Stacking the Shelves #15

Welcome to  Stacking The Shelves!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga Reviews and is a meme to share those books, both print and e-book, that have been added to your shelves in the last week/s.

I got some awesome titles this week.  Can't wait to read them.  So excited for Ruin & Rising.  Keep you eyes out for a review of this later this week!

Ebooks (Harper Collins via Edelweiss)

The Fall by Bethany Griffin
Goodreads | Book Depository
Madeline Usher is doomed.

She has spent her life fighting fate, and she thought she was succeeding. Until she woke up in a coffin.

Ushers die young. Ushers are cursed. Ushers can never leave their house, a house that haunts and is haunted, a house that almost seems to have a mind of its own. Madeline’s life—revealed through short bursts of memory—has hinged around her desperate plan to escape, to save herself and her brother. Her only chance lies in destroying the house.

In the end, can Madeline keep her own sanity and bring the house down? The Fall is a literary psychological thriller, reimagining Edgar Allan Poe’s classic The Fall of the House of Usher.

Look for it- Fall 2014!

The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard
Goodreads | Book Depository
rom the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling series Pretty Little Liars comes a thrilling new novel about five perfect girls who are framed for a murder they didn’t commit.

In Beacon Heights, Washington, five girls—Ava, Caitlin, Mackenzie, Julie, and Parker—know that you don’t have to be good to be perfect. At first the girls think they have nothing in common, until they realize that they all hate Nolan Hotchkiss, who’s done terrible things to each of them. They come up with the perfect way to kill him—a hypothetical murder, of course. It’s just a joke...until Nolan turns up dead, in exactly the way they planned. Only, they didn’t do it. And unless they find the real killer, their perfect lives will come crashing down around them.

From Sara Shepard, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Pretty Little Liars series, comes another story of dark secrets, shocking twists, and what happens when five beautiful girls will do anything to hide the ugly truth.

Illusions of Fate  by Kiersten White
Goodreads | Book Depository
Downton Abbey meets Cassandra Clare in this lush, romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.

“I did my best to keep you from crossing paths with this world. And I shall do my best to protect you now that you have.”

Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.

Kiersten White captured readers’ hearts with her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy and its effortless mix of magic and real-world teenage humor. She returns to that winning combination of wit, charm, and enchantment in Illusions of Fate, a sparkling and romantic new novel perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, The Madman’s Daughter, and Libba Bray

Purchased :

So excited that this finally arrived.  As you can see, I have already dived in :-P

Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3) by Leigh Bardugo
Goodreads  | Book Depository

The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

So what did you add to your shelves this week?

Review: Glitter & Doom by Bethany Griffin

Title: Glitter & Doom
Author: Bethany Griffin
Published: 26 March 2013
Reviewed: Sapphireddragon
SapphiredDragon Rating: ****

Glitter & Doom ( Masque of the Red Death #1.5) by Bethany Griffin

Goodreads | Barnes & Noble

A 50-page, digital-only novella set in the world of Bethany Griffin's dark and haunting retelling of the classic Edgar Allan Poe story Masque of the Red Death. When a rich teenage girl who spends her nights in the most desirable club and a smart, young inventor meet, they might have more in common than they know.

April, niece to the dying city's cruel dictator, is Araby Worth's glittery and frivolous best friend. But she's more than she appears. And when she disappeared in Masque of the Red Death, where did she go? This short novella answers that question, taking us deep underneath the crumbling city, where April crosses paths with Kent, the serious young inventor who is key to rebellion. Glitter & Doom is a story of chilling action, of spies, and of surprising love. Can love be anything but doomed is a city that's burning down around its survivors?
A dark, unnerving story about two of the most fascinating characters from Masque of the Red Death.

Review: 

I decided to read Glitter and Doom both as part of the Novella Reading Week being hosted by  Fiktshun & Magical Urban Fantasy Reads   and because being currently sategically placed between Masque of the Red Death, which I read a few weeks ago (see my review here) and Dance of the Red Death, which I am planning to read next week and this novella has been written to be read in between these novels. So the timing was excellent as is the this novella.  

Glitter & Doom is essentially April and Kent's respective stories.  We only see relatively small aspects of these characters in Masque of the Red Death so I really enjoyed getting a better insight into both of these characters and seeing how their stories contributed to the whole that is the Masque of the Red Death Series.

I like that we get to see a whole other side of April in this novella other than the shallow girl that is depicted in the majority of book 1.  This novella starts when April is 11 and Elliott 13 and ends shortly before the end of Masque so we get to see some of the events that have shaped the person that April has become as well as seeing some of the behind the scenes of what was happening in Masque.

We also got to see some more of Kent, a little bit of where he came from and I felt this gave me a better sense of who Kent is and where he fits in this series. 

I think you definitely need to have ahead Masque to be able to truly get everything out of this novella and I think it will make ain't Dance of the Red Death that much better having a read this novella.

I give this novella four stars.

Sapphired Dragon xx

Review: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Title: Masque of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #1)
Author: Bethany Griffin
Published: 24 April 2014
Source: Library
Reviewed: Sapphireddragon
SapphiredDragon Rating: ****

Masque of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #1) by Bethany Griffin

Goodreads | Book Depository

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club--in the depths of her own despair--Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for--no matter what it costs her.

Review: 

Masque of the Red Death was an intriguing novel to read.  Part steampunk, part dystopian, Masque of the Red Death  takes place in a city,  cut off from pretty much anywhere else and with the majority of its population dead or dying of a plague known as the weeping sickness.  Time in a sense has frozen as life has become all about survival with those wealthy enough to afford masks to keep out the sickness either hide away from society or spend their time partying night after night and the poor doing what they can to survive.  The only thing they have in common is  unhappiness and unrest at their lot and this is about to blow up.

Enter Araby, daughter of the scientist that invented the masks and best friend April, the niece of the prince.  She has had losses of her own and no longer cares for her life spending every night partying and taking substances that leave her numb or insensible.  Without meaning to, Araby somehow finds herself in the middle of the unrest and being forced to make a choice between, her family, love and life.

I felt the numbness and apathy of Araby and the beginning of this novel and this was reflected in the way I at first felt about the story.  I didn't seem to think I cared but found myself moving onwards anyhow and somehow without even realising it, became involved in the story following it to the end.  Full of action, and fraught tension and intrigue, Ms Griffin's writing had me feeling almost everything Araby felt and caught up in the action from the palpable fear to the distrust of anyone and everyone, questioning everyone's motives.

I went in to this novel reasonably blind and I think that helped because I had absolutely no idea where the story would take me and could thus enjoy all aspects of the novel rather than waiting impatiently as it got to where I knew it was going to go.

I got a little lost towards the end when a lot of action all happens at once.  I eventually found my way and enjoyed how it finished but this did take away just a little bit from my overall enjoyment.

I am now off to read book 2, Dance of the Red Death. :-)

I give this novel 4 stars

Sapphired Dragon xx

In My mailbox #63

Welcome to  In My Mailbox, a meme run by The Story Siren where each week over 200 bloggers post on their blogs the books they have bought, received to review or won in the past week.

To find out more information, get involved yourself or see what's in other bloggers mailboxes this week head over to The Story Siren or to find out what is in my mailbox this week, keep reading.

Don't forget to comment and post your IMM link or just let me know what's in your mail box this week.

Been a bit quiet blogwise these last couple of weeks. My daughter and I were laid with nasty colds for a week or so then just life in general has been busy but back into it this week both with reading and blogging and scored some great titles this week :-)

For Review (via Edelweiss)

Extremely excited to get this e-arc!  Trying very hard not to read the blurb as I am still only half way through Masque of the Red Death but isn't the cover absolutely gorgeous?

Dance of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #2)  by Bethany Griffin

Goodreads | Book Depository

Bethany Griffin continues the journey of Araby Worth in Dance of the Red Death—the sequel to her teen novel Masque of the Red Death.

In Dance of the Red Death, Araby’s world is in shambles—betrayal, death, disease, and evil forces surround her. She has no one to trust. But she finds herself and discovers that she will fight for the people she loves, and for her city.

Her revenge will take place at the menacing masked ball, though it could destroy her and everyone she loves…or it could turn her into a hero.

With a nod to Edgar Allan Poe, Bethany Griffin concludes her tragic and mysterious Red Death series with a heroine that young adult readers will never forget.

For Review (via Netgalley)

Reaper's Novice (Soul Collector #1) by Cecilia Robert

Goodreads | Amazon

**Reaper's Novice was previously published as a short story installment. It will be released in January 2013 as full length novel.**

17- year- old Ana Maria Tei’s life has always been perfect: loving parents, good grades, and a future so bright it outshone the sun. But now words like “separation” and “divorce” are sending her world plummeting to hell. Determined to keep her family intact, Ana plans a family-bonding trip from Vienna to Tuscany. Except fate has other plans. Ana’s parents and siblings are killed in a car accident on their way to pick Ana up from school.

Enter Grim, aka Ernest. He promises to relinquish the four souls if Ana agrees to trade her soul for theirs and serve a lifetime as his novice. In order for Ana to graduate from her Reaper’s Novice station to a Soul Collector graduate, Grim puts her to test. To her horror, she finds out becoming a Reaper’s Novice didn’t happen by chance. It was preordained, and she is forced to make a choice: save her family’s souls or come to terms with who she really is and complete the task set for her.

Witch Wraith (Dark Legacy of Shannara #3) by Terry Brooks

Goodreads | Book Depository

From New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks comes the final thrilling novel in a brand-new trilogy—The Dark Legacy of Shannara!

For centuries the Four Lands enjoyed freedom from its demon-haunted past, protected by magic-enhanced borders from the dark dimension known as the Forbidding and the profound evil imprisoned there. But now the unthinkable is happening: The ancient wards securing the barrier between order and mayhem have begun to erode—and generations of bloodthirsty, monstrous creatures, fueled by a rage thousands of years in the making, are poised to spill forth, seeking revenge for what was done to them.

Young Elf Arling Elessedil possesses the enchanted means to close the breach and once more seal the denizens of the Forbidding in their prison. But when she falls into the hands of the powerful Federation’s diabolical Prime Minister, her efforts may be doomed. Only her determined sister, Aphen, who bears the Elfstones and commands their magic, has any hope of saving Arling from the hideous fate her captor has in store.

Meanwhile, Railing Ohmsford—desperate to save his imprisoned brother—seeks to discover if his famed but ill-fated ancestor Grianne is still alive and willing to help him save the world . . . no matter the odds or the consequences.

Terminated (Revivalist #3) by Rachel Caine

Goodreads | Book Depository

In New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine’s latest Revivalist novel, Bryn Davis’s problems quickly turn from dead to worse…

Already addicted to the pharmaceutical drug that keeps her body from decomposing, Bryn has to stop a secretive group of rich and powerful investors from eliminating the existing Returné addicts altogether. To ensure their plan to launch a new, military-grade strain of nanotech, the investors’ undead assassin—who just happens to be the ex-wife of Bryn’s lover Patrick—is on the hunt for anyone that stands in their way.

And while Bryn’s allies aren’t about to go down without a fight, the secret she’s been keeping threatens to put those closest to her in even more danger. Poised to become a monster that her own side—and her own lover—will have to trap and kill, Bryn needs to find the cure to have any hope of preserving the lives of her friends, and her own dwindling humanity…

Purchased (Print Book)

This arrived in the mail on Friday.  Can't wait to read it! :-)

The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass

Goodreads | Book Depository

The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestsellerThe Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

Purchased (E-book)

Got this on Amazon for just $0.99!  What a steal :-)

The Forgotten Ones (The Danaan Trilogy #1) by Laura Howard

Goodreads | Amazon

Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.



I recently received The Girl with the Iron Touch to review.  This is book two of the Steampunk Chronicles  

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles #2) by Kady Cross

Goodreads | Book Depository

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous. 

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves. 

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

So what was in your mailbox this week?

RAK Wrap Up May 2012

May 2012 saw me return to participating in RAK for the first time since late 2011 and what a great month it turned out to be. 

RAK or Random Acts of Kindness is a monthly event hosted by Book Soulmates in which bloggers and individuals give and receive books and bookish items. The way it works is that at the beginning of the month,you enter your details in that oaths formi.e. name, website, email along with a link to a Wishlist of books that you would like to receive ( both electronic and paper format) then you look at the list and choose one or more lucky people that you will send something from their Wishlist. 

This month I was lucky enough to be chosen by Jessica from Crossroad Reviews to receive the following:



Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris
The Selection by Keira Cass
Black Dawn by Rachel Caine
Above by Leah Bobet
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin


In turn I chose Michelle from Beagle Book Space to receive:




Signed copy of Fallen by Lauren Kate (acquired when Lauren Kate visited Australia in 2011)
Torment by Lauren Kate 

For more information or to get involved in June's RAK, head over to Book Soulmates. 

So I have to ask the question,how big was your RAK in May?

In My Mailbox #21

Welcome to  In My Mailbox, a meme run by The Story Siren where each week over 200 bloggers post on their blogs the books they have bought, received to review or won in the past week. 

To find out more information, get involved yourself or see what's in other bloggers mailboxes this week head over to The Story Siren or to find out what is in my mailbox this week, keep reading.

Don't forget to comment and post your IMM link or just let me know what's in your mail box this week.

Not a bad little week this week.  Thought it was gonna end up being quiet but I ended up getting some really great titles this week so very excited!

Firstly thanks to Jessica from Crossroad Reviews who got me an awesome RAK gift:




Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris
The Selection by Keira Cass
Black Dawn by Rachel Caine
Above by Leah Bobet
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin


For more information about RAK (Random Acts of Kindness ) and how you can get involved head over to BookSoulmates

Purchased

Until I Die by Amy Plum
City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare


So as you can see I have some awesome titles to start reading. What was in your mailbox this week?