Can't Wait Wednesday No. 90: Circle of the Moon, by Faith Hunter

Welcome to "Can't Wait Wednesday"!

This is a weekly event hosted by

Tressa @ Wishful Endings!

This is also where we excited book bloggers showcase future releases we're eagerly anticipating! 
For more information, 
please click HERE.


There's also a Linky widget, so participating blogs can link up!

Here's my choice for this week!

 Circle of the Moon

(Soulwood, Book 4)

Faith Hunter

Trade Paperback, 400 pages

Ace Books

   February 26, 2019 

 Fantasy, Paranormal Fiction,

Urban Fantasy

Set in the same world as Faith Hunter's New York Times bestselling Jane Yellowrock novels, the fourth Soulwood novel stars Nell Ingram, who channels her power from the earth.

Nell can draw magic from the land around her, and lately she's been using it to help the Psy-Law Enforcement Division, which solves paranormal crimes. Joining the team at PsyLED has allowed her to learn more about her powers and the world she always shunned--and to find true friends.

Head agent Rick LaFleur shifts into a panther when the moon calls him, but this time, something has gone wrong. Rick calls Nell from a riverbank--he's disoriented, with no memory of how he came to be there, and there's a dead black cat, sacrificed in a witch circle and killed by black magic, lying next to him.

Then more animals turn up dead, and team rushes to investigate. A blood-witch is out to kill. But when it seems as if their leader is involved in the crime, the bonds that hold the team together could shatter at any moment.

 Why I can't wait for this one!

Well, I haven't read any of the Jane Yellowrock novels, but they are well-known for being 
action-packed, with all kinds of paranormal activities! They're kinda like the Patricia Briggs books I've heard SO much about!
This book, from another new series, has a GORGEOUS cover, and 
the plot sounds very intriguing! 
So I'm adding this one to my already 
full Goodreads shelves!
(Yeah, yeah, I know....I have to read the 
previous ones first.....lol.)




Check out the previous books
 in the series!
Click on each cover for the
Fantastic Fiction page!

For more information

 on this author, you can check out her

Goodreads profile HERE!

What do you think of my
choice this week? 
Please leave a comment and
let me know!

Shelf Candy Saturday No. 272: Freya, by Matthew Laurence

Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!

This is my weekly feature

showcasing beautiful covers!

It also provides information, 
if available, on their 
very talented creators!

Here's my choice for this week!

Freya
 (Freya, Book 1)
Matthew Laurence
Hardcover, 352 pages
Imprint
March 14, 2017
Mythology, Paranormal Fiction,
Urban Fantasy,
Young Adult Fiction

My Thoughts About This Cover

What an incredibly STUNNING cover!! I found it while browsing on Goodreads, and it totally floored me! Talk about "girl power"! (Btw, it should REALLY be called "female power", or "woman power".) The young woman on the cover just radiates power and confidence! 

I love how the photographer posed the model in front of a graffiti mural, right between those beautiful wings! I happen to LOVE graffiti, too, but the kind that is actually ART, not the type that's just a bunch of sprayed squiggles. THIS particular mural certainly qualifies as real art. (Sadly, the graffiti artist is not credited. But a lot of these artists do tend to remain anonymous.) It's dynamic and vivid, with gorgeous, bright colors. The feathers on the wings are so beautifully detailed, too! 

Another thing I LOVE about the mural is the circle right behind the wings. I ADORE circles!! And this one gives the overall composition such a sense of harmony and wholeness. Well, of course, since it symbolizes how this young woman -- who is in reality the Norse goddess mentioned in the book's title -- is totally in control of herself, and won't allow ANYBODY to mess with her!

All of the colors used on this cover also harmonize very well. Two of them are favorites of mine -- aqua and hot pink. I also love the yellow accents that shoot out from the circle!

The font used for the title is bold and GORGEOUS, as well. It's not really a font, though; this is the type of lettering used on graffiti. Of course, I LOVE it, too!! And the color used on this title is also GREAT! It's a dark green, with aqua borders around the letters. The joining of the letter "e" with the letter "y" is also very effective.

Last but definitely NOT least, are those AWESOME spears that shoot out from behind the goddess's back, as well as the winged helmet that seems poised to come down on her head.

In short, this cover packs a LOT of visual punch!!

The brilliant designer is Ellen Duda, an illustrator and book designer currently based in New York. Before establishing her own freelance business, Duda-Day Illustration & Design, she was a Senior Designer with Imprint, a part of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.

I've just added another great artist to my growing list of book illustrators and designers!

And one more thing: this book has GOT to become part of my personal library!! YAAAAASSSS!!!!  :)

Online Links

Website

Interview: Children's Illustrators

LinkedIn

Twitter

 

What do you think of 
this week's cover?
Please leave a comment
and let me know!

Can't Wait Wednesday No. 85: Storm Cursed, by Patricia Briggs

Welcome to "Can't Wait Wednesday"!

This is a weekly event hosted by

Tressa @ Wishful Endings!

This is also where we excited book bloggers showcase future releases we're eagerly anticipating! 
For more information, 
please click HERE.


There's also a Linky widget, so participating blogs can link up!

Here's my choice for this week!

 Storm Cursed

(Mercy Thompson, Book 11)

Patricia Briggs

Hardcover, 384  pages

Ace Books

   May 5, 2019

Paranormal Fiction, Urban Fantasy

 

In this new instalment in the No. 1 New York Times bestselling series, Mercy Thompson must face a deadly enemy to defend all she loves . . .

My name is Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman, and I am a car mechanic.

And a coyote shapeshifter . . . And the mate of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack.

