Guest Review: The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

My Bestest Book Soulmate ever, the one and only Michele from A Belle's Tales, was kind enough to agree to review The Beginning of After for me on the blog this week.  Normally, Michele and I read the same things and then compare notes, but she's well aware that this is not my typical read, so she graciously took the ARC off my hands and obliged me with her very poignant and beautiful review below.  And this is why we're book soulmates.  :0)


                                                                                                            

Title:  The Beginning of After
Author:  Jennifer Castle
Series:  n/a
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Publication Date:  September 6, 2011
Source:  ARC
Links:  Amazon | Goodreads
Rating: 
 
From Goodreads:
 
Anyone who’s had something truly crappy happen to them will tell you: It’s all about Before and After. What I’m talking about here is the ka-pow, shake-you-to-your-core-and-turn-your-bones-to-plastic kind of crappy.
 
Sixteen-year-old Laurel’s world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel’s life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss—a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.
 
Jennifer Castle’s debut novel is a heart-wrenching, surprisingly witty testament to how drastically life can change in the span of a single moment.

Michele's Review:

I wasn’t completely certain that I wanted to read The Beginning of After, but only because I knew the subject matter would be a difficult one for me. Most of us, unfortunately, at some point in our lives have become acquainted with the tragic loss of a loved one. When I was a child, my own mother lost both of her parents in a horrific accident. When I was 11, my best friend was killed in front of me. I know how much I dreaded the “How are you‘s” (How do you think I am?) and the “I’m so sorry’s” (Why? What do you have to be sorry for?), and I wondered if Jennifer Castle would be able to communicate such a dark, depressing subject or portray the tumultuous emotions it encapsulates. Well, she can and she did. I started reading the story and after trying three times to (unsuccessfully) put it down for the night, I stayed up and finished the entire book. I love the way Jennifer writes. The way her story flows and the connection she makes you feel to each of her characters. She had me captivated from the beginning and left me thinking about it in the after. This book isn’t just about the grieving or about the loss. It’s a young girl’s story of surviving such loss. Dealing with the heartache and trying to make sense of it all. Trying to move on, but not wanting to let go. It’s about being left behind. It’s about the people who support her and the ones who, like most people, have no clue how to begin to offer that support.

“‘I’m taking it day by day.’ I liked saying this. It was honest, short, and seemed to satisfy people. ‘That’s all you can do. Are you…Do you have professional support?’

For a second I thought he was talking about my bra.”

******************************

“And then he patted me on the shoulder, the kind of pat that wanted to be a hug but knew better.”

I fully enjoyed the supporting characters in this story, especially Laurel’s wonderfully stoic grandmother who had to push her own devastation of losing her only son to the background, so that she could become the legal guardian and the stable and loving lifeline to the only grandchild she had left.

David, whose father was driving the car in the accident that not only took the life of his own mother, but Laurel’s entire family, was extremely interesting and particularly absorbing. The drastically different way that he dealt with his grief from Laurel’s was a reminder that there are no set rules in heartache. Death doesn’t come with a handbook, nor does survival. We have to get by the only way we can. The individual way that works for us.

“I've found that letting something stay broken for a little while helps me understand it.”

Meg, Joe, and Eve are all characters that I really liked and I appreciated the realistically different ways they lent their support and extended their friendships to Laurel.

Laurel didn’t want to be seen as the strong, determined girl who could overcome such a tragedy, but then she didn’t know how to feel when she wasn’t known as that girl.

“It seemed like the only way to keep breathing was to focus on the here and now, moment by moment, keeping my mind frozen cold to anything else.”

For me, the story was a therapeutic one, and, as much as you would think it might not be, an enjoyable one. Don’t be afraid to read this book because you think it will be too sad. Laurel’s story is inspiring and encouraging. Jennifer Castle’s debut book is definitely one you don’t want to miss. I look forward to reading more books from this exceptional author.

“That's the whole thing about grieving... It's part of the deal: You get to be alive and to love, but in exchange you also have to put in some serious hurt time.”



A heart-felt thanks to Michele for providing such a lovely review.  Michele is happy mom to Katertot, loves to share her adoration of all things books, and is a proud pug owner.  (Ask her to show you a picture of Lola...such a cute puppy!)

