Waiting on Wednesday #108: The Assimilated Cuban's Guide to Quantum Santeria by Carlos Hernandez

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

The book I am waiting on this week is The Assimilated Cuban's Guide to Quantum Santeria by Carlos Hernandez. It's due out January 1, 2016 from Rosarium Publishing.

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Assimilation is founded on surrender and being broken; this collection of short stories features people who have assimilated, but are actively trying to reclaim their lives. There is a concert pianist who defies death by uploading his soul into his piano. There is the person who draws his mother’s ghost out of the bullet hole in the wall near where she was executed. Another character has a horn growing out of the center of his forehead—punishment for an affair. But he is too weak to end it, too much in love to be moral. Another story recounts a panda breeder looking for tips. And then there’s a border patrol agent trying to figure out how to process undocumented visitors from another galaxy. Poignant by way of funny, and philosophical by way of grotesque, Hernandez’s stories are prayers for self-sovereignty.

Why am I waiting on this book? The reviews I've read indicated that this collection of short stories is varied in topics. And they also agree that it is a funny book. These stories are Science Fiction and Fantasy. I don't read Science Fiction that  much, but I really enjoy Urban Fantasy and Magical Realism. All 3 genres are supposed to be present in the book. Also, I am a big fan of humorous fiction. This promises to be a good collection for that.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out.
Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #84 - Uprooted by Naomi Novik

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

This week the title I am waiting on is Uprooted by Naomi Novik. It's expected to be out May 19, 2015 by Del Rey books. 

Synopsis from Goodreads.com: 

Naomi Novik, author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed Temeraire novels, introduces a bold new world rooted in folk stories and legends, as elemental as a Grimm fairy tale.

“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”

Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.

Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.

The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.

But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose. 

Why am I waiting on this book? The combination of fairy tale and fantasy tale mentioned in the Publishers' Weekly Review of the title makes it sound interesting, "familiar as a Grimm fairy tale yet fresh, original, and totally irresistible. This will be a must-read for fantasy fans for years to come." And then there is a Dragon who is a man and not a dragon. Why does he need a new girl to serve him every ten years? I wonder what will happen to Agnieszka when she is chosen.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share the title or a link in the comments so we can check it  out! Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #74 - Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

Expected publication:
February 24, 2015 by Mira

From the publisher: 
New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder wowed readers with Poison Study, the unforgettable story of poison taster Yelena. Now she's back with a new tale of intrigue. 

Once, only her own life hung in the balance… 

Oddly enough, when Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But she'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands—and protect her relationship with Valek. 

Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek's job and his life are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret—or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is—while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralizing her powers. 

Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous… 

Why does this book appeal to me?

This is the first book in a new series, The Soulfinders. The plot sounds good. And I like the idea of Yelena having been a former poison taster. It's different. From some of the reviews of related series, it looks like it will have some humor to it as well. Other reviews indicate that it will be action packed and fast moving. I hope this is true. Looking forward to a good fantasy read.

What book are you waiting on this week? Leave a link or the title in the comments so we can check it out. Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #31 - The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

This week I am looking forward to getting my hands on The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore. In fact I've already put in a request for it as a birthday present this year. Signed copies have been available at  Barnes and Noble online. There is a free preview available on Christopher Moore's blog as well.

From Goodreads.com:
New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore channels William Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe in this satiric Venetian gothic that brings back the Pocket of Dog Snogging, the eponymous hero of Fool, along with his sidekick, Drool, and pet monkey, Jeff

Venice, a long time ago. Three prominent Venetians await their most loathsome and foul dinner guest, the erstwhile envoy of Britain and France, and widower of the murdered Queen Cordelia: the rascal-Fool Pocket.

This trio of cunning plotters-the merchant, Antonio; the senator, Montressor Brabantio; and the naval officer, Iago-have lured Pocket to a dark dungeon, promising an evening of sprits and debauchery with a rare Amontillado sherry and Brabantio's beautiful daughter, Portia.

But their invitation is, of course, bogus. The wine is drugged. The girl isn't even in the city limits. Desperate to rid themselves once and for all of the man who has consistently foiled their grand quest for power and wealth, they have lured him to his death. (How can such a small man, be such a huge obstacle?). But this Fool is no fool . . . and he's got more than a few tricks (and hand gestures) up his sleeve.

Pocket does tend to be a little lewd and profane in his speech,  but still the book will most likely be well plotted, characters well developed, funny and worth the read. The average rating on Goodreads so far is about 4 stars.

So, What book are you waiting on this week?