Sunday Post/ It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

No reviews this week, but it feels like I'm reading a little bit of everything. I have a sequel going on, plus a bunch of stuff I want to get to.

Stacking the Shelves #1

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and spotlights the books received during the week.

I picked up a few different things this week, I'm in the middle of a series (Slated by Teri Terry) and I'm also doing a few re- reads, revisiting some older books that I haven't read in years.

Teaser Tuesday #15 The Chessmen of Mars

To participate you grab your current read, open to a random page and share (2) teaser sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INLUDE SPOILERS (Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away. You don't want to ruin the book for others). Share the title and author.

"Tara of Helium," said the warrior, dropping to one knee, "your words are as food to my hungry heart," and he took her fingers in his and pressed them to his lips.
Gently she raised him to his feet. "You need not tell me, kneeling," she said, softly.

The Chessmen of Mars p. 145



This is vintage sci-fi, and a book I haven't read in many moons. It was always my favorite of the Mars series, although I have to say reading it as an adult is a different experience. Its a little weird, a little fun and definetly interesting. I found this used and wanted to read it again to see how it holds up. 

What is your teaser?

Sunday Post #12 / It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

I hope everyone had a great week. This week I reviewed Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and Slated by Teri Terry. I also decided I wanted to read some edgier fare for autumn so I'm open to suggestions- anyone have ideas for good autumn reads? Anything fantasy or mysterious is welcome.

Book Beginnings on Friday (2)

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader. The idea is to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.

Fractured by Teri Terry

Rain has many uses.
Holly and beech trees like those around me need it to live and grow.
It washes away tracks, obscures footprints. Makes trails harder to follow, and that is a good thing today.
But most of all, it washes blood from my skin, my clothes. I stand, shivering, as the heavens open. Hold out my hands and arms, rub them again and again in the freezing rain, traces of scarlet long gone from my skin but I can't stop.



This book picks up right where Slated left off. Kyla found herself in a situation where she had to defend herself, and much to her surprise, she was fully capable of doing so.

My review of Slated here.

Review: Slated

Kyla is a young girl who is meeting her family for the first time- her new family that is. Kyla’s been Slated- mindwiped, all traces of her personality removed. Everything is new, she has no idea who she used to be or why she was Slated. Those who are Slated are not supposed to remember anything of their past. However Kyla starts to experience memories, flashbacks. She’s supposed to be right handed- but draws better with her left hand. Kyla is not like other Slated kids- she is different somehow. 

She soon realizes she is being watched- at home, at school, pretty much everywhere. If she slips up in the slightest, she risks being returned- whatever that means. But she’s knows its not good. Kyla soon meets Ben, a Slated boy who is popular and there is an immediate attraction. But Kyla has a rival for Ben’s affections- Tori, another Slated. But when people around Kyla start disappearing- friends as well as enemies- Kyla discovers she’s in a lot deeper than she realized.

Slated is set in the UK in the 2050’s and the world is similar to ours in a lot of ways, but just edgy enough to get your attention. I was really drawn into the world.  Kyla can trust no one and there were several characters who are just nasty. I thought a few times can’t the girl catch a break? As the story progresses we discover just how twisted this world is, and how little freedom anyone truly has.

This book kept me reading. The chapters are short and we’re fed just enough information to leave us guessing but wanting more. My only real complaint is the pacing of the romance. Ben is a well liked guy and he falls for Kyla just as she does for him- however I just thought it was handled rather clumsily and it seemed rushed. 

Otherwise the pacing and the suspense are spot on. There’s a few surprises and we find that some characters are willing to help Kyla, but its hard for her to trust since so many other people are out to get her. At times this reminded me of the Bourne movies- we get hints that Kyla is a badass who could kick the crap out of someone, she can look at a map and almost immediately memorize way points, her attitude –you just know she’s cutting loose at some point. And she does.

Waiting on Wednesday #14 Shattered

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week it's Shattered, the third book in the Slated series by Teri Terry. I'm into Slated now and liking it a lot, so I'm already scoping the rest of the series out. This looks like a series I'm going to really like, and check out the cover- nice.



Pub date is March 2014 in the UK/ Australia and May 2014 in the US.

Book 2 is due later this month and here are the UK/ US covers. Which do you like better?

 

FRom Goodreads:

How do you know where to go when you don't remember where you came from?

Kyla's memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost for ever.

Or so she thought.

Kyla shouldn't be able to remember anything. But she can - and she's beginning to realise that there are a lot of dark secrets locked away in her memories. When a mysterious man from her past comes back into her life, she thinks she's on her way to finding the truth. But the more she learns about her history, the more confusing her future becomes...

Set in a disturbing future world, FRACTURED is an engrossing, fast-paced read that establishes Teri Terry as a master thriller writer.

So whats your teaser?

Review: Fangirl

Fangirl is the story of Cath, a young woman who is starting college but doesn’t really want to be there. She would much rather be writing fanfiction online- Simon Snow fanfiction. Cath is an introvert, a devoted geek- and she has a devoted following online. Her and her twin sister Wren have spent years immersed in Simon Snow fandom. It’s safe to say that Simon Snow and fanfiction are her life. But now she is starting college…and for the first time Cath and Wren are drawing apart.

Cath doesn’t really want to change, and is content to spend most of her time in her dorm writing fanfiction. She has no interest in parties, drinking or even a career at this point. Wren, on the other hand, is leaving fandom behind and wants to enjoy everything college has to offer. Cath assumes that she and Wren would room together at college, but when Wren makes other plans Cath has to adjust and ends up rooming with Reagan, a tough chick who smokes. Not exactly Cath’s speed. Not only that, but her charming, always smiling boyfriend is always hanging around too. He’s friendlier than Reagan… and when it becomes apparent that he and Reagan are no longer an item, Cath is drawn to him in spite of herself.

Add to this a creative writing professor who is decidedly unimpressed with fanfiction, problems at home with her dad (who struggles with manic issues), and serious social anxiety, and Cath has her hands full. 

I was very impressed with Fangirl. This is a funny, touching, irreverent coming of age story and is so true to life. Anyone who has ever embraced fandom, be it Star Wars, Harry Potter or whatever will be able to relate to Cath. I laughed throughout the book at the wry observations of geekdom and the pop culture references. I thought it was a fun, quick read and I really cared about Cath, Wren and Levi by the end. Rowell has a knack for describing social situations in a way that seems familiar.

I liked the characters for the most part. Reagan’s a lot of fun. She’s just a little bit cooler than everyone else but when the chips are down she’s there for Cath. The scenes where her and Cath sit in the cafeteria and snarkily compare notes on the other students cracked me up. Levi was a great guy and good for Cath- no artificial angst here, just true to life romantic stuff.  

I could relate to so many things in this story. It was touching to see Cath cope with her social anxieties and grow as a person. I thought this might be a story where at the end we see that Cath has to grow up and leave her fanfiction behind. It was nice to see that yes she has grown- but at the same time she doesn’t have to forget everything she loves. There’s room for that in her life too, because it’s a part of her. I think Rowell did a fantastic job with this.

Teaser Tuesday (14)

To participate you grab your current read, open to a random page and share (2) teaser sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INLUDE SPOILERS (Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away. You don't want to ruin the book for others). Share the title and author

I nod. "What happened to her?"
She hesitates.
"Please tell me."
"I honestly don't know," she says, but some part of me can see she agrees with Ben's and my conclusion: nothing good. "But her mum might not have had anything to do with it."

Slated by Teri Terry p. 135



This one's going to be good fun I think.

So you got a teaser?

Sunday Post #11/ It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It's a chance to share reading lists and compare notes. Be warned though- this meme tends to add to your reading lists.

The days of fall are here, the nights have been cooler and the leaves will be falling soon. I love this time of year. I'm looking forward to some autumn-y reads and am thinking about joining a read-a-thon or two for the season. Last week I reviewed And Only To Deceive by Tasha Alexander. This was my first book of hers and I liked it. This week I'm reading Fangirl and almost done. My review should be up in a couple of days.



Next up:




Around the blogosphere:

From Tor.com (lots going on there this week BTW)

Rainbow Rowell of Fangirl fame (and Eleanor & Park) on Life Before Fandom, and how life as a geek was different before the Internet. Ah, X- Men reference... it's worth a rea

Review: And Only To Deceive

And Only To Deceive is the first in the Lady Emily series by Tasha Alexander. Emily Ashton is a newly widowed woman in Victorian England who discovers her late husband Philip may have been involved in antiquities fraud. Emily is independent and chafes at the restrictions placed on her by Victorian society. She has no real interest in marriage but desperately wants to escape her controlling mother, so she agrees to marry Philip, a very eligible bachelor. At first they seem to have little in common- Philip travels widely in search of Greek artifacts and spends months on safari in Africa. She prefers to read and live a life of quiet luxury, but when Philip dies she discovers, through his journals, that he loved her a great deal.

As she sets out to learn more about his life, she soon finds she shares his interest in Greek antiquities. Philip was an avid collector, but as she immerses herself in this world she discovers that Philip may have had a darker side. How did Philip acquire several originals that were stolen from the British museum? Did Philip consort with black market antiquities dealers? And who is the man with a scar following her around London and Paris? Emily struggles to discover Philip’s true nature, even as she juggles two suitors who may be more than they appear.  

In the high society of London everyone knows everyone else, and Emily finds herself courted by two very different men- the dashing Colin Hargreaves, who happens to be Philip’s best friend, and Andrew Palmer, another acquaintance of Philip who hails from a good family but a poor one. Emily soon finds herself caught up in a dangerous game, one she may not survive.

Each chapter begins with a short journal entry by Philip, before then resuming Emily’s narrative. This was very helpful as the reader gains insights into Philip that Emily does not have. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book. We are shown vignettes of his life prior to his marriage to Emily, as well as after, and the author gives just enough information to intrigue the reader without revealing to much.

The book has witty dialogue and excellent period detail, as well as tantalizing glimpses at exotic locations. The author clearly knows her history and customs of the time, and this makes the story even more compelling. There are nice touches of humor thoughout and Emily’s friend Cecile du Lac, a wealthy widow from Paris, steals most of the scenes she’s in. The story takes place primarily in London and Paris, and the author weaves iconic landmarks from both cities into the story seamlessly. I especially liked a scene where Emily and Colin share a kiss on the Pont- Neuf in Paris.

The only thing I didn’t like was Emily at times didn’t seem to put two and two together, I thought some clues were pretty obvious and maybe she should have seen them too. The villain in particular was rather obvious, I thought. Then again, I read some of the blurbs for later books in the series, so I had an idea about certain characters that I may not otherwise have had. Emily is also direct, at times confronting those she suspects of not being honest, and that was refreshing. It feels authentic when she acts in a way the reader can relate to, as we might do in real life if faced with a shocking betrayal.   

I discovered this series by accident, having seen pre- release buzz for the eighth book in the series Behind The Shattered Glass. Seeing that there were previous books, I thought I would get in on the ground floor and I’m glad I did. I will definetly be reading more from this author so Behind The Shattered Glass may have to wait while I catch up on Emily’s other adventures! Highly recommended if you like mysteries and historical fiction.

Favorite Quote:

"You're in a fine mood for someone who obviously stayed up far too late," Cecile observed. "What was so interesting?"
"Absinthe," I said with a smile.
"I am impressed, Kallista. Paris will make an artiste of you yet."

Waiting on Wednesday Old Mars

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on a couple of anthologies. Old Mars is a tribute to the pulp tales of the early 20th century, when people still thought there might be canals on Mars, and imagined decadent civilizations and ruined cities, beautiful princesses and romance beneath two moons. The John Carter books by Edgar Rice Burroughs come to mind of course. I'm a sucker for those stories, I have to say, and while they read differently to me as an adult, I still get a thrill when I think back to reading them as a teen. This should be a lot of fun. Pub date is Oct. 8th 2013.



From Goodreads:

RED PLANET BLUES (Introduction) by George R.R. Martin
MARTIAN BLOOD, by Allen M. Steele
THE UGLY DUCKLING, by Matthew Hughes
THE WRECK OF THE MARS ADVENTURE, by David D. Levine
SWORDS OF ZAR-TU-KAN, by S.M. Stirling
SHOALS, by Mary Rosenblum
IN THE TOMBS OF THE MARTIAN KINGS, by Mike Resnick
OUT OF SCARLIGHT, by Liz Williams
THE DEAD SEA-BOTTOM SCROLLS, by Howard Waldrop
A MAN WITHOUT HONOR, by James S.A. Corey
WRITTEN IN DUST, by Melinda Snodgrass
THE LOST CANAL, by Michael Moorcock
THE SUNSTONE, by Phyllis Eisenstein
KING OF THE CHEAP ROMANCE, by Joe R. Lansdale
MARINER, by Chris Roberson
THE QUEEN OF NIGHT’S ARIA, by Ian McDonald

An early review is here.

A companion volume of sorts, Old Venus is likewise a tribute to the pulp tales of yore. As a kid I was enthralled with the idea of a water world waiting to be explored under the clouds of Venus. It didn't turn out that way, of course, but hey we can always dream, right? This one's a little farther out, in 2014, and I don't see a cover anywhere yet, but here is some info.

From Martin's website:

OLD VENUS DELIVERED

July 29, 2013

The last revision on OLD VENUS has been completed, and will be delivered later today July 29th 2013.  The latest original anthology done by Gardner Dozois and George RR Martin, OLD VENUS is comprised of sixteen stories all set on the old watery pulp retro Venus of the sixties, with its swamps, dinosaurs, and web-footed Venusians.
The final lineup for this one will look like this:
INTRODUCTION, by Gardner Dozois
FROGHEADS, by Allen M. Steele
THE DROWNED CELESTRIAL, by Lavie Tidhar
PLANET OF FEAR, by Paul McAuley
GREEVES AND THE EVENING STAR, by Matthew Hughes
A PLANET CALLED DESIRE, by Gwyneth Jones
LIVING HELL, by Joe Haldeman
BONES OF AIR, BONES OF STONE, by Stephen Leigh
RUINS, by Eleanor Arnason
THE TUMBLEDOWNS OF CLEOPATRA ABYSEE, by David Brin
BY FROGSLED AND LIZARDBACK TO OUTCAST VENUSIAN LEPERS, by Garth Nix
THE SUNSET OF TIME, by Michael Cassutt
PALE BLUE MEMORIES, by Tobias S. Buckell
THE HEART’S FILTHY LESSON, by Elizabeth Bear
THE WIZARD OF THE TREES, by Joe R. Lansdale
THE GODSTONE OF VENUS, by Mike Resnick
BOTANICA VENERIS: THIRTEEN PAPERCUTS BY IDA COUNTESS RATHANGAN, by Ian McDonald

Look for OLD VENUS in 2014, about a year after the official release of OLD MARS.

Teaser Tuesday

To participate you grab your current read, open to a random page and share (2) teaser sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INLUDE SPOILERS (Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away. You don't want to ruin the book for others). Share the title and author

Cath didn't have any English classes this semester, and she was thinking about changing her major.

If you study something that nobody cares about, does that mean everyone will leave you alone?

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell p. 259





What is your teaser this week? Let me know in the comments.

Sunday Post #10/ It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It's a chance to share reading lists and compare notes. Be warned though- this meme tends to add to your reading lists.

Last week was pretty busy so I didn't get any reviews up. I finished up a Dance with Dragons last weekend and posted my review. Here's what I'm reading or will be, coming down the pike. Slated has been out for awhile but after seeing an interview with the author, I want to check it out.

  

Liebster Award

I've been nominated for the Liebster Award by Cagla Tasdemir at Booker Like a Hooker. Thanks Cagla for thinking of my humble blog! I appreciate it. Near as I can tell this is an award designed to spotlight those with less than 200 followers and spread the awareness.

Rules per Cagla's post say to pick another 5 blogs with less than 200 followers and send them 11 questions. So I'll work on that and spread the love. I know not everyone has the time or the inclination for this, but I'll play and my nominees can accept or skip as needed.

Please visit Cagla's blog here.

Book Beginnings on Friday

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader. The idea is to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name. 

 

And Only To Deceive by Tasha Alexander

 

Few people would look kindly on my reasons for marrying Philip; neither love nor money nor his title induced me to accept his proposal. Yet, as I look across the spans of Aegean Sea filling the view from my villa's balcony, I cannot doubt that it was a surprisingly good decision.

 

 

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this, to be honest. I'm waiting for Behind the Shattered Glass by the same author, and this is the first book in that series. So I wanted to give it a try. Was it going to be all manners and tea? I was pleasantly surprised. It's got humor, Greek mythology, antiquities fraud, and a little danger. And it's got Santorini, so it can't be all bad right?  

From Goodreads:

For Emily, the sudden proposal of Philip, Viscount Ashton, freed her from her overbearing mother, set on a grand match. When the new groom died on safari, she felt little grief. Two years later, his journals reveal surprises, a gentleman scholar and antiquities collector deeply in love with his wife.

In his beloved quiet British Museum, she finds a dangerous secret while juggling two suitors, one whose intentions may go beyond marriage. Her search to solve the crime leads to more surprises about Philip, and questions about her role as a woman in Victorian society.

Waiting on Wednesday #12 The Falconer

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on... The Falconer by Elizabeth May. I picked this one a couple months ago- so why again? Well there have been a few updates. You can now read chapter 1 here.

There is also an early review here. Expected pub date is later this month in the UK, but not til March in the US.

There is also a Goodreads giveaway here.

And an extensive author interview here. Whoo -happy reading.

Enjoy!



From Goodreads:

Heiress. Debutant. Murderer. A new generation of heroines has arrived.

Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844

Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery killed her mother.

Now it’s the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.

But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana’s father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose – and just how far will Aileana go for revenge?

What are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday #12

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

To participate you grab your current read, open to a random page and share (2) teaser sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INLUDE SPOILERS (Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away. You don't want to ruin the book for others). Share the title and author too

"We shall see, Emily. You may enjoy yourself now, but eventually your looks will be gone."

And Only To Deceive by Tasha Alexander p. 175



I'm just starting this so we'll see how it goes. I actually have the next book in this series on my radar (Behind the Shattered Glass, due next month) so I'm reading this to get a feel for the series. And it had a reference to Santorini, which got my attention as well.

From Goodreads:

For Emily, the sudden proposal of Philip, Viscount Ashton, freed her from her overbearing mother, set on a grand match. When the new groom died on safari, she felt little grief. Two years later, his journals reveal surprises, a gentleman scholar and antiquities collector deeply in love with his wife.

In his beloved quiet British Museum, she finds a dangerous secret while juggling two suitors, one whose intentions may go beyond marriage. Her search to solve the crime leads to more surprises about Philip, and questions about her role as a woman in Victorian society

What is your teaser today?

Sunday Post #9

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead

This week I reviewed A Dance With Dragons by George RR Martin here. I did both a non- spoiler review and a review WITH spoilers, feel free to comment on either. I'd love to hear your thoughts, and if you have already read the book let me know what you thought about the surprises and plot twists.