Waiting on Wednesday: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

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
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black.
Publication Dates: UK September 1st 2013, US September 3rd 2013.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown –
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.
One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

Synopsis from goodreads.com

The cover is so creepily awesome that I could stare at it for a considerable time ... not that I haven’t done so already. Just look at the detail of the veins being part of the title. Yes, I’m easy to please, but then again it’s neither a headless girl nor feet nor person from behind. Furthermore, it’s a Holly Black book and from what I’ve heard it will be vampires. I’m certain that Holly Black will give the whole thing her very own twist, which will either make people love it or say that they couldn’t get into the story. I absolutely loved The Curse Workers series, but I know enough people who didn’t and I can sort of understand them (even though I still think it’s a pity).

Do you have favourite authors who aren’t everyone’s cup of tea? Let us know about them in the comments and please share your waiting on choice of the week.

Teaser Tuesday: Hunted by Kevin Hearne

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!

Hunted by Kevin Hearne.

Hunted - Orbit

They took very different approaches to their famous virginity: Artemis’s complete lack of attention to her personal appearance meant she couldn’t care less what men thought of her, while Diana appreciated the tease of looking desirable yet untouchable.

-- Page 103

Insane as it sounded, I thought it best to risk the sleeping manticore.

-- Page 278

I'm re-reading this book because I didn't really get into the story as I confused it with the one before and expected a totally different narration.
This time, Atticus and his friends are being hunted by the Greek and Roman goddesses Artemis and Diana. You have to mess things up really well to make those pantheons work together though, which tells you a lot about Atticus. ;)
I love the humour and wit in this sixth instalment of The Iron Druid Chronicles as well as the mixture of myths portrayed. Furthermore, the second time around I'm more attuned to the story, which makes it a much more enjoyable read.

Are you immersed in a series this week? Tease us in the comments with your current reads.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason

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
The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason.
Publication Date: September 17th 2013

The Clockwork Scarab
- Chronicle Books

Two young women of similar age and standing have disappeared:
one found dead and the other still missing. The only clue to
connect them is a small Egyptian clockwork scarab. Only Miss
Stoker and Miss Holmes are well-positioned enough—similar in
age and stature as they are to the victims—to investigate. An
unlikely pair, the fierce Evaline Stoker and logical Mina Holmes must follow in the footsteps of their infamous families—Miss Holmes has inherited her Uncle Sherlock’s keen investigative skills, while Miss Stoker has accepted her family calling as a hunter of the undead. The partners must find a way to work together, while navigating the advances of a strange yet handsome American, a clever Scotland Yard investigator, and a cunning thief, to solve the mystery of the clockwork scarabs.

Set in steam punk London, steeped in Egyptian mythology
and literary references, with a surprising time travel twist and compelling romantic triangles, Colleen Gleason has crafted a fast-paced and romantic debut young adult novel.

Synopsis from goodreads.com

I admit it, I'm a wee bit obsessed with Sherlock Holmes. The thorougly read Holmes collection on my bookshelf might indicate that fact. So there's no way I could bypass a book with a Holmes relative in it. 

Stoker is a new field to me though and I think, I'll keep it that way and let myself be surprised by his sister. She and Miss Holmes seem striking women, quite fitting for a steam punk setting. With both of them working together, mystery is a given and mythology an added bonous. I only wonder why there have to be love triangles and time travels. The synopsis sounds suspenseful enough as it is. 

Do you (re-) read the classics before delving into stories based on them? Let us hear your views and Wednesday picks in the comments.

Teaser Tuesday: Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

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!

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins.

Sweet Peril – HarperTeen

I shuddered. Couldn’t Dad somehow teach them to knock? Anything less jarring than dive-bombing toward my face unexpectedly.
— Chapter 7

“As if you don’t know.” Ginger’s eyes narrowed with distrust as she studied me.
My stomach compacted into a firm ball of nerves. “I don’t know.” I looked over at Marna. “Tell me.”
— Chapter 8

Didn’t I recently say something about sequels and final books? So no worries there are enough unfinished series to go around. At the very least this one is straight forward and doesn’t for example change its main characters or locations ... well, technically speaking it probably does. It  suffers a little from what I call second-book-syndrome-of-absent-guy-and-possible-replacement-guy. Only not as badly as other series, and I also don’t want to smack the heroine around the head on a constant basis. I’m about a third in now, but I really hope that things will pick up soon, otherwise this could become a little tedious.

Have you been disappointed in a sequel recently? Sound off about it in comments and share your current read.

Waiting on Wednesday: Fragile Spirits by Mary Lindsey

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
Fragile Spirits by Mary Lindsey.
Publication Date: January 23rd 2014

Fragile Spirits - Philomel

Paul has always known he was a Protector, fated to serve a Speaker who could hear the voices of spirits lingering after death and help those souls find peace.

Vivienne ignores the voices of the dead.

Paul has always followed the Protector’s rule book, preparing diligently for the day when he’d be matched with his Speaker and fulfill his destiny.

Vivienne never does what she’s told.

So when Paul is matched with Vivienne, they both find the pairing less than satisfactory. But a kidnapping, a malevolent spirit and power stronger than both of them may just prove that they are two halves of the same whole.

Synopsis from goodreads.com. 

When it comes to series, I'm torn between wanting to delve back into the world I know - including the characters already presented (and loved) - or reading about totally new characters set in the same universe. Both ways can work well and I can't decide, which I prefer. I really liked Lenzi and Alden of Shattered Souls and would have loved to read about them again. However, the synopsis for the sequel Fragile Spirits promises interesting new characters, especially feisty Vivienne, lots of suspense and maybe a love story. 

Do you prefer changing characters in a series or rather keep the known ones? Share your opinion in the comments along with your waiting on choice.