strange and random happenstance

The Woman Who Died A Lot by Jasper Fforde
Published by: Viking
Publication Date: October 2nd, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The newest tour de force starring Thursday Next in the New York Times bestselling series
The Bookworld’s leading enforcement officer, Thursday Next, has been forced into a semiretirement following an assassination attempt, returning home to Swindon and her family to recuperate.

But Thursday’s children have problems that demand she become a mother of invention: Friday’s career struggles in the Chronoguard, where he is relegated to a might-have-been; Tuesday’s trouble perfecting the Anti-Smote shield, needed in time to thwart an angry Deity’s promise to wipe Swindon off the face of the earth; and the issue of Thursday’s third child, Jenny, who doesn’t exist except as a confusing and disturbing memory.

With Goliath attempting to replace Thursday at every opportunity with synthetic Thursdays, and a call from the Bookworld to hunt down Pagerunners who have jumped into the Realworld, Thursday’s convalescence is going to be anything but restful as the week ahead promises to be one of the Next family’s oddest."

While, I personally think the first book in Fforde's Thursday Next ouevre is the best, the cover do keep getting better and better. Plus, he's finally coming back to the Midwest so I can finally meet him!

The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
Published by: Harcourt Children
Publication Date: October 2nd, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 296 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the good old days, magic was indispensable—it could both save a kingdom and clear a clogged drain. But now magic is fading: drain cleaner is cheaper than a spell, and magic carpets are used for pizza delivery. Fifteen-year-old foundling Jennifer Strange runs Kazam, an employment agency for magicians—but it’s hard to stay in business when magic is drying up. And then the visions start, predicting the death of the world’s last dragon at the hands of an unnamed Dragonslayer. If the visions are true, everything will change for Kazam—and for Jennifer. Because something is coming. Something known as . . . Big Magic."

While this series has been out for awhile in his native land, we stateside have had a bit of a wait, which is finally over!

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
Published by: Hyperion
Publication Date: October 2nd, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 608 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In The Son of Neptune, Percy, Hazel, and Frank met in Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Camp Halfblood, and traveled to the land beyond the gods to complete a dangerous quest. The third book in the Heroes of Olympus series will unite them with Jason, Piper, and Leo. But they number only six--who will complete the Prophecy of Seven?

The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land to find the Doors of Death. What exactly are the Doors of Death? Much of the prophesy remains a mystery. . . .

With old friends and new friends joining forces, a marvelous ship, fearsome foes, and an exotic setting, The Mark of Athena promises to be another unforgettable adventure by master storyteller Rick Riordan."

Another in the endless Riordan spin offs... how does he have all these books? He must be a writing machine!

Fire Season by David Webber and Jane Lindskold
Published by: Baen
Publication Date: October 2nd, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Second entry in a new young adult series by New York Times best seller David Weber, and the prequel to the hugely popular Honor Harrington adult science fiction saga.

Fire in the forest–and a cry for help from a trapped and desperate alien mother! Unfortunately, this is one cry no human can hear. Stephanie Harrington, precocious fourteen-year-old Provisional Forest Ranger on the planet Sphinx, knows something is wrong from the uneasy emotion that is flooding into her from her treecat friend, Climbs Quickly. But though Stephanie’s alien comrade shares a tight bond with his two-legs, whom he knows as Death Fang’s Bane, he cannot communicate directly to her the anguished call from one of his people.

Still, their strong and direct bond of feeling may be enough. Stephanie and fellow ranger Karl Zivonik respond to Climbs Quickly’s rising waves of distress. Fire season on the pioneer world of Sphinx has begun. But there are those who want to use the natural cycle of the planet for personal gain –and to get rid of the one obstacle that stands in the way of acquiring even greater land and power on Spinx: the native treecats.

Now it’s up to Stephanie, Climbs Quickly along with their friends, family, and allies to prevent disaster and injustice from befalling a treecat clan. But in the process Stephanie must be certain to preserve the greatest secret all. It is the knowledge that the treecats of Sphinx are not merely pets or servants, but are highly intelligent in their own right–that they are a species fully deserving of rights, respect, and freedom. And keeping the secret that will allow the treecats time to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with humankind."

