Teaser Tuesday: Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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!

***

This Tuesday features Apollyon (Covenant #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Yeah, I have a review. But I'm re-reading it again :D I have Apollyon-withdrawl-problems.

 "Sometimes I wonder if it's right, you know -- if I should feel happiness and love when everyone is suffering."

"But you have suffered, too." She guided my gaze back to hers. "Everybody, no matter what is happening around them, deserves the kind of love that man feels for you, especially you. "

-- Chapter 37 of Apollyon







See my review of Apollyon here:

http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2013/04/apollyon-review.html

Apollyon: Review

Synopsis:

Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex.

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself.

***

(This might contain spoilers of Deity)

Oh. My. Gods. Apollyon is the setup for Sentinel, the grand finale of Covenant series. And damn if the setup isn't perfect. There are no words to describe the awesomeness of Apollyon. Hell, even the word "awesome" is redundant. This book takes my breath away right from the start of it and it stays that way EVEN AFTER I finish the book. Just when I imagined there's nothing better than Deity, Apollyon strikes me silent again with the words and the epic scenes. Jeez, I have to say Jennifer IS the writing ninja. I have no idea how she can pull off something so fascinating when time is so limited (since, you know, she has got tons of projects on her hand).

Alex grows up in this book. Yeah, I know she keeps growing up throughout the series. But in Apollyon, she really matures A LOT. She has to face higher stakes and more pressing issues in this book, and I'm so glad that she's finally an adult on handling shits that are sometimes so very annoying to deal with. Even though I kind of miss that reckless, snarky girl in Half-Blood.

Aiden is a little different in this book too. Yeah, he's still insanely protective when it comes to Alex. But we can see a more... vulnerable and unsure side of him. I mean, in Half-Blood and Pure, Strong Aiden is in charge. Even in Deity and Elixir, when things are starting to get really messed-up, he still stays strong. Okay, not that he isn't strong in Apollyon, but he reveals a more vulnerable and emotional side of him. You know what? This side of him is truly glorious (Glorious? Did I just say that?) and fascinating. Though I will still urge him to man up (just like Alex says) a little bit.

You can't imagine how fast-paced the book is. It's like everything is happening at once and you have no idea what to solve first. That's exactly the case in Apollyon. You think Alex connecting to Seth is the worst thing that could possibly happen? Oh you have no idea. Just when you think shit is cleaned up for good, another truckload of shit hits the fan. AGAIN. This time hell truly starts to break loose. Obstacles that Alex and her friends has to go through are getting harder and harder. Secrets are reveal and you will never be able to believe your eyes again. Like I said, this is the perfect setup for Sentinel. And... after reading Apollyon, a certain scene in it makes me think that Sentinel might not be a HEA finale I once thought. 

There's just one teensy-tiny flaw in Apollyon: not enough Alex/Aiden scenes.

Jeez, somebody gives me Sentinel right now! How can I suffer for 8 months WAITING?!

Rating: 9.5/10

Gonna Read: April

April, besides March, is the craziest month of the year 'cuz I've got tons of books to read in April / in order to prepare to read books in April.

1. Apollyon (Covenant #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex.

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself. 

Expected Publication: April 9th, 2013 (Although I really hope they will release it early :D)

***

2. Chosen at Nightfall (Shadow Falls #5) by C.C. Hunter

Kylie Galen's life hasn't been the same since her world was turned upside-down in Born at Midnight, Shadow Falls #1, and now an epic conclusion to her journey—not to mention a tough choice between two guys!—is brewing in Chosen at Nightfall:

When Kylie Galen left Shadow Falls, she thought it was the hardest decision of her life. Heartbroken and separated from everyone she loves, she has to embrace her abilities and what it means to be a chameleon. But as Kylie's journey comes to a close, she must return to the camp that started it all...and she must finally chose between the two boys who love her. The werewolf who broke her heart when he chose his pack over her, and the half-fae who ran from their intense attraction before they ever really had a chance. For Kylie, everything will finally be revealed and nothing will ever be the same.

Expected Publication: April 23rd, 2013 

(Actually, I haven't even read Born at Midnight yet. But of course I'm planning to read it sometime in the future)

***

3. Darkness, Kindled (Fire Spirits #4) by Samantha Young

Ari Johnson wishes adjusting to living with her boyfriend was her only source of excitement and anxiety.
She wishes a lot of things.
But then wishing was what got her here in the first place.

