Waiting on Wednesday # 1

Waiting on Wednesday is an activity I recently joined hosted by Jill at her blog Breaking the Spine. I think it's a fun activity so let's try:
My "can't-wait-to-read" publication is.... *drums playing*

Stormdancer (The Lotus War # 1) by Jay Kristoff

Expected publication date: September 2012.

Goodreads blurb:

Griffins are supposed to be extinct. So when Yukiko and her warrior father Masaru are sent to capture one for the Shogun, they fear that their lives are over. Everyone knows what happens to those who fail him, no matter how hopeless the task.

But the mission proves far less impossible, and far more deadly, than anyone expects – and soon Yukiko finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in her country's last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled griffin for company. But trapped together in the forest, Yukiko and Buruu soon discover a friendship that neither of them expected.

Meanwhile, the country around them verges on the brink of collapse. A toxic fuel is slowly choking the land; the omnipotent, machine-powered Lotus Guild is publicly burning those they deem Impure; and the Shogun cares about nothing but his own dominion. Yukiko has always been uneasy in the shadow of power, when she learns the awful truth of what the Shogun has done, both to her country and to her own family she's determined to do something about it.

Returning to the city, Yukiko and Buruu plan to make the Shogun pay for his crimes – but what can one girl and a flightless griffin do against the might of an empire?


My thoughts:
JAPANESE STEAMPUNK, HOLY FRACK THIS IS GOING TO BE AWESOME! What's more awesome about this book is that there is a female character (I can already tell she will kick some asses). Female characters are becoming very popular in young adult publications.  Besides, this book is categorized under Science Fiction and Fantasy. Also, as a fervent reader of Tor.com, I feel obliged to read a book published by them! This is going to be awesome. 


Major BTW: The cover is beautiful!