in my Mailbox (8)

"In my Mailbox" is a weekly meme hosted by the fantastic Kristi "the Story Siren". Bloggers are able to post what new books they've received either by buying, borrowing, or on loan from the library throughout the past week. 

I do so love "In my Mailbox" I always end up adding more books to my TBR list from other blogs :)

"Eragon" by Christopher Paolini

"When young Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his adopted family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of inescapable destiny, magical forces, and powerful people. With only an ancient sword and the instruction of an old, mysterious, hermit storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a Emperor whose evil and power knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands…"

I finally get to start this series. I have been curious about it for like 4 years, lol! I think I'll enjoy it from most of the reviews I have read about it. And I find the myth's of dragons fascinating as well, so perhaps a more perfect read than I could have hoped for.

"Linger" by Maggie Stiefvater

"In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other.  Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack.  And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole."

"At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget."

I have been waiting it seems forever to continue this series! I am super excited to read this book, although lately the second book in any series has been disappointing or not how you'd think the story would continue so I hope this book delivers. 

This week seems to be nothing special such as last weeks book haul but I am excited about these two books. I've been waiting for them to be returned to the library it seems forever and finally they have been. Although as school approaches in Septemeber I find myself wondering if I'll have any time to read as much as I currently do. But for now I'll just back as many books into August as I can!

So, what is in your mailbox this week? :)

"Graceling" - A Review

So I have recently been going over all the books I have read thus far this summer, and something astonishing has occurred to me ... Most of the books I have completed have semi completed reviews for them. I am shocked I have let them get this far away from me, SO! I have decided that I am going to try and complete some of them this weekend, starting with the one I have just currently finished.

"Graceling" by Kristin Cashore

"Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone."

I have never been as engulfed in a book as I was with this one. "Graceling" was absolutely fascinating, and fabulous! Katsa the main heroine, graced with "killing" at first is a strong, ambitious and stubborn girl. She is probably every young girls ideal individual being so self orientated and not needing help for no one (especially a man!). Although she does have her own trials and tribulations throughout the book including coming to terms with her grace and self control. She also meets an unlikely ally of a Prince from one of the seven Kingdoms named Po. Po, who like her is graced with fighting, although the reader finds out that Po, and also Katsa, do not know the true powers of either of their graces until much more into the book. Cashore, makes sure the reader is well aware that there is more to both of these characters than meets the eye, and both Po and Katsa will need one another to help each other comes to term with their “secrets”.

What I truly loves about this book is that it took me back to when I was a young teen reading Tamora Pierce another medieval heroine author (that is also still my number one favorite). It reminded me how strong willed a woman can be living in a man’s world, but also how one man can take that world and flip it up side down in an instant, but the heroine still knows who she truly is. As the story progresses Po and Katsa must separate which in most cases they would stay together because they’re too much in love to leave one another but in this case the heroine does not throw everything away to be with her prince, she continues the story line/mission she is set to do, and comes back for him. Which is rarely the case with romantic storylines, I found it refreshing.

Also the ending was not what anyone would expect from a Y.A. author. Alot of books I’ve been reading I could predict the outcome with them, girl meets guy, they go through some problems and then BAM! everything works out in the end. But with “Graceling” it was not like that at all! Of course Po, and Katsa at the end of the book were together but both of them due to their character development throughout the story hand separate paths they had to take. It was superbly different, and I absolutely adored the ending. It was sweet, heartwarming, but still sort of heartbreaking as well.

Definitely Katsa and Po became one of my favorite couple thus far this year, they are a well rounded couple, they had problems to over come, they had their loves tested, their strength and determination, and their trust in one another … like a REAL COUPLE! Although even through all the problems they find a compromise per say that suites both Katsa (head strong, stubborn, and NOT the marrying type) and Po (honorable, sweet, loving - basically the exact opposite of Katsa).

If anything read this book for the great adventure that unfolds and the love story between Katsa and Po, where if nothing you'll take away from it is, if you truly belong together, eventually you find your way back to one another. Beautifully written, and woven into a vivid story for all ages to enjoy!

