Jul 23 2014

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Coming Soon: Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

Title: Dead Heat

Author: Patricia Briggs

Series: Alpha & Omega #4

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Release Date: March 3, 2015

The Overview: Praised as “the perfect blend of action, romance, suspense and paranormal,”* the Alpha and Omega novels transport readers into the realm of the werewolf, where Charles Cornick and Anna Latham embody opposite sides of the shifter personality. Now, a pleasure trip drops the couple into the middle of some bad supernatural business… For once, mated werewolves Charles and Anna are not traveling because of Charles’s role as his father’s enforcer. This time, their trip to Arizona is purely personal, as Charles plans to buy Anna a horse for her birthday. Or at least it starts out that way… Charles and Anna soon discover that a dangerous Fae being is on the loose, replacing human children with simulacrums. The Fae’s cold war with humanity is about to heat up—and Charles and Anna are in the cross fire.

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Even though I absolutely love the Mercy Thompson series, I didn’t immediately get on board with Alpha and Omega. That is, until Fair Game came out last year and rocked my world. It is easily one of my favorites from Briggs but also a favorite from the genre as a whole. Because it was that good, I can’t help but hope Dead Heat is just as amazing. March can’t come too soon! If you haven’t had the pleasure to read Patricia Briggs, she is my number one recommendation for both urban fantasy lovers and those wanting to try the genre (start with Moon Called).

What book are you waiting on?

by Niki Hawkes

Jul 16 2014

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Coming Soon: Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

Title: Seraphina

Author: Rachel Hartman

Series: Seraphina #2

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Release Date: March 10, 2015

The Overview: The kingdom of Goredd: a world where humans and dragons share life with an uneasy balance, and those few who are both human and dragon must hide the truth. Seraphina is one of these, part girl, part dragon, who is reluctantly drawn into the politics of her world. When war breaks out between the dragons and humans, she must travel the lands to find those like herself—for she has an inexplicable connection to all of them, and together they will be able to fight the dragons in powerful, magical ways.

As Seraphina gathers this motley crew, she is pursued by humans who want to stop her. But the most terrifying is another half dragon, who can creep into people’s minds and take them over. Until now, Seraphina has kept her mind safe from intruders, but that also means she’s held back her own gift. It is time to make a choice: Cling to the safety of her old life, or embrace a powerful new destiny?

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Seraphina was one of our Escape Reality Book Club picks earlier this year and I’m grateful it finally gave me the chance to read it – I enjoyed it thoroughly. How a book containing dragons managed to escape my attention for so long is beyond me, but I am happy I only have to wait a year to pick up the sequel (it’s been a long time in the making). Seraphina provided a different take on dragons and I quite like where the story is headed. While this won’t be at the top of my list of have-to-have books next spring, I’ll definitely still want a copy.

What book are you waiting on?

by Niki Hawkes

Jul 2 2014

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Coming Soon: Talon by Julie Kagawa

Title: Talon

Author: Julie Kagawa

Series: Talon #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Release Date: October 28, 2014

The Overview: Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they’re positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George. Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon’s newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember’s bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

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A new series about dragons? SIGN ME UP! Consider for a moment that I have a Dragon Obsession, and that should pretty much sum up why I can’t wait to read this book. There’s also the side benefit that I’ve heard a lot of great things about Kagawa even though I haven’t read her yet. Also, I really enjoyed Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, and the premise for Talon sounds pretty similar. It’s pretty clear that I’m looking forward to this one, and have already seen a few positive reviews from those lucky ducks who came home with one from BEA.

What book are you waiting on?

by Niki Hawkes

Jun 18 2014

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Coming Soon: In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

Title: In a Handful of Dust

Author: Mindy McGinnis

Series: Not a Drop to Drink #2

Genre: Teen Dystopian

Release Date: September 23, 2014

The Overview: The only thing bigger than the world is fear. Lucy’s life by the pond has always been full. She has water and friends, laughter and the love of her adoptive mother, Lynn, who has made sure that Lucy’s childhood was very different from her own. Yet it seems Lucy’s future is settled already—a house, a man, children, and a water source—and anything beyond their life by the pond is beyond reach.

When disease burns through their community, the once life-saving water of the pond might be the source of what’s killing them now. Rumors of desalinization plants in California have lingered in Lynn’s mind, and the prospect of a “normal” life for Lucy sets the two of them on an epic journey west to face new dangers: hunger, mountains, deserts, betrayal, and the perils of a world so vast that Lucy fears she could be lost forever, only to disappear in a handful of dust.

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I wasn’t anticipating this one until I read Not a Drop to Drink a couple of weeks ago and absolutely loved it. It was funny, heart wrenching, and all-around amazing and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.I am admittedly nervous about the change in protagonists (mostly because I liked Lynn so much), but I enjoyed the writing style and story so much that I have high hopes it will be just as good.

What book are you waiting on?

by Niki Hawkes

Jun 10 2014

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Coming Soon: The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Title: The Young Elites

Author: Marie Lu

Series: Young Elites #1

Genre: Teen Dystopian

Release Date: October 7, 2014

The Overview: 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.

young elites

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As I thoroughly enjoyed the Legend series, liking the conclusion a bit more than other popular dystopians on the market, I’m really looking forward to this new spinoff series! It’s taking one of the plot elements I liked the most and expanding on it – what’s not to love?

What book are you waiting on?

by Niki hawkes

Jun 3 2014

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Coming Soon: In the After Light by Alexandra Bracken

Title: In the After Light

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Series: Darkest Minds #3

Genre: Teen Dystopian

Release Date: October 28, 2014

The Overview: Ruby can’t look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government’s attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. With them is a prisoner: Clancy Gray, son of the president, and one of the few people Ruby has encountered with abilities like hers. Only Ruby has any power over him, and just one slip could lead to Clancy wreaking havoc on their minds. They are armed only with a volatile secret: proof of a government conspiracy to cover up the real cause of IANN, the disease that has killed most of America’s children and left Ruby and others like her with powers the government will kill to keep contained. But internal strife may destroy their only chance to free the “rehabilitation camps” housing thousands of other Psi kids. Meanwhile, reunited with Liam, the boy she would-and did-sacrifice everything for to keep alive, Ruby must face the painful repercussions of having tampered with his memories of her. She turns to Cole, his older brother, to provide the intense training she knows she will need to take down Gray and the government. But Cole has demons of his own, and one fatal mistake may be the spark that sets the world on fire.

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I don’t know about you, but I’m incredibly interested to see how this trilogy wraps up. I love the whole concept behind this series and especially love the effortless voice in which it was written. My favorite part of the series so far are the incredibly lovable side characters. Ruby is a great protagonist, but her sidekicks really do steal the show, and I am most excited to see where they wind up. October can’t come too soon! :-)

What book are you waiting on?

by Niki Hawkes