It’s time again to ask ourselves the three W’s:
What if a dragon killed someone you loved?
Would you hunt them down?
Would you give your life over to vengeance?
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 Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood
★★☆☆☆ || Goodreads
This is obviously an unpopular opinion, since so many people seemed to really like this. I really waffled between two stars and three stars, but with the amount of times I wanted to DNF this, I decided to drop it. This book was just a mix of everything. If I was rating it on the last two parts alone, it’d probably be four, maybe even five stars. They were fabulous. But part one of the book? One star. It felt like a 130-page prologue summarizing everything that happened to our protagonists to get us up to the present day where the actual story starts, and that was, in my opinion, not a great way to introduce the world and the characters. It was slow, and it skipped a lot of really important development (a whole two years of it, actually), and then thrust us into part two, which was like starting a whole new book with characters that were already wildly different than they were in part one because of a hefty time skip of five years between parts. I suspect, now that the actual plot is under way, book two in this series will be a delight. I will say, though, that I think Tal is my new favorite character, maybe ever? This book was worth reading for him alone.
The Golden Key by Mirian Womack
★★★☆☆ || Goodreads
This book was a little of everything. It’s beautifully Gothic, with a spooky atmosphere and lush descriptions. It reads like classic Gothic literature, albeit slightly more accessible to a modern reader, which can be a good or bad thing depending on whether it’s a style you particularly enjoy. I loved the way it unfolded a little at a time and constantly kept me guessing. I didn’t love that it was an open ending, though, because those are my arch-nemeses. I’m just not a fan of them.
Why Don’t You Write My Eulogy Now So I Can Correct It? by Patricia Marx & Roz Chast
★★★★★ || Goodreads
The title of this is what grabbed my attention and made me pick it up, because how can you not? This is a really short book, mostly full of cartoons with captions. There wasn’t much substance, but I picked it up for a laugh, and it delivered on that. The author’s mother is obviously a trip, and I couldn’t help but giggle.
You Can Only Yell at Me For One Thing at a Time by Patricia Marx & Roz Chast
★★★★★ || Goodreads
This is much the same as above, except geared towards relationships, and it had me cackling madly and sharing pages with my husband. There’s some solid relationship advice in here, like, “It is easier to stay inside and wait for the snow to melt than to fight about who should shovel,” and, “Don’t kayak in rough waters with the beneficiary of your life insurance policy.” I think I enjoyed this one more than the previous one only because it felt more relatable to me, personally, and I just couldn’t stop laughing.
Highfire by Eoin Colfer
DNF @ page 55 || Goodreads
Oh, this book. I just … I don’t even know what happened here. My director handed me this and asked if I’d read it and determine whether or not we should catalog it or send it back, because she’d ordered it based on the author, who also penned the Artemis Fowl series, which our younger patrons love. However, this is an adult book, so she had concerns, and yup, she was right. My recommendation, unfortunately, will be to send this back, and I’m sad to say it, because I had expected to love this. I mean, a snarky, sarcastic, pessimistic alcoholic dragon as a protagonist? A comedic fantasy? This book sounded tailor-written for me. In the end, it is just filled with random unnecessary cursing, too much exposition and jumping in the storyline that makes it hard to follow, and way too many dick and ball jokes. It’s just replete with really weird body humor that felt so out of place and random. If it was a quirk of one character, okay, maybe. But all three point of view characters (a teenage boy, a really old dragon, and a middle-aged sheriff) all sound exactly alike. I just … no. This is a no from me.
Reviews Posted This Week
Black Leviathan by Bernd Perplies
Status: 30%
Beware! A shadow will cover you, larger than that cast by any other dragon of this world. Black as the lightless chasm from whence it was born at the beginning of time.
In the coastal city Skargakar, residents make a living from hunting dragons and use them for everything from clothing to food, while airborne ships hunt them in the white expanse of a cloud sea, the Cloudmere.
Lian does his part carving the kyrillian crystals that power the ships through the Cloudmere, but when he makes an enemy of a dangerous man, Lian ships out on the next vessel available as a drachenjager, or dragon hunter.
He chooses the wrong ship. A fanatic captain, hunts more than just any dragon. His goal is the Firstborn Gargantuan—and Adaron is prepared to sacrifice everything for revenge.
Are you surprised to see this still here?! No? Welp, that’s fair. It’s taking me a little while to get through this, even though it’s short, but I’m loving it. I’m sort of just enjoying staying in this world, and I never want to leave, and I’m side-eyeing the percent read of this go up and already mourning the inevitably day when I have to leave Skargakar.
