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Saturday, August 22, 2009

In My Mailbox: Week August 17th-August 22nd

The following books made their way to my house over this past week--

For Review-
Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
Publication Date: March 23rd 2010 (Egmont USA)

Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him.

In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers. Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry.

Wish You Were Dead by Todd Strasser

Publication Date: September 22nd 2009 (Egmont USA)
Str-S-d:I’ll begin with Lucy. She is definitely first on the list. You can’t believe how it feels to be in the cafeteria and turn around and there she is staring at me like I’m some disgusting bug or vermin. Does she really think I WANT to be this way? I hate you, Lucy. I really hate you. You are my #1 pick. I wish you were dead.The day after anonymous blogger Str-S-d wishes the popular girl would die, Lucy vanishes. The students of Soundview High are scared and worried. Especially frightened and wracked with guilt is Madison Archer, Lucy’s friend and the last person to see her the night she disappeared.As days pass with no sign of the missing girl, even the attention of Tyler, an attractive new student, is not enough to distract Madison from her growing sense of foreboding. When two more popular students disappear after their names are mentioned on Str-S-d’s blog, the residents of Soundview panic. Meanwhile, Madison receives anonymous notes warning that she could be next. Desperate to solve the mystery before anyone else disappears, Madison turns to Tyler, but can she trust him when it becomes clear that he knows more than he’s sharing?The clock is ticking. Madison must uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearances . . . before her name appears in Str-S-d’s blog.

In the spirit of stories like I Know What You Did Last Summer, Todd Strasser updates the teen thriller for the techno age with Wish You Were Dead, the first installment in a new “thrill”-ogy.

Stealing Death by Janet Lee Carey
Publication Date: September 8th 2009 (Egmont USA)

“I want that soul sack,” he said suddenly. "

What?” the witch asked around the scrap of meat she was chewing.

“I want it so no one I love will ever, ever, ever have to go inside again.”

“It’s not for mortal hands to have.” The witch spat out a bit of bone.

"You know magic. Give me the power to steal the sack.”

When fire steals his family from him, Kipp is left with only his little sister to protect as best he can, and he’s determined that death will not come to her–or to the girl he loves but can never approach. But who would dare to master death? As Kipp finds out, it’s complicated, and possession of the soul sack is no guarantee of success. Dragon’s Keep author Janet Lee Carey has crafted a stirring and original fantasy set in a harsh and beautiful desert landscape, in which a young man who has lost everything finds the strength within himself to care for those he loves–and to allow those he cannot keep close to him to take a path he cannot follow.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Publication Date: December 22nd 2009 (Egmont USA)

A prodigal son
A dangerous love
A deadly secret . . .

I stood back and watched his movements. Daniel had that way about him that could shut me down in an instant. . . . I kicked the gravel a couple of times and worked up my courage again. “Tell me . . . I mean . . . why did you come back? Why now, after all this time?”

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber

Publication Date: August 25th 2009
What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Considering how few of Queen Victoria’s Londoners knew of it, the great Romanesque fortress was dreadfully imposing, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met the powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadow, the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She knew simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow-white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gifts. But this arched stone doorway offered a portal to a new life, an education far from the convent—and an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death…

Ash by Malinda Lo
Publication Date: September 1st 2009 (Little, Brown Young Readers)

In the wake of her father’s death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, re-reading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King’s Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash’s capacity for love—and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

Entrancing and romantic, Ash is an empowering retelling of Cinderella about choosing life and love over solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

Soulstice by Simon Holt
Publication Date: September 1st 2009 (Little, Brown Young Readers)

The terrifying, nail-biting, and grossly intriguing sequel toThe Devouring.

It's been six months since Reggie first discovered and fought against the Vours, malicious and demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on the eve of the Winter Solstice.

The Vours still haunt Reggie, but only in her dreams-until one night, when an unexpected visitor turns her nightmares into reality.

The battle against evil continues in Soulstice, the second book in the thrilling The Devouring series, which School Library Journal called, "Comparable to books by R. L. Stine and Stephen King....A must-have for horror fans."


Thank you to the wonderful people at Egmont and Little Brown for my books this week! I'll be busy reading!

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren, where we talk about what books we got over the past week (store purchases/mailbox deliveries/library, etc)









22 comments:

~The Book Pixie said...

Wow! I really want The Dark Divine and Brightly Woven. The cover on Brightly Woven is GORGEOUS! Hope you enjoy your new books! :D

~Briana

Rebecca Herman said...

You got some great books. I hadn't heard of Brightly Woven before and now I really want to read it! Thanks for bring it to my attention.

Jess (The Cozy Reader) said...

I sooo want The Dark Divine! I emailed the publisher letting them know I'm very interested in reading and reviewing on my blog! I hope they send me a copy!

Eleni said...

Kim! Awesome books! Happy Reading, looking forward to your reviews..

The Obsessive Reader said...

You got so many good books: The Dark Divine, Ash, Soulstice. I'm very jealous!

Adele said...

That's a nice haul you have there. I look forward to reading what you think!

Lauren said...

Wish You Were Dead sounds potentially brilliant. I'm most coveting Ash though! Enjoy your books. :)

So Many Books, So Little Time said...

I really want to read The dark Divine and Ash. They look so good! Enjoy your books!

Rebecca said...

Great books you got this week. I really like the sound of Wish you were dead. Hope you enjoy reading all your books.

Unknown said...

Lots of great books. Wish You Were Dead looks good. Happy reading! :)

Amy said...

Ash looks so good and so does The Dark Divine, Happy reading!

Nancy said...

Yeay! You had a great amount of books. I hope you enjoy all your great reads. I cannot wait for your reviews

Marie said...

wow-so many good releases! The Dark Divine sounds awesome!

Lizzy said...

I'm so jealous, you got a bunch of great books this week :) I can't wait to read The Dark Divine, it looks awesome. Happy reading!

Sab H. said...

Great week! Can wait to know what you think of Dark Divine.. I have mixed feelings about it. Happy reading!

Jazz said...

You have so many amazing reads! Stealing Death and of course Percy Parker are two I can't wait to read. Brightly Woven sounds very interesting as well. Happy Reading!

anotherpageisused said...

I really want to read Wish You Were Dead!

But I got Ash this week too. I'm so excited to read it.

Happy Reading(:

-Lexi

Katie said...

"Brightly Woven" has such a great cover! I can't believe I haven't heard of it before...

Happy reading!

HODGEPODGESPV said...

i so look forward to a couple of those reviews!!

prophecygirl said...

Ash and The Dark Devine both sound great. Enjoy!

Fantastic Book Review said...

I loved The Dark Divine! Can't wait to see what you think about it! I'm looking forward to reading Brightly Woven - I hear we have another bad boy on our hands. Happy Reading!

Anonymous said...

Soulstice, Ash look really good. Brightly Woven looks divine. Happy reading!