Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. The weekly event is meant to showcase eagerly anticipated upcoming releases…and to spread the word! This week I’m excited about:

The NoviceThe Novice by Taran Matharu (Summoner #1)

Genre: F, YA

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Anticipated Publication Date: May 5, 2015

When blacksmith apprentice Fletcher discovers that he has the ability to summon demons from another world, he travels to Adept Military Academy. There the gifted are trained in the art of summoning. Fletcher is put through grueling training as a battlemage to fight in the Hominum Empire’s war against orcs. He must tread carefully while training alongside children of powerful nobles. The power hungry, those seeking alliances, and the fear of betrayal surround him. Fletcher finds himself caught in the middle of powerful forces, with only his demon Ignatius for help.

As the pieces on the board maneuver for supremacy, Fletcher must decide where his loyalties lie. The fate of an empire is in his hands. The Novice is the first in a trilogy about Fletcher, his demon Ignatius, and the war against the Orcs.

Check out that cover! Taran Matharu’s debut novel THE NOVICE looks vaguely Garth Nix-y, and y’all better believe I love his books. This sounds so tropey and fun! Nothing too groundbreaking here, but I’m prepared to be pleasantly surprised. As much as the fantasy elements sound great, I also like the sound of class issues between a blacksmith’s apprentice and the nobility. And if I’m not mistaken his demon familiar is perched on his shoulder…too cute.

Apparently The Novice started off as a project on Wattpad, which for those of you who may not know is a website for original stories by unpublished authors and fanfiction. I’ve never read anything that started on Wattpad, so here’s hoping that The Novice delivers!