Precommendations: Volume 1, Issue 9

So Many Books!

       I can't believe that September is almost here! School has arrived, which means new adventures, new things to learn, and, most importantly, new books to read! Be sure to let me know which book you are most looking forward to this month.

They Both Die at the End, by: Adam Silvera

September 5th
       On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They're going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they're both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There's an app for that. It's called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure and to live a lifetime in a single day.​

       I haven't ever read an Adam Silvera book before, but I have been meaning to for a while, and this one sounds so interesting. The concept of Death being a character in any story always appeals to me for some reason, and the take that this book sounds like it is going to take on Death sounds very unique. I also love the way this book gives off the "life's next great adventure" vibe, and I can't wait to see where it leads.

Click Here to Read More

Genuine Fraud, by: E. Lockhart

September 5th
​       The story of a young woman whose diabolical smarts are her ticket into a charmed life. But how many times can someone reinvent themselves? You be the judge.
       Imogen is a runaway heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat.
       Jule is a fighter, a social chameleon, and an athlete. 
       An intense friendship. A disappearance. A murder, or maybe two. 
       A bad romance, or maybe three.
       Blunt objects, disguises, blood, and chocolate. The American dream, superheroes, spies, and villains. 
       A girl who refuses to give people what they want from her.
       A girl who refuses to be the person she once was. 

       I cannot even begin to express my love for E. Lockhart. I read We Were Liars about three years ago, and it is still one of my favorite mystery novels. It's one of those books that's better if you go into it not knowing a whole lot, and from the vibes I'm getting from this synopsis, this book is going to be in the same boat. I haven't read a mystery in a while, so I'm excited to see what this one has to offer.

Fireblood, by: Elly Blake

September 12th
       ​Against all odds, Ruby has defeated the villainous Frost King and melted his throne of ice. But the bloodthirsty Minax that was trapped inside is now haunting her kingdom and everyone she loves. The answers to its demise may lie to the south in Sudesia, the land of the Firebloods, and a country that holds the secrets to Ruby's powers and past....
       Despite warnings from her beloved Arcus, Ruby accompanies a roguish Fireblood named Kai to Sudesia, where she must master her control of fire in a series of trials to gain the trust of the suspicious Fireblood queen. Only then can she hope to access the knowledge that could defeat the rampaging Minax--which grows closer every moment. But as sparks fly in her moments alone with Kai, how can Ruby decide whom to trust? The fate of both kingdoms is now in her hands.

       I got the first book of this series, Frostblood, in an Uppercase Box back in January, and really enjoyed it. It wasn't just a fantasy story, it also had some adventure and a few dystopian elements while still taking place in a medieval-like time period. The barbaric energy that surrounds this series is really compelling, and I can't wait to get back into the world of fire and frost. 

Warcross, by: Marie Lu

September 12th
       ​For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.
       Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is 

shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

       Marie Lu's writing style is so gripping, and the fact that she is coming out with a gaming book is a dream come true. If you didn't know already, I love these types of books, with Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and the Heir Apparent books by Vivian Vande Velde (which are three of the most underrated and greatest YA gaming fantasy books of all time. If you haven't read any of them, you need to, ASAP) being at the top of my list. I can't wait to see what Warcross brings to the table, and if it can outdo the best of the best.

Moxie, by: Jennifer Mathieu 

September 19th
       ​Vivian Carter is fed up. Fed up with a school administration at her small-town Texas high school that thinks the football team can do no wrong. Fed up with sexist dress codes, hallway harassment, and gross comments from guys during class. But most of all, Viv Carter is fed up with always following the rules.
       Viv's mom was a tough-as-nails, punk rock Riot Grrrl in the '90s, and now Viv takes a page from her mother's past and creates a feminist zine that she distributes anonymously to her classmates. She's just blowing off steam, but other girls respond. As Viv forges friendships with other young women across the divides of cliques and popularity rankings, she realizes that what she has started is nothing short of a girl revolution.

       I am so excited for this book for no other reason than #girlpower. Every once in a while, I just need to read a book or watch a movie that oozes girl power, and I think this is going to be the next story that fits the category. I hope this book turns out to be as feel-good as it sounds, and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

---

       What is your most anticipated September release? Let me know in the comments section!

From school,
Ashton

All I really want to do today is go to the book store, drink coffee and read.

— Ann Marie Frohoff