Throwback Thursday #21 - Across The Universe

This is a great feature that Melissa at My World...in words and pictures has been doing for a while and I wanted to jump on board! There are plenty of books out there I desperately want...

But what about all those wonderful books that are ALREADY on my shelves?

 

Across The Universe - Beth Revis

 

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.
Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

 

I bought this because I read so many positive reviews when it first came out. I've even read the first few pages and I really want to know what happens next, but once again it's been buried at the bottom of my TBR pile for a few months. I really need a super-reading skill so I can work through a few of those books on that pile! :)

 

Kitty's Big Trouble Review

Kitty’s Big Trouble

-       Carrie Vaughn

Publisher: UK – Gollancz

Kitty Norville is back and in more trouble than ever.  Her recent run-in with werewolves traumatized by the horrors of war has made her start wondering how long the US government might have been covertly using werewolves in combat. Have any famous names in our own history might have actually been supernatural?  She's got suspicions about William Tecumseh Sherman.Then an interview with the right vampire puts her on the trail of Wyatt Earp, vampire hunter. But her investigations lead her to a clue about enigmatic vampire Roman and the mysterious Long Game played by vampires through the millennia.  That, plus a call for help from a powerful vampire ally in San Francisco, suddenly puts Kitty and her friends on the supernatural chessboard, pieces in dangerously active play.  And Kitty Norville is never content to be a pawn. . .

This book could easily be called Kitty Goes To San Francisco as she spends most of the time in Chinatown trying to beat Roman to a powerful magical artefact. As usual I enjoyed my time with Kitty. Over the course of the series so far, she’s grown in strength – yet remains practical about what she and can’t do. She – and her inner wolf have no qualms about running away when the enemy is more powerful. She remains a regular werewolf – not an all powerful, world saviour. It is this element of Kitty that I love – especially having read so many Urban Fantasy series where our heroine is unique/the only one of her type. (Not that this is bad but it makes a nice change!)

This was the first time in many books where we had Ben and Cormac with Kitty at the same time – and it was the first time I understood Kitty’s choice of man. It seemed much more natural than before – and while I’m sure there will be many who would like Kitty to change her mind, I don’t see that happening. Not least because of the changes that have occurred to each man since the series beginning – I doubt any other choice is possible now! However, I did enjoy the banter between them and their little ‘pack of three’ – although I think it should be a pack of four now!

However, something was missing for me with this instalment. I felt like Kitty didn’t really do much. She got lost in tunnels and ran away. She didn’t really drive the story much, but simply reacted. As such, this isn’t the best in the series, but still a really enjoyable instalment in one of the most easily readable Urban Fantasy series.

Recommended for fans of Patricia Briggs and Nicole Peeler. 7 out 10.

Same Book/Different Cover: Tempest Rising

This is an occasional feature I'm introducing comparing different covers of the same book...what I'm particularly interested in are re-issued covers for the same book.

This week I'm looking at Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler. This is a fun read that starts a great series. I've only read the first two books so far but in September Tempest's Legacy is released in the UK - I can't wait! :-) Anyway, onto the book cover...

US Cover - Same cover also used on original UK Cover

US Kindle Cover

New UK Cover

The Original US & UK cover is fun, cute and to me brilliant captures the tone of the book. I love the detail in the cover - from the teeth in the heart, the coffin and snake - all makes perfect sense when you know the story and when you don't I think they are intriguing. Plus is is different from any of the other Urban Fantasy books out there!

The Kindle cover is in the same vein as the original cover - but it has more of a focus on the moon and a large dog (well, that's what it looks like! You have to read the book if you want to know more!). I like it as well - although I don't like the cover's borders - far too pink and over powering.

The new UK cover - I'm not a fan. The model doesn't look like Jane to me and while there is a strong element of the sea, this isn't the biggest element of the book (most of the story is set inland!).

My verdict - the US cover is my favourite! What is yours? :)

From Notting Hill With Love...Actually Review

From Notting Hill With Love...Actually

-       Ali McNamara

Publisher: Sphere

She was just a girl, standing in front of a boy ...wishing he looked more like Hugh Grant. Scarlett loves the movies. But does she love sensible fiance David just as much? With a big white wedding on the horizon, Scarlett really should have decided by now ...When she has the chance to house-sit in Notting Hill - the setting of one of her favourite movies - Scarlett jumps at the chance. But living life like a movie is trickier than it seems, especially when her new neighbour Sean is so irritating. And so irritatingly handsome, too. Scarlett soon finds herself starring in a romantic comedy of her very own: but who will end up as the leading man?

It’s been a long time since I read a chick-lit book – over the last year my reading habits have slipped firmly into the Urban Fantasy arena with occasional YA, fantasy and science-fiction. Having decided to expand my reading genres again, I picked this up as I love films and it’s based in London. I’d forgotten how much fun these types of books can be!

So the story may not be the most original – girl torn between a long term but boring boyfriend and an exciting, perfect new guy. Within pages you know who she will choose, but the point of these books isn’t the choice, but the journey to get there. I loved the re-enactment of various film scenes – anyone who has seen even a couple of romantic comedies like Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill will appreciate the situations Scarlett finds herself in. While Scarlett herself is a typical light hearted heroine – a little superficial but kind hearted, she does have some serious family issues with her mother leaving her and her father when she was six months old. This adds some depth to the story and made it much more moving as a result

My major niggle was actually a language one – Scarlett continually refers to her love of movies. Fair enough. But in the UK people are just as likely – if not more so, to say film as movie. Or at least use both words. Such excessive use of the word movie was really jarring after a while – at least for my British sensibilities! J

Overall, a great romantic comedy in book form – perfect if you’re in the mood for some silly situations and funny one liners. The perfect popcorn book – no calories but filling enough for a few hours!

Recommended for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Hugh Grant. 8 out of 10.

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!

 

So, my book buying ban kinda took a bit of a tumble this week and I bought a kindle book and ordered some paperback books from Amazon - but as they haven't arrived yet do they count? :)

Anyway, the Kindle book counts and I also had a fabulous book win!

 

Book of Secrets - Chris Roberson

Publisher: Angry Robots

Reporter Spencer Finch is a journalist embroiled in the hunt for a missing book, encountering along the way cat burglars and mobsters, hackers and mysterious monks. At the same time, he's trying to make sense of the legacy left him by his late grandfather, a chest of what appear to be pulp magazines from the golden age of fantasy fiction. Following his nose, Finch gradually uncovers a mystery involving a lost Greek play, secret societies, generations of masked vigilantes - and an entire hidden history of mankind. It's like The Da Vinci Code retold by the Coen brothers in this blockbuster blur.

 

This was part of the kindle summer sale and as it was only 99p and I thought it sounded interesting, I clicked on that purchase button before I remembered I wasn't supposed to be buying any book this month! Ops!

 

Touch of Frost - Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Kensington Publishing

 My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest. But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

 

I was so excited when I found out I won a copy of this at Book Lovers Inc - I love the sound of this story. I've never read anything by Jennifer Estep but I've heard nothing but good things about her writing. Plus when this turned up it was signed along with a couple of signed bookmarks!! Wow!

 

So only a small number of books this week - but I think the quality speaks for itself! :)

On My Wishlist #52

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 can keep track! I'm back in steampunk mood this week - one of the joys of discovering a new genre - loads of books to find! :-)

Whitechapel Gods - S.M. Peters

Publisher: Roc

TWO GODS-ONE CHANCE FOR MANKIND
In Victorian London, the Whitechapel section is a mechanized, steam-driven hell, cut off and ruled by two mysterious, mechanical gods-Mama Engine and Grandfather Clock. Some years have passed since the Great Uprising, when humans rose up to fight against the machines, but a few brave veterans of the Uprising have formed their own Resistance-and are gathering for another attack. For now they have a secret weapon that may finally free them-or kill them all...