Teaser Tuesday (2) [LATE]

Sorry! I know I am behind on my "Teaser Tuesday" post and I am well aware it is Wednesday but I'm going to spice up Wednesday and publish my teaser TODAY!

Teaser Tuesdays is a bookish meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

"And she felt it then, how near he was. She felt his hand and his wrist, warm under her fingers. He was here, right here, breathing before her; she was touching him; and she felt the risk, as if it were water splashing cold on her skin"

"Graceling" by Kristin Cashore

Page: 241

Waiting on Wednesday (6)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by "Breaking the Spine" were bloggers can post their anticipated upcoming publications!

Currently I am devouring "Graceling" by Kristin Cashore and it is just amazing! So this week's Waiting on Wednesday is her other two books.  

"Fire" by Kristin Cashore

"Beautiful creatures called monsters live in the Dells. Monsters have the shape of normal animals: mountain lions, dragonflies, horses, fish. But the hair or scales or feathers of monsters are gorgeously colored-- fuchsia, turquoise, sparkly bronze, iridescent green-- and their minds have the power to control the minds of humans."
"Seventeen-year-old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster in the Dells. Gorgeously monstrous in body and mind but with a human appreciation of right and wrong, she is hated and mistrusted by just about everyone, and this book is her story." (I am absolutely in love with this cover!! Gorgeous!)

Currently still in the works, the third book in the Seven Kingdoms Series is called "Bitterblue". Here is the synopsis so far!

"Bitterblue" by Kristin Cashore

"Book 3, tentatively titled Bitterblue and currently in progress, is a companion book to both Graceling and Fire and takes place in the seven kingdoms six years after Graceling. Bitterblue will tie all three books together in some way. Bitterblue is the sixteen-year-old protagonist, and Katsa, Po, Giddon, Helda, and other characters from Graceling will be part of the fabric of the book. Plenty of fighting still to come!"

in my Mailbox (7)

"In my Mailbox" is a weekly meme hosted by the fantastic Kristi "the Story Siren". Bloggers are able to post what new books they've received either by buying, borrowing, or on loan from the library throughout the past week. 

Last week I had a bunch of great new books, and even though I picked up only about 4 or 5 new ones I still felt the need to put some more books on hold for this week and that brings my total borrowing from the library to about 11 books. My TBR pile is getting bigger and bigger, but there are SO many books that I find myself needing to read.

"The Iron Daughter"

by: Julie Kagawa

"Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart."

I had just finished the first book in the "Iron Fey" series "The Iron King" and I absolutely loved it. Julie Kagawa really knows how to hook a reader with her indepth characters and their journeys together. I am a huge fan of the "fey" and so for Kagawa's portrayl of Oberon and Mab are exactly how I would have imagined them. I am currently reading the "Iron Daughter" and I am in love with the Winter court. It is like a fey mob family! A definite Y.A. series that everyone would enjoy!

"The Iron Queen"

by: Julie Kagawa

"My name is Meghan Chase."

"I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it."

"This time, there will be no turning back."

I tend to be one of those types of readers who, when I really get into a series, I just cannot wait to see what the series will bring so I have to either buy the entire series or take it all out from the library at once. I've heard good things and bad things about the second book "The Iron Daughter" and the same about the finale book in the series "The Iron Queen" but nevertheless I am going to see the series through to the end. So far I am thinking I am going to like the series no matter the outcome with the relationships of all the characters, although my favourite so far is Prince Ash and Meghan.

"Lament: the Faerie Queen's Deception"

by: Maggie Stiefvater

"Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky—and equally dangerous—dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren't so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn't exactly what she had in mind . . . "

The fabulous Maggie Stiefvater has become one of my favourite authors for Young Adults. I am in love with her current series the "Wolves of Mercy Falls" (I believe is what the series is called). Her characters and their stories are very detailed, she writes as if it is a movie playing on screen and the reader can picture everything in their head crystal clear. She is such a talented author. "Lament" came out before her other series and I am curious to see how this story will play out. If it will be similar to "Shiver" and "Linger", and also how she will portray the "Fey" community.

