WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

"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's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Description

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends. The special Collector’s First Edition will include a never-before-seen letter from Will to his family!
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

About the Author

Cassandra Clare made her fiction debut with The Mortal Instruments series, which has been on many bestseller lists. Cassandra lives in an old Victorian house in western Massachusetts with her husband, their cats, and lots and lots of books. Visit her website at cassandraclare.com. Learn more about The Mortal Instruments series at mortalinstruments.com. Learn more about The Infernal Devices at theinfernaldevices.com.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (December 6, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416975888
• ISBN-13: 978-1416975885

These books are all so perfect!  

BOOK TRAILER TUESDAY: Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

REVIEW: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Description

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

About the Author

Richelle Mead (www.richellemead.com) is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Vampire Academy series. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill (August 23, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595143173
• ISBN-13: 978-1595143174

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS


MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Please note:  I have not read the Vampire Academy series.  I own them, but just haven't had the time to read them yet.  I don't know anything about the characters in that series except what the blurbs say.  This is supposed to be the adult spin off for the series, but after reading it, I think that since it mostly takes place in a private high school setting with a character just out of high school, it should probably qualify as young adult.  The whole thing reminded me a bit of 21 Jump Street, where adults infiltrate a high school to solve a crime, except they are there to protect a vampire princess from being murdered.

It took me about 150 pages to really get into it.  I thought it was mostly a set up for the series to come but since I really like Richelle Mead's humor and writing style, I stuck with it and was glad I did.  Sydney is an Alchemist and is selected to protect Jill against a plot to murder her step sister, the new vampire queen.  Sydney has done something terrible in her past and is now trying to overcome that issue (she helped a vampire -- which I guess is akin to helping dirt), and with better living through chemistry she learns to blend into the high school without being too much of a nerd.  Overall, there is a lot of action towards the end of the story and I think I would read the next one in the series.  You should probably the Vampire Academy series first to really enjoy this one.  I need to start reading them.

GUEST POST! Animals and Reading by The Familiars Authors

Please welcome Adam Jay Epstein and 

Andrew Jacobson to BookHounds YA!

Books about animals are as fundamental to growing up as your ABC’ and learning long division. Everybody’s got their favorite animal characters from when they were a kid, those that stuck with you and oft times felt more human than many of the human characters you read about. Books about dogs dying like Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows were too sad for our sensitive souls. Real, non-talking animals books like An Incredible Journey and Call of the Wild were kind of boring, and could have used a dose of magic. New school animal books like Redwall, Guardians of Ga’hoole, and The Warriors simply don’t hold much of a nostalgic place in our heart.

5. “Garfield” by Jim Davis and “Calvin and Hobbes” by Bill Waterson

Andrew goes with Garfield, the lazy, lasagna-eating, Monday-hating cat. He found something funny about his antics with John and Odie. Adam counters with Calvin and Hobbes. The philosophical, rambling stuffed tiger felt similar enough to Adam’s childhood stuffed monkey that it seemed downright autobiographical.

4. “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH” by Robert C. O’Brian and “Watership Down” by Richard Adams

At a young age, reading these creepy tales gave us both a fright, but their dystopic animal worlds haunted us…in a good way. And bonus points for “The Secrets of NIMH” animated movie.

3. “Home for a Bunny” and “The Color Kittens” by Margaret Weiss Brown

The first two animal books that Adam read. One a naturalistic tale of a bunny that just wants to find a place to live; the other a surrealist picture book about two cats that mix paint to make all the colors in the world.

2. “Charlotte’s Web” and “Stuart Little” by E.B. White

White’s stories are timeless tales that both exemplify and transcend the animal genre. Choosing between them is a tough one indeed, but the edge has to go to “Charlotte’s Web” since Andrew played Wilbur in a grade school class play.

1. “Curious George” by H.A. Rey

Adam loved monkeys. Especially mischievous ones. He wanted to have his own, and it was nice to read a story about a monkey who was misbehaving…and getting into some pretty dangerous situations. These were early adventure tales that were pretty irresistible. While George never said a thing, you always knew what he was thinking.

Did we forget any of your favorites? Tell us what your number 1 animal book is....

The Familiars: Secrets of the Crown is in bookstores and online September 6th. Please visit www.thefamiliars.com to learn more.

CHECK BACK HERE  ON AUGUST 31 FOR A SPECIAL GIVEAWAY.  

Leave a comment here and I will add it on as an extra entry!

GIVEAWAY! My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent

 

 

Description

Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them.
Until something does.
Demon breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked.
And so is someone else…

About the Author

Rachel Vincent's urban fantasy novels have been causing a buzz in the US, with her fresh, hip and compelling style. Rachel also runs an active blog at urbanfantasy.blogspot.com. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

 Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373210051
• ISBN-13: 978-0373210053

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK? 

PLEASE NOTE:  This is a used copy, still in good condition. It needs a new home.

Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a reliable mailing address (PO Boxes OK!)

Contest ends on 9.4.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 9.5.11

Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is sponsored by the author and ME and ONE copy is available.

Complete the below form
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AND THE WINNER IS: Mommy Brings Home the Bacon by Nikki Mark

LISA -
lag110

An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam).  The winner(s)  has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: Fetching by Kiera Stewart

"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's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Book Description

Age Level: 10-14

Olivia has just about had it with the popular kids at school. She and her friends have done nothing to deserve humiliating pranks and mean name-calling, but that doesn’t stop queen bee Brynne from tormenting them. If only Olivia’s classmates were more like the dogs she helps her grandmother train—poorly behaved, but improvable. Then Olivia hatches a brilliant plan: she and her friends will modify their tormentors’ behavior with the same kind of training that works on dogs. Using cues and responses, distractions and rewards, gets better results than anyone could have guessed. Soon, Olivia and her friends have replaced Brynne as alpha-dogs. But will popularity get Olivia what she really wants?

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10-14
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (November 8, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423138457
• ISBN-13: 978-1423138457

THIS BOOK IS ON MY MUST READ IT LIST!

There:  done yelling.  Doesn't this look really cute?