Waiting on Wednesday (52): The Young Elites

Waiting on Wednesday

The Young Elites: The Young Elites #1 by Marie Lu

Book cover The Young Elites Marie Lu

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

Guys, I am a die-hard, forever fan of Marie Lu’s Legend series. CHAMPION is one of the best concluding volumes of a series EVER. I’ve known that Marie Lu was writing another series, but when I saw the synopsis for THE YOUNG ELITES, I got incredibly excited. IT SOUNDS AMAZING. Like, I NEED IT. Survivors of a dangerous fever developing powerful gifts? The Inquisition Axis?? THE DAGGER SOCIETY?! Shut the front door. It’s got this fantastical Venice vibe to it that KILLS ME DEAD.

Also:

Young Elites

SHUT AAAAAAP. So awesome. In fact, go check out Marie Lu’s entire Pinterest board for THE YOUNG ELITES. Prepare to DIE. I legit can’t wait for this beyond-awesome-sounding book.

THE YOUNG ELITES comes out October 7, 2014 from Putnam Juvenile

The Young Elites

Book Review | Dreams of Gods and Monsters | Laini Taylor

Book cover Dreams of Gods and Monsters Laini TaylorTitle: Dreams of Gods and Monsters
Author: Laini Taylor (web | twitter)
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3
Genre: Fantasy YA, angels
Amazon | Goodreads | B&N
Publisher: Little, Brown
Release date: April 8, 2014
Source: Bought it

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael’s brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz … something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy. 

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

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Book Review | The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare | M.G. Buehrlen

Book cover The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare by MG BuehrlenTitle: The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare
Author: M.G. Buehrlen (web | twitter)
Series: Alex Wayfare #1
Genre: Contemporary YA, Science Fiction YA, time travel
Amazon | Goodreads | B&N
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Release date: March 4, 2014
Source: ARC from the publisher via NetGalley (Thanks, Strange Chemistry!)

For as long as 17-year-old Alex Wayfare can remember, she has had visions of the past. Visions that make her feel like she’s really on a ship bound for America, living in Jamestown during the Starving Time, or riding the original Ferris wheel at the World’s Fair.

But these brushes with history pull her from her daily life without warning, sometimes leaving her with strange lasting effects and wounds she can’t explain. Trying to excuse away the aftereffects has booked her more time in the principal’s office than in any of her classes and a permanent place at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Alex is desperate to find out what her visions mean and get rid of them.

It isn’t until she meets Porter, a stranger who knows more than should be possible about her, that she learns the truth: Her visions aren’t really visions. Alex is a Descender – capable of traveling back in time by accessing Limbo, the space between Life and Afterlife. Alex is one soul with fifty-six past lives, fifty-six histories.

Fifty-six lifetimes to explore: the prospect is irresistible to Alex, especially when the same mysterious boy with soulful blue eyes keeps showing up in each of them. But the more she descends, the more it becomes apparent that someone doesn’t want Alex to travel again. Ever.

And will stop at nothing to make this life her last.

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Series Love | Marked Men | Jay Crownover

Marked Men Jay Crownover

New feature time!! WAHOO! I hope that you guys will enjoy it as much as I will (do)!

So basically, I am an unapologetic lover of series books. I know that standalones are becoming increasingly sought after for their inherent singularness, and I love those books too. Lots and lots and lots. But when I hear about a new series starting, or find out how many books a beloved series will be, and I get this comforting feeling of hunkering down and getting ready to dive in and get utterly lost. I crave it, that feeling of prolonged escape.

In an effort to share some of my love for series books–especially ones that I haven’t had a chance to review on the blog–I’m starting Series Love. It’s basically going to be my way of highlighting the books that are out, what ones are to come (if any), what they’re about generally, and why I love them so much. YAY!

For my inaugural Series Love post, I’m shouting out a new obsession of mine: the Marked Men series by Jay Crownover. Tattoos! Seksi times! Intense feelings! Three cheers!

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Book Review | The Winner’s Curse | Marie Rutkoski

Book cover for The Winner's Curse by Marie RutkoskiTitle: The Winner’s Curse
Author: Marie Rutkoski (web | twitter)
Series: Winner’s Trilogy #1
Genre: Fantasy YA
Amazon | Goodreads | B&N
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Release date: March 4, 2014
Source: ARC from the publisher via NetGalley

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

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Waiting on Wednesday (47): Sacrifice

Waiting on WednesdaySacrifice: The Elementals Series #4 by Brigid Kemmerer

Book cover Sacrifice by Brigid Kemmerer

One misstep and they lose it all. For the last time.

Michael Merrick is used to pressure.

He’s the only parent his three brothers have had for years. His power to control Earth could kill someone if he miscalculates. Now an Elemental Guide has it out for his family, and he’s all that stands in the way.

His girlfriend, Hannah, gets that. She’s got a kid of her own, and a job as a firefighter that could end her life without a moment’s notice.

But there are people who have had enough of Michael’s defiance, his family’s “bad luck.” Before he knows it, Michael’s enemies have turned into the Merricks’ enemies, and they’re armed for war.

They’re not interested in surrender. But Michael isn’t the white flag type anyway. There will be blood on the ground tonight…

OMG of COURSE I am DYINGGGGG for Michael’s book in Brigid Kemmerer’s Elementals series. He has been my favorite brother ever since I first read the prequel novella about him. The model on the cover of that book and this one look NOTHING alike, but I’m not complaining because OH HAI.

But what I’m really looking forward to the most is reading about Michael. He’s been in every book and is always my favorite presence in each of his brothers’ stories. I find his responsibility and loyalty and strong-but-silent attitude really admirable and special and touching. The main arc of this series has been growing in danger as well, so I’m eager to see how everything plays out. I just can barely wait for SACRIFICE. BARELY.

Check out my reviews of the first three books in The Elementals Series!

STORM | SPARK | SECRET

SACRIFICE comes out on September 30, 2014 from Kensington Teen

Sacrifice

On the Same Page | The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch

on the same page

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

I can’t believe it’s already time to dish about On the Same Page’s THIRD BOOK!!! Time is flying because we’re having so much fun. And let me tell you, reading THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA, the first book in Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastards series, was TREMENDOUS fun. When Alyssa, Brittany, and I scheduled out our books for the year, all of our choices were mutual, except the ones in March, September, and December: Our birthday months! We each got to pick the books we read as a birthday present of sorts, and Miss Brittany made an excellent choice. THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA was 100% good times.

I’ve been meaning to read this series for ages, so I was excited to finally have a reason to dive in. It has so many things that I always love, most notably the fact that it’s a fantasy. Scott Lynch’s world-building is top-notch. There are different kingdoms and realms, all with their own clearly defined cultures and histories; there’s a new and interesting calendar that these worlds follow; a fleshed-out religion; and Camorr, where Locke and his other Gentleman Bastards live and operate, is so lively and described in such great detail that it’s difficult to struggle picturing it in your mind. I could talk about a number of things this month relating to THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA, but I’m going to focus on one element in particular that I always love in any book, and that defines a large part of the action and characters here: THIEVES. OMG. LOVE THEM.

[Read more…]

Waiting on Wednesday (45): The Wizard’s Promise

Waiting on Wednesday

The Wizard’s Promise: The Hanna Duology #1 by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Book cover The Wizard's Promise Cassandra Rose Clare

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Book Review | The House of Hades | Rick Riordan

Book cover for The House of Hades by Rick RiordanTitle: The House of Hades
Author: Rick Riordan (web | twitter)
Series: The Heroes of Olympus
Genre: Fantasy MG/YA, Mythology
Amazon | Goodreads | B&N
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Release date: October 8, 2013
Source: Own it

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

[Read more…]

Book Review | Secret | Brigid Kemmerer

book cover Secret Brigid KemmererTitle: Secret
Author: Brigid Kemmerer (web | twitter)
Series: The Elemental Series #4
Genre: Contemporary YA, Paranormal YA, brothers
Amazon | Goodreads | B&N
Publisher: Kensington Teen
Release date: January 28, 2014
Source: ARC from the publisher via NetGalley (Thanks, Kensington!)
Related books: Storm, Spark, Spirit

EARTH. FIRE. AIR. WATER.

Nick Merrick is stretched to breaking point. He’s trying to keep his grades sky-high or he won’t get in to college. He’s trying to keep his brother’s business afloat or the Merricks will be out on the street. He’s trying to keep the secret of where he’s going in the evenings from his twin brother Gabriel – or he fears he’ll lose his family. And he’s trying to keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who is his ‘girlfriend’s’ partner.

And then Quinn takes to hanging around his sworn enemy, and an Elemental Guide is counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers. Storms are brewing. On all sides.

SECRETS IN THE WIND. DANGER IN THE AIR.

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