In My Mailbox #12

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's a great way for book bloggers to showcase books and other literary things they've received recently.

I want to point out that this post covers all book acquisitions from the beginning of January until now - two months, more or less. No, this isn't usual. Though it does make me very happy. Who can't be happy to be surrounded by so many reading options?

For Review:

Persistence of Vision (Interchron, #1) by Liesel Hill

When Liesel Hill contacted me about participating in a blog tour for her debut novel, I was more than happy to agree. I was pleasantly surprised by the novel and found it quite thought-provoking. Check out my review and Liesel's guest post on her use of science within the series.

The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson

My first Netgalley approval! Woohoo! I was so psyched to find out I'd been approved for this. This book has interested me ever since I saw it featured on some Waiting on Wednesdays (and subsequently featured it on my own WoW). Although not as good as I was hoping it would be, it was still enjoyable. My review.

Fraction of Stone (The Fraction Series, #1) by Kelley Lynn

I will be reviewing this YA fantasy debut novel about a world on the verge of destruction and the two humans who possess the powers necessary to save it as part of Xpresso Blog Tours on March 21. Thanks so much for allowing me to participate, Giselle!

Gifted:

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

This was a Valentine's Day gift from my parents. I was so excited to receive this! I've heard some good things (fairy tale retelling of "The Snow Maiden" and it's adult fiction), so I can't wait to find some time to read it!

Bought (or, an example of how I have way too much money left on my Amazon gift card balance):

Everneath (Everneath, #1) & Everbound (Everneath, #2) by Brodi Ashton

I have mixed thoughts about this series. First of all, Greek/Roman underworld inspiration yay! But then I read that Aston apparently didn't do tons of research on mythology for this series. I understand you want a book to be your own creation, but if you're going with a similar idea to a myth, why in the world would you not read the myths and then figure out how you can warp the stories? But one night both of these were $2.99 for Kindle, so I figured why not. 

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by emily m. danforth

I deliberated for a while on whether to take advantage of the Kindle deal for this book. It really has gotten incredible praise from so many reviewers I trust, however, so I decided that it was worth the expense.

Austenland (Austenland, #1) by Shannon Hale

This was really cheap on Kindle, there's a new movie based on it, and it's about freaking Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice! What's not to love? (And, yes, I am slowly buying all of Hale's works for my Kindle, apparently.)

Rapunzel and Other Maiden in the Tower Tales From Around the World by Heidi Anne Heiner

I started writing a "Rapunzel" retelling last summer. Many things have prevented me from working on it since then, but I really do want to try to write the entire thing, if only to prove that I can and to give me confidence to write new stories. I love SurLaLune Fairy Tales and this looks like a meticulously researched compilation of all Maiden in the Tower tales. Hopefully reading this will help give me some inspiration to write more! Plus, it's just interesting to learn about different fairy tales variants, even if it did cost me more than a pretty penny. 

And All the Stars by Andrea K. Host

Once again, a super cheap Kindle deal. It's received good praise from reviewers I trust and even won some sci fi awards. And it's about an alien invasion? Looking forward to broadening the type of speculative fiction I read with this one.
Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt

I'm not quite sure why I'm so excited to read this book. I just really like the idea of a fairy tale/fable-inspired story where a young girl tells stories to Death in order to buy extra time in her life. A just-because Kindle purchase. :)

The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, #1) by Patrick Ness 

Yay for Kindle deals! I've heard great things about this book and have been meaning to read it for a while now, so when it became the daily sci fi/fantasy deal, I bought it without a second thought. Now if only the second and third books drop in price a little, I'll buy them all. 

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1) & Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #2) by Laini Taylor

Although I read and reviewed Daughter of Smoke and Bone back in September, I got a copy from the library. I loved it, however, and fully anticipate loving the rest of the series (especially after reading so many reviews on Days of Blood and Starlight), so I bought my own pretty copies. I will get to Days of Blood and Starlight soon, I will!

