Upcoming Releases: March 2012

So many great books are coming out soon, I had to talk about a few of them. I couldn't possibly talk about all of them, so I decided to do it month by month. These are some of the March releases that are at the top of my to-read list, in chronological order. Let me know if I'm missing anything good.

7 March 2012
Grave Mercy, by R.L. LaFevers

Summary (from Goodreads):
Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

My Thoughts:
I've heard nothing but good things about this book. And it seems like exactly my type of book. I already know R.L. LaFevers' writing from her Theodosia books, but even as much as I liked those, I think I'm going to love Grave Mercy even more. The summary is so exciting, and I can't wait to plunge into Ismae's world. What could be awesomer than an assassin and "handmaiden to Death?" Read Small Review's cover deconstruction for seven more reasons I want to get my hands on Grave Mercy right now.

Summary (from Goodreads):
13 March 2012
The Savage Grace, by Bree Despain

Summary (from Goodreads):
A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle.

Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.

With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders.

The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion.

My Thoughts:
I read and enjoyed the first two books of the trilogy well enough (though now that I'm rereading it, I did sort of smash The Lost Saint in my review), and I am highly looking forward to the third book. I'm want to see the loose ends wrapped up, and the title The Savage Grace is intriguing...

27 March 2012
Peaceweaver, by Rebecca Barnhouse

Summary (from Goodreads):
This is historical fantasy at its best. Sixteen-year-old Hild has always been a favorite of her uncle, king of the Shylfings. So when she protects her cousin the crown prince from a murderous traitor, she expects the king to be grateful. Instead, she is unjustly accused of treachery herself.

As punishment, her uncle sends Hild far away to the heir of the enemy king, Beowulf, to try to weave peace between the two kingdoms. She must leave her home and everyone she loves. On the long and perilous journey, Hild soon discovers that fatigue and rough terrain are the least of her worries. Something is following her and her small band of guards—some kind of foul creature that tales say lurks in the fens. Will Hild have to face the monster? Or does it offer her the perfect chance to escape the destiny she never chose?

Rebecca Barnhouse's companion to The Coming of the Dragon is sure to appeal to younger fans of Tamora Pierce, Esther Friesner, and Shannon Hale.

My Thoughts:
I am really looking forward to Peaceweaver. In my review of the companion book, The Coming of the Dragon, Barnhouse's writing was best when she stuck out into her own story. Well this is a new, non-retelling story. And it centers on Hild! Also, read my cover review for three reasons why this cover is way awesomer than it first seems.

27 March 2012
A Breath of Eyre, by Eve Marie Mont

Summary (from Goodreads):
Emma Townsend has always believed in stories—the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates in her head. Perhaps it’s because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn’t come close to filling the void left by her mother’s death. And her only romantic prospect—apart from a crush on her English teacher—is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma’s confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre…

Reading of Jane’s isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane’s body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she’s never known—and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane’s story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own…

My Thoughts:
This book seems to be popping up a lot on various blogs, and each time I see it, I get more excited. This story seems so interesting, and I'd love to read about Emma's experiences dipping into Jane's shoes. The summary reminds me a little bit of Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu, which I loved. I don't know how similar the story will be, but I'm certainly intrigued.

27 March 2012
Goddess Interrupted, by Aimee Carter

Summary (from Goodreads):
Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

My Thoughts:
I really liked the first book, The Goddess Test (see my review), and I'd love to read more. I'm hoping a lot of the minor problems in The Goddess Test will be solved in the sequel. I'm ecited to see how Aimee Carter interprets Kate's journey (which is similar to Persephone's own) and how she incorporates more mythology.

What March releases are you excited for?

Book Trailer: Liesl and Po

I don't often post book trailers, but I saw this trailer for Liesl and Po this morning on Night Writer, and had to repost it. This trailer is awesome. It totally makes me want to read the book.  I'm reminded a bit of The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, but I believe Liesl and Po is a traditional text novel with illustrations rather than a half-text, half-illustrated one like Hugo Cabret. Has anyone read an ARC of Liesl and Po? Is it as amazing as this trailer makes me hope?

Liesl and Po will be released on October 4, 2011 (soon!).

