Teaser Tuesday: Royal Tour by Amy Alward

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
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!

Royal Tour by Amy Alward.

Royal Tour – Simon & Schuster

‘I don’t think it was that bad ...’
The tone of her voice doesn’t do anything to reassure me.
— Chapter 3

Finally, I hear the sound I’ve been waiting for. The flapping of wings in the sky.
‘Oh my god, what is that?’ asks Anita, her head tilted up to the sky.
‘You don’t want to know,’ I say.
— Chapter 52

This series is so cute! Fluff and sugar, a fun quick read with humour and witty dialogue. And not at all vapid or senseless. I was more than pleasantly surprised with the first book in this series, so I knew that I could expect an entertaining read with this added level of adventure and criminological puzzles. And the stakes are even higher in this second book. I especially love that we’re getting to see a little more of this fantastical world and I enjoyed the exploration aspect. While second books are in danger of suffering from a sort of bad patch within a series this one nicely managed to maintain the first book’s quality.
The first book had a slight cliffhanger, but this one? Let’s just say that there definitely needs to be a next book and I would very much like to have it sooner rather than later. And maybe, just maybe Sam and Zain will finally be able to go on their normal date?

Can you name a second book in a series that was exactly right and didn’t suffer sequel syndrome? Share well-made continuations of first books you enjoyed and your teasers in the comments!

Teaser Tuesday: Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
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!

Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken.

Wayfarer –
Disney Hyperion

“It’s rather remarkable, you know, the resemblance between the two of you. Uncanny, even.”
“Yeah, I didn’t miss the folks in the hall who crossed themselves when they saw me.
— Chapter 7

“My mother met that woman and they both survived it?”
One corner of his mouth twitched, and the parts of her that were still raw, and awkward – and, worse – unsure, eased. “I never said they emerged unscathed.”
— Chapter 8

I was a little afraid of this book simply because its precursor casts such a huge shadow and immediately occupied a spot on my favourite books of 2016 list ... in the first week of January. For several reasons I wasn’t able to read this second and final book upon its publication, but now I feel that it was well worth to wait for uninterrupted reading time, because this is a one sitting read.
At the same time this story is everything I hoped it would be while also not being at all what I expected. Without spoiling the first book let’s just say that I was happy to find the same voices and humour and beloved characters (and also new ones) while I had to get over certain people not sharing much page time.
Time travel books often have the problem that at one point I find the paradox that would mean nothing of all that happens should be possible. Alexandra Bracken has (as far as I’m concerned) managed to construct a solid rule set for her time travellers. At least I’m not expecting the characters to implode at any given moment, which cannot be said for a lot of other books in this genre. And she has chosen places to visit that are not the typical destination when you are able to go back in time. A neat double of books. I’m happy for the characters but at the same time sad to have to let them go. Safe travels, everyone.

Can you think of a book that was at the same time everything you wanted and also not at all what you expected? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments!

Teaser Tuesday: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
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!

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan.

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods –
Disney Hyperion

Now, in modern times, we have a word for this sort of behavior. We call it psycho.
Back then, the rules of behavior were a lot looser. Maybe you’ll feel better about your own relatives, knowing that the first family in creation was also the first dysfunctional family.
— Chapter 1

Sisyphus’s problem was that he didn’t want to die.
I can relate to that. I wake up every morning and think: You know what would be good today? Not dying.
— Chapter 9

Today is the publication date of the next Rick Riordan Demigod book featuring Apollo. Time, I thought to brush up on my knowledge of Greek mythology. And once again I realise how much I actually miss Percy and the gang. Yes, Rick Riordan captures the voices of all his protagonists in a unique and entertaining way and I enjoy them a lot, but Percy was the first and I reserve the right to miss him and Annabeth and hope for more than just glimpses of them.
Anyway, this is a perfectly fine overview of the major Olympian pantheon with the tongue in cheek tone that is to be expected when this author is involved. If you’re already well-versed in Greek mythology, this book will not provide you with anything new, but that should not deter you if Percy’s voice is your thing. A perfect companion to the series. And the illustrations are a perfect fit. Seriously, picking the right illustrator for a story can make or break a book and here it is definitely the former.
Can I just say that the voices of accusing Riordan of milking a cash cow here are decidedly fewer than with other authors with multiple books in the same universe ... could it be because he is not a woman? Which is sort of funny if you read the book and discover the underlying narrative of feminism throughout the book. If you like writing in the same universe and there are readers for it (or even if there are not) by all means go for it!

Do you pay attention to the criticisms of your favourite authors or do you (try to) ignore it? Share your habits and teasers in the comments.

Teaser Tuesday: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
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!

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter.

I'd Tell You I Love You,
But Then I'd Have to Kill You –
Disney Hyperion

Times like this are when it's no fun being the headmistress's daughter, because A) it's totally annoying when people think I'm in a loop I'm not in, and B) people always assume I'm in partnership with the staff, which really I'm not – Sure, I have private dinners with my mom on Sunday nights, and sometimes she leaves me alone in her office for five seconds, but that's it. Whenever school is in session, I'm just another Gallagher Girl (except for being the girl to whom the aforementioned A and B apply).
— Chapter 1

Crouched on the roof between Bex and Liz, I wasn't a girl who had just broken up with her boyfriend; I looked at my watch and checked my gear instead of crying. I had a mission objective and not a broken heart.
— Chapter 27

Did I spend my Easter vacation binge-reading the wonderful Gallagher Girls series? I’m not saying anything that could incriminate me. I will, however, say that if these books have not been on your radar, you’re missing out on a great, enjoyable and entertaining series. The humour hits all the right notes and had me in a constant good mood. I especially love the character development over the course of the series. What never changes is the level of girl power and friendship. Sure, there is the boy topic (since things would have taken a very different turn if ... well, isn’t that always the case?), but it never detracts from the overall awesomeness that is the group of girls around Cammie Morgan.
In many stories it would have been an major development arc of the girls discovering that they are capable of becoming world class spies, but that is not this book. On the contrary, that is never called into question because all of them have their special talents and abilities. It starts out harmlessly enough with Cammie being noticed by a boy while out on a school assignment. The problem? Cammie is the perfect chameleon, which means that she doesn’t get noticed unless she wants to be. And while this attention itself isn’t dangerous it does something to Cammie and her friends, who might be able to hack into high security networks, but are terribly sheltered when it comes to boys. Fun and hilarity ensue ... among other things.
The series has published its tenth anniversary edition (I love the new covers and will have to do something about all that bonus material in the new publications), but it all began with the plead skirts which adorn my bookshelf. I don’t want to call the series a classic my age can’t take that hit right now, but if I’m honest if a book is still in print after a decade that title is well deserved. Maybe let’s call it a modern classic? Ally Carter is unquestionably one of the defining authors of the YA category and I for one am very glad that she writes for this audience.

I moved part of my library this weekend (part because I don’t have enough shelf space yet) and the hardest part was deciding which books absolutely had to come and which will have to wait in storage for a while longer. Which books do you have to have on display or your place doesn’t feel like home? Share treasures and teasers in the comments!

Teaser Tuesday: United by Melissa Landers

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
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!

United by Melissa Landers.

United – EverAfter

“It’s a new record,” Aelyx said. “Less than an hour on this planet, and already someone’s trying to kill me.”
— Chapter 5

“It’s all right. None of us died in the cold void of space. I call that a win.”
— Chapter 8

Despite the dreamy idea that publishing is a benevolent place (which is true most of the time) the industry is also a business that at the heart of the matter needs (and let’s be honest also wants) to make money. So when a book or series doesn’t match the expectations chances are that the publisher won’t commission a third book if they initially bought two. Second books are always hard, but they become a totally different beast when the author is asked to wrap up the story earlier than they originally planned and I somewhat suspected this in the second Alienated book when the end was anything but a conclusion. And seeing that this third book is self-published/published with a different publisher than the initial books ... well let’s just say it’s nice when instincts appear to be on point. (By the way, it also works the other way around that publishers sometimes ask a writer to expand a series beyond the initial books when they are performing better than expected. Both scenarios are not always beneficial to the story, but that’s a matter of opinion.)

Not-So-Short publishing excursus aside this is the end to the series as intended by the author and I’m glad that Melissa Landers was able to conclude her story in a way of her choosing. The loos ends from the second book are wrapped up and Cara and Aelyx are released into a future that will hopefully not include another attempt on their lives or their entire species. It may be a little over the top cheesy in some aspects but overall I’d say that the series is complete with this third book and better for it.

Do you have a series that you suspect or know has been cut short? I’m a little on the fence about let’s call them rogue sequel publications, but in some cases I’m happy to be positively surprised. Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments.