Waiting on Wednesday - Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

Goodreads - MG - September 2013 by Bloomsbury

Fortunately, the Milk will be a time-travelling adventure for young readers featuring aliens, dinosaurs, volcano gods and a pint of milk that saves the universe! The book will be illustrated throughout by Chris Riddell, and will be the third Neil Gaiman project that Chris Riddell has worked on. Chris has previously illustrated the tenth anniversary edition of Coraline and The Graveyard Book, for which he was Kate Greenaway Medal shortlisted.

Thoughts: Ok, first off, who isn't a Neil Gaiman fan? Seriously, who? If you've ever meet one, make sure they report to hospital for brain damage - because that ain't normal.

Fortunately, the Milk sounds like the wackiest, most brilliant thing ever. Reminds of something Douglas Adams would come up with (and, no, I don't have a higher compliment than that one). If you still aren't sold, let Neil pitch it himself:

Waiting on Wednesday - Salvation by Anne Osterlund

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

Salvation by Anne Osterlund

Contemp YA - January 10th 2013 by Penguin Young Readers Group - Goodreads

A smart, unexpected romance from an award-winning author.

Salvador Resendez--Salva to his friends--appears to have it all. His Mexican immigrant family has high expectations, and Salva intends to fulfill them. He's student body president, quarterback of the football team, and has a near-perfect GPA. Everyone loves him.

Especially Beth Courant, AKA the walking disaster area. Dreamy and shy, Beth is used to blending into the background. But she's also smart, and she has serious plans for her future.

Popular guy and bookish girl--the two have almost nothing in common. Until fate throws them together and the attraction is irresistible. Soon Beth is pushing Salva to set his sights higher than ever--because she knows he has more to offer, more than even he realizes.

Then tragedy strikes--and threatens to destroy everything that Salva has worked for. Will Beth's love be enough to save him?

Thoughtful and romantic, this is a beautifully written story about following your heart and fulfilling your potential.

Anne's description of this book is pretty brilliant, take a look:

If I wanted to be cheesy, I could pitch it as “Perfect Chemistry meets Romeo & Juliet;” but then you’d assume you know the end. And you don’t.

Seeing as how I loved the Perfect Chemistry trilogy and I LOVED Anne's Academy 7, I am pretty sure that Salvation is going to be a treat.

WoW - Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7) by Patricia Briggs

Urban Fantasy - March 5th 2013 by Orbit - Goodreads

Shapeshifter Mercy Thompson's life is calming down, at least enough that she can focus on mundane matters like Black Friday sales. But on her return, Mercy is unable to contact her mate, Alpha Adam Hauptman, or the other members of their pack. All she knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam's disappearance may be related - and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from the most unlikely of allies: the vampire seethe.

Meep! This summary is so, so scary. What is she doing with my pairing?! GAH!

In case you haven't noticed, I am a HUGE fan of adore Briggs' writing. Her books never fail to deliver - I think the lowest rating I've ever given one was 4 stars... she's just that good. I am currently reading the sixth book in this series, River Marked, and can firmly state that Briggs' writing was good enough to get my blogging-mojo running again. Considering how deep my funk was, that's the best compliment I can give!

WoW - Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

Grave Mercy: His Fair Assassin by Robin LaFevers

Fantasy (YA) - March 7th 2012 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt - Goodreads

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

I can't even begin to describe how excited I am about this book. There is just something about the idea of a supernatural historical novel that makes me shiver. Also, it it staring a girl who is - basically - an assassin. How brilliant does that sound? I have a feeling this book could be the new Poison Study.

Oh, and I love the cover. Yes, it is a big red dress - but look at that crossbow! I wouldn't mess with her!

WoW - Shaedes of Gray by Amanda Bonilla

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

Shaedes of Gray by Amanda Bonilla
Urban Fantasy - 2011 Debut Author - Goodreads - December 6th 2011 by Signet

In the shadows of the night, Darian has lived alone for almost a century. Made and abandoned by her former love, Darian is the last of her kind - an immortal Shaede who can slip into darkness as easily as breathing. With no one else to rely on, she has taught herself how to survive, using her unique skills to become a deadly assassin.

When Darian's next mark turns out to be Xander Peck, King of the Shaede Nation, her whole worldview is thrown into question. Darian begins to wonder if she's taken on more than her conscience will allow. But a good assassin never leaves a job unfinished...

I really have no idea how I heard about this book (probably through Goodreads), but wow am I ever glad I did! I love the concept of an assassin heroine - reminds me rather of Jaye Wells' Sabina Kane! Writing characters that straddle the line between good and evil is a very very good way to get me to read your book. Add to that the fact that the novel is set in Seattle. and I'm totally in. (Unless, of course, the Space Needle on the cover was just added as a dramatic flair...)

Add debut novelist Amanda Bonilla to your wishlist!

WoW - Night Beach by Kirsty Eagar

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

Night Beach by Kirsty Eagar
YA - Goodreads - February 2012 by Penguin Books Australia

For Abbie, the ocean is a refuge and the only place she feels in touch with her wilder, truer self. But when her step-cousin Kane returns from a surf trip with something to conceal, she learns that what the sea wants, the sea shall have … A page-turning gothic thriller from award-winning author Kirsty Eagar.

From the author: "It’s about art, the ocean, and the very dark things that feed the creative process … There’s surfing in there, and a look at the idea of ownership. But mainly it’s about a girl called Abbie and a guy called Kane."

I've heard fantastic things about Kirsty Eagar's other novels, so when I saw the summary (and cover) to Night Beach on Goodreads I knew I had to get a copy. This book just sounds so very dark and gothic - all while keeping focus on the treacherous ocean waters... I really can't wait to read it!

Kirsty is an Australian novelist and I'm afraid none of her novels have been published outside Oz. But with fabulous Aussie/NZ sites like Fishpond, those of us across the seas can get ahold of her books!

WoW - Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

  

UK // US 

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Goodreads - YA - February 7th 2012 by HarperCollins (US) / ATOM (UK)

EXILED from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as the Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage— and her only hope of staying alive. Because they must, they will struggle together to survive. Aria and Perry forge an unlikely alliance—one that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

OK, so I never planned to do a WoW for Under the Never Sky. I figured that you were all smart, and had already spotted the summary and cover online, after which you immediately added it to your wishlist. Fantastic summary, stunning cover, and great publisher = wishlist must. So, I kept my interest in this novel under wraps.

So, besides telling you how much I've (secretly, apparently) been longing for this book... I'd like to complain about the recently released UK cover. Because, OMG WT-bloody-F?? When I spotted this cover on Tez Says my first reaction was "oh dear, what poor novel ended up with that monstrosity?"... and then I saw the title. Let's all start praying to every god in the phone book that there is still time for ATOM to correct this overly-tanned, PNR monstrosity of a cover!

WoW - Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith

Goodreads - YA - December 27th 2011 by Greenwillow Books

Leah has the life most high school girls would kill for—popularity, glowing grades, a rich, athletic boyfriend. So why does she feel like she can’t breathe? And why can’t she stop thinking about the boy from the country club? The one who isn’t her boyfriend, the one that her mother would never, ever approve of, the one that her perfect older sisters would never, ever look at twice. The one who is always looking back at her. Irresistible attraction, smoldering glances, the bad boy and the good girl—Kiss Crush Collide has everything that a steamy forbidden romance should, and then some.

With graceful and honest writing and an electric love story, this is a book about growing into your own skin. For fans of Perfect Chemistry, Sarah Dessen, and John Green.

I know absolutely nothing about this book beyond the summary and the cover - and all I can see is Perfect Chemistry, Perfect Chemistry, Perfect Chemistry. And you know what?  I'm kinda looking for a new Perfect Chemistry - so I'd be pretty damn happy if that's what this book turns out to be like!  I'm looking forward to hearing more about the author (this is her debut) and the novel closer to the release date.

Waiting on Wednesday - The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams

Goodreads - UF - October 25th 2011 by Ace

Some humans can see the fae. McKenzie Lewis can track them, reading the shadows they leave behind. But some shadows lead to danger. Others lead to lies.

A Houston college student trying to finish her degree, McKenzie has been working for the fae king for years, tracking vicious rebels who would claim the Realm. Her job isn’t her only secret. For just as long, she’s been in love with Kyol, the king’s sword-master—and relationships between humans and fae are forbidden.

But any hope for a normal life is shattered when she’s captured by Aren, the fierce and uncompromising rebel leader. He teaches her the forbidden fae language and tells her dark truths about the Court, all to persuade her to turn against the king. Time is running out, and as the fight starts to claim human lives, McKenzie has no choice but to decide once and for all whom to trust and where she ultimately stands in the face of a cataclysmic civil war.

I absolutely love the sound of this one.  First off, Ann Aguirre quote on the cover!  That certainly puts it in my book.  Then there's the summary - which sounds one part action movie, two parts fantasy.  Love. It.  The Shadow Reader is also from a 2011 Debut novelist, so we should all show our support.

WoW - The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills by Joanna Pearson

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills by Joanna Pearson

Goodreads - YA - July 1st 2011 by Arthur A. Levine Books

For anyone who's ever survived a rite of passage or performed a mating dance at Prom...

The Japanese hold a Mogi ceremony for young women coming of age. Latina teenagers get quinceaneras. And Janice Wills of Melva, NC... has to compete in the Miss Livermush pageant.

Janice loves anthropology--the study of human cultures--and her observations help her identify useful rules in the chaotic world of high school. For instance: Dancing is an effective mating ritual--but only if you're good at it; Hot Theatre Guys will never speak to Unremarkable Smart Girls like Janice and her best friend, Margo; and a Beautiful Rich Girl will always win Melva's annual Miss Livermush pageant.

But when a Hot Theatre Guy named Jimmy Denton takes an interest in Janice, all her scientific certainties explode. For the first time, she has to be part of the culture that she's always observed; and all the charts in the world can't prove how tough--and how sweet--real participation and a real romance can be.

Funny, biting, and full of wisdom, this marks the debut of a writer to watch.

I am not generally a fan of Contemporary YA, but this book just sounds adorable! I love smart-girl protagonists - especially ones who use their brains to examine the craziness that is high school.  And isn't the cover just the cutest thing?

Waiting on Wednesday - First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci
Goodreads -YA - November 1st, 2011 by Scholastic Press
A startling, wonderful novel about the true meaning of being an alien in an equally alien world.

We are specks. Pieces of dust in this universe. Big nothings.

I know what I am.

Mal lives on the fringes of high school. Angry. Misunderstood. Yet loving the world -- or, at least, an idea of the world.

Then he meets Hooper. Who says he's from another planet. And may be going home very soon.

There's something about this book that makes me want to read it rightnow. I just adore the idea of a screwed-up teenager, who is convinced he's been kidnapped by aliens, being told, "You're right. I'm one of the little green men. Fancy a trip to Mars?" Rather, what I love is the uncertainty. Is this going to be a real sci-fi book? Or is it going to deal with a real psychological issue... I don't know, and I'm eager to find out!

Waiting on Wednesday - Charmfall by Chloe Neill

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

Charmfall by Chloe Neill
Goodreads -YA - January 2012 by Gollancz
High school can be a battlefield, but for Lily Parker, surviving at St. Sophia’s School for Girls is a matter of life and death…

Protecting Chicago from the dark side can be an exhausting job, especially when you’re a sophomore. So when the girls of St. Sophia’s start gearing up for Sneak, their fall formal, Lily decides to join in on some good, old-fashioned party prep—even if it means not giving demons, vampires and the twisted magic users known as Reapers her undivided attention.

But when a Reaper infiltrates the school, Lily doesn’t forget what she’s sworn to protect. She reaches deep into herself to draw out her magic—and finds that it’s gone. And it turns out she’s not alone. A magical blackout has slammed through paranormal Chicago, and no one knows what—or who—caused it. But Lily knows getting back her magic is worth the risk of going behind enemy lines…

Despite the ick that was Hexbound, I can't help but be excited about Charmfall, the third book in Chloe Neill's Dark Elite series... perhaps if Hexbound had come out sooner, I would have like it more?  Either way, I wish Charmfall weren't coming out in January!  I am hoping for more Sebastian (who really seems like a nice guy... who works on the side of evil) and the restoration of the awesome Lily/Scout dynamic.

WoW - State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
Goodreads - June 6, 2011 by Harper (US) and Bloomsbury (UK)

“In this life we love who we love. There were some stories in which facts were very nearly irrelevant.”
Dr. Marina Singh, a research scientist with a Minnesota pharmaceutical company, is sent to Brazil to track down her former mentor, Dr. Annick Swenson, who seems to have all but disappeared in the Amazon while working on what is destined to be an extremely valuable new drug, the development of which has already cost the company a fortune. Nothing about Marina's assignment is easy: not only does no one know where Dr. Swenson is, but the last person who was sent to find her, Marina's research partner Anders Eckman, died before he could complete his mission. Plagued by trepidation, Marina embarks on an odyssey into the insect-infested jungle in hopes of finding her former mentor as well as answers to several troubling questions about her friend's death, the state of her company's future, and her own past.

Once found, Dr. Swenson, now in her seventies, is as ruthless and uncompromising as she ever was back in the days of Grand Rounds at Johns Hopkins. With a combination of science and subterfuge, she dominates her research team and the natives she is studying with the force of an imperial ruler. But while she is as threatening as anything the jungle has to offer, the greatest sacrifices to be made are the ones Dr. Swenson asks of herself, and will ultimately ask of Marina, who finds she may still be unable to live up to her teacher's expectations.

In a narrative replete with poison arrows, devouring snakes, and a neighboring tribe of cannibals, State of Wonder is a world unto itself, where unlikely beauty stands beside unimaginable loss. It is a tale that leads the reader into the very heart of darkness, and then shows us what lies on the other side.

I don't usually feature literary fiction here - but I absolutely adore Ann Patchett. She's one of those authors who knows how to construct a novel with a style so effortless you know it required endless planning. The saying that the best coincidences require a lot of planning? Well, that's Ann Patchett. Her novel The Magician's Assistant is one of my very favourites. And her last novel, Run, was absolutely stunning. I've spent the last 5 years desperately awaiting news about a new book, so imagine my joy to hear about State of Wonder!

The only thing I am worried about in this book is the "research" aspect. Pharmaceutical researchers are infamous for their animal testing, but I'm going to hope that Dr. Marina Singh is one of the rare few who does not engage in this disgusting practice! Otherwise she shall be rather difficult (read: impossible) to relate to!

WoW - A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
Goodreads -YA - August 9, 2011 by Candlewick
Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for sixty-two years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically-induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten sub-basement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long dead, and Rose – hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire – is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes – or be left without any future at all.

I spotted this cover over on Tez Says and was intrigued - and then I read the summary and thought "OMG I MUST READ THAT". I am not at all a fan of the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty, but this this this.... just sounds fantastic. It's the friggin' sci-fi version of the tale! Goodbye castles and kingdoms, hello interplanetary empires. This is Sheehan's debut novel, and I adore her explanation of the premise:

"I always thought the interesting thing about Sleeping Beauty wasn't why she was put to sleep, but what she had to come to terms with afterward. Everything would have changed radically - technology and politics as well as social structure. She would have seemed like a foreigner in her own country."

Apparently, this book is already available on Netgalley... just sayin'.

WoW - All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin
Goodreads - September 27th 2011
From the author of the critically acclaimed Elsewhere comes this brilliant novel about an impossible romance, a family living outside of the law, and the ties that forever bind us.

Chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is increasingly scarce, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city’s most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine—going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until someone in her inner circle ends up poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she’s to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight — at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafiya family.

Engrossing and suspenseful, All These Things I’ve Done is an utterly unique, unputdownable read that blends both the familiar and fantastic

I've been longing for a Mafioso!YA forever. I have always loved stories set in the criminal underworld - The Godfather has been one of my very favourite films since I was a teen. But how do you make something like that work for a YA audience? Well, by having the criminal underground deal coffee instead of cocaine! Absolutely brilliant idea that I really cannot wait to read.

Waiting on Wednesday - Rip Tide by Kat Falls

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

Rip Tide by Kat Falls

Goodreads - YA - August 2nd 2011 by Simon and Schuster Childrens Books (UK)

Return to the subsea frontier with Ty and Gemma, where the mysteries of the deep are deadlier than ever. With time running out for his parents, Ty's desperation leads the two teenagers to the underwater underworld...and into an alliance with the outlaws of the Seablite Gang. But one mystery soon leads to another. How has an entire township disappeared? Why is the local sea-life suddenly so aggressive? And can the Seablite Gang be trusted...or are Ty and Gemma in deeper water than they realise?

I recently spotted the cover for Rip Tide, the sequel to the amazing Dark Life, over on goodreads and squeed with excitement. I really, really enjoyed Dark Life and felt like nowhere near enough people read it.  And you should - it's got underwater pirates, socially oppressive governments, and that ever-elusive male narrator.  I cannot wait to read Rip Tide - my only lament is that it comes out in August.  August?  That's forever-and-a-half away!  *sighs dramatically*

Waiting on Wednesday - Eve by Anna Carey

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

Eve (The Eve Trilogy #1) by Anna Carey
Goodreads - October 4th 2011 by HarperTeen

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. Wildlife has grown over once recognizable landmarks, and the New America is ruled by a controlling King who will stop at nothing to rebuild the nation—including enslaving its boys and turning its girls into broodmares.

The Eve Trilogy is a breathlessly told story with an unforgettable heroine. Anna Carey has imagined a remarkable and unique world, and brings a compelling new voice to the dystopian genre. Eve offers a haunting glimpse of the global pandemic some scientists say is inevitable, and a world forever altered by its aftermath. Fans of Twilight and The Hunger Games will revel in this epic story of forbidden love, and an unforgettable heroine’s extraordinary adventure.

Ok, perhaps the references to Twilight and The Hunger Games are a bit much - but this book still looks fantastic. Delirium has wetted my appetite for post-apocalyptic YA... not to mention I also rather like the idea of a world with a few fewer humans on it!

WoW - The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Goodreads - August 2nd 2011 by Hyperion Books

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

The Near Witch is another book I discovered through the YA Rebels channel. The Rebels are fab - and I've been eagerly awaiting Victoria's book for, oh, about a year or so. Even though I am totally buying the hardcover, I can't say I am too in love with the cover image. I'm nervous that people won't pick it up! *bites nails* But it is going to be fantabulous, so please do!

Waiting on Wednesday - Possess by Gretchen McNeil

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

Possess by Gretchen McNeil

Goodreads - YA - August 23rd 2011 by Balzer + Bray

Fifteen-year-old Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone: by her overprotective mom, by the hunky son of the police officer who got her father killed, and by the eerie voices which she can suddenly and inexplicably hear. Turns out the voices are demons--the Biblical kind, not the Buffy kind--and Bridget possesses the rare ability to banish them.

San Francisco's senior exorcist and his newly assigned partner from the Vatican enlist Bridget's help with increasingly bizarre and dangerous cases of demonic possession. But when one of Bridget's oldest friends turns up dead in a ritualistic sacrifice that mirrors her father's murder, Bridget realizes she can't trust anyone. An interview with her father's murderer reveals a link between Bridget and the Emim: a race of part-demons intent on raising their forefathers to the earth in human form. Now Bridget must unlock the secret to the Emim's plan before someone else close to her winds up dead, or worse--the human vessel for a Demon King.

So, this is one of those books I have had on my wishlist forever.  Back in the days when Gretchen was still calling it "Banish" and a cover was no where in sight.  Yes, I call the author Gretchen - because after almost a year of watching her on the YA Rebels Channel, I kinda feel like I know her.  And you know what?  She's pretty damn awesome - and funny.  If the book is just half as entertaining as she is, it is going to be fantabulous.  And just to give you a taster...

Waiting on Wednesday - Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademetriou

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.

Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademetriou
Goodreads - August 9th 2011 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Nothing has been the same for Will ever since what happened last summer. One day, on an ordinary sailing trip with his brother, there is a strange accident. When Will wakes up, he learns his brother has disappeared, presumed drowned. Worst of all, Will can't remember what happened—his family finds him unconscious, with no memory of the accident.

Now Will and his best friend and neighbor, Gretchen, are starting a new summer. Gretchen seems troubled—her sleepwalking habit is getting worse, and she keeps waking up closer and closer to the water. Will is drawn to Asia, the exotic new girl in town. Nobody knows where she's from—all Will knows is that her beauty and her mesmerizing voice have a powerful effect on people.

Then there is another mysterious drowning, and Will and Gretchen begin to wonder: Is Asia just another beautiful, wealthy summer resident? Or is she something entirely more sinister . . . and inhuman?

There is something quite spooky and sinister about this book.  Perhaps it's only the cover (creepy green eyes, and the line"vengeance is eternal") but the summary also gives me goosebumps.  I'm hoping that this Siren story will take a more sinister look and mermaids - considering their legendary love for killing/stealing young men from ships, you'd think they'd be the villain in stories more often!  The average Ariel, I'm afraid, is not such a nice gal.