A land where cat like creatures are you bestest buddies, I've said it before, I'll say it again, I'm sold!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: David Webber, Fire Season, Jane Lindskold, Jasper Fforde, Rick Riordan, The Last Dragonslayer, The Mark of Athena, The Woman Who Died A Lot, Thursday Next

The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian
Published by: Doubleday
Publication Date: July 17th, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 5320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The Sandcastle Girls is a sweeping historical love story steeped in Chris Bohjalian's Armenian heritage.When Elizabeth Endicott arrives in Aleppo, Syria she has a diploma from Mount Holyoke, a crash course in nursing, and only the most basic grasp of the Armenian language. The year is 1915 and she has volunteered on behalf of the Boston-based Friends of Armenia to help deliver food and medical aid to refugees of the Armenian genocide. There Elizabeth becomes friendly with Armen, a young Armenian engineer who has already lost his wife and infant daughter. When Armen leaves Aleppo and travels south into Egypt to join the British army, he begins to write Elizabeth letters, and comes to realize that he has fallen in love with the wealthy, young American woman who is so different from the wife he lost.

Fast forward to the present day, where we meet Laura Petrosian, a novelist living in suburban New York. Although her grandparents' ornate Pelham home was affectionately nicknamed "The Ottoman Annex," Laura has never really given her Armenian heritage much thought. But when an old friend calls, claiming to have seen a newspaper photo of Laura's grandmother promoting an exhibit at a Boston museum, Laura embarks on a journey back through her family's history that reveals love, loss - and a wrenching secret that has been buried for generations."

Everything about this discription screams must read book to me!

Legends: The Wrath of Gods by Anthony Horowitz
Published by: Kingfisher
Publication Date: July 17th, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 160 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Don't mess with the gods. And if they mess with you? Run like hell . . .

When it comes to mixing it up with the Gods, woe be to the man (or woman) who makes them angry. Here is a collection of five stories that demonstrates just how angry those Gods can get. From creative re-tellings of the Greek stories Pandora’s Box, The Judgment of Paris, and Narcissus and Echo, to less familiar but equally cautionary Viking story of The Stolen Hammer of Thor, and the Inuit legend of The Ten Fingers of Sedna, one thing is clear—it never pays to mess with the Gods!"

Feels a bit like Horowitz is trying to get his lost readership back from Riordan by doing the same thing... knowing Horowitz, he'll do it better than Riordan.

The Guild Volume Two by Felicia Day
Published by: Dark Horse
Publication Date: July 17th, 2012
Format: Paperback, 155 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Felicia Day returns her hysterical, award-winning web show about online gamers to comics, and this time she's brought along her real-life Guild! Joining Day in writing are Guild co-stars Jeff Lewis (Vork) and Sandeep Parikh (Zaboo), producer Kim Evey, and director Sean Becker, for five tales spotlighting the members of the Knights of Good. Set before the first season of the show, these hilarious stories delighted fans and newbs alike and introduced plots that influenced the show itself, including Season 5's backstory of Tink, originally hinted at in these pages. Featuring a huge variety of comics' best artists as well as many of the talents key to the web series, and leading directly to the moment Zaboo unexpectedly appears at a startled Codex's front door in Episode 1, this collection comprises a true "Season 0" of The Guild!"

I have been very bad about keeping up with the comics. I adored the first comics and the show, so I can't wait for this collection!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Anthony Horowitz, Chris Bohjalian, Felicia Day, Rick Riordan, The Guild, The Sandcastle Girls

Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: May 1st, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"With Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), in town, it’s the worst possible time for a body to show up in Eric Northman’s front yard—especially the body of a woman whose blood he just drank.
Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down."

Ah Sookie... a new book about you is always the signal to me that Summer is beginning... now if you just didn't look like your sitting on the toilet and flying through mid-air, I'd be really happy.

The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones
Published by: HarperPublication Date: May 1st, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"One late spring evening in 1912, in the kitchens at Sterne, preparations begin for an elegant supper party in honor of Emerald Torrington's twentieth birthday. But only a few miles away, a dreadful accident propels a crowd of mysterious and not altogether savory survivors to seek shelter at the ramshackle manor—and the household is thrown into confusion and mischief.