This world is just absolutely massive and brutal and breathtaking and … I don’t even know. I’ve already found the character that I’m probably going to fall in love with because he’s all mysterious, with dark skin and glowing green eyes and he’s a dragon hunter and just … yes, please. I hate to say it, but he’s probably going to die. That seems to be the outcome for the characters I like. *siiigh*
The action is just starting to rev up, and there’s been some really dark, foreboding warnings about the ship and captain and Lian is like, “Pfffft,” and I’m just like … follow the brown-skinned, green-eyed god into danger, please, and keep him alive, whatever you do, for my sake.
Watch Hollow: The Alchemist’s Shadow by Gregory Funaro
Status: 26/225
New York Times bestselling author Gregory Funaro brings us the second installment of the thrilling Watch Hollow series, where magic exists, monsters roam, and wooden animals come to life.
Having defeated the Garr, a vicious tree monster who lived within the enchanted woods of Watch Hollow, Lucy and Oliver Tinker now have the home they’ve always dreamed of: Blackford House. Powered by a magical clock and full of curious rooms and improbable knickknacks, Blackford House brims with the promise of new adventures.
Yet when a strange governess arrives from England—bringing with her the Kojima twins, Agatha and Algernon—the Tinker children’s once bright future quickly begins to dim. The Kojimas claim to be the rightful heirs to Blackford House, and soon after their arrival, a great evil enters the Tinkers’ new home, cursing it and turning it into an ever-changing labyrinth.
As a result, Lucy and Oliver, along with their clock animal friends, must now join forces with the twins to escape this labyrinth and save Blackford House, all while a new monster lurks around the corner.
I’ve obviously just started reading this one. It’s for an upcoming blog tour, soooo … stay tuned. 😉 February 25th is my day, so I’m going to keep the talk here a little lighter and you’ll just have to come back and check out the stops to find out more.
I really liked the first one, and this was easy to fall right back into that world. So far, it’s introduced two new children and a few new adults, and I’m already interested in them. I hit the first really creepy foreshadowing and it involves a doll and holy heck, noooo. Dolls creepy me out SO FREAKING MUCH. So despite being a middle grade book, I’m thinking this one’s definitely going to be creepy for me, just because the subject, and I’m ready for this. Bring it on.
Guys. I don’t even know. I DON’T KNOW. Ehhhh … I know what I should be reading next, but I don’t know what I will read next, and ugh, decisions are hard. I’ve got three ARCs that come out next Tuesday, so I’m going to go ahead and prioritize those, which seems like a pretty good idea, if I do say so myself.
I read Damsel last year, and it was a little … shocking? Totally not what I expected (and not what I would consider YA), but I really enjoyed Arnold’s writing style, so I immediately jumped on Red Hood when I saw it announced. I feel like I know what to expect going in, so it’ll probably be an even more enjoyable experience.
I’ve also got The Shadows Between Us, which hooked me right away with that blurb. Woo and marry a king just to assassinate him and seize his kingdom? That’s coooold, man. I LOVE IT. This sounds like it’s going to be a fabulous enemies to lovers, and y’all know how much that trope gives me life.
On my quest to read more middle grade, I stumble across The Wonder of Wildflowers, and I love that it tackles the concept of immigration and “other” in a magical setting. I’m really looking forward to seeing exactly how that plays out, because it sounds like it’ll be a powerful read.
That’s a shame about Highfire. I’m like you – based on his other books and the premise, I would have expected it to be very good. Oh, well! ❤️
As I always say, you can’t win them all! And it seems like other people are very much enjoying it, and I’m in the minority, like usual. I’ve just sort of mad my spot here. *sticks flag in ground* Might as well just stake a claim here, in unpopular opinion territory. xD
I’ve seen other posts about it being disappointing so there might be more people around your flag then you realize 😊
Oh, good. *steeples fingers* Little by little, we can take over the world, then! Muahaha!
I’m really curious to hear what you think about Red Hood. I have it on my TBR but I’m waiting for a couple of reviews to see if I actually want to read it:-)
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Ah, this is such a familiar feeling. xD I’ve got several books I’m sitting on like that, too, that I wasn’t brave enough to request ARCs for just in case.
Woah wait. I need a minute.
No. Wait.
Wait.
What.
Wait. I have questions.
The drunk dragons you put in my head have questions.
You DNFd highfire?
Welp. That’s coming off the TBR.
And I guess we are sending our dragons to Betty Ford.
I diiiid. I was very disappointed, since I expected to love it. Guess I can’t recommend it after all? We’ll have to go elsewhere for drunk dragons, I guess.
What a really great post and love your sense of humour. Oh, and thanks for the heads up about Highfire by Eoin Colfer, definitely one to avoid.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I am curious about Red Hood. Enjoy your books, and here’s MY WWW POST
Hopefully, it’s as good as it sounds! Thanks.
Sounds like a mixed bag of reading this week, I’m glad there were some great ones amongst them! How do you feel about recommending sending a book back? It’s kind of a big decision, when it’s on behalf of the library, not just yourself. Having said that, based on what you said, I would send it back as well 😉
It was definitely a mixed bag this week, but even though I wasn’t a huge fan of The Unspoken Name, I do plan to follow the author for more books, so I’m still counting that as a win. 😉
It’s a pretty big decision? Like, I feel awkward having all this power. Yet, still not enough to take over the world. What gives?! But ultimately, I know what our patrons read and like, mostly. So I just weigh it based on our limited shelf space, if it seems like something that would get read. And it does not. Our patrons skew majority older Christians who read a lot of cozy mystery, paranormal romance, and inspirational, with the older men preferring Westerns. Even the ones that read sci-fi and fantasy tend not to read the coarser books (no matter how many times I try to throw Nevernight at people).
Ahh, that is good reg. still following the author of Unspoken Name. I’m *unfortunately* not good at giving authors second chances, after a big disappointment.
Haha, I suppose deciding on a book is still a few steps away from world domination 😉 , but I always feel a bit hesitant, when taking decisions on behalf of others, whereas I have no problems with dramatic actions, if they only affect myself. But of course, you work in a library, you are meant to be the expert! And it sounds like you know what you are talking about. 😀
Unfortunately, it’s part of my job. It’s what we do all the time. Limited shelf space means needing to gauge what’s worth keeping, what our patrons will (and do) enjoy, and what doesn’t get enough attention to warrant a spot. I try to give everything careful consideration, though! I try to take my own personal feeling out of making the decision, unless I need it to make some sort of judgment call to tip the scale a bit. 🙂
You’ve definitely made me curious about The Golden Key! I don’t mind an open ending depending on the story, and I do love a Gothic story, so I might just give it a go to see if it’s for me. Have a wonderful week and happy reading!
I hope you enjoy it if you do pick it up!
I was interested with Highfire because Dragons. But after hearing your thoughts, I think I will not be picking it up.
Thank you for dropping by in my blog. Happy reading.💕
I will generally pick up anything and everything that has dragons (which is why I initially wanted to read it, too), but yeah, that’s just not my style of book, for sure.
I will take your words for it.😂
Oh no, I’m sorry Highfire didn’t work for you. And it really had so much going for it. I’m still going to give it a try but I’ll lower my expectations a tad now. I am also excited for The Shadow Between Us. Who doesn’t want to read a book about someone who marries a king to kill him and take over his kingdom? I’m reading The Garden of Bewitchment which is a Gothic horror (but more thriller in my book) and Riverdale: The Maple Murders – because I’m trash when it comes to Riverdale and have a secret (or not-so-secret) crush on Jughead. Even though it makes me feel like a cougar!
I always recommend giving books a try. 🙂 They might still work for you. You never know. RIGHT?! That blurb had me right away. I am so up for a well-thought-out, carefully planned assassination attempt that goes awry. The great thing about books is that you can picture the characters at whatever age you want. 😉 Which is what I tend to do when I read YA, especially with the sexy scenes that have become more prevalent in YA because … no, thank you. That’s weird when you picture the characters as the underage teens they are LOL.
I was very meh about Colfer’s first Artemis Fowl book, so I’m honestly not surprised about your reaction to Highfire. I know a lot of people loved the Artemis Fowl books though (and I had hoped to) so I guess I’m a little sad, too. Oh well.
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I actually never read Artemis Fowl. I just know that it’s popular among our patrons, and kids seem to enjoy it. And it’s getting a movie, so I was thinking about reading it, but I don’t know. xD I’ll probably still give it a try, since it should be clean, at least.
I am definitely going to check out those Patricia Marx books! I can always go for a good laugh! I hope you have a great reading week and finish those 3 ARC’s! I am really interested in how Red Hood turns out.
I definitely recommend them! They were super quick reads (since they were just cartoons, basically), but I read the relationship one with hubby, and that was fun. xD