Waiting on Wednesday: The Wicked King by Holly Black

 

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme that showcases upcoming book releases readers are eagerly awaiting. Here’s my pick:

 

The Wicked King

Holly Black

Publication Date: January 8, 2019

You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.

 

The first lesson is to make yourself strong.

 

After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.

Goodreads | Indigo | Amazon CAN | Amazon US | Book Depository

 

Why Am I Waiting?

I kind of missed out on doing a cover reveal. Life has been stomping me when I down, so I thought I’d feature the book in another post. So ta-da!

Long wait, huh? Why am I not waiting to do this post until, let’s say, November? Because I’m a cranky, spoiled, and impatient reader who needs this sequel. That’s why. Ahem. The Cruel Prince will probably stay in my top 10 books of 2018. Holly has created such a devious and scheming world that I want to go back to Elfhame immediately. More importantly, I want to see how Jude survives the betrayal she served Cardan. And secretly, I want to smoosh their faces together (even if a part of me hates him for being brutal to her). But what I truly I want is to see Locke’s face when Jude pays him back for her humiliation.  😈

Is The Wicked King one of your most anticipated books of 2019? Let’s chat, so my fangirl doesn’t explode from staring at that beautiful cover for too long.

Waiting on Wednesday | The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme that showcases upcoming book releases readers are eagerly awaiting.

 

The Wicked Deep

Shea Ernshaw

Publication Date: March 6, 2018

Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.

Goodreads | Indigo | Amazon CAN | Amazon US | Book Depository

 

Why Am I Waiting?

I haven’t done this meme in a long time, but Wicked Deep has drawn my attention since I first heard of it back in October. The marketing for this book is clever. The publisher dubs it as “Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic meets the Salem Witch trials.” Yeah, you know I can’t pass up the book now. I’ve been hoping to find a great witch story, but I haven’t seen many around. However, The Wicked Deep changes all that though. I’m interested to see how Shea incorporates folklore with the Salem Witch trials.

Also, you can get a deluxe edition from Indigo and Amazon (Canada and US)! Don’t miss out on it.

Waiting on Wednesday: An Enchantment of Ravens and The Language of Thorns

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme that showcases upcoming book releases readers are eagerly awaiting.

 

An Enchantment of Ravens

Margaret Rogerson

Publication Date: September 26, 2017

Page Count: 304

Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized among them. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes – a weakness that could cost him his life.

Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumn lands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love, violating the fair folks’ ruthless Good Law. There’s only one way to save both their lives, Isobel must drink from the Green Well, whose water will transform her into a fair one—at the cost of her Craft, for immortality is as stagnant as it is timeless.

Isobel has a choice: she can sacrifice her art for a future, or arm herself with paint and canvas against the ancient power of the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.

Goodreads | Indigo | Amazon CAN | Amazon US | Book Depository

 

Why Am I Waiting?

Lately, I’ve heard a lot of buzz about this debut novel. I can’t wait to read it. I need more fae stories in my life! And just read that blurb. Doesn’t it sound wonderful?

The overall concept of the book is giving me a Wintersong feel to it. So I hope it’ll live up to the hype. And I can’t get over how beautiful that cover is!

 

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The Language of Thorns

Leigh Bardugo

Publication Date: September 26, 2017

Page Count: 288

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid’s voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy’s bidding but only for a terrible price.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, the tales in The Language of Thorns will transport you to lands both familiar and strange―to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, each of them lavishly illustrated and culminating in stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

Goodreads | Indigo | Amazon CAN | Amazon US | Book Depository

 

Why Am I Waiting?

Let me be honest here. I will buy anything, ANYTHING, from Leigh, so delving more into Grishaverse is just what I’ve been looking for. Even though I haven’t read the Grisha Trilogy, which is on my Christmas haul, I’ve been dying to get into it since I first read Six of Crows. On Goodreads, I also saw some of the interior illustrations, and they’re just convincing me more to buy this book.

Secretly, since I missed out on the Grishaverse when it first came out, I hope the author will expand the world even more than she has with her two other series. A book lover can always hope!

Are you looking forward to it? Let me know in the comments!

Waiting on Wednesday: One Dark Throne

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme that showcases upcoming book releases readers are eagerly awaiting.

 

One Dark Throne

Kendare Blake

Publication Date: September 19, 2017

Page Count: 464

The battle for the Crown has begun, but which of the three sisters will prevail?

With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before—ones that put those around her in danger she can’t seem to prevent.

In this enthralling sequel to Kendare Blake’s New York Times bestselling Three Dark Crowns, Fennbirn’s deadliest queens must face the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other.

Goodreads | Indigo | Amazon CAN | Amazon US | Book Depository

 

Why Am I Waiting?

