Cover Love: The Crown

The cover for the last book in Kiera Cass's The Selection series, The Crown hit today, and, keeping up the tradition of stunning covers, here's another beauty:

What do you think of Eadlyn's new look?

The Crown is due May 3rd 2016.

Cover Love: Remembrance

It's finally here! After all the waiting, the cover for Meg Cabot's new Mediator book, Remembrance, is officially out there!

What did you guys think?

Remembrance is scheduled for a 2016 release.

Cover Love: Glass Sword

This just in! The stunning cover for the sequel to Red Queen. If you, like me, thought they'd have trouble topping the awesome that was the cover of Red Queen... well. I'll let you decide for yourself.
Personally, I think they're both gorgeous, but also incredibly similar? This one has less blood on it, but... yeah...

According to Yahoo! Movies, "When Glass Sword opens, Maven has betrayed Mare and his brother, Cal, and the two have been rescued by the Scarlet Guard. In addition to fighting the segregation that torments the red-blooded masses, Mare will be seeking out other Reds like her. Where the first book cover showed an upside-down crown dripping red blood, the new one follows suit, this time with a crown made of glass swords and dripping both red and silver blood, a symbol, Aveyard told us, meant to show that “both sides are going to have problems this time around.”

(Back) Cover Love: Queen of Shadows

It's up, it's up, it's up! The gorgeous back cover of Queen of Shadows! I have to say, I've never seen back covers provide such excitement anywhere other than the Throne of Glass fandom. Still, who can blame us, since we get these awesome Aelin poses + beautiful dresses, right? ;)

I haven't read the first three chapters, because I know it'll only make the wait worse. Have any of you read it? (no spoilers if you have!)

ps: okay, I know, I know. It's been nearly a month. I'm sorry. Real life got in the way. I snapped my ACL during an (unusual) bout of sport (this is why I don't do the damn things normally, I tell you), so had to have surgery, and now I've got an awesome work experience at Michael O'Mara Books for two weeks, doing publicity. So it's all been a little busy, as you can imagine, and I've had zero time to actually sit down and read more than 10 pages at a time. I have a long train journey in front of me this weekend though, so planning on getting some quality time with my TBR then; hopefully have a review up early next week.

Cover Love: Dangerous Lies

Stella Gordon is not her real name. Thunder Basin, Nebraska, is not her real home. This is not her real life.
After witnessing a lethal crime, Stella Gordon is sent to the middle of nowhere for her own safety before she testifies against the man she saw kill her mother’s drug dealer.
But Stella was about to start her senior year with the boyfriend she loves. How can she be pulled away from the only life she knows and expected to start a new one in Nebraska? Stella chafes at her protection and is rude to everyone she meets. She’s not planning on staying long, so why be friendly? Then she meets Chet Falconer and it becomes harder to keep her guard up, even as her guilt about having to lie to him grows.
As Stella starts to feel safer, the real threat to her life increases—because her enemies are actually closer than she thinks… 

Dangerous Lies is due to be published November 10th.

Cover Love: The Mirror King

Look at the pretty! If The Orphan Queen was stunning, this one is just... *drools*

Wilhelmina has a hundred enemies.

HER FRIENDS HAVE TURNED. After her identity is revealed during the Inundation, Princess Wilhelmina is kept prisoner by the Indigo Kingdom, with the Ospreys lost somewhere in the devastated city. When the Ospreys’ leader emerges at the worst possible moment, leaving Wil’s biggest ally on his deathbed, she must become Black Knife to set things right. 

HER MAGIC IS UNCONTROLLABLE. Wil’s power is to animate, not to give true life, but in the wraithland she commanded a cloud of wraith mist to save herself, and later ordered it solid. Now there is a living boy made of wraith—destructive and deadly, and willing to do anything for her.

HER HEART IS TORN. Though she’s ready for her crown, declaring herself queen means war. Caught between what she wants and what is right, Wilhelmina realizes the throne might not even matter. Everyone thought the wraith was years off, but already it’s destroying Indigo Kingdom villages. If she can’t protect both kingdoms, soon there won’t be a land to rule.

In this stunning conclusion to THE ORPHAN QUEEN, Jodi Meadows follows Wilhelmina’s breathtaking and brave journey from orphaned criminal on the streets to magic-wielding queen.

The Mirror King is scheduled for an April 5th release.

