Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Book Details:
Stardust
by Neil Gaiman
Published: 1999, Spike Books
Hardback, 235 pages
ISBN: 0380977281

Synopsis:
"In the sleepy English countryside at the dawn of the Victorian era lies the village of Wall - a secluded hamlet that derives its name from an imposing stone barrier that surrounds a fertile grassland. The lesiurely pace in Wall is disrupted only once every nine years as the mortal and magical meer upon the meadow for a market fair like no other.

It is here in Wall that young Tristan Thorn loses his heart to the town beauty - a woman who is as cold and distant as the star she and Tristan see fall from the sky on a crisp October evening. To gain the hand of his beloved, Tristan rashly vows to fetch the fallen star and embarks upon a lover's quest that willl carry him over the ancient wall and into a world beyond his wildest imaginings... "

This book had many differences from the movie that I saw a few years ago, which allows me to appreciate both the book and the movie as two distinct works. I found the plotline of the book to be much more subdued in comparison to the movie. The love between the star and Tristan was not nearly as passionate, nor Victoria Forester quite so much of a snob. The ghosts of the Stormhold brothers were not as animated as in the movie, and Captain Johannes Alberic of the sky-ship Perdita was definitely not a flamboyant cross-dresser. While all of this may sound very critical, I still enjoyed the book for what it did offer. More explanation for the "wall" in Wall is given and Tristan's mother Una has more character development. Ditchwater Sal is given more attention, as well as more characters introduced into the story. The three witches that are after the star's heart are less representative of the "Big Bad" and more in line with the quirkiness of Faerie. Even the ending of the book differs dramatically with the movie, but I still like both endings - the movie for its drama, the book for its peacefulness.

The Cover: The front of my hardcover book I borrowed from the library is simpler than the paperback version pictured here. The copy I read shows a square hole in the middle of a wall of bricks. In the hole is pictured the night sky with a shooting star. Both the author name and the title are printed over the bricks. This is a decent representation of what the plot covers, but I find I don't even notice the bricks pictured - my eyes are immediately drawn to the shooting star in the middle. The sight of a shooting star is somewhat magical and is a sign of promise and hope, which makes the cover enticing.

First Line: "There was once a young man who wished to gain his Heart's Desire."
A great opening line for a fairy tale-style plot - it pulls me in immediately and makes me want to read more!

Favorite Quote: "Adventures are all very well in their place, he thought, but there's a lot to be said for regular meals and freedom from pain."





Read For: Fantasy Reading Challenge, Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge, Celebrate the Author Challenge, Pages Read Challenge, 101 Fantasy Reading Challenge, Take Another Chance Challenge

Books Read in 2010

2010

1. Hunted by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast

2. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

3. Stardust by Neil Gaiman

4. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

5. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

6. Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

7. Specials by Scott Westerfeld

8. Extras by Scott Westerfeld

9. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

10. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

11. The Lightkeeper's Daughter by Colleen Coble

12. The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine

13. The Centurion's Wife by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke

14. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

15. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

16. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

17. Tempted by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

18. Between Two Kingdoms by Joe Boyd

19. The Season by Sarah MacLean

20. Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine

21. Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

22. Ash by Malinda Lo

23. Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

24. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

25. The Hidden Flame by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke

26. Havah: The Story of Eve by Tosca Lee

27. Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine

28. The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen

29. Thumbing Through Thoreau by Kenny Luck

30. My Fair Lazy by Jen Lancaster

31. Not a Sparrow Falls by Linda Nichols

32. Hannah by Kathryn Lasky

33. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

34. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

35. The Proper Care & Feeding of Marriage by Dr. Laura Schlessinger

36. She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell

37. Never Let You Go by Erin Healy

38. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

39. Frostbite by Richelle Mead

40. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

41. Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

42. Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

43. Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison

44. Urban Shaman by C. E. Murphy

45. Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine

46. Cooking With Healthy Girl by Mandy Potter

47. Burned by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast

48. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

49. The Elvenbane by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey

50. Carpe Corpus by Rachel Caine

51. The Dead Rise First: Rapture Countdown by Alton Ragan and Robert D. McLaughlin

52. Naamah's Curse by Jacqueline Carey

53. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

54. Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten

55. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

56. Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr

57. Masquerade by Nancy Moser

58. Jesus, Career Counselor by Laurie Beth Jones

59. In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms by Dr. Laura Schlessinger

60. Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

61. Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson

62. Letters To Ethan by Tom McQueen

63. Thunderbird Falls by C. E. Murphy

64. Quatrain by Sharon Shinn

65. Shalador's Lady by Anne Bishop

66. The Sleeping Beauty by Mercedes Lackey

67. Winter Moon by Mercedes Lackey, Tanith Lee, and C. E. Murphy

68. The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

69. Glee: The Beginning by Sophia Lowell

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

Daughter of the Forest
by Juliet Marillier
Published: 2000
400 pages

Synopsis:
"Lovely Sorcha is the seventh child and only daughter of Lord Colum of Sevenwaters. Bereft of a mother, she is comforted by her six brothers who love and protect her. Sorcha is the light in their lives, they are determined that she know only contentment.
But Sorcha's joy is shattered when her father is bewitched by his new wife, an evil enchantress who binds her brothers with a terrible spell, a spell which only Sorcha can lift-by staying silent. If she speaks before she completes the quest set to her by the Fair Folk and their queen, the Lady of the Forest, she will lose her brothers forever.
When Sorcha is kidnapped by the enemies of Sevenwaters and taken to a foreign land, she is torn between the desire to save her beloved brothers, and a love that comes only once. Sorcha despairs at ever being able to complete her task, but the magic of the Fair Folk knows no boundaries, and love is the strongest magic of them all..."

This book uses the German fairy tale The Six Swans, collected by the Brothers Grimm, and sets it in an ancient Celtic setting. The myth seemed to fit really well into the historical and cultural background that the author conceived. The mystical aspects of the plot were quite believeable within this context, making it s good choice for the fantasy genre.
Before I read this book, I was not familiar with the Grimm fairy tale. Since the first portion of the book is mainly to build the world the fiary tale takes place in, I had a difficult time gaining momentum in my reading. I recall attempting to read a novel by Juliet Marillier sometime last year and having the same problem with that book. I am glad I stuck with it, though, because once the six brothers actually became the legendary swans, I found I could not put the book down. The six brothers are all very distinct in personality and Sorcha's battle to save them is both heartbreaking and inspiring. If Sorcha can withstand this torture to her hands day in and day out for over three years, then I certainly can handle washing another dish!
Marillier's style of writing reminds me somewhat of Marian Zimmer Bradley's Avalon series, which happens to be one of my all-time favorites. It is at times flowery and poetic, very much heavy on the introspection, and possessing a reverential awe for the otherworldly.
Not all of the loose ends were accounted for at the end of the novel, but that came at no surprise to me as I know that this is only the first book in a trilogy. I look forward to the next two books, even though I'm sure I will struggle through the beginning just like this one.

The Cover: Simple, but shows several images significant to the plotline - swans both flying and in the water as well as a young girl showing her hands. The cover alone would not likely entice me to pick up the book.

First Line: "Three children lay on the rocks at the water's edge."
Not the best first line for a book, but most people read more than just the first line when selecting a book.

Favorite Quote: "If I were telling this tale, and it were not my own, I would give it a neat and satisfying ending. The children would come home, and their father would geet them with open arms, rejoicing. The wicked stepmother would be punished for the evil she had done, and driven forth from their home. The father and his sons would put all to rights, and everyone would live happily ever after. In such stories, there are no loose ends. There are no unraveled edges or crooked threads." - pg. 372




Read for: Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge, Pages Read Challenge, 1st in a Series Challenge, Fantasy Reading Challenge, Once Upon a Time Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge, Celebrate the Author Challenge, 101 Fantasy Reading Challenge, Take Another Chance Challenge

Waiting on Wednesday: Shalador's Lady

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





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

Shalador's Lady: A Black Jewels Novel

by Anne Bishop

Publication Date: March 2, 2010

"For years the Shalador people suffered the cruelties of the corrupt Queens who ruled them, forbidding their traditions, punishing those who dared show defiance, and forcing many more into hiding. Now that their land has been cleansed of tainted Blood, the Rose-Jeweled Queen, Lady Cassidy, makes it her duty to restore it and prove her ability to rule.

But even if Lady Cassidy succeeds, other dangers await. For the Black Widows see visions within their tangled webs that something is coming that will change the land-and Lady Cassidy-forever... "

Teaser Tuesday: January 26, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!).
5. Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


My Teasers:

"'I am getting old,' she said to her two servants. They said nothing in reply, gave no indication that they even understood her. 'Things inanimate have always been more difficult to change than things animate. Their souls are older and stupider and harder to persuade. If I but had my true youth again... why, in the dawn of the world I could transform mountains into seas and clouds into palaces. I could populate cities with pebbles on the shingle. If I were young again...'" - pg. 138, Stardust by Neil Gaiman

"Where was I? Did I wake or sleep? Had I been dreaming? Did I dream still? The old woman's voice had changed: her accent, her gesture, and all were familiar to me as my own face in a glass - as the speech of my own tongue. I got up, but did not go. I looked; I stirred the fire, and I looked again, but she drew her bonnet and her bandage closer about her face, and again beckoned me to depart. The flame illuminated her hand stretched out; roused now, and on the alert for discoveries, I at once noticed that hand." - pg. 219, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Movie Cast Mondays: January 25, 2010

Natalie at Mindful Musings has this meme in which you create fantasy casts for books of your choice. The rules are as follows:

1) Create your own cast for an upcoming book-to-movie adaptation OR pick a book you'd like to see be turned into a movie and choose a cast.
2) Post the book title, author, and summary.
3) Try to pick at least 3 of the main characters to cast.

This week's pick is...

Thorn In My Heart (Lowlands of Scotland Series) by Liz Curtis Higgs

Two brothers fight to claim one father’s blessing.
Two sisters long to claim one man’s heart. 
In the autumn of 1788, amid the moors and glens of the Scottish Lowlands, two brothers and two sisters each embark on a painful journey of discovery.
Jamie and Evan McKie both want their father Alec’s flocks and lands, yet only one brother will inherit Glentrool. Leana and Rose McBride both yearn to catch the eye of the same handsome lad, yet only one sister will be his bride.
A thorny love triangle emerges, plagued by lies and deception, jealousy and desire, hidden secrets and broken promises. Brimming with passion and drama, Thorn in My Heart brings the past to vibrant life, revealing spiritual truths that transcend time and penetrate the deepest places of the heart.

The Lowlands of Scotland series is 4 books that retell the Biblical stories of Jacob, Esau, Leah, and Rachel, with the fourth book telling Dinah's story, all against the backdrop of Scotland. I shed many tears over these books, and found the characters to be both real and inspirational. To see the drama and romance of this story on the big screen would be wonderful.

Benjamin McKenzie as Jamie McKie

The few times I have seen this actor, such as from the television series The O. C., I have liked his style. I think he could play the part of Jamie McKie well (with a little hair dye).

Jared Padalecki as Evan McKie

Evan is supposed to be the hairier, older twin brother, which made me think of Jared from the television series Supernatural. I think that Benjamin and Jared could have good chemistry as rival brothers for the inheritance.

Sophia Bush as Leana McBride

Let me just say that Sophia is one of my favorite actresses for her part in the television series One Tree Hill (even her weirldly scratchy voice). The story of Leana in the book is intensely moving, and I think that Sophia could really pull off the emotional aspects of it, as well as play the part of a strong woman that Leana eventually becomes. Technically, Leana is not supposed to be as beautiful as Rose, but hey, that's what makeup is for.

Camilla Belle as Rose McBride

When I realized that Camilla played Evolet in 10,000 B.C.(2008), I knew she could play this role. She looks enough like Sophia Bush that she could pass for her younger sister and display a demureness unique to the character.

Michelle Trachtenberg as Grace McKie

To me, Michelle will always be Buffy's little sister from the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. As Grace, she would be playing the mute little sister of several brothers who undergoes a tramatic experience. Not anyone could play the part of a mute successfully, but I think that Michelle could.

Pile of Books

Wish List / TBR Pile

Adornetto, Alexandra
1. Halo (Halo)
2. Hades (Halo)
3. Heaven (Halo)

Aguirre, Ann
Outpost
Endurance
 
Amber, Elizabeth

1. Nicholas (The Lords of Satyr)
2. Raine (The Lords of Satyr)
3. Lyon (The Lords of Satyr)
4. Dominic (The Lords of Satyr)
5. Dane (The Lords of Satyr)
6. Bastion (The Lords of Satyr)
7. Sevin (The Lords of Satyr)

Amorth, Gabriele

An Exorcist Tells His Story

Andrews, Ilona
1. Magic Bites (Kate Daniels)
2. Magic Burns (Kate Daniels)
3. Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels)
4. Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels)
5. Magic Slays (Kate Daniels)

Anthologies

Out of Avalon: An Anthology of Old Magic & New Myths by Jennifer Roberson, Jeff Barson, Kristen Britain, and Marion Zimmer Bradley

Songs of Love and Death by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois
Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner
Strange Brew by P. N. Elrod
Must Love Hellhounds by Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, and Meljean Brook
Dark and Stormy Knights by P. N. Elrod
Naked City by Ellen Datlow
Over the Moon by Angela Knight, MaryJanice Davidson, Virginia Kantra, and Sunny
Kiss Me Deadly by Trisha Telep

Hotter Than Hell by Kim Harrison
Unbound by Kim Harrison, Melissa Marr, Jeaniene Frost, and Vicki Pettersson
Holidays are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Vicki Pettersson, and Marjorie M. Liu
Lover Beware by Christine Feehan, Katherine Sutcliffe, Eileen Wilks, and Fiona Brand
Cravings by Laurell K. Hamilton, MaryJanice Davidson, Eileen Wilks, and Rebecca York
Angels of Darkness by Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook, Sharon Shinn
Chicks Kick Butt by Rachel Caine and Kerrie Hughes
Supernatural by Larissa Ione, Alexandra Ivy, Jacquelyn Frank, and G. A. Aiken

Anthony, Piers
1. On a Pale Horse
2. Bearing an Hourglass
3. With a Tangled Skein
4. Wielding a Red Sword
5. Being a Green Mother
6. For Love of Evil
7. And Eternity
8. Under a Velvet Cloak

Athans, Philip
The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction

Atwood, Margaret

The Year of the Flood

Baez, Fernando
A Universal History of the Destruction of Books (translated by Alfred MacAdam)

