Waiting on Wednesday (20)

Title: The Vicious Deep (The Vicious Deep #1)
Author: Zoraida Córdova
Release Date: May 1st, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 384
Edition: Hardcover
Goodreads: Link
Pre-order: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Set against the backdrop of a Coney Island summer comes The Vicious Deep, the story of sixteen year old Tristan Hart whose life is turned upside down when the mermaids make an unscheduled return to land in search of their new king.

When a sudden storm pulls Tristan from lifeguard duty into a deadly riptide, he discovers what he really is—a prince of the Sea Court. Turns out, his girlfriend hopping and talents as a swimmer aren’t caused by his teenage prime hormones after all.

In this modern Arthurian tale with a twist, when all a guy wants to do is get The Girl and enjoy the freak show that is a Coney Island summer, Tristan has to fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity, if he still wants it, as he’s caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.
--from goodreads

This sounds so dark and mysterious, I love it! Plus: male protagonist!

Happy Reading!

"Imagine there was a cure, but finding it would cost you everything."

Title: Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Release Date: January 3rd, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan)
Pages: 390
Edition: Hardcover
Goodreads: Link

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

I was very surprised by Cinder, considering how much I liked it!

I want to go ahead and start with the things I didn't like really quick, because it's not much! One being almost all of the plot points? I totally guessed from the beginning. And not just because it's a Cinderella retelling but the plot points that had to do with the entire civilization and the Lunar people and Cinder herself; totally called it. So that did take a bit of the "dramatic" effect off all the big reveals which is no fun for me! But simultaneously, it doesn't detach from the experience and I was just as happy reading about Cinder getting there even though I knew where she was going. And another thing is: the villain.

I didn't think Levana was a very fleshed-out villain, and you guys know I LOVE my villains to be realistic and have ulterior motives and be very conniving and tricky. And yeah, I get it: world domination sounds awesome. But I wanted to know more about her and how she came to be the way she is (an amazing example of a wonderfully constructed villain is Warner from Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi) throughout the story. ON THE OTHER HAND,

Every other character was so much fun and awesome to read about! Cinder was strong and independent and my heart broke for her on so many levels every time she'd find out another thing she didn't want for herself or did want and couldn't have. She makes some tough decisions and I applaud her for them! Each side character is fleshed out perfectly from Ido, who brought on some comedic relief when needed and Dr.Erland, who is one of the most complex characters in this book and I loved reading about him!

As for plot; it read a lot more like a Fantasy than a Sci-Fi Dystopian to me but maybe that's just because of the whole idea of it being turned into sectors and the kind of magic element incorporated into the story with the Lunar people. Dr.Erland explains it in his scientific way but I don't really buy it; that's magic! And I didn't mind at all; because you guys know I love Fantasy like WHOA. Meyer definitely packs the punches when it comes to high stakes and sacrifices on both Cinder AND Kai's part, which I appreciated. They both had a lot to lose.

BONUS FACTOR? Totally the whole plague aspect of the novel. The entire civilization in which Cinder lives is being killed by a disease called Letumosis and no one has any idea how the hell they're going to fix this. Maybe it's the fact i'm in the Medical Academy at my school but plague books always fascinate me. The whole progession of the disease is strange and curious and I was just as desperate at times (and for certain people) to find a cure as well!

As for the romance; Kai and Cinder don't disappoint! Your heart's going to be breaking because it is not a steady road for these two! There's a lot of secrets (Cinder's fault or otherwise) being kept between these two and it just becomes so much that everything seems to fall apart at times. But they were sweet together and i'm excited to see where she's going with this because that ending! Gah!

Happy Reading!

The Fault In Our Stars Trailer

No IMM today BUT LOOK AT THIS:

SO good, right? I absolutely love Book Trailers and this is one is definitely one of my favorites!

YA WATCH (12/11-1/5)

COVER NEWS:

Title: Chosen Ones
Author: Tiffany Truitt
Release Date: April 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Pages: --
Edition: Hardcover
Goodreads: Link
Note: This sounds pretty awesome!

Sixteen-year-old Tess lives in a compound in what was once the Western United States, now decimated after a devastating fourth World War. But long before that, life as we knew it had been irrevocably changed, as women mysteriously lost the ability to bring forth life. Faced with the extinction of the human race, the government began the Council of Creators, meant to search out alternative methods of creating life. The resulting artificial human beings, or Chosen Ones, were extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.

Life is bleak, but uncomplicated for Tess as she follows the rigid rules of her dystopian society, until the day she begins work at Templeton, the training facility for newly created Chosen Ones. There, she meets James, a Chosen One whose odd love of music and reading rivals only her own. The attraction between the two is immediate in its intensity—and overwhelming in its danger.

But there is more to the goings-on at Templeton than Tess ever knew, and as the veil is lifted from her eyes, she uncovers a dark underground movement bent not on taking down the Chosen Ones, but the Council itself. Will Tess be able to stand up to those who would oppress her, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?

Title: The Girl In The Clockwork Collar
Author: Kady Cross
Release Date: May 22nd, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 304
Edition: Hardcover
Goodreads: Link
Note: I really liked The Girl In The Steel Corset so i'm excited for part two!

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.

They changed the covers of Holly Black's Curseworkers Trilogy and they are so awesome! They're very simply and classic and AWESOME.

On the left, you see the cover that was released for Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe a week or two ago. But as you can see, it's pretty awful! So the publisher took in all of the comments and decided to redesign the cover! And now it's SO PRETTY. I like the pink and the goggles and the girl! 

Title: If I Lie
Author: Corrine Jackson
Release Date: August 23rd, 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 288
Edition: Hardcover
Goodreads: Link
Note: Very excited for this one!

A powerful debut novel about the gray space between truth and perception.

Quinn’s done the unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends. Because Carey’s not just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in their small, military town.

Quinn could clear her name, but that would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise. 

DEALS: 

HarperCollins Publishers announced today that it has preempted rights to a three-book middle-grade series, House of Secrets by iconic Hollywood director and producer Chris Columbus, co-authored by acclaimed young adult novelist Ned Vizzini. This is Columbus's debut series for young readers with the first book slated for global publication in Spring 2013. 

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Ilsa Bick's WHITE SPACE, pitched as The Matrix meets Inkheart, about a seventeen-year-old girl who jumps between the lines of books and into the white space where realities are created and destroyed - but who may herself be nothing more than a character written into being from an alternative universe, to Egmont, in a two-book deal, by Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (NA).

MOVIE NEWS:
all news comes from Page To Premiere

Independent financier and production company Kerry, Kimmel and Pollack has acquired rights to Keary Taylor's novel "Eden," a dystopian thriller described as a cross between "The Hunger Games" and "The Terminator." Story follows Eve, a teenage girl living in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is on the brink of extinction and robots that were created to serve humans have turned against them. As Eve struggles to fight the Fallen and help her friends find safety, she must choose between a boy she has always trusted and one who holds the secrets to her past.

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Interesting news has been released via TheFabLife today regarding the Mortal Instruments movie. The two leads were chosen around six months ago — Lily Collins as Clary, and Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace. So why haven’t we gotten any more casting news? Turns out there have been major script issues! Marlene King, screenwriter of the hit TV show Pretty Little Liars, was brought on for rewrites, and the script is awaiting approval from the studio. The original script was deemed ‘not close enough to the book.’

In the original script, the pivotal character later in the series, Magnus, was left out entirely. The warlock is important because he becomes the boyfriend of another central character, Alec. Cassandra Clare, author of the series, adds, “I feel like the whole twist with Jace and Clary and their relationship was really important and guides the next two books, and you can’t really take it out. It’s so taboo at the same time, but they’re just going with it. That’s what makes these books.” What would you have thought if they had left out Magnus? Are you happy with Lily and Jamie as Clary and Jace?

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The adaptation of Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison will be directed by Kat Coiro, according to Deadline. The story is about a narcissistic high school student named Bridget, who dies in a car crash and must confront all the people she belittled, or was mean to, to in a ‘limbo.’ This collection of people will ultimately decide if she goes to heaven or hell. The director says, “Here Lies Bridget is a profound coming of age story wrapped in the glossy packaging of a teen comedy -– think an edgy It’s A Wonderful Life meets Mean Girls.” The script was written by Leah Rachel, and casting is underway.