Cover Love: Red's Untold Tale

Just up today, the cover for the companion piece to ABC's show Once Upon a Time, Red's Untold Tale looks gorgeous and might actually help me get my Ruby fix - I've missed her pretty face on my screen!


Being released on September 22nd, Red's Untold Tale will "explore an earlier chapter in the life of one of our most beloved characters. Plagued by nightmares she doesn't understand and a temper she can't control, 16 year-old Red struggles to save Granny's troubled business and to nurture her budding romance with Peter even as the betrayal of her classmates awakens the wolf within."

To those of you who don't watch the show (you should!), Red is their retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. I won't give anything away, but they definitely put a twist to the story!

Cover Love: Endure

Just out today, hot off the press, is the gorgeous cover for the third - and final, sadly - novel in the Defy series.

The remarkable third novel in Sara B. Larson's bestselling Defy series!
At last, Alexa and King Damian are engaged to be married. But their lives are far from safe. The kingdom of Antion is under siege, and Rylan is a prisoner of the enemy. Even worse, Alexa remains at the mercy of the evil Dansiian Rafe, who controls her mind and can force Alexa to kill or harm Damian at any moment. Despite this, Alexa is determined to rescue Rylan, which soon leads her far from Damian and deep into enemy territory.
When she arrives, what awaits her is deadlier than anything she could have ever imagined: an army of black sorcerers, and a horrifying plot to destroy the world as Alexa knows it. Will she be able to gather the strength to free herself, protect the love of her life, and save the land? Will there ever be true peace?
Acclaimed author Sara B. Larson has woven a stunning, romantic, and evocative finale to the Defy trilogy, that is sure to leave readers breathless until the very last page. 

Endure is scheduled for publication on Jan 5th 2016.

Cover Love: Queen of Shadows

It's here! It's here!

How badass does Aelin look?! She looks so ready to kill... well, anyone really. I would not want to be Arobynn right around now.
First one up is the UK/Aus version, with the awesome tagline "Her destiny awaits. But first, vengeance..." *shivers excitedly* this is going to be awesome, I can feel it.

And here's the US version, sans tagline, but still equally as badass. Even though I prefer the cool effects of the UK cover with the blue swirls, the red is so striking!

What do you think? Did you like the covers?

Cover Love: Firewalker + Soundless

Hello, lovelies!

Josephine Angelini just revealed today the cover of the second novel in her Worldwalker series, Firewalker.
I like it, but I have to say, the original cover for Trial by Fire was absolutely gorgeous, and I don't think it needed revamping, so I'm not too sure about this.
I'm holding out for the UK cover, because we had a stunning one for #1.

Worlds divide, magic slays, and love lies in the second book of Josephine Angelini’s The Worldwalker Trilogy.
"You think I’m a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified."
Lily is back in her own universe, and she's ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape from New Salem, and must hide her magic for the safety of everyone she cares about, but compared to fighting the Woven, the monstrous creatures inhabiting the alternate Salem, life is looking pretty good.
Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. If she can’t persuade Lily to return to her world, she will force her to come back by doing away with the ones she loves.
Picking up right where Trial By Fire left off, Firewalker is another sexy, fast-paced, heartbreaking thrill ride from internationally bestselling author Josephine Angelini!

In other news, this week Richelle Mead revealed the cover to her upcoming standalone YA fantasy novel, Soundless. It's a stunner, and seems to reflect the story - that follows a Chinese girl in a completely soundless town in the mountains - pretty accurately.

From Richelle Mead, the #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy and Bloodlines, comes a breathtaking new fantasy steeped in Chinese folklore. 
For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom. 
When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.
But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.
Richelle Mead takes readers on a triumphant journey from the peak of Fei’s jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiugo, where a startling truth and an unlikely romance will change her life forever...

Soundless is scheduled for a November 17th release, and Firewalker for a September 1st release.

Cover Love: Ice Like Fire

Fresh out today, is the cover for Snow Like Ashes #2, Ice Like Fire; and, much to our happiness, it's just as pretty as the cover of the first. And look at how dark and ominous! Gorgeous.

Ice Like Fire is scheduled to be released October 13th.

"It’s been three months since the Winterians were freed and Spring’s king, Angra, disappeared—thanks largely to the help of Cordell.

