Waiting on Wednesday (125)

Waiting On Wednesday was created by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It's a weekly post for you to share what upcoming books you can't wait for!

This weeks pick is called Wasteland by Susan Kim, released 26th March 2013. Just a note that this is book one in a trilogy!  What do you all think?

Synopsis

Welcome to the Wasteland. Where all the adults are long gone, and now no one lives past the age of nineteen. Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan’s post-apocalyptic debut is the first of a trilogy in which everyone is forced to live under the looming threat of rampant disesase and brutal attacks by the Variants—hermaphroditic outcasts that live on the outskirts of Prin. Esther thinks there’s more to life than toiling at harvesting, gleaning, and excavating, day after day under the relentless sun, just hoping to make it to the next day. But then Caleb, a mysterious stranger, arrives in town, and Esther begins to question who she can trust. As shady pasts unravel into the present and new romances develop, Caleb and Esther realize that they must team together to fight for their lives and for the freedom of Prin.

What are you waiting on?

Waiting on Wednesday (124)

Waiting On Wednesday was created by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It's a weekly post for you to share what upcoming books you can't wait for!

I'm really looking forward to Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans.  For starters it's a strange book title to begin with for the first book in the Memory Chronicles because it makes me think there is a book before it ... but there isn't.  This book will be out in January 2013.

Synopsis

In this gripping exploration of a futuristic afterlife, a teen discovers that death is just the beginning.
 Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow drones, Felicia passes the endless hours reliving memories of her time on Earth and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and Neil, the boy she loved.
 Then a girl in a neighboring chamber is found dead, and nobody but Felicia recalls that she existed in the first place. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, Felicia learns the truth: If she joins the rebellion to overthrow the Morati, the angel guardians of Level 2, she can be with Neil again.
 Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself at the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.

What are you waiting on?

Reached by Ally Condie

Title:  Reached

Author:  Ally Condie

Genre:  Young Adult

Publisher:  Penguin (Imprint: RazorBill)

Publication Date:  13th November 2012

ISBN:  9780141333083

Stand alone or series:   Matched # 3

Pages:  520 pages

Book Received from:  Penguin (Publisher)

First Lines:  Every morning, the sun comes up and turns the earth red, and I think: This could be the day when everything changes.

Possible spoilers if you haven't read the previous two books!

Synopsis:Cassia faces the ultimate choices in the long-anticipated conclusion to the "New York Times" bestselling Matched Trilogy After leaving Society and desperately searching for the Rising--and each other--Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again: Cassia has been assigned to work for the Rising from within Society, while Ky has been stationed outside its borders. But nothing is as predicted, and all too soon the veil lifts and things shift once again. In this gripping conclusion to the #1 "New York Times" bestselling Matched Trilogy, Cassia will reconcile the difficulties of challenging a life too confining, seeking a freedom she never dreamed possible, and honoring a love she cannot live without.

My Thoughts:
Waiting for this to come out was .... to be honest a little painful!  I really wanted to find out where Ky and Cassia would end up and what the final book had to offer.

I must admit that picking this one up it was a little hard to get back into the story.  One of the big reasons for that was that I'd read so many books since Crossed that it took at least a chapter to find my bearings with what the characters were up to.  In saying that I was pretty excited to find that we not only read from Ky and Cassia's POV but we get to hear from Xander.

All three characters are separated from eachother when the book begins.  Cassia is stuck back in central, Ky is flying planes and Xander is a medical assistant.  Something I felt was a big step from the ending of Crossed.  I did find that throughout the story I felt a bit sorry for Xander.  He's a little bit of a third wheel when it comes to the three characters but we also get to see more of what he can contribute to the story as a whole and I did really grow to love Xander.

I am a bit sad that this is the final book in the Matched story.  I really enjoyed Ally's worldbuilding.  I think the biggest thing I liked about this was how sucked into the story I was with all three characters.  All three are so different.  Ky, who is willing to grit his teeth and do as he's told so he doesn't wreck his chances of getting back to Cassia.  Xander, who puts others first and does everything he can to help regardless of the situation and how it will affect him.  And Cassia, who when she puts her mind to something will get things done and will go that extra mile just to make it back to the others.

Another thing that the Matched series has taught me was to never take for granted the choices we make because they are "Our Choices" not the Society's.  I couldn't imagine living in a world where you couldn't write down on paper thoughts and ideas or to share songs and art that aren't on an approved list.  How crazy would that be?

