Welcome to Brave New Worlds week!
I know, you're confused. You thought this month was about the Apocalypsies! The super awesome debut authors and their shiny new books! Don't worry, it is.
The Brave New Worlds group is one division of the Apocalypsies - except instead of being contemporary and historical and paranormal, they're entirely made up of fantasy and sci-fi books.
Why, yes, this IS what heaven looks like, folks!
Here's the first handful of what you have to look forward to next year in those realms!
Article 5
Author: Kristen Simmons
Release Date: 14 February 2012
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New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC have been abandoned.
The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.
There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested don’t usually come back.
17-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. That life in the United States used to be different.
In the three years since the war ended, Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the Federal Bureau of Reformation. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And what’s worse, one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.
How does Kristen Simmons summarize it?: "In the three years since the war ended, Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs—like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes—and how to pass the random home inspections by the Federal Bureau of Reformation. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes by Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved. It's from my jacket copy. I'm not so good at being concise!"
Level Two
Author: Lenore Appelhans
Release Date: Fall 2012
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In Level Two, the liminal place between our world (Level One) and heaven, Felicia spends her days reliving her memories from the security of her pod—until she gets broken out by Julian, a boy she met on Earth.
How does Lenore Appelhans summarize it?: "I had the original spark of the idea for Level 2 back around 7-8 years ago after an argument with my grandmother. I thought about an afterlife system that would reward and justify my particular choices in life. It was the ultimate "revenge" fantasy. I went to Pompeii in June 2010 with my friend/critique partner Ann and had a epiphany in the shower - what if a dystopia existed in the afterlife? We went out to dinner and the details of the story flowed out of me over a fabulous tuna and onion pizza. Ann asked me a ton of great questions and I wrote the first scene that night!"
Incarnate
Author: Jodi Meadows
Release Date: 31 January 2012
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NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.
NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?
HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?
How does Jodi Meadows summarize it?: "Incarnate! Made with music, mitts, and masquerades."
Shadow's Edge
Author: Maureen Lipinski
Release Date: 8 January 2012
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Sixteen-year-old Leah Spencer didn't mind being a natural-born Shaman to the Créatúir. Until she broke Rule #1 and traveled to the Other Realm, where she quickly lost time. Like, a whole year of time. She missed out on everything—holidays, school, her sixteenth birthday, the boyfriend who ditched her. So Leah swore to leave all things magical behind her and lead the life of a normal high school girl.
But when a mysterious dark force starts offing the Créatúir, both Light and Dark, Leah must choose between her new life and "getting all CSI" on the Other Realm murder spree. With the help of her three sisters (each with their own magical gift), and three gorgeous guys—who may or may not be part of the evil magic—Leah must vanquish an ancient dark force that is connected to her family in unimaginable ways.
A note on Shadow's Edge: Though Maureen isn't an 'official' member of the Brave New Worlds group, her books Is fantasy - so how could I not include it? Especially with a title like the Shaman involved.
Stormdancer
Author: Jay Kristoff
Release Date: 2012
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A DYING LAND
The Shima Isles are verging on the brink of environmental collapse; decimated by clockwork industrialization and the omnipotent mechanoids of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, land choked with toxic pollution, wildlife ravaged by mass extinctions.
AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima's imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger – a legendary beast, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows thunder tigers have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.
A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a hidden gift that would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.
But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.
How does Jay Kristoff summarize it?: "In a land ravaged by mechanization and deadly pollution, sixteen year old Yukiko saves the life of the last griffin in existence. With her father accused of treason and the country edging closer to environmental catastrophe, the pair must overcome their differences and rise to challenge the might of a clockwork empire.
And if THAT sounds difficult, let me assure you it's not as difficult as summing up Stormdancer in a couple of sentences. So, I've included visual aids to help everybody out..."
Any other sci-fi and fantasy fans being awesome and excited for these!? I know after Jay Kristoff's fantastic pie chart, I'm definitley excited for Stormdancer...