Meira just wants her people to be safe. When Cordellan debt forces the Winterians to dig their mines for payment, they unearth something powerful and possibly dangerous: Primoria’s lost chasm of magic. Theron sees this find as an opportunity—with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira fears the danger the chasm poses—the last time the world had access to so much magic, it spawned the Decay. So when the king of Cordell orders the two on a mission across the kingdoms of Primoria to discover the chasm’s secrets, Meira plans to use the trip to garner support to keep the chasm shut and Winter safe—even if it means clashing with Theron. But can she do so without endangering the people she loves?

Mather just wants to be free. The horrors inflicted on the Winterians hang fresh and raw in Januari—leaving Winter vulnerable to Cordell’s growing oppression. When Meira leaves to search for allies, he decides to take Winter’s security into his own hands. Can he rebuild his broken kingdom and protect them from new threats?

As the web of power and deception weaves tighter, Theron fights for magic, Mather fights for freedom—and Meira starts to wonder if she should be fighting not just for Winter, but for the world."

Cover Love: The Favourite

Happy December! Hope you're all toasty warm at home and starting get in the Christmas spirit - my tree is already up, as are my window snowflakes! I've also got some pretty cool stuff lined up for the blog in December - I've compiled a list of must-reads for you (and they're great as gifts too!), starting on December 12th for BookWorm's 12 Books of Christmas.

But for now, here's the cover of the new The Selection novella, The Favourite.
As I mentioned in The Heir's cover love blog post, The Selection is expanding from the original promised trilogy with three more novels.
But, before Princess Eadlyn has her go at telling her story, Marlee tells us a little about her story.

Here's the blurb for The Favourite:

"While America Singer’s heart was torn between Aspen and Prince Maxon, her friend Marlee knew exactly what she wanted—and paid the price.

Revisit the captivating world of Kiera Cass’s #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series in this digital original novella. Told from Marlee’s point of view, this all-new 64-page story returns to the fateful Halloween when Marlee and Carter were discovered, and reveals how that night—and Prince Maxon—changed their lives forever."

The Favourite is out March 3rd 2015

Cover Love: A Court of Thorns and Roses

It's been a busy day in the cover side of publishing. Quite funny, because both The Heir and A Court of Thorns and Roses come out on the same day, May 5th 2015.

Without further ado, here's the cover and blurb to the first book in Sarah J. Maas' new series.

"Beauty and the Beast blends with faerie lore in this steamy new offering from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas.

When nineteen-year-old Feyre plucks a forbidden rose from the ground, a wolfish creature arrives to punish her for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from stories, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin, a High Lord of the faeries. And as she learns more about him, her feelings for Tamlin transform from hostility to a fiery passion. But the threats against the faerie lands are growing, and Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse . . . or lose Tamlin forever.

This first book in a new series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series is salacious, action-packed, and impossible to put down!"

Cover Love: The Heir

We've still got seven months to go until The Heir is out, but the cover for the book came out today, along with a blurb!

For those of you who are confused about why this is exciting, The Heir is book #4 in Kiera Cass' The Selection series.

I can see you frowning and looking at me weirdly, saying 'wasn't it going to be a trilogy?'
Why yes, yes it was. And in a way, it really was just a trilogy. See, The Heir and its' sequel (still untitled as of now) is told from the point of view of Mer's and Maxon's daughter, Eadlyn. And even more exciting, her she has a twin brother who's called Ahren - for a couple that took 3 books to get their act together, they certainly didn't waste any time, did they?

Excited yet?

Here's the blurb for The Heir, out May 5th 2015!

"Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon's heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn't expect her Selection to be anything like her parents' fairy-tale love story. But as the competition beings, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she always thought."

Interestingly, out of the siblings, it's Eadlyn who has a Selection, even though princesses usually married a prince from a neighbouring country while the princes get the Selection. Kiera has said that there is a reason why Eadlyn gets one, but sadly we have to wain until May to find out what that is!

Cover Love: The Hidden Prince

For those of you who don't know yet, Jodi Meadows' upcoming (next year! It's too far!) The Orphan Queen is, as of about a month ago, the book I'd kill to read. I read the excerpt up on edelweiss, and it has me convinced that this book will be the best thing since sliced bread.
Sadly, I now have to wait until March 10th of next year to read the rest of the book, but I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.
If you want to know why this book is going to be so amazing, here's the blurb from goodreads:

"Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.

She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.

She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.

She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others

Jodi Meadows introduces a vivid new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, dangerous magic, and one girl’s battle to reclaim her place in the world."

Good, right? So imagine my delight when Jodi revealed the cover of the first novella of the series, The Hidden Prince, today. No blurb for that one yet, since pretty much any info about the novella could spoil The Orphan Queen, but the cover is pretty, hmm?