Ari chose to be a Guild Hunter. She wanted to stalk dangerous Jinn and destroy them before they could harm innocent people. But now that Ari is a member of The Guild, she finds herself in the impossible position of hunting her ex-best friend – human-turned-dangerous sorcerer, Charlie Creagh. As Ari struggles to come to terms with her duty, an ancient Jinn and his companion want revenge on her for using the command of the Seal against them; the White King refuses to give up on his quest to resurrect Lilif, and Asmodeus isn’t done toying with her.

When Ari can take no more, rushing to the Sultan Azazil’s side to demand of him the favor he owes her, the events she sets in motion will not only alter everyone’s lives, it will kindle a darkness that will shake the realms to their very core.

Expected Publication: April 23rd, 2013

(I have I hopes on Smokeless Fire, but I haven't got time. Actually I need to prepare for my exams... AGAIN)

***

4. Taken (Taken #1) by Erin Bowman

 
There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

Expected Publication: April 16th, 2013

(I have a feeling I will be reading this before I even read Born at Midnight and Smokeless Fire)

***

5. What Really Happened in Peru (The Bane Chronicles Part 1) by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan 

 
Fans of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices know that Magnus Bane is banned from Peru—and now they can find out why. One of ten adventures in The Bane Chronicles.

There are good reasons Peru is off-limits to Magnus Bane. Follow Magnus’s Peruvian escapades as he drags his fellow warlocks Ragnor Fell and Catarina Loss into trouble, learns several instruments (which he plays shockingly), dances (which he does shockingly), and disgraces his host nation by doing something unspeakable to the Nazca Lines.

This standalone e-only short story illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality populates the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series. This story in The Bane Chronicles, What Really Happened in Peru, is written by Sarah Rees Brennan and Cassandra Clare.

Expected Publication: April 16th, 2013 (Aww I'm so gonna read this once it's released)

***

6. Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy #2) by Wendy Higgins

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Expected Publication: April 30th, 2013 

(Again, I haven't even read Sweet Evil yet, but I think I will read it soon enough)

***

7. Oath Bound (Unbound #3) by Rachel Vincent

  The Tower Syndicate will fall...

The secret daughter of the head of an infamous Skilled crime family, Sera Brandt has hidden her past, her potential and especially her powers. But when a tragedy strikes her other family, Sera needs justice. And the only way to get it is to reveal her heritage–including a rare Skill–and take the reins of the Tower Syndicate from her cunning and malicious aunt.

If he can figure out how...

Kristopher Daniels might have the answer. He's fought the syndicate to protect his sisters, but he'd never realized just how close to the new heir he needed to get....

And if they can survive

Neither is used to trusting. But there's something between them that can't be ignored. And so Sera is on the run with a man she can't figure out, a target on her back and the new knowledge of just how powerful she really is....

Expected Publication: April 30th, 2013 

(I just read Blood Bound and I haven't got time to read Shadow Bound yet...)

***

8. Unbreakable (Unraveling #2) by Elizabeth Norris

 Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.

And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they’re lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she’s in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?

Expected Publication: April 23rd, 2013 (I have really high hopes on this one :D)

***

9. The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass 

 The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

Expected Publication: April 23rd, 2013

(I'm also planning to read The Selection, although I have a feeling that it will be super weird. Not the bad kind, obviously, since The Selection has a high rating)

 

Gonna Read: March and April

Time for some craziness as we approach March and April!

March:

1. Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare

Synopsis:

Danger intensifies for the Shadowhunters as the New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy comes to a close.

If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it?

The clock is ticking. Everyone must choose.

Passion. Power. Secrets. Enchantment.

Danger closes in around the Shadowhunters in the final installment of the bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy.

Expected Publication: March 19th, 2013

***

2. With All My Soul (Soul Screamers #7) by Rachel Vincent)

Synopsis:

What does it mean when your school is voted the most dangerous in America? It's time to kick some hellion butt...

After not really surviving her junior year (does "undead" count as survival?), Kaylee Cavanaugh has vowed to take back her school from the hellions causing all the trouble. She's going to find a way to turn the incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity against one another in order to protect her friends and finish this war, once and forever.

