Waiting on Wednesday #8

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly awaited upcoming releases.  Head on over there to take part or to check out all the other fabulous books that people are looking forward to reading! 

The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous, plus the story itself sounds awesome!  I've read some early reviews from people lucky enough to get their hands on an ARC and I have to say that my anticipation for this one is now even greater.

 

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting 
Published March 15th 2011
HarperCollins

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

When Violet Ambrose's morbid ability to sense the echoes of those who've been murdered leads her to the body of a young boy, she draws the attention of the FBI. She is reluctantly pulled into an investigation that will endanger more than just her secret...but her relationship and possibly her life as well.

(A Body Finder Novel #2)

Review: A Kiss in Time - Alex Flinn

Goodreads synopsis:
Talia fell under a spell . . . . Jack broke the curse.
I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic. . . .
I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.
I awakened in the same place but in another time—to a stranger's soft kiss.
I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen.
Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner!
Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels. . . . The good news: My parents will freak!

I'm posting both book covers because they're just so different.  The hardcover one is on the right and the paperback one on the left.  Which do you prefer?  I think I like the harcover because it's so much prettier and appealing. 

Review:

'A Kiss in Time' is a modern, original-take on the classic fairytale of Sleeping Beauty.  I love books like this and the way that they weave something entirely new from a traditional story which is etched in so many peoples' minds.  Alex Flinn's interpretation of the tale brings it up-to-date in such a clever and inventive way.  I wish I'd thought of it!  The book starts off three hundred years ago, where Princess Talia is preparing for her sixteenth birthday, whilst continually being watched to ensure that she doesn't go anywhere near anything resembling a spindle.  When the inevtiable happens and she falls into a deep sleep, the story skips forward to the present day, where instead of a handsome prince, she's awoken with a kiss by hot guy Jack. 

I really enjoyed the way in which the narrative alternated each chapter between Talia and Jack, so we got their own perspectives and views on the events that were happening.  Talia has to learn to cope in modern day America (which is hilarious!), while Jack unexpectedly finds himself with a princess in tow.  Although Talia starts off a little bit unlikeable (she's a spoilt princess after all), I found myself rooting for her in the end.  It's a testament to Alex Flinn that I never knew how the story was going to end.  After all, in 'Sleeping Beauty', the tale ends with a kiss but here it's only just beginning. 

This was a sweet, funny book that I loved reading.  I can't wait to get stuck into 'Cloaked' and 'Beastly' next.  Flinn seems to have the perfect formula for the fairytale genre with a 21st century spin.

In My Mailbox #6

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for holding this meme every week.

I love seeing what everybody else got in their mailboxes.  I've been on a bit of a book buying binge lately (not that I need my TBR pile to get any bigger!), so here's what I got this week.

          All links go to Goodreads, where you can add them to your list if you like the look of any of them.

Elixir by Hilary Duff

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Hunted by P.C and Kristin Cast

Betrayed by P.C and Kristin Cast

Ghost Town by Rachel Caine

Dark Flame by Alyson Noel

Origins (Stefan's Diary) by L.J. Smith

I also couldn't resist getting some more books from the library too.

The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith

The Night of the Solstice by L.J. Smith

Dark Secrets 2 by Elizabeth Chandler

The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

Rot and Ruin - Jonathan Maberry

Rot and Ruin is an upcoming release by author Jonathan Maberry.  It's due to be published by Simon & Schuster in the UK on March 3rd 2011.  For those of you in the US, this book is out already so go and get your hands on a copy now. 

I'm excited about this one!  Zombies...a post-apocalyptic world and an opening that's guaranteed to grab you and not let go,  "Benny Imura couldn't hold a job, so he took to killing." 

Are you suitably intrigued?  Then read on for more about the book and the amazing author Jonathan Maberry, who was kind enough to send me some information about his new release.  I have it on my wishlist already!

Goodreads synopsis:
In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.

For a sneak peak at chapter 1 of Rot and Ruin, click HERE. 

 

JONATHAN MABERRY is a New York Times best-selling and multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator and writing teacher/lecturer.  His books have been sold to more than a dozen countries.

Visit his website at http://www.jonathanmaberry.com/ or find him on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, GoodReads, Library Thing, Shefari and Plaxo.

Review: The Thirteen Curses - Michelle Harrison

Goodreads synopsis:
When fairies stole her brother, Red vowed to get him back. Now trapped in the fairy realm, she begs an audience with the fairy court where she strikes a bargain. Her brother will be returned - but only if she can complete a task set by the court. In a world of trickery and deception, Red is about to find that not all is as it seems. For even if she succeeds, will the fairies keep their promise?

Review:
This is the second book in a trilogy which began with ‘The Thirteen Treasures’.  Yet again, I’ve read book 2 first but it really didn’t matter because I immediately got swept along with the story.  ‘The Thirteen Curses’ is an imaginative romp through the faerie world.  Michelle Harrison has crafted a magical world of faeries and goblins that is so absorbing I forgot where I was at times!  The first few pages take the reader straight into the flow of the story and we join Red as she attempts to rescue her younger brother James, from the faeries who whisked him away from.  She’s assisted by various characters that were introduced at the start of the trilogy, but although these were unfamiliar to me at first, it didn’t take long before I felt like these were old friends.  There’s Tanya and her good friend Fabian, Warwick the groundskeeper, Tanya’s grandmother Florence, who also has the second sight and housekeeper Nell.  Harrison spends sufficient time in exploring the characters of each of these figures, even as the narrative rockets along, throwing up a multitude of twists and turns.  There’s almost no opportunity to stop for breath when reading this book as it’s a real rollercoaster of a ride!       

 

The story alternates between the human and faerie world and interspersed throughout are a series of flashbacks, narrated by Red and unravelling the tale of her and her brother and how she first came to encounter the many fey that feature throughout the book (I particularly loved Brunswick, the goblin that lives in the gardens.  He’s so sweet!)  This was good because it filled in a lot of useful background information and made the story even more vivid.  Without giving away any spoliers, I would say that I wasn't entirely happy with the ending, but I think it's just a case of personal opinion.  Everything else about it, I absolutely loved!

 

Elements of the book at the very beginning, reminded me a little of ‘The Book of Lost Things’ by John Connolly and it had that same fairy-tale feel but the story was so original and exciting that it stands alone as a superb addition to the YA genre by an amazing new author.

 

I’m thrilled to know that Michelle Harrison’s third book in the trilogy, 'The Thirteen Secrets' is being published by Simon & Schuster on February 3rd 2011.  I wonder where she’ll take the story next!  

Book Blogger Hop and Follow My Book Blog Friday (29 October - 1 November)

This week I am taking part in Friday's Book Blogger Hop, which is hosted by 
Crazy for Books

And I'm also joining in Follow My Book Blog Friday, which is hosted by Parajunkee's View

If you've just stumbled upon me via one of these, then welcome to my blog. I hope you find something that interests you!  The Hop and Follow Friday are great opportunities to visit lots of new blogs and meet like-minded book lovers from around the world.  I love taking part :)

I'm going to go and explore some of the other links over the weekend.  If you'd like to join in the fun too, then head on over to these sites, read the rules, post your own link and away you go :)

The question this week for the book hop is:-

"What is the one bookish thing you would love to have, no matter the cost?"

I'm going to cheat and give two answers!  I would love to have a huge library with floor-to-ceiling bookcases and a ladder to reach them all.  It would have cosy chairs to sit and read in and would be stocked to the rafters with books.  If money was no object I'd also like a massive book spree in my favourite bookshop :)