Saturday 10 April 2010

In My Mailbox (28)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. Check out her awesome YA reviews.

A fair few this week!

For review:
White Crow by Marcus SedgwickWhite Crow by Marcus Sedgwick

It's summer. Rebecca is an unwilling visitor to Winterfold - taken from the buzz of London and her friends and what she thinks is the start of a promising romance. Ferelith already lives in Winterfold - it's a place that doesn't like to let you go, and she knows it inside out - the beach, the crumbling cliff paths, the village streets, the woods, the deserted churches and ruined graveyards, year by year being swallowed by the sea. Against her better judgement, Rebecca and Ferelith become friends, and during that long, hot, claustrophobic summer they discover more about each other and about Winterfold than either of them really want to, uncovering frightening secrets that would be best left long forgotten. Interwoven with Rebecca and Ferelith's stories is that of the seventeenth century Rector and Dr Barrieux, master of Winterfold Hall, whose bizarre and bloody experiments into the after-life might make angels weep, and the devil crow. From Amazon UK



Kisses for Lula by Samantha MackintoshKisses for Lula by Samantha Mackintosh

This title features the hilarious twisting-turning plots and ludicrous escapades of a brand new star, Lula Bird! Lula Bird is gorgeous, funny and dreading her birthday because you can't turn 16 if you've never been kissed...So why does every boy in Hambledon run a mile the second she bats her eyelids? The fact is, they fear for their lives. Rumour has it Lula's been jinxed! And it's not as if that's her only problem: Lula thinks she has a stalker, her dad keeps sneaking out at night with a lady's handbag, and a mysterious theft is threatening to bring the town to its knees... From Amazon UK



Montacute House by Lucy JagoMontacute House by Lucy Jago

Cess works caring for the chickens at Montacute House but on her thirteenth birthday everything changes. She finds a precious locket hidden in the chicken coop and is convinced someone has placed it there for her to find. But the day is overshadowed by fear as a boy's body is found by the river, and then when William disappears, Cess is accused by the villagers of bewitching her best friend. Cess is determined to find William and prove the villagers wrong, but is soon embroiled in a plot that threatens her world and forces Cess to draw on powers she never knew she possessed, powers that will place her life in danger if they are discovered by the villagers. Witchcraft, politics and religious ambition combine in this gripping and wonderfully realised novel set in the Somerset of the 1500s. From Amazon UK



Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan StroudHeroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud

Listen then, and I'll tell you again of the Battle of the Rock. But none of your usual wriggling, or I'll stop before I've begun ...Halli loves the old stories from when the valley was a wild and dangerous place - when the twelve legendary heroes stood together to defeat the ancient enemy, the bloodthirsty Trows. Halli longs for adventure but these days the most dangerous thing in the valley is boredom. He tries to liven things up by playing practical jokes. But when one of his jokes goes too far, he reawakens an old blood feud and finds himself on a hero's quest after all. Along the way he meets a ruthless thief, a murderous rival, and a girl who may just be as fearless as he is. Jonathan Stroud has created an epic saga with a funny, unique spin, and an unforgettable anti-hero. From Amazon UK



Wintercraft by Jenna BurtenshawWintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw

Ten years ago Kate Winters’ parents were taken by the High Council’s wardens to help with the country’s war effort.
Now the wardens are back...and prisoners, including Kate's uncle Artemis, are taken south on the terrifying Night Train. Kate and her friend Edgar are hunted by a far more dangerous enemy. Silas Dane – the High Council’s most feared man – recognises Kate as one of the Skilled; a rare group of people able to see through the veil between the living and the dead. His spirit was damaged by the High Council’s experiments into the veil, and he’s convinced that Kate can undo the damage and allow him to find peace.
The knowledge Kate needs lies within Wintercraft – a book thought to be hidden deep beneath the graveyard city of Fume. But the Night of Souls, when the veil between life and death is at its thinnest, is just days away and the High Council have their own sinister plans for Kate and Wintercraft.
From Amazon UK



Beads, Boys & Bangles by Sophia BennettBeads, Boys & Bangles by Sophia Bennett

Crow is in designer heaven; Nonie's caught the eye of a gorgeous boy; Jenny has a new play. But poor Edie's in trouble ... the rumours are that slave children in India have been making their high-street collection. It's up to the girls to save their fashion dream. From Amazon UK


Bought:


Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami GarciaBeautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia

In Ethan Wate’s hometown there lies the darkest of secrets . . . There is a girl. Slowly, she pulled the hood from her head. Green eyes, black hair. Lena Duchannes. There is a curse. On the Sixteenth Moon, the Sixteenth Year, the Book will take what it’s been promised. And no one can stop it. In the end, there is a grave. Lena and Ethan become bound together by a deep, powerful love. But Lena is cursed and on her sixteenth birthday, her fate will be decided. Ethan never even saw it coming. From Amazon UK



Shadows by Amy MeredithShadows by Amy Meredith

Fifteen-year-old Eve Evergold is cute, sassy and enjoying a busy social life. What she doesn't know yet is that someone close to her is an evil demon that only she has the supernatural power to defeat. She needs to work out who it is - and fast! Because although there's something very attractive about the dark side...dating a demon? Pure hell! From Amazon UK



Conspiracy 365: January by Gabrielle LordConspiracy 365: January by Gabrielle Lord

On New Year’s Eve, Cal is chased down the street by a crazed man with a deadly warning:

They killed your father.
They’ll kill you.
You must survive the next 365 days!

Forced into a life on the run, Cal finds himself hunted by ruthless criminals and the police. Somehow he must uncover the truth about his father’s mysterious death and solve the Ormond Singularity, a secret from the past, before the year is up. But who can he turn to when the whole world seems to want him dead?

The clock is ticking. Any second could be his last.

Callum Ormond has been warned.

He has 365 days. The countdown has begun...
From Amazon UK



Diving in by Kate CannDiving in by Kate Cann - from Oxfam Bookshop

Coll thinks the boy she sees swimming every Thursday night is completely gorgeous - long and lean, powerful and strong. He becomes the fantasy that takes her out of her ordinary day-to-day existence. And then he asks her out, and the dream becomes reality. Art is strong and powerful, and he's also quite pushy. Just what is Coll getting into? From Amazon UK



The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan GarnerThe Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner (sorry about the size) - from Oxfam Bookshop

A tale of Alderley When Colin and Susan are pursued by eerie creatures across Alderley Edge, they are saved by the Wizard. He takes them into the caves of Fundindelve, where he watches over the enchanted sleep of one hundred and forty knights. But the heart of the magic that binds them -- Firefrost, also known as the Weirdstone of Brisingamen -- has been lost. The Wizard has been searching for the stone for more than 100 years, but the forces of evil are closing in, determined to possess and destroy its special power. Colin and Susan realise at last that they are the key to the Weirdstone's return. But how can two children defeat the Morrigan and her deadly brood? from Amazon UK



Rhapsody: Child of the Blood by Elizabeth HaydonRhapsody: Child of the Blood by Elizabeth Haydon (not the same cover) - from Oxfam Bookshop

In RHAPSODY Elizabeth Haydon tells a story that encompasses a world and centuries of time and which introduces three characters who have already captured a new generation of fantasy fans in the US. They embark on a journey through the centre of their world only to reach its end and find that centuries have passed and the land faces the awaking of a demon. Haydon's world building is unusually well thought out and vivid, her magic system is rigorous, her battle scenes realistic and massively exciting. But it is her characters, the intelligent and resourceful Rhapsody, the enigmatic assassin Achmed and the gruff but dependable Grunthor that have captured the imagination and affection of thousands of readers. This is a trio of characters who will carry the first great fantasy series of the 21st century on their shoulders. This is a harback reissue of Millennium's mass market paperback - a book that will give Haydon's new fans the uniform collection they will be craving. From Amazon UK
I also bought A Shakespeare Treasury, The Stratford Shakespeare Anthology and The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, both also by Levi Fox. I can't find summaries for them though, sorry. I'm going to attempt to teach myself how to understand poetry, with the help of the internet - I quite like poetry when I know what it means.