But then she meets Wrath and understands that she's closer to the edge than she's ever been. And when one more person close to her is taken, Kaylee realizes she can't save everyone she loves without risking everything she has....

Expected Publication: March 19th, 2013
 
***

3. Undone (Unraveling #1.5) by Elizabeth Norris

Synopsis:

Before the accident. Before their universes collided. Before they fell in love.

Riveting and romantic, Undone: An Unraveling Novella contains three short stories set in the world of Unraveling, the first book in the gripping sci-fi duology by Elizabeth Norris.

Before Ben Michaels saved Janelle Tenner’s life, Janelle saved Ben when he stumbled through an interuniverse portal into a completely new world. That day, he fell in love with the girl of his dreams. And he never forgot her.

Through three stories told from Ben’s point of view, learn how Ben and his friends discovered their ability to travel between worlds, how Ben first met Janelle, and how he pined for her for years before he actually got the chance to meet her, save her life, and capture her heart. And find out what happens to Ben between the cliff-hanger conclusion to Unraveling and the beginning of its heart-stopping sequel, Unbreakable.

Expected Publication: March 5th, 2013

***

4. Requiem (Delirium #3) by Lauren Oliver

Synopsis:

They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.

But we are still here.

And there are more of us every day.

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.

Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.

Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.

But we have chosen a different road.

And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.

We are even free to choose the wrong thing.

Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

Expected Publication: March 5th, 2013 
 
(See my review of Requiem here: http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2013/02/requiem-arc-review.html)

***

5. Raven (Delirium #2.5) by Lauren Oliver

Synopsis:

This captivating 50-page digital-original story set in the world of Lauren Oliver’s New York Times bestselling Delirium series focuses on Raven, the fiery leader of a rebel group in the Wilds.

As a teenager, Raven made the split-second decision to flee across the border to the Wilds, compelled to save an abandoned newborn—a baby girl left for dead and already blue from the cold. When she and the baby are taken in by a band of rebels, Raven finds herself an outsider within a tight-knit group. The only other newcomer is an untrustworthy boy known as the Thief until he finally earns himself a new name: Tack.

Now she and Tack are inseparable, committed to each other, the fledgling rebellion, and a future together. But as they both take center stage in the fight, Raven must decide whether the dangers of the revolution are worth risking her dreams of a peaceful life with Tack.

As her story hurtles back and forth between past and present, Raven transforms from a scared girl newly arrived in the Wilds to the tough leader who helps Lena save former Deliria-Free poster boy Julian Fineman from a death sentence. Whatever the original mission may have been, Raven abides by a conviction that she believes to her core: You always return for the people you love.

By turns surprising, revelatory, and poignant, Raven’s story enriches the Delirium world and resonates with a voice that is as vulnerable as it is strong.

Expected Publication: March 5th, 2013

***

6. Wait For You by J. Lynn (Jennifer L. Armentrout)

Synopsis:

Some things are worth waiting for…

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for…

Expected Publication: March 4th, 2013

_________________________

April:

1. Apollyon (Covenant #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout)

Synopsis:

Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex.

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself.

Expected Publication: April 9th, 2013  

***

2. Darkness, Kindled (Fire Spirits #4) by Samantha Young

Synopsis:

Ari Johnson wishes adjusting to living with her boyfriend was her only source of excitement and anxiety.
She wishes a lot of things.
But then wishing was what got her here in the first place.

Ari chose to be a Guild Hunter. She wanted to stalk dangerous Jinn and destroy them before they could harm innocent people. But now that Ari is a member of The Guild, she finds herself in the impossible position of hunting her ex-best friend – human-turned-dangerous sorcerer, Charlie Creagh. As Ari struggles to come to terms with her duty, an ancient Jinn and his companion want revenge on her for using the command of the Seal against them; the White King refuses to give up on his quest to resurrect Lilif, and Asmodeus isn’t done toying with her.

When Ari can take no more, rushing to the Sultan Azazil’s side to demand of him the favor he owes her, the events she sets in motion will not only alter everyone’s lives, it will kindle a darkness that will shake the realms to their very core.

Expected Publication: April 23rd, 2013

***

3. Die For Her (Revenants #2.5) by Amy Plum

Synopsis:

Set in the romantic and death-defying world of the international bestselling Die for Me trilogy, this digital original novella follows Jules, a brooding, immortal French artist who has fallen in love with his best friend’s girlfriend.