Even so, none of that would have gotten me into trouble if, a few months ago, I hadn't stood upon a bridge and taken responsibility for the safety of the citizens who lived in our territory. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. It should have only involved hunting down killer goblins, zombie goats, and an occasional troll. Instead, our home was viewed as neutral ground, a place where humans would feel safe to come and treat with the fae.

The reality is that nothing and no one is safe. As generals and politicians face off with the Gray Lords of the fae, a storm is coming and her name is Death.

But we are pack, and we have given our word. We will die to keep it.

 Why I can't wait for this one!

OH.MY.GOSH. Yes, yes, I know....I need to start with the first book first.....but I just couldn't resist showcasing this latest installment in this bestselling series!!! And....this is one of my New Year's resolutions -- to start reading this series already!! Because I am ALWAYS interested in novels about kick-butt female protagonists, and Mercy Thompson is the quintessential one!! And, of course, this latest book  sounds so FREAKING GOOD!!!!

You can access information 

about the previous books 

in this dynamic series HERE!!

The author's Goodreads profile

is HERE!!

What do you think of my
choice this week? 
Please leave a comment and
let me know!

Shelf Candy Saturday 271: A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!

This is my weekly feature

showcasing beautiful covers!

It also provides information, 
if available, on their 
very talented creators!

Here's my choice for this week!

A Christmas Carol
 Charles Dickens
Christmas Fiction, Classics,
Fantasy, Paranormal Fiction

My Thoughts About This Cover

This has got to be one of the most LUSCIOUS, STUNNING editions of this timeless classic I've EVER seen! The design is influenced by that most beautiful of 19th-century design movements, Art Nouveau, which has been an obsession of mine ever since I first encountered it, as an Art Major in college. Heck, if I had the money I would live in a house -- it wouldn't have to be a mansion, though -- totally surrounded by furniture, posters (especially those by Alphonse Mucha), lamps, and, of course, books, done in this style!

Although my favorite color is, and will always be, blue, it is at Christmastime that I gain a new appreciation for the color red, especially in a rich, velvety, wine shade. The background of this cover is done in this precise shade. (Interestingly, however, when I tilt my laptop screen at a certain angle, the background color looks brown.... Whatever shade it is, I LOVE it!!) Then there are those GORGEOUS, golden roses..... I can't get over the effect of this combination! The roses really stand out against this beautiful background, and the way they interlace is just.....sheer genius, not to mention exquisite.

In short, I'm in "Book Heaven" just now!!! BLISS!!! Beautiful things have also always attracted me, but when I see a beautiful BOOK, the visual delight I get is like a total.....RUSH. It's not necessary to be on drugs to feel such a thing, either. I get this feeling when something touches me deeply, especially in an aesthetic sense. This book certainly does that!

In addition to all of the above, this book cover totally exemplifies the beauty of the Christmas season. Although the font is a classic one, it's perfect for this cover. It's simple, yet, with the wine-colored background and those interlacing golden roses, it conveys the elegance of this, the loveliest time of year.

And now for my bibliophile's dilemma..... I COVET this book. I WANT this book. It HAS to be mine. You might have noticed, though, that I have not posted any information about this particular edition. I came across this cover on Pinterest, but have absolutely NO idea what publisher it's from, or who the BRILLIANT cover designer is, or how much it costs.... NOTHING. 

What to do?! Well, maybe this book is a rare edition. It certainly looks that way, unfortunately..... I need to check out Alibris and Abebooks. I REALLY need to find this book!!!!

Meanwhile.... I am pining away for this book..... Santa, can you hear me? I'm DESPERATE here!! LOL.  

What do you think of 
this week's cover?
Please leave a comment
and let me know!

Shelf Candy Saturday No. 267: The Chaos of Stars, by Kiersten White

Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!

***Late Edition***

This is my weekly feature

showcasing beautiful covers!

It also provides information, 
if available, on their 
very talented creators!

Here's my choice for this week!

The Chaos of Stars
 Kiersten White
Hardcover, 277 pages
HarperTeen
September 10, 2013
Mythology, Paranormal Fiction,
Romance, Urban Fantasy
Young Adult Fiction

My Thoughts About This Cover

My first reaction, upon coming across this cover, was that it looked as if thousands of lapis lazuli stones had been strewn all over it! Some are lighter, some are darker, but they are all a lovely shade of blue, my favorite color. This has created a very beautiful, grainy background that perfectly sets off the cover's design.

The contrast between the background and the design superimposed on it is amazingly GORGEOUS! The gold tone of the design really stands out. I love all the detailed artwork depicting typical Egyptian flora and fauna. It's so delicately done! 

The font used for the title and author's name contributes to the delicate, detailed look of this cover. Although a classic one, it has been altered in very interesting ways. First of all, the letters have been made taller and thinner. Next, some of them have "grown" these graceful little loops that hook some of the letters together. Last, the ending strokes of the "A" and the "R" of the word "STARS" have been extended to blend into the flowers and branches located at the lower right-hand corner. The same thing has been done with the word "The" and the word "CHAOS". In additon to this, the word "CHAOS" also links up with the word "of". What a lovely touch! 

In short, this is a STUNNING cover with a rich, jeweled look -- totally fitting for a book about Egyptian mythology! 

In this particular case, I have been unable to locate any information about the highly talented cover artist who created this luscious cover..... The Amazon reading preview has been no help at all, and a Google search has also failed to yield any information. I guess I'll just have to wait until I actually own this book to see who the cover artist is.....


 

What do you think of 
this week's cover?
Please leave a comment
and let me know!