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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday: Random House Winter 2014 Catalog

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking The Spine in which upcoming, eagerly anticipated releases are highlighted on the blog.

This week, I've chosen to feature a few picks from the Random House Winter 2014 Catalog:

Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill
Date: January 7, 2014
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Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.
Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.
When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.

Okay so, I'm not normally a contemporary girl, but I admit I love these trading places stories. The premise of Being Sloane Jacobs reminds me an awful lot of the stories and movies I loved growing up and I'd love to revisit this familiar plot again.


The Tyrant's Daughter by J.C. Carleson
Date: February 11, 2014
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From a former CIA officer comes the riveting account of a royal Middle Eastern family exiled to the American suburbs.
When her father is killed in a coup, 15-year-old Laila flees from the war-torn middle east to a life of exile and anonymity in the U.S. Gradually she adjusts to a new school, new friends, and a new culture, but while Laila sees opportunity in her new life, her mother is focused on the past. She’s conspiring with CIA operatives and rebel factions to regain the throne their family lost. Laila can’t bear to stand still as an international crisis takes shape around her, but how can one girl stop a conflict that spans generations?
J.C. Carleson delivers a fascinating account of a girl—and a country—on the brink, and a rare glimpse at the personal side of international politics.

The Tyrant's Daughter is not my usual kind of read at all, but I was immediately interested when I read the blurb. It's so rare that you see these kinds of reality-driven stories in YA and I think that's sad because they're a great way to enlighten yourself to real world issues.


The Glass Casket by McCormick Templeman
Date: February 11, 2014
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Death hasn’t visited Rowan Rose since it took her mother when Rowan was only a little girl. But that changes one bleak morning, when five horses and their riders thunder into her village and through the forest, disappearing into the hills. Days later, the riders’ bodies are found, and though no one can say for certain what happened in their final hours, their remains prove that whatever it was must have been brutal.
Rowan’s village was once a tranquil place, but now things have changed. Something has followed the path those riders made and has come down from the hills, through the forest, and into the village. Beast or man, it has brought death to Rowan’s door once again.
Only this time, its appetite is insatiable.

I didn't really get this from the synopsis from Goodreads, but I read elsewhere that The Glass Casket is meant to be a twisted retelling of Snow White, which sounds super cool. I've never actually ventured into Snow White retellings before so I'm really curious to read McCormick Templeman's (great name!) take on it.


The Mirk and Midnight Hour by Jane Nickerson
Date: March 11, 2014
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A Southern girl. A wounded soldier. A chilling force deep in the forest. All collide at night's darkest hour. Seventeen-year-old Violet Dancey has been left at home in Mississippi with a laudanum-addicted stepmother and love-crazed stepsister while her father fights in the war--a war that has already claimed her twin brother. When she comes across a severely injured Union soldier lying in an abandoned lodge deep in the woods, things begin to change. Thomas is the enemy--one of the men who might have killed her own brother--and yet she's drawn to him. But Violet isn't Thomas's only visitor; someone has been tending to his wounds--keeping him alive--and it becomes chillingly clear that this care hasn't been out of compassion. Against the dangers of war and ominous powers of voodoo, Violet must fight to protect her home and the people she loves. From the author of Strands of Bronze and Gold comes a haunting love story and suspenseful thriller based on the ancient fairy tale of Tam Lin.

I was first made aware of the fairy tale of Tam Lin from Amanda's awesome feature at the beginning of this year and I've been curious about reading a retelling of it ever since. The Mirk and Midnight Hour fits the bill perfectly. And it helps that Jane Nickerson's Bluebeard retelling, Strands of Bronze and Gold, received favourable reviews.


How about you? Are you waiting on any of these Random House Winter 2014 reads? Are there any upcoming books from the Random House Winter 2014 Catalog that I didn't include here that you feel I should add to my list?

32 comments :

  1. Great picks! I am so excited for Mirk and Midnight Hour--loved her first book!

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    1. I've heard great things about her work so I'd love to try this one as well!

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  2. Not sure it any of the books are really something I'd like but I do hope you enjoy reading them.
    Come check out my WOW post.

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  3. The Glass Casket sounded great untill you mentioned it's a retelling. I don't read retellings, I have far too many bad experiences.
    While I'm not a contemporary fan at all, Being Sloan Jacobs sounds awesome. I'll go request it right now, I can't wait to read it.
    Great picks, Aylee!

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  4. Besides Being Sloan Jacobs I hadn't heard of any of these. The Glass Casket sounds has a horrible synopsis but if it is indeed a retelling I'd be down reading it. The Tyrants Daughter sounds like it would be fascinating as well although realistically I'm not sure I'd ever get round to reading it. Great picks this week!

    My WoW

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  5. I can't wait for The glass casket and The mirk and midnight hour :D!

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  6. OH, cool! I have Being Sloane Jacobs on my post too! Hope we both get to it soon and enjoy reading it <3
    SIGNED Copies Giveaway || PARANOIA Giveaway
    Waiting on Wednesday

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  7. Awesome picks. They all sound interesting.

    Happy Wednesday!

    http://www.itchingforbooks.com/2013/10/waiting-on-wednesday-70-vitro-mad.html

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  8. Dying for Being Sloane Jacobs. I requested it on Netgalley but no word yet.

    WoW Book

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  9. Ooh a twisted retelling of snow white? I was already intrigued by the cover for that one - The Glass Casket - so I'm definitely adding it to my TBR, now! I'm also excited for Being Sloan Jacobs! Great picks!

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  10. The Tyrant's Daughter isn't the kind of book I would normally read either, but I just finished A Thousand Splendid Suns and I want to learn more about the Middle East. I usually see adult books deal with subjects like that and I think it would be so interesting to read a YA account of it. Awesome pick!

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  11. I need to read the first one. Awesome picks, thanks for sharing!
    Check out our WOW of this week.

    Leydy @OUaT & RCE

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  12. The Tyrant's Daughter (not my usual type of read either, but I'm definitely interested) and The Mirk and Midnight Hour (creepy cover!) have both caught my attention. *adds to GR*

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  13. These are such great picks! I really want read all of them!

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  14. I think I'm most excited by The Tyrant's Daughter. I hadn't heard of it, so thanks for sharing. It sounds very intense, and different. I love realistic stories that focus on different issues.

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  15. I haven't heard of these, but they all sound amazing! I'll be sure to add them to my TBR pile. Great Pick! :)

    Waiting on Wednesday
    Andy @ Owl Always Be Reading

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  16. Those ALL look amazing! The new Loren Morrill is already up on NetGalley :)

    Kate @ Ex Libris

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  17. All of these sound SO COOL. I'm definitely looking forward to The Glass Casket and The Mirk and Midnight Hour (love the titles for both!). I haven't come across The Tyrant's Daughter before, so thanks for drawing that to my attention. And I can't wait to read Being Sloanne Jacobs! Meant to Be caught me by surprise. I loved how quick and fun it was to read, so I'm hoping I'll enjoy this one just as much. :) Great picks, Aylee!

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  18. I thought Meant to Be was okay but I am curious about giving Being Sloane Jacobs a try. I liked Strands of Bronze and Gold so I'll probably be reading The Mirk and the Midnight Hour as well. I haven't heard of the other two novels but they both sound very interesting, especially The Glass Casket because I love fairy tale retellings. I'll be adding both to my wishlist too :)

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  19. Oooo Mirk and Midnight Hour sound pretty good.

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  20. I'm really interested in Being Sloane Jacobs because I LOVE ice-skating and haven't really come across a book that focuses on that! Also very eager to check out The Glass Casket. Great picks!
    My WoW Pick!

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    1. Lauren's 1st book disappointed me, but I do love the whole 'swapping places' device (Parent Trap with popcorn anyone?).

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  21. Tyrant's Daughter sounds awesome. The Glass Casket doesn't sound like my cup up tea until I factor in the Snow White rumour - then I'm intrigued!

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  22. These all sound great! I'm especially excited for Being Sloane Jacobs and The Mirk and Midnight Hour; I've been eagerly awaiting them since reading the first books by these authors and loving them. I hadn't heard of The Tyrant's Daughter, but it sounds so original and interesting, and of course you had at me at Snow White retelling for The Glass Casket. :-) Great choices!

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  23. These sound fabulous - I'm especially intrigued by The Mirk and Midnight Hour!

    Great WOW choices, Aylee! :)

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  24. Ooh Being Sloane Jacobs is not my kind of thing either, but it reminds me of Freaky Friday and I love those chick flicks. The Mirk and the Midnight Hour also looks really good! Great picks Aylee :D

    ~Tilly @ Hardcore Heroines

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  25. OHH! I like your picks! from the cover of Glass Casket and the title I figured it had to be a snow white reteling too, but that summary doesn't do any favors. Sloane Jacobs sounds interesting, but The Tyrant's Daughter is the one that caught my attention the most :D

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  26. Holy amazing picks Batman! *ahem* I mean, Aylee! I'd actually never heard of any of these but you've got me curious for ALL of them! I'm especially drawn to The Glass Casket and The Mirk and Midnight Hour :D I have to admit though that despite me not being into contemporaries, I'm wanting to check out Being Sloan Jacobs - those switched identity stories really do take me back to my younger days LOL

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  27. The Glass Casket an The Mirk and the Midnight Hour are books I think would work for me. The other two are out of my comfort zone, but ones I should give a try.

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  28. I love your blog and always appreciate that you take the time to comment on mine, so I've nominated you for the Shine On award. Thanks for being so awesome :)

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  29. Being Sloane Jacobs looks really, really good. I love the cover for it!

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  30. The Glass Casket sounds interesting. I wouldn't get Snow White front he synopsis either.

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