The cook toils over mock turtle soup and a chocolate cake covered with green sugar roses, which the hungry band of visitors is not invited to taste. But nothing, it seems, will go according to plan. As the passengers wearily search for rest, the house undergoes a strange transformation. One of their number (who is most definitely not a gentleman) makes it his business to join the birthday revels.

Evening turns to stormy night, and a most unpleasant parlor game threatens to blow respectability to smithereens: Smudge Torrington, the wayward youngest daughter of the house, decides that this is the perfect moment for her Great Undertaking.

The Uninvited Guests is the bewitching new novel from the critically acclaimed Sadie Jones. The prizewinning author triumphs in this frightening yet delicious drama of dark surprises—where social codes are uprooted and desire daringly trumps propriety—and all is alight with Edwardian wit and opulence. "

That discription is screaming "Read ME Miss Eliza!"

The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan
Published by: Hayperion
Publication Date: May 1st, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"He's b-a-a-ack! Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sade Kane can't seem to keep Apophis, the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness, and the Kanes are faced with the impossible task of having to destroy him once and for all. Unfortunately, the magicians of the House of Life are on the brink of civil war, the gods are divided, and the young initiates of Brooklyn House stand almost alone against the forces of chaos. The Kanes' only hope is an ancient spell that might turn the serpent's own shadow into a weapon, but the magic has been lost for a millennia. To find the answer they need, the Kanes must rely on the murderous ghost of a powerful magician who might be able to lead them to the serpent's shadow . . . or might lead them to their deaths in the depths of the underworld.

Nothing less than the mortal world is at stake when the Kane family fulfills its destiny in this thrilling conclusion to the Kane Chronicles."

I was unimpressed by the first book in this series, but I really need to give it another try with two more now.

Silence by Michelle Sagara
Published by: DAW
Publication Date: May 1st, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"It began in the graveyard. Ever since her boyfriend Nathan died in a tragic accident Emma had been coming to the graveyard at night. During the day she went through the motions at her prep school, in class, with her friends, but that’s all it was. But tonight was different. Tonight Emma and her dog were not alone in the cemetery. There were two others there—Eric, who had just started at her school, and an ancient woman who looked as though she were made of rags. And when they saw Emma there, the old woman reached out to her with a grip as chilling as death…."

Sounds interesing and spooky.

Mud, Sweat, and Tears by Bear Grylls
Published by: William Morrow
Publication Date: May 1st, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Already a #1 London Sunday Times Bestseller, Mud, Sweat, and Tears is the adrenaline-fueled autobiography of the mega-popular star of the hit survival series Man Vs. Wild, adventurer Bear Grylls. A former British Special Forces commando, a man who has always sought the ultimate in dangerous challenges, Bear’s true story reads like an outdoors action and adventure novel. But Bear’s story is true—full of breathtaking escapes and remarkable exploits that would make any Jack London or H. Ryder Haggard hero proud."

Bear fascinates me. I really like his show but I just have this feeling he's a bit of a pompous dick. Like the kind of person who at a dinner party, you're hanging out near the horderves and he's like "You think that's bad, I've eaten a raw snake."

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Bear Grylls, Charlaine Harris, Deadlocked, Michelle Sagara, Mud Sweat and Tears, Rick Riordan, Sadie Jones, Silence, The Serpent's Shadow, The Uninvited Guests

In Charm's Way by Madelyn Alt
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: October 4th, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A brand new Bewitching mystery that will leave readers spellbound. When a real corpse is discovered among the props of a Halloween haunted house, Maggie O'Neill- resident witch of Stony Mill, Indiana- must use her charms to prove her friend innocent of the crime and get to the bottom of the mystery. "

So, I'm a huge fan of this series. It's fun, it's like, it's a perfect fall read... I mean what goes better together than witches and October I ask you?

India Black and the Widow of Windsor by Carol Carr
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: October 4th, 2011
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Black is back-Her Majesty's favorite spy is off to Scotland in this new adventure to ensure the Queen doesn't end up getting killed.

When Queen Victoria attends a séance, the spirit of her departed husband, Prince Albert, insists she spend Christmas at their Scottish home in Balmoral. Prime Minister Disraeli suspects the Scottish nationalists plan to assassinate the Queen-and sends the ever resourceful India and the handsome British spy, French, to the Scottish highlands.

French will take the high road, looking for a traitor among the guests-and India will take the low road, disguised as a servant in case an assassin is hiding among the household staff. India is certain that someone at Balmoral is determined to make this Her Majesty's last Christmas..."

Queen Victoria and a séance? You really need to know nothing more, expect perhaps my love of the Doctor Who episode where Queen Victoria becomes, how shall I say... a werewolf. Yeah Victoria and Scotland!

Wolf at the Door by Mary Janice Davidson
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: October 4th, 2011
Format: Paperback, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The howlingly good spin-off of the Undead series from the New York Times bestselling author.

Rachel, a werewolf/accountant, is asked to keep one eye on Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor and the other peeled for a rogue werewolf who's itching to start a war. But her attention is mostly on a sexy, mysterious stranger she wishes she could trust."

Ok, so maybe the start of October means I just recommend things with wicthes and werewolves... I love a good werewolf story done right!

Down These Strange Streets by Charlaine Harris et al.
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: October 4th, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 496 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"All new strange cases of death and magic in the city by some of the biggest names in urban fantasy.

In this all-new collection of urban fantasy stories, editors George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois explore the places where mystery waits at the end of every alley and where the things that go bump in the night have something to fear...

Includes stories by New York Times bestselling authors Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Diana Gabaldon, Simon R. Green, S. M. Stirling, and Carrie Vaughn, as well as tales by Glen Cook, Bradley Denton, M.L.N. Hanover, Conn Iggulden, Laurie R. King, Joe R. Lansdale, John Maddox Roberts, Steven Saylor, Melinda Snodgrass, and Lisa Tuttle."

Look at all the writers I love! Many of which have written about werewolves... hmm, this is a disturbing trend. I must be lupine-centric of something.

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
Published by: Hyperion
Publication Date: October 4th, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 544 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
" In The Lost Hero, three demigods named Jason, Piper, and Leo made their first visit to Camp Half-Blood, where they inherited a blood-chilling quest:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Who are the other four mentioned in the prophesy? The answer may lie in another camp thousands of miles away, where a new camper has shown up and appears to be the son of Neptune, god of the sea. . .

With an ever-expanding cast of brave-hearted heroes and formidable foes, this second book in The Heroes of Olympus series offers all of the action, pathos, and humor that Rick Riordan fans crave."

No werewolves here! (That I know of). Sure to be an instant hit...

Gossip Girl Psycho Killer by Cecily von Zeigesar
Published by: Poppy
Publication Date: October 4th, 2011
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where my friends and I live, go to school, play, and sleep-sometimes with each other. It's a luxe life, but someone's got to live it . . . until they die.

So begins Gossip Girl, Psycho Killer, a re-imagined and expanded slasher edition of the first groundbreaking Gossip Girl novel, featuring all new grisly scenes and over-the-top gore by #1 New York Times bestselling author Cecily von Ziegesar.

Just as in the original story, Serena returns from boarding school hoping to make amends with her BFF Blair Waldorf--things just haven't been the same since Nate Archibald came between them. But here's where our dark tale takes a turn: Serena decides that the only way for her to make things right with Blair is to eliminate Nate. If that means killing him, well, c'est la vie. Her attempted murder doesn't go unnoticed by Blair, however, who isn't about to let Serena kill whoever she wants-not when there's Cyrus Rose and Chuck Bass and Titi Coates and everyone else who's ever irritated Blair to get rid of first . . . .

American Psycho's Patrick Bateman has met his match in Manhattan's newest, most fabulous trendsetting serial killers, Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen."

Ok, so, changing a novel like Pride and Prejudice to add Zombies, stupid really... unless Jane did it herself, maybe it would work. But Gossip Girl where they're all killers, that just sounds a) plausible and b) full of win. Then have the actual author write it, totally full of win!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 2 comments  

Labels: Carol Carr, Cecily von Ziegesar, Down These Strange Streets, Gossip Girl, In Charm's Way, India Black, Madelyn Alt, Mary Janice Davidson, Rick Riordan, The Son of Neptune, Werewolf, Wolf at the Door

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: May 3rd, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows... "

Yet another Sookie book... I love ya Sookie, but I think you've run your course and are dying a slow death from overexposure.

The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
Published by: Hyperion
Publication Date: May 3rd, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 464 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"In this exciting second installment of the three-book series, Carter and Sadie, offspring of the brilliant Egyptologist Dr. Julius Kane, embark on a worldwide search for the Book of Ra, but the House of Life and the gods of chaos are determined to stop them. "

Wow, could your book discription be shorter? Also, not sure if I'm going to pick this up, I really, and I mean REALLY disliked the first book. A Egyptian monkey god who plays basketball? Please save me now.

The Rogue Crew by Brian Jacques
Published by: Philomel
Publication Date: May 3rd, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Redwall Abbey has never seen a creature more evil or more hideous than Razzid Wearat. Captain of the Greenshroud, a ship with wheels that can sail through water as well as the forest, this beast is a terror of both land and sea, traveling Mossflower Country, killing nearly everything-and everyone- in his path. And his goal? To conquer Redwall Abbey. From Salamandastron to the High North Coast, the brave hares of the Long Patrol team up with the fearless sea otters of the Rogue Crew to form a pack so tough, so rough, only they can defend the abbey and defeat Razzid Wearat once and for all."

Not sure it this is the last Redwall book or not, what with Brian Jacques passing recently. Still, it's been a great series and even if this is the end, at least we have tons of re-reads ahead of us.


Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Published by: Scribner
Publication Date: May 3rd, 2011
Format: Paperback, 960 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"An anniversary edition of Margaret Mitchell's timeless classic."

Yes, I can't fault the Riordan book for short discriptions now can I? 75th anniversary cool new blue edition, doesn't top the neat hardcover re-print, but it's still damn cool.

My Boyfriend Wrote a Book About Me by Hilary Winston
Published by: Sterling
Publication Date: May 3rd, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 240 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"TV writer Hilary Winston offers up a witty collection of autobiographical tales about her misadventures in dating. Just when Hilary feels like her life is finally in order, she gets a sucker-punch to the gut: Her ex has written a novel based on their relationship in which he refers to her throughout as the “fat-assed girlfriend.” Her response to this affront is just one of the many hilarious stories in My Boyfriend Wrote a Book About Me-a laugh-out-loud, tell-all in which Hilary sets the record straight for all her exes."

Looks hilarious, and she writes for Community, so I'll forgive her My Name is Earl.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Brian Jacques, Charlaine Harris, Dead Reckoning, Gone With the Wind, Hilwary Winston, Margaret Mitchell, My Boyfriend Wrote a Book ABout Me, Rick Riordan, The Rogue Crew, The Throne of Fire

Theodosia and the Last Pharaoh by R. L. LaFevers
Published by: Houghton Mifflin
ARC Provided by Houghton Mifflin
Publication Date: April 4th, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
Challenge: Valley of the Kings
Rating: ★★★★★
To Buy
Theodosia is returning to the land of her birth. Egypt! Who cares if she has a very important mission to return some items to a secret society bent on hiding artifacts of the Gods in the desert. It's Egypt and she's on an expedition with her mom. Take care of the Orb and Rae and the Emerald Tablet and spend the rest of the time doing what she's always dreamed of doing, archeology! Obviously, with her pet cat Isis by her side, despite her mother's protestations. When they arrive in Cairo though, the angry people milling about does tend to put a damper on the Egyptological fervor. The Nationalist Party is holding a demonstration, one of many to cause an inconvenience. Her mother needs to check in at the Museum, as does Theo, though, not so much with Maspero, but with the Brotherhood of the Chosen Keepers and their subterranean headquarters. But the Keepers in Egypt are very different from those in England. Here they are the front line, not the last defense. So it's more offense than defense, and Theo is not quite sure she's willing to embrace those methods. That's until she sees von Braggenschnott posing as a member of the museum staff, a Mr. Borscht, and having a cup of tea with her mother! Trying to flee the museum is harder than you'd think. There's another rally and they resort to taking Donkey's. Theo's driver is a little hunchback boy, Gadji, and he proves himself very wise in the ways of the street... and very cunning, his "hump" is his pet monkey, Sefu.

The next day they travel to Luxor, and surprisingly so does Gadji and Sefu, his family was originally from there. Which makes Gadji the perfect tour guide for her when Theo's playing sick. Because what other explanation could she give her mother for not wanting to scramble around in the dirt looking for hidden temples? But she must meet her contact here, a Major Grindle, and get the trade off set up at the temple with the wedjadeen. The trade off goes pretty well, despite all the threats that she shouldn't be allowed to live, even if the wedjadeen take an unusual interest in Gadji. Things can't remain so simple for long, the Serpents of Chaos are stirring the natives for more uprisings, and soon they kidnap Gadji in order to get the Emerald Tablet, which they apparently don't realize Theo already got ride of. Another trade is set up, which goes horridly wrong and ends with Theo and Major Grindle in the hands of the wedjadeen. They know too many secrets and their lives now hang in the balance. But will Theo's powers and her destiny be able to save herself and all those in danger? Most importantly of all, will she get answers as to what she actually is?

The Last Pharaoh is everything I expected from Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles that it failed to deliver. Theo's world is expanding and becoming more complex, but in a way that is natural. Robin has not forced the change, she has gradually led us to it in the most wonderful journey yet. Instead of being trapped within the confines of the museum and having Theo playing all her contacts off one another, here we have a true Egyptian adventure. All the books have been leading to this one. Temples with true power, statues that come alive, where Theo's magic really comes from. All of this is woven together in a plausible yet magical way. You don't have to suspend your belief to be satisfied by the ending. At first I did have some misgivings. Gadji was very much like an Egyptian Sticky Will with a monkey instead of a snotty younger brother. But I should have trusted that Robin knew what she was doing and the plot twist, I did not see coming. Plus Theo's connection to Isis made my heart yearn for a cat in my life again. The only problem I now face is how will I wait for the next installment. Will Theo begin training? Will the wedjadeen and the Chosen Keepers embrace their shared goals and heritage and work together to defeat chaos. As we crawl ever closer to the first World War, I wonder how Chaos and all their evil little Germans will fit in. But as long as I get my Egyptian fix I will be a satisfied reader.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Egypt, Emerald Tablet, Isis, R.L. LaFevers, Rick Riordan, Serpents of Chaos, The Chosen Keepers, The Kane Chronicles, Theodosia and the Last Pharaoh, Valley of the Kings Reading Challenge, Wedjadeen

The Red Pyramid: The Kane Chronicles Book 1 by Rick Riordan
Published by: Hyperion
Publication Date: May 54th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 528 Pages
Challenge: Fantasy, 1st in Series
Rating: ★★
To Buy
Carter and Sadie Kane have lived apart since their mother's death six years previously. Carter has travelled the world with his father, Dr. Julius Kane, while Sadie lives with her grandparents in London. One night everything changes. They have the opportunity to visit the British Museum at night and their father takes this opportunity to try to set things right. But all hell breaks loose, literally, the Rosetta Stone sets loose the evil gods of Egypt and one of them, Set, is hell bent on destroying the world. They are then taken to New York by their Uncle Amos, an uncle they had never met till this horrid day. Their they learn about the House of Life and how the magic of Egypt is preserved and protected, until Amos is "gone" and Zia, a younger member of the house who Carter takes a shine to, takes them to Egypt. But everything goes wrong when the leader of the house dies and it becomes known that Carter and Sadie have developed magical powers by unknowingly doing the forbidden, letting Gods posses them. So not only do they have to keep themselves safe, but they also have to stop Set from building his evil Red Pyramid that will destroy the world all while proving that perhaps The House of Life was wrong and that Gods and mortals must work together, versus the Gods being banished.

