Wednesday 30 October 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s can’t wait to read selection is
Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano
Publication Date: March 25th 2014

Nearly Gone - Kathy Dawson Books
Nearly Boswell knows how to keep secrets. Living in a DC trailer park, she knows better than to share anything that would make her a target with her classmates. Like her mother's job as an exotic dancer, her obsession with the personal ads, and especially the emotions she can taste when she brushes against someone's skin. But when a serial killer goes on a killing spree and starts attacking students, leaving cryptic ads in the newspaper that only Nearly can decipher, she confides in the one person she shouldn't trust: the new guy at school—a reformed bad boy working undercover for the police, doing surveillance. . . on her. 
Nearly might be the one person who can put all the clues together, and if she doesn't figure it all out soon—she'll be next.
Synopsis from goodreads.com

I'm a big fan of murder mysteries and thrilling books and Nearly Gone seems to be more than a regular thriller. Nearly's ability to taste emotion when brushing against someone's skin is a gift, I can't decide to be creeped out by or not. But I'm glad about this supernatural touch, as it gives the puzzle a further angle to be explored. Does this gift maybe connect to the barely readable line between the title saying "All the numbers add up to one killer … herself"? 
And then there's the bad boy doing undercover work for the police and I wonder if there is a romance angle and how it might be integrated in the dark atmosphere painted by the synopsis and the cover.

What's your take on the supernatural touch to the story? Do you think it makes the book more complicated? Share your opinion in the comments along with your waiting on choice!

Tuesday 29 October 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
To play along just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Allegiant by Veronica Roth.

Allegiant –
Katherine Tegen Books

If someone offers you an opportunity to get closer to your enemy, you always take it. I know that without having learned it from anyone.
— Chapter 32

It’s not often you encounter the real person behind a good-natured mask, the darkest parts of someone. It’s not comfortable when you do.
— Chapter 42




Feel free to skip the following paragraph as it is a bit rant-y and if you haven’t witnessed the storm following the publication of Allegiant also confusing.
I made myself stay away from twitter the last few days following the sheer barrage of not only spoilers but also pure ugliness concerning this book. I stayed away a while longer and have stopped reading quite a number of feeds because of the reactions ... I hadn’t imagined that supposed fans could respond in such a way just because they didn’t get what they expected. Not what they wanted, but demanded, and felt entitled to. One of the reviews I read calls the author brave for ending the series this way. I think that no author should feel that they need to be brave to write their story, because that means that there are reasons to be afraid ... it makes me feel sad that there should an aspect of fandom that inspires fear. Just because this is YA doesn’t mean that certain things are a guaranteed outcome. And if readers feel disillusioned or sad then that’s okay. What is not okay in any way is if this turns into anger against the author. Yes, many authors today are in some capacity available on the Internet and make the time to talk to their readers. This sort of one-sided anonymity gives certain types the courage to direct their anger at the author. Would they walk up to them in public and tell them that they hate the book? The author? Threaten their life? This is a whole can of worms that I don’t really want to open. At the end it is a book and if you don’t like the end then you’ll have to deal with it. The author is not your personal writing slave and what is a right and good end for you is not what everyone else would want for a story. Life is not a wish-granting factory and neither is fiction.
Did I enjoy the book/like the end? I’m still undecided. I understand why it ended how it did and it feels true to the characters and the story. On the other hand I haven’t quite figured out when or where the trilogy as a whole may have taken a turn that took it in a direction I wasn’t quite imagining at the end of Divergent. Maybe already in Insurgent. I still think that the scenario is interesting and that the characters are great, but as a whole I might have expected and prepared myself for something different. And this might also be why some readers reacted the way they did to this final book, because they encountered a scenario they weren’t expecting at all. This is just speculation since I stopped reading any of the tirades. I think a re-read of the complete series with the knowledge of the frame will yield quite a few surprises. But not in the near future as I don’t think I could take it. Because what this book does amazingly well is make you feel and experience things. And ultimately this is what good fiction is about in my opinion: not making you happy or feel good, but making you feel something and enjoy the time you spent reading it (because you chose to read rather than doing anything else after all). And those things are certainly true for me.

Chime in about reader expectations, author availability or your thoughts about this book (without spoiling the end). Share your teasers in the comments!