 

I’ve been waiting months, MONTHS for this book. That cliff hanger in Three Dark Crowns kept bugging me equally as long. And I cannot wait to see how this series continues. Kendare creates a unique premise in her first novel with dark themes and dangerous political plays. What stands out from this book is the matriarchy, which I wasn’t expecting in a YA fantasy. And while I can’t stand two particular characters (*cough*Joseph and Mirabella*cough*), I love the book.

And I’ve just found out that there are four books in this series, not just two. So I am a happy, happy fangirl. 😍

 

Who else is excited for One Dark Throne?! Let me know in the comments.

Waiting on Wednesday: Wonder Woman: Warbringer

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme that showcases upcoming book releases readers are eagerly awaiting.

 

Wonder Woman: Warbringer

Leigh Bardugo

Publication Date: August 29, 2017

Page Count: 384

She will become one of the world’s greatest heroes: Wonder Woman. But first she is Diana, Princess of the Amazons. And her fight is just beginning….

Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mere mortal. Even worse, Alia Keralis is no ordinary girl and with this single brave act, Diana may have doomed the world.

Alia just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together, Diana and Alia will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. If they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

Goodreads | Indigo | Amazon CAN | Amazon US | Book Depository

 

Why Am I Waiting?

Wonder Woman? ✔️

Leigh Bardugo book? ✔️

I’M IN.

 

 

Guys, we have only 20 days left!!! This giddy book nerd is excited (if you haven’t figured out by now). I’ve been wanting to move more into the DC universe, and Leigh writing a Wonder Woman just seems like a natural stepping stone to get into it. And frankly, I’ll read anything she publishes.

And I must admit, I haven’t seen the movie, and I regret every second not doing so! 😫 But I believe DC’s move to have these books written by well-known (and well-loved) authors is the smartest idea yet. I’m curious to see what Leigh brings to this universe. And a little woman empower doesn’t hurt anyone. I cannot wait to buy this book!

 

And don’t miss my upcoming giveaway post for a chance to win a copy of WW!

Waiting on Wednesday: Our Dark Duet

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme that showcases upcoming book releases readers are eagerly awaiting.

 

Our Dark Duet

Victoria Schwab

Publication Date: June 13, 2017

Page Count: 528

Kate Harker is a girl who isn’t afraid of the dark. She’s a girl who hunts monsters. And she’s good at it. August Flynn is a monster who can never be human, no matter how much he once yearned for it. He’s a monster with a part to play. And he will play it, no matter the cost.

Nearly six months after Kate and August were first thrown together, the war between the monsters and the humans is terrifying reality. In Verity, August has become the leader he never wished to be, and in Prosperity, Kate has become the ruthless hunter she knew she could be. When a new monster emerges from the shadows—one who feeds on chaos and brings out its victim’s inner demons—it lures Kate home, where she finds more than she bargained for. She’ll face a monster she thought she killed, a boy she thought she knew, and a demon all her own

Goodreads | Indigo | Amazon CAN | Amazon US | Book Depository

 

Why Am I Waiting?

Do not read the synoposis. Do. Not. Read. Okay, on to the post! You know when you find a book so good that you’re dying to get your hands on the sequel? Well, Our Dark Duet is said book. I haven’t even finished This Savage Song, but I want it. I enjoy Victoria’s writing style. She impresses me with her ability to write a scene and a character. I haven’t read her previous books, but I’ll soon rectify that problem soon enough. The plot around violence creating monsters is beyond what I was expecting out the series. But I love it. I can’t wait to finish the first book so I can delve right into the final.

Waiting on Wednesday: Flame in the Mist

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme that showcases upcoming book releases readers are eagerly awaiting.

Flame in the Mist

Renée Ahdieh

Publication Date: May 16, 2017

Extent: 368 pages

The daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has long known her place—she may be an accomplished alchemist, whose cunning rivals that of her brother Kenshin, but because she is not a boy, her future has always been out of her hands. At just seventeen years old, Mariko is promised to Minamoto Raiden, the son of the emperor’s favorite consort—a political marriage that will elevate her family’s standing. But en route to the imperial city of Inako, Mariko narrowly escapes a bloody ambush by a dangerous gang of bandits known as the Black Clan, who she learns has been hired to kill her before she reaches the palace.

Dressed as a peasant boy, Mariko sets out to infiltrate the ranks of the Black Clan, determined to track down the person responsible for the target on her back. But she’s quickly captured and taken to the Black Clan’s secret hideout, where she meets their leader, the rebel ronin Takeda Ranmaru, and his second-in-command, his best friend Okami. Still believing her to be a boy, Ranmaru and Okami eventually warm to Mariko, impressed by her intellect and ingenuity. As Mariko gets closer to the Black Clan, she uncovers a dark history of secrets, of betrayal and murder, which will force her to question everything she’s ever known.

