Sally's most anticipated thirteen (ish) for 2013

So the plan for this post was that I would outline thirteen books that I was looking forward to getting my hands on during 2013.  Epic fail!  I actually ended up with a list of about nineteen.  So I've had to be tough.  Even then I couldn't cut it back to thirteen.  So fourteen it is.  With a couple of quick mentions at the end. If this list ends up reading like War and Peace I apologise.  Here we go then - it's my must-reads for 2013.  Like last year these are in no particular order.  Except for number one.  Which is definitely number one. AS usual links to goodreads are provided.  I have included covers where they are available.

1.  The Clockwork Princess - Cassandra Clare.

I originally had this book down as being a Nov 2012 release hence it also being in my most anticipated for 2012.  As a result of a whole heap of deadlines and publishing schedules it was unfortunately pushed back to March 2013 which made the wait so much more painful!   Here's what I wrote last year:

In Clockwork Princess, Tessa and her companions travel all over the world as they race to stop the clockwork army before it's too late. As Jem's health worsens alarmingly and his friends search desperately for a cure, can Tessa choose between the two boys she loves — even if it means never seeing the other one again? 

We've been treated to a variety of snippets over the year and I can't say that these have done anything to ease the tension among the elite group that is TeamJem.  If anything they've made the whole situation worse! Clare created the perfect love triangle with Will, Jem and Tessa and it's worked amazingly.  No character is unlikeable and I don't think there's a reader out there who looks forward to axe falling one way or the other.  Everyone dreads the consequences.  The thing we do know is that there will be consequences and now we only have to wait until March to find out what they might be.  I never realised you could look forward to and dread a book so much at the same time.  I have booked counselling sessions.  #TeamJem

2.  Divergent #3 (As yet untitled) - Veronica Roth

So it's time to say goodbye to another series as this is the last in the Divergent trilogy. Called Detergent at the moment I think the last book of the series is going to be huge.  There are a plethora of ends for Roth to tie up in this final chapter.  As yet we have very little to go on. What we do know is that at the end of Insurgent Four and Tris discover that there is a wider world to be explored.  Indeed it was the corruption of that same world that led to the creation of the society that they exist in.  Their task now as Divergents and future leaders is to go back to the world they have left behind and try to restore humanity as it once existed.  I'll be gutted to say goodbye to Tris and Four but I'm hoping that they really go out with a bang!

3.  Prodigy - Marie Lu

At the end of Legend June realises that everything she thought she  knew about the society she lives in was wrong and that the boy she thought killed her brother, the boy that she finds herself drawn to was innocent all along.  Realising her mistake June rescues day before his imminent execution and they find themselves on the run and seeking a role in the imminent uprising against the republic.  Here's the blurb for Legend:

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.


It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long. 

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

In this highly-anticipated sequel, Lu delivers a breathtaking thriller with high stakes and cinematic action.

Thankfully we only have to wait until the end of January for this one - Wahey!!

4.  Chosen at Nightfall - C.C Hunter

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  The Shadowfalls series is brilliant! It's such a shame that this hasn't received the attention it deserves.  That said, now that the last in the series is due for release perhaps now is the perfect time to add these books to your collection.  Chosen at Nightfall is the fifth and final book and it takes Kylie on a journey to discover who and what she is, hopefully providing her with the answers she needs  not only about herself but also what she can do to save herself and those she loves.  Here's the blurb:

Kylie Galen's life hasn't been the same since her world was turned upside-down in Born at Midnight, Shadow Falls #1, and now an epic conclusion to her journey—not to mention a tough choice between two guys!—is brewing in Chosen at Nightfall:

When Kylie Galen left Shadow Falls, she thought it was the hardest decision of her life. Heartbroken and separated from everyone she loves, she has to embrace her abilities and what it means to be a chameleon. But as Kylie's journey comes to a close, she must return to the camp that started it all...and she must finally chose between the two boys who love her. The werewolf who broke her heart when he chose his pack over her, and the half-fae who ran from their intense attraction before they ever really had a chance. For Kylie, everything will finally be revealed and nothing will ever be the same.

I know what I want to happen in this final read - not long til I get to find out!  Well... I get to find out in May.  so not too long!

5.  Eternally Yours - Cate Tiernan

Another amazing series that seems to find our heroine going the way of so many others at the moment as she goes off to discover her legacy and to right the wrongs that her family have endured over the centuries.  Nastasya now accepts who she is, namely Lilja af Ulfar and the war that she hopes to end also means a lasting truce between herself and Reyn the man that she loves whose family have been at war with her own for so long.  Here's the blurb!

After a deadly confrontation at the end of Darkness Falls, the second Immortal Beloved novel, Nastasya Crowe is, as she would put it, so over the drama. She fights back against the dark immortals with her own brand of kick-butt magick...but can she fight against true love? In the satisfying finale to the Immortal Beloved trilogy, ex-party-girl immortal Nastasya ends a 450-year-old feud and learns what "eternally yours" really means.

Laced with historical flashbacks and laugh-out-loud dialogue, the Immortal Beloved trilogy is a fascinating and unique take on what it would mean to live forever.

6.  Requiem - Lauren Oliver

What to say about Requiem?  Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!  When we left Pandemonium Alex returned and blew Lena and Julian's world apart.   Now in Requiem with Lena and Julian taking part in the uprising there's everything to play for.  Here's the blurb for Requiem:

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

Sounds good no? I still find myself asking the same question I was asking before I read Pandemonium though - What about Alex???  Not long to wait now...

7.  If I Should Die - Amy Plum

Amy, Amy, Amy, what did you do to me at the end of Until I Die?  Did Vincent die?  Having fought to be together Kate really starts to come into her own at the end of Until I die only for it all to fall apart in the final few pages.  Until I Die was another instalment that had me screaming at the pages but the wait for the sequel is nearly over.  I still have hope for Vincent...

