In My Mailbox (1)

**IMM is hosted by The Story Siren**


This is my first IMM post!  I always enjoy checking out all of the IMM posts @ The Story Siren's site.  I did get some awesome books this week, so I figured that I would do a post myself!

I am so excited to say that I received a signed arc copy of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick!!  I cannot wait to read this.  I have read a lot of blogger reviews and I can't wait to meet Patch myself!  Hush, Hush has officially moved up on my "to read" list to NEXT!  I also have another arc copy of this book that I would love to trade for a book off my wish list.  Comment on this post if interested.

I received Girl In The Arena by Lise Haines!  This book sounds great!  The summary reminds me of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and The Maze Runner by James Dashner (reading Maze Runner now and so far it ROCKS!).  Check out the Compulsive Reader's site www.thecompulsivereader.com for an awesome and hilarious youtube video in praise of Girl In The Arena!

I also give many thanks to Alyssa @ The Shady Glade for giving me a copy of Revealers by Amanda Marrone.  I have been wanting to read this for a while and now I can!!  Thanks Alyssa!

Happy Reading Everyone!
Jen

Anyone want to swap with me??

I have an extra arc copy of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and I am looking to swap with someone for a book that I don't have.  I am desperate for a few reads (Darklight, Fallen, The Dark Divine, The Mark, The Body Finder and Bleeding Violet) and would love to swap if someone is interested in my copy of Hush, Hush.  Just leave me a comment with your email address and I will get in touch with you!

Thanks!
Jennifer

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater is the highly anticipated sequel to Lament.  Let me begin by saying I really loved Lament!  It is one of my favorite books, so naturally I have been counting the days until I could get my hands on Ballad. This book was worth the wait!  Ballad Rocked!!  I fell in love with James in Lament and was left wanting more from his character... Ballad delivered in a big way!

The story begins with James, a music prodigy/bagpiper/reluctant psychic,  adjusting to life at Thornking-Ash School of Music.  He and Dee (his best friend and powerful Cloverhand) both decided to attend there after the events that took place over the summer in Lament.  James is still suffering in silence over his unrequited love for Dee.  Dee is miserable and distant over the loss of her boyfriend Luke, who now lives amongst the faeries in order to stay alive.  This distance between James and Dee provides the perfect opportunity for Nuala, a faerie that feeds off human creativity, to enter James' life.  Nuala is drawn to James through his music but she soon finds out that there may be more behind this undeniable pull she feels to him.  As they collaborate together on a beautiful and haunting musical composition, James and Nuala begin to have feelings for each other that neither thought possible.  Unfortunately, as Halloween approaches Thornking-Ash is overrun with faeries and the haunting song of the horned king of the dead.  James must look deep within himself and make the hardest decision of his life if he wants to save not only himself, but Nuala and Dee.

Ballad is a powerful, romantic, sad, funny and fascinating story.  Maggie Stiefvater does a great job developing her characters so that the reader feels a connection to them.  James is so magnetic!  I love his quirky personality, sharp tongue and unassuming charm.  He is just cool!!  I also like the way that the point of view alternates between James and Nuala.  I believe this gives the reader a much better insight into the main characters.  I really hope there is a third book planned for this series.  I haven't heard anything yet, but I am keeping my fingers crossed!

My "To Read" stack just got better!!!

I never win anything...usually!  I just found out that I won a copy of Night Runner by Max Turner from www.thestorysiren.com!!!  WooHoo!!!  How awesome is that?!  Thanks again to The Story Siren.  I also picked up some great books this weekend to add to my ever growing pile of TBRs.  Here is what I got:

The Van Alan Legacy by Melissa De La Cruz
Night Runner by Max Turner
Fire by Kristin Cashore
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

I am DYING to read all of these so check back soon for my reviews!

