Mailbox Monday – 9/21

Mailbox Monday can be found at The Printed Page.

Last week I got four books through paperbackswap.com. The first three were part of the DarkAngel trilogy by MEredith Ann Pierce. My husband actually read these when he was younger and has been telling me that I have got to read them. So, I finally got those.

I also got the second book in the Inkheart Trilogy by Cornelia Funke. I am eager to start on that series too! That’s it for this week; hope you all have a good week 🙂

“The Darkangel” by Meredith Ann Pierce

First Sentence: “Aeriel rested the broad basket against her hip and adjusted her kirtle.”
From Amazon.com: “The Darkangel, a vampire of astounding beauty and youth, can only summon his full power when he finds his 14th and final bride. But for Aeriel, whom he kidnaps to serve his brides, there is something about him–something beyond his obvious evil–that makes her want to save him rather than destroy him. The Darkangel–Pierce’s first book, originally released in 1982–was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a New York Times Notable Children’s Book, a Parent’s Choice Award Superbook, and a Booklist Best Book of the Decade.”

“A Gathering of Gargoyles” (Dark Angel, Book 2) by Meredith Ann Pierce

First Sentence: “Aeriel sat of the low window seat.”
From Amazon.com: “Aeriel has broken the spell on the vampiric darkangel known as Irrylath and returned him to his human form, but the White Witch continues to haunt his dreams. To save her love and the world they live in, Aeriel sets off on a quest across the Sea-of-Dust, to solve a mysterious riddle and gather six magical steeds. Pursued by the White Witch and haunted by her six remaining darkangels, the former slave girl seeks out an ancient oracle who may help her find a way to defeat her enemies.”

“The Pearl of the Soul of the World” (Dark Angel, Book 3) by Meredith Ann Pierce

First Sentence: “She has no idea where she was – only that she was in a cave, the walls pressing close about her, all of white stone.”
From Amazon.com: “Readers who crave solemn tales peopled with strange beings will find much to relish in this final volume of the Darkangel trilogy. Deprived of both her memory and the power of speech, Aeriel awakens to find herself in a cave somewhere below the earth’s surface. In the company of three underground-dwelling duarroughs–natives–Aeriel journeys to the city of Crystalglass. There she meets Ravenna, the last of the race of ancient beings who created the world. Ravenna restores Aeriel’s memory and reveals to her the nature of the role she must play in the final battle against the cruel White Witch. Though good does finally triumph over evil, this novel’s conclusion is not a typical “happy ending”: Aeriel is reunited only briefly with her estranged husband before she must leave to begin the lonely task of healing her planet. Pierce’s thoughtful characterization and well-constructed plot lead to a poignant and believable conclusion. The meticulous, creative use of language gives form and substance to a fascinating mythic world.”

“Inkspell” (Inkheart, Book 2) by Cornelia Funke

First Sentence: “Twilight was gathering, and Orpheus still wasn’t here.”
From Amazon.com: “Fourteen-year-old Meggie is back at home after the intrigue and adventure she encountered in Inkheart (Chicken House, 2003), the first volume in this projected trilogy. In this second episode, the calm of her life is shattered when Farid, protégé of the fire-eater, Dustfinger, begs her to use her magical ability and read him into Dustfingers story. Meggie longs to see the enchanted world she has only encountered through the pages of a book and travels with Farid into the story. Events quickly spin out of control. Evil characters from Inkheart re-emerge to extract revenge. Battle lines are drawn between two kingdoms. Several individuals are intent on re-writing the story to ensure their own happy ending. A multitude of intriguing characters are kept straight by the tour-de-force performance of actor Brendan Frazier who distinguishes each one with a different accent–from Dustfingers Scottish burr to Fenoglios Brooklyn inflection to Orpheuss southern drawl. His performance is so convincing that listeners must remind themselves that this is not a full-cast production. Action, romance, and danger are delivered with just the right inflection and pace in this stunning performance.”