Book Blogger Hop 23/01/2014

The Book Blogger Hop is hosted on the site Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

Its purpose it to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new blogs, 

befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to their own blog. 

Each week bloggers answer a different question. This week's question was wether I blogged for fun or for a living. 

I blog for fun! I have never made any money off this site, but I do get free books in exchange for reviews from time to time, which is always nice! 

What about you? Do you blog for fun or for a living? Let me know in the comments! 

Waiting on Wednesday 22/01/2013

“Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly anticipated upcoming releases.

On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless: Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon—from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic—to prevent her from wearing the crown.

Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. An act of singular daring will throw Kelsea’s kingdom into tumult, unleashing the vengeance of the tyrannical ruler of neighboring Mortmesne: the Red Queen, a sorceress possessed of the darkest magic. Now Kelsea will begin to discover whom among the servants, aristocracy, and her own guard she can trust.

But the quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun—a wondrous journey of self-discovery and a trial by fire that will make her a legend…if she can survive.

The Queen of the Tearling introduces readers to a world as fully imagined and terrifying as that of The Hunger Games, with characters as vivid and intriguing as those of The Game of Thrones, and a wholly original heroine. Combining thrilling action and twisting plot turns, it is a magnificent debut from the talented Erika Johansen.

Expected Publication: 08/07/2014

Source: Goodreads

This year a lot of YA high fantasy novels are being published, and most of them look really good. I hope this one will live up to its promises.  

What are you waiting for this week? Let me know in the comments!

Waiting on Wednesday 15/01/2014

“Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly anticipated upcoming releases.

The novel is a brilliant first-person narrative of the rise and fall of the Norse gods - retold from the point of view of the world's ultimate trickster, Loki. It tells the story of Loki's recruitment from the underworld of Chaos, his many exploits on behalf of his one-eyed master, Odin, through to his eventual betrayal of the gods and the fall of Asgard itself. Using her life-long passion for the Norse myths, Joanne Harris has created a vibrant and powerful fantasy novel.

Loki, that’s me.

Loki, the Light-Bringer, the misunderstood, the elusive, the handsome and modest hero of this particular tissue of lies. Take it with a pinch of salt, but it’s at least as true as the official version, and, dare I say it, more entertaining.

So far, history, such as it is, has cast me in a rather unflattering role.

Now it’s my turn to take the stage.

With his notorious reputation for trickery and deception, and an ability to cause as many problems as he solves, Loki is a Norse god like no other. Demon-born, he is viewed with deepest suspicion by his fellow gods who will never accept him as one of their own and for this he vows to take his revenge. 

From his recruitment by Odin from the realm of Chaos, through his years as the go-to man of Asgard, to his fall from grace in the build-up to Ragnarok, this is the unofficial history of the world’s ultimate trickster

Source: Goodreads

I'll admit it, I was sold at the title, because Loki is my favorite norse deity and I am guaranteed to read  almost anything that deals with his character.

"The Gospel of Loki" is scheduled to be released 20/02/2014. 

What are you waiting for this week? Let me know in the comments! 

W... W... W... Wednesday 15/01/2014

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading, 

where you answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently read?

What will you be reading next?

What are you currently reading? "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman and "The Opposite Of Magic" by Colleen Cowley.

What did you recently read? I haven't finished anything since last week. The last book I read was "Odd and the Frost Giants", also by Neil Gaiman. You can find my review here. 

What will you be reading next? "The Chaos of Stars" by Kiersten White or "Red Rising" by Pierce Brown, if it's already out by the time I finish the two books I am currently reading. 

So, what's your WWW for this week? Let me know in the comments!

Teaser Tuesdays 14/01/2013

Teaser Tuesday is a meme hosted on Should Be Reading.

If you want to join in, you have to:

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!

This week's teaser is from "The Opposite of Magic" by Colleen Cowley.

“Surgeons?” 

“No. What do you expect them to do—convince someone’s tonsils out?” 

“It’s magic. The sky’s the limit.” 

“You’re confusing life with fairy tales, Daggett.”  

“Says the man masquerading as Rumpelstiltskin!”

What are your teasers for this week? Let me know in the comments!  

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten 2014 Debuts

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by the Brooke and the Bookish. This week's top ten is of the 2014 debuts I am excited for. 


10. "Dear Killer" by Katherine Ewell: the blurb is really intriguing and I'm really hyped for this book. The only thing I'm weary of is the author's young age. I've had bad experiences with young authors in the past, but admittedly they were all younger than her, and Veronica Roth, whose book I loved, was not all that older than Ewell when she published her debut novel. So I'm willing to give Ewell the benefit of doubt.  

9. "Nil" by Lynne Matson: I have read some glowing praise for this book and the concept is really interesting, too. 

8. "Alienated" by Melissa Landers: I really like the premise. I have read a book with the alien exchange student premise before, but that one was actually an analysis of gender roles in our society (and it was really good). I don't think this one will be nearly as good, judging from the last paragraph of the blurb. I am kind of hopeful, because the premise is really cool and has a certain nostalgic flavor for me, I just hope that it's not an "Obsidian" rip-off. 

7. "Illusive" by Emily Lloyd-Jones: I admit it, I was intrigued by the fact that it was marketed as a mix of "x-men" and "ocean's elven". Which probably means it won't have anything to do with either of those, but it still caught my eye. And I really like the concept of the super-powered criminals.

6. "Banished" by Lyz de Jager: damn, I really hate this cover. But since a book should not be judged by its cover I am giving this the benefit of doubt and judging it by its premise, which is really cool, if not exactly the most original thing I've ever heard of. 

5. "The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavander" by Lesley Walton : This promises to be speculative fiction at its finest, I just hope it lives up to my expectations. Short excursus: I am not really a fan of the title,  it's far too long and it's hard to remember.    

4. "Midnight Thief" by Livia Blackburne: this one is not really a debut, but it is the author's first work that is not a novella, so I'm counting this as a debut. I have been wanting to get back into high fantasy for a while, and this novel really seems interesting, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this one. 

3. "Defy" by Sarah B. Larson: the blurb promises a good hight fantasy with a kick-ass heroine, even though she gets abducted - her two love interests are captive with her, so she probably will be actually badass and not a damsel in distress in disguise.
  

2. "Red Rising" by Pierce Brown: it promises to be a good ya dystopia novel, which are pretty hard to find.

1. "Half Bad" by Sally Green: this one has it all: an intriguing premise, a gorgeous cover and glowing praise and witches. What's not to be hyped about? 

So, what 2014 debuts are you excited about this year?

Quote-Tastic 13/01/2014

"Quote-Tastic" is a meme hosted every Monday on Herding Cats & Burning Soup . To participate you have to post a favorite quote from a current or past read.

This week's quote is from a current read, "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman

"You want me to follow you?" asked Shadow. "Or has Timmy fallen down another well?" The bird cawed again, impatiently. Shadow started walking toward it. It waited until he was close, then flapped heavily into another tree, heading somewhat to the left of the way Shadow had originally been going.
"Hey," said Shadow. "Huginn or Muninn, or whoever you are."
The bird turned, head tipped, suspiciously, on one side, and it stared at him with bright eyes.
"Say 'Nevermore,' " said Shadow.
"Fuck you," said the raven. It said nothing else as they went through the woodland together.

So, what's your favorite quote this week? Let me know in the comments!