Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Reading Reflections: March 2010


Books Read:
Original Sin by Allison Brennan (review)
All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab (review)
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (review)
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (review)
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (review)
Shadowglass by Erica Hayes (review)
Soulless by Gail Carriger (review)

Total Number of Books Read: 7

Most Anticipated: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Biggest Let Down: Shadowglass by Erica Hayes

Favorite Read: I would have to say that it is a tie between The Iron King by Julie Kagawa and Soulless by Gail Carriger.

Highest rank: 5 butterflies

Lowest rank: 3 butterflies

Overall Reflection:
Well it certainly has been an interesting month of reading. The book that I most thoroughly enjoyed are: Original Sin, All Unquiet Things, The Iron King, and Soulless by Gail Carriger. I was most surprised by Soulless. I had not anticipated that I would enjoy it as much as I actually did. The Sky is Everywhere is a close second...I enjoyed it much more than I had originally thought I would. I think I ruined the book version of Shutter Island by watching the movie beforehand, though the movie was incredible. I was most disappointed by Shadowglass. I had previously enjoyed Shadowfae by the same author. However, Shadowglass just didn't live up to my expectations. Many of the books that I read and enjoyed were books I discovered by reading blog reviews. So many thanks to my fellow book bloggers for recommendations and discoveries! :) I look forward to another month of reading and blogging in April!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Soulless by Gail Carriger

 


Book Summery:
Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette. Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?-goodreads.com

My Review:
I honestly didn't think I would like this one at first. It took me about 70 pages before I finally got in the groove of reading through (a) Carriger's voice and (b) the Victorian setting. However, once I got into the right mode, it was near impossible to set this book down. I honestly don't think I would have picked up Soulless had I not read the reviews written over at Book Love Affair and Jawas Read, Too! Though they did not enjoy Soulless quite as enthusiastically as I did, I can honestly say that I would not have even bothered to pick up the series had it not been for their reviews!

Onwards to the review. What makes this book are two exceptional components: The first being the characters. First off, is our narrator Alexia Tarabotti. Alexia is a strong, intelligent, and witty female lead. The supporting characters are superb as well, and counteract Alexia nicely. A few of my favorites are Lord Maccon and ProfessorLyall, the alpha and beta males of the local werewolf pack. The second component is the setting of the story. Now I am certainly no history buff, but it seems that Ms. Carriger has done some rather intensive research in regards to this book. Again, I can't honestly say if the historical components of the story are historically correct, but they sure do add some wonderful color to the story.

All in all, I absolutely adored this story. It has a touch of various elements: the paranormal, science, romance, steam punk with some Victorian flair thrown in. When combined these elements produce an enthralling and original story. I absolutely can not wait to get started on Carriger's next book in the series, Changeless. For more information, check out the author's website.

Cover Art Commentary:
Like the story, this cover is most original. I love how the gray background make the fore-colors pop off the page.

Overall Rating:


Sunday, March 28, 2010

Book Bundle

Bought:

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette. Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?-goodreads.com
An invisible, uncrossable physical barrier encloses the Unified States. The Line is the part of the border that lopped off part of the country, dooming the inhabitants to an unknown fate when the enemy used a banned weapon. It’s said that bizarre creatures and superhumans live on the other side, in Away. Nobody except tough old Ms. Moore would ever live next to the Line. Nobody but Rachel and her mother, who went to live there after Rachel’s dad died in the last war. It’s a safe, quiet life. Until Rachel finds a mysterious recorded message that can only have come from Away. The voice is asking for help. Who sent the message? Why is her mother so protective? And to what lengths is Rachel willing to go in order to do what she thinks is right? -goodreads.com
A serial killer on the loose. A girl with a morbid ability. And the boy who would never let anything happen to her. Violet Ambrose can find the dead. Or at least, those who have been murdered. She can sense the echoes they leave behind... and the imprints they leave on their killers. As if that weren't enough to deal with during junior year, she also has a sudden, inexplicable, and consuming crush on her best friend since childhood, Jay Heaton. Now a serial killer has begun terrorizing Violet's small town... and she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him. -goodreads.com

Won:

Alexia Tarabotti, now Lady Maccon, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears -- leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria. But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her into the backwaters of ugly waistcoats, Scotland, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only a soulless can. She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.-goodreads.com

