Tuesday Tickle

Tuesday Tickle is a meme inspired by Should Be Reading's Teaser Tuesday. It's basically the same concept, I just always tended to give more than two sentences plucked out of a random page, so I thought I'd just go with it and give a more in depth look at a book I'm reading or recently finished.

This week, I'm choosing Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr. I purchased this as an audio book and finished listening in two days ~ couldn't press the stop button! It's an amazing tale of secrets, betrayal, and survival of the fittest. (Review to come soon!)

In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures--if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father--and every other witch there--fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.

From Melissa Marr, bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series and "Graveminder," comes a brand-new tale of lush secrets, dark love, and the struggle to forge one's own destiny.

The synopsis makes it seem that the story focuses on Mallory ~ and it does to a certain extent ~ but I felt there was  more spotlight on Kaleb and Aya... Aya in particular is one of my favorite characters.. complex and courageous, hiding a secret that would undoubtedly lead her to her demise.

Aya withdrew the knives and and slid them into the sheaths that hung from her belt. She was so far from class-appropriate behavior by now that one more stain wasn't worth the guilt that threatened. It was bad enough that she lived alone, that she wore her hair in a short, non-ornamented style more suitable for a soldier in Marchosias' army than an eligible ruling caste girl. Her behavior in the fights was an embarrassment to any ruling class family: noble women didn't engage in fights outside sanctioned clubs, and they certainly didn't kill for sport or gain.

I also came across an excerpt you might like, giving a bit of insight into the minds of Kaleb (a badass who's impossible not to love) and Aya (a kick-ass female who's unafraid to get her hands dirty), while also shedding some light on the type of world The City is.

Exclusive excerpt: 'Carnival of Souls' by Melissa Marr

Hooked yet? If not, check out the trailer.. C'mon... you didn't really think you'd be able to read one of my posts without coming across a trailer, did you? ;) The best part about it ~ Five Finger Death Punch.. :)

Hope I've convinced you of your need to read this book.... ALSO, check out the webpage
Enter the Carnival Totally fun interactive page ~ gives more insight to what's held between the pages of the book, including quotes, maps, and character introductions....  You should definitely check it out! And if that's not enough, Amazon has a sneak peek you can download  to your kindle ~ free! ~ so get clickin'! Sneak Peek Happy Reading Everyone :)

~ Keely ~

Tuesday Tickle

Tuesday Tickle is a meme inspired by Should Be Reading's Teaser Tuesday. It goes a little deeper by adding character introductions, setting history, blurbs, or videos of author interviews and the like. In other words, it gives you a more in depth look at the book.

This week's teaser is plucked from Disemblance by Shanae Branham:

Jason Tanner’s life has always been different from the ordinary citizen’s. It started when he was an infant and his parents were only teenagers. A computer science prodigy, Lloyd attended MIT but left a pariah in the eyes of the school’s dean—but a computer physics genius in the eyes of his primary investor. Then his theories and ideas created a holographic machine and their world shrunk as contact with the outside world became less and less frequent. A computer prodigy now himself, Jason is about to learn that the world never waits for you if you have the ability to change it: it will come for you.

Detective Bruce Durante has been handed the case of the Comfort Killer, a serial killer so named because he appears to abduct terminally ill patients before returning their corpses to their families in refrigerated coffins. When he picks up the trail, it leads straight to the home of Lloyd Tanner.

Jason has been living life through the world of Lloyd’s invention and wishing he could carry on a relationship with Boston, the beautiful girl next door. When his father is murdered and framed as the Comfort Killer, he is brought back to reality in a hurry. He is forced to destroy all of the planted evidence—and finds he is being targeted as the killer’s new fall guy. But the secrets of his father’s invention run deep and Jason, his brother Isaac,Boston, the Comfort Killer, and Detective Durante hurtle towards one another on a deadly collision course that leaves everyone’s life hanging in the balance.

Jason a little bit of a loner. Not that it was ever his choice ~ his dad forced this lifestyle onto his kids to protect his invention ~ the holodeck. That's right Star Treck fans, I said holodeck :). Not that Jason minds; he's quite content in his lifestyle (mostly), but, then again, there's this girl...

"His heart raced at the prospect of speaking with her. As they crossed onto the street between their homes, she stopped and stared at him His face flushed, and his hands perspired. The thought of speaking with her was too much for him to handle right now. He bolted for home."

Ah, the girls always change everything. But Jason is more comfortable with the machines he has grown up working on. Now, I'm not a Star Trek fan, so I was a little ~ ignorant ~ when it came to the function of a holodeck. Thank goodness for Wikipedia... Turns out ~ I want one!

The holodeck is depicted as an enclosed room in which objects and people are simulated by a combination of transported matter, replicated matter, tractor beams, and shaped force fields onto which holographic images are projected. Sounds and smells are simulated by speakers and fragranced fluid atomizers, respectively. The feel of a large environment is simulated by suspending the participants on force fields which move with their feet, keeping them from reaching the walls of the room (a virtual treadmill). (Wikipedia)

Sounds like it could be addicting.. Experiencing an environment where you control all the factors and elements around you? Sounds safe, easy, and beautiful.. on the other hand, very predictable...

I wouldn't say Jason is afraid of the real world, I think he just sees it as an unnecessary with his little close-knit family and a machine that can take him anywhere he wants to go... and with his mother gone, I think he feels the need to stay away from the pain relationships can bring... the holodeck fulfills his needs...

"Life was bliss inside this machine. Here Jason controlled his feelings because he controlled his relationships. He chose only those programs that brought him joy."

hmmm... didn't I say addicting?

Well, there's a look for ya ~ hope you get the urge to read this book. I'm whippin' right through it! Can't put it down...