I had many, many issues with this book. First off I should say that I have not read the Percy Jackson series, so I'm going into this pretty ignorant. But I wonder who someone who loves Greek mythology thinks of the Percy Jackson books. The thing is, I'm an Egyptological nut, and this book just left me cold. I just didn't like how the Gods were portrayed and every time that damn monkey (yes, there's a monkey who likes basketball) showed up I could just see the horrid movie adaptation... Dunston Checks In anyone? Can't you see him in his little basketball jersey right now? Yeah, see what I mean, it's that bad. And while I liked that they explained away Sadie and Carter's sudden and miraculous powers by making them provided by the Gods, it was really just a lame cop out to make it more imperative to get to the end, and if they needed borrowed power versus learned power to do it in the time constraints, that's how it's going to be. Also with the double narration with the two siblings "voices" being so much the same I forgot who was narrating until Sadie would throw out a measurement in metric and then I'd be like, oh, "Brit" girl cause of metric. Also the last few pages became too Spiderwicky for my taste, not that I'm against Spiderwick, it's just too nudge nudge wink wink self referential. I will not be checking out the sequel I can tell you that. Though I think I will try Percy Jackson.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Carter Kane, Dunston Checks In, Egypt, Monkey, Percy Jackson, Reading Challenge, Rick Riordan, Sadie Kane, Set, The House of Life, The Kane Chronicles, The Red Pyramid, Zia

The Charming Quirks of Others by Alexander McCall Smith
Published by: Pantheon
Publication Date: October 12th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
In this latest, felicitous addition to the Isabel Dalhousie series, our inquisitive heroine comes to see that there are very few of us who are not flawed . . . herself included.

A couple who are old friends of Isabel’s ask for her help in a rather tricky situation: A successor is being sought for the headmaster position at their alma mater. The board has four final candidates but has received an anonymous letter alleging that one of them has a very serious skeleton in the closet. Could Isabel discreetly look into it? And so she does. What she discovers about all the candidates is surprising, but what she discovers in herself turns out to be equally revealing—and she finds that she has also unwittingly upset Jamie, the father of her young son.

Isabel’s investigation will have her exploring issues of charity, forgiveness, and humility as she moves nearer and nearer to some of the most hidden precincts of the heart."

It's always a good time for another Alexander McCall Smith book, and he writes like 5 million a year.

Jane by April Linder
Published by: Poppy
Publication Date: October 12th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance.

But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?

An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers."

Yeah Jane Eyre re-tellings! Sure, you have a lot to live up to, but this cover is looking good!

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
Published by: Harper Collins
Publication Date: October 12th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties.

Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star. . . .
Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined—and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for . . . and someone will.
The only person Cordelia can trust is ­Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.
Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the ­illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall—together and apart. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe comes an epic new series set in the dizzying last summer of the Jazz Age."

Godbersen goes from the age of innocence to the decade of Waugh... should be fun!

The Heroes of Olympus Book 1: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
Published by: Hyperion
Publication Date: October 12th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 576 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"After saving Olympus from the evil Titan lord, Kronos, Percy and friends have rebuilt their beloved Camp Half-Blood, where the next generation of demigods must now prepare for a chilling prophecy of their own:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,

To storm or fire the world must fall.

An oath to keep with a final breath,

And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Now, in a brand-new series from blockbuster best-selling author Rick Riordan, fans return to the world of Camp Half-Blood. Here, a new group of heroes will inherit a quest. But to survive the journey, they’ll need the help of some familiar demigods."

Yeah Percy Jackson continues (with a little technicality).

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Published by: Little Brown
Publication Date: October 12th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 512 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems. "

I won the first book in this series, and can't wait to read both!

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Published by: Delacorte
Publication Date: October 12th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 496 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present."
This sounds sooo awesome!


Busy Body by M.C. Beaton
Published by: Mintaur Books
Publication Date: October 12th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 288Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Agatha Raisin has always been ambivalent about holiday cheer, but her cozy little village of Carsely has long prided itself on its Christmas festivities. But this year Mr. John Sunday, a selfimportant officer with the Health and Safety Board, has ruled that the traditional tree on top of the church is a public menace; that lampposts are unsafe for hanging illuminations; that May Dimwoody’s homemade toys are dangerous for children… Things have reached such a desperate pass that the Carsely Ladies’ Society joins forces with the ladies in the neighboring village of Odley Cruesis to try to put a stop to Mr. Sunday’s meddling—only to find that someone has literally put a stop to him with a kitchen knife.

