Title: Alice 19th: Volume One
Mangaka: Yuu Watase
Genre: Fantasy, Manga
Publisher: Viz Media
Distributor: Simon & Schuster, Simon & Schuster UK
Pages: 181
Copy Origin: Review copy provided by Simon & Schuster UK
Get Your Own Copy From: Viz Media, The Book Depository

Alice Seno is a seemingly shy and meek girl who always seems to be outshined by her older sister Mayura. One day, Alice has an encounter with a mysterious and magical rabbit girl, and her life is turned upside down. Alice discovers that certain words have power, and that she has the potential to be master of a set of sublimely powerful words called the Lotis Words. But power always comes with a price, and the price may turn out to be Alice’s sister Mayura…

Mirrored from On The Nightstand.

What do you do when you have received and read an ARC, but the book itself isn’t due out for several months? The answer: while you wait until closer to the release date for the proper review, and in the meantime it’s review preview time!

Title: Perchance To Dream
Author: Lisa Mantchev
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 352
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Copy Origin: ARC provided by the publisher
Pre-Order Your Own Copy From: The Book Depository
Previously In The Trilogy: Eyes Like Stars

(Spoiler Warning: Hover your mouse over to see the publisher’s blurb.)

Act Two, Scene One

Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.

Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY

But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—

Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.

Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.

When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?

A few thoughts and comments:

• The first novel, Eyes Like Stars, built up high hopes regarding the second, and Perchance To Dream completely delivers.
• I am very confident that I can name Perchance To Dream as one of the top ten sequels I’ll read this year. There would have to be 10 impossibly impressive books to knock PTD off the list.
• Bertie is still as awesome and strong as ever.
• They might have left the Theatre, but that does not mean all those wonderfully quirky moments/formatting have left the tale.

Overall, I loved Perchance To Dream, so look out for the full review closer to the release date.

Mirrored from On The Nightstand.

I found out about these via the twitter account of Nancy Holder: basically Simon & Schuster are putting out bind-ups of Buffy The Vampire Slayer tie-in novels!

Collection one, to be released on June 8, contains the three stories Coyote Moon, Night of the Living Rerun and Portal Through Time.

Collection two has a release date of August 10, and contains Halloween Rain, Bad Bargain and Afterimage.

The only one of these six stories I have read is Halloween Rain by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder (which is one I also own) so I am excited that these are coming out. My favourite Buffy novel (of the ones I have read) though is Immortal (also by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder).

Mirrored from On The Nightstand.

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme run by The Story Siren which explores the books that have been delivered to our mailbox.

Claymore: Volume 1, by Norihiro Yagi

A Claymore – a female warrior named for the sword she carries – travels from medieval village to village to destroy Yoma, monsters who disguise themselves as humans and who are almost impossible to kill. Claymores are half-humans, half-demons who willingly transformed themselves by mixing their blood with monster’s blood. Claire, nicknamed silver-eyed killer, is such a powerful Claymore, she can slay a Yoma using only one hand. But she must constantly struggle to keep from becoming a monster herself.

Alice 19th: Volume 1, by Yuu Watase

Alice Seno is a seemingly shy and meek girl who always seems to be outshined by her older sister Mayura. One day, Alice has an encounter with a mysterious and magical rabbit girl, and her life is turned upside down. Alice discovers that certain words have power, and that she has the potential to be master of a set of sublimely powerful words called the Lotis Words. But power always comes with a price, and the price may turn out to be Alice’s sister Mayura…

Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You: Volume 1, by Karuho Shiina

Sawako Kuronuma is the perfect heroine…for a horror movie. With her jet-black hair, sinister smile and silent demeanour, she’s often mistaken for Sadako, the haunting character from Ringu. Unbeknownst to but a few, behind her scary façade is a very misunderstood teenager. Shy and pure of heart, she just wants to make friends. But when Kazehaya, the most popular boy in class, befriends her, she’s sure to make more than just that – she’s about to make some enemies too!

Vampire Knight: Volume 1, by Matsuri Hino

Cross Academy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy’s dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

Yuki Cross has no memory of her past prior to the moment she was saved from a vampire attack ten years ago. She was adopted by the headmaster of Cross Academy, and now works alongside Zero to guard the Academy’s secret. Yuki believes the vampires and humans can coexist peacefully, but her partner has different ideas…

Rosario+Vampire: Volume 1, by Akihisa Ikeda

All-around average teenager Tsukune can’t get accepted to any high school save one…but on his first day he finds the rest of the student body doesn’t appear average at all. Best of all, the cutest girl on campus can’t wait to fling her arms around his neck! Wait a sec’ — are those her teeth around his neck too…? Tsukune’s going to have one heck of a hickey when he gets home from Monster High! But does he have a chance in H E double hockey sticks of raising his grades at a school where the turf war isn’t between the jocks and the nerds but the vampires and the werewolves?

Ouran High School Host Club: Volume 1, by Bisco Hatori

One day, Haruhi, a scholarship student at exclusive Ouran High School, breaks an $80,000 vase that belongs to the ‘Host Club’, a mysterious campus group consisting of six super-rich (and gorgeous) guys. To pay back the damages, she is forced to work for the club, and it’s there that she discovers just how wealthy the boys are and how different they are from everybody else.

Ponyo On The Cliff: Volume 1, by Hayao Miyazaki

Loosely based on Hans Christan Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, Ponyo is about a female fish who runs away from her home in the sea and ends up stranded on the shore. Sosuke, a five-year-old boy who lives on a cliff, rescues her and promises to protect Ponyo forever.

As you can see, it’s a manga week here at On The Nightstand, and all of these were kindly provided for review by Simon & Schuster UK. I have already reviewed Rosario+Vampire and Vampire Knight.

Mirrored from On The Nightstand.

On My Wishlist is a weekly meme run by Book Chick City that allows us to share books we haven’t bought yet but are waiting to be bought and devoured – those books that we really really want and torment us every time we go to the bookshop or go online and look at them.

All of this week’s selection come from various Macmillan imprints.

Title: By These Ten Bones
Author: Clare B. Dunkle
Publisher: Henry Holt Books For Young Readers
Get Your Own Copy From: The Book Depository

A mysterious young man has come to a small Highland town. His talent for wood carving soon wins the admiration of the weaver’s daughter, Maddie. Fascinated by the silent carver, she sets out to gain his trust, only to find herself drawn into a terrifying secret that threatens everything she loves.

There is an evil presence in the carver’s life that cannot be controlled, and Maddie watches her town fall under a shadow. One by one, people begin to die. Caught in the middle, Maddie must decide what matters most to her-and what price she is willing to pay to keep it.

Title: The Adoration of Jenna Fox
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Publisher: Square Fish
Get Your Own Copy From: The Book Depository

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just awoken from a year-long coma—so she’s been told—and she is still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. But what happened before that? She’s been given home movies chronicling her entire life, which spark memories to surface. But are the memories really hers? And why won’t anyone in her family talk about the accident? Jenna is becoming more curious. But she is also afraid of what she might find out if she ever gets up the courage to ask her questions. What happened to Jenna Fox? And who is she really?

Title: Nathan Fox: Dangerous Times
Author: Lynn Brittney
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Get Your Own Copy From: The Book Depository

Sir Francis Walsingham, England’s spymaster general, has eyes and ears all over the world. His secret service protects Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth—and ensures the might of all of England. Now he has a new recruit. Fourteen-year-old Nathan Fox is an actor in the same company as young Will Shakespeare. His life in the theatre has taught him a thing or two about disguises and deception. But nothing can prepare Nathan for the shadowy world he’s about to enter now.

Nathan is trained in swordplay and streetfighting, codebreaking and escapes. Then he’s paired with fearless spy John Pearce for his first mission: a journey to Venice to forge an alliance against the powerful King of Spain.

Posing as master and servant, Nathan and Pearce move smoothly through Venetian society . . . until they cross paths with the great General Othello. Soon they become entangled in his tragic love affair with a young noblewoman, Desdemona.

Nathan’s new life holds more action and more drama than he ever saw on a stage. But will he ever survive to tell Will Shakespeare this tale?

Mirrored from On The Nightstand.

Title: Rosario+Vampire: Volume 1
Mangaka: Akihisa Ikeda
Genre: Manga, Paranormal, Vampire
Publisher: Viz Media
Distributor: Simon & Schuster, Simon & Schuster UK
Pages: 192
Copy Origin: Review copy provided by Simon & Schuster UK
Get Your Own Copy From: The Book Depository

All-around average teenager Tsukune can’t get accepted to any high school save one…but on his first day he finds the rest of the student body doesn’t appear average at all. Best of all, the cutest girl on campus can’t wait to fling her arms around his neck! Wait a sec’ — are those her teeth around his neck too…? Tsukune’s going to have one heck of a hickey when he gets home from Monster High! But does he have a chance in H E double hockey sticks of raising his grades at a school where the turf war isn’t between the jocks and the nerds but the vampires and the werewolves?

Mirrored from On The Nightstand.

