Showcase Sunday #15

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Books,Biscuits and Tea and its aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week.


Oh I have an absolutely fabulous haul to share with you this week! XD Instead of ranting though,I'm going to let you see it for yourself!! :)

FOR REVIEW:

From top to bottom:
LEVEL 2 by Lenore Appelhans (Aus. Edition)
THAT TIME I JOINED THE CIRCUS by J.J Howard (ARC)
UNBROKEN by Paula Morris (ARC)
THE FIRE HORSE GIRL by Kay Honeyman (HARDCOVER)
MIDNIGHT CITY by J.Barton Mitchell (HARDCOVER)

CloSe Up:(LEVEL 2 is at the end of this post)

 Scholastic Titles

Midnight City from St.Martin's Press

I absolutely LOVED the package Midnight City came in.And you know why?Because in the receiver's address they also included my profession along with the name to my blog.Made me feel 

like an established company or something.You know what I mean,right? XD **giggles**

Thank you Lenore Appelhans,Scholastic(I don't know who the contact is this time since I did not get a reply to my email),my cousin in NY for forwarding all the Scholastic titles to me (he rocks!) and Jessica Preeg at St.Martin's Press.

BORROWED:

 STORYBOUND by Marissa Burt

A huge thanks to Suni for letting me borrow it! :) I love all of the titles she owns (Even though I was the one who recommended this one to her).

SWAG:

Those who check my Showcase Sunday posts every week,you might know that I got an ARC of The Madman's Daughter earlier in December.So I asked the author,Megan Shepherd,for some bookmarks to go with my ARC.And not only did she send me the bookmarks,she also sent me a postcard to go along with them!! Eeep!! xD SOOO happy!!! Thanks Megan!!

Lenore originally sent me the book for review and then to pass it on to the giveaway winner(check left side bar). So along with the book she also sent me some swag to give it away to you guys.These include postcards and 2 instructions for how to make your own LEVEL 2 nails.Awesome,right?

 I've haven't included my Netgalley titles because then the post would have no ends.So what's your haul this week?Feel free to leave the link in comments and share your thoughts!

Happy Sunday!
xoxo

 

Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway: The Peculiar by Stefan Bacchmann

Hi guys! I'm incredibly excited to be a part of The Peculiar blog tour today,organized by Christine at HarperCollins International.Along with my review,you can also enter for a chance to win your very own copy of the book,or a Skype chat with the author himself!Enjoy! :)

The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann 

Publication date: September 1st 2012 by Greenwillow Books 

Blurb:  Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged.

In the faery slums of Bath, Bartholomew Kettle and his sister Hettie live by these words. Bartholomew and Hettie are changelings--Peculiars--and neither faeries nor humans want anything to do with them.

One day a mysterious lady in a plum-colored dress comes gliding down Old Crow Alley. Bartholomew watches her through his window. Who is she? What does she want? And when Bartholomew witnesses the lady whisking away, in a whirling ring of feathers, the boy who lives across the alley--Bartholomew forgets the rules and gets himself noticed.

First he's noticed by the lady in plum herself, then by something darkly magical and mysterious, by Jack Box and the Raggedy Man, by the powerful Mr. Lickerish . . . and by Arthur Jelliby, a young man trying to slip through the world unnoticed, too, and who, against all odds, offers Bartholomew friendship and a way to belong.

Part murder mystery, part gothic fantasy, part steampunk adventure, The Peculiar is Stefan Bachmann's riveting, inventive, and unforgettable debut novel.

Purchase links: (Bangladesh Only)

Omni Books:
http://www.enemomni.com/omni_books.html
Genetic Plaza
Floor -3, House -16
Road no. 27 (16 New)
Dhanmondi
Dhaka -1205
Bangladesh

Tel: (880)-2-812-6433, (880)-2-812-1472
Fax: (880)-2-912-0915
E-mail: omnibooks@citech.net


PBS:
https://www.facebook.com/PBSLTD
PBS Ltd, 43 Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Sarak,
(Old 16 Shantinagar), 1217 Dhaka, Bangladesh

My Review:    

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

**I received a copy of this book from Christine at HarperCollins Intl. in exchange for an honest review**

The Peculiar starts off slow,which is probably why it took me a while to get interested in the story.But once the story had my full attention, I enjoyed every minute of it.The main reason why I picked this book up was because I had been reading way too much YA recently and needed a change in genre and The Peculiar turned out to be the perfect choice.It reminded me how fun children's fantasy books are,that is the fairy tale sort of fantasy.Fey are also a sort of fascination of mine,so it made me like the book even more.

The story also has a rich vocabulary,along with admirable characters.I think my favourite was Mr.Lickerish,because what good is a story without a good villain? 
Then there was also The Lady In Plum,who reminded me of Voldermort from Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone.(You'll understand my theory once you read the book. ;) )

A must read for all fantasy and fairy tale lovers,The Peculiar is a promising start to a new series.Will definitely be on the lookout for the sequel! 
  
You will definitely like The Peculiar if you're into the following books:
1) Storybound by Marissa Burt
2)How To Train Your Dragon Series by Cressida Crowell
3)The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy by Nikki Loftin

(Recommendations taken from my twelve year old brother,who has the largest collection of middle-grade books in the house. :P)

GIVEAWAY:

For rules and prizes, check the rafflecopter widget.Good luck on winning!

                                                  

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Duet Review: Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

 

Duet review is a feature where I review a book along with my friend,Maliha.For more info. on this feature,check out my very first Duet Review post HERE.

Here's the book that we are going to review today.

Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

Publication date: January 15th 2013 by Allen & Unwin 

Blurb:  ''I pause to look around the hive - all the podlike chambers are lit up as the drones shoot up on memories ... I've wanted to get out of here before, but now the tight quarters start to choke me. There has to be more to death than this.''

Felicia Ward is dead. Trapped in a stark white afterlife limbo, she spends endless days replaying memories, of her family, friends, boyfriend ... and of the guy who broke her heart. The guy who has just broken into Level 2 to find her.

Felicia learns that a rebellion is brewing, and it seems she is the key. Suspended between heaven and earth, she must make a choice. Between two worlds, two lives and two loves.

My Review:   

Rating: 3.5 0f 5 stars

**I received a copy of this book (AUSSIE EDITION) from the author in exchange for an honest review and for using it in a giveaway.**

LEVEL 2 is one of those books for which I had higher expectations,but still liked it enough to crave for the sequel.The thing with LEVEL 2 is that despite its awesome premise and a bad-ass cover that highlights the story's concept so clearly,it was still able to let me down in some cases.I might have enjoyed it a lot more if it was a bit more fast paced.It seems as though that there is no action in Felicia's afterlife until Julian is dragged into the story,which actually takes quite a good amount of time to happen.Even though Felicia's memory flashbacks were an okay distraction for the forthcoming action,it still wasn't enough.But the flashbacks had their ups and downs.While some of them were absolutely mind-blowing,gnawing at my mind and making me even more excited about the mysteries to be unveiled,others felt like as if they were just there to fill up the pages.

My feelings towards the characters,just like with the memory flashbacks,were also very conflicting.There were times when I felt like wrapping them in a bear hug while at other times I felt like hitting them on the head hard enough to make them pass out.Well,those feelings counted mainly for Julian and Felicia.....not so much for Neil.But I think conflicting personalities in characters is what I enjoy most in a book.Makes the story a lot more lively.

But about whether you,as a reader,will enjoy this book or not?In this case most of it will depend on your taste,because this is one book that will shine in the limelight for some people while burn to ashes for others.I have a feeling that this one is going to have a huge number of conflicting reviews,like Stormdancer and The Selection.Or moreover,you can already guess it from the difference between Maliha's review and mine.

So while I'd encourage people to give this book a chance,I'd probably recommend them to borrow it from a friend or a library,just to be on the safe side.

Maliha's Review:

 
Rating:  2.5 0f 5 stars

“I had my chance for redemption and I failed” – this happens to be the only sentence I agreed with the heroine in this book.

The concepts of religion and myth were not explained enough. The plot itself seemed lacking to me.  There were no challenges and every obstacle was too easily overcome. Ironically, the pace of the story was too fast, as though the author could not put her ideas on paper fast enough. Instead of drawing the readers in, the rushed scenes were confusing and lacked necessary detail.

The net was a nice touch. I mean, if we can’t live life without the internet, why the afterlife? And the love triangle was not as promising as the synopsis suggested. But I guess I’ll admit, Julian was an important character and I did not expect his little secret.

The relieving of memories from life was very interesting. It’s definitely something I would have wanted included in my ‘welcome to the afterlife’ package. Materialization was also a cool bonus.

Overall, the book did not meet my expectations. I expect a lot more from LEVEL 3 because I believe the author can meet its potential. I hope she writes more about the rebellion. The fact that we have no idea about what to expect from the sequel only makes me more curious.

An Insight Of The Characters' World: Guest Post + Giveaway by Megan Shepherd

This is a feature where I ask authors to do a guest post discussing about the background of their books and share their experiences in creating the world in which the characters are portrayed.For more info on this feature,click HERE.

Megan Shepherd is here at my blog today as a part of this feature to discuss about her debut Gothic YA,The Madman's Daughter ,which releases on January 29th.If you've already checked out yesterday's review,then you know how much I loved that book.Now here's your chance to get an insight of the book's world,from the author herself!

THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER by MEGAN SHEPHERD

 In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Megan Shepherd grew up in her family's independent bookstore in North Carolina. An avid reader and world traveler who spent several years in the Peace Corps, Megan now lives with her husband in Asheville, North Carolina. The Madman's Daughter is her first novel. You can visit her online at www.meganshepherd.com. She is represented by Adams Literary.
 
Contact Info:

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Here's Megan's guest post on worldbuilding.Enjoy!
  
Re-imagining a classic is always a challenging endeavor.

My book, The Madman’s Daughter, is a spin on HG Wells’ novella The Island of Doctor Moreau, as told from the doctor’s 16 year old daughter’s perspective. I went through several possibilities for the retelling. I could set it in modern or futuristic times, but I didn’t see how that would radically add to the story, and I felt the 1996 movie with Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer had already tackled that. I then realized that a female perspective was lacking from HG Wells’ book. That led me to ask the question, “What if the doctor had a daughter? How would this basic story idea look from her perspective?” So I decided to keep a similar setting: 1890s, on a tropical island in the South Pacific.

However, it was important to me that I not simply reuse the same setting Wells had used. After all, two people who live in the same city might have vastly different perspectives on the place they call home. So I gave Juliet Moreau a rich backstory in London, and then continued her story on Moreau’s island, but rather than tell it from an adult male’s perspective, I described the setting from the perspective of a teenage girl who had never traveled before and only learned about the world in books. I was well suited for this task; when I was 16 years old, I studied abroad for a year in Costa Rica, spending much of my time horseback riding on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and hiking through rainforests. So a lot of my source material for world-building on the island came from my own teenage firsthand experience.

The London scenes were more challenging to write, since at the time I had never been there. But since the sequel is entirely set in London, I knew I needed to go. In April, my husband and I traveled to London for a week and took Jack the Ripper tours, haunted London tours, and explored all the dark and historical areas where my characters would live and work. I’ve since decided that I should set all my books in exotic locations, to give me an excuse for in-person world-building research!

I’m hoping that readers come away from The Madman’s Daughter feeling as though they’ve visited the 19th century themselves, knowing what it felt like to be a woman at the time in a man’s world.                                                  

Megan was generous enough to donate some Madman's Daughter swag for you guys.Picture of the swag is given below.

 The swag includes signed bookmarks and custom-made "Sweet Madness" tea inspired by The Madman's Daughter book.

Enter the giveaway via the rafflecopter widget below and make sure to check the Terms And Conditions on the widget before entering!Good Luck! :)

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Duet Review: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Hi guys,I'm launching this feature to highlight the reviews which I do with my friend,Maliha.Since I lend her a lot of my review copies,I asked her to contribute to my blog with her feedback and she agreed.Hopefully you'll see a lot more of this feature from now onwards.

So here's the book which we're going to review today.

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Publication date: January 29th 2013 by Balzer + Bray

Blurb:  In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

My Review:   

 

Rating: 5 0f 5 stars

**I received an ARC of this book from HarperCollins through Shelf Awareness in exchange for an honest review**

The thing with me and historical YA fiction is that either I really like it,or really hate it.My feelings towards that genre has no consistency.I know,I am a pretty weird person. **sigh**

ANYWAY,as you can already guess from my rating,I LOVED The Madman's Daughter.While it may be the part of a series,it can be read as a stand-alone as well,with no MAJOR cliffhangers.And yes,there may be a love triangle alert in this book,though it does not drone on and on about how the heroine does not know what to do with her feelings,making me want to whack her on the head.This problem had made me put down so many books in the past that I'm really glad for not having to face it again.The story-line was a lot more fast-paced and action packed,and by action packed I mean the "mad scientist on the loose" sort of action.I would say that this is one of those books which,without reading,your life would not be complete,like the Harry Potter or Percy Jackson series.

Right now,all you need to know is that you'll absolutely love it if you're into three things:
*Gothic England
*Eerily disgusting and creepy stuff.Example: Frankenstein.
*A story with a unique premise.

On my ARC it says that the book is inspired by THE ISLAND OF DR.MOREAU but I wouldn't know the similarity because I've never read that book before.I might actually pick it up someday to compare it with The Madman's Daughter,but just not today.And guess what,the sequel of this book is inspired by THE STRANGE CASE OF DR.JEKYLL AND MR.HYDE!Eeep!! xD **Happy Dance**

Maliha's Review:

 
Rating: 4 0f 5 stars

The Madman's Daughter is a breathtaking multi-theme novel. It has sweet romance on one side, reluctant friendship and a dark touch as well.

Juliet’s father was a pretty  predictable character. Apart from being a madman crazy about his work, he made crazy decisions for Juliet as a father. Their reunion was sweet, though, with him being protective and all. His reaction to Edward, the first one we see that is, was hilarious.

For the love-triangle fans out there, you’ll be satisfied. Both Edward and Montgomery are all about Juliet’s safety, and who doesn’t like a protective guy?

All the mystery also kept me turning pages. The mysterious island, mysterious island dwellers were well described.  And I was obsessed with Edward’s secret as it wasn’t revealed until the end.

Montgomery was sweet. He tried to convince Juliet how he had changed, how he wasn’t the doc’s servant anymore. But he made mistakes of his own and tried to correct them. Edward was, well, a typical yet different ‘Edward’. You’ll see what I mean when you read it.

Juliet was an interesting heroine. She’s brave and daring from the first page to the last. She’s smart and beautiful. Even after the shocking revelations, she remains sane and saves herself.

 It may not be a real cliffhanger but definitely a heartbreaking ending, that will leave readers in enough suspense and anticipation for the sequel.

Those who have already checked out my "An Insight Of The Characters' World" page might have guessed this by now,but I'm still going to mention it.My next post will be a guest post with Megan Shepherd (author of The Madman's Daughter) along with an epic giveaway too,so keep your eyes on my blog updates.Happy Weekend! :)

The Essence Blog Tour – Blurb & Author Spotlight

Hi guys,today I'm really glad to be a part of The Essence blog tour,hosted by Shane@ItchingForBooks.So my stop mainly consists of a blurb and author spotlight,but there's a giveaway at the end too and hopefully that will catch your interest.

