Tuesday 23 August 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.
Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha universe is one of the most fascinating fantasy worlds that I’ve had the honour to be allowed to visit on my reading adventures and now being allowed back is one of the best gifts I never knew to ask for. (Obviously, as I waited until the second book is almost out ... or was that tactic because I just knew there would be that really mean cliffhanger at the end ... let’s go with that explanation.)
Multiple points of few can easily grow tedious or even confusing yet this story is so much richer for them. The characters are so very different from each other yet also closely connected in their aims. And even though one gets to spend quite some time in their heads they remain mysterious enough to surprise and confound you. Just when you think you have puzzled out a motivation for one action you can almost be sure to be taken for a spin. Yet it always makes sense what the characters are doing as they act true to themselves.
Don’t get me wrong they are all dark figures in the night I’d rather not meet, but at the same time I can’t help but care for all of them. Good thing they’re fictional, because feeling affection for six criminals of their calibre would certainly get me locked up otherwise.
Highly recommended if you enjoyed Leigh Bardugo’s first series and want to return to the Grisha world though you don’t have to have read them to understand this one. Also recommended if Ocean’s Eleven ranks among your favourite movies thrown in with a little Inception or Now You See Me.
There are movie rumours surrounding almost every YA book these days and I can see the appeal for this one as it is already quite cinematic yet at the same time I think that the nuances of the internal observations would get lost in the process and actually deduct from the overall story. Do you have books you feel ambiguous about getting a movie treatment? Share your opinions and teasers in the comments!
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.
 |
| Six of Crows – Henry Holt & Co. |
“You can’t spend his money if you’re dead.”
“I’ll acquire expensive habits in the afterlife.”
“There’s a difference between confidence and arrogance.”
— Chapter 10
“Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get Wylan’s ghost to teach my ghost how to play the flute just so that I can annoy the hell out of your ghost.”
Brekker’s lips quirked. “I’ll just hire Matthias’ ghost to kick your ghost’s ass.”
“My ghost won’t associate with your ghost,” Matthias said primly, and then wondered if the sea air was rotting his brain.
— Chapter 15
Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha universe is one of the most fascinating fantasy worlds that I’ve had the honour to be allowed to visit on my reading adventures and now being allowed back is one of the best gifts I never knew to ask for. (Obviously, as I waited until the second book is almost out ... or was that tactic because I just knew there would be that really mean cliffhanger at the end ... let’s go with that explanation.)
Multiple points of few can easily grow tedious or even confusing yet this story is so much richer for them. The characters are so very different from each other yet also closely connected in their aims. And even though one gets to spend quite some time in their heads they remain mysterious enough to surprise and confound you. Just when you think you have puzzled out a motivation for one action you can almost be sure to be taken for a spin. Yet it always makes sense what the characters are doing as they act true to themselves.
Don’t get me wrong they are all dark figures in the night I’d rather not meet, but at the same time I can’t help but care for all of them. Good thing they’re fictional, because feeling affection for six criminals of their calibre would certainly get me locked up otherwise.
Highly recommended if you enjoyed Leigh Bardugo’s first series and want to return to the Grisha world though you don’t have to have read them to understand this one. Also recommended if Ocean’s Eleven ranks among your favourite movies thrown in with a little Inception or Now You See Me.
There are movie rumours surrounding almost every YA book these days and I can see the appeal for this one as it is already quite cinematic yet at the same time I think that the nuances of the internal observations would get lost in the process and actually deduct from the overall story. Do you have books you feel ambiguous about getting a movie treatment? Share your opinions and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 16 August 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
Goodbye Strager by Rebecca Stead.
Here’s a cute feel-good book at first glance that turned out pack quite an emotional punch looking back at it. Not in the sense, that it made me ugly cry, but rather that I find myself still thinking about it. The quick summary sounds almost dull: The plot covers a few months of the lives of three eight grade girls, one boy, and one other initially not defined person. But yikes, if the characters don’t have an interesting few months! High School looms and they don’t yet know, who they are or who they’re going to be or whom they might like. Maybe. Or maybe not. And in addition there are family incidents and other growing up navigating problems.
One very special feature of this book is the narrative style. The arc of the three girls is shown in third person with one of the girls as focal point, then there is the letter format for the boy (which are surprisingly plot advancing), and the mysterious person is narrated in second person (which took me some getting used to, but then it became an act of pride for me to find out who this you sitting in a café is). Very cleverly executed and while it sounds pretentious if not over-ambitious to write three narrative perspectives this book seriously profited from this method. Kudos to Rebecca Stead for that feat!
Do you have a book in mind that is narrated in second person? Share them and your teasers in the comments.
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Goodbye Strager by Rebecca Stead.
 |
| Goodbye Stranger – Wendy Lamb Books |
My grandfather used to say that everyone alive has already beaten the craziest odds, just being born. Like one in a trillion. Your parents could have had a million different kids, but they had you. And before that could happen, your parents had to be born themselves, and their parents had to be born.
— Part 2
People act like riddles are hard, but real life is harder. In real life, there are always more than two doors.
I guess I know what I’m going to do.
— Part 3
Here’s a cute feel-good book at first glance that turned out pack quite an emotional punch looking back at it. Not in the sense, that it made me ugly cry, but rather that I find myself still thinking about it. The quick summary sounds almost dull: The plot covers a few months of the lives of three eight grade girls, one boy, and one other initially not defined person. But yikes, if the characters don’t have an interesting few months! High School looms and they don’t yet know, who they are or who they’re going to be or whom they might like. Maybe. Or maybe not. And in addition there are family incidents and other growing up navigating problems.
One very special feature of this book is the narrative style. The arc of the three girls is shown in third person with one of the girls as focal point, then there is the letter format for the boy (which are surprisingly plot advancing), and the mysterious person is narrated in second person (which took me some getting used to, but then it became an act of pride for me to find out who this you sitting in a café is). Very cleverly executed and while it sounds pretentious if not over-ambitious to write three narrative perspectives this book seriously profited from this method. Kudos to Rebecca Stead for that feat!
Do you have a book in mind that is narrated in second person? Share them and your teasers in the comments.
Tuesday 9 August 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
Let the Wind Rise by Shannon Messenger.
Final book in the Sky Fall trilogy where I’ll admit to not being blown away (forgive the pun) by the second book. It was nice enough and held my interest until the end so that I’m now reading the last book, but the first was infinitely better. I’m not too far into the third book right now, but the beginning is very promising and it seems that the language melody I loved so much in book one and missed in book two is back. Even if all alarms are ringing at the notion of the main guy character fixing all of it by having a plan.
Are there any phrases a main character in a book has to say to make you simultaneously roll your eyes and anticipate a worthwhile book? Share your trigger sentences and teasers in the comments.
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Let the Wind Rise by Shannon Messenger.
 |
| Let the Wind Rise – Simon Pulse |
I definitely hate myself.
But I’m going to fix this—all of it.
I have a plan.
— Chapter 1
Change is in the air—I can feel it as clearly as I can hear the brave melodies of the untainted drafts slipping through the cracks of Raiden’s supposedly impenetrable fortress.
A hum building to a crescendo.
The wind starting to rise.
— Chapter 2
Final book in the Sky Fall trilogy where I’ll admit to not being blown away (forgive the pun) by the second book. It was nice enough and held my interest until the end so that I’m now reading the last book, but the first was infinitely better. I’m not too far into the third book right now, but the beginning is very promising and it seems that the language melody I loved so much in book one and missed in book two is back. Even if all alarms are ringing at the notion of the main guy character fixing all of it by having a plan.
Are there any phrases a main character in a book has to say to make you simultaneously roll your eyes and anticipate a worthwhile book? Share your trigger sentences and teasers in the comments.
Tuesday 2 August 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
The Shadow Hour by Melissa Grey.
This sequel showed up on my reader and I was starting to believe in the book magic fairy before I remembered that I pre-ordered it almost immediately after I finished the first book ... or rather: my account reminded me. I’d have preferred the fairy, but I’m still very glad about the existence of this book. In the interest of full disclosure: It took me a while to get back into the story, especially since it starts right back in the middle of things with the stakes higher than ever before and the light at the end of the tunnel more likely than not an oncoming train rather than a true source of hope. And so far, this sounds like the standard procedure for a second-in-a-trilogy-book. And this book is all that but it is also so much more. The writing is truly beautiful and can at the same time convey so much humour as well as be truly captivating, emotional, and intense.
I still have a few chapters left to go and I’m very curious where this is going. I have (of course) a few hopes and fears ... it can’t be sunshine and rainbows, because second book and all that, but maybe I won’t need the anxiety blanket for this? Right, whom am I kidding? As long as the “Cry Here When A Fictional Character Dies” pillow can stay out of it.
When you really enjoy a first book, do you immediately order the sequel (if possible), do you pre-order it at some later point, or do you wait for it to publish? Share your method and teasers in the comments.
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
The Shadow Hour by Melissa Grey.
 |
| The Shadow Hour – Delacorte Press |
“There’s no sense in lying to you with sugarcoated promises that everything will be fine. You’re entirely too clever for that.”
— Chapter 6
“I am your captive audience,” said Caius, with a pointed glance at his newly assigned guards. “Emphasis on captive.”
— Chapter 15
This sequel showed up on my reader and I was starting to believe in the book magic fairy before I remembered that I pre-ordered it almost immediately after I finished the first book ... or rather: my account reminded me. I’d have preferred the fairy, but I’m still very glad about the existence of this book. In the interest of full disclosure: It took me a while to get back into the story, especially since it starts right back in the middle of things with the stakes higher than ever before and the light at the end of the tunnel more likely than not an oncoming train rather than a true source of hope. And so far, this sounds like the standard procedure for a second-in-a-trilogy-book. And this book is all that but it is also so much more. The writing is truly beautiful and can at the same time convey so much humour as well as be truly captivating, emotional, and intense.
I still have a few chapters left to go and I’m very curious where this is going. I have (of course) a few hopes and fears ... it can’t be sunshine and rainbows, because second book and all that, but maybe I won’t need the anxiety blanket for this? Right, whom am I kidding? As long as the “Cry Here When A Fictional Character Dies” pillow can stay out of it.
When you really enjoy a first book, do you immediately order the sequel (if possible), do you pre-order it at some later point, or do you wait for it to publish? Share your method and teasers in the comments.
Tuesday 26 July 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan.
There is a haiku stuck in my head ... or actually more than one and I totally blame Apollo. But don’t tell him, he’s probably vain enough to fancy himself important or something. And also don’t tell him that I’ve already laughed several times during the first few chapters. Or maybe you can tell him that, because it was definitely at his expense. Just imagine the golden boy of vanity and ego-centrism stuffed into a pile of garbage, discovering that he has acne (the horror!), and at the beck and call of a teenage girl.
Or rather you don’t need to imagine it, you could just read this book, which is Rick Riordan at his very best doing what he does so perfectly: writing snarky, funny, enjoyable adventures mixed with ancient history and clever subtext. I suppose that you don’t have to have read the other books, but it is immeasurably more fun if you can discover all the intertextual references. Just calling what was the plot of the complete previous five books “a few minor hardships” had me snort-giggling for a while. I have a sneaking suspicion in terms of quests (and further cross over potential with other characters) and I’m quite certain that I’ll enjoy this series tremendously as it progresses. But let’s be honest, unless the author suffers from a severe personality and talent change I will happily read whatever he decides to write. I’m so very lucky to have a quite sizable number of favourite authors whom I can trust to write consistently and to a reliable standard.
Tell me about one of your “blind-buy-authors” whom you trust implicitly. Share them and your teasers in the comments.
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan.
 |
| The Hidden Oracle – Disney Hyperion |
“You know, I keep thinking, I have now killed every single thing in Greek mythology. But the list never seems to end.”
“You haven’t killed me yet,” I noted.
“Don’t tempt me.”
— Chapter 7
Bad news: I died. Good news: I got better!
— Chapter 12
There is a haiku stuck in my head ... or actually more than one and I totally blame Apollo. But don’t tell him, he’s probably vain enough to fancy himself important or something. And also don’t tell him that I’ve already laughed several times during the first few chapters. Or maybe you can tell him that, because it was definitely at his expense. Just imagine the golden boy of vanity and ego-centrism stuffed into a pile of garbage, discovering that he has acne (the horror!), and at the beck and call of a teenage girl.
