Category: Upcoming Books
The Best and Worst of May 2015
Okay, wow. May just flew by in the blink of an eye. Partly because I was so anxious for my New York trip and partly because work has been insanely busy now that all the tourists have started coming up to the lake. Obviously my trip to New York was my absolute highlight and I had an amazing time there but May has overall been pretty good. I’m almost sad that it’s over because now I really don’t have anything to look forward to until I start the process of moving to the city in mid-August. That will be a relief.
Stats-wise May was pretty good as well. I received a total of 6,367 views with 4,132 of those being unique views. That’s higher than average in part because my post about a certain author got serious Facebook and Twitter attention at least twice when he attacked yet another editor. It’s not surprising and I’m glad my post is getting the word out there that publishing houses need to avoid this guy. I hope that in some way I’ve prevented someone else going through the same thing.
So what were the most popular posts this May?
1. Why Girls Hate Game of Thrones—A Rebuttal
2. The Day an Author Suggested I Kill Myself
3. How to Read 100 Pages in an Hour
4. The Hunger Games and Ancient Rome
5. The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
There’s absolutely nothing new here except for the order. My author attack post hasn’t been #2 probably since the month I actually published it. And that’s because of the aforementioned Twitter and Facebook discoveries by random people. I don’t have Facebook so I wasn’t able to snoop but we did have a good discussion on Twitter about how to deal with this sort of thing. It was sort of heartening to reaffirm that most people in the online book industry don’t have to go through crazy rants and suicide suggestions.
Okay, so what were the worst posts this month?
1. The Redheaded Stepchild by Kelly I. Hitchcock
2. Sondok: Princess of the Moon and Stars by Sheri Holman
3. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
4. Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran
5. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Wow, I think these are all new and for the first time a George R. R. Martin book has featured on the ‘worst’ list. That’s really, really surprising when you consider the fact that the TV show is going on right now. I guess I didn’t mention sex and nudity enough in my review like I did in my rebuttal post in the ‘best’ list!
That was my May. How was yours?
Excerpt and Giveaway: Sworn to Transfer by Terah Edun
BOOK TWO
Terah Edun
(The Courtlight Series #2)
Publication date: September 20, 2013
Synopsis:
Companion trainee Ciardis Weathervane has won the friendship of the royal heir and saved his claim to the throne. Yet her interference in the inheritance rights leaves more harm done than good. With the death of the Princess Heir, the Ameles forest – the home of the kith, is dying. The inhabitants of the forest, magic-wielding non-humans, are defiant. They have not forgotten their long struggles nor are they content to watch as the last of their lands perish. As humans begin to die in gruesome deaths, the Emperor dispatches the royal heir to the forests with the solution to the kith concerns.
With enemies closing ranks in Sandrin, Ciardis can little afford to leave the city’s nest of vipers to take on a new task. But she’s given no choice when her loyalty to the crown and courts are called into question.
To keep the Companions’ Guild happy and the favor of the Imperial Court, Ciardis will be tested in frightening new ways, especially when she’s faced with an obstacle that could risk the lives of her friends and the family she never thought she had.
This second novel continues the story of Ciardis Weathervane from Sworn To Raise.
Add to your To-Reads on Goodreads
Available September 20 from Amazon, Barnes & Nobles + iTunes!
Books to look Forward to
City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
I’m having mixed feelings about this one, mostly because I haven’t read City of Lost Souls yet. Cassandra Clare’s writing has improved with time, but it will be interesting to see how she can end a series. The tentative release date for this, according to the official site is September 2014, so I’ll have plenty of time to catch up.
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
This is one of the few Cassandra Clare series I’m actually caught up in and I can’t wait for the last book, Clockwork Princess. After the tragic discovery at the end of Clockwork Prince, it will be interesting to see who Tess chooses and where Cassandra Clare decides to end the series. This one releases March 19, 2013.
The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare
Is this woman human? Well, obviously not at the rate she writes. Although it’s very tentative, The Dark Artifices is another series set in the modern day about Shadowhunters. This time it’s in Los Angeles, but Cassandra Clare dropped hints in a very spoilery interview that City of Heavenly Fire will change the world of Shadowhunting forever. So far all we know about The Dark Artifices series is that it follows Emma Carstairs, the most skilled Shadowhunter since Jace Wayland, and her partner Julian Blackthorn. Of course the two will have conflicted feelings, but it will be interesting to see how Cassandra Clare handles a protagonist who is very strong from the start. Clary herself went through a huge character arc to become a strong protagonist, but it sounds like Emma is already strong. Interesting, no?
Shattered Secrets by Krystal Wade
Abigail Nichols must decide if she trusts the boy she loves, a book that knows more about her than she does, or her instincts, because if she doesn’t, her world just might shatter.
After such a great finish to her Darkness Falls trilogy, I can’t wait for the latest Krystal Wade book. Unfortunately, there’s not even a tentative release date, just this awesome word counter on her website. Knowing how fast she writes, I think we can look forward to another Krystal Wade book in the new year.
The White Princess by Philippa Gregory
Other than a mention on Wikipedia and a page on Goodreads, there’s not much to go on. We know it’s going to be the fifth book in The Cousin’s War series and it’s going to be about Elizabeth of York, daughter of Elizabeth Woodville. She was mother of King Henry VIII, which means she was obviously overshadowed by her son. Who was she? What were her motivations? What was her relationship with Henry VII like? I guess we’ll just have to wait!
Wilde’s Meadow Releases Tomorrow!
Happy endings are hard to find, and even though Katriona is in the middle of a war with someone who’s already stolen more than she can replace, she aches for a positive future with her Draíochtans.
Armed with hope, confidence in her abilities, and a strange new gift from her mother, Kate ventures into the Darkness to defeat a fallen god.
Losses add up, and new obstacles rise to stand in the way. Is the one determined to bring Encardia light strong enough to keep fighting, or will all the sacrifices to stop those who seek domination be for nothing?
As you guys can probably tell, I’m pretty excited about the release of Wilde’s Meadow, even though I was lucky enough to obtain an ARC again. This is the last book in the Darkness Falls trilogy and if you haven’t already read the first book, Wilde’s Fire, you should. You will not be able to put it down.
New and Upcoming Books
Well, it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these articles, so let’s take a look at some new and upcoming book releases, shall we?
Son by Lois Lowry.
This released on October 2 of this year. Honestly, I didn’t even know it existed until my little sister startled practically jumping up and down with excitement. She loves The Giver series and has ordered it from the bookstore, but I’m not quite so sure about it. I mean, The Giver itself was published in 1993! Even Messenger, the supposed last book in the trilogy was published in 2004. 8 years is a long time to take a break from any book world, but it should be interesting to see how Lois Lowry ties the story of Water Claire in with Jonas. Expect a review soon as soon as I pry the book from my sister’s hands!
Wilde’s Meadow by Krystal Wade.
Wilde’s Meadow is a book I’m eagerly looking forward to and I won’t have to wait much longer because the release date is November 5. Krystal Wade, in her cruelty, has been taunting me on Twitter for many months about the trilogy and in one conversation she said she cried while writing the end. That does not spell a happy ending for the poor lovers. Am I predicting an operatic tragedy? No, but I don’t think the trilogy will have a sunshine and roses ending either. If you haven’t already read Krystal Wade’s amazing debut trilogy, I highly suggest you go and buy yourself Wilde’s Fire right now. You won’t regret it.
The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa.
This is one of the books I received from NetGalley, but it won’t be released to the general public until October 23. As someone who immensely enjoyed her Iron Fey series, I can tell you that the new Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten trilogy is a worthwhile read. Fans will fall in love with Ethan Chase, who is now eighteen and in danger from the world of Faery, just like his sister once was. He’s an interesting character and of course, we get to see some old favourites from the first Iron Fey series. Prophecies, doomed love, forbidden love and action…you couldn’t ask for more in a spin-off trilogy.
Venom by Fiona Paul.
This is one of the few books I’ve never read, never heard about until now that has actually made me excited for its release. Taking place in Renaissance Italy, a time period that has been woefully neglected, it promises love, murder and intrigue. I suspect it will be more of a fantasical historical fiction than a straight historical fiction, but I do enjoy those just as much. The series name, Secrets of the Eternal Rose is also pretty eye-catching, so Fiona Paul will be an author to watch. Venom releases on October 30, 2012.
Well, these are the books I’m excited about this month. How about you?