Happy Reading Everyone :)


~ Keely ~

Tuesday Tickle: Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick

Tuesday Tickle is a meme inspired by Should Be Reading's Teaser Tuesday. Still the same basic idea, but it goes a bit deeper, offering a more in-depth look at characters, settings, or the author's that write these amazing stories.

My TT is plucked from the pages of Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick.

There are stories where the girl gets her prince, and they live happily ever after. (This is not one of those stories.)

Jenna Lord’s first sixteen years were not exactly a fairytale. Her father is a controlling psycho and her mother is a drunk. She used to count on her older brother—until he shipped off to Afghanistan. And then, of course, there was the time she almost died in a fire. 

There are stories where the monster gets the girl, and we all shed tears for his innocent victim. (This is not one of those stories either.)

Mitch Anderson is many things: A dedicated teacher and coach. A caring husband. A man with a certain... magnetism. 

And there are stories where it’s hard to be sure who’s a prince and who’s a monster, who is a victim and who should live happily ever after. (These are the most interesting stories of all.)

Drowning Instinct is a novel of pain, deception, desperation, and love against the odds—and the rules.

Jenna Lord is the incredibly profound person who releases the pain and disgust she feels inside by mutilating the outside. She cuts. Her family is a wreck. With Psycho Dad and Drunk Mom, not to mention her Protector Brother who's overseas fighting a war, Jenna is pretty much on her own. Until, it seems, she goes to Turing High. 

::a look through jenna's eyes::

Turing High was one of those Psycho-Dad command decisions, same as us moving to a new McMansion ninetey miles north of Milwaukee after my stint in the psych ward. Or was that my breakdown? No, no, it was my "little episode," Psycho-Dad-speak for my stay in the place where nuts feed the squirrels. My father always called it a "little episode," as if my life was a sitcome and we could simply channel surf right past.

The truth is, Bob, that no matter how far or fast you go, the past always follows: an inky, faceless thing tacked to your shoes that only the harshest light can kill, and then just for those few moments when there is nothing byt the strongest fire from the brightest sun, breaking over your shoulders, burning that shadow-and your past-into ash. 

Finally, a red bead oozed and ballooned, and I sighed with relief as my blood bubbled and drew out the poison that was Grandpa. There was this other cutter back on the ward. She etched words and letters. But I didn't. Honestly, Bob: how do you carve a scream?

Silence is not an option, either. Silence is resistance and, as we all know, resistance is futile.

This girl is full of mystery but at the same time she has this way of baring her soul in a way that either makes you laugh hysterically or want to weep. Simply amazing so far, with the writing style and character building ~ I wish time was on my side so I could simply read straight through without stopping.

What's tickling your fancy today?


Happy Reading Everyone :)


~ Keely ~

Tuesday Tickle

Tuesday Tickle is a new meme inspired by Should Be Reading's Teaser Tuesday. What's different about it? Well, Tuesday Tickle goes a bit deeper than a couple of lines plucked from a random page. Meet characters, immerse yourself in a different world, check out book trailers or author blurbs.. you name it ~ anything goes! It's a brighter spotlight on a particular book you are currently reading, meant to *tickle* every reader's curiosity and need to get their hands on this book, STAT.

This Tuesday, I will be diggin' into James Dawson's Hollow Pike. I just started it yesterday, and am about halfway through ~ already :).  This book is the first in a while that gets me totally spooked as I read ~ heart pounding, holding my breathe, eyes buggin' outta my head...then my dog nudges my hand and makes me jump three feet in the air. It sucks you right in :). Being based in the U.K., the language is a little strange to me sometimes, but that makes it all the more interesting. And did I mention witches? **mwahahahahaha** Totally awesome :).

...the birds see everything...

Something wicked this way comes...

She thought she’d be safe in the country, but you can’t escape your own nightmares, and Lis London dreams repeatedly that someone is trying to kill her. Lis thinks she’s being paranoid - after all who would want to murder her? She doesn’t believe in the local legends of witchcraft. She doesn’t believe that anything bad will really happen to her. You never do, do you? Not until you’re alone in the woods, after dark - and a twig snaps... Hollow Pike - where witchcraft never sleeps.

::you know i have to have a book trailer::

::here's how it opens::

Lis knew she was dreaming, although this brought little

comfort as the blood ran over her face. It rushed up her nostrils and caught in the back of her throat. The metallic taste choked her, panic creeping in.

This was not the first time she’d knelt in the red stream. She had encountered this nightmare many times in recent weeks and each time the vision became more realistic, more visceral. Sometimes, the focus of the dream was her long, wet hair matted to her face. Sometimes it was the freezing rain and howling wind. Sometimes it was the frenzied screams far away in the distance. On this particular visit, Lis was very aware of the pebbles, so cold and round and perfect under her hands. They scraped her skin but somehow she knew that the blood rushing over her body was not hers.

::with a few extras thrown in::

"The three robed figures stood over Lis's body, watching Laura vanish into the indigo darkness. Within seconds, they could no longer hear her footsteps stomping through the leaves."

"They'd come.
Lis's hand hovered at the door handle, trembling and uncertain. Who was she about to let into her room - friends or killers?"

"The more they watched the video, the more the spider really did look like a pale hand resting on the tree. And that meant only one thing...
There had been someone else in the woods that night."

Tickle your curiosity yet?  I thought so...

SO instead of meeting a character like I've done the past two weeks, I thought it would be nice to post a video by the author. He's completely excited (and why shouldn't he be?) and goofy ~ you can't help but love him! In this video he talks "about what Hollow Pike is..um..about," giving a little rundown of the plot. 

What's tickling your fancy today?

Happy Reading Everyone :)

~ Keely ~