In My Mail Box-9/31/09:

So I'm new to this, but from what I've learned, in my mail box allows you to see the books that I acquire on a weekly basis. I chose Mondays to post my "In My Mail Box" because...well...I'm a mom, and I do my best reading when my son's at school.
If you are interested in participating as well you may click here and join. Enjoy.

This week was slow, I had little chance to finish my stack, but I was very lucky to have borrowed some very interesting books, by some very awesome writers from my friend Nancy. (www.LushBudgetProduction. blogspot.com, totally name dropped.) Anyway, here's what's in my mailbox:


In The Forests Of The Night By:Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Never Cry Werewolf By: Heather Davis
Strange Angels By:Lili St. Crow
Vampire Kisses By: Ellen Schreiber
Prophecy Of The Sisters By: Michelle Zink
Full Moon By: Rachel Hawthorn
Moonlight By: Rachel Hawthorn
Deadly little Secret By: Laurie Faria Stolarz
Bones Of Faerie By: Janni Lee Simner
The Summoning By: Kelley Armstrong


I'm currently reading Never Cry Werewolf, and so far so good. It's caught my attention, and I hope it'll continue to be an interesting read.

What's In Your Mail Box?

Blood Promise: A Vampire Academy Novel

Brief Synopsis
(Barnes&Noble):

How far will Rose go to keep her promise?

The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir's Academy was the deadliest ever in the school's history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them. . . including Dimitri.

He'd rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa—the one she has sworn to protect no matter what—and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?




Review:

The story takes place in Russia, Dimitri's homeland, which means new characters come in to play, and all just as interesting as the one's from the previous novels.
Rose has taken the responsibility of hunting Dimitri to keep her promise to him, only to find that Russia isn't as easy to navigate as she had hoped it would be, and the language barrier makes things even more difficult, but Rose's resiliency and her strength to complete the task at hand, forces her to trudge forward with her plans.
Rose's character in past novels has always seemed to be a realist, and at times she was perceived to lack optimism. In this book, not only is she optimistic, but towards the end she becomes naive. It's a Rose we haven't seen, as strong as she may seem at times, she really has tender moments, and moments of weakness. Through out the book there were times when Rose had flash backs of moments spent with Dimitri, moments that weren't written in Shadow Kiss. Though this was very interesting, it did border a little redundant, but luckily it did not slow the story's momentum. I enjoyed the book thoroughly, I finished reading in record time, and was quite satisfied at how it ended. I especially enjoyed the last chapter, and to be more specific the last two pages. Cliff hangers seem to be Rachelle Mead's specialty, and she does them so well. I can't wait to see what the future will hold for our pal Rose, and her friends.

The Immortals Series Book 1

Brief Synopsis
(Barnes&Noble): For fans of P.C. Cast and Stephenie Meyer, a paranormal young adult novel about a psychic girl who falls in love with an immortal boy.

Review:

Evermore is quite dramatic. Our main character, Ever, endures a huge tragedy, that not only forces her to relocate and rebuild her life in a completely different environment, but she realizes soon after that she has gained a special gift that allows her to hear the thoughts of others. Though we all imagine at one point or another we could read minds, in Ever's situation it is quite painful, and she wants nothing to do with it. In the tradition of good YA (Young Adult)books, a mysterious young man comes into town, and is drawn to Ever. Though at first sight she is not comfortable with his staring, and the strange way he seems to transport, so as to always be one step ahead of her. He is strangely familiar, and so the puzzle begins. Who is Damien? and Why does Ever have a feeling that knowing him is an understatement? This story is never what you imagine it to be. I had so many thoughts running through my head as to what secret Damien was hiding, and not once was I right. I was totally surprised in the end, and with young adult novels I can usually see what's going to happen next. The twists the writer adds makes it almost impossible to put down. The relationship between Ever and her friends is carefree and normal, as far as they know, but aside from them your attention can't help but fall on the mysterious connection between Ever and Damien. You crave them more and more as the details and secrets begin to unravel, and just when you think you've figured it out, another twist, and you're wrong again.
I was captured by this book, and it's beautiful cover, that only makes sense once you've read the book. I was completely engrossed by Alyson Noel's writing style and Bought the second book in the series not too long ago. I look forward to the rest of the series.

The Mortal Instruments

Brief Synopsis
(Barnes&Noble):

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Review:

Cassandra Clare captured me the minute I bent the binding. I was lured into her world of Demons and hunters, vampires, and fairies. A world that exists hidden behind glamors, and the revelation Clary makes when she stumbles into it. Oh to be a part of this world despite what lurks in the dark alleys and smoky clubs. Clary, though naive at times, is full of empathy, and curiosity, and there are no lengths to the dangers she will endure for the truth, and her family. When her fascination becomes familiarity, the book turns to glue and there is no way you can put it down. The characters she meets along the way are equally enthralling. Their backgrounds carefully mapped out so as to captivate you upon meeting them. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as well as the two that followed. It satisfied my need for danger, and sorrow, excitement and fear, curiosity and longing. And what will happen next? It keeps you on the edge of your leather recliner wanting more that's for sure.