Goodreads | Indigo | Amazon CAN | Amazon US | Book Depository

Why Am I Waiting?

Flame in the Mist is a retelling of Mulan. MULAN, I REPEAT, MULAN. What more can I say? I’m slowly getting into retellings. But this one, set in Feudal Japan, is just the book I’m looking for. Since childhood, I’ve adored her story. This year, I hope to find more stories focusing on POC protagonists. I’ve heard a lot of Renée’s previous series. So I look forward to see how Renée incorporates the Japanese culture into her book.

And  I can’t get over that cover.

Waiting on Wednesday: A Darkness Absolute

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme that showcases upcoming book releases that readers are eagerly awaiting.

A Darkness Absolute

Kelley Armstrong

Publication Date: February 7, 2017

Extent: 416 pages

It’s winter in Rockton, a little town hidden deep in the wilds of the Yukon. The town exists for people who need to escape their pasts, though it’s not clear if those in hiding are victims or perpetrators. Or, when the lines gets blurred, maybe both. Ask Casey. She’s been used, betrayed, beaten. But she’s also killed someone. She moved to Rockton to help her best friend, Diana. Ex-best friend. Diana lied to get Casey to come with her; she used her and she almost got her killed. But Casey decided to stay anyway, to work as a detective alongside her new boyfriend and the town’s sheriff, Eric Dalton. Fresh off solving a series of grisly murders, Casey and Deputy Will Anders get stranded in a blizzard while they’re tracking a runner from the town. Seeking shelter in a cave, they stumble across a woman who’s been imprisoned in a deep well. Nicole Chavez–whom everybody thought had run away from town and died in the woods more than a year earlier–is alive. Barely. But she can’t identify her captor: she’s never seen his face.
Was she taken by one of the hostiles who inhabit the wilderness around the town? Or is Casey facing something even worse? In a town where everyone lies about their past and lives under assumed identities, it’s very easy to hide your true nature.

Goodreads | Indigo | Amazon CAN | Amazon US | Book Depository

Why Am I Waiting?

It’s a Kelley Armstrong book. I think that reason alone is a good excuse. So yes, I haven’t read the first book (why do I do this to myself?!). But I’ve had a huge mystery and thriller hangover since I’ve read Kelley’s Nadia Stafford series. And Danya @ Fine Print convinced me, once again, to put this book on my TBR list. So City of the Lost is definitely on my Christmas list. And with all the books being published, February may just kill my bank account. I swear publishers are in cahoots!

Waiting on Wednesday: Carve the Mark

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme that showcases upcoming book releases that readers are eagerly awaiting.

Carve the Mark

Veronica Roth

Publication Date: January 17, 2017

Extent: 480 pages

On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not—their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world?

Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power—something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.

Akos is from the peace-loving nation of Thuvhe, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Though protected by his unusual currentgift, once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive—no matter what the cost. When Akos is thrust into Cyra’s world, the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. They must decide to help each other to survive—or to destroy one another.

Goodreads | Indigo | Amazon CAN | Amazon US | Book Depository

Why Am I Waiting?

Since someone on the net decided to blurt out what happens in Allegiant, I skipped the entire series. But I’ve wanted to read Veronica’s work for quite some time, so I was stoked to hear she was working on a new book. And given this book has a not-from-Earth feel to it, I’m intrigued. It sounds like a mix between Romeo and Juliet and Star Wars. And hopefully Veronica can blend the two together.

Secretly, I hope that there is some galactic war (give it to me to wish for that) and intergalactic travel. I haven’t read many stories based in space or different galaxies. I’m definitely in need of space books (so if you have any recommendations, send them my way!).

And look at that cover! The gold and the navy blue. I love it.

Here is the book’s first look on Amazon CAN and Amazon US.

Waiting on Wednesday: Caraval

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme that showcases upcoming book releases that readers are eagerly awaiting.

Caraval 

Stephanie Garber

Publication Date: January 31, 2017

Extent: 416 pages

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

Goodreads | Indigo | Amazon CAN | Amazon US | Book Depository

Why Am I Waiting?

Circus stories are pretty hot this year. I want to find a new fantasy world I haven’t read yet. And I haven’t went to many carnivals in real life, so this world will definitely be a new adventure for me, and I want to be enthralled by the pomp and the magic that swirls under the red-and-white tent.

I’m also looking for another great story that centres around sisters who protect each other. I wonder how these sister will survive their abusive father. I’m interested on how that family dynamic will play out.

I’m ready to be enchanted by and to head to the carnival!