Just a quick little post on my way out the door (working sucks). Romantic Times magazine had the exclusive reveal of the cover for the next book of Jennifer Estep‘s Elemental Assassin series, The Spider, which is due out on December 31st. This series, right down to the novellas, has some of the consistently best covers going. I wish all books looked as good as these ones do.
Raiding Goodreads paid off again, and I have three new covers to show for it. I can actually say that I like all three of these, too, which is a rarity. This first one is from the prolific Amanda Ashley, and it appears to be from a new series called Children of the Night. Night’s Mistress is due out on August 6th.
Kris DeLake‘s next Assassin’s Guild book, A Spy to Die For, will be hitting the shelves on July 2nd.
And this final one is another in a long line of terrific covers for Jennifer Estep‘s Elemental Assassin series. Heart of Venom will be available on August 27th.
Doug Meeks has once again scored an ARC for an upcoming popular series installment – this time around, it is Jennifer Estep‘s next Elemental Assassin book, Deadly Sting. Doug might’ve gotten his copy early, but the official release date is March 26th.
What Doug said…Deadly Sting (Elemental Assassin)
By
Summary:
Red is definitely my color. Good thing, because in my line of work, I end up wearing it a lot.
Most people shy away from blood, but for an assassin like me — Gin Blanco, aka the Spider — it’s just part of the job. Still, it would be nice to get a night off, especially when I’m attending the biggest gala event of the summer at Briartop, Ashland’s fanciest art museum. But it’s just not meant to be. For this exhibition of my late nemesis’ priceless possessions is not only the place to be seen, but the place to be robbed and taken hostage at gunpoint as well. No sooner did I get my champagne than a bunch of the unluckiest thieves ever burst into the museum and started looting the place.
Unlucky why? Because I brought along a couple of knives in addition to my killer dress. Add these to my Ice and Stone magic, and nothing makes me happier than showing the bad guys why red really is my color.
Against her better judgment, Gin is coerced into attending a high society gala with the rest of Ashland’s elite underworld. On display: the priceless art collection of her deceased nemesis, Mab Monroe, and an excess of crime boss swagger. While not comfortable in her fancy attire, Gin gets vastly more interested in the evening’s events when a group of thieves bursts in and tries to seize the valuable, dangerous gems. Facing a Die Hard-esque scenario in which she must free hostage party-goers while herself trapped in the museum, things get a little bit messy when the bloodshed begins. Let’s just say that Gin should have chosen the red gown…
Review:
Gin just can’t seem to have a quiet night out, she has been on a “break” from the love of her life and then to get pulled into a gala event by her brother was going to life her spirits ……. Yea, that’s gonna happen.
This may be one of the better books in the series but that statement almost has no meaning in this series since pretty much every book seems like it may be just a bit better than the last in some way. This time is no exception, you get to see Gin at her skillful assassin best and emotional lows. Nothing about this night will go as planned and the fact that bad guys decided to pick tonight to do something stupid is one of those bad decisions you get to only make one time.
The fact that Ms Estep can make you feel that anyone including Gin can be killed in this book just stands as a testament to her writing ability. You feel certain that Gin has to survive so there can be a next book ….. right? She somehow injects the stress, emotion and angst into these books that keep people like me coming back for more. This novel has several twists and turns plus keeping you second guessing as to the motivations of a lot of the things that happen.
Gin is in great form and she is MAD, so as usual, that means somebody (or a lot of somebodies) are going to have a really bad day. Loved this book and it is at least 4.5/5 Stars, maybe more if you love violent heroines and maybe a bit less if it offends you but Gin is the ultimate bad-a$$ you want to avoid and NEVER threaten anyone she cares about, it could be fatal. This is the 8th book in this series and it shows no signs of getting stale, predictable or boring.
On a totally superficial note, this series for me has the distinction of having some of the best covers going. I can’t actually point to one that wasn’t great – including the e-novellas. I know the whole book and cover and judging thing, but it sure doesn’t hurt.
Things have been a bit quiet lately, but here’s hoping I am getting back into the swing of things (it is amazing how fast you can get out of your routine). There are only three covers for today’s post – one I have never heard of, one I am anticipating, and one I have mixed feelings about. All of these I nabbed from All Things Urban Fantasy.
First thought – this is pretty! Second thought – never heard of it. Binding is the second book in the Wolf Moon Saga from author Carol Wolf, which is due out on April 2nd. I am not sure how this, or the first book in the series called Summoning, slipped past my radar.
I have been trying to wade my way through some of the what seems like hundreds (who am I kidding, it is hundreds) of young adult books that are building up on me, and to be honest I have been a bit underwhelmed by most of them lately. Not sure if I am in a funk, or just hit a rough patch, but most of the ones I have been anticipating have fallen flat. I do still have high hopes for next week’s Crash from Lisa McMann, which is the first book of her Visions series, and this is the cover for the second book, Bang. Look for it later this year.
Things are a little more…complex…for this next one. I like Jennifer Estep‘s Mythos Academy series, and I have followed it faithfully along since the first book. But it seems that my interest is waning a bit, and I am not sure why. I have recently re-read Dark Frost for the character guide, and I found myself thinking that it read just the same as the book before it. There were a couple of major developments, but it still felt like same old, same old. Here’s hoping that Crimson Frost (which I am still waiting for) and this one, Midnight Frost, breaks the slump. Midnight Frost is due out on July 30th.
So, there you have it. I was wondering if you think I should add the cover blurbs (when available) to the posts, or do like it just a straight cover art post?
Meh, maybe I should have said new-ish for the titles. This is sort of a mixed bag post, to say the least. This first one is from a favorite of mine, Cynthia Eden. Avenging Angel is the fourth (and apparently final) book in her Fallen series, and it is due out on May 28th.
This next cover is from the Noon Onyx series by Jill Archer. Fiery Edge of Steel is the title of the second book, and it will be available on May 28th, as well. I get a real video-game vibe from this one.
I have been seeing this next one popping up everywhere lately. Carniepunk is an anthology featuring a number of top writers, including Rachel Caine, Jennifer Estep, and Rob Thurman. It will be released on July 30th.
Well, I have to admit that this cover for Darynda Jones‘ Fifth Grave Past the Light isn’t quite what I expected. Maybe it is because I loved the reaper outfits on the previous covers, but this one doesn’t live up to the rest of the series for me. In fact, it actually gives me a young adult vibe. Anyways, it will be hitting the shelves on July 9th.
On the young adult side of things, Replica is a new one coming from Jenna Black on July 16th. I am not sure as yet if this is a stand alone title, or the first book in a series.
Melissa West‘s first book, Gravity, has only recently been released, but the cover for the second book is now out. Hover will be hitting the shelves next August 6th.
And this final one is from Aprilynne Pike. She is starting up a new series called Earthbound next July, with the first book also being called Earthbound.
Did any of these ones catch your eye? Are you a bit disappointed in the Fifth Grave cover like I am (I do so love those reaper outfits), or do you think it is a nice change is style?
As I am going through the Series Reading list pages and updating, I am coming across a bit of new info on some upcoming releases. As you can probably tell, I am only through the first three pages (so A-F), but it still amazes me how much info I can miss.
Looks like the earlier mock up cover for Jennifer L. Armentrout‘s Opal has now been replaced with the real thing. It is the third book in the Lux series, due out this December 11th.
This one has been all over the place since last night. The eighth book of Jennifer Estep‘s Elemental Assassin series, Deadly Sting, is due out on March 26th. What do you think of this new (as of the previous book) cover design? I myself find it a nice change from the normal half cut off face style, but it is a shame to cover the beautiful artwork of Tony Mauro.
Well, this is a week where I don’t actually have a favorite or an anticipated read being released. Instead, I am going to go with what I think would be my pick (if I had actually gotten around to reading the series. Argh TBR hell). Jennifer Estep‘s 7th Elemental Assassin book, Widow’s Web, hits the shelves today. Looks like this series is still going strong – and I love the covers.
Synopsis..
My name is Gin, and I kill people. It’s something I’ve been doing for years as the assassin called Spider, but now, it’s turned into a necessity on my part just to survive all the lowlifes in Ashland who are gunning for me. The underworld is still in turmoil, and I seem to be on everyone’s hit list these days.
To add to Gin’s problems, her lover Owen’s ex is in town. Salina is back in Ashland to reclaim an old family legacy—and she thinks that Owen is hers for the taking. Also in the mix is Phillip Kincaid, a casino owner and all-around shady character who has a mysterious connection to both Owen and Salina.
Salina might seem like a sweet Southern belle, but there’s more to her than meets the eye. Her water elemental magic makes her a dangerous enemy—and someone who can go toe-to-toe with Gin’s Ice and Stone power. But Gin is determined to get to the bottom of Salina’s deadly scheme, even though it just might cost her everything…including Owen.
The Elemental Assassin reading list can be found HERE.
So, how is your reading week shaping up? Anything you have been dying to get, or is it a catch-up week for you, too?
A little bit of this…a little bit of that.