Source:
I bought Soulless, The Line, and The Body Finder at Barnes and Noble. I won Changeless from Erika from Jawas Read, Too! Many thanks to Erika and the Jawas for my copy! :P

Most Anticipated:
Ek! I don't know if I can choose! I am already reading Soulless, so Changeless is most likely next on my list. However, I am really looking forward to reading all of these! :)

Shadowglass by Erica Hayes

Book Summery:
For Ice, a compulsive fairy thief, life is a wild party of mayhem, fae trickery and magical confidence scams. She's never cared about rules or warnings, so when she filches a demon's beguiling magic mirror, she can't resist taking a peek. Malicious enchantment strikes, and Ice can no longer tell a lie. If she can't undo the spell, she'll have to turn respectable. Two words: no way.

It sounds simple, especially when Indigo, a frosty metalfae thief, agrees to help her, as he too has fallen foul of the mirror's mischief. But when the mirror's victims start turning up dead, it seems someone doesn't want Ice or Indigo cured. As they draw closer to answers — and to each other — Indigo remains stubbornly silent about the nature of his enchantment. Is he the killer's target? Or does he harbor a more chilling secret?-goodreads.com

Book Trailer:



My Review:
I highly anticipated Shadowglass after reading Hayes' debut novel Shadowfae and prequel (short story) Hellcursed. Unfortunately, Shadowglass didn't quite live up to it's precedent counterparts. I have read many stories of faeries and fae, but I honestly had a difficult time with this one. The main character, Ice, was a bit too naive and trite for me. She would decidedly make horrible decisions and then be upset about their outcome. I found it a bit irritating and honestly repetitive to read. Another vexing component is that narratively, Ice would think intelligently with proper grammar and complete thoughts, but then speak poorly in broken sentences and incomplete thoughts. It was like reading about 2 different characters altogether. I also found the flow of Shadowglass a bit too choppy for my liking. Shadowfae had a smooth flow with good direction, plot-wise. I found the narrative in Shadowglass a bit tedious at times, which made for slow reading. Overall, I enjoyed the world Hayes has created. I was happy to see Kane back in this second installment and continue to look forward to the next book in the series. I am hoping that this was just a minor setback in the series. For more information and to download the prequel to the series Hellcursed, check out the author's website.

Cover Art Commentary:
I think the biggest draw of this book is its beautiful cover. The books look gorgeous next to each other.

Overall Rating:

Friday, March 19, 2010

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Book Summery:
Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey’s boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie’s own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they’re the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can’t collide without the whole wide world exploding. -goodreads.com
Book Trailer:



My Review:
This book is beautiful, moving, and honest. Real life isn't always easy and finding oneself can prove difficult as an adolescent, especially when you have depended on someone else to define who you are. Lennie's character develops truthfully, painfully, and substantially throughout the story. This is a story of love, mourning, friendship and family. I recommend it to all readers who are looking to get lost in a raw, emotional journey of maturity and realization. I hope Jandy Nelson plans to write more books. She certainly has the knack for it.

Cover Art Commentary:
Honestly, the cover was the first thing that drew me to this book. It's simple, gorgeous, and hopeful. :)

Overall Rating:



Thursday, March 18, 2010

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

Summery:
Summer, 1954.
U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels has come to Shutter Island, home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Along with his partner, Chuck Aule, he sets out to find an escaped patient. But nothing at Ashecliffe Hospital is what it seems. And neither is Teddy Daniels.
Is he there to find a missing patient? Or has he been sent to look into rumors of Ashecliffe's radical approach to psychiatry? An approach that may include drug experimentation, hideous surgical trials, and lethal countermoves in the shadow war against Soviet brainwashing ...
The closer Teddy and Chuck get to the truth, the more elusive it becomes, and the more they begin to believe that they may never leave Shutter Island. Because someone is trying to drive them insane ...-goodreads.com

Review:
The first time I heard of Shutter Island, was when I saw the previews for the movie. I asked one of my friends to go see it with me, and she replied that she wanted to read the book first. Sadly, I hadn't known that Shutter Island was originally a book! My friend promptly finished the book and we went to see the movie. It was awesome. Afterwords, I picked up the book. I can honestly say that the movie very closely follows the book. The overall feeling of the book (and movie) is dark, creepy, and the nagging urge that things aren't really what they seem. I think I would have rated this book a bit higher, had I read it before the movie. Reading it after, just seemed a bit repetitive. I highly recommend that you read the book before watching the movie, if you plan on doing both.

Cover Art Commentary:
The book pictured above is not the copy I own, which has Leonardo Di Caprio on the cover...I really hate when they stick pictures of the movie on the copy of the book. However, the cover pictured above is dark and haunting, just like the book!
Overall Rating:

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Mega Post

My story:
Sorry I have been AWOL lately. I worked Sunday night and it was AWFUL. In fact, one of the doctor's asked me before I left if I was okay to drive home. Turns out, I wasn't. Monday morning on my way home from work, I got in a car accident. It was the perfect way to top my horribly awful night. Needless to say, I have been really busy getting the car to shop, taking care of insurance, etc... So to make up for my absence, I am posting a mega post to incorporate all the entries I would have posted since Sunday.
Recent Books I have purchased:

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey
dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey’s boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie’s own. Joe is the new boy in
town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they’re the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can’t collide without the whole wide world exploding.-goodreads.com
The Wild Things by Dave Eggers
The Wild Things — based loosely on the storybook by Maurice Sendak and the screenplay cowritten with Spike Jonze — is about the confusions of a boy, Max, making his way in a world he can’t control. His father is gone, his mother is spending time with a younger boyfriend, his sister is becoming a teenager and no longer has interest in him. At the same time, Max finds himself capable of startling acts of wildness: he wears a wolf suit, bites his mom, and can’t always control his outbursts. During a fight at home, Max flees and runs away into the woods. He finds a boat there, jumps in, and ends up on the open sea, destination unknown. He lands on the island of the Wild Things, and soon he becomes their king. But things get complicated when Max realizes that the Wild Things want as much from him as he wants from them. Funny, dark, and alive, The Wild Things is a timeless and time-tested tale for all ages. -goodreads.com

Source:
These were both purchased at Horizon books.

Most anticipated:
I have been looking forward to reading both of these. I started The Sky is Everywhere promptly after I purchased it. I plan to read The Wild Things in the very near future.


I also recently purchased this:

The White Stripes are my FAVORITE band. Ever. They recently did a tour up in Canada and documented the whole thing. The end result is an album and DVD that highlights the tour. If you haven't heard Jack White play his guitar live, you simply haven't lived. I will by purchasing the DVD in the future, you know...once I pay my accident bills and whatnot. I highly anticipate it. The album is phenomenal. I lucked out and got this on sale for $10. :)




Friday, March 12, 2010

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Summery:
When Meghan was a small child, her father disappeared. Afterwords, Meghan and her mother promptly left town. Meghan was never quite sure, but it almost felt as if her mother was running from something... Relocated in a small rural town in Louisiana, Meghan's mother remarried and had a second child, Meghan's half brother Ethan. Not really fitting in anywhere, Meghan struggles to make it through day-to-day and dreams of escaping the small town life forced on her. Little does she know, her dream is about to come true. On the eve of her 16th birthday, Meghan is drawn into the world of the Fae when Ethan is kidnapped and replaced with a changeling. Meghan soon discovers that she is the Seelie king's daughter and is caught in the middle of an epic battle. Enlisting the help of the prankster Puck, the Ice Prince, and an enigmatic talking cat, Meghan ventures her way into the dangerous land of the Fae in hopes of retrieving her brother...The path is treacherous with many deadly obstacles -and- creatures along the way. Can Meghan rescue her brother and remain in one piece long enough to tell the tale?

Book Trailer:



Review:
I absolutely adored The Iron King. I have read several great reviews for this book, which initially peaked my interest. The Little Reader and The Book Junkie's Bookshelf and Pure Imagination are some great examples. :) What I liked most about this is book is that it is quite a bit darker than I had anticipated. The level of horror as well as depth was a pleasant surprise. At first I didn't think I would like Meg's character. She seems a bit weak, often relying on other people to fight battles for her. However, Meg's courage and overall character improved throughout the book. Once she found her strength, I found her much more appealing and complete. I also enjoyed Meg's interactions with Puck and Ash. So much that I absolutely can not wait for the sequel. I am absolutely dying to know what happens next in the Iron Fae series! This book was downright impossible for me to set down! For more information on the book, as well as the series, I highly recommend you check out the Julie Kagawa's official website.

Cover Art Commentary:
The cover is just gorgeous. I love the colors and the design. :) I can't wait to see what the next cover looks like in the series!

Rating:

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab


Summery:
Neily is beginning his senior year at Brighton Day School, a prep school for privileged kids. Along with starting his final year of high school, Neily is desperately determined get over his ex-girlfriend's, Carly, death. However, Neily discovers this is almost impossible when Audrey, Carly's cousin and best friend, reappears at Brighton. Audrey disappeared shortly after her father was blamed for Carly's death. This year, Audrey seeks out Neily's help to clear her father's name and uncover the true identity of Carly's killer. What they discover is both surprising and dangerous. The closer they get to the truth, the more danger they find themselves in.

Review:
I first read this review over at Lori's YA blog: Pure Imagination. First of all, if you haven't been to Lori's blog, go check it out! It's one of my favorite review sites! Secondly, this book was AMAZING. Based on Lori's review, I knew I wanted to read this book, but I had no idea what I was in store for! This is one serious plot full of surprises and twists! I love discovering things one at a time, along with the characters. It kept me guessing at Carly's murderer the entire time! The characters are wonderfully written, honest and flawed. I enjoyed Audrey and Neily's love-hate relationship, and truly felt like I was along side of them for their entire journey. This is one story that will capture you, making it truly difficult to set down this book! I highly recommend it to readers of all generes! :)

Cover Art Commentary:
This cover is simple, honest, and sad, much like the story. The picture of Carly's corpse doesn't bother me much, rather it adds to the story's mystique.
Rating:

Monday, March 8, 2010

Literary-based Movie Reviews part 1

Movie: Alice in Wonderland



Book: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

Alice begins her adventures when she follows the frantically delayed White Rabbit down a hole into the magical world of Wonderland, where she meets a variety of wonderful creatures, including Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Cheshire Cat, the hookah-smoking Caterpillar, the Mad Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts—who, with the help of her enchanted deck of playing cards, tricks Alice into playing a bizarre game of croquet. Alice continues her adventures in Through the Looking-Glass, which is loosely based on a game of chess and includes Carroll’s famous poem “Jabberwocky.”-Goodreads.com

My Review:
It has been a very long time since I have read the book. Therefore, I plan on re-reading it in the near future. The movie, however, was fabulous! I had worked 3 nights in a row and had a difficult time getting up early to see the film and allllmost called it off. I am soooo glad I didn't! Tim Burton did an excellent job with this cinematic interpretation. The movie was dark, whimsical, and absolutely delightful. Whoever cast the movie, did an excellent job. I found the actors to fit their parts extremely well. I think my actor/actress was Helena Bonham Carter. She portrayed the Red Queen perfectly. The setting(s) for the movie were absolutely stunning. All in all, I highly enjoyed this film and will definitely purchase it when it becomes available on DVD! If you get a chance to see it in the theater, definitely go! I'm glad I did! :)
My Rating:



Movie: Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightening Thief

Book: The Lightening Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson just found out that he is a demigod. That is, half human, half Greek god. In a last ditch effort to save his life, Percy enters Camp Half-Blood. There he discovers which mythological god he is related to and also stumbles across a prophecy that he is to fulfill in 10 days. The gods are warring, and Percy is the only one who can abate the conflict before it develops into World War 3. It is a lot to take in, but young Percy is up to the challenge. With a satyr and a daughter of Athena by his side, Percy heads out to face monsters, angry go ds, and other mythological creatures that want nothing more that stop Percy from fulfilling his quest. -My review

My Review:
I did successfully read the entire series before watching the film (yay!). I am really glad I did. The film is infused with action, drama, and humor, as well as the book, but they are very, very different. For one, the age of the characters in the movie is much older than in the book. Also, the characters were presented very differently, both in appearance and in personality. I had expected much more from Chris Columbus, who directed the first 2 Harry Potter movies. The actors and actresses of the gods and goddesses fit their roles rather nicely. The scenes on Mt. Olympus were stunning. I did enjoy the humor of Grover in the movie, but again, this is not found in the book. Overall, I enjoyed the film, but was slightly disappointed that it didn't follow the book more closely. As of right now, I plan to purchase this once it's released.
My Rating:

Literary-based Movie Reviews part 2

Movie: Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant



Book: The Vampire's Assistant and Other Tales from the Cirque Du Freak (The Saga of Darren Shan) by Darren Shan

Darren Shan is just an ordinary schoolboy who loves to ride bikes and hang out with his three best friends. Then one day Darren and his friends stumble across an invitation to visit the Cirque Du Freak, a strange and mysterious freak show. Almost as if by destiny, Darren wins a ticket and what follows is his horrifying descent into the dark and bloody world of vampires.

This is Darren's story.
-Amazon.com




My Review:
*Sigh* Yet another movie in which I did not read the book first! I need to get better about that! :P Anyways, going into this movie without having read the book, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I actually kind of prefer that sometimes. I seem to enjoy the experience more. Anyways, I digress. The movie was delightfully dark, funny, and surprisingly original. I LOVED the winter carnival grounds setting. Very pleasing to the eye. I enjoyed John C. Riley as Larten Crepsley, he suited the role quite nicely. Also, I was pleased with the choice of Chris Massoglia, he really stepped up to the role. At first, I thought the film dragged a bit, but once the "freak show" came to town, things started to pick up nicely. I love how the "freaks" interact with each other, finding solace in one another. On a whim, I just picked this up at the store without seeing it first, and I am glad I did. It's your basic good vs. evil story, done with some serious style. :P

My Rating:





Movie: Whip It



Book: Whip It by Shauna Cross (Also known as Derby Girl)

Skirts, Skates, & Scrapes
All the old school skills with a new punk rock attitude
Come see The Lone Star Derby Girls
Austin's All-Girl Roller Derby League
The Holy Rollers vs. The Fight Crew
Halftime Concert by the Chimney Sweeps
This ain't no cheerleading clinic, y'all

Meet Bliss Cavendar, an indie-rock-loving misfit stuck in the tiny town of Bodeen, Texas. Her pageant-addicted mother expects her to compete for the coveted Miss Bluebonnet crown, but Bliss would rather feast on roaches than be subjected to such rhinestone tyranny.
Bliss's escape? Roller Derby.
When she discovers a league in nearby Austin, Bliss embarks on an epic journey full of hilarious tattooed girls, delicious boys in bands, and a few not-so-awesome realities even the most hard-core derby chick has to learn.-goodreads.com

My review:
*gulp* I didn't even know this was a book until I saw the movie! How sad is that?! Again, I went into this movie, not really sure what was in store for me. I mainly picked it up because Ellen Page (one of my favorite actresses) was in it. :P It's a classic coming of age tale, with a roller derby twist. Lighthearted, warm, funny...the movie doesn't disappoint. I loved all the interesting characters and highly enjoyed Bliss' character evolution. I am beyond happy that I picked this one up and will no doubt watch it from time to time, when I need a good pick-me-up! :)

My Rating:

Friday, March 5, 2010

Book Bundle

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

When Sophie Mercer turned thirteen, she discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-Gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hecate Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward prodigium, a.k.a. witches, fae, and shapeshifters. By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard. Three powerful enemies who look like supermodels; a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock; a creepy, tag-along ghost; and a new roommate, who happens to be the most-hated person and only vampire on campus. Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her friend Jenna is the number one suspect. Meanwhile, Sophie has a more personal shock to grapple with. Not only is her father the head of the prodigium council, he's the most powerful warlock in the world, and Sophie is his heir. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all prodigium, especially her. -goodreads.com

Shadowglass by Erica Hayes

A seductive magic mirror, deep in a demon's lair. A simple warning: don't stare at the glass. A light-fingered fairy who can't resist.

For Ice, a compulsive fairy thief, life is a wild party of mayhem, fae trickery and magical confidence scams. She's never cared about rules or warnings, so when she filches a demon's beguiling magic mirror, she can't resist taking a peek. Malicious enchantment strikes, and Ice can no longer tell a lie. If she can't undo the spell, she'll have to turn respectable. Two words: no way.

It sounds simple, especially when Indigo, a frosty metalfae thief, agrees to help her, as he too has fallen foul of the mirror's mischief. But when the mirror's victims start turning up dead, it seems someone doesn't want Ice or Indigo cured. As they draw closer to answers — and to each other — Indigo remains stubbornly silent about the nature of his enchantment. Is he the killer's target? Or does he harbor a more chilling secret?-goodreads.com

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Summer, 1954. U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels has come to Shutter Island, home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Along with his partner, Chuck Aule, he sets out to find an escaped patient. But nothing at Ashecliffe Hospital is what it seems. And neither is Teddy Daniels. Is he there to find a missing patient? Or has he been sent to look into rumors of Ashecliffe's radical approach to psychiatry? An approach that may include drug experimentation, hideous surgical trials, and lethal countermoves in the shadow war against Soviet brainwashing ...
The closer Teddy and Chuck get to the truth, the more elusive it becomes, and the more they begin to believe that they may never leave Shutter Island. Because someone is trying to drive them insane ...-Goodreads.com

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series. -Goodreads.com

Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
October "Toby" Daye, a changeling who is half human and half fae, has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the Faerie world, retreating to a "normal" life. Unfortunately for her, the Faerie world has other ideas...

The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evening's dying curse, which binds her to investigate, Toby must resume her former position as knight errant and renew old alliances. As she steps back into fae society, dealing with a cast of characters not entirely good or evil, she realizes that more than her own life will be forfeited if she cannot find Evening's killer.-goodreads.com

A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire
Toby Daye-a half-human, half-fae ch
angeling-has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the fae world, retreating to a "normal" life. Unfortunately for her, the Faerie world had other ideas...

Now her liege, the Duke of the Shadowed Hills, has asked Toby to go to the Country of Tamed Lightening to make sure all is well with his niece, Countess January O'Leary. It seems like a simple enough assignment-until Toby discovers that someone has begun murdering people close to January, and that if the killer isn't stopped, January may be the next victim.-goodreads.com

The Puzzle Ring by Kate Forsyth
Hannah lives an ordinary life with
her mom in Australia, long after her father has gone missing and is presumed dead. One day, Hannah receives a letter from her estranged Grandmother, stating that she is ill and wishes for Hannah to visit her in Scotland. After
much debate, Hannah and her mother decide to go, but are not quite prepared for what is in store. Once in Scotland, Hannah discovers that her Grandmother lives in a mansion, next to a burned down castle. Further more, Hannah uncovers the truth about her father's disappearance and learns that it is connected to a curse that has been placed on her family many centuries ago. Determined to break the curse, Hannah and her group of friends travel back in search of the four pieces of the puzzle ring. For Hannah believes that once the puzzle ring is put back together, the curse will finally be broken. However, once Hannah and her friends go back in time, they soon discover that returning will not be as easily as they had originally planned, and they are running out of time. Can Hannah successfully find all the pieces of the puzzle ring and return before it's too late?-My Review

The Gypsy Crown by Kate Forsyth
Emilia Finch and her cousin Luka are gypsies. For them, that means they live a strongly traditional life, rich with story, music, dance, and magic, governed by the laws of the clan and the ways of the road. To the repressive Puritanical government of 17th century England, however, the gypsies are thieving, fortune-telling vagrants who are most likely allies of the devil.
While the Finches have managed to steer clear of trouble, it finds them when they decide to raise dowry money for one of their daughters, by performing in Kingston square one ill-fated market day. A series of terrible events lands the family in jail, charged with murder. Only Emilia and Luka manage to escape, promising to bring back help and free them.
The only problem is -- how? Emilia believes in the legend of the charms: it is said that the luck of the Rom has turned sour ever since a long-ago gypsy matriarch broke her chain of charms, giving one charm to each of her five children. Since then, the gypsies have been persecuted and the families have dispersed. If they can gather the charms from the families, Emilia thinks, the strong magic of the Rom will somehow bring her family freedom
. Luka, on the other hand, is more practical - he wants to enlist the help of the other clans to help the Finches escape.
Emilia and Luka must race through the countryside, navigating a hornets' nest of Rom-hating Puritans, Royalist spies, and traitors, if they are to complete their quest before the magistrate delivers a death sentence...-Goodreads.com

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

She doesn't see dead people, but…
She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.
Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next…-goodreads.com
My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld — a consequence they can’t possibly understand. Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk....-Goodreads.com


Source:
Hex Hall, Shadowglass, Shutter Island, Rosemary and Rue, and A Local Habitation were all purchased from my local indie bookstore. The Puzzle Ring, The Gypsy Crown, The Iron King, My Soul to Take, and My Soul to Save were purchased through The Book Depository.

Most Anticipated:
Let's face it, this is the motherload of all book bundles for me. I really enjoyed The Puzzle Ring, link to my review is above. Otherwise, I am looking forward to reading ALL of these. Oh, and I have to put a hiatus on my book shopping for a while now! :P