In my mailbox (#11) + Hunger Games!

Hello my wonderful piggie followers! I know what your thinking, long time no see. It seems that I'm always disappearing, eh? Well, this time you have school to blame for lack of posts on here. After being sick and away from school for 2 and 1/2 weeks, I had A LOT to catch up on. That mixed with current work took up most of my time, leaving me with NO reading time! But alas, I have caught up (mostly) and will be posting as much as I can. Reading is currently on the back burner, so hang in there. I'm not disappearing forever, I'm still here!! Just as often as I can be.

Anyways, I got some exciting books in the mail AND a little something something your all going to be jealous about.

As many of you know, there were lots of giveaway going around for the Black City cover release. Well, after entering every single blog contest for the Black City galley, I WON! That's right, you read me correctly. I WON!!! W-O-N...WON! I have a copy sitting nicely on my book shelf awaiting to be read.  You know your jealous. Don't deny it ^.^ On a second jealous note, I got an amazing HUNGER GAMES T-Shirt!! And because I will have and will always be team Peeta, I got a shirt with Peeta's beautiful face on it, with Hunger Games written on the back. See pictures of the gorgeous Peeta below!

Without further ado, enjoy some pictures!

WON: Black City

When I received the package for Black City I was surprised to discover that the package included 3 OTHER BOOKS! All galleys. This was so exciting and I thank the blogger I won from. If you'd like, go check out his blog: Prince Balthazar
Thanks again!
The other books: The Waiting Sky, Cold Fury and Right Real

Yeah, bask in this T-Shirt awesomeness. I'm currently wearing it and cannot wait to be wearing it when I go see the movie (which I've yet to seen)... I'm waiting for it to be less packed. The Front: Peeta's name and face
The Back: The Hunger Games

In my mailbox (#10)

As always, you know this is a weekly meme hosted by thestorysiren.com ^.^

Woohoo you guys! This is The Little Blue Pig's 10th IMM! I know this is going up a bit late. My apologies. I've been sick for over 2 weeks with the flu. I haven't really been up for doing much. I also just went back to school today and so don't be alarmed if I'm not as active on the blog as I usually am. I have 2 weeks worth of school work to catch up on. Don't blame me!!

But anyways, I did get some books this past week. I actually also got a book in the mail today, which was a lovely surprise as I had no idea it was coming. I love when books just show up. It's rather exciting! But anyways, I'm showing you the book today instead of at the end of the week because I'll probably not be home next Sunday, and I don't see myself purchasing any books this week. Kind of out of funds for the week, book wise.

Without further ado...

Review:

Secrets of the Henna Girl by Sufiya Ahmed

This one sounds interesting. It deals with arranged marriages, which is something I'm personally against. Will have to see how this one is. Thanks to Penguin Canada, this was a surprise. So thank you!

Under my Skin by Charles de Lint

Bought:

Dark Souls by Paula Morris

I've actually already read this one and reviewed it here on the blog. Click HERE if you'd like to read about how much I enjoyed this one!

Above by Leah Bobet

I'm really excited to read this one. I think it doesn't come out until later this month, according to goodreads, however I found it at my local bookstore. Of course I picked it up right away! It takes place in Toronto Ontario. I live in Ontario, and Toronto isn't too far from me! I love books that take place in Canada or books that are written by Canadian authors. Represent!

Manga (Bought):

Sailor Moon Vol. 2 & Vol. 3 by Naoko Takeuchi

I've read Vol. 1-3 already and cannot wait for the 4th Vol.! I love this series! I even watched a few episodes online.

Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura Vol. 1 by Arina Tanemura

Truthfully, I only got this one because I thought the cover looked pretty. But it also sounds good.

And guess what else I got!?! I got a Hunger Games bookmark! It's seriously amazing! I love it!

Front:

Back:

I forgot to include one more book I got for review.

Well that's all from me this week. What was in your mailbox this week? Let me know! Leave me a link and I'll come visit your post.


Angela

Review: Dark Souls

Title: Dark Souls
Author: Paula Morris
Pages: 292
Format: Print/ Hard covered
Publication date: August 1st 2011
Publisher: Scholastic. Inc

I was really excited when I brought this book home the other day. Having been disappointed the book store didn't have the book I originally wanted to get, I was happy I at least found a book that peaked my interest. And boy am I happy I took this puppy home.

If there is one thing a lot of people don't know about me, is that I am a ghost story fanatic. You wouldn't think this, seeing as I coward whenever I'm watching ghost stories on t.v or movies. But truly, I love them! I think it's the whole possibility of there maybe being ghosts out there that I find so thrilling. Or it could be that I just really love to scare the crap out of me. Either way, I loved Dark Souls.

Dark Souls is a ghost story thriller. You have ghosts, mixed in with mystery, mixed in with thrill, mixed in with lots and lots of suspense. I can't say I was let down. After all, I did finish this book in one sitting. Kind of tells you something, doesn't it? I could not put this book down! The mystery aspect of it keeps your eyes glued to its pages. Although it was told in the perspective of a narrator, the writing was fluent and engaging. The way Paula Morris weaved mystery between printed words was amazing. Seriously, you won't want to put this book down until you get answers.

The characters were another thumbs-up about this book. Miranda was so well developed, and even though she wasn't the speaker throughout the book, you really got to know her. You spent a lot of time dwelling in her feelings and her actions. As a main character, this was important. She was likable and rounded. And Nick, the mysterious hottie was no exception. He was a mystery, so you got to know him as much as you would get to know a mystery type man. He has his secretes, secretes you die to discover (of which you won't till the last 50 pages or so).

The ghosts in this were creepy and everything you'd expect in a ghost. Some were creepy, others not so much. Some talked, some didn't. Some were friendly, and some weren't. If your looking for a good ghost story with lots of ghosts, this is it!

One thing I will say that I don't think a lot of readers will enjoy (depends if it's your forte), is the history aspect of this book. It was chalk full of history. The book takes place in York, England, a very old place with much history. As a history fanatic, I loved learning about York's history. I was even surprised when I knew some of it! So if you don't like history, you may not enjoy this book too much. However, in my opinion history was a big part of the plot and characters. I mean, when you have ghosts, doesn't history come along with them? Kind of an important aspect when dealing with ghosts, eh?

Anyways, there was one thing I completely disliked about this book. The ending! And not because it ended. It was way too rushed and the relationship between Miranda and Nick you hope escalates, kind of deflates like a balloon. They part ways and that's that. SPOILER: Nick gets sent to an asylum and Miranda returns home :SPOILER. It was a crappy, rushed, ending that did not leave me satisfied as a reader. And the epilogue? A total waste of paper!

Seriously?

Paula, you're going to end your book talking about the experience about a guy we only vaguely hear about at the beginning of the book?

Really?

Pointless!

It left me wondering what in the world Paula had been thinking when she ended the book. Oh yeah, and then Miranda is happy. She isn't sad anymore. Why is she happy all the sudden? Care to elope, Paula? Cause I sure as hell am still fizzled about why exactly Miranda is just "happy." And what about Nick? What ever did happen to him? Care to share?

You'd think this would make me hate the book, but because I really did enjoy the story overall, I really can't rate it less than five stars. As a ghost story, it succeeded. As a mystery novel it succeeded. Did it keep my attention? Hell yeah! Was I interested the entire thriller through? FREAK yeah! Was the ending crappy? Yeah, I could write a better one. But you can't always get everything you want as a reader in a book.

My rating:
5 ghostly ghosts


Angela