Blades of Winter (Shadowstorm, #1)
by G.T. Almasi
Genre: science fiction/alternative history
Release date: August 28, 2012 by Del Rey

Nineteen-year-old Alix Nico, a self-described “million-dollar murder machine,” is a rising star in ExOps, a covert-action agency that aggressively shields the United States from its three great enemies: the Soviet Union, Greater Germany, and the Nationalist Republic of China. Rather than risk another all-out war, the four superpowers have poured their resources into creating superspies known as Levels.

Alix is one of the hottest young American Levels. That’s no surprise: Her dad was America’s top Level before he was captured and killed eight years ago. But when an impulsive decision explodes—literally—in her face, Alix uncovers a conspiracy that pushes her to her limits and could upset the global balance of power forever.

Read an excerpt of Blades of Winter

. . .

A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis (The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard, #2) by Jillian Stone
A Lady by Midnight (Spindle Cove, #3) by Tessa Dare
A Study in Seduction (Daring Hearts, #1) by Nina Rowan

Charming Blue (Fates, #8) by Kristine Grayson
Close Enough to Touch by Victoria Dahl
Cyber Sparks (Cosmic Sparks, #3) by Robert Appleton

Defiance (Defiance, #1) by C.J. Redwine (YA)
Degrees of Wrong by Anna Scarlett
Desire the Night by Amanda Ashley

Endgame (Sirantha Jax, #6) by Ann Aguirre
Enshadowed (Nevermore, #2) by Kelly Creagh (YA)
Fear the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity, #9) by Alexandra Ivy

Haunted (Anna Strong Chronicles, #8) by Jeanne C. Stein
How To Lose a Demon in 10 Days (10 Days, #1) by Saranna DeWylde
If I Lie by Corrine Jackson (YA-ish)

In His Sights by Tina Beckett
Inside Bet (Vegas Top Guns, #2) by Katie Porter
Loving Lady Marcia (House of Brady, #1) by Kieran Kramer

Men Who Wish to Drown by Elizabeth Fama (YA)
Mockingbird (Miriam Black, #2) by Chuck Wendig
Rise of Hope by Kaily Hart

Seven Years to Sin by Sylvia Day
Soul Trade (Black London, #5) by Caitlin Kittredge
The Demoness of Waking Dreams (The Company of Angels, #2) by Stephanie Chong

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna (YA)
The Lovesick Cure (Marrying Stone, #3) by Pamela Morsi
The Shifting Price of Prey (Spellcrackers.com, #4) by Suzanne McLeod

The Ugly Duchess (Fairy Tales, #4) by Eloisa James
The Uninvited (Krewe of Hunters, #8) by Heather Graham
UnWholly (Unwind, #2) by Neal Shusterman (YA)

. . .

Before my session of ruthless list cutting (a heartbreaking venture), I found that this week’s selection of new releases is fairly heavy on the YA for a first/last week of the month (yeah, publishers…I’ve got your number down. YA is the melted cheese in the genre fiction sandwich, releasing most heavily in the “middle weeks”). New series, standalones, paranormal or realistic fiction. YA titles were in force. Makes me wonder whether the “back to school” season has anything to do with that.

But I digress. Overall, there’s a delightful topical spread of titles this week. Some of ’em sound promising as all getout. The Lost Girl turned the notion of a doppelganger into a creepy dystopian concept. A Study in Seduction is an historical romance that features a mathematician heroine–rock on! The f/f science fiction tale Cyber Sparks has a compelling tone and a premise that begs to be explored. And though I’d never heard of it before this week, I had to make the book Blades of Winter into the featured title. A Cold War-era science fiction spy thriller? (Did I get that right?) Guaranteed to broaden your horizons.

Aside from the brand new finds, there are a couple of Old Faithfuls in the bunch…one in particular which serves as the end of a fabulous, wildly popular series. Yep, I mean Endgame by Ann Aguirre. The Sirantha Jax series is like a comfortable, warm balm to the soul. Bittersweet to see it go (spinoff notwithstanding), but it just makes room for some brand new book finds, newer series (I see you, Miriam Black.)

Have any titles stoked the fires of book lust this week? What do you enjoy more (or more often): pushing the boundaries of your reading choices, or sticking with “ole’ faithful” authors/genres/series/themes/tropes?

About Alisha

Alisha, the bespectacled and ever nerdy California girl, simply won't leave home without a book in hand. She loves language learnin' and is working toward becoming a bonafide grammar ninja. On any given day you'll find her haunting local libraries or baking scores of cupcakes and sweet treats.

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