Saturday, December 4, 2010

In My Mailbok (12)

This is a weekly meme, hosted by The Story Siren, where we talk about the books we got our hands on the past week.

I went kind of crazy at Amazon, and ended up with a lot of books - they were advertising with free shipping, even to Norway, and who can resist that? Remind me to not buy any books in a while ;) Anyway, here are the books I got:



Cassandra Clare: City of Bones
Cassandra Clare: City of Ashes
Cassandra Clare: City of Glass
Saundra Mitchell: Shadowed Summer
Anthology: Love is Hell
Anthology: Vacations from Hell


Anthology: Kiss Me Deadly
Anthology: The Eternal Kiss
Anthology: The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance
Anthology: Dates from Hell
Anthology: Immortal



Stacia Kane: Unholy Magic
J.K. Rowling: The Tales of Beedle the Bard
John Harding: Florence & Giles
Jennifer Donnelly: Revolution
David McAfee: 33.AD

I also received some books for review via Netgalley:

Ethan Rutherford: The Keening
Amos Oz: Suddenly in the Depths of the Forest
Sarah Porter: Lost Voices

What did you get in your mailbox?

Friday, December 3, 2010

Stephen King Challenge 2011



I love Stephen King, but I actually did not read a lot of books by him in 2010. I plan to do something about this in 2011. This challenge is hosted by Book Chick City and the goal is to read at least 6 books by this author.

I have not picked the books yet, but I plan to read at least The Tommyknockers and Nightmares & Dreamscapes

Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge 2011


One of the reading challenges I will participate in this year is The Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge, hosted by Book Chick City. I plan to read at least 24 books in these genres.

This is the books I am planning to read ( might change):

1. Laurell K. Hamilton: Burnt Offerings ( Anita Blake 7)
2. Laurell K. Hamilton: Blue Moon ( Anita Blake 8)
3. Laurell K. Hamilton: Obsidian Butterfly ( Anita Blake 9)
4. Laurell K. Hamilton: Narcissus in Chains ( Anita Blake 10)
5. Laurell K. Hamilton: Cerulean Sins ( Anita Blake 11)
6. Laurell K. Hamilton: Incubus Dreams ( Anita Blake 12)
7. Kelley Armstrong: Stolen
8. Kelley Armstrong: Bitten
9. Colleen Gleason: Rises the Night ( Gardella Vampire Chronicles 2)
10. Colleen Gleason: The Bleeding Dusk ( Gardella Vampire Chronicles 3)
11. Colleen Gleason: When Twilight Burns ( Gardella Vampire Chronicles 4)
12. Colleen Gleason: As Shadows Fade ( Gardella Vampire Chronicles 5)
13. Marie Treanor: Blood on Silk
14. Kim Harrison: Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows 1)
15. Kim Harrison: The Good, the Bad and the Undead ( The Hollows 2)
16. Kim Harrison: Every Which Way But Dead ( The Hollows 3)
17. Kim Harrison: A Fistful of Charms ( The Hollows 4)
18. Charlaine Harris: Living Dead in Dallas ( Sookie Stackhouse 2)
19. Charlaine Harris: Club Dead ( Sookie Stackhouse 3)
20. Charlaine Harris: Dead to the World ( Sookie Stackhouse 4)
21. Charlaine Harris: Dead as a Doornail ( Sookie Stackhouse 5)
22. J.R. Ward: Lover Awakened ( BDB 3)
23. J.R. Ward: Lover Revealed ( BDB 4)
24. J.R. Ward: Lover Unbound ( BDB 5)
25. J.R. Ward: Lover Enshrined (BDB 6)
26. J.R. Ward: Lover Avenged (BDB 7)
27. Cassandra Clare: City of Bones
28. Cassandra Clare: City of Ashes
29. Cassandra Clare: City of Glass
30. Lara Adrian: Kiss of Crimson ( The Midnight Breed 2)

As you can see, my main goal in this challenge is to read through a lot of the series I have stacked in my TBR - pile.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Review: Bloody Bones by Laurell K. Hamilton


Publisher: Headline Publishing Group (UK)
Pages: 464
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Release date/year: 1996, this edition in 2010

















A gripping and thrilling Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, novel 'When the monsters are involved, it's never just one dead body. One way or another the dead multiply.' First, there were the dead in the graveyard, two hundred years dead. I'd been hired to raise them to settle a dispute over who owned the land they were buried in. Then there were the three dead teenagers in the woods, slaughtered in a way I'd never seen before. And then they found the dead girl, drained of blood and left in her bed. I knew what that meant of course. It didn't take a degree in preternatural studies to figure out that something was wrong. And I was right in the middle of it. My name is Anita Blake. Welcome to my life...


Entertaining and sexy.
Bloody Bones is your typical Anita Blake - novel with loads of action, supernatural elements, vampires and sexy scenes.

A couple of teenagers are discovered in the woods, dead, and Anita must assist the local police. There is not easy to say who, or maybe what, is behind the deaths. More people turn up dead and a boy is kidnapped. Anita must ask Jean-Claude for help to get to the bottom of this. She is also called upon to raise some dead corpses, to establish who owns the rights for a certain piece of land.

Bloody Bones is not the best book in the Anita Blake - series, but still a very entertaining read and a real must - read for the fans. The book is easy to read, entertaining, really funny at times (I love Anita Blakes cynical humour) and there is some surprises too.

The murders and the kidnapping is the main focus in the book, or so it seems, But the real focus is actually on the relationship between Anita and Jean-Claude. There is a development here, that I am really curious to read about in future books. I think Hamilton is so good at building up her characters personality and they are never onedimensional, but change and develop throughout the stories.

Other reviews for this book:
Escape Between the Pages



Wednesday, December 1, 2010

WOW: Wake unto Me, Shimmer, Night Star

This is a weekly meme, hosted by Breaking the Spine, where we talk about the books we are dying to read.

I have 3 picks this week. First of all, I am eagerly awaiting the UK edition of Night Star by Alyson Noël and the second book in the Riley series, Glimmer. I met the author a few days ago, as you probably know from my blog, and got the chance to talk a lot with her. And that made me anticipate her books even more. I am always like that, books get a new dimension for me when I have met the author and know more about the books and the work that the author has put down in them. And I love this series.


Night Star continues the epic love story that has enchanted readers across the world. In this installment, Ever and Damen face down bitter rivals, jealous friends and their own worst fears—all in the hope of being together forever. Night Star is guaranteed to mesmerize fans and leave them breathlessly awaiting the sixth and final book!






























I am also awaiting the release of Wake unto Me, by Lisa Cach. I have already preordered the book.



A haunted castle, a handsome young man dead for four hundred years, one heck of a scary portrait of a witch, and a treasure hunt -- not to mention a princess for a roommate! -- all await 15 year old American girl Caitlyn Monahan when she earns a scholarship to a French boarding school.
There are secrets behind the stone walls of Chateau de la Fortune, buried for centuries along with the mystery of who killed Raphael, the charming ghost who visits Caitlyn at night. But as Caitlyn unearths the history of the castle, nothing scares her as badly as the secret she learns about herself, and the reason she was chosen to come to the Fortune School. And nothing breaks her heart as badly as falling in love with a dead guy.




What are your picks this week?

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Meeting Alyson Noël in Norway

Alyson Noël is in Norway. She arrived yesterday, and will stay until November 30th. And I got the chance to meet her, and not only that, I also did a public interview with her.

Evermore, the first book in the Immortals series, was one of the first books I read in the genres ya and paranormal romance, and one of the main reasons why I started out blogging. I found the book on Amazon.co.uk, loved the cover and the description of the story and preordered it. And when I read the story I knew that this was a series I had to follow. I loved Alyson's writing style and the story of Ever and Damen. It was magical and romantic, dramatic and full of warmth and atmosphere.

This autumn, the first book in the series was published here in Norway,and I have been raving about the books on my Norwegian blog. I also did an interview with Alyson by e-mail prior to the Norwegian release. You can read the interview here. And the book have done great here in Norway. A lot of teenagers and grown ups are buying Evermore and falling in love with it. In 2011, Blue Moon and Shadowland will be out here in Norway.

When I read that Alyson was coming to Norway, I was very excited. It is not everyday we Norwegians get the chance to meet a bestselling American author. I wowed that I was going to attend the booktalk and the signing her Norwegian publisher had set up for her at the House of Literature in Oslo.

A week ago I got a call from her Norwegian publisher, asking if I wanted to be the one to interview her during the booktalk. I could hardly believe my ears, but I said yes of course. I have been working as a journalist here in Norway, that is also one of my educations, but I have never interviewed an author in public, in front of an audience before. I have had butteflies in my stomach all week.

Yesterday I celebrated Thanksgiving with some of my Norwegian friends. We always celebrate thankgiving, because we think it is a great American tradition and a way to get together and remember the year that has gone by. One of my friends is from Britain, so I got to practise my English skills with her all evening.

And today was the big interview and it went well, thanks to Alyson. It was so easy to talk to her. She is such an amazing person, you get that feeling when you read her books, and she is that way in real life too. She is open, warm and not afraid to talk about personal things. It was her first time in Norway, and she has a lot planned. She will attend two signings, and do interviews with the media.

In the interview I focused on The Immortals, and how she got the idea for the series. She told me that the series was born from grief. She lost someone that was close to her, and nearly lost her husband as well. Through Ever she has decribed a lot of the feelings that she delt with.

Ever and Damen are carefully chosen names. She collects unusual names. Damen is actually named after the place where her husband was born.

We talked about the paranormal elements in her books, and she said that she has had some experiences she could not explain - some of them whilst doing the research for The Immortals . She also talked about her childhood, about starting to work very early and about her previois job as a flight attendant. She talked about how her writing day is, her imaginary dog Buttercup and what she does when she has finished a book. ( She used to clean the house, now she goes for a massage or take a pedicure).

There is some major upcoming plans for The Immortals, and you will get the chance to see Ever and Damen's story on a movie or TV Screen some time in the future. If you visit her website in a few days, you will get to read more about it there. She also talked about her last book in The Immortals series, which will be called Everlasting. Alyson is working on a new series, Soul Seekers, which will probably be released sometime in 2012. The story will take place in New Mexico.

We also talked about Miles and Haven and she gave advice to aspiring authors. Afterwards she signed books, and I got a lovely message from her in my copy of Evermore.



It was a great day,and like I said, so nice to meet her. I am also going to meet her tomorrow for another event. And after she has been in Norway, she will travel to Paris.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday: "Wither"

Wating on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, where we talk about the books we can't wait to get our hands on.

My pick this week is "Wither" by Lauren DeStefano

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left
.

Wither is officially released March 22nd 2011.

