Teaser Tuesday: Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor

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!

Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor.

Dreams of Gods & Monsters –
Little, Brown & Company

“We have so many enemies, Lisseth,” said Karou, keeping her voice light. “Most of them are our birthright, inherited like a duty, but the ones we make for ourselves are special. We should choose them with care.”
— Chapter 6

She herself had never known cold. It gave every appearance of unpleasantness. Weak, she thought, still watching the human pair, but there was another word lurking, defying it. Fearless.
— Chapter 14

My copy of this book must have taken a detour through Eretz before it came to me ... books need adventures, too! But now that I have it I will never ever let it go. (She said and hoped that the end would not make her regret this claim. Which it won’t if the first 120 pages are any indication.)
The book immediately sucked me in and transported me into its reality of angel warriors and revenant fighters and I can’t wait to find out how it all comes together and resolves. Hopefully in a not-too-devastating way, but we have I think already established that I as a reader appreciate literary (not literal) torture to a certain degree. Just based on the list of favourite authors ...
Anyway, I adore the characters of this story, beginning with Zuzana to Issa to Liraz and of course Karou and Akiva (though at the moment I want to shake those two ... communication is key? Maybe?). I’m racing and savouring at the same time, if such a thing is possible, because I want to know as soon as I can, but I also want to enjoy and breathe in the wonderful and rich writing. And I don’t want it to end, even if it must.

Are you flying through your current read or meandering through it? Have you ever tried regulating your reading pace? Share teasers and opinions in the comments!

Teaser Tueasday: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

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!

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi.

Ignite me – Harper

I have to start over now; face the world alone again. I have to make one final choice: give up or go on.
So I get to my feet.
— Chapter 2

“If you’d seen the devastation the way that I did, you wouldn’t be saying such things. Hope will break your heart all over again.”
— Chapter 3

Let me get this out of the way first: I want these covers in high resolution poster size. I’d probably start to feel watched pretty soon, but I think they are amazing. I don’t necessarily think that they’re the perfect match for the story but they definitely animate you to pick up the book. Mission accomplished.
Now the book. I always need a few pages to get used to Juliette’s narrative voice, even if I only stop reading in between chapters ... which is one of the reasons that I finish these books in only a few sittings (the other is that it is a very compelling read that has you glued to the book). The narration is very stream of consciousness like or at least with very little filter. I haven’t yet come across crossed out parts, which were very prominent in the first book, but less so as the story progressed.
At the moment it’s all very angst-y and potentially involves a triangular shape thing, because I know more than the characters due to the novellas. (Side note: I’m not sure how I feel about this novellas to provide information pertinent to the main plot thing. On the one hand the more to read the better but on the other hand it seems to become a common/expected feature ... and it clearly favours the eReading community). These novellas also shed different light on characters and make you feel decidedly different about them. The reading experience is a completely different one if your sympathies are so severely influenced. I can say this quite confidently because I’m trying to reason the merits of a certain character with someone who hasn’t read the additional stories. It’s quite interesting, but at the moment also very frustrating for both of us.

What are your thoughts on eNovellas and the novella trend in general? Sound off in the comments and share your teasers along with your opinion.

Teaser Tuesday: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

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!

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge.

Cruel Beauty – Balzer + Bray

“Well, I’m already hoping there could be a dinner where you don’t try to stab me with your fork,” he said.
“You might need to make your peace with disappointment.”
— Chapter 5

Then I let go and forced a smile. “I wasn’t born to be saved.”
— Chapter 10

Usually, fairy tales are a Christmas thing, but why not Beauty and the Beast for Easter? The cover alone is all sorts of clever and interesting. Yes, it’s a rose, but what resonates inside the book are the stairs and the red dress ... well and the thorny and deceiving qualities of the flower.
Stopping short of letting this become an image analysis (really not my area of expertise) this story has some fun dialogue between a not-so-pure-at-heart Beauty and her not-quite-so-beastly Beast. Very clever to mark the Beast primarily by his character and not to much his appearance. And of course the influences of Greek and Roman mythology and several nods to T.S. Elliot had me smiling several times (and guessing in the slightly wrong direction in the beginning). The end was a bit too quick and clean for me compared to the more fleshed out beginning.
Nevertheless, this is a fun field day for hunters of intertextual connections as well as it is an entertaining read if you are looking for an innocent and pretty love story with some bumps along the way.

