On the Radar

On The Smugglers’ Radar

For the past few months, we have been including in our weekly stash an “On our Radar” section for books that have caught our eye and attention; books we heard of via other bloggers, directly from publishers, and/or from our regular incursions into the Amazon jungle. This is how the Smugglers’ Radar was born and because there are far too many books that we want than we can possibly buy or review (what else is new?) we thought we could make it into a weekly feature on its own – this way YOU can tell us which books you have on your radar as well!

On Ana’s Radar:

After reading Rosemary and Rue by Seannan McGuire , I realised I wanted to read more UF. I saw this series by Adrian Phoenix and it looks good – anyone has read it?

Karen Mahoney has been raving about Nina Kiriki Hoffman and I can’t wait to give this author a try. I have this one:

Gypsum LaZelle is a misfit in a family of spellcasters-she possesses no magical ability whatsoever. Until the day when she becomes gravely ill, and discovers that her Transition has occurred at last, bestowing upon her a strange and frightening power.

And of course, a couple of YA books:

Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

These are the secrets I have kept. This is the trust I never betrayed.

But he is dead now and has been for more than forty years, the one who gave me his trust, the one for whom I kept these secrets.

The one who saved me…and the one who cursed me.

So begins the journal of Will Henry, orphaned assistant to Dr. Pellinore War throp, a man with a most unusual specialty: monstrumology, the study of monsters. In his time with the doctor, Will has met many a mysterious late-night visitor, and seen things he never imagined were real. But when a grave robber comes calling in the middle of the night with a gruesome find, he brings with him their most deadly case yet.

Critically acclaimed author Rick Yancey has written a gothic tour de force that explores the darkest heart of man and monster and asks the question: When does a man become the very thing he hunts?

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him.

In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers. Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry.

On Thea’s Radar:

Ditto to Ana regarding Adrian Phoenix’s books, as well as The Monstrumologist!

From Libba Bray, author of the bestselling Gemma Doyle books (of which I’ve only read and loved A Great and Terrible Beauty – I know! I know, I need to finish the series already) has a new novel out, called Going Bovine. And I’ve bought it, and it’s sitting, staring at me on my TBR pile.

Can Cameron find what he’s looking for?

All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.

I’m a huge Fables fan, and it’s one of the few comics I shell out for monthly. And, author Bill Willingham has a standalone prose novel in the Fables universe coming out this month…

A new stand-alone FABLES NOVEL from award-winning and wildly acclaimed author, Bill Willingham.

This story stars Peter Piper and his incorrigible brother Max in a tale about jealousy, betrayal and revenge. Set in two distinct time periods, prepare to travel back to medieval times and learn the tragic back-story of the Piper family, a medieval-era family of traveling minstrels. Then, jump into the present to follow a tale of espionage as Peter Piper slowly hunts down his evil brother for a heinous crime, pitting Peter’s talents as a master thief against Max’s dark magical powers.

Based on the long-running and award-winning comic book series FABLES, PETER AND MAX is its own tale. Readers don’t have to be familiar with the comics to fully enjoy and understand this book.

Then there’s a completely new author who I’ve been meaning to try (ever since reading some fabulous reviews for her Dreamdark books), and she has a new book coming out called Lips Touch. LOVE the cover. Sounds a little more frilly and romancy than I’m used to, but I’m willing to give it a shot…

Three tales of supernatural love, each pivoting on a kiss that is no mere kiss, but an action with profound consequences for the kissers’ souls:

Goblin Fruit: In Victorian times, goblin men had only to offer young girls sumptuous fruits to tempt them to sell their souls. But what does it take to tempt today’s savvy girls?

Spicy Little Curses: A demon and the ambassador to Hell tussle over the soul of a beautiful English girl in India. Matters become complicated when she falls in love and decides to test her curse.

Hatchling: Six days before Esme’s fourteenth birthday, her left eye turns from brown to blue. She little suspects what the change heralds, but her small safe life begins to unravel at once. What does the beautiful, fanged man want with her, and how is her fate connected to a mysterious race of demons?

And this next one has my name all over it:

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

And finally, I really, really need to buy this immediately:

The long-awaited new novel from Margaret Atwood. The Year of the Flood is a dystopic masterpiece and a testament to her visionary power.

The times and species have been changing at a rapid rate, and the social compact is wearing as thin as environmental stability. Adam One, the kindly leader of the God’s Gardeners—a religion devoted to the melding of science and religion, as well as the preservation of all plant and animal life—has long predicted a natural disaster that will alter Earth as we know it. Now it has occurred, obliterating most human life. Two women have survived: Ren, a young trapeze dancer locked inside the high-end sex club Scales and Tails, and Toby, a God’s Gardener barricaded inside a luxurious spa where many of the treatments are edible.

Have others survived? Ren’s bioartist friend Amanda? Zeb, her eco-fighter stepfather? Her onetime lover, Jimmy? Or the murderous Painballers, survivors of the mutual-elimination Painball prison? Not to mention the shadowy, corrupt policing force of the ruling powers . . .

Meanwhile, gene-spliced life forms are proliferating: the lion/lamb blends, the Mo’hair sheep with human hair, the pigs with human brain tissue. As Adam One and his intrepid hemp-clad band make their way through this strange new world, Ren and Toby will have to decide on their next move. They can’t stay locked away . . .

By turns dark, tender, violent, thoughtful, and uneasily hilarious, The Year of the Flood is Atwood at her most brilliant and inventive.

And that’s it from us today! Let us know what books you’ve got on your radars!

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17 Comments

  • Carolyn Crane (CJ)
    October 4, 2009 at 5:41 am

    Wow! You guys dig up some fun books. Well, this settles it – Rosemary and Rue is so on my radar. I haven’t heard of the Adrian Phoenix series, but I’ll keep my eye out for your thoughts! Also, the monster one – whoa!! And that’s a YA??

  • Patti
    October 4, 2009 at 6:11 am

    Rosemary and Rue is definitely on my TBB list! I’ve seen mixed reviews of the Adrian Phoenix books; I picked up the first book but haven’t read it yet. That anthology looks good too.

  • Gerd Duerner
    October 4, 2009 at 6:37 am

    I loved “a fistful of sky”!*
    Looking forward to hear what you think about it, and naturally anticipating the release of it’s sequel (Fall of Light) in Paperback format; but “The Silent Strength of Stones” is still my favoured by Hoffman so far.

    (*despite a few misgivings)

  • Brooke Reviews
    October 4, 2009 at 6:40 am

    I’ve read the Adrian Phoenix series, and I like it a lot. It bounces around to different POVs , so that was the only thing that took getting used to. 🙂

  • danielle
    October 4, 2009 at 7:53 am

    You.Are.Killing.Me. *grinds teeth*

  • katiebabs
    October 4, 2009 at 9:34 am

    Every time I see the Going Bovine book, I can’t help but crack up.

    I have so many future wants like you wouldn’t believe. *sigh*

  • AnimeJune
    October 4, 2009 at 9:38 am

    I want to read the Margaret Atwood book (I really liked “Alias Grace”) only the author’s horrendous attitude keeps me away – is she still saying, with an arrogant sniff, “I don’t write sci-fi” when CLEARLY she is?

  • Kristen
    October 4, 2009 at 10:08 am

    I loved the Dreamdark series by Laini Taylor so I’m also really curious about Lips Touch although it sounds very different from her other books.

  • Erika
    October 4, 2009 at 10:58 am

    I’m very lucky to be receiving copies of Peter & Max, The Year of the Flood, and The Monstrumologist to review soon. I’m excited over all of them. The Monstrumologist looks especially good for the Halloween season. 🙂

  • Karen Mahoney
    October 4, 2009 at 11:00 am

    I have JUST read A RUSH OF WINGS. *beams* Really liked it. Very dark and gritty, nice gothy/rock music sort of setting & background… It has a strong thread of romance, but it’s more urban fantasy for sure – despite being written in 3rd person & showing us multiple POVs.

    It was different – in a good way – while still retaining features from both UF and PR that fans will like.

    Overall, a solid series opener for me. I liked it enough to put Book 2 on my wish list. 🙂

  • Renee
    October 4, 2009 at 12:02 pm

    You guys have some great books listed!
    I’m gonna have to get my guy that Fables novel. He’s a fan of the comic book.
    Brightly Woven looks like a book I need to add to my list.
    I’ve read the Adrian Phoenix books. It’s a good UF series, though probably not one of my top 10.
    I reviewed In the Blood here:
    http://reneesbookaddiction.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/just-finished-reading-in-the-blood/
    A few on my radar:
    Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler
    The Untamed Bride (Volume 1 in the Black Cobra Quartet) by Stephanie Laurens
    And way off in 2010: 2010: Bespelling Jane (An anthology of four paranormal tales based on Jane Austen novels, including novellas by Colleen Gleason & Mary Balogh.)

    Have a great week, ladies! 🙂

  • Cait
    October 4, 2009 at 2:31 pm

    Brightly Woven sounds really good, and I just picked up The Maze Runner yesterday – I can’t wait to read it! I’m anxiously waiting for Margaret Atwood’s new book, too; next paycheck, it’s mine!

  • Jamie
    October 4, 2009 at 4:10 pm

    I LOVED Adrian’s series it is great!! The first book took some getting use to because of the 3rd person but it is well worth it. The story line is very dark and different from what I usually read. I am anxiously awaiting the 3rd book.

  • Mfred
    October 5, 2009 at 7:45 am

    The Monstrumologist was a free kindle download recently– I’m currently reading it and i LURVES it! Its violent and bloody in all the right places, creepy and tense in others, and totally keeping me hooked.

  • Cover Spotlight: Young Adult Mix «
    October 27, 2009 at 3:02 am

    […] 23, 2010 and sounds very good. Looking forward to it. You can find more info here. Thanks to the Smugglers for the heads up! Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be […]

  • Cover Spotlight: Young Adult Mix | Romance Fiction Books
    October 31, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    […] 23, 2010 and sounds very good. Looking forward to it. You can find more info here. Thanks to the Smugglers for the heads up! Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be […]

  • Patricia
    December 9, 2009 at 1:49 pm

    I read all the books from Maria Snyder’s Study Series, and I cannot wait to read “Inside Out” I read the first chapter and knowing well of a writer she is, I know that it would be a wonderful book. I love this blog!

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