Jules Marchenoir is a revenant-an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save human lives. He’s spent the better part of the last century flirting his way through Paris, but when he met Kate Mercier, the heroine from Amy Plum’s Die for Me trilogy, he knew his afterlife had changed forever and he had found the love of his life. Until Kate fell for his best friend, Vincent. Now Jules is faced with an impossible decision: choosing between his loyal friend and a love truly worth dying for.

Expected Publication: April 2nd, 2013 
 
***

4. The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2) by Julie Kagawa

Synopsis:

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

Expected Publication: April 23rd, 2013

*** 

5. Taken (Taken #1) by Erin Bowman

Synopsis:

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

Expected Publication: April 16th, 2013

*** 

6. Unbreakable (Unraveling #2) by Elizabeth Norris

Synopsis:

Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.

And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they’re lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she’s in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?

Expected Publication: April 23rd, 2013

***

7. Oath Bound (Unbound #3) by Rachel Vincent

 Synopsis:

The Tower Syndicate will fall...

The secret daughter of the head of an infamous Skilled crime family, Sera Brandt has hidden her past, her potential and especially her powers. But when a tragedy strikes her other family, Sera needs justice. And the only way to get it is to reveal her heritage–including a rare Skill–and take the reins of the Tower Syndicate from her cunning and malicious aunt.

If he can figure out how...

Kristopher Daniels might have the answer. He's fought the syndicate to protect his sisters, but he'd never realized just how close to the new heir he needed to get....

And if they can survive

Neither is used to trusting. But there's something between them that can't be ignored. And so Sera is on the run with a man she can't figure out, a target on her back and the new knowledge of just how powerful she really is....

Expected Publication: April 30th, 2013

***

8. Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy) by Wendy Higgins

Synopsis:

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Expected Publication: April 30th, 2013

***

9. What Really Happened In Peru (The Bane Chronicles #1 Part 1) by Cassandra Clare

Synopsis:

Fans of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices know that Magnus Bane is banned from Peru—and now they can find out why. One of ten adventures in The Bane Chronicles.

There are good reasons Peru is off-limits to Magnus Bane. Follow Magnus’s Peruvian escapades as he drags his fellow warlocks Ragnor Fell and Catarina Loss into trouble, learns several instruments (which he plays shockingly), dances (which he does shockingly), and disgraces his host nation by doing something unspeakable to the Nazca Lines.

This standalone e-only short story illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality populates the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series. This story in The Bane Chronicles, What Really Happened in Peru, is written by Sarah Rees Brennan and Cassandra Clare.

Expected Publication: April 16th, 2013

*** 
 
10. The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass

Synopsis:

In America Singer’s world, a bride is chosen for the prince through an elaborate televised competition. In the second book of the Selection series, America is one of only six girls left in the running. But is it Prince Maxon—and life as the queen—she wants? Or is it Aspen, her first love?

Expected Publication: April 23rd, 2013 
 
***

11. Chosen at Nightfall (Shadow Falls #5)

Synopsis:

Kylie Galen's life hasn't been the same since her world was turned upside-down in Born at Midnight, Shadow Falls #1, and now an epic conclusion to her journey—not to mention a tough choice between two guys!—is brewing in Chosen at Nightfall:

When Kylie Galen left Shadow Falls, she thought it was the hardest decision of her life. Heartbroken and separated from everyone she loves, she has to embrace her abilities and what it means to be a chameleon. But as Kylie's journey comes to a close, she must return to the camp that started it all...and she must finally chose between the two boys who love her. The werewolf who broke her heart when he chose his pack over her, and the half-fae who ran from their intense attraction before they ever really had a chance. For Kylie, everything will finally be revealed and nothing will ever be the same.

Expected Publication: April 23rd, 2013 

Apollyon Teaser

A Deacon teaser from Apollyon (Love):

 

Jeez, with the previous teaser featuring Aiden and this, they are the best brothers ever! Can I have more tastes of Apollyon, PLEEEEEASE?

Double Teaser from Two Different Books

Ooh! Another teaser day! We have one Apollyon Teaser, and one City of Heavenly Fire Teaser.

"Sounds like a smart idea." Dark humor laced Aiden's voice. "You might want to get your gun off my brother's face while you're at it."

