Waiting on Wednesday: Icons by Margaret Stohl

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
Icons by Margareth Stohl.
Publication Date: May 7th 2013.

Icons – Little, Brown Books

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.
Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.
She's different. She survived. Why?
When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.
Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Synopsis from goodreads.com

I recall that I said that dystopias seem to take over my reading and waiting list. I try to limit this, but I will happily make an exception for Margaret Stohl. And this also sounds more like post-apocalypse rather than dystopia (yes, I’m fishing for excuses, but I think that these two are different categories).

Is there a genre that dominates your reading lists voluntarily or accidentally? Tell us in the comments along with your Waiting On pick of the week!

Teaser Tuesday: Fragments by Dan Wells

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!

Fragments by Dan Wells.

Fragments – Balzer + Bray

That was where she’d first met Samm – well, not “met him” so much as “knocked him unconscious and captured him.” It was strange how much things had changed since then. If she had Samm here, now ... Well, things would be a lot easier, for one thing
— Chapter 5

As the crowd roared in fear and confusion, as the reality of of the situation sank into him, Marcus realized that it didn’t matter. He wasn’t ready to sacrifice anyone; he’d rather go down fighting than sell his soul for peace.
— Chapter 6

This is the sequel to Partials, which I thought was absolutely amazing ... even with that not so minor hiccup at the end that made me once again question my luck in choosing favourite characters. But apart from that it definitely was one of my lucky finds of 2012.
It took me a while to get into this sequel and I think I can identify the changes in perspective as the main reason. I was used to Kira as the focal point, but now that the group is split up, I see that it makes sense to have various points of view. I just had to get used to it first. Pesky, human nature that gets used to things so easily. :)

Have you ever been irritated by narrator changes? Share your experience in the comments along with your teasers!

Waiting on Wednesday: Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer

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
Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer
Publication Date: May 28th 2013

Spirit - K Teen

With power comes enemies. Lots of them.

Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He’s learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies.

He’s up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.

Then there’s Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She’s not hostile. She’s bold. Funny. Hot. But she’s got an agenda, too.

With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he’ll have to find someone he can trust…

Synopsis from goodreads.com.

I just started the second book in Brigid Kemmerer's Elemental series, Spark, and like it already. Elementals can control one of the natural elements and are therefore powerful, but dangerous. Even so, they are humans and struggle with every day life. That's what I like about this series so much, combining raw power with every day feelings. Every book concentrates on one of the Elementals in and around the Merrick family. Spirit is the third book in this series and it centers on Hunter. He's familiar from the first book, but I couldn't figure him out then, closed of as he was. Still, he is probably the most intriguing character in this series until now (besides Michael) and I'm very curious to find out more about him.  

Are you waiting for a next book in a series as well? Leave us a comment with your pick.

Teaser Tuesday: Blackwood by Gwenda Bond

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! 

 Blackwood by Gwenda Bond.

Blackwood -
Strange Chemistry

Evil dead guys having secret plans for girls you really liked and wanted to live sucked.
-- Chapter 22


She had death on one side, and life on the other.
-- Chapter 27

Two short teasers today from a book about the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. I've been stumbling over this mystery in other books already and wanted to see what Gewnda Bond made of it. So far, she has been keeping me hooked with suspense, a slight touch of the supernatural and two great main characters. I just don't see, how to beat the villain yet.

Which book keeps you hooked right now? Share your teaser in the comments.

Waiting on Wednesday: If I Should Die

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
If I Should Die by Amy Plumb.
Publication Date: May 1st 2013.

If I Should Die - Atom

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying - to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others - so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

Synopsis from goodreads.com

I often think of final books in a slightly ambiguous manner: On the one hand, I’m sad to see characters go, especially when I’ve grown to like them quite a bit. On the other hand, I’m also looking forward to the conclusion of the overall story. I don’t need an “and they lived happily ever after” but more something that ties up loose ends and leaves me with the feeling that this is the best end the individual series could have been given. For this series in particular, I really hope to see more of Jules. I’m currently reading the novella, Die For Her, and it’s breaking my heart ... in a positive way, if that is possible.

Let us know about the books you can hardly wait for in the comment.