Some Books in the Mail

Well, I guess I should just say, "Some Book in the Mail". Only one this week, but it's a good one; one I've been waiting for all year. Brandon Sanderson's The Way of Kings [pre-order US] [pre-order UK]. Out August 31 in the US and 30 December in the UK.


I still have a few books to read before I get to it, but it's getting harder and harder to wait. I may have to ask my wife to hide it from me. :D

Updates and Giveaway This Week

Sorry about the lack of posting in the last week, but on a positive note, baby's room is almost ready. We put together two dressers, which took way longer than expected, put together a crib, washed baby's clothes and sorted them, also taking longer than expected. There's still more to do, but at least the big things are out of the way.

Due date's July 15, so he could really come at any time.

We've found out that "Lee" is actually quite a difficult last name to match first names with. We both liked "Will", but shortly found out that's just asking for fun nicknames.

I've always been fond of "Ug", but that's really just for jokes.

Not that we've found the perfect name yet, but we both don't dislike "Dylan" and so far it's the front-runner. Suggestions are welcome, although I make not promises.

Now here's a crappy version of the SNL clip I always think of when considering baby names:

Sorry about the quality, but I couldn't find a good version anywhere.

On more important news (well, for a book blog), I'll be hosting a Giveaway! this week, so get excited...can't you be more excited than that? Okay, that works, thanks.

I have to warn you, it's not a book, but it happens to be one of my favorite things to do, so I thought I'd share it with everyone on the blog.

(Combined) Review - The Burning Skies by David J. Williams

EdiFanoB and I have a combined review of The Burning Skies by David J. Williams up today. The same review is up at both blogs, Edi's Book Lighthouse and Only the Best SciFi/Fantasy, so take your pick!

Review - The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. Read it already. That's my advice. Also just completely spoiled my review. :)

The Way of Kings Excerpt

I know this is old news by now, but you can now read the first 50 pages of Brandon Sanderson's new epic, The Way of Kings, book one in The Stormlight Archive.

I know 50 sounds like a lot, but it's really only about one fiftieth of the actual novel. Yes, I'm exaggerating, but this book's gonna be huge.

You can read it at Tor.com or A Dribble of Ink has a nice listing of format links. Thanks. :)

(Audiobook) Review - Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Got my review up for book 2 in The Hunger Games, Catching Fire. Another enjoyable read that was a tad better than the first for me.

Some Books in the Mail

Happy Memorial Day everyone. I always think if my grandfather at this time of year. He was in the Navy serving on a supply ship in WWII. He used to tell all kinds of stories, but one of the most memorable for me was when they gave away all their supplies and were left only with beans to eat for the next month. Needless to say, I never ate a single bean when I went to visit my grandparents.

While I have some time on my day off, here's what I got this week:

Shadow's Son [US] [Preorder UK] by Jon Sprunk

I'm really excited about this one and was really surprised when it was suddenly delivered to my doorstep thanks to Pyr.

Goodreads Blurb:

In the holy city of Othir, treachery and corruption lurk at the end of every street, just the place for a freelance assassin with no loyalties and few scruples.

Caim makes his living on the edge of a blade, but when a routine job goes south, he is thrust into the middle of an insidious plot. Pitted against crooked lawmen, rival killers, and sorcery from the Other Side, his only allies are Josephine, the socialite daughter of his last victim, and Kit, a guardian spirit no one else can see. But in this fight for his life, Caim only trusts his knives and his instincts, but they won't be enough when his quest for justice leads him from Othir's hazardous back alleys to its shining corridors of power. To unmask a conspiracy at the heart of the empire, he must claim his birthright as the Shadow's Son....

Return of the Crimson Guard [US] [UK] by Ian C. Esslemont

This one I purchased as soon as it was out in the states. Don't know why that was necessary since I have a couple I plan on reading beforehand, but it felt good all the same.

Goodreads Blurb:

The return of the mercenary company the Crimson Guard could not have come at a worse time for the Malazan Empire. Driven by constant warfare, weakened by betrayal and rivalries, many see the grip of Empress Laseen beginning to weaken as conquered kingdoms and principalities test their old independence.

Into this gathering civil war on Quon Tali, the Empire’s homeland comes the Guard. And with their return comes the memory of their hundred-year-old vow — undying opposition to the existence of the Empire. Yet rivalries and betrayals stalk the Guard as well; elements of its elite, the Avowed, scheme to open paths to even greater power, and ancient potent entities, Ascendants, also lend a hand exploiting all sides to further their own arcane ends. Meanwhile, a swordsman, Traveller, and his companion Ereko, move from one strange encounter to another in a mysterious dance meant ultimately to bring the swordsman to a final confrontation from which none has ever returned.

The Left Hand of God [US] [UK] by Paul Hoffman

After the very mixed reviews on this one, I thought I'd give it a go when I was contacted about reviewing it for the US release.

Goodreads Blurb:

The Sanctuary of the Redeemers is a vast and desolate place - a place without joy or hope. Most of its occupants were taken there as boys and for years have endured the brutal regime of the Lord Redeemers whose cruelty and violence have one singular purpose - to serve in the name of the One True Faith.

In one of the Sanctuary's vast and twisting maze of corridors stands a boy. He is perhaps fourteen or fifteen years old - he is not sure and neither is anyone else. He has long-forgotten his real name, but now they call him Thomas Cale. He is strange and secretive, witty and charming, violent and profoundly bloody-minded. He is so used to the cruelty that he seems immune, but soon he will open the wrong door at the wrong time and witness an act so terrible that he will have to leave this place, or die.

His only hope of survival is to escape across the arid Scablands to Memphis, a city the opposite of the Sanctuary in every way: breathtakingly beautiful, infinitely Godless, and deeply corrupt.

But the Redeemers want Cale back at any price… not because of the secret he now knows but because of a much more terrifying secret he does not.

Supernatural: The Unholy Cause [US] [UK] by Joe Schreiber

I wouldn't normally have accepted this book, I mean, I don't watch the show and the only reason I ever end up watching The CW is because of my wife. So why'd I do it? Well, Joe Schreiber is the author of Star Wars Death Troopers, which I have yet to read but heard lots of good things about and there ya go. Yup, that's it.

Goodreads Blurb:

A Supernatural novel that reveals a previously unseen adventure for the Winchester brothers, from the hit CW series!

Way back in April 1862, Confederate Captain Jubal Beauchamp leads a charge across a Georgia battleground… Fast forward to 2009 and a civil war re-enactment becomes all too real. When Sam and Dean head down south to investigate they find that history has got somewhat out of hand…