Stacking The Shelves and Mailbox Monday

Stacking The Shelves is a new weekly meme being hosted by Tynga over at Tynga's Reviews. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you've added to your shelves - physical and virtual, borrowed and bought. Mailbox Monday, meanwhile, is a similar meme being hosted by Martha at Martha's Bookshelf this month (check out the Mailbox Monday blog to see who's hosting next month).

This weekend we hit the garage sales, where I managed to find a few hidden treasures that I'd been hunting for a while. Not a bad haul for $3.

Flesh by Richard Laymon

Demon Shield by Bruce King

Riptide by Preston & Child

This was a busy week for review titles as well, with the following all coming my way:

The Succubus Gift by BR Kingsolver

 

Vengeance Of The Wolf by Solitaire Parke

Cannibals of Candyland by Carlton Mellick III

How about you . . . what did add to the shelves this week?

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TGIF - Feature & Follow Friday

Feature & Follow Friday is a blog hop that is designed to provide some much-appreciated exposure to the bloggers participating, and to expand their following. Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each of whom feature a chosen blog for the week, it's an interesting way to get to know one another.

Question of the Week: Activity! Dream cast your current read.



I just finished reading Strindberg's Star, and since it reminded me so much of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,  I couldn't help but see a mix of two movie adaptions, with Daniel Craig in the lead role (from the American remake) and Noomi Rapace in the supporting role (from the original).



Parajunkee also hosts a Social Hop for Facebook and Twitter, which I've taken part in the past two weeks. So, if you're one of those people who aren't on Blogger, or who just don't like Google Friend Connect, it's a great way to keep in touch and follow one another.

αωαωαωαωαωαωαω

TGIF is another blog hop designed to provide much-appreciated exposure to the bloggers participating, and to expand their following. Hosted by GReads, it's an interesting way to recap the week, pose a question, and find some exposure with a different audience.




Question of the Week: Show Me Your Cover - What are some of the worst book covers, but hold some of the best stories inside? Don't be embarrassed, show us your cover!



I can't think of any recent reads that had absolutely horrible covers, but I've always thought Dean Koontz could definitely benefit from a bit more thought and attention in creating shelf appeal:

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eBook ARC Review: Strindberg's Star by Jan Wallentin

I'm not sure I've ever had such an aggravating experience in reading a book. What I had was an electronic review copy with the editor's notes in the margins. Interesting, sure, but that meant an already unwieldy format (DRM protected PDF) was almost useless on my Sony. The text was too small to read at normal size, and once you zoomed in . . . not only did the lines break in awkward places (as PDFs tend to do), but the editor's notes merged into the body of the text, making for some really confusing passages.



With all that to consider, the fact that I persevered is testament to how engaging the story was. Despite the frustrations, I wanted to see where it was going next, and how it all would end.



I usually try to avoid comparing works or authors, but the best way I can think of to describe Strindberg's Star is as a mix of Dan Brown and Clive Cussler, with a little Stieg Larsson thrown for good measure. It's a great adventure story with some deep mythology, a truly fascinating puzzle at the heart of it all, and a villainess/heroine in Eva Strand who rivals Lisbeth Salander in terms of darkness and diversity. It was so refreshing to read a Dan Brown type thriller that wasn't mired in Catholicism, and as much as WWII history is very much not my forte, what Wallentin does with the Nazis, their experiments, and (most of all) their symbolism is genius.



In some ways, this is a difficult read, in that it blurs the lines between good and evil. There is no one shining example to latch onto as a hero here. Instead, we have a lot of broken, damaged, tainted individuals who often do very bad things for very good reasons . . . and vice versa. Don Titelman is an interesting character, a drug-addicted ex-doctor who lacks only the biting sarcastic wit to be a proper homage to Gregory House. He's a hard man to admire, and an even harder one to like, but he does provide an interesting vantage from which to experience the story.



As for the central mystery of the ankh and the star, the oddly well-preserved body from which they're retrieved, and the bloody (but fascinating) history of their original discovery and loss . . . well, I won't say much at all, other than to promise it's a mystery/puzzle well worth investigating. Personally, I found it much more fascinating than anything Dan Brown or his clones have attempted, and it really made the book for me.



All-in-all, a solid read, and one that I'd very much like to revisit in a more manageable paperback format, without the headaches of the electronic arc. I rarely invest the time in rereading a book, but this is one I would like to sit down and enjoy all over again.

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eBook ARC Review: Amped by Daniel H. Wilson

Although I've had a copy of Robopocalypse on my shelf since it was released last year, it never quite made it to the top of my TBR pile. That is an issue I plan to rectify soon, based on the fact that Amped turned out to be one of my favourite reads of 2012.



This is a book that works on two levels - it's both a thoroughly enjoyable adventure and a deeply thoughtful look at class warfare and social prejudice. Wilson has previously been compared favourably to Michael Crichton, and based on this, I can definitely say the comparison is warranted. Both gentlemen know how to spin a yarn that pairs scientific and technical concepts with philosophical and political ideals, all without boring the reader or coming across as preachy.



The science here is fascinating, a minor tweak to humanity designed to correct our flaws and failings. Originally intended to heal, the very first implants allowed the blind to see and the deaf to hear; it gave epileptics control over their seizures; it enabled children with birth defects or mental impairments to function 'normally'; and, when paired with some mechanical enhancements, it allowed the physically disabled to walk. However, the bio-mechanical implants have an interesting side-effect, enhancing other abilities along the way. Suddenly, amped children are not only functioning normally, but are proving to be super-intelligent; and amped adults are not only moving as if they'd never lost a limb or use of their body, but are proving to be super-strong and super-fast.



It doesn't take long before significant divides begin to form in society. with 'normal' humans feeling left behind, fearing a future in which they cannot compete. As the story begins, the Supreme Court has ruled that amped individuals are no longer human . . . no longer protected from harassment or discrimination . . . and no longer able to enter into contracts, own property, or have any legal standing. Bolstered by the hate-mongering of the Pure Human Citizens Council, society has turned on its amped neighbours, confining them to slums and trailer parks, just waiting for an excuse to exterminate them all.



Against that backdrop we have the story of one man, implanted as a child, who is only beginning to comprehend the extent of his abilities. As someone who never really considered himself to be fully amped, Owen acts as an intermediary for the reader, allowing us to truly appreciate what society has come to. As he explores his potential - and, ultimately, his choice to either preserve or destroy - we also get to explore what it means to be human, and what it means to be amped.



Surrounding Owen are some strong supporting characters, but if there's one failing it's that almost all of those  characters are amped. Normal humans are not portrayed positively at all (with one notable exception), presenting a rather one-sided view of the conflict. Much of that is due to Owen being the narrator, and it does help to drive home the message of how quickly and how thoroughly we can latch onto our differences and use them as excuses to hate one another, but it does make for a rather bleak and hopeless tale.



The story moves a long at a brisk pace, with some big budget action scenes near the end that really work well. There are also a few interesting twists along the way, and even if I suspected the biggest one about halfway through, the way it played out was more than satisfactory. An all-around great summer read, Amped is a story that will open your eyes as it entertains you, and really make you think about how little it would take to turn us against one another.

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Waiting On Wednesday: Blood of the Emperor by Tracy Hickman

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:



Blood of the Emperor by Tracy Hickman



From the New York Times bestselling co-author of the Dragonlance novels...the stunning conclusion to The Annals of Drakis.



It appears that an ancient prophecy is about to be fulfilled as the human named Drakis—formerly one of countless warrior-slaves to the elves of the Rhonas Empire—returns from his quest in the North. Flying into the rebel camp with his surviving companions on the backs of the legendary dragons that were once humankind's most powerful allies, Drakis is hailed as the champion of all the slave races. 



But it is not a prophecy that drives Drakis in his war against the elves and their emperor. Rather it is his burning desire for revenge against the cruel ruler whom Drakis believes has stolen any chance he has for finding peace. And this hatred will set Drakis and his rebel army on a path that may not only bring down the emperor, but Drakis and his entire world as well... (July 31, 2012)





Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman are the reason I first got into fantasy, going back to the days of the original Dragonlance Chronicles. I've only just started the first book in this series, Song of the Dragon, but I'm quite enjoying it. It still has that classic fantasy feel I've become accustomed to with Hickman, but some very nice twists that have already surprised me more than once.

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Get Jackie Gamber's Redheart for FREE!

Get Redheart for free on Kindle!



The first book in the Leland Dragon Series from Jackie Gamber is available for free on Kindle today and tomorrow!



Enter the lands of Leland Province, where dragon and human societies have long dwelled side by side. Superstitions rise sharply, as a severe drought strips the land of its bounty, providing fertile ground for the darker ambitions of Fordon Blackclaw, Dragon Council Leader, who seeks to subdue humans or wipe them off the face of the land.



As the shadow of danger creeps across Leland Province, a young dragon named Kallon Redheart, who has turned his back on dragons and humans alike, comes into an unexpected friendship. Riza Diantus is a young woman whose dreams can no longer be contained by the narrow confines of her village, and when she finds herself in peril, Kallon is the only one with the power to save her. Yet to do so means he must confront his past, and embrace a future he stopped believing in.



A tale of friendship, courage, and ultimate destiny, Redheart invites readers to a wondrous journey through the Leland Dragon Series.





Please share this link and spread the word!

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TGIF - Feature & Follow Friday

Feature & Follow Friday is a blog hop that is designed to provide some much-appreciated exposure to the bloggers participating, and to expand their following. Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each of whom feature a chosen blog for the week, it's an interesting way to get to know one another.

Question of the Week: Summer Break is upon us! What would be the perfect vacation spot for you to catch up on your reading & relax?



Assuming money was no object and I had an unlimited budget, I'd love to fly over to Egypt, descend into one of the pyramids, and read deep within the cold, lonely tombs, surrounded by history, art, treasure, and mystery.



Parajunkee also hosts a Social Hop for Facebook and Twitter, which I've taken part in the past two weeks. So, if you're one of those people who aren't on Blogger, or who just don't like Google Friend Connect, it's a great way to keep in touch and follow one another.

αωαωαωαωαωαωαω

TGIF is another blog hop designed to provide much-appreciated exposure to the bloggers participating, and to expand their following. Hosted by GReads, it's an interesting way to recap the week, pose a question, and find some exposure with a different audience.




Question of the Week: A Book Blogger is Born - What made you decide to
start your very own book blog?



A number of things really. I was already posting reviews on my Goodreads profile, and I was following a number of book review blogs I'd discovered there, so it seemed like a natural extension to begin my own blog. Also, I felt there was a real niche of adult fantasy/horror fiction out there, amidst all the YA fiction and Romance, that wasn't being fully exploited. Since I knew I'd be focussing as much on the dusty old books pulled from the shelves as I would on the shiniest new releases cracked open on the way home from Chapters, I really felt I had something new and unique to offer.

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