In My Mailbox - 11.5.11

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. A post where we share books acquired via mailbox, library, store, etc.

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Bought:

The Toothache Man
by Sal Conte
-gruesome horror

Free from Kindle: beware some free offers are limited

Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington
(Love Finds You)
Tricia Goyer, Ocieanna Fleiss
-ww2, romance

Songbird Under a German Moon
by Tricia Goyer
-ww2, romance

While We're Far Apart
by Lynn Austin
-ww2, romance

House Report
(Kat Carpenter Mysteries)
by Deborah Nicholson
-mystery

For Review:

Demon Bait
Children of the Undying, Book 1
by Moira Rogers
-paranormal romance
courtesy of authors
Thanks Bree & Donna!

For Review and giveaway:

Laddertop
Volume 1
by Orson Scott Card and Emily Janice Card
illustrated by Honoel A. Ibardolaza
-fantasy, manga
courtesy of publisher, Tor/Forge
Thanks Aisha!
signup for this giveaway here

Asenath
by Anna Patricio
-historical, Egypt
courtesy of author
Thanks Anna!
stay tuned: giveaway in December

Specific Impulse
by Charles Justiz
-scifi
courtesy of PR by the Book
Thanks Babs!
stay tuned: giveaway in January

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Won from contest:

Radiant Desire
by Inara Scott
-fairies, romance
Thanks to My Bookish Ways!

Tranquil Disturbances
by Garry Charles
-horror
Thanks to KHP Books!

In Sickness
by LL Soares and Laura Cooney
-horror
Thanks to KHP Books!

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Bookie Brunch schedule
Now follow me to the Bookie Brunch meeting for a bit of chit chat at -tba

Bookie Brunch Question of the day: tba

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* get a heads up on free or discounted ebooks from Books on the Knob

* per usual, check out the sidebar for my current giveaways to you

* image from Leafcutter Designs - world's smallest postal service and you can get a letter kit at Chronicle Books

dr viiiii: ACT V

We continue along in dr viiiii's imaginarium to discover more fantasy related books in his mind.

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Mr O, peaks around the corner and welcomes us.

He has a tale to tell.

In a world that is found in Laddertop...

Laddertop
Volume 1
by Orson Scott Card and Emily Janice Card
illustrated by Honoel A. Ibardolaza
One of the true stars of science fiction and fantasy writing, Hugo and Nebula Award winner Orson Scott Card joins his daughter Emily Janice Card for the first time to coauthor an all-new science fiction manga epic with LADDERTOP, Vol. 1 (Tor Seven Seas/Trade Paperback; September 27, 2011; $10.99). Illustrated by award-winning Honoel A. Ibardolaza, LADDERTOP, Vol. 1 follows an elite crew of children in a space station, in the tradition of Ender’s Game.

Twenty-five years ago, the alien Givers came to Earth. They gave the human race the greatest technology ever seen— four giant towers known as Ladders that rise 36,000 miles into space and culminate in space stations that power the entire planet. Then, for reasons unknown, the Givers disappeared. Due to the unique alien construction of the Laddertop space stations, only a skilled crew of children can perform the maintenance necessary to keep the stations up and running.

Back on Earth, competition is fierce to enter Laddertop Academy. It is an honor few students will achieve. Robbi and Azure, two eleven-year-old girls who are the best of friends, are candidates for the Academy. They will become entangled in a dangerous mystery that may help them solve the riddle of the Givers...if it doesn’t destroy the Earth first!

The first book of three, LADDERTOP, VOL 1 continues in the tradition of showcasing the Cards’ well-crafted, spellbinding storytelling skills. Combined with Ibardolaza’s masterful illustration, Robbi and Azure’s lively, unforgettable adventures will captivate both Ender fans and manga readers.

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Looks like a great book!
*exclaims someone from the crowd*
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--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of publisher ~--
Win a copy of this book!

Open to all.

Offer ends: November 13, 2011

TO DO: (2-parts)

1. ONE of these:

ADD this book to your Goodreads

or

LIKE this book on amazon.

or

TWEET this: (or click the twitter button on this post)
Giveaway: Laddertop by Orson Scott Card & Emily Janice Card http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2011/10/dr-viiiii-act-v.html

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

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Contest has ended - winner is here

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* image source Orlando Bloom, corridor, crowd shout-out word from Margaret

-+0+o+ October Trix-n-Treatz schedule +o+0+-

Enchantment by Orson Scott Card

Enchantment
by Orson Scott Card

Genre:  Fantasy
Published:  1999
Paperback:  400 pages
Rating:  5

Inspiration:  I liked Ender's Game, so thought I'd try another Card book.

Description from the author's site:
As one of the most consistently exciting writers to emerge in the last twenty-five years, Orson Scott Card has been honored with numerous awards, immersing readers in dazzling worlds only he could create. Now, in Enchantment, Card works his magic as never before, transforming the timeless story of Sleeping Beauty into an original fantasy brimming with romance and adventure.

The moment Ivan stumbled upon a clearing in the dense Carpathian forest, his life was forever changed. Atop a pedestal encircled by fallen leaves, the beautiful princess Katerina lay as still as death. But beneath the foliage a malevolent presence stirred and sent the ten-year-old Ivan scrambling for the safety of Cousin Marek's farm.

Now, years later, Ivan is an American graduate student, engaged to be married. Yet he cannot forget that long-ago day in the forest — or convince himself it was merely a frightened boy's fantasy. Compelled to return to his native land, Ivan finds the clearing just as he left it.

This time he does not run.

This time he awakens the beauty with a kiss . . . and steps into a world that vanished a thousand years ago.

A rich tapestry of clashing worlds and cultures, Enchantment is a powerfully original novel of a love and destiny that transcend centuries . . . and the dark force that stalks them across the ages.

My thoughts:

This quote from the book sums it up from page 71:

"Western stories ended with getting married and living happily ever after. And Russian fairy tales went far beyond that--to betrayal, adultery, murder, all within that romantic marriage that the wanderer stumbled into. The old tale of Sleeping Beauty might end happily in French or English, but he was in Russia, and only a fool would want to live through the Russian version of any fairy tale."

I grew up with the Disney-fied version of Sleeping Beauty. This book surprised me. Being a Russian fairy tale with its drama mentioned in the quote above, I thoroughly enjoyed this version of Sleeping Beauty that takes place in both the present and past. 

What happens after Sleeping Beauty is awake from the kiss?  Well, you'll surely find out in this book. And you'll learn about the infamous Baba Yaga. I had never heard of the witch Baba Yaga except for last year when I came across the Fables graphic novel series (It rocks! fairy tale lovers will get a kick out of it.) Baba Yaga's modern day airport experience was quite amusing to read.

Fun fact:
Enchantment was chosen by the American Library Association Young Adult Library Services Association for its "2005 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults List" in the "Gateway to Faerie" category.

Coinkydink:

For those of you who read Beth Fantasky's Jessica's Guide to Dating On the Dark Side, part of the action takes place at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains.