In My Mailbox (34)

In My Mailbos is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren.

-

I got four books this week:

-

1. The Night Circus by Eric Morgenstern

2. The Woman In Black by Susan Hill

-

-

3. The Language Of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
4. The Particular Sadness Of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender

-

-

I've been walking past The Night Circus for weeks now and every time I do I pick it up but then put it back down again. I eventually caved though and realised I just had to let by curiosity takes its course. I've heard great things about it! I also picked up The Woman In Black this week; mainly becasue of the upcoming Daniel Radcliffe film based on the book which looks awesome and creepy. I've also decided that this is the book I'm going to read for Halloween this year. The Language of Flowers and The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake are books I've been drawn to for weeks as well and I finally picked them up. Not only that but one of my favourite youtubers (CuriosityRocks) gave great reviews on them :) What di you get this week?

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Beautiful creatures called monsters live in the Dells. Monsters have the shape of normal animals: mountain lions, dragonflies, horses, fish. But the hair or scales or feathers of monsters are gorgeously coloured - fuchsia, turquoise, sparkly bronze, iridescent green - and their minds have the power to control the minds of humans.

-

Seventeen-year-old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster in the Dells. Gorgeously monstrous in body and mind but with a human appreciation of right and wrong, she is hated and mistrusted by just about everyone, and this book is her story.

-

I loved Graceling and I'm so thrilled that Fire was even better!

-

Fire is the only remaining half-human, half-monster left in the Dells. Her immense beauty and mind powers are what set her apart in a world where the people are suspicious and terrified of her but can't help being drawn to her. But unlike the monsters in this dangerous world, Fire is adamant that her powers will not be used for harm or deceitfulness in the same way her father used them.

-

I loved that we are still linked to the world of Graceling in Fire, with the Dells in the same world as the Seven Kingdoms. The people of The Seven Kingdoms are completely unaware that there is another Kingdom not that far away that is full of deadly monsters in the same way the Dells are unaware that there is a place where there are people with different coloured eyes that possess extraordinary powers and are known as Gracelings. Both are deadly and fraught with dangers and risks but at the heart is the same drive for freedom and independence that our heroines strive for.

-

Fire is an extraordinary character. She only uses her powers for her own survival. She evokes this sense of respect and admiration for her. All she wants is a simple life; learning and playing music and hunting with her best friend Archer but she has to constantly be on the alert and keep her dazzling hair under wraps for fear she will be recognized and attacked by other monsters or even obsessed and jealous people. She never acts like she is more deserving or better than anyone else and realises that the emotions and feelings of everybody else are as valid as her own. So not only is she starkly powerful, she is also a very human heroine.

-

Another character that I loved was Brigan. He has this roguish charm about him that makes him instantly attractive. He is brave and courageous in the face of an impending war in The Seven Kingdoms and has the same values as Fire. The romance between Fire and Brigan is touching and passionate without being over the top and all absorbing. At first Brigan judges Fire before he has a chance to get to know her because of his previous encounters with her father, Cansrel, and he has a preconceived stereotype of all monsters and as a result is unwilling to show Fire any kindness at first. However, he slowly allows his guard and mental wall to crumble when he understands that Fire isn't like her father and doesn't want to harm anyone.

-

What amazed me though was how Kristin Cashore made Archer a likable character. He thinks way too much of himself and he's also a complete rake and yet he has this vulnerability about him that makes you want to comfort him, especially when he realises that he will never get the one and only thing he truly cares about. Cashore's ability to create utterly believable and likable characters is astounding. You really care what happens to them. She is also able to create totally evil characters. This comes in the form of the disturbing and malicious Leck who we were introduced to in Graceling. This time you find out about his early years and he once again plays an integral part in the story.

-

I couldn't recommend Fire highly enough. With an intricate plot, fantastic world building with a complex political structure and history, and beautiful and vivid descriptions it makes for a very addictive and satisfying read. I can't wait for the next companion novel called Bitterblue!

-

-

Random Passage: "There is nothing unnatural in this world," he said. "An unnatural thing is a thing that could never happen in nature. I happened. I am natural and the things I want are natural. The power of your mind, and your beauty, even when you've been drugged in the bottom of a boat for two weeks, covered in grime with your face purple and green - your unnatural beauty is natural. Nature is horrifying."

In My Mailbox (33)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren.

-

I got two books this week:

-

1. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

2. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkins

-

-

I'm so excited for these books! I loved Anna and the French Kiss and I've been waiting all year for the release of Lola and the Boy Next Door and I'm so happy I've got a chance to read it now. Only problem is, I'm now anticipating Isla and the Happily Ever After. Never satisfied! Also, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is another hotly anticipated book that has been hyped to the heavens and I'm so excited to read it and only hope it's as good as everybody says it is :-)

Top Ten Tuesdays

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This weeks list is:

-

Top Ten Books I wish I could read again for the first time

-

1.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling - I'm guessing this one is present on almost every list this week. My favourite Harry Potter is Goblet of Fire but I would still without a doubt would love to read Deathly Hallows for the first time again. It brings the whole series together and finally answered the ultimate question of who would win, Harry or Voldemort?

-

2. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - The ending to this one was completely unexpected and a total shocker. Not once did I ever guess the final revelation and I would love to be left amazed and speechless again after such an amazing ending.

-

3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - My favourite of all of Austen's work. To read the romance and growing tensions between Elizabeth and Darcy for the first time would be awesome.

-

4. The High Lord by Trudi Canavan - The third and final installment in Canavan's Black Magician trilogy was the best in my opinion. We finally get to see what happens to Sonea!

-

5. Paper Towns by John Green - This was the first John Green novel I read and it's still my favourite. I loved Margo's character and the exploration of her state of mind about the society she lives in.

-

6. Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier - A fantastic atmospheric story that reminded me of Jane Eyre but is amazing in its own right. I actually got this book from the real Jamaica Inn in Cornwall :) (Although sadly it is more of a tourist trap now).

-

7. Northern Lights by Philip Pullman - This is the first in the His Darkest Materials trilogy. We are introduced to Lyra and her wonderful daemon Pantalaimon and the magical and dangerous world they live in.

-

8. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead - My favourite of The Vampire Academy series. The chemistry between Rose and Dimitri is sizzling. The story ends on a massive cliffhanger that leaves you gasping at what just happened.

-

9. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell - An epic and sweeping story. Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler are fascinating characters and the chemistry between them is so frustrating but equally special.

-

10. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - I think this one might be a given on most lists as well. The completely captivating and action packed start to the trilogy only left me wanting more. It was nothing like I'd ever read before.

-

This is the first time I've took part in this meme and I really enjoyed it! It has brought back so many memories from the books I have read and loved. I can't wait to re-read them all now!

Rivers Of London by Ben Aaronovitch

My name is Peter Grant. Until January I was just another probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service, and to everyone else as the Filth. My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit - We do paperwork so real coppers don't have to - and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Lesley May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from a man who was dead, but disturbingly voluble, and that brought me to the attention of Chief inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England. And that, as they say, is where the story begins.

-

Now I'm a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated. I'm dealing with nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and godess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden - and that's just routine. There's something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious, vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair.

-

The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it's falling to me to bring order out of chaos - or die trying. Which, I don't mind telling you, would involve a hell of a lot of paperwork.

-

I had been noticing this book everytime I walked into a bookshop, so much so it was as if it was stalking me. A quote from author Diana Gabaldon described it as what would happen if Harry Potter grew up and joined the Fuzz. Immediately this made me skeptical but also highly interested, so when I spotted it in my local library I finally picked it up. After reading it I can definitely agree with Diana Gabaldon!

-

Peter Grant is your average police officer. He is anxiously waiting to hear what area of the police force he will progress to and unluckily he is promoted to the Case Progression Unit, the one he was dreading. Well that is until he ends up taking a witness statement from a 'ghost' and is then transferred to a new area that he didn't even know existed. Now under the supervision of Chief Inspector Nightingale he is learning magic and has become the first trainee wizard in ages. Not only does he have to come with terms with the fact that London has a magical underbelly he has to deal with a menacing spirit taking hold of the city and turning normal people into murderous criminals.

-

The first thing I noticed whilst reading is how funny this book is. It's full of wit and sarcasm that made me laugh out loud. It also really captured the essence of the dark and gritty setting of London and portrayed it as the diverse and chaotic city it is. I really enjoyed the magic and supernatural side of the story and only wish there was more of it. The magic aspect isn't complex at all and has a very practical approach that you are eased into gently and you definitely get the feeling that you are learning it along with Peter Grant, but have also only just scraped the surface of what is possible.

-

I really liked the main character, Peter Grant. He was funny, friendly and a little naive and goofy at the same time. He is very eager to do well in his work but just like all us British, he has a penchant to grumble and moan about it. I also really enjoyed the detective parts of the story and the suspensful actions scenes where Peter and Lesley are either fighting off possessed murderers or are racing to stop a murder being comitted. There was some grusome and gory scenes that left you shocked at the severity of the crime scenes.

-

Lesley was another interesting and likable character with a sarcastic streak. However, I did feel how it ended left Lesley's character out of the loop a bit. She was sort of cast off to the side like she hadn't been a crucial part of the story which she did. Also, the ending did feel a bit anti-climatic to me and a little bit muddled, maybe a little too fast paced. The actual revelation of the malicious spirit wasn't something I would have ever guessed, and while unique and very creepy, it wasn't something that felt especially exciting or interesting to me but I suppose that could have been a personal preference.

-

This was a great urban fantasy. A fast, fun, easy read and while it wasn't something I was totally immersed in I did enjoy the ride. I'm definitely interested to see what's in store for Detective Constable Peter Grant in the sequel, Moon Over Soho.

-

.5

-

Random Passage: It started at one thirty on a cold Tuesday morning in January when Martin Turner, street performer and, in his own words, apprentice gigolo, tripped over a body in front of the West Portico of St Paul's at Covent Garden. Martin, who was none too sober himself, at first thought the body was that of one of the many celebrants who had chosen the Piazza as a convenient outdoor toilet and dormitory. Being a seasoned Londoner, Martin gave the body the 'London once-over' - a quick glance to determine whether this was a drunk, a crazy or a human being in distress. The fact that is was entirely possible for someone to be all three simultaneously is why good-Samaritanism in London is considered an extreme sport - like base-jumping or crocodile-wrestling. Martin, noting the good-quality coat and shoes, had just pegged the body as a drunk when he noticed that it was in fact missing its head.

In My Mailbox (32)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren.

-

It's been ages since I've done an In My Mailbox because I haven't been getting any books but it feels like all the books I've been pining for have come out at the end of September and start of October all at once. So I got four book this week:

-

1. The Name Of The Star by Maureen Johnson

2. Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

-

-

3. Daughter Of Smoke And Bone by Laini Taylor

4. Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

-

-

I'm so excited for all these books and I can't wait to read them. I've read all of Maureen Johnson's other books so it was a given I was going to pick up The Name of the Star as soon as I could and it sounds fantastically eerie with the reappearance of Jack the Ripper in modern London. I loved Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce so I couldn't wait to pick up Sweetly, her new fairytale retelling of Hansel and Gretel. I've heard nothing but great things about Daughter of Smoke and Bone and I will admit I have entirely got caught up in the hype. Finally there's Silence, the third installment in the Hush, Hush series which I love. As a bonus it is signed! I also noticed how gorgeous the covers all are. A lot of purples and silvers with a dash of red.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

-

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb - males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced int0 polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

-

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose; to escape - to find her twin brother and go home.

-

But Rhine has more to contend with then losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant she trusts, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left.

-

Oh dear. I so wanted to like this book. I had very high hopes after reading the synopsis and seeing the beautiful cover but unfortunately it just fell flat for me.

-

The whole premise is very interesting. The whole idea that some sort of virus has been unleashed across the world that abruptly shortens the lives of everybody definitely piqued my curiosity. However, we never find out how this virus was created or how it actually affects human beings other that it kills them at a definitive age. Why is it only the new generations that are affected and not the people that were already living before the virus came into effect? How is the world functioning? We only learn about the kidnapping of young women and forcing them into marriage side of things. We never find out about what plans there are to to keep the world running in respects to amenities like electricity and water, food supply, or the training and filling of skilled professions like doctors and scientists for the future when the old generations die out. How did the governments cope? Did chaos and war ensue when the virus was released? There was so much that could have been explored, but I felt like we only had a very narrow view of what was happening in this changed world.

