Spring 2016 Penguin Teen Sampler

by Various

Get a sneak peek at Spring 2016's hottest books!
THE DARK DAYS CLUB by Alison GoodmanSALT TO THE SEA by Ruta SepetysREBEL OF THE SANDS by Alwyn HamiltonWINK POPPY MIDNIGHT by April Genevieve TucholkeTHE PASSION OF DOLSSA by Julie Berry

137 pages, Unknown Binding

First published November 2, 2015

About the author

Various is the correct author for any book with multiple unknown authors, and is acceptable for books with multiple known authors, especially if not all are known or the list is very long (over 50).

If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.

Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.

Reviews

[Booknut 101 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get the chance to review this sampler via Netgalley, and was truly over the moon with the selection!

No one book outshone the rest, rather each book created its own unique spotlight - each story was carefully constructed with elements that made it unique and a joy to read.

For an in-depth look into these teasers + sneak peeks see the full review here!

[Kim at Divergent Gryffindor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Teen for granting me access to this sampler.

SALT TO THE SEA by RUTA SEPETYS
Gosh, I can't believe I've never payed attention to Sepetys' books before because I thought I was the kind of person who hated reading world war books. Well, turns out I just needed the right book to convince me, and based on what I have read so far, this might be it! Gah, I can't wait to buy her books and have a marathon! This was definitely a hit!

THE DARK DAYS CLUB by ALLISON GOODMAN
This was a 'meh' book for me. I don't have much to comment on, other than it didn't really leave an impression on me. The book may have become better, but based on the few pages that I read, this one's not for me. This one's a miss.

REBEL OF THE SANDS by ALWYN HAMILTON
When I started reading this book, I thought that I wouldn't like it. I was imagining the setting, and there just wasn't that click that I was looking for. Even when I was reading, I didn't feel particularly interested in reading the whole book. BUT! But then it was cut-off at just the right point, and now I'm interested in it and now I want to read the entire thing! This one's a hit!

THE PASSION OF DOLSSA by JULIE BERRY
Okay, so I tend to avoid books surrounding religion, so this one is not for me. When religion is in the background, that's fine. But in here, I think the main topic is religion, so I'm staying away from this one. This one's a miss.

WINK POPPY MIDNIGHT by APRIL GENEVIEVE TUCHOLKE
I love books where the characters are neighbors, but I just didn't get what I read so far from this one. I'm not sure if there is just one narrator or if there are two. Maybe I was just not fully concentrating, but I was really confused as to what was happening. This one's a miss too.

[Rachel (aka Ms4Tune) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read this collection in exchange for an honest review!



My review can also be found on our blog Paein and Ms4Tune

I don’t usually read samplers because once I get into a book I want to read it all! But it was hard to resist a sneak peek at what Penguin have to offer in the coming months and I can confirm their are some awesome books on the horizon! What I love about this selection is just how different they are. Such variety! That in itself excites me!

THE DARK DAYS CLUB
by Alison Goodman
26th January

The attention to detail that Allison Goodman has given is amazing. In just a few chapters I got a great sense of the 1820′s period that this is set in. Fashion, etiquette and attitudes all work together and yet I didn’t find it tedious or boring because there is an exciting undertone that promises something dark and mysterious. Something just waiting to jump out and push the heroine Helen to embrace her feistier side. I don’t know whether it’s supposed to have a supernatural feel to it but there is definitely a sinister something lerking in the background. I’m quite excited by this one. I may buy this, depending on the price.

SALT TO THE SEA
by Ruta Sepetys
2nd February

Salt to the Sea is probably that gem that I wouldn’t have seen if it wasn’t for this Sampler. It’s told from four different points of view and while they are all completely different they all hold similar feelings, that of fear, uncertainty but also an undeniably strong need to survive. In just this very short extract we were given very vivid and harsh views of the perils of war and I can already feel connections to the characters. I will definitely be buying this one. I need to find out what happens to this mixed bunch of refugees and soldiers!

REBEL OF THE SANDS
by Alwyn Hamilton
8th March

I’ve had my eye on Rebel of the Sands for a while now and after reading this sample I’m even more excited for it. Straight away we are shown how brave and independent Amani is. The world she lives in is quite brutal and barbaric but also exciting. It promises so much adventure! There hasn’t been much in the way of magical beasties yet but from the summary I do hope there is! This is one book I won’t be missing this year!

WINK POPPY MIDNIGHT
by April Genevieve Tucholke
22nd March

I’m not sure whether it was just my edition but the formatting of this one confused me a bit. I couldn’t figure out who’s point of view I was reading from and when. It seemed to switch randomly and left me a little frustrated. But saying that I’m still interested in finding out what the story will be about. The characters seem witty and sharp. If nothing else the first line caught me,

‘The first time I slept with Poppy, I cried.’

I haven’t read many contemporary YA books so perhaps I will investigate this one a bit more. It’s definitely one I will keep an eye out for at the library.

THE PASSION OF DOLSSA
by Julie Berry
12th April

While the extracts for Wink Poppy Midnight and Salt to the Sea have intrigued me, I’m sad to say The Passion of Dolssa has not. I didn’t think it would be my kind of thing and after reading this sample I can confirm it definitely isn’t. The writing style was old fashioned to give it the feel that it’s written by monks which will probably work for other people but didn’t for me. I also didn’t really care about the characters or storyline. Maybe I didn’t get to read enough of it to get hooked but, for me, based on this extract alone, I’m sorry to say it’s a miss.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sampler was ok, but it's not the best one that I've read. It's not the worst either.
"The Dark Days Club" is the only one that I want to read the rest of. I'm a sucker (no pun intended) for vampire books and I want to know more about the "ghouls."

"Salt to the Sea" isn't something that I normally read. The writing was nice, but books set in war times don't interest me much.

I have been hearing a lot about "Rebel of the Sands," but I'm not sure that I'd be interested in reading more of it. The main character was ok, but I couldn't see why the book is being so heavily hyped by people.

"Wink Poppy Midnight" is anther one that I've been hearing a lot about. The characters were interesting, but I had trouble knowing who was talking. I'm not sure if that was a formatting issue or if the author really does abruptly switch characters.

"The Passion of Dolssa" was alright. The idea of the main character using her visions to help people find their match was nice.

I like getting these samplers because they help me decide whether or not I want to read books that I've been hearing about and they help me discover new ones. I got this for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Fyre.Katz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved The Dark Days, and Rebel of the Sands samples the others didn't hold my attention much sorry.

The Dark Days is like Pride and Prejudice and Buffy had a love child. I need to finish that book like real soon. And Rebel was interesting like a cowboy, firefly but not... I have to read more of it to understand it!

[Beautifulday4makeup The-book-and-Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

These samplers are handy to read next. They gives as a luxury insight in which books I would like and which ones I would like less. I have a feeling I should read rebel of the sands. I was immediatly intrigued by the story and I wouldn't have known this if I didn't read the sampler.

[Sandra "Jeanz"]

Good teen sampler. Again good to be getting the chance to peek at some titles coming up in 2016!

[Katharine (Ventureadlaxre) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am all about getting my hands on THE DARK DAYS CLUB by Alison Goodman as soon as it comes out.

[Gabrielle Link · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like some of the books!