Waiting on Wednesday: Ride the Storm by Karen Chance

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• Releases: April 5th, 2016
• Publisher: Signet
• Paperback, 432

Synopsis:

Ever since getting appointed the chief seer of the supernatural world, Cassie Palmer has been playing catch up. Catch up on the training she missed being raised by a psychotic vampire instead of at the pythian court. Catch up on the dangerous world of supernatural politics. Catch up on the powerful, and sometimes seductive, forces trying to mold her to their will. It’s been a trial by fire that has left her burned. 

But now she realizes all that was just the warm up.

Ancient forces that once terrorized the world want to return, and Cassie is the only one who can stop them.

Thoughts:

Cassie Palmer is the pythia. A.K.A. the Oracle. And she's always prone to trouble. Which drives everyone around her crazy. But what can she do? She's got a duty and there's no stopping it. I can't wait for the next installment.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Beast by J.R. Ward

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• Releases: April 5th, 2016
• Publisher: NAL
• Hardcover, 592 pages

Synopsis:

His name is Rhage—the deadliest fighter and most voracious lover of all the Brotherhood, whose inner beast could never be tamed. But Rhage found his eternal love in Mary Luce, a woman who once bore a life-threatening curse, while dreaming of eternity with her vampire warrior and protector.

Thoughts:

The Black Dagger Brotherhood is addictive. Seriously. These books eclipse the vampire genre by turning it into something unexpected. A mixture of dark, gritty, romantic, and suspenseful. I can't wait to read the next chapter in Rhage and Mary's story. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Invision by Sherrilyn Kenyon

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• Releases: April 5th, 2016
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Hardcover, 368 pages

Synopsis:

One boy . . . Many demons.
Think there’s a lot of pressure on your shoulders? Nick Gautier was born to bring about the end of the world . . . it’s not easy being the heir of a demon overlord.
But Nick is determined to thwart his destiny and get into a good college. To be more than his genetics and prophecy foretell. No one is ever going to tell this stubborn Cajun who and what he really is. Or how to live his life.
Not even the Fates of the Universe. But now that he and his team of ancient gods and demons have claimed the Eye of Ananke and he sees the missteps of the future, he has to battle the demons within that are far deadlier and more treacherous than any he’s battled before. All the while his arch nemesis is back and determined to reclaim his place as the harbinger for Armageddon. Even if it means killing Nick and barbecuing everyone he loves to do so.

Thoughts:

I posted a review for the previous CON a few months back, so if you read it, you know how I feel about the Chronicles of Nick and the boy-wonder himself. Nick Gautier is everything to me. And his epic story is one I live for. Invision holds promise and I can't wait to explore its pages. I hope that you are with me on this wonderful journey. And if you're not, pack your stuff and get moving! I'm not going to wait all day.

Waiting of Wednesday: Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs

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• Releases: March 8th, 2016
• Publisher: Ace
• Harcover, 

Synopsis:

Tensions between the fae and humans are coming to a head. And when coyote shapeshifter Mercy and her Alpha werewolf mate, Adam, are called upon to stop a rampaging troll, they find themselves with something that could be used to make the fae back down and forestall out-and-out war: a human child stolen long ago by the fae.
 
Defying the most powerful werewolf in the country, the humans, and the fae, Mercy, Adam, and their pack choose to protect the boy no matter what the cost. But who will protect them from a boy who is fire touched?

Thoughts:

Mercy Thompson is just a BAMF and I love her. I can't wait to read about her next adventure. I recently read the prequel graphic novel to the Mercy Thompson series and I loved it. If you haven't heard of Mercy or Patricia Briggs, well, you don't know what you're missing. This is one series you not only need on your to-be-read pile, but also on your read pile. Get me?

Waiting on Wednesday: Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

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• Releases: March 8th, 2016
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
• Hardcover, 786 pages

Synopsis:

Los Angeles. It’s been five years since the events of the Mortal Instruments when Nephilim stood poised on the brink of oblivion and Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs lost her parents. After the blood and violence she witnessed as a child, Emma has dedicated her life to to discovering exactly what it was that killed her parents and getting her revenge.
Raised in the Los Angeles Institute with the Blackthorn family, Emma is paired as a parabatai with her best friend, Julian Blackthorn. A series of murders in the city catch her attention — they seem to have the same characteristics as the deaths of her parents. Could the murderer be the same person? And her attention isn’t the only one caught: someone has been murdering Downworlders as well. The Fair Folk make a deal with the Institute: if the Blackthorns and Emma will investigate the killings, they’ll return Mark Blackthorn to his home. The catch: they have only two weeks to find the killers. Otherwise it’s open war between faeries and Nephilim.
The Shadowhunters of the Institute must race against time to catch the killers, even as they begin to suspect the involvement of those closest to them. At the same time, Emma is falling in love with the one person in the world she’s absolutely forbidden by Shadowhunter Law to love. Set against the glittering backdrop of present-day Los Angeles, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica.