Arcana

Title: Arcana
Author: Jessica Leake
Genre: YA/New Adult historical
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 9/10

I received an e-galley from edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I'm not quite sure what to say about 'Arcana'. In truth, the story and the characters (*sighs*, Colin Thornewood, you gorgeous specimen you!) were extremely likeable and compelling, but I felt like sometimes the author was trying maybe a little too hard. Although Wren was a delight as a narrator, there were instances of telling, not showing, that jarred from the rest of the story, stopping the flow of the narrative.
Most specifically, I felt like the matter of her mother could have been handled differently to make it more mysterious and less... well, cringe-worthy really.
But other than that, the plot was well-thought out and developed, so much so that I find myself wondering if there will be a second book. Even if it was about Lucy (and James...), with Wren and Colin only coming in as secondaries, or even just exploring more about the Order - either way, I would be very excited for a continuation, especially as I haven't had anywhere near my fill of Thornewood men.

A definite must-read for all lovers of magic/historical romances!

Fair warning to those of you considering getting this: I marked it as YA/New Adult (I hate that label, to me it's either YA or adult, but oh well) because it gets to the steamier side of YA, though it is in no way explicit, and there is no swearing. Just be warned, in case you plan on letting a 9 year-old read it ;)

Publication is due for November 4th, so keep your eyes open for this beauty!

Spotlight Wednesday: Great Exploitations

This will be a monthly part of the blog from now, in which I spotlight one book or series that I have a particular love for, and feel like more people should know about.

Title: Great Exploitations novella series
Author: Nicole Williams
Genre: Adult contemporary
Rating: 5/5
Covers: 10/10

Here's the premise before I explain why everyone should read this:

"Seduction. Infidelity. Blackmail. Scandal. It can all be bought for the right price and for Sienna Stevens, business is good. 

Because she’s in the business of Great Exploitations. 

She’s an Eve, a member of a secret society of women contracted by the wives of wealthy, powerful men for one reason and one reason only: to seduce their husbands. To ensure their pre-nuptial agreement will be null and void thanks to a little loophole known as the Infidelity Clause. To ensure that those wives don’t find themselves on the other side of a divorce without a penny to their name. 

When it comes to the Eves, Sienna’s one of the best because she follows the number one rule of the Eves to the letter: don’t let it get personal. 

When the job file of her wealthiest client yet falls into her lap, Sienna realizes that this case could be the one that’s impossible to detach herself from. The payout would lead to her independence, but will the cost be too high in the end?”

Now, if the covers (and the gorgeous play on words of the title of the series, I mean come on!) weren’t enough to grab your interest, I'm not sure what to tell you - other than it's awesome, and you should go read it. Right now.

Trust me, you will want to read these. It’s the proverbial f*ck-you to all cheaters everywhere, and it is glorious. Plus, the protagonist is sassy to boot. And even if you don’t enjoy reading much, you’ll probably still like these, because on average, they’re about 60 pages long. The author meant for it to be like a soap or a TV show, with each “episode” showing a little more of backstory, while also having a “weekly” (I say "weekly" because it's more like every 3-4 months, but still) case to solve.

The fifth and final instalment will be out in October, according to Williams, so there's plenty of time to catch up!

note: the covers used are for the first and second volumes respectively. 

The Immortal Crown

Title: The Immortal Crown (Age of X #2)
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: adult (language), dystopia
Rating: 10/10
Cover: 5/5


Warning: this post contains spoilers. Proceed with caution.

JADFJEBCKJNFKJGHVIUSDHVBFD THAT ENDING! WHAT! *bangs head on desk* dammit, Richelle, you've done it AGAIN.

I'm actually glad I read it on my kindle, because it meant I could go easily check that name, and oh my god. To those of you who didn't have that ease, Porfirio was Mae's ex, the one who tried to rape her when she broke up with up him. I mean, honestly, no pun intended, but OH MY GOD.
She should ship him off to Arcadia and drop a nuclear bomb on all those misogynist pigs. Aimed directly at his head. I mean. OH MY GOD.
But also... Loki! Now I'll forever picture her god as Tom Hiddleston, and I'm not even sorry.
I just... so many motions about this book. I'd forgotten how good a Mead book could be, because the Bloodlines books don't really hold up to the same standard, but ooooh my. I kind of need book 3 right now, but at the same time, I know, I just know that it's gonna hurt. Damn the woman and her #3s.

But, ahem, right. The review.

Astounding, as per usual. Even though you will want to rush ahead and skip Tessa's chapters, stick with the girl, because it all ties together at the end. Plus, Ms Mead is an excellent storyteller, and the slower chapters away from Justin and Mae just help to amp up the excitement and anxiety about what they're doing even more.
As for those two themselves, what can I say? Richelle has a way with characters, making them so fully dimensional, it feels like they're in the room with you. And this is no different, even with the impediment of third person. It was fascinating to see Mae's journey and her development from a stone-faced praetorian to a woman who not only opened up her heart (finally), but also actually showed a deep, caring side of her with the children that I honestly didn't expect from Mae.
Justin... what can I say? He reminds me of Dorian, damnit. Always quick to protect the woman he loves, acting first and asking later, he's another one of her male leads that stole a piece of my heart. At this rate, I'd better hope she doesn't write any new series, or there'll be nothing left, what with all of her characters already vying for attention.
But, arguably the best part of the book was the open damnation of Arcadia. I know the element presented in the book is 100x worse than what we live with every day, but still so much of that is relevant to society today, with women being blamed for "enticing" men to rape them. I felt like the stand was clearly towards a more positive, equal society, where, as someone puts in the book, people realise that the problem isn't with the girls, but with the men who are brought up with a sense of entitlement that they think gives them the right to do as they please with no consequences. Oh, I so wanted Mae to smack some of those assholes around a little.

Ignite Me

Title: Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Genre: Dystopia, YA
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

Five stars aren't quite enough to describe this book. Even Adam's bitchiness was perfect. My one issue with it is this: it's YA! Oh the potential for smut! With my two beautiful babies, too. My heart still cries over what could have been.
But in a way like this fit them perfectly too. I didn't mind so much not getting to see that softer, more intimate side of them together because Mafi wrote it in a way that it didn't need to go into explicit details to show that softer side. And it was utterly, entirely, completely beautiful. 
And now I'm not quite sure what to do with myself. I'm just sitting here in stunned silence, thinking maybe I need to go back and read chapter 55, cause chapter 62 doesn't hold a candle to it. And I want more. I want to see them grow old together, bickering the entire way just because he loves to see her when he's mad at him. I want to see his relationship with James grow. Hell, I even want to see him and Adam grow closer.
I want it so much and it hurts so damn much because I know there isn't more.
Juliette was perfect in this book. The darkness I always knew was there finally broke through, and boy did I enjoy her putting Adam in his place. Jealousy because your ex is moving on is fine, but it turned into something much, much uglier, and if she'd given into her, she would have become just another victim of male oppression, always trying to be someone she's not because otherwise her boyfriend would go ballistic on her. No. And Warner, he brings out her strength. He pushes her to be only herself, to not be ashamed of who she is; and in turn, she makes him a better man. Not because she doesn't accept him the way he is and wants to change him, but because her love gives him the strength to do the right thing. And watching them bring out the best in each other out was mesmerising. Though the two stubborn mules were frustrating at times, his love for her shone through every single action of his, and that's why the ending was perfect...
... and yet not nearly enough.
But for this one, I clap and I bow to you, Tahereh. Perfect ending to a beautifully crafted series.

Book Covers: Ignite Me, The Selection Stories and The One

I'm doing some hasty catching up here, and putting together all the beautiful covers we've been given of late:

"The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, called "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love"

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a gripping read from an author who's not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense." Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end."

Now if that doesn't pique your interest, here, have the blurb for The Selection Stories, out February 4th, right along with Ignite Me (above):

"The two novellas set in the world of Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series are now available in print for the first time. The Prince and The Guard both offer captivating views into the hearts and minds of the two men fighting to win America Singer's love. This collection also features exclusive bonus content, including a sneak peek at The One, the eagerly anticipated final novel in the Selection trilogy.

Before America arrived at the palace to compete in the Selection, there was another girl in Prince Maxon's life. The Prince opens the week before the Selection begins and follows Maxon through the first day of the competition.

Raised as a Six, Aspen Leger never dreamed that he would find himself living in the palace as a member of the royal guard. In The Guard, readers get an inside look at Aspen's life within the palace walls--and the truth about a guard's world that America will never know."

No? Still not good enough? FINE, then. Here, have the breathtaking cover for The One, out May 6th. And yes. That does look suspiciously like a wedding dress.

Sadly, no blurb for that as of yet, but I'll keep you posted.