Epic March 2016 » YA Book Releases and More

I was a third of the way through this making this post when I realized... I've already posted about new releases for March. DOH! But the reason I had no clue for as long as I did is that there are so many books that I missed the first time around! So, I'm going to go ahead and post this one. Why not?

March 1

Beyond the Red by Ava Jae

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]Alien queen Kora has a problem as vast as the endless crimson deserts. She’s the first female ruler of her territory in generations, but her people are rioting and call for her violent younger twin brother to take the throne. Despite assassination attempts, a mounting uprising of nomadic human rebels, and pressure to find a mate to help her rule, she’s determined to protect her people from her brother’s would-be tyrannical rule.

Eros is a rebel soldier hated by aliens and human alike for being a half-blood. Yet that doesn’t stop him from defending his people, at least until Kora’s soldiers raze his camp and take him captive. He’s given an ultimatum: be an enslaved bodyguard to Kora, or be executed for his true identity—a secret kept even from him.

When Kora and Eros are framed for the attempted assassination of her betrothed, they flee. Their only chance of survival is to turn themselves in to the high court, where revealing Eros’s secret could mean a swift public execution. But when they uncover a violent plot to end the human insurgency, they must find a way to work together to prevent genocide.[/shc_shortcode]

Beyond the Red is a book I'm looking forward to greatly because it's from a debut author whose blog I've been following.  For a debut author, she has a lot of writing and publishing advice to give, so I guess I'm curious to actually read what she's put out.  This story is about an alien queen, forbidden romance, court intrigue, an escape, and a trek (I love treks).

Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.

Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. One mistake, one small failure, will cost her own life and the lives of the few people left in the world who still trust her.

But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, her feelings easily usurped, and she sometimes can’t decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.

As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.

BURNING GLASS is debut author Kathryn Purdie’s stunning tale of dangerous magic, heart-rending romance, and the hard-won courage it takes to let go.[/shc_shortcode]

I was fortunate enough to read an ARC of Burning Glass and I'm overjoyed to report that I really, really liked it, despite some healthy criticism.  That sounds bad.  Okay, the book wasn't perfect, but I thought it was a really solid debut and I had a grand time reading it.  You can read my review HERE. The book is about an auraseer, a girl who can read emotions, who is conscripted by the emperor to serve him in his court.  She becomes torn between whether to help the emperor, or serve his brother's interests on the sly.

Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]When fragile, sixteen-year-old Hope Walton loses her mom to an earthquake overseas, her secluded world crumbles. Agreeing to spend the summer in Scotland, Hope discovers that her mother was more than a brilliant academic, but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. Trapped in the twelfth century in the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hope has seventy-two hours to rescue her mother and get back to their own time. Along the way, her path collides with that of a mysterious boy who could be vital to her mission . . . or the key to Hope’s undoing.      Addictive, romantic, and rich with historical detail,Into the Dim is an Outlander for teens. [/shc_shortcode]

I'm sorry to say that I've been reading some lackluster reviews of Into the Dim. Most of the complaints has to do with the writing and the main character, which is just... the book at its core. I'll probably pick it up, since I like to form my own opinions on books, but I won't be in a rush to purchase this one or read it right out of the gate.  The book is about a girl who time travels to the era of Eleanor of Aquitane to rescue her mother.

Siren's Song (The Storm Siren #3) by Mary Weber

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]Nym and Draewulf prepare to face off in a battle destined to destroy more lives than it saves.

With the loss of Tulla still fresh in mind, Rasha’s fate unknown, and Lord Myles taken over by the dark ability, Nym and the few Bron soldiers rush to warn Cashlin’s queen. Only to discover it may already be too late for the monarch and her eerie kingdom. As the Luminescents are sifting through Nym’s past memories and the queen is reading into her future, Nym is given a choice of how to defeat Draewulf, but the cost may be more than she can bear. And even then there are no guarantees.

With that reality burrowing into her bones—along with the guilt of the lives she will sacrifice—Nym returns to her homeland of Faelen to raise an army of peasants through promises of freedom. But when the few friends she has left, along with the world and citizens she loves, are staring down the face of a monster and his undead army, will Nym summon every element her blood is capable of controlling . . . or surrender to a different strength—one of sacrifice?

