Release: Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

Better not be getting sick of these, dear non-existent readers...because I'm scheduling a whole lot of them. 

A very simple cover, but it also gets the
simplicity of the story across very well

My Pick: Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic
Release Date: January 17th

Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life. 
Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.

But before he does, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.




Warning: definite tearfest ahead.

I honestly don't know if I'm even going to be able to get past the first page of this book. Megan Bostic shows no remorse in letting us know it's going to be a sad book - and not just that, but it's going to be philosophical, melancholy, hopeful, and crushing.

I’m a sporadically emotional reader. I'm unpredictable. I read My Sister's Keeper without shedding a single tear; instead I was left hollow inside, like some girl who can't express herself properly and is reduced to feeling the echoes of sadness and pain and God knows what else instead. I cry at songs and movies, not books. (See the end of Eragon and The Chronicles of Narnia for examples. Not the actual move endings, the music!) But this seems like it's going to be really hardcore stuff. I'll either have to be in a really pessimistic mood only looking to go deeper or else completely prepared for the onslaught that this novel will bring. It's going to be one of those rare books that are so hard to read that every once in a while I'll just have to take a step back and put it down until I'm ready to read again. This book is going to be all about what you'd do if you knew you didn't have long left; and as much as people like to pretend that's not a hard thing to think about, it is. It so is.

But I've been assured the writing in this book is fantastic and no one can believe it's a debut novel; let's just hope all that hard-hitting material is worth it


Allie

If you read this post, I really suggest you take up a hobby. Like chainsaw massacre. Anything to relieve your obvious and all-consuming boredom.

So, unfortunately, Allie has left us to concentrate on her upcoming exams, and we won't see anything fresh of hers till Easter. She has scheduled a few of these January Releases for your enjoyment, and I have two weeks of Science modules, but after that, it seems it's very much up to me to entertain you wit-, I mean, keep re-dusting off this Blog.

So, till then, I do suggest you watch The Last Samurai. It's a great movie, portraying the ethics of westernization and the dying culture of Japan through the eyes of worn Civil War hero, Captain Nathan Algren. Hired to train the new Federal Army of Japan in the art of war to suppress a rebellion from a band of the supposedly, last Samurai in Japan, led by the Lord Katsumoto, Algren is captured by the Samurai, and spends winter in their mountain village and slowly finds himself settling into their quiet, beautiful and disciplined ways of life.

Now, I don't want to talk about this too much, but I know there are somethings which made this film very enjoyable for me, and I just want to mention them because I know they might not apply to everyone.

Firstly, the characters. Captain Nathan Algren has a character difficult to capture in a few words, it is so full, unless you lay it out completely. Also, Tom Cruise? I never saw it before with that man, but this film just made it for me... He never seems to question the the propelling force of destiny, governed by his morals, and his nightmares. A quiet observationalist, experienced soldier, and gives a soft, beautiful and starkly truthful narrative at some points in the film.

(Oh, God, now I feel Allie's pain... Mustnotexpandtoomuchmustnotexpandtoomuch...)

The film also leads Nathan around dabbling, and sews together excellently without any forcing the main plotline, all other areas of life.

The next things are the shooting and scenery. I'm not going to meticulously describe all of the lovely shots, but let me just say, there are some great arrangements of colouration, music and overall emotion. The scenery involves a night-time city, lakes and river, misty woodlnd, and breath-taking high mountain village.

Lastly, Japan. This may be an entirely personal thing, but I am quite devoted myself, to the nation, so to learn about this deep story into the culture, and struggle to keep up with the modernizing world was deeply interesting to me.

Also, epic scene with ninjaaas... :3






This is some music for you to listen to ... until next time, mes amicos!

Next time, I shall be talking about MANGAA. *cough* Which I wanted to mention in this post, but ran out of time... *shakes fist* Damn you, time, and you Sherlock Holmes- aholicness!

Love, Tora.

January Release: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Hehe, I really am having fun with these...you should know I haven't read anything except extracts from them, so my opinion is based half on what I have read and half on other reviews, with both positive and negative ones taken into account.

Warning: POSSIBLE TEAR-FEST AHEAD!

Hmm. This cover was not what I expected,
but it does pave the way for readers going in
without concentrating on the illness-related
aspects of the story. 

My Pick: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Release Date: 10th January

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too - post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer-kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.


A few thoughts hit me when I first heard about this book. That it would be deeply thought-provoking. That it was undeniably intriguing. That everyone knew it was going to be intensely emotional.

And despite not having read it yet and not being able to read it for a while, I think this book will be for anyone who is strong enough to cope with the issues of serious, life-threatening illness - possible terminal illness - hope in a hopeless situation, and attachment to characters that you know are hanging precariously in the balance. Having been affected by illness that means constant medical care and regular hospital visits are the norm, I can already sympathise with the characters.

Hazel's life is on hold. The support group thing? Very realistic. The meeting the boy of your dreams at support group thing? In your dreams...but it does provide a strong basis for the plot, which is mainly character-led, and as far as I know contains a lot of philosophy, rediscovery and new discoveries, thinking about both life and death, and contemplating something that affects many more than it should in this world; people suffering with cancer, their families, their friends, their pasts and their futures, and how they may seek to find some semblance of normality while dealing with this shocking and remorseless disease.

My advice is have the Kleenex at the ready, folks.

Allie

Humanity. We have to believe in free will. We have no choice.

What are we like?

Just another goddamn race upon this Earth, and yet, what have we made ourselves?

Blown abseloutly everything, everything, up beyond recognition, until that's why I am sitting here, surrounded by the things I am surrounded by. Music... Clothing... Food... Communication. All the needs of an animal, and more, have been turned into some plastic world filled with people of minds set along to this rigid way of thinking. The very idea of free will is part of one big bubble of, well... I don't have the words anymore.