Thoughts:

This is my most anticipated book of 2016. I seriously cannot wait. I've been a fan of TMI since 2008. It was the third book series I've ever read. The Dark Artifices is going to be fantastic and probably will destroy my soul the way TMI and TID did. Speaking of, I've yet to read City of Heavenly Fire. Why? Because I refuse to read in on my Kindle. I'm going to buy a physical copy. Plus, there's the whole destruction of my soul thing. I'm still not over Clockwork Princess. You know why. 

Thoughtful Thursday: Heroes and Villains and the Line Between

It's the age-old tale of good versus evil. The endless battle between these two sides is at the center of every story. It's the glue that holds the whole thing together. I mean, would you read a story that didn't have a villain in it? Or a hero? One side wins all the time? No, thank you. I like heroes jumping through hurdles, I like it when the bad guy wins sometimes, I like the enmity. But most importantly, I love its symbiotic relationship. A hero cannot exist without his villain. Likewise, a villain cannot exist without his hero. Ex. Superman and Lex Luthor. Now that's one frenemy relationship that was fraught with great story arcs. Superman would not be as mythical, as great, without Lex Luthor pushing him to become better. Lex Luthor wouldn't be as awe-inspiring, as dastardly, without Superman. They build each other up. Their break each other down. And so it goes, on and on, each of them getting even more powerful. Rising to legend before our very eyes. That is the power of the two sides. That is the importance of the relationship between good and bad. They are two sides of the same coin. What makes a hero a hero? This archetype can be distinguished by certain characteristics: traumatic experiences, the journey to prove himself, a preordained calling, an innate goodness (often white knight syndrome) that provides a moral center for the character and for the audience. Heroes' journeys are the main aspect of any story. Getting from point A to B, often times with a lot of help, and struggling through the obstacles. Normally, there's an overall theme or question that the hero is dealing with throughout the story, and it is almost always about some moral issue. In many cases, heroes walk the edge between the light and dark. It's the fight that's enticing, that drive to be better that inspires the reader. The struggle to defeat that darkness, especially when it's inner darkness, is always a favorite plot arc. Heroes are meant to inspire. They exist to show humanity that their own battles are not in vain and that they too can be a hero. What makes a villain a villain? They have zero to no inhibitions. They like to put on a show. They have a tragic back story also. They represent the path the hero could have chosen. They allow us to explore our darkest selves. They have no remorse, they may be insane, that live in the shadows. They have a vast wealth, they are seductive and enchanting. Because that's what evil is. Tempting. They are cunning, clever, and know how to move pieces around a chessboard. And mainly? Their plans always fail. To some degree, these brilliant plans being unraveled by the hero is almost criminal. No pun intended. We love to hate the bad guy, but sometimes we're rooting for them to win. And that's when the likable villain comes into play. This villain/hero hybrid is always fun. He's wisecracking, maybe he's got a loose moral code, but he's got some morals, and he's definitely got some traumatic experiences. And more so than others, he walks the line between. The antihero. Not really a good guy. Or a bad one. Just a guy in between who does what he wants and is neither godlike nor mythic. He's the guy who may be in it for the money, or maybe for some deeper reason. Either retribution or justice. He's often a loner, an outcast, and like his hero/villain counterparts, has that same traumatic past. And it's watching him struggle back and forth that makes his journey all the more exciting. Which side will he choose? And he will most definitely choose a side. All in all, we need our heroes, our villains, and those characters who walk between. Their stories inspire us, stay with us, and teach us lessons about who we are. Without them, I don't know where I'd be. What do you think?

Waiting on Wednesday:Midnight Marked by Chloe Neill

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• Releases: March 1st, 2016
• Publisher: NAL
• Paperback, 368 pages

Synopsis:

A vampire’s grudges don’t stay dead long...

Merit is one of Chicago's most skilled vampire warriors; these days, she doesn't scare easily. But she and Master vampire Ethan have made a new and powerful enemy, and he won't give up until he owns the Windy City.

With his last plan thwarted, he's more determined than ever to watch Cadogan burn. Ethan has put the House's vampires on high alert, but their enemy will stop at nothing, including pitting vampire against vampire...

In this deadly game of cat-and-mouse, the stakes are life or death—and winning might mean sacrificing everything...

Thoughts:

Yet another installment in the Chicagoland Vampires series and I'm not complaining. Merit and Ethan's escapades are just part of my yearly existence. I can't imagine a day where I won't be reading what happens next in their epic story. Midnight Marked is sure to be amazing.

Thoughtful Thursday: My Favorite Book

Today I'm going to do the impossible.

I'm going to choose a book, a SINGULAR book, that is my sole favorite. Then I will adequately explain why. Wish me luck.

