THE MADMAN's DAUGHTER- a chilling YA debut

London, 1894. Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father’s gruesome experiments. But when she learns her father is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations were true. 
Juliet is accompanied by the doctor’s handsome young assistant and an enigmatic castaway, who both attract Juliet for very different reasons. They travel to the island only to discover the depths of her father’s madness: he has created animals that have been vivisected to resemble, speak, and behave as humans. Worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island’s inhabitants. Juliet knows she must end her father’s dangerous experiments and escape the island, even though her horror is mixed with her own scientific curiosity. As the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father’s genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Releases Jan 29, 2013 from Balzer+Bray (HarperCollins Publishers)

This book is amazing. 

I am very blessed to be published by HarperCollins as well---which means that every so often, when a book like this one comes along that I am positively DYING to read---I get to snag an early copy. 

When I started reading this book, the FIRST PAGE grabbed my attention. I was in a book slump after reading another series, and this one cured me. Megan Shepherd's writing is so gorgeous...and haunting. So many times throughout the book, I thought "okay. Ew. Gross. Creepy. AWESOME." The main character, Juliet, was done so well. She has so many facets to her. She's so realistic, and she's as strong as Katniss, even without the bow. I loved her.

The two lead guys in the book, which I should add, are sexy as all heck.

The story is awesome...you never know what is going to happen.  The mystery rocks. And the setting is beautiful- but beyond that beauty is more horror than any of the characters expect. Read this book. I read it in 2 days when I should have been writing. And then my mom, whose hands I forced this book into, read it in just 1.

Anyways. If you're looking for an awesomely terrifying book, with a gorgeous cover, even more gorgeous writing, and even MORE gorgeous guys----pick this one up (in January).

The wait's a long time...it's awful. But you can pre-order THE MADMAN's DAUGHTER online.

You can also add the book on GOODREADS, follow the author on TWITTER, and gush about it in both places.

What upcoming books are YOU looking forward to? Let me know in the comments, and if you're lucky and have read this one, what did you think about it?! If you're on Twitter, follow me, so we can hang out! :)