Hi, everyone! I have several books for you guys this week (All links for books and authors are to Goodreads, descriptions are from Amazon, click the book covers to go to the Amazon.com page for the book)
I’ve finally started to listen to audiobooks, and thanks to Audiofile Magazine’s Sync Summer 2012, I downloaded Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone for free. 
Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.
When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
I picked up an ARC of this book at BEA in 2011, but even though I heard good things I never cracked it open. When I got the e-mail from Audiofile offering this as the free download of the week, I didn’t hesitate to download it. I’m about halfway through this and I love it. The woman reading this book is great, and her accents are perfect, her voice for each character is unique!
I preordered Chloe Neill’s sixth installment of the Chicagoland Vampires series, Biting Cold.
Turned into a vampire against her will, twenty-eight-year-old Merit found her way into the dark circle of Chicago’s vampire underground, where she learned there was more to supernaturals than met the eye—and more supernaturals than the public ever imagined.And not all the secrets she learned were for sharing—among humans or inhumans. Now Merit is on the hunt, charging across the stark American Midwest, tailing a rogue supernatural intent on stealing an ancient artifact that could unleash catastrophic evil on the world. But Merit is also the prey. An enemy of Chicagoland is hunting her, and he’ll stop at nothing to get the book for himself. No mercy allowed.
No rules apply. No lives spared. The race is on.
I’ll admit, I still haven’t gotten around to reading book #5 in this series, Drink Deep. I’m still a bit irritated that she killed off my favorite character. But I see that she’s fixed that from leafing through both books four and five (since I don’t care about spoilers), now I just have to find time to catch up with this series.
I also preordered Kendare Blake’s Girl of Nightmares, the sequel to Anna Dressed In Blood.
It’s been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can’t move on.His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they’re right, but in Cas’s eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.Now he’s seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he’s asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong…these aren’t just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.Cas doesn’t know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn’t deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it’s time for him to return the favor.
As soon as this book showed up on my doorstop on Tuesday, I just wanted to tear right into it. But I had two books ahead of it in my pile–and it’s taunting me, teasing me, daring me to read it right now. I loved Anna Dressed In Blood, so much so that I downloaded the audiobook from Audiofile Magazine earlier this summer just like I did Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I wasn’t a big fan of the guy they had reading the book, his accents were kind of lame to me, and this was the first audiobook I’d ever listened to, but I really wanted to revisit this story before I picked up book two. So I perservered and listened while I worked, thankful that I didn’t try to listen to it on the train or while I was sitting still.
What’s in your mailbox this week? Any audiobook suggestions with lively narrators?
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Hope you enjoy your audiobooks! I’ve been meaning to try one or two out – I haven’t had any audiobooks since I was young, but it seems like a good idea, particularly when I want to listen to something before bed!
kit recently posted..Review: Losing It, Julia Lawrinson
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I listened to Anna Dressed In Blood first since I’d already read it and figured I didn’t have to listen too closely. The male narrator was a little boring to me, but it was still enjoyable to listen to. I can’t listen before bed because I’m out like a light. If you aren’t easily lulled to sleep like I am, you should definitely check out audiobooks!
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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Aaah, I sooo need to buy a copy of GIRL OF NIGHTMARE soon. Loved the first book and can’t wait to find out what will happen next; especially because so many others already loved it. Happy reading & listening! 🙂
Carina @ Fictional Distraction recently posted..New Distractions #09
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I hear you about the impatience to see what’s going on in Girl of Nightmares, Carina. It’s killing me while I finish up this other book for a book tour first!
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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I just started listening to audiobooks a few months ago and I’m in love with them!
I really need to read Anna Dressed in Blood soon. Enjoy all your new goodies.
Lori recently posted..A Peek Inside My Mailbox
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Hopefully you like the narrator for Anna Dressed In Blood more than I did, Lori. He wasn’t very animated or lively, and it was a bit boring to me. If I hadn’t read the book first, I might not have listened to this all of the way through. But when I started Daughter of Smoke and Bone, I couldn’t believe the difference a narrator could make. This woman’s different voices and accents really bring it to life!
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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I have never tried a audio book as well. I’m looking forward to the review. I haven’t read Anna Dressed In Blood but i have ordered it. I’m eagerly waiting for it as i have heard a lot of good things about it. Happy reading! =D
sangita recently posted..Letterbox love (5)
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I loved Anna Dressed In Blood, Sangita! Actually, all of the bookworms loved it and we did a megapost where we all reviewed it at once last year. I can’t wait to dig into the sequel. Diving into audiobooks was something that I was reluctant to do, knowing that I already listen to podcasts and music while I work. But it’s been a nice experience so far.
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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Just finished Biting Cold and it was fabulous! I’ll admit, I was seriously peeved that she killed off Ethan, too, but you’ll be happy with this newest installment. And yay for the free audiobook!
Mary @ Book Swarm recently posted..Into the woods: DARKLANDS by Nancy Holzner
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Oh, Mary, I so need to catch up with this series. I’m actually two books behind on several of the series that I love–Patricia Cornwell, David Rosenfelt, MaryJanice Davidson, Chloe Neill. I’ve got to find the time to get back in to these old favorites. But the audiobooks have been good, but I can’t be doing something that requires a lot of concentration, like writing reports at work, because I don’t hear a word that’s being said since I tune it out. Then I wind up listening to it all over again because I’m lost.
