Teaser Tuesday: Getting Over Garrett Delaney 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!  

Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Amy McDonald.

Getting Over Garrett Delaney - Candlewick Press

“The only way they’ll ever discover great literature is if someone makes a Disney sing-along,” I say. “Anna Karenina: the dance-off.”
-- Chapter 1

“Sure, they’re just adorable,” she says. “For the first five minutes. And then I want to wring their adorable little necks.”
-- Chapter 7

This is such a sweet and uncomplicated story, nothing sinister or violent lurking here. Yet at the same time it’s about a very serious problem most of us face at some point: Being in unrequited love ... with your best friend (that part is optional). This book could be shallow, obnoxious, and absolutely boring, but it is nothing like that. I instantly liked Sadie and they way the story is written. Sure, it might not be a deep, epic plot, but it is a fun read with witty dialogue and a great cast of characters. Perfect if you’re looking for something quick and entertaining.

Tease us with your current reads in the comments.

Waiting on Wednesday: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

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
Crewel by Gennifer Albin.
Publication Date: October 16th 2012

Crewel - Farrar Straus Giroux

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

 Synopsis by goodreads.com
 

Changing time or the future or just people's wishes always fascinated me. Also the idea of actually touching time and spinning or weaving it like wool is interesting. And one hour to escape. - promises fast pacing and action. I'd say, go for it. Let October come very soon!

What are you waiting on this week?

Teaser Tuesday: The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

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 of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

The Book of Blood and Shadow -
Random House Children's Books

The center cannot hold, *** liked to say, back when things were new and quoting poetry seemed a suitably ironic way to declare our love.
Things fall apart.
But things don’t just fall apart. People break them.

-- page 3

I think about it, sometimes, what might have happened if we hadn't kept our mouths shut.
But we did.

 -- page 50


A few adjectives describing this book: haunting, dark, fascinating, surprising and even funny. The dark atmosphere is being established in the first few sentences of chapter one and while reading you can't help but think back to those sentences, always expecting to see the drama coming. But you don't, because another very fitting adjective would be: unexpected. As I love surprises, this book is perfect for me. :) So I get back to it fast and ask you:

What are you reading today? Tell us in the comments.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Syndicate by Shelena Shorts

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 Syndicate by Shelena Shorts.
Publication Date: July 9th 2012

The Syndicate - Lands Atlantic Publishing

For centuries, the Petrescu family has been protecting society from a danger that moves among the population undetected. Eighteen-year-old Vasi Petrescu has never had a problem carrying out his duty, but, when ordered to eliminate an eighteen-year-old girl, he is immediately taken out of his comfort zone.

The Syndicate has never targeted a female before, yet somehow this one has ended up on more than one hit list. Vasi would like to find out why, but there may not be time.

Now, he'll have to decide whether or not to keep her alive even if it means going against his own family.

Synopsis by goodreads.com

Considering the handsome guy on the cover of The Syndicate, I'd say we have a reason to wait for this book. ;) But seriously, a family keeping society save from danger? What kind of danger? And who decides what is dangerous anyway? The synopsis promises action, secrets, lies, and a male protagonist. A good combination.

So, what are you waiting on this week? Leave us a comment.

Teaser Tuesday: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

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 Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

The Night Circus - Doubleday

“He forgets that he was someone’s dream once, himself.”
-- page 94 

“Please, no Shakespeare.” “I am haunted by the ghost of my father, I think that should allow me to quote Hamlet as much as I please. You used to be quite fond of Shakespeare, Prospero.”
-- page 319

If I have to be completely honest, I already finished this book over the weekend and I also know that I’m late to the party to adore this book. Beautifully written and telling a story that is as enchanting as it is imaginative. You should give it a try if you haven’t already. And if you have, let me know in the comments.

What are you reading today?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

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 Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna.
Publication Date: August 28th 2012

The Lost Girl - Balzer + Bray

Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her “other”, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

Synopsis by goodreads.com

Why we are waiting: This book posts a couple of questions that are really intriguing. First off, in what society does a person have a "backup"(because that's how I would call Eva), if something happens to them? Moreover, what important role does Amarra play that she needs Eva as her replacement? And what is Eva? A human, or something else entirely? I'm quite sure the answers will be very different from what we imagine. Also I'm extremely curious on how Eva will handle her task of replacing someone she doesn't even know personally! Oh, and don't get me started on the forbidden love thing. I'm a sucker for forbidden love!

So, what do you think? A title for your TBR? What are you waiting on this week?

Teaser Tuesday: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

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!  

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium - Harper Teen

“In approved places, every story serves a purpose. But forbidden books are so much more. Some of them are webs; you can feel your way along their threads, but just barely, into strange and dark corners. Some of them are balloons bobbing up through the sky: totally self-contained, and unreachable, but beautiful to watch.
And some of them--the best ones--are doors.”
-- Chapter 13

Today is a late teaser, partly because the weather is nice and partly because I got stuck in a book, which is the best possible way to be stuck if you ask me. Pandemonium uses a different method to tell the story which began in Delirium. It took me a while to get used to the jumps between then and now, but now I’m at a point in the story where I always want to know what happens next, no matter which timeframe I’m in. So excuse me, there is a door waiting for me.

What are you reading?

Waiting on Wednesday: Sternensturm by Kim Winter

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
Sternensturm by Kim Winter.
Publication Date: May 22nd 2012

Sternensturm - Planet Girl

Iason hat sich entschieden: für die Liebe, für ein Leben mit Mia. Eigentlich perfekt. Aber plötzlich verschwinden Menschen spurlos aus der Stadt. Und ein unheimliches Flüstern spricht in der Nacht zu Mia. Sie fühlt sich gezogen und weiß nicht wohin. Stimmt es, dass die Entführer in Wirklichkeit hinter ihr her sind? Zweifel keimen auf, ob es Mia wirklich bestimmt ist, den Frieden nach Loduun zu bringen. Und bald schon nährt sich der Verdacht, dass sie vielmehr von einer dunklen und gefährlichen Macht gelenkt wird. Als Wächter seines Planeten muss Iason eine folgenschwere Entscheidung treffen und Mia gerät in ein Netz aus Intrigen, in dem sie niemandem trauen kann, am wenigsten sich selbst.

Iason has chosen: love, a life with Mia. In theory, everything is perfect. But suddenly people disappear from the city without a trace. And an eerie whispering speaks to Mia at night. She feels enamoured but doesn't know by what. Is it true that the kidnappers are really after her? Doubts come up that Mia is destined to bring peace to Loduun. And soon suspicion arises that she is controlled by a dark and dangerous force. As a guardian, Iason has to make a far-reaching decision. And Mia gets entangled in a web of intrigues in which she cannot trust anyone, least of all herself.

Synopsis from Goodreads.com, translation by Julika

An international edition of WoW this week. Sternensturm will be the sequel to Sternenschimmer which introduced the reader to a future society beneath glass domes after the ozon layer has collapsed. The earth becomes a place of refuge for a group of young aliens who have to escape an intergalactic war. Despite all their cultural differences and prejudices, Mia, a human, and Iason, an alien, fall in love. The only problem is that Iason is a guardian and his first instinct is to protect his people which destines him to return to his home planet Loduun as soon as possible. He decided to stay in book one but the synopsis for book two hints at the problems this will cause not only for his conscience, but also for his home. It will be interesting to see what happens once Kim Winter moves her characters past the falling-in-love-and-initial-getting-to-know-each-other problems.

Let’s hear from you what you are waiting on this week.

Teaser Tuesday: Until I Die by Amy Plum

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!  

Until I Die by Amy Plum

Until I Die - HarperCollins

I guess lying around reading books all day doesn’t do much for physical endurance.
-- Chapter 1

“Personally, I’m happy I haven’t run into a murderous killer since, well ... since you chopped my ex’s head off with a sword.”
-- Chapter 3

Back to Paris and non-disgusting “Zombies”. And sword fights and, of course, Jules (I like the other characters as well, don't give me that look). Though I have to say that I have a growing suspicion of the dreaded second book syndrome, one of its symptomes being a cliffhanger-ending. But as with all good things, they’re worth the wait.

What are you reading?

Waiting on Wednesday: What’s Left of Me by Kat Zhang

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
What's Left of Me by Kat Zang
Publication Date: September 18th 2012
 

What's left of me - Harper

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body,taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t …
For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable–hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

Synopsis by goodreads.com

No, it’s not just the cover, but that’s a huge part of it! It’s the whole idea that intrigues me. Two souls in one body and one has to fade? Schizophrenia in a good way? The thought alone is disturbing and - as an early reviewer on goodreads put it - claustophobic. Still, I’m fascinated by the concept. The only thing I’m not too happy about is that it’s another start of a series. I could do with a good stand-alone book for once.

Is What's left of me already on your Mount TBR? And what are you waiting on this week? Let us know!

Teaser Tuesday: Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers

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!  

Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers

Grave Mercy - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

When one consorts with assassins, one must expect to dance along the edge of a knife once or twice.
-- Chapter 20

I smile back. we are, for all the world, a happy little party out to enjoy the fine autumn day. But of course, we are not.
-- Chapter 23

I have a soft spot for stories with a historical background, especially medieval courts. Add to that a touch of supernatural and a strong female protagonist ... and a bit of romance, yes ... and you can be fairly certain that I will enjoy it. Grave Mercy fits this bill very neatly. Even if dear Ismae could do with a good reality check from time to time. But then again it is the age of "my god wills it", so I suppose she is quite rebellious for her time. Now for that needle work involving the base of a skull (Chapter 21) ...

Waiting on Wednesday: Endlessly by Kiersten White

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
Endlessly by Kiersten White
Publication Date: July 24th 2012

Endlessly - HarperTeen

Try as she might, Evie can’t seem to escape her not-so-normal past. And what was supposed to be a blissfully normal school break is ruined when a massive group of paranormals shows up at her house, claiming that Evie is the only one who can protect them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

The deadly war between the faerie courts looms ever closer. The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its future rests solely in Evie’s hands.

So much for normal.

Synopsis by goodreads.com 

Holy Bleep, it’s Evie again! She still tries to be normal but can’t seem to get the hang of it. Or is it the world around her that can’t? 

The series captured me in the first few chapters of Paranormalcy. Evie is funny and witty (at times) and there’s no one who could possibly stand against her pink sparkling teaser called Teasey. Even though, I haven’t been too happy with book two of the series, Supernaturally, I’m looking forward to seeing all the characters again, even Reth.

If you haven’t started the Paranormalcy trilogy yet, you should probably grab book one right now and finish the second before July. Go on. It’s not so far off now. ;)

What are you waiting on this week? 

Teaser Tuesday: Partials 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!  

Partials by Dan Wells

Partials - Balzer + Bray

The average lifespan of a human child, in the time since the Break, was fifty-six hours.
They didn’t even name them anymore.
-- Chapter 1

“‘Death be not proud,’” said Marcus, “‘though some have called thee mighty and dreadful.’” He paused, thinking. “I’m totally butchering this.”
-- Chapter 5

I was in need of something a little gritty and un-fluffy and I think I definitely picked up the right books for that. Piece of advise: Don’t read while eating, shortly before or after eating unless you have a strong stomach.

Happy May Day, everyone. What are you reading?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long

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 Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long.
Publication Date: August 16th 2012

The Treachery of Beautiful Things - Dial Books

The trees swallowed her brother whole, and Jenny was there to see it. Now seventeen, she revisits the woods where Tom was taken, resolving to say good-bye at last. Instead, she's lured into the trees, where she finds strange and dangerous creatures who seem to consider her the threat. Among them is Jack, mercurial and magnetic, with secrets of his own. Determined to find her brother, with or without Jack's help, Jenny struggles to navigate a faerie world where stunning beauty masks some of the most treacherous evils, and she's faced with a choice between salvation or sacrifice--and not just her own.

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

As a child who grew up near dark woods and who spent more than her fair share of scary night hikes in them and imagining what else might be in there, the idea of exploring this further in book form immediately captured my interest. The synopsis doesn't give away too much, but I have the feeling that this is more than a girl meets mysterious boy story. High hopes for this. And on a side note: I can’t really say what it is about that cover, some days I really like it and then I go back to my usual not caring too much for cover designs. Thoughts?

Let’s hear from you what you are waiting on this week.

Teaser Tuesday: Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen

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!   

Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen

Scarlet - Walker Childrens

No one really knows ’bout me. I’m Rob’s secret, I’m his informant, I’m his shadow in dark places.
-- page 1

They parted and I climbed the dais, meeting Rob’s eyes. He didn’t look angry now.
-- page 265

I have unfortunately already finished Scarlet and wished it was part of a series! The book is told by a rather special member to Robin Hood's band, the thief Scarlet. She is the only female in the band and seems to hold the most secrets. Her voice needs a bit of getting used to, but I couldn't help getting ensnared by it and her story very quickly.

Waiting on Wednesday: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

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
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan.
Publication Date:  September 11th 2012

Unspoken - Random House Books for Young Readers

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

Synopsis by goodreads.com 

I have to admit, I rather like love stories. And this one sounds like an extraordinary love story. But more than that: a mystery story (with a paranormal touch?). Also, I have only read one story by Sarah Rees Brennan, but I'd say we are in for some unexpected twists and turns with this first installment of The Lynburn Legacy series. 

Is Unspoken a book for your TBR as well? Tell us what you're waiting on.

Teaser Tuesday: Goddess Interrupted by Aimée Carter

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!  

Goddess Interrupted by Aimée Carter

Goddess Interrupted - Harlequin Teen

“That doesn’t give me the right to break his damn heart.”
-- Chapter 9

“Thank you,” I said, and *** kissed me lightly on the cheek, a silent goodbye to me and an eternity of could-have-beens.
-- Chapter 18

I like a good twist on Greek mythology and if I’m completely honest, the first book (The Goddess Test) didn’t really do that for me. However, it is an interesting story I enjoyed reading after I made my peace with the Greek pretext that was there but wasn’t really. I like this second book a lot better even if I constantly want to take people and shake some sense into them.

What are you reading at the moment?

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

The Rook - Little, Brown and Company

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
Published January 2012

“The body you are wearing used to be mine.

So begins the letter Myfanwy Thomas is holding when she awakes in a London park surrounded by bodies all wearing latex gloves. With no recollection of who she is, Myfanwy must follow the instructions her former self left behind to discover her identity and track down the agents who want to destroy her.
She soon learns that she is a Rook, a high-ranking member of a secret organization called the Chequy that battles the many supernatural forces at work in Britain. She also discovers that she possesses a rare, potentially deadly supernatural ability of her own.
In her quest to uncover which member of the Chequy betrayed her and why, Myfanwy encounters a person with four bodies, an aristocratic woman who can enter her dreams, a secret training facility where children are transformed into deadly fighters, and a conspiracy more vast than she ever could have imagined.” Synopsis from goodreads.com

Today is “Drop Everything and Read” Day … or for the seemingly more mature generation “Set Everything Down Gently and Read” Day. And to honour the occasion I thought I could offer you a recommendation that is worth dropping everything to read it.
The Rook is the debut of Daniel O’Malley and plunges you right into the middle of the pool. Or rather the cold rain. Myfanwy (rhymes with Tiffany, as the reader and the character are helpfully informed right at the beginning, ignoring all Welsh knowledge you might have) has no idea who she is or why she is standing in the middle of a park, in the rain, surrounded by bodies. She only has a letter telling her that a) her memory has been wiped and b) she is in mortal danger. Luckily her former self has provided her with two well-prepared options. Either leave everything behind and start new or find out what happened.
Have you ever wondered what you would do if you were offered to start with a completely clean slate as an adult with the means of a comfortable life and (almost) no danger of a guilty conscience? Myfanwy is determined to take this opportunity. Right until the moment she is attacked and her attackers suddenly crumble to the floor just from touching her.
If you think that this book is centred on an amnesiac trying to get her memory back think again. Myfanwy has provided herself with a suitcase full of letters and other OCD organisation devices to access all the information she needs, but the new Myfanwy is also resolved to own this life. Throughout the book you get to read letters and files from the old Myfanwy basically dumping information but also offering insights into who she was and what her life was like. The new consciousness in her old body seems to be her opposite in so many cases while maintaining some of her character traits. This easily leads to hilarious situations with her new/old co-workers. I for one would have loved to see everyone’s faces as the formerly meek Myfanwy suddenly stands up against her intimidating colleague during the torture/interrogation scene.
The story is clever and funny at the same time with a thrilling mystery and a supernatural twist. And it is set in London so I basically was a goner from the get go. But more than that I thoroughly enjoyed the well-paced and thought out plot. The narrator is very close to Myfanwy so you get to appreciate her wry sarcasm as well as her insecurities but does not make it a first person narration. Another layer of mystery is added by the first person style letters which offer insight into the organisation but at no point make the reader more knowledgeable than the protagonist. Well, you get a few seemingly free-floating scenes that let you guess but for me those only made me wonder more. I had my suspects and had them discounted and re-added several times throughout the book. There were a few moments where I thought problems resolved a little too neatly but the solutions never seemed implausible to the story universe.

This is an ingenious secret service story with fantastical elements that you will soon take for granted, a main character who is re-inventing herself in a completely new way while trying to save herself and the country. The Rook is a brilliant debut with a promising universe that I hope to get to see more from at some point. In the meantime I’ll keep an eye on @RookFiles for updates from Myfanwy.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

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 Hunt by Andrew Fukuda.
Publication Date: May 8th 2012

The Hunt - St. Martin’s Griffin

Don’t Sweat.  Don’t Laugh.  Don’t draw attention to yourself.  And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.

Gene is different from everyone else around him.  He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood.  Gene is a human, and he knows the rules.  Keep the truth a secret.  It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.
 
When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him.  He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?

Synopsis by goodreads.com

Has anyone else noticed how many books will be released on that day? My best case scenario is splitting myself in at least three, better yet four (someone has to do the washing up and working part). Anyway ... this sounds like it’s putting an interesting twist on the dystopian genre by making humans the weaker species. The other slightly unusual bit that caught my attention is the male point of view this book is going to offer. Now I only need to solve this pesky reading-time-management problem.

What are you waiting on this week? Leave us a comment.