Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Westside by W.M. Akers & Nocturna by Maya Motayne

 
Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlight is: 

Westside by W.M. Akers
Publication: May 7th, 2019
Harper Voyager
Hardcover. 304 pages.


"New York is dying, and the one woman who can save it has smaller things on her mind.

It’s 1921, and a thirteen-mile fence running the length of Broadway splits the island of Manhattan, separating the prosperous Eastside from the Westside—an overgrown wasteland whose hostility to modern technology gives it the flavor of old New York. Thousands have disappeared here, and the respectable have fled, leaving behind the killers, thieves, poets, painters, drunks, and those too poor or desperate to leave. 

It is a hellish landscape, and Gilda Carr proudly calls it home. 

Slightly built, but with a will of iron, Gilda follows in the footsteps of her late father, a police detective turned private eye. Unlike that larger-than-life man, Gilda solves tiny mysteries: the impossible puzzles that keep us awake at night; the small riddles that destroy us; the questions that spoil marriages, ruin friendships, and curdle joy. Those tiny cases distract her from her grief, and the one impossible question she knows she can’t answer: “How did my father die?” 

Yet on Gilda’s Westside, tiny mysteries end in blood—even the case of a missing white leather glove. Mrs. Copeland, a well-to-do Eastside housewife, hires Gilda to find it before her irascible merchant husband learns it is gone. When Gilda witnesses Mr. Copeland’s murder at a Westside pier, she finds herself sinking into a mire of bootlegging, smuggling, corruption—and an evil too dark to face. 

All she wants is to find one dainty ladies’ glove. She doesn’t want to know why this merchant was on the wrong side of town—or why he was murdered in cold blood. But as she begins to see the connection between his murder, her father’s death, and the darkness plaguing the Westside, she faces the hard truth: she must save her city or die with it. 

Introducing a truly remarkable female detective, Westside is a mystery steeped in the supernatural and shot through with gunfights, rotgut whiskey, and sizzling Dixieland jazz. Full of dazzling color, delightful twists, and truly thrilling action, it announces the arrival of a remarkable talent."
When I first read the synopsis for Westside, I went back and forth on whether or not it was something I'd be interested in. I generally lose interest in most books with police/detectives for some reason, but I think Westside has quite a bit to add to that idea that makes it sound incredibly unique and unexpected. Really looking forward to this one!

and...
Nocturna by Maya Motayne (A Forgery of Magic #1)
Publication: May 7th, 2019
Balzer + Bray
Hardcover. 480 pages.


"To Finn Voy, magic is two things: a knife to hold under the chin of anyone who crosses her…and a disguise she shrugs on as easily as others pull on cloaks. 

As a talented faceshifter, it’s been years since Finn has seen her own face, and that’s exactly how she likes it. But when Finn gets caught by a powerful mobster, she’s forced into an impossible mission: steal a legendary treasure from Castallan’s royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever. 

After the murder of his older brother, Prince Alfehr is first in line for the Castallan throne. But Alfie can’t help but feel that he will never live up to his brother’s legacy. Riddled with grief, Alfie is obsessed with finding a way to bring his brother back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic. 

But when Finn and Alfie’s fates collide, they accidentally unlock a terrible, ancient power—which, if not contained, will devour the world. And with Castallan’s fate in their hands, Alfie and Finn must race to vanquish what they have unleashed, even if it means facing the deepest darkness in their pasts."
I'm really intrigued by the idea of the protagonist being a faceshifter--that's an idea I really enjoy in fantasy, but don't see as much as I'd expect. I'm a huge sucker for that incredible cover as well!

What do you think about these upcoming releases? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?

10 comments:

  1. Both of these are on my list too! I'm going to be reading Westside very soon 😁

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    1. Ah I hope you love it! I just got approved on NetGalley for it so I think I will too!

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  2. I won a copy of Westside off of Goodreads but haven't started it yet. I think they both look good.

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  3. These both sound interesting, and I also love that cover on Nocturna!

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  4. Both of these sound really good, but I'm intrigued by the faceshifter element too. I love shapeshifting and variations on that theme!

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    1. Same here! I'm hoping it's done well because I'm always excited when I see it pop up as a plot element.

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  5. These both sound really interesting. Great picks!

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  6. Interesting picks. Westside sounds good. I don't mind a touch of the supernatural in detective stories. Hope you enjoy both books!

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