Because in the end, death may be more merciful for them all.[/shc_shortcode]

I haven't read past the first few chapters of the first book, but the finale to this trilogy is coming out and I know some people are going to be so excited over it! I'm just waiting for someone to tell me that I need to keep reading, because I love fantasy and girls with special powers probably more than most everything.  I just need to know that the series gets better. And, also, if there is a good romance. That too.

The Girl Who Fell by S. M. Parker

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]His obsession.
Her fall.

Zephyr is focused. Focused on leading her team to the field hockey state championship and leaving her small town for her dream school, Boston College.

But love has a way of changing things.

Enter the new boy in school: the hockey team’s starting goaltender, Alec. He’s cute, charming, and most important, Alec doesn’t judge Zephyr. He understands her fears and insecurities—he even shares them. Soon, their relationship becomes something bigger than Zephyr, something she can’t control, something she doesn’t want to control.

Zephyr swears it must be love. Because love is powerful, and overwhelming, and … terrifying?

But love shouldn’t make you abandon your dreams, or push your friends away. And love shouldn’t make you feel guilty—or worse, ashamed.

So when Zephyr finally begins to see Alec for who he really is, she knows it’s time to take back control of her life.

If she waits any longer, it may be too late.[/shc_shortcode]

The Girl Who Fell looks to be a little tough on the heartstrings. It's about a girl who has everything going for her, but gets thrown off the course through what looks to be an abusive relationship.  Lovely. This novel is probably one of those "important books," but those tend to wreck me.  I'm still reeling from Sarah Dessen's Dreamland. 

Seven Black Diamonds by Melissa Marr

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]This riveting fantasy marks Melissa Marr’s return to the world of faery courts that made her Wicked Lovely series an international phenomenon.

Lilywhite Abernathy is a criminal—she’s half human, half fae, and since the time before she was born, a war has been raging between humans and faeries. The Queen of Blood and Rage, ruler of the fae courts, wants to avenge the tragic death of her heir due to the actions of reckless humans.

Lily’s father has always shielded her, but when she’s sent to the prestigious St. Columba’s school, she’s delivered straight into the arms of a fae sleeper cell—the Black Diamonds. The Diamonds are planted in the human world as the sons and daughters of the most influential families and tasked with destroying it from within. Against her will, Lilywhite’s been chosen to join them...and even the romantic attention of the fae rock singer Creed Morrison isn’t enough to keep Lily from wanting to run back to the familiar world she knows.

Melissa Marr returns to faery in a dramatic story of the precarious space between two worlds and the people who must thrive there. The combination of ethereal fae powers, tumultuous romance, and a bloodthirsty faery queen will have longtime fans and new readers at the edge of their seats.[/shc_shortcode]

I've never read anything by Melissa Marr.  (I don't think.) Can anybody tell me if she's a good author to look into?  This book hasn't been getting much publicity, but you cannot deny that the cover is absolutely lovely.  This book is about the fae, so heads up if you've reached fae overload. (Raises own hand.)

March 8

March 8, 2016 is going to be a HUGE day in publishing. There are so many amazing books coming out on this date, I don't even know what I'm going to do with myself. Probably start reading at midnight, to be honest. It's going to be like a little Christmas, and I, for one, am pacing in front of the proverbial tree.

Here's what I'm looking forward to:

Us (Him #2) by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]Five months in, NHL forward Ryan Wesley is having a record-breaking rookie season. He's living his dream of playing pro hockey and coming home every night to the man he loves–Jamie Canning, his longtime best friend turned boyfriend. There's just one problem: the most important relationship of his life is one he needs to keep hidden, or else face a media storm that will eclipse his success on the ice.

Jamie loves Wes. He really, truly does. But hiding sucks. It's not the life Jamie envisioned for himself, and the strain of keeping their secret is taking its toll. It doesn't help that his new job isn't going as smoothly as he'd hoped, but he knows he can power through it as long as he has Wes. At least apartment 10B is their retreat, where they can always be themselves.

