Hey, would you look at that? AUGUST is here. My birthday month. The month when City of Bones is due out in theatres. The month where all kinds of awesome releases will be taking place, including my beloved Crown of Midnight and The Bitter Kingdom. You'd think I would be excited, right? Well, I am. Mostly. But when the dawn of August 1st fell upon me, I realized I hadn't done a book haul for AN ENTIRE MONTH. And within that month, I discovered bargain bin shopping, among other things, and so I have four weeks of 50+ books to show you.
I swear I tried to make it as painlessly short as possible. BUT I am excited to show everything to you too. I know, I know, it's a double-edged sword I wield, and I think I do so with good grace. In case you haven't been around this past month, here are some things (or books rather) that you should know about:
Books Reviewed 6/26 - 7/29:
Normally, I'd love to write a list of all the books I got, but this time there are far, far too many to list. And, unfortunately for you, I am lazy.
*avoids eyes* So, yeah, erm... That's it. As of yesterday. Because there are more now. That have come. That I didn't mean to get. As of yesterday. I just said that. Repetition is a common symptom of guilt, did you know?
I'm sorry seems like an inappropriate response considering I'm not. Well, then, sorry to keep you here for fifteen minutes but really it had to be done. What did you get this week?
It is that time once again, my friends. Not the time all women dread, I assure you, and I'm sorry if I misled you. But a time to share books and bookish things that have happened to me. These past few weeks following BEA have been exceptional! I've bought some books, read some amazing ones, got to see the Fierce Reads ladies alongside Heidi at Bunbury in the Stacks. I couldn't have asked for better weeks in books post-BEA; it was simultaneously relaxing and exciting! If you've missed something this week, well, I took care of that.
Books Reviewed 6/14-6/22:
Okay, I'm sure you all want to get onto the actual books in my haul, and I shall oblige you now.
In case you're not interested in looking at my face, then here's all the books in all their beauty:
Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm a failure at restraint and I shouldn't pretend otherwise but WHATEVS. Take off the judgey pants because I've been perusing your book hauls, I know you're no better. And yeah, I'll see you next week with even MOAR. Bite me.
You guys, I woke up this morning feeling a little concerned by the fact that I haven't done a book haul since APRIL 14TH. Two. Whole. Months. I'm sorry.
B-But there was all this STUFF going on. Like, school with finals, working almost forty-hours a week with this untried 18-year-old body, and... BEA preparation. I had a lot on my plate.
,,,
... ... ....
All right.
I wanted to let you guys know that my blogging ambitions have been revitalized in recent weeks and you may have noticed a bit of, dare I say, CONSISTENCY around these parts the past few days. I kicked off the week reviewing THE HERO'S GUIDE TO STORMING THE CASTLE by Chris Healy, which is the sequel to one of my favorite books of last year. Then I dropped off the reading high when I forced myself to go through with NIGHT SCHOOL by C. J. Daugherty, an unfortunately laughable disappointment. And, yesterday, if you haven't been by already, I reviewed another sequel to YET ANOTHER FAVORITE with THE PIRATE'S WISH by Cassandra Rose Clarke, a spectacular conclusion to a beloved duology.
I've been working on figuring out what kind of posting schedule I'd like to stick with and so I've finally decided on one. You can expect posts around Paranormal Indulgence between Tuesdays through Saturdays from now on. No posting, unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, will take place on Sunday or Monday. I FORBID IT. Never mind that I need sleep and stuff.
Now let's talk a little about this week's book haul. This is the Long Overdue Not BEA Related Edition. Because it's been two months and I've got a lot of books to go through here without adding almost eighty books amassed exclusively during my NYC trip onto everything. So excuse me if I restrain myself.
BUT. Have you seen my BEA trip montage? There are snippets of each book I got included in this video:
ALSO: Keep in mind that I was a little lazy this time around and didn't write out my reactions to getting each book. You'll have to watch my video for that. After all, I did spend three hours editing the damn thing.
It's a little on the longer side than normal (which is between 3-5 mins) but IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS. I would apologize again if I wasn't cowering away from Regina.
Okaaay. That's everything. You can leave me now that I've shown you all my new things.
How I missed blabbing about my newest stuff. There's nothing quite like procrastinating on a Sunday when you've got an online quiz to take and work in the morning leaving you no time to do your homework. Procrastinating is that much more special when you have things of actual importance to do.
Natural Born Angel by Scott Speer is the sequel to Immortal City, which, though I DID check it out at the library at one point in time, I haven't read. Surprise, surprise, my sister enjoyed it TONS, saying I just had to read it. She'll be reading my ARC of this as well because I'm a pitying, generous soul and have taken kindly to her person for the moment.
