2013 Releases for the TBR List: Space

Here's a second installment of 2013 Releases for the TBR List. The first part, featuring YA Contemporary novels, can be found here. Some necessary caveats: books showcased in this series are either standalones or the first in new series. Links direct to Goodreads, where the book descriptions are also pulled from. If you have any particular or additional recommendations, drop a note in the comments section!

Science fiction/dystopian novels set in space have been getting big recently. K.A. Applegate's Remnants series and Beth Revis' (interview) Across the Universe (review) (#2 on Top 10 of 2011 list) series quickly come to mind, obviously. But a number of others have also joined the fray in 2013:

These Broken Stars- Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

The Starbound Trilogy

December 10th, 2013 | Disney-Hyperion

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. 

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

Perfect Ruin - Lauren DeStefano

The Internment Chronicles

October 1st, 2013 | Simon & Schuster

On Internment, the floating island in the clouds where 16-year-old Morgan Stockhour lives, getting too close to the edge can lead to madness. Even though Morgan's older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. She tries her best not to mind that her life is orderly and boring, and if she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in best friend Pen and her betrothed, Basil.

Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially when she meets Judas. He is the boy being blamed for the murder — betrothed to the victim — but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find — or who she will lose.

Absolutely adore Lauren DeStefano's writing. Really enjoyed Wither (review) (The Chemical Garden trilogy) - it was actually ranked as my favourite YA book of 2011 (list).

Starglass - Phoebe North

July 23rd, 2013 | Simon & Schuster

Terra has never known anything but life aboard the Asherah, a city-within-a-spaceship that left Earth five hundred years ago in search of refuge. At sixteen, working a job that doesn't interest her, and living with a grieving father who only notices her when he's yelling, Terra is sure that there has to be more to life than what she's got.

But when she inadvertently witnesses the captain's guard murdering an innocent man, Terra is suddenly thrust into the dark world beneath her ship's idyllic surface. As she's drawn into a secret rebellion determined to restore power to the people, Terra discovers that her choices may determine life or death for the people she cares most about. With mere months to go before landing on the long-promised planet, Terra has to make the decision of a lifetime--one that will determine the fate of her people.

Slightly funny side story: so I was going through old (like really old) messages on the Absolute Write forums the other day, and found some brief exchanges with Phoebe North from a few years ago, did a quick Google search, and realized that I'd actually seen her book, Starglass, at the grocery store over the summer, and remembered thinking that the synopsis sounded interesting. Small world, huh?

Wither Review

Wither (Chemical Garden #1) - Lauren DeStefano

*March 22nd, 2011 Simon & Schuster

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

With Wither, Lauren DeStefano has crafted an masterpiece that's achingly beautiful from cover to cover.

Wither is a YA dystopian novel that has received a large magnitude of positive hype. Well, I'm pleased to report that it more than lives up to the reputation that precedes it! I finished Wither in one night, staying up well into the wee hours of morning to complete it. It has definitely earned its rightful place on my shelf of favourites.

One of the most notable characteristics of Wither is how simply engaging it is. DeStefano's world building is spectacular - it's similar enough to our own to maintain credibility and relatability, yet distinctive enough to distinguish as a hypothetical future for humanity. The mood and atmosphere that DeStefano creates is equally remarkable - so realistic that it transcends the physical pages and printed words to seep into [the reader's] mind, to create genuine emotions, to alter the mood [of the audience]. Fictional worlds this immersive are a beautiful rarity.

And the characters - wow. DeStefano is a highly talented writer who has managed to almost breathe life into her characters. I'll let the story and characterization speak for themselves, but basically: be prepared to really connect with Wither.

Another one of the great aspects of Wither is its concept. Dystopian novels really resonate these days to begin with because they offer a safe exploration of potential futures, a medium for social satire, a vessel for outrageous speculation and prediction. Alas, not all such entities are created equal. I'm pleased to report that Wither is highly proficient such a vessel. Wither really explores deeply aspects of our humanity. What happens when science goes too far? What if you knew when you would die? What would you be willing to do to escape your "fate"?

With remarkable world-building, probing concepts and bewitching atmosphere, Lauren DeStefano's Wither is a transcendental work of art.

In My Mailbox [48]

Tuesday this week was an excellent day, filled with many positive aspects. And one of the great things that happened that day? Receiving Wither by Lauren DeStefano in the mail from Simon & Schuster! (Thanks, M!)

I've been looking forward to this book for months (and featured it in WoW while I was at it), so needless to say, it was very exciting. Despite having tons of stuff to do, I couldn't resist starting Wither almost immediately, and ended up staying up until the wee hours of morning to finish it. Well worth it though! A full review will be coming soon, so be sure to keep an eye out for that.

What was in your mailbox this week?

*In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren

Don't forget to enter to win a copy of Accomplice or Mind Gap!

Waiting on Wednesday (30)

Wither (Chemical Garden #1) - Lauren DeStefano
*March 22nd, 2011 Simon & Schuster

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left.

I've been waiting in anticipation for this book for a good couple of months now. First off, it's a YA dystopian (have I mentioned that I absolutely love dystopian?) - and it's a trilogy. The synopsis sounds highly intriguing, and the cover looks amazing.

I read the first chapter here a few months ago, and was highly impressed with the writing style. Check it out for sure, if you haven't already.

And once you've done that, I'm sure you'll see why I'm waiting on Wither this Wednesday. But what about you, what're you waiting for?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine