Showcase Sunday #16

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki at Books, Biscuits and Tea. Its aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week.

Received:

Half a King (Shattered Sea, #1) by Joe Abercrombie

Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley! Courtney made me aware of this book and told me to request it on Netgalley. I consider this to be a more traditional high fantasy, though the fantastical elements are few and far between and the plot is fueled mostly by revenge. It doesn't add much new to the genre, but it kept me entertained enough.

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

I received an ARC copy of this along with lots of other bookish swag for being the June winner of the Debut Author Challenge. Yay! You may recall that I already read and loved this one, so I decided I wanted a physical copy for re-reading purposes. Thanks so much Shannon and Jana for hosting!

Purchased:

Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly, #1) by Susan Dennard

So, I really enjoy reading Susan Dennard's writing advice on Pub(lishing) Crawl and her own blog. And I enjoy following her on Twitter. She seems like a great person and gives useful, easily applicable advice. The problem? I haven't read anything by her yet! I am most excited for her new series, Truthwitch, but I figured I'll start with her debut trilogy.

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

I blame the Top Ten Favorite Classics prompt and subsequent responses from Tuesday, July 1 for this classics-spending spree. But with so many classics going for 50 cents or less, how could I refuse? I actually know next-to-nothing about Madame Bovary besides that it's a classic and was originally published in French. It made so many of the favorite classics lists that I knew I had to give this a chance.

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Marquez is definitely my favorite Latin American writer. (Of prose works. My favorite Latin American poet is Pablo Neruda.) I've read a decent amount of his works, but not all. I actually borrowed a friend's copy of this one and then returned it unread a few months later. Shameful, I know.So I'm going to rectify that! Soon, hopefully.

Lady of the Glen by Jennifer Roberson

Terrible cover but beautiful contents. I know because I read and loved this romance that takes place during a brutal 17th century Scottish massacre back when I read it in high school. I still am very much tempted by the gorgeous new cover, but for 50 cents I figured I'd rescue this book from remaining at the library sale and being unfairly judged for its cover.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

I have yet to read an Edith Wharton story that I haven't liked. My personal favorite is her short story "Roman Fever," although I really like The House of Mirth. Okay...so maybe I haven't read much by her yet, but this book is a positive step towards me rectifying that issue. The Age of Innocence takes place during the later 1800s in New York City about a scandalous love story. I'm in.

Entwined by Heather Dixon
This retelling of the Grimm brothers' "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" has been on my radar for a while. Over two years, to be precise. It's dropped down in price a few times but for some reason or another I never took advantage of those brief sales. Until now. Last month when it again dropped to $1.99 I realized I just needed to buy it already. And so I did.
The Registry (The Registry, #1) by Shannon Stoker

This adult dystopian is about a future U.S. where girls are raised to be brides and boys are raised to be soldiers. I remember reading one really positive review (by a trusted reviewer) and tons of not-so-positive ones (by other trusted reviewers). As this was free, I decided to secure a copy for myself, should I have the time and desire to give this one a try. 

Starglass (Starglass, #1) by Phoebe North

I bought the Kindle version of this one when it went on sale because...Jews in space! Seriously, though, I've heard good things about this one and I believe the author was once a book blogger. Got to support the community, am I right? I think a spaceship's interplanetary journey is the perfect sort of setting for secret rebellions and conspiracies, so I'm hoping this one lives up to its promise.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Sometimes I need to read a good work of chick lit. I enjoyed Rowell's Fangirl but wasn't as enamored with it as so many readers seem to be. That's the reason I've put off reading Eleanor & Park, to be honest; I feel as though I'll be the black sheep there as well. But her debut novel which apparently reads like a romcom? Sure, I'll give it a try.

Stormdancer (Stormdancer, #1) by Jay Kristoff

I've been intrigued by this one since it released in 2012. I am always up for reading books that explore diversity, and I love the fact that Stormdancer is essentially about a female warrior and a griffin. Living in a steampunk Japan. Plus, the extreme divide between readers over the quality of this book has drawn me in like a moth to a flame. I can't help it.

Damn you, Kindle deals! Though now all my stocked Amazon gift card credit is nearly spent, so that should put a damper on my e-book purchasing habits. Hopefully.

Borrowed:

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

Because every once in a while I just want my summery contemporaries. Everyone's been raving about this, so I figured I'd get to find out what all the fuss was about and enjoy some lighter, friendship-driven and swoon-worthy fare. I had some reservations with the believability of it all (and not just that it follows a teen country singer risen to stardom), but it was certainly a fun read. My review.

The Queen of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling, #1) by Erika Johnson

No way would I pass up the opportunity to read this high fantasy that's already so hyped that a film is apparently in the works. Especially a political intrigue-driven fantasy about a princess attempting to reclaim her throne. This is so my kind of story that I better end up loving it.

Four: A Divergent Collection (Divergent, #0.1-0.4) by Veronica Roth

I alternate between feeling embarrassed and excited that my almost-teen sister and I share some similar interests in books. But there are certainly perks involved, such as my sister placing a hold on Veronica Roth's collection of Four novellas and then letting me borrow it after she's finished with it. So perhaps it's not such a bad thing after all.

Champion (Legend, #3) by Marie Lu

Prodigy felt a little less formulaic, a little more surprising than Legend did. Here's hoping the trend continues with Champion. I wouldn't say I'm fully invested in the character or plot, but at this point I certainly do what to see how Lu chooses to conclude everything.

What books have you acquired recently?