Waiting on Wednesday: Firefight by Brandon Sanderson

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

Firefight
Reckoners #2

by Brandon Sanderson

Coming January 6, 2015

Delacorte Press

Summary:

They told David it was impossible--that even the Reckoners had never killed a High Epic. Yet, Steelheart--invincible, immortal, unconquerable--is dead. And he died by David's hand.

Eliminating Steelheart was supposed to make life more simple. Instead, it only made David realize he has questions. Big ones. And there's no one in Newcago who can give him the answers he needs.

Babylon Restored, the old borough of Manhattan, has possibilities, though. Ruled by the mysterious High Epic, Regalia, David is sure Babylon Restored will lead him to what he needs to find. And while entering another city oppressed by a High Epic despot is a gamble, David's willing to risk it. Because killing Steelheart left a hole in David's heart. A hole where his thirst for vengeance once lived. Somehow, he filled that hole with another Epic--Firefight. And he's willing to go on a quest darker, and more dangerous even, than the fight against Steelheart to find her, and to get his answers.

Why I want it:

After my brother and brother-in-law kept harping on me to read a Brandon Sanderson novel, Steelheart caught my eye at TLA 2013. I came home and said, in a sing-song voice, "Look-ie what I've got!" It quickly made its rounds around the family because it's such a cool story. David is a nerdy normal guy, which is to say he's weak compared to the supercharged baddies, but he's relatable in that he's a fanboy, and he uses his extensive knowledge of the Epics to help the good guys. Clearly Firefight is going to be focused on one of the most reclusive and mysterious Epics so I'm looking forward to seeing how the events of Steelheart affect David, each of the Reckoners, and the group as a whole. Also, I'm going to be completely honest: I totally want another crazy ridic showdown like what happened at Soldier Field at the end of Steelheart because that was just spectacular.

Why I think you should want it:

Villains with superpowers with this cool retro-future vibe = super awesome series that questions what happens when the people we expect to be heroes are actual the bad guys. It's like Hancock, but instead of being criminally negligent drunkards, the guys with superpowers are evil. Like, REALLY evil. And this begs the question: did the bad people receive superpowers or did normal people receive powers that turned them bad? Seriously, this world is pretty fascinating, and we're definitely going to take a very up-close-and-personal look at two of the Epics in this series.

What did you think of Steelheart, if you've read it already? If not, will you be giving Steelheart and Firefight a shot?

Top Ten Tuesday #34: DO NOT WANT

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week the girls at B&B think up a fun theme, and participating bloggers post their favorite 10 books in that category. This week's theme is

Top Ten Worlds I Would NOT Inhabit/Characters I Would Not Trade Places With If They Payed Me in Solid Gold

I know the actual title of this post seems mean, but I would never, ever want to permanently inhabit these places or be these characters.

1. Katniss/Panem, The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. No. I'm sorry. No amount of boys passing me life-sustaining carbs would ever be able to force me to choose to live in Panem. Love the series, but that country is so messed up.

2. Cassie, The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. Terrifying. The United States that Cassie knows is utterly terrifying. Like, wet-your-pants-might-as-well-curl-up-and-die-because-you're-going-to-anyway brand of terrifying.

3. Amelia, Hereafter trilogy by Tara Hudson. Oh, Amelia. This series is lovely, but so incredibly heartbreaking. I wouldn't want to switch places with Amelia because she's strong enough to make the decisions she did. I don't know if I would have been.

4. David/Newcago, Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson. I love superhero stories, but this is a superhero horror story. The guys who should be good? Yeah, they're despicable, murderous monsters. Nothankyou.

5. Allie, Blood of Eden trilogy by Julie Kagawa. Vampires plagued with a superiority complex, a super bug, horrifically genetically engineered canibalistic monsters, and a psychopathic genius. Um...I'll pass. This series is so ridiculously good and wrings all the feels out of me, but I could never live in it. I would die. Literally. Immediately. Just...*poof* *iz ded* *rabids go nom nom nom*

6. Liesel/WWII Germany, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The most heartbreaking of this list, I think, because it was a real place and a real time. I can't even begin to imagine the sorrows of the people during that time.