Gift:


Last Chance by Sarah DessenLast Chance by Sarah Dessen - wasn't good enough to be sold at Oxfam, so I was allowed to take it.

Never in one place long enough to make friends or put down roots, Colie doesn't expect her trip to the North Carolina coast to change a thing. Always the outcast, she's resigned to a holiday with only her eccentric aunt Mira for company. But when she finds a job waitressing at the Last Chance cafe, she also finds acceptance, new friends, and the beginnings of romance... From Amazon UK


So I'm pretty happy!

21 comments:

  1. Some fab books there, Sophia Bennett's book looks so cute! I hope you enjoy them all!

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  2. Oooh varied books again! And Oxfam - I'm volunteering there in the summer! :)

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  3. I'm so jealous of all your great new books, Jo =)

    I especially want my hands on Wintercraft and Boys, Beads and Bangles(I enjoyd the first part of Sophia's fashion fairytale).

    Enjoy your new books!

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  4. Yay, you have Diving In! I was just talking about it earlier today - the way it was ground-breaking when it first came out. I hope you enjoy it! In fact, I hope you enjoy all of these great books!

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  5. Great week - can't wait to see what you think of White Crow and Wintercraft! The Diving In trilogy is ace so hope you enjoy that too! :)

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  6. Wintercraft looks interesting!

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  7. That's a fab week! The arrival of Wintercraft is definitely exciting. Montacute House sounds interesting. I've also started reading Shadows and I like it so far.

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  8. Leah - Thank you! It does look cute, but I haven't read the first one yet.

    Dwayne - Ohh, that's soo cool! I hope you enjoy it at Oxfam! :)

    Ladybug - Haha, cheers! I am so excited for Wintercraft! I've not yet Threads yet, though. I'm not sure if I'll need the first one first.

    Luisa - Haha, coincidence, right? I'm so looking forward to it! As soon as I saw it, I remembered you recommending it! :)

    Jenny - Thank you! I'm looking forward to reading them all! :D

    Marie - It does, I'm so excited to read it!

    Lauren - I can't wait to read Wintercraft! I'm intrigued by Montacute House, but a little wary as I'm not a huge historical fiction fan. Ohh, I can't wait to read Shadows! It looks great!

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  9. You got several books that I didn't know about it! Thanks for sharing :)

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  10. No problem! I hope you found something you might like :)

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  11. ooh loads of great looking books:) I love the look of Montacute House and Shadows. Hope you enjoy:)

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  12. Cheers! I love the sound of Shadows, and I'm intrigued by Monacute House. Not sure if I'll like it though. We'll see.

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  13. I'm not sure if you have to read Threads first either but I think it sounds a bit like it from the description. But it could be that it works as a standalone.

    I've heard some great things about Alan Garner's writing so I'm exited to read your thoughts on his novel once you've read it.

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  14. I'll email the publisher! Thanks for replying, though! :)
    Oh awesome! I'm looking forward to reading The Weirdstone. I hope I end up with a positive review for you! :)

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  15. You got some great books this week Jo! I really want to read Wintercraft but some of the others look fab too so I'll be keeping an eye out for your reviews :o)

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  16. Wow, tons of great stuff this week! Montacute House looks amazing---I've never heard of it before! Adding it to my wishlist for sure!

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  17. Sarah - Thank you! I'm excited for Wintercraft! :D I hope I end up with some positive reviews for you!

    Becky - Awesome, I hope you enjoy Montacute House when you read it! :)

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  18. Nice mailbox! looks like you have a lot of goodies to keep you busy this week....happy reading! ^_^

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  19. Thank you! I look forward to reading them all!

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  20. Wow you really have a hall here some great titles. Now to read them all. Enjoy!

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  21. Thanks :) I've got some great reading ahead of me!

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