Teaser Tuesday: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell {27}

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Release date: September 10, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 448

In Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl, Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

My teaser, from 28% in the egalley:

"It is distracting..." Levi giggled. (Did guys "giggle" or "chuckle"? Cath hated the word "chuckle.")

"The whole point of fanfiction," she said, "is that you get to play inside somebody else's universe. Rewrite the rules. Or bend them. The story doesn't have to end when Gemma Leslie gets tired of it. You can stay in this world, this world you love, as long as you want, as long as you keep thinking of new stories--"

I'm starting this one next! I've become all about contemporaries recently and really enjoyed Eleanor & Park, so I'm looking forward to Rainbow Rowell's next book. :)

If you leave me a link to your post I am definitely going to be visiting back, it just won't be until late in the day today since I'll be at work till 5. Have a lovely Tuesday!

Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu

Release date: January 29, 2013
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Putnam
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 371
Source: Won
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

I knew there was a reason I was so looking forward to this book! Where Legend excited and thrilled me to my core, Prodigy kept me on the edge of my seat and broke my heart.

June and Day are on the run. The public may half believe Day is dead, but the Republic knows better. With rumors flying, the two escape to Vegas, only to find that the Elector has died and his son Anden has taken his place. In order to save Day's brother and themselves, June and Day join the Patriots and the plot to assassinate the new Elector and start a revolution. Soon, though, June sees that Anden is different. He wishes for change, change that will help the people. Is it possible that the government could be good--without a revolution?

I was sold on Legend because it had been touted as a recreation of the Valjean and Javert relationship in Les Miserables (Fun fact: I'm listening to Les Mis as I write this.) I kept reading because I was fascinated by the world and the characters. I was able to look past any problems because I had such fun reading the book. With Prodigy, though, I was already invested, and deeply. Marie Lu clearly took advantage of this, drawing me in quickly and not letting go until the final sentence. Even then, I was a blubbering mess. With this book, I was more than enthralled.

While Legend suffered a bit (when I was able to look critically) from a general lack of worldbuilding, Prodigy kicks that idea to the curb. By the end of the book, I felt like I had a fantastic understanding of the world. I especially liked seeing the Colonies, since they had been much spoken of--and they didn't disappoint.

Not only is Prodigy action-packed and in a fully realized world, but June and Day really step into their own as characters. Each faces tougher and tougher decisions; neither treats them flippantly, but neither steps down either. They seem to understand the weight of who they are and how their decisions affect others. June is able to listen to her instincts, instead of completely logically. Day is forced to reconsider his deep set view of the world.

Prodigy is a more than worthy sequel to a good book; in fact, I daresay it's better. It was satisfying and exciting, but left me absolutely dying for Champion.

Stacking the Shelves {20}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? I had a good one! :)

For review:

Indelible by Dawn Metcalf, to be released July 30, 2013 by Harlequin Teen (Netgalley)
Rebel Spirits by Lois Ruby, released June 1, 2013 by Point (Hardcover)

A big, big thanks to Harlequin Teen and Scholastic for these! I can't wait to read them. :)

Library:

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (audiobook)
Matched by Ally Condie (audiobook)

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Tuesday - I teased from Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin.
Wednesday - I reviewed the audiobook of The Diviners by Libba Bray.
Thursday - I helped unveil the cover and giveaway for The Sound of Letting Go.

Books I read this week:
Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

I'm currently reading:
Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

So that's been my week! I was a little lazy and didn't post as much as I should've... Oops. I am completely obsessed with audiobooks right now, though, and I love my library for having them. :) Anyways, I'd love to see what y'all got, so leave me links! I'll be visiting about in just a little while. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: The Sound of Letting Go by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Today I am super excited to be helping reveal the beautiful cover for Stasia Ward Kehoe's new novel, The Sound of Letting Go! With my newfound love of contemporaries, I will definitely be looking forward to this one. :)

Title: The Sound of Letting Go
Author: Stasia Ward Kehoe
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Release date: February 1, 2014
Publisher: Viking/Penguin

For sixteen years, Daisy has been good. A good daughter, helping out with her autistic younger brother uncomplainingly. A good friend, even when her best friend makes her feel like a third wheel. When her parents announce they’re sending her brother to an institution—without consulting her—Daisy’s furious, and decides the best way to be a good sister is to start being bad. She quits jazz band and orchestra, slacks in school, and falls for bad-boy Dave.

But one person won’t let Daisy forget who she used to be: Irish exchange student and brilliant musician Cal. Does she want the bad boy or the prodigy? Should she side with her parents or protect her brother? How do you know when to hold on and when—and how—to let go?

Now, in addition to celebrating the cover reveal, Stasia is hosting a giveaway! Up for grabs are a signed cover of her previous novel, Audition, and ARC of The Sound of Letting Go, and a swag pack. Make sure to enter, eh? :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Audiobook Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Release date: September 25, 2012
Author info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Little, Brown / Listening Library
Format: Digital audiobook
Source: Library
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

The Diviners is one of those books that I was excited about yet I never seemed to be excited enough about to read it. I wouldn't have read it had my library not had the audiobook for me to download. Luckily for me, they did and I got to read (listen to!) an astoundingly good book.

I've read Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle series, but not her two other books. They didn't particularly appeal to me, though I may rethink them now that I remember how much I like her writing. She knows how to set a distinct scene with words, and her ability to write the creep factor is fantastic. There were times where I was shivering from what I was hearing, be it traditionally creepy like the Naughty John song or subtly creeping like with the woman describing eugenics.

I couldn't get over how much thought and research was obviously put into this book. It's obvious that Libba Bray did more than just check out a few resources when she began writing this one. The characters use phrases that are not your typical flapper lingo and allude to certain aspects that most people don't talk about from that time period. A distinct advantage to listening to the audiobook was definitely that the narrator, January LaVoy, did such a good job in (firstly) speaking very distinctly for each character and (second) had such a good accent and ability to make the turns of phrase believable. Had the narrator not been so talented, the audiobook would have been unlistenable (Is that a word? You totally understand what I mean if it's not, right?)

Beyond the research and writing, I especially enjoyed Evie. I couldn't wait to see what she did or said next. Her vivacity kept the book from getting too dark and her imperfections made her lovable. The only problem with Evie being so appealing was that she made many of the other characters quite dim in comparison. I couldn't find myself caring much about Memphis or Theta, especially since their stories really take a backseat to the main action of the book--though I expect that will change with the sequel and that what we learn in this book will be quite crucial. Even so, when the story wasn't following Evie or Jericho, I was kind of uninterested. I will be interested to see where the concept of the diviners goes, however, in the next book.

Anyways, if you're considering reading The Diviners, I assure you it's more than "jake" and that you'll be happy you did. (Also, I quite recommend the audiobook. Listening to someone sing all the different little song samples if worth it in and of itself, and the dialect is probably better heard than read anyways.)

Teaser Tuesday: Dance of the Red Death {26}

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Title: Dance of the Red Death
Author: Bethany Griffin
Release date: June 11, 2013
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 336

In Dance of the Red Death, Araby’s world is in shambles—betrayal, death, disease, and evil forces surround her. She has no one to trust. But she finds herself and discovers that she will fight for the people she loves, and for her city.

Her revenge will take place at the menacing masked ball, though it could destroy her and everyone she loves…or it could turn her into a hero.

With a nod to Edgar Allan Poe, Bethany Griffin concludes her tragic and mysterious Red Death series with a heroine that young adult readers will never forget.

My teaser, from 37% in the egalley:

How much harm could I bring myself to inflict? Do I want to know how best to do it?

He's watching me closely. "Do you think you could kill someone?"

"If I had to," I say.

"It gets easier over time."

Ooh, I didn't even see who she's speaking to! As soon as I finish Prodigy I will be starting this, which is on sale today! I'm so very excited for it. :)

If you leave me a link to your post I am definitely going to be visiting back, it just won't be until late in the day today since I'll be at work till 5. Have a lovely Tuesday!

Stacking the Shelves {19}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? I had a good one! :)

For review:

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas, to be released August 27, 2013 by Bloomsbury (Netgalley)

Library:

The Diviners by Libba Bray  (audiobook)

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - I reviewed the audiobook of The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater.
Tuesday - I teased from Seraphina by Rachel Hartman.
Wednesday - I was waiting on Shadows by Robin McKinley.
Thursday - I reviewed Towering by Alex Flinn.
Saturday - I reviewed my reread of Divergent.

Books I read this week:
Divergent by Veronica Roth (reread)
Towering by Alex Flinn

I'm currently reading:
Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu

So that's been my week! Not much, but I did a little dance when I got the email about Crown of Midnight! I'm also deeply enjoying listening to The Diviners. The narrator does the 20's lingo very well. :) Anyways, I'd love to see what y'all got, so leave me links! I'll be visiting about in just a little while. :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!