Or can they? When Wes's nosiest teammate moves in upstairs, the threads of their carefully woven lie begin to unravel. With the outside world determined to take its best shot at them, can Wes and Jamie develop major-league relationship skills on the fly?[/shc_shortcode]

I'm a fan of each of these authors, so when they put out a M/M hockey romance last year, called Him, I approached slowly.  Believe it or not, I'd never read a M/M romance, and I wasn't sure what to expect.  Needless to say, I LOVED THE BOOK! The characters, the story, the style, the everything was so much fun. I am so ready for part two of Wes and Jamie's story.  I only hope our characters aren't put through the ringer too badly. I know there has to be dramatic tension in a book, but I need that HEA for these two. I'm jumping up and down for this book!

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there's nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can't wait to escape from.

Destined to wind up "wed or dead," Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she'd gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan's army, with a fugitive who's wanted for treason. And she'd never have predicted she'd fall in love with him...or that he'd help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.[/shc_shortcode]

All of the preliminary reviews for this book have been raves.  That, and the awesome blurb and concept behind this book are hard to ignore. I've gotten to read the first four chapters of Rebel of the Sands and I loved them. I was sucked in from the first chapter, and am dying to read more. The book is set in a fantasy desert kingdom, in the earlier industrial age — so, guns, horses, etc. But no overt steampunk. BASICALLY, WHAT I LOVE. This promises to be awesome adventure and romance. Count me in.

The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]Kill the beast. Win the girl.

A strange beast stirs fear in the kingdom of Lochlanach, terrorizing towns with its brutality and hunger. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.

Princess Aerity understands her duty to the kingdom though it pains her to imagine marrying a stranger. It would be foolish to set her sights on any particular man in the great hunt, but when a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention, there’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.

Paxton is not keen on marriage. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast and protecting his family—yet Princess Aerity continues to challenge his notions with her unpredictability and charm. But as past secrets collide with present desires, dire choices threaten everything Paxton holds dear.

Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale, “The Singing Bone,” New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a dark fantasy filled with rugged hunters, romantic tension, outlawed magic, and a princess willing to risk all to save her people.[/shc_shortcode]

A month ago I would have sold an organ to get ahold of this book.  Now, having read some prelim reviews, my enthusiasm is pretty dampened.  I can survive until March 8 to read The Great Hunt. The book follows a girl who is made a prize by her father in order to incentivize the kingdom into killing a ravenous beast. It's a delightfully dishy premise. I can only hope that I'll like it, despite all the negative reviews coming in.

A Tyranny of Petticoats: 15 Stories of Belles, Bank Robbers & Other Badass Girls

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]Criss-cross America — on dogsleds and ships, stagecoaches and trains — from pirate ships off the coast of the Carolinas to the peace, love, and protests of 1960s Chicago. Join fifteen of today’s most talented writers of young adult literature on a thrill ride through history with American girls charting their own course. They are monsters and mediums, bodyguards and barkeeps, screenwriters and schoolteachers, heiresses and hobos. They're making their own way in often-hostile lands, using every weapon in their arsenals, facing down murderers and marriage proposals. And they all have a story to tell.[/shc_shortcode]

This book is an anthology that I'm really looking forward to. There aren't any HUGE names in the lineup, but the premise, about girl power and adventure, is wonderful, and I hope to uncover some hidden gems.  Our authors are: J. Anderson Coats, Andrea Cremer, Y. S. Lee, Katherine Longshore, Marie Lu, Kekla Magoon, Marissa Meyer, Saundra Mitchell, Beth Revis, Caroline Richmond, Lindsay Smith, Jessica Spotswood, Robin Talley,Leslye Walton, and Elizabeth Wein.

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]The Shadowhunters of Los Angeles star in the first novel in Cassandra Clare’s newest series, The Dark Artifices, a sequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series. Lady Midnight is a Shadowhunters novel.

It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…

Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?

Glitz, glamours, and Shadowhunters abound in this heartrending opening to Cassandra Clare’s Dark Artifices series.[/shc_shortcode]

I was not excited for this book until I decided to both reread and complete the Mortal Instruments and now I AM excited for it.  I admit that I kind of sped read the parts that the new MC appears in, in book six of TMI, but I DO know that the book jumps ahead about ten years into the future, which means that we get an epilogue of sorts for our beloved characters as well as new ones to obsess over.  I'm really hoping the Julian kid's brother is the love interest and that he's properly bat-shit insane from having spent time as a fae captive.

Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]Nora Lopez is seventeen during the infamous New York summer of 1977, when the city is besieged by arson, a massive blackout, and a serial killer named Son of Sam who shoots young women on the streets. Nora’s family life isn’t going so well either: her bullying brother, Hector, is growing more threatening by the day, her mother is helpless and falling behind on the rent, and her father calls only on holidays. All Nora wants is to turn eighteen and be on her own. And while there is a cute new guy who started working with her at the deli, is dating even worth the risk when the killer likes picking off couples who stay out too late? Award-winning author Meg Medina transports us to a time when New York seemed balanced on a knife-edge, with tempers and temperatures running high, to share the story of a young woman who discovers that the greatest dangers are often closer than we like to admit — and the hardest to accept.[/shc_shortcode]

This book popped onto my radar fairly recently, but it sounds like an intriguing piece of historical fiction.  It's set in 1977 New York, and I love that the 70's is already a historical time period.  How weird. My parents were alive then, and almost grown up. The story looks like it deals with thematic issues of violence against women, which is a subject as interesting as it is disturbing. The downside to this book is the appalling cover. Yuck.

Map of Fates (Conspiracy of Us #2) by Maggie Hall

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]Two weeks.

That’s how long it took for Avery West’s ordinary life to change forever: In two weeks, she discovered she was heiress to a powerful secret society known as the Circle, learned her mother was taken hostage by the Circle’s enemies, and fell for a boy she’s not allowed to love, just as she found out another was her unwelcome destiny.

Now, Avery crosses oceans in private jets to hunt for clues that will uncover the truth about the Circle, setting her mom and herself free before it’s too late. By her side are both the boys: Jack—steady, loyal, and determined to help her even at the expense of his own duty—and Stellan, whose connection to Avery grows stronger by the day despite her best intentions, making her question what she believes at every turn.

But at the end of a desperate hunt from the islands of Greece to the red carpet at Cannes comes a discovery that not only changes everything, but could bring the whole world to its knees. And now Avery is forced to face the truth: in the world of the Circle, no one is what they seem.[/shc_shortcode]

I remember kind of sort of liking The Conspiracy of Us, and wouldn't you know it, it's already time for the sequel — Map of Fates! The only problem is, I've almost entirely forgotten what the first book was about. I guess a re-read might be in order sometime soon, unless this book gets crushed underneath my bloated TBR pile.

The Keeper of the Mist by Rachel Neumier

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]A lush new fantasy about finding the will to lead against all odds, perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone.

Keri has been struggling to run her family bakery since her mother passed away. Now the father she barely knew—the Lord of Nimmira—has died, and ancient magic has decreed that she will take his place as the new Lady. The position has never been so dangerous: the mists that hide Nimmira from its vicious, land-hungry neighbors have failed, and Keri’s people are visible to strangers for the first time since the mists were put in place generations ago. At the same time, three half-brothers will their own eyes on the crown make life within the House just as dangerous as the world outside.

But Keri has three people to guide her: her mysterious Timekeeper, clever Bookkeeper, and steadfast Doorkeeper. Together they must find a way to repair the boundary before her neighbors realize just how vulnerable Nimmira is.

With a spunky main character, lyrical storytelling, and hidden romance, The Keeper of the Mist is an engrossing story that is full of adventure.[/shc_shortcode]

Another fantasy is coming out and I must READ THEM ALL. (In search for another Graceling, yes.) I haven't been hearing any buzz about this one, so there's that.  But a book doesn't need buzz for it to be good.

Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]Paloma High School is ordinary by anyone’s standards. It’s got the same cliques, the same prejudices, the same suspect cafeteria food. And like every high school, every student has something to hide—whether it’s Kat, the thespian who conceals her trust issues onstage; or Valentine, the neurotic genius who’s planted the seed of a school scandal.