Omgomgomg, I'm so ready for Proxy by Alex London. We've got dystopian-esque society, potential chase/explosion scenes, PLUS, as if we didn't already want to take off our pants for this book, there's a strong possibility for a BROMANCE. I think we all know by this point how I feel about bromances, sexy guys or not. Doesn't mean I'm not hoping our two young men aren't sexay...
SYLO by D. J. MacHale sounds wicked cool, what with island home being invaded by mysteriously unheard of pocket of the government and a random stranger spouting crap about some powerful ruby and three friends taking this all on without reaching for a drink... of something legal, yeah.
Both Well's Bequest by Polly Shulman and The Apprentices by Maile Malloy belong to series I haven't read. Thankfully, they've only got ONE predecessor which makes it possible for me to possibly want to read them in the future. I don't know, man, life is very much all over the place and peeps be wanting me to read sequels and shizz. I might not have it in me, though I'm flattered at the, however misplaced, vote of confidence.
HOLLA UP IN HERRR for I received Dare You To by Katie McGarry as part of a forum thing which I scrambled to do in the time allotted (and that isn't very much because peeps are like vultures nowadays) and SUCCEEDED. Here is my prize and you best believe I'm gonna be on that like cheese on crackers so saddle up for that review sometime in the very near future.
Fall of Night by Rachel Caine lived only in the far reaches of my dreams for a very long time... UNTIL NOW. Check it: Penguin Teen ninja-forwarded a copy to my mom's place of employment and the sly producer of the ecstatic blogger you see before you HID THE TRUTH from me until I got home. At which point, I took out my frustrations on the mysterious package and lo and behold... well, ya'll are just so smart I don't think I need to tell you what happened next.
By far one of the most beautiful books I've read this year so far: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare. Oh, holy book deities above, what it was like for me when I sat down and read and finished it and I CAN'T EVEN RIGHT NOW. But earlier in the week I did talk about the catastrophic assault on my poor emotions, so check that out if you would be so inclined.
So I totes used up my one chance for Netgalley acquisition on Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer last month and even without reading the book I can tell you it was SO WORTH IT. This series is... oh, what words could I give you to make you understand? And then I got a lovely email from Wendy @ The Midnight Garden letting me know about the blog tour for Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer and she didn't need to say much more after that OBVS.
And, finally, after falling in love with the movie adaptation, my mom gifted me The Host by Stephenie Meyer because I had a new obsession on my hands and was so crazed I needed soothing, like a baby raging at the injustice of their misplaced plastic nipple. Yes, my analogies are so reaching I used 'nipple' in a blog post and you can't change that. I'm not even sure I would. It's so... unexpected.
Thanks to Harlequin Teen Panel, Penguin USA, K-Teen, Wendy, and my mommy!
So that's my story of this month's haul so far... What are you still staring at? GO HOME, away with you. And if you're already there, go to bed, you're not needed here anymore. And if it'll make you go faster, fine fine tell me what you got since last time as well.
The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy— Ya'll, this is an ALL AGES CAN ENJOY kind of book. Don't matter a dam (even though it does matter because without a dam, hello, flooding) that this series is pitched for MG readers. This is the kind of book you actually want to listen to me about. Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom was abso-poso (I love you, Mavis~) among my inarguable favorites of last year. After sacrificing to the pub gods, and sending a polite if desperate inquiry to a certain publicist, I am now blessed with the totes mag opportunity to read the sequel!
Envy me if you must.
Orleans by Sherri L. Smith— Homeslices, this is a post-apocalyptic survival story set in New Orleans and it is SO BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN. The setting and story are as captivating and savage as the main character, and oh my word is that girl a one fierce lady. There were some flaws but overall it's still a very cool, solid book.
White Lines by Jennifer Banash— Some realistic romancey fiction is always nice. We're talking 80s setting and a girl with some mommy issues coupled with the fear of getting too close to anybody. Then, of course, a boy comes along and mucks everything up. Talk about emotional sabotage.
Requiem by Lauren Oliver— *glares* WHY? Just why?
Lovely, Dark, and Deep by Amy Macnamara—April, I totally blame you. This is supposed to be a poignant, raw, and emotionally stunning story about another grief-stricken girl with yet another dead boyfriend among the MANY in contemporary romance fiction. I believe it will be awesome and so will my pain.
The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban— Ok, so I'm a tiny bit skeptical about this one despite the awesomecake cover. It's just forbidden romance with the "IT" girl at school isn't much of a twist until you factor in the MC is an albino boy. That could make things interesting. Still, I'm intrigued and stifling mild excitement.
Delusion In Death & Calculated In Death by J. D. Robb— You guys, my obsession with the In Death series be serious. I be on that like strawberries on cheesecake (YUM!) and you don't want to get between me and a slice of strawberry-topped cheesecake. You just don't.