***
I think Aiden's talking to a snarky-and-homicidal Alex. But dark humor? Not what I expected. And Alex gunning for Deacon's ass? It's equally awful and awfully funny at the same time.


And now it's a CoHF Teaser:

    Magnus rolled onto his back and put his feet up on the arm of the sofa. “What do you care if Alec’s miserable?”

    “What do I care?” Jace said, so loudly that Chairman Meow rolled off the couch and landed on the floor. “Of course I care about Alec; he’s my best friend, my parabatai. And he’s unhappy. And so are you, by the look of things. Takeout containers everywhere, you haven’t done anything to fix up the place, your cat looks dead —“

    “He’s not dead.”

***

Jace sounds awfully a lot like Will. Maybe because of the Herondale bloodline(Damn, they can def make the best parabatai ever). And yeah, I SO DO WANT MAGNUS AND ALEC GET BACK TOGETHER!!! Looks like their relationship will be a major point in CoHF. Though I would love some Jace/Clary scene.

(And so far there's no Clary teasers...)

Apollyon Teaser

Another Apollyon teaser! This time features Alex, Olivia and the Khalkotauroi (I think). And a really long teaser. And a really exciting one (I mean, killing the Khalkotauroi!).

Absolute power—unforgiving and hard, pure as it was deadly— coursed over my skin. I reared back, summoning the fifth and final element. Intense blue light erupted from my palm.
Akasha ripped from me, arcing through the air like cloud-to-cloud lightning, homing in on its target and striking true. The sky crackled and heated. One second, the automaton was on his knee, and the next he was nothing but a pile of shimmery dust.
“Good gods,” came Olivia’s hoarse whisper.
Another automaton took the fallen one’s place, swinging out with a metal hand that clinked and clicked. Fire sparked from its open mouth. I spun, catching the broad side of his arm and twisting. The hoarse shout of pain was lost in the clash of metal, the thunder of bullets finding another automaton.
It raised its bull face and snapped at me with massive jaws. “Please.” I placed my hand on the massive forehead.
Blue light coursed over the head and down the body, lightening up
the metallic skull and bone structure. For a moment, it was like a pretty x-ray or a jellyfish—a really disturbing jellyfish—and then cobalt light radiated from its eyes and open mouth. It imploded—caved in on itself, turning to nothing but dust.
And then the crap really hit the fan.
The automatons—every last one of the freaky bull things—turned on me. They moved quickly, metal legs rattling and clinking. Fire spewed from their mouths like the poor man’s version of a dragon. They came from all directions, Apollyon-seeking missiles with “Kill Alex” stamped all over them.
Fire came from them, blinding and intense. Nothing existed outside the flames. No sound. No sight. My world was red and orange...
And my world was tinted in amber.
Alex? His voice came through the thrumming connection.
I ignored him and the way his consciousness slid in alongside mine. What are you up to?

Double Apollyon Teaser

Well, let's see. There are two photos. Photos of one certain book, containing the most anticipating teaser in human history. This is from Apollyon, the forth book of Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

See the photos here:

Aren't they steamy? It will be released in April 2013, and I feel like it's ages away.

Ugh, so can't freaking wait for Apollyon! And Sentinel, by the way!

Apollyon Summary!

Yay! The full cover of Apollyon is here!

So here's the summary:

Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex.

 

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.

 

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

 

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself.

 

***

 

Oh my god. So maybe my theories are gonna come true. She might become the God freaking Killer herself. Apollyon's not just gonna be awesome. It's gonna be EPIC. And the thing is, if she become the God Killer herself, the gods will stop at nothing to stop her from destroying them. Maybe even Apollo will join the force. And Sentinel will get a whole lot of awesomeness and interesting stuff... and heart breaks and mind blows and sort of stuff.

Oh shit. Thing just keep getting more complicated. And I have a feeling that Alex might not survive in Sentinel... because she might be destined to die in Deity.

Now you are killing me, JLA. I can't wait for Apollyon. Why can't April come faster!

Apollyon Teaser

Another Apollyon Teaser, and another snarky-but-not-homicidal Alex!

“One down,” I said, turning around. “Who’s ne—?”
Thanatos tossed Marcus to the ground, deflected Solos’ attack, and turned on me in a nanosecond. It was pretty epic.
A bolt of white light flew from Thanatos’ hand and there wasn’t a single thing in this world that could move fast enough. Not even Seth, I was betting.
It hit me just below the chest and my legs collapsed from underneath me. Red-hot, searing pain sliced through my skin and my face smacked off the ground. I didn’t even feel it. There was nothing but the razing pain locking up my muscles.

