My Book Haul - Surprise Kindle!

My new kindle sitting in it's box

Last week it was my birthday and as it was round number (no, I’m not saying!), some of my lovely friends grouped together and bought me a Kindle!! It arrived all wrapped up and unannounced in the post yesterday – I have to say there’s a lot of packaging for what it is really a light-weight and small product. I got so excited when I saw what it was and rushed off to charge it up and start browsing the kindle store. As a result I’ve downloaded a number of free books –

Dracula by Bram Stoker – I’ve read this before and love it. It’s always a good book to have and I’ve been thinking about re-reading it recently.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Irvine Washington – one of those classics I’ve always wanted to try but have never got round to.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – can you see a theme developing? Again another book I’ve never read. Between these three I might have a Gothic horror themed week at some point!

The Brother Grimm Fairy Stories – I’ve been a bit of fairy tale hunt recently (as you can see from my wishlist last week!) and I don’t think I’ve ever read the original versions of them. I understand they are quite gory – so another book downloaded.

A New World by Patrick Ness – This is a prequel to his excellent Chaos Walking trilogy based on Viola before she reaches the planet. A friend had sent me this before as it’s free (or at least was!) on Patrick Ness’s website but I never got round to reading it. I saw it on the free section of site and thought I’m having that!

  

 The final book I downloaded last night wasn’t a free one but it was heavily reduced so I splashed on Fallen by Lauren Kate. I’ve heard a lot about this series on the blogosphere in the last month – especially with the sequel just released so another one to try.

I’d been toying with the idea of getting one for a while – there are some great books now available and of course the kindle books are cheaper than the paper one – I think my bank manager might appreciate the saving, especially as I haven’t had to fork out on the initial cost of the system! I haven’t started reading anything yet – I rarely have more than one book on the go so I‘m just waiting to finish my current read before I get to take my kindle on a test read.

So now I’m a new kindle owner, is there anything I should know about it? What did you wish you knew about the kindle when you first got it? What’s the best – or worse about it? I can already see getting hold of books within 60 seconds can be dangerous for impulse shopping!

 

The Mage In Black Review

The Mage In Black (Sabina Kane 2)

-          Jay Wells

Publisher: UK – Orbit

Sabina Kane doesn't have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, leader of the vampire race, wants her dead. So when she arrives in New York to meet her mage relatives, the reunion puts the fun in dysfunctional. Not only is mage culture completely bizarre, but everyone seems to think she's some kind of 'Chosen' who'll unite the dark races. Sabina doesn't care who chose her, she's not into destiny. But the mages aren't Sabina's only problem. In New York's Black Light District, she has run-ins with fighting demons, hostile werewolves and an opportunistic old flame. Sabina thought she'd take a bite out of the Big Apple - but it looks like it wants to bite back.

I read the first of the Sabine Kane books, Red-Headed Stepchild a few weeks ago and quite enjoyed it (Read my review here). Picking up immediately following the end of the first book, this one sees Sabina move from California to New York and exploring her mage heritage along with some unexpected family and an old flame re-appears.

As before Sabina is a girl who reveals in action and snarky comments. I love her conversations with her demon minion, Giguhl – there is a great banter between the two of them that flies of the page. This time round Sabina is a little more relaxed, she’s not undercover this  time so you get to explore her off time habits in more detail. Whether it’s exploring her suppressed mage powers or just hanging out at the bar I felt I got to see more of Sabina ticks this time. While there wasn’t the urgency that the first novel had, there is still the over-hanging threat of war and Sabina’s Grandmother is still after her for her ‘betrayal’ in the first book. All this builds up to a huge finale and a cliff hanger ending – I’m looking forward to Green-Eyed Demon, the third book released in March 2011.

Once again I was swept up with the story and practically inhaled the whole book! While Sabina doesn’t linger in my imagination as much as others there (I’m thinking Elana Michaels and Mercy Thompson) I do enjoy spending time in her world – if only for some genuine amusing banter and some great fight scenes.

Recommended for Patricia Briggs and Charlaine Harris fans. 8 out of 10

Book Temple #2: Forbidden Planet Megastore

This a new monthly feature for Mel’s Random reviews where I wax lyrical about a place dedicated to books or reading. It can be a shop, market, website or even a place to curl up and read in. There’s no sponsorship  involved and as such is subject to reversal, mood changes and general inaccuracies - I just want to share my favourite book places! I’m afraid it will be focused on London as it’s where I live and the place I do most of reading – but feel free to join in! If you have your favourite Book Temple you would like to share through a guest blog, please contact me – my email in on the right!