How did you spend the Easter Weekend? I consumed way too many chocolate eggs and quite a few pages. Let’s hear from you in comments.

Teaser Tuesday: The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas

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 Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas.

The Burning Sky –
Balzer + Bray

She chewed on the inside of her cheek for a minute. Then she pulled on a pair of thick gloves and grabbed the cauldron.
What did she have to lose?
— Chapter 1

“Smite that cauldron, will you? I haven’t got all day!”
— Chapter 1

Teasers from the same chapter and the first at that. I could be ashamed ... but seeing that the current alternative is either something that won’t be published until 2015 or from a Children’s Primary School Lexicon (which is astonishingly comprehensive and detailed but doesn’t make for an entertaining read) it is the book I started between coming home and food.
And I must say, after those 20 or something pages I’m already quite hooked. I don’t understand everything yet, but that seems intentional. (Also: there are end notes ... this is becoming a habit) I only know already that I want one of those flying horse-dragon-things.
Now that I have alienated enough people with weird ramblings about this book please excuse me, I’ll have to get back to the possibly smitten cauldron. As I said, it is still a bit strange. But a good strange, I think.

Let me wish you a happy Easter in advance if you celebrate ... maybe the Bunny will bring some reading material other than the chocolate wrappings. Tell me what you’re reading in the comments.

Teaser Tuesday: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

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 Winners’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski.

The Winner’s Curse –
Farrar Straus Giroux

He knew the law of such things: people in brightly lit places cannot see into the dark.
— Chapter 8

“It turns out that I am a coward.”
Arin shook his head. “It’s harder to live.”
Yes. It was. Kestrel had known there would be no escape tonight, and probably not for some time to come.
— Chapter 29

It’s been a while since I had a (one-sided) discussion with a book about ending right where it does ... it went something like this:
Julika nears the end of the book, the remaining pages get fewer and fewer but the characters are not in a position Julika would want to leave them in. Last page, Julika: “No. Nonononono. Not there not now.” Book ends. “There must be pages missing. Right? Somewhere?” No further pages turn up. Julika has a mild whinge tantrum.
Thankfully, there will be more books because this is so not over! It could be and it would be heart-breaking, but if I had to, I could maybe at some point accept it. I so very much enjoyed the world Marie Rutkoski has developed and the people she placed in it. I could also have chosen to tease you with the several mentions of different kinds of smiles, which I thought were very cool and so cleverly scattered throughout the story, which adds another layer of depth and perception. Maybe it’s the former literature student talking, but these details make me appreciate a book so much more when I notice these things that speak of a carefully planned writing and thought-process.
Anyway, I so so cannot wait for the next part of this. Go and read the (sort of) prequel story, Bridge of Snow, fall in love with the writing, and then go read this book!

Do you keep an eye out for plot-devices? Do you have a book where such a thing made you appreciate the story more? Share them in comments, along with your teaser.

Teaser Tueasday: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

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!

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray.

Beauty Queens – Scholastic Press

And so our tale begins with a sudden fall from blue skies, with screams and prayers and a camera crew bravely recording every bit of the turbulence and drama: What a lucky break for their show!
— Prologue

“I am team captain. And I say we’re doing our pageant prep first, according to plan. Priorities.”
“Shouldn’t our priorities be food, shelter, and rescue?”
— Chapter 6

After I was finished with university, I promised myself something along the lines of “No more books with footnotes!” But some promises are made to be broken, because otherwise I’d have to miss out on quite a few books.
Parts of this are so absurd that they’re actually too real and at the same time hilariously funny. In a holding up a mirror and laugh before you run screaming sort of way. It’s great humour and I’m enjoying this a lot. But I’ll have to say that I first tried reading the book on my reader and on there, footnotes are a pain. That’s a problem to be solved. Until then: real books. Or the desktop app solution in this case.

