In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, it is a weekly meme where people record what books they received that week. As I don’t receive books every week, I do the meme as and when I can.
This weeks IMM happened by chance…
Books Mum purchased for me. (Thanks Mum!)
So that was what’s in my mailbox this week. Leave a comment and let me know what’s in yours.
The Enchantress by Michael Scott
Title: The Enchantress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #6)
Author: Michael Scott
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Doubleday (24th May 2012)
Source: Local Library
Blurb:
‘The two that are one most become the one that is all. One to save the world, one to destroy it.’
Nicholas Flamel is near death, and John Dee has the swords of power. The future of the human race depends on the twins of prophecy. But will they stand together?
Join the teenage twins as they . . .
* Access extraordinary powers and learn shocking secrets
* Journey back in time to the lost city of Danu Talis
* Battle ancient monsters – and each other
How will the legend end?
Step into the greatest legend of all time in the final action-packed thriller in the New York Times bestselling series.
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:
The Enchantress brings to an end The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott. I am a little sad to see this series finally brought to its conclusion. It is strange to think that this series began five books ago with The Alchemyst; that the series started on the 31st May and concludes on the 8th June, or thereabouts. So much happens in such a short amount of time.
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. They’d love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
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This weeks Top Ten topic is …
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Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. I can’t remember if I came across the books or the films first, but I do know that I adore the first three books in the Vampire Chronicles. I have tried the later books and liked but not loved them for the most part, though Rice’s later determination to show that the relationships between the male vampires was purely platonic left me cold. What I really love about this book in particular is the voice, Louis was so different to any vampire I had come across before and then there was Lestat…
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The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce. It is no coincidence that this author and this series end up on a LOT of my TTT posts. I read this when I was about 12 maybe 13, so probably around 1998/9, and just fell in love with the characters and the world. For me this book did, and still does, encapsulate everything I LOVE in a good fantasy book: swords, sorcery, and of course a talking cat 😉 Alanna became the sort of female lead I wanted to read in every book, and I’ll admit I still have a soft spot for kick-ass female heroes.
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Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I’d like to say that classics aren’t my thing, but that would be kind of a lie. Adult classics aren’t my thing. I think P&P is the only adult classic that I have ever fallen in love with and read and re-read. I’ve tried other books by Austen, but none of them have really held a candle to this one. P&P, especially when I first read it, is everything I dislike about a book but I ended up falling in love with it.
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The Redemption of Athalus by David and Leigh Eddings. The talking cat sold this book to me 😉 No, in all seriousness what sold me this book was the fact that when we first meet him Athalus is everything the hero of a book shouldn’t be, and he’s actually quite proud of it. I loved reading the interplay between him and Emmy, it never fails to make me smile.
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Bitten by Kelley Armstrong. The first werewolf book I loved. Before this I was very definitely a vampire girl. I trawled the horror shelves – because I came across this series in the pre-PR/UF days – and happened upon this book. I’ll be honest, the cover didn’t exactly enthuse me but there was something about the blurb… To this day Elena and Clay remain my favourite werewolf characters, and I’m rather sad that the series is now over.
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The Forbidden Game by L. J. Smith. All I have to say is Julian Julian Julian! When I first read it the trilogy blew me away. I hadn’t come across anything quite like it before, and I haven’t since. It’s actually quite a creepy story, and a very dangerous one for the characters. But it gave me an interest in Norse mythology, and opened my eyes to new possibilities.
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What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge. I said earlier that classics weren’t really my cup of tea, but this book here proves that wrong. I got this book, along with other children’s classics, from my Gran and I just loved Katy Carr and her siblings. I’ve read the first three books in the series, and I’d LOVE to get my hands on the last two books but it seems to be nearly impossible to do so.
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The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. I read this book only because the films were coming out, and Dad said I should read the books first. I was sceptical. First, in a single volume the three books look HUGE. Second, Tolkien’s language is incredibly dense and descriptive – not really my cup of tea, I kept looking for the action. Slowly I found myself drawn into the world, and whilst there are times when I think Tolkien could have been a little less wordy I found myself drawn to the characters and the world he created. It is an epic story, no pun intended and I’m glad I tried it.
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Merry Gentry by Laurell K. Hamilton. A friend from school recommended Hamilton’s Anita Blake series and I had devoured all the books published to that point and was looking for something else to read, when I came across by chance another series written by her. It was about the sidhe and faerie. The thing I most love about this series is that Hamilton was open from the start that it would include a lot of sex. You can’t walk into this series and not realise by the end of the first book that sex is going to be a big thing in the series (which you totally can’t do with the Anita Blake series). I’m hoping Hamilton will write more of Merry’s adventures, but we’ll see.
