I Can't Wait to Read: Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

Ever since I finished Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke & Bone, I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the sequel, Days of Blood & Starlight, to the point where now, when it is coming out TODAY, I almost can’t believe that it is actually happening. I’m so excited to read it that I don’t even want to read a summary; I just want to go into it completely fresh. So in lieu of a summary here, I will present a brief story.

This year I went to NYC Comic Con. In addition to all the comics publishers, artists, writers, collectors, figurine-sellers, etc., several book publishers had tables set up. And on one, I spied, next to some copies of Daughter of Smoke & Bone, a pile of thin volumes with similar looking but slightly more fiery cover art. “Is that…the sequel?” I gasped.

I Can’t Wait To Read: The Broken Lands by Kate Milford

If the words nineteenth century New York City, Crossroads, Good Versus Evil, Orphans, and Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge excite you, then hello and welcome! You are my soul sister! If not, then you are probably not as excited as I am to read The Broken Lands by Kate Milford.

I loved the companion novel, The Boneshaker, particularly the main character, Natalie. But even without Natalie, I have faith in Milford’s ability to weave a complex and deeply moving story resonating with fantastical historic nostalgia.

Also, the summary mentions Coney Island, which, judging by how Milford handled the Nostrum Fair in The Boneshaker, can only mean good things.

I Can't Wait To Read...

Dream School by Blake Nelson

Blake Nelson's 1994 novel Girl (which I spoke about yesterday) ends with main character Andrea Marr on the plane to college, imagining what her experience will be like, and then commenting on her musings thusly:

"...But of course that's not what happened. Not even close."

That's the last line of the book!  These words tantalized me.  I wanted more Andrea Marr!  For years, whenever I went to the bookstore I would pass by the N end of fiction to see if a sequel to Girl had miraculously appeared.  Eventually, I gave up hope.  But now....Blake Nelson is finally releasing Dream School, aka, Andrea Marr, the college years!

Will Andrea like college?  Will she hook up with another lead singer?  Will she become the lead singer of her own band?  I can't wait to find out on December 6.

Opening Lines: Laini Taylor

I just purchased Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and I am now convinced that Laini Taylor is a champion of opening lines.

The opening lines of DOSAB (in italics, just before the first chapter): Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love.  It did not end well.

Shivers!  Chills!

I Can't Wait to Read

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Drink, Slay, Love Is Born

Today is publication day for Drink, Slay, Love (or Kindle download day for me), and to celebrate, Sarah Beth Durst has written a delightful explanation of how she ended up writing the book. Here's a sample:

MY BRAIN: So, what are we writing about next?
ME: I really like unicorns.
MY BRAIN: What are you, four years old?
ME: What's wrong with unicorns?
MY BRAIN: Unicorns are not cool. Unicorns are sparkly.
ME: My unicorns would be cool!
MY BRAIN: You just miss your Lisa Frank sticker collection from your Trapper Keeper.

Read the full dialogue between ME and MY BRAIN over at SBD's blog, along with a brief teaser.

I Can't Wait To Read...

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

I Can't Wait to Read...

...Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst