Teaser Tuesday #93 Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

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

Heir of Fire (A Throne of Glass Novel) by Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Publication Date: September 2, 2014

Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy. 

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

Teaser page 280

"I see her slipping away, bit by bit, because you shove her down when she so desperately needs someone to help her back up."

Teaser page 280

"She has no hope, Prince. She has no hope lfet in her heart. Help her. If not for her sake, then at least for what she represents__what she could offer all of us, you included."
"And what is that?" he dared ask.
Emrys met his gaze unflinchingly as whispered, "A better world,"

*PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks! 

Giveaway: Stronger by Lani Woodland

Stronger by Lani Woodland
Available now on ebook!
Amazon / Goodreads

Blurb:

It's been said, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. In the aftermath of an alien invasion, the old saying became literal. 

When the aliens attacked Earth, their bombs changed our atmosphere. Through DNA manipulation, humanity survived, but exist now as two distinct classes of people: the Valudis who heal and gain strength from every hurt, and the weaker Debilii, for whom the slightest injury can be fatal. The Debilii are servants for the Valudis, who in turn act as warriors and protectors. And ruling over them all are the alien Orions who decided they liked Earth enough to stay. 

Despite being born a Debilii, Lexie Hake bravely joined the resistance to free Earth from the Orions. When several run-ins with Bryant, a handsome Valudis, bring her secret activities to the aliens’ notice, the whole rebellion is put at risk. Lexie is forced to take a more active role in overthrowing the Orions. ‪She might be Earth’s last chance at freedom, and if she fails, the Orions’ ruthless reign may never end.

WinterHaven Books is delighted to share this giveaway with you, our friends and followers! This book sound AMAZING! Good luck!

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Teaser Tuesday #78 Talon by Julie Kagawa

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

Talon by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: October 28, 2014

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

Teasers from e-book page: 71

All right, enough was enough! Why should I be hunted? I was a freaking dragon. The apex predator, according to Talon. If survival meant not getting shot at all costs, maybe I should be the one doing the hunting. 

Teasers from e-book page: 72

Hello, boys. I grinned, and felt my back haunches wriggle as I tensed to pounce. Payback's a bitch. 


PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks! 

Review: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

SNOW LIKE ASHES by Sara Raasch
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Expected Publication Date: October 14, 2014

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

My Thoughts:

Snow like Ashes is unlike anything I’ve read in quite a while. It was engaging and unique. Meira was an infant when the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and enslaved. Meira and the other remaining survivors are on a mission to retrieve the ancient locket and restore Winter’s magic.

This was a wonderful concept utilizing the four seasons as Kingdoms as well as Rhythms, along with the magical elements woven into this story. 

We instantly get swept into the lives of the eight surviving members of the Winter Kingdom. Meira, who we learn quickly has a a crush on Mather, and an orphaned soldier-in-training. Mather, the future king. Sir, who trains and leads the group. Alysson, Sir's wife, who is gentle and loving. Greer, Finn, Henn, and Dendera. They live in tents in the Rania Plains which is barren, dry, and hot. It's a territory none of the eight kingdoms of Primoria wants to claim. And a great hiding spot for the eight. 

It's been sixteen years since King Angra Manu of Spring broke and destroyed Winter's conduit (which is a locket.)  The lockets are male or female-blooded conduit. And since Winter's is a female-blooded conduit, Mather struggles with the fact that he couldn't use it to help his people because he is male. 

"No matter what I want to do, no matter how well I lead or how hard I train, I won't be able to force life into frozen fields, or cure plagues, or feed strength into soldiers like if I could use the conduit. The Winterians would probably rather have a cruel queen than a king with good intentions, because with a queen, they at least have a chance that the magic can be used for them. It doesn't matter what I would do with magic, because leaders are valued for the wrong things."

That had been a struggle for Mather. Some of the group go on missions, following leads to restore the broken piece of their conduit. The problem is, the man, Angra who possesses it, keeps the precious half traveling around so it can't be restored, nor the Winter Kingdom.

Beneath the Season Kingdoms is a giant ball of magic. And somewhere in the Winter's Klaryn Mountains there was once an entrance to it. All the Season Kingdoms' lands are affected by the chasm. The Rhythm Kingdoms cycle through all four seasons.  

As confusing as this may sound, and as in depth the concept is...the story evens out and was easily to slip into once I got adjusted to the world. Another element I liked was that the Winterians had whitish hair, pale skin and blue eyes. Alysson was a mother figure to Mather and Meira. 

"You won't have to hide forever, sweetheart. Someday our features will blend in, not stand out."

While they search for the broken locket, Meira constantly struggles with proving her self to Sir, and is determined to do whatever it takes to be able to do so, and help procure the pieces. Over and over and over, Meira gets put on measly missions and she never understood why. 

They escape imprisonment, many obstacles, battles, and eventually Meira's life entwines with another love interest, Theron. 

I struggled with the romantic pulses between Meira and Mather, and then when Theron entered into the picture, I knew who I cheered for. Theron was the type of character that I wanted to see with Meira. He was kind, selfless, and his affections for her were real. Whether Meira ends up with Mather, or Theron...both exude male swoonworthyness and I could see her with either one. 

This story is complex, long, and every bit fantasy. My only complaint would be I think sometimes when a story is this complex, it's a bit more difficult to enjoy. Not that I didn't like it. I did! And I realize fantasy novels usually run a little longer as the world building is a vital importance. Overall, I really liked this novel, and I will most certainly read the second book. I'm looking forward to reading others opinions on the book itself and the love triangle between Meira, Mather, and Theron. 

Lastly, I'd like to share a final quote that I truly loved.

"And no matter what Angra might try to do, he will not stop me from washing away the ashes of this kingdom's past and filling our lives with the glorious icy peace of snow."

Quotes taken from an uncorrected proof

Teaser Tuesday, #74 Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

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


Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard 
Publisher: (Orion) Harper Teen 
Expected Publication Date: March 26, 2015
*Quotes are taken from an Advanced Readers Copy. They are subject to change in the final copy.*

Blurb:

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood—those with red and those with silver. Mare and her family are lowly Reds, destined to serve the Silver elite whose supernatural abilities make them nearly gods. Mare steals what she can to help her family survive, but when her best friend is conscripted into the army she gambles everything to win his freedom. A twist of fate leads her to the royal palace itself, where, in front of the king and all his nobles, she discovers a power of her own—an ability she didn't know she had. Except . . . her blood is Red.

To hide this impossibility, the king forces her into the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks her new position to aid the Scarlet Guard—the leaders of a Red rebellion. Her actions put into motion a deadly and violent dance, pitting prince against prince—and Mare against her own heart.

From debut author Victoria Aveyard comes a lush, vivid fantasy series where loyalty and desire can tear you apart and the only certainty is betrayal.

 Quotes from ebook Page: 32 & 183

"I'll be inside, if you need me."
"I won't," I answer quickly. "Even if things go wrong, I won't get you involved."

As much as I want to pull away, I just can't do it. Cal is a cliff and I throw myself over the edge, not bothering to think of what it could do to us both. One day he'll realize I'm his enemy, and all this will be a far-gone memory. But not yet.


PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks!

Teaser Tuesday, #73 Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

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


Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss, #3) by Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton
Publication date: August 14, 2014

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.


Quotes taken from ebook:

I wish he would look at me the way that he looks at his subjects. Because he'd see there's more to me than shy, just like I see there's more to him than slacker.

Josh smiles. He unbuttons my coat, places his fingers against my collarbone, and fishes out my necklace from below my dress.
It's incredibly sexy.
He holds up the compass. "Then we'll find the Right Way."

 PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks! 

Review: Renegade (Mila 2.0, #2) by Debra Driza

Renegade (Mila .0, #2) by Debra Driza

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Publication Date: May 13, 2014

Amazon / B&N

There is no one left for Mila to trust. Except for a boy she barely knows.
But Hunter has no idea who—and what—Mila really is. She can’t bear to reveal her secret, even though he’s unwittingly joined her search for Richard Grady, a man who may know more details of Mila’s complicated past.
Yet the road to the truth is more dangerous than ever. With General Holland and the Vita Obscura scouring the earth for her whereabouts, Mila must rely on her newfound android abilities to protect herself and Hunter from imminent harm. Still, embracing her identity as a machine leads her to question the state of her humanity—as well as Hunter’s real motives.
Perfect for fans of I Am Number Four and Divergent, this action-packed and heart-wrenching second installment of MILA 2.0 will leave readers breathlessly awaiting the series conclusion.

My Thoughts: 
Renegade picks up where Mila 2.0 left off. Mila was devastated from the loss of her mother, and makes a phone call to one person who she felt she could trust, Hunter. Mila faces numerous obstacles while searching for a persons name her mother told her to find. While on this search, Mila begins questioning Hunter after discovering a GPS beneath his truck.  With the pressure of General Holland and the Vita Obscura not far behind, time was of the essence.

This installment was nothing short of amazing, and was packed full of action and twists. It was so fast paced, I didn't want to put it down because I knew there would be yet again, another twist. This was one of my most anticipated releases this year and for good reason. Ms Driza is relentless when it comes to throwing deadly obstacles in Mila's way and giving readers a story they could immerse themselves in. Not only that, but she forces the protagonist to make tough decisions and tests loyalties and friendships throughout and me as the reader questioned every character as well. Who could she trust? Mila's emotions play a large roll here. And I feel that she was becoming more human as time went on. She had a constant internal battled of whether or not she deserved Hunter and whether they could be a real couple. My heart broke for her. Its evident she loved him so so much, but when the truth of what she really was broke the surface, a part of her synthetic heart broke.

Persuaded by a new character, Quinn, Mila made a decision that would steal away the humanity within her. During the time Mila is in this facility and under the influence of Quinn, I knew deep down she wasn't any friend of Mila's and never once had her best interest at heart. She saw Mila as a multimillion-dollar weapon and she was going to use her to bury Holland in a revengeful pursuit to get back at him.

I became a big fan of Lucas in Mila 2.0, and was ecstatic when he was brought into this story. He quickly became a favorite and was happy he was back. But what I'm wondering is how he was able to, and what makes him determined to be her savior?

Overall, this was a homerun for Debra Driza and fans of Mila 2.0. This doesn't suffer the second book syndrome whatsoever, and I actually think I liked Renegade a little better, if that's possible. Renegade gets a big 5 Snowflake rating!

                                                             
                                                                           5 Snowflakes 

Teaser Tuesday # 63 REMNANTS by Lisa T. Bergren

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


REMNANTS (Season of Wonder) by Lisa T. Bergren
Publication Date: April 8, 2014

*Teasers are from an Advanced Readers Copy. Quotes are subject to change in final copy*


Teasers from page: 272

"Angels, huh?" I said.
"You see them too," he said, hope lacing his tone. 
I smiled. "No. But I can feel your emotion, brother. And your heart tells me what my eyes cannot."

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks! 

Teaser Tuesday, # 59 Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins

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

My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...

Sweet Reckoning By Wendy Higgings

Publisher: Harper Teen

Publication Date: April 29, 2014

*Teasers are from an Advanced Readers Copy. They may change in the Final Edited Version.

Teaser From EBook Page: 112

"This is right, Kai. We love each other."

He closed his eyes. "I'd do anything for you."

"Just love me," I whispered

Teaser From EBook Page: 184

"Stop!" I pinned him with a serious look. "No more. Get it out of your head, Kai! We are not running. This is happening whether you like it or not. It's time to get your game face on and get ready to kick some ass."

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks!

Teaser Tuesday: Captivate by Vanessa Garden

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

My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...

Captivate by Vanessa Garden

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: January 1, 2014

Goodreads / Amazon

Teasers from ebook pages: 40 & 166

"Perhaps my only way out of this crazy hell-hole was sleep. Maybe I could dream my way home."

"You drove me crazy the moment I met you, and not just because you didn't want me but because you make me question things...you make me question everything about myself, about Marin. You make me want to be a better man." He closed the distance between us. "You, Miranda."

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks!

Review: Defy by Sara B. Larson

Defy by Sara B. Larson
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

My Thoughts:
What a fantastic debut by Sara B. Larson! After I had read the synopsis of this little gem, I knew instantly that I had to get it. Defy will appeal to fans of C.J. Redwine, Maria V. Snyder, Rae Carson, Trisha Wolfe, Kristin Cashore.

I loved Alexa (aka Alex) as she was a brave and strong female protagonist. When a wicked strong sorcerer killed her and her twin brother Marcel's parents, Alexa and her twin made a decision that ultimately saved Alexa from a very dark future. She was a fierce fighter and gained a reputable position among the Prince's guard.

Marcel was a brother every girl could only hope for. He was Alexa's best friend and he was always there to protect her and guide her. Alexa posed as a guy, she had to be careful around the other guards, watch her tone and push emotion away. It wasn't a land that protected their women. Quite the opposite actually due to the nasty, twisted king Hector. He declared war for power and also made everyone believe sorcery was evil and  to hate them and magic. Yet, he had the dirtiest of them working as his guardian and advisor. This king was as sinister as they come and the things he did were just unimaginable.

Prince Damian was nothing like his father. He came across as if he was lazy and didn't care, but there was soooo much more to this man than he led people to believe, and that was his self defense mechanism. As everyone in Antion was guarded, and the Prince was no different. Prince Damian will turn you off at first, but then you really get to know his character and the tides turn. I loved his character and found him to be a hunky, intelligent, and strong male lead.

I just LOVED Jax! He was the most honest, cutest little boy ever. He stole my heart right away.

"I saw Damian save you. Mama said he exposed his secret because he cared too much about you to let you die. She said love can either make a person stronger or weaker, and she hasn't decided if he's getting stronger or weaker yet"

There is so much mystery, magic and action within those pages and I can tell you, you won't soon forget the courageous journey these Antion warriors take to overcome the wicked king Hector and his evil sidekick, Iker.

The further along in the story I got, the more intense it became and I found myself staying up late into the night to finish this gem. I loved that the author created such an intense story that pulled me in. There wasn't anything negative to say about this book. The secondary characters were fantastic and filled with stories of their own. They all had a past or a negative association to the king. And they all had a common interest in taking him down. There are two love interests that vie for Alexa's attentions, but her heart only wanted one and in the end she had to make a difficult decision and one she thought was best. I'm not going to lie, I was hoping for that HEA, and in a way we get it, but in the other, I was a little disappointed in her choice. But, I totally understood why she did what she did. And that right there shows her loyalty and strength.

Defy is full of action, mystery, magic, death, and romance. This is one debut that I will keep on my favorites shelf and am highly anticipating the next.




Thank you, Scholastic and Netgalley for providing a copy. This has in no way altered my opinion or rating of the book.