Agatha’s detective agency is on the case, but when a man has made as many enemies as John Sunday, it’s hard to know where to start…"

This one's for my mom! She loves the M.C. Beaton, would love her even more if this was a new Hamish Macbeth...


My Booky Wooky 2: This Time It's Personal by Russell Brand
Published by: It Books
Publication Date: October 12th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the electrifying follow up, comedian Russell Brand details his rapid ascent into the upper realms of fame and picks up where his international bestseller MY BOOKY WOOK left off.

"As with the clinical finality of death, all things must end; just as surely, all that exists must have a beginning. When then did I become famous? Was there a moment that could be recognised and pin pointed? Yes for me notoriety was neither incremental nor intangible..."

So begins Russell Brand's electrifying memoir of his rapid ascent into the upper realms of fame. Rarely has a sequel delivered on the promise of the original with such literary and comic gusto. In My Booky Wook 2: This Time It's Personal, Russell Brand takes off where his international bestseller My Book Wook left off. Brand is sober and, after dedicating his life and compromising his sanity in the pursuit of fame, he has had his first taste of national notoriety. Does fame bring happiness and inner peace? Not exactly, but it does mean a lot of sex. It also ushers in an unforgettable and raucous ride through chat shows, tabloid scandals, and Hollywood, all the while detailing Brand's search for the contentment that fame can't quite grant.

My Booky Wook 2 is a "celebrity memoir" unlike any you've read before: more clever and inventive than ever, Russell Brand explores the consequences of massive stardom just as he demonstrates the power of language and wit to make sense of it all."

There's just something about Russell Brand, that while he offends, he's so funny you can't look away.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alexander McCall Smith, Anna Godbersen, April Lindner, Beautiful Darkness, Booky Wooky, Jane, Jennifer Donnelly, M.C. Beaton, Rick Riordan, Russell Brand

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
Published by: Ace Hardcover
Publication Date: May 4th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Sookie Stackhouse has finally settled into a relationship with the Viking vampire Eric, and her errant brother Jason seems to have his life in order, too. But all the other people in Sookie’s life – Eric himself, her former lover Bill, her friend and boss Sam – are having family problems. Eric’s maker shows up with Eric’s ‘brother’ in tow, the ailing Bill can only be healed by a blood sibling, and Sam’s brother’s marriage is about to take place... or will it? The furor raised by the coming out of the two-natured has yet to settle; some people are just not ready to sit down to dinner with a man who turns into a dog. And Sookie herself is still recovering from her last ordeal. She’s definitely improving, physically and mentally, but she’s always going to have some dark moments now. The werewolves tell her that there have been strange and ominous passers-by in the Stackhouse woods; now Sookie is about to come face-to-face with one of her more distant relatives..."

The year long wait for a new Sookie book is FINALLY at an end. Addicts to these books, and now even to the series can testify to how long time seems to slow down in the wait. I can't help but think things are going to go horribly wrong... this cover is too happy and life affirming...

White Cat, Curse Workers Book 1 by Holly Black
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry
Publication Date: May 4th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love -- or death -- and your dreams might be more real than your memories."

Ohhhh... new series by Holly Black. And there's a cat! I'm in!

The Red Pyramid, The Kane Chronicles Book 1 by Rick Riordan
Published by: Hyperion
Publication Date: May 4th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 520 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them--Set--has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe--a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs."

Rick "Greek Mythology" Riordan is switching to my favorite type of mythology! Egyptian! Yeah for another book to add to my "Egypt Shelf." And yes, there is a shelf, don't judge me!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Charlaine Harris, Curse Workers, Dead in the Family, Holly Black, Percy Jackson, Rick Riordan, Sookie Stackhouse, Southern Vampire Series, The Kane Chronicles, The Red Pyramid, White Cat