BORN WICKED by Jessica Spotswood was released in the U.S. on February 7, 2012 in hardcover, audio and eBook formats. A paperback edition was released on January 3, 2013.
It is currently available to order online in all formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.
Published by Putnam Juvenile, the print edition is 272 pages.
BORN WICKED is the first book in author Jessica Spotswood’s Cahill Witch Chronicles. The second book in the series, STAR CURSED, is slated for release on June 18, 2013.
Goodreads Description…
Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.
Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word… especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.
If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.
Author Jessica Spotswood’s BORN WICKED is a beautifully written, incredibly engaging and simply magical read. It’s a story that, while fictional, addresses very real issues from our history – the fear of witchcraft, the oppression of women and girls, the suppression of knowledge and freedom of speech, opinion, expression.
It’s a story that captivates with not only its interesting characters, their relationships, their motivations and their beliefs, but its mystery, its magic, its suspenseful storyline. And it’s a story that will keep readers guessing right up to its climactic conclusion.
Under the guise of keeping everyone safe from the threat of witches and witchcraft, the priests of the Brotherhood have established a dictatorial rule. One that is overly restrictive, unforgiving and deadly for those in opposition.
Which makes it even more important for no one to find out about the secret Catherine Cahill and her sisters are keeping – that they are witches, possibly even the prophesied ones. But with one sister who is curious about her abilities and another who can’t seem to control them, hiding who and what they are is becoming even more of a challenge.
And with time running out for Cate to decide on her future, one that will mean leaving her sisters behind, she’ll need to figure out a way to keep their secret safe, keep them hidden from the Brothers and keep them from drawing the attention of the Sisters. Because if they are the three sisters from the prophecy, then the danger to all of them will be greater than ever and will be deadly for one of them.
Cate Cahill is an incredibly likable and relatable main character. She’s been cast into the role of protector, forced to make sacrifices, and is faced with difficult decisions. Decisions that will either take her away from her home and family, leave her sisters unprotected, leave her heartbroken or break someone else’s heart.
She is compassionate and thoughtful, but not perfect. She is pretty but not the most beautiful of her sisters, smart but not the most clever. But her ability to see the good in people and recognize her own faults makes her endearing and makes her a character readers will want to know more about.
BORN WICKED is a breath of fresh air and an absolutely wonderful addition to the genre. It’s exciting, it’s surprising and it’s intelligent. With its diversity in its character archetypes, its nod to events in history and its atypical heroine and hero, this story stands out from the crowd.
And with its build up to a shocking finish, which will leave readers anxiously awaiting the sequel, BORN WICKED is an absolute must read first book in the series.
Reviewer gives this book…
On a personal note…
BORN WICKED may be a story of witches. But it’s no ordinary tale of witchcraft and spellcasting. And the witches are anything but ordinary.
I am not someone who gravitates toward books about witchcraft. And I’m definitely not someone who reads many books of witches around the turn of the century… the twentieth century, that is.
But from the moment I started reading BORN WICKED I was in love. With the main character, Cate Cahill, with the setting, with the world. Even though it was dark, oppressive, scary. Though I kind of think that’s exactly why I fell in love.
I couldn’t wait to learn more about the witchcraft and the prophecy the story talks of. I instantly wondered whether Cate was “the one” and if she was, what would happen to her, to her sisters. And if it wasn’t her but someone she cared about, I wondered what would she do to protect them.
There is something really beautiful about the writing and the way the story flows. Something magical. It took me surprise. I did not expect to love it as much as I did, given that it wasn’t one of my “go to” genres, given that it wasn’t a story with a lightning-fast pace, given that there were no deadly battles.
And yet the pages just flew by. The story held me captive. Cate’s predicament made me anxious. The Brothers made me angry. The Sisters made me wary. And Cate’s sister Maura made me want to throttle her.
I questioned everything. And everyone. Everyone was suspect. From Paul to Maura to Mrs. Corbett, to Sister Elena, to Sachi, to Rory. I didn’t know who could be trusted. Except maybe Finn and Tess. And even then, I wasn’t sure they wouldn’t betray Cate.
I didn’t know what anyone’s motives were. Except maybe the Brothers. Their motives seemed pretty obvious. I didn’t know when the “bad thing” would happen. The one that I just knew would happen. I didn’t even know what that “bad thing” would be. Which made this more than a little bit of a nail-biter.
Reading BORN WICKED was the perfect escape. The world was one I could easily imagine the characters in. It was one I was easily transported to. And it was one I didn’t want to leave.
Especially after that ending. Which was killer. Which would have killed me if I didn’t have the next book in the series to dive into immediately. I may have uttered a few expletives after reading that ending. Though I knew… I just knew… that something like that would happen.
