It’s time again to ask ourselves the three W’s:
What happens when you raise the dead?
Who would you raise?
Why wouldn’t someone want to be a necromancer?!
Wait, no, that’s not right. We ask these three W’s:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words.
The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett
★★★★✩ || Goodreads
This was a really fun read with some super The Mummy vibes. Especially with a leading lady who’s book smart and is paired with a guy who’s more street smart. Huck and Theo make quite a pair, and their banter is really fun. I enjoyed it for the pure adventure and quest element of it. I felt like the dialogue was too modern, though, and had to constantly remind myself that it was set in the 1930s, as it didn’t seem to be really grounded in that time period. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the romance. It felt really teen angsty, and it is a YA novel, so maybe that’s not surprising, but I didn’t feel like it added too much to the story and kind of slowed things down.
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
★★★✩✩ || Goodreads
I’m … still not quite sure about this one? I think it’s one I’ll have to sit with for a little while. This is set in a utopian world, where the protagonist is a female transgender POC who is selectively verbal (signs most of the time) and her best friend has three parents, all married, and one of them has a non-binary gender, and this is all considered fine and normal. The town they live in, Lucille, is a utopian town that has been cleared of monsters. There’s no guns, no real crime, and no real talk of “before” the monsters were defeated. The angels defeated them … but it’s hinted that the angels had to do some not-so-good things in order to defeat the monsters. But now there’s a monster in Lucille, and Jam has to figure out who it is. This is really an upper mid-grade story, and it kind of shows. It’s a cute allegory about the darker things in life, about not closing your eyes and assuming monsters don’t exist, and anyone can be a monster. Yes, even … YOU! Well, maybe not you. I like you. But you get the point. I thought it was written quite beautifully, and it was an easy and enjoyable read, but I think it lacked the sort of complexity I had hoped for plot-wise (which makes perfect sense for the age range, of course). There were so many elements that were glanced over that I would’ve liked to see explored that would’ve really brought more depth to the world, I thought. I can see it being a real hit among kids in that age range, though.
The Ghost Collector by Allison Mills
★★★★★ || Goodreads
This book killed my feels, but I sort of already knew that going in, so it’s all good. Shelly and her grandmother catch ghosts in their hair and help them move on, which is a point of contention in the family because Shelly’s mother doesn’t want her dealing with ghosts. I thought this was a pretty poignant allegory, whether intentional or not, for the generational divide (particularly poignant since the characters are Cree) where newer generations are often discouraged from learning their culture and encouraged to assimilate. The struggle is real in this household. I feel like the blurb tells it all, basically, plot-wise, but there’s so much character in this story that it was a really fun read. Getting to see the nuances between the different ghosts was so fun, and some of them were really cute. Also, I think this would be a great book for mid-grade readers trying to cope with loss and grief. I’m hoping to get a copy for my own mid-grade reader, who I think will really like it. 🙂
Reviews Posted This Week
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Status: 17%
Gideon the Ninth is the most fun you’ll ever have with a skeleton.
The Emperor needs necromancers.
The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.
Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit.
Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as necromantic skeletons. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.
Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.
Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.
Of course, some things are better left dead.
IT’S FINALLY HERE AND I CAN’T STOP SHOUTING ABOUT IT. I finally picked up Gideon the Ninth. And guys. I am not disappointed so far. True, I’m not that far into the story. But as much as I’m not usually a fan of space things … this world is fun. I mean, kind of brutal, but hey, that’s fun sometimes, too, right? Gideon is entirely sarcastic, selfish, and unlikable … so naturally, I’m absolutely in love with her. This unhealthy relationship she has with Harrow is just … I live for this. They hate each other with such passion that they are in this game of one-upmanship at who can make the other’s life more miserable. But THE BANTER. They get in the harshest insults and burns. It’s fantastic. I’ll warn that there’s a lot of foul language, though, for those who aren’t interested in reading that.
So … I may have gotten the entire Shamer Chronicles on Edelweiss+, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve been wanting to read these books. The idea of having the power to make someone tell the truth by looking them in the eye is both terrifying and exciting. Also … dragons! I’m sure you all know by now how I feel about them. I also really try to read at least several books a year by authors outside the US, and this is a Danish author. So I’m looking forward to this series.
I’m also reading Gideon right now, and it’s very strange and different, but so far I’m enjoying it!
It’s definitely different. Not quite what I expected, maybe, but I do love it so far, though I was a little slow really getting into the story.
You’ve been reading all my anticipated books. I’d die to get my hands on The Lady Rogue and Pet. So glad you enjoyed them
Nooo don’t die. Then how would you read them?! xD The Lady Rogue was definitely fun, and I hope they make it a series! Pet is one of those books that really makes you think of deeper things. I hope you enjoy them both when you get to read them. 🙂
Gideon the ninth is so intriguing. I’m gonna add it on my TBr, Have a happy reading week Sammie. 🙂
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it! It’s going to be a series (there’s already, I think, four books on Goodreads for it), so that’s always promising. 😀
The Lady Rogue sounds so good! I definitely can’t wait to get a copy. Have a wonderful week and happy reading! Here’s my WWW.
I hope you enjoy it when you get to pick it up!
The lady rogue sounds great even with the anachronisms but the ghost collector sounds amazing!!!
I think you’d like it! It seems right up your alley, honestly, and a great one if, heaven forbid, your littles ever need to face that sort of grief (loss of a loved one). It broke my heart, but the ending was beautiful.
The Lady Rouge sounds amazing!!!
So good! Definitely one I’d recommend. 🙂
The Shamer Chronicles looks interesting – I really like the cover art!
Isn’t it gorgeous?! These are redesigns for the republication, but I like them much better than the originals.
I didn’t know Akwaeke Emezi had another book! I read Freshwater earlier this year and enjoyed it so I’ll definitely check out Pet. Thanks! Happy reading to you too 🙂
Funny, I didn’t realize she had an older book. xD So I guess I’ll have to check out Freshwater. 😛 So thanks for that.
haha!
The Ghost Collector sounds really neat! Though I have to admit I’m sad you didn’t answer your original WWW questions. 😉
I don’t write my own WWW posts, but I just finished reading N.K. Jemisin’s How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? (highly recommended), I’m currently reading Aliette de Bodard’s The Tea Master and the Detective, and next up is probably Seanan McGuire’s The Winter Long.
Aye! Finally seeing reviews of Lady Rogue and they aren’t disappointing!
I was supposed to start Gideon this week but somehow I became a mood reader and other things jumped ahead. Not sure how that happened exactly…but it’s coming. And it sounds fantastic from what you said!
Lady Rogue wasn’t quite everything I had hoped it would be, but I do hope it gets a series, because I’d love to focus more on their adventures and such. 😉
Being a mood reader is so terribly inconvenient, isn’t it? xD I hope you enjoy it when you get the chance!
Lol yes it really is!!! But this is a much more flexible time than the summer so I can deal! I’ve never been a mood before. And admittedly, I am right now, a mood.
I’m sure I will enjoy it! Thank you love!
The answers:
1. Awesomeness.
2. Sun Tzu because every army needs a strategist, first and foremost.
3. It’s a trick question. No one doesn’t want to be a necromancer. xD Come on.
You should join WWW! It’s lots of fun and there’s a nice community. 🙂
Oooh, I’ve seen How Long ‘Til Black Future Month sort of in passing but didn’t know what it was really about. Just read the blurb and it sounds great! Definitely adding it to my TBR. 😀
I haven’t read the October Daye series yet, but I really need to. I love Seanan McGuire’s writing style.
LOL, thank you. I really like your answers. 😉
I’ve thought about joining WWW, but I’m currently doing a WIP Wednesday series, so Wednesdays are usually full. Maybe if I’ll join WWW for an occasional week when I’m not sure what else to post. (Or maybe I’ll re-arrange my posting schedule and join regularly.)
…Black Future Month is a short story collection, but really enjoyable. I also appreciate that if you don’t like the specific short, you can skip a story. But they were all really high quality.
The October Daye series is fun, but really long. I’m hoping I can finish the series this year without getting annoyed at any repetition. (So far so good, but you never know.)
Oh good, I’m glad I didn’t disappoint. xD
Well, that’s true, and I did notice that. Loved your post for this WIP Wednesday, so no complaints here lol.
Long series are hard, and i think it’s easy to sometimes get burned out on them, especially when you read them all at once lol.
😀
Thanks, I enjoy the writing variety that different blog series allow for, so I’m always glad to hear that people enjoy reading them, too.
