Stacking The Shelves is a weekly event hosted by Tynga’s Reviews that shares the books (both physical and virtual) that you recently purchased, borrowed from a fellow reader or the library, won from a giveaway, or received as gifts. Stacking The Shelves will post on Saturdays as new books are added to my shelves.
I’m taking a quick break from my mini “writing vacation” to share this year’s Christmas book haul! Most of the books were on my wishlist, while a couple others were neat surprises. Here they are!
Top Row, Left to Right:
Metatron: Invoking The Angel Of God’s Presence by Rose Vanden Eynden (Spirituality): One of the two surprise gifts. A friend found this book at a new age store and said she immediately thought of me. Now, I don’t write much about my spiritual beliefs on this blog… but Metatron is an archangel whom I’ve developed a special connection with over the past year. I’ve fallen out of my “communication” habit the past couple months (two words: holiday insanity), so this book could be a great way to reconnect with Metatron.
Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms, Book #1) by Morgan Rhodes (YA Epic Fantasy): OOOOOOOOOH. This sounds like the YA version of George R.R. Martin’s Song Of Ice And Fire saga. Multiple POV characters (at least three, from the looks of the jacket copy) and the promise of political intrigue, romance, and death. Muahahahaha!
Middle Row, Left to Right:
Neverwhere (Contemporary Fantasy) and Stardust (Fantasy) by Neil Gaiman: I really enjoyed The Ocean At The End Of The Lane this past summer, so now I want to catch up with Neil’s previous works. American Gods was also on my list, but these two should tide me over for the time being.
The Burning Sky (Elemental Trilogy, Book #1) by Sherry Thomas (YA Fantasy): I’d be lying if I said Burning Sky‘s cover wasn’t one of the reasons why I wanted to read it. Isn’t it gorgeous?! It reminds me of a phoenix rising from the ashes. And like I mentioned in this article from November, I’m interested in reading more fantasy stories dealing with elemental magic. Very excited about this gift, and I hope to read it sometime in 2015.
Bottom Row:
642 Things To Write About by San Francisco Writers’ Grotto (Writing / Craft): A writing prompt book with a sense of humor! I flipped through it on Christmas Eve and had to stop myself from cracking up. A number of the prompt ideas are outrageous (e.g., an ode to an onion, fixing the plot of the worst movie you’ve ever seen, a serial killer’s video library), but some are more serious or “down-to-earth” (e.g., something you’ve always regretted saying, describing something you once wanted badly and then never used once you got it). I can’t wait to try a couple and see what story ideas it might spark. (NOTE: For younger writers, I’d recommend this version instead, as some prompts in the one I received may not be appropriate for everyone.)
What books did you recently buy or acquire? Have you read of the books shown / discussed above? Feel free to share your opinions and most recent hauls by commenting below.
This is a super idea for an ongoing blog post, Sara:)). I’ve been given some Amazon vouchers – but haven’t yet settled down to really SPLURGE on some new books, as I’ve still got waaay too many on my TBR pile to get through! Having said that, after reading the hugely enjoyable ‘The Facts of Life and Death’ by Belinda Baur, Himself did rush out and snag ‘Rubberneckers’ with his book tokens. I’m sure he’ll share it with me…
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Thanks, Sarah! Though I can’t take much credit. Tynga and her team started it, and from the looks of things it’s really caught on.
Your husband seems to be good with sharing books with you. I think I noticed a couple of your reviews mentioned he recommended each book after reading it himself. 🙂
Haven’t heard of either book, but I look forward to reading about them on your blog!
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Great haul. I look forward to seeing what you think of Stardust 🙂
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Thanks! I’ll post a review here once I get around to reading it. 🙂
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Wow, this is a great list and Falling Kingdoms sounds like my thing! I’ll check it out. I’m yet to read any of Neil Gaiman’s works, I have so much to catch up! The Elemental Trilogy sounds interesting too. My WIP book has some elemental magic in it, it’s a lot of fun to write about.
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You’re not alone in the Catching Up department. *lol*
Speaking of elemental magic, have you read Mary Weber’s Storm Siren?
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The only book I have “read” (well it was DNF) was Falling Kingdoms. I have come to realise that while I do love YA fiction, I much prefer more adult Fantasy than YA fantasy. Soo many people love it though so I hope you do enjoy it, it just wasn’t my cup of tea sadly. The Burning Sky looks very intriguing though, must check that one out!
My December Book Haul
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That’s OK, Edel. 😉 I tend to go back and forth between adult and YA fantasy, but I can see how YA might not appeal to everyone. Going to check out your haul right now!
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Stardust is good, I liked it. I want to read Falling Kingdoms too. That’s what it’s billed as, a YA Game of Thrones! Congrats on all of the new good books!
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Great books for you this week! There are a lot of awesome covers there! Hope you enjoy them!
Brittany @ Spare Time Book blog
My STS: http://sparetimebookblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/stacking-shelves.html
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I got Wildwood Dancing and Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier, Waistcoats and Weaponry by Gail Carriger, Bylthewood, and a few review books arrived that I can’t remember right now because my brain is all whackadoo from laying on the couch and being sick.
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Awwww, hope you feel better soon, Tabitha. Are you still having bouts of morning sickness, or is it something else this time?
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I’ve got that Things to Write and I need to start using it. Great haul!
Check out my STS
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Same here. It should be a fun “inspiration mine.” Thanks for commenting, Lisa! 🙂
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Great haul! I actually didn’t get any books as gifts for the holidays this year, I think I read so much that people are just like, er, I have no idea what you have or don’t have on your shelves anymore, here take this gift card, get the books you like! 😛
Sequel to Falling Kingdoms is a book I need to catch up with this year, now that book three is also out. I hope you’ll enjoy book 1!
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Thanks, Mogsy! People do the same for me most of the time, by buying me gift cards to Barnes & Noble or other booksellers. But the Gaiman, Thomas, and Rhodes books were all on my Christmas list, so people also knew specific titles I was looking for this year. 😉
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