Waiting on Wednesday (77) - The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: May 22, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Summary (from Goodreads): 

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling – or dangerous.

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade – the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

From the rough streets of Lower Manhattan to elegant Fifth Avenue, the motley crew of teens with supernatural abilities is on Jasper’s elusive trail. And they’re about to discover how far they’ll go for friendship.

More than ever, Finley Jayne will rely on powerful English duke Griffin King to balance her dark magic with her good side. Yet Griffin is at war with himself over his secret attraction to Finley…and will risk his life and reputation to save her. Sam, more machine than man, finds his moody heart tested by Irish lass Emily – whose own special abilities are no match for the darkness she discovers on the streets.

Now, to help those she’s come to care for so deeply, Finley Jayne must infiltrate a criminal gang. Only problem is, she might like the dark side a little too much…

If you read my review of The Girl in the Steel Corset a long while ago, then you may recall that I absolutely loved the first novel in The Steampunk Chronicles! It was one of the first novels I read in the steampunk genre, and since then, I've been on the lookout for more novels within the genre which can deliver the same suspense, intrigue, and action!

I'm really excited to read what's going to happen for Finley, Griffin and company in Kady Cross' The Girl in the Clockwork Collar... but I have a nervous foreboding for the characters after reading the plot description. It sounds like they have some tough times ahead of them to get past. I'm also hoping Jack makes a return in the second book... and I can't wait to learn more about Mei's role too.

Cover Reveal! Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker

I'm very excited to be helping reveal the cover of Melissa Walker's Unbreak My Heart on the blog today!

Release Date: May 22, 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Add to Goodreads

Summary (from author's website): 

Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’s heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and heads into summer with zero social life. Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but just floating away sounds pretty good right now. Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer, and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart?

Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to.

Unbreak My Heart sounds like a wonderful summer novel and I love how the setting is on a sailboat! I think the cover has done a lovely job capturing the novel based on the plot description and the heart is a cute addition too!

After the release of Small Town Sinners earlier in the year and its heavier themes, it's nice to see Melissa Walker returning to her lighter side of writing... though I'm sure this contemporary novel will still have its fair share of heartfelt moments too.

What do you think of the cover? Are you looking forward to reading Unbreak My Heart?

Waiting on Wednesday (76) - The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary (from Goodreads):

Seraphina’s first love made her immortal…her second might get her killed.

Incarnation is a new series that introduces a fresh mythology perfect for fans of bestselling series like The Immortals by Alyson Noel and Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

After spending six hundred years on earth, Seraphina Ames has seen it all. Eternal life provides her with the world’s riches, but at a very high price: innocent lives. Centuries ago, her boyfriend, Cyrus, discovered a method of alchemy that allows them to swap bodies with other humans, jumping from one vessel to the next, taking the human’s life in the process. No longer able to bear the guilt of what she’s done, Sera escapes from Cyrus and vows to never kill again.

Then sixteen-year-old Kailey Morgan gets into a horrific car accident right in front of her, and Sera accidentally takes over her body. For the first time, Sera finds herself enjoying the life of the person she’s inhabiting—and falls for the human boy who lives next door. But Cyrus will stop at nothing until she’s his again, and every moment she stays, she’s putting herself and the people she’s grown to care for in great danger. Will Sera have to give up the one thing that’s eluded her for centuries: true love?

Avery Williams' debut novel The Alchemy of Forever is the first in a two-book series and I just love its premise! Sera sounds like a sweet girl drowning in guilt after centuries of essentially stolen life. It would be enough to make someone power-hungry with the knowledge of an immortal life, but that doesn't seem to be the case with her. I'm looking forward to learning more about this new approach to immortality and the paranormal.

Book Trailer! - Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

The book trailer for the highly anticipated final novel in Andrea Cremer's Nightshade trilogy, Bloodrose, was exclusively revealed on Friday over at EW's Shelf Life! I've been waiting all weekend for a YouTube version and one was finally posted today.

The book trailer doesn't really reveal too much of what will happen in Bloodrose, reiterating facts most readers already know, but it still leaves me nervous to read the novel when it's released in stores. If you're a fan of the series, are you Team Ren or Team Shay?

Release Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Philomel

Summary:

The third and final installment of the international bestselling Nightshade trilogy!

Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there's more at stake than fighting. There's saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay's wrath. There's keeping Ansel safe, even if he's been branded a traitor. There's proving herself as the pack's alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers' magic once and for all. And then there's deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is. In this remarkable final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, international bestselling author Andrea Cremer crafts a dynamic novel with twists and turns that will keep you breathless until its final pages.

Die For Me by Amy Plum

Title: Die For Me (Revenants #1)
Author: Amy Plum
Release Date: May 10, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 352
Source: Bought

Overall: 4 Stars

Summary:

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love? 

My Thoughts:

I’ve had Die for Me sitting on my shelf for quite awhile now, but I’m not exactly sure why it took me so long to finally read it! Amy Plum’s debut novel was an enticing read filled with romance and danger, and it was no wonder I found myself lost within the story in no time at all. As soon as I began turning the pages, I was already regretting not reading the novel sooner! Amy Plum swiftly sweeps her readers off to the city of Paris, where dark secrets await to be uncovered. 

I really loved the originality surrounding the concept of the revenants – undead beings who sacrificed themselves over and over again to save the lives of others. They weren’t quiet ghosts but neither were they straight-up zombies either. As Kate found herself more and more entrenched in the world of the revenants and the struggle against their enemies, it was also fascinating to learn more about the new mythology Amy Plum has introduced. Kate is definitely a stronger person than she gives herself credit for… and I liked how when it became too much for her to handle, she voiced her fears and concerns, and took a step back in realizing her own capabilities. 

The easy camaraderie between the characters in Die for Me made the novel all the more enjoyable to read! I loved how Vincent’s family welcomed Kate into the fold with acceptance and some teasing remarks which lightened the tension. Although I may have been initially sceptical by how easily Kate learned the big secret Vincent had been hiding about himself, I did appreciate how it kept a fast pace for the events to continue unfolding. Vincent was handsome, charming and just as dreamy as most girls would easily fall head-over-heels for, but I also had a soft spot for the sweet and funny Jules as well. 

If you’re looking for your next supernatural fix, Amy Plum’s Die for Me would be a perfect recommendation! With French boys who will leave you instantly swooning and heart-pounding excitement, all set against the gorgeous backdrop of Paris, what’s not to love about Die for Me? I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next novel in the Revenants trilogy, Until I Die, to learn what trouble will find Kate and Vincent next.

Winter Town by Stephen Emond

Title: Winter Town
Author: Stephen Emond
Release Date: December 5, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Source: ARC provided by publisher

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Summary:

Every winter, straight-laced, Ivy League bound Evan looks forward to a visit from Lucy, a childhood pal who moved away after her parent's divorce. But when Lucy arrives this year, she's changed. The former "girl next door" now has chopped dyed black hair, a nose stud, and a scowl. But Evan knows that somewhere beneath the Goth, "Old Lucy" still exists, and he's determined to find her... even if it means pissing her off.

Garden State meets Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist in this funny and poignant illustrated novel about opposites who fall in love.  

My Thoughts:

Stephen Emond’s Winter Town is a hilarious and quirky contemporary novel which will warm your heart on a cold winter night. I couldn’t help but imagining all the scenes playing out in my head like I was watching an indie comedy movie. There was simply something about the novel which had me playfully smiling as I steadily turned the pages… and a frown only appeared when obstacles appeared in a character’s way. Stephen Emond has turned very ordinary events in Winter Town and given them his own new spin to fashion a sweet story which captivates you right away. 

Evan and Lucy have two completely opposite personalities, yet they share a close childhood friendship that’s easy for them to slip back into despite the initial awkwardness from the vast time apart during the year. Evan feels pressured by his father to attend an Ivy League school, but he’s unsure if that's what he truly wants; Lucy is not the same girl she was last year, decked out in dark clothes and more moody than ever before. And like any ordinary teenagers, Evan and Lucy are both unsure about themselves and the choices they need to make for their futures. 

Winter Town just wouldn’t have been the same reading experience without the wonderful illustrations which perfectly complemented the text. There were drawings which helped visualized the wintry setting and characters… and there were fun comic strips telling another sort of adventure which Lucy and Evan had undertaken in the fantasy world they created as children, Aelysthia. I say this as a total compliment when I mention that Evan and Lucy are both pretty much nerds. 

If you’re looking for a unique coming-of-age contemporary novel filled with heartfelt moments and endearing characters, I would highly recommend Stephen Emond’s Winter Town. Evan and Lucy are not the same young kids they once were, and as we watched their friendship strengthen and waver, we also waited to see if they could ultimately have the courage to face their fears. It’s not everyday that you stumble across a novel as one-of-a-kind as Winter Town! 

