This and That…Movie Edition

There seems to be a lot going on in the PNR/UF movie side of things in the last couple of days, both good and bad. This is just a quick round-up of what I have been seeing lately…

Well, first off, the big cover reveal for Veronica Roth‘s third Divergent book, Allegiant, took place this morning. Much hoopla was involved. Also Ryan Seacrest. That one still makes me shake my head, but dude looks like he would go to the opening of an envelope if it bought him some attention. Anyways, Allegiant will look like so when it hits the shelves on October 22nd.

Also from the Divergent-verse, it seems that things are looking like a go for the sequel, Insurgent. A screenwriter has been chosen, and things are progressing. With the amount of hype surrounding pretty much every aspect of this series, I am not surprised, but it is still good to get confirmation. I actually got excited when I saw a picture that included Theo James‘ (Four’s) forehead. In my defense, there is also an ear. Nerd.

Aaand, it seems that there being a second Mortal Instruments movie is a sure thing, since City of Ashes has just been greenlit. The director of the first movie, Harold Zwart, will be returning, and production will start this fall. Yes! My fear is always that the studios go into these movies with half a commitment, and take a wait and see attitude (for example, will there be a second Beautiful Creatures movie? Never heard anything more). At least this shows faith in the product. Nice.

Filming starts for the Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters at the end of this month. All of the stars are in rigorous training right now to get into fighting shape, and author Richelle Mead has been very pleased with what she has seen so far. According to a chat she recently did, she said that all of the important stuff from the books has made the translation to the script, and that things are looking good. Olga Kurylenko has just been cast as Headmistress Kirova – I did picture the Kirova as an old hag, not a Bond Girl, but that could work, too.

It seems, on a less positive note, that Fox has passed on the Delirium pilot starring Emma Roberts. Based on the Lauren Oliver trilogy of the same name, the cast had been very active trying to drum up fan support, but it was still not enough to get Fox to bite.

The Selection from Keira Cass seems to be up in the air, too. The first pilot was passed on last season by the CW, but it was given a second chance with a new cast and new focus. And that new focus is way, way heavy on the sex/intrigue. According to an article in The Examiner…

          The Hunger Games influence is still very very strong in this show — but they’ve given it a heavy injection of Game of Thrones as well. There’s a lot of sex and raunchiness, even by The CW’s standards, and tons and tons of cynicism. Everybody is plotting against everybody else, everybody is making alliances and cutting deals and nobody trusts anybody. Mostly it’s a chance to see Tony Head play a king again, so soon after Merlin.

Kiera Cass stated herself in a Tweet that it is everything the article stated – and more – and that the way things are going, an R rating wouldn’t be strong enough. Huh. Didn’t see that coming.

And finally, the trailer for the upcoming Ender’s Game has been making the rounds. Now, I have to admit, I know nothing about this. It wasn’t even on my radar, but I have seen much love directed its way on the other blogs, so I thought the least I could do was post the trailer.

Reading Roundup…

It has been a while since I did one of these reading roundup posts. Not sure if I forgot, or just put it off, but there are a couple of books that deserve a mention. I am not going to cover everything that I read over the last month, but it was another mixed bag for me.

The Fever Series – So far, I am just starting the fourth book of Karen Marie Moning‘s Fever series. I have to admit, I went into this one not knowing quite what to expect. I have heard people say everything from it is the best urban fantasy series going to they couldn’t stand the main character, Mac. Turns out that I am really enjoying it – but I am also very grateful that I am not one of the unfortunate many who had to wait a year for the next book, since the cliffhanger endings would be a killer. I enjoy Mac, love Jericho, can’t wait to “see” Ryodan, have a soft spot for V’Lane, and I am even enjoying Dani so far. Very engrossing storyline, and the little hints of the MacKelter connection are a treat. So, for me so far, a great series.

The Indigo Spell – I think this is the book where Sydney comes into her own. I liked her character from her debut in the Vampire Academy series, but sometimes I just wanted to smack her. I totally got where she was coming from, being very strictly raised with a concrete set of beliefs, but those beliefs made her sometimes very frustrating. And how she left Adrian at the end of the last book – well, let’s just say I was hoping for better from her in The Indigo Spell. Turns out she delivered, and I can’t wait to see where Richelle Mead will take things in The Fiery Heart.

