In My Mailbox # 32

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren , find out more about it on her IMM-page.
First of all I'm sorry for my long hiatus. After my first week being sick I got even MORE sick! And yeah, I still don't feel 100% back to normal. And, I somehow (lol)  got all the people around me sick too (imagine that. Hihi). So I've been kind of taking care of them too. Anyway, I have two weeks of awesome books to show. And, I got an iPad. How awesome is that??? I'm sorry for the weird pictures and the bad quality, I had just too much fun playing with different apps.

 Crossed - Ally Condie. (Matched # 2). I just had to get this one, to continue the series, even though I didn't like Matched at all.

Wherever You Go - Heather Davis. I really liked this book, it's a very interesting premise and there are three different POV's that really worked for me!

Little Women and Me - Lauren Baratz-Logsted . I really like Little Women, one of my favourite classics.

Never Cry Werewolf - Heather Davis

Don't Expect Magic - Kathy McCullough. Sounds very interesting and zany.

Amplified - Tara Kelly. This book BLEW me away. I simply loved it!

The Prophecy of the Sisters - Michelle Zink. This was really cheap on bookdepo, so I thought I'd check it out.

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour - Morgan Matson. I already own the Hardback version of this book. But the paperback is soo pretty, I just had to have a second copy :)

The Iron Knight - Julie Kagawa. I already had an e-version of this awesome book, but of course I had to have a finished copy too.

Book Journal - It has pretty stickers :) an awesome way to keep track of what I read, love it!

A Book Lover's Diary - So pretty and it has awesome quotes!

Australian Made:

Days Like This - Alison Stewart

On the Jellicoe Road - Melina Marchetta. I love Marchettas books, but somehow I just couldn't get into into Jellicoe Road when I tried to read on kindle, so now I'll try again :). ( I don't like this cover :/)

Looking for Alibrandi - Melina Marchetta. To complete my Marchetta-collection :)

Saving Francesca - Melina Marchetta. One of my fave books I've read this year, already have the kindle-version.

Chick-Lit Corner:

The Secret of Happy Ever After - Lucy Dillon. Dillon writes the perfect cozy-wintry-warm-charming books.

It Started With a Kiss - Miranda Dickinson

The Summer of Living Dangerously - Julie Cohen. Julie Cohen is one of my all-time favourite chick-lit authors!

Any Dream Will Do - Maria Duffy

Kindle Books:

The Predicteds - Christine Seifert. (NetGalley)

Obsidian - Jennifer L. Armentrout (NetGalley)

Pure - Julianna Baggott (NetGalley)

Harmonic Feedback - Tara Kelly. I was a mess whilst reading this book. It's so real and raw. And I want a poster of that cover, it's so beautiful and there's so much meaning in it!

Zero - Tom Leveen (NetGalley)

Only Us - Susan Mallery

Alias Dragonfly - Jane Singer (NetGalley)

So, that's it from me this week. What did you all get?

Have a nice Weekend and Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

YA-LOUNGE

 Book Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

The IRON KNIGHT by JULIE KAGAWA

 My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn. I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her. My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

Release Date: October 25, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Source: NetGalley
Rating: Epic!

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.


To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

The Epic Journey of Ice Boy

It was last Christmas when I finally started reading The Iron King, it had been sitting on my bookshelf for a while, and I was completely blown away by the Iron Fey world. Immediately after finishing the first book I started the second one, The Iron Daughter, and I loved that one even more than the first one. After that the excruciating wait for book three, The Iron Queen began. When I finally held the Iron Queen in my hands I was over the moon, so happy, and when I finished it I was crying like never before. I needed to read The Iron Knight right there and then. Not possible of course.
A few months ago, I finally got my hands on The Iron Knight. The wait seemed eternal. Happy-Dances all day!
But, finally having the chance to read the fourth book in the series made me very apprehensive and scared too. What if I wouldn't like it as much as the previous three? What if the ending wouldn't satisfy me? What if I didn't like to see the story through the eyes of Ash? Would I miss Meghan too much?...I shouldn't have worried of course. Because The Iron Knight was everything I hoped for and more. It is EPIC!

Julie Kagawa is a genius when it comes to storytelling and using words. The Iron Knight has the perfect blend of adventure, action, emotional scenes that made me cry and hilarious banter between Ash and Puck that made laugh so hard I almost dropped my kindle. And lets not forget about Grim (lets hope he'll NEVER change!).