It can be hard to read them all at once! But I do want to get caught up, so that does mean reading them more frequently than I had been…
I think I like the sound of every single book you mention here! 🙂
Woe to your TBR. xD
Oh I’m really curious to your thoughts on Gideon the ninth!
I’m about to pick up record of a spaceborn few!
(www.evelynreads.com)
Stay tuned! xD Oh, I’ve heard good things about that series! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
That’s it. I’m going to you for all the dragon books 😀 And good job on finishing The Lady Rogue!!
Wow. So, I was totally going to say but I haven’t read a dragon book! I forgot that my upcoming books are dragon books. DUH. Phew, I think I need to go lie down, because I’ve clearly overtaxed my brain and it’s short-circuited. xD From now on, I will be curator of the dragon books! Eventually, I’m doomed to make a post recommending dragon books. But first, there’s still three or four I want to read. 😛
Ooh, I really like the sound of The Ghost Collector. And I’ve never heard of the Shamer series, but that sounds like a good one, too.
I totally recommend The Ghost Collector! It was super cute.
The Ghost Collector sounds wonderful! I’ve heard so many great things about Gideon the Ninth so I’m glad you’re enjoying it so far! It sounds ace, I think I might need to bump it up a couple places on my tbr.
I hope you enjoy it when you read it. 🙂 The characters sure are a trip. I’m sort of taking notes at the wonderful insults thrown between them. xD
I’ve been curious about Pet! Middle grade books nowadays seem to be *killing* it in terms of representation and depth, and they make me wish I was a kid again so I can appreciate them fully. 😀
Ooooh boy, Gideon sounds a-MA-zing, and I can’t wait to try it. That unhealthy relationship! *Rubs hands in glee* And ahhh, I first read the Shamer’s Chronicle years ago when I was a teen, and it ended up being one of my favourite series. I love how much of a family affair the story is.
Right? When I was a kid, I was thrilled to have found *one* book with a little black girl on the cover. Took till preteens to find another. But now they’ve got books on all the important things and enough where there’s representation for almost everyone.
It’s so unhealthy, but I just can’t stop loving it. xD I want them to be a team forever, under duress, just for my amusement. Which is probably selfish of me, but I’m fine with that.
Oh, I’m glad to hear that you liked it so much! It seems to have a bit mixed reviews, but it sounds along the lines of the sorts of things I enjoy, so I’m looking forward to giving it a read. 🙂
I would have KILLED to have read a book with good Korean rep as a kid, and now I’m seeing more and more of them pop up in middle grade and YA. And that makes me so happy. 😀
To be fair, I might be viewing the Shamers series with a nostalgia lens, so I’m not sure what an adult reader might think of it. But I still think it offers a lot good things, so fingers crossed it works for you!
Yes, I’m so loving the push for diversity! I’ve always loved other cultures, and I’m just thrilled now that it’s easy to get access to books about other cultures and from different viewpoints.
Isn’t that sort of the rub with mid-grade and YA sometimes? xD I have books that I loved as a teen that I don’t want to re-read, just in case adulthood ruins them. But we’ll see! I’ve read some awesome mid-grade books lately.
I always have a good chuckle with the introduction to your WWWs! Love the fun/quirky questions you come up with 😍 Looks like you had a really good reading week! Also, this is the second time today that I’ve seen this Gideon the Fifth book and I’m so intrigued. Never heard about it before today (I may be living under a rock?) 😅 And holy wow, the Shamer Chronicles sounds mad! What a freaking power to haaaaave?! 😏
I’m glad you like them! Sometimes it’s really hard to come up with something. xD
Are we living under adjoining rocks?! 😮 And I never even noticed?! Gideon the Ninth is really good so far! You must be living under a rock to not have heard it already. 😛 But that’s okay! You know now. 😉
Hahaha I live deep in my reading cave and it’s really hard to get me out 😂 Honestly though, I don’t know how I’ve been reading all these years outside of the book community. How did I even know about new books!? It’s so hard to fathom now when I’m constantly adding new books (like Gideon!) to my list 😂
RIGHT? I’ve been blogging for, like, a year and a half and I try to think back on before I started blogging and I’m just like … how did I even know about books? Did I just, like, walk into a store or something? How do I know what’s good?! How do I decide between the 10,000 books on the shelves?! I don’t even know.