While this book was such an amazing surprise, what was even more surprising was Finn. He’s not the typical character I would root for. Paul fits that description. But it was Finn that stole my heart. He was the good guy – sweet, rumpled, studious. And yet he was it for me.
But I won’t say whether he was the boy for Cate, if Paul was more to her liking or if someone or something else held more of an appeal. Because that would be spoiler-y. And I don’t do spoilers.
BORN WICKED has been one of my favorite reads this year. And if magic were real, I’d say this story cast its spell on me. I was bewitched, enchanted, spellbound.
Favorite passage…
I actually had two clear favorites. One I would have loved to include but it is somewhat spoiler-y. So I’ve chosen to share my other favorite, which is rather scandalous given the time period.
I knot my fingers in his hair and pull his mouth back to mine.
His hands move over me, light as feathers, stroking my back, my hip. Tangling in the sash around my waist, anchoring me tighter against him. My body burns wherever he touches.
They’re back! For those times when you just need a short break from reading.
Here, for your viewing pleasure, are a few amazing book trailers for just some of the books that released – or are releasing – in May, a peek at a few of those coming out in June and beyond, a look back at those we may have missed, and a glimpse at a few authors talking about their books.
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Reboot by Amy Tintera
Release date: May 7, 2013
(harperteen)
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If I Should Die by Amy Plum
Release date: May 7, 2013
(harperteen)
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Icons by Margaret Stohl
Release date: May 7, 2013
(LittleBrownBooks)
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Mystic by Alyson Noël
Release date: May 7, 2013
(Alyson Noel)
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The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher
Release date: May 7, 2013
(SimonSchusterVideos)
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Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield
Release date: May 7, 2013
(SimonSchusterVideos)
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The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Release date: May 7, 2013
(PenguinYoungReaders)
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The End Games by T. Michael Martin
Release date: May 7, 2013
(T. Michael Martin)
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Parallel by Lauren Miller
Release date: May 14, 2013
(Lauren Miller)
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Five Summers by Una LaMarche
Release date: May 14, 2013
(fivesummersbook)
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The Rose Throne by Mette Ivie Harrison
Release date: May 14, 2013
(Mette Harrison)
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All I Need by Susan Colasanti
Release date: May 21, 2013
(PenguinYoungReaders)
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Night School by C.J. Daugherty
Release date: May 21, 2013
(nightschoolbook)
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Dare You To by Katie McGarry
Release date: May 28, 2013
(Mirainkbooks) – UK Trailer
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For just a peek at what’s coming in June and beyond….
Elegy by Tara Hudson
Release date: June 4, 2013
(harperteen)
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Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Release date: June 4, 2013
(Fierce Reads)
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The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
Release date: June 4, 2013
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
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The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
Release date: June 4, 2013
(PenguinYoungReaders)
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The Academy: Game On by Monica Seles
Release date: June 4, 2013
(bloomsburykids)
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Far Far Away by Tom McNeal
Release date: June 11, 2013
(RandomBooks)
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Undercurrent by Paul Blackwell
Release date: July 23, 2013
(harperteen)
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The Ruby Red Trilogy by Kerstin Gier
Release date for Emerald Green: October 8, 2013
(Fierce Reads)
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And for a look back at a few we may have missed….
Wasteland by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan
Release date: March 26, 2013
(harperteen)
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Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
Release date: April 2, 2013
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
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Stung by Bethany Wiggins
Release date: April 2, 2013
(bloomsburykids)
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Light by Michael Grant
Release date: April 2, 2013
(harperteen) – Trailer 1 of 3
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Light by Michael Grant
Release date: April 2, 2013
(harperteen) – Trailer 2 of 3
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Light by Michael Grant
Release date: April 2, 2013
(harperteen) – Trailer 3 of 3
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Taken by Erin Bowman
Release date: April 16, 2013
(harperteen)
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Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting
Release date: April 16, 2013
(harperteen)
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The Symptoms of My Insanity by Mindy Raf
Release date: April 18, 2013
(PenguinYoungReaders)
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Chosen at Nightfall by C.C. Hunter
Release date: April 23, 2013
(Christie Craig)
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The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
Release date: April 30, 2013
(harlequinbooks)
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The Program by Suzanne Young
Release date: April 30, 2013
(SimonSchusterVideos)
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Here’s what the authors are saying…
Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan
Release date: May 7, 2013
(PenguinYoungReaders) – the authors talk about their recently released book
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The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan
Release date: May 14, 2013
(RandomBooks) – the author talks about her desert island books
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The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
Release date: June 4, 2013
(PenguinYoungReaders) – the author talks about her soon to be released book
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We hope you enjoyed the lovely distractions. Stay tuned…we’ll be back with our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.