What are your pick this week?

Monday, November 22, 2010

2011 Debut Authors Challenge

I have decided to sign ut for the 2011 Debut Authors Challenge, hosted by The Story Siren.The participants must read at least twelve novels from Young Adult or Middle Grade Authors. The books must be read netween January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. The books must have been released in 2011.

Here are the books I am planning to read during 2011:

1. Kelly Keaton: Darkness becomes Her
2. Julia Karr: XVI
3. Lisa Cach: Wake unto Me
4. Elizabeth Woods: Choker
5. Maurissa Guibord: Warped
6. Karen Mahoney: The Iron Witch
7. Alexandra Monir: Timeless
8. Eilis O' Neal: The False Princess
9. Lauren DeStefano: Wither
10.Katie Kacvinsky: Awaken
11. Amy Plum: Die for me
12. Jana Oliver: The Demon Trapper's Daughter

I have already preordered the first seven book, so that's a start. I have also an E - Arc of "Awaken".

Are you going to be a part of this challenge? You can sign up here!


Sunday, November 21, 2010

In my mailbox (11)

This is a weekly meme, hosted by the great Story Siren, where we talk about the books we got last week.

I didn't get so many books this week, but I went a little crazy at Amazon.co.uk, and are expecting those in mid December. Can't have too many books right?

For review ( Via Netgalley):
Stone kissed by Keri Stevens

Bought:
Intrinsical by Lani Woodland
House of Seven Gables, Nathaniel Hawthorne

I have also been given the name of the blogger that is going to get a present for me this christmas, as part of the annual Book Blogger Holiday Swap. I have already started thinking about what to get. I love giving things away, and I have something special planned.




What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Review: Wildthorn ( Possible spoiler)

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Pages:
368
Format:
Paperback
Source:
Bought
Release date:
February 6th 2009















" Seventeen-year-old Louisa Cosgrove longs to break free from her respectable life as a Victorian doctor's daughter. But her dreams become a nightmare when Louisa is sent to Wildthorn Hall: labeled a lunatic, deprived of her liberty and even her real name. As she unravels the betrayals that led to her incarceration, she realizes there are many kinds of prison. She must be honest with herself - and others - in order to be set free. And love may be the key...
"

Background:
"Wildthorn is written by Jane Eagland, a former English teacher who quit her job to take her writing seriously. Eagland had her debut in 2005 with the book "Second best", an illustrated children's book. "Wildthorn" came out in 2009, and in 2010 Eagland published "Whisper my name". "Wildthorn" is inspired by a true story.

The story:
Louisa Cosgrove thinks she is on her way to a family called the Woodvilles, to be a companion to their eldest daughter, when she instead is taken to an asyluk: Wildthorn. The people working here insists that her name is not Louise Cosgrove, but Lucy Childs. There is no explanation as to why she has been brought to Wildthorn and not to the estate of the Woodvilles. The story is set in the Victorian era.

Main Character:
Louisa Cosgrove is not a typical Victorian girl. Almost every Victorian girl dreamed about marrying, that was their ambition in life: be married to a wealthy man. Louisa on the other hand dreams about being a doctor and her father, who is a doctor, starts to educate her. Louisa is curious, has a great mind and is often misunderstood by her mother. Her brother Tom is jealous of her, I think it is because she is a daddy's child.

The Book:
I picked up this book mainly because of two reasons:
1) The cover is gorgeous'
2) The novel is set in the Victorian era

I was instantly brought into the story. The book is an easy read, and there is always something happening. You can easily finish it in one of two sittings ( I did)

The book is written in present tense. I must admit that I am not particulary fond of that, but lucky it didn't ruin the story this time. There is a lot of mystery going on: why has Louisa been brought to Wildthorn? Is there some kind om mistake? I had to keep on reading.

The way the people were treated in the asylums of the day, are horrendous. They were subjected to all kinds of brutality and Louisa gets to experience this first hand.

As the story unfolds, we are offered glimps into Louisa's past that may shed a light on the mystery in this book and why she has been brought to "Wildthorn". I had not read a lot about this book before, so a lot of the things that are revealed came as a big surprise to me. The book reminded me of Sarah Water's books, if you like her stories you will love Wildthorn.

All in all this was a great read, which I highly recommend. I would love to read more from this author.


Visit the author's website here!

Other reviews for this book:
Escape in a Book
A Trillian Books
Smexy Books

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Going to London - again!

You might remember that I went to London earlier this fall. London is one of my favorite cities to visit, and me and my boyfriend had a great time. I promised myself that I was going to return as soon as possible, and now the plans have been made for a new trip and I am so excited about that.

I am going to visit London in april to attend The London Book Fair. The fair runs for three days, and is visited by publishers from all over the world. I have never been to a book fair this big, so I am pretty excited. And I have to visit more bookshops in London off course, and return to my favorite secondhand bookshop in Bloomsbury.

Bookblogging has also made the headlines here in Norway. Our national broadcaster made a program where they interviewed some bloggers about bookblogging. I was one of them. Bookblogging in Norway is different from bookblogging in the US and Great Britain, and some of the reviewers in the newspapers are not so happy about it. They believe that the bookbloggers are a threat to them. I do not share that opinion. Take the genre YA, for example; there is not a lot of publicity in the magazines or the papers when it comes to books, new releases etc. So, if I want to learn more about this, I have to read other bookblogs. I have found so many great books I never would have known about, if it weren't for blogging.