Forbidden Planet Megastore Entrance



For this months ‘Book Temple’ I want to focus on a store that is probably well know to most of the genre readers in the UK – Forbidden Planet. I’m focusing on the Forbidden Planet Megastore on Shaftesbury Avenue in central London as it’s their Mega store and one which I make the point of visiting regularly. Forbidden offers loads of items for the cult fans but I always head straight for the basement and turn left where their book department is. And what a collection of books!



At the north end of Shaftesbury Avenue, close to New Oxford Street

Anything with a speculative fiction nature is include – from urban fantasy and paranormal romance to high fantasy and science fiction to conspiracy thrillers and mysteries to horror to YA and film/TV tie ins. If it is a fiction book with a ‘what if’ idea, then you can probably find here. It is a huge collection with lots of imports from the US and elsewhere (I can usually my Aussie authors here as well!) an I’ve been able to start a lot of series that regular book don’t stock because of the collection. There is a big area dedicated to new releases from both sides of the pond and around the corner is the A-Z of genre fiction books. I can and have spent hours exploring, discovering new titles, completing collections and rediscovering old favourites here. It’s the best collection of speculative fiction I’ve ever seen and there’s something comforting that everyone else there likes the same type of books as you.

There’s a bonus at Forbidden planet as well as they frequently hold signings with loads of different authors. This means you can meet and talk to some of the best writers around – check out the website for who’s coming by next.

If you want to explore book temples in London then I recommend the Forbidden Planet Megastore in London – but be warned you might spend more time and money there than you were expecting!





The Book of Tomorrow Review

The Book of Tomorrow

-          Cecelia Ahern

Publisher: UK - Harper

The magical and mesmerising story of how tomorrow can change what happens today. Sometimes tomorrow has to start today.
Tamara Goodwin always had everything she wanted. Why would she ever give a thought to tomorrow? But suddenly life takes a difficult turn, and Tamara faces the hard decision to swap her glamorous town living for life in the country. However, Tamara is soon lonely and longing for her old life. Then a travelling library arrives in the village, bringing with it a mysterious leather-bound book locked with a gold clasp and padlock. What Tamara discovers within its pages takes her breath away and shakes her world forever.

The Book of Tomorrow is marketed as a chick-lit book, even the description on the back makes you think it fits in that genre. But one of the things that surprised when I read this is that the main character, Tamara, is actually a teenager. This is actually a rather sweet coming of age story, and would perhaps be better aimed towards the YA market rather than chick-lit. However, that didn’t stop be enjoying it at all.

Tamara has to leave behind her old house, friends and life when her Dad dies and she and her mum move in with her aunt and uncle. It is a sharp change in circumstances for her, used to having anything she wanted and she has to learn how to deal with life in the country and her strangely interfering aunt. Add to that the mystery of the cottage opposite, her strangely catatonic Mum and the Nun in the woods and it feels like there is a mystery in the air...Tamara grows in leaps and bounds during the story and matures as she learns a lot about her family and herself. By the end she feels like a mature young women and someone who could handle anything.

I really enjoyed The Book of Tomorrow. It made a nice change of pace from some of the books I've reading recently. I’ve read most of Cecelia Ahern’s books and she ahas a melodic style that just sweeps you along. I also the love she marries the ‘real-life’ aspect with something fantastic – in this case a diary that tells you about the day before you live it. This adds a slightly more supernatural edge to the story which is never fully explained. In fact to have it explained would ruin the wonder of it for me.

Recommended for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Claudia Carroll. 7.5 out of 10

My Book Haul/In My Mail Box

Being new to the Blogging universe and learning more each day, I recently discovered that The Story Siren hosts a weekly meme where bloggers can share what goodies they've purchased/received this week - which is pretty much what I've been doing My Book Haul posts. So I've decided to join in. If you get a chance head over to The Story Siren and check out what everyone is up to!

 

I've been very good the last couple of weeks and haven't actually purchased any books for a while (it may even have been some kind of record!). However, I've been lucky in the last couple of week and have won a book and received a couple of friends.

 

Shade - Jeri Smith-Ready (Publisher: Simon and Schuster, September 2010)

I won this from the lovely Book Smugglers when they had a post from Jeri Smith-Ready about her musical influences while writing.

And these two books are ones lent to me from friends (apparently a whole bookcase as a TBR pile isn't enough! :)

The Magician's Apprentice - Trudi Caravan (Publisher: Orbit, April 2010) has been lent by my Cinema Bud after we both enjoyed the Black Magician trilogy a few years ago. While The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - Stephanie Meyer (Publisher Atom, June 2010) was a borrow from my nearly sister-in-law after I lent her the Twilight series. It's only a short book so expect a review soon!

 

On My Wish List #7

This is a meme from Book Chick City. There are so many books out there that I want to read that this is the only way I keep track! As it's October and the nights are definitely drawing in, this weeks wish list is themed around fairy tales...

The Sevenfold Spell - Tia Nevit

Publisher: Carina Press (e-book format) September 2010

Have you ever wondered what happens to the other people in the fairy tale?

Things look grim for Talia and her mother. By royal proclamation, the constables and those annoying “good” fairies have taken away their livelihood by confiscating their spinning wheel. Something to do with a curse on the princess, they said.

Not every young lady has a fairy godmother rushing to her rescue.

Without the promise of an income from spinning, Talia’s prospects for marriage disappear, and she and her mother face destitution. Past caring about breaking an arbitrary and cruel law, rebellious Talia determines to build a new spinning wheel, the only one in the nation, which plays right into the evil fairy’s diabolical plan. Talia discovers that finding a happy ending requires sacrifice. But is it a sacrifice she’s willing to make?

I came across Tia Nevitt at Fantasy Cafe as part of her Pajama Party Blog Tour and just fell in love with the idea of what happens behind the well known fairy tell. And although it's only been released as an e-book at present, I adore the cover - how pretty?!

Sisters Red - Jackson Pearce

Publisher: Hodders Children's Books

The story of Scarlett and Rosie March, two highly-skilled sisters who have been hunting Fenris (werewolves) – who prey on teen girls – since Scarlett lost her eye years ago while defending Rosie in an attack. Scarlett lives to destroy the Fenris, and she and Rosie lure them in with red cloaks (a colour the wolves can't resist), though Rosie hunts more out of debt to her sister than drive.
But things seem to be changing. The wolves are getting stronger and harder to fight, and there has been a rash of news reports about countless teenage girls being brutally murdered in the city. Scarlett and Rosie soon discover the truth: wolves are banding together in search of a Potential Fenris – a man tainted by the pack but not yet fully changed. Desperate to find the Potential to use him as bait for a massive werewolf extermination, the sisters move to the city with Silas, a young woodsman and long time family friend who is deadly with an axe. Meanwhile, Rosie finds herself drawn to Silas and the bond they share not only drives the sisters apart, but could destroy all they've worked for.

I've read some mixed reviews of this book but I always loved Little Red Riding Hood as a kid and I can't help being curious about what happens next.

The Stepsister Scheme - Jim.C.Hines

Publisher: Daw Books (January 2009)

What would happen if an author went back to the darker themes of the original fairy tales for his plots, and then crossed the Disney princesses with Charlie's Angels? What's delivered is The Stepsister Scheme—a whole new take on what happened to Cinderella and her prince after the wedding. And with Jim C. Hines penning the tale readers can bet it won't be “and they lived happily ever after.”

I love the premise of this book - Disney princess crossed with Charlies Angels? I just want to pick it up and start reading!

So what's on your wishlist this week? :-)

Book Blogger Hop #2

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books  and is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! 

This weeks question: How do you spread the word about your blog? (e.g. Social Networking sites, Book Blog Directories, comments on other blogs...)

Well, this is were I sheepishly shrug as I don't really promote this blog much. I've only been serious about running this for 6 weeks or so - which basically means I'm as much of a newbie as you could hope to find! I've only really told two of my friends that I'm doing this now - my two reading buddies, so I'm just working away in the corner for my own amusement more than anything. But it is nice when people stop by!

I guess the only things I've been doing to find other people out there is taking part in the Book Blogger Hop (although this is only my second time!), Book Chick City's Wishlist on Saturdays and reading other blogs - trying desperately to think something interesting to comment! It's difficult but I know how excited I get when I get a comment - or *an even more excited squeal*, a follower!

So I love this topic as I can see what everyone else out there is doing - and hopefully pick up a few tips! But if you're stopping by what do recommend I do to get the word out there? :)