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: Alienated by Melissa Landers

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s can’t wait to read selection is
Alienated by Melissa Landers
Publication Date: February 4th 2014

Alienated - Disney Hyperion
Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.
Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.
Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.
But when Cara’s classmates get swept up by anti-L’eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn’t safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara’s locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.
Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she’s fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.
Synopsis from goodreads.com

I love word plays and the title of this book seemed multi-facetted, so I’ve taken a closer look and was surprised by the synopsis. I believe that extraterrestrial beings wouldn’t come for our tea and cookies, but the cover paints a pretty peaceful picture and Alienated seems go beyond all that with anti-alien paranoia and a deeper meaning to the simple student exchange.
What is more, I’m curious about the differences and similarities between L’eihrs and humans. If the DNA is closely related, where does the difference set in? And where do they come from? Also, I’m looking forward to watch Cara and Aelyx getting to know each other, to finding out about their respective cultures firsthand.

In my opinion, the extraterrestial streak in this book makes it all the more intriguing. Would the alien topic be a bonus for you as well? Share your thoughts and the books you’re curious about this week!

Tuesday 22 October 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
To play along just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas.

Crown of Midnight –
Bloomsbury Childrens

It took one look at the mostly melted candle on her nightstand to know that her encounter in the tomb hadn’t been some awful dream. Which meant that far beneath her room, there was a talking door knocker imbued with an ancient animation spell. And that Elena had yet again found a way to make her life infinitely more complicated.
— Chapter 7

She’d learned the only skills that could keep her safe. To escape death, she’d become death.
— Chapter 38



I am not currently reading this book for the very simple reason that once I sat down to read it I only stopped when I finished it ... and I can only urgently ask you, if you haven’t read Throne of Glass to get your hands on a copy and start reading this amazing series. This sequel will turn everything you thought you knew about this world right up on its head. It will open completely new vantage points, confirm a few suspicions, give you a dose of what you wanted to happen since the beginning of book one, and then it will lovingly plunge the (metaphorical) dagger into your back and twist. The writing is fast-paced and very visual (at points not for the squeamish) and the plot is definitely well-structured and not at all average. I had my suspicions about one or two things but others were surprising (yet not unreasonable if I think back on the clues that were hidden in the text). Very rewarding to read and I want more! Waiting for publication dates still isn’t my forte ... you’d think that I would get better at that, but no such luck.

Have you just breezed through a book you were anticipating for quite a while? Did it meet your expectations and are you now waiting for the next book again? Let’s hear from you in the comments!

Wednesday 16 October 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: This Side of Salvation by Jeri Smith-Ready

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s can’t wait to read selection is
This Side of Salvation by Jeri Smith-Ready.
Publication Date: April 1st 2014.

This Side of Salvation – Simon Pulse
Everyone mourns differently. When his older brother was killed, David got angry. As in, fist-meets-someone-else’s-face furious. But his parents? They got religious. David’s still figuring out his relationship with a higher power, but there’s one thing he does know for sure: The closer he gets to new-girl Bailey, the better, brighter, happier, more he feels.
Then his parents start cutting all their worldly ties in to prepare for the Rush, the divine moment when the faithful will be whisked off to Heaven…and they want David to do the same. David’s torn. There’s a big difference between living in the moment and giving up his best friend, varsity baseball, and Bailey—especially Bailey—in hope of salvation.
But when he comes home late from prom, and late for the Rush, to find that his parents have vanished, David is in more trouble than he ever could have imagined...
Synopsis from goodreads.com

Religion is probably one of the most difficult topics to tackle in literature, especially if it’s not a side-topic and not your standard big general belief thing. I can’t actually explain what makes me want to read this book so much, apart from my love for the author's character building skills (you have met Aura from Shade, right?) and I really want to see how David will present himself and how he will deal with whatever curve ball is heading his way. And I mean if you miss out on whatever salvation is supposed to happen to you and your family and it looks like it really happened that is definitely something worth thinking about. Plus, well ... if you know Jeri Smith-Ready at all ... you know what I’m talking about. Even if there will neither be Irish nor Scots in this book.

Name the book(s) you’re stoked about this week in the comments. And let us know if you’d pick up a book on a touchy subject like religion.

Tuesday 15 October 2013

Teaser Tuesday: The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
To play along just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan.

The House of Hades –
Disney Hyperion Books

They needed to get to a place called the House of Hades (or Pluto, as the Romans called him; or as Hazel liked to think of him: the World’s Worst Absent Father).
— Page 5

She laughed, and the sound sent a shock wave through the water. The wailing faded to background noise. Annabeth wondered if anyone had ever laughed in Tartarus before—just a pure, simple laugh of pleasure. She doubted it.
— Page 39



The House of Hades is the fourth in the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan, and it won’t be the last. There’s a cliffhanger to work with from book three and the sense of foreboding that something bad will happen. Two characters trying to find a way out of Tartarus does seem to merit the thought.
The group of demigods is separated. Percy and Annabeth are trying to find the Doors of Death from the inside and the others do the same on the outside. Naturally there’s a prophecy involved and it doesn’t sound good. But as long as there’s hope and laughter – and the occasional godly help – they stand a chance of succeeding. I’m crossing my fingers and reading on.

