Cover Reveal: BRING ME THEIR HEARTS by Sara Wolf (YA)

I am SO overly excited to share the cover reveal to one of my most anticipated books for 2018!!! It is gorgeous! And I cannot wait to get my hands on it!!!

BRING ME THEIR HEARTS

By Sara Wolf

Expected release date: June 5th, 2018

Published by: Entangled Teen

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

In a new series Publishers Weekly has listed as “one of the most anticipated YA's of 2018”, we're excited to share the cover for Bring Me Their Hearts! NYT bestselling author Sara Wolf delivers a fast-paced, gritty fantasy sure to thrill fans of Holly Black, Sabba Tahir, and Sarah J. Maas.

Zera is a Heartless - the immortal, unaging soldier of a witch. Bound to the witch Nightsinger ever since she saved her from the bandits who murdered her family, Zera longs for freedom from the woods they hide in. With her heart in a jar under Nightsinger’s control, she serves the witch unquestioningly.

Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum: if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy Zera’s heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles.

Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him—every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him—until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.

So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all.

Winner takes the loser’s heart.

Literally.

Pre-order NOW!!!

Amazon / B&N / iTunes / Kobo / Entangled Publishing

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Sara Wolf

Sara Wolf is a twenty-something author who adores baking, screaming at her cats, and screaming at herself while she types hilarious things. When she was a kid, she was too busy eating dirt to write her first terrible book. Twenty years later, she picked up a keyboard and started mashing her fists on it and created the monster known as the Lovely Vicious series. 

She lives in San Diego with two cats, a crippling-yet-refreshing sense of self-doubt, and not enough fruit tarts ever.

LINKS

Goodreads / Twitter / Tumblr

Cover Reveal: TRUE STORM (True Born Trilogy #3) by L. E. Sterling (YA)

What a great way to start off a Monday! 
The cover reveal to the last book in the TRUE BORN TRILOGY is here!!!

FIRST!!! 

A quick recap of the first TWO books of the TRUE BORN TRILOGY...

TRUE BORN (True Born Trilogy #1) 

by L. E. Sterling

Release date: May 3rd, 2016

Published by: Entangled Teen

 

SUMMARY

Welcome to Dominion City.

After the great Plague descended, the world population was decimated…and their genetics damaged beyond repair.

The Lasters wait hopelessly for their genes to self-destruct. The Splicers pay for expensive treatments that might prolong their life. The plague-resistant True Borns are as mysterious as they are feared…

And then there’s Lucy Fox and her identical twin sister, Margot. After endless tests, no one wants to reveal what they are.

When Margot disappears, a desperate Lucy has no choice but to put her faith in the True Borns, led by the charismatic Nolan Storm and the beautiful but deadly Jared Price. As Lucy and the True Borns set out to rescue her sister, they stumble upon a vast conspiracy stretching from Dominion’s street preachers to shady Russian tycoons. But why target the Fox sisters?

As they say in Dominion, it’s in the blood.

* * * * * 

TRUE NORTH (True Born Trilogy #2)

by L. E. Sterling 

Release date: April 4th, 2017

Published by: Entangled Teen

SUMMARY 

It’s not you…it’s your DNA.

Abandoned by her family in Plague-ridden Dominion City, eighteen-year-old Lucy Fox has no choice but to rely upon the kindness of the True Borns, a renegade group of genetically enhanced humans, to save her twin sister, Margot.

But Nolan Storm, their mysterious leader, has his own agenda. When Storm backtracks on his promise to rescue Margot, Lucy takes her fate into her own hands and sets off for Russia with her True Born bodyguard and maybe-something-more, the lethal yet beautiful Jared Price. In Russia, there’s been whispered rumors of Plague Cure.

While Lucy fights her magnetic attraction to Jared, anxious that his loyalty to Storm will hurt her chances of finding her sister, they quickly discover that not all is as it appears…and discovering the secrets contained in the Fox sisters’ blood before they wind up dead is just the beginning.

As they say in Dominion, sometimes it’s not you…it’s your DNA.

