Is anyone else tired of winter and excited for spring to finally get here? I know I am - not just for the weather to change, but also for the great books that will be released in the springtime. This week, I've chosen a few picks from the Raincoast Books Spring 2012 Catalogue. Raincoast Books is a Canadian company that distributes books from various US publishers, mainly Macmillan Imprints. They are also the company that gave Canadians Harry Potter - and on 100% Ancient-Forest friendly paper, no less - which I obviously appreciate.
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Don’t Sweat. Don’t Laugh. Don’t draw attention to yourself. And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.
Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.
When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him. He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?
Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.
When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him. He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?
I'm finally starting to get back into vampires again- after taking a long, much needed break - and The Hunt's post-apocalyptic vampire story sounds intense and awesome.
Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong.
A huge store isn’t the worst place to be stranded. There’s food and water, bedding and books. But what if it’s not safe to leave? Emmy Laybourne had us from the get-go with her utterly fresh and fast-paced debut.
Six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids are trapped together in a chain superstore. Together they build a refuge for themselves inside, while outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapon spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart.
A huge store isn’t the worst place to be stranded. There’s food and water, bedding and books. But what if it’s not safe to leave? Emmy Laybourne had us from the get-go with her utterly fresh and fast-paced debut.
Six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids are trapped together in a chain superstore. Together they build a refuge for themselves inside, while outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapon spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart.
If I was living in a post-apocalyptic world, you want to bet I would be holing up in a superstore with every luxury on hand. I'll be interested to see if the kids of Monument 14 spend the entire book in the superstore or not!
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Date: June 5, 2012
Add to GoodreadsPublisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Date: June 5, 2012
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near-impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one unlikely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life– a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha… and the secrets of her heart.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life– a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha… and the secrets of her heart.
I adore high fantasy but in reality, I don't actually read all that much of it - I would like to change that. I am endlessly fascinated by just the blurb of Shadow and Bone alone, so I can't imagine how awesome the actually story is going to be.
This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Date: June 19, 2012
Add to GoodreadsPublisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Date: June 19, 2012
It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually wantto live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what doyou hold on to?
I am quite ashamed to admit that I have never read any of Courtney Summers' raved-about contemporaries. But I am very much willing to make This Is Not A Test, a zombie thriller, my first read of hers.
How about you? Are you waiting on any of these Raincoast Books Spring 2012 reads? Are there any upcoming books from the Raincoast Books Spring 2012 Catalogue that I didn't include here that you feel I should add to my list?
I'm really excited for Shadow and Bone. The Hunt sounds like a great twist on a vampire story.
ReplyDeleteI'm always looking for great twists on the same old thing!
DeleteShadow and Bone was my pick this week. I'm looking forward to Monument 14. I haven't heard of Hunt, but it sounds very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI'm really excited for all of these ones as well.
ReplyDeleteGreat picks.
My WoW/WWW
Happy reading!
~Danica Page
Taking It One Page at a Time
As much as I try to stay away from zombie books---This is Not a Test looks completely awesome! I haven't read any of her books either, but I'll be checking this one out for sure.
ReplyDeleteNot me - I love zombie books!
DeleteThe first two titles I already had on my list, but the last two I just added. Can't miss the fun now, can I? LOL
ReplyDeleteMy WoW + giveaway winners announcement!!
Oh no, the last two sound amazing!
DeleteI've got This Is Not A Test for review, and it looks so good! Monument 14 looks very interesting too. I'm adding Shadow and Bone to my list, I've been reading way too little fantasy lately!
ReplyDeleteCeline ~ Nyx Book Reviews
My WoW
I know, it occurred to me that I've also been reading not enough fantasy - much more dystopian/post-apoc.
DeleteAll amazing picks and ones I'm looking forward to reading myself!! Especially This is Not a Test. :)
ReplyDeleteJess @ Gone with the Words
My Wow pick this week! :)
Whoa The Hunt sounds exciting and FREAKY!! Good pick.