Which series would you never turn your back on, even if you constantly feared for the characters? Sound off in the comments!

Wednesday 9 October 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: After the End by Amy Plum

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s can’t wait to read selection is
After the End by Amy Plum.
Publication Date: May 6th 2014.

After the End – Harper Children’s

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They’ve survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.
At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.
When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.
Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she’s trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.
Synopsis from goodreads.com

It’s finally got a cover! And look at that beauty. (Yeah, after involuntarily learning that beauty is not in the eye of the beholder but rather in some ways genetically pre-programmed ... or so some scientists believe ... I’m not sure if I’ll be odd for calling this beautiful or if others will agree because of our genetic mark-up.) But I digress. I think the cover is stunning and compellingly different from the majority of designs you see out there. I’ve been super excited about this book ever since Amy started talking about it. I know that the writing will at least be just as amazing as with the Revenants and I can’t wait to see her take on a supposedly post-apocalyptic scenario. Or surprisingly not-so-post-apocalyptic but still totally messed up. All very mysterious and exciting.

Any thoughts on the beauty subject? If you want, check out the TED talk that inspired that tangent. But definitely let us know about your most anticipated book of the week as we’d most assuredly want to know about those.

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Teaser Tuesday: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Teaser Tuesdaysis a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
To play along just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness.

A Monster Calls – Walker Books

The monster showed up just after midnight.
As they do.
— Page 11

The monster looked at him quizzically. How strange, it said. The words you say tell me, you are scared of the berries, but your actions seem to suggest otherwise.
“You’re as old as the land and you’ve never heard of sarcasm?” Conor asked.
— Page 59


Julika showed me A Monster Calls in a bookstore and I was so impressed by its story and its exceptional black and white illustrations, I had to get it for myself.
The book tells the story of a very special monster and a boy. This monster wants the truth, something that is not so easy to give for thirteen-year-old Conor. I’m not yet far enough into the story to understand why it is after the truth, or how it goes about getting what it wants. It might even take a while until I know, because I’m savouring every page and taking my time reading it.

Which books are you taking your time with? Tell us in the comments along with your teaser.

Wednesday 2 October 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s can’t wait to read selection is
To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Publication Date: April 22nd 2014

To All The Boys I've Loved Before -
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers


To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.
Synopsis from goodreads.com 




If someone had sent the letters to my crushes, I'd probably go into hiding. ;) Funnily enough, when I can read about this disastrous situation, my curiosity lifts its head and sniffs around. The reactions are what truly interests me. What will the boys do? Is there one who maybe returns the feelings, but never had the nerve to speak up? Is there bad blood or will there be one who laughs at her feelings? I'd never want to step into Lara Jean's shoes, but I sure want to read about her handling this situation well.

Are there some books, where you're fascinated by the main character handling a difficult situation but wouldn't want to trade places with him or her? Leave us a comment along with your waiting on choice.

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
To play along just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George.

Tuesdays at the Castle –
Bloomsbury

“No one hates you,” her sister, Lilah, said soothingly.
“But you do have a tendency to bounce.”
“There’s nothing wrong with bouncing,” Celie insisted.
— Chapter 2

“My room should be right here,” Lilah said, frowning.
“It keeps showing me this room,” Celie said, pointing
up the stairs to the Spyglass Tower. “I’m starting to wonder
if it’s important.”
— Chapter 5



When I was younger, I always wanted a house that would grow rooms and turrets just to my liking. I never really wanted to be a princess, though, so it’s possibly just available as a package deal ... I’m not that far along in the book yet, I’m currently reading what feels like six books at the same time in preparation for an event next week. However, out of the books I’m reading and which I can already talk about, this seems to be one of the sweeter and more charming ones. I’m looking forward to reading more of this, I enjoy the writing a lot and especially the younger princess as the main protagonist. I feel that there is a lot of potential in this spunky character and I hope to see her develop quite a bit in the course of the story.

What are you reading this week? Is one (or are more) of your protagonists on a major journey of personal growth? And if at all possible, take some time to bounce today, because there’s nothing wrong with bouncing at all.