Suvudu Universe

If it's Monday, then it must be time for Mailbox Monda y, a weekly meme that provides a virtual gathering place for bloggers (and readers) to share the books that came their way over the past week. Originally hosted by Marcia, of To Be Continued..., it has since become something of a book tour, with a new host each month. This month, we're being hosted  by Yolanda @ Notorious Spinks Talks.

Here are the books that found a home on my shelves over the last week:

Strangely Funny
edited by Sarah E. Glenn
Paperback, 293 pages
Published July 10th 2013 by Mystery and Horror, LLC

Received via one of the contributors

This is not your typical anthology. Open these pages and discover twenty-five talented writers on a hilarious journey through the paranormal. Zombies who are finicky eaters, vampires caught between groupies and werewolves, and ghosts with awful decorating tastes await. We’ll even show you how to beat the monster in the closet. Join Joette Rozanski, Suzanne Robb, Agatha-winning author Catriona McPherson and many others as they take you from the ridiculous to the...Strangely Funny.

The Martian: A Novel
by Andy Weir
Paperback, 368 pages
Expected Publication: Feb 11, 2014 by Crown

Received via Edelweiss

Apollo 13 meets Castaway in this grippingly detailed, brilliantly ingenious man-vs-nature survival thriller-set on the surface of Mars.

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first men to walk on the surface of Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first man to die there.

It started with the dust storm that holed his suit and nearly killed him-and that forced his crew to leave him behind, sure he was already dead. Now he's stranded millions of miles from the nearest human being, with no way to even signal Earth that he's alive-and even if he could get word out, his food would be gone years before a rescue mission could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to get him first.

But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills-and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit-he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. But will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

The High Druid's Blade: The Defenders of Shannara
by Terry Brooks
Hardcover, 336 pages
Expected publication: March 11th 2014 by Del Rey

Received via Edelweiss

From New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks-the first standalone Shannara novel-the perfect jumping-in place for new readers. Features new hero Paxon Leah.

Paxon Leah never thought of the old family sword hanging above his living room hearth as anything other than an intriguing ornament…until his sister is kidnapped by a sorceror. Following the dark mage with nothing but this piece of steel to protect him, Paxon stumbles into a plot to overthow the Druids and remake the world…and accidentally unlocks the powers of the ancient blade. Now, he must learn to master the sword's power in order to protect not only his sister, but also the very people who are teaching him to control his powers in the first place: the Druids!

Her Vampyrrhic Heart

by Simon Clark

Hardcover, 240 pages

Expected publication: January 1st 2014 by Severn House Publishers

Received via NetGalley

She will come back to me, Tom Westonby tells himself. We’ll be reunited. It has been five years since he’s seen his beloved wife, Nicola Bekk. Five years since their wedding day – when he won her hand, but in doing so triggered the curse that has blighted the Bekk family for centuries. Nicola became a vampire, and fled, lest she harm the one she loves the most.

Since then, Tom has lived a remote life in Nicola’s ancestral home in the woods, patiently awaiting the return of his vampire bride. But little does he know that someone else is returning to the village – someone who holds great power over the supernatural forces that dwell within it, waiting for revenge.

Soon, Tom will be forced to risk his life – and the lives of those he loves – in the fight against an ancient evil that cannot possibly be beaten . . .

Some freebie reads added to the stacks this week included:

As for what we're reading, the team has reviews coming up over the next 2 weeks for:

 

What's topping your shelves this week?