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The Hollows by Kim Harrison. I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned before in previous TTTs how I came across this series – through the recommendation of someone I’d met through a different books fandom. But what I LOVE about the series is the humour that underpins it. Reading this series makes me smile 🙂
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What are your favourite books that you read before you started blogging? Do you agree with my choices? Let me know in the comments below, or link up to your own Top Ten Tuesday entry so I can read your list.
Hidden by P.C. and Kristin Cast (UK cover)
Title: Hidden (House of Night #10)
Author: P.C. and Kristin Cast
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Atom (16th October 2012)
Source: Local library
Blurb:
I’d known it before we saw the fire trucks and the smoke. I’d known all hell had broken loose at the House of Night the moment it had been proven beyond all doubt that Neferet was on the side of Darkness. Only now I had a terrible feeling that outing Neferet would serve more to free her than to force her to pay the consequences for her lies and betrayals.
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At last, Zoey has what she wanted: the truth is out. Neferet’s evil has been exposed, and the High Council is no longer on her side – but she’s far from done wreaking havoc in the vampyre.
With the seeds of distrust sown and Darkness breeding chaos at the House of Night, everyone must band together – but that’s proving to be more difficult than ever before. The twins are barely speaking and the House of Night’s former enemy Kalona has now become their warrior, pushing their trust to the limits. Zoey knows that following her instincts might be just what they need to defeat evil . . . but if she’s wrong, it could cause the destruction of those closet to her.
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:
Hidden is the tenth book in the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. After reading the ninth book Destined I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this book and diving straight in.
In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, it is a weekly meme where people record what books they received that week. As I don’t receive books every week, I do the meme as and when I can.
This weeks IMM covers both this week and Easter, as I decided because I was having family over that I couldn’t realistically take part in the meme. I hope everyone that celebrated got lots of chocolate – I did 😀 There’s just over 3 days to enter my international giveaway to win 1 copy of a book by Kelley Armstrong from a list of twenty. I’ll put a link to the details and entry form at the end of this post.
The books I got around Easter.
Books I purchased.
Books I borrowed from the library.
Books I got this week
Books Mum purchased for me. (Thanks Mum!)
I’m really please with all 10 books I’ve got over the past couple of weeks. I’ve read and enjoyed all four of the Novel of the Elder Races books (look for my reviews for them soon) and I have also read Archangel’s Storm and enjoyed it (a review for that will be up soon as well). At the moment I’m taking a bit of a break because I’ve been ill, so I’m doing a spot of re-reading. I’m looking forward to diving into Tangle of Need soon though!
And for those of you still reading:
So that was what’s in my mailbox this week. Leave a comment and let me know what’s in yours.
Gates of Paradise by Melissa de la Cruz (UK edition cover)
Title: Gates of Paradise (Blue Bloods #7)
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Atom (15th January 2013)
Blurb:
They’re Young, Fabulous and Fanged . . .
Schuyler Van Alen is running out of time. The Dark Prince is storming the Gates of Paradise, intent on defeating Schuyler and the rest of the Blue Blood coven for good. This time he has his greatest angles by his side, Abbadon and Azrael, or, as they are known in this world, Jack and Mimi Force.
Will Bliss and the wolves she has recruited to join her win the battle for the vampires? Is Schuyler prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice?
Love and vengeance, duty and loyalty, life and death, are all at odds in the gripping, heartbreaking finale of the Blue Bloods series.
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Review:
The final book in a series that you have loved, I always find, is hard to pick up. Gates of Paradise was no different for me. I’m sad to see the end of Melissa de la Cruz’s brilliant Blue Bloods series at an end; that Schuyler, Mimi, and Bliss’s stories are over – though I’ve heard a rumour floating around Twitter that this is not the last we shall see of this world, but we shall see.
Mrs. Potter’s Book Publicity Services Presents:
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Cover #1
Book Blurb:
Twenty-one year old Grayson Alexander finally breaks away from an abusive relationship and finds herself free for the first time in three years.
Determined to enjoy her new-found freedom, Grayson is intent on sticking with ‘no strings attached’ relationships – one night stands, and steamy sex.
But she didn’t plan of Derrick.