Summary (from Goodreads):
Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable

Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a luminous and magnificent novel that glows with rare magic, ghostly wonders, and a true friendship that lights even the darkest of places.

What do you think?

November Releases

So many great books are coming out soon, I had to talk about a few of them. I couldn't possibly talk about all of them, so I decided to do it month by month. These are some of the November releases that are at the top of my to-read list, in chronological order. Let me know if I'm missing anything good.

1 November 2011
Crossed, by Ally Condie

Summary (from Goodreads):
In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

My Thoughts:
I am so excited for this release. I was excited for this release when I finished Matched back in April, and now I'm more than ready. I love Matched so much. I'm even rereading it as part of FOOF. I probably should have waited until October so that it'd be fresh in my mind when I read Crossed, but I'm going to be full up with books in October.

As for the cover, I really like most of it. I love the general design and the blue theme. I think the model is very pretty and I like that she's wearing the plainclothes of the Society. I like how it matches the cover of Matched, and the the R is backwards. But I agree with the general opinion that I've been reading, which is that the model's position is a little... off, somehow, and I think some of the shards of glass could have ben placed a little bit better.  Nonetheless, I cannot wait to read this!

8 November 2011
Little Women and Me, by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Summary (from Goodreads):
Emily is sick and tired of being a middle sister. So when she gets an assignment to describe what she'd change about a classic novel, Emily pounces on Little Women. After all, if she can't change things in her own family, maybe she can bring a little justice to the March sisters. (Kill off Beth? Have cute Laurie wind up with Amy instead of Jo? What was Louisa May Alcott thinking?!) But when Emily gets mysteriously transported into the world of the book, she discovers that righting fictional wrongs won't be easy. And after being immersed in a time and place so different from her own, it may be Emily-not the four March sisters-who undergoes the most surprising change of all. Lauren Baratz-Logsted's winning confection will appeal to fans of Little Women as well as anyone who enjoys a modern twist on an old favorite.

My Thoughts:
Small Review, one of my favorite blogs, reviewed Little Women and Me a few weeks ago, and it sounds like the kind of book I'd love. I always love retellings, and this particular one seems like a lot of fun. I'm not sure I'm going to love it enough to pre-order it, but I'd like to read it once it comes out.

8 November 2011
Inheritance, by Christopher Paolini

Summary (from Goodreads):
Not so very long ago, Eragon Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider, was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

This is the much-anticipated, astonishing conclusion to the worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.

My Thoughts:
I really like the Inheritance cycle (also known as the Eragon books), so naturally I'm looking forward to the conclusion. I'm not sure I remember enough of Brisingr (the previous book) to read Inheritance right away, but don't really want to reread all of the previous books, ranging from 500 - 800 pages each. I'm hoping there's a summary in the beginning of Inheritance that sums up the parts I'll need to know. I remember all of the big plot points, it's just the smaller ones I'm less certain about, but I'm most likely going to dive straight into Inheritance anyway.



Are there any November Releases you're excited about?

News from Scott Westerfeld

The Leviathan Trilogy, by Scott Westerfeld
Click for a larger image

As I've mentioned several times, I am super excited for the release of Goliath, the third book of the Leviathan trilogy, coming out on September 20. Leviathan and Behemoth, the first two books in the trilogy are fantastic. And new Behemoth, the second book in the trilogy, is coming out in paperback. If you haven't read this series, you should. It is fantastic.

And as if this wasn't news enough, Scott Westerfeld also announced today a series of graphic novels based on the Uglies series which will be published starting in May 2012. Here is a sample illustration from the first volume.

Read more on Scott's blog, Westerblog.

August Releases

So many great books are coming out soon, I had to talk about a few of them. I couldn't possibly talk about all of them, so I decided to do it month by month. These are some of the August releases that are at the top of my to-read list, in chronological order. Let me know if I'm missing any.

By the way, I really should have talked about August new releases sooner, but I don't really have too many TBRs coming out in August. I'd love to hear about some that you're excited about.


1 August
Across the Great Barrier, by Patricia C. Wrede

Summary (from Goodreads): 
Eff is an unlucky thirteenth child - her twin brother, Lan, is a powerful seventh son of a seventh son. And yet, Eff is the one who saved the day for the settlements west of the Great Barrier. Her unique ways of doing magic and seeing the world, and her fascination with the magical creatures and land in the Great Plains push Eff to work toward joining an expedition heading west. But things are changing on the frontier.

