It’s time again to ask ourselves the three W’s:
Would you take the trials to become a Blade?
Would you seek vengeance or justice?
What would your shadow creature be, young darkin?
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 Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
★★★☆☆ || Goodreads
It’s done, guys. It’s finally done. *cries happy tears* My buddy read group was sort of torn on this. Half the group gave it one star and half three stars, but we all pretty much agreed it was nothing to phone home about and at least 300 pages too long. Listen, when this book was good, it was great. But the other 80% of the time? Well. It was such a slog. Shannon is a master world-builder, that much is clear, but I don’t want that much description of a world and its history, personally. I find it so dull to read. As far as characters go, I loved Ead and her complexities. I started out really liking Niclays, too, but that sort of waned as the story went on. Other than that, I didn’t really connect with much of anyone. Also, for a book about dragons, where dragons are basically gods, it didn’t really spend a whole lot of time dragoning. I think this book might be better received by someone who really likes high fantasy with deep, intricate world-building, which just isn’t me.
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
★★★★★ || Goodreads
I have waited a long freaking time to read this book so that I could read the entire series together and not have to suffer through cliffhangers. Was it worth it? Okay, yeah, maybe. I mean, it’s a book about assassins learning to … well, assassinate. What’s not to love? I knew it was going to be a good time when the book opened with a love scene and a murder scene in parallel, as foils of each other. Yup, that sums up the rest of the book pretty dang well. Kristoff also has that sort of dark, sarcastic humor that I just can’t get enough of. I actually sat down and read the last 150 pages of this in one go because I just had to know how it ended.
Reviews Posted This Week
Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff
Status: 6%
Mia Corvere has found her place among the Blades of Our Lady of Blessed Murder, but many in the Red Church hierarchy think she’s far from earned it. Plying her bloody trade in a backwater of the Republic, she’s no closer to ending the men who destroyed her familia; in fact, she’s told directly that Consul Scaeva is off limits. But after a deadly confrontation with an old enemy, Mia’s suspicions about the Red Church’s true motives begin to grow.
I’m not very far into this, but being able to read all three books back-to-back certainly has its advantages. Jumping right in after Nevernight means no waiting after that ending, and immediately getting to hop back into the adventure with Mia, who I so appreciate. Also, Mister Kindly is clearly the best, and I love these characters so much.
I didn’t make a whole lot of progress reading-wise this week. I’ve just started Godsgrave, and that and Darkdawn are pretty hefty books, so for now, I think I’m going to just stick to the same old upcoming reads from last week. Boring, I know. But realistically, I probably won’t get to more than that this week.
My one new addition (only because it’s a library loan and has to go back this week and it’s pretty short, so I’m hoping to squeeze it in) is A Monster Calls, which will be my introduction to Patrick Ness, which has been a long time coming. I’m ready for all the feels from this book.
If you’re interested in what I may be reading this coming month, though, I did finally post my possibility pile for the Frightening Good Reads 2019, and you can check that out here. I do hope to get through at least a good portion of these during October!
I MUST get to Darkdawn soon, I don’t know why I haven’t yet. And I love Mr. Kindly so much, but I am a little worried for him in the last book…
What?! Why?! Noooo, nothing must happen to him. *cries* I couldn’t put Godsgrave down, and I’ve already hit 20% today. xD So hopefully, Darkdawn won’t be too far away for me. I hope you can get to it soon, too!
godsgrave looks soooo good love! I hope you’re enjoying it
Well, I started it first thing this morning, and I’m already 30% through and don’t want to put it down … so yup, I’m pretty much absolutely in love with this story. xD
Well done on finishing The Priory of the Orange Tree – it sounds like it was a beast to get through. Such a shame it didn’t live up to that gorgeous cover! Here’s my WWW post for this week: https://thebookwormchronicles.wordpress.com/2019/10/09/www-wednesday-9th-october-2019/ 🙂
It sure does have a gorgeous cover, but yeah, wow, no. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great, either, in my opinion. It was just … a lot. xD I’ve read longer books where you finish 800 pages and you’re like … why did the words stop? This wasn’t one of those, unfortunately.
I’m so happy you loved Nevernight! I really need to pick up the last one!
I’m currently reading Rivers of London and listening to drums of autumn!
(www.evelynreads.com)
You doooo! I’m flying through the second one, and it’s just so gooood.
Drums of Autumn sounds really interesting. Hope you’re enjoying them!
