Tuesday, 26 June 2018
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken.
I wrote about my excitement for the upcoming movie of this last summer. By now the release date (3rd August in the US) and the trailer have dropped. And wonder of wonders, Germany is only about two weeks behind the US release … as opposed to other movies, looking at you Love, Simon.
Without spoiling too much, I think I can only say that this book broke my heart and then mended it with duct tape (still in place a couple of years later). But that’s okay because that is exactly how reading this series should feel – at least in my opinion. In a post-apocalyptic scenario, things cannot be returned to their original state and thus an altered but functionally mended result is very appropriate.
There is a new book set in this universe coming out at the end of next month featuring an all-grown-up Zu and also an interesting aspect you rarely get with scenarios like that: What the world looks like a couple of years after it was saved from the brink.
So what can I say; excitement levels for this series are high this summer. I might go for a quick re-read in preparation for the fourth book and the movie.
Lots of trailers dropping at the moment. Which book to screen adaption are you excited about right now? 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!
In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken.
 |
| In the Afterlight – Hyperion |
Objectively, I knew that what he was saying was true—but the words sparked such a fierce denial and fury in me, I almost pushed him away. I didn’t need reality right now.
— Chapter 2
“That’s not very Team Reality of you.”
His smile matched mine. “Screw Team Reality—I’m leaving to join Team Sanity.”
— Chapter 8
I wrote about my excitement for the upcoming movie of this last summer. By now the release date (3rd August in the US) and the trailer have dropped. And wonder of wonders, Germany is only about two weeks behind the US release … as opposed to other movies, looking at you Love, Simon.
Without spoiling too much, I think I can only say that this book broke my heart and then mended it with duct tape (still in place a couple of years later). But that’s okay because that is exactly how reading this series should feel – at least in my opinion. In a post-apocalyptic scenario, things cannot be returned to their original state and thus an altered but functionally mended result is very appropriate.
There is a new book set in this universe coming out at the end of next month featuring an all-grown-up Zu and also an interesting aspect you rarely get with scenarios like that: What the world looks like a couple of years after it was saved from the brink.
So what can I say; excitement levels for this series are high this summer. I might go for a quick re-read in preparation for the fourth book and the movie.
Lots of trailers dropping at the moment. Which book to screen adaption are you excited about right now? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments.
Tuesday, 19 June 2018
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
Smoke in the Sun by Renée Ahdieh.
Since I’m a reader, I’m more than allowed to change my mind about things. Like, for example, first complaining about too many books being part of a trilogy, then not enough stand-alones … and now about duologies, because I can’t bear to part with these characters. Special added bonus because this is the authors second duology and she manages to do this to me again.
The first book was one of my absolute favourites last year and I fell head over heels in love with the world and its characters. So far so good. But as with the second book of her first set, Renée Ahdieh totally managed to surprise me with leading the narration in a completely different and yet totally fitting direction. I don’t actually know what I expected and now that I know how this plays out I can’t imagine any other way for this to go, but I remember that I was caught a little off guard at first.
Seriously, what wonderful, magical, and empowering story. It’s definitely one I’m going to keep recommending for its drive and overall greatness.
Is there a follow-up book to a story you loved that initially didn’t go in the direction you thought it would but you ended up loving it anyway? Share your experiences 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!
Smoke in the Sun by Renée Ahdieh.
 |
| Smoke in the Sun – G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers |
The Emperor of Wa enjoyed toying with people to see how they would react. And Mariko refused to be any man’s toy.
— Chapter 10
It was time for him to forgive his past. Not forget it. Only a fool would do such things.
— Chapter 31
Since I’m a reader, I’m more than allowed to change my mind about things. Like, for example, first complaining about too many books being part of a trilogy, then not enough stand-alones … and now about duologies, because I can’t bear to part with these characters. Special added bonus because this is the authors second duology and she manages to do this to me again.
The first book was one of my absolute favourites last year and I fell head over heels in love with the world and its characters. So far so good. But as with the second book of her first set, Renée Ahdieh totally managed to surprise me with leading the narration in a completely different and yet totally fitting direction. I don’t actually know what I expected and now that I know how this plays out I can’t imagine any other way for this to go, but I remember that I was caught a little off guard at first.
Seriously, what wonderful, magical, and empowering story. It’s definitely one I’m going to keep recommending for its drive and overall greatness.
Is there a follow-up book to a story you loved that initially didn’t go in the direction you thought it would but you ended up loving it anyway? Share your experiences and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday, 12 June 2018
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas.
You know those books that are 90% doom, peril, danger, and fearing for your favourite characters and the general fate of the world? And then the big fight is over and you get perhaps a chapter of cleaning up and maybe a sort of strange feeling epilogue … and they lived happily ever after (or not so happily, but book’s over). I’m no exception in wondering about and wishing for moments of normalcy and happiness depicted for those characters. Not all over the book all the time, because there are books for that as well and I’m more the “no conflict, no story” reader apparently.
Sarah J. Maas gives her readers more or less exactly those moments of normalcy, fluff, and happiness after almost destroying everything. I say more or less because there obviously is another series looming with new conflicts and new struggles and with new main characters who are gently showed onto the main stage here as well.
This is a bridging-novella in its true sense in being short, not too plot-driven or revealing, and definitely not essential to either series. As opposed to what was supposed to be a novella in Maas’ other series, which instead became a fully-fledged book. So knowing this I didn’t have very high demands, but I fully expected to be entertained and to enjoy some spending time with these characters without fearing for their lives. Which is what held true for most of the book with the occasional grin and chuckle and maybe eye-roll about one too many mate-mentions. I also enjoyed the beginning set up of the new series – even if I still don’t think that those particular characters belong together.
You’re waiting for the but? Here it is: But that conclusion?! That was really in the face in terms of my house, my car, my boat only in fantasy terms. It just didn’t seem to fit with the main character I got to know and love for the main trilogy. Yes, the war will definitely have had an impact and changed her but … that “gift”. Wow, that messed with me quite a bit. I understand that it might be the most desirable goal for some, I just never understood Feyre to feel that way. Or at least not right away. Authors and their lives should be viewed separately from their works, yet here I feel the particular circumstances heavily influenced this plot.
So maybe I don’t want normalcy and happiness after all. Or maybe just not this brand of it. Or more likely normalcy and happiness that feel more organic and true to characters and their motivations. I will pick up the follow-up books at some point – maybe not with the highest priority and maybe I’ll have to block out certain aspects. I’m all for the author’s joy and happiness and wish her all the health and love in the world, but this felt a little too projected onto her characters.
Have you had a book that totally threw you in terms of either plot or character developments? Share those along with your 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!
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas.
 |
| A Court of Frost and Starlight – Bloomsbury |
Her mouth—painted a berry pink—tightened. “Not so happy an ending, I’m afraid.”
— Chapter 4
“But nothing,” Amren said, returning to the puzzle. “Because I like her, I am not inclined to gossip about her current state.”
— Chapter 15
You know those books that are 90% doom, peril, danger, and fearing for your favourite characters and the general fate of the world? And then the big fight is over and you get perhaps a chapter of cleaning up and maybe a sort of strange feeling epilogue … and they lived happily ever after (or not so happily, but book’s over). I’m no exception in wondering about and wishing for moments of normalcy and happiness depicted for those characters. Not all over the book all the time, because there are books for that as well and I’m more the “no conflict, no story” reader apparently.
Sarah J. Maas gives her readers more or less exactly those moments of normalcy, fluff, and happiness after almost destroying everything. I say more or less because there obviously is another series looming with new conflicts and new struggles and with new main characters who are gently showed onto the main stage here as well.
This is a bridging-novella in its true sense in being short, not too plot-driven or revealing, and definitely not essential to either series. As opposed to what was supposed to be a novella in Maas’ other series, which instead became a fully-fledged book. So knowing this I didn’t have very high demands, but I fully expected to be entertained and to enjoy some spending time with these characters without fearing for their lives. Which is what held true for most of the book with the occasional grin and chuckle and maybe eye-roll about one too many mate-mentions. I also enjoyed the beginning set up of the new series – even if I still don’t think that those particular characters belong together.
You’re waiting for the but? Here it is: But that conclusion?! That was really in the face in terms of my house, my car, my boat only in fantasy terms. It just didn’t seem to fit with the main character I got to know and love for the main trilogy. Yes, the war will definitely have had an impact and changed her but … that “gift”. Wow, that messed with me quite a bit. I understand that it might be the most desirable goal for some, I just never understood Feyre to feel that way. Or at least not right away. Authors and their lives should be viewed separately from their works, yet here I feel the particular circumstances heavily influenced this plot.
So maybe I don’t want normalcy and happiness after all. Or maybe just not this brand of it. Or more likely normalcy and happiness that feel more organic and true to characters and their motivations. I will pick up the follow-up books at some point – maybe not with the highest priority and maybe I’ll have to block out certain aspects. I’m all for the author’s joy and happiness and wish her all the health and love in the world, but this felt a little too projected onto her characters.
Have you had a book that totally threw you in terms of either plot or character developments? Share those along with your teasers in the comments!
Tuesday, 5 June 2018
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West.
Show of hands who has either serious summer vacation longing and/or a certain song by Roxette stuck in their head right now. My hand is practically tied to the ceiling.
Kasie West has delivered solid and cute YA contemporary high school love stories before, but this one got me in a way I didn’t expect. Not because the others before weren’t entertaining and relatable, but because this one was all of that and then a little more. Kate has a very clear view of what she wants to do with her life, whom she likes and dislikes, what her strengths and weaknesses are, and so on. Until she finds herself almost literally out of her element and has to re-evaluate her perceptions and ideals. Of course, there is a boy involved. But I immensely appreciated how he is so not the centre of attention. Kate is, and her relationship to her home, her people, and her best friend. Even though she is the focal character we actually get to see why she is such a great girl whom someone might want to be friends with … or fall for. She also has flaws, not too few of them, and you’ll possibly end up wanting to shake her for several short-sightedness reasons. It’s all worth it in my opinion for the cuteness and realistic-factor. No romantic solution without a little frustration – in literature. A fun and summery read with all the right ingredients for friendship, family, and love. With the added bonus of character-depth and surprise-emotional-insight. I wish all contemporary love-story-writers took so much care to construct well-rounded and complete character casts.
Summer is officially upon us (apologies for my northern-hemisphere-centric worldview, happy winter to you?). Are you reading more or less during this time of year? Share your reading 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!
Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West.
 |
| Listen to Your Heart – Point |
If she called me Kat one more time, there would be no mystery as to what my fist would do to her face. Okay, fine, there would be because I’d never punched anyone in my life. My thoughts talked a big game.
— Chapter 7
“I just never thought of him as a guy who held grudges.”
“When pride is involved, people can hold on to a lot of things.”
— Chapter 35
Show of hands who has either serious summer vacation longing and/or a certain song by Roxette stuck in their head right now. My hand is practically tied to the ceiling.
Kasie West has delivered solid and cute YA contemporary high school love stories before, but this one got me in a way I didn’t expect. Not because the others before weren’t entertaining and relatable, but because this one was all of that and then a little more. Kate has a very clear view of what she wants to do with her life, whom she likes and dislikes, what her strengths and weaknesses are, and so on. Until she finds herself almost literally out of her element and has to re-evaluate her perceptions and ideals. Of course, there is a boy involved. But I immensely appreciated how he is so not the centre of attention. Kate is, and her relationship to her home, her people, and her best friend. Even though she is the focal character we actually get to see why she is such a great girl whom someone might want to be friends with … or fall for. She also has flaws, not too few of them, and you’ll possibly end up wanting to shake her for several short-sightedness reasons. It’s all worth it in my opinion for the cuteness and realistic-factor. No romantic solution without a little frustration – in literature. A fun and summery read with all the right ingredients for friendship, family, and love. With the added bonus of character-depth and surprise-emotional-insight. I wish all contemporary love-story-writers took so much care to construct well-rounded and complete character casts.
Summer is officially upon us (apologies for my northern-hemisphere-centric worldview, happy winter to you?). Are you reading more or less during this time of year? Share your reading habits and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday, 29 May 2018
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro.
You know how some readers complain that they have to wait a whole year between books in a series while the time going by in books is not nearly as long? I won’t go into the other complaint how authors dare to take this long to write the next book, because … let’s just say that wouldn’t end well. Apart from the fact that a) in most cases it’s not up to the author at all when their book is published and b) have these complainers ever written anything of quality that has more than 60k words that needs to be checked for continuity, accuracy, and a whole bunch of other things? Right, zipping it for now. Just know that when I complain about waiting, I’m not out to blame anyone but want to appreciate the writing of the present book. And I’ll also try to do it in a more constructive way in the future. I might be compelled to write a little more about the process and thoughts on quality at some point though. End of PSA.