Thanks to Walden Pond Press, Penguin Teen (and imprints), my mom, and my public library!
The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa— would be the only book I've requested in the last month or two, which shows off my insanely iced control skillz. This book, however, is the extent of my control. I couldn't not get the second book in The Immoral Rules series, I just couldn't. And you shouldn't even expect me to have tried. You don't look like a fool.
I requested these a while back from Harper Collins (and its various imprints) and I happened to notice a response a few days ago:
Night School by C. J. Daugherty— Ever since my homegirl Liz reviewed this book, I've been in a state of unending DESIRE for it. And I'm not good at rejecting my desires when they present themselves to me.
Born of Illusion by Teri Brown— Now I may have mentioned that I was totally pining for this book not too long ago and its entirely the cover's fault. I barely remember what this is about. The memory was eclipsed by the words I WANT IT.
Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike— I don't know, man. I just miss Pike's work, I guess. Her Wings series never got to me until the very last book and now I find myself missing her storytelling. Yes, I know what that says about me, but do you?
Thanks to Harlequin Teen and Harper Collins (and imprints)!
Okay, my fellow lady bloggers and Bobs, what have you got for me? You know, to look at. Hauls and stuff? Sheesh, next time come prepared. What's your damage?
You know, there's only one person to blame for my impromptu absence from the blog. And that is NOT me but the evil mastermind behind the concept of finals-taking. Whoever thought of giving these exams to poor, overstressed, double-job working young adults like myself was either very bored or very evil, with no consideration toward those of us, again like me, who can't even order our own alcohol yet without being tackled by police officers to soothe the worries and pains. However, my overtaxed brain rejoices in our diving back into books and being back with all of you. SO BE GRATEFUL AND UNDERSTANDING, DANG IT.
Oh, yeah, one more teeny thing I forgot to mention: I bought some books, then I was gifted some books, then I bought some more, won some more, and then Christmas happened. I see that face. Take your amused eyeballs somewhere else. WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE ME? (More)
I woke up at six in the morning to edit this video. YOU'D BETTER WATCH IT.
You already know what it is, yo. Wait! Don't cringe away.
I am shivering with untold anticipation, my friends. This is the first I've posted a book haul in SO LONG. Please excuse my absence if you weren't already aware I was back. I was kidnapped by a psychopathic wench who wanted to get revenge on my person for stealing away her lover--an already married prince, I'll have you know. We fought in the middle of blistering winds, where the snow fell like ashes and we dueled to the death via snowball. It was heady and glorious, and I pummeled the evil wench and sent her packing to the moon. Where she became the queen and eventually took her fury out on an unsuspecting cyborg not too long after.
The lesson here? Don't pretend to canoodle with a prince eager to shake loose his vindictive lover. It can only end in a vengeful shrew populating the moon and seeking sinister ends in the future. Won't be doing that again, for serious. Excuses aside, let's get onto the pretty books!
Getting Personal
*waves impatiently* OH, MAN. It's been SO long. I haven't done a vlog for you guys in quite a while, and I've missed it. Sadly, things have been pretty stressful lately, what with moving and reading and blog event planning...
Yes, that's right. I have a big event planned for next month to celebrate my birthday and to kind of hold onto what's left of the summer. BE EXCITED.
This week's haul is pretty fabulous, if I do say so myself. The parentals treated me to some AWESOME gift cards, which I, OF COURSE, used for my dark bookish purposes *rubs hands together and cackles* And now, my bookshelf is on the verge of barfing! BUT. Good news! I'll be moving at the end of July, so I'll have my own room and I'm getting another bookshelf. *dances* Yay! So maybe I'll do a bookshelf tour of some sort as I'm putting the books in or something. Let me know if you guys would want one down in the comments section!
Sadly, I couldn't show off my ebook haul in this video because it would be WAY too long, so you'll just have to read the summaries over at Goodreads like everyone else.
Don't be shy about leaving comments down below in the comment section to tell me all about your bookish adventures of the week! Or just to say hi or whaddup... I'm down with that.
You may have noticed the name change, yes? DO YOU LIKE IT? *blinks hopeful eyes* I won't be taking no for an answer, so you might as well say HELL YES. Now, you may be wondering WHY?
What had happened was I had a blast of inspiration so bright and overwhelming—LIGHTNING to the BRAIN—and a name flashed in my disordered mind that I HAD TO RUN WITH.
So I present to you Something Lovely Under the Stamps, aka In My Mailbox.
Don't be shy about leaving comments down below in the comment section to tell me all about your bookish adventures of the week! Or just to say hi or whaddup... I'm down with that.
