Sunday 1 April 2012

My Book Haul/In My Mailbox

The Story Siren hosts a weekly meme where bloggers can share what goodies they've purchased/received this week. If you get a chance head over to The Story Siren and check out what everyone is up to!

Apocalypse Cow - Michael Logan
Publisher: UK - Doubleday
It began with a cow that just wouldn’t die. It would become an epidemic that transformed Britain’s livestock into sneezing, slavering, flesh-craving four-legged zombies.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, the fate of the nation seems to rest on the shoulders of three unlikely heroes: an abattoir worker whose love life is non-existent thanks to the stench of death that clings to him, a teenage vegan with eczema and a weird crush on his maths teacher, and an inept journalist who wouldn’t recognise a scoop if she tripped over one.
As the nation descends into chaos, can they pool their resources, unlock a cure, and save the world?
Three losers. Overwhelming odds. One outcome . . .
Yup, we’re screwed.

I got this for review as I thought it sounded like a really interesting story and I any book that has Terry Prachett's seal of approval is one I want to read!

The Immortal Rules - Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequinn Teen (April 2012)
In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive. Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.
Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

I was so excited when I saw this was available on netgalley - it's a book that I can't wait to start to reading!

The Power of Six - Pittacus Lore
Publisher - Puffin
I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.
Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.
I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.
And I'm ready to fight

I read I Am Number Four last year and was a little indifferent to it, but I got this through for review so I may try picking it up soon in the hope that easy reading is still there and the adventure is stronger!

Sword of Light - Katherine Roberts
Publisher - Templar
It is the darkest hour of the darkest Age. King Arthur is dead, killed by his wicked nephew, Mordred. Saxon invaders rampage across the land and forces of evil are gathering. The path to the throne lies open to Arthur's only remaining flesh and blood - Mordred. But there is one with a better claim than Mordred - Arthur's secret child. Brought by Merlin to enchanted Avalon as a baby and raised there for protection, the king's heir must take up a vital quest: to search for the four magical Lights with the power to restore Arthur's soul to his body. Introducing Rhianna Pendragon: unlikely princess and Camelot's last hope.

I won this from the wonderful Sarah at Feeling Fictional and the guys at Templar fiction. I am very curious about a book based on Arthur's daughter!

Back From The Undead (Bloodhound Files 5)- DD Barant
Publisher: St Martins Paperback
Her job description is the “tracking and apprehension of mentally-fractured killers.” What this really means in FBI profiler Jace Valchek’s brave new world—one in which only one percent of the population is human—is that a woman’s work is never done. And real is getting stranger every day…
Jace has been ripped from her reality by David Cassius, the vampire head of the NSA. He knows that she’s the best there in the business, and David needs her help in solving a series of gruesome murders of vampires and werewolves. David’s world—one that also includes lycanthropes and golems—is one with little knowledge of mental illness. An insane serial killer is a threat the NSA has no experience with. But Jace does. Stranded in a reality where Bela Lugosi is a bigger box office draw than Bruce Willis and every full moon is Mardi Gras, Jace must now hunt down a fellow human before he brings the entire planet to the brink of madness. Or she may never see her own world again...

I really like The Bloodhound files - it's a highly underrated series. Unfortunately its one of those series I've fallen a little behind with - I still have the fourth book on my TBR pile! Still now I don't have a long wait to get my next fill! :-)

Nightlife - Caitlin Kittredge
Publisher: UK - Gollancz
Welcome to Nocturne City, where werewolves, black magicians, and witches prowl the streets at night… Among them is Luna Wilder, a tough-as-nails police officer whose job is to keep the peace. As an Insoli werewolf, Luna travels without a pack and must rely on instinct alone. And she’s just been assigned to find the ruthless killer behind a string of ritualistic murders—a killer with ties to an escaped demon found only in legend…until now.
But when she investigates prime suspect Dmitri Sandovsky, she can’t resist his wolfish charms. Pack leader of a dangerous clan of Redbacks, Dimitri sends her animal instincts into overdrive and threatens her fiercely-guarded independence. But Luna and Dimiri will need to rely on each other as they’re plunged into an ancient demon underworld and pitted against an expert black magician with the power to enslave them for eternity...

I got this in a swap. It's the first book in a UF series I've not read or heard a lot about but I liked the sound of it. Has anyone else read it? What did you think?


What have you picked up this week?

12 comments:

  1. I MUST read Apocalypse Cow. Oh my goodness, that is amazing! I also got The Immortal Rules a few weeks ago via NetGalley. I look forward to your review :)

    My IMM + Giveaway

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  2. I WANT to read The Immortal Rules!
    happy reading.
    My IMM

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  3. Aw, I really hope you like Power of Six now, after all my praise about it!
    I can't wait to start Immortal Rules either. And Apocalypse Cow- Love that cover, and the title just made me laugh into my breakfast- awesome!

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  4. HAHA! Zombie cows, now that would be freaking awesome and scary

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  5. I've just finished the immortal rules, it was amazing! I didn't know the others but I hope you'll like them all!

    My IMM

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  6. I got Immortal Rules too from Net galley despite having about 20 other Net galley books still to read!

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  7. The cover for The Power of Six is gorgeous. Hope you enjoy it and your other books :-)

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  8. Nice IMM but I really want Apocalypse Cow! lol LOVE the cover and premise.

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  9. at first i wasn't interested in the immortal rules but since seeing it everywhere my interest is piqued. can't wait to read more reviews about it. great books this week! enjoy! :)

    my IMM this week.

    -michelle

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  10. Caitlin Kittredge is a very good writer, Mel. I personally like this series and I've read all the books, but I know some people thought the main heroine was too bitchy and cold. Also the end book of the series is absolutely phenomenal. Kittredge reminds me a bit of Kim Harrison and Lilith Saintcrow. If you like them, you probably will like her. I have to say though that Gollansz cover is very drab, I prefer the orginal covers. Enjoy all your reads!

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    1. I am going to have to disagree on this one. Nightlife is beyond terrible. Between plotholes, continuity errors, and what appears to be a total lack of familiarity with police procedure I can say with confidence that this was the worst book I have ever read. Not to get crazy with examples or anything but here:

      Page 20 (black question) - 2/10/11
      My Note: "Weres are all instinct and nerves, loosely held together by the thin veil of humanity that covers us when the moon is new. When we get angry, control is a memory. You can hurt people, and probably will at least once. Wearing silver when you're human is a good deterrent, or a little wolfsbane next to the skin if you don't mind smelling like an old lady's medicine cabinet. But when were rage really grips you, nothing on this earth can stop it."

      If this is accurate then what should that mean for the fictional world? Luna talks about unfair discrimination, but if it is true that weres are "all instinct and nerves held together by a veil of humanity," then perhaps that is a deserved attitude. Luna is painting a picture of werewolves that contradicts her original statements about them. A character cannot declare that werewolves are harmless and then claim they are animals hiding behind human curtains. While this has little bearing to the contents of the book, it is a huge problem for the world the author is creating. Either wolves are dangerous or they are not. Are they more wolf or human? Is it a balance of internal power that is a struggle and swings back and forth or is the psychology of the wolf solid and unchanging? These are significant questions that should have answers. Unfortunately is appears as though the author does not know these answers and her characters are suffering because of it.

      Page 11 2/10/11
      My Note: "Weres don't kill people, and never did, except the few who can't take the phase and go insane."
      Contradictory statement. Weres do not kill people; weres do kill people.

      Page 19 2/10/11
      My Note: Definition of a poor cop from Luna to Bryson: "violent, incompetent psychopath who has no business being a police officer"
      This definition is important simply because Luna could very well be describing herself. I am unsure whether this was originally intended as a stepping-stone to personal development. Whatever it was, it is now a testament to the hypocrisy that is Luna Wilder.

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  11. I've never heard of Apocalypse Cow before, but it sounds hilarious! Might have to check that one out :) I've heard the name D. D. Brant a lot recently - is this a new book in a series?

    Enjoy your books, I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of Apocalypse Cow!

    ~Ailsa
    My IMM

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