Zhaoyun's Fantastic (with a few post-apocalyptic romps thrown in) Summer Reading List--"it's better than the ones you had in high school"
1. Reached by Ally
Condie.
Which way Cassia will go—to Ky or Xander? If this is sounding a little like a soap opera/eerily similar to The Hunger Games trilogy idea of a tempestuous love triangle, well—it is. But it's still entertaining! It was in my "Time Permitting" category last summer, and time did not permit. But here's hoping time will graciously give permission this year!
2. Half a King by Joe Abercrombie
(release date: July 2014)
I, like Jemmy, am
half in love with Abercrombie (clarification: we're in love with his work!), so
this book coming out is one of the most exciting things happening this entire
summer!
3. The Widow's House by Daniel Abraham (release date: Aug 2014)
W00t! I love this series, and I'll be fighting tooth and nail with my fellow-feathered Nerds for the privilege of reviewing this latest installment of Abraham's magisterial Dagger and Coin series.
4. Sand by Hugh Howey
Wool sold me on Howey, and his earlier work like Half Way Home wasn't too shabby either; now it's time to examine his latest offering,
and see which direction he's going—backwards, or to new and ever more dizzying
heights of brilliance!
5. Valour (sic!) by John Gwynne
(U.S. release date: July 2014)
His first book, Malice, was very nice indeed, and I have Dickens-level (i.e., "great", get it?) expectations for the sequel!
The conclusion to Cronin's excellent (book one) or at least very very good (book two) vampire saga—who wouldn't
jump at the chance to devour it? Technically, it's not really coming out this
summer, not until the fall, but the way I see it, that just means I'm more
likely actually to have time to sink my teeth into it (wink wink).
This list brought to you by Zhaoyun, sf/f aficionado and member of Nerds of a Feather Quorum of Twelve (ish) since early 2013.