Tuesday 25 September 2012

Teaser Tuesday: Easy by Tammara Webber

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!  

Easy by Tammara Webber.

Easy - CreateSpace


“Oh, for Pete’s sake--as I told my daughter, there’s not a boy on the planet worth this amount of angst. I know; I used to be one.”
-- Chapter 2

“You’re full of contradictions, Ms. Wallace.” I looked up at him and arched a brow. “I’m a girl. That’s part of the job description, Mr. Maxfield.”
-- Chapter 22


I wasn’t sure about reading this book. At all. It deals with two topics that easily can get overly simplified or cheesy or just be portrayed badly. These topics being break-ups and (attempted) rape. Now this book isn’t the big revelation (it doesn’t have to be), but it’s honest and doesn’t gloss over anything. Maybe the twist is a bit obvious and maybe the end is a bit too neat, but the story this book tells to get there is well worth reading. -- Oh, and one thing: The industry insists on labelling this one as a “New Adult” book (for ages 14-35) so I suppose we’ll have to cast off our old skins or something before reading books from this category.

Wednesday 19 September 2012

Waiting on Wednesday: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

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
Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor.
Publication Date: November 6th 2012

Days of Blood and Starlight -
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she’ll go to avenge her people.
Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.
Synopsis from goodreads.com

Is it already nine months since I devoured Daughter of Smoke and Bone? I loved it because of the unique world Laini Taylor built for her exceptional characters. I want to meet Akiva and Karou again - and might there be hope for Brimstone? What happens to Zuzana? The synopsis is not much to go by. But if you have read Daughter of Smoke and Bone, you'll probably have your own idea already on what could happen in the next book. If you haven't read it, then it's high time you start this amazing book before the sequel hits the shelves!


Tuesday 18 September 2012

Teaser Tuesday: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

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!  

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan.

Unspoken - Random House
Books for Young Readers

Every town in England has a story. One day I am going to find out Sorry-in-the-Vale’s.
-- Chapter 1

“And I teach Cambridge because she feeds me and because she’ll need these skills to get out of situations she will inevitably throw herself into. It’s all very equitable. Which reminds me, Angela, I’m a crazed drug dealer, desperate for the change in your jeans pockets. What do you do?”
-- Chapter 5



Maybe you remember that Unspoken was our Waiting on Wednesday at some point. And I can definitely say that this is one of the books that belongs to the category “worth the wait”. I like a book with witty banter and good humour and this one has plenty of it. Not pointless or forced either. I won’t say more since I think you should discover this cast of characters and the clever story yourself.

What are you reading at the moment?

Wednesday 12 September 2012

Waiting on Wednesday: Trapped by Kevin Hearne


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
Trapped by Kevin Hearne.
Publication Date: November 27th 2012


Trapped - Del Rey
After twelve years of secret training, Atticus O’Sullivan is finally ready to bind his apprentice, Granuaile, to the earth and double the number of Druids in the world. But on the eve of the ritual, the world that thought he was dead abruptly discovers that he’s still alive, and they would much rather he return to the grave.

Having no other choice, Atticus, his trusted Irish wolfhound, Oberon, and Granuaile travel to the base of Mount Olympus, where the Roman god Bacchus is anxious to take his sworn revenge—but he’ll have to get in line behind an ancient vampire, a band of dark elves, and an old god of mischief, who all seem to have KILL THE DRUID at the top of their to-do lists.
Synopsis from goodreads.com

 Trapped is the fifth book in The Iron Druid Chronicles series and the first I had to wait for so far. I don't remember how I got acquainted with this urban fantasy series, but once hooked, I couldn't stop. I love the characters, especially Atticus and his hound Oberon, who distracts Atticus with his own demands: mainly sausages, movies (yeah, I know, weird right?) and French poodles. Granuaile, Atticus' apprentice, (I really don't know how to pronounce her name. There's a glossary for Irish pronunciation at the beginning of each book, but who reads glossaries anyway?) is a smart and witty character as well. I hope to read more about her in book five.
I never ask for November to come quickly - much too cold and wet for my taste - but this is an exception. I want to continue reading about Atticus and how he's going to pull his head out of the noose this time -- what with all the gods trying to take him down. Add some wit and cultural references and I guess it's going to be a very good read indeed. ;)

So, what are you waiting on this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments!

Tuesday 11 September 2012

Teaser Tuesday: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

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!  

A Discovery Of Witches by Deborah Harkness.
A Discovery of Witches -
Headline

Oxford is quintessentially normal in the morning, with the delivery trucks pulled up to college kitchens, the aromas of burned coffee and damp pavement, and fresh rays of sunlight slanting through the mist. It was not a place that seemed likely to harbor vampires.
-- Chapter 4

I’d assured Sarah and Em that no vampire would meddle with my life. Gillian Chamberlain and Peter Knox had changed my mind. With shaking hands I lowered the shades and locked the door, wishing I’d never heard of Ashmole 782.
-- Chapter 10

This is a re-read for me in the sense that I actually read the German translation, which is surprisingly well done (I’m horribly picky at that). The second book, Shadow of Night, has just been released in English and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. But in the meantime I’ll get reacquainted with Matthew and Diana. How often do you get a witch, who knows she's a witch, but doesn’t want to use her power and keeps track of how often she uses it in the course of a year? I’d constantly get things out of my bag without having to almost dive into it to find anything ... or use it for doing the dishes. Final selling point: If you’ve ever been to Oxford, you’ll recognise a good deal of the places mentioned and if you haven’t, the writing will make you think that you have been there.

Have you read A Discovery of Witches? Would you rather be a witch, a vampire, a daemon, or a human? And what are you reading this week?