Interested in finding out more about Michele or just talking books with her?  Here's how you can find her:

A Belle's Tales | Goodreads | Twitter

Read More

Labels: contemporary, guest reviews

Uncovered - 12/22/11

Covers revealed this week:

I think we all know that when I hear the word "dystopian," my ears perk up.  So, of course I've added Chosen Ones to my TBR list.  I adore steampunk, as well, and I've started the Steampunk Chronicles already, so you know I'll be picking up The Girl in the Clockwork Collar.

Also, the trailer for the final installment of Andrea Cremer's Nightshade series, Bloodrose, is out:



I've heard such mixed reviews for Bloodrose.  I'm almost afraid to read it.  I was so excited to read Wolfsbane earlier this year but was very disappointed with it, so I'm not anticipating this last book near as much.  Especially with some of the negative comments I've seen about where the author takes the story.  I'll still give it a chance, though.

What do you think of the trailer?  Did you like Wolfsbane?  If not, are you still going to read Bloodrose?

Read More

Labels: beautiful covers, book trailers, dystopian, nightshade, steampunk, uncovered

***Merry Christmas from Epic Reads***

Christmas has come early this year!  Harper Teen is offering up the following titles for $0.99 each during their Epic Deals promotion from 12/20/11 through 1/30/12:





Unearthly by Cynthia Hand - Amazon | B&N
Vesper by Jeff Sampson - Amazon | B&N
Hereafter by Tara Hudson - Amazon | B&N
Bumped by Megan McCafferty - Amazon | B&N
The Unidentified by Rae Mariz - Amazon | B&N
The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood - Amazon | B&N
Entwined by Heather Dixon - Amazon | B&N
Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski - Amazon | B&N
Withering Tights by Louise Rennison - Amazon | B&N
Lucky by Rachel Vail - Amazon | B&N

I've read quite a few of these, but I am definitely going to take this opportunity to check out the others! And it never hurts to have an extra copy on the Nook for a re-read. :D

Read More

Labels: ebook deals, epic reads, holidays

Review: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Title:  Touch of Power
Author:  Maria V. Snyder
Series:  Healer
Publisher:  Mira
Publication Date:  December 20, 2011
Source:  publisher via Netgalley
Links:  Amazon | Goodreads
Rating: 

From Goodreads:

 Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

 Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...

Review:

Other than the Study series, I’ve not read anything else by Maria V. Snyder. I LOVED the Study series, though, and so I was worried that I could not possibly enjoy Touch of Power more than that. I was wrong to have worried.

I loved the pacing of this novel, as well as the entire premise. It was very difficult to put this book down, once I finally allowed myself to get into it. Though, I do have to admit that I noticed some similarities to the Study series: (1) what I like to call the Man in Black character (a la Wesley from The Princess Bride – my most favorite movie ever…in other words, mysterious but handsome), (2) a formulaic love story, and (3) that whole “all magicians are bad” (or at least really creepy and dangerous) thing. But rather than detracting from the story, having that familiarity actually helped me acquiesce to this book. I drew many parallels between characters, but in the end it was kind of comforting. It made me want to go back and re-read the Study series…and move the rest of Snyder’s works up to the top of my TBR list.

This author writes some of the greatest characters I’ve ever read. Avry’s character was just what I’m looking for in a protagonist. She’s strong but soft-hearted, and she does what has to be done, even if it puts her life at risk. The supporting characters made this story even better. The troop of men start out as Avry’s protectors so that she may heal their friend, but in the end, they become something more like family. The fact that they can overcome their perceived prejudices against Healers goes a long way toward building their bond with Avry, with even Kerrick (my Man in Black, if you will) beginning to see Avry in a different light.

But if the Healer’s companions are good and trustworthy, then her enemies are deliciously evil. I’m finding it harder and harder not to fall, at least to some degree, for the bad guys in books. Why do they always have to be so pretty? It makes it hard to hate them. I guess if it was easy, though, the story wouldn’t be much fun. And, boy, does Tohon make this novel interesting.

Touch of Power is a fabulous start to a new series. The magic, the friendships, and the chase all make for one captivating novel. While I’m waiting for the next installment, I’ll take the opportunity to catch up on the Glass and the Insider series and see what else I’ve been missing. But I recommend you pick this book up, especially if you enjoy YA novels with high fantasy that are a little less Y and a little more A.

Read More

Labels: healer, maria v. snyder, reviews

In My Mailbox #12

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.  It's a weekly meme where we all get to brag about the books and swag we got in the mail, for review, won in contests, etc.




For Review:

So, apparently the folks at Macmillan Audio have discovered my addiction to audiobooks because this week, they sent me the following:

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson






Also, for review, from Harlequin via Netgalley:

New Girl by Paige Harbison

  
Purchased/Freebies:

Treachery:  A Nightshade Novella by Andrea Cremer
Tomorrow is Today: A Tempest Prequel by Julie Cross
Tortured: A Birthmarked Bridge-story by Caragh M. O'Brien
Darkfever by Karen Moning
Destined by Jessie Harrell
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale





Anything good in your mailbox this week?

Read More

Labels: audiobooks, contemporary, dystopian, ebook deals, freebies, in my mailbox (imm)

TGIF #20 - Most Popular Posts

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads!  In this weekly feature, Ginger poses a question to her followers and then asks everyone to link up at the end of the post, sharing their responses.

This Friday's Question:

Most Popular: What blog post has gotten the most comments/activity on your blog this year?

I had two posts that were quite popular compared to the rest.  Both were TGIF posts.  And both were holiday-related:  TGIF #14 - Spooktacular Reads and TGIF #17 - Giving Thanks.  People seem to be especially generous with their comment-love around the holidays.  :D

I loved writing about spooky reads, first because I love them, and second because I got to spread the word about Anna Dressed in Blood again.  That was such a great book!  And the Thanksgiving post was just fun because it's always nice to thank others for their kindness, and it was nice to spread the word to you guys about how awesome those people are.

If we're going off of the most activity, though, that would have to be my Banned Books giveaway post, with good reason.  Sure, a lot of people were only stopping in to try to win The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but just the fact that they were there, trying to win a banned book, meant that they were showing their support for the cause.

I don't think I could pick a favorite post, though.  If I'm writing about a book I loved or hope to love, I'm pretty happy with the results.  Did you have a favorite post of mine this year?


Week in Review:

Review:  Crossed by Ally Condie
In My Mailbox #11
Review: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

 

Read More

Labels: anna dressed in blood, banned books, popular posts, tgif, week in review

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title:  Shatter Me
Author:  Tahereh Mafi
Series:  Shatter Me
Publisher:  Harper/HarperCollins
Publication Date:  November 15, 2011
Source:  purchased
Links:  Amazon | Goodreads
Rating: 

From Goodreads:


Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.


In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

Review:

I read Shatter Me as a buddy read, and both the buddy and I had plowed through this novel within the span of two days. The pacing was quick and the suspense aplenty. The gorgeous cover grabbed my attention but the beautiful writing kept it.

I really liked the use of the strike-through throughout the book. I like what each strike-through represented to me: that society could try to dictate what she was and her place in the world but she still had free will, still had a choice in the matter. The writing was exceptional, as was the imagery. At times, the prose was a little verbose where it could have been more succinct and still had the same effect, and at other times, the simplicity of the descriptions was somehow more effectual in achieving the desired result.

Juliette is likeable enough, and her character is familiar, as well, but there’s something about her that makes her stand out. Maybe it’s because she’s so down-trodden from the onset of the novel, and most heroines in this type of book seem to hit the ground running, meaning they show little weakness in the beginning, but the reader gets glimpses of it throughout the novel. In Shatter Me, our protagonist has all but given up when we first meet her. She’s not expecting much from life after having been thrown in prison for a crime she did not mean to commit. But she’s given a chance to change that, and then her character really shines through. She just has to come to terms with her power.

The romance in this novel was a little different. They hadn’t just met, as in so many insta-love stories, which is a definite plus. Juliette didn’t immediately show a fondness for Adam, though she did let herself remember her feelings for the boy she once knew. I wasn’t as big a fan of Adam’s as I had expected to be, either. I actually found myself hoping that maybe Warner was a better match for Juliette. But I do tend to find the hot villains attractive. That lit bit up there in the summary about “intoxicating villainy”…yeah, that’s probably the best way to describe it. Warner was dangerous and sexy, whereas Adam was beautiful and good. I should be drawn to Adam’s character, but I find myself hoping that Warner will turn out not to be as bad as he seems. Though, from what we discover in this first novel, that seems unlikely.

I loved the superhero-angle the book decidedly took toward the end. I know what others are comparing Shatter Me to – it’s actually right up there in the summary – and that’s a pretty apt comparison. Despite the similarities, though, Tahereh Mafi has created a world of her own for our heroine, one in disrepair and in need of saving. This novel reads more like a superhero dystopian than the comic books I read as a kid, so don’t let that comparison sway you from checking out this book.

Read More

Labels: book trailers, dystopian, reviews, shatter me

Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Title:  Hallowed
Author:  Cynthia Hand
Series:  Unearthly
Publisher:  HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date:  January 17, 2012
Source:  publisher via Netgalley
Links:  Amazon | Goodreads
Rating: 

From Goodreads:

 For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

 Described by Richelle Mead as “utterly captivating,” Unearthly received outstanding reviews, garnered accolades from New York Times bestselling authors, and was named an Indie Next Pick. In this heart-wrenching sequel, Cynthia Hand expertly captures the all-consuming joy of first love—and the agony of loss. This beautifully woven tale will appeal to fans of Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Aprilynne Pike.

Review:

Words…I have no words.

But if I had to sum up Hallowed in just one, that word would be GLORY-ous. See what I did there?

Okay, my notes are a little sloppy with this one, so bear with me, guys. It was simply too hard to pull myself away from the book for any length of time in order to write more legibly.  First, I want to discuss why Cynthia Hand’s Unearthly series is streets ahead of other offerings in the YA genre. I almost want to call it the anti-YA novel, but that might imply that I find something wrong with YA books, and that is certainly not the case. I actually prefer young-adult novels for the most part. But it just seems to me that this author strives for her books to expand upon all those things that leave most YA novels lacking, and in turn, make her novel better than most.

For instance, I really appreciate that Clara has a normal family life. And they’re actually close. The mother-daughter bonding in this series is rather unusual for this genre but it is so welcome. There is such a sense of family and community, made more obvious when Clara meets more of her angel brethren. Sometimes in YA novels, it’s almost as if characters have to be shipped off to boarding school, or the parents are married to their work and not involved at all, in order for the characters to make mistakes and eventually end up in the situations they do. What happened to a loving, caring family? I know they still exist…I came from one. So, it is quite refreshing to see that Clara can manage to get herself into sticky situations all on her own while still maintaining a normal upbringing and keeping her mother’s trust. Well, as much as any teenage girl can. But it’s easy to see that although Clara’s family is not all together, they still love each other and try to protect one another.

Speaking of love, I have to discuss the triangle, of course. I knew it was coming after the events of Unearthly; I just didn’t know it was going to be so perfect. I am not the biggest fan of love triangles, but when done properly, I can appreciate them. In this series, the author expertly described Clara falling in love with one boy in the first book, and then in the next book, the reader can see how Clara develops feelings for the other boy, though never wavering in her love for the first. It’s amazing how she can paint this picture of two burgeoning relationships and never make me want to commit acts of violence against Clara for her lack of conviction. I said this in my review of Unearthly earlier this year, and I stand by it: “And the love story? It's the one that little girls dream of. It's so beautifully told, and so expertly woven, that you can't believe you didn't expect it from the very beginning.”

A lot happened in the span of a summer, and it’s changed the characters…made them more determined, more mature and definitely more real. Sure, Clara’s spent a lot of time focused on a boy, but he was her “purpose”. Now she’s got to move on and figure out what the next step is, but Clara is strong and unwavering. She will do what has to be done, but it will be on her own terms. The love interests both have their strengths, as well, and I would have a hard time deciding which boy to share a future with, too, if I was Clara. I adore Tucker and his country charm, but it’s easy to be distracted by Christian, especially when all signs point to him being Clara’s soulmate. The relationship--nay, the friendship--doesn’t develop overnight between Clara and Christian, though; it actually takes Clara quite a while to really make room for Christian in her life. But as the time passes, it’s easy to see how Clara could fall for Christian. I was completely over the moon with Tucker, and even I fell for Christian.

But the author is partly to blame for that, since she did write one of the most poignant and emotional novels I’ve read. Clara’s sarcastic wit had me laughing out loud one minute, and the next, I was sobbing, much to the chagrin of my husband, who hates to see me cry. And I don’t normally cry when I’m reading because most books don’t usually touch my heart the way Hallowed did. But it was so sad and so unbelievably heart-breaking that it was almost unbearable.

What’s more unbearable is having to wait for the next book, with all the theories and hopes swirling around in my head. I think this second installment did a great job of answering some of the questions concerning Clara’s angel heritage and is moving the storyline flawlessly toward Clara’s purpose. If not for work and sleep, I would have happily read this book in one sitting. Even if you don’t normally like angel-themed books, I dare you not to enjoy this series.

Read More

Labels: cynthia hand, favorites, reviews, unearthly

Review: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Title:  The Name of the Star
Author:  Maureen Johnson
Series:  Shades of London
Publisher:  Putnam Juvenile
Publication Date:  September 29, 2011
Source:  purchased
Links:  Amazon | Goodreads
Rating: 

From Goodreads:

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

Review:

So, I wasn’t really expecting much from this novel. Maureen Johnson usually writes contemporary novels, and if you know me at all, you know that those aren’t really my thing. However, I was intrigued by the Ripper lore, and when I realized ghosts were involved, well, that changed everything.

There are some pretty common trends featured in this book that have a habit of making appearances in YA novels. First up, boarding school. Yep, we all fantasize about going away to school and being swept off our feet by a boy with an accent. So, I’ll forgive this particular development. Another inclination in YA novels is to have the entire story devoid of parental figures in order to allow the characters less limitations in their personal lives. So be it. I am the product of a very strict upbringing, and I would have done anything to escape that. Especially boarding school…unless it was an all-girls school. No thank you. As I said, I can forgive these tendencies, since I myself have daydreamed of both scenarios, and, well, I like my novels to be a form of escape, not an echo of reality.

My favorite element of this novel was Rory. It’s not often that I can say the heroine is my favorite part, even though it’s probably supposed to be. I really enjoyed the fact that Rory was just a normal girl who couldn’t overcome insane situations just because she was the protagonist. She needed help and had to make sacrifices for the people she cared about. The situations in the book were not made easy for her, and yet she still persevered. Oh, and she’s sarcastic. I love that in my protagonists, since I, too, resort to sarcasm, even in the most dire of situations.

Once I started reading this novel, I found I couldn’t put it down. For one thing, it gave me yet another reason to read in my English accent. Love that. But the story itself was strong, as were the supporting characters. Rory made friends with normal people and crushed on an average guy. She snuck out when the situation warranted and had fun in the meantime. Rory also hit the books. Like I said, normal girl. And I was so happy that the romance was in the background of the story. It wasn’t unimportant, but Rory’s gift needed to be addressed more than a possibly trivial relationship.

The Ripper-lore…gah, it had me drooling. I don’t know much about that horrific period, but what I was exposed to in this novel left me aching to research it further. I’m a geek, admittedly, but that kind of thing is just fascinating to me. I did an entire research paper on the JFK assassination in high school. Maybe my fascination is a bit morbid, but can you honestly say that your curiosity wasn’t peaked by the idea of Jack the Ripper, or a copy-cat, striking again?

Anyway, let’s go out on a positive note. My favorite line from the book: “…but that only reminded me that lambs are famous for being led to slaughter, or sometimes hanging out with lions in ill-advised relationships.” BURN!

Read More

Labels: ghosts, maureen johnson, reviews, shades of london

In My Mailbox #11

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.  It's a weekly meme where we all get to brag about the books and swag we got in the mail, for review, won in contests, etc.




So, it's been ages since I did an IMM post -- like three months -- but it's not for lack of receiving any books.  I've actually bought a ton of books recently, so even though some of these books were picked up weeks ago, I'm still going to share, just so you can see how bad my addiction is.  My husband can often be found muttering, "You'll never get through all of those books."  CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

For Review:

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting, via GalleyGrab - review
Hallowed by Cynthia Hand, via Netgalley
Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook - via GalleyGrab
Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder, via Netgalley
Tempest by Julie Cook, via ARC tour, courtesy of Wendy at The Midnight Garden - review





Purchased:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
If I Die by Rachel Vincent - review
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - review
Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick - review
The Death Cure by James Dashner
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Crossed by Ally Condie
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa - review
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
Across the Universe by Beth Revis (paperback b/c my name appears in FB fan thank-you) - review
Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber
Legend by Marie Lu - review
Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff



Won:

Vanish by Sophie Jordan, via First Reads giveaway on Goodreads



And then I've added a ton of audiobooks to my collection, but honestly, I think the above demonstrates just how bad I've got it for books. I listen to older books from my TBR list while I'm commuting or at work, if possible, and yet, the ole TBR list keeps growing instead of shrinking. Like I said, I have a problem, and the only solution seems to be more books. :)

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Read More

Labels: in my mailbox (imm)