Waiting on Wednesday (64)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!





This week I'm waiting on some sequels due out this Fall!

Beautiful Redemption (Caster Chronicles #4)
by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Publication date: October 23, 2012

**WARNING: SPOLERS**

Synopsis:
Is death the end...
or only the beginning?

Ethan Wate has spent most of his life longing to escape the stiflingly small Southern town of Gatlin. He never thought he would meet the girl of his dreams, Lena Duchannes, who unveiled a secretive, powerful, and cursed side of Gatlin, hidden in plain sight. And he never could have expected that he would be forced to leave behind everyone and everything he cares about. So when Ethan awakes after the chilling events of the Eighteenth Moon, he has only one goal: to find a way to return to Lena and the ones he loves.

Back in Gatlin, Lena is making her own bargains for Ethan's return, vowing to do whatever it takes -- even if that means trusting old enemies or risking the lives of the family and friends Ethan left to protect.

Worlds apart, Ethan and Lena must once again work together to rewrite their fate, in this stunning finale to the Beautiful Creatures series.

FromGoodreads

Why I want it: This is the last book in the series, and after the way the last one ended, I CAN'T WAIT to see what happens next, and how these ladies wrap up this fantastic series!

Finale (Hush, Hush #4)
by Becca Fitzpatrick
Publication date: October 23, 2012

**WARNING: SPOILERS**

Synopsis:
Fates unfurl in the gripping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Hush, Hush saga.

Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean they are fated to be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. Now Nora and Patch must gather their strength to face one last, perilous trial. Old enemies return, new enemies are made, and a friend's ultimate betrayal threatens the peace Patch and Nora so desperately want. The battle lines are drawn—but which sides are they on? And in the end, are there some obstacles even love can't conquer?

From Goodreads

Why I want it: Another last in a series that I've been following for years, and I'm dying to see how it ends.

Middle Ground (Awaken #2)
by Katie Kacvinsky
Publication date: November 20, 2012

**WARNING: SPOILERS**

Synopsis:
In this provocative cautionary tale for teens, the sequel to Awaken, seventeen-year-old Maddie’s rebellion against the digital-only life grows dangerous. Maddie is in Los Angeles, trying to stay out of trouble. But one night, a seemingly small act of defiance lands her in the place she fears the most: a detention center. Here, patients are reprogrammed to accept a digital existence. Maddie is now fighting for her mind, her soul, and her very life. Once again, Katie Kacvinsky paints a disturbing picture of our increasingly technology-based society.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: I absolutely adored Awaken, I recommend it to anyone. I'm really excited to see what happens next in this digital world.

What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

Waiting on Wednesday (54)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!





This week I'm celebrating May 8th releases! There's so many good books due to come out on this day... and it's less than 4 weeks away!

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
Publication Date: May 8, 2012

Synopsis:
Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: 2012 Debut Author. Lightning addict main character. Other than that, I feel like the synopsis has a lot of words, but doesn't explain much. It still has me intrigued.

Until I Die (Revenants #2) by Amy Plum
Publication Date: May 8, 2012

**WARNING: SPOILERS**

Synopsis:
Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake — and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: Sequel to a book that I loved! I'm excited to continue Kate and Vincent's love story. And see more of Jules, of course ;).

City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare
Publication Date: May 8, 2012

**WARNING: SPOILERS**

Synopsis:
The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: I don't even need to read that HUGE synopsis to want to read it. Book 5 in The Mortal Instruments series. That's all there is to it.

First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky
Publication Date: May 8, 2012

Synopsis:
Like his name, Gray is dark and stormy. Dylan, a girl always searching for what's next, seemingly unable to settle down, is the exact opposite: full of light and life. On the outside, they seem like an unlikely couple. But looks can be deceiving and besides, opposites attract.

What starts as friendship, turns into admiration, respect and caring, until finally these two lone souls find they are truly in love with each other.

But staying in love is not as easy as falling in love. If Dylan and Gray want their love to last, they're going to have to work at it. And learn that sometimes love means having to say you're sorry.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: LOVED Katie's debut novel, Awaken, and I'm interested to see her take on contemporary romance. Also because I like how this book focuses on after the "honeymoon" phase of love.


What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

Review: Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

Title: Awaken
Author: Katie Kacvinsky
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publish Date: May 23, 2011
Genre: YA, dystopian
Pages: 309
Series: Awaken
1. Awaken
2. Middle Ground (expected pub Fall 2012)

Synopsis:
Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.

From Goodreads

I thought more of this book was going to take place with the main character behind a computer screen, but there was actually a lot of the “real world” as well. Maddie’s father is the creator of Digital School (DS) which enables kids to attend school 100% on their computers. On top of that, people can get food delivered to their front door, use virtual reality to go on dates, go for runs on the treadmill, be a part of social groups around the world, and more. No one sees the point to leaving their house anymore. Why would they? It has been deemed unsafe because of all the school shootings and bombings that were happening.

It was great that we got to see this story through Maddie’s eyes. She goes through so many changes throughout this book, it’s really inspiring. It shows you that people can change and even make a difference. Justin really is the best character, though. He’s been raised as a rebel to DS. He shows Maddie the benefits of living in the real world. He constantly has inspirational, thought-provoking things to say to Maddie to help her crack out of her shell. He’s a really complex character, too. He’s pretty much the leader of the rebels and takes this responsibility very seriously. He won’t think of himself. Ever. So Maddie gets frustrated with him when she starts falling for him.

The story is eye-opening. It’s kind of scary because if you really think about it, this dystopian world isn’t that farfetched. It could happen. People could pull away and spend their lives on the computer. Never leave their houses. Live beside the same people for 15 years and never meet. And the fact that Justin spent the whole book showing and convincing Maddie of the great things the real world has that the virtual one doesn’t really showed me as a reader how great some things are. Things we take for granted. Like watching the sun set. Touching people. Using body language in communication. It kind of makes you want to put down your smartphone and go camping. Or go to a bar where life is happening. Seriously.

AWAKEN is an amazing book that really opens your eyes to the technology around you and how it is too easy to become dependent on technology and neglect face-to-face human interactions. I'm excited to see where Katie takes Maddie and Justin's story next. Definitely recommend it to everyone.

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!
I first heard about it from PageTurnersBlog.




My Waiting on Wednesday this week:
Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
Publication Date: May 23, 2011

Synopsis:

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.

From Goodreads

This sounds like a really great debut. Not only is it a dystopian, but it’s about a world where people only communicate through technology, specifically the computer. Out of all the dystopians I’ve heard of, this one seems the most likely, and that’s kinda scary! I think it’ll make for a really great read, and maybe it’ll even be an eye opener. I can’t wait to read it.

What upcoming releases are you looking forward to this week?