7. The peculiar children in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. Creepy, creepy world those kids live in. They have powers, yes, but they are hunted for them, and the only semi-safe option they have is to hide themselves away from the world a la Peter Pan and the Lost Boys and relive the same day over and over and over and over and over.... Never growing up and getting to experience all life has to offer is a horrible thing, and I pity them. They're in their 70s and 80s, and yet, they're still only children.

8. Meghan & Ethan Chase/The Nevernever, Iron Fey & Iron Fey: Forgotten series by Julie Kagawa. Julie sure knows how to write 'em. The Nevernever, aka Faery is the worst. I'd actually take the world in Blood of Eden over the Nevernever because at least Allie knows where she stands. The Nevernever and its inhabitants are always scheming to do you grevious damage, the least of which is death. Give me a dang sword or a branch or whatever, and I'll at least make a stand against the rabids, but in the Iron Fey series, your own words can destroy you faster than a weapon ever could.

9. Ember, Article 5 trilogy by Kristen Simmons. More than some other highly excellent and creeptastic future dystopians (Divergent, Delirium, Legend, Wither, etc), the Article 5 series really does scare me because I can honestly see how we could go from our society today to the shambling country Ember and Chase reside in. This one hits me especially close to home because quite literally, half of the series takes place in my hometown. The square my mom and I watch Shakespeare plays in each summer? Scene to brutal mobs and murder. Wonderful series, but it scares the crap out of me.

10. Tina Fey, Bossypants by Tina Fey. Wait, no, that's a lie. I do want to be Tina Fey. I can do her Sarah Palin impersonation and everything!

Actual #10. Alina/Ravka, Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. Unless Mal/The Darkling/Sturmhond/Nikolai are all shirtless at all times and hanging out with me exclusively, Ravka is not a place I would want to live. It's terrifying. Thanks a lot, Leigh. You create the men of my dreams and place them in the world of my nightmares. You did that on purpose.

So that's my list. Some real (or at least more realistic) worlds, some fantastical, some silly. All are stunningly horrific, and that's one reason I really love all those books.  What's on  your list this week? Share your links!

Review: Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

Rating: 4 stars
Pub Date: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Delacorte (an imprint of Random House)
Genre: young adult sci fi, fantasy
Format/Source: ARC, directly from publisher at TLA 2013 conference
Status: First book in the Reckoners series

Summary:
Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics.

But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.

Nobody fights the Epics... nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart—the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning—and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.

He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

Top Ten Tuesday #15: Fall 2013 TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week the girls at B&B think up a fun theme, and participating bloggers post their favorite 10 books in that category. This week's theme is

Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR 

This week's list was pretty easy to write. Why can't they all be this simple and straight-forward?

1. The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead. After Indigo Spell, if you think I'm leaving the next installment of Richelle's superb Bloodlines series off my fall TBR, you are sadly f-ing mistaken (1:50 for that reference, but watch the whole thing, dang it!). Quite frankly, I needed a whole series of cold showers after reading TIS, and if the buzz I'm hearing about Fiery Heart is indicative of simliar action, I will be spending most of November submerging myself in buckets of ice. Also, it's a great story. Lots of action, mystery, and really, really good relationships. Not just the hot stuff. Richelle writes good friendships and good non-steamy parts of romantic relationships as well.

2. Allegiant by Veronica Roth. Duh. Like all of you don't have this on your list. 'Nuff said.

3. Just One Year by Gayle Forman. Yes, yes, yes. This is sitting on my shelf right now taunting me. 

4. Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano. After the hurt of finishing the Chemical Garden series, I am in in serious need of some DeStefano. Also sitting on my shelf taunting me.

5. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson. This was the bonus book on my summer TBR list (of which I completed 7 out of 11). Now that it's closer to the pub date, I think it's time to actually read it. My brother in law RAVES about it and constantly peppers me. "Hey, Mary, have you read Steelheart yet?" "Mary, you need to read Steelheart." "Blah blah words blah Brandon Sanderson blah more words blah Steelheart." I read you loud and clear, bro!

6. In the Age of Love and Chocolate by Gabrielle Zevin. Oh, this series. It's phenomenal. It's cool and original. It's about love and family and chocolate for heaven's sake! Also, cute boys. Read my Waiting on Wednesday post on it for more info.

7. Timepiece by Myra McEntire. Hourglass was really cool, and I've heard that although it's way different (hello, different pov!), Timepiece is even better. I mean, Caleb. That is all.

9. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke. I've heard absolutely wonderful things about this from people whose bookish opinions I fully trust. Not just wonderful things. Raving. Consider me sold. Plus, it seems really different. I think a little gothic lit could do me some good. I've been playing between contemporary and contemporary paranormal for a while now, and I want to delve into something deeper. See what I did there? :P

10. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Did you even read Eleanor & Park?! Of course you did. It was spectacular. SOLD. I think Fangirl is one of those novels, like Gayle Forman's Just One Day, that is true new adult lit. Sure, the smutty NA stuff can be entertaining, but smut is not the only reason NA should exist. I have a feeling this is going to hit me hard, and I'll love every moment.

Bonus books aka the I-have-to-read-these-in-the-next-couple-months-or-I'll-hate-myself-for-being-a-total-failure-of-a-fangirl-slash-blogger-slash-reviewer: The Elite by Kiera Cass. School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. White Cat by Holly Black. Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike. nantucket Blue by Leila Howland.

Top Ten Tuesday #4: Most Intimidating Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week the girls at B&B think up a fun theme, and participating bloggers post their favorite 10 books in that category. This week's theme is

Most Intimidating Books

Most books don't really intimidate me because I've read a little of just about everything. That being said, I am somewhat hesitant to pick up the books on this list either because of sheer size or high expectations based on public reactions or whatever.

1. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. Um, yeah. I call myself a book lover, but I've never read one of the best series of all time. I started Magician's Nephew and couldn't handle it. Should've started with Lion, Witch, Wardrobe, I know, but I wanted to start with the chronological beginning. And there's just so. much. hype!

2. Ender's Saga by Orson Scott Card. Another hyped series. Plus, it's fairly large, with several books, spinoffs, graphic novels, and novellas. I think I want to see the movie and then decide if I'll read it. At least the first one.

3. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. This is one of the first-ever young adult novels, and I've been "over" the classics since I left school. I dunno. I just don't appreciate them enough. I did like a musical Little Women I watched a few years ago. I definitely feel like if I were to read a classic, this would be a pretty good one.

4. House of Night series by PC & Kristin Cast. So I really enjoyed the first four books of the series, but by the fifth, I was kinda over them, and I didn't even pick up the sixth. I just didn't have enough patience to keep it up all the way through novellas and extras and DANG. TWELVE NOVELS. I think I may try to get back in once all twelve are out, but I don't know. It wasn't just the amount of reading to do; it was also the drama, which got stale. And Zoey just had too many people into her. I like my romance to be dramatic, but not that dramatic.

5. Inkworld series by Cornelia Funke. Like with House of Night, I emjoyed the first one, but I was cowed by sheer size. These novels are dense! Plus, I kind of like where Inkheart left off so I don't know if I really want to move on the others. We'll see. Maybe one day.

6. Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater. Same thing. Enjoyed the first book, but I just don't know if I'm interested enought to keep going. Plus, another series and author with so much hype! I may read her other books before going back to Grace & Sam.

7. The Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy by Carrie Hand. Hype. HYYYYPE. And I'm not into the whole zombie thing as the rest of the world so I dunno. I probably will pick this one up sometime. It's just that usually, there are a lot of other things that I want to read more. Sorry, Carrie Ryan!

8. Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld. Same. Exactly the same. Although I did read his Leviathan series, which was amazing so I know he's a great writer. Just a lot of high expectations. Probably will read someday. Just not yet.

9. Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr. Ditto to everything stated above. Hype. High expectations. Plus fairies. I'm not into them as most other supernatural/fantasy creatures.

10. The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson. Yeah, not exactly young adult, but whatever. My brother and brother-in-law swear by these. I just don't know if I want to make such a huuuuge committment. I mean, Jordan DIED while writing these and the fans were waiting for years for the end. I don't think I'm that committed. Same with George R. R. Martin's books, which are supposed to be freaking amazing.

Top Ten Tuesday #2: Summer TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and The Bookish. Each week the girls at B&B think up a fun theme, and participating bloggers post their favorite 10 books in that category. This week's theme is

Top of my summer TBR list

1. Awaken by Meg Cabot. MC has been one of my favorite authors since forever. I kind of gave up on the Princess Diaries when I got a little too old for them, but I've never outgrown my love of all things Cabot. The Abandon trilogy is no different. Not my favorite, but still exciting enough for me to be freaking out over book #3. ESPECIALLY after hearing some crazypants spoilers. After my required reading for a few upcoming blog tours, Awaken is #1 TBR.

Release date: July 2nd

2. Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols. Jennifer is another absolute favorite of mine. After meeting her at TLA, I'm just beside myself with fangirly joy. Some of it may have splashed all over Jen, for which I'm deeply ashamed and yet...not. Anyway, DLS is set in Nashville, which is hometown #2 for me, so I can't wait to visit in Jen's latest surely awesome romantic drama. Blog tour on July 8th and maybe, just maybe, you'll find a giveaway sometime around then too...Stay tuned!

Release date: July 16th

3. Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code: The Graphic Novel by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, Giovanni Rigano & Paolo Lamanna. If you pay attention to my Weekly and/or Monthly Wrap-Up posts, you may have noticed a ridiculous amount of graphic novel adataptions in my read and tbr lists. I'm really drawn to them right now. The art in the Artemis Fowl gns isn't my absolute favorite, but the cartoony drawings do fit better with the story than the realistic or manga-ish art I usually prefer. The Eternity Code is my favorite out of the AF series so I'm pretty stoked about seeing this adaptation in particular. Team Butler!

Release date: July 9th

4. The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa. Keeping with the eternal theme, I've been looking forward to this since The Immortal Rules. It must be tough to do a vampire novel on the downward spiral of the vampire wave, and tough to do a dystopian novel in the crest of the dystopian wave, but Kagawa has made a real winner with the Blood of Eden series. I like it so much better than The Iron Fey, even (blasphemy to Kagawa's fans, I know). Took my library a while to get this in, which is why I haven't read it yet. This one and Til the World Ends are tbr-asap, but I'm afraid I might not get to it before I have to take it back to the library. :(

5. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. Really liked Cinder and people say Scarlet's even better so bring it on! This whole slightly steampunk/futuristic/fairy tale twist thing Marissa's got going on is fantastic. You wouldn't think all these genres would fit, but they do fit oh so well. Probably will be read toward the latter half of summer, or a couple days before I have to return it to the library, whichever comes first.

6. Hourglass by Myra McEntire. I need to read this AND Timepiece quickly because I've heard such lovely things about them so I'd like to be able to get to them before/around Infinityglass's release. 

7. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. Talk about talked about. I hear Leigh Bardugo's name and The Grisha all over EVERYTHING. I snagged a copy of Siege and Storm at TLA so I really need to be a good reader/blogger/person and read the series already.

8. Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike. Another author whose reputation precedes her, but I haven't yet read any of her novels. So many friends, bloggers, and blogger friends swear by Aprilynne Pike's novels that I need to jump on this one quickly as well!

9. Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland. This title was raved about and nabbed very quickly at TLA. Color me convinced. I listen to recommendations, especially when they come as in-force as the books on this list. Nantucket is no exception.

10. Defy the Dark edited by Saundra Mitchell. The other non-novel format you can find most often on my read/tbr lists is the anthology. I lovelovelove anthologies right now. I think it's freaking fantastic that my favorite authors are writing more stories more often. Especially Beth Revis, who keeps popping out Across the Universe novellas like they're freaking candy. Well, I WANT CANDY HAPPYTHANKYOUMORE PLEASE. Ahem. Anywho, can't wait for this one. Hopefully my library will order it in a timely fashion.

Release date: TODAY!

Bonus book: Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson. My brother is a DIE-HARD Sanderson fan so I grabbed this for him at TLA. He hasn't had much time to read it, but my brother-in-law (just like my brother in all ways) flew through it and pronounced it the Best Thing Ever. Another end-of-the-summer read, but I still want to get to it before fall.

Release date: September 24th