I haven’t read any of these books, but now I’m intrigued. Thanks for sharing, and here’s MY WWW POST
Hope you get a chance to check them out! 🙂
Ugh, I hate it when long books aren’t worth the payoff. EDIT, ALREADY! I hope your next reads are more enjoyable!
I’m reading the Nevernight series, soooo … yup, they totally are. 😉 I’m loving it so far and don’t want to stop. Pfft, adulting is overrated. Don’t they know I’m trying to read?!
Oh good! I’m glad your current reads are more enjoyable. And yeah, we need a national reading holiday (or three) so that we all get paid to stay home and read.
I mean, I’m willing to compromise. I’m okay with going to work and reading, too. xD
Well, okay. If we must. I guess we have to work to get the money to buy more books.
Oh dear, you don’t exactly help me want to pick up The Priory Of The Orange Tree… I guess I’ll leave it gathering dust for a while longer haha. I do want to pick up Nevernight ASAP though! And A Monster Calls is as good as it gets when it comes to his books; it’s one of my all time favorites! Have a wonderful week and happy reading.
Oh nooo, I’m sorry. xD I think if you enjoy high fantasy, it might be better for you. I actually am really picky with high fantasy for just this reason, because it seems like a lot of the ones I pick up are just too much world for me, and I’m not interested.
I soooo highly recommend Nevernight! I loved it. I’ve already read a third of Godsgrave, even though I just started today. xD
Hmmm I do like my worldbuilding, but I’m not sure if I could try to commit to such a beast of a book just yet… I might just wait until the hype has died down a bit. 😉 I’m not doing so with Nevernight though; I’m hoping to read the first book next month or so. I hope you will enjoy the sequel as well!
I hope you get to Nevernight soon! I’m on the third book already, and I would highly recommend that you have the third book in hand when you start the second, because you will NOT want to pause between the two. xD Best advice I’ve ever gotten regarding this series lol.
I already have a copy of all three on my kindle, but it’s good to know I’ll have to free some time to read them all in a row! 🙂
The Priory book was not a win for me. I couldn’t do it. It was like 😴
I think my entire reading group agrees with you. It wasn’t really a win for anyone there, unfortunately. xD I definitely think it would’ve been so much better if it was cut in, like, half.
I saw the audio book was 25 hours and I was like 🙄
A dearth of dragoning is a disappointment indeed. As much as I love fantasy, I feel I’ve avoided taking the plunge on a lot of the new stuff. I’m probably missing out on a lot of great stuff, but I keep to my safe bets, for the most part, for whatever reason.
There’s nothing wrong with that. I feel like if I weighed my ratings for new releases, they’re pretty much majority three-star reads, in my opinion. Sure, I sometimes find some five-star reads that I love, but would I have come across those eventually if I didn’t read new releases? Yeah, probably. So I totally get where you’re coming from, too.
A Monster Calls has been on my TBR for years! I guess, I’ll let you read it first and wait for your say about it and decide if I should read it next. 😉
Here’s mine this week:
https://happymesshappiness.wordpress.com/2019/10/09/www-wednesday-09-oct-2019
Thank you LORD!
Cant wait to see what you think of Hall!!
I read it all today. READ IT. But also, have some tissues handy just in case. XD That was the best advice I got going in, and yeah, it’s pretty apt advice lol.
I’d make sure to have ‘em ready, too, when it’s my turn to read it!😉 Review coming?
I honestly don’t know if I can review it other than to say read it. I’ll do a mini review this Wednesday for WWW, but it’s really short and I feel like if I say much of anything, it’s going to spoil it. It’s one of those that it unfolds as it goes, so it’s about the experience.
Then I should read it ASAP to understand how you’re feeling now. 😉
Yes, you totally should! It’s pretty short. Just over 100 pages, I think? I read it in a couple hours tops.
Haha! I’d find a way this weekend.😉
I need to get to the Nevernight series soon. I have waited far to long to read it.
Can’t recommend it enough! I’m definitely loving it so far.
Oh I loved A Monster Calls so much! I hope you enjoy it!
That was NOT my entire comment lol
Sorry that Priory of the Orange Tree was a disappointment. I’ve been hearing a lot about that one. Sounds like Nevernight made up for it though. Happy reading!
Priory seems to be one of those books that you either love or you don’t. xD There’s a lot of those, though.
Nevernight is definitely a great series so far!
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