Waiting On Wednesday #9 - The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova

Waiting on Wednesday meme borrowed from Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Very much reminiscent of kids'
 book covers, but I love the colours.

Today's Book: The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova
Release date: May 12, 2012

Summary from Goodreads: Set against the backdrop of a Coney Island summer comes The Vicious Deep, the story of sixteen year old Tristan Hart whose life is turned upside down when the mermaids make an unscheduled return to land in search of their new king.

When a sudden storm pulls Tristan from lifeguard duty into a deadly riptide, he discovers what he really is—a prince of the Sea Court. Turns out, his girlfriend hopping and talents as a swimmer aren’t caused by his teenage prime hormones after all.

In this modern Arthurian tale with a twist, when all a guy wants to do is get The Girl and enjoy the freak show that is a Coney Island summer, Tristan has to fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity, if he still wants it, as he’s caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.

This book almost sounds like Percy Jackson (for the mythical action adventure) - if he'd been a playboy - crossed with Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood-Brown (for the vicious mermaids) and of course, your classic American high school YA fluff  (and y'know, there's nothing wrong with a setting like that, or fluff for that matter, as long as there is at least some substance to accompany it). (Which...technically makes it not fluff....But I digress.) Anyone who likes some good ol' bad guys versus good guys, characters that could even be your next door neighbour, or plain and simple action stories will like this. Looks like it's one for the boys, too!


Allie

Waiting On Wednesday #8 - Above by Leah Bobet

'Waiting On' Wednesday is a meme borrowed from Jill at Breaking the Spine.

All I can say is: SPEECHLESS.
Simple, and stunning. I especially
love the golden colour...*sigh*

Today's book: Above by Leah Bobet
Publication date: April 1st, 2012  (Finally, one we don't have to wait too long for!)

Sumary from Goodreads: Matthew has loved Ariel from the moment he found her in the tunnels, her bee's wings falling away. They live in Safe, an underground refuge for those fleeing the city Above--like Whisper, who speaks to ghosts, and Jack Flash, who can shoot lightning from his fingers.
But one terrifying night, an old enemy invades Safe with an army of shadows, and only Matthew, Ariel, and a few friends escape Above. As Matthew unravels the mystery of Safe's history and the shadows' attack, he realizes he must find a way to remake his home--not just for himself, but for Ariel, who needs him more than ever before.

OK, you might not have heard too much about this one. But Waiting On Wednesday isn't just about those books that have been outrageously hyped and are walking that fine line between being totally unbelievable in a good way, and being totally unbelievable in a very, very bad way. I bet I'm not the only one but there who misses the days when discovering a new book that you hadn't heard of before that turned out to be incredible (as happened to me with Revolution, which quickly became and remains my favourite book ever). Maybe 'Above' can be the next one of those books....(except of course you ha a leetle bit of warning from me. But only so you can save up your money to buy it, of course.)

'Above' is gorgeously imagined -- the story of an underground community where a man with electricity in his fingertips or a girl who can shapeshift into a bee, can hide away, and what happens when those people are forced into the world, our world, Above. It has real things to say about insiders vs. outsiders, safety vs. risk, and how much we can be responsible for one another. And the romance between Matthew and Airel looks set to be gentle, slow, and beautiful - just the kind of break you might need from the undoubtedly amazing but slightly fast-paced romances that grace many YA novels right - while being surrounded by the gut-wrenching exit from Safe and the terror and adrenaline that comes with it for these misfits, these freaks that have been exiled from the only place they knew that held refuge for them.

I for one will be adding this to my TBR pile at the first opportunity!

Allie

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

Waiting On Wednesday #6 - Lies Beneath, by Anne Greenwood Brown

Meme borrowed from Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Today's book: Lies Beneath, by Anne Greenwood Brown

Publication Date: June 12th, 2012 (Soooo far away...)

Summary from Goodreads: Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy.

But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistible good looks and charm on unsuspecting girls.

Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

What a brilliant premise! Completely unique. There hasn't been a good mermaid book on the YA scene in a while, let alone one with MURDEROUS MERMAIDS, and a MALE PROTAGANIST! Eeks!

From what I've heard, it really does live up to expectations - I have a feeling that the will-they-won't-they element that appears in it will have me on tenterhooks. There's a real obstacle stopping Calder and Lily being together, and if Anne Greenwood Brown utilises this in the way I hope she does, you really won't know what's going to happen.

Speaking of the author, she's likes the Coronas and Damien Rice and Franz Ferdinand! Score, sister! What's not to love? Really can't wait for this one.

Allie

Waiting On Wednesday #5 - The Lost Princess, by Galaxy Craze

Meme originally by Jill at her blog Breaking the Spine.

This Wednesday's Chosen Book: Well, see the title of this post, but just to clarify, yes, Galaxy Craze is a person....
Release Date: May 8th, 2012 (the only bad thing about doing WoW posts is finding out how loooong we'll have to wait to actually read the books!)

Look at this cover! Isn't it stunning? I love how eye-catching  and contrasting it is. I'll give you the Goodreads summary to read after you absorb the gorgeousness of it.

Happily ever after is a thing of the past. 

The year is 2090. 

