Showcase Sunday #24

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.

Purchased:  
Shades of Milk and Honey (Glamourist Histories, #1) by Mary Robinette Kowal  
I heard this referred to as Jane Austen with magic. Enough said, am I right?
Shadow Scale (Seraphina, #2) by Rachel Hartman
So I mentioned that I received an eARC of this in my last Showcase Sunday, but I couldn't resist buying a pretty finished copy as well.
 
Borrowed:
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
Read for my YA Lit class. This reaffirmed my love of graphic novels.  
Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang
Read for my YA Lit class. So, so good. I need to read more Yang stat.  
Texts from Jane Eyre by Mallory Ortberg
Very funny! Well, those stories/authors I was actually familiar with. The Little Women one was priceless.  
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis
Read for my YA Lit class. Not much to say about this. An important story, but it is a picture book for teens told in a weird, cartoony style.  
The Invention of Hugo Cabaret by Brian Selznick
Read for my YA Lit class. An interesting combination of pictures and text, but ultimately not for me.  
The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming
And my interest in the Romanov family has been reignited. Overall, I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook.
Until We Meet Again (Bluford High, #7) by Anne Schraff
To read for my YA Lit class. I'm pretty sure this is an example of hi/lo fiction (high interest, low reading level).
 
What books have you recently acquired?

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Showcase Sunday #23

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.

This is a slightly belated haul of all my February books.

Received:

See my ALA-MW haul

The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #2) by Patrick Rothfuss
This was my Valentine's Day present from my boyfriend (which I not-so-subtly suggested would make a good gift). I really enjoyed The Name of the Wind and this is his new favorite series so I'm looking forward to reading/discussing it with him. 

Shadow Scale (Seraphina, #2) by Rachel Hartman
Many thanks to Random House Children's and Netgalley! I freaking loved Seraphina and cannot wait to continue this series.

How to be a Heroine by Samantha Ellis

Anniversary gift from my boyfriend! I like the idea of memoir nonfiction related to classical literature. But before reading this, I need to first read a few of the novels it mentions (Anne of Green Gables, Franny and Zooey, A Room with a 
View, Valley of the Dolls, Cold Comfort Farm...)

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Showcase Sunday #22

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:  
The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin  
Christmas present from my parents! I read The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms back in 2012 (my first review on here, actually!) and I've been meaning to return to this trilogy. This edition includes a bonus novella and holding it up will be a major workout in and of itself.  
The World of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
This was a Christmas present from my brother. It looks like it discusses the history and physical lands and is accompanied by beautiful images. Seriously, those images alone make this the perfect coffee table book.  
All the Rage by Courtney Summers 
Thank you, thank you, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley! I haven't met a Courtney Summers book I haven't liked, and I'm so eager to give her newest a chance, especially as it's been said it examines rape culture in much the same way that Speak examines sexual assault.

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Showcase Sunday #21

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:
The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver  
Thank you, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley! I haven't been requesting or reading many review copies recently, but this story about identical twins, death, and the secrets they kept sounded too good to resist!

Purchased:  
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell  
I suggested a professor of mine read this in preparation for a YA lit class (which I'm taking with her next semester), and she loved it so much she is considering adding it to our reading list. I suppose I should read this myself now.  
The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson  
So I already own a Kindle edition of the first book in this trilogy, but I couldn't resist purchasing the bundled ebook edition for under $6 and DRM free. So reading this, it will happen. 
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly  
I've already professed my desire to read Donnelly's works. When I saw that the Kindle edition of this book was on sale, I figured I might as well purchase it since I do plan on reading it sooner rather than later.
Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1) by L.M. Montgomery
I actually borrowed a copy of this from my public library and then purchased my own copy only a few weeks later. I haven't read it yet, but I am so convinced I'll love it and found this adorable and inexpensive Puffin edition.   
Outlander (Outlander, #1) by Diana Gabaldon  
I am so curious about this book! Everyone's been raving about the TV show, but it looks like opinions on the book are rather widespread. But like I'm out-of-the-loop, and I cannot stand to be so for something book-related!
 