UNTIL I DIE by Amy Plum was released in the U.S. on May 8, 2012 in hardcover, audio and eBook formats. It was released in paperback format on April 8, 2013. It is currently available to order online in all formats at AMAZON and in hardcover, paperback and eBook formats at BARNES & NOBLE.
Published by HarperTeen, the print edition is 384 pages.
UNTIL I DIE is the second book in author Amy Plum’s Revenants series. The third book in the series, IF I SHOULD DIE, was released on May 7, 2013.
Description…
Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.
As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.
In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.
UNTIL I DIE is the exciting and utterly enchanting second book in author Amy Plum’s Revenants series. With its Parisian backdrop, its captivating storyline and lovable characters, this sequel continues this engaging series that is part urban fantasy and part paranormal romance with a touch of mystery.
As Kate begins to settle into a life with revenants and starts to feel at home among them, two new arrivals and the departure of a close friend change things once again. And with Vincent keeping his distance and keeping secrets, she’s feeling more like an outsider than ever.
But when she learns that there may be a way for her and Vincent to find their happily ever after, a way that won’t be as dark, dangerous and full of secrets as whatever way Vincent thinks is their only chance for happiness, she has to try and find out just what it is. Because if she can’t, if Vincent’s way is the only way, it could mean losing Vincent forever. And a lot sooner than she ever would have imagined.
UNTIL I DIE introduces new characters, new threats and a chance at a happy ending for Kate and Vincent. It delves deeper into the world of revenants and touches upon a new development that will likely be explored in the next book in the series. And while the pace may start off slowly, it picks up as the story continues and leads to an incredibly exciting and climactic conclusion.
The story’s protagonist, Kate, has become an even stronger and more interesting character in this sequel. With Vincent’s withdrawal and secretive behavior, she proves that she is more than capable of acting independently. And with Jules being ever-present, the story doesn’t quite abandon the idea of a love triangle.
The author continues to build upon the tension between the two factions of revenants in this sequel, and introduces a new, unknown enemy into the mix whose identity seems as if it would be fairly obvious to the reader, but less so for the characters, which adds to the story’s suspense.
But it is the story’s end that offers the most thrills, excitement, surprises and heartbreak. The truth about the betrayal is uncovered, but questions still remain for the next book in the series. And with a heart-wrenching cliffhanger ending, this story guarantees that readers will return to find out whether this series ends happily or tragically.
UNTIL I DIE is a must for fans of this series. With new developments about the revenants, new possibilities for the main characters, moments that heartwarming and those that are heartbreaking and a killer cliffhanger ending, this second installment in the series is not one to be missed.
And for those readers who don’t enjoy hanging off a cliff, having the next book in the series on-hand is also a must.
Reviewer gives this book…
On a personal note…
I absolutely love these stories of revenants that author Amy Plum created. And this second book in the series revealed a lot more about them and their world. It offered up an exciting mystery filled with secrets and betrayal, an incredibly determined heroine, a maddeningly frustrating love story and a killer cliffhanger ending.
Oh my gosh that ending. It absolutely killed me not to be able to pick up the next book in the series the second I finished this one. Granted, I didn’t have long to wait before its release, but I can only imagine that if I did, the wait would have killed me.
The ending was the most exciting part of the story. And the way it left me hanging ensured that I would definitely be picking up the next book in the series to find out just what would happen next.
But while it was the most thrilling and nerve-wracking part of the book, my favorite moments in this story were the ones involving Jules. I adored him in DIE FOR ME but I was crazy about him in UNTIL I DIE. He was present in this story in a way that Vincent wasn’t. And some of the things he said, and some of his actions, made me wonder about certain other things….
Things I won’t talk about as they will be too revealing. But I have a feeling they are things that will be addressed in the next book in the series. And I really hope I’m right.
I wish there had been more Vincent in this book. I missed him in this story. While he was there, and when he was he said either all sorts of swoon-worthy things or was incredibly secretive, he wasn’t around as much as I would have liked. And the fact that he wasn’t made me wonder just what plans the author had for his relationship with Kate.
While Vincent may have been a bit absentee in UNTIL I DIE, Kate had no trouble keeping busy. Between spending time with one of the newly arrived revenants, Violette, training with Gaspard and trying to find an alternative to what Vincent was doing to himself, it wasn’t as if things were boring.
Especially when Jules was there, being even more charming than ever.
As much as I loved the “whodunit” aspect of the story, it did not take me very long to figure out who the betrayer was. I kind of knew right away. But I don’t think the author intended for it to be a secret from her readers, just her characters. Which made this book that much more of a suspenseful read.
And while the first book in this series may be my favorite of the two books, I loved going back to this world the author imagined. I loved reading about these characters that I wildly adored from the moment I met them in book one. I loved seeing how Kate’s character has grown. I loved learning more about them and their history.
And I cannot wait to see just how things wrap up in the next book. Even if the ending is a tragic one.
Favorite passage…
I did not realize quite how many favorites I had in this book. Three pages worth. Of course most of them involved Jules.
While my most favorites were the last lines of this book and this long quote of Kate’s where she was giving someone a piece of her mind… and maybe a little extra… I thought they would both be too spoiler-y to include.
But this one was also a favorite. And no, I won’t say who it is….
His hands dropped to his sides, but he stayed–his face inches away from my own and his warm breath soft on my skin–for what seemed like forever. Then, abruptly, he turned and strode out of the studio. I heard his feet on the wooden stairway, and watched out the gaping hole of the window as he crossed the courtyard and stood motionless by the stone doorway to the street, waiting there for the others to arrive.
BLACK CITY by Elizabeth Richards was released in the U.S. on November 13, 2012 in hardcover and eBook formats and will be releasing in paperback format on May 7, 2013.
It is currently available to order online in hardcover and eBook formats and is available to pre-order in paperback format at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.
Published by Putnam Juvenile, the print edition is 384 pages.
BLACK CITY is the first book in a series of the same name by author Elizabeth Richards. The second book in the series, PHOENIX, is slated for release on May 28, 2013 and the third book in the series, currently untitled, is due out in 2014.
Description…
A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war.
In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.
When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.
BLACK CITY is a dark and intriguing post-apocalyptic story set in a chilling future where fear gives one man absolute power to rule with cruelty and violence and to oppress an entire race of beings. It is also a love story of two people forbidden to be together because of who they are, but who are willing to risk everything for love, including their lives.
Ash Fisher is a twin-blood. Part-human, part-Darkling he doesn’t quite fit in with either race. Forced to live with his father on the human side of the Boundary Wall where he is looked upon by many with fear and repulsion, he is left to wonder if life in the Darkling ghetto, the Legion, would be better.
Natalie Buchanan is the daughter of the Sentry Emissary. As part of the ruling class, she could have everything. But after what happened with her father and sister, moving to Black City and following her mother’s orders is the last thing she wants to do. Even though there’s nothing left for her in Centrum, she wishes she could return, because being back in Black City is so much worse.
But everything changes when Ash and Natalie’s worlds collide.
Instantly fearful of, distrusting and hateful toward one another, they hope their paths will never cross again. Even though their touch set off sparks. And even though they find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another.
Because being together is forbidden and being branded a race traitor is a death sentence in the United Sentry States.
Elizabeth Richards has created an imaginative and richly detailed world in BLACK CITY. A dark and gritty backdrop, a fascinating new race of beings – the Darklings – and a terrifying leader who is willing to exterminate an entire race to further his agenda, make for an immensely entertaining read.
And with a star-crossed love story, told from both characters’ perspectives, this story is exciting, suspenseful and absolutely heartbreaking.
In BLACK CITY, the author builds the foundation for what is to come in future books in the series. The world-building is elaborate, with much of it presented at the outset, which initially slows the pace and impedes the story’s flow. But once the information is laid out about the world and its characters, the pace picks up and has a nice cadence as it switches back and forth between the two main characters’ perspectives.
Even with its paranormal element and futuristic setting, the story has a realistic feel, which gives it depth. The world mirrors a real life dictatorship where people are governed by fear, driven to decisions that cause them to turn a blind-eye to oppression and are willing to turn their back on their loved ones if it means avoiding the wrath of those in power.
BLACK CITY is a fantastic and incredibly engaging start to this series. With moments that are breathtaking in both their beauty and their cruelty and a build-up to an ending that can only be called riveting, this story will appeal to readers who like their stories a bit dark, who enjoy putting their emotions on a roller coaster and who want to be transported to a future that doesn’t in the least bit resemble a utopia.
Reviewer gives this book…
On a personal note…
It took me a dozen or so pages to get into BLACK CITY. While I was instantly intrigued by Ash, the world-building at the outset was a bit overwhelming. Especially as I was reading with a review in mind.
I ended up having to stop and take notes every couple of sentences, which kept me from engaging with the story right from the start. As much of the information didn’t end up being necessary to an understanding of the story, and a lot of what was presented didn’t factor into this first book in the series, I would have preferred to have it introduced in smaller doses a bit further into the story rather than right at the beginning.
That being said, I loved this world. It was dark and chilling and all sorts of horrible for most of its citizens. Its leader was the epitome of evil. Even his name, Purian Rose, gave me the heebie-jeebies. And yet I can’t wait to learn more about him and the rest of those in power in the United Sentry States in subsequent books in this series.
I am also completely fascinated by the Darklings. While I still don’t fully grasp what they are – vampire/faerie hybrids perhaps or something altogether new? – they are so very interesting. And I’m just so curious what powers they would have if they weren’t so severely oppressed.
I also loved that the story switched between Ash and Natalie’s perspectives. Which was a bit of a surprise because I’m usually a single POV kind of reader. While I would have loved to have more time discovering the world from Ash’s point-of-view, as Natalie was sometimes a bit clueless, I loved getting to see more of the world because of the dual perspectives.
And while I don’t want to reveal too much, I just have to talk about the love story. It’s the reason why I picked up this book in the first place. The second I saw the description which called this “a dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story,” I knew it would be a book I just had to read.
The love story had the right amounts of angst to make me feel all twisted up inside. Even though things sometimes felt rushed, I couldn’t help but fall in love with Ash and Natalie’s love story. It was the forbidden, star-crossed, Romeo and Juliet kind of love story. And it totally made me melt.
And oh my gosh that ending! I just have to talk about that too. Well… that thing that happened right before the end. My heart broke. I totally knew what was going to happen – I accidentally read the first line of the description for the sequel – but the knowing actually made it that much more torturous to read. I kept waiting for the moment “it” would happen, wondering just how it was going to happen, which made me anxious long before I might have been had I not known.
BLACK CITY was not at all what I expected it to be. I anticipated a typical dystopian setting with some kind of dictatorship. I expected a forbidden love story. I expected dark. But the story and setting were so much more interesting and elaborate than I thought they would be.
The world the author created was much darker, more detailed and far more complex than I could have imagined. The dual perspectives allowed for a stronger connection to the two main characters and a longer look at their very disparate worlds. And its characters, the Darklings especially, were absolutely fascinating. Though Ash Fisher was totally in line with my expectations and just as swoon-worthy as I’d hoped he would be.
This story was so very different from what I’d thought it would be, but its differences are what made it so incredibly appealing. And it took everything I had not to immediately start reading PHOENIX to continue the story and stay in this world.
Favorite passage…
I had a few favorite passages. Two that were a bit too long to include… and then there was this one…. It gives me chill bumps, too.
His gaze is like a thrilling darkness sliding over my body, cold like winter’s frost, leaving a trail of goose pimples where his eyes have touched me.
Below are the YA books releasing this week that I am spotlighting for my “Book Watch: Releasing This Week” post.
These are books for the week of May 7th-May 13th that I have pre-ordered.
REBOOT by Amy Tintera will be released in the U.S. on May 7, 2013 in hardcover, audio and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in all formats at AMAZON and in hardcover and eBook formats at BARNES & NOBLE.
Published by HarperTeen, the print edition is 384 pages.
REBOOT is the first book in a new series of the same name by author Amy Tintera. The second book in the series, currently untitled, is slated for release in 2014.
I am so unbelievably excited that REBOOT is releasing this week. I fell instantly in love with it the second I read the description. And I have major cover love for it, too. So, waiting for its release has been torturous.
I cannot wait to meet Wren Connolly and Callum Reyes. I can’t wait to see just how his humanity turns the “perfect soldier” into someone willing to disobey her orders. And I cannot wait to visit this intriguing world that author Amy Tintera has created.
I have avoided all reviews, but I couldn’t help but hear the tiniest bits of chatter mentioning that this book rocked. So I’m hoping that I’ll be finished with this week’s reads early enough so that I can sneak REBOOT onto the pile this week.
INVISIBILITY by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan will be released in the U.S. on May 7, 2013 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.
Published by Philomel, the print edition is 320 pages.
I love Andrea Cremer’s writing and I am so very curious about this joint endeavor with author David Levithan. I’ve had INVISIBILITY pre-ordered since the moment I first learned of its existence and I can’t wait to check it out.
I love books that involve curses. Of course I love stories that include romance. And I can’t wait to find out if Elizabeth and Stephen discover a way to break the curse and just what sacrifice they’ll have to make in order for Stephen to “become visible.”
While I won’t get the chance to take a peek at it this month, I am hopeful of reading INVISIBILITY early next month. Because it’s been awhile since I read anything by author Andrea Cremer and I am definitely going through withdrawal.
THE 5th WAVE by Rick Yancey will be released in the U.S. on May 7, 2013 in hardcover, audio and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in all formats at AMAZON and in hardcover and eBook formats at BARNES & NOBLE.
Published by Putnam Juvenile, the print edition is 480 pages.
THE 5th WAVE is the first book in a new series of the same name by author Rick Yancey. The second and third books in the series are currently untitled and slated for release in August 2014 and August 2015, respectively.
There has been a ton of buzz about Rick Yancey’s THE 5th WAVE, all of it positive, so I just had to pre-order it for my Kindle. Even though I haven’t read either THE PASSAGE or ENDER’S GAME, which the description compares this book to.
But any book that is billed as “epic” is one I have to check out. And when its description mentions that “only darkness remains” and “only the unlucky survive,” how could I not want to read it?
I more than want to read it. I desperately want to do so. And I’m so very hopeful of being able to meet Cassie and the “[b]eguiling and mysterious” Evan Walker in the next week or two.
THE END GAMES by T. Michael will be released in the U.S. on May 7, 2013 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.
Published by Balzer + Bray, the print edition is 384 pages.
I cannot believe THE END GAMES is releasing this week. I had so hoped to read it early, but that didn’t happen. This book is yet another one of those books I consider must reads. It sounds so chilling and awesome.
As I’ve spotlighted it for my Book Watch post, I won’t ramble on endlessly, especially as this post is long, but I will just say that this book is one I’m so eager to dive into. I want to find out how The Game changes, how The Bellows, evolve and just what The Game Master is up to.
While I won’t get the chance to read THE END GAMES this week, there’s no way I’m going to let the month end without having read it.
IF I SHOULD DIE by Amy Plum will be released in the U.S. on May 7, 2013 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.
Published by HarperTeen, the print edition is 416 pages.
IF I SHOULD DIE is the third, and final, book in the Revenants series by author Amy Plum.
After having just recently read UNTIL I DIE, I don’t think I’m more anxious for any book’s release than IF I SHOULD DIE by Amy Plum. I absolutely love the author’s stories about the Revenants and I cannot wait to find out what happened after that killer ending.
And from reading those excerpts on the IF I SHOULD DIE Blog Tour, I am even more desperate to continue the story. Which I hope to do when my eBook downloads on Monday Midnight.
Because I want to know why Jules and Kate are in New York. I want to know what happens with the traitor. And I want to know how this series ends.
ICONS by Margaret Stohl will be released in the U.S. on May 7, 2013 in hardcover, large print paperback and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in all formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE. It will be available in audiobook format on July 16, 2013.
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, the print edition is 448 pages.
ICONS is the first book in author Margaret Stohl’s new series of the same name. The second book in the series, currently untitled, is expected in 2014.
ICONS is another book I wanted to read before its release, but due to the umpteen books I needed to read first, it just didn’t happen. But I have ICONS pre-ordered and I will be reading it just as soon as my schedule frees up a bit.
I am so very fascinated by the first line of the description which mentions that “[y]our heart beats only with their permission.” I’m curious to find out why Dol is so different. And I’m excited to discover this world in which Earth is at the mercy of the Icons.
The description promises a story that is “heart-pounding” in a world that is “haunting” and I cannot wait to finally get the chance to discover it for myself. Something I plan to do a bit later this month.
FALL OF NIGHT by Rachel Caine will be released in the U.S. on May 7, 2013 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE. It will be available in audiobook format on May 27, 2013 at Barnes & Noble.
Published by NAL Hardcover, the print edition is 352 pages.
FALL OF NIGHT is the fourteenth book in the Morganville Vampires series. The fifteenth book, DAYLIGHTERS, is slated for release on November 5, 2013.
I am seriously behind on this series. But I own every single book and I do plan on catching up on it this year. Hopefully by the time the fifteenth book is released. But I have FALL OF NIGHT pre-ordered and I’m super excited to add it to my collection when it releases this week.
Although I shouldn’t have, I couldn’t help but take a peek at the description. And now I’m even more excited to get caught up. Because in this installment it seems that Claire leaves Morganville and has an entire adventure far away from this Texas town and its resident vamps.
I’m very curious about her experiments and just what happens with her human test subjects to make her question whether leaving Morganville was such a good thing.
While I won’t be reading FALL OF NIGHT in the next few months, I am so very hopeful that I’ll have gotten caught up on this series by the end of October so that when DAYLIGHTERS releases in early November I’ll be ready to dive in.
*** NOT a YA Title***
DEAD EVER AFTER by Charlaine Harris will be released in the U.S. on May 7, 2013 in hardcover, paperback, audio and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in all formats at AMAZON and in hardcover, audio and eBook formats at BARNES & NOBLE.
