Seige and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and Storm

Grisha Trilogy 2

Author: Leigh Bardugo
Pages: 432 pgs
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: June 4th 2013
Review Source: Purchase

 Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

First, I think that each cover for this series just gets more and more beautiful. I absolutely love this one!

Now, just like with Shadow Bone, this book quickly got intense and set off on a fast pace of adventure and intrigue. I loved how Leigh was able to set the stage for a pretty calm beginning and ripped it to shreds. Nothing happened that I was expecting, but that just kept me wanting more to figure out where it was all headed.

We're also introduced to a few new characters and some old ones as well. Sturmhond and twin Grisha that are a part of his crew. They added an interesting element to the story, especially when you figure out Sturmhond's story and what he wants from Alina.

I'm trying really hard not to give anything away for anyone who hasn't read this book (or series yet). So I'll say this, Leigh does an absolutely beautiful job of painting a picture for you so, as a reader, you almost feel as though you're their along with the characters. Whether it's beautiful, tragic, or scary, she puts it all out there and leaves you reeling.

This was a phenomenal sequel. There was a little bit of everything in it for readers, hopefully leaving everyone excited for more!

My sister and I have been lucky enough to see Leigh at signing events a few times now and I really hope we'll get to see her again for the last book in this incredible trilogy, Ruin and Rising. After this most recent book I can't wait to find out how it all ends, but I'll also be really sad that it does.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Mass

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

(Coming March 2014)

Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan’s most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin’s Guild, she’s sworn to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer for hire, Sam.

In these action-packed prequel novellas to Throne of Glass, Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and avenge tyranny. But by acting on her own terms, will Celaena truly free herself from her master, or will she suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery?

This bind-up features all five e-novellas, available in print for the first time!

I haven't had the chance to read these stories as ebooks, so I'm incredibly excited that they'll be in print. Sarah's Throne of Glass world is absolutely fascinating, and being able to read about what led to her arrest and imprisonment in Endovier is something I've been waiting for.

And I have a feeling this will have me even more excited for book 3 in this series, Heir of Fire.

What are you waiting on.  

Waiting on Wednesday: The Inventor's Secret

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

(Coming April 2014) 

New from Andrea Cremer, the New York Times bestselling author of the Nightshade novels, comes an action-packed alternate-history steampunk adventure.

In this world, sixteen-year-old Charlotte and her fellow refugees have scraped out an existence on the edge of Britain’s industrial empire. Though they live by the skin of their teeth, they have their health (at least when they can find enough food and avoid the Imperial Labor Gatherers) and each other. When a new exile with no memory of his escape  or even his own name seeks shelter in their camp he brings new dangers with him and secrets about the terrible future that awaits all those who have struggled has to live free of the bonds of the empire’s Machineworks.

The Inventor’s Secret is the first book of a YA steampunk series set in an alternate nineteenth-century North America where the Revolutionary War never took place and the British Empire has expanded into a global juggernaut propelled by marvelous and horrible machinery. 

Not only is this a new world and series from Andrea Cremer, but it's also steampunk and I couldn't be more excited to get my hands on it! I love her Nightshade series and she is incredible at world building. I have no doubt she'll do the same with this new series.

Plus... it comes out two days before my birthday. This is going to be a great year!

What are you waiting on? 
 

Cress by Marissa Meyer

Cress

Lunar Chronicles 3

Author: Marissa Meyer
Pages: 550 pgs
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Release Date: February 4th 2014
Review Source: Publisher

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

I was lucky enough to have won an ARC of this in a giveaway from the publisher, and in my opinion I think it was the best yet!

From the very beginning I absolutely adored Cress. Her hacking skills were unmatched and though she was alone on her satellite, she found a way to keep herself active and occupied.  I loved getting her perspective and watching her story unfold. And, we also got to learn more about Captain Thorne, who took me by surprise I must say.

Marissa has done a fabulous job of bringing not only this world to life, but also unfolding each knew character that's introduced. I can truly see now why she's called it a space opera. All the different characters and personalities bring so much to the story.

We also get a little sneak peak into who will join this crew in the last book, Winter. If Cress is any indication, I know that Winter will be absolutely fabulous. Though I'll be sad that this amazing series will come to an end next year, I definitely can't wait for the continuation and to meet Winter.

Are you excited?