Waiting on Wednesday (42)

What's Left of Me - Kat Zhang

*September 18th, 2012 HarperCollins

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t…

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable–hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything. 

Doesn't this sound like an enticing read? There's something really striking about the cover image (really digging the double face effect as well), and the synopsis sounds fascinating! Definitely really interested to delve into this one.

What's your pick this Wednesday?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (41)

Alice in Zombieland - Gena Showalter

*September 25th, 2012 Harlequin Teen

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

There's something very haunting about that cover, don't you think? The contrast between the dark grays and the light blues carries a certain air of allure. And the whole play-on with the title has me interested! Sounds like an interesting paranormal story.

Your turn now - what're you waiting on this Wednesday?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (40)

Breathe - Sarah Crossan

*October 2nd, 2012 Greenwillow

Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe . . .

The world is dead. 

The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air. 

ALINA 

has been stealing for a long time. She’s a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she’s never been caught before. If she’s careful, it’ll be easy. If she’s careful.

QUINN 

should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it’s also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn’t every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her. 

BEA 

wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they’d planned a trip together, the two of them, and she’d hoped he’d discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days’ worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

Really digging the synopsis for this! The structure of the teaser is very enticing - the opening sentence has a beautiful rhythm, and the context of the built world sounds fascinating and the three characters are introduced nicely. 

A fan of dystopian fiction, that's already +1 right there. Also really like the name 'Quinn.' This one has certainly piqued my interest!

What about you, what're you waiting on this Wednesday?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (39)

Nerve - Jeanne Ryan

*September 13th, 2012 Dial

A high-stakes online game of dares turns deadly  

When Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game "knows" her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it's exhilarating--Vee and Ian's fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they're directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they're playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE?  

Debut author Jeanne Ryan delivers an un-putdownable suspense thriller.

This sounds like all sorts of eerie and awesome. Eerie because the whole thing about the game "knowing" her? That's pretty applicable to optimized search engines and social media and the whole internet shabang these days. Awesome because the premise sounds really cool - an anonymous game of dares? Suspense and thrills? Intrigued to check this one out!

What're you waiting on this Wednesday?!

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (38)

Ten - Gretchen McNeil

*September 18th, 2012 Balzer + Bray

And their doom comes swiftly. 

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

A murder mystery! This seems like an enticing read because the synopsis sounds unique and different from a lot of the other current offerings in the YA genre. And it's slightly reminiscent of Agatha Christie. 

What're you waiting on this Wednesday?!

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (37)

The Selection - Kiera Cass
*April 24th, 2012 HarperTeen

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

First WoW post of 2012 :) This week's feature is The Selection by Kiera Cass. There's something very striking about the cover, all the feathers and gowns and fractured reflections. A little reminiscent of Black Swan. And in light of the recent royal wedding, princes and princesses and weddings are certainly very much in society's mind currently.

The synopsis sounds great too. America sounds like a very intriguing leading lady, to find something so coveted by others a nightmare.

What're you waiting on this Wednesday?!

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (36)

Destined - Jessie Harrell
*November 17th, 2011 Mae Day Publishing

When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.

As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.

Destined is a fresh and heartachingly romantic retelling of the Cupid & Psyche myth from debut novelist, Jessie Harrell.

Featuring this one as a "waiting on" book for a number of reasons. First off, it's a pretty striking cover. The pale tones and colour scheme are very soft and seem to fit Psyche very well. Secondly, it's a mythical re-telling of Cupid & Psyche.

It seems like myth re-tellings are pretty big in the YA realm these days, but excited about this one nonetheless. (I actually took a course on Classical Mythology lately, which was very interesting!)

So what're you waiting on this Wednesday?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (35)

Centauriad #1: Daughter of the Centaurs - K. K. Ross
*January 24th, 2012 Random House

Malora knows what she was born to be: a horse wrangler and a hunter, just like her father. But when her people are massacred by batlike monsters called Leatherwings, Malora will need her horse skills just to survive. The last living human, Malora roams the wilderness at the head of a band of magnificent horses, relying only on her own wits, strength, and courage. When she is captured by a group of centaurs and taken to their city, Malora must decide whether the comforts of her new home and family are worth the parts of herself she must sacrifice to keep them.

Kate Klimo has masterfully created a new world, which at first seems to be an ancient one or perhaps another world altogether, but is in fact set on earth sometime far in the future.

Centaurs! How splendid. Centaurs are definitely an aspect of mythology that hasn't been adequately explored in YA literature yet, so it'll be very interesting to see how Ross does so.

And who hasn't read at least one horse book in their early chapter/MG days?

So what're you waiting on this Wednesday?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (34)

Darker Still - Leanna Renee Hieber
*November 1st, 2011 Sourcebooks Fire

The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

New York City, 1880. Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury. Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her. As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing...

Jonathan Denbury's soul is trapped in the gilded painting by dark magic while his possessed body commits unspeakable crimes in the city slums. He must lure Natalie into the painting, for only together can they reverse the curse and free his damaged soul.

First off, that's a pretty striking cover, what with the framing and the lighting and the general effects. Secondly, it's YA historical with paranormal elements by the sounds of it, so it'll definitely be interesting to see how that plays out.

And the general descriptors and synopsis above - hmmmmmm!

So what're you waiting on this Wednesday?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (33)

Awaken - Katie Kacvinsky
*May 23rd, 2011 Houghton Mifflin

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.

I think this one sounds very interesting for a number of reasons. First off, considering the current state of our technology-obsessed culture, it's certainly very plausible to consider a potential future where lives are lived on a screen. Considering that things like online shopping, online dating, working remotely from home with computers, etc. have infiltrated and permeated our culture...

From the sounds of the synopsis, there's certainly a lot of potential here to explore the implications thereof, should our society continue down this path of technology-reliance. I guess we'll have to keep waiting to see how Kacvinsky explores the depths of humanity vs. technology here.

And what're you waiting on this Wednesday?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Also - don't forget to pop by and enter to win First Daughter and Blood Trust here!

Waiting on Wednesday (32)

Deadly Cool - Gemma Halliday
*October 1st, 2011 HarperTeen

DEADLY COOL, in which a sixteen-year-old finds out that her boyfriend was cheating on her with the president of the chastity club; when she goes to confront the cheaters, she finds the girl dead instead and now must solve the murder.

I chose Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday this week for a number of reasons. First off, how haunting is the cover? There's something very striking, very gripping, about the eyes of the cover model. Secondly, although there's not a lot in the way of a synopsis to go off of, from what can be gathered, it's a YA murder mystery! Comparatively speaking, mystery isn't a genre that gets a lot of the YA market share, so it'll definitely be interesting to see how Deadly Cool does.

What're you waiting on this week?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (31)

The Predicteds - Christine Seifert

*September 1st, 2011 Sourcebooks Fire

So there doesn't seem to be a synopsis for this one out yet, but from what can be inferred from the title, tag line and cover, it seems like it's going to be an awesome book! Love the fragmented / pixelated effect.

The line "are you really who they say you are?" sounds like it may potentially hint at mystery or sci fi - either of which would be really cool. As for "what if your boyfriend was destined to commit murder" - hmm, if we're dealing with fate / destiny, then there's definitely potential for lots of philosophical exploration.

Definitely looking forward to getting more information on this one! What're you waiting on this Wednesday?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine
*Apparently I can't count very well, because the last WoW is labelled as #30, but the one before that is #28... oops. shh :P

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

Waiting on Wednesday (28)

Through Her Eyes - Jennifer Archer
*April 5th, 2011 HarperTeen

Sixteen-year-old Tansy Piper moves with her grandfather and her mother, a horror writer, to the setting of her mother's next book--a secluded house outside of a tiny, desolate West Texas town. Lonely and upset over the move, Tansy escapes into her photography and the dark, seductive poems she finds hidden in the cellar, both of which lure her into the mind and world of a mysterious, troubled young man who died sixty years earlier.

Sounds like elements of horror, which is something that's been a little lacking in the YA sphere lately. And woohoo for MCs who're into photography (e.g. Katie Alender's Bad Girls Don't Die).

