WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: THE ASIAN AUTHORS ROCK EDITION.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine that highlights our much anticipated books.

DESCENDANT OF THE CRANE BY JOAN HE
Expected Publication Date: April 2nd 2019 by Albert Whitman Company
Add to Goodreads

Tyrants cut out hearts. Rulers sacrifice their own

Princess Hesina of Yan has always been eager to shirk the responsibilities of the crown, but when her beloved father is murdered, she’s thrust into power, suddenly the queen of an unstable kingdom. Determined to find her father’s killer, Hesina does something desperate: she engages the aid of a soothsayer—a treasonous act, punishable by death... because in Yan, magic was outlawed centuries ago.

Using the information illicitly provided by the sooth, and uncertain if she can trust even her family, Hesina turns to Akira—a brilliant and alluring investigator who’s also a convicted criminal with secrets of his own. With the future of her kingdom at stake, can Hesina find justice for her father? Or will the cost be too high?

In this shimmering Chinese-inspired fantasy, debut author Joan He introduces a determined and vulnerable young heroine struggling to do right in a world brimming with deception.

SPIN THE DAWN BY ELIZABETH LIM
Expected Publication Date: July 30th 2019 by Knopf
Add to Goodreads

Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she'll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.

And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this young adult fantasy is pitch-perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Renée Ahdieh.

The illustrations in both covers are just stunning! As a newbie artist, I have a new eye in appreciating art like these two and I must say that they are --- WOWZAAAAAH! The palette, the intricate details and symbolism are just so well done I can imagine petting the cover in person with so much love for both of them.

I miss championing not only debut authors but Asian authors as well! I am just so damn proud that more and more Asian /and diverse/ books are being published and it is absolutely time to shine! I cannot ever word it correctly - the importance of representation - that seeing these books I know would matter to me /and a lot of people/ hit shelves soon just give me so much pride and joy!

And of course, the synopsis of both books! I can only ever hope that both books would deliver because THERE'S SO MUCH POTENTIAL IN THESE AND MY HEART WON'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE DISAPPOINTMENTS HUHUHU - but really, I am just excited to read them and drown in all the goodness of it all!

2019 is surely gonna rock YA!

What title/s did you pick this week?

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: DEFY THE STARS BY CLAUDIA GRAY.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine that highlights our much anticipated books.

Expected Publication Date: April 4th 2017
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Add to Goodreads

Noemi Vidal is a teen soldier from the planet Genesis, once a colony of Earth that's now at war for its independence. The humans of Genesis have fought Earth's robotic "mech" armies for decades with no end in sight.

After a surprise attack, Noemi finds herself stranded in space on an abandoned ship where she meets Abel, the most sophisticated mech prototype ever made. One who should be her enemy. But Abel's programming forces him to obey Noemi as his commander, which means he has to help her save Genesis--even though her plan to win the war will kill him.

Together they embark on a daring voyage through the galaxy. Before long, Noemi begins to realize Abel may be more than a machine, and, for his part, Abel's devotion to Noemi is no longer just a matter of programming.

I haven't read any Claudia Gray books yet (oops) and when I heard that this is a sci-fi read (I rarely read synopsis), I knew I had to get to this one soon! It's giving me Illuminae slash Wall-E feels! Aaaaah, this is going to be an epic one, I can feel it. Plus, some of my fave bloggers are raving about this so I am in good hands! April can't get here fast enough!

What title/s did you pick this week?

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY (60): THE WISH GRANTER BY CJ REDWINE.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine that highlights our much anticipated books.

Expected Publication Date: February 14th 2017
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Add to Goodreads

An epic, romantic, and action-packed fantasy inspired by the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, about a bastard princess who must take on an evil fae to save her brother’s soul, from C. J. Redwine, the New York Times bestselling author of The Shadow Queen. Perfect for fans of Graceling and the Lunar Chronicles.

The world has turned upside down for Thad and Ari Glavan, the bastard twins of Súndraille’s king. Their mother was murdered. The royal family died mysteriously. And now Thad sits on the throne of a kingdom whose streets are suddenly overrun with violence he can’t stop.

Growing up ignored by the nobility, Ari never wanted to be a proper princess. And when Thad suddenly starts training Ari to take his place, she realizes that her brother’s ascension to the throne wasn’t fate. It was the work of a Wish Granter named Alistair Teague who tricked Thad into wishing away both the safety of his people and his soul in exchange for the crown.

So Ari recruits the help of Thad’s enigmatic new weapons master, Sebastian Vaughn, to teach her how to fight Teague. With secret ties to Teague’s criminal empire, Sebastian might just hold the key to discovering Alistair’s weaknesses, saving Ari’s brother—and herself.

But Teague is ruthless and more than ready to destroy anyone who dares stand in his way—and now he has his sights set on the princess. And if Ari can’t outwit him, she’ll lose Sebastian, her brother…and her soul.

I LOVE CJ'S BOOKS THAT'S WHY!

Defiance Blurb - 5 stars

"Defiance is a stunning debut novel that captures one's full and undivided attention! It is magnificently laid out and gravely consuming! I let it give me emotions I never thought I would ever feel again and the adrenaline rush every page turn is terrifyingly addictive! I was at the edge of my seat the whole ride!"

Deception Blurb - 8 stars

"Deception surely tops my Best Sequel of 2013 list. It is overflowing with raw emotions, full blast actions and powerful analytical concept. It is truly a mind-blowing sequel that no one would forget easily. It tore my bookish defense wall brick by brick and didn't leave me with sufficient strength to move on. IT IS MY KIND OF SEQUEL. ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SEQUELS EVER WRITTEN."

The Shadow Queen Blurb - 3 stars (I liked this one okay)

"The Shadow Queen was a little tricky for me to read since retellings could be a hit and miss for me. There's just no gripping emotion for me in this book or swooning or anything. In short, it was insipid."

I did enjoy TSQ but not as much as the Defiance Trilogy (I have yet to read Book 3! My eARC is buried long enough in my Kindle). I didn't even know there's a sequel/companion so I was ecstatic when I learned about The Wish Granter! Though TSQ can be a standalone, I still want to read TWG because Rumpelstiltskin-based story written by the hands of CJR? YUUUUS PLEASEEEE!

What title/s did you pick this week?

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY (59): STEALING SNOW BY DANIELLE PAGE.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine that highlights our much anticipated books.

Expected Publication Date: September 20th 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Add to Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Snow has spent the majority of her life within the walls of the Whittaker Institute, a high security mental hospital in upstate New York. Deep down, she knows she's not crazy and doesn't belong there. When she meets a mysterious, handsome new orderly and dreams about a strange twisted tree she realizes she must escape and figure out who she really is.

Using her trusting friend Bale as a distraction, Snow breaks free and races into the nearby woods. Suddenly, everything isn't what it seems, the line between reality and fantasy begins to blur, and she finds herself in icy Algid--her true home--with witches, thieves, and a strangely alluring boy named Kai, none of whom she's sure she can trust. As secret after secret is revealed, Snow discovers that she is on the run from a royal lineage she's destined to inherit, a father more powerful and ruthless than she could have imagined, and choices of the heart that could change the fate of everything...including Snow's return to the world she once knew.

This breathtaking first volume begins the story of how Snow becomes a villain, a queen, and ultimately a hero.

I NEED MORE RETELLINGS IN MY LIFE LIKE I AM NOT KIDDING I NEED THIS! I think I want all the fairytale retellings in my shelf. The cover is so pretty, the sysnopsis so intriguing and I need to know Danielle's take on this! Goodreads isn't a promising place to check the ratings of this book but I want to see it for myself.

What title/s did you pick this week?

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY (58): THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMEWHERE BY JULIE DAY.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine that highlights our much anticipated books.

Expected Publication Date: September 6th 2016
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Add to Goodreads

Together is somewhere they long to be.

Ash Gupta has a life full of possibility. His senior year is going exactly as he’s always wanted-- he's admired by his peers, enjoying his classes and getting the kind of grades that his wealthy, immigrant parents expect. There's only one obstacle in Ash's path: Eden Moore—the senior most likely to become class valedictorian. How could this unpopular, sharp-tongued girl from the wrong side of the tracks stand in his way?

All Eden's ever wanted was a way out. Her perfect GPA should be enough to guarantee her a free ride to college -- and an exit from her trailer-park existence for good. The last thing she needs is a bitter rivalry with Ash, who wants a prized scholarship for his own selfish reasons. Or so she thinks. . . When Eden ends up working with Ash on a class project, she discovers that the two have more in common than either of them could have imagined. They’re both in pursuit of a dream -- one that feels within reach thanks to their new connection. But what does the future hold for two passionate souls from totally different worlds?

First is the cover. The cover is so perfect! Aside from the cute typography there, just look at the background! Gosh, I am absolutely swooning! And the premise is so catchy and intriguing I want to read it right now!!! Also, did I tell you it's standalone?

What title/s did you pick this week?

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY (57): THE THOUSANDTH FLOOR BY KATHARINE MCGEE.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine that highlights our much anticipated books.

Expected Publication Date: August 30th 2016
Publisher: HarperCollins
Add to Goodreads

New York City as you’ve never seen it before. A thousand-story tower stretching into the sky. A glittering vision of the future, where anything is possible—if you want it enough.

Welcome to Manhattan, 2118.

A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and dreams. But people never change: everyone here wants something…and everyone has something to lose.

Leda Cole’s flawless exterior belies a secret addiction—to a drug she never should have tried and a boy she never should have touched.

Eris Dodd-Radson’s beautiful, carefree life falls to pieces when a heartbreaking betrayal tears her family apart.

Rylin Myers’s job on one of the highest floors sweeps her into a world—and a romance—she never imagined…but will her new life cost Rylin her old one?

Watt Bakradi is a tech genius with a secret: he knows everything about everyone. But when he’s hired to spy by an upper-floor girl, he finds himself caught up in a complicated web of lies.

And living above everyone else on the thousandth floor is Avery Fuller, the girl genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have it all—yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.

Debut author Katharine McGee has created a breathtakingly original series filled with high-tech luxury and futuristic glamour, where the impossible feels just within reach. But in this world, the higher you go, the farther there is to fall…

I dunno about you guys but me? I am just absofreakinglutely excited about this book! 2118, Manhattan? YES PLEASE! And that gorgeous cover, YES YES OH YES! And a character who happens to be an addict, then one is a tech? I cannot wait to see how this one will turn out!

What title/s did you pick this week?

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY (56): EVERYONE WE'VE BEEN BY SARAH EVERETT.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine that highlights our much anticipated books.

Expected Publication Date: October 4th 2016
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Add to Goodreads

For fans of Jandy Nelson and Jenny Han comes a new novel that asks, can you possibly know the person you’re becoming if you don’t know the person you’ve been?

Addison Sullivan has been in an accident. In its aftermath, she has memory lapses and starts talking to a boy that no one else can see. It gets so bad that she’s worried she’s going crazy.

Addie takes drastic measures to fill in the blanks and visits a shadowy medical facility that promises to “help with your memory.” But at the clinic, Addie unwittingly discovers it is not her first visit. And when she presses, she finds out that she had certain memories erased. She had a boy erased.

But why? Who was that boy, and what happened that was too devastating to live with? And even if she gets the answers she’s looking for, will she ever be able to feel like a whole person again?

This is totally a cover lust. I mean, who wouldn't drool over this pastel-ish cover, right? So thankful that Penguin Random sent me a galley of this a few months back! IT IS SO PRETTY IN PERSON YOU GUYS *pets book*! Cannot wait to read this one!

What title/s did you pick this week?

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY (55): IT ENDS WITH US BY COLLEEN HOOVER.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine that highlights our much anticipated books.

Expected Publication Date: August 2nd 2016
Publisher: Atria Books
Add to Goodreads

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up. She graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, and maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant and has a total soft spot for Lily; and the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head, but Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his no dating rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan, her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

With this bold and deeply personal novel Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all too human characters, “It Ends with Us” is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

The last book I read from Colleen Hoover was a total let down (check it out here) and I couldn't wait to read It Ends With Us hoping that she'd twist my innards again. I miss here predictable yet unpredictable (you know what I mean, Hoover fans) plots and I want to erase the last ugh one I read with a great standalone. Please, Hoover, surprise me with this. Also, the cover and color combo whisper to me.

What title/s did you pick this week?

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY (54): HEARTLESS BY MARISSA MEYER.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine that highlights our much anticipated books.

Expected Publication Date:November 8th 2016
Publisher:Feiwel and Friends
Add to Goodreads

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king's marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.

Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

I read Queen of Hearts a few weeks ago and totally enjoyed it. I easily fall in love with the antagonists and their past (HAVE YOU HEARD OF WARNER AND THE DARKLING?). Reading more about it is something that intrigues me. These novels I find compelling, you know, how deep the root of the evil seeped into the cold hearts of the anti-heroes, how sick their minds are and how like brutal and torturous they could be - because people made them that way! Anyway, Marissa Meyer is kind of hailed as the Queen of Retellings so I would really like to see how she owned this. Also, look at that cover!

What title/s did you pick this week?

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY (53): EMPIRE OF STORMS BY SARAH J. MAAS.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine that highlights our much anticipated books.

Expected Publication Date:September 6th 2016
Publisher:Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Add to Goodreads

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don't.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?

WHY AM I FREAKING EXCITED? WHYYY? DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO ASK ME WHYYYY? HAHA yeah, I am going ape shit crazy about this fantastic series. We are going to have seven hundred four glorious pages and well, I've noticed that Sarah's books are becoming beastier and beastier but I AM NOT COMPLAINING because the queen is perfect! THE BEASTIER THE SJM BOOK, THE BETTER. What would become of my lovely Rowan? What kind of epic badassery would Celaena do? I CANNOT, YOU GUYS. September is gonna be the best month!

What title/s did you pick this week?