Cinder

Two words: cyborg Cinderella. As soon as I heard that, I knew I'd be hooked on Marissa Meyer's CINDER. How deliciously sci-fi! Don't worry, I'm not giving anything away because you can pretty much assume this from the cover: Instead of losing a shoe, you can guess that she loses part of her leg. SO GOOD, RIGHT?!!?

This YA definitely passes the test of crap-I-missed-my-train-stop-because-this-is-so-good. It amazes me how Marissa Meyer fit in so much worldbuilding in a relatively short book. This takes place in New Beijing after the Fourth World War, which was the war to end all wars--on Earth, at least. Now Earth faces the more technologically advanced Lunars, who can use magic to manipulate human minds. This may sound wild, but it fits so well with the Cinderella theme, trust me! Very clever and fresh, I'm obsessed.

What about the love story, you ask? It's absolutely shiver-inducing. I am swept away by Prince Kai and I can't wait to see more of him in the sequel.

Read this, I promise you'll like it! I already lent my copy to a friend, so this is obviously highly recommended.

Over&out,

Jude

American Chick in Saudi Arabia

This just in: Jean Sasson, NYT bestselling author of PRINCESS, is releasing the first volume of her memoirs as an e-original with Barnes and Noble next week! As a nerd who took as many Middle Eastern history classes as possible in college, I cannot wait to read about Jean Sasson's adventures as a blonde Southern belle in Saudi Arabia. I can't even fathom how much courage that took. I haven't really traveled much, so it amazes me how a young woman could just pick up and leave everything she knows behind, all to work in the Middle East for 12 years. AMAZING! So keep an eye out for AMERICAN CHICK IN SAUDI ARABIA. It promises to be a fun, smart, eye-opening read.

Wide Open

Coming Tuesday, March 13th: WIDE OPEN a paranormal mystery debut by Deborah Coates.

Hallie Michaels is home on compassionate leave from Afghanistan. She has one week on her family's South Dakota ranch to attend her sister Dell's funeral, wrap up her affairs--and find her killer.

Though the sheriff calls Dell's death a suicide, Hallie suspects foul play--after all, why else would her sister’s ghost be haunting her? Ever since her near-death experience in Afghanistan, Hallie has been able to see ghosts. Unfortunately, ghosts can’t speak and Hallie must solve her sister’s murder on her own.

A dark, gritty plot with a literary bent, this is definitely a must for paranormal mystery fans. What I loved most about this is the protagonist's inner tenacity. I know this is a paranormal mystery, but as Patricia Briggs says, this heroine "relies on guts and brains rather than awesome cosmic superpowers." It is so refreshing to see this in the fantasy genre!

March 13th, definitely add this to your TBR list.

-Jude