Hi there! I’m Kay: an opinionated book blogger enamoured with the world of novels. Reader of Speculative Fiction (the posh word for Sci-Fi/Fantasy) and Young Adult novels. Believer in the many uses of the towel, the science of deduction and other fandom in-jokes.
This blog has been closed since early 2016. To the publishers and writers: thanks for all the support over the years. To my readers and fellow bloggers: keep in touch!
Recent Reviews
In My Mailbox (Mar. 28th, 2010) – AKA WEEK OF AWESOME
In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren (inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie) and explores the content of your mailbox!
Okay, I went crazy this week. Totally and utterly insane. Why you ask? Well, it is not because I bought a lot of books – rather, that I bought a bunch of books I already own!
Two words, people: SIGNED COPIES. First off, there was the amazing Kelley Armstrong signing – where I got two more copies (now with lovely dedications) of The Summoning and The Awakening. I also asked her to sign a hardback copy of Frostbitten (but never mind that, as it does not fit with my theme.)
And while I was there, I figured I might as well roll with it. SO – because I had to miss both the Richelle Mead AND Charlaine Harris signings – I got signed copies of their books as well. From Forbidden Planet, I got a second copy of Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris and Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead. I then popped up the road to Foyles and got the a old-UK-edition signed copy of Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. So now I have three books signed by Richelle Mead, and have not even met the dear lady! It is actually rather odd.
On the non-signed front, I got two amazing books – one of which resulted in its very own post of OMGSQUEE. The Mystery of Grace by Charles de Lint which I had been wanting for quite a while, and…
Needless to say, I was very excited to get my hands on it almost two weeks early. I stumbled upon it completely by chance at a Waterstone’s (whose identity I shall keep secret in order not to alert them of their mistake) and snatched it off the shelf before someone could pry it from my cold, dead hands. I did have a slight moment of panic as I went up to the till, wondering if some sort of warning alarm would alert them of their error. Needless to say, it did not. And I? Well I am a very, very happy bunny. ♥
Okay, I am done cooing over all my new, shiny, lovely, beauuuuuutiful books.
Or, maybe I’m not. 😉 Happy, HAPPY week!
On My Wishlist (Mar. 27th, 2010)
On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It’s where I list all the books I desperately want but haven’t actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.
Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception (Books of Faerie, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater
After finally reading Shiver, I am desperately craving more Stiefvater goodness! Oh, and if you haven’t read Shiver yet – go NOW.
Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She’s about to find out she’s also a cloverhand – one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass – a soulless faerie assassin.
An equally hunky – and equally dangerous – dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen’s sovereignty.
Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren’t so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn’t exactly what she had in mind…
Light Beneath Ferns by Anne Spollen
This supernatural YA novel is supposed to be a cut above the rest. I haven’t read a bad review for it yet, and it am really intrigued to find out what all the fuss is about!
I have this strange sense that my silence is preparing me for something I can’t name…
Elizah Rayne is nothing like other fourteen-year-old girls. More interested in bird bones than people, she wraps herself in silence. Trying to escape the shadow of her gambler father, Elizah and her mother move into an old house that borders a cemetery. All her mother wants is for them to have “normal” lives. But that becomes impossible for Elizah when she finds a human jawbone by the river and meets Nathaniel, a strangely hypnotic boy who draws Elizah into his dreamlike and mysterious world.
Only by forgetting everything she knows can Elizah understand the truth about Nathaniel—and discover an unimaginable secret.
Squee! – The Reckoning
OMG! OMG, YOU GUYS! Look what I have gotten my hands on…!
Review – Carpe Corpus (Morganville Vampires, Book 6) by Rachel Caine
Carpe Corpus (Morganville Vampires, Book 6) by Rachel Caine
Bookdepository / Amazon UK / Amazon US
Librarything / Goodreads
Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 384
Summary: In the small college town of Morganville, vampires and humans lived in (relative) peace – until all the rules got rewritten when the evil vampire Bishop arrived, looking for the lost book of vampire secrets. He’s kept a death grip on the town ever since. Now an underground resistance is brewing, and in order to contain it, Bishop must go to even greater lengths.
He vows to obliterate the town and all its inhabitants – the living and the undead. Claire Danvers and her friends are the only ones who stand in his way. But even if they defeat Bishop, will the vampires ever be content to go back to the old rules, after having such a taste of power?
Thoughts: Claire and co. are thrown through the wringer – again – in Carpe Corpus. This is Morganville as we have never seen it before – everything that was once only very dangerous becomes terrifyingly so. It seems even worse for poor Claire, as her parents decide that this book will be the perfect opportunity for them to visit their daughter! I loved seeing Claire deal with her parents on top of all the chaos – which makes me sound rather sadistic… hmm.
Carpe Corpus is probably the darkest of the Morganville books so far. There were a lot of game-changing events that will have long reaching consequences for both humans an vampires. It was also the first book where the group dynamics have not been solid. Because of the events in Lord of Misrule, Claire is all on her own at the start of the book – and this time it is not simply The Glass House vs. The World.
Bottom line? Yet again, you NEED to read this series. It is an action packed roller coaster ride of pure genius. Not to mention it is one of the few YA books out there totally dominated by the romance!
Kelley Armstrong Signing Report!
I was lucky to attend the Kelley Armstrong signing at Forbidden Planet last night! I had a brilliant time, and Kelley was extremely cheery and gracious to every one of her fans there.First off – there was a pretty big group. Not necessarily a mob, but some people did have to wait 30+ minutes to see her. Kelley took her time with everyone and answered a lot of questions. Needless to say, I mainly gushed over her Darkest Powers series and made a slight fool of myself. But I think she appreciated the sentiment! I had had only one real question – and that was whether or not we were definitely going to be seeing Chloe again after The Reckoning. She had mentioned on interviews I’d read that she was considering revisiting them, but I had not heard anything firm.
The answer? Yes! Kelley said that, like her adult series, she just needs more characters to work with. So we are going to be seeing Chloe again, she just won’t be the star all the time!
Lots of women at the signing – a fact the few men there seemed to notice. Kelley actually said something about men being put off by leading female characters, and that it was always refreshing to meet male fans who could handle reading about a woman! (admittedly, I’m paraphrasing).
Anyhow, I got two more (now signed!) copies of the Darkest Powers series, and a lovely Hardback copy of Frostbitten (even though she was there to promote the paperback!).