Beauty Awakened – Wow, this is a hard one, since I haven’t actually finished it. I am about a hundred pages in, and really struggling. I know there has been much talk about how Gena Showalter has had a change of faith, as it were, and how it has affected her writing, but I haven’t noticed it before now. I found that the last couple of books had a subtle religious theme running through them, but it was nothing that stood out for me that much. But man, this time around, I am finding it a real struggle to get invested in the story. The whole thing feels way too heavy handed and just too obvious, and that isn’t what I read Gena Showalter for. I have to read this one for the Character Guide, but if it weren’t for the guide, I am pretty sure it would be a DNF. This isn’t a knock against anyone finding faith – more power to her, but it is like someone else wrote the book. And this far into her writing career, it is a little late to change focus.

Did anyone else try any of these? What did you think of them?

Cover Lover – 5 New Titles

After spending the last couple of days setting up my laptop to temporarily handle my computer needs (and was there ever a lot to set up), I stumbled across a few new covers. I just finished The Indigo Spell last night, and that made me even more excited to find the cover for Richelle Mead‘s fourth Bloodlines book, The Fiery Heart. I wonder if there will be any tattoos added (even though Sydney’s has been on the cheek we can’t see on the previous covers)? The Fiery Heart is scheduled for release on November 19th.

This next one is from Cynthia Eden‘s e-format Bound series. Bound in Death is tentatively scheduled for an April release.

Hannah Jayne‘s Underworld Detection Agency Chronicles will continue with the August 6th release of Under a Spell.

I actually haven’t seen too much info around about this next one yet. Melissa Marr will be releasing what I believe is an adult title, The Arrivals, on July 2nd.

And finally, this last one is more of a redo than a debut. Jennifer L. Armentrout (writing as J. Lynn) will release an adult title, Unchained, on September 24th. This is actually the second cover for this title, which was pushed back several months from its original release date.

 

Pick of the Week…

Ok, I am totally cheating this post. I have not one, but two picks for this week – but to be fair it is one adult and one young adult, so that must count for something, right? One of last year’s projects was to read the Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill, so I am looking very forward to book number seven, House Rules.

Synopsis…

In a city full of vampires, trouble never sleeps.

At the tender age of 27, Merit became a sword-wielding vampire. Since then, she’s become the protector of her House, watched Chicago nearly burn to the ground, and seen her Master fall and rise. Now she’ll see her mettle—and her metal —tested like never before.

It started with two . . . Two rogues vanishing without a trace. Someone is targeting Chicago’s vampires, and anyone could be next. With their house in peril, Merit and her Master, the centuries old Ethan Sullivan, must race to stop the disappearances. But as they untangle a web of secret alliances and ancient evils, they realize their foe is more familiar, and more powerful, than they could have ever imagined.

Chicagoland Vampires reading list HERE.

And my second must-have this week is from Richelle Mead. I really liked the Vampire Academy series, and even though I could’ve slapped Sydney with how the last book ended, I believe she will redeem herself in this one, The Indigo Spell.

Synopsis…

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch–a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood–or else she might be next.

Bloodlines reading list HERE.

Which one is on your must read list this week?

Vampire Academy Movie News…

Usually, there is this long, drawn out procedure to get to a book adaptation. First you hear the rights have been sold. Then nothing. Then you maybe hear that someone might be running it. Then silence. Then a ton of potential cast are whispered about. Well, not for this sucker. Looks like filming for Richelle Mead‘s Vampire Academy will be starting this summer, and the three lead actors have already been cast. This is from over on Page to Premier Network…

          Zoey Deutch, Lucy Fry, and Danila Kozlovski will be playing Rose, Lissa, and Dimitri respectively in the upcoming adaptation of Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead titled Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters. Deadline reports that Mean Girls director Mark Waters will direct the film, which will be produced by Preger Entertainment, Angry Films, and IM Global’s Stuart Ford. Filming for the flick, which Stuart Ford calls “snappy irreverent, [and] sexy,” will begin this summer.

The story follows Rose Hathaway (Deutch), a teenage girl whose best friend, Lissa (Fry), also happens to be a vampire. The pair attend a special school for vampires who wish to retain their humanity.

And here is the cast chosen to play Rose, Lissa…and Dmitri (click for larger image).

Zoey Deutch (Rose) will be playing Emily Asher in the upcoming adaptation of Beautiful Creatures, while Lucy Fry has mostly been seen on lesser known TV shows. And, surprise of all surprises, Russian Dmitri will actually be played…by a Russian actor. Danila Kozlovski is an award winning stage and screen actor born in Moscow.

Yea or nay? Tired of the adaptations already, or pulling for this one? I have to admit, this is one I would be very interested in. I even like the look of the cast (I just wonder how tall Danila is. Is that shallow?) Word first broke of this way back in 2011, and when there was no more news I thought it had gone the way of the Fever series adaptation and died a quiet death. Looks like I was wrong.

