Yearly Archives:: 2012

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Fresh Batch (November 11th – 17th)

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Exclusively titled for Xpresso Reads, Fresh Batch features the hottest releases of this upcoming week.

Flavor of the week:

Renegade
J.A. Souders
Series: The Elysium Chronicles #1
Publication date: November 13th 2012
by Tor Teen

 

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie. Her memories have been altered. Her mind and body aren’t under her own control. And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb… and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.

Read the first chapter, here!

J.A. Souders was born in the heartland with an overactive imagination and an over abundance of curiosity that was always getting her into trouble. Because she never grew up, she decided she’d put her imaginary friends to work and started writing. She now lives in the land of sunshine and palm trees with her husband and their two children and is an active member of the RWA, SFWA, YARWA and SCBWI. She is represented by Natalie Lakosil of the Bradford Literary Agency and her debut novel, RENEGADE, will be released Fall 2012.

 Other releases this week (Click on title links for Goodreads):
*In no particular order*  *Purchase links are for The Book Depository*

Review: False Memory by Dan Krokos

Posted by on 11/09/2012 • 27 Comments

From the very first page this book grips you with the unknown. At first it’s who is Miranda? Without her memory, she has no idea who, or what, she is. Then we move on to who is this unconventional family of hers, then who is this creator who wants to use them, and all throughout–what are we going to find out next?

As far as unreliable narrators go, Miranda is pretty darn great. She doesn’t even know who she is! I, myself, have always loved unreliable narrators. They keep you on the lookout, always deciphering and theorizing; the more you find out about Miranda’s life, the more fascinating it all becomes. Then of course, there are twists that throw what you’ve learned a little off track. I really enjoyed this…

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Review: Days of Blood and Starlight

Posted by on 11/08/2012 • 32 Comments

Days of Blood and StarlightLaini TaylorSeries: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #2Publication date: November 6th 2012by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

 

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a new way of living – one without massacres and torn throats and bonfires of the fallen, without revenants or bastard armies or children ripped from their mothers’ arms to take their turn in the killing and dying.

Once, the lovers lay entwined in the moon’s secret temple and dreamed of a world that was a like a jewel-box without a jewel – a paradise waiting for them to find it and fill it with their happiness.

This was not that world.

*A copy was provided by Hachette Book…

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Waiting on Wednesday (60)

Posted by on 11/07/2012 • 38 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  My pick this week:

The Fifth Wave Rick Yancey Release date: May 7th 2013 by Putnam Children’s

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may…

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Review: Deadline by Mira Grant

Posted by on 11/06/2012 • 27 Comments

DeadlineMira GrantSeries: Newsflesh Trilogy, #2Publication date: June 1st 2011by Orbit

 

Shaun Mason is a man without a mission. Not even running the news organization he built with his sister has the same urgency as it used to. Playing with dead things just doesn’t seem as fun when you’ve lost as much as he has.

But when a CDC researcher fakes her own death and appears on his doorstep with a ravenous pack of zombies in tow, Shaun has a newfound interest in life. Because she brings news-he may have put down the monster who attacked them, but the conspiracy is far from dead.

Now, Shaun hits the road to find what truth can be found at the end of a shotgun.

This review contains no spoilers…

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Review: Flash Point by Nancy Kress

Posted by on 11/06/2012 • 0 Comments

Flash PointNancy KressPublication date: November 8th 2012by Viking Juvenile

 

Reality TV meets a chillingly realistic version of America–and the fame game is on!

Amy had dreams of going to college, until the Collapse destroyed the economy and her future. Now she is desperate for any job that will help support her terminally ill grandmother and rebellious younger sister. When she finds herself in the running for a slot on a new reality TV show, she signs on the dotted line, despite her misgivings. And she’s right to have them. TLN’s Who Knows People, Baby–You? has an irresistible premise: correctly predict what the teenage cast will do in a crisis and win millions. But the network has pulled strings to make it work, using everything from 24/7 hidden…

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Cover Reveal + Giveaway

Posted by on 11/05/2012 • 26 Comments

Shutdown Heather AnastasiuSeries: Glitch, #3Publication date: July 2nd 2013by St. Martin’s Griffin

Synopsis of Shutdown currently unavailableSynopsis for Glitch:

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the…

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Xpresso Weekly: Stacking the Shelves (28)

Posted by on 11/04/2012 • 59 Comments

Xpresso Weekly is my edition of Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews featuring the books I got this week, and I also mention blog news/happenings of the past week. This week at Xpresso Reads

Hey you muffin cups! So for those who do daylight savings, we gain an hour tonight! YEAH! More time to sleep! 😀 Too bad that my kid doesn’t understand that yet! *sobs* So phew this was a busy week for me. I got stuck with a load of chocolate from Halloween so that’s how I stay awake *twitch* As far as the blog, I had the Two and Twenty Dark Tales blog tour stop by, I interviewed Leigh Fallon and you can enter to win a copy of Carrier of the Mark. Another tour stopped…

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