Serial Confessions: Waiting in the Shadows

Yesterday I posted about the series I've started but haven't finished. Today I'm regaling you (isn't that a great word) with all of those series which are waiting for me on the TBR shelves.

House of Night by P.C. Cast

"House of Night ... follows 16-year-old Zoey Redbird, who gets “Marked” by a vampyre tracker and begins to undergo the “Change” into an actual vampyre. She has to leave her family in Tulsa and move into...a boarding school for other fledglings like her. It’s within the school’s walls that the heart of the action takes place as Zoey meets new friends, finds love, comes to terms with how her life will be different now and begins to realize her awesome new powers." ~from House of Night webpage I have the first two books, Marked and Betrayed.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
"Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything." ~from the webpage. I have both Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness.

Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley
"Charlotte Usher feels practically invisible at school, and then one day she really is invisible. Even worse: she's dead. And all because she choked on a gummy bear. But being dead doesn't stop Charlotte from wanting to be popular; it just makes her more creative about achieving her goal. " ~from the webpage. I have the second book in the series but not the first. Isn't that fun?

The Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger
"The Parasol Protectorate Series books are comedies of manners set in Victorian London: full of vampires, dirigibles, and tea. They are either Jane Austen doing urban fantasy, or PG Wodehouse doing steampunk." ~from the webpage. I have both Soulless and Changeless, books 1 and 2, and I can't wait to read them.

Incarceron and Sapphique by Catherine Fisher
Imagine a living prison so vast that it contains corridors and forests, cities and seas. Imagine a prisoner with no memory... Imagine a girl in a manor house in a society where time has been forbidden, where everyone is held in a seventeenth century world run by computers, doomed to an arranged marriage that appals her, tangled in an assassination plot she both dreads and desires. One inside, one outside. But both imprisoned. Imagine a war that has hollowed the moon, seven skullrings that contain souls, a flying ship and a wall at the world's end. Imagine the unimaginable. Imagine Incarceron. ~from the webpage. I have book two, Sapphique, but I don't have Incarceron.

Canongate Myth series
The Canongate Myth series is a collection of books written by various authors each rewriting and revising a legendary tale, a myth. "Myths are universal and timeless stories that reflect and shape our lives — they explore our desires, our fears, our longings, and provide narratives that remind us what it means to be human.The Myths series brings together some of the world's finest writers, each of whom has retold a myth in a contemporary and memorable way." ~from the webpage. I only have three of these so far - a set of 14 so far - and I'm very excited to dig in.

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
"...Clary Fray is introduced to the world of the Shadowhunters, a secret cadre of warriors dedicated to driving demons out of our world [when] Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque monster sent by the evil and powerful Shadowhunter, Valentine. Clary just wants her life to go back to normal--but that turns out to be impossible. Clary and her allies are all that stand between Valentine and the total annihilation of all Shadowhunters." ~from the Amazon.  Books 1 and 2 wait for me on the TBR shelves.

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
Joined by destiny, the lives of the Drew children, Will Stanton, and a boy named Bran weave together in an exquisite, sometimes terrifying tapestry of mystery and quests... these children pit the power of good against the evil forces of Dark in a timeless and dangerous battle that includes crystal swords, golden grails, and a silver-eyed dog that can see the wind. --Emilie Coulter. I have the complete series in one novel that I'm saving for the October Read-a-thon!

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
Lia and Alice buried their father on a rainy day in the fall of 1890. His death was sudden, and strange happenings are keeping the twins from resuming their wealthy, well-educated lives. Lia begins to dream of flying and Alice, while reserved, does not appear to mourn her father. Lia's boyfriend, James, uncovers an ancient tome that cryptically tells of two sisters, one the Gate and one the Guardian. One has the power to return Satan to Earth, the other the responsibility to keep her sister in check. —Cara von Wrangel Kinsey. I have the first two in the series which I believe are the only two currently out.

The Faery Court by Melissa Marr
Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens. Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer. But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires. Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything. ~from webpage. I have Wicked Lovely, the first in the series, and it has been languishing on the shelves for some time.

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz
Within New York City’s most elite families, there lurks a secret society of celebrated Americans whose ancestors sailed on the Mayflower. They are the powerful and the wealthy—and in fact, they are not human. They are the Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires...when she turns fifteen, Schuyler’s life changes dramatically. She has a mosaic of blue veins on her arms, and craves raw meat. The death of a popular girl from Duchesne is surrounded by a mystery that haunts her. And strangest off all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing a sudden interest in her. Schuyler wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger? ~from the webpage. I only have the first book.

Sweep by Cate Tiernan
Morgan Rowlands never thought she was anything other than a typical sixteen-year-old girl. But when she meets Cal, a captivatingly handsome coven leader, she makes a discovery that turns her whole world upside down: she is a witch, descended from an ancient and powerful line. And so is Cal. Their connection is immediate and unbreakable: Cal teases out Morgan's power, her love, her magick. But Morgan discovers too soon that her powers are strong - almost too powerful to control. And she begins to suspect that Cal - her love, her soul mate - may be keeping secrets from her...secrets that could destroy them both. ~from back cover. There are apparently like 15 books in the Sweep series, and I have the first three in one volume.

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler
A fantastic and gripping read that never shies from its difficult subject matter, Kessler illuminates, through the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, a very real problem facing teens today. While Lisabeth Lewis explores her self-induced hunger and attempts to battle the Thin voice, her incarnation as Famine explores the horrors and causes of world hunger. ~from webpage. This is the only book I have, which makes sense as it doesn't even come out until October.

Witch & Wizard by James Patterson
This is the astonishing testimonial of Wisty and Whit Allgood, a sister and brother who were torn from their family in the middle of the night, slammed into prison, and accused of being a witch and a wizard. Thousands of young people have been kidnapped; some have been accused; many others remain missing. Their fate is unknown, and the worst is feared—for the ruling regime will stop at nothing to suppress life and liberty, music and books, art and magic...and the pursuit of being a normal teenager. ~from webpage. I have the second in the series which doesn't come out until December, but I don't yet have the first in the series.

Goblin Wars by Kersten Hamilton
Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried...Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. ~from Goodreads. Tyger, Tyger is the first in the series and hasn't been released yet, but it's waiting on my TBR shelves.

Hero by Mike Lupica
Fourteen-year-old Zach Harriman can feel the changes. The sharpening of his senses. The incredible strength. The speed, as though he can text message himself across miles. The confidence and the strange need to patrol Central Park at night. His dad had been a hero, a savior to America and a confidante of the president. Then he died, and the changes began in Zach. What Zach never knew was that his father was no ordinary man--he was a superhero, battling the world's evil. This is a battle that has been waged for generations and that knows no boundaries. ~from Amazon. This is another one that hasn't been released yet, so I only have the ARC of book one.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies’ throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she’ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla’s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy’s secret will turn the young pack's world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches' War that surrounds them all. ~from webpage. Only book 1 has been released, and that's the only one I have.

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Everyone born after the Shift has the ability to see ghosts. Aura not only can see ghosts, but she works as a ghost "translator" for her aunt Gina's law firm, which focuses on "wrongful death litigation" for the purpose of putting these restless spirits at peace. Of course, Aura's job complicates her life, but not near as much as her boyfriend, Logan. Logan seems destined for fame as the front man of The Keeley Brothers band, but his death makes things difficult: Logan is still present as a ghost, but physically gone. Plus, there's a new Scottish guy at school who is supportive and interested in Aura. ~from Amazon. Again, I only have book 1.

Trial of Blood and Steel by Joel Shepherd
Sasha is a princess, the like of which the highland country of Lenayin has never seen before. Spurning her royal heritage to be raised by the great warrior, Kessligh, her exquisite swordplay astonishes all who witness it. But Sasha is still young, untested in battle and often led by her rash temper. In the complex world of Lenayin loyalties, her defiant willfulness is attracting the wrong kind of attention. Lenayin is a land almost divided by its two faiths: the Verenthane of the ruling classes and the pagan Goeren-yai, amongst whom Sasha now lives. The Goeren-yai worship swordplay and honour and begin to see Sasha as the great spirit—the Synnich—who will unite them. But Sasha is still searching for what she believes and must choose her side carefully. ~from Goodreads. I have the second book in the series but not the first.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. He and the other Gladers are surrounded by an enormous, ever-changing stone maze . . . and solving it is their only way out. ~from webpage. I know, I know, I should really have read this already; it's been waiting on my shelves for a very long time.

Sacred Books by David Michael Slater
When a rare bookstore opens in town, Daphna and Dexter are intrigued by the cryptic volumes within. But the mysterious store owner, Asterius Rash, is only interested in one particular book – a book so rare it involves magic just to possess it. Daphna and Dexter come under Mr. Rash’s spell, and in an effort to break loose, they delve into a world of the past – uncovering family secrets, and the true meaning of The Book of Nonsense. ~from webpage. Three installments are out, with two more coming, but I only have the first in the series.

The Abhorsen Chronicles by Garth Nix

Sabriel - Every step brings Sabriel closer to a battle that will pit her against the true forces of life and death—and bring her face-to-face with her own destiny. Lirael - With only her faithful companion, the Disreputable Dog, Lirael must undertake a desperate mission under the growing shadow of an ancient evil, which threatens the fate of the Old Kingdom. Abhorsen - The Abhorsen Sabriel and King Touchstone are missing, and Lirael must search in both Life and Death for some means to defeat the evil Destroyer—before it is too late. ~from webpage. I have the third book but not the first two. I'm collecting them backwards...


The Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett
I really don't think I need to summarize this one. I've always wanted to read it, but with almost 40 books in the series, it's a bit intimidating...

My question is simple: Where, oh where, should I begin?