Title: Suspicion
Author: Kate Brian
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Simon & Schuster / Simon & Schuster UK
Pages: 224
Copy Origin: Review copy provided by Simon & Schuster UK
Get Your Own Copy From: The Book Depository

Reed Brennan thought that a winter break in the islands with some of the Billings Girls, old and new, was just what she needed to recover from her traumatic last term at Easton. At first everything is perfect; relaxing, fun and elegant. But then things take a more sinister turn and suddenly Reed finds herself in danger once more.

If Reed wants to survive her fateful vacation she must discover who is after her and why, before it’s too late.

Mirrored from On The Nightstand.

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:

Title: The Wager
Author: Donna Jo Napoli
Publisher: Henry Holt Books For Young Reader
Release Date: April 27th 2010
Pre-Order A Copy From: Amazon.com, The Book Depository

Don Giovanni is no beggar. A few months ago he was the wealthiest and handsomest young man in Messina, until a tidal wave washed away everything he owned. Though he’s now homeless and poor, he still has his pride—and his good looks. Yet winter is coming, and Don Giovanni has nowhere to go, nothing to eat.

When a well-dressed stranger offers him a magical purse in exchange for a simple-sounding wager, Don Giovanni knows he shouldn’t take it. Only the devil would offer a deal like this, and only a fool would accept. But Don Giovanni is desperate. Against his better judgment he enters into a deal with the devil: he will not change his clothes or bathe for 3 years, 3 months, and 3 days.

Beauty is a small price to pay for worldly wealth, isn’t it? Unless Don Giovanni loses the wager—and with it his soul.

Why Am I Excited For This Release? When I first saw it while wandering around the various Macmillan imprints I found this one. I went, “Ooh” at the cover, and then went to check out what it was about. And when I saw the plot I went, “Ooh, I love Bearskin!” But when I looked up the story, as details didn’t quite fit (such as seven years in Bearskin vs three years, three months and three days in The Wager) I discovered that it is based upon another tale of that type: Don Giovanni de la Fortuna.

Also, you really should check out the cover in hires, as my thumbnail here does not do it justice at all. Look at all the little details!

Mirrored from On The Nightstand.

General Reading

On a reading note, I really hit the ground running – in January I read sixteen books. You heard me.

1. The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
2. Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins
3. Hidden Voices: The Orphan Musicians of Venice – Pat Lowery Collins
4. Hero – Perry Moore
5. Fade Out – Rachel Caine
6. The Luxe – Anna Godbersen
7. Along For The Ride – Sarah Dessen
8. The Changeover – Margaret Mahy
9. Enchanted Glass – Diana Wynne Jones
10. East – Edith Pattou
11. The Magician of Hoad – Margaret Mahy
12. Hourglass – Claudia Gray
13. If I Stay – Gayle Forman
14. Suspicion – Kate Brian
15. This Lullaby – Sarah Dessen
16. Unwind – Neal Shusterman

I still have to write a review for Suspicion, but that will come towards the end of the week, I think. Just did a mass of reviews so I want to space a few more out.

Challenges

I am taking part in three challenges – 100 In 2010, POC Reading and my own Fangtastic Fiction – but the only one I have really made any headway on is 100 in 2010… you can sort of see why. Since I am making a point at the moment to clear out my to read pile, that’s the one that will be continued in February. Once I have space I can start selecting books that will help me do the other challenges.

Writing

Unfortunately all that reading kind of took a toll on my writing – I didn’t make my resolution of 10 000 words a month. Oops. So this month my goal is 12500 words minimum. I did, however, take part in Michelle Zink’s open mic posts (well, some of them), where you post snippets of your work¹. I posted two for The Circled Green (here and here) and one for Lionheart (here).

And that pretty much sums up January.

1. Snippets for December include Bones and again for The Circled Green and Lionheart [↩]

Mirrored from On The Nightstand.

Title: Vampire Knight: Volume 1
Mangaka: Matsuri Hino
Genre: Vampire
Publisher: Viz Media
Distributor: Simon & Schuster, Simon & Schuster UK
Pages: 208
Copy Origin: Review copy provided by Simon & Schuster UK
Get Your Own Copy From: Viz Media, The Book Depository

Cross Academy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy’s dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

Yuki Cross has no memory of her past prior to the moment she was saved from a vampire attack ten years ago. She was adopted by the headmaster of Cross Academy, and now works alongside Zero to guard the Academy’s secret. Yuki believes the vampires and humans can coexist peacefully, but her partner has different ideas…

Mirrored from On The Nightstand.