Thanks!
Jennifer

Thirst No.1 by Christopher Pike

Thirst No.1 by Christopher Pike is way more than I expected! This book stands out as an original among a genre bursting at the seams with books that seem to retell the same story with different character names.  Thirst No.1 contains the first three books in Pike's "The Last Vampire" series.  This series was around long before the "Twilight" craze started (originally published in the 90's) and is fortunately being rereleased!  The author's writing is seamless and the characters are so well developed that you feel like you know them personally.  The main character, Sita, is so believable.  You can feel her age and wisdom through her words and you can feel her loneliness radiating from the pages.  She has lived since the dawn of history and believes that she is the last of her kind.  She has made her way through thousands of years virtually invisible and plans to keep it that way.  All is well until she is called into a private investigator's office for questioning.  Sita then realizes that someone out there knows about her and could threaten exposing her as a vampire.  As the story unfolds Sita's life and the lives of countless others are placed in jeopardy.  An old enemy presumed dead long ago may have returned.  If that is the case then Sita will go from being the ultimate predator to being the prey.

This story is woven with romance, action, spirituality, violence and redemption.  Sita's journey is not made alone.  The characters she encounters in the present and the characters you meet from her past all help make this book so enjoyable.  I am really looking forward to the last three stories in this series that will be included in "Thirst No.2" due for release in January 2010.  Believe me..... this book is worth your time and money!!

Skellig By David Almond

I picked this book up while browsing at my local public library.  I usually only check out YA books, but this came up when I was doing a search on their computer.  It was in the children's section, but I decided to give it a try since it was an award-winner.  I am glad I did!

Skelling by David Almond is a story about a young boy named Michael.  He and his family just moved into a new house that is in a state of major disrepair.  His mother just gave birth to his baby sister prematurely and she is sick and struggling to live.  Michael is trying to come to terms with all of these changes when he makes an amazing discovery.  While snooping around in the family's dilapidated garage he finds a mysterious man covered with dust, cobwebs and filth sitting on the floor wasting away to nothing.  Michael soon realizes that this man isn't really a man, but what is he?   Michael confides his secret to the only one he trusts to believe him,  his eccentric and lovable neighbor Mina.  Together they forge a relationship with this mysterious man, named Skellig,  and discover that there is far more to him than meets the eye.  Skellig has a profound effect on Michael and Mina.  Through their relationship with him they learn about the enormous power of love, the fragility of life and the importance of family.

I found this book very thought provoking and original.  The author's writing was so beautiful and the characters were identifiable to the target adolescent audience.  The book contained a wonderful mixture of humor, adventure and mystery.  The poetry of William Blake was woven perfectly throughout the book which added to its appeal as well.  I loved the vulnerability that Michael showed.  I think it is important to show adolescent boys that it is ok to express your feelings, that it is ok to cry and that it is ok to be who you are.  This would be a wonderful book to read aloud to your children.

1998 Carnegie Medal winner
1998 Whitbread Book Award
1999 Los Angeles Times Book Prize
2000 Michael L. Printz Award
2000 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award
2002 Young Reader's Choice Award-Intermediate division

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

                       ***5 HUGE stars***

I have been anxiously awaiting "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Colllins for so long!  I count "The Hunger Games" as one of my all-time favorite reads and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it's sequel.  This book was definitely worth the wait!  Suzanne Collins has created a world that draws you in completely.  I became totally invested in each character and read the book at a furious pace in order to see the outcome for all of them.  The book has so many plot twists that I didn't see coming!

The book begins shortly after the last Hunger Games ended.  Katniss and Peeta are preparing for their"victory tour" through the districts.  In order to survive the last games, Katniss and Peeta convinced the world that they were in love with one another and challenged the Capitol by forcing them to declare two winners or they would kill themselves and there would be no winner.  The scheme worked and they were both crowned victors.  Unfortunately, forcing the Capitol's hand to do anything has dire consequences!  Katniss realizes how dire these consequences could be in "Catching Fire".  While preparing for her tour she gets an unlikely visitor who informs her of potential rebellion in the districts.  This is said to be a result of her and Peeta's actions in the arena.  She now must convince the world that the love between her and Peeta is real or everything and everyone she loves will suffer.  Katniss had hoped to return to her 'old' life after the games- one that included Gale, her best friend/soulmate, but once again the Capitol is controlling her life.  She is forced to publicly profess her undying love to Peeta and become a pawn in the Capitol's game again.

The journey this book takes you on is intense!  It is a roller coaster of action, anger, manipulation, rebellion, romance, betrayal and suspense.  While reading I felt like I was there in Panem.  The author has created a vivid world and the characters are so well developed that you feel strongly for them.  I loved every page of "Catching Fire" and am once again on pins and needles waiting for the next one!