For now back to my favourite detective descendants Jamie and Charlotte. Or Jamie. And Charlotte. Because at the start of the book they haven’t seen each other in over a year (ha!). What is also new is that we now get regular chapters from Charlotte’s point of view, which is at the same time exhilarating and also terrifying. While Jamie is a somewhat known entity with a certain way of telling things and in general observing and recognising things, Charlotte has up until now mostly been unknowable and idolised by Jamie. That obviously had to change after the events of the last book.
Charlotte’s mind is at the same time a very clean and analytic yet also complicated and dark space. She’s rather taken the manic-pixie-dream-girl to town and twisted her into something even more self-destructive but also tortured. Her flashbacks about how she became who she is, which she will possibly never allow Jamie to know about had me understand her in a whole different way and I can now see how she arrived at the actions she thought she had to take and I also feel how and why she’s so conflicted about her emotions.
Jamie’s, as always, has been a comfortable perspective to occupy although I also have to say that he has changed quite a bit in this book and matured about a lot of things. Even if I still think that he is too quickly too dependent on whichever company he keeps. Guy should be more comfortable to be on his own. Or more observant in who he chooses to surround himself with. Nevertheless, I’d still like to read his tortured prose.
This book has a sort of closing and the series could comfortably end here, but I’m more than happy to report that there will be a fourth book out next year. I just hope that in-book-time won’t also be a year in-between because I’d really like to see the next couple of weeks/months unfold after how this book ended.
Have you had time-jumps in books which you’d rather have read in real time than hear about after the fact? Share your thoughts on those books and your 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!
The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro.
 |
| The Case for Jamie – Katherine Tegen Books |
Only follow the rules that are reasonable.
The issue with this axiom is that very few rules are reasonable when examined closely.
— Chapter 2
I was seventeen years old. I was dating-or-not-dating another girl who was right now questioning the campus dealer about a crime I hadn’t committed, and I was in love with my best friend, who I hadn’t seen for a year but who lived on in my day-to-day like a splinter in my goddamn heart.
— Chapter 17
You know how some readers complain that they have to wait a whole year between books in a series while the time going by in books is not nearly as long? I won’t go into the other complaint how authors dare to take this long to write the next book, because … let’s just say that wouldn’t end well. Apart from the fact that a) in most cases it’s not up to the author at all when their book is published and b) have these complainers ever written anything of quality that has more than 60k words that needs to be checked for continuity, accuracy, and a whole bunch of other things? Right, zipping it for now. Just know that when I complain about waiting, I’m not out to blame anyone but want to appreciate the writing of the present book. And I’ll also try to do it in a more constructive way in the future. I might be compelled to write a little more about the process and thoughts on quality at some point though. End of PSA.
For now back to my favourite detective descendants Jamie and Charlotte. Or Jamie. And Charlotte. Because at the start of the book they haven’t seen each other in over a year (ha!). What is also new is that we now get regular chapters from Charlotte’s point of view, which is at the same time exhilarating and also terrifying. While Jamie is a somewhat known entity with a certain way of telling things and in general observing and recognising things, Charlotte has up until now mostly been unknowable and idolised by Jamie. That obviously had to change after the events of the last book.
Charlotte’s mind is at the same time a very clean and analytic yet also complicated and dark space. She’s rather taken the manic-pixie-dream-girl to town and twisted her into something even more self-destructive but also tortured. Her flashbacks about how she became who she is, which she will possibly never allow Jamie to know about had me understand her in a whole different way and I can now see how she arrived at the actions she thought she had to take and I also feel how and why she’s so conflicted about her emotions.
Jamie’s, as always, has been a comfortable perspective to occupy although I also have to say that he has changed quite a bit in this book and matured about a lot of things. Even if I still think that he is too quickly too dependent on whichever company he keeps. Guy should be more comfortable to be on his own. Or more observant in who he chooses to surround himself with. Nevertheless, I’d still like to read his tortured prose.
This book has a sort of closing and the series could comfortably end here, but I’m more than happy to report that there will be a fourth book out next year. I just hope that in-book-time won’t also be a year in-between because I’d really like to see the next couple of weeks/months unfold after how this book ended.
Have you had time-jumps in books which you’d rather have read in real time than hear about after the fact? Share your thoughts on those books and your teasers in the comments!
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