Top Ten ARCs That I Want Like Burning #1: Spring 2012

Alright, tons of blogs have posts to show you the gorgeous, completely drool-worthy books that will be coming out in the future, and it's time for me to add my own feature of that sort. What I'm going to do is post a list of the ten ARCs that I desperately wish publishers would be so good as to send me, even though they probably won't. Anyway, the list is narrowed down a lot by the fact that I am excluding the titles I have on NetGalley, even if I am completely thrilled about them (which I am) and sequels to books I haven't yet read. All of the ARCs on this list are slated to be published in April, May or June. Prepare for a lot of dystopias. :D

10. The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Okay, okay. It's my first book and already I'm bending my rules just this once. This is the third book in a series, of which I've read the first book only (The Shadow of the Wind). Of course, I loved it so much that I already own book two. Nothing will stop me from wanting to also add this one to my collection. Ruiz Zafón's other books are also getting translated into English, which I am super excited about and another one almost made this list.

Expected publication date: June 21 by W&N

9. The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter

Terry Pratchett's got a new book coming out! I don't know anything about Stephen Baxter, but the book sounds quite intriguing. It's set in both 1916 and 2015, which is cool. Even more awesome is that there are parallel worlds, meaning science fiction, which Pratchett does best of course. I can only hope it's hilarious as well.

Expected publication date: June 9 by Harper

8. Storybound by Marissa Burt

Hey look! It's a middle grade book! The only one on this list. I don't really read too much middle grade, but I could not pass this one up. This one just sounds amazing. It's set in the land of Story, and plays with all of the fairy tale conventions. Kids in Story go to school to become Sidekicks, Heroes or Villains. Made of win.

Expected publication date: April 3 by Harper Collins

7. Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

There are a ton of dystopias coming out this year and you can pretty much count me ecstatic about all of them. However, this one definitely stands out from the crowd enough to be the only dystopia on this list that's not by an author with whom I'm familiar. Anyway, for once it was not the cover that caught my eye. Instead, the summary got me: it's based on Edgar Allen Poe! What could be better to inspire a dystopia than Poe?

Expected publication date: April 24 by Harper Collins

6. Daisy Danger by Shannon Hale

There's really not much information out there on this one, not even a cover yet. However, I love Shannon Hale, so I want it despite having no clue what it's about. All I know is that it will be for young adults and may or may not be a trilogy. The fact that it's cloaked in secrecy only increases my want!

Expected publication date: June 1st by Bloomsbury

5. Thumped by Megan McCafferty

I totally expected to hate Bumped, because it's a dystopia about pregnancy and babies. Well, that wily Megan McCafferty totally proved me wrong. I loved it! And now I want to read this one, which has yet to show up on NetGalley. Just realized that this series only has two books. I had my heart set on a trilogy, since that seems to be the dystopia magic number. Quel dommage!

Expected publication date: April 2 by Balzer + Bray

4. Blackout by Mira Grant

Wait, you mean I'm breaking my rules about sequels again?! I've read Feed, the first book in the series, but not Deadline, the second book. Well, my rule can go get stuffed, because I want this with a fiery passion anyway. Feed is one of my all time favorite dystopias, so of course I'm dying for book three. Besides, were I to receive an ARC of it, it would give me a good excuse for bumping two up my ridiculously long to-read list. :D

Expected publication date: June 1 by Orbit

3. A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

So far I've only read The DUFF, which was completely amazing. Now she's writing a book with a Shakespeare theme! YES! I would want this if it weren't Keplinger, but because it is it's #3 on the most wanted list. Plus, A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays.

Expected Publication Date: June 5 by Poppy

2. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

A dystopia by the author of the Killer Unicorns series! I am so there. Peterfreund has shown that she has no problem making awful things happen to her characters, which means she probably wrote one intense and amazing dystopia. Authors cannot afford to be shy about hurting folk if they want to write a dystopia with any punch. Oh yeah, and did I mention that it was inspired by a Jane Austen novel!?!?! (Note: this is better than Poe!) Why is this not in my hands right now? It combines two of my favorite things: Austen and dystopias!!!

Expected publication date: June 12 by Balzer + Bray

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1. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

The amount that I desire a copy of Bitterblue can hardly be overstated. The best way to put it is to borrow from the Klondike bar commercials and say 'What would I do for Bitterblue?' Well, a lot of things. Not anything, obviously. But there are so many things I would do. Like a silly dance. Which I would probably do whether requested by the sender or no. Kristin Cashore is one of my favorite authors and I have so much faith in her skills, based upon Graceling and Fire, both of which are utterly original, magical and amazing.

Expected publication date: May 1st by Dial