It’s time again to ask ourselves the three W’s:
What would you do if a classmate went missing?
Would you fear the djinn?
Would you ask a spirit for help?
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.
Diamond City by Francesca Flores (Review posting on 1/23)
★★★★☆ || Goodreads
I had a hard time getting into and staying into this one in the beginning, and I don’t know why. But once it really got going, I did end up enjoying it! It’s full of everything you’d hope an urban fantasy like this would be: reluctant partnerships, lots of action, plenty of fight scenes, and plenty of mystery. My biggest problem was the magic system felt more wishy-washy than it did soft, with no strong basis for how it works or why or for whom. It’s based in religion and didn’t quite make sense to me.
Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
★★★★★ || Goodreads
This book. YOU GUYS, THIS BOOK. Go read it. Right now. I’m already calling that this will be my favorite of 2020. Maybe an upstart will dethrone it, since there’s a lot of year left, but it’s gonna be a pretty hard one to beat. I went in with reservations, considering the last Rick Riordan Presents book I read (Aru Shah), I ended up DNFing. But y’all, this was sooo good. When I first read the summary, I was a teensy bit disappointed that it was supposed to be “black gods” and then it mentioned John Henry and I was like … pfft John Henry’s not a god. There are actual kick-ass black gods, like the Loa. While there are some Akan gods in this book, the way the rest of the “gods” is spun was really unique and I ended up loving it! I don’t want to spoil anything by naming names, because discovering them was half the fun. There were several times where something popped up and I recognized the belief or the story it was from, and that was really exciting. Tristan makes for a super relatable protagonist, as he’s dealing with grief and survivor’s guilt and pressure from his family and not feeling seen or heard by adults. The other characters in this are also … characters. I loved all their personalities! Especially Gum Baby. Some of her scenes just had me in stitches, I was laughing so hard. So yeah, go read this. And the next one comes out at the end of the year, and I am SO FREAKING READY.
Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac
★★★★☆ || Goodreads
I read this one with my eight-year-old. It was her book choice, actually, and a re-read for her, since they’d read it in school and she loved it. I can understand why. The story is based on Mohawk beliefs. The antagonist, Skeleton Man, is a more kid-friendly version of the Wendigo. The story involves quite a few American Indian beliefs, but in a way that still read like a contemporary book and made it really easy for younger kids to understand them, which I enjoyed. The book was just full of a lot of creepiness and mystery, and it was a fun read. The only real problem I had was the quickness and ease of the resolution (which I sort of expect with these sorts of books, anyway, so that’s kind of par for the course) and how meandering and random Molly’s commentary felt at times.
Reviews Posted This Week
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
Status: 39%
Set in a kingdom where danger lurks beneath the sea, mermaids seek vengeance with song, and magic is a choice, Adalyn Grace’s All the Stars and Teeth is a thrilling fantasy for fans of Stephanie Garber’s Caraval and Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series.
She will reign.
As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer—the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.
When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.
But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder—and more peril—than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.
I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom.
I’ve been reading this one, but also feeling like I’m slightly sinking into a reading slump. I’m not sure what it is. The book isn’t boring, and I’m enjoying it, but I may just not entirely be in the mood for it right now. So I started something else, too (see below).
I don’t fully understand all the magic in this world, but it’s different and exciting. I’m also not sure I entirely understand the threat of using multiple magics, even though it’s repeated over and over again that, yes, it is very dangerous.
I do so love these characters, though. Amora is so strong and determined to save her people, but also out on the adventure to see her world that she’s always wanted, and the two are just a teensy bit conflicting. Bastian is every bit as suave and charming as you would expect a pirate to be, and he’s adorable. I would not be opposed to fleeing with him at all. 😉 And they end up with a tag-along, who I love equally well, and gah, I’m such a sucker for the loyal friend who will stay by your side sort of trope.
Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara
Status: 8%
‘Djinns aren’t real, but if they were, they would only steal children because we have the most delicious souls’
Nine-year-old Jai watches too many reality police shows, thinks he’s smarter than his friend Pari (even though she always gets top marks) and considers himself to be a better boss than Faiz (even though Faiz is the one with a job). When a boy at school goes missing, Jai decides to use the crime-solving skills he has picked up from episodes of Police Patrol to find him. With Pari and Faiz by his side, Jai ventures into some of the most dangerous parts of the city; the bazaar at night, and even the railway station at the end of the Purple Line. But kids continue to vanish, and the trio must confront terrified parents, an indifferent police force and soul-snatching djinns in order to uncover the truth.
When the fog of rumour rolls back, the detective game is no longer child’s play. And as the disappearances edge ever closer to home, the lives of Jai and his friends will never be the same again.
‘This story is a talisman. Hold it close to your hearts.’
So this one started off really strong and interesting with immediate lore and magical realism and charm and oh how I loved it. Then it slowed down a little with the next chapter. Yeah, I’m only two chapters in. The author deposits us right in the heart of India, and while I love the realism, it’s also been sort of jarring adjusting to the foreign words and slang and concepts. It’s just everything all at once. I’m interested in it so far, though, and eager to see where it’ll go.
I have options, and because I’m indecisive, that’s probably a bad idea, but I’m gonna run with it. I need to pick up Dread Nation and its upcoming sequel, Deathless Divide, and I’m so freaking excited to finally read them. Although, they’re both kinda long, so I’m thinking one of them, at least, might make an appearance next week, if not both.
I’ve seen that The Library of Ever is getting ready to have a sequel release this year, and I was curious about the book last year but never had the chance to read it. So I’m thinking at right around 200 pages, I can squeeze this in as a little bit of lighter reading this week. I’m a sucker for books about libraries anyway.
