Teaser Tuesday: The Iron Traitor 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 Traitor by Julie Kagawa.

The Iron Traitor –
Harlequin Teen

When Keirran went back into the Nevernever, I knew I hadn’t seen the last of him. Still, I had no idea how entangled my life would soon become with his, and how he would be the catalyst…for the end of everything.
— Chapter 1

A thin, pale figure stood a few yards away, perched atop the wooden privacy fence surrounding the lot, silhouetted against the night sky. He stood in profile so that he faced me from the side, and one large, pale eye peered down at me from a narrow face.
— Chapter 8

Who doesn’t love a world-dooming prophecy to set the tone for a book series? Me, that’s who. Well, not really true ... because if it weren’t for that prophecy there wouldn’t be any Call of the Forgotten books to continue the story of a certain former winter prince (and his queen, of course) even if they’re mostly pretty decoration. The new cast is quite acceptable as well and I enjoyed the first book a lot. Maybe not as much as the original series, but I’m curious enough about the fate of the Nevernever and its inhabitants to keep reading. And dang it, I hope that prophecy is just you messing with your readers, Julie Kagawa! I like mind-bending prophecies quite a bit (hence my love for anything Percy Jackson), but at the moment I don’t see how this isn’t spiralling towards said “end of everything”.

What’s your take on prophecies in books? Do you try to figure them out before you continue reading or do you let the plot come at you? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments.

Waiting on Wednesday: Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

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
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Publication Date: May 6th 2014

Since You've Been Gone –
Simon & Schuster

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn’t go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn’t do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell. But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just ... disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try ... unless they could lead back to her best friend. Apple Picking at Night? Ok, easy enough. Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not? Kiss a Stranger? Wait ... what?

Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go Skinny Dipping? Um ...

Synopsis from goodreads.com

Depending on how the book I just finished made me feel, I often turn to the opposite (even in the books I’m waiting for). My last book was absolutely teary, so this story is right up my alley with a cheeky voice and crazy tasks. Kissing a stranger, huh? I wonder how that’s going to work out for Emily.
The mystery of the missing friend gives it a bit of a sombre note, though. Could there be an innocent reason for Sloane to be gone like that? I doubt it, but I like the idea that by working through the to-do list, Emily might get closer to her friend.

Opposites attract holds true for me when choosing a book. How do you decide what to read next? Share your thoughts along with your waiting on choice.

Teaser Tuesday: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

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 Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

The Book Thief –
Knopf Books for Young Readers

Trust was accumulated quickly, due primarily to the brute strength of the man’s gentleness, his thereness. The girl knew from the onset that Hans Hubermann would always appear midscream, and he would not leave.
— Page 15

I don’t often re-read books, mostly only parts I enjoyed, because my reading list is already so long and the day only has so many hours. This is clearly a re-read to find out if the “it’s not you, it’s me” explanation I gave the book the first time around was true. I first read The Book Thief when it was published in Germany in 2008 and I just wasn’t impressed. At all. I’m now re-reading it in English and have to admit that I’m a little puzzled at all the German words that are liberally strewn across the text. That’s definitely something I didn’t appreciate when I read the translation. Maybe I’m also a little more receptive to the text and writing style now that I’m not attending literary criticism classes and the impression of high school history with its constant WWII this and NS that has paled a little. At least I find that I’m enjoying it more the second time around, if you can call it enjoying. Was this new interest caused by the movie? Yes, in parts. I had already thought about a re-read because I knew that I hadn’t been the best reader the first time and the movie certainly is a good enough reason.

Mandatory question: Have you read the book and/or will you go to see the movie? Let’s hear from you in the comments.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Queen’s Choice by Cayla Kluver

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 Queen’s Choice by Cayla Kluver.
Publication Date: January 28th 2014.

The Queen’s Choice – Harlequin Teen

Magic was seeping out of me, black and agonizing. I could see it drifting away. The magic that would let me pass the Road to reach home again.

When sixteen-year-old Anya learns that her aunt, Queen of the Faerie Kingdom of Chrior, will soon die, her grief is equaled only by her despair for the future of the kingdom. Her young cousin, Illumina, is unfit to rule, and Anya is determined not to take up the queen’s mantle herself.
Convinced that the only solution is to find Prince Zabriel, who long ago disappeared into the human realm of Warckum, and persuade him to take up his rightful crown, Anya journeys into the Warckum Territory to bring him home. But her journey is doomed to be more harrowing than she ever could have imagined ...

Synopsis from goodreads.com

I have if I seriously think about it no idea where or when this book made its way onto my wait for publication list. But as I was scrolling through it just now this title came up as a not too distant release. But I’m not presenting this today because I couldn’t think of anything else ... that would be really sad ... but because I want know from you how many chances you give an author before you categorise them as not your cup of tea or read if available but don’t pick up specifically ... or something like that. The reason for this is for one that I read and sort of liked this author’s previous title Legacy yet I didn’t read the sequels. I felt that the book might have been better with a stronger editorial hand in tightening the story. And seeing that this new title is almost 200 pages shorter that might be the case. The writing was absolutely fine so I’ll be interested to see how the story-telling turns out in this one.

So let me know what you think about offering second/third/fourth chances along with your waiting on choice in the comments. Or just the book if you think I’m too nosy. :)

Teaser Tuesday: The Night Itself by Zoë Marriott

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 Night Itself by Zoë Marriott.

The Night Itself – Walker Books

Stealing the sword was a bad idea. I can’t pretend I didn’t realize that at the time.
— Chapter 1

He gave Shinobu a narrow-eyed look, as if he suspected him of somehow dragging me and Jack into a bad, nine-tailed vampire-cat-demon-hobnobbing crowd.
— Chapter 11

I finally got around to reading this first book in Mariott’s Name of the Blade series and was hooked from the first sentence. Not only is the story set in London, but there are myths and magic involved. Japanese myths and magic, which I know hardly anything about. I also cannot imagine which direction this book (or the series) will take and find that very refreshing.
From the characters I like Mio the most. She’s courageous, loyal, and witty. She keeps me on my toes, because I never know what she might do. There are so many questions I want answered. I want to know about the history of the sword, which started everything. About Mio’s father and grandfather. And naturally, about Shinobu. Who is he and why is he there?

Are you trying something new as well or making yourself comfortable with favourite authors this week? Leave us a comment and your teaser!