In My Mailbox / Book Haul (1)



This is my first IMM post! In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's a chance for bloggers and book lovers to share what books they've received or bought recently. You can find out more about IMM here.

I bought all these books myself. The first book I bought was I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells. His own website is located here. First of all, that title! It just grabbed my attention. I first heard about this book when I saw it in a couple hauls on YouTube. I remember Kaisa hauled it. Kaisa also did a review of it on the YouTube channel We Read Books. I had to have it! It just sounded like something right up my alley. I found it in the adult fiction section of the bookstore, but it seems like there is crossover appeal, and in some countries it actually is marketed as a YA novel. I'll talk about that when I read it and do a review. This book is the first in the John Cleaver trilogy.

I also picked up the second book of the same trilogy, Mr. Monster. I was just really excited about these books and I couldn't wait. (Book Hoarder) The third and last book, I Don't Want To Kill You, will be released in the United States on March 29, 2011. Expect it to appear here soon after!

The third book I got was Wicked by Sara Shepard. Her website is located here. This is the fifth book in the Pretty Little Liars series. Check out the first book in the series here. I started watching the television show and it got me interested in reading the books. I already bought the first four in the series in a boxset and I'm excited to start those as well.

The fourth and last book I got this week was Aliens, Book 1: Earth Hive by Steve Perry. His website is located here. My boyfriend likes these books and he's loaned me a couple and I enjoyed them. These are pretty hard to find in bookstores so when I saw it I snatched it up. He already owns it so I'll be keeping it and reading it for myself.

And that's what I got this week! I don't know how often I will be making these posts because I am trying not to buy too many new books (Blatant Lie), but I'll probably be showing library books here too.

What did YOU get?

2011 Debut Author Challenge

This challenge is being hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. To learn more and/or join, check out the challenge page here! This challenge's objective is to read at least 12 novels that are middle grade or young adult author debuts for 2011. I'm not sure which books I will read but I have these in mind (in release date order with GoodReads links):

1. Choker by Elizabeth Woods (January 4, 2011)
2. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (January 4, 2011)
3. XVI by Julia Karr (January 6, 2011)
4. Across The Universe by Beth Revis (January 11, 2011)
5. Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison (January 18, 2011)
6. Vesper by Jeff Sampson (January 25, 2011)
7. The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver (February 1, 2011)
8. Angel Fire by Courtney Allison Moulton (February 15, 2011)
9. Falling Under by Gwen Hayes (March 1, 2011)
10. Wither by Lauren DeStefano (March 22, 2011)
11. Entwined by Heather Dixon (March 29, 2011)
12. Bad Taste In Boys by Carrie Harris (July 12, 2011)

This list is subject to be changed, reorganized, or lengthened. Join me in this challenge and have fun!

Books I have read (with my post links):

1. Choker by Elizabeth Woods
2. Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright
3. XVI by Julia Karr
4. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
5. Entwined by Heather Dixon
6. Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison
7. Born At Midnight by C.C. Hunter
8. The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

8/12 = 58% done

2011 Support Your Local Library Challenge



This challenge is being hosted by Jamie at The Book Junkie's Bookshelf. To learn more and/or join, check out the challenge post here! There are four levels to this challenge so you can choose what works for you. Since I already own a lot of books I haven't read yet, I'm going to aim for The Mini level of 30 library books.
Anyone can join so have fun!

1. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
2. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
3. Evernight by Claudia Gray
4. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
5. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
6. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
7. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
8. The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
9. Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
10. XVI by Julia Karr
11. Hourglass by Claudia Gray
12. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
13. The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
14. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
15. Afterlife by Claudia Gray
16. Geektastic edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
17. The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith/
18. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
19. Entwined by Heather Dixon
20. Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
21. Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
22. Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison
23. Born At Midnight by C.C. Hunter
24. The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

24/30 = 80% done

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6)

Richelle Mead

Penguin Group

Released December 7, 2010

This review is for the sixth and final book in the Vampire Academy series. There may be spoilers for the previous books in the series, so if you have not read books one through five, I suggest you hold off on reading this review. Find out more about the first book in the series here.

Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules.

She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir’s Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir Princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardian to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose- for a crime she didn’t even commit. She’s in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She’ll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose’s life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back… and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your life is about saving others, who will save you?

GoodReads

First I must say, I love this series. If I had to pick one favorite young adult series, about vampires or just in general, Vampire Academy would be it. If you ignored my warning above and are still reading this before you have read the series, do yourself a favor and get on it! Waiting for this book was bittersweet for me because Rose’s story was coming to an end, but I couldn’t wait to see how it would get there, especially after the events of the previous book.

I feel like this books is an embodiment of the whole series in one final book. It has everything I love about the series. The main thing is the perfect balance between the kick-butt action and the lovey-dovey emotions. We’ve come a long way with Rose, experiencing her ups and downs and lefts and rights, and here we are. I had high expectations and I was not disappointed.

There are a lot of plot twists and turns. Sometimes we don’t know how something is going to play out at all, and sometimes just when we’ve got it figured out, something changes completely. I really thought I had it figured out who the murderer was, but one detail didn’t fit and I was completely wrong! There are many fun surprises along the way in terms of action, adventure, romance, drama, you name it. You will definitely be staying up late to read just one more chapter on the edge of your seat!

The question of who Rose ends up with is answered, but the rollercoaster of how she gets there is what will keep Dimitri fans and Adrian fans alike from putting the book down.

I’ve heard some people complain about some loose ends in the plot, but remember that there will be a spin-off series called Bloodlines out later this year, so remember to look out for that! I personally cannot wait.