waiting on wednesday (47)

Today I’m participating in "Waiting On" Wednesday, a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Its purpose is to spotlight upcoming book releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

I read Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves’ InterWorld back before I started blogging, and I loved its sci-fi plot.  Its tone reminded me a bit of a grim Diana Wynne Jones – with a full measure of inventiveness, a couple of unreliable characters, mystery and worlds unknown.  I packed that book up when I moved across the country, and I haven’t read it since.  When I went through the spring YA catalogs I was surprised and pleased to see a sequel is on its way.  The Silver Dream: An InterWorld Novel by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves will be released by HarperTeen on April 23, 2013.

The sequel to the New York Times bestselling fantasy adventure InterWorld, from award-winning and bestselling team Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves. 

Sixteen-year-old Joey Harker has just saved the Altiverse-the dimension that contains all the myriad Earths-from complete destruction. After mastering the ability to walk between dimensions, Joey and his fellow InterWorld Freedom Fighters are on a mission to maintain peace between the rival powers of magic and science who seek to control all worlds. 

When a stranger named Acacia somehow follows Joey back to InterWorld's Base, things get complicated. No one knows who she is or where she's from-or how she knows so much about InterWorld. Dangerous times lie ahead, and Joey has no one to rely on but himself and his wits-and, just maybe, the mysterious Acacia Jones. 

Full of riveting interdimensional battles, epic journeys between worlds, and twists and turns along the way, this sequel to InterWorld is a thrilling, mind-bending adventure through time and space.

What books are you waiting on?

interworld contest winner and new giveaway

InterWorld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves is fun and clever entertainment suitable for most ages (I’d say 10 years and up…but there will be those nine year-olds who are ready for it). It’s adventure, science fiction, fantasy, coming-of-age, and world-moving ideas all rolled into one mad package. Plus it’s got lovely cover art.

Neil Gaiman is a hilarious, dark-yet-comfortable and immensely talented author who wins accolades and awards whenever he puts pen to paper. He has novels for adults, children, those in between, and those who will never grow old. I’ve just bought his Blueberry Girl picture book for my pregnant cousin-in-law. Imagine that kind of scope, will you?

So that was the rationale behind my last giveaway book pick: it had to be amusing, it had to be something in my own library (and thus properly endorsed), and it had to be something that I was fairly sure no one would have (yet want to own).

And the winner is…Alyce!

Congratulations! I’ve sent an email your way. Thank you to everyone who participated! My first contest/giveaway was a lot of fun and a success as well. To think I was afraid that no one would enter!

The problem is that I had too much fun. Not a problem for you all…a boon of sorts, really. Because I’ve now caught the contest-holding bug, and must host a NEW giveaway right away. Seriously.

So I’m giving away one (1) copy of Kelly Link’s Pretty Monsters.

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Link, who has two breathlessly received books of strange, surrealistic tales for adults under her belt, makes the leap into the YA fold with this collection of short stories (most previously published in separate anthologies) that tug at the seams of reality, sometimes gently, sometimes violently. In nearly every one of these startlingly, sometimes confoundingly original stories, Link defies expectations with such terrific turnarounds that you are left precipitously wondering not only “What’s going to happen now?” but also “Wait, what just happened?”

Her conception of fantasy is so unique that when she uses words like ghost or magic, they mean something very different than they do anywhere else. Perhaps most surprisingly—and memorably— is Link’s dedicated deadpan delivery that drives home how funny she can be, no matter how dark the material gets. After gobbling up a group of campers, a zombie with a self-proclaimed sense of humor bargains with the terrified lone survivor, “How about if I only eat you if you say the number that I’m thinking of? I promise I won’t cheat. I probably won’t cheat.”

Shaun Tan contributes a handful of small illustrations that are, of course, just plain delightful. -starred Booklist review

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To Enter:

Leave a comment on this post answering the question, “What fantastical nemesis would you least like to be confronted by?”

Please include your email address. Giveaway is open to US & Canadian addresses only. Comments will close on July 14 at 11:59pm EST, and I will notify the randomly selected winner via email.

Good luck!

young adult book carnival giveaway

You may (or may not) have noticed the growing list of contests on my blog sidebar. This is mostly due to the fact that Shooting Stars Mag is hosting an amazing YA Book Carnival from June 21-27. To check out the giveaways and contests, follow this link and browse the list (66 at last count!).

I’m going to take part and give away one (1) copy of Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves’ InterWorld.

...

An astounding tale of adventure, danger, magic, science, friendship, spaceships, and, oh yeah, the battle to save all the people in all the worlds in all possible dimensions.

Joey Harker isn't a hero.

In fact, he's the kind of guy who gets lost in his own house.

But one day, Joey gets really lost. He walks straight out of his world and into another dimension.

Joey's walk between worlds makes him prey to armies of magic and science, both determined to harness Joey's power to travel between the dimensions. The only thing standing in their way is Joey—or, more precisely, an army of Joeys, all from different dimensions and all determined to save the worlds.

Now Joey must make a choice: return to the life he knows or join the battle to the end.

...

To Enter:

Leave a comment on this post and include your email address.

Giveaway is open to everyone. Comments will close on June 30 at 11:59pm EST, and I will notify the randomly selected winner via email.

Good luck!