May 16 2013

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Coming Soon: Unhinged

Title: Unhinged

Author: A. G. Howard

Series: Splintered #2

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Release Date: January 7, 2104

The Overview: Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she’s always dreamed of.

Nik’s Notes:

I have a weakness for awesome covers, and this one is the best one I’ve seen all year. Book 1 was enticing enough, but now I’m convinced I can’t ignore this series any longer. The only reason I haven’t picked it up yet is that “Alice in Wonderland” is not exactly a personal favorite. However, I’ve been reading a lot of great reviews and hear it’s original enough to make it worth the effort. I’m putting it in the TBR pile, but probably will hold off for a few months seeing as this one isn’t released until 2014.

May 12 2013

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Coming Soon: Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep

Title: Midnight Frost

Author: Jennifer Estep

Series: Mythos Academy #5

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance

Release Date: July 30, 2013

The Overview: Just when it seems life at Mythos Academy can’t get any more dangerous, the Reapers of Chaos manage to prove me wrong. It was just a typical night at the Library of Antiquities — until a Reaper tried to poison me. The good news is I’m still alive and kicking. The bad news is the Reaper poisoned someone else instead.

As Nike’s Champion, everyone expects me to lead the charge against the Reapers, even though I’m still hurting over what happened with Spartan warrior Logan Quinn. I’ve got to get my hands on the antidote fast — otherwise, an innocent person will die. But the only known cure is hidden in some creepy ruins — and the Reapers are sure to be waiting for me there …

Nik’s Notes:

Fans of House of Night should definitely check this series out – it’s a neat hybrid of mythology and paranormal. While book 3 let me down a bit, I absolutely devoured books 1 and 2 (and thus far, book 4 seems to be redeeming itself). Anyway, it’s a neat concept and I’ve categorized it in my personal “beach-read” favorites list.

May 9 2013

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Coming Soon: The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

Title: The Fiery Heart

Author: Richelle Mead

Series: Bloodlines #4

Genre: Teen Paranormal Romance

Release Date: November 19, 2013

The Overview: In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her. . . .

But the struggle isn’t over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there’s still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure—and re-education—looms larger than ever.

Nik’s Notes:

How excited is everyone else that we don’t have to wait a full year to read this one? This is about the point in the series where the arc of the story takes you on that can’t-catch-your-breath ride to the finale (at least if the VA and Succubus series are anything to go by). These highly character-driven novels are fantastic and I’m betting this is going to be the best one yet! The countdown has begun…

Also, be on the lookout for her latest series (Age of X) available June 4th:

(click the cover to read my review)

May 2 2013

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Out This Month – Noteworthy Releases May 2013!

April was kind of a slow month for me. Sure, the new Robin Hobb came out, and that’s awesome in its own right, but there wasn’t much else that I was just dying to read. May, on the other hand is packed with books that I’ve been eager to get my hands on. Any of them on your reading list?

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Apr 28 2013

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5/28 Coming Soon: Antiagon Fire

Title: Antiagon Fire

Author: L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Series: Imager’s Portfolio #7

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: May 28, 2013

The Overview: The hard-won battles fought in Imager’s Battalion have earned Quaeryt a promotion to commander, as well as an assignment to convince the Pharsi High Council in the nation of Khel to submit to Lord Bhayar’s rule, which is key to Bhayar’s ambition to unite all of Solidar. Joined by his pregnant wife Vaelora, who is also Bhayar’s sister, Quaeryt leads an army and a handful of imagers deeper into the hostile lands once held by the tyrannical Rex Kharst, facing stiff-necked High Holders, attacks by land and sea—including airborne fire launched by hostile imagers from the land of Antiago—and a mysterious order of powerful women who seem to recognize the great destiny that awaits Quareyt and Vaelora, as well as the cost of achieving it.

Nik’s Notes:

I’ve heard that this author has a tendency to be a bit dry, and actually experienced it firsthand in his Soprano Sorceress series. I have also heard from those same people that his Corean Chronicles and Imager Portfolio series are just as slow, but definitely worth reading. The premise for this particular series sounds amazing, and within the hundreds of books on my TBR list, this one has made its way up to the top 20. As for those of you eagerly anticipating this book, you only have one more month to go! His next installment Rex Regis, comes out in January 2014. Other than that, I couldn’t find any information regarding how long the series is supposed to be. If his Recluse series is anything to go by, it’s going to be a long one.

Apr 27 2013

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Coming Soon: Affliction

Title: Affliction

Author: Laurell K. Hamilton

Series: Anita Blake #22

Genre: Urban Fantasy / Horror

Release Date: July 2, 2013

The Overview: Micah is called back home by his estranged family, because his father, a county sheriff, has been attacked and is terribly injured. Anita and Nathaniel are going with him for moral support and to meet his family under very trying circumstances.
Micah has been estranged from his family for a decade, deliberately turning his back on them to protect them from the sadistic killer who once led his leopard pack. But now Micah’s father lies dying, rotting away inside from some strange ailment that has his doctors whispering about “zombie disease.” Anita—who understands zombies better than anyone—knows there’s more to it than that. While zombies have unlovable traits, being one doesn’t cause human beings to rot in agony. She needs to solve that mystery—but now a more immediate issue is pressing: Micah’s father may have only five days to live.

Nik’s Notes:

I am way behind in this series. Although I enjoy reading about Anita Blake and all the side characters, I feel as though the series as a whole took a major left turn after about book 6 or 7. They started out as vampire/werewolf horror stories then morphed into raunchy, sex-filled kill-people-in-horrible-ways-just-for-shock-value books. Even with that odd flip, I still enjoy the characters enough to keep reading, but I think they lost a little about what made them special. That said, I know an awful lot of people who didn’t mind the shift and devour her new books as soon as they hit the shelf. With that in mind, if you have yet to read the series, proceed at your own risk. :)

On a totally bizarre side note, I only just now noticed the piercing blue eye under HAMILTON on the cover. Now I’m a little creeped out (she’s staring at me).