A Couple of Book Deals…

It seems like a lot of my favorites are in the process of branching out from their established, long standing series.  Thea Harrison starts up her Game of Shadows series next April, Richelle Mead‘s Age of X hits the shelves next June, and Alexandra Ivy‘s The Sentinels will be in full swing by 2014.  Looks like there are a couple of more to add to the list, too.

• Jeanine Frost made the big announcement today that she will be starting a new series called Realmwalker.  This one will be an older YA or New Adult offering (I had never heard the term New Adult before).  According to Jeaniene, the series will focus on a “young woman who discovers she’s the last member of an ancient line with an unwanted destiny; and that her only ally, a mysterious young man is destined to betray her… and doom the world.”  Jeaniene gives a little backstory about the new series, saying that the idea has been brewing for years.  There will be no change in schedule for the Night Huntress and Night Prince books, with Night Huntress ending at book 9 and Night Prince ending at book 3.  There is still the potential for a return to the Night Huntress world, with another vampire stepping up *coughIancough* when the other two stories have completed their arcs.  Looks like a bit of a wait for Realmwalker, though, since it is looking like a 2014 release.  You can see the full announcement on Jeaniene’s site HERE.
• Now, this second one is a bit different.  Last week, news broke that Cassandra Clare has signed on to do a new project.  Well, sort of, since it is still set in the Shadowhunters world.    According to reports, Cassandra has agreed to do a series spinoff that “involves two coauthors, an e-only component, and a profit share.”  This new episodic series will feature Magnus Bane, and will be released digitally month by month, and will then later be published all together in print format.  This one will be called The Bane Chronicles, and will be 10 stories in all, with digital release starting this coming February.  Each story will be from 8000 to 10000 words, with some of the stories being penned by Cassandra Clare, some by Sarah Rees Brennan (Unspoken), and some by Maureen Johnson (13 Little Blue Envelopes).  The stories will build up to the release of the City of Bones movie on August 23rd, 2013, with the print version coming sometime in 2014.

And since I have been trying to find a way to work this into a post, here is a still from the upcoming Mortal Instruments movie that I saw over on Page to Premier Network.

I was thrilled when I read the Jeaniene Frost news, especially when I saw that it was not going to push the publication schedule back for her existing works (hello, Kresley Cole and one a year IAD books…).  Call me greedy, but a gal (er, or guy) needs their fix.  I find that the Cassandra Clare news is a bit more…involved.  I have been seeing much complaint from those who wish that she would wrap up the Shadowhunters, not expand.  The original Mortal Instruments went from three books to six.  Then came the three books of the Infernal Devices.  Then came word of a third trilogy called the Dark Artifices starting up in 2015.  Now, that is not to say that I didn’t enjoy all that I have read so far because I have.  But sometimes it is good to try something else (see Jeanine Frost, expanding outside her very popular world).  New worlds and new ideas mean new readers, which is never a bad thing.

So, where do you stand on this seemingly sudden diversification trend hitting so many big time favorite (at least favorite of mine) authors?  Personally, the only recent one that for whatever reason didn’t grab me was Darynda Jones’ YA Darklight series, and the only one I am not eagerly anticipating is Thea Harrison’s upcoming Game of Shadows.  Not sure why, but I can’t seem to rev myself up for it at all.  Oh, and was anyone else as in the dark as me about the “New Adult” genre?

Random Updates…

Still doing the updating of the series reading list section (and also the finished series page), and I did come across a little bit more info for this post.  Did you know…

• The Beautiful Creatures movie has just finished wrapping filming, but it looks like Kami Garcia will have another project coming to the big screen – one that hasn’t even been published yet.  Unbreakable, the first book in her upcoming The Legion series, is in development as we speak.  The book will be released sometime next year.
• The third book of J.T. Geissinger‘s Night Prowler series, Rapture’s Edge, will be out on July 9th.
• Donna Grant‘s Dark Warriors series will continue on through the end of 2013.  Midnight’s Temptation (book 7) will be out next November, and it will be followed by Midnight’s Promise (book 8) the following month.
• There is good news for fans of the Hex Hall series from Rachel Hawkins.  There will be a spin off series called, well, the Hex-Hall Spin off series, starting up sometime next year.  The first book will be called School Spirits.
• The third Sentinels of New Orleans book from Suzanne Johnson, Elysian Fields, will be released on August 13th.
• August 8th will be the release date for the second Aether Chronicles book from Suzanne Lazear, Charmed Vengeance.
• There has been a lot of buzz about Sarah J. Maas‘ Throne of Glass, and it looks like the as-yet untitled second book will be released next September 12th.
• Another one that seemed to be very well received was Falling to Ash by Karen Mahoney.  Well, the second book, Hunting the Dark, has been pushed back to a 2014 release.
• Seanan McGuire will be writing one October Daye book a year through 2016.  The Chimes at Midnight will be out next September, The Winter Long will be released in 2014, A Red Rose Chain will follow in 2015, and Once Broken Faith will only be out in 2016.
• I did my nerdy little squeal when I saw that the fourth Bloodlines novel from Richelle Mead will be called The Fiery Heart.  The only release info was that it would be out sometime next year.  Boo.

That’s it.  Back to the updating, which I hope to have done by the end of next week.  Hopefully.

Cover Lover – 4 New Titles

I did a little snooping over at Goodreads, and came up with a few new covers.  This first one is from the upcoming new series called League of the Black Swan by Alyssa Day.  The first book, The Cursed, will be released on May 7th.

The Anita Blake series from Laurell K. Hamilton rolls on next June 4th with the release of Affliction.

Richelle Mead starts up her new Age of X series with the release of Gameboard of the Gods, due out on June 4th.

And the final one for today is from Leigh Fallon.  Shadow of the Mark, the sequel to Carrier of the Mark, will be released on July 9th.

Cover Lover – 3 New Titles

This is just a couple of covers I missed posting in yesterday’s Cover Lover post.  I am a huge Richelle Mead Bloodlines fan (even though I wanted to head-butt Sydney at the end of The Golden Lily.  Really?!?  You.  Are.  Killing.  ME!), so I was happy to get my hands on the cover for the third book, The Indigo Spell.  It is due out next February.

This second one is also young adult.  Sever is the third book from Lauren DeStefano‘s The Chemical Garden series, due out on February 12th.

And this final one is from the Persephone Alcmedi series from Linda Robertson.  Shattered Circle is due out on January 29th.

From the Author Pages

Of course, story of my life, I have been behind on getting the author pages updated (although all of the new release dates are correct as of yesterday).  Right now I have the first few changed over to the “new” design, and I hope to have the rest done in the next couple days.  Here’s what new…

• The blurb and a small version of the cover for the December Christine Feehan release, Leopard’s Prey, was upped on the author’s site.

Synopsis…

From a tough stint in the armed forces to stalking the unknown as a bayou cop, leopard-shifter Remy Boudreux has been served well by his uncanny gifts. And right now, New Orleans could use a homicide detective like Remy.

A serial killer is loose, snatching victims from the French Quarter with pitiless rage and unnatural efficiency. But something else is drawing Remy into the twilight — a beautiful jazz singer bathed night after night in a flood of blood-red neon.

Sultry, mysterious, and as seductive as her songs, she’s luring Remy deeper into the shadows than he ever imagined. And as their passions swell, his keen instinct for survival will be challenged like never before. By a killer — and by a woman.

• The second Darklight book from Darynda Jones has had a small title adjustment to Death, Doom and Detention.  Look for it on March 5th.

Synopsis…

The normal part of Lorelei MacAlister’s life didn’t just slip away quietly the day Jared Kovach came to town. Nope. The normal part of her life shattered. It exploded. It burst into a gazillion shards of fleeting light.

It went out with a bang.  Goodbye normal.  Hello dark and eerie.

While her best friend, Brooklyn, is focusing all of her energy on helping Lorelei hone her abilities, Lorelei is dealing with the reality that Satan’s second in command has taken up residence inside her body. Oh, and the fact that she has a crush on the Angel of Death. But what a beautiful death it is. If those weren’t bad enough, something sinister has come to town and it wants nothing more than to hear Lorelei’s dying breath as it strangles it out of her. Thank goodness the gang has a supernatural champion. But what happens when the only being who can save them switches sides midstream? How can a group of misfits capture one of the most powerful beings ever created? And will they find out how to bring Jared back to them before it’s too late?

• Looks like there will be a second book from the upcoming Jacquelyn Frank World of the Nightwalkers series, The Bodywalkers.  Book two is called Forever, and should be out towards the end of this year.
• Book number 8 from Jennifer Estep‘s popular Elemental Assassin series will be called Deadly Sting.  It is due out next April.
• The “official” blurb from the much anticipated upcoming Karen Marie Moning Dani O’Malley book, called Iced, is sounding good…

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.

• and the third Bloodlines book from Richelle Mead has a title.  The Indigo Spell will be out next February.