Top Ten Favorite Book Covers Of Books I've Read

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This one was actually harder than I thought since I read so many books over the course of a year. This year has been awesome, and we're not even into June yet!  So, these are the covers that I thought wowed me into requesting from the publishers and library.

These are in no particular order. They're all good!

I humbly believe this is the best cover of the series so far!

I like that you can see the 178 which relates to how long the main character was dead

before coming back to life!

Had to pick this one since it's NYC underwater!

Once again, I really liked this cover the best out of those that have been released!

I chose this once because I adore this series and Darian looks awesome!

As if I wasn't going to pick this cover! I would be remiss in my duties as a blogger!

I like the psychedelic aspects of this cover!

You could say that It would not have mattered what cover I chose from this series!

Love the fact that the artist made her look badass!

 

Can't have a Top 10 without Jay Kristoff's covers!

Cover Loves Monday 05/20/2013

Meridian Six remembers the days before the Troika enslaved humans. She also remembers her mother, a freedom fighter who was murdered in the final battle between humans and vampires. But it is her mother’s final words that have haunted her: 

Red means life.

When M6 finally runs from the vampires who've held her captive, she finds herself used by her own race. Because in a world at war, freedom is a luxury paid for in blood.

Expected publication: June 6, 2013 Ebook

The tenth book in the bestselling and “outstanding” (Romantic Times) Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series finally reveals for the first time the origins of Gin Blanco’s career as the deadliest of assassins.

For the first time, the origins of Gin Blanco’s career as the deadly assassin “the Spider” are revealed in full. In a story that pre-dates the other nine books in the series, Gin Blanco goes through her paces to become the most feared assassin in the Ashland.

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Expected Publication: December 31, 2013 by Pocket Books

No Synopsis as of creation of this post.

Expected Publication: January 14, 2014 by Del Rey

In a steampunk version of America that lost the Revolutionary War, Charmian (Kit) Kittredge makes her living investigating magic crimes and exposing the frauds behind them. While Kit tries to avoid the nobs of high society, as the proprietor of Disenchanted & Co. she follows mysteries wherever they lead.

Lady Diana Walsh calls on Kit to investigate and dispel the curse she believes responsible for carving hateful words into her own flesh as she sleeps. While Kit doesn’t believe in magic herself, she can’t refuse to help a woman subjected nightly to such vicious assaults. As Kit investigates the Walsh family, she becomes convinced that the attacks on Diana are part of a larger, more ominous plot—one that may involve the lady’s obnoxious husband.

Sleuthing in the city of Rumsen is difficult enough, but soon Kit must also skirt the unwanted attentions of nefarious deathmage Lucien Dredmore and the unwelcome scrutiny of police Chief Inspector Thomas Doyle. Unwilling to surrender to either man’s passion for her, Kit struggles to remain independent as she draws closer to the heart of the mystery. Yet as she learns the truth behind her ladyship’s curse, Kit also uncovers a massive conspiracy that promises to ruin her life—and turn Rumsen into a supernatural battleground from which no one will escape alive.

Expected Publication: August 12, 2013 by Pocket Star

 

One on the left is the US version, while the UK version is on the right!

A SHATTERED EMPIRE

The mad Shōgun Yoritomo has been assassinated by the Stormdancer Yukiko, and the threat of civil war looms over the Shima Imperium. The Lotus Guild conspires to renew the nation’s broken dynasty and crush the growing rebellion simultaneously – by endorsing a new Shōgun who desires nothing more than to see Yukiko dead.

A DARK LEGACY

Yukiko and the mighty thunder tiger Buruu have been cast in the role of heroes by the Kagé rebellion. But Yukiko herself is blinded by rage over her father’s death, and her ability to hear the thoughts of beasts is swelling beyond her power to control. Along with Buruu, Yukiko’s anchor is Kin, the rebel Guildsman who helped her escape from Yoritomo’s clutches. But Kin has his own secrets, and is haunted by visions of a future he’d rather die than see realized.

A GATHERING STORM

Kagé assassins lurk within the Shōgun’s palace, plotting to end the new dynasty before it begins. A waif from Kigen’s gutters begins a friendship that could undo the entire empire. A new enemy gathers its strength, readying to push the fracturing Shima imperium into a war it cannot hope to survive. And across raging oceans, amongst islands of black glass, Yukiko and Buruu will face foes no katana or talon can defeat.

The ghosts of a blood-stained past.

Expected publication: September 17, 2013 by Thomas Dunne Books

Kit Colbana: assassin, thief, investigator extraordinaire. Now broken. She always expected her past to catch up with her but never like this. Haunted by nightmares and stripped of her identity, she’s retreated to Wolf Haven, the no-man’s land where she found refuge years before. But while she might want to hide away from the rest of the world, the rest of the world isn’t taking the hint.

Dragged kicking and screaming back into life, Kit is thrust head-first into an investigation surrounding the theft of an ancient relic…one that she wants nothing to do with. Her instincts tell her it’s a bad idea to just leave the relic lying about, but finding it might be just as bad.

Forced to face her nightmares, she uncovers hidden strength and comes face to face with one of the world’s original monsters.

If she survives the job, she won’t be the same…and neither will those closest to her.

Expected publication: 2014

Review: Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker (Ten Tiny Breaths # 1)

*Just breathe, Kacey. Ten Tiny Breaths. Seize them. Feel Them. Love Them."

Ten Tiny Breaths, by K.A. Tucker, is a book that I could absolutely relate to. The subject matter, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, (PTSD), and how it affects one's life if you allow it to control you, is something I've lived with since I was discharged from the Navy many, many years ago. You could also say that Ten Tiny Breaths is a commentary on what happens when one drinks and drives and the aftermath of said actions on the survivors.

Like Kacey Cleary, the lead character, it's something that absolutely ruled and nearly ruined my life until someone stood up and intervened on my behalf not unlike Kacey's sister Livie and best friend Storm. The difference between Kacey and me is that I didn't have a younger sister to worry about and take care of while putting off my own life and emotions on hold. Also like Kacey, I did, at one point, resort to falling into a funk with alcohol but not drugs nor one night stands.

Unlike Kacey however, my PTSD wasn't caused by a drunk driver killing my parents, best friend, and boyfriend while I somehow managed to survive. I also picked up all my belongings, like Kacey, and left my hometown in New York behind to hopefully find a life for myself in Florida before I destroyed everything I valued the most. Yet, PTSD pretty much caused emotional turmoil with each and every job that I found myself sleep walking through and losing a part of me each and every day. Luckily for Kacey, she found a job that she was good enough at and had a fantastic boss and co-workers to surround her self with.

I absolutely loved Livie and the fact that she didn't totally push Kacey away. She wanted Kacey to have a better life and give things a chance before she totally lost her self. I also found myself wanting to hold Storm who came into Livie and Kacey's life after they moved to Miami. Storm was such an interesting character that you really had to like her energy and drive. I even loved Storm's precocious daughter Mia who brightened up this story just with her very presence.

How should I describe Kacey? She's definitely sarcastic and a bit of a wild card. She's definitely broken but not totally down and out. She's got a darkness to her humor that rivals my own. She absolutely loves her sister and would do pretty much anything to protect her including moving 1000 miles away from Michigan to start a new life in Miami. When she allows herself to, her smile lightens up the room and she doesn't allow anyone to push her around. Oh yes, she's got a temper, and an attitude, and is a really good fighter, and nearly goes a little to far in her efforts to protect Storm.

Tuckers final piece of the puzzle, the revelation about who Trent, Kacey's love interest really is, blew my mind away and threw the entire story into a totally different ball park. You knew in the back of your mind that there was something about Trent that was going to come back and bite you in the ass. I would say to readers who find themselves invested in Trent to not get too comfortable. I would also say that this pair is perfectly matched in that they've experienced things few people can relate to.

Lastly, please don't shy away from the subject matter of this book. This book was a fun ride with interesting characters who are put into situations where they struggle to find out how much they can really take before cracking under pressure. It's a story about trying to keep your head above while and not allowing yourself to drown under intense pain and pressure of being a survivor. It's also a story about forgiveness and finding love in a very unusual place.

I am absolutely interested in reading Livie's book, One Tiny Lie, when it releases. Per Amazon, it appears it should be January 2014, with the Ebook releasing June 11, 2013.

Title - Ten Tiny Breaths (Ten Tiny Breaths #1)
Author - K.A. Tucker
Publisher - Atria Books
Released February 12, 2013
Genre: Contemporary New Adult
Received from publisher via Netgalley

Stacking the Shelves for 05/18/2013

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books we received over the course of the past week. As always, this is a fun way to share what books are coming out, and in no way should be considered bragging in any shape or form. The books we receive are from publishers and authors (either directly or through intermediaries like NetGalley and Edelweiss). We also may purchase books from bookstores, or Amazon, and B&N, or borrow them directly from our local library which we should all support!

Thank you SO much for visiting my blog and checking out the books I received over the past week!

I hope you find something to add to your ever growing TBR Pile!

Received from Netgalley or Edelweiss

Thank you each and every publisher who approved me!

William Morrow & Company

Balzer & Bray

Pocket Books

Harper Voyager

Macmillan Children's Publishing Group

Del Ray

Diversion Books

St. Martin's Griffin

Received from directly from Pocket Books

Received from the Library

 

 

Early Review: Night School by C.J. Daugherty (Night School # 1)

"Things are not what they seem. People aren't always who they seem to be." from the ARC of Night School

When I was first introduced to Sixteen year old Alyson (Allie) Sheridan, I felt absolutely no connection to her whatsoever. She was acting out, and getting into trouble and was working on being arrested for a third time. Her parents had finally reached their so called breaking point of what they could take from Allie before they finally did something drastic like say sending her to a mysterious school called Cimmeria Academy. But then something changed and Allie became a much different character with a backbone and a knack for searching out things that have been kept for her. A character that hopefully will grow even more over the course of this series.

Almost immediately there were several questions I had in the back of my mind, okay, no, that's a lie. I actually wrote down several questions within the first 20 percent of this book waiting for each of them to be answered. The first being, why was Allie so easily allowed into Cimmeria? (answered) What really happened to her older brother Christopher that made Allie start acting out and rebelling? (answered) What is the mysterious Night School that NOBODY is allowed to talk about? Is it one of THOSE clubs where what happens in Night School, stays in Night School? Is it a place where supernaturals are bred to take their place in society? And, lastly, of course, Why in the hell was it necessary to have yet ANOTHER 3-Way triangle with the most arrogant boy imaginable?

Since Night School had already been released in the UK (January 1st 2012 by Atom) before hitting the US, there were already hundreds of reviews posted on various web pages. The one question that remains, however, is what category this book should fall into? The cover absolutely does not do this story justice. Nigh School is more of a young adult mystery, suspense novel than anything supernatural. There is a feel of creepiness when the students are told not to wonder off alone without permission and they also have a curfew that only those who are in Night School are able to roam around freely. If Night School was meant to be a supernatural novel, it failed to impress that fact upon me. Since many other reviewers have mentioned that this was supposed to be a paranormal book, I really hope we get to the bottom of it when the next book, Legacy, is released in the US, hopefully sooner, rather than later.

Night School had it's usual share of teenaged angst, mean girls, and subsequent torture of the new girl to ensure that she doesn't feel wanted in the school and loses her friends even though they know ABSOLUTELY nothing about her or her family. We then start to peel away the layers of this book, which includes having one of Allie's suitors, Sylvain, totally go stalker mode on her, and having to be saved by suitor number 2, Carter West just in the nick of time. We find those who actually support and like Allie and help her when she's ready to kick her nemesis's ass!

Let me expound how much this particular love triangle made me throw up a little in my mouth. I really didn't see the Allie-Sylvain hook-up as a necessity to this story. Sylvain is an arrogant prick who gets girls to think they want to be with him and then takes advantage of them when they are compromised. We never really get an idea of who he really is, or why he seems to be so powerful in the school, except for the fact that he comes from a very wealthy family that has ties to the school. Whereas, I could relate and understand the Allie-Carter West connection since they have a lot of things in common, and it just made sense to me.

I will get to the other annoying particular I found hard to digest while reading Night School. Lots, and lots of brutal errors where one character is speaking, say Jo, and it was then switched to say she was someone totally different like Isabelle for example. This happened A LOT and I hope that the finalized version of this story has been run through with a fine tooth comb by editors to checked for these easily catchable errors. Honestly, it's the reason I rated this book with 3 stars and no higher. It's not an attack on the story itself or the writer.

Now, my only real questions left are: Who is Allie's mysterious Grandmother and why is she so secretive and protected? What schemes does Nathaniel have up his sleeve for the school and Isabelle in particular? Why did Allies family not EXPLAIN things a little better to her before sending her off to Cimmeria? What is Allie's mother hiding that she couldn't tell Allie? Why did Christopher REALLY abandon his own family? Bring on Legacy!

Title - Night School (Night School # 1)
Author - C.J. Daugherty
Publisher - Katherine Tegen Books
Releases May 21, 2013
Genre - Young Adult
Received from publisher via Edelweiss

Waiting on Wednesday 05/15/2013

"Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at “Breaking the Spine”, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

This week I am waiting on Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin!

Yes, I realize this book releases on June 11, 2013 by Greenwillow Books!

I decided to do something different with my WOW instead of something months

in advance. ::fingers crossed:: That Greenwillow approves me!

I am happy that this is only a 2 part series instead of a trilogy!

Bethany Griffin continues the journey of Araby Worth in Dance of the Red Death—the sequel to her teen novel Masque of the Red Death.
In Dance of the Red Death, Araby’s world is in shambles—betrayal, death, disease, and evil forces surround her. She has no one to trust. But she finds herself and discovers that she will fight for the people she loves, and for her city.
Her revenge will take place at the menacing masked ball, though it could destroy her and everyone she loves…or it could turn her into a hero.
With a nod to Edgar Allan Poe, Bethany Griffin concludes her tragic and mysterious Red Death series with a heroine that young adult readers will never forget.

Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: June 11th 2013 by Greenwillow Books

Review: Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

Let the Sky Fall is the story about Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston who somehow managed to survive a devastating so called category 5 tornado that took his parents lives and later finds out there's more to his past than meets the eye. It's also about Seventeen-year-old Audra a sylph, or an air elemental who's Vane’s guardian and a part of the so called Gale Force that was put together to stop their nemesis from completely destroying the sylph and capturing the last Weston.

Let the Sky Fall is told in alternating POV's which actually worked in this case since you wanted to know what the characters were feeling about certain revelations, their feelings towards each other, and what the future may bring to them both after their actions. I found the whole idea behind the Sylph to be very interesting and entertaining. I also liked learning about the 4 languages of the various winds: Northerlies, Southerlies, Easterlies, and Westerlies.

Between the two characters, I definitely enjoyed Audra more even though she clearly had a self-sacrificing and self-loathing opinion of herself and her actions on the night Vane's parent's were killed. She gave up Ten years of her life in order to become the youngest guardian and Windwalker in order to protect Vane from being captured by the Gale's nemesis or doing something silly like bonding with a human. Her mother basically turned her back on Audra, yet that didn't stop her from doing her job to the best of her ability. Audra is hands down very tough, determined, and focused on her goals of protecting Vane even with her heart pulling her in different directions. I would, however, liked to have seen more of her background with her father whom it appears she takes her own bravery from. Her father was definitely a driving force in her life before he was taken away saving the Westons.

While Vane isn't a distraction to me, he made it hard to like him at times especially when he makes it known that Audra's wardrobe needed to be skimpier. Obviously stereotypical male shenanigans. It's obvious that readers are going to feel some sympathy for him being the last remaining Weston in existence and realizing that others gave their lives in order from him to survive. In the end, however, my opinions may have changed because he finally understood what he needs to do in order to save Audra and himself from Raiden and his stormers and to become his own person. It's interesting that I actually gave this story props for having a very supportive family option for Vane. It's always nice to see a story that has family members who actually give a crap about what happens to you.

I am one of those readers who expects a whole lot from my stories including suspense, action, no 3-way love triangles, and a story that leaves me wanting more. I expect that if there is going to be a battle, that it's huge, and has many participants and the victors are left bloody and grateful to be alive. Let the Sky Fall, unfortunately, falls a little flat in this area which was a surprise since it built up my anticipation from the first page. While there is a battle, it wasn't enough to say WOW! I'm glad, however, that Messenger tied up the loose ends between Audra and her mother Arella, as well as the truth behind Vane's parent's deaths. Now, we can move forward to the next book and find out what happens to Audra, but especially Vane, and Kaiden who was stirring in the background throughout this book.

Title - Let the Sky Fall (Let the Sky Fall # 1)
Author - Shannon Messenger
Publisher - Simon Pulse
Released - March 5th 2013
Genre - YA Paranormal
Borrowed from my local library