Waiting on Wednesday

This is a blog meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine to spotlight upcoming books. This week we're featuring picks chosen by SQT and Jim.



SQT's can't wait for selection this week is:

Ironskin by Tina Connolly

Publisher: Tor Books

Date: October 2012



Jane Eliot wears an iron mask. It's the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain -- the ironskin.



Now Jane returns to the war-torn country to help a fey-cursed child. Helping the unruly Dorie suppress her curse is hard enough -- she certainly didn't expect to fall for the girl's father, the enigmatic artist Mr. Rochart. 



But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio -- and come out as beautiful as the fey. Jane knows he cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things are true? Step by step Jane must unlock the secrets of her new life -- and discover just how far she will go to become whole again.



Normally the word "crush" would put me off a title, but there's something about this one that appeals to me. Maybe it's the iron mask, or maybe my girly-side is craving romance. Either way it makes my TBR list. I just wish I didn't have to wait until October...



Jim's can't wait for selection this week is:



Under the Moons of Mars edited by John Joseph Adams







Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Date: February 7, 2012

Pages: 368



Readers of all ages have read and loved Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom series since the first book, A Princess of Mars, was published in 1912. Now, in time for the 100th anniversary of that seminal work, comes an anthology of original stories featuring John Carter of Mars in brand-new adventures. Collected by veteran anthology editor John Joseph Adams, this anthology features stories from titans of literature such as Peter S. Beagle and Garth Nix and original art from Mark Zug, Charles Vess, and many more—plus an introduction by Tamora Pierce and a glossary of Mars by Richard A. Lupoff.



I have to admit, I haven't read any of the "John Carter of Mars" books - but with the impending movie, they are very much on my mind. I like this Conan meets scifi vibe this series has going for it, and I love that cover for this new anthology. And within not only stories by the likes of Tobias Buckell, Garth Nix, S. M. Stirling, L. E. Modesitt, Jr. and Chris Claremont, but also illustrations by Charles Vess, and Jeff Carlisle among many others.