Basbanes, Nicholas A.
A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion
Patience and Fortitude: Wherein a Colorful Cast of Determined Book Collectors, Dealers, and Librarians Go About the Quixotic Task of Preserving a Legacy
Every Book Its Reader: The Power of the Printed Word to Stir the World
A Splendor of Letters: The Permanence of Books in an Impermanent World

Bast, Anya
1. Blood of the Rose (The Embraced)
2. Blood of the Raven (The Embraced)
3. Blood of the Angel (The Embraced)
4. Blood of the Damned (The Embraced)
1. Wicked Enchantment (Dark Magick)
2. Cruel Enchantment (Dark Magick)
3. Dark Enchantment (Dark Magick)
4. Midnight Enchantment (Dark Magick)

Benson, Amber
1. Death's Daughter (Calliope Reaper-Jones)
2. Cat's Claw (Calliope Reaper-Jones)
3. Serpent's Storm (Calliope Reaper-Jones)
4. How to Be Death (Calliope Reaper-Jones)

Berg, Elizabeth

The Handmaid and the Carpenter

Bishop, Anne
3. Bridge of Dreams (Landscapes of Ephemera)
Written in Red (Others) (March 5, 2013)

Black, Jenna
1. Glimmerglass (Faeriewalker)
2. Shadowspell (Faeriewalker)
3. Sirensong (Faeriewalker)

Bradley, Marion Zimmer

The Fall of Atlantis

Briggs, Patricia
1. Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega)
2. Hunting Ground (Alpha and Omega)
3. Fair Game (Alpha and Omega)
Frost Burned (Mercedes Thompson) (Spring 2013)

Brown, Dan

The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon)

Butcher, Jim
1. Furies of Calderon
2. Academ's Fury
3. Cursor's Fury
4. Captain's Fury
5. Preceps' Fury
6. First Lord's Fury

Cabot, Meg
2. The Underworld (Abandon Trilogy)
3. Awaken (Abandon Trilogy) (May 1, 2014)

Caine, Rachel

13. Bitter Blood (Morganville Vampires)
14. Fall of Night (Morganville Vampires) (May 17)
15. Daylighters (Morganville Vampires) (November)

1. Ill Wind (Weather Warden)

2. Heat Stroke (Weather Warden)

3. Chill Factor (Weather Warden)

4. Windfall (Weather Warden)

5. Firestorm (Weather Warden)

6. Thin Air (Weather Warden)

7. Gale Force (Weather Warden)

8. Cape Storm (Weather Warden)

9. Total Eclipse (Weather Warden)

1. Undone (Outcast Season)

2. Unknown (Outcast Season)
3. Unseen (Outcast Season)
4. Unbroken (Outcast Season)
1. Working Stiff (Revivalist)
2. Two Week's Notice (Revivalist)
3. Terminated (Revivalist) (August)

Campbell, Joseph
The Hero with a Thousand Faces

Carey, Jacqueline

Naamah's Blessing
Saints Astray
Dark Currents (Agent of Hel)

Cass, Kiera
The Selection

Cassidy, Dakota
1. The Accidental Werewolf (Accidental Friends)
2. Accidentally Dead (Accidental Friends)
3. The Accidental Human (Accidental Friends)
4. Accidentally Demonic (Accidental Friends)
5. Accidentally Catty (Accidental Friends)
1. Kiss & Hell (Hell Series)
2. My Way to Hell (Hell Series)

Cast, P. C.
1. Goddess of the Sea (Goddess Summoning)
2. Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning)
3. Goddess of Light (Goddess Summoning)
4. Goddess of the Rose (Goddess Summoning)
5. Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning)
6. Warrior Rising (Goddess Summoning)
7. Goddess of Legend (Goddess Summoning)
8. Goddess of Troy (Goddess Summoning)
1. Divine by Mistake (Partholon)
2. Divine by Choice (Partholon)
3. Divine by Blood (Partholon)
4. Divine Beginnings (Partholon)
5. Elphame's Choice (Partholon)
6. Brighid's Quest (Partholon)

Cast, P. C. and Kristin Cast

The Fledgling Handbook (House of Night)
10. Hidden (House of Night)
11. Revealed (House of Night) (October)
1. Dragon's Oath (House of Night Mini-Series)
2. Lenobia's Vow (House of Night Mini-Series)
3. Neferet's Curse (House of Night Mini-Series) (February 19)

Castle, Steven
The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World

Chapman, Gary

The Five Love Languages of Children

Clare, Cassandra
3. City of Glass (Mortal Instruments)
4. City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments)
5. City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments)
6. City of Heavenly Fire (Mortal Instruments) (March 2014)
1. The Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices)
2. Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices)
3. Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices) (March 2013)

Condie, Ally
1. Matched
2. Crossed
3. Reached

Cook, Claire Kehrwald

Line by Line: How to Edit Your Own Writing

Cook, Dawn

1. First Truth (Truth)

2. Hidden Truth (Truth)

3. Forgotten Truth (Truth)

4. Lost Truth (Truth)

The Decoy Princess

Princess at Sea

Darnton, Robert
The Case for Books: Past, Present, and Future

Day, S. J.

1. Eve of Darkness (Marked)

2. Eve of Destruction (Marked)

3. Eve of Chaos (Marked)

Dekker, Ted and Tosca Lee
1. Forbidden (The Books of Mortals)
2. Mortal (The Books of Mortals)

De Laurentiis, Giada

Everyday Italian: 125 Simples and Delicious Recipes

Giada's Family Dinners

Everyday Pasta

Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites

Giada at Home: Family Recipes from Italy and California

DeStafano, Lauren
3. Sever (The Chemical Garden Trilogy) (Feb. 1, 2013)

DiPasqua, Lila
The Princess in His Bed
Awakened by a Kiss

Faber, Michel

The Fire Gospel (Myths, The)

Fitzpatrick, Becca
3. Silence (Hush)
4. Finale (Hush)

Flinn, Alex
A Kiss in Time
Cloaked

Friedman, Aimee

Sea Change

Frost, Jeaniene
5. This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress)
6. One Grave at a Time (Night Huntress)
7. Up From the Grave (Night Huntress) (Feb. 26, 2013)
1. First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World)
2. Eternal Kiss of Darkness (Night Huntress World)
1. Once Burned (Vlad / The Night Prince series)

Garcia, Kami and Margaret Stohl
1. Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles)*
2. Beautiful Darkness (Caster Chronicles)
3. Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles)
4. Beautiful Redemption (Caster Chronicles)

Geisler, Norman L.

I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Athiest

The Apologetics of Jesus: A Caring Approach to Dealing with Doubters

Miracles and the Modern Mind: A Defense of Biblical Miracles

Living Loud: Defending Your Faith

Unshakable Foundations: Contemporary Answers to Crucial Questions about the Christian Faith

Goldberg, Natalie
Writing Down the Bones

Gregory, Philippa

1. The Constant Princess (Tudor)

2. The Other Boleyn Girl (Tudor)

3. The Wise Woman (Tudor)
4. The Boleyn Inheritance (Tudor)

5. The Queen's Fool (Tudor)

6. The Virgin's Lover (Tudor)

7. The Other Queen (Tudor)

1. Earthly Joys

2. Virgin Earth

Habermas, Gary R.

The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence For the Life of Christ

Hale, Shannon
Austenland
Midnight in Austenland

Hand, Cynthia
1. Unearthly (Unearthly)
2. Hallowed (Unearthly)
3. Boundless (Unearthly)

Harris, Joanne
The Lollipop Shoes / The Girl with No Shadow
2. Blackberry Wine (Food Trilogy)
3. Five Quarters of the Orange (Food Trilogy)

Harrison, Kim

1. Once Dead, Twice Shy (Madison Avery)

2. Early to Death, Early to Rise (Madison Avery)
3. Something Deadly This Way Comes (Madison Avery)
The Hollows Insider
11. Ever After (Hollows) (2013)

Hatoum, Milton

Orphans of Eldorado (Myths, The)

Hawkins, Rachel
2. Demonglass
3. Spell Bound

Higgs, Liz Curtis

Here Burns My Candle
Mine is the Night

Ione, Larissa
2. Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance)
3. Lethal Rider (Lords of Deliverance)
4. Rogue Rider (Lords of Deliverance)
1. Pleasure Unbound (Demonica)
2. Desire Unchained (Demonica)
3. Passion Unleashed (Demonica)
4. Ecstasy Unveiled (Demonica)
5. Sin Undone (Demonica)

James, Allyson
1. Stormwalker (Stormwalker)
2. Firewalker (Stormwalker)
3. Shadowwalker (Stormwalker)
4. Nightwalker (Stormwalker)

Jemisin, N. K.
1. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (Inheritance Trilogy)
2. The Broken Kingdoms (Inheritance Trilogy)
3. The Kingdom of Gods (Inheritance Trilogy)

Johnson, Maureen
The Last Little Blue Envelope

Kate, Lauren
1. Fallen (Fallen)
2. Torment (Fallen)
3. Passion (Fallen)
4. Fallen in Love (Fallen)
5. Rapture (Fallen)
 
Kagawa, Julie
1. The Iron King (Iron Fey)
2. The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey)*
3. The Iron Queen (Iron Fey)
4. The Iron Knight (Iron Fey)*
5. The Lost Prince (Iron Fey)
The Iron Legends (Iron Fey)
6. The Traitor's Son (Iron Fey) (September)

Keller, Timothy

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

Kirino, Natsuo

The Myth of Izanagi and Izanami (Myths, The)

Lackey, Mercedes

1. Firebird (Fairy Tales)

2. The Black Swan (Fairy Tales)

 The Fire Rose (Elemental Masters Fairy Tales)

1. The Serpent's Shadow (Elemental Masters)

2. The Gates of Sleep (Elemental Masters)

3. Phoenix and Ashes (Elemental Masters)

4. The Wizard of London (Elemental Masters)

5. Reserved for the Cat (Elemental Masters)

Larson, Bob

Satanism: The Seduction of America's Youth

Larson's Book of Spiritual Welfare

In The Name of Satan

Laurens, Jennifer
3. Absolution (Heavenly)

Lawhead, Stephen R.
1. Hood (King Raven Trilogy)
2. Scarlet (King Raven Trilogy)
3. Tuck (King Raven Trilogy)

Lee, Tosca
Iscariot: A Novel of Judas (TBA)

Le Guin, Ursula K.

1. A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea)

2. The Tombs of Atuan (Earthsea)

3. The Farthest Shore (Earthsea)

4. Tehanu (Earthsea)

5. Tales From Earthsea (Earthsea)

6. The Other Wind (Earthsea)

Lisle, Holly
1. Diplomacy of Wolves (The Secret Texts)
2. Vengeance of Dragons (The Secret Texts)
3. Courage of Falcons (The Secret Texts)
1. Talyn: A Novel of Korre
2. Hawkspar: A Novel of Korre

Lisle, Dr. Jason

The Ultimate Proof of Creation

Liu, Marjorie M.
1. The Iron Hunt (Hunter Kiss)
2. Darkness Calls (Hunter Kiss)
3. A Wild Light (Hunter Kiss)
4. The Mortal Bone (Hunter Kiss)

Maine, David

The Book of Samson

Fallen

Manguel, Alberto
The Library at Night
A Reader on Reading

Marillier, Juliet

2. Son of the Shadows (Sevenwaters Trilogy)

3. Child of the Prophecy (Sevenwaters Trilogy)

4. Heir to Sevenwaters (Sevenwaters)

Marr, Melissa
Graveminder
Faery Tales & Nightmares
Carnival of Souls

Martin, George R. R.
3. A Storm of Swords
4. A Feast for Crows
5. A Dance With Dragons
6. The Winds of Winter (TBA)
7. A Dream of Spring (TBA)

Mead, Richelle
2. Golden Lily (Bloodlines)
3. The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines) (Feb. 12, 2013)
4. The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines) (TBA)
1. Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X) (June)

Meyer, Stephenie

The Host

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella

Mitchell, David
Cloud Atlas

Moore, Beth
Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman

Moreland, James Porter

Love Your God With All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul

Moulton, Courtney Allison
1. Angelfire (Angelfire)
2. Wings of the Wicked (Angelfire)
3. Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire)

Murphy, C. E.

6. Spirit Dances (The Walker Papers)

7. Raven Calls (The Walker Papers)
8. Mountain Echoes (The Walker Papers)

Murray, Stuart A. P.
The Library: An Illustrated History

Niffennegger, Audrey

Her Fearful Symmetry

Norton, Andre and Mercedes Lackey

2. Elvenblood (Halfblood Chronicles)

3. Elvenborn (Halfblood Chronicles)

Oke, Janette and Davis Bunn
The Damascus Way (Acts of Faith)

Ostergren, Klas

The Hurricane Party (Myths, The)

Paolini, Christopher

1. Eragon (Inheritance Cycle)

2. Eldest (Inheritance Cycle)

3. Brisingr (Inheritance Cycle)
3. Inheritance (Inheritance Cycle)

Paxson, Diana L.

The Sword of Avalon

Pelevin, Victor

The Helmet of Horror: The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur (Myths, The) - translated by Andrew Bromfield

Platt, David
Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream

Price, Randall

The Stones Cry Out: What Archaeology Reveals About the Truth of the Bible

Provoost, Anne
In the Shadow of the Ark

Pullman, Philip

The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (Myths, The)

Rampling, Anne

Belinda

Exit to Eden

Revis, Beth
3. Shades of Earth (Across the Universe)

Rice, Anne

1. Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt

2. Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana

3. Christ the Lord: The Kingdom of Heaven (TBA)

1. Angel Time (Songs of the Seraphim)

2. Of Love and Evil (Songs of the Seraphim)

Riordan, Rick
2. The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson & the Olympians)
3. The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson & the Olympians)
4. The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson & the Olympians)
5. The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson & the Olympians)
6. Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades (Percy Jackson & the Olympians)
The Demigod Files (Percy Jackson & the Olympians)
Demigods and Monsters (Percy Jackson & the Olympians)
1. The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus)
2. The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus)
3. The Mark of Athena (The Heroes of Olympus)

Rivers, Francine

1. A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion)

2. An Echo in the Darkness (Mark of the Lion)

3. As Sure as the Dawn (Mark of the Lion)

A Lineage of Grace: Five Stories of Unlikely Women Who Changed Eternity
Sons of Encouragement

Ruditis, Paul, Raven Gregory, and Dave Hoover
Charmed: Season 9 Volume 1
Charmed: Season 9 Volume 2
Charmed: Season 9 Volume 3
Charmed: Season 9 Volume 4

Sagara, Michelle
1. Cast in Shadow (Chronicles of Elantra)
2. Cast in Courtlight (Chronicles of Elantra)
3. Cast in Secret (Chronicles of Elantra)
4. Cast in Fury (Chronicles of Elantra)
5. Cast in Silence (Chronicles of Elantra)
6. Cast in Chaos (Chronicles of Elantra)
7. Cast in Ruin (Chronicles of Elantra)
8. Cast in Peril (Chronicles of Elantra)

Sanderson, Brandon

Elantris

Sawyer, Robert J.
WWW: Wake
WWW: Watch
WWW: Wonder

Schmidt, Victoria Lynn

Book in a Month: The Fool-Proof System for Writing a Novel in 30 Days

Sinclair, Alison
1. Darkborn (Darkborn Trilogy)
2. Sightborn (Darkborn Trilogy)
3. Shadowborn (Darkborn Trilogy)

Sire, James W.

Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian Calling

Shinn, Sharon

Troubled Waters
1. The Safe-Keeper's Secret
2. The Truth-Teller's Tale
3. The Dream-Maker's Magic

Singh, Nalini

1. Angel's Blood (Guild Hunter)

2. Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter)
3. Archangel's Consort (Guild Hunter)
4. Archangel's Blade (Guild Hunter)
5. Archangel's Storm (Guild Hunter)
Angel's Flight (Guild Hunter)

Smith, Alexander McCall

Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams (Myths, The)

Smith, Ali

Girl Meets Boy: The Myth of Iphis (Myths, The)

Smith, L. J.
1. Secret Vampire (Nightworld)
2. Daughters of Darkness (Nightworld)
3. Spellbinder (Nightworld)
4. Dark Angel (Nightworld)
5. The Chosen (Nightworld)
6. Soulmate (Nightworld)
7. Huntress (Nightworld)
8. Black Dawn (Nightworld)
9. Witchlight (Nightworld)
10. Strange Fate (Nightworld)

Snyder, Maria V.

2. Outside In

1. Touch of Power (Healer)
2. Scent of Magic (Healer)
3. Taste of Death (Healer) (2014)

Stengl, Anne Elisabeth
Moonblood (Tales of Goldstone Wood)
Heartless (Tales of Goldstone Wood)
Starflower (Tales of Goldstone Wood)

Stevens, Gabi
1. The Wish List (Time of Transition)
2. As You Wish (Time of Transition)
3. Wishful Thinking (Time of Transition)

Strobel, Lee

The Unexpected Adventure: Taking Everyday Risks to Talk with People about Jesus

Strong, Jory
1. Ghostland
2. Spider-Touched
3. Healer's Choice

Sunny
1. Mona Lisa Awakening (Monere: Children of the Moon)
2. Mona Lisa Blossoming (Monere: Children of the Moon)
3. Mona Lisa Craving (Monere: Children of the Moon)
4. Mona Lisa Darkening (Monere: Children of the Moon)
5. Mona Lisa Eclipsing (Monere: Children of the Moon)
1. Lucinda, Darkly (The Demon Princess Chronicles)
2. Lucinda, Dangerously (The Demon Princess Chronicles)

Sykes, Christopher Simon
At Home With Books: How Booklovers Live with and Care for Their Libraries

Thomas, Lex
Quarantine: The Loners

Tong, Su

Binu and the Great Wall (Myths, The) - translated by Howard Goldblatt

Trussoni, Danielle
1. Angelology
2. Angelopolis

Ugrešić, Dubravka

Baba Yaga Laid an Egg (Myths, The) - translated by Ellen Elias-Bursac

Victors, Sally

Where Three Roads Meet: The Myth of Oedipus (Myths, The)

Vincent, Rachel
1. My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers)
2. My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers)
3. My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers)
4. My Soul to Steal (Soul Screamers)
5. If I Die (Soul Screamers)
6. Before I Wake (Soul Screamers)
7. With All My Soul (Soul Screamers) (April 1)

Ward, J. R.
3. Lover Awakened (The Black Dagger Brotherhood)
4. Lover Revealed (The Black Dagger Brotherhood)
5. Lover Unbound (The Black Dagger Brotherhood)
6. Lover Enshrined (The Black Dagger Brotherhood)
7. Lover Avenged (The Black Dagger Brotherhood)
8. Lover Mine* (The Black Dagger Brotherhood)
9. Lover Unleashed (The Black Dagger Brotherhood)
10. Lover Reborn (The Black Dagger Brotherhood)
11. Lover at Last (The Black Dagger Brotherhood) (March 26)

Warren, Christine
1. Wolf at the Door (The Others)
2. She's No Faerie Princess (The Others)
3. The Demon You Know (The Others)
4. Howl at the Moon (The Others)
5. Walk on the Wild Side (The Others)
6. One Bite With a Stranger (The Others)
7. You're So Vein (The Others)
8. Big Bad Wolf (The Others)
9. Born To Be Wild (The Others)
10. Prince Charming Doesn't Live Here (The Others)
11. Black Magic Woman (The Others)
12. Not Your Ordinary Faerie Tale (The Others)
13. On the Prowl (The Others)

Westerfeld, Scott
1. Peeps (Peeps)
2. The Last Days (Peeps)

Whedon, Joss
1. The Long Way Home (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight)
2. No Future for You (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight)
3. Wolves at the Gate (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight)
4. Time of Your Life (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight)
5. Predators and Prey (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight)
6. Retreat (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight)
7. Twilight (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight)
8. Last Gleaming (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight)

White, Kiersten
1. Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy)
2. Supernaturally (Paranormalcy)
3. Endlessly (Paranormalcy)

White, Roseanna M.
A Stray Drop of Blood

Wilkinson, Bruce

The Dream Giver

Beyond Jabez

Wilks, Eileen
1. Tempting Danger (World of the Lupi)
2. Mortal Danger (World of the Lupi)
3. Blood Lines (World of the Lupi)
4. Night Season (World of the Lupi)
5. Mortal Sins (World of the Lupi)
6. Blood Magic (World of the Lupi)
7. Blood Challenge (World of the Lupi)
8. Death Magic (World of the Lupi)

Winterson, Jeanette

Weight: The Myth of Atlas and Heracles (Myths, The)

*Titles owned.

Waiting on Wednesday: Naamah's Curse

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





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

Naamah's Curse

by Jacqueline Carey

Publication Date: June 13, 2010

From Amazon:

"Far from the land of her birth, Moirin sets out across Tatar territory to find Bao, the proud and virile Ch'in fighter who holds the missing half of her diadh-anam, the divine soul-spark of her mother's people. After a long ordeal, she not only succeeds, but surrenders to a passion the likes of which she's never known. But the lovers' happiness is short lived, for Bao is entangled in a complication that soon leads to their betrayal."

Teaser Tuesday: January 19, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!).
5. Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


My Teasers:

"He'd said I'd know what to do, when I saw the boy. Well, there he was, and a sorry sight to be sure, curled up like a chastised dog, sleeping the dead sleep of one punished almost beyond endurance. His lids were heavy, and there wasn't a lot of spring left in the sunny curls. I tried to imagine him waking; maybe staring at me with the vacant eyes of an idiot, or the mad ones of a wild creature cornered; but all that came into my mind was one of the old stories, and the picture of the hero, Culhan the Venturer, stepping through the woods silent as a deer." - pg. 45, Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

"But what is so headstrong as youth? What so blind as inexperience? These affirmed that it was pleasure enough to have the privilege of again looking on Mr. Rochester, whether he looked on me or not; and they added - 'Hasten! hasten! Be with him while you may: but a few more days or weeks at most, and you are parted with him forever!' And then I strangled a new-born agony - a deformed thing which I could not persuade myself to own and rear - and ran on." - pg. 266, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

(I sooo need to finish these books!)

Movie Cast Mondays: January 18, 2010

Natalie at Mindful Musings has this meme in which you create fantasy casts for books of your choice. The rules are as follows:

1) Create your own cast for an upcoming book-to-movie adaptation OR pick a book you'd like to see be turned into a movie and choose a cast.
2) Post the book title, author, and summary.
3) Try to pick at least 3 of the main characters to cast.


This week's pick is...

The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley

"Born of noble blood, Kassandra is gifted with the ability to see into the future—and her visions tell of a battle that will bring the wrath of the gods upon all of Greece. She has foreseen the fall of Troy, but no one believes Kassandra’s prophecies, or heeds her warnings about the beautiful woman known as Helen..."

I think this book, which is unfortunately out of print, would make an excellent movie for its unique feminine perspective on the Trojan War. This movie could do just as well as the movie Troy(2004) that starred Brad Pitt, if not better. The cast list is vast, so I'll only pick a few of my favorites to cast.

Morena Baccarin as Kassandra
When I thought of the grace and poise that Kassandra must exhibit, even after facing frightening visions and being rejected by one and all, I remembered the character Inarra Serra from the short-lived television series Firefly. Her character Anna in the current television series V also exhibits that grace and poise, so I knew she would be perfect for this role.

Hayden Panettiere as Helen

Helen is notoriously known to have "the face that launched a thousand ships", and the novel portrays her as being not only beautiful but strong. Hayden's character in the television series Heroes possesses an inner strength that only grows with time, which makes her that much more beautiful. The blonde locks also conveniently match how Helen is typically portrayed.

Angelina Jolie as Penthesilea

Try as I might, I could not come up with any other actress that could a better job with both playing and looking the part of the Amazon Queen Penthesilea, Kassandra's aunt and tutor for the role of priestess. Jolie's work speaks for itself - she would just have to settle for playing a supporting role. Hey, it's my movie after all.

Scott Michael Foster as Paris

The role of Paris in the novel is relatively smaller than the female parts, and happens more often in Kassandra's visions since he is her brother, so a lessor known actor for the part is a better choice. Scott Michael Foster plays "Cappie" in the television series Greek, and I personally think he at least looks the part. Paris is a major contributor to the Trojan War by falling in love with Helen and acting out of immaturity-driven desires, so Scott is a good choice for this role as a trouble-maker.