"Nightshade"

by: Andrea Cremer

"Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?"

I have always had a facination with the Fey, Werewolves and Vampires. I think it has something to do with how authors always have a different version of the stories, and I love how I get to let my imagination run wild with those versions. I have read a couple books with the version written by Andrea Cremer, and find it to be one of my favourite. I love the hierarchy system in the pack, the thoughts of the alpha female no less risking everything she has ever wanted for a human boy. I am entrapped by these types of love stories, and cannot wait to dive right into this one.

On My Wishlist (7)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.

I do enjoy modern fairy tales as most of my followers know, and a couple of the books I have this week on "On My Wishlist" involves some of the oldest Fairy Tales I know of. The first is a new find, about the tale of Tristan and Isolde, a German love story that would make any girls heart flutter with excitement.

"Tris & Izzie" 

by Mette Ivie Harrison

"A modern retelling of the German fairy tales "Tristan and Isolde", Tris and Izzie, is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until -- she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school."


The next books I am anticipating is quite shocking to myself, "Falling for Hamlet" obviously an adaptation of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" for Y.A. This is a shocking "want" for me because during High School, and a university course, I absolutely hated reading "Hamlet", but this novel sparks an interest in my imagination and therefore I must read, and purchase for my ever expanding book collection. 

"Falling for Hamlet"
by Michelle Ray

"Meet Ophelia: a blonde, beautiful high-school senior and long-time girlfriend of Prince Hamlet of Denmark. Her life is dominated not only by her boyfriend's fame and his overbearing family, but also by the paparazzi who hound them wherever they go. As the devastatingly handsome Hamlet spirals into madness after the mysterious death of his father, the King, Ophelia rides out his crazy roller coaster life, and lives to tell about it. In live television interviews, of course."

"Passion, romance, drama, humor, and tragedy intertwine in this compulsively readable debut novel, told by a strong-willed, modern-day Ophelia."

My final choice not because there are no more I want for this week, but because my new puppy (so adorable!!) wants to play and is starting to eat my hair as I sit here typing, lol. I believe I have posted this a couple times for other meme's but "Romeo & Juliet" is the love story of the ages, and my absolute favorite! "Juliet Immortal" is a Y.A. adaptation using the popular theme of angels.  We all know that when this is published I'll be the first to be reading it and ordering it.  :)

"Juliet Immortal"

by Stacey Jay

The most tragic love story in history . . . 

"Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love."

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by "Breaking the Spine" were bloggers can post their anticipated upcoming publications!

Ok so I know the book I am about to add to WoW was published yesterday but I cannot express the absolute anticipation of this book since I started reading the series, I am just starting the second one "Linger" and I am loving every single word !! I cannot believe I did not know about this series sooner!

"Forever"

by Maggie Steifvater

then. 
When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their love moved from a curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives. 

now. 

That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt. 

forever. 

Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment - a moment of death or life, farewell or forever

Any Suggestions?

Morning there fellow followers and bloggers!

So last night when I was sitting in my favourite chair reading a thought occured to me. I looked over at my book shelves and thought, I have a lot of vampire related novels and now currently have a lot of angel orientated novels as well, BUT I do not have many if not more than one, Fey related novel on my book shelf, which I thought was just tragic. I have currently just finished reading "the Iron King" by Julie Kagawa and thought it was superb! Therefore I am asking anyone who would like to contribute to let me know of some great "Fey" orienated Y.A. novels. They can be about basically anything as long as the plot is good, the characters are well developed and there is some sort of romance, or action, or quest, you know the usual characteristics of a fantasy book! :)


Thanks for the help!

Sincerely,
the Harlequin

PS: I totally love that photo, and I have no idea where I had found it originally, lol !

in my Mailbox (6)

"In my Mailbox" is a weekly meme hosted by the fantastic Kristi "the Story Siren". Bloggers are able to post what new books they've received either by buying, borrowing, or on loan from the library throughout the past week. Last week I noticed I did not post an "in my Mailbox" post, well I didn't receive any new books last week, which is a good thing because it gave me the chance to catch up on some of the books I already had in  my TBR pile. Although this week all the books I put on hold have come in and I have a bunch of new ones! :)

Shiver 

by Maggie Stiefvater

I am very excited about this book series! I just saw it one day when I was going through a couple people's favourite lists on GoodReads.com and I fell in love instantly with the storyline so I had to grab it from the library ASAP!

the cold. 
"Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why." 

the heat. 
"Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now." 

the shiver. 
"For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human—and Grace must fight to keep him—even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future."