When that scandal bubbles over, and rumors of a teacher-student affair surface, everyone starts hunting for someone to blame. For the unlikely allies at the heart of it all, the collision of their seven ordinary-seeming lives results in extraordinary change.[/shc_shortcode]

Teacher-student affairs have been made romantic of late it seems... (Pretty Little Liars, Slammed) but I think it's super gross. Ew. Ew. Even college-age love affairs of that nature where everyone is above 18 give me the willies a little. (But not as much.) So Seven Ways We Lie seems to be on board with my point of view, it seems, from the blurb.  This book is about a high school that's rocked by an allegation.  It looks to be a fascinating read.

Facsimile by Vicki L Weavil

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]For a ticket to Earth, seventeen-year-old Anna-Maria “Ann” Solano is willing to jettison her birth planet, best friend, and the boy who loves her. Especially since all she’s required to do is escort Dace Keeling, a young naturalist, through the wilderness of the partially terraformed planet Eco. Ann‘s determination to escape the limitations of her small, frontier colony never falters, until Dace’s expeditions uncover three secrets. One offers riches, one shatters Ann’s perceptions of herself, and one reveals that the humans stranded on Eco are not its only inhabitants.

Ann’s willing to sacrifice friendship and love for a new life on Earth. But when an entire species is placed in jeopardy by her actions, she must make a choice – fulfill the dream that’s always sustained her, or save the planet she’s never considered home.[/shc_shortcode]

Facsimile is about a girl who ditches everything — friends, family, boyfriend — for a ticket to Earth.  All she needs to do is escort a young naturalist through the planet Eco.  It sounds space-y and adventurous and I'm all for discovering books by small publishers, so count me in!

March 15

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E. K. Johnston

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]Veronica Mars meets William Shakespeare in E.K. Johnston’s latest brave and unforgettable heroine.

Hermione Winters is captain of her cheerleading team, and in tiny Palermo Heights, this doesn’t mean what you think it means. At PHHS, the cheerleaders don’t cheer for the sports teams; they are the sports team—the pride and joy of a tiny town. The team’s summer training camp is Hermione’s last and marks the beginning of the end of…she’s not sure what. She does know this season could make her a legend. But during a camp party, someone slips something in her drink. And it all goes black.

In every class, there’s a star cheerleader and pariah pregnant girl. They’re never supposed to be the same person. Hermione struggles to regain the control she’s always had and faces a wrenching decision about how to move on. The assault wasn’t the beginning of Hermione Winter’s story and she’s not going to let it be the end. She won’t be anyone’s cautionary tale.[/shc_shortcode]

I don't know much about this book, except that it is apparently a retelling of Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale. It's about a cheerleader who gets drugged and impregnated at a party.... Doesn't sound like too much fun to read, right? But then, it's being compared in its blurb to Veronica Mars.  And in Veronica Mars, the guilty always get their comeuppance.  I love the cover on this book, as well. It's very atmospheric and suggests a great tension between the crowd and the heroine.  That's some seriously impressive contortion as well. The colors of the sky are moody and expressive... it's great design.  Sometimes, the cover can sell a book for me.

At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]1838: James and Sadie Goodenough have settled where their wagon got stuck – in the muddy, stagnant swamps of northwest Ohio. They and their five children work relentlessly to tame their patch of land, buying saplings from a local tree man known as John Appleseed so they can cultivate the fifty apple trees required to stake their claim on the property. But the orchard they plant sows the seeds of a long battle. James loves the apples, reminders of an easier life back in Connecticut; while Sadie prefers the applejack they make, an alcoholic refuge from brutal frontier life.

1853: Their youngest child Robert is wandering through Gold Rush California. Restless and haunted by the broken family he left behind, he has made his way alone across the country. In the redwood and giant sequoia groves he finds some solace, collecting seeds for a naturalist who sells plants from the new world to the gardeners of England. But you can run only so far, even in America, and when Robert’s past makes an unexpected appearance he must decide whether to strike out again or stake his own claim to a home at last.