ReplyDeleteMy WoW!
Shadow and Bone looks so gooooooooood!
ReplyDeleteI really like it!
I didn't know about them being the responsible for HP in recycled paper! That's awesome.I know we printed a bunch of them copies here in Mexico - but I have never checked it my actual copy was one of them...LOL
sorry, I guess I'm still under the influence of cough syrup :P
Love your picks
LOL! Too funny :) Hope you feel better soon!
DeleteGreat picks this week - I just finished The Hunt and cannot wait to read This is Not a Test.
ReplyDelete~Pixie
our WOW
I think all of these are on many to-read lists - they certainly are on mine. :D
ReplyDeleteCarina
Fictional Distraction
A lot of great picks this week. I'm going to be adding quite a few to my TBR. I especially am drawn to Shadow and Bone and The Hunt.
ReplyDeleteThese are all amazing picks, I've never heard of Shadows and Bone. Fantastic choices, I can't wait to read them all. Please check out my WoW.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Anna @ Wandering Librarians
I hadn't heard of it either until just last week!
DeleteI am crazy-excited for Shadow & Bone and This is Not a Test! If only it was June :(
ReplyDeleteGreat WOW picks, Aylee!
I wish! And then come June, I'll be wishing it was October when some other hotly anticipated release comes out...
DeleteExciting choices, enjoy!
ReplyDeletehttp://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/02/waiting-on-wednesday_29.html
Really looking forward to all of these! Especially The Hunt and Monument 14! Love the covers of them all too - great picks :).
ReplyDeleteYes, great covers!
DeleteNice choices!
ReplyDeletehttp://thedailyprophecy.blogspot.com/2012/02/waiting-on-wednesday-4-eve-marie-mont.html
Oh wow ALL of these sound amazing! I'm not into vampires at all but The Hunt definitely sounds intriguing and Monument 14 sounds downright awesome! :D
ReplyDeleteJulia @ That Hapa Chick
Yeah, I'm definitely intrigued by The Hunt even though I'm not really into vampires either.
DeleteAylee! I almost cried happy tears when you said you are ready for vampires again! It's like my will to live is back! Thank you. :[
ReplyDeletehehehe. I can't wait for The Hunt. I need it now.
LMAO!!!! I didn't know it was so important to you or I would have got back into vampires sooner :)
DeleteAll of these are awesome picks! I can't wait for the Hunt! I was able to read This is Not A Test and I can tell you it's awesome!
ReplyDeleteGiselle
Xpresso Reads
Good to hear!
DeleteI actually have Some Girls Are on my tbr shelf. So...no I haven't read any of Courtney Summers books eitehr. But they look great! I can't wait to read all of these books! Fab list :)
ReplyDeleteWell, having it on your shelf is a start, anyway! Better than me.
DeleteOoo Monument 14 does look really good.
ReplyDeleteI actually want to read all of them :) !!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of The Hunt until now so thank you Aylee because it sounds amazing :) !!
Great choices !
I can't wait for The Hunt and Shadow and Bone! SO GOOD! The cover for Shadow and Bone is stunning I think, I love illustrated covers:) My "must have" list is getting kind of ridiculously long...:)
ReplyDeleteYES! I adore illustrated covers. Just gorgeous.
DeleteIt's always great to hear about new books and Monument 14 is a definite must read! Sounds awesome!
ReplyDeleteCheck out my WoW...
I want to make a point to try and read more high fantasy too. I like most of it that I read, so why do I read so little of it?
ReplyDeleteIt's strange... perhaps because the majority of stuff being put out are dystopian and paranormal? Because that seems to be what I read most of.
DeleteThanks for sharing such great WoW books. I can not wait to read 'The Hunt' the most. It sounds like a good read doesn't it (Old GFC Follower) Natasha @ Paranormal Goddess Book Blog - My Waiting On Wednesday Post
ReplyDelete