December 22, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday: A Tale of Two Castles and A Need So Beautiful

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and features books that we just can't wait to get our hands on!

This week's picks:

A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine


Goodreads' description:

"Mysteries abound, especially in Two Castles.

A handsome cat trainer, black-and-white cats, thieves on four legs and two, suspicious townsfolk, a greedy king, a giddy princess, a shape-shifting ogre, a brilliant dragon. Which is the villainous whited sepulcher?

Elodie journeys to the town of Two Castles to become a mansioner—an actress—but luck is against her. She is saved from starvation by the dragon Meenore, who sends her on a dangerous mission inside the ogre's castle. There, disguised as a kitchen maid at an ogre's feast, she finds herself cast in the role of a lifetime and pitted against a foe intent on murder.

Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine weaves an entrancing tale of a fearsome ogre, a dragon detective, and a remarkable heroine, who finds friendship where she least expects it, learns that there are many ways to mansion, and discovers that goodness and evil come in all shapes and sizes."


Okay, so I'm sure everyone knows how much I adore the book Ella Enchanted. My paperback copy has started to fall apart because I've read it so often and taken it so many places. So I am definitely looking forward to this new one by Gail Carson Levine! Plus I love the cover, it looks so perfect for this fairy tale–esque story.

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young




Goodreads' description:

"Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

There have been others before who’ve felt the Need, but they’re gone—erased from the memories of everyone whose lives they had touched. It's as though they never existed. This is the fate that awaits Charlotte. But the last thing Charlotte wants to do is disappear, to be Forgotten. She wants to stay with her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend’s arms forever. She wishes she could just ignore the Need, but she can’t. And as everyone important in her life begins to slowly forget her, she has to decide if she’ll fight the Need in order to remain herself—no matter how dark the consequences."


I admit at first I just kind of dismissed this one as a typical YA angel read, but then I took a closer look at the description. I love the idea of her *needing* to help someone and being unable to resist this desire. I think it'll put a different twist on angels, and it sounds like the protagonist is in a pretty difficult situation, so I can't wait to see how it all plays out...

What books are you waiting on?


19 comments:

  1. Wow great picks. I am taken by both Levine's new novel (love her writing) and A Need so Beautiful is a new title for me and sound amazing.

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  2. It's sad, but I've yet to read a book by Levine. I loved the movie, "Ella Enchanted" and have the book in my tbr pile. I should move it up for next year.

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  3. Fabulous picks! They look really good. Merry Christamas and Happy Reading :)
    Check out what I'm Waiting On Wednesday


    Mia @GrippedintoBooks

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  4. How to Knit a Heart Back Home
    By Rachael Herron
    Publication date: March 1, 2011

    Lucy Harrison sells books by day and volunteers with the Cypress Hollow fire department by night. Her life is just the way she likes it—full, even-keeled, and smooth—until bad-boy ex-cop Owen Bancroft comes back to town. Lucy has always been fearless, never scared about diving in to help others. When it comes to risking her heart, however, she realizes she's absolutely terrified.

    In a small town like Cypress Hollow, everyone knows your business—and there is nowhere to hide. Then Lucy and Owen are thrown together by the discovery of the lost work of local legend, knitting guru Eliza Carpenter. Now Owen, adrift and struggling to redefine himself as a civilian without a badge, will have to learn how to open himself up to life's new possibilities . . . while Lucy decides just how much of herself she's willing to gamble on love.

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  5. Great choices! I have A Need So Beautiful on my wishlist. I loved Ella Enchanted as well- will have to check out A Tale of Two Castles.
    Happy Holidays :)

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  6. Ooh, ooh! A new Gail Carson Levine novel? Awesome! Her books are reliably good; I don't think I've read one yet that I truly disliked.

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  7. I'm excited for Levine's new book!!

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  8. A Tale of two Castles sounds really intriguing never read anything by Levine sounds like I need to.

    My WOW

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  9. I'm a huge fan of Gail Carson Levine, I didn't realize she had a new one coming out...have you read Fairest?

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  10. I've lost count of how many times I've read Ella Enchanted. I've memorized entire passages, I swear. xD Can't believe I haven't heard of her new book until now! I love the classic feel of the cover (instead of the newer photographic/model re-releases).

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  11. I had no idea that Gail Carson Levine was coming out with a new book! I'll definitely have to check her out. Ditto on the falling-apart copy of ELLA ENCHANTED. I absolutely cannot get enough of that book! THE TWO PRINCESSES OF BAMARRE was my favorite book ever when I was 8 or 9...I was even Princess Meryl one Halloween. =) A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL looks great, too! Here's my WoW:

    http://maggiesbookshelf.blogspot.com/2010/12/waiting-on-wednesdays-teenie.html

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  12. I'm looking forward to A Need So Beautiful too. It's been awhile since I read Levine's books, but Ella Enchanted is definitely one of my favourite MG books. Good choices!

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  13. Fabulous picks Danya! I'm really excited for A Need so Beautiful as well, I love the angel stories and this seems to be a new twist on that:) Love the cover as well, it's so warm and inviting, it wants me to read it;)

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  14. Awesome picks, Danya! I'm dying to read A Need so Beautiful...it sounds and looks stunning! :)

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  15. Good choices! A need So Beautiful has such a lovely cover!

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  16. I'd like to visit Germany too, I have a Gemran pen friend so I'm hoping that maybe we can do an exchange so far. LOL Even though our Weinnachtspyramide doesn't really work it still really pretty as a decpration.

    Merry Christmas for tomorrow! I hope you have a wonderful day and get the books and other presents you're hoping for :)

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  17. I'm a huge fan of G C Levine!!! Thanks for the post- I had no idea that there was a new book!

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  18. I can't wait to read A Need So Beautiful too! Happy Holidays!!! :)

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  19. I *love* Ella Enchanted! I read Fairest, and didn't like it so well, but Levine (as others have mentioned) is generally good. I'm glad to know about her new one!

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