Chevalier tells a fierce, beautifully crafted story in At the Edge of the Orchard, her most graceful and richly imagined work yet.[/shc_shortcode]

Tracy Chevalier's newest book, At the Edge of the Orchard, isn't a YA or NA, but I'm going to read it regardless, because I really need to branch out. Chevalier can write really atmospheric historical pieces so I'm excited for this novel.  It takes place in 1838 and 1853, it looks like, and follows a settler family in Ohio who took seeds from Johnny Appleseed himself. Knowing Chevalier, At the Edge of the Orchard will be bittersweet and yet, slightly dreamy.

March 22

Wink Poppy Midnight by Genevieve Tucholke

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]Every story needs a hero.
Every story needs a villain.
Every story needs a secret.

Wink is the odd, mysterious neighbor girl, wild red hair and freckles. Poppy is the blond bully and the beautiful, manipulative high school queen bee. Midnight is the sweet, uncertain boy caught between them. Wink. Poppy. Midnight. Two girls. One boy. Three voices that burst onto the page in short, sharp, bewitching chapters, and spiral swiftly and inexorably toward something terrible or tricky or tremendous.

What really happened?
Someone knows.
Someone is lying.[/shc_shortcode]

Wink Poppy Midnight.  Everyone has become obsessed with this book because of the awesome cover.  I haven't read a shred of actual criticism of the writing so far.  I have yet to read Tucholke's The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, nor its sequel, but I was so impressed with her edited anthology Slasher Girls and Monster Boys and her story in that.  So I will be picking this one up, no questions asked.

March 29

The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Curse #3) by Marie Rutkoski

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it with untrustworthy new allies and the empire as his enemy. Though he has convinced himself that he no longer loves Kestrel, Arin hasn’t forgotten her, or how she became exactly the kind of person he has always despised. She cared more for the empire than she did for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she did for him.

At least, that’s what he thinks.

In the frozen north, Kestrel is a prisoner in a brutal work camp. As she searches desperately for a way to escape, she wishes Arin could know what she sacrificed for him. She wishes she could make the empire pay for what they’ve done to her.

But no one gets what they want just by wishing.

As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover that the world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and they are caught in between. With so much to lose, can anybody really win?[/shc_shortcode]

All the way down at the end of the month, The Winner's Kiss will be released.  This is the finale in the Winner's Curse trilogy, which I've been following since its genesis.  In this book, we find out if a tiny, pastoral country with a strong cultural identity can shrug off the yoke of the empire who has enslaved it. We also discover if true love can win amongst this warfare.

Half Lost (Half Bad #3) by Sally Green

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]Nathan Byrn is running again. The Alliance of Free Witches has been all but destroyed. Scattered and demoralized, constantly pursued by the Council’s Hunters, only a bold new strategy can save the rebels from total defeat. They need the missing half of Gabriel’s amulet—an ancient artifact with the power to render its bearer invincible in battle.

But the amulet’s guardian—the reclusive and awesomely powerful witch Ledger - has her own agenda. To win her trust, Nathan must travel to America and persuade her to give him the amulet. Combined with the Gifts he has inherited from Marcus, the amulet might just be enough to turn the tide for the Alliance and end the bloody civil war between Black and White witches once and for all…[/shc_shortcode]

I cannot BELIEVE I have yet to read Half Wild. I have checked it out from the library... TWICE.  So, of course, I need to actually read that before I get to the finale of this trilogy, Half Lost. 

 

The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle

[shc_shortcode class="shc_mybox"]Quinn Roberts is a sixteen-year-old smart aleck and Hollywood hopeful whose only worry used to be writing convincing dialogue for the movies he made with his sister Annabeth. Of course, that was all before—before Quinn stopped going to school, before his mom started sleeping on the sofa…and before Annabeth was killed in a car accident.

Enter Geoff, Quinn’s best friend who insists it’s time that Quinn came out—at least from hibernation. One haircut later, Geoff drags Quinn to his first college party, where instead of nursing his pain, he meets a guy—a hot one—and falls hard. What follows is an upside-down week in which Quinn begins imagining his future as a screenplay that might actually have a happily-ever-after ending—if, that is, he can finally step back into the starring role of his own life story.[/shc_shortcode]

This book promises to be up the alley for David Levithan fans it looks like — GLTBQ teens finding themselves in our contemporary world.