New Book Haul!

What classifies as a "haul"? I'm going to assume for the sake of this post's title that four new books can fall under the category of a "haul". As I haven't read any of these books yet, I'll just include the little snippets from the back cover. These are not reviews, however I will review them in the future. So without further ado, here's what I got:


Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield 

"Three girls missing. One is returned. A story begins."

 

"On a dark midwinter's night in an ancient inn on the River Thames, an extraordinary event takes place. The regulars are telling stories to while away the dark hours, when the door bursts open on a grievously wounded stranger. In his arms is the body of a small child. Hours later, the girl stirs, takes a breath, and returns to life. Is it a miracle? Is it magic? Or can science provide an explanation? These questions have many answers, some of them quite dark indeed.
     Those who dwell on the riverbank apply all their ingenuity to solving the puzzle of the girl who died and lived again, yet as the days pass the mystery only deepens. The child herself is mute and unable to answer the essential questions: Who is she? Where did she come from? And to whom does she belong?
     Once Upon a River is a glorious tapestry of a book that combines folklore and science, magic and myth. Suspenseful, romantic, and richly atmospheric, this novel will sweep readers away on a powerful current of storytelling, transporting them through worlds both real and imagined."

Published by Bond Street Books in 2018, this book is 432 pages, and costs $30.60 for hardcover, available here.




The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

"Find your magic."



 

"For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in the 1600s. when Maria Owens was accused of witchery for loving the wrong man. Hundreds of years later, in 1960s New York City at the cusp of an ever-changing world, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Fanny, with skin as pale as milk and blood-red hair; shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people's thoughts; and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk.
    From the start, Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But her children, being Owenses, never adhere to rules. Desperate to undercover who they really are, The Rules of Magic takes us on a dreamy, unforgettable journey, both thrilling and exquisite, real and fantastic - reminding us that the only remedy for being human is to be true to yourself."

This book was published in 2017 by Simon & Schuster, is 366 pages, and a New York Times bestseller. The author, Alice Hoffman, has published more than thirty other novels, for both adults and young adults. The Rules of Magic is available for $19.38 here.



The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris 

"I tattooed her number on her left hand, and she tattooed her number in my heart."

 

"In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tatowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.
     Imprisoned for more than two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism - but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.
    One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed on her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her.
    A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov's experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would becomes one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions."

I'm really excited to read this one!

This is a book from 2018, published by Harper-Collins, and is 288 pages. It's currently on sale for $13.99 and is available here.



The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor

"I said my story had many beginnings, and the day the camera arrived was one of them. After all, without the camera, there wouldn't have been any photographs. Without the camera, I wouldn't have a story to tell..."

 

 "1917 ... In a world torn apart by war, Frances Griffiths arrives in Cottingley, England, where her cousin, Elsie Wright, becomes her friend and playmate. But Frances soon discovers other, secret friends ... When the cousins claim to have photographed real fairies at the bottom of the garden. their parents are skeptical. But then the photos come to the attention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who declares them a marvel and entirely authentic. The "Cottingley Fairies" - and the girl - become a national sensation. Afraid to tell the truth, Frances and Elsie will keep their secret for decades ...
    Present day ... When Olivia Kavanagh inherits her grandfather's bookshop in a small Irish harbor town, she discovers far more than dusty old books. A forgotten manuscript tells an enchanting story of a nation gripped by fairy fever, and a hauntingly familiar photograph sitrs painful memories of the past. Olivia begins to understand how France's story intertwines with hers, connecting past to present ... often blurring what is real and what is imagines along the way. Little girls might easily believe in fairies, but can Olivia believe in herself?"

Normally, this wouldn't be my type of read, but I've read two of Hazel Gaynor's books previously (both The Girl who came Home and A Memory of Violets) and loved them, so I had to give this one a chance.

It was published in 2017 by Harper Collins, is 416 pages, and is only $14.29 available here.

I'm so excited to dive into these books and give them some (hopefully positive) reviews!! I hope you guys found something that peaked your interest.

On another note, I wanted to share some news: My first book review - The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton - was published on Quick Brown Fox. If you'd like to see that, check it out here.

Thanks for reading!