Or rather you don’t need to imagine it, you could just read this book, which is Rick Riordan at his very best doing what he does so perfectly: writing snarky, funny, enjoyable adventures mixed with ancient history and clever subtext. I suppose that you don’t have to have read the other books, but it is immeasurably more fun if you can discover all the intertextual references. Just calling what was the plot of the complete previous five books “a few minor hardships” had me snort-giggling for a while. I have a sneaking suspicion in terms of quests (and further cross over potential with other characters) and I’m quite certain that I’ll enjoy this series tremendously as it progresses. But let’s be honest, unless the author suffers from a severe personality and talent change I will happily read whatever he decides to write. I’m so very lucky to have a quite sizable number of favourite authors whom I can trust to write consistently and to a reliable standard.
Tell me about one of your “blind-buy-authors” whom you trust implicitly. Share them and your teasers in the comments.
Tuesday 19 July 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
The Iron Warrior by Julie Kagawa.
Faeries are always a good backup read, especially when they are written by Julie Kagawa. And I mean backup read if you need your reading soul put through the wringer ... in the most loving way with respect to the author. This is the final book in the second Iron Fey cycle and as far as I’m aware there aren’t going to me more in the foreseeable future. I’ll be sad to say goodbye to characters that have been with me for quite a while and also a few of the newer ones. But knowing the author she’ll have something up her sleeve ... apart from the next books in her dragon centred series.
I’m currently alternating between books that have been on my TBR for a while and brand new books and I must admit that quite a few of the older TBRs don’t actually stand the test of time as they were apparently published (and added to the pile) during a trend that now doesn’t quite capture me anymore. Are you making similar observations (or do you cull your pile more regularly than I do)? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments.
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
The Iron Warrior by Julie Kagawa.
 |
| The Iron Warrior – Harlequin Teen |
I meet those icy blue eyes. He smiles sadly.
“I’m sorry, Ethan,” he whispers, always the same.
— Chapter 2
This wasn’t going well. We’d escaped one dragon’s nest only to land in an even bigger, nastier one. The Exile Queen stopped staring at Kenzie and smiled at me again, and I felt my insides shrink.
— Chapter 11
Faeries are always a good backup read, especially when they are written by Julie Kagawa. And I mean backup read if you need your reading soul put through the wringer ... in the most loving way with respect to the author. This is the final book in the second Iron Fey cycle and as far as I’m aware there aren’t going to me more in the foreseeable future. I’ll be sad to say goodbye to characters that have been with me for quite a while and also a few of the newer ones. But knowing the author she’ll have something up her sleeve ... apart from the next books in her dragon centred series.
I’m currently alternating between books that have been on my TBR for a while and brand new books and I must admit that quite a few of the older TBRs don’t actually stand the test of time as they were apparently published (and added to the pile) during a trend that now doesn’t quite capture me anymore. Are you making similar observations (or do you cull your pile more regularly than I do)? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments.
Tuesday 12 July 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner.
This book (and subsequent sequels) is hands down the perfect mixture of everything that shouldn’t work thrown together and because of that turning out to be utterly perfect. Sci-Fi, space travel, survival, snark, star-crossed lovers, swooning, spying ... and now there is no s-word for conspiracy, dang it all. (Edited to add: Scheming, as suggested by Meagan Spooner herself). I’m sort of congratulating myself for only reading this now without the wait between books because I hope that I’ll catch more subtle hints and references than I would have otherwise. I’m a good portion into the second of the three books already and the third is right there waiting for me to finish. So far, I liked the first book a little better than the second, but that might be due to my preferences regarding the male lead. And I have already caught a glimpse of the one of the main characters of the third book, and I’m very certain that I’ll like her a lot.
The writing is absolutely wonderful and almost seamless. If the cover didn’t name two authors you’d never guess it. And while I usually like a little world-building in my books I didn’t actually miss it here that much, because the story itself captured me in a way that I only realised at the end that I still don’t quite understand, how all of this works. But maybe that’s part of it, because none of the characters do as well or they know only parts and are just now beginning to piece it all together.
And now I’ll have another guy I like who is a) taken, b) way beyond reach, and c) ... err ... fictional. Tarver is secretly a poet at heart and how can anyone resist that? And let’s not forget Lilac who is everything you expect of a spoilt rich brat, but then turns out to be the exact opposite and you can’t help but admire her. Books, they ruin your standards and prejudices, but what else is new?
Let me know if you have a word that means conspiracy that starts with S. I was close to heartbroken about having to give up the alliteration. Tell me if you’ve read this wonderful trilogy and share your teasers in the comments!
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner.
 |
| These Broken Stars – Disney Hyperion |
Somehow, unimaginably, we’ve landed. Right now I couldn’t give a damn where. I’m alive.
Or else I’m dead, and I’ve ended up in hell after all, and it’s an escape pod with Lilac LaRoux.
— Chapter 5
“Who cares about after? You could die tomorrow, you don’t think you should kiss her today?”
Perhaps I shouldn’t kiss her today because I could die tomorrow.
“Boring. Also, illogical.”
I’m delirious and hallucinating, now you want logic?
— Chapter 25
This book (and subsequent sequels) is hands down the perfect mixture of everything that shouldn’t work thrown together and because of that turning out to be utterly perfect. Sci-Fi, space travel, survival, snark, star-crossed lovers, swooning, spying ... and now there is no s-word for conspiracy, dang it all. (Edited to add: Scheming, as suggested by Meagan Spooner herself). I’m sort of congratulating myself for only reading this now without the wait between books because I hope that I’ll catch more subtle hints and references than I would have otherwise. I’m a good portion into the second of the three books already and the third is right there waiting for me to finish. So far, I liked the first book a little better than the second, but that might be due to my preferences regarding the male lead. And I have already caught a glimpse of the one of the main characters of the third book, and I’m very certain that I’ll like her a lot.