God bolts sucked.
Aiden yelled my name, and then I thought I heard my name called again, but it was inside my head, loud, and so very angry… and it sounded like Seth.
Without any warning, the ground trembled under my twitching body. A flash of golden light cascaded through the clearing. Warmth stole over my body. Weakly, I lifted my head.
Two leather-clad legs stood before me.
“That is enough, Thanatos.” Apollo’s voice was calm, but it was that creepy, deadly calm I never wanted to be on the receiving end of.
“N-n-nice of y-you to s-show up,” I gasped.
“Shut up, Alex.” Apollo strode forward. A ray of light followed his steps.

 

***

 

Anyone wish there's a giveaway of Apollyon in April? Because I do!

Apollyon Teaser

Another Apollyon Teaser! Really curious one.

His all-white eyes gleamed. “I’ve seen it all in battle. There is the way the body curls into itself when it wants death. There is the silent scream for release. There are the eyes, and they speak even when the tongue no longer works. And then there is the soul that rots so poorly when death is wanted but withheld that it carries a certain stench.”

Ice shot through my veins, turning my blood to slush. At that moment I knew no matter how much I fought, this… this was going to suck.

***
So there's Apollo, I think. And there's Alex, if there's no other characters' point of view. This must be the snark-but-not-homicidal (as Deacon said) Alex. Otherwise she will go all-out evil and trying to kill the God.

Why is Apollyon so tempting.

Apollyon Teaser!

I've just post about Opal teaser, and it's time for some Apollyon!

This is probably the most horrifying teaser I've ever read.

And I wanna kick Seth's ass to the hell once again.

My feet touched the ground and I took a step forward—one, and then another. And Aiden didn’t move. He waited. It was in those eyes of his, the finality of this. He wouldn’t win, he couldn’t and he knew it. Aiden accepted it. As I reached him, the rain stopped and the clouds parted. The sun followed my footsteps. “Alex.” Aiden’s voice was broken. Like a cobra striking, I took Aiden’s legs out from under him and he was on his back before another breath could be taken. Straddling him, I placed my hands on his shoulders. The marks of the Apollyon glowed a vibrant blue and raced over my skin. I leaned in, placing my lips above his and the words that came out of my mouth were mine… but weren’t. “All moments end, Saint Delphi. And now yours has.” I pressed my lips to the corner of his and he flinched. “You are weak because you love.” Aiden stared up at me, unblinking. “To love is not weak. Love is the strongest thing there is.” My lips curved into a smile. Idiot.

Deity and Elixir: Review and Stuff, Flashbacks of Covenant series

Time for some Deity! Yeah, the original release date is November 6th. But I got my Kindle edition so... I read early! And I thought I told you guys before that I have had Elixir even before I got my hands on Deity. And one more, I accept JLA reading challenge hosted by Deity Island, so I will post flashbacks of Daimon, Half-Blood and Pure. That's gonna be a long post.

"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "


Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

***
Warning: If you haven't read Deity, be careful. Spoilers below.

I gotta say, this is the best book by JLA so far! Better than Pure, and even better than Onyx! There are more intense feelings than in Pure. More angst and love. The stakes are higher than ever. And man, the plot is so much better than in Pure! Even though it starts out a little bit slow, it's still, one of the best books ever!

I think the guys who read Deity ARC is quite correct about this book. Yes, there is so much more Aiden in Deity. Finally he admits his love for Alex (Hallelujah!). I've (or we've) waited so long for this moment! In the end of Pure... well, I sort of hate him. Like really hate-him-in-the-guts feeling. He hurt Alex so much in Pure even though he tried to protect her from being put into servitude. Now I can't even understand why I had that kind of feelings in the first place. He is so FREAKING sweet to Alex in Deity. And yeah, I feel really, really bad for him when he was heartbroken. In this part, you don't disappoint us, JLA. I LOVE IT!