Speaking of libraries, mine also just got in Shades of Magic Vol. 1. I’ve been really interested in reading this and was so excited when I saw we got it in! Now I just have to convince them to buy the next two volumes and we’ll be golden.
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What are you reading this week? Anything you’d recommend? Link to your WWW posts below so I can visit you!
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I’m so curious about Djinn Patrol. It’s supposed to be amazing, so I hope you finish it and write a review😁
I will for suuuure. It’ll probably be up next week, assuming I finish it this week. xD I didn’t read as much this week as I’d hoped, so I have no idea how far I’ll actually get with this whole reading thing. 😛 I’ve heard such good things about it, though, that I’m hoping it’ll pick up. The first chapter was WOW. The second was kind of meh and confusing. But at only 8% in, it’s got looots of time to turn around.
Your thoughts on Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky made me want to read it…soon! Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.
I hope you get the chance to!
Your current reads are both very intriguing. I would definitely pick them up. I can’t wait to hear what you think of them when you finish.❤️
When I get in a reading slump, I pick up something totally out of the norm for myself – like a light romantic comedy😊
Thanks. They both seem like they’re going to be reeeeally difficult books to review. Because of course they are. xD
That’s a good idea! I’ve been thinking about doing that. I did pick up Djinn Patrol, and I’m pretty into that now, but I’ve got some graphic novels on standby, in case I just want some pretty eye candy instead. xD
If it helps at all I listened to Dread Nation because I wanted to use it my last year and needed to get to it along with a lot of other books at once and the narration is fantastic.
I don’t have the audiobook, so it doesn’t help all that much. xD But I take it you liked it, so that’s exciting. 😀
Sometimes I’m just not in the right mood for a book. I’ll just temporarily DNF it and come back to it later. Glad you enjoyed your last three reads!
That’s a good strategy! I’ll probably make my way back to it after I finish this other book, and hopefully, it’ll work for me by then. :3
All the Stars and Teeth looks great! Just another book to add to my list…. :p
Ha, you’re welcome. xD I added way too many books to my list this past week while blog hopping, too, so … I feel you.
Enjoy your reading!
All the stars and teeth sounds interesting!
(www.evelynreads.com)
Thanks! It’s been a fun read so far.
Honestly, the title Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the Sky was enough to pique my interest lol Your enthusiasm has definitively landed the book on my TBR shelf though. Don’t know when I’ll get to it, but I don’t want to forget it. Have a great week!
http://musewithmeblog.com/2020/01/22/www-wednesday-january-22-2020/
That title is definitely what first caught my attention when it was announced. 100% can confirm that Tristan Strong does, indeed, punch a hole in the sky. I hope you enjoy it when you do get to it. :3
I’m glad it delivers on what it promises. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven is a great book, but it lets down the gloriously stupid implications of the title.
Well, that’s such a disappointment, especially since that’s a freaking amazing title!
You really know how to sell a book! You make Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the Sky sounds so amazing. I can’t help but to check it out!
Ha, the book sells itself, it’s that good. 😛 I hope you enjoy it! I did a group buddy read with two other people, and we all loved it.
Lovely to hear you’ve been reading with your daughter, and shame about the slump. I felt that way a bit with feeing poorly but I think I wasn’t Making good choices – reading books I thought I should get round to rather than by instinct- since I moved back to instinct my reading has picked up again- maybe DNF if you’re not quite feeling it and reread something shorter but enjoyable to get your flow back?
Thanks for the advice! Sorry for the late comment, but that’s what I did. 🙂 Snuck in a quick mid-grade book that was just bookish whimsy and fun, and when I went back to All the Stars and Teeth, I’m into it now! Worked like a charm. 😉
Brilliant!
I might read Skeleton Man, it’s interesting. Also, your kid is so cute for wanting to read it again and with you. 🙂
Ha, thanks. She has her moments. xD When she was trying to tell me about the book when she read it in class, I was like … what the heck are they having you read in school?! o.0 But it was a cute read.
Hehe. The title indeed don’t seem for shool reading. ☺
OH NO! The dreaded reading slump!? I hope that it skips right over you and one of the books that you’re reading will pull you out of it! I’ve been reading really slowly so far this year (lol) and it’s been bothering me coz it kinda makes me feel slumpish but I hope I pick up reading more soon! I’ve been really curious about The Will and the Wilds as I’ve read one of her other books before–it also just sounds so good! I’ll be checking out your review after this 🙂 Hope your reading picks up soon, Sammie! Stay strong and resist the slump!! 💪🏽 Also, really keen to see what you think of the Shades of Magic graphic novel! That’s one I’ve been dying to get my hands on since I learned about it 😭 Happy reading!
I changed to a whimsical mid-grade book and then went back to All the Stars and Teeth, and I’m into it more now. xD Must’ve just been a mood haha.
I meant to read that this week and just haven’t yet. The art is so pretty, but also, I’m sort of sad that I only have the first one and might not be able to get my hands on the next two, soooo … I’m procrastinating on it haha.
Okay, so what you’re telling me is that I have a date with Tristan Strong this year. Right? Sounds like a plan.
Also, no judgement here for picking up a second book to read because you’re not always feeling the first one. I have 4 books as my current “active” reads (and a non-fiction monster that I’m part-way through and will get back to eventually).
You potentially have TWO dates with Tristan Strong, because the second book comes out in … October, I think? So if you like the first one enough, you might be seeing him again sooner than you think. 😉
I aaaalmost got to four books myself, but I ended up finishing one, so I’m back to three reads haha.
Oooh, even better!