For me, The Iron Knight was the perfect, but bittersweet ending to a series that very much reminded me of the Neverending Story. It was interesting to see the Fey-world through Ash's eyes. To get to know him a bit better (though he'll ever be mysterious Ice-boy for me), to understand his actions, get to see small glimpses of his heartbreaking past, and feel the love he has for Meghan.

So, prepare for an epic journey (yes, I realize I use the word epic way too much in this review, but for me there's no other word to describe this book better), have tissues ready and prepare to fall in love with Ash and Puck and Grim and the Fey all over again!

July Favourites (Monthly favs #7) - Ice Boy, why so cool?

Favourite Books of July or the Ice Boy edition

Another month has come and gone and sadly I didn't have much time to read. I've also been in a weird mood and didn't feel much like reading :(. So I've only read 8 or 9 books during July and none has stood out, none is deserving of a spot in my 'Favourite of the Month' list. Well, none except one that is.

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4)

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.


To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice

I'll publish a review of the Iron Knight a little closer to its Release Date. But let me just say it is a bitter-sweet but perfect ending to this lovely series. I cried and I laughed. Now I have that sad and empty feeling I always get when I finish a wonderful book. Can't wait to read more of Julie Kagawa's work.

In My Mailbox #22

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren , find out more about it on her IMM-page.

So, I'm back again, hopefully with reviews soon too, even though I haven't been reading lately...but hope to finally have time to start a new book tomorrow!

So, these are the books that arrived here during the last few week...

Overbite - Meg Cabot. This is the sequel to Insatiable.

Texas Gothic - Rosemary Clement-Moore

Starstruck - Cyn Balog

Love Story - Jennifer Echols. I luurve Jennifer Echols' books!

California Dreamers - Belinda Jones. Same here!

Pinch Me - Adena Halpern

Heartbeat Away - Laura Summers

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon. The 20th Anniversary Edition, with CD from Outlander Musical! You all know how obsessed I am with the Outlander series, I just had to have this one too :)

Kindle

 So, as always I got a few books on my kindle too. I love to read on my kindle, actually, I love it much more than reading a normal book. I've become a FREAK!

The Iron Knight - Julie Kagawa. OH MY GOD. My first Netgalley and it is THE book I've been waiting for like aaaaahhh...well, some of you'll understand what this book means to me....

Only Yours - Susan Mallery. Netgalley. I little bit of romance...

Only Mine - Susan Mallery. Netgalley

The Duke and I - Julia Quinn. My favourite book by Julia Quinn, it was cheap on amazon, so I just had to have it in the Kindle-version too :)

Can't Hurry Love - Christie Ridgway. More romance..(third in a series)

Saving June - Hannah Harrington. Actually, this one is not a Kindle book, but an e-book, to be read on my laptop.

Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Might Kill Me - Kristen Chandler

So, that's it from me this week. What did you all get?

Happy Reading

In My Mailbox # 21

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren , find out more about it on her IMM-page.

Hi everybody, sorry that I have been AWOL lately, I've spent the last few weeks at the lake, reading a lot. Today though it's rainy and I have to go to the airport later to pick up my mom who's coming for a visit. Anyway, as I'm home, I thought I'd do a quick IMM today....hopefully I'll have time to write a June recap later on, or tomorrow.

All links go as usual to Goodreads.

Displacement - Thalia Chaltas

Hourglass - Myra McEntire; I can't wait to read this one, Love the cover!

A Need So Beautiful - Suzanne Young. This cover is gorgeous. It sounds really interesting.

Exile - Rebecca Lim. This is the second one in the Mercy trilogy

Spellbound - Cara Lynn Shultz. What an in teresting cover :)

Flying Blind - Deborah Cooke. I really like this one so far.

Starcrossed - Josephine Angelini. Beautiful and intriguing cover (cover twin to Hereafter?), haven't read it yet, as it isn't exactly a beach-read.

Hereafter - Tara Hudson ( see Starcrossed)

Don't Stop Now - Julie Halpern. I love Road Trip books, and I couldn't stop reading this one!

Sixteenth Summer - Michelle Dalton. Beach Read!

Confessions of a Karaoke Queen - Ella Kingsley. Somehow I got a proof-copy of this, I'm really enjoying it so far, it's hilarious!

Mr. Darcy Goes Overboard: A Tale of Tide & Prejudice - Belinda Roberts. You all know I can't resist Jane Austen!

The Summer Season - Julia Williams

The Single Girl's To-Do List - Lindsey Kelk. My favourite of  June by far. I love Lindsey Kelk's novels!

Nostalgia - Used Books

I woke up one day a few weeks ago and had this unbelievable craving after my childhood/young teenager books. I knew the books were out of print, and even with Abe-Books, and Amazon Used Books I knew it would be difficult to get them, as many don't ship outside of Germany or not to where I live. Anyway, I managed to get the most important books (for a lot of money :S), but I'm still missing three books, that just don't ship here :(. Anyway, I almost cried when they arrived, I devoured them all in a matter of days, I still love them!

Bleib bei uns, Beate - Berte Bratt

Hab Mut, Katrin - Berte Bratt

Meine Träume ziehen nach Süden - Berte Bratt

Die Glücksleiter hat viele Sprossen - Berte Bratt

Sonjas dritte Sternstunde - Berte Bratt

Machst du mit Senta? - Berte Bratt

Clara und das Glück dieser Erde - Justus Pfaue

Clara gibt nicht auf - Justus Pfaue

Mensch, Pia - Brigitte Blobel

Kindle

Summer's Crossing - Julie Kagawa. PUCK!!!

Ten Things We Did and Probably Shouldn't Have - Sarah Mlynowski

Drive Me Crazy - Erin Downing

Groundswell - Katie Lee. This Book really surprised me. Me Like!!

With or Without You - Carole Matthews. I adore this book!

Sisterhood Everlasting - Ann Brashares. The 5th in the Traveling Pants series.

So, that's it from me. What did you all get?

Happy Reading!

January Favourites (Monthly favs #1)

Hi Everybody

I'm sooo behind with reviewing books that I thought I'd post a few short *recommendations* of my January favourites. I've been way busy with my Masters Thesis and catching up on stuff I missed during the month I had to stay home, half-blind due to a nasty eye-infection, and reading way to much that reviewing and keeping my blog alive came second or eehm, third. Anyway, here are my January favourites, according to Goodreads I've read 20 books and I've started but haven't finished another 2, so choosing my favorites wasn't easy. There's no reason behind my picks, all aren't 5 stars, it's a mix of contemporary YA and paranormal/fantasy and chick-lit. I've chosen them because of how they made me feel, still make me feel.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Wow, what a wonderful book. I was hooked from page 1 and wanted it to go on and on, I was so sad when it ended.
What I loved about it: The topic/issue - I've never experienced a loss close to me. Matson handled it perfectly, I could feel the sorrow and most of all the guilt. But it isn't a sad book, there's so much hope there  too. The Road-Trip - I love Road-Trips. I've never actually been on a real one, but I've spent my childhood travelling all through Europe with my family - trailering. Amy and Roger visit some interesting places, they all play a crucial part in the psychological/intellectual journey. It's not only a journey across the US but also a journey as a person. It feels real and believable.
The Romance - Of course :D, so sweet!
And how cute aren't all the pictures and receipts and other small tidbits that make the book feel so real?!

And One Last Thing by Molly Harper

I wouldn't call this one chick-lit, I'd call it chuckle-lit. Oh so hilariously funny this book is. Lacey is such a strong character. She takes the humiliation and hurt and turns it into something good, something productive. I like the fact that she didn't play the victim. That she was strong. It was lovely to read about her journey back to her true self, her empowerment, and the tools she used to get there, to be who she is, to find out what she wants. Harper is a wonderful writer, the words melt on the page, and it made me chuckle, no, laugh so many times, I finished it with a big smile on my face!

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

There actually isn't much I can say about this book. If you haven't read/started this trilogy about The Iron Fey yet, just do. They are wonderful books, superbly written. So much raw emotion. I've cried so many tears while reading this book. I've a hard time to describe how these books make me feel. The last time I've felt like this while reading a book I was a teenager, reading a trilogy written by my favourite author Federica deCesco, the books were about a girl called Samira who fell in love with a Tuareg, nomadic people from the Sahara/Algeria. Anyway, The Iron Queen wraps you up like a cocoon, making you feel all warm inside, tingling. Perfect!

Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon

This is another *chick-lit*. A real cozy read, perfect for a winter evening. Dillon has a wonderful writing style, the words just flow and before you know it you've reached the last page, craving more. I'm really not a dog person, really, I'm not. I'm so scared of dogs. But this story actually made me fall in love with dogs, crying for them. They are the real stars of this book. Normally I don't like the 3rd person POV, and normally I don't like reading books with multiple main-characters. But Dillon pulls it off really well. I was long into the story before I noticed that it actually wasn't 1st POV! and I had no problem with keeping up with the three main female characters. It's a warming and charming tale of loss and new-found happiness and dealing with life.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly has the most stunningly beautiful cover I've ever seen! Really, it's so shiny, a mere picture doesn't do it justice, at all!

Unearthly really surprised me. I'm new to the YA-genre, and I'm even newer to the paranormal side of YA. I've tried to catch up during these past few months and came to the conclusion that I don't like books featuring Angels. I was sooo wrong. Thanks to the raving reviews and the beautiful cover I picked it up, and I haven't regretted that decision for even one second yet. Wow! I have no idea how many times I can say perfect and loved it in my reviews, but I have to say it yet again. It wasn't the paranormal stuff and the whole mythology of the story that drew me in the most (even though it's so well executed!) but the realness. Even though Clara is an Angel-blood and not all human the story felt real, it felt tangible.
I'm totally Team Tucker!

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Oh, my goodness, January really was a month of awesome for me. Especially because I found this little gem at my local bookstore! This really isn't my normal kind of read. I usually avoid everything that has with murder and serial-killers to do. But I truly enjoyed this book. I can't wait for the second book in the series and I'm truly grateful that I don't have to wait an eternity for it.
Best thing about it? The chemistry between Violet and Jay!

In My Mailbox # 7

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren , find out more about it on her IMM-page.

I swear, I seriously wrote a review (one that has been loooong overdue) today (Saturday), but my laptop crashed (are all the mighty powers against me lately?) and all was lost. I have it all in my head though (seriously, as if I would forget something, ever !)..and I'll be posting it on Monday, promise.

Anyway, I had a week of AWESOME! Seriously, a wonderful and great week, at least book-wise!

So, lets get started:
This week I want to begin with this cute (quite big) package I got Friday. I did win this book on facebook (Wohoo - Yay) and the lovely package arrived so fast and with so many small lovely details, I was quite overwhelmed: Thank you so much!!

Love Unscripted - Tina Reber, sent with Love from the USA.

Love Unscripted -Tina Reber , The book is really 'thick' and I'm looking forward to reading it (I put it on my holiday-pile, as I'm going home to Switzerland soon). There even was a nice signature inside the book:

1st reader in Sweden!

 Anyway, this is not all I got this week, but  the rest of the books mentioned below I bought by myself (someone help me please, I'm spending way too much money on books!!!!!)

This is my impressive book-pile on Thursday evening this week! ( I got two more on Friday)

Help, when am I going to read all of this?

A Game of Thrones - George R.R.Martin; HBO is launching a new series ' A Game of Thrones' on April 17th, starring (amongst others) my all-time favourite actor Sean Bean, so I just had to check it out/ read the book(s) the TV-series is based on. So looking forward to reading this, they say it reminds a little of Lord of the Rings....

More Fantasy! I loved the Immortals-series when I was a teenager, I had them on loan from the library constantly. Loved them. Earlier this month I bought 'Wild Magic' as an e-book to see if I still loved it, I did, so I bought them all. Looking forward to reading them! First time in English, yay!

Wild Magic - Tamora Pierce
Wolf Speaker - Tamora Pierce
Emperor Mage - Tamora Pierce
The Realms of the Gods - Tamora Pierce

 It certainly has been a Faery-week!!!

Glimmerglass - Jenna Black
Shadowspell - Jenna Black
Fairy Tale - Cyn Balog
The Iron Queen - Julie Kagawa ( I've been waiting like crazy for this one, currently reading it, bawling my eyes out!)

 There has been so much talk and hype about the #fever series these past few weeks, that I just had to buy them all (the ones available) as I was in Stockholm this week. And I've already ordered Shadowfever, a faery week indeed!
Darkfever - Karen Marie Moning
Bloodfever - Karen Marie Moning
Faefever - Karen Marie Moning
Dreamfever - Karen Marie Moning

Paranormalcy - Kiersten White ( I bought this one in Stockholm this week)
Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare ( another one I bought in Stockholm)
Angel - L.A. Weatherly ( I really don't like this cover!!!)

Revolution - Jennifer Donnelly , I've only heard good things about this! Bought this one in Stockholm as well.

And some chick-lit:

A Valentine's Kiss - Lucie Hart

Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts - Lucy Dillon .. I Loved this!! I only wish I'd read it BEFORE 'Walking Back to Happiness' which is kind of a sequel to this one. Even though I'm really not a dog person (I'm really really afraid of dogs) I absolutely adored this book, read it in one sitting. (got it on Tuesday afternoon, finished it sometime during the night to Wednesday)

Nanny Returns - Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - I only bought this one because it was crazy cheap in the bookstore I visited in Stockholm. I've read and adored 'Nanny Diaries' but I haven't really been interested in the sequel....

My Best of 2010

Well, I'm late with this, as usual. I had great plans for this post, had it all mapped out in my head, it was going to be awesome. But time got the best of me so this will have to do.

According to my Goodreads account I've read 105 books in 2010 and 14 books that I've started but not finished. As I've joined Goodreads in June I can't be sure that I remembered all the books I read before that and of course, all my rereads and books for my university-studies aren't counted in that number. Anyway, it's still a pretty high number and deciding which books I liked best in 2010 was really hard.

Here are a few of my favourites, without any particular order, the links provided are to my reviews (if there's one)

Lovely Summer Beach Reads ( or warming reads for snowy days...)

You're The One That I Don't Want - Alexandra Potter

Living La Vida Loca - Belinda Jones

About Time - Niamh Shaw

Swimming with Dolphins - Deborah Wright

Katy Carter Wants A Hero - Ruth Saberton

Single in the City - Michele Gorman

The Year of 2010 was also the Year where I discovered contemporary YA

Boys, Bears, and A Serious Pair of Hiking Boots - Abby McDonald

The Duff - Kody Keplinger

Anna and The French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins

Psych Major Syndrome - Alicia Thompson

North of Beautiful - Justina Chen Headley

Going to Far - Jennifer Echols

My Favourite Series

The Iron Fey

The Iron King - Julie Kagawa

The Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa

I can't wait for the third, the waiting is excruciating!

Two very heavy hardbacks that are sooo worth the pain in my wrists (from holding them while reading) and back (from carrying them around with me all the time)

Getting Away With It - Julie Cohen

Becoming Scarlett - Ciara Geraghty

Hilariously Funny Books - oh the Joy of reading these books, couldn't stop giggling, perfect!

Hello, Heartbreak - Amy Huberman

A Girl Like You - Gemma Burgess ----(Review to come SOON!)

The Dating Detox - Gemma Burgess

There's Cake in my Future - Kim Gruenenfelder  (Review to come SOON!)

New Books # 30

New Books

Postie didn't come today, so I guess I'll have to wait for more books until Monday, and I'm not good at waiting, grrr. Yesterday I was supposed to go to Stockholm, where I wanted to browse the book-store where they actually sell books in English, but due to lots of  snow and a storm and ensuing chaos I was forced to stay at home.

So, this is what I got since my last New Books :

Nightshade - Andrea Cremer; Firelight - Sophie Jordan; The Iron King - Julie Kagawa

Beautiful Covers - but what's up with all these partial faces?

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Firelight by Sophie Jordan
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Halo - Alexandra Adornetto

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

New Books #29

New Books

Since there won't be any more IMM's this year I've decided to post the new books I get, whenever I get them.
So, today I got two books, I'm really excited....But there are still 5 books missing...'postie where are you? You haven't gone to the North Pole I hope, I know it's a bit confusing right now, with the temperature so low and the masses of snow...but please please....'

The Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa; Walking Back to Happiness - Lucy Dillon

The Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa
Walking Back to Happiness - Lucy Dillon

These are two of the most gorgeous covers I've ever come across. I already knew that The Iron Daughter was beautiful but it's even more so in reality, and there are like *actual* snowflakes on the cover of Walking Back to Happiness...so pretty!