Sunday 28 July 2013

My Book Haul / Showcase Sunday

This is Books, Biscuits and Tea's Showcase Sunday where I share my lovely book hauls each week. Have a look back at Vicki's link up to see what everyone is up too!

This was a slow reading week for me. I finished Lawless and the Devil of Euston Square by William Sutton which was interesting but a challenging read. I also read Mr Lynch's Holiday by Catherine Flynn which is a contemporary literature book - very different from my usual read and I still can't decide if I like it or not!

This week I went a little on book buying spree - so sue me!

For Review

The Boleyn Deceit (The Boleyn Trilogy #2) - Laura Andersen
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Henry IX, known as William, is the son of Anne Boleyn and now the leader of England, his regency period finally at an end. His newfound power, however, comes with the looming specter of war with the other major powers of Europe, with strategic alliances that must be forged on both the battlefield and in the bedroom, and with a court, severed by religion, rife with plots to take over the throne. Will trusts only three people: his older sister, Elizabeth; his best friend and loyal counselor, Dominic; and Minuette, a young orphan raised as a royal ward by Anne Boleyn. But as the pressure rises alongside the threat to his life, even they William must begin to question-and to fear.

I really enjoyed the 'what-if' historical fantasy of the first book in this series so when book two was available on Netgalley, I had to request it!

The Bone Season - Samantha Shannon
Publisher: Bloomsbury
It is the year 2059. Several major world cities are under the control of a security force called Scion. Paige Mahoney works in the criminal underworld of Scion London, part of a secret cell known as the Seven Seals. The work she does is unusual: scouting for information by breaking into others’ minds. Paige is a dreamwalker, a rare kind of clairvoyant, and in this world, the voyants commit treason simply by breathing.
But when Paige is captured and arrested, she encounters a power more sinister even than Scion. The voyant prison is a separate city—Oxford, erased from the map two centuries ago and now controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. These creatures, the Rephaim, value the voyants highly—as soldiers in their army.
Paige is assigned to a Rephaite keeper, Warden, who will be in charge of her care and training. He is her master. Her natural enemy. But if she wants to regain her freedom, Paige will have to learn something of his mind and his own mysterious motives.

I requested this ages ago on Netgalley and finally got accepted!

Bought

The Coldest War (Milkweed Triptych #2)- Ian Tregillis
Publisher: Orbit
For decades, Britain's warlocks have been all that stands between the British Empire and the Soviet Union - a vast domain stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the shores of the English Channel. Now each wizard's death is another blow to Britain's national security.
Meanwhile, a brother and sister - the subjects of a twisted Nazi experiment to imbue ordinary people with superhuman abilities - escape from a top-secret facility deep behind the Iron Curtain. They head for England, because that's where former spy Raybould Marsh lives. And Gretel, the mad seer, has plans for him. As Marsh is once again drawn into the world of Milkweed, he discovers that Britain's darkest acts didn't end with the war. And while he strives to protect queen and country, he is forced to confront his own willingness to accept victory at any cost.

Ok, so I haven't the first book in this series yet but I want to take a chance that I'll like it and bought book two!

Every Demon Has His Day - Cara Lockwood
Publisher: Downtown Books
In her wildest dreams, Constance Plyd never thought she'd see dead people. Then again, she never thought she'd be hit on by her ex-husband at his own funeral...or be the prime suspect in his murder. Fortunately for Constance, irresistibly sexy sheriff Nathan Garrett wants to believe her explanation -- that a card-carrying demon in a black suit killed Jimmy in the garage -- or maybe he wants something more. Either way, all signs are leading to a showdown of hellish proportions, with Constance at the heart of the battle, when the Devil and would-be mother of the Antichrist (a pop princess wannabe) descends on Crockett County. Sure, she'd rather be cooking up a storm for the next state fair, but if she's going to be the Chosen One, at least Constance can give a few demons a Texas-style butt kicking... 

I picked this up in The Works just because it sounds fun!

Kitty In The Underworld (Kitty Norville #12) - Carrie Vaughn
Publisher: Tor Books
As Denver adjusts to a new master vampire, Kitty gets word of an intruder in the Denver werewolf pack’s territory, and she investigates the challenge to her authority. She follows the scent of the lycanthrope through the mountains where she is lured into a trap, tranquilized, and captured. When she wakes up, she finds herself in a defunct silver mine: the perfect cage for a werewolf. Her captors are a mysterious cult seeking to induct Kitty into their ranks in a ritual they hope will put an end to Dux Bellorum. Though skeptical of their power, even Kitty finds herself struggling to resist joining their cause. Whatever she decides, they expect Kitty to join them in their plot . . . willingly or otherwise.

Kitty is on my autobuy book list so this pre-order arrived this week - and for once I'm not behind with the series having just read the previous book in the series! Go me!

Carniepunk - by so many great authors!
Publisher:Gallery Books
 The traveling carnival is a leftover of a bygone era, a curiosity lurking on the outskirts of town. It is a place of contradictions—the bright lights mask the peeling paint; a carnie in greasy overalls slinks away from the direction of the Barker’s seductive call. It is a place of illusion—is that woman’s beard real? How can she live locked in that watery box?
And while many are tricked by sleight of hand, there are hints of something truly magical going on. One must remain alert and learn quickly the unwritten rules of this dark show. To beat the carnival, one had better have either a whole lot of luck or a whole lot of guns—or maybe some magic of one’s own.
Featuring stories grotesque and comical, outrageous and action-packed,Carniepunk is the first anthology to channel the energy and attitude of urban fantasy into the bizarre world of creaking machinery, twisted myths, and vivid new magic.

Just looking at the author list of this anthology gives me goosebumps! How could I not buy this book?

So what have you picked up this week?



10 comments:

  1. I had a slow reading week as well - but I'm blaming the weather! :) It's been just waaaay too hot to concentrate lately.

    Hope you have a great weekend and enjoy your new books!

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  2. The Kitty series seems interesting. I've only read Steel by Carrie Vaughn but I loved it and people seem to like Kitty more so it means it's really good. Enjoy everything :)

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  3. Ooo yay for new Kitty even if the last one was a bit of a let down. Have you read the short story collection? I really need to hurry up and read The Bone Season...

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  4. Yay, you see they accepted you at last for The Bone Season :))) Ian Tregillis has the coolest book covers. I've read book #1 but haen't got to this one yet, and Carniepunk sounds like loads of fun. Hope you enjoy it all, Mel!

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  5. nice covers! you'll see carniepunk is really good! happy reading!

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  6. I really love the covers of these books, hope you enjoy them :)

    Happy reading!

    Megan xxx

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  7. Still need to get around to reading the Milkweed Triptych books. I've heard they're amazing, but I just haven't taken the time to read any of them yet, even though I have the first one. Bad bookblogger, no biscuit? :p

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  8. Carniepunk sounds fantastic! I might just have to get my hands on a copy :)

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  9. Carniepunk sounds interesting, ill have to take a look at this one. Enjoy the rest of your books, my haul

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