Borrowed:
Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1) by Kendare Blake

I'm really going to make an effort to attend my school's YA book club at some point this year. I haven't read Anna Dressed in Blood yet, so I figured this was the perfect time to read it. And my friend wants to attend too, so no excuses. We're both reading this and going to discuss it with other students. :)
The Round House by Louise Erdrich
Because this book haul covers such a long time range, this is the second book for my work book club included here. This is our March pick. Once again, a popular adult fiction book I doubt I would have picked up on my own. 
Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
So many people listed Wanderlove among their top books from 2012 that I was curious to see what all the hype was about. Plus, I love the fact that it takes place in Central America since I've traveled there myself (although not by myself, as Bria does). My review will be posted later this month.
The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna
I know I'm a little late to the game on this. But after so many people were posting reviews of the story within a short time span, I wanted to wait a little while before picking up the book to read myself. While I liked it, I didn't love it the way I feel like so many people did. Oh well. My review will be posted in April.
Second Helpings (Jessica Darling, #2) by Megan McCafferty
Because, yes, I need to continue with Jessica Darling's story. I loved Second Helpings probably just as much as Sloppy Firsts and can't wait to move on to Charmed Thirds and witness Jessica's college experiences! My review will be posted later this month.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
At my work a few of us decided to form a book club and have discussions, and because everyone knows that I love to read and write and discuss books, I'm the leader. My coworker let me borrow her copy of this book, which was February's discussion book. My review will be posted later this month.
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Septys
So happy to finally have the chance to read more good YA historical fiction (according to every single review I've read, that is). I love historical fiction, but I really only read adult historical fiction, so clearly I need to fix that!
Poison Study (Study, #1) & Magic Study (Study, #2) & Fire Study (Study, #3) by Maria V. Snyder
Courtney and I have both been meaning to read Snyder's debut series for a while now, so we decided to do another read along. Feel free to check out both our reviews later this week. And, after finishing and loving Poison Study, I needed to get my hands on the rest of the books in the series right away.

Thanks for bearing with me through this super long post. I don't plan on going over two months between book hauls again. Please let me know what books you've received recently!

Read more »

In My Mailbox #11 (A Tam Lin Edition)

This month my blog is taking a hiatus from the normal In My Mailbox meme hosted by The Story Siren. In honor of Project: Fairy Tale, which began on Friday, I wanted to show off the books I've specifically received and read in preparation for this event. (In case you don't know, I've selected to focus on the Scottish ballad "Tam Lin" for Project: Fairy Tale).

Borrowed:
No Earthly Sunne by Margaret Ball
I have never heard of this book or author, and that cover is super cheesy. I started reading it and actually stopped. Maybe I'll try to go back to it someday, but there will be no review for it as part of Project: Fairy Tale.
Tithe (The Modern Faerie Tales, #1) by Holly Black
Holly Black and an urban fantasy! Tithe reads more like a mix of faerie lore, but it definitely contains elements of "Tam Lin" within it.
Tam Lin by Susan Cooper
Why, yes, this is a picture book! Since the original ballad is short enough to have been written entirely in a picture book, I figured it would be interesting to see what approach Susan Cooper took in retelling the story. Plus, it's Susan Cooper!
Tam Lin by Pamela Dean
I read this back in late middle school/early high school. I liked it well enough then, but being older and a college graduate, I can better appreciate Dean's college-setting "Tam Lin" retelling.
Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones
Confession time: I have yet to read anything by Diana Wynne Jones. I know! I did recently purchase Howl's Moving Castle for my Kindle, so hopefully I can get to that soon.
Winter Rose (Winter Rose, #1) by Patricia McKillip
The same confession holds true for Patricia McKillip as it does for Diana Wynne Jones. Needless to say, I'm happy that both of them wrote "Tam Lin" retellings so that I'd be forced to read one of their works now, rather than waiting to pick one up by myself.
Imaginary Lands (anthology) edited by Robin McKinley
This looks like an amazing anthology with short stories by Robin McKinley, Patricia McKillip, Jane Yolen, and more. Of course, for this month I am most interested in the short story "Tam Lin" by Joan Vinge.
An Earthly Knight by Janet McNaughton
A historical "Tam Lin" retelling! Yay! About Normans living in twelfth century Scotland, sisters, and their romances. Sounds good to me!
Firebirds: An Anthology of Original Fantasy and Science Fiction edited by Sharyn November
I remember reading and loving this anthology right around the time it was published. I mean, it has a stellar cast of contributing authors: Megan Whalen Turner, Lloyd Alexander, Patricia McKillip, Nancy Farmer, Sherwood Smith, Elizabeth Wein, Garth Nix, Diana Wynne Jones, and more! The "Tam Lin" retelling is a short story by Delia Sherman called "Cotillion." If I'm not too burned out after Project: Fairy Tale, I would like to review the anthology as a whole. 
The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope
I read this for my seventh grade English class, so it will be interesting to re-read this 16th century historical fantasy of the Tudor England of Queen Mary from the perspective of a "Tam Lin" retelling.
Tam Lin by Jane Yolen
Another picture book. I decided to include this for the same reason that I included Susan Cooper's picture book.

Pretty hefty reading list, considering all I am required to do is read the original story and three retellings. I've now read most of these, however, and with so many retellings out there, why wouldn't I want to read more? Expect reviews of these books throughout the month!

Read more »

In My Mailbox #10

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's a great way for book bloggers to showcase books and other literary things they've received over the past week (or month, in my case).

Given:

Fairy Tales from the Brother Grimm: A New English Version by Philip Pullman

I love learning more about original fairy tales and their histories. And I love Philip Pullman's writings. When I saw the two of them combined, I was so excited. Even more so to learn that Pullman hand-picked the tales he used and wrote his own annotations for each.

Barefoot Contessa: How Easy is That? by Ina Garten

I cook! Sometimes. I like cooking (though not as much as baking) and do want to learn more. I have two of the Barefoot Contessa books already and can't wait to start cooking some of these new recipes!  

A map of Middle-earth from The Hobbit

I fully embrace my LotR obsession. I already own my own copy of the One Ring, as well as a Leaf of Lorien elvish brooch. I told my parents I wanted The Hobbit-inspired map of Middle-earth for my eventual library and they were willing to help feed my obsession.

$25 Amazon gift card

Yay for more and more Kindle books!

Bound journal

Help me write more, journal. And not just reviews (though I do love writing those), but writing for me, my own stories and thoughts.

 

Bought:

Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle, #1) by Diana Wynne Jones

I love the Miyazaki film based on this book (recently introduced my sister to this film and she loved it as well), so when I saw the ebook on sale, I knew that I had to give the book a try. Plus, I have yet to read anything by Diana Wynne Jones and am looking forward to rectifying that problem!

Borrowed:

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1) & Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2) by Cassandra Clare

How can I consider myself a legitimate YA book blogger without reading some works of Cassandra Clare? Clockwork Princess is being released in March, so now I'm all prepared and anxiously awaiting its release!

If I Stay (If I Stay, #1) by Gayle Forman

All the hype for Forman's upcoming novel, Just One Day, has made me really want to read some of her works. Basically everyone seems to think highly of If I Stay, so I decided to try it out. It wasn't the story I was expecting at all, unfortunately, which made it a difficult read.

Sloppy Firsts (Jessica Darling, #1) by Megan McCafferty

Courtney and I are both relatively new to blogging and have heard great things about the Jessica Darling series, so we decided to do a readalong and experience this popular YA contemporary novel together. Here's my review and here's Courtney's review (Spoiler: We both loved it!).

I hope everyone had a happy holiday season! Please let me know what you've recently received in your mailboxes!

Read more »