England is a barren land. Food is rationed. Oil has decimated the oceans. The people are restless. 

A ruthless revolutionary enacts a plan to destroy the royal family, and in a moment, the king is dead. His heiress, Princess Mary, and her brother, Jamie, have been abducted, and no one knows their fate. Princess Eliza Windsor barely escapes, and finds herself scared and lost in London's dangerous streets. 

With a mind for revenge and the safe recovery of her siblings, Eliza joins the enemy forces in disguise. There she is tempted by her first taste of independence -- and true love. Ultimately she must summon her courage and fight to ensure that she does not become... The Last Princess.

How amazing does this sound? Like historical fiction...only future-fiction. It's pretty unique in it's premise of featuring a royal family as the main characters against a backdrop of the classic dystopian scenario. I can't wait to find out how a tale of love and looking out for your family (while being a PRINCESS) can be intertwined with the danger and information needed to keep you hooked on a story like this - with so many dystopian novels round now 9and so many of them being brilliant, more to the point) it's important to stand out from the crowd, and from what I've heard so far about The Last Princess, it's doing it's job pretty well....

So, what are you Waiting On this Wednesday?

Allie

Waiting On Wednesday #4 - Crossed, by Ally Condie

'Waiting On' Wednesday is a meme borrowed from Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Today's Book: Crossed, by Ally Condie
Publication Date: November 24th, 2011 (Or November 1st, if you're lucky enough to be in the US...)

OK, so technically I haven't finished Matched yet. But what I did read of it was good enough to tell me that, as soon as I heard there would be a sequel, I'd want to read it...so here I am, telling the world about HOW IMPATIENT I AM FOR CROSSED TO BE PUBLISHED.

Ally Condie is a brilliant writer, and if this book lives up to expectations...it shall be awesome!

(Summary from Goodreads.com) In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake. Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever. 


Allie

Waiting On Wednesday #3 - Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi

'Waiting On' Wednesday is a meme taken from Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Today's book: Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi
Publication Date: November 15th 2011

OK, so you've probably heard all the hype about this book - and I really hope it's true. I can't believe its long until its out! Fingers crossed I get myself  a copy as soon as possible...

I'm looking forward to this book because: the plot sounds brilliant, and even if it only half-lives up to expectations it'll be a fantastic read. It's exciting, dark, and dystopian - what more could a YA reader wish for? I wish had the kind of talent Tahereh Mafi does to have created this kind of story; it's going to be a stunning debut - and I'm pretty sure it'll have me on tenterhooks the whole way through. If what I've read about it is to be beliveed it'll be a rollercoaster ride full of lyrical words and powerful images...*dreamy sigh*

(Description from Goodreads.com): Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. 

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now. 

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. 

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting asThe Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

If this post gets the Shatter Me news out to even one new person, than my mission shall be complete...

Allie

Waiting On Wednesday #2 - Aftershock, Mark Walden

'Waiting On' Wednesday is a meme taken from Jill at Breaking The Spine.

Today's book: Aftershock by Mark Walden.
Publication Date: 1 August 2011 (it was originally in September, but it's been brought forward!)

I'm looking forward to this book because: HIVE is another series I've been reading for a long time. It's hilarious and I have been known to get obsessed with it.I definitely want to see more of all the characters...especially Raven. You can never have enough ninja assassin action. Tora is also a fan of the series...the world of HIVE and its fans has a very special place in my heart, anyway.

(Description from Amazon) Scheming, extorting, menacing and general evilness are nothing new in the world of villainy - indeed it's expected. But there are codes of conduct. Until now. In an attempt to purge the Global League of Villainous Enterprises of its more destructive elements, Dr Nero has underestimated the cunning and resources of those who oppose him. 


Meanwhile, Otto and the rest of the Alpha stream have been sent to begin their most feared exercise: The Hunt, in the icy wastes of Siberia. But there is a traitor in their midst. The first strike against Nero will be a strike against the Alpha stream. Villain-kind is on the brink of CIVIL WAR.


(Apparently there are going to be some new characters, too...)


Allie

Waiting On Wednesday #1 - Lifters, Joe Craig

'Waiting On' Wednesday is a meme taken from Jill at Breaking The Spine.

Today's book: Lifters by Joe Craig

Publication Date: 15 September 2011

I'm looking forward to this book because: it sounds exciting, and has a very unique and modern plot. I'm hoping it's going to be a little bit gritty and dark, as well as adventurous and thrilling.  I love Joe Craig's books in general and it'll be great to see what he's like when he's not writing Jimmy Coates books (which are awesome, if you hadn't already gathered that!) and because I really need something to look forward to in September! 

(Description from Amazon) Adaq and Maya are siblings - urban professionals with a unique set of thieving skills. When Adaq lifts a package from his latest target he has no idea what he's getting into. Before he can blink, the target is lying dead on the ground and he is running for his life. A sharp,urban thriller from Joe Craig, author of the international best-selling Jimmy Coates series..

This book may be shorter than his other ones, and probably mainly a kids book (could be could for getting kids into reading, definitely going to give it to my brother to see what he thinks!) but I still can't wait for it!

Allie

-Edit- Just found out Joe Craig himself has seen this...*muffled scream of excitement*