Bec Says

It’s that time again… The bearded bloke in red is about to pop down our chimneys with his Christmas cheer. What have you asked for this year? I have yet to put my order in, which is probably a good thing, since I’ve just clapped eyes on a whole lotta lovely things that I can’t wait to tell you about…

Let’s start with statuettes, shall we?

Got a Trekkie in your life? Hollywood Collectibles have issued a ltd edit. (600) series of painted polystone Kirks:

Ahead! Warp Factor 1!

You can pre-order Thor & Loki action figures from The Big Bad Toy Store now (US$18.99 each)…well in advance of the release of next year’s hotly anticipated blockbuster.

Size Matters

Got a spare US$175 lying around and want something truly striking on your shelf? Check the incredible Punisher Classic statue by Bowen Designs. Scheduled for February shipment, this digitally-sculpted beauty stands over 12 inches and would look *very* nice on my your desk, don’tcha think?

Who doesn’t want this ceramic Darth Vader cookie jar? WHO???

Take a cookie@ your peril. He's handy with a sabre...

Fellow Jack of Fables fans will be sad to hear that the final instalment of the series (issue #50) is available in February.

Don't sit in the corner.... Pre-order NOW!

Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls/Evelyn Evelyn vocalist and Neil Gaiman’s main squeeze) has a lavish new book set for your reading pleasure. Intro’d by Neil G, these 2 hardbound volumes are said to be the ‘wholly true and accurate account of the tragic events surrounding the extraordinary lives of Evelyn Evelyn, a darling but unfortunate pair of conjoined twins’. See what you think.

Prepare to slay some jello shots

Over at tfaw.com, you can order the natty new DH Deluxe BTVS lunch box and shot glass set. .

“Jennifer Blood is a suburban wife and mom by day, and a ruthless vigilante by night! Every day she makes breakfast, takes the kids to school, cleans the house, naps for an hour or two, makes dinner, puts the kids to bed, and kisses her husband goodnight”. For serious. With an intro like that, who can resist checking out the new series from Garth Ennis, the writer of The Boys, Punisher, and Preacher? Jennifer Blood #1 launches in Feb, through Dynamite Entertainment:

In other news, Marvel’s brilliant new ‘Point One’ project kicks off in February ’11. Great news for comic noobs, this series offers a budget entry point for getting up to speed on the sagas of such Marvel faves as Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Wolverine. Each issue will feature unique numbering and give readers a self-contained story from Marvel’s top creators that will intro the characters and their lives. The Point One books are then followed by a regular issue of that month’s series, continuing with the stories and characters intro’d in the Point One special. The project commences in Feb with this trilogy: Amazing Spider-Man #654.1, Invincible Iron Man #500.1, and Wolverine #5.1. Point One continues in March with Captain America #615.1, Deadpool #32.1, Hulk #30.1, Thor #620.1, and Uncanny X-Force #5.1. April presents readers with Avengers #12.1, Secret Avengers #11.1, and Uncanny X-Men #534.1.

Dark Horse’s Domo Party Lights. Do we really need a reason? Well, alright then: Christmas!

Attention Dr Who fans… Dalek Sculpted Wall Clock. Enough said. Quite obviously, this belongs in the NEED, and not WANT, column:

Last, but not least… Utterly brilliant new tees over at Threadless. Do yourself a favour and check out the range.

This is a quick shout out to all those who have been blogging about Burn Bright coming out in March 2011 – we love you for doing it!! To thank you for your support we’re going to try and keep track of who has mentioned the book on their site before publication, and when the time comes, Bec will draw three names from the hat for free autographed copies. If you have friends that have mentioned Burn Bright, that we might have missed, please drop us a line and we’ll add them to THE LIST.

The Thoughts Of a Book Junky

AOBIBLIOSPHERE

The Book Fairy’s Haven blogspot

LA Femme Readers

Girly Books

Cicely Loves Books

YA Bookie Monster

Tales of the Ravenous Reader

Spellbound by Books

Besos du un Angel

Bookworm Boulevard

Lilitheternaeinmortal blogspot

Tez Says

Miss Bookiverse

Lost in Stories

The Neverending Shelf

Book Chick City

Electrifying Reviews

Books Like Stars

A Passion For Books

Also a big thanks to all those Goodreads members who’ve already added Burn Bright and Angel Arias to their TO READ list. We’ll be doing giveaways there as well. Burn Bright is now on a bunch of lists, so if you are a member, feel free to vote for it.

There are some early reader copies now floating around, so if you listen closely to the wire you might hear some advance snippets. Meanwhile have a great Xmas. We’ve got some Top 5 picks coming up for you, and Belinda’s Tips for Dating One of Santa’s Elves.

Burn Bright, baby bats!

Marianne x

I have just spend the last few days frolicking amongst werewolves, Celtic gods, and the Fae. I’ve been enthralled by the hunt, moved by loyalty, and touched by unconditional love. I have giggled and have had to read through unshed tears. I have cheered for the good guys and snarled at the bad ones. Seriously, what more could you ask for in a novel?

Sue Bursztynski found her inspiration to write Wolfborn from a collection of stories written by a lady known only as Marie de France. Her creative license has allowed her to take elements from Shakespearian plays, Celtic folklore and Roman authors to construct a world and characters with whom you will generate a deep emotional connection.

Etienne has been sent to Lucanne for the purposes of finishing up his training to become a knight. His arrival coincides with the beginnings of an epic tale of love, betrayal, and the importance of staying true to yourself.
When Dame Eglantine plots to remove her husband, Lord Geraint, from his position of power,  she unwittingly creates a maelstrom of disastrous events. It is up to Etienne, Armand, Jeanne, and Sylvie to bring Lord Geraint back to reality and, believe me when I say, this will be no easy task.

This is not your run-of-the-mill werewolf story, and I found the need for human scent on clothing to be able to change back to human form a little difficult to swallow at first. Surprisingly, it ended up fitting the story in a manner that didn’t rub me the wrong way.

I enjoyed the character growth with our three teenage heroes. Self-doubt and worry are pushed aside by loyalty and trust. They don’t spend too much time whining or wallowing in self pity, which is a pleasant change when it comes to book characters of their age bracket. The morals of the story are woven in a subtle, yet profound, way, creating an enjoyable and vivid tale.
You will find the book difficult to put down once you’ve made the choice to get swept up in the magic of it all.
Read Sue’s blog here.

Wolfborn – Sue Bursztynski

January 12th, 2010 by Random House

Paperback, 304 Pages.

ISBN: 9781864718256

The Shapeshifters is the complete collection of all five novels in the Kiesha’ra series and, at nearly 1000 pages, can seem a scary undertaking. But it’s well worth the effort. This is a saga of breaking old prejudices and the sacrifice two young rulers who have suffered war and loss make to bring peace and unity to their people (the Avians and the Serpiente). Although this is, at heart, a love story, there is also plenty of magic, lore, myth and legend, intermingled with hate, distrust and the long journey to break millenia-old stereotypes.

Though each of the novels centres on a different main character, and stands alone in its own right, they all flow together nicely as a series. For me, the only drawback was the use of the old language; although it was translated, I did find it confusing and, at times, distracting. All in all, though, The Shapeshifters is a wonderful, magical journey and is well worth the trip.

Book one, Hawksong, marks the beginning of our journey, with Danica and Zane trying to find a way to bring peace to their warring people and making a personal sacrifice to make peace a reality. The must shake off millennia-old prejudices and lead by example. But can it lead to love?

Book two, Snakecharm, has Zane picking up the storytelling, as he and Danica anxiously await the birth of their child; but, when the Falcon, Syfka, turns up, stirring up dormant feelings of distrust among the two kingdoms and searching for a runaway criminal, Danica and Zane desperately try to hold on to the newfound peace.

Book three, Falcondance, introduces us to Nicias, the son of royal soliders, and exiled Falcons Kel and Rei. Nicias finds himself being haunted by visions and dreams of The White City, his parent’s birthplace–a city of extreme beauty and extreme terror. He must also fight his feelings for Oliza, daughter of Zane and Danica, since this is a union that can never be.

Book four, Wolfcry, is the story of Oliza’s coming of age. As heir to both thrones, and being half Cobra, half Hawk, she is the first of her kind. Oliza must try to lead the people and keep them united, and the fragile peace in place; but is it possible to for one queen to lead both people, even if she is half of each?

In book five, Wyvernhail, we meet poor Hai, who is considered by most to be a mongrel. He is the daughter of a Falcon mother and the deceased former heir to the Cobra throne, Anjay (older brother to Zane). After her cousin Oliza abdicates the throne, Hai is tormented by terrible visions. Despite it all, she must help save her new home and face the possibility of being the new queen.

Amelia has two new novels to be released in 2011: Persistence of Memory and Token of Darkness.

The Shapeshifters – Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

January 12, 2010 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Paperback, 968 Pages

It’s hard enough being a girl when you love to play the male-dominated sport of soccer. It sucks being told you can no longer play on the same team as your mates. To be relegated to a girls only team, for which there are only a certain number of positions. To have to make the team or miss out for an entire season.

Lucy Zoffi is part of a world famous family. Dad plays for AC Milan, Mum’s a model, and together they run a fashion label called Love Lucy. This equals insane public outings, with the paparazzi following them everywhere. This kind of life seems normal to Lucy (though an annoying normal), right up until the media get hold of the information that Lucy has a half brother who has just signed with AC Milan. The stable life she’s always known is tipped on its end. How will Lucy keep her world from shattering apart?

Liz Deep-Jones knows her stuff when it comes to sport–she’s been a part of the media covering the FIFA World Cup, the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the Australian Open Tennis, and is also an ambassador for Sydney Football Club. So, it should be no surprise when I tell you the action sequences had me bouncing in my seat. Capturing the heart-stopping adrenalin rush of being on the pitch is not an easy thing, and can sometimes fall flat when the author is imagining, rather than living, it. I’ll bet there’s a pair of shin pads in Liz’s handbag.

The paparazzi moments are extremely suffocating. It must be a scary thing, being the hottest thing since sliced bread. Being a young teen in that situation would be enough to explain the young Hollywood misfits. The reactions of some of the characters seem a little bland for the enormity of the complex situations Deep-Jones puts them through, however, and how Lucy’s dog GiGi gets out of Australia and into Milan so easily had me scratching my head. If you liked Bend it like Beckham, you’ll enjoy Lucy Zeezou’s Glamour Game. The fast pace and witty repartee makes this a great read for those mornings when the weather is too horrible for kicking the ball around.

Lucy Zeezou’s Glamour Game – Liz Deep-Jones

Author details for Liz Deep-Jones

1 June, 2010 by Random House

Paperback, 274 Pages

ISBN: 9781864719734