TO FOLLOW THE TOUR, CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR THE SCHEDULE.

“Danger, dread, mystery, and romance” (Booklist) continue in the second book of The Pledge trilogy, as Charlie’s reign is under siege from the most unusual of enemies.

At the luminous conclusion of The Pledge, Charlaina defeated the tyrant Sabara and took her place as Queen of Ludania. But Charlie knows that Sabara has not disappeared: The evil queen’s Essence is fused to Charlie’s psyche, ready to arise at the first sign of weakness.

Charlie is not weak, but she’s being pushed to the brink. In addition to suppressing the ever-present influence of Sabara, she’s busy being queen—and battling a growing resistance determined to return Ludania to its discriminatory caste system. Charlie wants to be the same girl Max loves, who Brook trusts, but she’s Your Majesty now, and she feels torn in two.

As Charlie journeys to an annual summit to meet with leaders of nearby Queendoms—an event where her ability to understand all languages will be the utmost asset—she is faced with the ultimate betrayal. And the only person she can turn to for help is the evil soul residing within.

Release date: January 1, 2013

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12631512-the-essence

Author Bio:

Kimberly is the author of the BODY FINDER series (HarperCollins) and THE PLEDGE trilogy (Simon & Schuster). She lives in the Pacific Northwest, the ideal place to write anything dark or creepy...a gloomy day can set the perfect mood. She lives with her husband and their three beautiful (and often mouthy) children who provide an endless source of inspiration.

Official site: http://www.kimberlyderting.com/

twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kimberlyderting

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An Insight Of The Characters' World: Guest Post + Giveaway by Miriam Forster

This is a feature where I ask authors to do a guest post discussing about the background of their books and share their experiences in creating the world in which the characters are portrayed.For more info on this feature,click HERE.

Today,Miriam Forster stops by at Daydreaming Bookworm to talk about her upcoming debut,CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS,which comes out on February 5th.Before that,here's a bit of info to help you get familiar with Miriam Forster and CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS.
                                                        

CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS by MIRIAM FORSTER

 An exotic treat set in an entirely original, fantastical world brimming with deadly mystery, forbidden romance, and heart-stopping adventure.

Nisha was abandoned at the gates of the City of a Thousand Dolls when she was just a child. Now sixteen, she lives on the grounds of the isolated estate, where orphan girls apprentice as musicians, healers, courtesans, and, if the rumors are true, assassins. Nisha makes her way as Matron’s assistant, her closest companions the mysterious cats that trail her shadow. Only when she begins a forbidden flirtation with the city’s handsome young courier does she let herself imagine a life outside the walls. Until one by one, girls around her start to die.

Before she becomes the next victim, Nisha decides to uncover the secrets that surround the girls’ deaths. But by getting involved, Nisha jeopardizes not only her own future in the City of a Thousand Dolls—but her own life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Miriam Forster learned to read at the age of five, wrote her first story at the age of seven and has been playing with words ever since. CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS, her debut novel, will be coming from HarperTeen on February 5th, 2013.

In real life Miriam is a wife, a book hoarder and a terrible housekeeper, But in her mind she’s a deadly international assassin-ninja AND a fantastic dancer. When Miriam isn’t writing, she plots out fight scenes, obsesses about anthropology, nature shows and British television, and reads far too much.



                                                         


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And finally,the moment you've all been waiting for. Here is Miriam Forster's guest post where she gives us an insight on her experiences in bringing CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS to life.

When I wrote City of a Thousand Dolls, I didn’t start out to write a world with a caste system. But looking back, it doesn’t surprise me that I did.  When I think about all of my favorite fantasy novels, all the writers I would follow anywhere, many of them have something in common. They create deep worlds, worlds where different cultures clash, where people who have totally different backgrounds and experiences are forced to come together and deal with each other. I’ve always had a deep affection for books that celebrate the differences between people and how even in the differences, we are often the same.

But the Bhinian Empire--the world that City of a Thousand Dolls is set in--has been cut off from everything for five hundred years. How do you show different cultures and values if there are no other countries around?  Fortunately, by the time I asked that question, I had started to fall in love with South Asia, and the caste system was already in place. So I started there.

There are five castes (Wind, Hearth, Bamboo, Jade and Flower) and each caste has different strengths and weaknesses.  For example Wind caste is the lowest.  The people are called Wind Caste because they’re very nomadic. They’re not allowed to settle in cities or towns without a work permit, so most of them travel around the Empire looking for work. The Flower Caste is the highest caste, the nobles. They’re very wealthy and powerful, but they’re also obsessed with perfection and ruled by fear. 

This idea of different cultures doesn’t just show up in the caste system. In the City of a Thousand Dolls itself, there are different Houses. The House of Music trains musicians and dancers, the House of Pleasure trains courtesans and the House of Combat trains warriors, etc. And all these girls are raised with different expectations and different ways of looking at life.

I love that. I love bringing together characters with totally different opinions and outlooks and values and watching them interact. I love that all these defenses make the story richer. Most of all, I love there are so many ways to be human.

This guest post also comes with a giveaway!Miriam is giving away a copy of CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS to one INTERNATIONAL winner.To try your luck at winning,enter using the rafflecopter  widget below and check the terms and conditions on the widget.Good Luck! :D

 

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Showcase Sunday #14

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Books,Biscuits and Tea and its aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week.


Oh yes,I have a wonderful haul to share with you this week.I just returned from Thailand yesterday (yes,I know,I went there this summer too) and as usual,did a whole lot of book shopping.This time we went to Phuket and let me tell you,the beaches there go absolutely crazy during the 31st night.It's really hard finding your way around during that time.But nevertheless,we had fun,even more than we did in the summer since we also had family friends who joined us in this trip.But moreover,here is a glimpse of my haul from Thailand:

  
Crazy,right?Here are some shots of all the books up close:

 I'm not really into parodies but in case of the Percy Jerkson one I decided to give it a shot since it looked interesting. :D And I'm a HUGE fan of Percy Jackson.

 I already got an ARC of this exact edition from Random House U.K but I just couldn't help buying a finished copy for myself,even though my brother said that it was stupid of me to buy another copy of a book which I already have.He's pretty nosy. :P  But the finished copy's just sooo pretty!!! XD

I've just finished reading The Raven Boys and to be honest,this is the only book by Maggie Stiefvater which I finished reading and actually liked.I don't know why but I was never able to get into any of her other books.The only other books I've tried reading were Shiver and The Scorpio Races but then figured out that they weren't really my type.

I liked the U.S cover of this book better but since the store didn't have that in paperback and hardcovers take up a lot of weight I settled for this one instead.After all,the story inside is the same. :)

I've been waiting to read this for sooo long! XD It's been on my wishlist since the beginning of 2012.My prayers have finally been answered!

 I bought OPAL and ONYX for a friend of mine since she's a huge fan of the LUX series but found out that she already got both books from someone else so I'm planning on keeping these for myself or maybe giving it away to someone else.Might be the perfect opportunity to start this series.

The picture above is a wrapped version of an awesome book for a certain someone who has a birthday coming up.I won't mention his/her name or the name of the book in case he/she checks out this post (extremely rare,but I don't want to take my chances) but I will say that it does have an awesome cover! :D

And last but not least,I had a surprise package waiting for me when I came home from my Thailand trip yesterday.



EEEP!!! XD I traded this with another blogger for my ARC of THE SHADOW GIRL and have been waiting forever for this to arrive.Thank you Lyndsey from http://www.strangemore.com/ ! 

So what's your haul this week?Leave the link in comments so that I can check it out!Happy Sunday!