On the other hand, there are not so much Seth. Not as much as in Pure. I thought there will be more of him. I sort of miss him especially when he is absent for most of the parts. But now, I hate him in his guts. I can't believe he uses the Apollyon bond to control Alex. I truly thought he is a good guy in Pure and he cares about her or even love her in his own way. Well maybe he really does love her, in a twisted way. But what he does to Alex is unacceptable. But I guess that's a part of the story.

There are so much shock and humor in the book. The best is probably... Alex's dad's alive. That guy... that Brown Eyes, is Alex's father. And he's a freaking half-blood! Than why doesn't the elixir work on him? Or some other halfs? I have a feeling that it's Lucian's doing. Speaking of Lucian, he is the most crazy lunatic I've ever seen. What does he think he's doing huh? He just wants to be more than a god. He's not fucking saving those half-bloods. He's so damn selfish. He lies to Alex. And worse, he controls Seth to get on Alex. I hope he die. 

Another shocking yet very funny thing is the true identity of Leon. He's a god. AND he is Apollo. I was like WHAT!?. Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking at that moment. But you might ask, "What's the funny part?". Well, the funniest part is that he doesn't act like a god. More like he's an overgrown child, like Alex had said. Isn't that gods' suppose to be wise, or at least, act wise? I can't stop laughing while Leon/Apollo act like he's even more childish than Alex. No wonder he's such an Apollo fanboy. He IS APOLLO.

The part tha Alex died... it was one of the most heartbreaking part. Alex can't just die like that. This kind of death is so lame for her. If she's truly gonna die, she deserves a hero death. And seeing that Aiden is lost... oh, it's just so hard to carry on yet addicting. Another one is of course, when Hades' trying to take away Alex's soul. I just don't understand why I have a thing for death situations. I just don't freaking understand. Maybe because I'm Scorpion? Maybe it's for the best. Because it's even harder to see Alex lost her control over herself.

Once again, really. This is the best book ever. I don't know about Opal and Apollyon or other books. But for now, I really enjoy reading this book once again. It's just so addicting. It's a little sad that there's no daimon issues here. But I guess this is the smallest and only imperfect thing now. Can't wait for Apollyon after Deity, especially after Elixir.

Rating: 9/10
_________________________________________________
And now it's time for Elixir:

Summary:

Aiden St. Delphi will do anything to save Alex.
Even if it means doing the one thing he will never forgive himself for.
Even if it means making war against the gods.

 ***
After reading Deity, I immediately started reading this short novella. Yeah, it's short. But it's so intense. The homicidal Alex... I can't even begin to imagine how hurt Aiden will be. It makes me want to kill Seth. How can he do this to her? Controlling her, hurting her? Seth is a heartless beast. I will have to confirm that even though I don't want to.

Reading Aiden's PoV is one of the freshest experiences. In the past I could only have a glimpse of what Aiden's really thinking in extra stories like Chapter 1 and 2 in Aiden's Point of View and the kiss scene in the cabin. Now is the full perspective occur between Deity and Apollyon. Now his feeling for her is fully exposed. He can't deny that anymore.

His guilt that he had to put Alex into Elixir nearly undo him... and me. I know this is for the best, and I know the effects will not last more than four days. But I also understand why Aiden hates this idea. Alex is definitely the last person on Earth that is willing to be put into Elixir. And seeing Aiden pouring the thick blue liquid down to Alex's throat... well, you can guess what I was feeling.

A calm and and quiet Alex is the most ridiculous idea. Yet, here she was, in Elixir. The compulsed young frightened girl with no memory of who she really is is the wrongest thing. I don't blame Aiden, Marcus or even Apollo for this. I blame Seth and Lucian for that. They make this happen. They kind of force Aiden to do this. I hope Aiden will kill Seth. Or better, Alex will do this. I can't wait to see what will happen in Apollyon. Why April is so freaking far away?

Rating: 9.5/10

***

So it's time for some flashbacks! I reviewed them once, so I'm not gonna write an essay about each of them. But I will still write some new comments or rough ideas of what I think about the books. 

Let's start with the prequel, Daimon.

So the prequel is here, and comparing this to Shadows, Shadows is better. I think I said that before... But this one is awesome too. The still-normal live for Alex is better than nothing. And the chase? It's sad, trying to stay alive by running. But now I've read Deity, and some part of me thinks that it may be better if her mom's still alive. She will stay relatively safe. Now she's not safe. But I guess there will be no stories to tell if she's safe with her mom in mortal world.

Full review: http://bookcommentsandstuff-katy.blogspot.hk/2012/08/daimon-review.html

And now it's time for Half-Blood

Half-Blood is kind of the start of all things (although I should say that Daimon is the prequel of Half-Blood). The first encounter (well, not the first, but still, kind of first) of Alex and Aiden is  weird enough. They trained together, they bicker with each other is somehow entertaining. But I know better than just these stuff. Aiden have had a thing for Alex since he was in Atlanta. And you remember that Leon was there to help Alex? Now I want to choke out my laughter. A god was there, and they aren't even aware of him. Who can imagine that Apollo is among them? And the appearance of Seth... I don't really like him in Half-Blood. Not to the point of hate, but still, dislike him. Now I hate him more than anything else because he tricked Alex so many times. I guess having flashbacks is really good for us, because some things have to be answered afterwards.

Full Review: http://bookcommentsandstuff-katy.blogspot.hk/2012/08/half-blood-review.html

Finally, it's time for Pure.

Pure... well, I don't know what to say about Pure but uh... I think it's awesome. Like I said before, I kind of hate Aiden for hurting Alex when all she does is to admit her love for him. She doesn't deserve that. And the death of Caleb... he's one of my favorite characters. Seeing him die is no easy task for me. But I moved on. And Seth is getting much sweeter in Pure except now I know that the actions are to trick Alex into his arms and drain her Apollyon power. I don't understand Seth. I don't know if he truly cares about her or not. I hope that some of his human parts are not drained, but I guess it's stupid to think so because now he sides with Lucian.

Full Review: http://bookcommentsandstuff-katy.blogspot.hk/2012/08/pure-review.html

So... challenge accepted!

If you wanna take this challenge, go to this page and follow the instructions.

http://deityisland.blogspot.hk/2012/11/jla-reading-challenge-for-november-jlarc.html 

And lastly, giveaways and blog tours of Deity. Want some giveaways? Go to the pages below and make sure you follow the instructions.

http://deityisland.blogspot.hk/2012/10/deity-island-gets-face-lift.html?showComment=1351418370392#c6910706465001186593

http://www.stuckinbooks.com/2012/10/deity-by-jennifer-l-armentrout-tour.html?showComment=1351593170895#c8711894402350519438

One more little thing: Apollyon's second early summary

Alex is now 18... and nothing will ever be the same again. War is coming, and when the gods are involved, no one is safe.

I can't wait for Apollyon. Hope that April will come soon enough.

Apollyon: Early Summary

There's an early summary from goodreads.com . It's Apollyon, book 4 of Covenant series by USA Today bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout! And it's confusing and kind of amusing at the same time:

Fate's a bitch, and now so is...

Of course we know that Fate is a hideous BITCH. But seeing that on the screen still brings out laughter from me. But the "so is..." is the confusing part. So is what? Seth? Aiden? Apollo? Someone/ Somewhat else? I think it's Seth. And I think my reason is... well, reasonable. Seth is Alex's inescapable Fate. And Aiden is Alex's Love. If Fate's a bitch. Then why isn't Seth a bitch too? I don't know why Seth is called a bitch because I haven't read Deity yet. It sounds like Seth will do something real bad in Deity. Although I've already downloaded Elixir, I don't dare to read it. I don't wanna spoil Deity.

Why April 2013 has to be so freaking far away?! I just don't want to be tortured by the temptation of Elixir in my godsdamn phone!

Deity Trailer, Elixir Sneak Peak and Apollyon Cover!

It's time.

IT'S TIME.

For Deity Trailer and Apollyon Cover!

Let's see the Deity Trailer:

And now the bigger news: Apollyon Cover!

 Man, I love the flower!

Here's the link of the sneak peak of Elixir, a Covenant novella featuring Aiden!

http://www.site.spencerhillpress.com/Elixir_Sneak_Peek.php
Summary of Elixir:

Aiden St. Delphi will do anything to save Alex.
Even if it means doing the one thing he will never forgive himself for.
Even if it means making war against the gods.

Godsdamn it, why don't you just give me Deity?!

Deity, the third Covenant novel by Jennifer L. Armentrout, will be released on 6th November, 2012.

Elixir, a Covenant novella, will be released on 27th November,2012  in paperback.

Apollyon, the forth Covenant novel, will be released on 9th April, 2013