Teaser Tuesday: The Iron Legends by Julie Kagawa

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 Iron Legends by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Legends - Harlequin Teen

Everyone says the Summer Queen is stunning, beautiful, absolutely captivating. Yeah, I guess she is, but so is a volcanic eruption, and probably less volatile.
-- Summer’s Crossing, Chapter 4

How very chliché. Why can’t it be the third nephew twice removed who’s fated to destroy the world?
-- Iron’s Prophecy, Chapter 4

Usually, I dislike in-between stories or chapters that form part of the canon, but aren’t necessary to understand it. Sometimes, they are not easy to get a hold of, but this hadn’t been the case for Winter’s Passage and Summer’s Crossing. Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey series has been different for me. Suddenly, I didn’t mind that the last book was from a different point of view and I certainly didn’t mind the additional stories between the individual books. I’m glad that they are now available as a companion piece as they enrich the story while not forcing you to read them. However, if you already have the first two novellas, this publication is a little bit redundant, even with the added bits and pieces. Yet it is the third, Iron’s Prophecy,  story that will be the bridge to the second cycle and offer the connection to The Lost Prince. And it does look nice with the other books ...

What are you reading this week? And what are your thoughts on additional novellas between individual books?

Waiting on Wednesday: Prodigy by Marie Lu

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
Prodigy by Marie Lu.
Publication Date: January 29th 2013.

Prodigy - Putnam Juvenile

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request--June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood--what if the Patriots are wrong?

Synopsis from goodreads.com

I probably don’t have to say a lot about why I can hardly wait for this book. I received Legend as a gift last Christmas and I’ve kept returning to thinking about Day and June. I really hope that there will be a little more to the other characters (such as Tess) as well and that we’ll get to see some more of the world beyond the Republic. I also hope that my gut instinct is wrong when it comes to Anden, Day, and June regarding a certain geometrical shape.

Tell us about the books you look forward to in 2013 ... or maybe you picked a December title?

Teaser Tuesday: Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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!

 Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Cursed - Spencer Hill Press

"Yep. Squeaky died. I buried him. Olivia dug him up. I woke up the next day with the thing sitting on my chest."
-- Chapter 9

"But don't confuse pity with caring, Ember," she went on. "Hayden's always had a soft spot for all things... lost and broken."
-- Chapter 16

Having read Armentrout's Covenant series (as far as it’s published), I couldn't help but notice Cursed. It has nothing to do with the series, but rather stands alone. The characters are gifted similarly to the X-Men, which fits right in with my supernatural reading tendencies. ;)
Main character Ember is witty and ironic - the kind of (anti-) heroine I prefer - and she’s doing everything to contradict the theory that her curse is actually a gift. Everything she touches dies, how’s that not a curse? Hayden tries to convince her otherwise and helps her with her curse/gift. I liked him from the start, because he’s one of the only few who is friendly to Ember. So I’m unhappy when his motives are questioned. Still, what are his motives?

Which books are you reading right now? Tease us in the comments.

Waiting on Wednesday: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

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
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys.
Publication Date: February 13th 2013

Out of the Easy - Philomel Book

It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.

Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

Synopsis from goodreads.com.

After reading a lot of supernatural / fantasy lately, I need something more realistic in my line of sight and Out of the Easy gives me just that and more. It's historical fiction featuring a young heroine, topped off with some murder mystery (god knows, I like that a lot ;) ) and a strong character who seems determined to make her own descisions, despite what others want for her.

Which titles are you waiting for? Let us hear in the comments!

Teaser Tuesday: Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

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!  

Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Redemption - Razorbill

As Amma used to say, the good thing about the truth is it’s true, and there’s no arguing with the truth. You may not like it, but that doesn’t make it any less true.
-- Chapter 1

If fear is going to stop us, we should concede failure right now.
-- Chapter 20

The Caster world has to be one of my favourite literary worlds. I couldn’t explain why this is the case without writing an essay about it. Suffice to say that I loved this book and feel so glad with all the loose ends neatly tied up. I would have hated it if this had felt rushed or unmotivated, but this is not the case at all. It fits perfectly with the style and the story arc of the rest of the series while completing it’s very own arc as well. I will re-read the series in the near future to appreciate all the foreshadowing and hidden meanings that I’m sure I missed. Overall, I’m sad to see these characters go, but happy for the worthy ending this series received.

Are you by chance reading a last book in a series as well? Or are you starting a brand new one? Share it in the comments.