Jennifer Estep did it. Sherrilyn Kenyon did, too. So did Ann Aguirre and Sophie Jordan. All of them are successful authors of adult PNR or UF who made the jump to the ever-growing Young Adult market, with either spin-off series from their existing worlds, or entirely new series. Jennifer is heading into book four of the Mythos Academy series, and Sherrilyn Kenyon recently released her third Chronicles of Nick book. This got me thinking about some of the other authors taking the plunge into Young Adult in the coming months, and got me wondering…
To be fair, Gena Showalter has in fact had previous experience with young adult (she has had a few stand alone titles, and the Intertwined series), but she is mostly known for her Lords of the Underworld and Alien Huntress books. Her young adult series White Rabbit Chronicles kicks off this September with the release of Alice in Zombieland.
Synopsis…
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….
Now, Showalter best buddy Kresley Cole also has her own “Chronicles” starting up this year. The Arcana Chronicles, based on the Tarot deck, will start with the release of The Poison Princess on October 2nd.
Synopsis…
Sixteen-year-old Evie Greene thought her horrific apocalyptic hallucinations were a sign that she was slowly losing her mind. But when her visions come true, decimating the world around her and killing everyone she loves, Evie is forced to accept that she was seeing the future.
Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she turns to wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate, the gorgeous and dangerous Jackson Deveaux for help. As Jackson and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have got the same call and discover that Evie is not the only one with special powers. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and as the battle between good and evil intensifies, it is not always clear who is on which side…
Now, this next one is a bit tricky. Karen Marie Moning has said that the Dani O’Malley books (set in the same world as her super-popular Fever series) “uneasily straddles the line between adult and young adult”. Iced is the first of three books, due out on October 30th.
Synopsis…
The year is 1 AWC—After the Wall Crash. The Fae are free and hunting us. It’s a war zone out there, and no two days are alike. I’m Dani O’Malley, the chaos-filled streets of Dublin are my home, and there’s no place I’d rather be.
Dani “Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities.
Dani’s ex–best friend, MacKayla Lane, wants her dead, the terrifying Unseelie princes have put a price on her head, and Inspector Jayne, the head of the police force, is after her sword and will stop at nothing to get it. What’s more, people are being mysteriously frozen to death all over the city, encased on the spot in sub-zero, icy tableaux.
When Dublin’s most seductive nightclub gets blanketed in hoarfrost, Dani finds herself at the mercy of Ryodan, the club’s ruthless, immortal owner. He needs her quick wit and exceptional skill to figure out what’s freezing Fae and humans dead in their tracks—and Ryodan will do anything to ensure her compliance.
Dodging bullets, fangs, and fists, Dani must strike treacherous bargains and make desperate alliances to save her beloved Dublin—before everything and everyone in it gets iced.
Darynda Jones only started her popular Charley Davidson series last year, but already her fun and quirky style has translated into a great read. However, she is turning some of her attention to the young adult market with upcoming Darklight series. Death and the Girl Next Door is due out on October 2nd of this year.
Synopsis…
Ten years ago, Lorelei’s parents disappeared without a trace. Raised by her grandparents and leaning on the support of her best friends, Lorelei is finally beginning to accept the fact that her parents are never coming home. For Lorelei, life goes on.
High school is not quite as painful as she thinks it will be, and things are as normal as they can be. Until the day the school’s designated loner, Cameron Lusk, begins to stalk her, turning up where she least expects it, standing outside her house in the dark, night after night. Things get even more complicated when a new guy—terrifying, tough, sexy Jared Kovach—comes to school. Cameron and Jared instantly despise each other and Lorelei seems to be the reason for their animosity. What does Jared know about her parents? Why does Cameron tell Jared he can’t have Lorelei? And what will any of them do when Death comes knocking for real?
I had almost forgotten about this one. Gail Carriger, author of the Parasol Protectorate series, keeps her Steampunk world alive with a four book spin-off series called The Finishing School. Book one, Etiquette & Espionage, hits the shelves on February 13th of next year.
Synopsis…
It’s one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It’s quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to finishing school.
Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is the bane of her mother’s existence. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper etiquette at tea–and god forbid anyone see her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. She enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.
But little do Sophronia or her mother know that this is a school where ingenious young girls learn to finish, all right–but it’s a different kind of finishing. Mademoiselle Geraldine’s certainly trains young ladies in the finer arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but also in the other kinds of finishing: the fine arts of death, diversion, deceit, espionage, and the modern weaponries. Sophronia and her friends are going to have a rousing first year at school.
So, which side of the coin do you fall on?