I could talk for ever about this issues, but instead I am going to show you my dogs.

Say hello to Bogart & Dogbert:

This is Bogart ( 3 years), named after the actor Humphrey Bogart:

And this is Dogbert ( 5 years), named after the cartoon character:


Have a nice week everyone.

Waiting on Wednesday:


This is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking The Spine, where we talk about the books we are waiting eagerly for.



Amy Plum: Die for me
Out: May 10 20.11

" The first of three books about Kate, a sixteen-year-old American who moves to Paris after the death of her parents. She finds herself falling for Vincent, who she discovers is not the typical French teenager he appears: he is something else entirely. Die for me presents a new supernatural mythology presented in a city where dreams are sometimes the same as reality."







Alexandra Monir: "Timeless"
Out: January 11 2011



When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor’s world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she’s never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century’s worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance. "

Caitlin Kittredge:The Iron Thorn (
Out: February 22. 2011


In the city of Lovecraft, the Proctors rule and a great Engine turns below the streets, grinding any resistance to their order to dust. The necrovirus is blamed for Lovecraft's epidemic of madness, for the strange and eldritch creatures that roam the streets after dark, and for everything that the city leaders deem Heretical—born of the belief in magic and witchcraft. And for Aoife Grayson, her time is growing shorter by the day. Aoife Grayson's family is unique, in the worst way—every one of them, including her mother and her elder brother Conrad, has gone mad on their 16th birthday. And now, a ward of the state, and one of the only female students at the School of Engines, she is trying to pretend that her fate can be different.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

In My mailbox (10)

This is a weekly meme where we talk about the books we got last week, either books we bought, borrowed at the library, got for review etc. The meme is hosted by the great Story Siren.

This week I got the following books:

For review:
Lee Carroll: Black Swan Rising











"Jeweller Garet James isn't the same as everyone else. She just doesn't know it yet. With her fair share of problems – money (lack of), an elderly father, a struggling business – Garet should be just like any other young, feisty, single New Yorker. If only it was that simple... It begins with the old silver box that had been soldered shut. All Garet has to do is open it. A favour for the frail owner of the antiques shop. Who wouldn’t help? Only it’s then that things start to change. Garet doesn't notice at first, the shifts barely perceptible. But the city in which she grew up is beginning to reveal a long-hidden side – darker, and altogether more dangerous: parallel world of chaos, smoke and blood. And now it’s out of the box...and it has no intention of going back in."

The book is the first in a planned trilogy, and I am so excited to read it. I was so happy when I was asked to review it. I literally jump up and down.

I also got some books for review via Netgalley:

Julie Kagawa: The Iron Queen

" I thought it was over.That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stay by my side. Drag me into the core of a conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it. This time, there will be no turning back."



I have not read the previoius books, but they sound really good so I went ahead and bought them.

Katie Kacvinsky: Awaken

"Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her. Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking. In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space."

The cover attracted me to this books, and it sound like a great read too.

I also bought a couple of books this week:

Bought:

Julie Kagawa: The Iron King
Julie Kagawa: The Iron Daughter
Sara Beth Durst: Enchanted Ivy
Stephen King: Full Dark, No Stars

What books did you get this week?





Thursday, November 11, 2010

Review; Sweet Little Lies, Lauren Conrad


Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks
Pages: 320
Format: Paperback
Source: Review copy















" In TV star Lauren Conrad's delicious, entertaining novel about young Hollywood, the lies are only as sweet as the people telling them. Jane Roberts was the average girl next door until she and her best friend Scarlett Harp landed their own reality show, L.A. Candy. Suddenly they found themselves thrown into the public eye with VIP tickets to everything. But the starlets quickly discover that fame goes hand in hand with scandal when Jane finds herself the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons. Even her relationship with Scarlett is threatened. Things go from bad to worse when Scarlett falls for a guy who is strictly off limits… In reality TV nothing stays secret for long and with all this drama L.A Candy's ratings rocket. The show is a bona fide hit - but can the girls stand another season in the spotlight?"

Background:
"Sweet Little Lies" is the second book in the series L.A. Candy. The first book, L.A. Candy, was released in juni 2009 and went straight on to the NYT bestsellerlist. The author, Lauren Conrad, has become famous for her role in the tv - series "The Hills", but she has stated that the events in the bookseries is pure fiction.

Story:
Jane Roberts has escaped from Hollywood, and has gone into hiding with her friend Madison. The press is all over Jane, after pictures where Jane is with another guy who is not her boyfriend, have been leaked to them. Little does Jane know that Madison is behind the whole thing. And with Jane missing, Scarlett is now the star of the TV - show. But one cannot hide forever, and soon Jane must go back and confront the unfortunate events and the press. And she must do so in full view of the TV - cameras. Unbeknowst to Jane, Madison is doing her best to destroy her image, but will she succeed?

Main character:
Jane Roberts is 19 years old were excited when she got her own reality show, but she is soon to find out what the drawbacks of success are. Sometimes I think she is a bit naive, and I also thought she rubbed Scarlett of way to fast when Scarlett tried to tell her who was behind leaking the photos to the press. I would have listened to my best friend in a case like that, and not trusted a girl I had just started hanging with. But I liked that Jane had the couraged to confront Jesse about what she had done, and tell him that she was sorry. But I actually liked Scarlett way better than Jane. She was much more sensitive and likeable.

The book:
I must confess that I was a bit biased towards this book, before I started reading it. I have never watched "The Hills" and I am not a typical girly girl. But I was in for a surprise. This book consumed me. Once I started reading, I could not put it down. And it amazed me just how addictive the book was. A bit like chocolate really, sweet, easy to consume and you can't seem to stop once you have started eating.

"Sweet Little Lies" is not a craftly written book, but the writing flows easily and there is always something happening that makes you turn page after page. I was eager to learn more about Jane, and how the problems in her life was going to be solved. I cheered for Scarlett, and cursed Madison ( what a bitch).

"Sweet Little Lies" is a light read, perfect for the beach or for snuggling up in the sofa when you just want to relax. This is not nobel prize - material, and the book is not something that you will be thinking about a long time after you have read it. In a sense the book is like a reality show: very enganging once your are in it, and easily forgotten when you are through. But we need books of that kind too, and I am actually looking forward to reading "Sugar & Spice".

Visit Lauren Conrad's website here.

Other reviews for this book:
We Adore A Happy Ending
Late Bloomer Online
Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

Sunday, November 7, 2010

In my Mailbox (9) & Contest winner

This is a weekly meme hosted by the Story Siren, where we showcase the books we got last week.

I got the following books:

For review ( Via Netgalley)
The Raising by Laura Kasischke
Jane Austen by Catherine Reef

Bought:
Bullet by Laurell K. Hamilton
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (I bought the Norwegian translation)

I hosted a contest last week, to give something back to my followers. It means a lot to me that you read my blog and comment on my posts. The prizes were:

1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare ( Paperback, brand new copy)
2. Firestorm by Rachel Caine ( Signed paperback)
3. Frostbite by Richelle Mead ( Used paperback copy)
4. Swag from the Midnight Breed Series by Lara Adrian
5. Norwegian chocolate & candy

I have choosen the winner using Random.org, and the winner is....

Carrie at The Hammock Blog!

Congratulations.

I have wrapped your prize, and will take it to the post office tommorow.


Have a great weekend everyone!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Review: Feast of Fools, Rachel Caine

Publisher: Allison & Busby
Pages: 325
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought











" In the town of Morganville, vampires and humans live in relative peace but Claire Danvers has never been convinced - especially with the arrival of Mr Bishop, an ancient, old-school vampire who cares nothing about harmony. What he wants from the town's living and its dead is unthinkably sinister.
"

Background:
"Feast of Fools" is the fourth book in Rachel Caine's series about the Morganville Vampires. The book came out in the uk in february 2009.

The Story:
A new, sinister vampire has arrived in Morganville. Mr Bishop is Amelie's father, and he is not fond of the humans. Claire, together with a doctor in town, has found a cure that may make Myrnin sane, at least that is what she thinks. And her parents have arrived, and gets to see for themselves what Morganville really can offer. Mr Bishop is arranging a Feast of Fools, and almost everyone in town is invited. Tensions rise between Eve and Michael, when he decides to invite Monica, instead of Eve, to the party.

Main character:
Claire Danvers has had a great progress and development since the first book in this series. She is not so shy anymore and stands up for herself. Monica and her gang of girls does not frighten her, the way they used to. I like the new Claire, she grows from book to book.

The book:
This is the weakest book in this series. It takes too much time before there is any action and dramatic events. The book was kinda slow and I was waiting for something more interesting to happen. The cliffhanger in the end was ok, but I am not rushing to read the next installment ( which I off course will).

I actually enjoyed most reading about Amelie in this book. She is a facinating character and I think Helen Mirren would have done a great job playing her in a movie. He hear Mirren's voice, when I read Amelie's words.


Other reviews:
YaVampireBooks
The Bokette
Chrissie's Corner

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Review: Reckless, Cornelia Funke


Publisher: CappelenDamm ( Norwegian Publisher)
Pages: 352
Source: Review copy sent as part of a Norwegian blog tour















" For years, Jacob Reckless has been secretly disappearing to another world, a world behind a mirror, a world for which his father abandoned his family. The mirror world is Jacob's escape from reality. It's a place for treasure hunts and magnificent quests. A world where witches haunt the forests and giants and dwarfs roam. A world locked in a deadly war. Jacob's secret seems safe, until one day his younger brother Will follows him, with disastrous consequence. Faced with a curse that is quickly turning Will to stone, the Reckless brothers are thrust into a race against time to find a cure before Will is lost forever. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm, master storyteller Cornelia Funke introduces a lush, enchanting world where fantasy meets reality. Reckless is a thrilling adventure, a tale of heroism and loyalty, filled with danger, mystery, and magic--with fairy tales and legends re-imagined as never before
."

Background:
Cornelia Funke is a German author, and is currently residing in Los Angeles, USA. She has been writing for children since the 1980s. Her best known series in the Inkheart Trilogy. Funke has received many awards for her work and was named one of th most influential people of 2005 by Time Magazine. "Reckless" is her newest novel, and the book is inspired by the fairytales of the Brothers Grimm. It is the first book in a planned series.

The Story:
For many years, Jacob Reckless have been visiting the Mirrorworld. He has travelled a lot, met many dangers and found artifacts we have read about in the old fairytales. Now he is about to make another journey, and this time it is personal. Will, his younger brother, is about to be turned into a Goyl - a human being with a skin of stone. Jacob must try to reverse this process, before it is to late. Clara, Will's girlfriend, and Fox is accompanying them on their journey.

