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?

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

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!

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

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:

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:

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