-

I didn't particularly like Rhine as a main character. She never felt like a consistent character. It felt like she had two complete different personalities at times. I can understand that above everything else she wanted her freedom and that suddenly living in a house where she can have her every whim taken care of would make her doubt whether her freedom was really anything special. But one instant it felt like she was plotting her escape and the next it was if a switch had been flipped and she was back to being in love with Linden and not caring about her freedom or seeing her twin brother again. Instead of being the brave and determined heroine she was supposed to be portrayed as she came across as weak and a little pathetic. For me though, Linden wasn't any better. Apparently he is being hoodwinked by his father and doesn't have the slightest knowledge that at least two of his three new wives were kidnapped and forced to marry him. As far as he is concerned they willingly chose this lifestyle. I found this hard to believe because in the book he frequently attends parties and socialises with other 'husbands' that have kidnapped wives. He also seems to travel quite a bit for his architectural work so how he doesn't have even the slightest inkling that anything is wrong I can't imagine.

-

The only character's I quite liked reading about were the two sister wives. The youngest, Cecily , was annoyingly immature but I gathered that was how she was supposed to be portrayed. The eldest, Jenna, was a very interesting character who had this subdued fierceness about her. She holds firm to her hatred towards Linden but realises that she has to make do with what has happened as she hasn't got much time left. It's as if she trains her mind to go blank at everything that frustrates her and lives her life simply by taking out of it only what she cares for despite the circumstances. She manages to become at peace with her thoughts. If the book followed Jenna instead of Rhine I think I would have enjoyed it but then again I suppose it wouldn't have set up the chance for a sequel.

-

Surprisingly I actually quite like the relationship between Rhine and Gabriel. I felt it unfolded nicely and was quite sweet considering what was happening around them. Gabriel was a likable character and I would have loved to find out a bit more about him. I just wish the world had been expanded more. At one point it is mentioned that some girls are trained for these marriages in orphanages, like where Cecily came from but it never eludes what happens in them. We also learn that the oceans are poisonous but not how this affects the world or even if the virus has affected the animals. I would have loved to read more about Rhine and Rowan's time in New York city trying to survive against the kidnappers and burglars as well.

-

One thing I did get from the novel though is how talented Lauren DeStefano is with her ability to write powerful prose. She seems to have a way with words that manages to paint beautiful pictures in your mind. She really managed to portray the languid yet haunting atmosphere of the mansion they spend their days in. I also admire her for attempting to tackle risky and scary subjects in YA so I will definitely look into her other works but unfortunately I will not be continuing with The Chemical Garden trilogy. The story is chilling and creepy with a very interesting premise but ultimately it left me dissatisfied.

-

-

Random Passage: Suddenly the clouds seem high above us. They're moving over us in an arch, circling the planet. They have seen abysmal oceans and charred, scorched islands. They have seen how we destroyed the world. If I could see everything, as the clouds do, would I swirl around this remaining continent, still so full of colour and life and seasons, wanting to protect it? Or would I just laugh at the futility of it all, and meander onward, down the earth's sloping atmosphere?

Looking Back : September 2011

I read nine book this September:

-

1. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

2. I'll Never Be Young Again by Daphne Du Maurier

3. Infinity by Rachel Ward

4. The Thirteenth by G. L. Twynham

5. Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock

6. Dark Angel by Sally Beauman

7. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

8. Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

9. Wither by Lauren Destefano

-

-

I read some fantastic books this month. My favourite was probably Far From The Madding Crowd. I'd previously read Tess Of The D'Urbervilles and loved it and Far From The Madding Crowd proves to be just as good. Now usually I have to have read three books and loved them before I count the author among my favourites but I'm quite confident to put Thomas Hardy on a pedestal after only reading two of his works! I also finished off two series this month with Forever from the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy and Infinity from the Numbers trilogy and they were both great ends to their respective series especially Forever.

-

I'd had Thirteen Reasons Why on my shelf for ages and I finally got around to it this month and I really liked it. Also, Dark Angel which I have had on my shelf for over six years was finally read and I absolutely loved it (I have a review up). I'll Never Be Young was another great read but I always love anything by Daphne Du Maurier. Mythago Wood was a book I liked even though I had higher expectations for it. The Thirteenth was also a great read and I can't wait to get around to the sequel. Finally, there's Wither which was the only book I was really disappointed with, so I'm glad I got it from the library and didn't buy it, although I was tempted on many occasions by the gorgeous cover. A review should be up soon for it.

-

Lastly I went to see the adaptation of Jane Eyre at the cinema's at the start of the month and I absolutely loved it. I thought the actors portrayed the characters perfectly, especially Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester. I can't wait to get stuck into some more great books this October :)