Her attraction to the sexy man in uniform quickly turns into an unhealthy relationship. They both try to resist the pull, but neither can stay away.
When tragedy strikes, Grayson realizes it’s now or never – walk away or make it work.
About A.J. Bennett
A.J. Bennett lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and bulldog. She is a self-proclaimed coffee and popcorn addict. A.J. is an avid reader and says that there is nothing better than escaping reality with a good book (and a cup of coffee of course). A.J. has always wanted to put her love of reading into something more, and has always had a passion for writing. She decided to put her two loves together and write her very first book.
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Stalker Links:
Website: http://www.ajbennettauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/AJ-Bennett/468583269866772
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5488503.A_J_Bennett
Twitter: @AuthorAJBennett
Cover #2
Book Blurb:
How did I end up admitting myself to an eating disorder treatment center?
I wish I could pin point one thing that sent me on this path, but it’s not that simple.
It wasn’t the fact that a boy cheated on me, or that I had a tough time growing up. It wasn’t the fact that I was verbally abused, or the fact that eating disorders run in my genes. It wasn’t me suddenly getting recognition as a ballerina when I got mono and dropped 25 pounds; it wasn’t a cry for help.It was all of those things combined…and much more.
In my diary entries you will get to see how the mind of this eating disordered girl works.
You will learn a lot more about me as a person—no holding back—and what brought me to rock bottom; and how I slowly fought my way back.
About Piper Caleb
Piper Caleb is a 25 year old aspiring New Adult author from Lubbock, Texas. She started dancing when she was 3 years old and was classically trained as a ballerina. Piper attended Texas A&M University and received her bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Psychology. She now resides in Amarillo, Texas where she writes and enjoys quiet life writing and spending time with family and friends. Piper also loves spending time with her 5 dogs and horses on the small ranch where she resides.
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Stalker Links:
Website: http://www.pipercaleb.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PiperCaleb
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6965101.Piper_Caleb
Twitter: @piper_caleb
Covers and images were designed by
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on examiner.com!
The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa (UK edition cover)
Title: The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey – Call of the Forgotten #1)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: MiraInk (6th January 2013)
Blurb:
DON’T LOOK AT THEM
DON’T SPEAK OF THEM
NEVER ENTER THEIR WORLDThose are the rules that Ethan Chase live by when it comes to the dark fairies that robbed him of his sister.
But they are still on his trail and Ethan can’t fight fate forever.
Now the deadly fey are a his school, colliding with his real life, Ethan will sacrifice everything to keep his mortal friends safe, even if it means becoming entangled in the world he’s spent his whole life trying to deny.
His destiny and birthright are calling.
And now their’s no ESCAPE.
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:
The Lost Prince is the first book in the spin-off series from The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa. This time the story focuses on Ethan Chase, brother to the Iron Queen. If you have read the short story collection The Iron Legends then you may have a good idea about what is going on in the background of this book, as I think that one of the short stories in the collection hints at how the events in this new series could play out.
House Rules by Chloe Neill
Title: House Rules (Chicagoland Vampires #7)
Author: Chloe Neill
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Gollancz Fiction (14th February 2013)
Blurb:
In a city full of vampires, trouble never sleeps. At the tender age of 27, Merit becomes a sword-wielding vampire. Since then, she’s become the protector of her House, watched Chicago nearly burn to the ground, and seen her Master fall and rise. Now she’ll see her mettle – and her metal – tested like never before.
It started with two . . . Two rogues vanishing without a trace. Someone is targeting Chicago’s vampires, and anyone could be next. With their house in peril, Merit and her Master, the centuries old Ethan Sullivan, must race to stop the disappearances. But as they untangle a web of secret alliances and ancient evils, they realise their foe is more familiar, and more powerful, than they could ever have imagined.
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:
House Rules is the seventh book in the Chicagoland Vampires series, and it continues Merit’s story. I think Merit is a really interesting character, not at all what you would expect to find as a main character who is a vampire.
So, as you may or may not know Google Reader is dead, or at least it soon will be. Now this isn’t much of a problem for me as I didn’t use the feature. My preferred blog subscribing method is via email. However, with the imminent death of Google Reader LOTS of blogs have been posting about different tools their readers can use to replace it. So I thought I would give some of them a try. My first attempt is with Bloglovin’. I’ll let you know how it goes and what I think of it – or even if once the shiny is gone I still use it. If you use it please comment below and let me know what you think of it, I would love to hear your thoughts.
The Flutterby Room 