The writing is absolutely wonderful and almost seamless. If the cover didn’t name two authors you’d never guess it. And while I usually like a little world-building in my books I didn’t actually miss it here that much, because the story itself captured me in a way that I only realised at the end that I still don’t quite understand, how all of this works. But maybe that’s part of it, because none of the characters do as well or they know only parts and are just now beginning to piece it all together.
And now I’ll have another guy I like who is a) taken, b) way beyond reach, and c) ... err ... fictional. Tarver is secretly a poet at heart and how can anyone resist that? And let’s not forget Lilac who is everything you expect of a spoilt rich brat, but then turns out to be the exact opposite and you can’t help but admire her. Books, they ruin your standards and prejudices, but what else is new?
Let me know if you have a word that means conspiracy that starts with S. I was close to heartbroken about having to give up the alliteration. Tell me if you’ve read this wonderful trilogy and share your teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 5 July 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
Summer Days and Summer Nights edited by Stephanie Perkins.
More summer reads! Anyone else suspecting a theme here? Stephanie Perkins has again assembled an impressive collection of authors, some of my very favourites and some new to me in what I’d like to describe as delicious, lovely reading morsels. I’m very used to hearing that anthologies are difficult and no one here want to read them and therefore no one is eager to publish them (where I live anyway). And I get it. Sort of. The short story reader is different from the novel reader, but who says that you can’t be both? I love it when my authors write long, elaborate stories ... but at the same time it is a pretty amazing quality to paint a quick sketch of a story and infuse it with and evoke just as much emotion as in a novel. That’s real talent.
As with almost every compilation there will be those parts that you like more than others. And that’s okay, I don’t like all songs on every album of my favourite bands, but I’m still very happy to have them. And who knows maybe in this selection of authors you’ll find one you didn’t know before, enjoy their story, and want to read more from them. I know I’ll be looking into a few, just like I did with the winter companion of this.
How is you summer (reading) shaping up so far? The weather is sort of improving (and now I totally jinxed it, didn’t I?) and my reading is currently very pleasing (one of them is not summery at all, but I can’t tell you about that one yet ... will have to wait until Autumn for that one). Share your summer impressions and teasers in the comments!
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Summer Days and Summer Nights edited by Stephanie Perkins.
 |
| Summer Days and Summer Nights – St. Martin’s Press |
“I didn’t want to break up with you.”
“But … but you did.”
His shoulders drooped miserably. “I know.”
“Oh.” It was a whisper..
— In Ninety Minutes, Turn North by Stephanie Perkins
My smile fell away. Some habits of friendship were like muscle memory, rising up even when everything else had changed. I knew our jokes, our rhythms, the choreography of our friendship. But that didn’t take away what we were now.
— Inertia by Veronica Roth
More summer reads! Anyone else suspecting a theme here? Stephanie Perkins has again assembled an impressive collection of authors, some of my very favourites and some new to me in what I’d like to describe as delicious, lovely reading morsels. I’m very used to hearing that anthologies are difficult and no one here want to read them and therefore no one is eager to publish them (where I live anyway). And I get it. Sort of. The short story reader is different from the novel reader, but who says that you can’t be both? I love it when my authors write long, elaborate stories ... but at the same time it is a pretty amazing quality to paint a quick sketch of a story and infuse it with and evoke just as much emotion as in a novel. That’s real talent.
As with almost every compilation there will be those parts that you like more than others. And that’s okay, I don’t like all songs on every album of my favourite bands, but I’m still very happy to have them. And who knows maybe in this selection of authors you’ll find one you didn’t know before, enjoy their story, and want to read more from them. I know I’ll be looking into a few, just like I did with the winter companion of this.
How is you summer (reading) shaping up so far? The weather is sort of improving (and now I totally jinxed it, didn’t I?) and my reading is currently very pleasing (one of them is not summery at all, but I can’t tell you about that one yet ... will have to wait until Autumn for that one). Share your summer impressions and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 28 June 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
Two Summers by Aimee Friedman.
While I’ll be lucky if there will be one summer here, this book and lovely story will offer you two along with some French flair and US summer specials. I thoroughly enjoyed this love story with a more than clever twist, because depending on one decision the protagonist experiences two very different summers either at home or in France. In both she will grow into her own and make some life-altering discoveries. I especially liked every moment Summer thinks that had she decided differently she would be happier and only the reader knows that the alternative would have its fair share of turbulence as well. In this case the journey is not necessarily the destination, but even if many roads lead to Rome you should enjoy the scenery on the one you travel.
Big recommendation for this sweet summer read with surprising depth. If you like the movie/book Sliding Doors or the books by Huntley Fitzpatrick, you should definitely give this a try.
I find the idea fascinating that every time we make a decision reality actually divides into separate possibilities ... even if I also find the idea of multiple universes hard to wrap my head around. I would like to see some of the alternate paths caused by some of my decisions. Not because I regret them, but because I’d like to see what might have been. Would that be something you’d be interested in? Let’s hear from you in the comments.
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Two Summers by Aimee Friedman.
 |
| Two Summers – Point |
I know it’s silly, my belief in signs and harbingers. But superstition can be helpful for indecisive people; it lets us off the hook. Takes the choice out of our hands.
— Prologue
“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” she replies. “And why should you care what people think?”
— Part Four
While I’ll be lucky if there will be one summer here, this book and lovely story will offer you two along with some French flair and US summer specials. I thoroughly enjoyed this love story with a more than clever twist, because depending on one decision the protagonist experiences two very different summers either at home or in France. In both she will grow into her own and make some life-altering discoveries. I especially liked every moment Summer thinks that had she decided differently she would be happier and only the reader knows that the alternative would have its fair share of turbulence as well. In this case the journey is not necessarily the destination, but even if many roads lead to Rome you should enjoy the scenery on the one you travel.
Big recommendation for this sweet summer read with surprising depth. If you like the movie/book Sliding Doors or the books by Huntley Fitzpatrick, you should definitely give this a try.
I find the idea fascinating that every time we make a decision reality actually divides into separate possibilities ... even if I also find the idea of multiple universes hard to wrap my head around. I would like to see some of the alternate paths caused by some of my decisions. Not because I regret them, but because I’d like to see what might have been. Would that be something you’d be interested in? Let’s hear from you in the comments.