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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Great books. I have tried so many times to Anna Dressed in Blood, I really need to get to it. Girl of Nightmares sounds awesome.Enjoy you week.
Jenea @ Books Live Forever
http://booksliveforever.com/?p=3266
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If you moved up Anna Dressed in Blood and bought Girl of Nightmares now, at least you wouldn’t have to wait like the rest of us did…just sayin’, LOL. The wait has been a bit annoying! It’s a great book with an awesome boy main character that doesn’t come off as girly, worth the read!
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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Daughter of Smoke and Bone sounds so good and it’s awesome you got it for free! I still need to read it!
My Letterbox Love!
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It’s been pretty good so far, Annabelle. I’m about half way through, and it just keeps getting better. I recommend it!
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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Of all of the audiobooks I have listened to so far, Daughter of Smoke and Bone has been my favorite. Good haul! Here’s my IMM: http://whatsontheshelf.wordpress.com/2012/08/12/in-my-mailbox-17/ Nice blog, new follower!
Vyki @ On The Shelf recently posted..In My Mailbox (17)
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Welcome, Vyki! I’m really enjoying the audiobook for Daughter of Smoke and Bone so far, but I’m hoping it doesn’t set the bar too high for other audiobooks from now on, LOL!
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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Girl of Nightmares and Daughter of Shadow and Bone are both amazing. <3 Although I don't know about the audiobook version of it..
Happy reading (and listening)!:))
My Haul
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I have Girl of Nightmares in hardcover–I don’t think I can wait the 9 hours or so to listen to that when I can read it in three. I’m too impatient 🙂 But Daughter of Smoke and Bone has been sitting on my shelf for over a year now, so I figured why not listen to the audiobook when I could download it for free? And it’s been great so far.
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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I haven’t read “Anna Dressed in Blood” yet but I’ve heard an inordinate amount of positive chatter about it. One of my friends is crazy excited about it (but she loves creepy stuff and I don’t, so I can’t exactly take her recommendations lying down haha). I still think I need to jump on the Anna bandwagon. 😉
I really liked “Daughter of Smoke and Bone” but the ending was very “meh” for me. I’m still really psyched for the next book. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the audiobook! 🙂
Great haul. Happy reading!
-Amelia
Amelia (The Authoress) recently posted..In My Mailbox (83) + Sample Sunday (1)
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Hop right up onto that Anna wagon, Amelia! It’s fun, you’ll be in good company! Since I’m only three hours into the audiobook of Daughter of Smoke and Bone so far, I still have like seven hours left–I’m no where near the end yet.
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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I’ve heard the Chicagoland Vampire series is very good. It’s on my TBR/Wishlist.
Happy reading!
Ashley @ Dr. Pepper Diva
Ashley Montgomery recently posted..This Week’s New Printable Coupons (08/12/12)
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The Chicagoland vampire series is pretty good, Ashley, but it did make a lot of people mad a few books in. I’m one of them who was a bit irritated, but I kept reading anyway since the books are a bit addictive. But the author has a master plan for the series, and they roll along quite nicely.
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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Great books, I’ve just started Girl Of Nightmares after it taunted me for nearly a week! Happy reading!
Here’s my IMM!
Bookish recently posted..In My Mailbox #6
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I’m so jealous! I want to start Girl of Nightmares, but it won’t be until later this week. Hope you enjoy it!
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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I used to listen to audiobooks all the time, I don’t really know why I stopped. Maybe I should start up again! Having a good narrator for your book can make all the difference between an okay book and a fantastic one 🙂
Here’s my IMM 🙂
Happy reading/listening!
Sasha @ The Bookshelf recently posted..Sunday Chat + Roundup (3)
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I totally agree that the right narrator can make all the difference, Sasha!
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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Awesome haul! I really need to pick up a copy of Daughter of Smoke and Bone as well as Anna Dressed in Blood. I’ve wanted to read both of them for a while now! Thanks for sharing and enjoy your books. 🙂
Krystianna recently posted..Stacking the Shelves (2)
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They’re both great books, Krystianna, and I highly recommend them! Thanks for stopping by!
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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You’re welcome. 🙂
Krystianna recently posted..New Releases for the Week of August 12-18 2012
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Daughter of Smoke and Bone has been in my TBR for quite some time now. I need to get around to reading it. Oh and I still need to read Anna Dressed in Blood. I feel like the last person on earth to read it!
Roxy recently posted..IMM (26)
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From the other comments above you, Roxy, you’re not the only one who hasn’t picked up Anna Dressed in Blood yet. At least you can read the sequel right afterward since it just came out once you finish 😉
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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I will need to check out that audiobook of Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I LOVED the book and I’ve never heard an audiobook before. I know… *shameface*
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The woman who does the audiobook does the European accents perfectly, and she has a unique voice for each character. She really brings Daughter of Smoke and Bone to life. I really suggest seeing if you can get the audiobook from your library or audible before the sequel comes out in November to refresh your memory. It’s very enjoyable to listen to, Kristen.
Heather recently posted..In My Mailbox – Heather Finally Gets Audiobooks
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Awesome! I tried audiobooks before but I get distracted easily that I don’t remember what I hear. But I’ve been thinking about listening to audiobooks for when I’m doing house chores. :))
Nickle Love recently posted..In My Mailbox [2] and Stacking the Shelves [1]
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