Sunday, June 7, 2009

In My Mailbox


It's Sunday again and I get to tell you about the books I acquired this week and how excited I am to read them. And what a week (as you'll see)! Again I'd like to thank the Story Siren and Alea of Pop Culture Junkie, the blogs where this meme started.
Now to the books.

So, the first book I got, the book I am most excited about, the book I can't believe I have, is Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Yes, the sequel to The Hunger Games. And I can't tell you how happy I am about this. Highlight of the week. (Thank you Antonia.)

From the back: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

The second fabulous book I received was Ash by Malinda Ho. And oh, I so wanted this retelling of the Cinderella story too.

From the back: Pushed into indentured servitude for her stepmother in the City to pay off her father’s debts, Ash is consumed with grief. She misses her family and her happy life at the edge of the Wood where old magic used to linger in the air like fairy breath. Her only joy comes from the brief, stolen walks in the woods with the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean. Ash’s single, unspoken hope is that someday he might steal her away, as fairies are said to do.

But on the day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King’s Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, from Kaisa she learns the art of the hunt, how to ride and track. Their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, but it grows and changes, and with it, Ash reawakens her capacity for love—and her desire to live.

Entrancing and romantic, Ash is an empowering retelling of Cinderella about choosing life and love over solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

And I also got Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri, a book I had not heard of before but sounds great.

From the back: One night, in cities all across Europe, five children vanish — only to appear, years later, at an exclusive New York party with a strange and elegant governess. Rumor and mystery follow the Faust teenagers to the city’s most prestigious high school, where they soar to suspicious heights with the help of their benefactor’s extraordinary "gifts." But as the students claw their way up — reading minds, erasing scenes, stopping time, stealing power, seducing with artificial beauty — they start to suffer the side effects of their own addictions. And as they make further deals with the devil, they uncover secrets more shocking than their most unforgivable sins. At once chilling and wickedly satirical, this contemporary reimagining of the Faustian bargain is a compelling tale of ambition, consequences, and ultimate redemption.

Can't read them fast enough. Don't they sound amazing?
So, that's what was in my mailbox. What was in yours?

6 comments:

Shooting Stars Mag said...

I have Another Faust too. It sounds so great, I can't wait to read it. And Awww lucky you for getting the other two!!

-Lauren

Amelia said...

Sounds like you had a great week! I'm really excited about Another Faust. I hope you enjoy them all.

Library Lounge Lizard said...

I so want to get my hands on Another Faust...it looks gooooood!

Anonymous said...

OMG! So jealous. I've been wanting to read all three especially Catching Fire. Any chance of Collins coming to Kepler's? :)

Rebecca said...

Another Faust sounds really good. Enjoy your books.

Jacqueline C. said...

Nice list. Here are mine. (1) and (2)