Wings of Arian Blog Tour - 10 Things I Like About Wings of Arian

Hello, hello dear readers!  Welcome to the last stop on the Wings of Arian blog tour!  Have you read it yet?  If so, feel free to leave a comment.  There is certainly lots to talk about!   Also, head over to The Bookish Brunette today to enter for a chance to win 1 of 2 $100 Amazon gift cards.  The giveaway ends tonight, so don't delay!

As I have read Wings of Arian, so many things jumped out at me that I really enjoyed.  I thought that I would do something a little bit different for my stop.  I'm going to give you 10 things I like about Wings of Arian.  Maybe I can pique your interest!  Don't forget to keep an eye out for my review, which is coming soon.

1. The magic:

There are some awesome feats of magic in Wings of Arian.  As I learned more and more about magic in this world, my intrigue grew and grew, just as Kiora's powers did.

2. The settings:

There is a wide variety of settings to be found in the world of Wings of Arian.  From the enchanting forest known at the Hollow to the bleak landscape of places such as Morcant the dragon's home in exile, there is so much to view with your imagination.

3. The action:

There are some pretty harrowing scenes in this book.  If you're not even a little worried when the Hounds make an appearance, I just don't know what to say.  As for me, the mental image of a pack of 4 to 5 feet tall murderous canines is a pretty chilling one.

4. The creatures:

There is such a wide variety of creatures to meet in Wings of Arian.  In addition to the aforementioned dragons and Hounds, there are pegasus (both good & bad), fey-like creatures known as Guardians (good) and the Fallen Ones (bad), gargantuan stone giants known as rockmen, ancient mages, and so much more! 

5. The struggle:

The cause is classic: the fight between good & evil.  The delivery, however, is truly different.  Imagine a world in which peace has reigned for 1000 years and Kiora has grown up not knowing what true evil is.  As she learns a painful lesson and prepares to go up against a terrible adversary, she is tested to the very roots of her being.

6. The growth:

Watching Kiora turn from self-doubting peasant girl to the expected savior of Meros is so very intriguing to watch, as is Emane's transformation from arrogant prince to loyal protector.  I really enjoyed this aspect of the story.

7. The sweetness:

The romance develops gradually and is truly sweet once it manifests.  Those first kisses between Kiora and Emane were flutter- and aw-inducing.  Sometimes you just need a little sweetness.

 

8. The unexpected:

Just when you think you've seen it all, you find out just how wrong you are.  There were definitely moments that kept me on my toes, which I absolutely enjoyed.

9. The loyalty:

The loyalty aspect is just awesome.  Much like trust, loyalty is earned in this world and it is an inter-species concept.  I really enjoyed the camaraderie that I saw between various characters.

10. The adventure:

This story is truly an adventure with narrow escapes, brutal altercations, and amazing uses of magic.  Fans of high fantasy are very likely to enjoy this one!

About the Book

Find it on Goodreads:

Kiora thought she had never heard a lie until she was sixteen. But she was wrong. Her entire existence was based on nothing but. She thought that evil did not exist. Lie. That magic was not real. Lie. And that the land of Meros was all there was. One more lie.

With Aleric telling her that evil is knocking on the door and that she is the only one who can stop them she has a choice to make. Refuse, or start the wildest most painful ride of her life.
She reluctantly dips her toe into her new existence of magic and threads, dragons and shapeshifters, and the person who wants to take control of it all: the evil Dralazar.

However, this journey was never meant to be hers alone. She will be accompanied by a Protector. To her disbelief, and utter irritation they name the hotheaded, stubborn, non -magical, (albeit gorgeous) Prince Emane. They will have to trust each other with their lives, but right now Kiora would settle for a non hostile conversation.

And now it comes down to this, If you had never heard a lie, would you know when you heard one? Is knowing good from evil innate? Kiora finds herself having to decide who lives and who dies on those very questions.

About the Author

Devri Walls lives in Kuna ID with her husband, two kids and one very bouncy lab. After suffering from an abundance of creativity with not enough places to put it, she turned to writing. Which in the end, turned out to be exactly where she should have been putting it all along.

Review - Something Strange and Deadly

by Susan Dennard
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: July 24, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 400
source: from the publisher for review
rating: 4.5 out of 5

From Goodreads:

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

I'm starting to become quite fond of zombie-centered story lines set in the Victorian era.  When Something Strange and Deadly arrived, I was more than excited to dive right in.  I was ready for zombies, parasols, and bizarre machines.  Something Strange and Deadly has all of those (and more) in spades!  The horror, mystery, and romance were very well contrived and made for a fairly smooth read.  It definitely stood out during a week of marathon reading.

Eleanor puts up with a lot as the only child living at home.  Left to deal with her frivolous mother whilst her older brother studies abroad, Eleanor deals with a lot of frustration.  To add insult to injury, her brother goes missing during a time when zombie hordes run rampant through Philadelphia.  What's a girl to do?  Eleanor takes action.  She sets out to find answers as to her brother's whereabouts and well-being with a sisterly devotion that is admirable.  Sometimes, however, it seemed as though she was too complacent where Clarence, the young man her mother wanted her to marry, was concerned.  There were several points during which, though I felt sorry for him, I really wanted Eleanor to tell him to stuff it!  Maybe that's just me, though, since I'm not a fan of wishy-washiness, which Clarence seemed to be guilty of.  Daniel was much more appealing, even with his gruff manner.  He never underestimated Eleanor once he got to know her, which is just great.

The settings were so much fun to read about.  From Eleanor's house to Centennial Exposition, there's so much literary landscape to enjoy.  With an abundance of scenarios such as seances and zombie battles, there's a lot of intrigue and action, as well.  The cemetery gates proved to be the most foreboding site in the book.  You can really feel the tension and spookiness thanks to Susan Dennard's vivid descriptions.  All in all, I simply adored this particular aspect of the book.

Something Strange and Deadly is an imaginative take on a zombie infestation (dare I say a zombie apocalypse?).  With a plot that grips you and an ending that will leave you in shock, there is so much to enjoy in this book.  It wasn't anywhere near what I was expecting as I read it, which, in my book, is beyond awesome.  If you enjoy zombie stories and Victorian fashion, as well as a steampunk flair, you should definitely check out Something Strange and Deadly.  With pointers such as "Go for the knees," how could you miss?

Buy Something Strange and Deadly at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound  /  B&N  /  The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review. 

Author Interview with Marta Acosta

If you've been looking around the blog lately, you may remember how much I enjoyed Dark Companion.  Being a huge fan of Charlotte Bronte's classic, Jane Eyre, Dark Companion hit all the right notes while bringing something new to the table.  The the opportunity to interview Marta Acosta came up, I just couldn't say no.  I hope you all will enjoy this interview as much as I did.

Marla: Hello, Marta, and thanks for visiting Starting the Next Chapter! As I told you on Twitter, I really enjoyed Dark Companion and am thrilled to have the chance to interview you. My first question is: What one thing would you most want your readers to know about you?

Marta: Hi, Marla! Thanks for inviting me. I actually brought this up yesterday in a conversation with my dog, Betty von Snoggles. Because I have a snarky self-deprecating sense of humor I think that people don’t realize that I take my writing very seriously. I have been writing all my life, studied literature, and creative writing, and really work hard to create characters with substance. For example, I did a lot of research into the psychological makeup of abused foster kids, so my character’s actions in Dark Companion, which are extremely foolish at times, have a basis in reality.

Marla: Dark Companion has a great Gothic tone. What inspired you to write this book?

Marta: I’ve always been drawn to Gothic stories. In high school, my English teacher gave us a definition of a Gothic novel and I thought, “That’s it – those are the books I like!” I’d already read Jane Eyre and other suspense and mystery stories that could be defined as Gothics. I loved the theme of a poor, lonely girl going to a creepy isolated house inhabited by people with dark secrets.

Marla: Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books of all time. Would you say that it was a big influence while you were writing Dark Companion?

Marta: Absolutely. I’ve read Jane Eyre many times since I first came upon it when I was in grammar school. My Jane Williams was inspired by Jane Eyre. “Eyre” was a fairly common name when the book was written, so I named my character the very common Williams. My story echoes elements of Charlotte Brontë’s plot, including favorite scenes with Jane and Mr. Rochester, and I tried to give my Jane the rage that propels Brontë’s Jane.

Marla: What are your top 3 favorite books?

Marta: Among my very favorite books are Jane Eyre, Persuasion by Jane Austen, and Middlemarch by George Eliot.

Marla: What was your favorite aspect of Dark Companion to write about?

Marta: I loved diving into classic Gothics to find just the right quote for my chapter headings. Each one is a hint about the story, such as the quote about the privilege of exceptional beauty from Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray for the chapter that introduces spoiled Lucian Radcliffe.

Marla: Mary Violet was hilarious and definitely one of my favorite characters. Was she inspired by anyone in particular?

Marta: One of my friends occasionally mentions his sister, Mary Violet, whom I’ve never met. I have no idea what she’s like, but I fell in love with the name. I attached the name to sort of an anti-mean-girl and Mary Violet stepped forth, complete and fabulous. Every time I rewrote the book, her role got bigger.

