Waiting on Wednesday #01

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:

Stormdancer (The Lotus War, #1)

By Jay Kristoff

A DYING LAND 

The Shima Imperium is verging on the brink of environmental collapse; decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshippers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, land choked with toxic pollution, wildlife ravaged by mass extinctions.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST

The hunters of the imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary beast, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows thunder tigers have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL

Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a hidden gift that would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

So, this is my first ever WOW post. What did you think of my choice? Pretty cool huh?!

A Japanese Steampunk!!! Just that term itself has got me hooked. What more when I saw the cover, I'm IN!! *Swoons*

The above cover is the US version. Let me show you the UK version.

Ta-da! When I saw both covers at first, I was so wow-ed and couldn't decide which I like best. I mean, I can only pick ONE. So, I decided the US one was more in tune to the Japanese theme. The font used looks like the Japanese characters plus the girl on the cover with the tattoos on her arm is so very yakuza (Japanese Gangster). The whole thing is just so badass and Japanese. It's a total win!! I need it nowwww!!

The UK looks cool too but it looks more soft and Chinese compared to the US one. Hee~