*dramatic music plays loudly in the background*
Hello everyone! Today I am bringing you a magnificently gigantic book haul. I bought/received quite a few more books than I thought I would this month BUT (and this is an important but) I didn’t spend that much money. You might be aware that I’ve set myself a bit of a buying regime to curb how many books I buy each month and to sort of guide me into buying books with a purpose and books that I’ll read, rather than just going AHH IT’S CHEAP.
So! March was a very good month for the book buying, and mainly because I am back and uni. Now, every Tuesday there is a market on in the little uni village thing, and there is a guy who runs a secondhand book stall there. I visited him several times and managed to collect quite a few books that I’ve been wanting to get for quite a really good price.
Now, I’m going to divide this haul into a few sections as there were several different ways and reasons that I got books this month. There were books that I bought, there were books that I received, there were presents that I bought for family, there were e-books that I bought, and there were pre-orders that arrived. You can see how this is going to add up. But this is going to be a long enough post so let’s hop to it.
What I Bought
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Author: Graeme Simsion
Published: May 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 329 {paperback}
I found this book at the secondhand book store and it’s in really good nick. My friends had be telling me off the other week for not having read this yet so when I saw it my resolve fluttered away into the wind and I bought it. I’m really glad that I did find this though because this edition is more expensive to buy than the weird one with the lobster on it so thank goodness for bargains. Can’t have unsightly lobsters on my bookshelf.
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Author: Graeme Simsion
Published: September 2014
Publisher: Text Publishing Company
Pages: 415 {paperback}
Oh look at that! I also bought the second one. Who’s surprised? Obviously I got this one from the same place and they look fabu-tastic on my shelf together. I think I’m going to wait for a nice ‘chill’ moment to read both of these back to back and hopefully enjoy it!
Touch of Power Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Young Adult
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Published: December 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Mills & Boon
Pages: 390 {paperback}
Upon returning to this secondhand stall another week there were several Snyder books stacked on top of each other and I did the embarrassing thing of GASPING VERY LOUDLY and then snatching the books up and attracting several stares. I was very excited, alright? I’ve not even heard of this book before so it did feel a bit like finding treasure.
Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Young Adult, Sci Fi, Dystopia
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Published: April 2011 {1st pub. 2010}
Publisher: Mira
Pages: 315 {paperback}
I actually had no idea that Snyder had written so many other books, and when I saw that this one was called Inside Out the Disney part of my brain started bouncy around going I NEEEED IT. So of course I bought it. I mean, look at that cover.
Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Published: May 2009
Publisher: Mira
Pages: 488 {paperback}
I am very extremely excited about this purchase. I have been wanting to read Storm Glass FOREVER. Unfortunately, this isn’t the super pretty cover but I think it’s pretty alright? It’s a nice blue, *nodding*. I have exactly 0% of an idea as to what this book entails but I already know I’m going to love it. Who knows how that works, but it does.
Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Author: Josephine Angelini
Published: August 2014
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books
Pages: 379 {paperback}
I have wanted to buy this on so many occasions but I can never find a reason to. But then, because there’s always a but, The Book Depository was like, oh hey – did you know this book on your Wishlist is now cheaper? Just thought you’d want to know. *sound of chair clattering to the floor as Kirstie runs to add it to cart*. So yeah, that happened. Big cheer for bargains! I believe this is about witches but who cares when the cover is that pretty.
Until I Die by Amy Plum
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Author: Amy Plum
Published: May 2012
Publisher: ATOM
Pages: 357 {paperback}
*runs in circles*, I’ve already read this book and OMG IT WAS GOOD. I love, love, love Plum’s works and this was an excellent sequel to the first, Die For Me. If you want to see what I thought about this then you can see my gif-filled review here.
Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: September 2014 {1st pub. 2012}
Publisher: Hodder Paperback
Pages: 400 {paperback}
This is the sequel to Half-Blood which was awesomely awesome. I’m also quite a fan of these covers, I must say. They’re just the right amount of whaaa-. I can’t wait to see where this series is going and I really hope that this lives up to my expectations.
Dragon Champion by E. E. Knight
Genre: Fantasy
Author: E. E. Knight
Published: November 2010 {1st pub. 2005}
Publisher: Roc
Pages: 371 {paperback}
I bought this book because on my Goodreads group (Fantasy Lovers) this is the book of the month for March, and although it is the second half of March and I haven’t read it yet, I will. I will totally get to this before the month is out to justify buying it. (Probably not). But let’s focus on the important things here, yeah? And the important things would be that this is a book ABOUT DRAGONS. DRAGONS I TELL YOU. And nothing makes me happier than dragons (although if we were getting picky then it would be a close call with chocolate and David Tennant . . . ).
The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
Genre: Children’s Fiction, Fantasy
Author: Lemony Snicket
Published: September 1999
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 176 {hardback}
That’s right folks, I have not read these books. Booktopia was having a bit of a wickedly tempting sale at the start of the month and I got this for $4.50 with FREE SHIPPING *evil laughter*. I don’t know about where you buy books, but these are usually $16-$18 dollars. Which is 80% crazy and 20% me crying. So I jumped on the opportunity to snatch it up and I’m sure I’ll whiz through this when I decide to read it.
What I Received
The Spider and the Tone by Glen Craney
Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Glen Craney
Published: 2014
Publisher: Brigid’s Fire Press
Pages: 432 {print length}
I was sent this for review by the author and I’m actually quite excited to read it. It’s set in Scotland and is about Scottish history. So that’s pretty much all I need to know, if I’m being honest. Let’s hope it’s good!!
Nora and Kettle by Lauren Nicolle Taylor
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Retelling (Peter Pan)
Author: Lauren Nicolle Taylor
Published: February 2016
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
Pages: 353 {paperback}
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this from Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight and I’M SO EXCITED. I’ve had this book on my radar for so long and I think the title is ridiculously adorable. It’s a lose retelling of Peter Pan but I’m not sure how much Panness is actually in the book. Besides, the cover is amazing. I’m so, so, so excited for this to arrive so that I can eat it all up in one sitting (or two . . . or three, let’s not overestimate my reading ability).
E-Books
Iron to Iron by Ryan Graudin
Genre: Young Adult, Historical (alternate) Fiction
Author: Ryan Graudin
Published: March 2016
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 104 {e-book}
This is another book that I’ve already read and I LOVED it. This is probably the best novella that I’ve ever read – and yes, I’m including the Throne of Glass novellas here. It was lengthy and satisfying which is a fantastic achievement for a something that’s only 100 pages. The thing that made this so good was that it really added to the story and answered some questions, unlike some shorter novellas that can seem a little pointless.
The Moth and the Flame by Renée Ahdieh
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling (1001 Nights)
Author: Renée Ahdieh
Published: March 2016
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Pages: 40 {e-book}
And I’ve read this one too! I’m a roll! This came out just the other day (and I’d actually forgotten which made for a wonderful surprise) so I starting reading it as soon as it could and ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting. The whole thing being all of 40 pages but shhh. It was fabulous and so much better than The Crown and the Arrow (#0.5) seeing as it was longer and actually served a purpose.
Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Author: Intisar Khanani
Published: June 2013
Publisher: Purple Monkey Press
Pages: 144 {paperback}
I recently read one of her other books, The Bone Knife, which was awesome and there was a sale on as part of a promotion for the up-and-coming release of the second book in her latest series, so of course I had to pick this up. I bought this one, for 99c, and I’m keen as mustard to read it. Khanani is such an awesome writer so it’s sure to be good. It has MAGIC and FAE in it, just sayin’.
Pre-Orders
The Sidekicks by Will Kostakis
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Author: Will Kostakis
Published: February 2016
Publisher: Penguin Australia
Pages: 256 {paperback}
This was part of the YA Chronicles March box and I think this looks really good. I’m pretty excited to read it – it’s all about a group of friends who had just one thing in common and that was their best friend. But then for some reason or other this best friend leaves and I imagine things get awkward because they don’t haven anything else in common with each other. I’m not really sure what to expect from this but I guess we’ll see! Oh, and this one came personally signed, woot!
The Ones that Aren’t For Me
I thought I’d share with you these three books which are all for my brother’s birthday, which is actually still a couple of weeks away. They all sound magnificent so there’s a good chance I’ll also read these at some point. He’s turning 14, naww, so I went a-sleuthing around some bookstores to try and find him some books (because my number one project is to transform him into a mega book nerd like myself).
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Author: Rachel Caine
Published: July 2015
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Pages: 407 {paperback}
I’ve actually had this one on my radar for a while so when I came across it I grabbed it like the excitable child that I am and decided that this would do nicely. I really like the sound of this book and the cover is going to kill me with pretty, let’s hope he likes it!
The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Author: Kevin Sands
Published: September 2015
Publisher: Puffin
Pages: 312 {paperback}
The word ‘potions’ can be found on the back of this book and that is literally all the convincing that I need. I like the title, I like the cover, and I like the subject matter. I think this is going to be a really fun adventure.
The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon
Genre: Middle Grade, Fiction
Author: Nicholas Gannon
Published: September 2015
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 358 {hardback}
Finally, we come to the last book. I picked this one for him because although it appears to have a younger reading audience I’ve heard so many things from so many people who are my age – so I’m fairly certain that he’s going to enjoy this (and probably me too). Besides, the cover was too pretty to resist.
So as you can see I went to town on the book world this month. I’m really excited to read all these books – in particular my little Snyder haul!! Anyway, let’s wrap things up because this is already a ridiculously long post. *excited dancing*
How did your book buying go in March?
Let me know in the comments below!
Upside-Down Books 
Wow, so many books!! I’m incredibly jealous. I didn’t know there were so many Maria V. Snyder books either!
A Series of Unfortunate Events was my favorite childhood series. I really hope you enjoy the first book 😀
I bought around 10 books in March, so it was a pretty good book buying month for me too! I’ll be posting a more detailed book haul at the end of the month 🙂
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I’m practically throwing confetti in excitement to read these all! I can’t wait to start A Series of Unfortunate Events – I’m not sure what to expect but I reckon I’ll enjoy it 🙂
And good job!! Can’t wait to see what you bought 🙂
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Glorious haul! Congrats!
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Thank you!! ‘Tis pretty spectacular *waggles eyebrows*
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Whoa, amazing haul! I bought The Sidekicks the other day and I’m really excited to read it!
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Thanks! That’s so exciting!! I hope you (and I) enjoy it!! I love the cover 🙂
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I’m not the biggest contemporary fan, so it wasn’t super high up on my TBR, but I watched an interview with Will Kostakis and he was hilarious so I was like “yeah I need to buy this” haha. Plus it’s always good to support Australian authors 😀
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