Footnotes can be a topic of strong feelings – do you have any thoughts? Love them, like them, hate them? Let’s hear from you in the comments. And no, none of this is an April Fool’s ... happy April, everyone.

Teaser Tuesday: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

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!

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi.

Into the Still Blue – Harper

Then I remember this is all we have. Real is all that’s left.
— Chapter 9

“What you should worry about is the fact that they’re forcing a workhorse to be a racehorse.”
“I liked it better when I didn’t understand him,” Roar said.
— Chapter 27

When I read the first book, Through the Ever Night, that was a week or so before the announcement of Google Glass, which weirdly sounded like a prototype of the SmartEye technology used in this series ... oddly disturbing. But luckily for us, Google doesn’t seem to work too quickly on perfecting this thing. At least not to a point of dystopian proportions. Nevertheless, I’m halfway through this and I already know that I’ll miss these characters. Fingers crossed that I’ll get to miss them in a good way and not that-other-sad-way. What I really like about this series is that the people in it deal (or don’t deal) with feelings and problems instead of those plopping up as plot devices and then vanishing when it’s convenient. It’s not a centre-stage story arc but still a prominent theme and I think it’s depicted extremely well.

Did any of your books ever follow you into real life like the Google Glass announcement? Share your stories and teasers in the comments.

Teaser Tuesday: Perfect Lies by Kiersten White

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!

Perfect Lies by Kiersten White.

Perfect Lies – HarperTeen

But when I’m asleep, no one can listen to my thoughts. I’m still afraid to sleep—too many ghosts peering creeping condemning.
— Chapter 1

I knew she would fix everything, I knew she would find a way to our future.
Two minutes ago I knew she was going to kill me.
— Chapter 2

There are days when I’m happy that I don’t have any siblings who depend on me to save the day or who I could put under such a pressure not to disappoint my hope. And then there are days when I think that this is an awesome feeling to have that sort of power or to be able to trust someone so much. After the first book, the two interestingly talented sisters were left in quite a situation and I am curious to find out what happens next.

How is your sibling situation? Good/mixed/depends/bad/none? Let’s hear from you in the comments.

Teaser Tuesday: The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

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 Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan.

The Demon’s Lexicon –
Simon & Schuster Children's UK

The pipe under the sink was leaking again. It wouldn’t have been so bad, except that Nick kept his favorite sword under the sink.
— Chapter 1

There are several witty and funny headings ready for what just happened, but the reality is that I was completely uninspired by my current reads to pick a teaser and then I started (not so) absently browsing and miraculously (as it happens) ended up on my trusted book retailer site. And while I was wondering which book to pick, I thought about books I desperately want to read ... like Sarah Rees Brennan’s Unmade, which isn’t out until September. Next thing I know, my kobo is updating with my latest purchase ... must be the Irish elves at work ... or something. But honestly, those first two sentences are sort of perfect and if I can’t trust my fragile reader’s heart into the hands of ... oh, wait, what have I done?! (For the record: I know what I did and I’m perfectly fine with it ... more than that, should have done this much earlier) *walks happily glum into certain despair*

What are your latest impulse buys? Or do you have an iron-clad purchase regimen? Let’s hear from you in the comments.

Teaser Tuesday: Infinite by Jodi Meadows

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!

Infinite by Jodi Meadows.

Infinite – Katherine Tegen Books

We could put off real life until dawn.
“If you steal all the blankets, you’ll be sorry.”
— Chapter 2

“If it wasn’t the end of the world, it’d be something else. Maybe not this big or terrible, but there are always events in life that can make you unhappy if you let them.”
— Chapter 12

Third and final book in a series, so as usual I won’t say anything about the content. Just one thing: I hadn’t realised until just now how much of this series consists of dialogue. The second and especially the third more than the first as Ana is coming out of her shell, but now there's so much talking! It makes sense with a first person narrator. Either I never thought about it or noticed until now or this book is almost overwhelmingly heavy on the dialogue part. The series most likely won’t feature in my favourites of all time, but I liked the idea of the story about reincarnation and its mechanics quite a bit ... the defining love-story somehow never quite caught me. Possibly because I don’t connect to music as strongly as the two characters do. Still very much a romantic story with pretty words and sentiments, not to forget the great character development visible in Ana over the course of the trilogy.

What are you reading this week? Share your teasers in the comments!

Teaser Tuesday: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

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!

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke.

Between the Devil
and the Deep Blue Sea – Dial

And I prayed to Freddie about the Devil. I asked her to keep my hand out of this. I asked her to keep me safe from evil. But, for all my praying, the Devil still found me.
— Chapter 1

Our town was small enough that I never developed a healthy fear of strangers. To me, they were exciting things, gift-wrapped and full of possibilities, the sweet smell of somewhere else wafting from them like perfume. And so River West, stranger, didn’t stir in me any sort of fear ... only a rush of excitement, like how I felt right before a really big storm hit, when the air crackled with expectation.
— Chapter 2

Is there anyone else who thinks this cover looks like the younger brother of Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep? Must be the font. I haven’t read either of the two Shining novels (nightmares don’t need to be encouraged any further, thank you), but I don’t doubt that there are these King-esque leanings and that the comparison of the two is not not uncalled for ... I mean it’s probably not as much horror as King (as I said, I haven’t read him), but for a book of this length there’s a good dose of thrill and mystery. And it’s quite graphic ... not in the steamy department (it’s comparatively tame there actually). The writing is beautiful in a descriptive, soft, flowing way that makes you picture warm summers with iced tea, but you still know that the water is probably ice cold and full of flesh-eating monsters. I enjoyed the beginning more than the middle and the end is sort of closed but also open so that I’ll have a look at the sequel. After some reading with less visceral imagery. Oh hey there, double entendre ...

I found myself in this sentence: “My habit of reading more than I socialized made me use odd, awkward words without thinking.” How about you? Do you pick up words from your readings and use them to the amazement of your colloquists? Teasers and stories are welcome in the comments.

Teaser Tuesday: Pivot Point by Kasie West

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!

Pivot Point by Kasie West.

Pivot Point – HarperTeen

My father was a human lie detector—although my mom didn’t like it when I called him that; the technical term was Discerner—and he could immediately tell if I lied. He said he could even tell when I planned to lie. Irritating.
— Chapter 1

“I don’t know. I try not to take Rowan too seriously. It’s been my downfall many times.”
— Chapter 16

So here’s a marketing thing that totally got me, and I’m not ashamed to admit it: Epic Read’s offer of the whole book online for the duration of the weekend before last. And the really good news is that the sequel is already out as well! There are advantages of discovering a series late(r). But seriously, as much as I dread decisions sometimes, this ability to determine the outcome in advance would probably cripple me. I love to read about it though. The word definitions at the beginning of each chapter are quite fun as well and add a nice touch to the book.

How are your decision-making abilities? Let's hear from you in the comments and share your teaser choice of the week.

Teaser Tuesday: The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

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 Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen.

The Runaway King – Scholastic Press

I had arrived early for my own assassination.
— Chapter 1

Fixed on his eyes, I said, “Do you laugh at me?”
He was quiet for a moment and finally the tension drained from him. “No, Jaron,” he said darkly. “I curse you with every breath I exhale. But I do not laugh.”
— Chapter 5

Being early to my own assassination is something that could definitely happen to me as I’m constantly early. While some people need to be told a time 15 minutes before you actually want to meet, I could use a time 15 minutes after that ... but no one ever does that. Why would they? And no, please don’t start this with me now, it won’t end well. Anyway, I don’t know how this sequel to The False Prince slipped past me, but I’m rectifying this now as a contrast programme to reading a bunch of Adam Blade’s Deep Dive (strictly for professional purposes, even if they have some entertaining aspects ... if you’re looking for something to give to your eight-year-old).

Are you the early bird out to catch the worm or the clever worm who knows that the early ones get eaten? Let me know along with your teaser in the comments.

Teaser Tuesday: Boys, Bears and A Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald

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!

Boys, Bears and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald.

Boys, Bears and A Serious
Pair of Hiking Boots – Candlewick Press

“What did I even do?”
“Besides have a major freak-out last night?”
— Chapter 9

Fiona rolls her eyes and tries to push past me, but I stand firm in the middle of the dark road. Jeremiah B. Coombes would probably tell me to flee the wild beast and retreat to safety, but I’m sick of tolerating all her crap. No more.
— Chapter 20

I am so not a winter person. Sure, some snow for Christmas, but this sticky, wet, and cold weather with crystallising fog and literally days of no sunshine at all? Not my thing. So what’s better than some light reading that most would dub summer entertainment? ... she said while still stuck in the trilogy from last week. But I read this recently and thought I’d keep these teasers for some dreary weather. It has some interesting aspects and a good range of not uninteresting guys, but you have to accept it as a light and fun read. But who says that everything you read has to be of profound critically appraised literary value?

Do you have any winter-escape-recommendations? Share them with your teaser in the comments.

Teaser Tuesday: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

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 Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.

The Knife of Never Letting Go –
Walker

You cheat even if you don’t mean to and everybody means to.
And then one day Mayor Prentiss decided to burn all the books, every single one of them, even the ones in men’s homes, cuz apparently books were detrimental as well
— Chapter 2

A knife says yes or no, cut or not, die or don’t. A knife takes a decision out of your hand and puts it in the world and it never goes back again.
— Chapter 8

Suddenly I sat there with a 1000+ pages trilogy and I can’t quite say how that happened. I’ll have to admit that the sheer size of it is daunting, especially considering that my grammar-perfectionist brain is silently suffer-struggling against the writing. Maybe if I didn’t know more about English language rules than I probably do about my native language ... maybe not. I’m not far enough along to say anything substantial about the book or the series apart from mentioning that the style is definitely something of an acquired taste and that the idea puts an interesting spin on the dystopian theme. (I also realise that I’m somewhat late to the party as the first book was published in 2008 and already received a bunch of prizes.)

Let me know if you have read the Chaos Walking trilogy and what you thought about it. And let’s hear about your teasers in the comments.

Teaser Tuesday: This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

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!

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith.

This Is What Happy Looks Like –
Poppy

Childhood memories were like airplane luggage; no matter how far you were traveling or how long you needed them to last, you were only ever allowed two bags. And while those bags might hold a few hazy recollections—a diner with a jukebox at the table, being pushed on a swing set, the way it felt to be picked up and spun around—it didn’t seem enough to last a whole lifetime.
— Chapter 7

He didn’t want to be half asleep the first time he kissed Ellie. For that, he wanted to be wide awake.
— Chapter 10

How many spam mails do you get ... should I say per day or per week? In my case, I would have to say per week because that’s about as often as I check mine to see if I missed something. And with that I’m more than unlikely to find myself in a story like this. Well that and the fact that my address isn’t a slightly obscure combination of letters and numbers. But imagine you got a legitimate not spam mail from a stranger. Would you be curious about the content? Would you write back?
This is a really cute and nonthreatening romance. A falling-in-love-story. Maybe a little too forced at some points in terms of plot, but that’s quite easy to accept within the overall feel of the book. And the writing is beautiful. A great comfort-read which I would have loved to go on for a little longer, if only for the reason that I didn’t want to leave the two protagonists to themselves just yet, to see more of their happiness.

Have you ever missent an email (and did you get a reply)? Or have you responded to a missent email? Tell me about your email stories or just your teaser choice in the comments.

Teaser Tuesday: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

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!

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell.

Eleanor & Park –
St. Martin’s Press

Park noticed the new girl at about the same time everybody else did. She was standing at the front of the bus, next to the first available seat.
— Chapter 1

There was something about the music on that tape. It felt different. Like, it set her lungs and her stomach on edge. There was something exciting about it, and something nervous. It made Eleanor feel like everything, like the world, wasn’t what she’d thought it was. And that was a good thing. That was the greatest thing.
— Chapter 2

Welcome back and a slightly belated happy 2014. I hope the first couple of weeks have treated you well enough. I had everything on my mind but the Internet for the past week, but I hope you’ll forgive me. I read this over the break because I’d heard so many good things about it. And it is good. The writing is beautiful and the characters are just so likable in their outcast way. It also has the amazing 80s charm complete with mix tapes and vinyl records. I liked it a lot, very much so. I believe in this love story: it’s not elaborate or achingly sweet or over the top incredible, but very realistic and sweet and ... I don’t want to say wholesome because that would make it sound like healthy food, but it is so refreshingly not love at first sight. I understand why so many love it. This book deserves to be loved.

What did you read the last few weeks? Let’s hear from you in the comments with your teasers.

Teaser Tuesday: World After by Susan Ee

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!

World After by Susan Ee.

World After – Skyscape

My sister’s face changes instantly from a blank slate to a growling animal as she snaps at the man. Her razor-grafted teeth flash as she moves, emphasizing the threat.
— Chapter 1

Paige and I are used to being stared at. I would just ignore it while Paige always smiled at the gawkers from her wheelchair. They almost always smiled back. Paige’s charm was hard to resist.
Once upon a time.
— Chapter 2

This series has the main title Penryn and the End of Days and considering the feeling one currently gets while entering the vicinity of any shopping outlet (or just attempting travel, but that might just be me – I have seriously bad karma when it comes to trains) I found this oddly fitting. Not because of the post-apocalyptic scenario, it has not come this far ... I hope. But the contrast of these angels with the angel-stores that are also in high demand at this time of year. I’m not very far into this second book at the moment but I hope that it will pick up a little on the plot side and clear up a few holes I noticed in book one. I think this could be a great scenario as the narration itself is already very good. There are only a few plot issues that could have used as little smoothing in book one, but maybe they’ll be covered in this second book. The beginnig makes me very optimistic that I’ll enjoy this.

This will be my last regular post of 2013 ... I’ll hopefully find the time during the holidays for a recap/best-of list like last year. In the meantime, let me wish you all a very merry Christmas if you celebrate it. Have a great week and please share what you are reading in the comments.

Teaser Tuesday: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

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 Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black.

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

The Ten Most Important Things To Bring To Coldtown

1. Cash and lots of it. You can barter for lots of things inside, but cash is still the most important tool for bribing guards and getting what you want. You’ve been saving up, right? Bring every last penny. It’s not like you’re coming back.
...
10. A buddy. Trust me, you’ll need one.
— Chapter 14

I promised myself a treat for my Christmas break. And then I decided to take a peek and see if there were any teasers to share within the first few pages. There would have been. I could have teased you from here to Sunday, but that would have meant putting down the book. This is a forced break at the beginning of chapter 14 because it’s a break in the narration as well and it also shows what you can expect from this book. I adore Holly Black’s writing and as you can see it sucked (pun sort of intended) me right in. Other people might suffer from insomnia, but I don’t think I’m fooling anyone.

Most likely this won't last until Christmas ... it’ll be a miracle if I don’t finish this by tomorrow. Share your teasers in the comments, I’ll be in need of something to last me on a 7+ hour train journey on Saturday. Happy Tuesday, and best wishes for your pre-Christmas week.

Teaser Tuesday: Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier

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!

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier.

Emerald Green –
Henry Holt and Co.

“The ground will soak up your blood!”
I had at least two smart retorts to these sinister words on the tip of my tongue. (Soak up my blood? Oh, come off it, this is a tiled floor.)
— Chapter 1

“Swear by your lives!”
Aunt Maddy was the only one to jump up and put her hand enthusiastically on her heart. The others were still hesitating. “Can’t we swear by anything else?” grumbled Lesley. “I’d have thought our left hands would do.”
— Chapter 4

There aren’t many translated books in English, especially not children’s books. I suppose one of the reasons is that English has such a high number of quality authors that publishers don’t feel the need to look for great stories in other markets. This is one of the few instances where a foreign book series was so persistent in wanting to get noticed that it somehow did. And translated by none other than Anthea Bell, no less (I’m book nerd enough to get excited about translators).So I actually got to read this final book in the Precious Stone trilogy a while ago, but this is one of the series I like to go back to and skim read for favourite scenes. And I dare you to read this and not want a pet gargoyle demon afterwards.

How are you holding up before Christmas? Have you met your reading goal for this year yet? Let’s hear from you in the comments and share your teasers for this week.

Teaser Tuesday: The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

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 Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead.

The Fiery Heart – Razorbill

“You’ve got a fortune here. This is platinum. Sell these and you’d have allowance for life. And all the records you want.”
“I’d sleep in a cardboard box before I sold those.”
— Chapter 1

“When he realized he couldn’t eat me, he got enraged and tried to snap my neck—but then I got a fireball out on him.” There was a gleam in her eye as she spoke, as though she were seeing the battle play out in front of her.
— Chapter 4

Maybe it’s because I’m sitting here in a cosy sweater and close to negative degrees outside, but I’m at the moment especially jealous of the Palm Spings setting. I can’t really be jealous of Sydney though, because even though she finally got the guy (or did  he get her?) she now has to struggle with her younger sister on top of everything else. This book seems to have a lot of Adrian chapters, which I hope will make him more relatable while not dispel the mysterious allure of him. So far I like being in his head and seeing his more vulnerable side. I liked him as a character in the Vampire Academy series (not as a partner for Rose, mind you) and I think he’s got some great character potential.

Would you rather see a story from both protagonists’ points of view or remain in the dark about the thoughts of one of them? Let’s hear from you in the comments and please share your teasers.

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!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler

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 Forbidden Library by Django Wexler
Publication Date: April 15th 2014

The Forbidden Library - Kathy Dawson Books

Alice always thought fairy tales had happy endings. That--along with everything else--changed the day she met her first fairy. 

When Alice’s father goes down in a shipwreck, she is sent to live with her uncle Geryon--an uncle she’s never heard of and knows nothing about. He lives in an enormous manor with a massive library that is off-limits to Alice. But then she meets a talking cat. And even for a rule-follower, when a talking cat sneaks you into a forbidden library and introduces you to an arrogant boy who dares you to open a book, it’s hard to resist. Especially if you’re a reader to begin with. Soon Alice finds herself INSIDE the book, and the only way out is to defeat the creature imprisoned within. 

It seems her uncle is more than he says he is. But then so is Alice.

Synopsis from goodreads.com

Forbidden rooms are like pink elephants, you just have to think about them and in case of the room find out what’s inside. So I totally get why Alice sneaks off to see the forbidden library. I’d have done the exact same thing.
This middle grade story seems equipped to take the reader along for an adventurous ride as literally seen from between the pages. Especially considering the side effect to opening a book - falling into the story and having to fight oneself out again. (Considering the books I own, I think I’ll pass using that ability.) And who’s the arrogant boy and why is he allowed into the library? And does the talking cat start grinning manically, when asked a question? I’m definitely looking forward to The Forbidden Library turning out as magical as it sounds!

Did you ever (have to) sneak into a library like Alice? Tell us in the comments along with your waiting on choice!

Teaser Tuesday: Sentinel 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!

Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Sentinel – Spencer Hill Press

I really wanted to, because for him I’d do anything. Fight a horde of half-blood daimons? There. Tangle with ticked-off furies? Sign me up. Break a dozen or so rules for one forbidden kiss? Done. Open my eyes? Apparently that was asking too much.
— Chapter 1

I started to wave the scissors but decided I’d look pretty psychotic doing so. “I kind of don’t want to look like a weed whacker got hold of my head before meeting a bunch of people.”
— Chapter 6

The books of Jennifer L. Armentrout have quite a few qualities about them. One clearly is that you can open them on almost any page and find scenes that are entertaining yet also easily convey the atmosphere, characteristics of the protagonists, and overall situation. I really like her books for the lightheartedness in combination with tough action scenes and general greatness. I love nearly anything related to ancient myths so that works out neat for this series, but she makes it work with all of her books. Looking for quick fun reads that are well thought out and offer surprising takes on mythology and fun references to popular culture? You got it. Not saying much about this book since it’s the fifth and – I think – last in this series. Just this: how often do you get antagonists that you hate to hate? Even though I’m most decidedly Team Aiden.

Do you have a go-to author for fun/action books to pick you up? Let’s hear about them in the comments and share your teasers with us!

Waiting on Wednesday: Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano

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
Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano
Publication Date: March 25th 2014

Nearly Gone - Kathy Dawson Books

Nearly Boswell knows how to keep secrets. Living in a DC trailer park, she knows better than to share anything that would make her a target with her classmates. Like her mother's job as an exotic dancer, her obsession with the personal ads, and especially the emotions she can taste when she brushes against someone's skin. But when a serial killer goes on a killing spree and starts attacking students, leaving cryptic ads in the newspaper that only Nearly can decipher, she confides in the one person she shouldn't trust: the new guy at school—a reformed bad boy working undercover for the police, doing surveillance. . . on her. 

Nearly might be the one person who can put all the clues together, and if she doesn't figure it all out soon—she'll be next.

Synopsis from goodreads.com

I'm a big fan of murder mysteries and thrilling books and Nearly Gone seems to be more than a regular thriller. Nearly's ability to taste emotion when brushing against someone's skin is a gift, I can't decide to be creeped out by or not. But I'm glad about this supernatural touch, as it gives the puzzle a further angle to be explored. Does this gift maybe connect to the barely readable line between the title saying "All the numbers add up to one killer … herself"? 

And then there's the bad boy doing undercover work for the police and I wonder if there is a romance angle and how it might be integrated in the dark atmosphere painted by the synopsis and the cover.

What's your take on the supernatural touch to the story? Do you think it makes the book more complicated? Share your opinion in the comments along with your waiting on choice!

Teaser Tuesday: Allegiant by Veronica Roth

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!

Allegiant by Veronica Roth.

Allegiant –
Katherine Tegen Books

If someone offers you an opportunity to get closer to your enemy, you always take it. I know that without having learned it from anyone.
— Chapter 32

It’s not often you encounter the real person behind a good-natured mask, the darkest parts of someone. It’s not comfortable when you do.
— Chapter 42

Feel free to skip the following paragraph as it is a bit rant-y and if you haven’t witnessed the storm following the publication of Allegiant also confusing.
I made myself stay away from twitter the last few days following the sheer barrage of not only spoilers but also pure ugliness concerning this book. I stayed away a while longer and have stopped reading quite a number of feeds because of the reactions ... I hadn’t imagined that supposed fans could respond in such a way just because they didn’t get what they expected. Not what they wanted, but demanded, and felt entitled to. One of the reviews I read calls the author brave for ending the series this way. I think that no author should feel that they need to be brave to write their story, because that means that there are reasons to be afraid ... it makes me feel sad that there should an aspect of fandom that inspires fear. Just because this is YA doesn’t mean that certain things are a guaranteed outcome. And if readers feel disillusioned or sad then that’s okay. What is not okay in any way is if this turns into anger against the author. Yes, many authors today are in some capacity available on the Internet and make the time to talk to their readers. This sort of one-sided anonymity gives certain types the courage to direct their anger at the author. Would they walk up to them in public and tell them that they hate the book? The author? Threaten their life? This is a whole can of worms that I don’t really want to open. At the end it is a book and if you don’t like the end then you’ll have to deal with it. The author is not your personal writing slave and what is a right and good end for you is not what everyone else would want for a story. Life is not a wish-granting factory and neither is fiction.
Did I enjoy the book/like the end? I’m still undecided. I understand why it ended how it did and it feels true to the characters and the story. On the other hand I haven’t quite figured out when or where the trilogy as a whole may have taken a turn that took it in a direction I wasn’t quite imagining at the end of Divergent. Maybe already in Insurgent. I still think that the scenario is interesting and that the characters are great, but as a whole I might have expected and prepared myself for something different. And this might also be why some readers reacted the way they did to this final book, because they encountered a scenario they weren’t expecting at all. This is just speculation since I stopped reading any of the tirades. I think a re-read of the complete series with the knowledge of the frame will yield quite a few surprises. But not in the near future as I don’t think I could take it. Because what this book does amazingly well is make you feel and experience things. And ultimately this is what good fiction is about in my opinion: not making you happy or feel good, but making you feel something and enjoy the time you spent reading it (because you chose to read rather than doing anything else after all). And those things are certainly true for me.

Chime in about reader expectations, author availability or your thoughts about this book (without spoiling the end). Share your teasers in the comments!