There are new professors of magic for Eff and Lan to learn to work with. There's tension between William and his father. And there are new threats on the frontier and at home. To help, Eff must travel beyond the Barrier, and come to terms with her magical abilities—and those of her brother, to stop the newest threat encroaching on the settlers.

With wit, magic, and a touch of good pioneer sense, Patricia C. Wrede weaves a fantastic tale of the very wild west.

My Thoughts:
I read the first book in Patricia C. Wrede's Frontier Magic series, Thirteenth Child, in August last year, and although it wasn't my favorite Wrede book, I liked it, and I'm excited for the sequel. If I have time, I want to reread Thirteenth Child before I read Across the Great Barrier, and I think I will like it better than I am remembering (right now my sleep-deprived brain is being biased by a negative review I read a little while back). Also, I like the cover for Across the Great Barrier so much more than Thirteenth Child.  Good job, Ms. Wrede!


2 August
The Near Witch, by Victoria Schwab

Summary (from Goodreads):
The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.


My Thoughts:
I didn't really want to read this at first because multiple reviewers mentioned how creepy it was, and I know I have a very low creep tolerance, but it seems like everyone loves this book. People have been praising it left and right, and I finally gave in and decided to add it to my TBR. I am determined to get past the creepiness and enjoy this book. And who knows? Maybe I'll surprise myself.

Are there any August Releases you're excited about?

October Releases, Part 2

So many great books are coming out this fall, I had to talk about a few of them. I couldn't possibly talk about all of them, so I decided to do it month by month. These are some of the October releases that are at the top of my to-read list, in chronological order. For other October releases, see this post with Part 1. Let me know if I'm missing any.

October 5
Icefall, by Matthew J. Kirby

Summary (from Goodreads):
Trapped in a hidden fortress tucked between towering mountains and a frozen sea, Solveig, along with her brother the crown prince, their older sister, and an army of restless warriors, anxiously awaits news of her father's victory at battle. But as winter stretches on, and the unending ice refuses to break, terrible acts of treachery soon make it clear that a traitor lurks in their midst. A malevolent air begins to seep through the fortress walls, and a smothering claustrophobia slowly turns these prisoners of winter against one another.

Those charged with protecting the king's children are all suspect, and the siblings must choose their allies wisely. But who can be trusted so far from their father's watchful eye? Can Solveig and her siblings survive the long winter months and expose the traitor before he succeeds in destroying a kingdom?

My Thoughts:
I really like Kirby's The Clockwork Three (see review here), so I'm excited for this next book of his. It sounds really good. Just reading the summary makes me want to pick up the book. I've already pre-ordered Icefall, and I suspect it will be one of my favorites of October, although it is going to have some very stiff competition.


October 13
Tuesdays at the Castle, by Jessica Day George

Click to enlarge (it's a really big picture)

Summary (from Goodreads):
Tuesdays at Castle Glower are Princess Celie’s favorite days. That’s because on Tuesdays the castle adds a new room, a turret, or sometimes even an entire wing. No one ever knows what the castle will do next, and no one—other than Celie, that is—takes time to map out the new additions. But when King and Queen Glower are ambushed and their fate is unknown, it’s up to Celie, with her secret knowledge of the castle’s never-ending twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom. This delightful book from a fan—and bookseller—favorite kicks off a brand new series that is sure to become a modern classic.

My Thoughts:
I am so excited for this book. Jessica Day George's books are always so much fun. I loved her other books (read my review of her book, Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow here - which was actually the second book I ever reviewed on Pica Reads), and when I met her in person, she was so incredibly nice. This book sounds like it's going to be a great read for a Sunday afternoon, and of course I'm going to read any book by Jessica Day George. I also really like the cover - it definitely makes me want to pick this book up.

October 27
Between the Sea and Sky, by Jaclyn Dolamore

Summary (from Goodreads):
For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren—the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood—a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

My Thoughts:
I just finished Dolamore's Magic Under Glass a few nights ago, and I really enjoyed her writing style and how she was able to bring together two different worlds. This story also brings together two different worlds, and I think it's going to be great. And I love the idea of a mermaid falling in love with a winged boy. I'm sure Dolamore will execute it beautifully.
P.S. How amazing is that cover? I love it!