Marla: Do you think you'll ever write another Gothic-inspired novel?

Marta: I’m working on two right now. One is a Gothic ghost story about two young women who haunt each other across time. It’s set in the Gold Rush and modern time. The second is a Gothic mystery starring...Mary Violet! It’s tentatively titled Mary Violet and the Mystery of the Silent Songbird. There is romance, suspense, and poetry!

Marla: I've got one more question for you, just for fun. What would you do if you were to find yourself trapped in one of the sinister castles in Ann Radcliffe's stories?

Marta: I would immediately try to find out if the castle’s sinister reputation had lowered its property value and then I would try to get a good deal in a sale. Can you imagine living in a castle? Well, it would probably be very cold, but there would be lots of room for a home office and a library and my dogs would love running through the woods.

Marla: Thanks for stopping by, Marta!

Marta: Marla, thanks so much for inviting me to talk about Dark Companion and my writing!

About Marta

Marta Acosta lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was a feral reader, roaming the stacks of the public library.

She received a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Stanford University and has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Contra Costa Times, and Spaces Magazine.

Marta lives with her husband, spawn, and their crazy dogs. An avid gardener, she likes independent films, funny novels, loud music and lively conversations.

She’s always happy to hear from readers, even the ones who point out typos.

Visit Marta online at: http://www.martaacosta.com/
Follow Marta on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MartaAcosta
Like Marta on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MartaAcostaAuthor
Become a fan on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18880.Marta_Acosta

About the Book

When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent urban neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove.

Something's not quite right about the school -- or is it Jane? She thinks she sees things in the birch grove at night. She's also beginning to suspect that the elegant headmistress and her sons are hiding secrets. Lucky is the gorgeous, golden son who is especially attentive to Jane, and Jack is the sardonic puzzling brother.

The school with its talented teachers and bright students is a dream for a science and math geek like Jane. She also loves her new friends, including hilarious poetry-spouting rich girl, Mary Violet. But the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member.

Jane discovers one secret about Birch Grove, which only leads to more mysteries. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to stay at this school...and be bound to Birch Grove forever?

Check Out My Review of Dark Companion HERE!

Add Dark Companion on Goodreads!

New to the Nest - July 22, 2012 (The Marla is Late Edition)

Welcome to New to the Nest, now appearing on a new day.  I decided to separate it from Owl Tell You All About It simply because it is easier for me to get all of my books into the post, including Saturday late-comers (our mail runs fairly late in the afternoon).  Feel free to comment and leave a link to your own book haul posts.  I'll do my best to return all visits (I promise, I'm trying to get better at it).

Hello, hello, all.  *yawns*  As you can see, I'm running behind today.  The Owlet isn't sleeping all the way through the night for some reason, so the entire family is suffering from sleep deprivation and lots of excessive yawning.  I've also not been feeling my best this week, so I'm behind in reading, as well.  It's been a while since I've been this far behind schedule.  I did receive a lot of awesomeness this week, though!  I'm beyond excited about this week's book acquisitions.

 Physical Books

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys (from the author; Thanks so much, Ruta!)

The Suburban Strange by Nathan Kotecki (from the publisher for review)

 

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter (from Around the World ARC Tours)

The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent (from Southern Book Bloggers ARC Tours)

Ebooks

 Two and Twenty Dark Tales ed. by Georgia McBride & Michelle Zink (from Month9Books via Netgalley)

The Demon Catchers of Milan by Kat Beyer (from Egmont USA via Netgalley)

Covet by Melissa Darnell (from Harlequin Teen via Netgalley)

Owl Tell You All About It - July 21, 2012

Welcome to my weekly recap of events here on Starting the Next Chapter.  Here, you can see what I read, what I'm reading, what I'm reading next, what I've written, and where I may be going.  Take a look around and feel free to comment.  I love comments and am always happy to return the visit!

Books I've Read This Week

Revived by Cat Patrick

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

Currently Reading

The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent

Up Next

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Wings of Arian by Devri Walls

Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglein

Reviews Posted

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Other Posts

Owl Tell You All About It - July 14, 2012

New to the Nest - July 15, 2012

Review - Ruby Red

by Kerstin Gier
publisher: Henry Holt BFYR
date of publication: May 10, 2011
format: hardcover
pages: 324
source: own
rating: 5 out of 5

From Goodreads:

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

I'll preface this by saying that my good friend Amy has earned the right to say, "I told you so!"  She told me how enjoyable this book is and, as always, she's right!  From the very first chapter to the very last page, there is so much to discover.  Time travel, plots, danger, humor, and clothes.  Oh, the clothes.  If you are at all interested in different points in English history, you should definitely check it out. 