This looks like a fun Steampunk tale in Victorian London

Dead Iron (Age of Steam 1) - Devon Monk

Publisher: Roc

Welcome to a new America that is built on blood, sweat, and gears...
In steam age America, men, monsters, machines, and magic battle for the same scrap of earth and sky. In this chaos, bounty hunter Cedar Hunt rides, cursed by lycanthropy and carrying the guilt of his brother's death. Then he's offered hope that his brother may yet survive. All he has to do is find the Holder: a powerful device created by mad devisers-and now in the hands of an ancient Strange who was banished to walk this Earth.
In a land shaped by magic, steam, and iron, where the only things a man can count on are his guns, gears, and grit, Cedar will have to depend on all three if he's going to save his brother and reclaim his soul once and for all...

Most steampunk is set in London, but this takes a twist on that and sets steampunk firmly in America. In addition who doesn't like some brotherly guilt stories? :-)

Johannes Cabel the Detective - Johnathan L. Howard

Publisher: Doubleday

In this genre-twisting novel, infamous necromancer Johannes Cabal, after beating the Devil and being reunited with his soul, leads us on another raucous journey in a little-known corner of the world. This time he’s on the run from the local government. Stealing the identity of a minor bureaucrat, Cabal takes passage on the Princess Hortense, a passenger aeroship that is leaving the country. The deception seems perfect, and Cabal looks forward to a quiet trip and a clean escape, until he comes face-to-face with Leonie Barrow, an enemy from the old days who could blow his cover. But when a fellow passenger throws himself to his death, or at least that is how it appears, Cabal begins to investigate out of curiosity. His minor efforts result in a vicious attempt on his own  life—and then the gloves come off. Cabal and Leonie—the only woman to ever match wits with him—reluctantly team up to discover the murderer. Before they are done, there will be more narrow escapes, involving sword fighting and newfangled flying machines. There will be massive destruction, not to mention resurrected dead . . .
I've heard good things about this series and just love the idea of the ultimate locked room mystery - on an airship. This is one book I want to read!

So what are you wishing for this week? :) 

Spirit Bound (VA 5) Review + GIVEAWAY

Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy 5)

-          Richelle Mead

Publisher: UK – Penguin

**Warning this might contain spoilers for the first four Vampire Academy, but I've tried to keep it spoiler free for Spirit Bound**

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St Vladimir's Academy - and to her best friend, Lissa. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he's out there, somewhere. She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true.

Rose is back from Russia having failed in her task, but is finally able to graduate from St Vladimir’s to become a fully fledge Guardian. This is the least of her worries though with Lissa exploring new uses of spirit  as well as her own relationship with Adrian slowly taking off. Spirit Bound takes everything we’ve learnt about the Maori world so far and starts to twist it on it’s head. The action and scheming starts at the very beginning and continues with loads of emotional ups and downs throughout. Rose is still as impulsive as ever and makes for a great narrator – even if you do occasionally want to shake her and say you’re being silly. I wasn’t keen on how she was treating Adrian when it was obvious she still has major feelings for Dimitri. She wasn’t honest with him – or even herself and it did make me feel a little resentful towards her. Still the other characters played a much stronger element this time than before with Lissa growing up and taking an active role in Rose’s schemes as well as Eddie, Adrian, Victor, Ambrose, even the Queen all playing major roles in the story.

The writing flows effortlessly and you don’t even notice the pages turning as you are so involved in plot. The story really does build on everything that’s gone before so while there is some back-story told, you really need to have read the previous four books to appreciate it all.

Once again Richelle Mead has proven that she knows how to finish a book in style – with enough meat on the bone to be satisfying, but at the same time needing you desperate for more sauce to make you want to start the next book immediately. Luckily I already had Last Sacrifice on my shelves and been able to start it straight away – as I guarantee you that if you don’t you will be desperate to get your hands on it!

Recommended for fans of Vampire Academy & Michael Grant. 9 out of 10.

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Once again I’ve ended up with two copies of Spirit Bound, so I’m giving away my spare unread copy. And as I'm in a really generous mood I'm offering this up internationally. Giveaway ends on Friday 26^th August 2011. To enter, fill in the below form & Good Luck! :-)