Well, the cool thing about being a blogger is that I get to hear them shouting, and then I read their awesome books and then I get to yell at other people to read their awesome books, and maybe I'll drown out a few megaphones, and I will stop now before this metaphor goes haywire, but you follow me. (I hope.)
Anyway. Enough rambling. You're probably not even reading this because you saw the word G!VEAWAY!!!!!!!!!1! in the title and scrolled straight down to the Rafflecopter, but in case you are reading this, I just want to say that I love reading debut authors. Love. There's always a certain wonderful freshness to this brand new voice in, yes, a crowded auditorium, but that auditorium wouldn't be the same without that new voice, would it? (Metaphor, I don't know how to quit you.)
So I'm doing a giveaway of my favorite debuts of 2014. I loved way more debuts than this, but I had to narrow it down. The winner will get their choice of TWO of the following debuts. The winner must live in a country to which The Book Depository ships, which means yes, this is INTERNATIONAL with only a very few exceptions. YAY!
My favorite debuts of 2014:
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
Gillian's pitch: Beauty and the Beast meets Greek myths! Bonus hot romance with morally ambiguous, kind of evil main characters. Cover lust is WHOA.
This is one of those books I also really had to SIT on, and the way I feel about it now (which is mostly SKJDFHLSAKDFJHSD is far more favorable than my initial feeling. Lots of brainfuel in this one!
A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller
Gillian's pitch: Sister suffragette/artist/London upper class girl dares to follow her dreams and burst free of the shackles of Edwardian society. Bonus sexy police constable.
THE SWOONS. THE FEMINISM. THE COVER. This book is happymaking.
The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes
Gillian's pitch: SQUEEEEEE. Loveably shallow Lainey fake-dates tattooed baking bad boy Micah to win back her ex. Reader's heart is turned to melted cheese and rainbows and glittery joy.
Baking. Bad boy. Micah. Baking. Fake dating. Baking.
Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman
Gillian's pitch: A German teenager in 1931 and member of the Nazi party comes to realize that everything she's ever known about her "Uncle Dolf" and her past is actually a lie. (A REALLY, REALLY BIG LIE.) Bonus hot Jewish reporter.
Guys, this book. I felt this book in the bottom of my stomach. You HAVE to read it.
Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas
Gillian's pitch: A girl named Heart flips a coin to decide between two prom date options. So begins a hilarious Sliding Doors/Pivot Point-esque split story featuring the repercussions of both choices. Bonus ADORABLE SHIP OF DREAMS.
Ship. Ship. SHIPPPPPPPPPPPPP. *whispers* Ship.
Every Breath by Ellie Marney
Gillian's pitch: Modern day Sherlock and Watson, aka Mycroft and Watts, aka Captain and Dr. UST, solve crimes and try not to snog each other at all hours of the day (don't know why the bother).
*dissolves into giggle puddle of goo*
The Falconer by Elizabeth May
Gillian's pitch: Steampunk Scottish Buffy avenges her mother's death by slaying evil faeries. Also sometimes kissing them. Hey, a girl's gotta have hobbies.
KIARAAAAAAAAAAAN
Beware the Wild by Natalie C. Parker
Gillian's pitch: The swamp. Eats. People. There's magical realism, then just straight up magic, Southern Gothic goodness, and prose you want to eat with a spoon.
This book is the definition of "atmospheric" and I loved it to pieces.
17 First Kisses by Rachael Allen
Gillian's pitch: Funny, voicey, emotional, and brutal, this book deals with the realities of slut-shaming and the twisted logic of high school. I laughed and I cried.
Another one that actually got better to me the longer I let it rest. (Like wine, or steak before you cut it, orrrr I should stop metaphoring.) Like Cruel Beauty, I want to do a re-review of this, because I love this book a lot more than I let on, I think.
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Honestly, I wouldn't be able to pick between Beware the Wild or The Falconer. And then there's always the option of The Prisoner of Night and Fog, which I've read but don't own. Hmm. Either way, I'll decide on something if I do end up winning ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway! I'd love to win Ask Again Later and Every Breath. Or The Falconer and 17 First Kisses. Argh! Can't choose! Haha.. :D
ReplyDeleteJulie @ Books and Insomnia
A Mad,Wicked,Folly,The Falconer or 17 First Kisses :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great giveaway!
Happy Holidays :)
Merry Christmas!!!
ReplyDeleteI would choose Ask Again Later or Beware The Wild!!! :))) So many good stuffs! Thanks for the giveaway!!!
Carmel @ http://carmelandkyla.blogspot.com/
First off- I love all your little pitches for the books. You make me laugh with all your feels. ^^
ReplyDeleteSecondly- I would love a copy of The Falconer and The Prisoner of Fog and Night. Awesome giveaway- thanks for hosting!
So many great books! I loved Cruel Beauty too. It is the best! I'm a huge fan of it. I liked your metaphor as well. I think it was pretty accurate and to the point. If I got the chance to win (please God), I would undoubtedly pick Prisoner of Night and Fog and A Mad Wicked Folly. I've been dying to read those.
ReplyDeleteI'd definitely pick The Falconer!! Thank you!
ReplyDelete"You have excellent taste, miss Gillian," she says, while patting herself on the back for also loving all of these books. Though somehow you managed to read one all sneaky like so I couldn't follow you into the fiction.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely A Mad, Wicked Folly and Beware the Wild! :D
ReplyDeleteI think I'd pick The Falconer and Beware the Wild! Both have been on my TBR for a while, and sound so good! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy first pick would definitely be Beware the Wild. Everything else is tied for second (I didn't read nearly as many debuts as I wanted this year), so I'd have to flip a coin or somehting.
ReplyDeleteI'd definitely pick A Prisoner of Night and Fog...I am a history geek, so I guess it kind of fits in with the persona (plus I've been advocating the book ever since it came out...it sounds soooo good!)
ReplyDeleteI would have to pick Cruel Beauty and Every Breath! I've been wanting to read both, my list gets so long though!
ReplyDeleteI so enjoy reading your blog Gillian! Your posts always brighten up my day and fill it with lovely bookish thoughts. :)
If I won, I think I would pick The Art of Lainey and The Falconer! Thank you for the giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteYou know, all of the ones that I've read are my favorite debuts of the year as well :P YOU HAVE EXCELLENT TASTE LADY.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to choose, I would be morally obligated to obviously choose Every Breath... and... Prisoner of Night and Fog, I suppose. I really need to get to those next year, no matter what :)
I would choose Every Breath. I read Cruel Beauty, The Falconer and The Art of Lainey already - they were really cool! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting this giveaway!
Merry Christmas!
I think I'd go with The Falconer or A Mad, Wicked Folly. Probably The Falconer because I do like books with Faerie kisses :D
ReplyDeleteSome of your favourite debuts are also faves of mine, and of those that I haven't read I'd choose between Beware the Wild and Cruel Beauty, I'd make you choose!
ReplyDeleteThank you for making it available internationally!!
The Art of Lainey and The Falconer! I've wanted to read both of those forever, and I can't wait to one day do so. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI'd choose Prisoner of Night and Fog and The Falconer. Prisoner of Night and Fog is one of the favorites of the year! I'm head-over-heels in love with Daniel! Plus, Anne Blankman is my favorite author to tweet because she talks to me about our mutual love of journalism. I've been meaning to read The Falconer for a while but I haven't had the chance.
ReplyDeleteI would choose 17 First Kisses (dying to read this one) and Cruel Beauty because I need it for my shelf! Or maybe A Mad, Wicked Folly because yay for historical fiction.
ReplyDeleteI would choose A Mad, Wicked Folly (you sold me on the sexy police constable) and Beware the Wild (who doesn't love a good swamp?).
ReplyDeleteYAY! I love debuts, too. I'm always blown away by a great debut, YA or otherwise, as I expect excellent writing from seasoned authors...but not freshmen ones. You've got some GREAT choices up there! I've had my eye on The Falconer, Prisoner of Night & Fog, and Every Breath since running across them on your blog. :D
ReplyDeleteI would choose either The Art of Lainey or Ask Again Later!
ReplyDeleteBefore blogging and even still a little bit today I get nervous about trying out a lot of debut authors. I just like to stick to the ones I know and love. But now that I blog and have access to all kinds of different reviews on a new author I feel more open to it. Not to mention that I now completely and utterly enjoy helping promote a new author that deserves it.
ReplyDeleteI think I would get Cruel Beauty! Thanks for the giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteI'd pick Prisoner of Night and Fog and Mad Wicked Folly!!
ReplyDeletethank you so very much :)
I fell in love with The Art of Lainey but I read it through the library so I'd love to win a copy for my shelves!
ReplyDeleteI would pick Prisoner of Night and Fog and Beware the Wild!! Thanks for the giveaway :)
ReplyDeletePrisoner of Night and Fog
ReplyDeleteOh, goodness, any of them! They all look amazing. Ask Again Later and Beware the Wild. But choosing is HARD.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd pick Every Breath. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd probably go with The Falconer and The Art of Lainey. I think. It's hard to narrow down, even though my choice should be simple--I already have three of the other books on my to-read bookcase. ^_^
ReplyDeleteBeware the Wild or Cruel Beauty!
ReplyDeleteOhhhh gosh, these all sound so awesome! I'd love Prisoner of Night and Fog (though I would love them all I think). It just seems like a book that is so me and something I would adore.
ReplyDeleteAmazing post Gillian. <3 You are all kinds of awesome. I would love to win The Art of Lainey and Every Breath :D Because I have heard such awesome things about them. <3 I'm so glad you loved them as well. Thank you so much for this amazing giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays! Thanks for the giveaway! It would be great if i could get to win Cruel Beauty and A Mad, Wicked Folly.
ReplyDeleteGilliaaaaaaaan, what a fantastic giveaway. Too fantastic. THEY'RE ALL SO PRETTY! I'd pick A Mad, Wicked Folly and Every Breath. No, Cruel Beauty and Beware the Wild? No... I don't know! Urgh.
ReplyDeleteHow could I choose?!?! So hard, because I want to read all of them. I think I would go with Every Breath because I've heard such amazing things about it and SHERLOCK and A Mad, Wicked Folly because that cover is gorgeous and it sounds like all kinds of happy. But Prisoner of Night and Fog looks good too... Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI didn't read nearly enough debut authors this year, so I'm definitely changing that in 2015! :)
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge.
ReplyDeletePrisoner od Night and Fog and Every Breath! :)
ReplyDeletePrisoner of Night and Fog or Cruel Beauty! :D
ReplyDeleteMary G Loki
I think I'd pick Prisoner of Night and Fog and Cruel Beauty. Both the titles and covers for the books are gorgeous and I love books with a historical setting.
ReplyDeleteI've heard several of my twitter friends rave about Every Breath recently (even though I hadn't heard of it until about a month ago), so I would definitely have to pick that one! I also think I'd pick Ask Again Later because it sounds like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteI'd choose Beware the Wild, hands down. Magical realism is my darling and I want more of it everywhere. And then probably Prisoner of Night and Fog, because I've heard lots of great things about it. But these are all such great picks aaaah.
ReplyDeleteI'd choose Cruel beauty or Prisoner of Night and Fog both with historical theme and secrets!
ReplyDeletethanks
I want to read ALL. THE. BOOKS!!! I mean half of them I knew I wanted to read anyway, but man I am jealous of your pitching skills! Anytime I try and pitch anything (...I described gyeran jjim as soupish boiled omelette. Maybe not my best description. Even if it is true..it doesn't really sound delicious that way) people usually respond with "..." or "...that sounds TERRIBLE." Clearly I need to enroll in the Gillian school of pitching things.
ReplyDeleteAs I love magical realism, my choice would be Beware the Wild. :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas,
Birgit
I would most likely pick A Mad, Wicked Folly and Prisoner of Night and Fog, they've been on my TBR for too long.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway and happy holidays! :)
I'd most definitely pick Ask Again Later :) Happy holidays, Gillian!
ReplyDeleteOh tough choice but id be a toss up of Prisoner of Night and fog and Beware The Wild! Thank you!!
ReplyDelete~Britt @ please feed the bookworm
I've read most of these (and found them totally darling too!) except for A Mad Wicked Folly, Cruel Beauty, and The Falconer- so I'd pick either of those! :D
ReplyDeleteI'd pick Every Breath. :)
ReplyDeleteSo tough to choose, maybe The Art of Lainey because the bad boy baker just sounds kind of perfect, and then since that's contemporary, A Mad Wicked Folly since I do love the swoons. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteOooh this is tough Cruel Beauty annnd I can't decide between The Falconer and Prisoner of Night and Fog for the second choice.
ReplyDeleteSuch a tough choice! Probably The Art of Lainey and Ask Again Later. I just read them at your recommendation and totally loved them. Thanks for the great recommendations/giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMan, half of these suckers I want to read. I even own Cruel Beauty! I want to read it for V-Day coming up. It seems like an appropriate book.
ReplyDeleteI would choose Cruel Beauty because a) fairy tale retelling! b) THAT COVER and c) I'm kind of obsessed with morally ambiguous (or morally corrupt) characters after binge-watching House of Cards.
ReplyDeleteI would choose A Mad, Wicked Folly or 17 First Kisses! Thank you for this amazing chance! :)
ReplyDeleteA Mad, Wicked Folly!
ReplyDelete