Sunday, July 03, 2011

In My Mailbox 32

Hello and welcome to another IMM! In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren in which bloggers share the books that they have recieved in the previous week. It's a really wonderful meme, one I look forward to every week. I've been having a bit of a slow few weeks, with far fewer books being out sent to me than normal. Still, I'm quite happy with this lot.

Here are the books I've picked up lately...


Pegasus by Robin McKinley - A gorgeously written fantasy about the friendship between a princess and her Pegasus.

Because of a thousand-year-old alliance between humans and pagasi, Princess Sylviianel is ceremonially bound to Ebon, her own Pegasus, on her twelfth birthday. The two species coexist peacefully, despite the language barriers separating them. Humans and pegasi both rely on specially-trained Speaker magicians as the only means of real communication.

But its different for Sylvi and Ebon. They can understand each other. They quickly grow close-so close that their bond becomes a threat to the status quo-and possibly to the future safety of their two nations.

New York Times bestselling Robin McKinley weaves an unforgettable tale of unbreakable friendship, mythical creatures and courtly drama destined to become a classic.


Ooh. Robin McKinley is just one of those authors whose books I think I'll just love but I haven't managed to read very many of them. This book is probably more fantasy than I normally read, but I'm really looking forward to reading it!

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Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver - We meet Liesl the night after the day her young father has died. That same day she is visited by a ghost, Po, an eight year old boy who lives on the other side, the territory between life and death that runs parallel to the living world. Po has come to tell her that her father is stuck on the other side, and that she is the only one who can help him cross over. A couple of wooden boxes. Some ashes. Some magic dust. A ghost, its pet, and a boy who forgot to wear a hat in the cold. From these seemingly odd, random characters Oliver weaves the enchanting story of how, with the aid of Liesl, these elements come together over the course of one week to restore love and luster to a world gone grey and heartless.

Yay! I love Lauren Oliver and this book was mentioned when I went to the Delirium launch party earlier in the year. It looks absolutely stunning and it came with this VERY COOL cut out theatre. I'm waiting until N has some time to help me put it together and then I'm sure I'll share pics of it. Hugely excited about this book!


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The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson - The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.


I have to admit, I have been incredibly jealous of all those bloggers out there who had recieved the latest Maureen Johnson book and I hadn't. But now I have it and it's very pretty. I'm such a fan of MJ.


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Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez - Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen's whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn't just hot...what if Jeremy is better?

Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can't end well, but she just can't stay away. Nobody else understands her--and riles her up--like he does. Still, she can't trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of always doing what she’s told, doing what's expected.

Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall....


I wasn't quite sure what to think of this one. I haven't heard much about it, but a reliable source on Twitter said that it was really good and I trust her judgement, so I agreed to a swap for it. I shall soon be letting you know my verdict! :)


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13 to Life by Shannon Delaney - Everything about Jessie Gillmansen’s life changed when her mother died. Now even her hometown of Junction is changing. Mysterious dark things are happening. All Jessie wants is to avoid more change. But showing a hot new guy around Junction High, she’s about to discover a whole new type of change. Pietr Rusakova is more than good looks and a fascinating accent—he’s a guy with a dangerous secret. And his very existence is sure to bring big trouble to Jessie’s small town. It seems change is the one thing Jessie can’t avoid…

I haven't heard very much about this book, but I'm only JUST getting back into paranormal romances after a very long break and I thought I'd snap this book up to see what I think of it.

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Bumped by Megan McCafferty - When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

From New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty comes a strikingly original look at friendship, love, and sisterhood—in a future that is eerily believable.

How excited am I for this book?!! I've been kind of dying to read it for awhile so I'm very sure that this book won't be sitting on my shelves unread for very long!


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And that's it for me! Which books came into your possession lately?

15 comments:

  1. I am awaiting for Virtuosity to drop through my mailbox as we speak! It looks awesome, doesn't it?

    You'll have to tell me what you think of Leisl and Po because I feel like that really could go either way. When people use the word "enchanting" I usually end up going... :/!

    Loved your haul as usual, Missus!

    Mine is over here! - Elle

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  2. Ooh lovely Michelle. I can't wait to start The Name of the Star. It sounds so good. Liesl and Po is another I really want to read. Looking forward to reading your review of that one.

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  3. I can't wait for The Name of the Star to be released! I look forward to seeing what you think of it. Also, Pegasus sounds like a great book. I hope you enjoy them all :)

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  4. very jealous of your books this week, especially Liesl and Po and Bumped... did that come in the questionable envelope I saw people talking about on twitter!

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  5. Ooh nice haul! I love fantasy so Pegasus looks greta, and I've heard some good things about 13 to Life. Liesl and Po is meant to be really good as well - happy reading!

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  6. YOu have a different cover to Liesl and Po than I have. Must read Bumped soon.

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  7. Bumped sounds so good, I hope you enjoy :D

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  8. Thanks for calling by Ink Scratchers, I'm glad I found your blog! Great mailbox this week, I really enjoyed 13 to Life :)

    I'm desperate for Pegasus and The Name of the Star though! :)

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  9. Elle - To be honest, I hadn't actually heard of Virtuosity until this week! But something about the cover made me sit up and take notice! And is Liesl and Po described as 'enchanting'?! I really only noticed the 'Lauren Oliver' part :)

    TSB - I'm definitely looking forward to Liesl and Po, Lauren Oliver has been consistently good so far..

    TLO - Thank you so much, I hope I do as well :)

    Raimy - It did come in the questionable envelope :) I had a brief moment of 'What must the postie have thought of THAT?' until I realised I'd never have passed for 16. Ha.

    Liz - It's a pretty mixed bag of books this week! Just the way I like it :)

    Vivienne - I probably don't, I was just too lazy to go looking for the cover that matched my ARC.

    Jesse - I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into that one :)

    Jadey - You're welcome! I'm glad I found your blog as well :)

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  10. Oh, I'm so looking forward to looking to Pegasus, I love some high fantasy. Enjoy your books!

    Here's my IMM :)

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  11. Great choice of books... I must look for Pegasus, I haven't read that one and I like Robin McKinley's writing. http://unicornslaststand.blogspot.com/2011/07/in-my-mailbox-1.html

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  12. You have a nice list of books that you received this week in your mailbox. Pegasus looks like a good read. I really want to read Bumped, I am just waiting for my library to carry it.
    Happy Reading,
    Book Sniffers Anonymous

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  13. Wow, I want to read all of these! The names of the sisters in Bumped remind me of The Queen's Nose though.

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  14. Eden - I'm wary of high fantasy, but still excited to read Pegasus! Thanks for stoppping by :)

    Nikki - I hope we both love it then, thanks for the comment :)

    Kristin - Thank you! You too. Bumped is one that I'm MOST looking forward to, I think.

    Julianne - The Queen's Nose? I don't think I'm familiar with it!

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  15. It's a book by Dick King-Smith and a 90s BBC television series, about a girl called Harmony whose uncle gives her a magical 50p - when she rubs the Queen's nose, she can make wishes that then come true. She has a sister called Melody.

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