Tuesday 21 June 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Some supernatural YA romance from one of my go to feel good authors. And when I say romance I mean cool, snarky, hot, and possibly forbidden. The holy four-fold if you ask me. And the plot is not something to be scoffed at either. I’m incredibly glad that this series is already available in its entirety, because if the previous series are any indication, there are going to be major cliffhangers and emotional turmoil ahead.
It’s not the new, mould-breaking story to end all others, but if you liked the author’s previous books you’ll also like this series, I dare say.
You possibly have a favourite fantasy species and I bet that gargoyles are not necessarily on the top of the list. I can’t say that they are going to be after this book, but demons might move up a few spots. Who is on your list? Let’s hear from you in the comments.
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout.
 |
| White Hot Kiss – Harlequin Teen |
“Hey look, Bambi likes you.”
I pried one eye open. “And if she didn’t?”
“Oh, you’d know, ’cause she would’ve eaten you by now.”
— Chapter 17
“No elevator?” I asked
“None that you’d want to get on.” At the look on my face, he smiled. “The elevators here only go down.”
— Chapter 17
Some supernatural YA romance from one of my go to feel good authors. And when I say romance I mean cool, snarky, hot, and possibly forbidden. The holy four-fold if you ask me. And the plot is not something to be scoffed at either. I’m incredibly glad that this series is already available in its entirety, because if the previous series are any indication, there are going to be major cliffhangers and emotional turmoil ahead.
It’s not the new, mould-breaking story to end all others, but if you liked the author’s previous books you’ll also like this series, I dare say.
You possibly have a favourite fantasy species and I bet that gargoyles are not necessarily on the top of the list. I can’t say that they are going to be after this book, but demons might move up a few spots. Who is on your list? Let’s hear from you in the comments.
Tuesday 14 June 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
Circle of Jinn by Lori Goldstein.
I don’t know how summer is coming along for you but at my end it’s leaving a lot to be desired. I can fully empathise with the Jinn of this book who light a fire in September in New England, because it’s too darn cold. Apart from that sympathy, this book feels like a slightly typical second book in a trilogy but then again not completely as it is the final book in a dulogy and thus clearly pushes the overall plot along without being too messy in its internal plot. I can’t really say much more without giving anything away. But if you’ve read the first book and where left with a lot of questions, quite a few of them get answered ... and then you get a set of brand new ones.
One aspect I really enjoy about this Jinn universe is that the wisher is kept unaware and that the Jinn has to fulfil the honest to goodness deepest wish a person has instead of three wishes that might be made for personal gain, but don’t actually help.
The prognosis for summer here is mixed at best, which would have a nice reading touch to it, but I actually enjoy sitting in the sun to read so maybe someone can wish for that. Do you have an outside reading spot? Let’s hear from you in the comments.
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Circle of Jinn by Lori Goldstein.
 |
| Circle of Jinn – Feiwel and Friends |
I guess logic and reason are no match for desire. Wanting something to be true can make it so. At least in one’s own mind.
— Chapter 16
“You tried harder than anyone else would have.”
“But I’m not anyone else. I’m your best friend. And best friends don’t give up.”
— Chapter 22
I don’t know how summer is coming along for you but at my end it’s leaving a lot to be desired. I can fully empathise with the Jinn of this book who light a fire in September in New England, because it’s too darn cold. Apart from that sympathy, this book feels like a slightly typical second book in a trilogy but then again not completely as it is the final book in a dulogy and thus clearly pushes the overall plot along without being too messy in its internal plot. I can’t really say much more without giving anything away. But if you’ve read the first book and where left with a lot of questions, quite a few of them get answered ... and then you get a set of brand new ones.
One aspect I really enjoy about this Jinn universe is that the wisher is kept unaware and that the Jinn has to fulfil the honest to goodness deepest wish a person has instead of three wishes that might be made for personal gain, but don’t actually help.
The prognosis for summer here is mixed at best, which would have a nice reading touch to it, but I actually enjoy sitting in the sun to read so maybe someone can wish for that. Do you have an outside reading spot? Let’s hear from you in the comments.
Tuesday 7 June 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
The Last Star by Rick Yancey.
It is quite possible that literature has taught me to be a cautious pessimist. Or maybe a high-functioning pessimist. I no longer just open a book and start a new story (or continue it), but rather I’m approaching it with an underlying question along the lines of “okay, how are you going to blow everything up in my face?”. This is not a bad thing, because if I wanted to, I’m certain I could find books that go straight from A to B without so much as trying to mess with me. Big if I wanted to.
So I got this book final book in the trilogy and if you’ve read the previous two, you remember that everything is already pretty glum and how will this ever be nearing something that can be described as sort of okay. And I think I’m still in the part where everything it is pretty much going downhill fast, possibly backwards. At the moment I’m not sure how this is supposed to be turned around. Maybe it isn’t and this is headed towards a big finale of apocalyptic destruction. Which in itself is from a certain point of view the only happy end possible.
And this is also where I realised that I’m not as pessimistic as I thought, because I’m still trying to figure out how this could be turned around to a somewhat positive outcome. At what point is post-apocalyptic so far gone that the previous state cannot be restored and the only feasible way is forward to begin from scratch rather than backward to rebuild?
Are you a literary optimist or pessimist. Or something else altogether? Let’s hear from you in the comments along with your teasers.
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 Last Star by Rick Yancey.
 |
| The Last Star – G.P. Putnam’s Sons |
And she would leap, a fearless launch into empty space, because he wasn’t just her father—he was Daddy. He would catch her; he would not let her fall.
— Prologue
I should have known he was going to save me by betraying me: He’d been doing it from the beginning.
— Chapter 4
It is quite possible that literature has taught me to be a cautious pessimist. Or maybe a high-functioning pessimist. I no longer just open a book and start a new story (or continue it), but rather I’m approaching it with an underlying question along the lines of “okay, how are you going to blow everything up in my face?”. This is not a bad thing, because if I wanted to, I’m certain I could find books that go straight from A to B without so much as trying to mess with me. Big if I wanted to.
So I got this book final book in the trilogy and if you’ve read the previous two, you remember that everything is already pretty glum and how will this ever be nearing something that can be described as sort of okay. And I think I’m still in the part where everything it is pretty much going downhill fast, possibly backwards. At the moment I’m not sure how this is supposed to be turned around. Maybe it isn’t and this is headed towards a big finale of apocalyptic destruction. Which in itself is from a certain point of view the only happy end possible.
And this is also where I realised that I’m not as pessimistic as I thought, because I’m still trying to figure out how this could be turned around to a somewhat positive outcome. At what point is post-apocalyptic so far gone that the previous state cannot be restored and the only feasible way is forward to begin from scratch rather than backward to rebuild?
Are you a literary optimist or pessimist. Or something else altogether? Let’s hear from you in the comments along with your teasers.
Tuesday 31 May 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
Soldier by Julie Kagawa.
I started this book under the impression that this would be the final book in a trilogy, but when I was about halfway through I began to realise that there were way to many loose ends to be even remotely done in the number of pages I had ahead of me. With a new to me author that might have been the case, but as this is my third (fourth, if you count the Iron Fey parts separately) series from Julia Kagawa, I felt confident in my assessment that there was more to come. I just hadn’t gotten the memo. And luckily I was right and there are two more books planned as of now.
I’ll be honest and say there there are parts in this book that I didn’t care about as much as others. But I think that is to be expected from a book with multiple narrators, especially if all of them are a first person narration, which is quite challenging to write I imagine. However, Julie Kagawa manages to give all her narrators a distinct feel so that the reader never forgets who is talking at the moment. And even the non narrating characters. Can I just say that I love Jade and can I please get more of that?
When I looked up if there are going to be more books in the series I was also made aware that there would be a major cliffhanger at the end of this book (then I quickly clicked away because the only thing worse than spoilers are spoilers you caused for yourself). And ... I feel that the term cliffhanger needs to be adjusted for certain authors or that there needs to be a word that more accurately describes the situation. Like when a good author lets you dangle from a moderate cliff then these authors leave you clinging to the cliffs of Kalaupapa ... or something like that.
So while I’m cliff clinging for dear life let me ask you if you had instances of surprise not-final-books in the past. If so, were they pleasant or not so pleasant surprises? Share thoughts and teasers in the comments!
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Soldier by Julie Kagawa.
 |
| Soldier – HarlequinTeen |
I was sore, confused, overwhelmed and felt I could bite something with very little provocation. “I’ll be fine. I’m going to lie down and growl at anything that asks me questions.”
— Chapter 21
“You’re injured.” She shook her head. “Why are you standing here talking to me? Go tell the monks to take care of that. I did not come all this way, across two oceans, to watch you die of blood loss.”
— Chapter 23
I started this book under the impression that this would be the final book in a trilogy, but when I was about halfway through I began to realise that there were way to many loose ends to be even remotely done in the number of pages I had ahead of me. With a new to me author that might have been the case, but as this is my third (fourth, if you count the Iron Fey parts separately) series from Julia Kagawa, I felt confident in my assessment that there was more to come. I just hadn’t gotten the memo. And luckily I was right and there are two more books planned as of now.
I’ll be honest and say there there are parts in this book that I didn’t care about as much as others. But I think that is to be expected from a book with multiple narrators, especially if all of them are a first person narration, which is quite challenging to write I imagine. However, Julie Kagawa manages to give all her narrators a distinct feel so that the reader never forgets who is talking at the moment. And even the non narrating characters. Can I just say that I love Jade and can I please get more of that?
When I looked up if there are going to be more books in the series I was also made aware that there would be a major cliffhanger at the end of this book (then I quickly clicked away because the only thing worse than spoilers are spoilers you caused for yourself). And ... I feel that the term cliffhanger needs to be adjusted for certain authors or that there needs to be a word that more accurately describes the situation. Like when a good author lets you dangle from a moderate cliff then these authors leave you clinging to the cliffs of Kalaupapa ... or something like that.
So while I’m cliff clinging for dear life let me ask you if you had instances of surprise not-final-books in the past. If so, were they pleasant or not so pleasant surprises? Share thoughts and teasers in the comments!
Tuesday 24 May 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater.
Why do readers not believe authors when they tell you at the very beginning of a series that they are going to kill a character? Or when they do it again throughout the series? Right up to the beginning of the last book? Because of the thing with feathers (and not ravens, contrary to what the title might suggest). We readers love to fall for the lost cause; and what clever move to define the most lost cause among lost causes very early on. But really who of them is the most lost? You could also argue for the undead dead boy. Or the nightmare dreamer. Or the untaught magician. Or the cursed psychic who wants to fall in love. It's all equally horrible and very much on a slippery precipice. Add to that Maggie Stiefvater’s truly addictive writing and you'll understand why this book is worth reading in one sitting.
The previous three books added so many layers that I possibly lost sight of a few of them. In an ideal world I’d re-read the series once I’ve finished it to catch all of them. But so many books so little time! I have a few series I want to re-read in their entirety once they are out, maybe I'll carefully place this one among them.
Are you prone to route for the lost cause? Which broken hero are you holding out hope for? Share them along with your teasers in the comments.
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater.
 |
| The Raven King – Scholastic Children’s Books |
It was easier to tell hero from villain when the stakes were only life and death. Everything in between gets harder.
— Chapter 11
He was a book, and he was holding his final pages, and he wanted to get to the end to find out how it went, and he didn't want it to be over.
— Chapter 55
Why do readers not believe authors when they tell you at the very beginning of a series that they are going to kill a character? Or when they do it again throughout the series? Right up to the beginning of the last book? Because of the thing with feathers (and not ravens, contrary to what the title might suggest). We readers love to fall for the lost cause; and what clever move to define the most lost cause among lost causes very early on. But really who of them is the most lost? You could also argue for the undead dead boy. Or the nightmare dreamer. Or the untaught magician. Or the cursed psychic who wants to fall in love. It's all equally horrible and very much on a slippery precipice. Add to that Maggie Stiefvater’s truly addictive writing and you'll understand why this book is worth reading in one sitting.
The previous three books added so many layers that I possibly lost sight of a few of them. In an ideal world I’d re-read the series once I’ve finished it to catch all of them. But so many books so little time! I have a few series I want to re-read in their entirety once they are out, maybe I'll carefully place this one among them.
Are you prone to route for the lost cause? Which broken hero are you holding out hope for? Share them along with your teasers in the comments.
Tuesday 17 May 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi.
Before I say anything about this book, let me vent one general grievance I have: Why is it that every time a specific type of tree is mentioned in a book chances are at about 80% that this tree species is a pine? Maybe I’m being ridiculous, but I feel haunted by pines. There are so many other lovely trees and if you absolutely need a coniferous type why not choose larch or fir or cedar for a change? Sorry, rant over.
Other than being the last book in a row with haunting pine trees, this was a really lovely story that provided a nice one-session-read for a gloomy afternoon. I really appreciated the interweaving of Greek mythology (which is played at but if you’re not a mythology geek you can still enjoy the story) with Indian folktales and culture. Though I would have liked a sort of glossary at the end about all the different types of Otherworld creatures. This is also blessedly a standalone with a planned companion, but if you want you can put the book aside and not miss anything because the plot is perfectly wrapped up in this one book.
I will admit that I enjoyed the second part of the book a little more where Kamala, the demon horse, enters the scene. She’s my secret hero of the book and if I ever own a horse again, I want her to be as spirited and witty as Kamala. Maybe without the flesh-eating tendencies, but I could work around that. The first half is nice and all, and I possibly wouldn’t sent Amar away if he came to rescue me from a forced fake marriage ceremony, but between his beautiful notions on justice and fate and Kamala’s crazy sharp wit and repartee there would be no contest.
If you had to choose between a sensuous, secretive love-interest and a quick-witted, loyal but possibly demonic best friend, what would you do? Share your choices and teasers in the comment.
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 Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi.
 |
| The Star-Touched Queen – St. Martin’s Griffin |
Memory is a riddled thing. I would caution you from making promises you cannot keep.
— Chapter 11
“How do I curse them?” Wouldn’t be a useless skill to have, all things considered.
“Oh, I don’t know. You could set me on them?” Kamala smiled and her eyes flashed red.
I cringed. Horses should not smile.
— Chapter 21
Before I say anything about this book, let me vent one general grievance I have: Why is it that every time a specific type of tree is mentioned in a book chances are at about 80% that this tree species is a pine? Maybe I’m being ridiculous, but I feel haunted by pines. There are so many other lovely trees and if you absolutely need a coniferous type why not choose larch or fir or cedar for a change? Sorry, rant over.
Other than being the last book in a row with haunting pine trees, this was a really lovely story that provided a nice one-session-read for a gloomy afternoon. I really appreciated the interweaving of Greek mythology (which is played at but if you’re not a mythology geek you can still enjoy the story) with Indian folktales and culture. Though I would have liked a sort of glossary at the end about all the different types of Otherworld creatures. This is also blessedly a standalone with a planned companion, but if you want you can put the book aside and not miss anything because the plot is perfectly wrapped up in this one book.
I will admit that I enjoyed the second part of the book a little more where Kamala, the demon horse, enters the scene. She’s my secret hero of the book and if I ever own a horse again, I want her to be as spirited and witty as Kamala. Maybe without the flesh-eating tendencies, but I could work around that. The first half is nice and all, and I possibly wouldn’t sent Amar away if he came to rescue me from a forced fake marriage ceremony, but between his beautiful notions on justice and fate and Kamala’s crazy sharp wit and repartee there would be no contest.
If you had to choose between a sensuous, secretive love-interest and a quick-witted, loyal but possibly demonic best friend, what would you do? Share your choices and teasers in the comment.
Tuesday 10 May 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas.
It is usually due to one of two reasons why I can’t or won’t talk too much about a book’s content: Either it didn’t click for me or I loved it entirely too much and I don’t want anyone to be spoilt the chance to read and love it for the first time. The latter is completely true for this book, multiplied by the fact that I also don’t want to spoil anything about the first equally amazing book in the trilogy.
Maybe some reading observations: I was suspecting (hoping or praying really) at the end of book one that something might be afoot and even though that became obvious pretty quickly I was still invested in how and when it would happen. And the way there was such a delight to read with wonderful storytelling and perfectly executed plot manoeuvres. I haven’t giggle-snorted at a book for quite a while. And it has been even longer that I threw my book down at some point and started weeping like there was no tomorrow because it really hurt so bad. I know that at the end of book two in a trilogy not all can be well, but that twist completely wrecked me and if that had been a cliffhanger I don’t know what would have happened. I don’t think that I’d have survived the wait with my heart intact.
So if you’re into anything fae or retellings or amazing love tales... or just into honest to goodness epically well-crafted stories and haven’t heard of or read A Court of Thorns and Roses (Book one) or Sarah’s equally magnificent Throne of Glass series, I urge you to drop everything and “get thee to a bookish place of your choice”.
A little Shakespeare allusion hasn’t ever hurt anyone, right? Not like being so enchanted by a book that you more than suffered with the characters. What is the last book that has made you feel like the floor had been ripped out right under your feet? Share them along with your teasers in the comments.
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas.
 |
| A Court of Mist and Fury – Bloomsbury Children’s Books |
I love my people, and my family. Do not think I wouldn’t become a monster to keep them protected.
— Chapter 17
He thinks he’ll be remembered as the villain in the story. But I forgot to tell him that the villain is usually the person who locks up the maiden and throws away the key.
— Chapter 43
It is usually due to one of two reasons why I can’t or won’t talk too much about a book’s content: Either it didn’t click for me or I loved it entirely too much and I don’t want anyone to be spoilt the chance to read and love it for the first time. The latter is completely true for this book, multiplied by the fact that I also don’t want to spoil anything about the first equally amazing book in the trilogy.
Maybe some reading observations: I was suspecting (hoping or praying really) at the end of book one that something might be afoot and even though that became obvious pretty quickly I was still invested in how and when it would happen. And the way there was such a delight to read with wonderful storytelling and perfectly executed plot manoeuvres. I haven’t giggle-snorted at a book for quite a while. And it has been even longer that I threw my book down at some point and started weeping like there was no tomorrow because it really hurt so bad. I know that at the end of book two in a trilogy not all can be well, but that twist completely wrecked me and if that had been a cliffhanger I don’t know what would have happened. I don’t think that I’d have survived the wait with my heart intact.