Recommended reading for sure!  Loved this

 

Fave Line:  Newrose, oldrose, Queen Anne's Lace.
                    Water, river stone, and sun.
                    Wind over hill, under tree.
                    Past the border none can see.
                    Climbing into dark for you.
                    Will you wait in stars for me? - page 292

Silverbirch: Fall of the Epicenter by Robert Kaay

Title:  Silverbirch: Fall of the Epicenter

Author:  Robert Kaay

Genre:  Fantasy

Publisher:  Self Published

Publication Date:  11th October 2012

ISBN:  9780980687767

Stand alone or series:   Silverbirch #2

Pages:  270 pages

Book Received from:  Author

First Lines:  It's funny how human beings feel the need to pay respect to the dead by attending a funeral.

Synopsis: Although Nudge hates the red lightning-bolt mushrooms, if he doesn't manage to find their source, he has no chance of reuniting with his soul mate.

My Thoughts:
Silverbirch: Fall of the Epicenter is the second book in the Silverbirch series and I was very interested to see how Nudge the main character was going to manage now that he'd lost almost everyone he'd cared about.

Robert takes the fantasy up a notch in this book.  We not only are dealing with one race outside of the human one but three and it sure makes things interesting.  When I first got this book I looked at the front and thought.. "I wonder how this ties in."

The one thing I definitely loved about Nudge was the more he tried to help, the more it seemed to dig himself a bigger hole in the human world.

I'm also glad that we get to meet back up with Chase and Hayley once again but this time things are a little different.

Also for me, I felt that book two didn't have quite as much action as the first one.  That was one thing that made book one really awesome.  Book two is focused alot more on the finding more mushrooms and working a plan to reunite with his friends.  But I must say the glitches along the way make Nudge shine as a main character.

I look forward to were the Silverbirch story ends especially with the way Robert has tied things up at the end of this book.

  

Waiting on Wednesday (123)

Waiting On Wednesday was created by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It's a weekly post for you to share what upcoming books you can't wait for!

I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on Fractured by Teri Terry, the second book in the Slated series.  This won't be due out until 2nd May 2013!  Don't you just love the cover!!

Synopsis
Kyla's memory has been erased, her personality wiped blank, her memories lost for ever.
 Or so she thought.
 Kyla shouldn't be able to remember anything. But she can - and she's beginning to realise that there are a lot of dark secrets locked away in her memories. When a mysterious man from her past comes back into her life, she thinks she's on her way to finding the truth. But the more she learns about her history, the more confusing her future becomes...

What are you waiting on?

Sneak by Evan Angler Book Trailer

Swipe's book trailer was really cool.  So here is the second book in the Swipe series.  Enjoy!

 

Waiting on Wednesday (120)

Waiting On Wednesday was created by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It's a weekly post for you to share what upcoming books you can't wait for!

Looking forward to reading this one!  Unremembered by Jessica Brody will be out in early March 2013.

Synopsis

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe. Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world. Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them. Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget? From popular young adult author, Jessica Brody comes a mesmerizing and suspenseful new series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten.

What are you waiting on?

Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick

Title:  Shadows

Author:  Ilsa J. Bick

Genre:  Young Adult

Publisher:  EgmontUSA

Publication Date:  25th September

ISBN:  9781606843789

Stand alone or series:   Ashes Trilogy #2

Pages:  525 pages

Book Received from:  Publisher - EgmontUSA (Galley)

First Lines:  FUBAR: That was Jed's name for it.  Once a Marine, always a Marine

Synopsis: The end of the world in Ashes was just the beginning. Now Alex must face the realization that Rule was not the safe haven she thought. In fact, the people there are protecting themselves by feeding The Changed. Shadows picks up right where Ashes left off, but before anything in this dystopian world improves, it will get worse. A whole lot worse.

My Thoughts:
I was so excited when I requested it and it was approved.  I'd been hanging to find out what had become of Alex, the Changed and most of all Tom.

After reading Ashes, I was thrown a bit when in Shadows it's not just Alex's POV that we have.  Now with extra main characters including Tom the story's action seems a constant.  I'm not complaining, but alot of chapters end us on a cliffhanger which I have to admit pushed me through the story that little bit quicker.

I'm confused about a few things but.  Ellie isn't in this story at all.  There are a few mentions of her but it's like she has dropped off the face of the earth.  Even though she was quite annoying in the first book I had begun to like her towards the end.  

I also like how Ilsa has made the whole "Changed" concept an evolving sickness - if that's what it is.  I do worry about the other main characters but. 

We are also confronted with another group known as the Bounty Hunters/Private Militia.  While I won't say too much on this part I hope that their plans backfire on them.

There are a few parts where I felt the scenes stretched a little long for me.  I did find myself wanting to put the book down nearing the climax.  I did like reading about the other main characters but only two mattered for me the most: Tom and Alex.  I find it hard with some series when the author introduces more characters into the narrative that were only secondary characters in the first book.  It sometimes takes a whole book before some characters grow on me and I felt that only the main characters from Ashes really stuck with me over the others.  

Shadows is a great addition to the Ashes Trilogy.  Expect action, gore - a fair amount of it, and the urge to yell at the characters every now and then.  I look forward to reading the next book in the Trilogy.  Oh.. and remember, Ilsa likes her cliffhangers :)

Waiting on Wednesday (117)

Waiting On Wednesday was created by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It's a weekly post for you to share what upcoming books you can't wait for!

This week's pic is Revolution 19 by Gregg Rosenblum.  Revolution will be out in January 2013 so keep an eye out!

Synopsis

Twenty years ago, the robots designed to fight our wars abandoned the battlefields. Then they turned their weapons on us.

Nick, Kevin, and Cass have spent their whole lives in a community in the wilderness, hiding out from the robots that have enslaved mankind. But when the bots discover their location, they barely make it out alive — only to discover that their home has been destroyed and everyone killed or captured. Now, the siblings must risk everything to save the only people they have left in the world.

Preorder Revolution at Book Depository!

What are you waiting on?

The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse Book Trailer

This looks good!

Waiting on Wednesday (113)

Waiting On Wednesday was created by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It's a weekly post for you to share what upcoming books you can't wait for!

I absolutely cannot wait for Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick the second book in the Ashes Trilogy. We won't have to wait too long either as it will be released 25th September!

Synopsis

The Apocalypse does not end.

The Changed will grow in numbers.
The Spared may not survive.

Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she thought Rule was a sanctuary for her and those she'd come to love.

But she was wrong.

Now she's in the fight of her life against the adults who would use her, the survivors who don't trust her, and the Changed who would eat her alive.

Welcome to Shadows, the second book in the haunting apocalyptic Ashes Trilogy: where no one is safe and humans may be the worst of the monsters.

What are you waiting on?

Waiting on Wednesday (105)

Waiting On Wednesday was created by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It's a weekly post for you to share what upcoming books you can't wait for!

Erasing Time by C.J. Hill sounds pretty awesome.  This one doesn't come out until 28th August 2012.  So keep an eye out!

Synopsis:
In this high-action and romantic futuristic adventure, there is no escape from the future for two contemporary girls pulled out of their own time.

When twins Sheridan and Taylor wake up 400 years in the future, they find a changed world: domed cities, no animals, and a language that’s so different, it barely sounds like English. And the worst news: They can’t go back home.

The twenty-fifth-century government transported the girls to their city hoping to find a famous scientist to help perfect a devastating new weapon. The moblike Dakine fights against the government, and somehow Taylor and Sheridan find themselves in the middle. The only way to elude them all is to trust Echo, a guy with secrets of his own. The trio must put their faith in the unknown to make a harrowing escape into the wilds beyond the city.

Full of adrenaline-injected chases and heartbreaking confessions, Erasing Time explores the strength of the bonds between twins, the risks and rewards of trust, and the hard road to finding the courage to fight for what you believe in

Pre-order Erasing Time at Book Depository!

What are you waiting on?

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi Book Trailer

I can't wait to get to reading this one!

Waiting on Wednesday (92)

Waiting On Wednesday was created by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It's a weekly post for you to share what upcoming books you can't wait for!

I quickly added Yesterday by C.K. Kelly Martin to my TBR List.  The cover is absolutely awesome!  This one won't be out until 25th Septemer 2012 though.

Synopsis
THEN: The formation of the UNA, the high threat of eco-terrorism, the mammoth rates of unemployment and subsequent escape into a world of virtual reality are things any student can read about in their 21st century textbooks and part of the normal background noise to Freya Kallas's life. Until that world starts to crumble.

NOW: It's 1985. Freya Kallas has just moved across the world and into a new life. On the outside, she fits in at her new high school, but Freya feels nothing but removed. Her mother blames it on the grief over her father's death, but how does that explain the headaches and why do her memories feel so foggy? When Freya lays eyes on Garren Lowe, she can't get him out of her head. She's sure that she knows him, despite his insistence that they've never met. As Freya follows her instincts and pushes towards hidden truths, the two of them unveil a strange and dangerous world where their days may be numbered. Unsure who to trust, Freya and Garren go on the run from powerful forces determined to tear them apart and keep them from discovering the truth about their shared pasts (and futures), her visions, and the time and place they really came from.

Pre-order Yesterday at Book Depository now!

What are you waiting on?

Silverbirch by Rob Kaay

Title:  Silverbirch; A Tear in The Fabric of the Night Sky

Author:  Rob Kaay

Genre:  Urban Fantasy/Speculative Fiction/Sci Fi

Publisher:  RobKaay Publishing

Publication Date:  26th January 2010

ISBN:  9780980687712

Stand alone or series:   Series

Pages:  222 pages

Book Received from:  Author

First Lines:   You can only control a person when they are not in control of themselves.  This is the most important rule

Synopsis:
Silverbirch; A Tear in the Fabric of the Night Sky

Part I

By eating an extremely rare mushroom that has a red lightning bolt image naturally built-in to its black-gilled underbelly, Nudge discovers he can create a tear in the fabric of the night sky that will allow his soul to legally leave Earth and enter Silverbirch.

My Thoughts:
I've read a few books so far this year but this will officially be my first review book.  And what an awesome read it was!

Silverbirch wasn't like anything I'd read before.  It's short and quite a quick read but I managed to drag it out to savour it.  The beginning almost quite literally goes off with a bang and it starts with a very interesting first line.  Once I was through the very first page it's hard to stop reading.

Nudge is the main character in this book and it's his ninth birthday where everything begins.  Nudge, Hayley, Dieter, Chase and Zoe stumble across a mysterious box in an abandoned house that will forever change each of them.  From then on things get quite complicated for each character.

I found Silverbirch to be well written and kept me on the edge of my chair.  I was amazed at how well Rob Kaay linked different parts of the story and by the end you can see how each part fit in, and contributed to where they ended up.

I want to say so much more but at the same time I don't want to ruin it for others.  If you want a brilliantly written, fast paced and quick read.  Give this one a try.

Fave Line:  Sometimes you only have two seconds to make a decision, except in this case, someone else was making it for me.

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Title:  Ashes

Author:  Ilsa J. Bick

Genre:  Young Adult/Horror/Speculative Fiction

Publisher:  Pan Macmillan (Imprint: Quercus)

Publication Date:  1st October 2011

ISBN:  9780857382627

Stand alone or series:   Ashes Trilogy #1

Pages:  352 pages

Book Received from:  Pan Macmillan (Publishers)

First Lines:  "Where are you?"  Aunt Hanna demanded as soon as Alex thumbed talk.  "What do you think you're doing?"

Synopsis:
Alex has run away and is hiking through the wilderness with her dead parents' ashes, about to say goodbye to the life she no longer wants to live. But then the world suddenly changes. An electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky zapping every electronic device and killing the vast majority of adults. For those spared, it's a question of who can be trusted and who has changed...
Everyone still alive has turned – some for the better (those who acquired a superhuman sense) while others for the worse (those who acquired a taste for human flesh). Desperate to find out what happened and to avoid the zombies that are on the hunt, Alex meets up with Tom – an Army veteran who escaped one war only to find something worse at home – and Ellie, a young girl whose grandfather was killed by the electromagnetic pulse.
This improvised family will have to use every ounce of courage they have just to find food, shelter, while fighting off the "Changed" and those desperate to stay alive.
A tense and involving adventure with shocks and sudden plot twists that will keep teen and adult readers gripped.

My Thoughts:
I don't know where to start here really.  Ashes is one of those books I would have come across eventually if it hadn't been for Pan Macmillan that had sent this to me.  I must admit, on Goodreads one of the covers where it has the face with the striped pattern over it did kind of turn me off the book initially.

I was thoroughly surprised when I started reading Ashes.  The main character Alex is terminally ill with a tumour in the brain.  The kind of sick you don't generally come back from if it's in the last stages.  So it was quite unusual to have a character that is as sick as this, at the beginning.  What gets my attention even more is that she takes it upon herself to go hiking with her dead parents ashes.  She meets Jack and Ellie while hiking and that's where the EMP (aka Electromagnetic pulse) hits.

Before I go on, I will have to say this.  Ellie was the most annoying snotty nosed character in the beginning!  It was irritating to the point I'd call it authentic lol.  Thankfully it doesn't last for very long and with the story moving along it falls into the background.

The story itself is fast past, edge of your seat reading for roughly 300 or so pages.  There is a lull right after that but the way the authors done it, it seems deliberate.  Kind of lulling you into a that false comfort of belonging. But that doesn't last though.  The end is left on a cliffhanger.

Ashes is an awesome read.  It's gory and will have you turning the pages fast to find out if Alex can outrun the changed humans.  A great addition to Young Adult reading.