Borrowed:  
The Young Elites (The Young Elites, #1) by Marie Lu  
This book was so, so good. I swear, Lu improves with each book she publishes. If my main complaint is the use of multiple POVs (a common complaint of mine), then this is a pretty damn good book.
The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry  
More Julie Berry, please! This sounds like a totally different book than All the Truth That's in Me was, but I'm okay with that. This sounds like a hilariously fun read, and I'm eager to give it a try.  
The Glass Sentence (The Mapmakers Trilogy, #1) by S.E. Grove  
This was...an interesting book, that's for sure. Grove creates a world I would have never, ever imagined. I'm not sure how successful it is, personally, but it's fascinating. I read this for a Mock Newbury meeting, so I'm curious to see what the other readers think.
Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson & Lauren Myracle  
I actually decided to get in the holiday spirit and read a Christmas book (which almost never happens). This was a perfect holiday air travel book, though. Very cute, but not necessarily containing any lasting power.  
The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles, #1) by Mary Pearson  
I kind of dismissed this book based on initial reviews. But it also has been garnering a lot of praise, so obviously I had to rethink my strategy. Because, really, I don't want to miss out on reading a potentially wonderful fantasy book.  
Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin  
I also read this for the Mock Newbury meeting this month. And I actually quite enjoyed it. It's a fast read, but still a fascinating portrayal of a young girl with Asperger's Syndrome.
Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly by Gail Carson Levine  
Gail Carson Levine is one of my favorite writers ever. 2015 I'm really going to push myself to get back into creative writing. Clearly I need to read her writing guide.
Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz
Another impulse library borrow! I think nearly every major review company praised this one, and it received a Newbury Honor. I figured the best way to get up to speed on current MG reads is through reading some Newbury picks.

What books have you recently acquired?

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Showcase Sunday #20

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.

Purchased:  
The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds, #1) by Alexandra Bracken So this was free for Kindle at some point last month. I've said before that I'm more interested in Bracken's Brightly Woven, but the marketing for the concluding book of this series got me interested in this one as well.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Magical realism! In a modern-day America! Nearly all of my knowledge of and love for the magical realism genre (subgenre?) is due to some fantastic Latin American authors, so I'm excited to see magical realism apply to a different type of story.

Among Others by Jo Walton

Just everything about this book sounds like something I'd love to read. Bookish protagonist, a world with a hint of the fantastical, an epistolary writing style. Here's hoping I can get to this one soon.

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Showcase Sunday #19

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.

Birthday presents from the lovely Courtney!

Received:

Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst  
I think I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: Courtney is the best. She knew how much I loved Vessel (my review), and so bought me my own copy of it for my birthday. I can’t wait to re-read it soon. Thank you, dear!  
The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1) by Patrick Rothfuss This was also a birthday present from Courtney. It was such a perfect pick, as I’ve been meaning to start this series for a while now. So, so excited to get my adult fantasy on with a reading of this series.

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Showcase Sunday #18

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.

It may look like I spent a lot of money on books, but only two were full price here. The rest were free or only a few dollars each.

Received:

Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay

Thank you to Delacorte Press and Netgalley! I've been meaning to read some of Jay's works for a while now, and this story about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, who is a warrior and dresses as a boy, sounds like such a me book.

Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History Without the Fairy-Tale Endings by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie

Part of my birthday haul from my parents. Thank you! I love this premise and am  really excited to read this one. Plus, I think it will be perfect for some writing research.

A Darkness Strange and Lovely (Something Strange and Deadly, #2) by Susan Dennard

Part of my birthday haul from my parents. Thank you! I read the first book via my Kindle, purchased the third book at a signing, and needed a copy of the second to round out the trilogy and my reading of it.

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2) by Sarah J. Maas

Part of my birthday haul from my parents. Thank you! I wasn't the biggest fan of Throne of Glass, but I've only heard the series gets better, so again after purchasing a third copy for Sarah's signing, I asked for a copy of the second.

Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth

Part of my birthday haul from my parents. Thank you! I feel like I've been waiting for this book for years now. I love retellings and I love that this mixes the historical fiction surrounding the first "Rapunzel" retelling with the fairy tale itself.

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Showcase Sunday #17

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.

All in all, August was a fairly light month of book acquisitions. And of these eight books, I've actually already read three of them. Progress!

Received:

Courted by Katherine Longshore

I won a copy of the bind-up of Longshore's Tudor novels Gilt and Tarnish through a giveaway hosted by Jen @ The Starry-Eyed Revue in conjunction with Penguin (or should I now be calling it Penguin Random House?). So thanks to both of you for this! I absolutely adore everything about Tudor England and have heard only positive things about Longshore's works.

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai & Christina Lamb

My university is reading this book as part of a common-reading program developed to encourage reading and widespread community engagement. I volunteered to be a discussion facilitator and so received a copy of this book. It's not my normal reading fare, but it actually was fairly interesting and certainly about important current events. Malala is so inspirational.

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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!

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Showcase Sunday #15

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:

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

Thank you, thank you, HarperTeen and Netgalley! This is one of my most anticipated releases for 2014, so I was definitely happy to see Netgalley's approval message in my email. I admit I'm a bit concerned that this not only deals with the friendship between a white girl and black girl during Civil Rights-era America, but with a romantic relationship between them. It just sounds like a lot of ground to cover in one book. But I'm really hoping that Talley is able to pull this one off!

Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper

Thank you, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley! This is another 2014 YA debut that I've been highly anticipating. All that I need to know, really, is that this is a historical fantasy about witches. But it sounds like it's also about family legacy and fate and sacrifice and I don't know how long I'll be able to resist before starting this one.

Egg and Spoon by Gregory Macguire

Thank you, Candlewick Press and Netgalley! I haven't been the biggest fan of Macguire's adult stories (Wicked in particular felt a little too weird for me), but I respect the fact that his works have helped popularize retellings and fairy tales to some degree. And his newest is for a younger audience and about Tsarist Russia and Russian folklore. I'm hoping this is a winner for me.

The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters

Thank you so much, Amulet Books and Netgalley! I'm so psyched about this one that I won't even complain that it's a non-Kindle-compatible file...well, not much. I adored Winters' In the Shadow of Blackbirds last year and am so honored I have the chance to help with the early promotion of her sophomore novel, about a suffragette imbued with some mystical powers in 1900s Oregon.

...I think I'm suffering from a case of ARC anxiety here. These are ALL publishing between September and October. I guess I better get my reading schedule in order.

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Showcase Sunday #14

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.

I should retitle this as the month where I went crazy with book acquisitions. Not that I'm not excited to read each and every one of these, but this is ridiculous. I really shouldn't be acquiring more books per month than I can actually read in a month's time. The primary stress of a book blogger is always having too many books to read, right?

Received:

Child of a Hidden Sea by A.M. Dellamonica

Thank you, Tor Books! An ordinary girl getting transported to a magical world. Political intrigue. Possibly pirates. All this was enough to interest me. And the author is awesome and selling her book DRM-free. Yay! Because DRM still sucks. I'm currently reading this one, so I'll have more defined thoughts very shortly. 

Firebug (Firebug, #1) by Lish McBride

Thank you to Macmillan! I actually didn't realize this is the same author who wrote the Hold Me Closer, Necromancer series until Courtney pointed it out. I'm not interested in her first series (at least not yet), but I am very much interested in this new series about a girl with the power to create fire who is on the run from a mafia-like organization.

Crushed (Cracked, #2) by Eliza Crewe
Many thanks to Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry! I bought the Kindle version of Cracked about a month ago. Haven't read it yet, but apparently just owning it was incentive enough for me to request its sequel. I'll binge-read this duology (I think?) closer to the release date of Crushed.

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Showcase Sunday #13

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.

Because I took a break from blogging in April, I have book acquisitions from both March and April to share today. Yay books!

Received:

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
Thanks to my wonderful boyfriend for this gorgeous copy! I've been excited to read this book for a while (and, honestly, when am I ever not going to want to read a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling?). I'm definitely looking forward to reading this darker, compelling retelling where Beauty has made it her mission to kill the Beast.

The Truth about Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

Many thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley. I'll admit: the main reason I requested this ARC was because I saw that the second leg of the Fierce Reads tour is making a stop in Milwaukee this summer. I'd like to read works by each of the authors in attendance, if possible. Besides that, however, this book does sound as though it could be a powerful story. It's told from outside perspectives about the rumor-laden and seemingly disliked teen Alice Franklin.

Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii by Vicky Alvear Shecter

Thank you to Arthur A. Levine Books and Netgalley. I previously featured this book on my Spring 2014 TBR list, and I was very excited to read this one. I mean, a romance between childhood friends that takes place in the days leading up to Mount Vesuvius' eruption? Try to tell me that's not an awesome premise. I found that the book itself, unfortunately, left a lot to be desired.

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Showcase Sunday #12

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:

Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi

So apparently people actually win Goodreads First Reads contests? And by people, I mean me? Not going to lie, I was super excited to receive an email from Goodreads letting me know that I'd won. I first heard of this "Snow White" retelling through SurLaLune's Amazon list fairy-tale influenced fiction being released in 2014. I've heard good things about Oyeyemi's works since then and can't wait to read this myself!

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Showcase Sunday #11

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.

Purchased:

Fortune's Pawn (Paradox, #1) by Rachel Bach

I'm making an effort to read more adult fiction and also more science fiction, and can I just say that this sounds fantastic and like a lot of fun. Interstellar shenanigans and a cocky mercenary being compared to Battlestar Galactica's Starbuck are bound to get my attention. The few reviews I have read of this novel have been overwhelmingly positive. Hopefully I can get to this one soon!

Night Creatures trilogy (Burn Bright, Angel Arias, and Shine Light) by Marianne de Pierres

I know this series has received some mixed reviews, but just look at those covers. It sounds like some sort of supernatural dystopia and was written by an Australian author. I suppose my reason for purchasing these is a combination of everything mentioned above, and also that they were all available for free. These were all free a few months ago and I missed them, so I was happy to find that happened again. 

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

I don't know much about this other than it's an adult fantasy about (you guessed it) a golem and a jinni. And thanks to Elizabeth Knox's Dreamhunter duet, I know what a golem is. This sounds like it may be historical fantasy taking place in New York around the turn of the 20th century? Also, this was super cheap for Kindle so I'm willing to give it a go. 

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Showcase Sunday #10

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:

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

Many thanks to Candlewick Press and Netgalley for this eARC! This is one of the top 2014 releases I'm looking forward to, so I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to read this early! This magical realism story about an ordinary girl who just happens to have the wings of a bird sounds right up my alley. It also reminds me of Garcia Márquez's short story "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings."

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira
Many thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for this eARC! This book reminds me a bit of The Sky is Everywhere, at least in its premise that the protagonist writes as a way to help her cope with the untimely death of her sister. It sounds like a potentially strong debut, so I'm hoping that's true.

Plus One by Elizabeth Fama (no cover)

Many thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for this eARC! I was intrigued by the premise of Fama's novel Monstrous Beauty but never got around to reading it. But this, this sounds so good. An alternate reality of what life could have been like after the 1918 outbreak of the Spanish Influenza. People divided into "day" and "night" groups. Forbidden love. Count me in.

Parallel by Lauren Miller

I won a Kindle copy from Sana @ Artsy Musings of a Bibliophile. Thank you, Sana! I've been curious about this book for quite a while now. My two experiences with alternate universe/alternate reality books this year (Kasie West's Pivot Point and Cristin Terrill's All Our Yesterdays) were both super positive, so I'm hoping I'll continue to enjoy the trend in this new book.

Harry Potter Boxed Set

Thanks, Mom and Dad! When I first told my parents I wanted a box set of the redesigned paperback Harry Potter books, their initial reaction was one of bemusement. After all, I do own all of the original hardcovers. But the more images that I saw of the new covers, the more I wanted them. So thanks to my parents for indulging me with new editions of books I already own!

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Showcase Sunday #9

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:
"Poison Dance" by Livia Blackburn
I'm very much excited to read Livia's debut, Midnight Thief, a YA high fantasy that will be published next July. Livia recently contacted me to see if I'd be interested in reading her prequel novella while waiting for her debut. Um, yes I would! My understanding is that this prequel is told from the perspective of one of the secondary characters in the novel. 

Enders (Starters, #2) by Lissa Price

Many thanks to Kaye Publicity for providing me with the opportunity to review two of the company's upcoming YA novels. I read Starters way back towards the beginning of my blogging days (my review). It wasn't a perfect read for me and left me with a number of questions, but I still enjoyed the story and it left off with a killer cliffhanger. I'm definitely anxious to see how Callie's plight and her society's overall tensions between Starters and Enders gets resolved!

Control (Control, #1) by Lydia Kang

Again, thanks to Kaye Publicity. I hadn't actually heard of this book prior to receiving a review request. Apparently this is about teens who possess superior genes and are used for some sort of experimentation? I actually have high hopes for the scientific data here, as it appears that the author has a science background. If only more authors had a scientific background or at least thoroughly researched science before writing science fiction. Looking forward to this one!

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