Published by Ace Hardcover, the print edition is 352 pages.
I’m a mix of relieved and sad to see this series end. I loved the first nine books but have fallen a bit out of love with the story for the past few installments. Though I do have DEAD EVER AFTER pre-ordered in both eBook format and a special signed edition from Barnes & Noble.
But after having the ending spoiled for me by a commentator on my other blog, I’m not sure when I will be reading this last installment. I may just pretend that this series ended with book nine.
Eric the Northman is one of my favorite vampire characters and I’ve adored Sookie for many of the books she’s been in. Even with the head-shaking decisions she’s made. And while I am a fan of the True Blood series on HBO, that series has not in any way changed my feelings about Mr. Bill Compton, [insert derogatory term here], vampire extraordinaire.
So learning, just yesterday, that the author originally planned for a different fate for him and altered that due to pressures because of that show, it has made me a little less enthusiastic toward the series. Because I would have loved for the author’s original idea to have been a part of her story.
My feelings are definitely conflicted, so I don’t plan on reading DEAD EVER AFTER until the chatter dies down. But I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to read it and find out just how the story ends for these characters I’ve known and loved for years, eventually. Even if the ending isn’t one I’d wished for Sookie.
MYSTIC by Alyson Noel will be released in the U.S. on May 7, 2013 in hardcover, paperback and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in all formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.
Published by St. Martin’s Griffin, the print edition is 320 pages.
MYSTIC is the third book in Alyson Noel’s Soul Seekers series. The fourth book in the series, HORIZON, is slated for release on November 19, 2013
I have yet to get started on Alyson Noel’s Soul Seekers series but I’ve purchased each of the books so that I eventually can read them all at once. As I’m not sure how many books are planned in the series, it might be awhile before MYSTIC ends up on my reading pile. But it will definitely be part of my collection when it downloads on Tuesday.
I very much enjoyed the author’s The Immortals series. And I thought her middle grade spin-off series was absolutely delightful. So I’m very excited about reading her latest endeavor and meeting Daire Santos.
I did take a peek at the description since I figure that by the time I do read it, I’ll have forgotten what I’ve read. And it sounds incredibly exciting. With someone’s fate hanging in the balance and someone else who plans on destroying the world and everyone Daire loves, this third book in the series sounds so very suspenseful.
Which makes me glad that I will be waiting until each of the books has released before reading them so that I won’t have to wait to continue the story.
This week is absolutely INSANE! There are just way too many amazing books releasing this week, that I have no idea how I’m going to clear them all off the pile without a reading marathon of some kind.
I am so excited for THE 5th WAVE, REBOOT, THE END GAMES, ICONS and IF I SHOULD DIE. And there are a few books that are on my radar that I haven’t yet purchased, like TREMBLE, THE S-WORD, THE ORIGINALS, CHANTRESS and THE LUCY VARIATIONS. All of which I am so very tempted by.
As this post is excessively long I just have to keep this sign-off brief. Because with nine books downloading on Monday Midnight, none of which I’ve yet read, I need to get to the books currently on pile so that I can make some room.
Besides, with all the bookish information above, I doubt you’re interested in hearing me ramble.
So….
I hope you have some amazing titles to add to your collection this week. And I hope that if you’ve missed a few, this post has put them back on your radar.
If any of the books are ones you’ve been anxiously awaiting, I’d love to hear which ones they are! And if, for some reason, there is another book releasing this week that I’ve missed, please let me know. Because I hate missing out on awesome new releases, even if there are a ton of books already being added to my collection.
As always, I would love to hear what you’re hoping to add to your collection this week!
And if you have any great suggestions of “must read” books to buy that are releasing this week, please let me know!
THE ETERNITY CURE by Julie Kagawa will be released in the U.S. on April 30, 2013 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE.
Published by Harlequin TEEN, the print edition is 448 pages.
THE ETERNITY CURE is the second book in author Julie Kagawa’s Blood of Eden series. No information is yet available about the third book in the series.
Goodreads description…
Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.
Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.
THE ETERNITY CURE is the electrifying and wildly entertaining second book in author Julie Kagawa’s Blood of Eden series. Darker, grittier and even more suspenseful than the first, this sequel amps up the action, danger and tension levels, making this an intense, edge-of-your-seat read.
When Allison Sekemoto set off in search of Kanin, his rescue was her only goal. Still struggling with her humanity in this violent and ruthless world where lawlessness abounds, Allie fights to hang on to who she was before she became a predator. But when survival is dependent upon the need to feed, killing is sometimes her only option.
And as her journey leads her farther and farther away from the one thing that keeps her human, the price for Kanin’s safety may be steeper than she ever imagined.
Julie Kagawa has delivered yet another gripping and highly addictive installment in this series. She puts her heroine, Allie, in even greater danger as she attempts to save Kanin from his vicious and bloodthirsty captor, Sarren. She adds a new threat to this already perilous world that is struggling to survive. And she sets it all against a ticking clock, making this read a nail-biter.
The author does a brilliant job of mixing the elements of an epic saga, gritty dystopian and dark paranormal/urban fantasy with a touch of horror in THE ETERNITY CURE. Her characters are interesting and engaging, whether likable or unlikable, and her story captivating from beginning to end.
This second book in the series doesn’t suffer from sophomore slump – it is even more thrilling and action-packed than the first. It doesn’t serve as a bridge – the story could stand on its own. The author didn’t let the world-building suffer – if anything, she expanded upon it.
And while the young adult genre may be flooded with stories of vampires and zombie-like creatures set in a post-plague world, Julie Kagawa’s story and series sets itself apart with its diverse and appealing characters, its exhilarating adventure and the imaginative spin this author brings to each of her stories.
With surprising twists and an even more surprising ally, dangerous new enemies and even deadlier threats, and a betrayal that could cost her everything, Allie’s quest to save her creator in THE ETERNITY CURE is an incredibly exciting adventure with a shocking cliffhanger ending that will keep readers riveted.
Reviewer gives this book…
Like In-N-Out Burger‘s infamous secret menu this one deserves my off-the-menu 6 star rating.
On a personal note…
Oh my gosh this book was so wicked awesome. I LOVED every second of it. It was that good. Scratch that. Great. Scratch that. Amazing.
I did not think Julie Kagawa could top what she wrote in THE IMMORTAL RULES. I loved that book and I was so sure that the follow-up couldn’t get any better. But oh my gosh it did. By a lot.
THE ETERNITY CURE was so off-the-charts good that there are no words to adequately describe just how exciting it was to read. How riveted I was to the page as Allison set off on a quest to find Kanin. How unputdownable it was as the story unfolded. And how absolutely torturous that killer cliffhanger ending was.
Nope. No words…. Exciting. Riveting. Unputdownable. Torturous. I’m not counting those as words. Because they don’t even begin to paint a picture of just how awesome this sequel was. Or how desperate I am to get my hands on the next book in this series.
The description is pretty vague about Allison’s journey to find Kanin. It doesn’t reveal whether or not she makes the journey alone or whether she has a traveling companion or two. So I’m going to try to be just as vague when talking about this book so as not to reveal spoilers.
But what I can talk about – one of the elements in this story that I love, love, loved – is that this already dark world got even darker. A world of humans and vampires that was barely hanging on is now potentially on the verge of extinction due to a new outbreak and contagion.
I’d called the world in THE IMMORTAL RULES grisly, but the grisly in that book doesn’t hold a candle to just how grisly things got in this one. Dark. Grisly. Chilling. Violent. Heartbreaking.
Yes, somewhere amidst the chaos, between the action-packed battles and chases, the race against the clock to find Kanin, the encounters with the Bleeders and Molemen, there were moments that were so unbelievably heartbreaking.
Of course I won’t reveal whether it was just my heart that was broken or whether it was one or more of the author’s characters who suffered a broken heart, too. That little tidbit of information shall be my secret for now.
But there’s so much more to this novel than just darkness and bloodshed. There is plenty of that, but that’s not all that THE ETERNITY CURE delivers. There’s suspense. Tension of the nail-biting variety. A journey that is once again epic. Characters that are interesting and challenging and likable and detestable.
And if I’ve somehow given you the impression that this book is all doom and gloom, let me just add that there are also moments that are incredibly sweet and tender. Moments that will make your heart skip a beat or two.
So, yeah, this book has a little bit of everything and a whole lot of the stuff of awesome. Though that ending did kill me. Not only because of what happened but because it made me so desperate to find out just what comes next and gave me no way to do so.
Favorite passage…
There are three amazing passages I want to include here. And much to my surprise, they’re all Allie and Zeke passages. Given just how much I adore both Kanin and Jackal, it was a complete and total surprise when I narrowed down my very most favorite passages to those three.
Of course choosing one is nearly impossible. Though I suppose I should choose the shortest one as opposed to those longish ones that reveal perhaps a bit too much.
I felt him shift in my arms, holding me tighter, tucking my head under his chin. “Only death will take me away from you, vampire girl,” he whispered. “And even then, I’ll watch over you from wherever I end up.”
The Trailer…
This review is based on an eARC I received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
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