Tuesday 7 February 2017

Teaser Tuesday: The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

The Long Game –
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

“He has a face for every occasion.”
“Whereas you,” Henry said, “just have a poker face, the appearance of which is typically a cause for concern.”
— Chapter 10

“I’m okay.”
Vivvie peered at me. “Does that mean that you’re actually okay, or that you’re stoically projecting that you will be okay at some undefined point in the future?”
— Chapter 29




As promised (threatened?) with the first book, here I am going on again with the second book about Tess Kendrick. And for all that’s worth something I loved this book! Tess is her snarky brilliant self, the stakes as high as one can imagine, political intrigues in abundance, and the lines between friend and adversary more murky than ever.
Such a fun and at the same time nerve-racking read. I am a little devastated that this seems to be the final book, because I am so not done ... and neither is the overarching story if you ask me. But maybe there will be another book and I just haven’t found the news yet. I don’t know how long I’ll believe this, but until there is other evidence I refuse to think that I won’t see these characters again. And if anyone n the decision-making levels should read this: PLEASE let there be another book!

Do you have a series that was unexpectedly cut short (not that  believe this is happening here lalala)? I understand that publishers must think economically, but why does it always happen to the series I like so much? Let’s hear from you in the comments!

Tuesday 31 January 2017

Teaser Tuesday: The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee.

The Thousandth Floor –
HarperTeen


“I just don’t understand why you won’t talk to me.”
“Yeah, well, sometimes it’s not about you, Avery.”
— Chapter 6

The words hung there, quietly ending the world Avery had always lived in. In the silence a new world was unfolding.
— Chapter 50





So, I hope you aren’t afraid of heights because this book will take you way up into the clouds. And down into the deepest abyss of society. You can read this as a guilty pleasure and be well entertained. Or if you’re like me you read this as a mixture between guilty pleasure, social study, and crime mystery. I made one mistake with this book in that I flipped through the book at one point and found out one of the mysteries the book sets up in the prologue (I have a talent for that, I should just rubber band the subsequent pages). I don’t know if I would have figured it out before it happened, but that way I read the story with very different eyes.
The number of characters was slightly overwhelming at the beginning, but once I had them straight and was beginning to understand how their stories were intertwined although they lived in such separated social strata it became complexly interesting. I liked how the author was able to portray these characters with their different premises and motivations.
There is one aspect that might be a red flag for some: There is a romantic implication between siblings. However, they are not blood-related, merely grew up together so I don’t actually get why this is such a big deal.

Have you ever accidentally discovered a major plot reveal without meaning to and have it change your reading of the story? Or are you a skip ahead person? Share your habits and teasers in the comments!

Tuesday 24 January 2017

Teaser Tuesday: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake.

Three Dark Crowns –
HarperTeen

For it is too cruel otherwise, to force a queen to kill that which she loves. Her own sisters. And for her to see that which she loves come at her door like wolves, seeking her head.
— Chapter 9

“It is easy enough to come and go. A short sail to the mist and through it. My God, I feel mad just saying that aloud. Madder, knowing that it’s true.”
“Easy to come and go,” Arsinoe mutters. Easy for anyone but her, anyway.
— Chapter 11


Seeing that I don’t have any siblings I can’t say that I know about murderous tendencies towards them. But I seriously hope that even if there is a heavy animosity it won’t come to such a feud where whole circles of people are pitted against each other and groomed to ultimately kill the other sibling.
Kendare Blake is very talented in creating a world which is perfectly self-sustained. I was impressed when I read that the inspiration were queen bees and their colonies, because it definitely shows and is easily understood. I especially liked that even the language was adapted to this universe.
No one in this book is without blame ... or without an agenda. It took me a few chapters to fully embrace this quality of the story rather than fight it and look for an impeccably good character. At the same time they aren’t inherently bad. Or at least I don’t necessarily think they are. Communication certainly would have helped, but is cleverly impeded by the established culture and society. A feast if you’re interested in society and behaviour studies. It’s very much a place I would like to visit, but would also be very happy to be able to leave.

Which fictional place would you like to visit for a while but not forever? Share destinations and teasers in the comments!

Tuesday 17 January 2017

Teaser Tuesday: The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

The Fixer –
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

“How good are you at getting sent to the headmaster’s office for something that won’t actually get you expelled?” Asher smiled beatifically, as if he’d been waiting his whole life for someone to ask just that question.
— Chapter 34

When he saw me coming his way, he made his excuses to the group he was talking to and ducked into the boys’ bathroom.
Presumably, he thought that I would not follow him.
He obviously did not know me very well.
— Chapter 47


So much love for this book! And its story and characters and absolutely everything! I could go on about this forever, but I’d prefer to keep this in its limits and hopefully you’ll have a look at it yourself. It actually starts at a very similar pont to another book I recently read but then goes in a completely different direction and what an amazing direction that is.
 This story is such a wild ride that I literally refused to put this book down before I knew how a dicey situation plays out. Really perfectly crafted suspense. I guessed one thing but was then totally thrown by another aspect again. Yet in hindsight it makes perfect sense.
Tess’ humour/sarcasm is phenomenal, I absolutely would love to have her as a friend just because of that. And if I can’t have her I would want Vivvie and Asher. And Emilia as my best frenemy. The tags for this book name a certain geometrical shape as part of this story, but so far I haven’t seen anything hinting in that direction. Not even in the backstory.
If you’re at all interested in political (not current/real) intrigue and/or superbly written spunky female main characters in a crime-y setting and haven’t read this yet I cannot recommend this enough. And I’ll most definitely pester you about ths again with the second book.

How are your sarcasm and irony skills? I’ve found that creative/literary poeple are a little more likely to respond positively to them overall, but maybe that’s due to my own predilection. Please share your opinions and teasers n the comments!

Tuesday 10 January 2017

Teaser Tuesday: A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro.

A Study in Charlotte –
Katherine Tegen Books

When I get angry, my English accent thickens until it’s clotted and snotty, a full-on cartoon. And I was furious. I probably sounded like the bloody Queen.
— Chapter 1

“Do you think, if I set fire to the maths building—”
“No.”
“But—”
“Still no.”
— Chapter 7



The day may come when I’ll no longer be temped by a Sherlock remake. So far, it doesn’t seem likely though. And that is a very good thing in my opinion, otherwise I would have missed this entertaining book. It’a nice to see the uncompromising analytical mind of the detective in a female main character for a change and let Watson be the (as per the role) more nursing one but with a slightly more problematic angle. I actually wish that this were taken even more to the point, but that probably would have caused reader riots ...
I especially liked how the original stories are referenced and sort of taken as actual history to be taken with a grain of salt in terms of creative license. And no doubt would Watson have liked a guidebook on the care and keeping of Holmses. That alone made me giggle quite a bit. Yet the story is not only amusing for a Sherlock fan. Even if the stories are completely unknown at the heart of the book there is still a very well-crafted crime plot. Among other things. I’m very much looking forward to the second book in the series.

By now it’s probably back to work or school for most of you. I hope you have found no unhappy surprises at your desk upon your return. Are you perchance watching the new BBC Sherlock series? I’m still a little shell-shocked if I’m absolutely honest. Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments!

Tuesday 3 January 2017

Teaser Tuesday: My Unscripted Life by Lauren Morrill

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker.
To play along just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Unscripted Life by Lauren Morrill.

My Unscripted Life –
Delacorte Press

She tosses me a pen from the mug next to the computer. I catch it and sign, hoping it doesn’t obligate me to shave my head or dance a jig anytime someone says the words “peanut butter.”
— Chapter 2

You’ve got to quit confusing the plan with the dream. Plans change. They fall apart. Sometimes outside forces even blow them to smithereens. But the dream is what you always come back to. It’s your lighthouse in the fog. In the freaking storm.
— Chapter 10


Happy new year, everyone! I hope you had a good one and have already started well into this new round around the sun. At one point I got a little fed up with this dreary wet and stormy winter and what better way to get rid of it than with a summer book? This is a pretty summer romance with quite a few very quotable sentences. Admittedly you’re more than likely to get me interested in a book when it’s a two worlds collide type of love story ... Pride and Prejudice ring a bell? They can be very straightforward and often also formulaic, but I nevertheless appreciate them when they manage to convey this special feeling. This book does that quite well and tops it off with a nice underlying plot of character development.

How did you start your reading year? Do you have a resolution on how many books you want to read in 2017? Let’s hear from you in the comments!