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

8.  Goddess - Josephine Angelini

I'm sure Bungles also with me on this one!  Dreamless ended with an amazing battle scene but also left Helen with bigger challenges than she faced at the beginning not only in her battle against the gods but also as she finds herself attracted to more than one person.  Given who she's attracted to I can't say I feel that sorry for her! Let's be honest though, you know who you're supposed to be with Helen! Here's the blurb!

After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.

To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’s life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.

In Josephine Angelini’s compelling conclusion to the masterfully woven Starcrossed trilogy, a goddess must rise above it all to change a destiny that’s been written in the stars. With worlds built just as fast as they crumble, love and war collide in an all-out battle that will leave no question unanswered and no heart untouched.

9.  Sever - Lauren DeStefano

When Fever finished we didn't leave Rhine in a very good place.  She was shattered physically and emotionally, she was back with Linden  and she had just seen her long-lost brother Rowan on the television. She was also without Gabriel having left him behind as Vaughan took her back to the house, threatening to kill Gabriel if she didn't  leave quietly.  On the plus side by the end of the book she was thankfully free of Vaughan's clutches after Linden discovered the truth behind Vaughan's work.  So the challenges seem pretty insurmountable at the beginning of Sever.  I love DeStefano's writing style and can't wait to get my hands on the final book in this dystopian series.  Here's the blurb!

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

10.  Through The Ever Night - Veronica Rossi

I love Perry. There I've said it.  And according to the reviews I've read of Through The Ever Night anyone that's come into contact with this series feels the same way I do.  At the end of Under the Never Sky there were big changes afoot.  Aria was determined that she would find the Still Blue in order to save Perry's nephew Talon and Perry himself became Blood Lord of the Tides.  So challenges for every girl and boy!  I love the characters that Rossi has created, especially watching how they evolved through the first installment. If the synopsis is anything to go by things get even more challenging in Through The Ever Night and I can't wait to see how.  Even better is the news that this book is only days away!! More blurb!

It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

11.  The Eternity Cure - Julie Kagawa

Book two of The Blood of Eden series.  Not sure how much more I need to say really!  In writing this series Julie Kagawa took the world of vampire literature and turned it on it's head to create something new, refreshing and utterly brilliant.  When we left The Immortal Rules Allison Sekemoto had become the kick-ass heroine I wish more female protagonists would be, Zeke was safe and Allison was off in search of Kanin.  I always knew that whatever came next for Allison was going to be a rough ride so I wasn't surprised when I read the blurb for The Eternity Cure:


In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

Sounds good no? I'm so excited about this book you have no idea!  Which leads me onto...

12.  The Traitor Son - Julie Kagawa

Boom!  Another book by Julie Kagawa!  Just when I though my fey world had come to an end Ethan Chase came to my rescue! The Call of The Forgotten series is linked to the Iron Fey series but is a separate and distinct trilogy which follows Ethan and his journey into the Fey world.  I loved The Lost Prince and by the end there were all kinds of twists and turns in the plot.  I'm not going to reveal any spoilers here except to say that if you've read Iron Legends and The Lost Prince you'll probably be bouncing on one foot to find out what happens next.  I can foresee all kinds of tears and tantrums.  Mainly my own...

We have no blurb or covers for this one yet as it's not due to be released until autumn 2013.  As soon as we have something I'll add it to the blog.

13.  Boundless - Cynthia Hand

Team Tucker or Team Christian? Team Tucker obviously! At the end of Hallowed Clara realises that she needs to leave her life in Teton County, and Tucker and head out to find her own destiny.  A destiny which includes facing the Black Wings.  And apparently Christian Prescott is going with her.  All well and good liking Christian but I think we all know deep down that she's supposed to be with Tucker.  So let's just leave it there shall we?  Anyhoo, I've really enjoyed this series.   Cynthia Hand writes beautifully and you do get the feeling that you really know the characters and what motivates them throughout the series.  Now just crossing my fingers that I get the ending I want!  Here's the blurb!

The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfil her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.

14.  Crown of Midnight - Sarah J. Maas

At the end of Throne of Glass Calaena Sardothien became the King's Champion having fought a series of trained assassins and thieves for the position.  The deal is that once she has completed her contract with the King she will be free to leave to return to her family home.   Her relationship with Dorian now appeared to be a professional one and her friendship with Chaol looked like it was becoming something more.   Now in book two one would imagine that life would be starting to fall into place.  But no, sometimes things just aren't that simple!  Can't wait to get hold of this book!  Here's the blurb!

She is the greatest assassin her world has ever known.

But does she have the heart of a killer?

After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. But Calaena is far from loyal to the crown. Keeping up the charade - while pretending to do the king's bidding - will test her skills in an entirely new way. And it certainly isn't the only point of confusion for the young girl. Because though she's made her choice between Dorian and Chaol, the ways of the heart are never simple...

So now there are other books that I have to mention at this point.  I should point out that I love these books as much as I love those written about above. I just ran out of time!  so again in  no particular order my other most anticipated books for 2013 are:

The Bitter Kingdom (Fire and Thorns #3) by Rae Carson
Blurred (Kissed by Death #2) by Tara Fuller
Asunder (New Soul #2) by Jodi Meadows
Elegy (Hereafter #3) by Tara Hudson
Untitled (The Raven cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater
Requiem (Books of Faerie #3) by Maggie Stiefvater

So there you have it!  My fourteen twenty most anticipated books of 2013!  Hope you find something in there worth a bit of investigating!  Maybe you have others you think are also worth a mention?  If so we'd love to hear from you!

Happy new year!!