Series Talk - The Artemis Fowl Addition

If you've been paying attention to my sidebar lists of books I'm reading and those recently finished, you know I'm working my way through the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer.

Since I began composing this post three days two and a half weeks ago, I have finished the first six books in the series. Book seven, Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex, released on Tuesday, August 3. I'm #7 on the waiting list at the local library. ^_^

Yeah. It's that good.

I wasn't so sure when I started reading the first book. After all, Artemis wasn't exactly a hero back then. Criminal mastermind, yes. Hero, not so much.

Yet the series is named for him. You would expect him to be the hero of such a series. At least, I did.

And he is the hero. Eventually.

Not in the first book, and only debatedly in the second book.

The more he gets to know The People, especially Holly Short - the LEPrecon agent he kidnapped in book one - the more of a hero he becomes. As the books progress, you see less and less of the self-centered criminal mastermind he was and more of the hero he becomes.

That journey makes the entire series real for me. It doesn't happen in one book, but over the course of several. Just as in real life, people don't change quickly but gradually.

Review: The Luxe (Luxe, #1)

I apologize for my absence these two weeks. I had reviewer's block (A type of writer's block that applies only to reviewers.) Then a family get-together this past weekend, which was awesome. Turns out my niece from Florida loves to read as much as I do! (She let me borrow Witch & Wizard, which I devoured.) ^_^

Now for the reason you came here, the review!
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The Luxe (Luxe, #1)
Anna Godbersen

Release Date: 20 November 2007
Genre: Historical Romance (Young Adult)
Rating: 7/10
Source: Library
Buy the Book: Borders ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Books-A-Million
Content Warning: Implied Sex (Fade to black), Light Petting

The beautiful young Holland sisters, Elizabeth and Diana, rule Manhattan society. Or so it appears. When they discover their status is far from secure, everyone—from the ambitious socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor, Henry Schoonmaker, to the Holland's dour maid, Lina Broud—threatens the girls' golden future. When Elizabeth's carriage overturns near the East River, her glittering life, well-known for lighting up the city's gossip pages, is swallowed by the rough current. Then the question on everyone's lips is this: Who will take Elizabeth's enviable place?

Blurb from book website.

From reading the book blurb, I wasn't sure I would like this. It sounded rather shallow to be honest. Which made me wonder why the series has so many fans. (Including the manager I worked under at Waldenbooks before the store closed.)

Then I read the first few chapters. I understood. It wasn't shallow at all. Just like the main character, Elizabeth Holland, both she and the book appear shallow on the outside. On the inside, however, completely not shallow - deep. Much deeper than I expected.

I felt I understood why Elizabeth acted so perfect in public, following all of society's rules. She felt she had to, to protect her family. Her family meant so much to her she had to protect them. Had to care for them as they cared for her. In doing so, she went so far as to accept a proposal from a man she detested.

Now that takes strength.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I really enjoyed reading it. So much so that I'm looking for ward to the rest of the series. (And Miss Godbersen's next series - set in the 1920s Jazz Age.)

Waiting on Wednesday: Nightshade

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My choice for the week:



Nightshade
by
Andrea Cremer

Miss Cremer's first published novel has a fascinating premise:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she’ll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters’ laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything - including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

(Blurb from book website.)

Sounds interesting, doesn't it? ^_^

I love, love, love the cover too!

Release Date: 19 October 2010

Waiting on Wednesday: In the Dark of Dreams

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My choice for the week:



In the Dark of Dreams
by
Marjorie M. Liu

I've loved Miss Liu's Dirk & Steele novels since I discovered them. The first one I ever read - or even heard of - was the novella "A Dream of Stone and Shadow" in the book Dark Dreamers (with Christine Feehan). Only later did I discover it was the fourth story in the series...

I'm still searching for one or two to complete my collection, but I'm hoping to get this one when it comes out later this year.

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a blurb for this book yet. But! you can read an excerpt on Miss Liu's blog. From the prologue, it seems this book will focus on a human woman and a merman. (I had an idea from the cover, but it was nice to see it more or less confirmed.)

That makes me very happy.

As much as I enjoyed Forgive My Fins (review here), I know I'll love this too! ^_^

Release Date: 30 November 2010

Waiting on Wednesday: Firelight

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My choice for the week:



Firelight
by
Sophie Jordan

Miss Sophie's YA debut mixes fantasy and romance, the paranormal and teenage life. It sounds wonderful. I can't wait to read it! ^_^

The blurb from the author's website:

A HIDDEN TRUTH

MORTAL ENEMIES

DOOMED LOVE

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet of her kind, she nearly pays with her life, only to be spared by a beautiful stranger sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki--a descendant of dragons whose ability to shift into human form is her best defense.

Forced to flee into the mortal world, Jacinda struggles to adapt. The one bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irrestibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away - if it dies she will be left a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and irresistible passion ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide ...

Sounds good, doesn't it? ^_^

And another gorgeous cover... (Note the hint of scales near her eyes. I missed those the first several times I saw the cover. In my defense, I only saw really small images. And may not have been wearing my glasses.)

Release Date: 7 September 2010

In My Mailbox VI

In My Mailbox is a weekly book-sharing meme hosted at The Story Siren. Each week, you talk about books received the previous week, not necessarily in the mail. Posts can include library books, borrowed books, as well as purchased books.

Purchased Books (Used):

The game store my husband and I haunt on weekends (and the occasional weekday) had some interesting selections on their four shelves of books. I managed to limit myself to three of them. ^_^

Trick of the Light (Trickster, #1) by Rob Thurman

WebMage (Webmage, #1) by Kelly McCullough

The Ten Thousand by Paul Kearney - The blurb on Goodreads mentions this as the start of a new series, but it seems to be the only one in said series thus far. Which is kinda nice for me, since I discovered WebMage to be part of a (5-book!) series when I looked it up on Goodreads.