Tuesday, 28 August 2018
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
Inferno by Julie Kagawa.
With the number of ongoing series I’m reading I’m always a little caught off guard when I’m actually getting to the last book in a series. Especially, if it’s a longer series such as this one. This is, after all, the fifth book … and the third/fourth (depending on how you count the Iron Fey) series of this author I’m finishing. Has it really been another four years?
One would think that I’d gotten used to Julie Kagawa’s ways by now: Interesting outset and world/character development, high stakes, cliffhangers, even higher stakes, a touch of romance with possibly some triangle/complications, and an epic finale. And yet she gets me with that every time with that final battle where I’m racing towards those final battle chapters thinking that this cannot under any circumstances end well.
I am, for the most part, a romantic at heart and can almost always be persuaded by a happy end – although I also know to appreciate a bitter-sweet or sad end, and even the occasional catastrophe. With this final book I liked the battle scenes and preparation and build up, it all very neatly came together from the entire series. And yet … and yet I felt that a few things were tied off or fell into place too neatly especially after that truly horrifying mind torture part in the previous book. I’m not saying that I would have preferred a little more of that because no way. This really is complaining on a very high level and what I’m basically saying is that I still wasn’t ready to let go of these characters. Again. Basically, all is well that ends well with a few minor smudges on the trophy.
The one thing I truly cannot praise enough though is Julie Kagawa’s ability to write kick-ass, no-name-taking, developing heroines. Her male characters are quite tolerable as well, but her female cast is always a sight to behold. Granted, they can get on your nerves at times, too, but don’t all persons do that … especially when still determining who they are, no matter the age?
What do you do after you’ve finished a series? Do you revisit it after some time in full or do you so to speak put it to rest as is? Share your habits and teasers in the comments!
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!
Inferno by Julie Kagawa.
 |
| Inferno – Harlequin Teen |
“That’s a little worrisome. Do you think this is the welcome party?”
— Chapter 4
You’ve been with us all this time and went through all this trouble, just to betray us in the end. You should have just shot us all in the back while we were on our way here and saved Talon the effort.
— Chapter 32
With the number of ongoing series I’m reading I’m always a little caught off guard when I’m actually getting to the last book in a series. Especially, if it’s a longer series such as this one. This is, after all, the fifth book … and the third/fourth (depending on how you count the Iron Fey) series of this author I’m finishing. Has it really been another four years?
One would think that I’d gotten used to Julie Kagawa’s ways by now: Interesting outset and world/character development, high stakes, cliffhangers, even higher stakes, a touch of romance with possibly some triangle/complications, and an epic finale. And yet she gets me with that every time with that final battle where I’m racing towards those final battle chapters thinking that this cannot under any circumstances end well.
I am, for the most part, a romantic at heart and can almost always be persuaded by a happy end – although I also know to appreciate a bitter-sweet or sad end, and even the occasional catastrophe. With this final book I liked the battle scenes and preparation and build up, it all very neatly came together from the entire series. And yet … and yet I felt that a few things were tied off or fell into place too neatly especially after that truly horrifying mind torture part in the previous book. I’m not saying that I would have preferred a little more of that because no way. This really is complaining on a very high level and what I’m basically saying is that I still wasn’t ready to let go of these characters. Again. Basically, all is well that ends well with a few minor smudges on the trophy.
The one thing I truly cannot praise enough though is Julie Kagawa’s ability to write kick-ass, no-name-taking, developing heroines. Her male characters are quite tolerable as well, but her female cast is always a sight to behold. Granted, they can get on your nerves at times, too, but don’t all persons do that … especially when still determining who they are, no matter the age?
What do you do after you’ve finished a series? Do you revisit it after some time in full or do you so to speak put it to rest as is? Share your habits and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday, 21 August 2018
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
Ally by Anna Banks.
So we’re at that part of the programme where what I’ve recently read isn’t fit to be shared … yet. And none of us wants to get in trouble, right? So I thought I’d share some thought on the second book of this duology. Thoughts on book one are here.
Remember that the first book ended on that cliffhanger? That one is sort of resolved at the very beginning of the book, but as you can guess this only leads into even more trouble because no one is actually speaking to each other … ah, communication, you hardest of all things.
I quite enjoyed the closed in feeling of the first novel in its setting up the political aspects, characters, and stakes. It only seems like a logical progression that now the second book opens up into the apparently bigger play of world order, some very steep character development, and even higher stakes.
The narrative perspective switches are kept up. I would have thought it interesting if for this book Sepora was the third-person and Tarik the first-person perspective, but maybe that would have been too confusing. There were also quite a few twists and I definitely didn’t see some of them coming. One even had me flipping back a page to reconfirm what I had just read.
I will say though that I felt this second book was a little too burdened in terms of what it had to achieve. There is a lot of character growth going on and also a hand full of new characters thrown in and the world definitely expands. It felt just a tad rushed at times where possibly a little more lingering and elaboration would have helped. Like maybe this was originally enough plot for two books but had to be condensed into one. Only speculating here, of course. I would have liked for there to be a third book, even if most of my questions have been more or less sufficiently answered by the end of this one.
If you look at the first book you’ll see that the cover design of this one is quite different. Is that something that would bother you or something that you could easily accept? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments!
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!
Ally by Anna Banks.
 |
| Ally – Feiwel & Friends |
He toyed with my heart while I toyed with his trust. Who is the worst offender?
— Chapter 15
He closes his eyes against her logic. Logic has no place where his heart is concerned and this girl who stands before him has become his heart.
— Chapter 38
So we’re at that part of the programme where what I’ve recently read isn’t fit to be shared … yet. And none of us wants to get in trouble, right? So I thought I’d share some thought on the second book of this duology. Thoughts on book one are here.
Remember that the first book ended on that cliffhanger? That one is sort of resolved at the very beginning of the book, but as you can guess this only leads into even more trouble because no one is actually speaking to each other … ah, communication, you hardest of all things.
I quite enjoyed the closed in feeling of the first novel in its setting up the political aspects, characters, and stakes. It only seems like a logical progression that now the second book opens up into the apparently bigger play of world order, some very steep character development, and even higher stakes.
The narrative perspective switches are kept up. I would have thought it interesting if for this book Sepora was the third-person and Tarik the first-person perspective, but maybe that would have been too confusing. There were also quite a few twists and I definitely didn’t see some of them coming. One even had me flipping back a page to reconfirm what I had just read.
I will say though that I felt this second book was a little too burdened in terms of what it had to achieve. There is a lot of character growth going on and also a hand full of new characters thrown in and the world definitely expands. It felt just a tad rushed at times where possibly a little more lingering and elaboration would have helped. Like maybe this was originally enough plot for two books but had to be condensed into one. Only speculating here, of course. I would have liked for there to be a third book, even if most of my questions have been more or less sufficiently answered by the end of this one.
If you look at the first book you’ll see that the cover design of this one is quite different. Is that something that would bother you or something that you could easily accept? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi.
Rick Riordan can’t possibly write about all pantheons because imagine all the research, the man is already writing about more gods and heroes than most people ever think about, and also he may be qualified for some cultural circles but there are quite a few other authors who are better predisposed to write about aspects they already know. And also: Give the man a break. What he can do and does really well is find those better predisposed authors and give them the chance to tell stories about other pantheons.
Aru starts much like most other demigod stories with the heroine not aware of her status, but in her case very aware of her being other in a peer group at school. Over the course of this first book we not only get to know her and her first godly sister, their strengths and flaws, but we’re also gently introduced to this new to most of us culture and traditions. There are also plenty of reminders that not everything is different and that some things are universally true and important. I especially loved the subtle and not so subtle digs at predominatly male hero stories.
I hope to be proven wrong, but I think these books will find a mostly female readership just due to the fact that we have a girl as the protagonist. Not because the boys don’t read it but because it isn’t on their minds in the first place. And yes I know that exceptions prove the rule, yet I also know that of the fewer boys who read most will not consider a book with a girl on the cover. Or it isn’t even offered to them … because girls are the all terrain vehicles when it comes to reading and boys are treated as the sensitive perfect weather condition sports car. Which will in turn make them to exactly those kinds of readers. A very viscious cycle.
Sorry, tangent. What I mean to say is that this is a fun and informativ and entertaining adventure story that also happens to have girls saving the day, which is really amazing and if you like Rick Riordan’s demigod universe I definitely recommend picking up this book as well.
Do you consider yourself a picky reader or someone who’s willing to try just about anything? Let’s hear from you in the comments and don’t forget to share your teasers!
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!
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi.
 |
| Aru Shah and the End of Time – Rick Riordan Presents |
But Aru knew that wouldn’t be the end of it. Between a demon that could end the world and a seventh-grade girl, Aru (and probably most people) would choose the demon any day.
— Chapter 2
Secrets are curious things. They are flimsy and easily broken. For this reason, they prefer to remain hidden.
A fact, on the other hand, is strong and powerful. It’s proven. Unlike a secret, it’s out there for everyone to see and know. And that can make it more terrifying than even the deepest, darkest secret.
— Chapter 34
Rick Riordan can’t possibly write about all pantheons because imagine all the research, the man is already writing about more gods and heroes than most people ever think about, and also he may be qualified for some cultural circles but there are quite a few other authors who are better predisposed to write about aspects they already know. And also: Give the man a break. What he can do and does really well is find those better predisposed authors and give them the chance to tell stories about other pantheons.
Aru starts much like most other demigod stories with the heroine not aware of her status, but in her case very aware of her being other in a peer group at school. Over the course of this first book we not only get to know her and her first godly sister, their strengths and flaws, but we’re also gently introduced to this new to most of us culture and traditions. There are also plenty of reminders that not everything is different and that some things are universally true and important. I especially loved the subtle and not so subtle digs at predominatly male hero stories.
I hope to be proven wrong, but I think these books will find a mostly female readership just due to the fact that we have a girl as the protagonist. Not because the boys don’t read it but because it isn’t on their minds in the first place. And yes I know that exceptions prove the rule, yet I also know that of the fewer boys who read most will not consider a book with a girl on the cover. Or it isn’t even offered to them … because girls are the all terrain vehicles when it comes to reading and boys are treated as the sensitive perfect weather condition sports car. Which will in turn make them to exactly those kinds of readers. A very viscious cycle.
Sorry, tangent. What I mean to say is that this is a fun and informativ and entertaining adventure story that also happens to have girls saving the day, which is really amazing and if you like Rick Riordan’s demigod universe I definitely recommend picking up this book as well.
Do you consider yourself a picky reader or someone who’s willing to try just about anything? Let’s hear from you in the comments and don’t forget to share your teasers!
Tuesday, 7 August 2018
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
Keep Her Safe by K.A. Tucker.
I don’t know about you but it’s entirely too hot to do anything more than sit around in the shade with your feet in a cold bath and a milkshake close by where I live. Fell down an exhaustion hole, too, last week, sorry about that. But now fresh to work … err, book!
If it is hot where you’re living, you might want to think twice before starting this book. On the one hand the crime aspect of it is sure to give you the chills but on the other hand there is quite a considerable turning up the heat aspect in there as well. Mind you it’s all very contained and has more of an unwilling attraction vibe than an outright heady desire.
It is very easy for me to say that I came for the romantic aspect this author is so well-known for but I definitely stayed for the story. That really was one hell of a trip of morals, loyalty, and family. I especially liked the slow reveal using flashbacks and present time developments, and I thought that was handled very cleverly. I definitely didn’t see that second to last twist coming, but that last thing I could smell from a mile away and I would like to believe that the protagonist did, too. Maybe he deliberately chose to ignore it. Who knows … that might be what ties this a little too neatly in the short term.
I’m not always one for epilogues that take place some time later but here it might have been nice to cast another short spotlight on how the characters are dealing with the aftermath. I had a few questions about how they were going to proceed, but this openness also works in the overall scheme of things.
Whenever I picked up this book I was certain that not a minute later this song would come on on the radio. And even if it didn’t I’d still catch myself humming it. Fairly easy considering the title and all. But I have other books that instantly have music running in the back of my head. Do you have close book-music connections? Tell us about them in the comments along with your teasers.
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!
Keep Her Safe by K.A. Tucker.
 |
| Keep Her Safe – Atria Books |
Even though I had already figured out that the ninja story wasn’t real, I remember feeling completely disenchanted. I guess that tiny flame of childhood hope for the impossible had still been burning, buried somewhere deep.
— Chapter 2
“Who would say that?”
“I don’t know … crazy people?”
“Exactly. I’m not crazy. Are you crazy?”
— Chapter 41
I don’t know about you but it’s entirely too hot to do anything more than sit around in the shade with your feet in a cold bath and a milkshake close by where I live. Fell down an exhaustion hole, too, last week, sorry about that. But now fresh to work … err, book!
If it is hot where you’re living, you might want to think twice before starting this book. On the one hand the crime aspect of it is sure to give you the chills but on the other hand there is quite a considerable turning up the heat aspect in there as well. Mind you it’s all very contained and has more of an unwilling attraction vibe than an outright heady desire.
It is very easy for me to say that I came for the romantic aspect this author is so well-known for but I definitely stayed for the story. That really was one hell of a trip of morals, loyalty, and family. I especially liked the slow reveal using flashbacks and present time developments, and I thought that was handled very cleverly. I definitely didn’t see that second to last twist coming, but that last thing I could smell from a mile away and I would like to believe that the protagonist did, too. Maybe he deliberately chose to ignore it. Who knows … that might be what ties this a little too neatly in the short term.
I’m not always one for epilogues that take place some time later but here it might have been nice to cast another short spotlight on how the characters are dealing with the aftermath. I had a few questions about how they were going to proceed, but this openness also works in the overall scheme of things.
Whenever I picked up this book I was certain that not a minute later this song would come on on the radio. And even if it didn’t I’d still catch myself humming it. Fairly easy considering the title and all. But I have other books that instantly have music running in the back of my head. Do you have close book-music connections? Tell us about them in the comments along with your teasers.
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