Perchance to Dream

by Lisa Mantchev
Start Date: 4 July 2011
End Date: 6 July 2011
Hardcover, 333 pages
Published May 25th 2010

Summary (from Goodreads):
Act Two, Scene One

Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.

Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY

But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—

Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.

Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.

When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?

Once again, LISA MANTCHEV has spun a tale like no other—full of romance, magic, adventure, and fairies, too—that readers won’t want to put down, even after the curtain has closed.

My Review:
I'm not really sure about my opinion of this book. When I was reading it, I was often totally lost and confused, but I never considered putting it down. The writing was humorous at some points and lyrical in others, and I loved all of the references to Shakespeare (and other some Classics, but mostly Shakespeare). However, four things about it bothered me, and though I sped through the story, they definitely made it less enjoyable.

My main issue with this book is that it was so incredibly hard to follow. It seemed to jump around with no particular reason, or even a transition. In the first third of the book, I was so lost that I could barely figure out what was going on, and in the second two thirds, I understood what was happening, but had no clue why. (The whole part where she and Ariel are in her play was so strange! I couldn't figure out why they were even there. Spoiler, highlight to view.) It was clear that Bertie's magic was messing with reality, but I felt that Mantchev never made it clear what was part of reality and what wasn't. (As another example, the puppet show. What the heck? Sure it was an inventive way to present the history of Bertie's parents, but I just didn't understand whether it was real, why it was happening, or how it worked.)

The second was how Bertie came to conclusions without giving the reader any sort of insight on her thought process. For example, fairly early on in the book, Bertie and Co. meet a scrimshander, who Bertie (it seemed to me) immediately realizes is her father(Spoiler, highlight to view). It also felt like by not thinking things through, she took a much more circuitous route to her goal, whether that may be finding her way back to the rest of the group, or following the scrimshander.

The third issue I had was that I didn't particularly like either of Bertie's love interests, Ariel or Nate. As other reviewers have mentioned, they seemed more interested in one-upping each other than of taking care of Bertie, and I felt like Mantchev didn't give all that many reasons why Bertie is falling in love with either one of them.

The fourth thing didn't bother me quite as much, but I felt like many of the more minor characters (as in, anyone not from Book 1) didn't get as much development as I would have liked. Wäschbar, for instance, obviously has a history, and there's something going on with him and the theater troupe, but it's never really made clear what it is. And what was going on between Bertie's father and Sedna? (Spoiler) I feel like that was never really explained, either.

Although I get that I'm criticizing Perchance to Dream quite a bit, I did really enjoy reading it. It was a lot of fun, and easy to pick up and read for a couple of hours. This also seems like a book I would enjoy reading with a friend, or in a book club, so that we could discuss every chapter or two as we got to it. Also, the way the book is written makes me think it would be a great movie. I think that would also get rid of most of my issues with it. I also want to note that although I was a little more critical, the vast majority of the reviews I read were extremely positive.

On a separate note, So Silver Bright, the third book in the Théâtre Illuminata trilogy, is coming out on September 13, and I will be reading it, if only for this amazing cover. I think it's the best cover of the three, although all the covers in the series are beautiful.

Click to enlarge, it's a really big picture

Here's the summary of the third book (from Goodreads):
All Beatrice Shakespeare Smith has ever wanted is a true family of her own. And she’s close to reuniting her parents when her father disappears. Now Bertie must deal with a vengeful sea goddess and a mysterious queen as she tries to keep her family – and the Theatre Illuminata – from crumbling. To complicate it all, Bertie is torn between her two loves, Ariel and Nate.

My thoughts:
Do these summaries feel slightly repetitive to anyone else? In every book, Bertie has the same overally goals - to find/ reunite her family, figure out who she really is, and choose between Nate and Ariel. Even still, the Thèâtre Illuminata books are always fun, and I am looking forward the the conclusion of the trilogy.