Who else is there who questions all this?

I'm not sure I can explain it... It's difficult. I'll try with example to see you can get my drift.

Food. Nutrition is the basic fuel for how we keep our bodies moving, yet it has been transformed into a major business, a skill. Cookery? I mean, what? So many different articles of plastic and metal in funny shapes in my kitchen, a whole room dedicated to preparing simple, food. Disorders, people freaking out over this. Eating... has become more than the ingrained need for sustaining energy... some people somewhere work on creating chemicals that enforce greed... wrapping food up in little bit of flimsy foil... marketing it?

When you start thinking like this... it never stops...

January Release: Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala

Yes, another one of these posts. God knows Tora will probably kill me for it, but since I am going to absent for large parts of this year I've decided to make the time I have to blog count.

I'm not sure how much of the story
it conveys, but the cover really
catches your eye, doesn't it?

My Pick: Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala
Release Date: January 3rd

Joy Delamere is suffocating... 
From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From delectably dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out.  Joy can take his words - tender words, cruel words - until the night they go too far. 

Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe... if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late. 

Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the meaning of love, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.

Well, this certainly is more my style. I love the idea of using the homeless network as a plot device, and later, the base for most of the characters in a book. And speaking of characters, we already know we're going to hate Asher, but it will be interesting to see what we think of Creed. I for one already love his name, and I mean; "If you ever need help, you know where to find me" - Hello? Who wouldn't love that?! And I love how we know the relationship between Joy and Creed is going to happen, but it will take an agonisingly long time to get there, as each character refuses to give in to the other, but in that it-really-is-for-both-our-own-good kind of way. It makes me itch in excitement just thinking about reading it. 

There's also May and Santos - the former a product of the streets with a drug-addict Mom, and the latter taking Joy - or Triste  as she's known on the streets - under his wing. This really is a character-run story, but the plots will always be looming in the background; abusive Asher searching for her, her parents going out of their minds, the danger of the street threatening to overtake all Joy has worked for, from her health to her new-found half-life. We know it's going to end in confrontation, but it'll be the journey that takes us there that all our expectations will ride on.

(Hope I haven't added to the hype too much...)

Allie

(It should also be noted that this story is not for anyone younger than their mid-teens, as this book contains swearing, violence, drug use, theft, and reference to abuse and prostitution. Definitely not an easy read, so you should stay away from it unless you can look past each of those themes.)                                                                                                

January Release: Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

So, time for a January Release post! These will be a bit like Waiting on Wednesday, only published much closer to their release date.

A simple but sweet cover

My Pick: Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler 

Release date: January 3rd

Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances… a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life…and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

 It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last…

I'm not usually one for pure romances, like this one first appeared to be. But on further inspection you can see that it's about more than teenage love; it's about rediscovery, about all sorts of emotions, about the past and about the future, and most of all it's about how life throws things your way that you're never going to be prepared for. 

The characters are well-rounded and believable; there's Hudson, who used to be an ice-skater, but after her parents' divorce she gave it up and now only secretly skates on Lake Erie, when she's not making cupcakes or helping her mom and brother at the diner they run. Then there's Josh; a hockey player who could seem stereotypical, but from other reviews I've read he seems to be a very likeable character who doesn't have it all, but has a lot to gain. Their story isn't just cute, it's believable, and I'm sure this will be a good read for anyone looking for a fun, but not overly simple or boring story.

The summary makes it seem  like a less remarkable story than I hope it will be, but we'll just have to wait and see. Perhaps it will be a good first venture into this very romantic setting - being so used to dystopian and adventure, I know I might take a while to adjust to this kind of plot, but I'm willing to give it a try!

Allie

Books for January (AKA Random Boringly-titled Book Post...)

Well, you can guess who it is already, can't you?

Time for some of the most anticipated YA releases of January! I will try to post these most months, and track down as wide a variety of books as I can. Later, I might do individual posts on some of my favourites, but for now here's just a brief list of the main titles I've found:

Addison Blakely: Confessions Of  A PK by Betsy St. Amant - January 1

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler - January 3

Black Boy White School by Brian F. Walker - January 3

Cracked by K.M. Walton - January 3

Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom - January 10

Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala - January 3

Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald - January 24

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams - January 3

Love? Maybe by Heather Hepler - January 5

Lovetorn by Kavita Daswani - January 17

The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith - January 2

The Darlings In Love (The Darlings #2) by Melissa Kantor - January 10

What Boys Really Want by Pete Hautman - January 1

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green - January 10

The Queen Of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker - January 2

Try Not To Breathe by Jennifer R. Hubbard - January 19

 Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman - December 27, 2011 (OK, this one's cheating, but I didn't know about it until today, and come on, it's Daniel Handler! I thought I might as well put it in, and besides, you can use it if you're taking part in the YA Contemporary Challenge 2012.)

Winter's Kiss by Jennifer Echols and Catherine Hapka - January 3

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic - January 17

Fracture by Megan Miranda - January 17

Allie

Happy New Year!

Sorry for the lack of postage (no, not literal postage, blog postage, you- absolutelylovelynon-existentreaders *cough*) over Christmas, we've both been pretty busy, but I'm just writing this post quickly to wish everyone a Happy New Year! We don't have many unique traditions over here that I could go on about, so instead I have some lovely pictures for you to help ring in the New Year. Let's hope it's a good one- and I've just realized that this means The Twinsisterbubble will now have been run in two separate years...AWESOME MILESTONE, PEOPLE!


And now my personal favourite:

ISN'T IT GORGEOUS?

WOOT, I am so high from New Year's vibes! Spread the love, guys...

Allie