New Releases Feb. 25-March 2 and Reader's Choice Contest

 If it’s Monday, it must be time to look at the new releases in speculative fiction this week—and you get to pick which one you’d like to win! Last week was kind of slow so I included part of the bounty that’s coming out this week, but if you win this week you can choose ANY of this week’s releases, even if they ran on last week’s Monday blog. Which means there is a crazy, insane, nutso list of books to pick from this week! And I'm such a sucker for disaster books--Must. Read. Carpathia.

What do you want to read? Leave a comment and tell me, and I’ll draw one name to win his or her choice. International, as always. And if the book is in a series you haven’t started, you can always pick the first one in the series instead.

Carried over from last week’s Reader’s Choice list: The Troupe, by Robert Jackson Bennett; A Good and Useful Hurt, by Aric Davis; Fever, by Lauren DeStefano;  A  Perfect Blood, by Kim Harrison; Tempted by Blood, by Laurie London; Faery Tales and Nightmares, by Melissa Marr; Echoes of Betrayal, by Elizabeth Moon; Raven Calls, by C.E. Murphy; The Catastrophic History of You and Me, by Jess Rothenberg; Ad Eternum, by Elizabeth Bear; How to Be Death, by Amber Benson; The Ruined City, by Paula Brandon; Arctic Rising, by Tobias Buckell; Timeless, by Gail Carriger; Songs of the Earth, by Elspeth Cooper; Singularity, by Ian Douglas; The Kingdom of Dust, by Amanda Downum; The Scar, by Sergey and Marina Dyachenko; and By a Thread, by Jennifer Estep.

Whew! Choose from one of those, or one of these, also coming out this week:

Carpathia, by Matt Forbeck (Feb. 28, Angry Robot)

What really happened to the survivors of the Titanic? When they are picked up by the passenger steamship Carpathia, they thought their problems were over. But something’s sleeping in the darkest recesses of the ship. Something old. Something hungry.

Jane Vows Vengeance, by Michael Thomas Ford (Feb. 28, Ballantine)

How will Jane Austen break the news to her fiancé that she’s not only undead, but also a two-hundred-plus-year-old literary icon? In sleepy upstate New York, Jane’s wedding preparations have taken on a bloodsucking intensity. So when Walter suggests they ditch it all and combine their marriage and honeymoon with a house tour of Europe, Jane jumps at the chance to flee Lord Byron and the lingering threat of Charlotte Brontë. But to Jane’s chagrin, more than one secret from her past is about to resurface. Third in the Jane Fairfax series.

The Sea Wolves, by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon (Feb. 28, HarperCollins)

The world knows Jack London as a writer who lived his own real-life adventures. But there are some parts of his life that have remained hidden for many years, things even he couldn’t set down in writing. Terrifying, mysterious, bizarre, and magical—these are the Secret Journeys of Jack London. Clinging to life after he is captured in an attack by savage pirates, Jack is unprepared for what he faces at the hands of the crew and their charismatic, murderous captain, Ghost. For these mariners are not mortal men but hungry beasts chasing gold and death across the North Pacific. Jack’s only hope lies with Sabine—a sad, sultry captive of Ghost’s insatiable hunger. Second in the Secret Journals of Jack London.

Unafraid, by Michael Griffo (Feb. 28, Kensington)

The boarding school known as Archangel Academy possesses a legacy of secrets known only to a privileged few. For in this peaceful, charming part of England lives a population of vampires at war with one another—and Michael Howard is caught in the middle. When Michael left his small Nebraska hometown to enroll at Archangel Academy, he couldn't have imagined how much the experience would change him. Once mortal, Michael is now a vampire with a destiny that was foretold long ago, and a group of friends with their own mysterious abilities. But there are enemies too, some of them hiding in plain sight. Third in the Archangel Academy series.

Nice Girls Don’t Bite Their Neighbors, by Molly Harper (Feb. 28, Pocket)

Just as Jane Jameson’s unlife seems to be stabilizing, fate sinks its fangs firmly into her butt. Despite her near-phobia of all things marital, her no-frills nighttime nuptials to her sexy boyfriend Gabriel are coming along smoothly. But the road to wedded bliss gets bumpy when a teenage acquaintance is fatally wounded in front of Jane’s shop and she turns him to save his life. The Council pronounces Jane responsible for the newborn vamp until he can control his thirst. Jane’s kitchen at River Oaks barely holds enough Faux Type O to satiate the cute teen’s appetite and maintain Gabriel’s jealous streak at a slow simmer. Fourth in the Jane Jameson series.

Black Howl, by Christina Henry (Feb. 28, Ace)

Agent of Death Madeline Black is finding out that some of the spirits of Chicago aren’t ready to cross over. Ghosts are walking the streets, and Madeline’s exasperating boss wants her to figure out why. And while work is bad enough, Maddy has a plethora of personal problems, too. Now that Gabriel has been assigned as her thrall, their relationship has hit an impasse. At least her sleazy ex-fiancé Nathaniel is out of the picture—or so she thinks. Third in the Madeline Black series.

Dead Harvest, by Chris F. Holm (Feb. 28, Angry Robot)

Meet Sam Thornton. He collects souls. Sam’s job is to collect the souls of the damned, and ensure they are dispatched to the appropriate destination. But when he’s sent to collect the soul of a young woman he believes to be innocent of the horrific crime that’s doomed her to Hell, he says something no Collector has ever said before. “No.”

Fated, by Benedict Jacka (Feb. 28, Ace)

Alex Verus is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London. And while Alex’s own powers aren’t as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future—allowing him to pull off operations that have a million-to-one-chance of success. But when Alex is approached by multiple factions to crack open a relic from a long-ago mage war, he knows that whatever’s inside must be beyond powerful. And thanks to his abilities, Alex can predict that by taking the job, his odds of survival are about to go from slim to none. First in the Alex Verus series. 

Allegiance, by Cayla Kluver (Feb. 28, Harlequin)

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn’t truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica—until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge. Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time.

Exogene, by T.C. McCarthy (Feb. 28, Orbit)

Catherine is a soldier. Fast, strong, lethal, she is the ultimate in military technology. She’s a monster in the body of an eighteen-year-old girl. Bred by scientists, grown in vats, indoctrinated by the government, she and her sisters will win this war, no matter the cost. And the costs are high. Their life span is short; as they age they become unstable and undergo a process called the spoiling. On their eighteenth birthday they are discharged. Lined up and shot like cattle. But the truth is, Catherine and her sisters may not be strictly human, but they’re not animals. They can twist their genomes and indoctrinate them to follow the principles of Faith and Death, but they can’t shut off the part of them that wants more than war. Second in the Subterrene War series.

Darkening Skies, by Juliet E. McKenna (Feb. 28, Solaris)

Captain Corrain is hailed as a hero but he knows all such praise would turn to anger if certain people knew what had really happened. The wizard who supposedly saved him and his comrades has merely claimed the island of the corsairs for his own. No one knows what this enigmatic newcomer intends to do next. Corrain has good reason to fear the worst, as he confides in Lady Zurenne of Halferan. He knows he can trust her now that still more perilous secrets bind the two of them together. This disastrous turn of events cannot be concealed from Hadrumal’s powerful mages. The Chief Mage Planir’s leadership is now openly questioned. Surely he will enforce his authority by crushing this upstart? But the Aldabreshin warlords act first. Second in the Hadrumal Crisis series.

Forgiven, by Jana Oliver (Feb. 28, St. Martin’s Griffin)

The days are growing darker for seventeen-year-old demon trapper Riley Blackthorne. With her father’s reanimated body back safely, Beck barely speaking to her because of a certain hunky Fallen angel, and a freshly-made deal with Lucifer, she has enough on her hands to last a normal teenage lifetime. Though she bargained with Heaven to save his life, her ex-boyfriend Simon has told the Vatican’s Demon Hunters that she’s working with Hell. So now she’s in hiding, at the top of everyone’s most-wanted list. But it’s becoming clear that this is bigger than Riley, and rapidly getting out of control:  something sinister is happening in Atlanta… or someone. Third in the Demon Trappers series.

A Sliver of Shadow, by Allison Pang (Feb. 28, Pocket)

Just when her new life as a TouchStone—a mortal bound to help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds—seems to be settling down, Abby Sinclair is left in charge when the Protectorate, Moira, leaves for the Faery Court. And when the Protectorate’s away…let’s just say things spiral out of control when a spell on Abby backfires and the Faery Queen declares the Doors between their worlds officially closed. The results are disastrous for both sides: OtherFolk trapped in the mortal world are beginning to fade, while Faerie is on the brink of war with the daemons of Hell. Second in the Abby Sinclair series.

Living Proof, by Kira Peikoff (Feb. 28, Tor)

In 2027, destroying an embryo is considered first-degree murder. Fertility clinics still exist, giving hope and new life to thousands of infertile families, but they have to pass rigorous inspections by the United States Department of Embryo Preservation. Fail an inspection, and you will be prosecuted. Brilliant young doctor Arianna Drake seems to be thriving in the spotlight: her small clinic surpasses every government requirement, and its popularity has spiked—a sudden, rapid growth that leaves the DEP chief mystified. When he discovers Arianna’s radical past as a supporter of an infamous scientist, he sends undercover agent Trent Rowe to investigate her for possible illegal activity. The secret he finally uncovers will deeply move him—and jeopardize them both.

Touchstone, by Melanie Rawn (Feb. 28, Tor)

Cayden Silversun is part Elven, part Fae, part human Wizard—and all rebel. His aristocratic mother would have him follow his father to the Royal Court, to make a high society living off the scraps of kings. But Cade lives and breathes for the theater, and he’s good—very, very good. With his company, he’ll enter the highest reaches of society and power, as an honored artist—or die trying.

The Darkest Seduction, by Gena Showalter (Feb. 28, HQN)

Possessed by the demon of Promiscuity, immortal warrior Paris is irresistibly seductive—but his potent allure comes at a terrible price. Every night he must bed someone new, or weaken and die. And the woman he craves above all others is the one woman he’d thought was forever beyond his reach—until now. Newly possessed by the demon of Wrath, Sienna Blackstone is racked by a ruthless need to punish those around her. Yet in Paris’s arms, the vulnerable beauty finds soul-searing passion and incredible peace. Until a blood feud between ancient enemies heats up.  Will the battle against gods, angels and creatures of the night bind them eternally—or tear them apart? Ninth in the Lords of the Underworld series.

Fugitives, by Alexander Gordon Smith (Feb. 28, Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

I am no longer trapped in the darkness. But the darkness is still trapped inside me. We did it. We cracked the gates, escaped from Furnace. We’re out, but we’re not free. Not yet. Now the whole city is in lockdown—the roads sealed, the police scouring every building. Fourth in the Escape from Furnace series.

Partials, by Dan Wells (Feb. 28, Balzer + Bray)

The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out. Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic in training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws threaten to launch what’s left of humanity into civil war, and she’s not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will discover that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them.

Darkness Bound, by Stella Cameron (March 1, Forever)

After her husband’s death, Leigh Kelly arrives on Whidbey Island determined to start over. Yet women have been disappearing, and Leigh thinks she’s being watched, especially at night. Soon, she’s experiencing visions she can’t explain and fighting her attraction to a handsome stranger who seems to know her most intimate desires…As the leader of the Team, a pack of werehounds forced to hide their existence, former special ops soldier Niles Latimer is desperate to prove a man’s heart beats inside his predator’s body. And Leigh may be the one woman who can help him. But something evil is waiting in the woods—and the hunt has begun. First in the Chimney Road series.

Masters of the Veil, by Daniel A. Cohen (March 1, Spencer Hill)

Life can’t get much better for Sam Lock. Every guy at Stanton High School wishes he were Sam. That is, until his championship football game, when Sam accidentally links with an ancient source of energy known as the Veil and reveals his potential to become a powerful sorcerer. Sam is whisked off to Atlas Crown, a community of sorcerers who utilize the Veil as a part of everyday life. Once there, he trains beside a mute boy who speaks through music, an eternal sage who’s the eyes and ears of the Veil, and a beautiful girl who’s pretty sure Sam’s an idiot. As it becomes clear Sam’s meant for power magic—the most feared and misunderstood form of sorcery—people beyond Atlas Crown learn of his dangerous potential. Young Adult.

Perception (Clarity, Book 2), by Kim Harrington (March 1, Scholastic)

Everybody knows about Clarity Fern. She’s the psychic girl, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past. Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her. But then someone starts playing with her head—and heart. Messages from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the boy who gets Clare’s pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare’s hopeful ex-boyfriend? Clare needs to solve this mystery soon—the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared. Young Adult.

Lucy (Daughters of the Sea, Book 3), by Kathryn Lasky (March 1, Scholastic)

Lucy’s family is excited to spend the summer in Bar Harbor, Maine. Her minister father is pleased to preside over such a prestigious congregation, and his social-climbing wife is ecstatic at the chance to find a rich husband for her daughter. Yet Lucy wants nothing to do with the Bar Harbor social scene; she’s simply excited to spend the summer by the sea, watching the waves from her favorite spot on the cliff. Despite having never gone swimming, Lucy feels an intense connection to the ocean, and meets a handsome shipbuilder who shows her a world she’s never known, yet somehow always longed for. Young Adult.

Fever, by Joan Swan (March 1, Brava)

When Dr. Alyssa Foster is taken hostage by a prison inmate, she knows she’s in deep trouble. Not just because Teague Creek is desperate for freedom, but because the moment his fingers brush against her skin, Alyssa feels a razor-sharp pang of need. A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose. At least Teague doesn’t, until his escape plan develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives, he can only give her lies, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever.

Decisions, decisions! As always, four entries possible: +1 for comment to tell me what book (any book) you want, +1 for blog follow, +1 for Twitter follow @Suzanne_Johnson, and +1 for a Tweet or RT about the contest. This contest is international. All Preternatura contests end at midnight CDT U.S., and winners are announced on Sunday’s blog. It’s the responsibility of the winner to contact me with their mailing info. Unclaimed books will go into a general giveaway pile.

Now….go!