Thanks so much to Hachette Book Group Canada for providing this review copy! You can learn more about Stephen Emond's Winter Town on Hachette's website, and if you're not already doing so, don't forget to follow them on Twitter and "like" their Facebook page!

Waiting on Wednesday (75) - Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: January 17, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary (from HarperTeen): 

For months Clara Gardner trained to face the fire from her visions, but she wasn’t prepared for the choice she had to make that day. And in the aftermath, she discovered that nothing about being part angel is as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her love for Tucker and her complicated feelings about the roles she and Christian seem destined to play in a world that is both dangerous and beautiful, Clara struggles with a shocking revelation: Someone she loves will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

In this compelling sequel to Unearthly, Cynthia Hand captures the joy of first love, the anguish of loss, and the confusion of becoming who you are.

When Unearthly was first released earlier in the year, I almost didn't read it. I had read a few disappointing angel-themed novels... and I had doubts that Unearthly would be any better. (And okay, I'm still not a huge fan of the cover. It's one of those where it looks better in person.) However, after reading several positive reviews for the book, I decided to buy myself a copy... and I was so glad I did! (You can read my Unearthly review.) Suddenly, my interest for finding novels centered around angels was renewed and Unearthly was one of the novels which gave me hope for the genre. 

I'm really excited for the release of Hallowed! I'm looking forward to learning some more answers regarding Clara's heritage... and I'm sure my heart is going to be tugged into two opposite directions when it comes to Tucker and Christian. Let's hope we get to uncover some more secrets after that twist of an ending in Unearthly!

Author Video Spotlight: Lesley Livingston on "Once Every Never"

Earlier in the summer, Lesley Livington's Once Every Never was released, much to my delight! It's the first in a new trilogy centered around a teenage girl, Clare, who finds herself mysteriously transported into the past after touching an ancient Celtic artifact.

Chatting away at the Royal Ontario Museum, the fabulous Canadian author goes behind-the-scenes and shares what went into writing Once Every Never, including research and her fascination with this time in history. 

Published by Penguin Canada, Once Every Never is available in bookstores across Canada... and American friends, you can find the book through amazon.com.

Enjoy!

Clarinet Reid is a pretty typical teenager. On the surface. She’s smart, but a bit of slacker; outgoing, but just a little insecure; not exactly a mischief-maker… but trouble tends to find her wherever she goes. Also? She unwittingly carries a centuries-old Druid Blood Curse running through her veins.

Now, with a single thoughtless act, what started off as the Summer Vacation in Dullsville suddenly spirals into a deadly race to find a stolen artifact, avert an explosive catastrophe, save a Celtic warrior princess, right a dreadful wrong that happened centuries before Clare was even born, and if there’s still time—literally—maybe even get a date.

This is the kind of adventure that happens to a girl once every… never.

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Catching Jordan
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Release Date: December 1, 2011 (paperback)
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 288
Source: Bought

Overall: 5 Stars

Summary:

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though- she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line? 

My Thoughts:

Catching Jordan took me completely by surprise. I admit, I was going to initially give this novel a pass because I thought it sounded rather predictable and I was kind of skeptical of a female character being a football captain… but it would have been a complete and utter mistake if I hadn’t read this novel! Miranda Kenneally has truly written a wonderful debut novel that’s both hilarious and heart-warming.

From the fun storytelling to the awesome characters, I simply adored everything about Catching Jordan! I’m not much of a football fan, but Jordan’s love for the game and her aspirations to play at the college level were completely infectious. It didn’t matter that when Jordan was calling out plays, I really had no idea what she was talking about – what I loved was her passion for the game. I could imagine her on the field shouting to her team members to get their heads in the game and throwing with precision as quarterback. She’s grown up always being one of the boys and her close friendships with some of her fellow players were easy-going and filled with playful banter. 

When Ty arrived onto the scene and Jordan finds herself crushing hard for the very time, your heart completely reaches out to her vulnerability. She’s clueless and scared of putting herself out there, especially when she feels her only focus should be securing her spot on a football team in college. I just really liked how Jordan was such a down-to-earth girl, eating at her heart’s content, caring about the well-being of her friends… and having a fun, snarky personality which didn’t back down to anyone. You would be lucky to have a friend like Jordan. 

And can I just briefly mention how much I loved Sam Henry, Jordan’s best friend? He was so sweet and hilarious… and there was one scene in the novel with him where I had to set the book down for a moment because I was laughing too hard to continue reading. Like any boy, he was prone to making a few stupid mistakes though… but I still cared about him a lot even then. 

Catching Jordan has easily become one of new favourite contemporary novels! I’m quite positive that I must have had a ridiculous grin on my face as I read the novel, giggling at the jokes and only frowning when more tender moments came up. And for all its comedic moments, the novels still plays on your misconceptions about girls playing football and allows readers to reflect on the possibility of their own dreams. You don’t need to love football in order to completely find yourself falling for this book! I’m definitely going to be finding myself reading Miranda Kenneally’s Catching Jordan over and over again in the future.

In My Mailbox (54)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week. 

This week I got...

Received for Review:

• ARC of The Gathering Storm (The Katerina Trilogy #1) by Robin Bridges
• ARC of The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe 

Thanks so much to Hachette Book Group Canada and Random House Canada for sending these novels for review!   

Bought:

• After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel 
• Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare  ~ my review
  
• Darkness Unbound (Dark Angels #1) by Keri Arthur 
• Shift (Shade #2) by Jeri Smith-Ready 
• Unleashed (Wolf Springs Chronicles #1) by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié

Unsurprisingly, I found myself at Chapters once again because they were having a sale on all their hardcover novels, so how could I resist? And I just had to buy a finished copy of Clockwork Prince too! I also remembered to buy Shift this week and can't wait to see more of Zach.

Unleashed was more of an impulse buy when I saw it at Costco because the cover drew me in and the plot description sounded like it could be good. (Also, I'm hoping to give another chance to the authors after the horrible way they ended their Wicked series....)

What about YOU? Any new reads/finds this week?

And as always... Happy Reading!

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Release Date: December 6, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pages: 528
Source: ARC provided by publisher 

Overall: 5 Stars

Summary:

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.  

My Thoughts: 

Clockwork Prince was easily one of my most anticipated novels of the year, and usually that may have me nervous to see if it will meet my high expectations, but knowing Cassandra Clare had written it, there were no worries that I wouldn’t fall in love with the novel. Cassandra Clare never fails to amaze me with gorgeous, addictive writing which instantly sweeps you away into another world… and Clockwork Prince was no exception! Rich in beautiful descriptions of Victorian England, readers were once again transported back to a time so unlike our own. 

Tensions are running high in this second installment of the Infernal Devices trilogy, with our much-loved characters facing new and old foes that would do anything to ensure power lies solely in their hands. Following shortly after the events in Clockwork Angel, Charlotte's leadership at the London Institute is called into question while Tessa and her Shadowhunter friends continue to search for the whereabouts of the sinister Magister. Once again, Tessa proved to be strong individual, pushing forth for answers regarding her heritage and even taking steps to learn self defence in order to protect herself. 

My heart is still completely torn between Will and Jem, and I don't envy the difficult situation Tessa has found herself in – not when some form of heartbreak is imminent. She can’t help being drawn to both of the handsome boys, especially when both claim a spot in her heart in different ways. Cassandra Clare wreaked havoc on my heart, allowing us to see more facets of Will and Jem’s personalities... and completely bringing me to a loss in finding a way to possibly side with only one of them in this memorable love triangle. Jem’s friendship and kindness mean the world to Tessa, but while Will may have tried to push her away before, there’s no denying their attraction for another. There’s more to Will’s enigmatic behaviour though, and in Clockwork Prince, we finally learn some of the secrets which Will has been hiding from everyone for so long. I found myself constantly wavering between both of the boys… and I loved how Cassandra Clare really developed the characters in this novel. 

When I finished reading Clockwork Prince, I was left shocked and numb, attempting to grasp some sort of reassurance to myself that everything would eventually work itself out in the end. Cassandra Clare relentlessly plays with your emotions in her novels, bringing both her readers and characters to their breaking points. Filled with love, action, excitement and betrayal, Clockwork Prince will undoubtedly leave readers shaken in emotional turmoil as they finish the final pages. The release of the final novel in the trilogy, Clockwork Princess, cannot come soon enough. I'm almost frightened to learn what will happen! 

Thanks so much to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing this review copy!

Cover Reveal! Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

I'm so excited to be one of several bloggers revealing the US cover today for Jessica Shirvington's Embrace as part of the EMBRACE Cover Reveal Blog Tour!

 Release Date: March 1, 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Summary (jacket flap version): 

It starts with a whisper.

            “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Strange dreams leave her with very real injuries and there’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms. The guy she thought she could fall in love with just told her he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her. And she keeps hearing a distant fluttering of wings.

Violet Eden is having a very bad 17th birthday.

But if angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden… 

Embrace is the first novel in the Violet Eden Chapters and centers around an alluring world where angels and Grigori exist among humans. Don't you just love the cover? I love the purple and the cool effect where it appears Violet has angel wings extending from her back!

Below, you can watch the behind-the-scenes footage of the Embrace cover shoot which also includes interviews with the Sourcebooks Fire senior editor, cover designer, photographer, and model as they takes us through what it takes to get such a gorgeous cover!

And don't forget to check out both the Embrace the Book Series facebook page and www.embracetheseries.com, the official US website for the series, if you have a chance! You'll also be able to find a fuller book description, an author Q&A with Jessica Shirvington, teaser chapters and more on the official website!
  

Spotted! Cover of The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

The cover for The Immortal Rules, the first novel in the Blood of Eden series, by Julie Kagawa was officially revealed at MTV's Hollywood Crush this morning!

Release Date: April 24, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 

Summary (from Goodreads): 

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

I'm rather hesitant to start any new series centering around vampires these days... but how can I resist when it's written by Julie Kagawa, one of my favourite authors? I'm very excited to read The Immortal Rules for its fresh and dark vampire premise!

What do you think of the cover? I really do love how it captures the gritty side of vampirism perfectly and the blood dripping from her eye is creepy in a very cool way. 

Waiting on Wednesday (74) and Book Trailer - The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Release Date: January 10, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Summary (from Goodreads):

St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?

Robin Bridge's debut novel The Gathering Storm, the first novel in the Katerina Trilogy, sounds absolutely fantastic! A necromancer who must hide her powerful abilities in the midst of Russian royalty in a court where foul magic seems to be amok as all the while, two young men playing with our heroine's heart. Everything sounds great! I'm definitely looking forward to the The Gathering Storm!

And I hope you have a chance to check out the recently released book trailer for the novel, which I've also included below. If you weren't intrigued by The Gathering Storm before, I have a feeling you will be afterwards! 
 

In My Mailbox (53)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we share any new books or goodies we bought, received, borrowed, etc. during the week. 

This week I got...

Bought:

• Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
• This Dark Endeavour: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel
• Darker Still (Magic Most Foul #1) by Leanna Renee Hieber
• Dead on the Delta (Annabelle Lee #1) by Stacey Jay
• Pale Demon (The Hollows #9) by Kim Harrison 

I wasn't going to go to Chapters this week, but I found myself at the mall anyways, so I just couldn't resist going to the bookstore and buying some more books. I've heard lots of great praise for This Dark Endeavour, so I'm looking forward to reading it! And I managed to sneak in reading Pale Demon and Catching Jordan this week and really loved them both!

And it wasn't until later in the week that I realized I had completely forgotten to buy Jeri Smith-Ready's Shift. Oops! Next time I'm at Chapters, I'll have to buy it for sure!

Anyways, I have to write two tests tomorrow, so I'll be studying all day today... sadly. 

What about YOU? Any new reads/finds this week?

And as always... Happy Reading!

December Release Picks

Can you believe it's already December? Because I sure can't! There aren't as many books released this month which I'm excited to read because it seems like everything has been pushed to the beginning of 2012...

In any case, here are this month's releases that I'm most looking forward to checking out! Once again, I've matched my Chapters/Indigo list. I usually pick ten novels, but this month, I've selected nine instead. If you'd like to know what other novels will be releasing this month, you can find more on my Upcoming Releases page as usual.  

December 1

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally ~ Goodreads / Chapters/Indigo

December 5

Winter Town by Stephen Emond ~ Goodreads / Chapters/Indigo

December 6

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare ~ Goodreads / Chapters/Indigo

December 13

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey ~ Goodreads / Chapters/Indigo

December 27

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes ~ Goodreads / Chapters/Indigo

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler ~ Goodreads / Chapters/Indigo 

*****

What books are you most excited to read in December? Do you agree or disagree with some of my choices?