Gwyneth turned out to be such a fun character.  She has gone through life in the shadows of her golden child cousin, Charlotte, yet she takes it all with good grace.  When she discovers that she is, in fact, the inheritor of the time travel gene, her world is pretty much rocked.  You have to hand it to her, she made quite the entrance on her second trip!  Though she is unprepared for her new role, Gwyneth, though unhappy, knows she will have to take charge.  She's not perfect, but her imperfections help to make her the great character she is.

I thought I would be spending the book just waiting for the time travel scenes.  That was definitely not the case.  Gwyneth's home time period has its very own charms that makes it just as engaging as the time periods she travels to.  After all, funny classmates and a friendly ghost don't exactly make for a boring reading experience!  Each setting is well thought out and vividly described.  It wasn't much of a stretch at all to picture Gwyneth's surroundings.  The writing in Ruby Red is smooth and well-wrought, as well.  It was so easy to become immersed in this fantastic story.

The only thing about Ruby Red that I'm sorry about is that I didn't read it sooner.  I practically tore through this book and couldn't believe it when I came to the last page.  It's all I can do to wait to read Sapphire Blue.  This series has the promise of a great story and fun reading.  Ruby Red is definitely piquing my interest in time travel novels.  I'm definitely a fan after having read this book.  I think many of you, dear readers, will enjoy it, too.

Review - The Unquiet

by Jeannine Garsee
publisher: Bloomsbury USA
date of publication: July 17, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 388
source: Netgalley
rating: 4.5 out of 5

From Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Rinn Jacobs has secrets: One, she’s bipolar. Two, she killed her grandmother.

After a suicide attempt, and now her parents' separation, Rinn and her mom move from California to the rural Ohio town where her mother grew up. Back on her medications and hoping to stay well, Rinn settles into her new home, undaunted by the fact that the previous owner hanged herself in Rinn's bedroom. At school, her classmates believe the school pool is haunted by Annaliese, a girl who drowned there. But when a reckless séance goes awry, and terrible things start happening to her new friends—yet not to her—Rinn is determined to find out why she can’t be "touched" by Annaliese...or if Annaliese even exists.

With the help of Nate Brenner, the hunky “farmer boy” she’s rapidly falling for, Rinn devises a dangerous plan to uncover the truth. Soon reality and fantasy meld into one, till Rinn finds it nearly impossible to tell the difference. When a malevolent force threatens the lives of everyone she cares about--not to mention her own--she can't help wondering: who should she really be afraid of?

Annaliese? Or herself?

The Unquiet is one of those books that comes out of nowhere and takes you completely by surprise.  I hadn't heard much by way of buzz about this book, but the premise looked promising.  Little did I know I would quickly become immersed in the book past the point of reason.  What was only supposed to be a perusal of the first chapter in order to select my reads for the month turned into an 18-hour read fest that left me glued to my computer screen.  I didn't even want to stop long enough to load it onto my ereader!  I hate reading on my computer screen, so that is a pretty strong recommendation in its own right.

The cast of characters took me by surprise, as well.  Rinn Jacobs is the type of character you don't come across every day.  Her struggle with bipolar disorder and the ramifications of a tragic accident have left her on shaky ground, simply trying to maintain her footing.  When she moves to her mother's tiny hometown in Ohio, Rinn has the chance for a fresh beginning.  As more and more of her background and personality are revealed, she becomes even more captivating as a character.  She's socially naive due in part to her illness that had run rampant for so long, but she's also witty, sarcastic, and empathetic.  All of this makes her a fantastic main character that I enjoyed very much.  Nate, her neighbor and love interest, isn't an especially deep character, but his sweetness and stability are great for keeping Rinn grounded.  I just wish he had more of a spark on his own, not just when he was flirting and verbally sparring with Rinn.  A little more character development would have made it easier to see exactly why Rinn developed feelings for him aside from his appearance.  As for Rinn's friends, I just don't get it.  Two of them (Tasha and Meg) seem like nice girls on their own, but the third, Lacy, is nothing short of horrible.  I couldn't understand why any of the girls, let alone Rinn, would continue to be friends with her.  She became over-the-top and distracting in a detrimental way.  It was a little too much to believe and became a proverbial bucket of cold water that jarred me out of the reading experience more than once.

