Bookanistas: Shadow and Bone

How can I best describe Shadow and Bone?   Exquisite.  Intricate.  Compelling.

All those words seem tame when I think of my reading experience thus far with this novel.  Leigh Bardugo's debut novel sparkles with life and ferocity.  Here's the official description:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

And I'm here to tell you it's as good as it sounds.  I find myself at once desperate to read more and eager to linger in the world Bardugo has created.  The novel's imagery is lush and I'm rather drawn to Alina's dry wit.  The story is told from her perspective, and she's a girl you can both relate to and root for.  My only complaint?  I'm going to have to wait a whole freaking year to read book two.

Shadow and Bone releases June 5, 2012 from Holt/Macmillan.  Now go add it to your goodreads shelf!

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy courtesy of Macmillan on Netgalley.


Christine Fonseca  revels in TO RIDE A PUCA

Stasia Ward Kehoe gushes over GILT

Katy Upperman adores UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Tracy Banghart delights in THE DISENCHANTMENTS

Gennifer Albin  celebrates SHADOW AND BONE

Jessica Love is wowed by YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I WANT

Bookanistas: A Fresh Start

Today I'm giving a little love to the book I'm currently reading.  You see, the book I finished reading this book is going out on submission to agents soon, and although I'm positive it will be on shelves in the near future, it would be wrong to have you all salivating over something so far out from release :)

The book I am reading right now (courtesy of NetGalley) is Lissa Price's Starters.  A sci-fi mystery with a strong dash of the dystopian, I dare you to watch this trailer without wanting to read the book on the spot!  The good news is that Starters is out in March.  Until then you can check out an excerpt on the official book website.



Christine Fonseca  interviews author Denise Grover Swank

Jessi Kirby and Jen Hayley are wowed by WANDERLOVE

Corrine Jackson is mesmerized by MAY B.

Stasia Ward Kehoe  interviews DIES IRAE author Christine Fonseca

Debra Driza is entranced by HEMLOCK

Katy Upperman delves into THE DISENCHANTMENTS

Nikki Katz  celebrates CINDER

Tracy Banghart  marvels at JULIET IMMORTAL

Jessica Love spotlights SHINE

Bookanistas: Cinder

I'll be announcing the winner of last week's giveaway tomorrow, but today let's talk about CINDER (a.k.a. my new obsession).

 

For several years I've been catching up on all the lost years of reading while I was working on my Master's degree, and as such, I've had the opportunity to read a lot of series and trilogies in their entirety rather than waiting for a year for the next book.  I kind of wish The Lunar Chronicles had fallen into that category, because I can't believe I have to wait almost 9 months until I demand, err, beg a copy from my editor.  I was fortunate enough to get an ARC of Cinder from the publisher, and I devoured it over the holidays.

What did I like so much about Cinder?  Where to begin...

I look better in books - Giveaway

Have you heard that books are the new black? Well, I could have told you that ages ago, dahr-ling.

One of my personal goals for 2012 is to read more.  You see with all the crazy edits of the last few months, a move, a trip to New York, and lots of coughs &sniffles, reading got put on the back burner.  Now I hear that when you debut, you don't have time to read and since I am still several months out from Crewel being on shelves, it only makes sense to make it more of a habit now.