In My Mailbox/Book Haul 17

Back again with another haul. This haul contains one library book and the rest I bought. I went on a bit of a spree and bought a bunch of hardcover books. I REGRET NOTHING! The video of my haul will be below...

Now for the books in list form. I'll start with the library book.

1. Starters BY Lissa Price (looks really good. The cover is a little unsettling)
2. Between the Lines BY Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer (looks cute and is filled with fantastic illustrations)
3. Clockwork Angel BY Cassandra Clare (Book One in the Infernal Devices Series. Prequel to Mortal Instruments.)
4. Clockwork Prince BY Cassandra Clare (Book 2 in the Infernal Devices)
5. City of Fallen Angels BY Cassandra Clare (Book 4 in The Mortal Instruments Series.)
6. City of Lost Souls BY Cassandra Clare (Book 5 in The Mortal Instruments Series.)
7. Silence BY Becca Fitzpatrick (Book 3 in the Hush Hush Series)

Well that's all I got this week. Should be back sometime soon with another haul. I just can't seem to stop buying books. As problems/addictions go, it's not the worst one to have. So let me know what great books you got recently and as always...

HAPPY READING!

Review of: The First Days: As The World Dies By Rhiannon Frater

Title: The First Days: As The World Dies (#1)

Author: Rhiannon Frater

Published by: TOR "A Tom Doherty Associates Book"

Released: 2008 (original) 2011 (TOR)

Summary: Two different women with two different lives find themselves thrown together as the world disintegrates around them. Jenni wakes up to find her husband eating her baby boy. Katie, on her drive to work, is pulled from her car by a crazed man trying to eat her. Katie escapes, thanks to an old man's sacrifice and rescues Jenni. Jenni, Katie, and Jack (the dog) must band together and survive in a world that has been taken over by the undead. They will be tested and tried and find out just what it means to be human.

My Thoughts: OH MY ZOMBIE! This book is just awesome. It's the ideal dream for a zombie book. These pages contain everything a lover of the zombie genre could want: Mutilated undead corpses (that are faster than one might think), the fight for survival in a mad world, gory action scenes, and someone who has read The Handbook. Yes, The Zombie Survival Guide Handbook!

It's safe to say that I absolutely loved this book. Rhiannon Frater did a great job of creating a vivid, post-apocalyptic zombie world with action, romance, and plenty of raw human emotion. Loved it, Loved it, LOVED IT!

I did have one minor issue and that was the character of Jenni. I really wanted to like her, but a lot of times her actions and thoughts got on my nerves. My annoyance of her dropped my bookcitement level a tad. I also didn't understand the chapters within the chapters, that was a little odd.

I loved this book and can't wait to read the sequel!

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4.7/5

A must read for any zombie lover!

Reading Right Now! The Sixes By Kate White

Title: The Sixes

Author: Kate White

I just started this book. I am on page 7 of 384 which makes me a whopping 2% done!!! :O

I've had this book out from the library for quite awhile, so I figured I should read it so I can finally return it. From what I can tell, the main character's name is Phoebe. She used to be a star writer of the dirty dealings inside Hollywood but she was accused of plagiarism. Her publishers are trying to distance themselves and her agent (or somebody) suggests she go somewhere to lay low for awhile. Phoebe ends up at a college in Pennsylvania teaching a couple classes on non-fiction writing.

This book is categorized as a thriller. I think some people go missing and then this mean, secret society of girls come into play. I don't know. Sounds interesting. Sometimes I get a tad YA weary and go for an adult thriller or mystery.

So yeah, not much to say because I haven't read much of it. Pretty cover though. A little creepy and a lot purple :D

Series Spotlight! The Secret Circle By: L.J. Smith

I do not have an In My Mailbox/Book Haul for you this week because I did not film one. I do have something else in mind for you though!
This will be my first post in my Book/Series Spotlight. Books or series that I really enjoy that I feel need more respect. This could be because they are an older series/book or a book/series that I feel is suitably awesome and doesn't get the hype it deserves.
My first Spotlight goes to... The Secret Circle Series by L.J. Smith. This series was originally published in the 1990's and while it has gotten a little more popular and inspired a CW series (that might have already been canceled, I'm not too sure) I think this series is just really swell. It's also a series that I've read all the way through. Although, I haven't read that newest one they released that's not actually by L.J. Smith, but I digress.
This series was a lot of fun to read for me. It's about witches, magic, and love awww. But seriously, I just really enjoyed this series and one day I will go back and reread it. So go check this one out.
That it as for my spotlight post. I don't know for sure when I'll do another one, but I'm sure I'll do one eventually. Hope you enjoyed it!
                            

Review of: Intertwined By Gena Showalter

Title: Intertwined (#1)

Author: Gena Showalter

Published by: Harlequin TEEN

Released: 2009

Summary: Aden Stone has 4 human souls living inside him. One can time travel, another raises the dead, the third can tell the future, and the last can possess another's body. Labeled as a schizophrenic, Aden has been abandoned by his parents and shuffled to mental institutions, foster homes, and juvie. Aden now finds himself on the D and M Ranch, a home for troubled boys in Oklahoma. While there, Aden meets the girl from his visions and realizes that humans aren't the only intellectual species to live in his world. Aden finds himself in a much more dangerous situation then he ever realized. He must free the souls inside him, protect the girl he loves, and keep himself safe from all those that are hunting him.

My Thoughts: This book threw me for a loop. I expected the story to go one way and then it grew and expanded into something I never expected. I enjoyed the ride that this book took me on.

I did not expect the supernatural extravaganza that this book offered. Upon reading the synopsis, I was prepared for a boy with 4 souls inside him and a love interest with the girl of his dreams. But then, in the very first chapter a zombie came into play and then it was vampires, werewolves, witches, fairies, goblins, and probably many more. I just wasn't expecting the supernatural fest that occurred.

Also, the initial love interest threw me. Aden meets a girl, their gazes lock, and a powerful wind comes out of nowhere and then he meets another girl. Just wasn't expecting that.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. My only negative would be that maybe too much is happening. Too many mysteries to uncover and too many people who want to do Aden harm. But I really did enjoy the book and plan on continuing on with the series. The writing style is so swift and easy to read and the subject matter is very interesting. Once I got into it, I was hooked.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

Unexpected, Exhilarating, and Pleasantly Addicting all rolled into one!

Reading Right Now! Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Title: Rot & Ruin

Author: Jonathan Maberry

I am on page 257 of 458 and according to the mathematics genius that is goodreads, that makes me 56% done.

I'm really enjoying it so far. It started off a little slow and sometimes preachy in the beginning. This book is all about stressing that zombies were once people too and it's disrespectful to humanity and the family to go on zombie killing sprees, instead their undeadness should be ended quietly and with respect. Yeah, that's about right.

I think it's pretty much known that I really enjoy bludgeon them, shoot 'em in the head zombie books. To me, once they've gone zombie, they're not human anymore. I respect and understand that it would be hard for a family member to see someone they once loved as a zombie and wish they had their final rest. So, I don't know, I don't equate zombies with people/humans anymore. They are now fundamentally different and dangerous. I don't think you need to respect the zombie. Sure, don't torture them like a sicko, but the goal should be on saving yourself rather then giving an undead specimen a peaceful end. I guess Tom Imura's intent is honorable, but I wouldn't really "respect" the zombie. Yeah, that just really rambled on.

The world in the novel is interesting, it's set 14 years after "the first night" or when the dead started to rise and humanity started to fall. The community of survivors are just too driven by fear. They don't try to take back the land from the zombies. They don't go out of their way to kill the zombies lingering outside their walls. And, they don't use electricity anymore because they feel that being too technically advanced led to this apocalypse. Interesting. Also the rationing system they have set up in the town is intriguing. Once a person reaches the age 15, they have to work or they lose half of their food rations. If you don't work, you starve.

The main character Benny is a little ehh for me. He's not set in who he is. Sure it could be cause he's 15, but one minute he hates the zombies and then in the next he's crying for them and wants Tom to save them. I would like him to be a more solid character. He's kind of too emotional.

So, I'm enjoying the novel but I don't think it's going to be one of my favorite zombie books. The cover is really cool and freaky though. Also I love how on the hardcover edition there are random zombie cards and then in the book it describes those zombie cards. Just cool to be introduced to a character and then be able to flip back to the zombie card to get an illustration of what they look like.

In My Mailbox/Book Haul 16 (plus extras)

Back with another In My Mailbox/Book Haul. In My Mailbox is a bookish meme hosted by the storysiren, where we show off all the great books we got for the week. So, now for the great books I added to my already overflowing shelves. The video of said haul will be below...

Now for the books in list form. It consists of books that I bought, with two library books at the end.

1. Dark Lover BY J.R. Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1. An adult urban fantasy/romance series)
2. Lover Eternal BY J.R. Ward (BDB 2)
3. Lover Awakened BY J.R. Ward (BDB 3)
4. Lover Revealed BY J.R. Ward (BDB 4)
5. Insurgent BY Veronica Roth (sequel to Divergent)
6. Wake BY Amanda Hocking (first in a new series)
7. High School Bites BY Heather Brewer (contains Eighth Grade Bites- Book 1 of Vladimir Tod Series and First Kill- Book 1 in The Slayer Chronicles)
8. Night Circus BY Erin Morgenstern
9. Temptation BY R.L. Stine (contains Goodnight Kiss, Goodnight Kiss 2, and "The Vampire Club")
10. The Peculiars BY: Maureen Doyle McQuerry
11. Dust & Decay BY Jonathan Maberry (sequel to Rot & Ruin. ZOMBIESSSS!)

So that's it. Hope your week was just as great as mine. Leave a comment if you want and tell me the awesome goodies you got this week. Hope your day is fantastic and as always...

HAPPY READING!

Review of: The Walking Dead: Compendium One

Title: The Walking Dead: Compendium One
Authors: Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Tony Moore, Cliff Rathburn
Published by: Image Comics, Inc.
Released: 2010

Summary: Rick Grimes wakes up from a coma into a world that has been overrun by zombies. Through a miracle, Rick finds his family alive, camped out with a band of survivors. Rick becomes leader of the group and undertakes the responsibility of finding food and shelter. This band of survivors must live in this zombie infested world and find out what it truly means to be human. This collection combines the first 8 books, 48 issues of the phenomenon that is The Walking Dead.

My Thoughts: After reading this, I realized that I'm a bigger fan of the show then the graphic novels. I still enjoyed the story though.

Maybe my problem was that the show changed things from the original work. The show went on a more entertaining journey then the actual comic did. Characters that I loved the show rubbed me the wrong way in the graphic novel. Like Rick Grimes, some of the decisions made in the book turned him into a colder person that I didn't connect with as much.

Now, I know this book is about zombies and the small band of survivors, so I expect some death. I just didn't like the crazy amount of death. In that way, it was like the last Harry Potter book. It had me yelling WHY! 

Another thing that bothered me about all the death is that they would kill off characters and then just introduce new ones. That just didn't seem smart or believable because it's the zombie apocalypse. The surviving humans will eventually die out, so it seems unwise to have someone die every ten pages or so.

I did enjoy it, mostly because I'm a fan of the show. The graphic novel sort of reminded me of Cormac McCarthy's The Road. It had that same sort of feeling to it. All in all, the graphic novel version was O.K. I do have to give it props because it gave the inspiration for a great show that I'm very addicted to. Recommended reading for zombie lovers. But that ending! I just read 8 books in a row and then you leave me with a To Be Continued! grrr... not cool.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3/5

The T.V. Show trumps the comic

July Favorites! (so late edition)

Another month has bit the dust, so it's that time again to look back and pick out my favorites for July. I read 6 books for July (yayy!). So I met my goal. I read a lot of zombie themed books for the month with some detours. So, now for the books that left a feeling of happiness within me.

Title: The Girl in the Steel Corset

Author: Kady Cross

This book introduced me to the world and genre that is steampunk, and I loved it! I enjoyed the band of characters and the twisted Victorian world. I'm now gearing myself up (haha see what I did there. Clocks, gears, steampunk... aww forget it.) for the sequel. I want more Jack Dandy!

Title: Intertwined

Author: Gena Showalter

This book offered up a smorgasbord of supernatural delights. Highly enjoyable and I am looking forward to continuing on with the series. A zombie even made an appearance.

Title: The First Days: As the World Dies 1

Author: Rhiannon Frater

A fantastic zombie book. Loved it! It was everything I wanted in a zombie book and I'm reading the sequel next. I highly recommend this book to all zombie lovers!

So that's it for my reading month of July. I deem it as successful. Now on to August!

In My Mailbox/Book Haul 15

Back with more books! I've been out of shelf room for a long time, but that never seems to stop me from buying more. This week, I got one library book and then went on a paperback bonanza. The video of my recent purchases will be posted below this text. And as always, In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at thestorysiren.com where we show off all the bookish things we got for the week.

Now for the books in list form, starting with my lone library book.

1. Fighting to Survive BY Rhiannon Frater (Book 2 in the As the World Dies Trilogy. Loved the first one and hope the second is just as good.)
2. Blood Lite III: Aftertaste Edited BY: Kevin J. Anderson
3. Tarnished BY Karina Cooper (first in a new series. Steampunk I think)
4. Dead Until Dark BY Charlaine Harris (#1 in Sookie Stackhouse Series)
5. Living Dead in Dallas BY Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse #2)
6. Club Dead BY Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse #3)
7. Dead to the World BY Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse #4)
8. Red-Headed Stepchild BY Jaye Wells
9. Nightshade BY Michelle Rowen
10. Grave Sight BY Charlaine Harris (first book in Harper Connelly Mysteries)
11. Minion BY L.A. Banks (1st book in the Vampire Huntress Legends)
12. I Am Number Four BY Pittacus Lore (Book 1 in the Lorien Legacies. Cool Movie Cover Edition!)
13. The Power of Six BY Pittacus Lore (Book 2 in the Lorien Legacies)

Well that's it for the books this week. I'm excited for them all. Books make me happy :D. Hope your week was good to you on the book front and as always...

HAPPY READING!

Review of The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Title: The Girl in the Steel Corset

Author: Kady Cross

Published by: Harlequin TEEN

Released: 2011

Summary: Finley Jayne is just trying to survive, but she has a problem of keeping employed. Not only are the sons of dukes and lords complete cads, they also make Finley angry, and when Finley is angry her dark side is unleashed. After beating up Felix August-Raynes, Finley goes on the run and unintentionally crosses paths with Griffin King. Griffin is intrigued by Finley and offers her a place to stay and help for her problems. Finley accepts and becomes part of a group of enhanced kids. Emily, a mechanical genius, Sam enhanced and super strong, and Jasper the quickest cowboy around (admittedly, cowboys are a rare find in England). Finley teams up with these super kids to stop a villain named The Machinist, who uses automatons for evil. Finley and her friends must take down The Machinist and save the Queen before it's too late.

My Thoughts: This was my first foray into the genre known as Steampunk, and I really enjoyed the ride and plan on reading more of it. My favorite part of The Girl in the Steel Corset was the world Kady Cross introduced me to. It was so vivid and real with an exciting twist. I loved the mixture of Victorian 1800 society with robots and technology. Just very cool to read. The Steampunk world has become one of my favorites.

I enjoyed Cross's band of misfit characters as a whole. Individually, some of them gave me some problems, but as a group they were pretty awesome. My two favorites would have to be Emily and Jasper. They were the two most solid of the bunch, but sometimes Cross played into overused stereotypes. I also really liked Jack Dandy and wished for more of his story. The characters of Finley and Sam kind of annoyed me. I wished Finley would have merged the two sides of herself sooner so she could have been one cool character throughout the book instead of a character who was cool sometimes and boring the other times. Sam annoyed me because I was misled from the synopsis of him being part robot (he wasn't) and he was acting like a baby through the majority of the book.

The story of the book was pretty good. It started off with a bang and the ending scenes were very good. It was a little easy to figure out who the villain was though.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. The steampunk world was awesome to read about and the cast of character's as a whole were impressive. I will definitely be reading more steampunk in the near future.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

Robots in Victorian England... Cool!

In My Mailbox/Book Haul 14

Back with another IMM/Book Haul. If you want to watch the video, it will be below these words. Hope you enjoy all the shiny, new books I got!

Now for the books in list form

1. Little Shop of Homicide BY Denise Swanson (looks fun)
2. The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch (Book 1) BY Joseph Delaney
3. Early to Death, Early to Rise BY Kim Harrison (#2 in series)
4. Breakdown BY Sara Paretsky (mysterious)
5. The Immortal Rules BY Julie Kagawa (:D)
6. Darkfever BY Karen Marie Moning (#1 in Fever series)
7. Cocktails for Three BY Madeleine Wickham
8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone BY J.K. Rowling (Hardcover quest complete!)
9. Blood Promise (#4 in VA series) BY Richelle Mead
10. Last Sacrifice (#6 in VA series) BY Richelle Mead

Well that's all I got for the week. Hope your week was booktastic and as always...

HAPPY READING!