* * * * * 

TRUE STORM

True Born Trilogy, #3

by L. E. Sterling

Expected release date: May 1st, 2018

Published by: Entangled Teen

Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction Fantasy

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

If you can't beat them change them... 

PRE-ORDER your copy NOW!!!

Amazon / B&N / iBooks / Kobo / Entangled Publishing

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - L. E. Sterling

L.E. Sterling had an early obsession with sci-fi, fantasy and romance to which she remained faithful even through an M.A. in Creative Writing and a Ph.D. in English Literature - where she completed a thesis on magical representation. 

She is the author of two previous novels, the cult hit YA novel The Originals (under pen name L.E. Vollick), dubbed “the Catcher in the Rye of a new generation” by one reviewer, and the urban fantasy Pluto’s Gate. 

Originally hailing from Parry Sound, Ontario, L.E. spent most of her summers roaming across Canada in a van with her father, a hippie musician, her brothers and an occasional stray mutt - inspiring her writing career. 

She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.

LINKS

Website /  Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon

Waiting On Wednesday #142: THE TROUBLE WITH DESTINY by Lauren Morrill (YA)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This is where we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released!!! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night!!!

And, quite possibly, to make our shelves look pretty too :) 

What I'm currently waiting for... 

THE TROUBLE WITH DESTINY

by Lauren Morrill

Expected release date: December 8th, 2015

Published by Delacorte (RandomHouse)

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

SUMMARY

It's not about the destination, it's about the journey...

With her trusty baton and six insanely organized clipboards, drum major Liza Sanders is about to take Destiny by storm - the boat, that is. When Liza discovered that her beloved band was losing funding, she found Destiny, a luxury cruise ship complete with pools, midnight chocolate buffets, and a $25,000 spring break talent show prize. 

Liza can't imagine senior year without the band, and nothing will distract her from achieving victory. She's therefore not interested when her old camp crush, Lenny, shows up on board, looking shockingly hipster-hot. And she's especially not interested in Russ, the probably-as-dumb-as-he-is-cute prankster jock whose ex, Demi, happens to be Liza's ex-best friend and leader of the Athenas, a show choir that's the band's greatest competition. 

But it's not going to be smooth sailing. After the Destiny breaks down, all of Liza's best-laid plans start to go awry. Liza likes to think of herself as an expert at almost everything, but when it comes to love, she's about to find herself lost at sea. 

Why I'm waiting for THE TROUBLE WITH DESTINY...

First... it's another book from Lauren Morrill! 

I quite enjoy her books :) 

Second... let the battle of the bands begin!!!

Lastly... romance!!!

Possibly a love-triangle???

SO, what are you dying to get your hands on this week?!?!?

Waiting On Wednesday #104: FROSTFIRE and ICE KISSED (The Kanin Chronicles #1 and #2) by Amanda Hocking (YA)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by  Breaking the Spine. 

This is were we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night and, quite possibly, to make our shelves look all pretty too :)

What I'm waiting for...

FROSTFIRE

The Kanin Chronicles #1

by Amanda Hocking

Expected release date: January 6th, 2015

Published by: St. Martin's Press

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy 

Format: Hardback, Paperback, eBook

SUMMARY

Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes. Set apart by her heritage and her past, Brynn is a tracker who's determined to become a respected part of her world. 

She has just one goal: 

become a member of the elite King’s Guard to protect the royalty. 

She's not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her boss Ridley Dresden. 

But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin –  a fallen hero who she once loved – appears to be up to something dangerous, kidnapping changelings. 

Bryn is sent in to help stop him, but will she lose her heart in the process?

ICE KISS
The Kanin Chronicles #2
by Amanda Hocking
Expected release date: May 5th, 2015
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Format: Hardback, Paperback, eBook


SUMMARY

Return to the world of the Trylle with the second book in the Kanin Chronicles. 

War is coming to the Kanin and Bryn Avery is right in the middle of it. Deep in the shadows of society, distrust has been building and is ready to explode. Konstantin Black has escaped, the royal families are in jeopardy, and their biggest enemy Viktor Dålig is coming for his revenge.

Bryn vows justice against Konstantin, the guy she'd once had feelings for, who she now wishes she didn't feel so strongly connected with. But Konstantin is smart – long before he’d become a traitor to the Kanin, he’d been a tracker. And the more Bryn gets closer to finding him, the more she questions his guilt, which begins to tear her budding relationship with Ridley apart. Doubting everything and everyone she's ever known, Bryn finds that if she's not careful, she just might become her own greatest threat.

Why I'm waiting for FROSTFIRE and ICE KISS...

It's a spin-off to the TRYLLE trilogy!!!
The KANIN CHRONICLES is another trilogy set in the Trylle's world!!!

Ember is Finn's younger sister! I LOVE Finn!!! I do hope we get to see him...

The Kanin Chronicles takes place 4 years after the Trylle trilogy... 

and it seems that this whole trilogy will be releasing throughout 2015 so there won't be much of a waiting time in between each book!!!

AND, do I even have to point out how GORGEOUS these bookcovers are?!?!?!

(You can see more about FROSTFIRE on the author's blog post here!)

(And, you can see ICE KISS's cover reveal on St. Martin's Griffith's FB page here!)

I'm SO excited to get back into this world!!!

What are you waiting for this week??? 

Waiting On Wednesday #103: RED QUEEN by Victoria Aveyard (YA)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by  Breaking the Spine. 

This is were we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night and, quite possibly, to make our shelves look all pretty too :)

What I'm waiting for...

RED QUEEN

by Victoria Aveyard

Expected release date: February 10th, 2015

Published by: Harper Teen

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood - those with red and those with silver. Mare and her family are lowly Reds, destined to serve the Silver elite whose supernatural abilities make them nearly gods. Mare steals what she can to help her family survive, but when her best friend is conscripted into the army she gambles everything to win his freedom. A twist of fate leads her to the royal palace itself, where, in front of the king and all his nobles, she discovers a power of her own - an ability she didn't know she had. 
Except... her blood is Red.

To hide this impossibility, the king forces her into the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks her new position to aid the Scarlet Guard - the leaders of a Red rebellion. Her actions put into motion a deadly and violent dance, pitting prince against prince - 

and Mare against her own heart.

From debut author Victoria Aveyard comes a lush, vivid fantasy series where loyalty and desire can tear you apart and the only certainty is betrayal.

Why I'm waiting for RED QUEEN...

The cover!!! I have no words... mesmerizing!!!

I'm all for fantasy, love it!!!

BUT, whenever I hear "Red Queen" I always think of THE Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland. 

"Curiouser, curiouser..."

What are you waiting for???

Waiting On Wednesday #101: GEEK GIRL by Holly Smale (YA)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by  Breaking the Spine. 

This is were we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night and, quite possibly, to make our shelves look all pretty too :)

What I'm waiting for...

GEEK GIRL

Geek Girl #1

by Holly Smale 

Expected release date: January 27th, 2015

Published by: Harper Teen

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

Geek + runway = a hilarious runaway hit! 

This bestselling UK debut is full of humor and high-fashion hijinks — 

and now it’s coming to America.

Harriet Manners is tired of being labeled a geek. So when she’s discovered by a modeling agent, she seizes the chance to reinvent herself. There’s only one problem: 

Harriet is the definition of awkward. 

Does she have what it takes to transform from geek to chic?

Geek Girl is the first book in a hilarious new trilogy. It was also the #1 bestselling YA debut of 2013 in the UK, where it was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Best Book for Teens. With all the humor and fabulous shenanigans of Louise Rennison’s Confessions of Georgia Nicolson and Meg Cabot’s The Princess Diaries, Geek Girl is about to become an international superstar.

Why I'm waiting for GEEK GIRL...

First of all, LOOK at that cover!!!

You all must know by now that I do judge books by their covers, and I absolutely adore this one!

This book had me by its title too! 

AND, I've heard so much about this trilogy! I'm happy to see it finally coming to the U.S.

SO, what are you waiting for???

Waiting On Wednesday #99: THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST by Holly Black (YA)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by  Breaking the Spine. 

This is were we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night and, quite possibly, to make our shelves look all pretty too :)

What I'm waiting for...

THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST

by Holly Black

Expected release date: January 13th, 2015

Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy 

Format: Hardback, eBook

SUMMARY

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. 

Or she did, once.

At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

Until one day, he does…

As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, 

will it be enough?

Why I'm waiting for THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST...

It's been a really long time since I've read a really good faerie story...

and this one, it haves a "glass coffin in the woods'; 

and a boy with horns on his head and pointed ears has been sleeping in it for generations...

"Curiouser, curiouser..."

Can't wait!!!

What are you waiting for???

Waiting On Wednesday #97: MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME, Twelve Holiday Stories edited by Stephanie Perkins (YA)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by  Breaking the Spine. 

This is were we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night and, quite possibly, to make our shelves look all pretty too :)

What I'm waiting for...

MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME: Twelve Holiday Stories

Edited by Stephanie Perkins

Expected release date: October 14th, 2014
Published by: St. Martin's Press

Genre: Young Adult Romance

Format: Hardback, eBook

SUMMARY

If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, 

made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, 

especially, if you love holiday anthologies, 

you’re going to fall in love with 

MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME: TWELVE HOLIDAY STORIES 

by twelve bestselling young adult writers, 

edited by international bestselling author 

Stephanie Perkins.

Why I'm waiting on MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME...

During the holiday season, I always look for little things to help me get into the spirit of things - I find that as I get older, it gets harder and harder to focus, to keep traditions, to be at peace with the true meaning of Christmas... I have only found two other books that help me get through the season; and I'm hoping that this one will be my third! 

Plus! Totes adorbs cover!!!

AND!!! Let's take a look at all of those amazing authors: 

Stephanie Perkins, Holly Black, Ally Carter, 

Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, 

Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Rainbow Rowell, 

Laini Taylor, and Kiersten White!!!

YES to ALL!!! 

SO, what are you waiting for this week???

Blog Tour: My Tribute to THE UNFINISHED LIFE OF ADDISON STONE by Adele Griffin (YA)

*Fun* Disclaimer: This is not your average blog tour.

Instead of the traditional interview, review, or guest post, Soho Teen has asked over 50 bloggers to get in the spirit of The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone, a docu-novel that tries to get to the bottom of who Addison Stone really was. It's quite obvious that we all don't really know her - that's probably because she doesn't actually exist - but that doesn't mean we can't have fun pretending, right?  

THE UNFINISHED LIFE OF ADDISON STONE

by Adele Griffin

Release date: August 12th, 2014

Published by: Soho Teen

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Drama

Format: Hardback, eBook

Format read: ARC from publisher.

SUMMARY

National Book Award-finalist Adele Griffin tells the fully illustrated story of a brilliant young artist, her mysterious death, and the fandom that won't let her go.

From the moment she stepped foot in NYC, Addison Stone’s subversive street art made her someone to watch, and her violent drowning left her fans and critics craving to know more. I conducted interviews with those who knew her best — including close friends, family, teachers, mentors, art dealers, boyfriends, and critics — and retraced the tumultuous path of Addison's life. 

I hope I can shed new light on what really happened the night of July 28.

—Adele Griffin

Addison Stone speaking with Max Berger at the Joaquin Capa exhibit, courtesy of Kate Volkmann.

MY TRIBUTE TO Addison Stone

I was sitting in the studio, trying to get my work situated. Looking for inspiration, trying to draw some motivation, setting up takes time. The room was being loaned to me until the next big thing was found. I was told that Addison Stone was the last person to use it. I didn't think anything of it, at first. Of course I knew of her, how could you not. I was in the middle of cleaning out some shelves when I found some 8 by 12 pencil sketches, they were blurred and crossed out in frustration.

"Those are mine."