[UPDATE: I just realized that Bertie's dress on the third cover looks like a wedding dress! Not much use after the second book, but still....! Also, did anyone think the whole getting married thing was just a little bit strange? How old is Bertie, anyway? (Spoiler, highlight to view)]

October Releases

So many great books are coming out this fall, I had to talk about a few of them. I couldn't possibly talk about all of them, so I decided to do it month by month. I'm starting with October even though it's in the middle of fall rather than September or even August (because that's got some good ones too) because of the Son of Neptune cover that was just revealed this week (see below). These are the October releases that re at the top of my to-read list, in chronological order. Let me know if I'm missing any.

October 4
Heroes of Olympus: Son of Neptune

Click to enlarge (I got a REALLY big picture, you will want to enlarge)

Summary (from Goodreads): 
In The Lost Hero, three demigods named Jason, Piper, and Leo made their first visit to Camp Half-Blood, where they inherited a quest:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Who are the other four mentioned in the prophecy? The answer may lie in another camp miles away, where a new camper has shown up and appears to be the son of Neptune, god of the sea...

My thoughts:
I didn't love the first book in the series (see my review here), but I'm definitely going to be picking up the second if only to see some of the characters I actually care about (Percy, Annabeth, Grover - because the Son of Neptune is obviously Percy).

I actually think I've figured out who the seven are from the prophecy.
1. Jason
2. Piper
3. Leo
4. Percy
5. Percy's new friend from Rome Camp #1
6. Percy's new friend from Rome Camp #2
7. Annabeth OR Nico

As for the cover, I really like all the ice and how Percy is bursting up out of it. I also like the crumbling buildings (although I can't tell if they're actually Greek or if they're Roman using a Greek facade - yep, that's me being a classics geek) and I'm pretty sure there are people falling out of them, but I can only see them if I zoom in really close, at which point they get all pixelated so who knows.

A lot of people are wondering what the eagle is, but I'm pretty sure it's what I call an SPQR Eagle Stick, or the official name is an Aquila (just the eagle part) or a Standard (the whole darn stick). They were used in Roman times as part of each legion. Every legion would have one person whose entire job was to carry around the SPQR Eagle Stick which was one of the things that identified them as being part of the Roman army. I couldn't find a good picture of one, but here's an illustration of what one would have looked like:

The thing about this SPQR Eagle Stick is that it's got glowing eyes so it must be a magic SPQR Eagle Stick. Plus it's all lightning-y.

The one thing that bugs me about this cover is that Percy is all wet. As the Son of Neptune, he's not supposed to get wet. Unless he did it intentionally, which would be weird because he'd be freezing in that water. Anyway, other than that one minor detail, I love the cover and I am very excited to read to book, even though I don't necessarily have that high expectations for it.

October 11
The Death Cure

Click to Enlarge

Summary (from Goodreads): 
Thomas knows that WICKED can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What WICKED doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what WICKED says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

My thoughts:
This one I do have high expectations for it. Very high expectations. The first two were great, although, as my brother says, "kinda creepy." And - strange coincidence - this one also has snow and ice, and it looks so cool. I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen, and I don't really want to know either. I am planning to dive in blind and enjoy it as much as I possibly can. I shall devour this book, and I just hope not everyone dies. But even if they do, James Dashner is going to make it so awesome that I'll realize it was the best possible way for it to turn out.

October 11
Tris & Izzie

Click to Enlarge (this one is also really big if you choose to enlarge it)

Summary (from Goodreads):
A modern retelling of the German fairytale "Tristan and Isolde", Tris and Izzie is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until -- she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school.

My thoughts:
I've actually never heard of this fairytale before, but I love fairytale retellings even when I'm not familiar with the original tale (e.g. Book of a Thousand Days).  I also enjoyed Mette Ivie Harrison's The Princess and the Hound books, and this seems like it will be just as good. The premise is intriguing, and I'm interested to see what Harrison will do with it.

I really like the cover of this one, if only the boy (who I can only assume is Tris) had a shirt on. For goodness sakes, why they couldn't do that is beyond me. Other than that, I love the cover. The girl is great, the petals are great, the water is great (although it did take me a ridiculously long time to figure out that they were actually in a boat and not randomly floating on the water), the text is great - I really have no other complaints. Very excited for this one.

EDIT: Mette Ivie Harrison did a review a little while ago on Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing where she talks about Tris & Izzie (as well as her other books) that I really liked. You can read it here.