Over the past seven years that I've been literary-active, many books have come across my path. I've flirted with some, danced with a few, and seriously fallen in love with a lot. They've made me laugh and cry; they've broken my heart over and over. Yet I still keep coming back for more. I've collected many memories that I cherish a great deal, and that makes it difficult to choose just one who's been my absolute best.

But I've done it. For you.

Drum roll, please. *Drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrummmmm* (Don't judge me. I know that sound was pathetic, but I make do, okay?)

Yep. Out of all the books, I choose Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead.

Mead is one of my favorite authors and one of the first I ever encountered after the Twilight fiasco of 2008. Compared to that, anything looks better, right? (insert laughter here) But seriously. Delving into YA was a new experience for me at the time and I wasn't that immersed in the community yet. So I didn't know what was good or what wasn't. But Vampire Academy stood out even then.

Book one sets the stage for a six-part story that seriously rocked my world. Rose Hathaway is the quintessential YA heroine. Except she's not.

Badass? Check. Dark, twisty love story? Check. Political espionage? Um, check. SEE? THIS STORY HAS EVERYTHING. Plus, Rose is hilarious. And her friendship with Lissa is the real love story of the series. Their bond was at the center of it all and held things together even when all seemed lost. It connected Rose to her friends when she went off on her own. It kept her grounded.

There's just something Rose that's always spoken to me. She's the version of me I would choose if I could. I relate to her in way that I've never with another character. And stepping into her world time and again brings me back to a place where I've always felt welcome and safe. The familiarity that comes along with VA and its characters never fails to make me smile.

It's the way Rose always finds herself with a giant mess she has to clean up, and then somehow she makes it worse before making it better. But mainly, it's her character growth throughout the series that I love most. She grows into herself in a way, I think, that she thought she never would. And that's inspiring to me. And because I'm a sucker for a great love story, Rose and Dimitri were everything I could've hoped for at fourteen.

Now my question to you: what is your favorite book and why? Leave your answer in the comments below!!

Waiting on Wednesday: Grave Visions by Kalayna Price

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• Releases: February 2nd, 2016
• Publisher: Roc
• Paperback, 384 pages

Synopsis:

If you want to hear voices from the dead in Nekros City, you call Alex Craft. She's a Grave Witch with reasonable rates and extraordinary powers, who specializes in revealing the secrets of the dead. But now she's the one fighting to keep her own secret. She's not human—and her newly discovered heritage is causing havoc for her both in the human realm and in Faerie. But her status as an unaffiliated fae also makes her an ideal candidate to investigate a new street drug that has surfaced in several of the spaces between the human and fae worlds. 

This glamour-infused drug causes hallucinations that turn real—at least for a while and often with deadly consequences. Searching for the source of this drug—and its purpose—lands Alex front and center in the conflict brewing in Faerie and she must find answers before she's dragged so deep she loses her freedom.

Thoughts:

It's been nearly four years since the last book in the Alex Craft series came out. And it ended on a cliffhanger. I have been dying to read what happens next. And in about six months I can! Finally. Alex Craft is one of those urban fantasy heroines you just click with. Kalayna Price really knows how to keep a girl interested. I just wish it hadn't take nearly four years to get here. If you haven't heard about this series or Kalayna Price, I'm not surprised. But now that you have, you have some reading to do! Trust me.

Thoughtful Thursday: the new "New Adult" genre

*not my picture*

If you haven't heard about this genre, I'm not surprised. It only originated in 2009, and has since received a lot of ridicule. Many dismiss it as a re-branding of chick-lit, or an excuse to sex-up YA novels. In some cases, sure. But universally? That's an exaggeration. It shows an unwillingness to get with the times. New Adult books exist to bridge the gap between what is young-adult and adult fiction. It's an absolutely necessary genre, and frankly, I'm surprised it hasn't been around for a longer period.

What will you find in a NA novel? Usually, a main character who is between 18-30 years old. They are dealing with things that one deals when entering "the real world". College, careers, love. It explores adult themes, but appeals to a younger audience.

Now why is this necessary? As I said before, it's bridging the gap between YA and adult. I've read a few NA novels over the years that were deemed YA, but seemed a little mature for the genre. And I've felt conflicted about the YA tag on them. It just didn't seem...right. 

The great thing about the NA genre is that you have an a story for younger audiences that does have sex in it. It's differentiates and that's a good thing for readers, and parents, especially, who want to watch what their kids are reading.

I hope that this genre gets the credit it deserves. It does SO MUCH MORE good than harm. But just like any other genre, it might not be someone's favorite, and that's okay.

Here are list of some popular NA books you might have heard of:

1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

2. Easy by Tamara Webber

3. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

4. Wait For You by Jennifer Armentrout

5. White Hot Kiss by Jennifer Armentrout

6. Love Story by Jennifer Echols

7. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

8. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

9. A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

10. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry