Dec 28, 2012

Top 10 of 2012: Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2013!

Top 10 of 2012 is hosted by Lisa @ A Life Bound By Books, Rachel @ Fiktshun, Jessica @ Confessions of a Bookaholic, Jaime @ Two Chicks on Books & Mindy @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.


This event starts on Monday December 24th & ends (today) on Friday December 28th.


So, it's the last day of this event :( & today's theme is Books We're Looking Forward to in 2013. I have a lot of books I can't wait for & I'm dying to get my hands on, so the list below could go on & on, but most of these would be some of my most anticipated 2013 sequels.
 
 

So, My Top 10 Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2013 are:

 

#1 - The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

 
Why I'm waiting for this? Easy answer, it's Neil Gaiman, my #1 fav author and it sounds like another brilliant book, so of course he got the place of my most anticipated book!
 
Expected Publication: June 2013
 
Summary:
 
THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE is a fable that reshapes modern fantasy: moving, terrifying and elegiac - as pure as a dream, as delicate as a butterfly's wing, as dangerous as a knife in the dark, from storytelling genius Neil Gaiman.
It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from beyond the world are on the loose, and it will take everything our narrator has just to stay alive: there is primal horror here, and menace unleashed - within his family and from the forces that have gathered to destroy it.

His only defense is three women, on a farm at the end of the lane. The youngest of them claims that her duckpond is an ocean. The oldest can remember the Big Bang.
 
 
 

#2 - The Daylight War (Demon Cycle #3) by Peter V. Brett

 

Why I'm waiting for this? Because the Demon Cycle is one of my most fav epic fantasy series ever! That's why! And I've been waiting for this one for years now, it was actually on my list last year, but it got postponed until 2013, and now we have both cover (actually covers, this time they did different covers for UK & USA, both so gorgeous, if I had to choose I wouldn't know which one to choose, but since I own the UK editions, I'll be buying the one with the blue dress) & description, and if you're a fan of adult epic fantasy, you have to read the series!!! Actually, this one should share the #1 place or be on it, because it's definitely my most anticipated book for 2013, but I got approved galley for the US edition (the cover with the red dress) & I was literally jumping around the room from joy & screaming for a while lol & then I barely managed not to start reading it right away, because I wanted to read it in 2013, because I know it will be epic, and lol I forgot myself here, but I do that when I'm gushing about this series, and now you know what I'll be reading first in 2013 - I'll be re-reading The Painted Man & The Desert Spear, as well as the 2 novellas, and then continuing with The Daylight War!!! I can't wait, I'm so happy I don't have to wait for it to be published!!! 
 
Ok, so I wasn't going to put the summary, because it's huge, but I found a shorter one, that doesn't contain lots of spoilers like the detailed one. 
 
Expected Publication: February 2013
 
Summary:
 
Continuing the impressive debut fantasy series from author Peter V. Brett, The Daylight War is book three of the Demon Cycle, pulling the reader into a world of demons, darkness and heroes.

Humanity is fighting back. Although the night still belongs to the demons that arise as the sun sets, new wards and weapons are giving those willing to fight in the darkness a chance to retaliate against their core-spawned enemies.

But, as humanity is about to learn, not all monsters are confined to the dark.

Civil war ravages the north and south, battles fought between those who should be working together. It is up to Arlen – the Painted Man – and Jardir – the self-proclaimed Shar’Dama Ka, the Deliverer – to put aside their differences and bring their people to terms if they are to have any chance of saving their civilisation from demon-rule.
 


#3 - Chasing the Prophecy (Beyonders #3) by Brandon Mull


Why? Because the Beyonders series is amazing, one of my fav MG fantasy series, I loved A World Without Heroes, I loved even more Seeds of Rebellion & now I'm dying to see how it will end in the last book! There's a good possibility I'll re-read the first 2 books again before reading Chasing the Prophecy

Expected Publication: March 2013

Summary:

The #1 New York Times bestselling Beyonders fantasy trilogy comes to a stunning and epic conclusion. 

Jason and Rachel were not born in Lyrian. They did not grow up in Lyrian. But after all of the battles and losses, the triumphs and adventures, and most of all, the friendships forged in this fantastical world, Lyrian has become home to them in a way they never could have imagined. And so, armed now with the prophecy of a dying oracle, they have gone on their separate quests - each surrounded by brave and powerful allies - knowing that the chance for success is slim. But Jason and Rachel are ready at last to become the heroes Lyrian needs, no matter the cost.


#4 - With All My Soul (Soul Screamers #7) by Rachel Vincent


Why? No explanation here, if you've read the series, you know why :D And probably it's on your list, too ^_^

Expected Publication: March 2013

Summary:

What does it mean when your school is voted the most dangerous in America?

It's time to kick some hellion butt...

After not really surviving her junior year (after all, she did die), Kaylee Cavanaugh has vowed to take back her school from the hellions causing all the trouble. She's going to the find a way to turn the incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity and the rest on each other. And so she–and her gang–make plans to protect her friends and finish this war, once and forever.

But then she meets Wrath. And Kaylee realizes that she's closer to the edge than she's ever been. Especially when one more person she loves is taken, Kaylee realizes she can't save everyone she loves without risking everything she has... 
 


#5 - Midnight Blue-Light Special (InCryptid #2) by Seanan McGuire


Why? Because Discount Armageddon was one of my fav reads this year, I just loved everything about it, and I'm dying to see what's next for Verity & everyone around her! I will probably re-read Discount Armageddon, too, it was that awesome & really hilarious! Also, there are spoilers below for the first book if you haven't read it, so if you're planning to, don't read this summary or if you'd like to check out what DA was about, do that HERE!

Expected Publication: March 2013

Summary:  

Cryptid, noun:
1. Any creature whose existence has been suggested but not proven scientifically. Term officially coined by cryptozoologist John E. Wall in 1983.
2. That thing that's getting ready to eat your head.
3. See also: "monster."


The Price family has spent generations studying the monsters of the world, working to protect them from humanity - and humanity from them. Enter Verity Price. Despite being trained from birth as a cryptozoologist, she'd rather dance a tango than tangle with a demon, and when her work with the cryptid community took her to Manhattan, she thought she would finally be free to pursue competition-level dance in earnest. It didn't quite work out that way...

But now, with the snake cult that was killing virgins all over Manhattan finally taken care of, Verity is ready to settle down for some serious ballroom dancing — until her on-again, off-again, semi-boyfriend Dominic De Luca, a member of the monster-hunting Covenant of St. George, informs her that the Covenant is on their way to assess the city's readiness for a cryptid purge. With everything and everyone she loves on the line, there's no way Verity can take that lying down.

Alliances will be tested, allies will be questioned, lives will be lost, and the talking mice in Verity's apartment will immortalize everything as holy writ - assuming there's anyone left standing when all is said and done. It's a midnight blue-light special, and the sale of the day is on betrayal, deceit...and carnage.


#6 - The Outside (The Hallowed Ones #2) by Laura Bickle


Why? Because The Hallowed Ones was one of the best books I read this year, I can't recommend it enough to everyone, and I'm so happy there will be sequel, and I'm dying to read it. No description or cover, only the title so far, but definitely one of my most anticipated reads next year!

Expected Publication: Fall 2013  


#7 - Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins


Why? Does it need explanation? Probably not! This is the 2nd book that was on my list last year, and got postponed for 2013! I can't wait, loved the first 2 books & I had a thing for Josh since the 1st book, so I can't wait to read his & Isla's story & I'm so happy it will be set in Paris again! Still no cover, but at least we got a description :)

Expected Publication: May 2013

Summary:

Falling in love in the world’s most romantic city is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year at the School of America in Paris, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to deal with the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever. Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.    


#8 - The Archived (The Archived #1) by Victoria Schwab


Why? First because I loved Victoria Schwab's The Near Witch, I loved the prequel novella The Ash-Born Boy even more, and I absolutely love her writing style the most, that's why! And this book sounds freaking awesome!!!

Expected Publication: January 2013

Summary:

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous-it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.
 


#9 - The Falconer (The Falconer #1) by Elizabeth May


Why? Ok, so this is the only book on my list from an author I haven't tried, and I've been waiting for it since last year when I came across the author's gif/pic description on Goodreads HERE, and it looked awesome. Now we have a description, the cover should be revealed some time in January (that's what Elizabeth said - can't wait) & it sounds awesome & kickass & totally like my kind of book! I've never been a fan of faery books, but I think this one I'll love :D

Expected Publication: May 2013

Summary:

 Lady Aileana Kameron can sing, paint prettily, and murder the fae as easily as dancing a waltz. But how far is she prepared to go for vengeance?

Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844
18 year old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined to a life carefully planned around Edinburgh's social events - right up until a faery kills her mother.

Now it's the 1844 winter season. Between a seeming endless number of parties, Aileana slaughters faeries in secret. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, every night she sheds her aristocratic facade and goes hunting. She's determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city's many dark alleyways.

But she never even considered that she might become attracted to one. To the magnetic Kiaran MacKay, the faery who trained her to kill his own kind. Nor is she at all prepared for the revelation he's going to bring. Because Midwinter is approaching, and with it an eclipse that has the ability to unlock a Fae prison and begin the Wild Hunt.

A battle looms, and Aileana is going to have to decide how much she's willing to lose - and just how far she'll go to avenge her mother's murder.


#10 - Of Triton (Of Poseidon #2) by Anna Banks


Why? Because I loved Of Poseidon, it was really fun & I can't wait to see what the author imagined next :) Also, there are spoilers below if you haven't read Of Poseidon, although it wasn't that hard to predict where it was going, the journey was really entertaining :)

Expected Publication: May 2013

Summary:

In this sequel to Of Poseidon, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms — Poseidon and Triton — against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself — and her Gift — to save a people she’s never known?


So, what are your most anticipated books of 2013?

Leave me your links!

Dec 27, 2012

Top 10 of 2012: Best Book Boyfriends of 2012!

Top 10 of 2012 is hosted by Lisa @ A Life Bound By Books, Rachel @ Fiktshun, Jessica @ Confessions of a Bookaholic, Jaime @ Two Chicks on Books & Mindy @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.


This event starts on Monday December 24th & ends on Friday December 28th.


Today's theme is Best Book Boyfriends of 2012, but only from books that we read in 2012 & were published in 2012. 
 
So, there's my problem. I had troubles with this theme last year, because I rarely crush on characters, but since it wasn't only for books published in 2011, it was easier last year, but this year I can't even use some of the few crushes I have since the books were published before 2012, although I read them this year, so most of my list will be with boys/guys I liked them a lot, and although I'm not crushing on them, I loved them as a couple or something like that ;)
 
 

So, My Top 10 Book Boyfriends of 2012 are:



 ~ Tod Hudson (Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent) - yeah, Tod's one of the few crushes I can use on my list, no explanation necessary here.
 

~ Loki (Amanda Hocking's Trylle series) - ok, so someone might think that I cheat here, but I don't agree, since although these books were for the first time published in 201o I think, they were published this year from St. Martin's Griffin & each had a bonus story, and those bonus stories only made me love the books & Loki even more & to be honest, Loki is the main reason why I love the trilogy, and the bonus stories were the reason I gave 2 of the books a half rating higher then I would've without the bonus stories, and yeah, he's not actually in Switched, but he was in the bonus story in Switched, so Loki's the 2nd of the crushes I have on my list, he's just so funny & charming & amazing! 

 
~ Beck (Forgiven by Jana Oliver) - ok, so I had a little crush on Beck since l read Forsaken last year, so I guess he's my last crush on the list :)
 
~ Jake Hayes (What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor) - this one was one of my fav YA contemporary books this year, and I loved Jake & Samantha together, that's why he made on my list, he was great & I really liked him :)

 
~ Danny Cummings (Breaking Lauren by Jordan Deen) - I guess Danny is what we would call the ultimate bad boy, but in the end he was also amazing character, and although I didn't have a crush on him, I think he was the thing that I loved the most about this book.
 
~ Alex (The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle) - I liked a lot Alex, he was such a great character & cool & sweet, so of course he had to make my list ;)
 
~ Fisher Kincaid (Call Me Wild by Robin Kaye) - I have a special place in my heart for the Kincaid family, as well as the other guys from Robin Kaye's Domestic Gods series, and I absolutely loved Fisher & Jessie as a couple, so of course he made my list ;)
 
~ Matt Bowers (At Last by Jill Shalvis) - Matt & Amy were another couple from adult contemporary romances this year that I absolutely loved, so Matt made my list, too :)
 
~ John Devlin (The Prophet by Amanda Stevens) - I've wanted for John & Amelia to be together since I read The Restorer last year, and yeah, although I wouldn't say I was crushing on him, I had a kind of a thing for him since then, he has that irresistible mystery around him, and although he wasn't in The Kingdom (although we could feel his presence) he was back for The Prophet, so yay for that, and of course, he's on my list :)
 
 
~ Rob (Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen) - and of course who can resist the charm of Rob a.k.a Robin Hood :) Can't wait for the next book!  
 