I look up, and there's the owner of the most softest throaty voice I have ever heard. However, the girl looked sad and completely drained. I had no idea what was holding that poor girl together, she looked like she was about to crumble over and fall to the floor. I placed all of the sketches on the table and she stepped up and spread them out. We stood there for about 20 minutes. She staring at her sketches. Me staring at her. I had never seen someone not move, barely breathe, but yet, you can feel how alive she was and see all of these emotions stringing through her like a freight train. I wanted to reach out to her, find out who she was, what she was so scared of, what was holding her back. The girl looked like she could use a good meal, some sleep... but more than that, she looked like she needed to scream everything out of her system. She looked so small, and yet, her presence was more than the room can contain.
Eventually she picked up the sketches, and threw them in the metal bin. She then started tearing up the place, pulling out other pieces from hidden places, adding them to the pile. She then squirted some turpentine all over it and then tossed in a lighter. I was frozen in place, I did not want to cross the path that she was wildly walking on. Even when she looked me in the eye and said, "I was never here."

My heart ached for her when I heard of her passing just a few weeks after witnessing some of her madness. Her sadness and my guilt for not trying to reach out to her will live in me forever.
I'm working in a different studio now. I've been inspired...

Addison Stone's artwork.

You can read my full review here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Adele Griffin

Adele Griffin is a two-time National Book Award finalist and the highly acclaimed author of numerous books for young adult and middle grade readers. Her works include Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be, and most recently, Loud Awake and Lost. Adele lives with her husband, Erich; their two young children; and their dog, Edith, in Brooklyn, New York.

Goodreads / Website / Addison Stone Webpage

Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr / Instagram

Review: THE UNFINISHED LIFE OF ADDISON STONE by Adele Griffin (YA)

THE UNFINISHED LIFE OF ADDISON STONE

by Adele Griffin

Release date: August 12th, 2014

Published by: Soho Teen

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Drama

Format: Hardback, eBook

Format read: ARC from publisher.

SUMMARY

National Book Award-finalist Adele Griffin tells the fully illustrated story of a brilliant young artist, her mysterious death, and the fandom that won't let her go.

From the moment she stepped foot in NYC, Addison Stone’s subversive street art made her someone to watch, and her violent drowning left her fans and critics craving to know more. I conducted interviews with those who knew her best — including close friends, family, teachers, mentors, art dealers, boyfriends, and critics — and retraced the tumultuous path of Addison's life. 

I hope I can shed new light on what really happened the night of July 28.

—Adele Griffin

MY REVIEW

This is the most unique and creative book that I have ever encountered. With the help of model pictures and donated pieces of art, Adele Griffin has been able to create the most realistic fictional-documented story I have ever read. 

It always amazes me when I  read a book where the main character's voice is barely present in the story, but, her presence, essence and livelihood is. With the supporting characters, the model who poses as Addison Stone, the website, etc. - they all bring together an unforgettable story dedicated to a girl who was, who could have been and who will live on.

Addison Stone's story is told by multiple points-of-views, her parents, brother, best friends, ex-boyfriends, colleagues and others; and when you start to think that the author could not possibly introduce us to another 'person', she does, and does so brilliantly. There never once was any confusion as to who was who. Each character brings in their own voice and gives life to who Addison Stone was. Often times I found myself wanting to go on the internet to connect to their stories and timelines, just to be reminded that this is all fictional...

The mystery as to what happened to Addison Stone, how and why she died, starts to unravel very quickly. She was consumed by creativity and passion. So much so, it became difficult to read her low and manic points... it becomes obvious as to who her true friends are; those who cared the most speak freely and genuinely. Others who were guarded and too frank were too quick to point the finger and claim innocence to any negativity in her life, it was obvious that truths were being twisted and reimagined. But overall, everyone's take did add up to create a realistic personality.

There is so much to say about this book! I could go on and on, but it would be so much simpler if you all were to go and read it for yourself so we can discuss it! I highly recommend this! Especially to those who love contemporary and/or documentaries. 

*An ARC was sent by the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Adele Griffin

Adele Griffin is a two-time National Book Award finalist and the highly acclaimed author of numerous books for young adult and middle grade readers. Her works include Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be, and most recently, Loud Awake and Lost. Adele lives with her husband, Erich; their two young children; and their dog, Edith, in Brooklyn, New York.

Goodreads / Website / Addison Stone Webpage

Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr / Instagram