All Covered Up: Descendant by Lesley Livingston

Hello all you awesome people!

I haven't done an All Covered Up in a little while, even though there have been an insane amount of covers released! Some of them gorgeous, some not so much, but all of them are making me even more excited for the books they cover.

Recently, the cover and title announcement for the second book in the Starling series written by the fantastic (and Canadian!) Lesley Livingston was released! And without further ado...

Fennrys drew his sword, sank into a crouch, and readied himself for the fight, the kill . . .

for the wave of blood-red battle madness that would carry him forward.

Because Fenn would be damned if he let Mason down again.

The last thing Mason Starling remembers is the train crossing a bridge. An explosion . . . a blinding light . . . then darkness. Now she is alone, stranded in Asgard—the realm of Norse legend—and the only way for her to get home is to find the Spear of Odin, a powerful relic left behind by vanished gods.
The Fennrys Wolf knows all about Asgard. He was once trapped there. And he’ll do whatever it takes to find the girl who’s stolen his heart and bring her back—even if it means a treacherous descent into the Underworld. But time is running out, and Fenn knows something Mason doesn’t: If she takes up the Spear, she’ll set in motion a terrible prophecy. And she won’t just return to her world . . . she’ll destroy it.
In this pulse-pounding sequel to Starling, Lesley Livingston delivers another electrifying blend of nonstop action and undeniable romance that will leave readers breathless.

Now, admittedly, I haven't read Starling yet but I know it'll be fantastic and hilarious, just like every other Lesley Livingston book. And I can't wait to dive right in!

What do you guys think of the cover and title? Make sure to stop by Lesley Livingston's blog for a giveaway for Starling and/or Descendant! 

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)  

All Covered Up: School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

Hey all!

Rachel Hawkins' released the cover for her Hex Hall spin-off series School Spirits! Here it is:

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt?

Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance!

I absolutley love this cover! It's obviously similar to the Hex Hall series but it has its own spin and distinct feel. I think it's perfect and I'm so so excited to finally get to read it! What do you guys think?

School Spirits is out May 14th, 2013 from Disney-Hyperion!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

All Covered Up: When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney

Title: When You Were Here

Author: Daisy Whitney

Release Date: June 2013

This is not a story about grief, cancer, or loss, or even the story of a mother and a son, or a boy and a girl. It’s a story about the two most powerful forces known to man – death and love.

Danny’s mother lost her battle with cancer two months before his high school graduation – the one day that she was hanging on to see. Now Danny is left alone, with only his memories, his dog, and his heartbreaking ex-girlfriend Holland for company. He hardly knows what she wants from him or what to say for his valedictory speech, let alone how to live and be happy anymore.

Then a letter from his mother’s friend in Tokyo prompts him to drop everything and travel halfway around the world to discover his mom’s secrets – to reveal why her final months were filled with so much joy. But yet he can’t find the answers, or escape the complexities of his relationship with Holland, just by crossing an ocean. Yet amid the cherry blossoms, temples and vibrant crowds of the neon city – and with the help of an almost-but-definitely-not Harajuku girl – Danny learns that maybe neither ancient magic nor mystical treatment kept his mother going. Kept her happy. Perhaps the secret of how to live lies in how she died. And how she loved. (Summary from Daisy Whitney's Website)

Okay, this book sounds as if it's going to tear me in two emotionally. Just the description gives me chills, and I'm sure the novel will be a tough yet gorgeous read. I really liked Whitney's debut The Mockingbirds, and have been looking forward to her next read for awhile. And When You Were Here sounds like it's going to be amazing.

This cover...sigh, this cover. It's just stunning. Simply, gorgeously stunning. Everything about it so utterly perfect. The simple things like the font and the tag line are amazing! The cover image itself is atmospheric (setting sun and all that) and I love that the light just obsurces the guy's face so we can only see the outline. I adore the blurred background image and the coloring. I just love love love it so hard. 

What do you guys think? Sounds like a good read? Love the cover? Let me know!

When You Were Here is out in June of 2013!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)  

Cover Reveal: Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

I'm so happy to be participating in the cover reveal of Sweet Peril the second installment in the Sweet trilogy by Wendy Higgins! Well, I know you don't want to read me talking! You just want to see the cover! Well...here it is!

Anna Whitt, daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a claim. She’d been naive about a lot of things. Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Um, wow. That's a pretty, pretty cover. I also love that it matches the Sweet Evil cover! It has a really foreboding atmosphere and it's making me a bit nervous for the book! From the dark, distressed forest, the red sky and smoky scene this cover is both magical and dark. Also, Anna doesn't look so happy on this cover. She's got this fierce light in her eyes and looks like she's out for a fight. And Kaidan looks almost...lost. Man, I need this book. I'm already over analyzing the cover! What do you guys think? 

Sweet Peril is out April 30th, 2013 from HarperTeen! Also, Sweet Reckoning the third book in the Sweet trilogy is slated for spring/summer 2014!

If you haven't checked out Sweet Evil, you really should! I adored the book, and couldn't stop reading it! Check out my review here.

Wendy Higgins was born in Alaska, grew up an Army brat, and lived all over the United States before settling in the Washington, DC area. She attended George Mason University for her undergrad degree in creative writing, and Radford University for her masters in curriculum and instruction. Wendy taught 9th and 12th grade English in a rural school before becoming a mother and author. She now lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and son. Sweet Peril is her second novel.

Pre-order Sweet Peril: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
Facebook: Wendy Higgins | Sweet Evil
Twitter: Wendy Higgins | Kaidan Rowe
Goodreads: Sweet Evil | Sweet Peril
Wendy Higgins' Website 

Thanks to Wendy Higgins, and HarperTeen for the opportunity to participate!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

All Covered Up: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Guys, I love covers. I really do. I love the stunning, the enchanting, the symbolic, and even the simple covers. I just love them. I've been featuring more and more covers on the blog cause I'm hoping to spread the love! And this week, it's for Scarlet by Marissa Meyer!

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner. (Summary from Goodreads)

This cover is just so perfect I can't even handle it. Scarlet, the sequel to the amazing Cinder, is a retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood fairytale. And my oh my is it a good retelling. I was lucky enough to borrow an ARC of this novel, and it was lots of awesome sauce (I'll have a full review coming closer to the release date). And this cover just adds to it!

This cover captures the storyline perfectly. The Red Riding Hood theme is very clearly displayed on this cover, as is Scarlet's flaming red hair. I really liked that there's a bit of a foggy element on the cover, which gives an air of mystery. I also like that Scarlet is running in this picture, which aptly describes a lot of the story. As I always say, I really like when covers match or stay with the same theme and Scarlet and Cinder are defiently very similar. I can't wait to pick up my copy and stare at it on my shelf!

If you haven't check out the amazing Cinder yet, you are really missing out! It is a fantastic retelling, and Scarlet is tons of fun as well!

Scarlet is out February 5th, 2013 from Feiwel & Friends!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

A Change of Scenery: Myself!

Hi everyone! And happy Thanksgiving for those in Canada!

So, today marks the start of my week of guest posts called "A Change of Scenery"! All the posts will focus on setting and how it affects the characters, plot, tone, themes etc. of a novel. Basically, what role setting plays in a story. To kick off the week, I'm writing a post about the setting of The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness and what role it plays in the story.

If you haven't read The Chaos Walking Trilogy, you need to go do that right now. It's a captivating, innovative, and breath-taking. The kind of novel that grabs you by the throat and pulls you into the story. It's beautifully done, and I have loved every bit of them. Now, there are so many directions I could take with this question in regards to this book. Setting it probably one of the most important elements of it. But, in order to avoid spoiling anything (because I'm very anti-spoiler everything) I'm going to keep all the description down to the basics.

The entire trilogy is set on New World, a planet far away from Earth, with a different landscape, longer calendar and two moons. The first ship of humans arrived years before the story begins, and were met with something unexpected: other inhabitants. The Spackle. Native creatures to the land, the Spackle and the humans engaged in a vicious and deadly war which decimated the Spackle population. The humans were then free to take over, and they did just that. But they weren't just met with the Spackle but something even more terrifying: the Noise germ. Part of the planet, the Noise germs turns thoughts into "Noise" that everyone can hear. As you can tell from just a bare bones description, setting is key in this novel right off the bat.

Todd, the protagonist, lives in Prentisstown. A desolate, secretive dying town consisting of only men and run by the controlling Mayor Prentiss. Todd is just month's shy of his birthday, where he will be officially declared a man. But, discovering a secret he was never meant to find, Todd is sent on the run by his guardians, and soon discovers his whole life was built on lies. Prentisstown itself is a key part of the setting, and really adds to the foreboding feel of the story. A town with no women, and secretive, forceful men? It's pretty obvious something is seriously wrong. As Todd is running away, the wild untamed planet itself creatures a chaotic and reckless tone. And then there's the Noise germ.

The Noise germ plays an integral part in the entire story. It causes confusion, leads to revelations, turns into a game of power, a weapon and everyone and everything thing is affected by it. The Noise becomes a character in itself, able to be manipulated and cause mass amounts of damage. Without the Noise germ, this would not be the same story and would not have the same fearful edge to it. Reading about a planet where your every thought is heard by those around you is petrifying. Probably one of the worst situations I could ever imagine. The setting is extremely foreign to the reader, but the characters and themes are not. But, they wouldn't be able to come across as well without the setting.

The setting in The Chaos Walking trilogy is extremely important to the story itself. The Noise germ, the Spackle, Prentisstown, and the wilds of the planet itself all combine together to create this story that is dependent on where it's set. A beautifully amazing trilogy, and one terrifying setting.

The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness (Links to Goodreads)

1. The Knife of Never Letting Go 

2. The Ask and the Answer

3. Monsters of Men  

Well, that's all for day one! Make sure to stop by tomorrow to read about Emilie's thoughts on the setting of the Beautiful Creatures series!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

All Covered Up: Just One Day by Gayle Forman

On Wednesday, the cover of Gayle Forman's new novel Just One Day was revealed over at EW's Shelf Life! The reveal included a description and excerpt! Check out the cover below:

Sheltered American good girl Allyson “LuLu” Healey has always followed the rules. Laid-back 20-year-old Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter has never been given too many rules to follow, so he just makes them up as he goes along. But when the two first meet in England at an underground performance of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, there’s an undeniable spark. As they spend just one day together in Paris, that spark bursts into a flame of love, or so it seems to Allyson, anyhow, until the following morning, when she wakes up to discover that Willem has disappeared without a trace. Over the next year, Allyson is forced to come to terms with the narrow confines of the life that has been built for her, and, haltingly at first, through Shakespeare, through travel, and through looking for Willem, to break free of those confines. (Summary from EW Shelf Life)

I'm a HUGE fan of If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman and I've been desperate to pick up her new novel! Her story telling is stunning and beautiful and her characters are so realistic. These novels make you have all the FEELINGS, and that's exactly what I look for in contemporary books. After reading the description of Just One Day I'm even more excited to read it! Travel! Shakespeare! Romance! What else could a girl ask for? The cover itself isn't my favorite but I think it captures the atmosphere of the book well (I'm just not a fan of faces on books). This is going to be one heck of a book!

Just One Day is out January 8th, 2013 from Dutton!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

All Covered Up: Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Today, I'm going to be featuring the gorgeous cover for Boundless, the final novel in the Unearthly trilogy. Check it out!

The past few years held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner ever could have anticipated. Yet through the dizzying high of first love to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she could no longer deny was that she was never meant to have a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seemed like the best option, so she’s headed back to California—and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must choose her fate once and for all. (Summary from Goodreads)

Whoever designs YA covers has been doing an amazing job of it. I feel like I'm becoming repetitive, but the cover of Boundless is gorgeous! Subtly detailed with a bit of a foreboding edge to it in the storm clouds, I think it fits the atmosphere very well. The story has a dark edge to it, as well as hope and light and I think it's featured well in this cover. The girl looks similar to how I picture Clara and I absolutely love her dress. I also adore the wash of pink which I find to be a bit uncommon in YA books! The font that is used on the cover is magical, and I honestly love the title! Another bonus? This cover matches the first two in every way I mentioned, including being gorgeous!

I have to say, I'm pretty excited to read Boundless! I've liked both of the previous novels, and am really looking forward to seeing how it wraps up. And getting a chance to stare at the cover in person!

Boundless is out January 22nd, 2013 from HarperTeen!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

All Covered Up: Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff

Today on All Covered Up, I'm going to be featuring the stunningly gorgeous cover of Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff. Check it out!

The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record.  The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one.  Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders?  Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets.  She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.

Paper Valentine is a hauntingly poetic tale of love and death by the New York Times bestselling author of The Replacement and The Space Between. (Summary from Goodreads)

The cover of this novel drew me in immediately. It is so stunningly intricate! The first thing my eye was drawn to was the punch of red in the heart, and the gorgeous detail within it. Then the girl herself with the paper cutout dress and heart shaped hair ribbon stark black against the pale forest background. And I love that the forest is also detailed, along with the rest of the landscape! I have a feeling I'm just going to be staring at this cover for hours on end! It is simply gorgeous!

And, it looks like the pages within this artistic cover will be stunning as well! I haven't read any books by Brenna Yovanoff but I've heard lots of good things! And, I mean, did you read that description? Sounds like a very chilling tale. And one I can't wait to read!

Paper Valentine is out January 8th, 2013 from Razorbill!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

All Covered Up: With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent

Today the cover was revealed for the seventh and final Soul Screamers novel, With All My Soul. I absolutely, totally and completely love it. It fits in perfectly with all the other novels, something I really appreciate in a series. The cover has an ethereal edge to it, and it’s also just plain gorgeous. According to Rachel Vincent, the dress on the cover actually appears in the novel, which I think it is a great touch. With All My Soul is looking to be one of the best in the series, (it’s theme is wrath, so there will no doubt be some revenge and heart-break!) and I’m sure I’ll love every page of it.

I have to admit, I got a little teary eyed when I saw this cover. Not because of how it looked, but because of what it means. The last Soul Screamers novel. I started reading the Soul Screamers series right when they came out. Like, I ran to the bookstore the day My Soul to Take came out and spend the rest of the day reading it in my basement. Then began the countdown for the next book. You could say, I’m a bit of a Rachel Vincent fan. Her adult series Shifters was the first adult book I ever read, and that series remains my favorite to this day. I have loved every novel, and short story I’ve ever read by her (and I’m pretty sure I’ve read them all) and I am so excited for all the novels to come. The Soul Screamers series is near and dear to my heart, and the characters feel like family. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye (if I’m crying just looking at the cover, you know I’m going to be a mess reading With All My Soul), but I’m sure it’ll end on a high note.

If you haven’t read any Soul Screamers novels I HIGHLY recommend them. Great premise, fantastic characters, and just about everything else you could ask in a series.

With All My Soul is out April 1^st, 2013 from Harlequin Teen! 

Also, Team Tod for Afterlife. Just so we’re clear.

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

All Covered Up: Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally

I've been trying to feature covers more on the blog, but have been having a bit of trouble (mostly cause I have a seriously irrational fear that I'm going to do some sort of copyright infringement or something and be sued. My anxiety of random things often gets the better of me). I adore covers. I think they can really add to the atmosphere of a book and can add so much more appeal. So to balance my cover love and odd fears, I've decided to post about both new covers and ones that I really enjoy!

Recently the cover was revealed for Miranda Kenneally's third novel, Things I Can't Forget. And I absolutely adore it. Here it is with the very short description courtesy of Goodreads.

Companion to Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker. Set at summer camp, this book is about a girl named Kate falling in love for the first time. 

I'm such a fan of this cover. It's pretty clean and simple, but has a sweet and light edge to it. Oddly enough, the story seems to have a much heavier subject, dealing with issues like religion and abortion (this according to Kenneally's website). I love the old school bikes, and the couple holding hands, and I really want that girl's dress! I also like that a sports field is incorporated, as most of Kenneally's novels seem to deal with female athletes. It's a great cover for what is sure to be a great novel. Her debut, Catching Jordan was awesome, so I'm really looking forward to this novel, as well as her fall release, Stealing Parker.

Things I Can't Forget is out April 1st, 2013 from Sourcebooks Fire! And if that's too long of a wait, Stealing Parker is out in October!

All Covered Up: Asunder by Jodi Meadows

Hey all!

So, I've been meaning to start posting book covers cause I absolutely adore them. I love talking about them, I love trying to dissect their meaning, and I loved simply staring at them. I thought I should give cover posts a name so I'm calling them "All Covered Up!"

Just today, Jodi Meadows revealed the cover, summary and title for the Incarnate sequel! It's going to be called ASUNDER and here's the cover! 


*WARNING: summary contains spoilers for Incarnate*

DARKSOULS
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.

SHADOWS
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

LOVE
Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.

In this second book in the Incarnate trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy.

Isn't it just gorgeous! It's going to look fabulous next to my copy of Incarnate. Jodi Meadows answered a few questions on her blog (includes a giveaway!) so be sure to stop by and read about it! She does mention that, like the butterfly on the first cover, the rose petals have some significance in the novel. I haven't read the summary due to my "no summaries" rule, but I'm sure it's really intriguing! I just can't wait to read this one! Incarnate was one of my favorite books this year. 

Tune in to the blog later in the week for my review of Incarnate!

-Ciara who is lost at midnight