Waiting on Wednesday (38)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we all feature upcoming books we're eagerly anticipating.

I've altered things a little to include one book that hasn't come out yet and one that has already been published but I still haven't gotten around to reading yet.

But before I gush about the books I'm waiting on, I need to gush a little about my upcoming January event and Ruby from Ruby's Reads's sister event that you, yes YOU, can help with!

As part of the events, we need your blogging-related questions!

Are you a newbie blogger wondering things like how to gain followers, set up a new background on your blog, receive ARCs, etc?

Or are you an established blogger, feeling a bit of a blogger slump coming on, wondering how to manage your review pile, bust the blogging blues, etc?

Regardless of whether you're a new or established blogger, we want your questions!

Please help us help you by clicking HERE and filling out our completely anonymous form!

If you want, you can also help us spread the word by grabbing one or both of our buttons! This event goes live in January, but we don't mind if you post our buttons early :)

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Darkness Before Dawn by J. A. London
(May 29, 2012)

This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

Why I want to read it:

I've always wanted to read one of the books from Lauren Kate's Fallen series! Oh, wait, this book isn't from that series. Coulda fooled me with that cover. I'd bet money that's a Fernanda Brussi photo.

But, ok, I actually do want to read this book for more than just the pretty cover. I know we're supposed to be SO over vampires, but, shhh, I'm not. I like the almost dystopian sounding set up the vampires have going on here, too.

I might normally be a little wary about the sound of that romance, but I loved the romance in To Catch a Pirate (written by this author under the name Jade Parker), so I'm hoping for more of the same type of swoon.

Gladiator: Fight for Freedom by Simon Scarrow
(February 3, 2011)

It's Rome, 61 BC. Recruited as a gladiator, young Marcus Cornelius Primus faces a new life of brutal training, governed by strict rules, as he learns the skills of an elite warrior. But Marcus cannot simply forget his past. His father lies murdered by soldiers and his mother has been kidnapped and forced into slavery.

Marcus is determined to find his father's old commander, Pompeius the Great, to seek justice for his family and set his mother free. Yet, unbeknown to him, Marcus is hiding a life-threatening secret. And if the Romans discover it, there will be no escape...

Why I want to read it:

Roman history! My fiance reads the Roman history series Simon Scarrow writes for adults, but of course my interest is piqued by the YA series. I've taken a peek into the adult books and they seem fun and fast-paced, and I assume the same will hold true for his YA series.

The author is British and doesn't seem to make much effort to emulate the language customs of the ancient Romans, so it is common to see the characters call one another "wankers" and "right bastards." A little out of place, but funny. I wonder if that happens in this series.

Have any of you read either of these books? Would you recommend them?

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