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"Eden" will be produced by Mark Morgan ("The Twilight Saga"), Kami Garcia (the "Beautiful Creatures" series), Brett Hudson ("Fast Flash to Bang Time") and Michael Pollack ("Black Forest").“Infinity Ring,” a seven-book series on time travel with an online game component, will begin its rollout in September, the publisher plans to announce officially on Tuesday. The first book, “A Mutiny in Time,” will be written by James Dashner, the best-selling author of “The Maze Runner.” Scholastic, the American publisher of the Harry Potter novels, is set to introduce another major successor to that blockbuster franchise by J. K. Rowling.

TRAILERS:

SNEAK PEEKS:

Rae Carson, in an interview with the lovely Mundie Moms, revealed the flap summary of Crown Of Embers, book two in the Girl Of Fire and Thorns Trilogy!

Hero, foreigner, queen. At the age of 17, Elisa is all three. And all three draw enemies.Faced with assassins, court politics, and the threat of civil war, Elisa despairs of being the ruler her people need, for she is too young, she thinks. Too inexperienced. Her only hope is the Godstone. She has no choice but to master its power once and for all.Accompanied by a one-eyed warrior, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa takes a leap of faith and crosses an ocean in search of the ultimate source of the Godstone’s power.But her faith has always had a price, and doing the right thing might mean giving up the power she desperately needs. And it might mean giving up the man she desperately loves.

And then Cassandra Clare posted her fair share of teasers these past weeks for YA Tourney so here's the Clockwork Princess One:

And the gold of her ruined wedding dress.

And then the City of Lost Souls One:

Clary looked at Alec steadily. She remembered what Isabelle had told her earlier, about knowing whether Jace was dead or not, and what she had said back. “Alec,” she said. “Don’t you feel anything?”
Alec’s eyes flew open, their blue darkening, and for a moment, Clary remembered the boy who had hated her when she first arrived at the Institute, the boy with bitten nails and holes in his sweaters and a chip on his shoulder that seemed immovable. “I know you’re upset, Clary,” he said, his voice sharp, “but if you’re suggesting that Iz and I care less about Jace than you do —”
“I’m not,” Clary said. “I’m talking about your parabatai connection.”

Happy Reading!

"Why are you staring at me?"

Title: Switched
Author: Amanda Hocking
Release Date: January 3rd, 2012
Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin
Pages: 336
Edition: Paperback
Goodreads: Link
Buy: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.

Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit.

Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

So this book was not a win for me. List? YES LIST TIME:

1. Wendy was a pretty dull heroine. She never really had a personality, was constantly putting herself down or saying things were her fault, and she didn't really do anything to move forward the plot.

2. I thought the whole idea of the Trylle was pretty frigging awesome and we hardly got any of it! I don't really understand what the plot of this was, considering there was a lot of: THERE IS DANGER BUT SECRET DANGER. No one really told Wendy anything and therefore, *we* didn't know anything. At all. And where's the action? I was expecting some action from how dangerous the bad guys sounded.

3. The instalove in this book! From page 15, I knew it would be the downfall. Wendy has JUST met Finn formally after he'd intense creepy stared at her for a week. THEN he meets her up at a dance and asks her a dance and THEN is a TOTAL DOUCHE. Plus, he sounds completely insane in the beginning. And she says this to herself and she's like: but I really, really like him. WUT? Their entire relationship was based on something that I never saw in the first place. They didn't have any chemistry or spark; they were just tossed together and I didn't like it at all.

4. Speaking of Finn, he was much like Wendy on the personality scale. I can see he's very protective and pushy and likes to foreshadow lots of stuff and never explain it, but I would've liked some more information. ON THE OTHER HAND...

4. Rhys, will you marry me? This boy is the saving grace of this book! He was funny and charming and completely adorable. I mean, if you're going to for someone you can't have, pick the not-creepy, not-pushy boy! He was so sweet and awesome to Wendy and they had SO much chemistry!

5. By the end of the novel, we really don't know anything. We don't know why the bad guys want Wendy, what's so special about her, and if she's even as awesome as everyone keeps reminding her she is! And speaking of that ending, what she did was TOTALLY wrong and why was she going all about "I don't like using my powers like that" and THEN USES HER POWERS LIKE THAT.

Overall, I was very sad I didn't enjoy this book since I've heard SUCH good things about it but definitely not my cup of tea.

Happy Reading!