In My Mailbox (21)

Suspension- May 31, 1883, 3:55 p.m. Twenty thousand men, women, and children, their
faces shining in the late afternoon sun, are strolling the Eighth
Wonder of the World. The Brooklyn Bridge is open just a week, its
promenade a magnet for the teeming masses of New York and Brooklyn. An
engineering marvel of transcending beauty, the bridge is simply
breathtaking.In precisely five minutes, it will fall.Seven
desperate men, former Confederate soldiers turned saboteurs, have
labored for years to destroy the bridge, which they saw as a symbol of
hated Yankee supremacy.Sergeant Detective Tom Braddock is one
step behind the conspirators. Working through a series of murderous
dead-ends, Braddock has dogged the seven men from the cables of the
bridge to the shadowy alleys of the Lower East Side and the back streets
of Richmond, Virginia. Slowly, he has slowly drawn closer to the
unthinkable truth, a truth that none can accept...

The Singer of All Songs- Calwyn has never been beyond the high ice-wall that guards the sisters
of Antaris from the world of Tremaris. She knows only the rounds of her
life as a novice ice priestess, tending her bees, singing her ice
chantments, and dreaming. But then Calwyn befriends Darrow, a
mysterious Outlander who appears inside the Wall and warns of an
approaching danger. To help Darrow, to see the world, and perhaps to
save it, Calwyn will leave the safety of the Wall for a journey with a
man she barely knows--and an adventure as beautiful and dangerous as the
music of chantment itself.

A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts- According to Chinese tradition, those who die hungry or unjustly come back to haunt the living. Some are appeased with food. But not all
ghosts are successfully mollified. In this chilling collection of
stories,Ying Chang Compestine takes readers on a journey through time
and across different parts of China. From the building of the GreatWall
in 200 BCE to themodern day of iPods, hungry ghosts continue to torment
those who wronged them.

Odds are Good- Beloved for his hilarious and unexpectedly moving novels, Bruce Coville
is also a master of the short story. These two collections, in one
volume for the first time, feature eighteen tales of unusual breadth and
emotional depth. This omnibus is a perfect introduction to Bruce
Coville's magic for the uninitiated.

Oddest of All- Fans of Bruce Coville’s wonderfully weird storytelling will be thrilled
to know that the expert of odd is back with a new collection of nine
curious and thought-provoking tales. From stories about a girl
who learns the horrifying secrets about what’s really at the
bottom of a murky, desolate pond, a strange chemical factory causing
mutations in frogs, and a Halloween mask that becomes a gruesome clue in
the disappearance of a child, the odd adventures in this new
collection are filled with terrifying and ghoulish details. In the
eerie, surreal tradition of Edgar Allan Poe, these reveries are sure
to linger in the minds of readers.

A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper

Set on a fictional island kingdom off the coast of Spain, orphaned Sophia and her sister and cousin are impoverished royalty trying to patch together an existence under the negligent care of a batty housekeeper and the insane royal king. Their tiny kingdom can't stay separate from the issues of the world though as WWII looms and Germans are even seen on their island. Part coming of age, part gothic adventure, Sophia is forced to grow up whether she feels ready or not.

Genre: coming of age; historical

Rating: 4/5

This book reminded me a lot of I Capture the Castle. There's an otherworldly quality to it with royals who are more poor cousins than royals based on their lack of funds and a castle mouldering around them. Sophia is a sweet girl, isolated and in awe of her cousin, but who has normal hopes and dreams. She and her family are forced by circumstances to make hard decisions about what to do when it comes to their kingdom and there's a lot of the old "abandoned youth left to fend for themselves" trope that you don't see much except for in older British novels. It's a very readable book though and you wish the best for Sophia and her family as they are displaced and starting on a new phase in their lives by the end of the book.

In My Mailbox (20)

A Brief History of Montmaray- Sophie Fitzosborne lives in a crumbling castle in the tiny island kingdom of Montmaray with her eccentric and impoverished royal family. When she receives a journal for her sixteenth birthday, Sophie decides to chronicle day-to-day life on the island. But this is 1936, and the news that trickles in from the mainland reveals a world on the brink of war. The politics of Europe seem far away from their remote island—until two German officers land a boat on Montmaray. And then suddenly politics become very personal indeed.


Heretic- Already a seasoned veteran of King Edward's army, young Thomas of Hookton possesses the fearlessness of a born leader and an uncanny prowess with the longbow. Now, at the head of a small but able band of soldiers, he has been dispatched to capture the castle of Astarac. But more than duty to his liege has brought him to Gascony, home of his forebears and the hated black knight who brutally slew Thomas's father. It is also the last place where the Holy Grail was reported seen. Here, also, a beautiful and innocent, if not pious, woman is to be burned as a heretic. Saving the lady, Genevieve, from her dread fate will brand Thomas an infidel, forcing them to flee together across a landscape of blood and fire. And what looms ahead is a battle to the death that could ultimately shape the future of Christendom.

The Christopher Killer by Alane Ferguson

Cameryn is the daughter of the town coroner and is keen on following in her father's footsteps. Unfortunately on her second time out with her father the body they find is that of someone Cameryn knows. She's the latest victim of a serial killer who leaves Christopher medals on his victims. Cammie is determined to find the killer of her friend, but added to the case itself is the fact that her mother has entered back into her life through the connection to Justin, a deputy who Cammie may have developing feelings for. She has to use her scientific knowledge to try to solve the case before she becomes the next victim.

Genre: mystery

Rating: 4/5

A pretty smart forensic mystery for teenagers, Ferguson doesn't shy away from the nastiness of death, yet speaks of it in a clinical way that gets the point across. Cameryn is a feisty girl, but I do find it a bit hard to believe that she'd be allowed to help her father as much as she does. There's also the issue that he's smarter than everyone around her, which is also a bit unbelievable. Also slightly odd is her relationship with deputy Justin, who we find is 21, so not out of the realm of attraction for a 17 year old, but still the fact that he has an official job being so young is unbelievable and slightly jarring in the read.

I liked the book though, on the forensic level. It was the first mystery for teens that I'd read that had the Kathy Reiches feel to it. That's a hard thing to do with a YA protagonist, but Ferguson works it as best as she can.

The Gates by John Connolly

Samuel Johnson, a very interesting 11 year old, was just trying to show initiative by trick-or-treating a few days early. What he ends up doing is witnessing his neighbors accidentally opening a portal to Hell. Fortunately it's not a very big portal, unfortunately it's about to be one if the denizens of Satan have their way. So it's up to Samuel, his dog, a few friends, and one very bored demon to stop the end of the world.

Genre: humor; supernatural

Rating: 4.5/5

This book reminded me as nothing so much as a slightly lesser version of Good Omens. It's charmingly funny in its own way as Samuel and various other members of the community deal with the demon invasion happening. We find out that Nurd the Scourge of the Five Deities is a demon with a fondness for fast cars. We find that you can take out a demon (at least a lesser one) with a cricket bat. The one fault I found with the book is that Connolly tries to argue for science, but that intrinsically goes against the fact that all the plot of his book revolves around something supernatural. While he tries to blend them, their arguments of theory versus faith are at odds. To me he can't make the major plot of his book about demons, then try to brush aside religion. To me it's a flaw in logic that kept sticking out.

In My Mailbox (19)

Rot & Ruin- In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.

Blood Red Road- Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That’s fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother, Lugh, is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives bearing four cloaked horsemen, Saba’s world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on a quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba discovers she is a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent—and she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Ashes- An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.
Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.

For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

Gardens of the Moon- The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations with ancient and implacable sorcerers. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen's rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.

For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, their lone surviving mage, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities, yet holds out. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze.

However, the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand . . .

The Age of Ra- An alternate history of the world where the Egyptian gods have defeated all others and have carved up the planet between themselves. Only a band of Freedom Fighters and their enigmatic leader can free the Earth from their divine tyranny.

The Age of Odin- Gideon Dixon was a good solider but bad at everything else. Now the British Army doesn't want him any more. So when he hears about the Valhalla Project it seems like a dream come true. They're recruiting from service personnel for execellent pay with no questions asked to take part in unspecified combat operations. The last thing Gideon expects is to finding himself fighting alongside the gods of the ancient Norse pantheon. The world is in the grip of one of the worst winters it has ever known, and Ragnarok-the fabled final conflict of the Sagas-is looming.

Best Served Cold- War may be hell, but for Monza Murcatto, a solider of considerable fortune; it's a damn good way of making money too. Her victories have made her popular - a shade too popular for her employer's taste. Betrayed and left for dead, Murcatto's reward is a broken body and a burning hunger for vengeance.

Whatever the cost, seven men must die.

This Dark Endeavor- Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures...until the day their adventures turn all too real.

They stumble upon The Dark Library, and secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies are discovered. Father forbids that they ever enter the room again, but this only peaks Victor's curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not be satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called in to help. He is drawn back to The Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Elizabeth, Henry, and Victor immediately set out to find assistance in a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help create the formula.

Determination and the unthinkable outcome of losing his brother spur Victor on in the quest for the three ingredients that will save Konrads life. After scaling the highest trees in the Strumwald, diving into the deepest lake caves, and sacrificing one’s own body part, the three fearless friends risk their lives to save another.

In My Mailbox (18)

Dead Iron -In steam age America, men, monsters, machines, and magic battle for the same scrap of earth and sky. In this chaos, bounty hunter Cedar Hunt rides, cursed by lycanthropy and carrying the guilt of his brother's death. Then he's offered hope that his brother may yet survive. All he has to do is find the Holder: a powerful device created by mad devisers-and now in the hands of an ancient Strange who was banished to walk this Earth.

The Doomsday Vault- In a clockwork Brittania, Alice's prospects are slim. At 21, her age and her unladylike interest in automatons have sealed her fate as an undesirable marriage prospect. But a devastating plague sends Alice off in a direction beyond the pale-towards a clandestine organization, mad inventors, life-altering secrets, and into the arms of an intrepid fiddle-playing airship pilot.

The Iron Duke- After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power-and fear-of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession.
But when Mina uncovers the victim's identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. To save them, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans-and Mina discovers the danger is not only to her countrymen, as she finds herself tempted to give up everything to the Iron Duke.

The Heroes- They say Black Dow's killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbor, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud. Thousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they've brought a lot of sharpened metal with them.

Twelve- The voordalak--creature of legend, the tales of which have terrified Russian children for generations. But for Captain Aleksei Ivanovich Danilov--a child of more enlightened times--it is a legend that has long been forgotten. Besides, in the autumn of 1812, he faces a more tangible enemy: the Grande Armee of Napoleon Bonaparte. Unnerved by the fact that so few can accomplish so much, Aleksei remembers those childhood stories of the voordalak. And as he comes to understand the true, horrific nature of these twelve strangers, he wonders at the nightmare they've unleashed in their midst....

Zombies: Encounters With the Hungry Undead- From a master of zombie fiction and a founding father of “splatterpunk” comes a mind-bending anthology of 32 new and classic stories from both renowned writers and rising stars

Classics Mutilated- Monster Lit meets Remix Culture in IDW's all-new, all-original story collection by top talents from horror, science fiction, and dark fantasy scenes. IDW's first foray into genre prose takes the formula of "literary classic/historic figure + supernatural element" and drives a stake through its heart with fourteen brand-new stories, all written specifically for this collection, that transform the so-called Monster Lit movement in ways the mainstream could never imagine.

The Poison Eaters- From the inimitable Holly Black, a collection of twelve fantasy short stories—two of which are unique to this collection. Devoted fans will be delighted to discover that several of the stories use characters and settings from her Modern Faerie Tale novels. Included in the anthology are tales involving faeries, werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and all sorts of weird and wonderful and creepy creatures—there’s even a glimpse of a unicorn.