October 27
New Edition Forest Born

Summary (from Goodreads):
Rin has always been a quiet, helpful girl, but a secret has been eating away at her, and the solace Rin once could find among the tall trees that surround her forest home has vanished. When she leaves home to join her older brother in the city, she finds intriguing answers to her questions, an adventure she doesn't expect, and a sense of self she never thought she would find.
For fans who want to complete their collection of the Books of Bayern, this new edition hardcover features art by Alison Jay, whose stunning illustrations graced the covers of the three original Bayern Books. A reading ribbon marks this as a perfect gift edition for any Shannon Hale fan.

My thoughts:
Forest Born was wonderful, as all Shannon Hale books must be, and I'm excited for the new cover. It's so beautiful. For more of my gushing about this cover, click here.

Are there any other October Releases you are excited about?

2 Cover Reveals

This week, 2 of my favorite authors revealed covers for upcoming books. I wanted to share them because I'm just so excited.

First is the cover of The Death Cure, third book of the Maze Runner Trilogy, by the wonderful (and hilarious) James Dashner:

The Death Cure will be published on October 11. 

It looks like it's going to be awesome.

The first two books in the series (both fantastic):

And second is Midnight in Austenland, the second Austenland book by the amazing Shannon Hale:

(isn't it beautiful?)

Midnight in Austenland will be published January of 2012.

There are a lot of great books due to come out in the fall. I'll write a post talking about the ones I'm most excited about. These two are at the top of the list (although Midnight in Austenland is not coming out until January - I'm excited anyway)

By the way, I started a new story on my second blog, The Bookbird and the Wordgirl. Click here and check it out.

Amulet, Book 4

... is now available for pre-order. It will be released on September 1, 2011. Kibuishi says that book 4 is "by far the best one in the series, and it is definitely the one that we have put the most effort into creating. It features a large cast of new characters and a large collection of beautiful new environments, including various locations inside the flying city of Cielis. The story delves deeper into the history of the stonekeepers, and the characters grow quite a bit during the journey."

I'll definitely post about it when it comes out. Meanwhile, here is the cover:

"The Last Council"... dun dun dun. Sounds exciting!

Click here to read my review of the first three books.

I'll keep posting about upcoming releases. So many fantastic books are coming out in fall 2011. It's going to be great!

Until tomorrow,

New Covers!

Two posts in 1 today:
1) New Forest Born Cover!
2) Goliath Cover Revealed!
Both are so happy-making and fantastic, and it's just great that they happened to fall on the same day.

So, post #1:

I'm so excited about this. And so happy, because this book needed this cover. But let me first explain. Shannon Hale, author of many wonderful and beautiful books, somewhat recently wrote a book called Forest Born. It is the fourth book in her Books of Bayern series. This entire series is fantastic, one of my favorite series ever. The writing is so lyrical and delicate, with every word spinning a picture that makes me wish I could even write half as well. Anyway, about the time Forest Born was being published (perhaps a bit before? I don't quite remember), Bloomsbury came out with new covers for all of the books in the series. It was a shame, because the old covers were so beautiful and fit the stories so perfectly. Because of the change, Forest Born didn't get a cover in the original style. This made many readers including myself, very upset because, as I just mentioned, the old covers were wonderful. But now Bloomsbury is coming out with a new cover in the original style for Forest Born! Yay! I'm so happy (I'm sure you can tell) that this is happening.

Here are all the Books of Bayern with their original and new covers:


































































Do you see that wonderful Forest Born cover? Isn't it absolutely amazing? Aren't I right to freak out over it? *sigh*




And now, just for fun, the UK edition of Shannon's books:

Post #2:

YAY! Goliath has a cover! And it's a great one too. I generally don't like real people on the covers of books (the complaint I have with the new versions of the Books of Bayern), because it doesn't let me imagine my own versions of the what the characters look like. For some reason, the people on the Leviathan covers never bothered me as much. They don't look anything like how I imagined the characters, but I can get over that. The one thing that I don't like about this cover is how Deryn obviously looks like a girl. It wasn't nearly as obvious on the other cover, but here it's just not realistic that Alek doesn't realize she's a girl. For goodness sakes. But it is a totally awesome cover, so that makes up for it. Yay.


I'm pushing the PBM stuff until tomorrow, cause this was more important. Way more important.