Waiting on Wednesday: Half Bad, by Sally Green

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine to spotlight upcoming book releases that we're excited about.

This week's pick:

Release date: March 4, 2014
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Format: Hardcover, 416 pages

Goodreads description:
In modern-day England, witches live alongside humans: White witches, who are good; Black witches, who are evil; and fifteen-year-old Nathan, who is both. Nathan’s father is the world’s most powerful and cruel Black witch, and his mother is dead. He is hunted from all sides. Trapped in a cage, beaten and handcuffed, Nathan must escape before his sixteenth birthday, at which point he will receive three gifts from his father and come into his own as a witch—or else he will die. But how can Nathan find his father when his every action is tracked, when there is no one safe to trust—not even family, not even the girl he loves?

In the tradition of Patrick Ness and Markus Zusak, Half Bad is a gripping tale of alienation and the indomitable will to survive, a story that will grab hold of you and not let go until the very last page.

What attracts me to this one is mostly the idea of being trapped between two extremes with nowhere to go. What are those gifts Nathan is to receive from his father? How does this society work? Also, I haven't read many books about witches that had male protagonists.
I know this one has been around quite a bit, but what are your thoughts? And what did you pick this week? 
Also, I'm currently giving away 3 swag packs, many items signed! Check the left sidebar ;) Open internationally.

Top Ten Tuesday: 2014 Debuts I'm Excited For

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week they post a new topic that the participants come up with a top ten list for.

This week is about the 2014 by new authors that we're excited for

Hm... while trying to come up with titles for this list I realized that most of the books on my not-out-yet shelf are sequels or other books by established authors and that I'm lacking in the debut department. So I definitely have to check out some of you guys' lists to stock up on new names ;)
Not all of my picks have covers yet - just thought I'd mention that so that you don't think I forgot to include them.


Cruel Beauty, by Rosamund Hodge
This is a retelling that mixes Beauty and the Beast with Greek mythology. I've already read it and it's amazing!!!

Half Bad, by Sally Green
I love characters stuck inbetween two states/groups of people. So of course I want this one.

The Murder Complex, by Lindsay Cummings
I've followed this author on twitter for about 2 years and it's really cool that her book is coming out now! The world (murder rate = higher than birth rate) sounds futuristic and noir, and there's assassins. What's not to like? From a reading POV only, obviously.


Alienated, by Melissa Landers
Alien Exchange student? Not heard that one yet. Also, I've read a couple early reviews and they were positive.

Of Breakable Things, by A. Lynden Rolland
I discovered this one looking for books to include, and the world sounds really interesting! Also, the mention of banshees insures that I want to read it ;)

Stolen Songbird, by Danielle L. Jensen
I usually stay away from anything mentioning the word 'prophesy', but I'm intrigued by the fact that there are trolls here (never read anything that really focused on them) and by the whole political aspect.


Camelot Burning, by Kathryn Rose
Camelot lore blended with some steampunk and a female apprentice of Merlin's? Yes please. Though... why does Morgan always have to be the evil one? *sigh* Still, this one sounds like it has awesome world building and is a new take on the whole Camelot thing.

Crown of Ice, by Vicky L. Weavil
Alright, this sound amazing! It's inspired by Andersen's The Snow Queen and it features a heroine that also sounds a bit like a villain - willing to do whatever it takes, no matter the cost. The interactions between her and the male MC she kidnaps to help her should be very interesting. I really hope this one delivers.

All That Glows, by Ryan Graudin
Fairies and  a whole magic London underworld - I'm in. And  I have an ARC, so yay ^^

Snow Like Ashes, by Sara Raasch
The description for this one is still really short/vague but I'm keeping an eye out because of that title.

This weeks was really unusual insofar that it was hard to come up with 10 titles, when usually the difficult thing is limiting myself!
What 2014 debuts did you pick, and what do you think of mine?