Skies of Steel (The Ether Chronicles, #3)
by Zoe Archer
Genre: paranormal romance, steampunk
Release date: October 9, 2012 by Avon Impulse

Description:

In the world of The Ether Chronicles, the Mechanical War rages on, and appearances are almost always deceiving . . . 

The prim professor
Daphne Carlisle may be a scholar, but she’s far more comfortable out in the field than lost in a stack of books. Still, when her parents are kidnapped by a notorious warlord, she knows she’ll need more than quick thinking if she is to reach them in time. Daphne’s only hope for getting across enemy territory is an airship powered and navigated by Mikhail Denisov, a rogue Man O’ War who is as seductive as he is untrustworthy.

The jaded mercenary
Mikhail will do anything for the right price, and he’s certain he has this mission—and Daphne—figured out: a simple job and a beautiful but sheltered Englishwoman. But as they traverse the skies above the Mediterranean and Arabia, Mikhail learns the fight ahead is anything but simple, and his lovely passenger is not entirely what she seems. The only thing Mikhail is certain of is their shared desire—both unexpected and dangerous.

. . .

All You Never Wanted by Adele Griffin (YA)
Dark in the Woods by Rosemary Laurey
Demon Eyes by Scott Tracey

Foxfire (Other, #3) by Karen Kincy
Have Monster, Will Travel (Monsters in Hollywood, #4) by Lila Dubois
Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond by Kim Harrison

Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill (MG)
Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Married by Heather McElhatton
Kiss of Death (Kiss Trilogy, #2) by Debbie Viguié

Lightning Rod (Broken Mirrors, #2) by Vaughn R. Demont
Mystic City (Mystic City, #1) by Theo Lawrence
NYPD Red by James Patterson & Marshall Karp

One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern
Red Rain by R.L. Stine
Romeo Redeemed (Juliet Immortal #2) by Stacey Jay (YA)

Saving the Rifleman by Julie Rowe
The Haunting at Beecher Hills by Kevin Luttery
The Opposite of Hallelujah by Anna Jarzab (YA)

The Unfailing Light (Katerina, #2) by Robin Bridges (YA)
Ghost Town by Jason Hawes, Grant Wilson, Tim Waggoner
Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson (YA)

Velveteen (Velveteen, #1) by Daniel Marks (YA)
What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton (YA)
Winter White (Belles, #2) by Jen Calonita (YA)

. . .

The month is well underway now, which means there are more YA and MG novels releasing this week. Some of ’em sound like really intense, introspective pieces about the human condition, focusing on the more viscious aspects of teenagerhood. Themes of death and mental trauma and violent envy. Realistic fiction…or at least, fiction with a small dose of cold, hard realism.

Speaking of teenagerhood… Anyone who grew up on the Fear Street and Goosebumps series of books by R.L. Stine should note that the author has a brand new book coming out this week–and for the first time, it’s specifically for the grown-up scaredy cats. No offense to J.K. Rowling and her first-time adult release, but THIS is freaking exciting news. ^_^ Whether Red Rain is fantastic or horrifying (in the negative sense), it’s wonderful that the maestro of juvenile horror stories is still active and still has tales to tell.

Any and all Kim Harrison fans should be on alert this week, as there’s the release of an anthology that includes previously unreleased Rachel Morgan / Hollows series material. I wonder if it was a shrewd, strategic move to put the release in amongst a sea of YA? It certainly stands out that way. Hm. In any case, it’s a welcome addition.

. . .

In a quiet release week such as this, is anything speaking to you? What were your reading tastes like when you were younger (teenaged)? Have they changed much since in terms of genre (horror, sci-fi, literary fiction, etc.)?

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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