 
 
So, what are your fav book boyfriends this year?

Leave me your links!

Dec 26, 2012

Top 10 of 2012: Best Debuts of 2012!

Top 10 of 2012 is hosted by Lisa @ A Life Bound By Books, Rachel @ Fiktshun, Jessica @ Confessions of a Bookaholic, Jaime @ Two Chicks on Books & Mindy @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads.


This event starts on Monday December 24th & ends on Friday December 28th.


Today's theme is our choice between several options, and although last year I did a list of best characters, this time I decided for something simple Best Debuts of 2012, and of course, only books that I read in 2012 & were debuts in 2012.
 
 

So, My Top 10 Debuts of 2012 are:


#1 - The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle

Although this isn't the author's first book, it is her YA debut, and it was absolutely amazing & yeah, I'll say it again creeptastic :D
 

#2 - The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers

 Amazing mystery & debut! I can't wait to read more from this author :)


#3 - Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson

 Another amazing debut that you won't be able to put down & I can't recommend it enough!


#4 - A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton

 A Witch in Winter was great & I fell in love with the trilogy. Yeah, ok, I still need to read the sequel (it's been sitting on my shelf unread for months now), so I've read only the first one, but still, I loved the story, the characters & the writing style, so I highly recommend it if you love witchy books!


#5 - Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

This book was so much fun, and I loved it. I loved the mythology & world the author has created, and although there weren't any surprises in it, I loved all the characters & I can't wait for the sequel!


#6 - Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

 From the moment I started Throne of Glass, I loved Celaena as a character, and that rarely happens. All the characters were likable, the story was really good, so overall, it was a great debut & the series has potential to become really amazing!


#7 - Croak by Gina Damico

 Another debut that was really fun, with lovable characters. I still haven't read the sequel, but I'm planning to :)


#8 - Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen

 I loved Scarlet, it was just so much fun & I loved this retelling of Robin Hood, and despite one character annoying the hell out of me (but not in a bad way) as well as the love triangle that wasn't mentioned in the description (sorry I'm still really irritated about that) I still loved the book & was hoping there will be a sequel & yeah, there will be :)


#9 - Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

 Seraphina - although it started slow, I didn't gave up, and in the end I really enjoyed it! I loved the world-buildng & the writing, I liked most of the characters, loved a few of them, and overall it was pretty good debut & I will definitely pick up the sequel :)


#10 - Like Moonlight at Low Tide by Nicole Quigley

 Like Moonlight at Low Tide is really good debut, one of those contemporary novels that stay with you after you've read them & you'll want to read them again!



So, what theme did you chose today?

Leave me your links!

"Waiting On" Wednesday #101: Midnight Blue-Light Special by Seanan McGuire!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
 
 
 
Midnight Blue-Light Special
(InCryptid, #2) 
by
Seanan McGuire

Publication date:
March 5th, 2013


Ok, so finally a description for this book is available, so I can put it as one of the books I'm dying to read in this meme, but if you haven't read Discount Armageddon, and you're planning to, then don't read the summary below because it has lots of spoilers about Discount Armageddon!


Cryptid, noun:
1. Any creature whose existence has been suggested but not proven scientifically. Term officially coined by cryptozoologist John E. Wall in 1983.
2. That thing that's getting ready to eat your head.
3. See also: "monster."
 
The Price family has spent generations studying the monsters of the world, working to protect them from humanity - and humanity from them. Enter Verity Price. Despite being trained from birth as a cryptozoologist, she'd rather dance a tango than tangle with a demon, and when her work with the cryptid community took her to Manhattan, she thought she would finally be free to pursue competition-level dance in earnest. It didn't quite work out that way...

But now, with the snake cult that was killing virgins all over Manhattan finally taken care of, Verity is ready to settle down for some serious ballroom dancing - until her on-again, off-again, semi-boyfriend Dominic De Luca, a member of the monster-hunting Covenant of St. George, informs her that the Covenant is on their way to assess the city's readiness for a cryptid purge. With everything and everyone she loves on the line, there's no way Verity can take that lying down.

Alliances will be tested, allies will be questioned, lives will be lost, and the talking mice in Verity's apartment will immortalize everything as holy writ - assuming there's anyone left standing when all is said and done. It's a midnight blue-light special, and the sale of the day is on betrayal, deceit...and carnage...



What are you waiting for this week?
Leave me your WoW links!