Your Pick for Nik! is a monthly feature where I turn over control of my reading list to you!

Here’s how it works: I have nominated titles from my TBR list and YOU get to choose which one gets featured. It can be one you’ve already read and want to discuss, one you want to read but wish to see my feedback on first, or – and this is my favorite part – one you want to read along with me!

Depicted below are my 10 nominees for October. Simply vote for your favorites, and let the best book win!

At 10:00 am (MST) on Monday the 28th of October, I will announce the winner. Come the end of September, I will post a thorough review of the chosen title – and hopefully find out what you thought of it as well!

Voting starts today (September 16, 2013) and you’ll have all the way through the weekend to choose your favorites (Remember: YOU CAN VOTE FOR MORE THAN 1).

Title: Shadow and Bone

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series: The Grisha #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka. Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free? The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him. But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him? Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance. 

Why it’s Nominated: Holy amazing reviews everywhere! I nominated this one because I want to know what everyone is so excited about.

Title: The 100

Author: Kass Morgan

Series: The Hundred #1

Genre: Teen Science Fiction

Overview: In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth’s toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland… before it’s too late. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they’ve only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they’re haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust – and even love – again.

Why it’s Nominated: from the excerpt alone, I’m intrigued. It’s not quite like anything I’ve read before and to top it off, it’s going to be a TV series on the CW.

Title: The Ambassador’s Mission

Author: Trudi Canavan

Series: The Trader’s’ Spy #1

Genre: Fantasy

Overview: Sonea, a Black Magician of Kyralia, is horrified when her son, Lorkin, volunteers to assist the new Guild Ambassador to Sachaka. When word comes that Lorkin has gone missing, Sonea is desperate to find him, but if she leaves the city she will be exiled forever. And besides, an old friend is in need of her help. Most of her friend’s family has been murdered – the latest in a long line of assassinations to plague the leading Thieves of the city. There has always been rivalry, but now the Thieves are waging a deadly underworld war, and it appears they have been doing so with magical assistance.

Why it’s Nominated: I love to be Magician’s Guild trilogy and have always intended to pick this one. After Becky’s recent raves about the author on her blog: Blogs–Of–A–Bookaholic, I’m more fired up than ever to finally read it.

Title: False Memory

Author: Dan Krokos

Series: False Memory #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a boy who isn’t at all surprised by Miranda’s shocking ability. Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn’t easy—especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can’t remember loving. Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn’t seem to matter… when there may not be a future.

Why it’s Nominated: I really enjoyed Planet Thieves, and I’m curious to see what he can do in his main series.

Title: Ender’s Game

Author: Orson Scott Card

Series: Ender’s Saga #1

Genre: Science Fiction

Overview: In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race’s next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn’t make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.

Why it’s Nominated: This one was nominated by one of my favorite followers who has exceptional taste in books. Even though I’ve already read this one, it was outstanding and I can’t think of a better time to reread it since the movie is right around the corner (also, it almost won last month).

Title: Demons of the Ocean

Author: Justin Somper

Series: Vampirates #1

Genre: Middle Grade

Overview: Twins, Connor and Grace, never dreamed that there was any truth to the Vampirate shanty their father sang to them before he died, but that was before the two were shipwrecked and separated from each other. For Connor, who is taken aboard a pirate ship, there’s the chance to learn to swordfight, but for Grace, aboard a mysterious ship of vampire pirates, the danger is great. What will it take for them to find each other?

Why it’s Nominated: Let’s ignore the fact that for the longest time I thought this was a series about vampire rats, and rather focus on the compelling storyline. This is been on my shelf for at least ten years, and I think I’ve been saving it for rainy day… I’m tired of waiting. lol

Title:

Author: Jacqueline Carey

Series: Agent of Hel #1

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Overview: The Midwestern resort town of Pemkowet boasts a diverse population: eccentric locals, wealthy summer people, and tourists by the busload; not to mention fairies, sprites, vampires, naiads, ogres and a whole host of eldritch folk, presided over by Hel, a reclusive Norse goddess. To Daisy Johanssen, fathered by an incubus and raised by a single mother, it’s home. And as Hel’s enforcer and the designated liaison to the Pemkowet Police Department, it’s up to her to ensure relations between the mundane and eldritch communities run smoothly. But when a young man from a nearby college drowns—and signs point to eldritch involvement—the town’s booming paranormal tourism trade is at stake. Teamed up with her childhood crush, Officer Cody Fairfax, a sexy werewolf on the down-low, Daisy must solve the crime—and keep a tight rein on the darker side of her nature. For if she’s ever tempted to invoke her demonic birthright, it could accidentally unleash nothing less than Armageddon.

Why it’s Nominated: Carey’s Kushiel’s series blew me away and I can hardly contain my excitement of her taking that same powerful writing and character development and apply it to an urban fantasy. Also, the second one (Autumn Bones) is coming out October 1 and I want to be ready for it!

Title: Seraphina

Author: Rachel Hartman

Series: Seraphina #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Overview: 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.

Why it’s Nominated: it is a teen fantasy about dragons… I don’t know how I could’ve possibly neglected to pick this one up before now.

Title: Alloy of Law

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Series: Mistborn #4

Genre: Fantasy

Overview: Centuries after the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is on the verge of modernity – railroads, electric street lights, and skyscrapers. Waxillium Ladrian can Push on metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will. After 20 years in the dusty Roughs, in the city of Elendel, the new head of a noble house may need to keep his guns.

Why it’s Nominated: I know a lot of people have read, and loved, the Mistborn trilogy. This latest continuation takes place in the distant future of the same world.

Title: Etiquette and Espionage

Author: Gail Carriger

Series: Finishing School #1

Genre: Teen Fiction

Overview: It’s one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It’s quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners—and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality. But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine’s, young ladies learn to finish…everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage—in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year’s education.

Why it’s Nominated: I love books with schools, and a school for spies looks right up my alley.

 May the best book win!

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