Main Character:
Jacob Reckless is the main character in this book. He is daring, seeks adventure and is something of a rebel. He cannot stay at a place for to long, but is always in need of experiencing new stuff. And he likes the taste of fear, because when he is scared he is able to forget other feelings. He is deeply affected by the loss of his father. His father disappeared when Jacob was a young boy and Jacob misses him a lot.

It seems to me that Funke has spent most of her time creating the details of the Mirrorworld, instead of developing the characters in this book. Jacob is not described very well, we never get to the core of who he really is and what he actually is feeling inside. He also lacks a bit of motivation.

The Book:
"Reckless" is a marvellous book that is hard to put down. It reminds me of the Chronicles of Narnia, where the main characters also visit another world. The Mirrorworld is home to a lot of strange creatures. You have a man that seems like a copy of Freddy Krûger, you have witches and fairies and off course Goyls, to name a few.

There is a lot of references to wellknown fairytales in the story. You will recognize Hansel & Grethel, Sleeping Beauty and many more.

"Reckless" is an ambitious novel, and Funke is not able to land the story properly. Some of the scenes are a bit hastily written: we read about a dramatic event, but before we get the chance to dwell on what has actually happened, we are thrust into another dramatic scene. The book has a too rapid progression and it only scrapes the surface.

That said: "Reckless" was a good read. I enjoyed the book, and when I started reading, it was hard to put it down. I finished ii in one sitting. I think the book will appeal mostly to teens, boys and girls, aged 12 - 18.

I also liked the use of illustrations in the book.

Other reviews for this book:
Chicklish
Reading Teen
The Book Bind

Read more about "Reckless" here.

And here is the book trailer:


Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Trailer Tuesday (4)

This week's trailer is not for a book.

A Norwegian movie has gained a lot of attention in Norway these days, and not just in Norway. The Troll Hunter is a mockumentary about a group of students who sets out to make a documentary about mysterious happenings in the Norwegian mountains. And soon they discover that trolls does not only excist in the fairytales.

The film was shown at Fantastic Fest and after that it took off. Now, the before unknown Norwegian director is getting offers from big movie companies in the US, and they are sending him scripts for big blockbusters and asking him to direct them. And that is not something that happens often to Norwegian directors.

Read a review of the movie here.

And here is the trailer:

Monday, November 1, 2010

Review: Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier


Publisher: Gyldendal ( Publishes the book in Norwegian)
Pages: 340
Source: My own copy









"Ruby Red
tells the story of 16-year-old Gwendolyn, who lives with her mother and her extended—and rather eccentric—family in an exclusive London neighborhood. Gwen finds it a real pain living with such a strange family that is so full of secrets. That is until one day when Gwen finds herself randomly transported through time to the turn of the last century. Then it suddenly dawns on her what her family's greatest secret might be. But what isn't made clear to her is that one mustn't fall in love across the ages—that makes things exceedingly complicated!"


Background:
Kerstin Gier began to write in 1995, when she didn't have a job. And she has experienced a enormous success in Germany. Her debutnovel have been made into a movie, and her books have appeared in the bestsellerlists in Germany. "Ruby Red" has also been on the bestsellerlists and is the first book in a planned trilogy. Holt Children's has bought the US right for the series.

The story:
Gwendolyn's family is not like any other family. In every generation a child is born, a child that has a gene that makes it possible to travel back in time. Everybody has presumed that Gwendolyn's cousin Charlotte has inherited this gene, and she has been prepped for timetravel from an early age. But it soon turns out that it is actually Gwen that has this gene, and not everyone in the family is happy about this. Ancient secrets and hostility is brought to the surface. Gwen also meets Gideon, who accompanies her on the timetravels.

Main character:
Gwendolyn, or Gwen as she is mostly called, is 16 years old and leads a pretty ordinary life. She attends school at Saint Lennox with her best friend Leslie. But Gwen is not quite that ordinary. She can actually see ghosts and certain demons ( apart from having the ability to travel in time). Gwen is a feisty heroine, she has a lot of humour and doesn't take herself all that seriously. But she has a hard time adapting to the fact that she can travel in time. She does not want to be special. I liked her very much, and am looking forward to reading more about her in future books.

The book:
I have not read a lot of books about timetravel, that's why I wanted to read Ruby Red. The book is full of mystery and suspense: a secret order called The Guardians have guarded Gwen's family secret and the mysterious machine that makes timetravel to specific periods possible. The Guardians is situated at many places, some as teachers at Gwen's school.

Rudy Red has a great beginning that makes me want to read ahead. The book is full of humour and Gwen is a great protagonist. It takes some time to get fully emerged in the book, but ones that happens the pages turn almost on their own.

I especially liked the scenes where Gwen is visiting the past, and the author is describing this so well that I actually felt like this was a person really travelling in time, that it was possible.

I also had the feeling that this book was written by a British author, not a German one. Gier has done a great job capturing Great Britain and englishmen. I think this is going to be a huge trilogy. Read it when it comes out in English, you will not regret that. I am looking forward to the next installment.


Other reviews:
Escape in a Book

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Contest:!

I have reached 300 followers, that is amazing! I want to give something back to all of you that are following me, and have arranged for a new contest.