Ruby Red 

by Kerstin Gier

I was looking through some of the recent reviews on one of the blogs I follow: "A Myriad of Books" and she had an excellent review of "Ruby Red" which inspired me to take it out from the library. It looks like an absolute fabulous read for Y.A. enthusiast such as myself :)

Synopsis:
"Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era! Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon, the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust"

The link to the blog I mentioned above: (http://amyriadofbooks.blogspot.com/) 

Pretties

by Scott Westerfield

Ever since my one friend who is the author of "Browsing Bookshelves" got me into Dystopian novels I cannot get enough of them! I saw this on a must read list of Dystopian novels and thought this is right up my alley and had to put a hold on the series. Although unfortunately the first book in the series, "Uglies" is lost at our local library so I have to go and purchase it from my nearest Chapters (lol! like I mind :P).

Synopsis

Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted.

But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom -- is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.

Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life -- because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.

The link to the above mentioned blog, "Browsing Bookshelves" -  http://browsingbookshelves.blogspot.com/

One Wicked Sin

by Nicola Cornick

This series such as the above, I found on a random blog which right now I cannot remember which one. But the historical period and romance within the plot drove me right to the library. BUT once I got there like "Pretties" they did not have the first one in the series, although it is not a continuation but more of an anthology of different time periods and different characters. 

Synopsis:

"Once the toast of the ton, Lottie Cummings is now notorious for being divorced. Shunned by society, the destitute beauty is lured to become a Covent Garden courtesan. Until a dangerous rake saves her with a scandalous offer."

"The illegitimate son of a duke, Ethan Ryder rose to the ranks of Napoleon's most trusted cavalry officer—until his capture landed him in England as a prisoner of war. Now on parole, Ethan is planning his most audacious coup yet. But he needs Lottie's help to create a spectacular diversion. Yet their pact ignites a passionate bond that may scandalize even these two wicked souls…"

Theme Thursday (1)

Theme Thursdays is a fun weekly event hosted by Reading Between Pages that will be open from one Thursday to the next. Anyone can participate in it. The rules are simple:

• A theme will be posted each week (on Thursday’s)
• Select a conversation/snippet/sentence from the current book you are reading
• Mention the author and the title of the book along with your post
• It is important that the theme is conveyed in the sentence (you don’t necessarily need to have the word)
  Ex: If the theme is KISS; your sentence can have “They kissed so gently” or “Their lips touched each other” or “The smooch was so passionate”

This will give us a wonderful opportunity to explore and understand different writing styles and descriptive approaches adopted by authors.

"He crushed me close, and I ran my hands through his sliky air, sliding it through my fingers. His lips were cool on mine, and my mouth tingled. And for a moment, there was no Ethan, no Puck, no Iron King. Only this"

The Iron King,

by Julie Kagawa

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by "Breaking the Spine" were bloggers can post their anticipated upcoming publications!

A Long Long Sleep

by: Anna Sheehan

Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for sixty-two years when she is woken by a kiss.

Locked away in the chemically induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten sub-basement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now her parents and her first love are long dead, and Rose -- hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire -- is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat.


Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existance, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes -- or be left without any future at all.

On My Wishlist (6)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.

This week I am not entirely sure what I wanted to put on my Wishlist, so I've decided I am going to put on a box set that I've been lusting over for quite sometime. I know this set has been out for quite awhile and everyone is anticipating the release of the 4th book in the series but I have never read the series. Although I hope to start it up soon enough during the summer just to see what all the "hype" is all about. 

In the #1 New York Times bestselling novels Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr, fifteen-year-old Eragon discovers his destiny as a Dragon Rider. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and his dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds.