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Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Waiting On Wednesday: Simon & Schuster Spring 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 Simon & Schuster Spring 2014 Catalog:

Killer Instinct by S.E. Green
Date: May 6, 2014
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She’s not evil, but she has certain... urges.
Lane is a typical teenager. Loving family. Good grades. Afterschool job at the local animal hospital. Martial arts enthusiast. But her secret obsession is studying serial killers. She understands them, knows what makes them tick.
Why?
Because she might be one herself.
Lane channels her dark impulses by hunting criminals—delivering justice when the law fails. The vigilantism stops shy of murder. But with each visceral rush the line of self-control blurs.
And then a young preschool teacher goes missing. Only to return... in parts.
When Lane excitedly gets involved in the hunt for “the Decapitator,” the vicious serial murderer that has come to her hometown, she gets dangerously caught up in a web of lies about her birth dad and her own dark past. And once the Decapitator contacts Lane directly, Lane knows she is no longer invisible or safe. Now she needs to use her unique talents to find the true killer’s identity before she—or someone she loves—becomes the next victim...

What is it with the recent trend of books about serial killers? There seems to be a lot of books from the point of view of serial killers or potential serial killers these days. It's a bit disturbing... but I can't deny there's something intrinsically intriguing about learning about their mindset. It is for this reason that I am curious about Killer Instinct.


Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times by Emma Trevayne
Date: May 13, 2014
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Ten-year-old Jack Foster has stepped through a doorway and into quite a different London.
Londinium is a smoky, dark, and dangerous place, home to mischievous metal fairies and fearsome clockwork dragons that breathe scalding steam. The people wear goggles to protect their eyes, brass grill insets in their nostrils to filter air, or mechanical limbs to replace missing ones.
Over it all rules the Lady, and the Lady has demanded a new son—a perfect flesh-and-blood child. She has chosen Jack.
Jack’s wonder at the magic and steam-powered marvels in Londinium lasts until he learns he is the pawn in a very dangerous game. The consequences are deadly, and his only hope of escape, of returning home, lies with a legendary clockwork bird.
The Gearwing grants wishes. Or it did, before it was broken. Before it was killed.
But some things don’t stay dead forever.

OOH LOOK! A book featuring an alternate steampunk London! With an absolutely darling cover and title to boot. Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times just calls to me! *grabby hands*


Raging Star by Moira Young
Date: May 13, 2014
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Saba is ready to seize her destiny and defeat DeMalo and the Tonton...until she meets him and he confounds all her expectations with his seductive vision of a healed earth, a New Eden. DeMalo wants Saba to join him, in life and work, to create and build a healthy, stable, sustainable world…for the chosen few. The few who can pay.
Jack’s choice is clear: to fight DeMalo and try to stop New Eden. Still uncertain, her connection with DeMalo a secret, Saba commits herself to the fight. Joined by her brother, Lugh, anxious for the land in New Eden, Saba leads an inexperienced guerilla band against the powerfully charismatic DeMalo, in command of his settlers and the Tonton militia. What chance do they have? Saba must act. And be willing to pay the price.

I freaking LOVED Blood Red Road, the first book in the Dust Lands Trilogy, and yet I still haven't gotten around to reading the sequel, Rebel Heart. Don't worry though, it's definitely on my list to read ASAP before the final book, Raging Star, is released. Note: this series is actually published by Random House in Canada, but I've chosen to include it with its American publisher, Simon & Schuster, for this week's Waiting on Wednesday post.


City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
Date: May 27, 2014
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In the long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother. Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Dark Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell. The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris — but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons? When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee — even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned . . . Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the world in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!

I can't say I have been totally keen on the new additions to the original Mortal Instruments trilogy. I thought City of Glass was a great ending! But as long as new books are going to be written in the series, I guess I'm going to keep reading through to the end because I do still feel invested in the characters. I do hope City of Heavenly Fire will be a worthwhile and epic finale to this series!


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

24 comments :

  1. Great picks! Killer Instinct sounds pretty cool. Like a YA Dexter. ANd I'm a sucker for anything steampunk.

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  2. For some reason I thought the new Mortal Instruments book was coming out at the end of March. Oh well. The wait gives me more time to re-read book 4 and read book 5.

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  3. Wow, what a choice - I am really stunned and very curious.
    Do you intend to buy one of those and if which one?

    I hope you'll enjoy reading
    yours
    Smarty

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  4. I think I featured City of Heavenly Fire in my past WoW picks. That is one series I really want to read and finish already. LoL. Thanks for sharing!

    Here's My WoW picks :)

    Camille @ Girl meets Books

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  5. Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times has one of the best covers. It's so detailed and pretty, I want to stroke it! And not to forget that the blurb sounds great too.

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  6. I can't wait for the new book from Moira Young. I was one of the few that loved BLOOD RED ROAD, and I'm so so so excited to continue the series (though I've fallen behind). Great features this week, Aylee!

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  7. Ah! City of Heavenly Fire :D DYING to read it. <3 And omg. Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times. So excited for that one as well. I adore the cover. Think it sounds amazing. Hope you will love all of these :) Great picks.
    Thank you so much for commenting on my blog a while ago. <3
    Love, Carina @ Carina's Books

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  8. I love the cover of Flights and Chimes! So pretty! Great picks!

    Here's my WoW

    Xoxo. Alexis @ Lexi Swoons

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  9. Flights and Chimes looks absolutely adorable! I have to read that

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  10. Man that Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times cover is so amazing. I can get lost in it.

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  11. All of these sound amazing! Sooo many good books coming out soon! Can't wait!
    Megan @ Books i View

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  12. Ooh, that Killer Instinct sounds really good! Have to go add it to my TBR list. And I still need to read the 2nd in the Dustlands series, and the 5th in the Mortal instruments series. Great list!
    Check out my WOW.

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  13. Some great ones on your list! You have a super cute blog!
    Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

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  14. I've got both Killer Instinct - I'm loving the trend of novels with serial killers too - and Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times on my wishlist too. The book I'm most excited about from S&S though is Since You've Been Gone. Both of Morgan Matson's previous books were amazing!

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  15. Killer Instinct sounds amazing. It is interesting that there is a new trend in books about serial killers, but it's a topic that just fascinates me!

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  16. Ooh Raging Star and City of Heavenly Fire are books I'm dying to get my greedy little paws on! Can't wait for May! :-)

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  17. A million YES's to Flight and Chimes in Mysterious Times! I'd featured it awhile back too, I am sooo freaking in love with the cover and the tone it seems to set...which the blurb pretty much confirms. Like you said: this one calls to me too ♥ I still need to read my copy of Dustlands though but man I feel like I'm missing out right now. I remember your review for it and seeing that the third one is getting released (yikes!) should hopefully get me started asap heh I've had my ups and downs with the Mortal Instruments series but I still need to see how it ends. I hope the series ends on a high note!! Seriously awesome picks Aylee, as usual ^^

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  18. Oh, books two and three sound pretty great!!! :9
    I'm not very interested in the other too, lol.

    I hope they are all great.

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  19. Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times sounds cool. I've been wanting to read more middle grade book so definitely adding it on GR.

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  20. Awesome picks, Eilidh!!! :D I can't wait for CoHF!!! I definitely agree that CoG was a great ending...but since there are more, I've definitely been reading them, too...and while CoFA broke my heart, I did really love CoLS! :D And now, I'm definitely eagerly awaiting CoHF! :D

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  21. Ohm Dust Lands! I need to read Blood Red Road - I've heard such good things!

    Kate @ Ex Libris

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  22. Flights and Chimes sounds interesting. Kind of similar to the City of Ember series that I'm reading, and absolutely adore. I can't wait to check this one out!

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  23. I think the only one I am excited about is Flights Chimes and Mysterious Times. I love the cover.

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