One lucky winner will get a prize pack consisting of the following:
1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare ( Paperback, brand new copy)
2. Firestorm by Rachel Caine ( Signed paperback)
3. Frostbite by Richelle Mead ( Used paperback copy)
4. Swag from the Midnight Breed Series by Lara Adrian
5. Norwegian chocolate & candy

The rules are simple:
Just enter your name and e-mail adress in the columns below and you are a part of the contest!
The contest is international, and you have to be a follower to enter.

My main focus for this contest is not to gain new followers, even though I do not mind new people following me, but to give something back to the people reading my blog. The contest will therefore only run for a short amount of time. You have until November 5th to enter and I will draw a winner next sunday November 7th.

The whole prize package will be sent from me personally.

Good Luck :)


In My Mailbox (8)

This is a weekly meme hosted by the Story Siren, where we talk about the books we got the previous week.

I have just gotten my first kindle ( I love it), and therefore I have received a lot of e - books:

For review (Via Netgalley)
A.J. Whitten: The Cellar
Elizabeth Laird: The Betrayal of Maggie Blair
Saundra Mitchell: The Vespertine
Carolyn MacCullough: Always a Witch
Amy Hoder: The Lipstick Laws
Lauren Oliver: Delirium
Cynthia Hand: Unearthly
Courtney Allison Moulton: Angelfire
Sharon Dogar: Annexed
Jackie Morse Kessler: Hunger & Rage

Bought:
Garcia & Stohl: Beautiful Darkness


Saturday, October 30, 2010

Review: Stork by Wendy Delsol

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Paperback Pages:355
Source: ARC



















" Sixteen-year-old Katla has just moved from Los Angeles to the sticks of Minnesota. As if it weren’t enough that her trendy fashion sense draws stares, she learns to her horror that she’s a member of an ancient order of women who decide to whom certain babies will be born. Add to that Wade, the arrogant football star whom Katla regrettably fooled around with, and Jack, a gorgeous farm boy who initially seems to hate her. Soon Katla is having freaky dreams about a crying infant and learns that, as children, she and Jack shared a near-fatal, possibly mystical experience. Can Katla survive this major life makeover and find a dress for the homecoming dance? Drawing from Norse mythology and inspired by The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, debut author Wendy Delsol conceives an irreverent, highly entertaining novel about embracing change and the (baby) bumps along the way.
"

Background:
Wendy Delsol made her debut as an author with "Stork" this month, and the book has already been nominated for "Best Fiction for Young Adult" by Yalsa. She wrote the draft for "Stork" in only five months. The book incorporates Norse mythology, and is the first in a planned trilogy. The second book, Frost, is coming out in September 2011.

The Story:
Katla does not appreciate that she has to move to Minnesota after her parent's divorce. She longs for sunny L.A, but soon her mind gets preoccupied by something else: She meets the ladies in the Icelandic Stork Society, an order were the members decide who gets pregnant with a specific child. Katla is overwhelmed by the fact that she is their youngest member, and soon her abilities starts to show. She also meets Jack, and he knows something crucial about Katla's past.

Main Character:
Katla is a name I associate with the dragon in Astrid Lindgren's "The Brothers Lionheart". That said, I think it is cool that the author uses this name for the main protagonist in Stork. Katla is a name that holds a lot of strength. It is also the name of the biggest volcano in Iceland. In this story Katla is a sixteen year old girl, originally from Los Angeles but now living in Minnesota. She is interested in design and designer clothes, but she is not a shallow girl. She has a lot of layers, is thoughtful and funny. And I liked her even more as the story progressed.

The Book:
I adored this book. It read like a fairytale to me. Wendy Delsol has created an atmosphere in this book, that spoke to me. I loved the book now, and I would have loved it if I read it during my childhood. This is a book I am going to read to my kids someday.

When my mom grew up, she was lead to believe that children were delivered to their parents by the stork. I also heard this myth when I was a young girl - it is something every Norwegian child has heard at one time. (We even have the stork has a symbol of our leading chocolate factory). I think it is great to actually read a book that takes this myth to a whole new level.

I also loved the fact that the author has used a lot of icelandic names and titles like "Fru" ( translates as Mrs, we actually use this term in Norwegian), "Hulda" , Gudrun etc. It made me feel more close to the story. Here in Norway we have shared a lot of history with Iceland, and our languages has a lot of similar words and expressions. I really hope a Norwegian publisher buy the rights for this book, I think it would appeal to the Norwegian audience. I also think is is so cool that the author named Katla's new town "Norse Falls".

The book is full of mystery, the more I learn about the Stork Society, about Katla and Jack, the more I want to know. Why does Katla hate the cold as much as she do? What is the significance of the birds that seem to protect Katla. I just wanted to read and read.

I could have written so much about this book, but you really have to read it to see how great it is. It stands out from a lot of the books published in the YA - genre today. It has something classical about it. I can't wait for the sequel, "Frost", to come out. Stork is original and well written, a marvelous debutnovel by an author I am eager to read more from.

Candlewick Press has also done a great job with the cover for the book. It is truly beauiful!





Other reviews for this book:
Book Crazy
I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read
Larissa's Bookish Life

Sunday, October 10, 2010

In My Mailbox (7)

This is a weekly meme where we talk about the books that arrived in our mailbox the past week, or books we borrowed at the library, bought etc. The meme is hosted by The Story Siren.

The past week I got some great books.

For review:
Lauren Conrad: Sweet Little Lies
Lauren Conrad: Sugar and Spice


The L.A Candy series is loosely based on the author's life and details the life of a young woman who moves to Los Angeles and becomes the star of a reality show on TV. I am looking forward to reading these books, and I love the covers.