What's your pick this Wednesday?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (27)

Entwined - Heather Dixon
*March 29th, 2011 Greenwillow Books

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.

The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.

But there is a cost.

The Keeper likes to keep things.

Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

How cool a name is Azalea? It sounds like a twist on The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Fractured fairy tales are always interesting (think Gail Carson Levine or Margaret Peterson Haddix), so it's great to see another one.

'The Keeper' sounds kind of omnious, don't you you think?

What're you waiting on this Wednesday?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (26)

Clarity - Kim Harrington
*March 1st, 2011 Scholastic Point

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?

This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Paranormal murder mystery, ooh! There's not a lot of that in YA these days, so it'll be interesting to see how Kim Harrington has executed this.

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

So Shelly - Ty Roth
*February 8th, 2011 Delacorte

Until now, high school junior, John Keats, has only tiptoed near the edges of the vortex that is schoolmate and literary prodigy, Gordon Byron. That is, until their mutual friend, Shelly, drowns in a sailing accident.

After stealing Shelly's ashes from her wake at Trinity Catholic High School, the boys set a course for the small Lake Erie island where Shelly's body had washed ashore and to where she wished to be returned. It would be one last "so Shelly" romantic quest. At least that's what they think. As they navigate around the obstacles and resist temptations during their odyssey, Keats and Gordon glue together the shattered pieces of Shelly's and their own pasts while attempting to make sense of her tragic and premature end.

Literary references! Keats! Shelly! There's something very haunting about the premise, and it sounds like it might have Romantic elements, so it'll definitely be interesting to see how this plays out.

Furthermore, how awesome is the mood in the cover image? Love the font on "shelly" as well.

What're you waiting on this Wednesday?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

Human .4 - Mike A. Lancaster
*March 8th, 2011 EgmontUSA

Humanity, like computers, can be upgraded. And old versions disappear. . . .

At some unspecified point in the future, when technology is as advanced as possible and we are a race of super beings, some old audio tapes are discovered. On the tapes is the story of fourteen-year-old Kyle Straker.

Hypnotized, Kyle missed the upgrade of humanity to 1.0. He isn't compatible with our new technology. And through the recording, he narrates what the upgrades really mean. And it's absolutely terrifying.

Sci-fi futuristic and technological apocalypse in the style of War of the Worlds, I am Legend and The X-Files.

The premise of this sounds great - the concept of humanity mixed with technology, futuristic and apocalyptic... Mmmm.

Very curious about the title as well. Plus, what a great cover!

What're you waiting on this Wednesday?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine

Waiting on Wednesday (23)

Across the Universe - Beth Revis
*January 11th, 2010 Razorbill

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone--one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship--tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Doesn't the premise of this sound ah-mazing? I read the first chapter here a few months ago, and was instantly intrigued! The first bit actually reminded me a bit of KA Applegate's Remnants series, so definitely interested to see where this goes.

Futuristic science fiction that takes place in deep space? Sign me up! (When I was little, like around 10, 11~ish, I wanted to be an astronomer.) Best part yet? It releases in less than a week now!

What're you waiting on this Wednesday?

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

The Lost Saint - Bree Despain
*December 28th, EgmontUSA

The non-stop sequel to The Dark Divine delivers an even hotter romance and more thrilling action than Bree Despain's first novel. Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She gave her soul to the wolf to save him and lost her beloved mother. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven. Desparate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot - a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel begins to crumble. Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace becomes prideful in her new abilities - not realizing that an old enemy has returned and deadly trap is about to be sprung. Readers, raveous for more Grace and Daniel, will be itching to sink their teeth into The Lost Saint.

I reviewed The Dark Divine last year (in December - has it really been a year already?!) and rather enjoyed it, so it's definitely exciting that the sequel, The Lost Saint, will be released in about a week.

The two covers complement each other very nicely. Actually, both covers are absolutely gorgeous.

So there you have it - my pick of the week. How about you, what're you waiting on this Wednesday?

*WoW is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine