Waiting on Wednesday: Shadow and Bone

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly Meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Book bloggers present upcoming books they can’t wait to read and share their enthusiasm about new releases.

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My Waiting on Wednesday is Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo.


I mean, LOOK at that COVER and the summary--OMG. Ever since I heard about this debut novel from the wonderful ladies at PublishingCrawl.com, I have added this to my 2012 "I MUST READ" pile (along with a handful of other books). Russian-inspired fantasy? Good Lord, count. me. in.


And all the spectacular reviews are making me even more excited. *sigh* Patience is a virtue, though, so I suppose I must wait. I have no other choice. But be sure to check it out come June 5th. Summary and Trailer are provided below. Go ahead and gawk at the awesomeness--I know I am.

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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

Recommendation: The Assassin and the Pirate Lord

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord by Sarah J. Maas
Released: January  13, 2012

On a remote island in a tropical sea, Celaena Sardothien, feared assassin, has come for retribution. She’s been sent by the Assassin’s Guild to collect on a debt they are owed by the Lord of the Pirates. But when Celaena learns that the agreed payment is not in money, but in slaves, her mission suddenly changes—and she will risk everything to right the wrong she’s been sent to bring about.

I had the pleasure of reading S.J. Maas' first draft of Queen of Glass on FictionPress. With that said, I am slightly biased in my recommendation of The Assassin and the Pirate Lord--the first of four novellas that chronicle Celaena Sardothian's life as an infamous assassin. She's young--only 16--but fiery and full of passion. That is what I like about Celaena. She is SUCH strong heroine, but still full of many faults. From the Assassin's Keep to the Pirate Lord's lair, Sarah weaves together a story that is just play FUN. It’s face-paced and an enjoyable peek into the life of Celaena. It’s more than a Cinderalla retelling-it’s a fantasy novel of epic proportions that you don’t want to miss. Look for Throne of Glass coming out August 7, 2012

RATING: 5 SLICES