I also bought a lot of books this week:

Bought:
Michael Grant: Gone 3 - Lies ( I bought the Norwegian translation)
Alyson Noel: Dark Flame ( The Immortals 4)
J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Chamber if Secrets
J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Lauren Kate: Torment
Jane Eagland: Wildthorn

I must be one of the few persons on this planet, who have not read anything by J.K. Rowling yet. So, I decided to do something about it. I also needed to have book 3 in the Gone - series. I recently read the first book in the series, and loved it.

The Immortal - series by Alyson Noel is one of my favorites, but since I am buying the books from the UK I have not read "Dark Flame" yet.

"Torment" was a great read. I reviewed the book on my blog based on a manuscript I received from the publisher, but I wanted to have my own copy of the book as well. "Wildthorn" is a book I have heard great things about, so I wanted to buy it. And the cover is gorgeous.

Now, I only need to find more reading time. I wish I could spend a whole week just reading books. That would be like heaven.

What did you get in your mailbox?

PS: I also reached 300 followers the past week. That is amazing. I need to celebrate that the next week. More information will be posted soon.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Review: Gone, Michael Grant


Publisher: Schibsted
Format: Paperback
Pages: 575
Source: Review copy ( I read this in Norwegian, and the cover in this post is the Norwegian cover for the book)












"Suddenly there are no adults, no answers. What would you do? In the blink of an eye, the world changes. The adults vanish without a trace, and those left must do all they can to survive. But everyone's idea of survival is different. Some look after themselves, some look after others, and some will do anything for power...Even kill. For Sam and Astrid, it is a race against time as they try to solve the questions that now dominate their lives...What is the mysterious wall that has encircled the town of Perdido Beach and trapped everyone within? Why have some kids developed strange powers? And can they defeat Caine and his gang of bullies before they turn fifteen and disappear too? It isn't until the world collapses around you that you find out what kind of person you really are. This book offers a chilling portrayal of a world with no rules. When life as you know it ends at 15, everything changes.
"
("Description from Amazon)

Background:
Michael Grant is the pseudonym for Michael Reynolds, Grant / Reynolds co-authored the series Animorphs (1996 - 2001), but the Gone - series was his first debut on his own. The first book in the series, was published in 2008. He is also writing another series, Magnificent 12. The first book in this series, was published this August. The Gone - series is going to consist of a total of 6 books. Grant lives in Chapel Hill, California with his wife and two kids.

Story:
"Gone" takes place in Perdido Beach. California and opens with a strange event. In a blink of an eye every adult and person over fifteen in the town just disappears. One moment they are there, and the next...gone! The children that are left behind are confused, in shock and do not understand what has just happened. As the hours go by, it becomes very clear that the missing people are not going to come back anytime soon. The remaining children also discover that a big wall of energy is surronding the town, making an escape impossible. The children are left to fend for themselves.

Main Character:
At first glance, there appears to be many main characters in this book. Sam Temple is the main protagonist, but Astrid Ellison, her autistic brother Pete and Caine Soren do also appear frequently. The point of view shifts from chapter to chapter.

But back to Sam Temple: You may think that he is just an ordinary teenageboy, but Sam hides a secret. He is able to shot flames from his hands. The children in the town look upon him as some kind of hero, because he once saved the schoolbus from an accident. Sam is not comfortable with being named a hero. The author has done a great job portraying him. He is a character it is easy to like, but he has his flaws, which only makes him more human. It is also evident that he grows throughout this story. Sam is a character thas has great potential. I am looking forward to get to know him better.

The Book:
I guess every child and teenager has one thought: the world would be a so much better place if there were' nt any adults around. In Perdido Beach this becomes a reality in a blink of an eye, but rather than celebrating, the children and the town are thrust into chaos. What are they going to do when all the adults are missing? Who will look after the babies and the younger children? What about food?

The children must try to organize themselves as best they can. Some rise to the occasion and show what they are truly made of. Some will be tempted to try to manipulate others and gain power all for themselves - and some will betray even their best friends in order to survive. On top of all this, it is soon revealed that there is more strange things going on. The teenagers develop superhuman powers and the animals mutate.

"Gone" was an absorbing read, very hard to put down. But it did take me some time to get absolutely engrossed in the story - but when I did, I read it until it was finished. I became deeply fascinated by the whole story, and the mystery that is always present: what has actually happened to the people over fifteen?

I am a big fan of Stephen King, and this was like Stephen King would have written for a young audience, I think. And it is appearent that Grant actually is a big fan. "The darkness" reminded me a bit of "It", by Stephen King. But you find a lot of other references to his work as well. I also thought about "Under the Dome", which was actually published after "Gone".

There were a lot of different characters, whick kept the story going and made it interesting to read. I liked the countdown, which starts off every chapter. I was eager to read on to find out what as going to happen at the end when Sam turns fifteen.

Add a bit of X-men, Heroes and Lord of the Flies, and you have Gone. A great sci-fi novel for young adults, packed with suspense and mystery. But is you buy this book, I suggest you buy two copies - because your mum or dad is also going to want to read it.

The book have a lot of pages, but you could finish it in one sitting. That's how good it actually is. It is engrossing. I am looking forward to the next installment, which is waiting for me in my bookshelf.




Other reviews:
The Book Smugglers ( Review of book 1 & 2)
One Librarian's Book Review
Presenting Lenore
The Book Eater
 
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