So if you’re into anything fae or retellings or amazing love tales... or just into honest to goodness epically well-crafted stories and haven’t heard of or read A Court of Thorns and Roses (Book one) or Sarah’s equally magnificent Throne of Glass series, I urge you to drop everything and “get thee to a bookish place of your choice”.
A little Shakespeare allusion hasn’t ever hurt anyone, right? Not like being so enchanted by a book that you more than suffered with the characters. What is the last book that has made you feel like the floor had been ripped out right under your feet? Share them along with your teasers in the comments.
Tuesday 3 May 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
The Rose and the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh.
As a person who works with words and stories on a daily basis the art of storytelling reflected in a story itself has a very special appeal to me. Therefore, anything involving the legends of One Thousand and One Nights is an almost certain sale. And after I could hardly get enough of the first one I was very interested if this high level could be maintained. Let’s just say that I wasn’t disappointed. I didn’t go there for roses and soap bubbles and there certainly aren’t any at the moment. The title itself attests to that. But roses and daggers can both be quite beautiful and disguise their sharp thorns and tips. And you probably wouldn’t admire a blunt blade quite as much as a wickedly sharp one. I admire the story for its equally wicked sharp twists and high stakes. The setting is wonderful and feels incredibly real. And while I don’t mind my favourite characters suffering for a bit (for the good cause of a great plot, not unnecessary suffering) there better be a solution in store for the handmaiden and the caliph’s cousin.
This book series has some seriously pretty declarations of love, too. Do you have a favourite quote from that department? Share quote sources and teasers in the comments.
To play along just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
The Rose and the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh.
 |
| The Rose and the Dagger – G.P. Putnam’s Sons |
Here, she was truly boundless.
Fear would never overtake her again.
— Chapter 11
“Do not make me beg you. Because I won’t. I’ll merely lose my temper or cry. And I have always secretly despised those who cry to wheedle their objectives. But if you force me to do it, Khalid Ibn al-Rashid, I will. And I cry beautifully.”
— Chapter 15
As a person who works with words and stories on a daily basis the art of storytelling reflected in a story itself has a very special appeal to me. Therefore, anything involving the legends of One Thousand and One Nights is an almost certain sale. And after I could hardly get enough of the first one I was very interested if this high level could be maintained. Let’s just say that I wasn’t disappointed. I didn’t go there for roses and soap bubbles and there certainly aren’t any at the moment. The title itself attests to that. But roses and daggers can both be quite beautiful and disguise their sharp thorns and tips. And you probably wouldn’t admire a blunt blade quite as much as a wickedly sharp one. I admire the story for its equally wicked sharp twists and high stakes. The setting is wonderful and feels incredibly real. And while I don’t mind my favourite characters suffering for a bit (for the good cause of a great plot, not unnecessary suffering) there better be a solution in store for the handmaiden and the caliph’s cousin.
This book series has some seriously pretty declarations of love, too. Do you have a favourite quote from that department? Share quote sources and teasers in the comments.
Tuesday 26 April 2016
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
To play along just do the following:
The Vast and Brutal Sea by Zoraida Córdova.
Merpeople and stories about them used to be my go-to fantasy folklore. The little mermaid (the original, not the Disney version) is one of the first stories I remember to ever make me cry when I was a child ... and I realise that in my still going back and wanting more there might be the foundation to why I love so many authors who live on their readers tears. So if you offer me a merpeople story with a halfway decent sounding plot, I’ll bite (sorry, not sorry about the pun, there will be more). I enjoyed the first two books in this series well enough as a quick and entertaining read and then I somehow lost sight of it when it came to the third book. It recently resurfaced on my reader (that thing is a black hole and I’m so very guilty of feeding it) and I was between books and could use a fun and quick comfort story. Squid was I wrong about the comforting part, there is quite a bit of rough seas and whirlpool turmoil in this final instalment, which brings the series to a satisfying and fitting close. I would have loved a little more introspective and maybe a little less action and fighting, but all in all it remains in my mind an enjoyable and fun series that I’ll recommend if you are asking for something with fantastical creatures and are not at all afraid of the deep sea. Water can be lovely and refreshing, but it can and will drown you if given the chance.
As I just confessed to forgetting about a book in a series ... has this happened to you? And did you pick it up at some point and dive right back in? Let’s hear from you in the comments along with your teasers!
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 Vast and Brutal Sea by Zoraida Córdova.
 |
| The Vast and Brutal Sea – Sourcebooks Fire |
Except that he doesn’t worry enough, so I have to worry for both of us. Smooth seas means the storm has past, or is only just arriving.
— Chapter 15
By now I should be used to people trying to kill me.
But somehow, it always comes as a bit of a shock.
— Chapter 25
Merpeople and stories about them used to be my go-to fantasy folklore. The little mermaid (the original, not the Disney version) is one of the first stories I remember to ever make me cry when I was a child ... and I realise that in my still going back and wanting more there might be the foundation to why I love so many authors who live on their readers tears. So if you offer me a merpeople story with a halfway decent sounding plot, I’ll bite (sorry, not sorry about the pun, there will be more). I enjoyed the first two books in this series well enough as a quick and entertaining read and then I somehow lost sight of it when it came to the third book. It recently resurfaced on my reader (that thing is a black hole and I’m so very guilty of feeding it) and I was between books and could use a fun and quick comfort story. Squid was I wrong about the comforting part, there is quite a bit of rough seas and whirlpool turmoil in this final instalment, which brings the series to a satisfying and fitting close. I would have loved a little more introspective and maybe a little less action and fighting, but all in all it remains in my mind an enjoyable and fun series that I’ll recommend if you are asking for something with fantastical creatures and are not at all afraid of the deep sea. Water can be lovely and refreshing, but it can and will drown you if given the chance.
As I just confessed to forgetting about a book in a series ... has this happened to you? And did you pick it up at some point and dive right back in? Let’s hear from you in the comments along with your teasers!
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