The premise for The Unquiet is nothing short of eye-catching.  I'm always in the mood for a good ghost story.  The Unquiet definitely delivers with a frightening ghost, Annaliese, and a spooky lair for her to hide in.  To say that Annaliese is vengeful is a vast understatement.  If she doesn't manage to make your spine tingle at least once, I'll be surprised.  The settings that are visited throughout the story are varied in their details.  The school and Rinn's house are vividly portrayed with clean, descriptive writing.  However, I wanted to know a bit more about the town, itself.  It felt as though it was glossed over more than it was given its share of descriptions.

The Unquiet turned out to be awesomely creepy, suspenseful, jarring, intense, and attention-grabbing.  The story has a wonderfully developed main character in Rinn and a truly intimidating adversary in the form of Annaliese.  With its theme of reality questioned, The Unquiet leaves you thoroughly considering whether everything is in Rinn's head or actually occurring.  It made for an even more intriguing book that held my attention for hours upon hours.  If you're a fan of horror fiction revolving around ghosts, this one should not be missed.  The Unquiet is now on my to-buy list, as I'm sure I will want to revisit this story in the future.

Buy The Unquiet at the Following Locations:

Amazon /  IndieBound  /  B&N  /  The Book Depository 

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Ashes

by Ilsa J. Bick
publisher: Egmont USA
date of publication: September 6, 2011
format: hardcover
pages: 480
source: purchased

From Goodreads:

It could happen tomorrow . . .

An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.

Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.

For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.

My reaction to Ashes can be summed up in 3 words: Oh. My. Goodness!  I had been hearing just how eerie this book is and how I needed to read it ASAP from many of my blogging friends.  They are now all entitled to say, "I told you so!"  Ashes is positively teeming with tension, suspense, and horror.  I was torn between reading hundreds of pages at once or stopping for a breather when it started to become too much.  This book is more than capable of ensnaring you in each fright-filled page.  

Alex is a survivor from the very beginning.  For years she has been living with a malignant tumor in her brain that will eventually lead to her death.  At first, she believes that she has accepted her fate, though she isn't happy about it.  She realizes differently when, on one last hike into her favorite park, a mysterious event begins to affect the animals and other people in strange ways.  What starts out as a hike to honor the memory of her parents becomes a non-stop fight for her life.  You have to admire Alex for her survival skills.  Even when she is saddled with a bratty 8 year-old she proves her capabilities and kindness.  As she fights her way through each danger and traumatic experience, she comes to realize that she's not ready to give up the fight.  Overall, she made for an extremely compelling main character.  Even in her moments of weakness, she always seemed to rise above and keep going.

You may hear that there are zombies in Ashes.  That's not quite accurate, however.  What you will find are some absolutely frightening people whose brain patterns have been reduced to a primal state and who are purely cannibalistic.  All instances concerning these "brain-zapped" people (Alex's name for them) are absolutely horrifying and chilling.  The ramifications of this event are nearly as terrifying as those who remain unchanged can easily fall victim to their more predatory counterparts.  Even the setting takes on a menacing edge thanks to the catastrophic changes to the human populace.  Where before wolves and bears were the biggest concern, now feral dogs and cannibals are to be feared.  It all makes for a shudder-inducing sense of foreboding.

If I have to sum up my advice for you, it would be to read this book during daylight hours.  Otherwise, you might continue thinking about it as you are trying to go to sleep.  I know I did.  This disturbingly imaginative plot will leave you wondering, "What if?"  I was left sorry that I didn't read this sooner, yet I'm also sorry that I will have to wait a few more months to find out what happens next.  The cliffhanger in Ashes is absolutely brutal, so you know that Shadows is going to start off with a bang.  I can't wait!

Buy Ashes at the Following Locations:

Amazon /  IndieBound  /  B&N  /  The Book Depository

New to the Nest - July 15, 2012

Welcome to New to the Nest, now appearing on a new day.  I decided to separate it from Owl Tell You All About It simply because it is easier for me to get all of my books into the post, including Saturday late-comers (our mail runs fairly late in the afternoon).  Feel free to comment and leave a link to your own book haul posts.  I'll do my best to return all visits (I promise, I'm trying to get better at it).

This week was pretty low-key mail-wise.  I was thrilled to receive a finished copy of Monument 14, which I won from Book Brats.  Thanks, ladies!  I also received some seriously awesome Netgalley and Edelweiss approvals, though!  I also have some swag that I forgot to include last week.  Oops! 

Physical Books

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne (won from Book Brats, courtesy Macmillan)

Ebooks

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (from Scholastic via Netgalley)

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff (from St. Martin's via Netgalley)
Betrayal by Gregg Olsen (from Splinter via Edelweiss)

 Midnight City by J. Barton Mitchell

Book Swag

 Signed bookmarks, The Torn Wing postcard, & personalized The Faerie Ring postcard from the author.  Thanks, Kiki!