Anxiously Awaiting (and a Cover Craving)...The Heir by Kiera Cass!

The Heir
by Kiera Cass
The Selection, book four

Release Date: May 5, 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 begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she always thought. (Description from EW announcement article)

I am SO EXCITED that Kiera Cass and her publisher decided to turn The Selection trilogy into a longer series. The Heir will also be followed by a fifth book, which I assume will also feature Princess Eadlyn, but there's no real information about it out yet.  For now, I'm just stoked to read the start of her story...May cannot come fast enough! 

ANd...don't you just love the covers for this series? I am a total sucker for a gorgeous gown on the front cover and I love the way they use the mirrored reflections... 

MY BEA 2014 Experience!

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to attend Book Expo America in New York City for my sixth year in a row.  It is an amazing experience for any book nerd.  Truly!  This year, my friend Kim and I booked a fancy schmancy hotel room at the Kitano New York so we got into the city on Thursday night and were able to sleep in (well for an extra hour and a half, at least) and go straight to the Javits via taxi.

...well after some shocked exploration of our hotel bathroom's bidet, that is... I'd never actually seen one in real life and found it quite...terrifying intimidating. I finally gave in and tried it on our second night in the room...and I'm still not sold on the idea.

MOVING ON, LOL.

This year, I FINALLY got to go to BEA for more than one day.  It was phenomenal because it relieved some of the frantic pressure of trying to fit everything (ALL the books, ALL the authors) into one day.   It was, however, also terrifyingly packed on Saturday because of BookCon.  Don't believe me?  Check out these crowds! We actually left early on Saturday because we just couldn't take it any more.  I'm so glad it was day two so I felt like I'd already done and seen enough that I COULD leave early...

So, what did we do and see during those two days?

Well... I met, I mingled, I schmoozed, and I schlepped.  I came out with 53 books, 1 audio book, 3 chapter samplers, 7 tote bags and various swag.  I got my photo taken in the most awesome "Photo Booth" at the Open Road Media booth... because I absolutely believe that BOOKWORMS RULE!! I met some amazing authors, including Scott Westerfeld, Julie Kagawa, Jackie Morse Kessler, Kiera Cass, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, A.G. Howard, S.S. Taylor, and Elizabeth Kelly Gillihan.  I got a little crazy in the crowds, but I survived to tell the tale!

All in all, it was AMAZING and exhausting, as it is every year and I may or may not have been both manic and half-asleep on the train rides both there and back...

So...that's the quickie version of my experience this year.  I'm planning to start reviewing the picture books that I received this year tomorrow...and I hope to progress to the longer YA and adult books within the next few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for some reviews of great upcoming books!!

And, just because I want to share some of the other photos I took at BEA...here you go!

Meeting A.G.Howard, author of Splintered!

Meeting Jackie Morse Kessler, another favorite author!

Meeting Kiera Cass, author of The Selection!

Meeting authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke with their upcoming debut, Your Perfect Life. 

Meeting S.S. Taylor and Katherine Roy, the author and illustrator of the fabulous
middlegrade steampunk "Expeditioners" series!

As I said, I'll be posting reviews and recaps of the books that I got in the next few weeks, so keep checking back!  

My Top 5 (All Right, Really it's Six...) Books to Hunt Down at BEA 2014

So....at BEA there are a TON of books every year.  It can be amazing and totally overwhelming.  For the last two years, I finally figured out the system that works the best for me in wading through the sheer number of books readily available... I make a list of books I'm dying to pick up and then I color code that to narrow it down even further to five or maybe ten books MAX that I will desperately hunt for while in the Javitz.  The rest I leave pretty much to chance.

So what are this year's top choices, you ask?

Martyr by A.R. Kahler

 I LOVED A.R. Kahler's Immortal Circus series, so I'm dying to read this new one. 

Talon by Julie Kagawa

 I love Julie Kagawa's writing and storylines, so I'm anxious to see how she tackles dragons! 

The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale

The Ever After High series is TOO cute and come on, Shannon Hale! Love her books.  

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly 

I love Donnelly's other books and I cannot wait to see her tackle a fantasy... I hadn't thought this one was going to be at BEA, but I think it just might be!!  

The Expeditioners and the Secret of King Triton's Lair by S.S. Taylor

I LOVED the first book in this steampunk middle grade adventure series. I can't tell you how excited I was when I saw the sequel coming out! 

...AND of course, I've read this one already, but if I could get a signed, finished copy??? *swoon*

The One by Kiera Cass

Gold Star Review: The One

The One 
by Kiera Cass
The Selection, book one

The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen.

America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants. (description from goodreads.com) 

I devoured this book.  From the moment that I picked up the first book in the series, The Selection, I've been utterly hooked.  Cass created a great dystopian setting - a future where there is a rigid caste system holds the citizens of their kingdom hostage - a fabulous main character - a spirited girl who is also compassionate and brave in the face of adversity - and a heartbreaker of a prince... Maxon, *sigh*.  

I will fully admit that I love the many different aspects of this trilogy's story.  The precarious balance the royals find themselves in, trying desperately to save their way of life.  The drama of having many girls competing to catch the eye of just one man.  The romantic bits, the scary bits, the family bits... the romantic bits.  Oh wait, did I say that already?  Yes, yes I did.  It needed saying twice. 

I desperately needed to know how this series ended.  I thought I knew but I just had to find out for sure... and HOW they would get to that place.  The journey Kiera Cass took me on was well worth the wait.  I laughed, I cried, and I grinned along the way.  I had my heart broken several times, but in the end, I was truly, joyously happy with how things turned out.  

What I loved most about this ending was that while things ended in the happy way that I wanted, it was also messy. Very much like real life.  Things were not pat and easy and unbelievable.  There was sorrow right up until the final moments mixed in... 

While I would GLADLY read a follow-up book, perhaps one following the beginning of the fallout from the book (trying to be non-spoilery here), I am happy to report that I am also fully satisfied ending where this left off.

In fact, this ending earned a coveted GOLD STAR from me. 

 

Full disclosure: Purchased on my Nook (because I couldn't wait for the Library copy, LOL!) 

What's On My Hold List?

Picture from YaBookNerd's blog,
because, though, I started this meme
she created a much cuter pic for it!

Welcome to the March 2014 edition

of

"What's on My Hold List?"

One of the most beautiful things about working in a Library is that I have the ability to put lots of things on hold and read them *before* I buy!! These are some of the books that I'm currently waiting for, though I may buy one or two of them after reading, as well.

I cannot believe how long it feels like it's been since I shared my hold list with you all! So, here you go... 

These are the books I'm waiting for right now:

The Prince and the Guard
by Kiera Cass
The Selection Stories

Rebel Spring 
by Morgan Rhodes
Falling Kingdoms, book two 

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
by Gabrielle Zevin

Wild Things 
by Chloe Neill
Chicagoland Vampires, book nine

The Winner's Curse
by Marie Rutkowski
The Winner's Trilogy, book one

You can click on each title to go to their Goodreads page for a description...

So, these are the books I'm waiting anxiously to get my hands on...what are you waiting for??

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Best Sequels Ever

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created and hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Today's Topic: The Top Ten (or in my case...Eleven) Best Sequels Ever

(in alphabetical order by title)

1. A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton

2. Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund 

3. Bad Hair Day by Carrie Harris 

4. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins 

5. The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan 

6. The Elite by Kiera Cass 

7. The Essence by Kimberly Derting 

8. Everfound by Neal Shusterman 

9. Fox Forever by Mary E. Pearson 

10. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (*actually a companion book) 

There you have it.  These are my favorite YA sequels that I've read in the last five years or so... 

What are yours?

Mini Reviews: The Prequel Novella Edition

Among the Nameless Stars
by Diana Peterfreund
Prequel to For Darkness Shows the Stars

Before Kai joined the Cloud Fleet, he wandered…
AMONG THE NAMELESS STARS

Four years before the events of FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS, the servant Kai left the North Estate, the only home he’d ever known, and Elliot North, the only girl he ever loved, in search of a better life. But the journey was not an easy one.

Featuring narrow escapes, thrilling boat races and at least one deadly volcanic wasteland. (description from Amazon.com) 

I loved getting to see things directly from Kai's perspective as he was taking himself out into the world.  Even though this novella is short, Peterfreund packs a lot of information about the world and Kai's situation into it, giving it a lot of depth.  Things are not easy...that's for sure. 

The Prince 

by Kiera Cass

Prequel to The Selection 

Before thirty-five girls were chosen to compete in the Selection . . .
Before Aspen broke America’s heart . . .
There was another girl in Prince Maxon’s life. . . .

(description from Amazon.com) 

Another prequel from the guy's perspective! I love the idea of getting inside Maxon's head. I loved finding out that he really was intrigued by America from the start...not just because she was refreshing in her refusal to bow and scrape for him, but also because he really found her attractive inside and out... makes me SOOO anxious for The Elite! 

Full disclosure: Both novellas were purchased for my Nook

Brave New Love

Brave New Love
ed. by Paula Guran

Young love has always had its challenges, but even so, the world falling apart at its seams is a pretty big obstacle. This stellar collection of YA dystopian tales explores survival of the fittest in terms of love, passion, and humanity. When the survival of the human race is at stake, what will it take for the bond between two people to hold strong together?

Featuring some of the most well known and best-selling names of the dystopian genre, as well as the hottest up-and-coming authors, this anthology includes works from Jeanne DuPrau (City of Ember), Kiera Cass (The Selection), William Sleator (Interstellar Pig), Jesse Karp (Those That Wake), Diana Peterfreund (Secret Society Girl), Carrie Vaughn (The Kitty Norville Series), and Carrie Ryan (New York Times bestseller The Forest of Hands and Teeth). (description from Amazon.com)

I enjoyed each of the stories that I read in this anthology separately, as their own entities. Each was interesting, creative, and engaging.  I'm going to break it down and tell you about some of the ones I liked the best... I do want to note, though, that overall I felt the tone of this book was depressing! I do not think I would ever recommend that anyone read this book straight through in one shot.  This is a book to read one story at a time...to parse out between other books...trust me.


The Stories:
In the Clearing by Kiera Cass - I liked this short story about a society where people are drugged into complacency through their food.  I thought it was plausible and intriguing. I liked both main characters and thought the romance built well.

Now Purple with Love's Wound by Carrie Vaughn - I thought this story was really powerful.  I loved the concept, even as it totally creeped me out. It gave me chills to think of a society where girls were drugged into feeling lifelong love for someone who claimed them.  Short, but extremely effective.

Berserker Eyes by Maria Snyder - This had the feel of a longer dystopian novel excerpt...or maybe it was just that I wanted it to be... I would read a whole novel set in this world.  I also loved how the romance built through their quest to beat the government that was abusing them...

Foundlings by Diana Peterfreund - Oooh! The perfect example of when "helpful" government agencies go wrong.  WOMB is supposed to protect babies and their mothers...but then it begins to help babies at the cost of their mothers.  This was a story I could actually see happening in our distant future. 

The Dream Eater by Carrie Ryan - This story broke my heart.  I felt bad for *everyone* involved and wanted to rail out at the city that allowed this poor girl to sacrifice herself for thier happiness. I loved how Ryan kept the absolute realism that I love in her zombie books, even as I felt so sad reading the story...

Those were the standout stories for me, though as I mentioned I would not read them all in a row...it might make you want to close your eyes and pretend that there is no future!!