It’s time again to ask ourselves the three W’s:
What would you do if giant monsters appeared one day?
What if inexplicable magic appeared in the world?
Would you train to fight it?
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.
Watch Hollow: The Alchemist’s Shadow by Gregory Funaro
★★★★★ || Goodreads
This was a blog tour post. Actually, my very first blog tour. Isn’t that wild? Couldn’t have asked for a better first, either. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but this book was filled with even more tension, feels, and fearsome monsters. There were some really chill-inducing moments that were absolutely great. Check out the review (click the five stars above) to see the other blog stops and also enter a tour giveaway!
Black Leviathan by Bernd Perplies
★★★★★ || Goodreads
This book gave me a freaking wicked book hangover. I’m still trying to crawl my way out of it. I fell into this world and sunk in so far over my head that I couldn’t see daylight anymore. It was fabulous. I had some reservations going in, being that it’s not only a retelling of Moby Dick but also a translated work. I needn’t have worried. The translation is flawless and flows smoothly, and the retelling is beautifully molded. Plus, there are dragons. You know how I feel about those. If you take only one thing away from this post today, take this: READ THIS ONE.
The Wonder of Wildflowers by Anna Staniszewski
★★★★☆ || Goodreads
A heartfelt book about immigration that approaches it in a way that is relatable and accessible for mid-grade readers. This book gave me so many feels. I tried to resist, but I just couldn’t help it. I think this would be a great book for classrooms, in particular, and a good jumping off point for some tough discussions. I did feel that it fell down a little in the fantasy, aspect, though. The allegory was a little too on-the-nose and didn’t utilize the fantasy aspect to its full extent.
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
★★★★☆ || Goodreads
Need a little more Slytherin romance in your life? I did. I still do. This was freaking delightful. I knew from the blurb that the main character and I were going to get along. I do so love strong female characters who know exactly what they want and aren’t afraid to do what it takes to get it. Even if that involves murder. So of course I fell in love with Alessandra. This was a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, trope-filled romance, and I just LOVED it. The plot was a bit predictable, without really any major twists (and the one major twist, I saw coming from a mile away), but despite that, I enjoyed this. I just loved the scheming and one-upmanship and underhandedness. These characters are my sort of people.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
★★★★☆ || Goodreads
This was recommended to me by so many darn people that I just couldn’t keep putting off reading it. So I did. I can see what they’re talking about. Murderbot is a freaking delight! The world was a little hard to get into, and there were several parts that I ended up just confused about. The plot was a little … light? And I’m still not entirely sure what the big Why was. I missed it. Still, Murderbot made the entire thing worth it, and I do plan on continuing the series.
Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold
DNF @ 9% || Goodreads
I expected to enjoy this, so this was a bit disappointing for me. I enjoyed Damsel, even though it took me by surprise and wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought I was prepared for this and went in more aware … but I still wasn’t ready. Arnold’s writing is as beautiful as always, which is all the more shame that this didn’t work for me, because I think she’s a fabulous writer and I’m so in love with her style. Ultimately, this turned me away for a couple reasons. First, the focus is on periods, which is … weird? Also, very subjective. And not a topic I really want to read an entire book about. I called it quits by the time I hit a page-long description of the main character putting a tampon in. Second, the book is written in second person. On the one hand, this really upped the tension for me and made it feel like I was in the story, which was a neat effect. The problem with that is that I had absolutely nothing in common with Bisou, and my mind couldn’t get past the nope, I didn’t, don’t, and won’t do that knee-jerk reaction. It kept pulling me out of the story. Third, reading graphic sex between minors makes me really squicky. It’s just not something I enjoy, especially combined with the second person perspective, because it just feels … wrong.
Reviews Posted This Week
The Revenge of Magic by James Riley
Status: 35%
When long-dead magical creatures are discovered all around the world, each buried with a book of magic, only children can unlock the dangerous power of the books in this start to a thrilling new series from the author of the New York Times bestselling Story Thieves!
Thirteen years ago, books of magic were discovered in various sites around the world alongside the bones of dragons. Only those born after “Discovery Day” have the power to use the magic.
Now, on a vacation to Washington, DC, Fort Fitzgerald’s father is lost when a giant creature bursts through the earth, attacking the city. Fort is devastated, until an opportunity for justice arrives six months later, when a man named Dr. Opps invites Fort to a government run school, the Oppenheimer School, to learn magic from those same books.
But life’s no easier at the school, where secrets abound. What does Jia, Fort’s tutor, know about the attacks? Why does Rachel, master of destructive magic, think Fort is out to destroy the school? And why is Fort seeing memories of an expelled girl every time he goes to sleep? If Fort doesn’t find out what’s hiding within the Oppenheimer School, more attacks will come, and this time, nothing will stop them!
This book starts with a bang. Literally. The Lincoln Memorial goes boom as a giant creature rises up from beneath it. Talk about action-packed.
So far, I’m really enjoying this one. I’m going back to my roots here. Young me grew into an adult via nourishment from untold hours of reading chosen one novels where a lead boy saves the day. For me, this is a nice throwback to that, and I’m remembering why I enjoyed it so much (and why a lot of kids still enjoy it). This sort of book is just fun.
There’s been a lot of foreshadowing about the main character, and I’m so stinking curious to see what that’s all about? I mean, I guess I assume he’s a chosen one of some sort, but I just don’t know why or how that’ll take form, and I’m looking forward to it. The magic is pretty interesting, if not vague at this point, but I’m enjoying the mystery and the plot so far.
I’ve got a blog tour coming up for The Future King, and I’m super excited for it. James Riley’s Story Thieves is pretty popular at our library, so I jumped at the chance to read his new series, and so far, I’m enjoying it. So next will be The Last Dragon, and then book three, since the blog tour is next week.
After that, I’m not quite sure what I’ll pick up. There are three books releasing next week that I should get to. I just haven’t figured out what order to read them in. Probably Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor will be first, since it’s a lighter MG read.
After that, it’ll be either Witches of Ash and Ruin or Wicked As You Wish. I guess the order will just depend on what I’m feeling in the mood for at that point.
The Wonder of Wildflowers looks good….thanks for sharing. And I loved The Family Upstairs. Enjoy your week, and here’s MY WWW POST
Laurel-Rain Snow recently posted…AUTHOR’S HOME PAGE
They were both good!
Yay! Your first blog tour and with a 5-star read at that. The book looks very good. Have a great reading week 😊
Yeah, talk about starting things off on the right foot. Though, I cheated since I expected to like this, because I had so much fun with the first one. 😉
I’m dying to get my hands on The Shadows Between Us!!!!
Genesis @ Whispering Chapters recently posted…WWW Wednesday (7) ~ 2.26.20
Yay congrats on your first blog tour. ☺👏 and i love your list. Too many fantasy. Im going to use this as a reference for my future reads. 🙂
Thank you! I do tend to read mostly fantasy, but I’ve been trying to branch out and read different genres this year. I hope you enjoy these if you pick them up!
I hope you do! I’m not even much into romance and I rushed through it and loved every moment. xD
A whole page about inserting a tampon. I’m confused. Maybe I don’t know so much about a book I have on my TBR. But hey, I’m glad you had so many other stellar reads. I finished A Murderous Relation over the weekend and really enjoyed it and am now reading an older horror, Wither, for a retro horror series Stormi and I are doing on our blogs this year. Up next is finishing up Riverdale: The Maple Murders – I told you I was Riverdale trash. I’m already 40% in on that one. Hope you enjoy your upcoming reads!
Barb @ Booker T’s Farm recently posted…Can’t Wait Wednesday (250) – Bonus Winter Edition…and Cass Of Course
Yeah, it was just … too much for me. xD Other people got past that part and really enjoyed it! Just not for me. It was a great reading week otherwise, though, so I’m definitely not complaining! I need to pick up A Murderous Relation soon, so I’m really glad to hear that you enjoyed it! Ahaha, we’re all trash for something. As far as being trash for something goes, you could do worse than Riverdale, that’s for sure. xD
I’m trying to be more of a mood reader, even though I’ve got publisher commitments, so we’ll see how that goes! I’m sorry to hear about Red Hood. I was hoping it would be good.
Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy recently posted…Future Fiction #61: Cover Reveals & Newly Discovered SFF Books
It’s so hard being a mood reader when you have commitments. xD I’m lucky that I read sort of a range of books, so I usually have a little leeway where if one’s not working, I’ve got something with a completely different tone I can read instead. Good luck with your mood reading, though!
I’ve known a lot of other bloggers who seem to really enjoy Red Hood. I just don’t do blood. I can’t even stand the sight. And it seems like the entire book revolves around the idea of menstruation and blood.
Woooooo Murderbot! Yay! (The plot of the first one is a little more confusing than some of the rest of the novellas, I’ll admit. But Murderbot is so worth a little confusion.)
Nicole @ BookWyrmKnits recently posted…WIP Wrap-up for February 2020
I agree. Murderbot was 1000% worth it! It technically didn’t even need a plot and I still probably would’ve been happy lol.
Between your review and this post, I really feel I ought to read Black Leviathan sometime. My only apprehension comes from the fact that I mean to read the actual Moby Dick this year. Perhaps it will make a good companion piece after the fact, though. Have a great week!
http://musewithmeblog.com/2020/02/26/www-wednesday-february-26-2020/
You DEFINITELY should read Black Leviathan. I think it’d be really interesting to read Moby Dick and then read it, though. Maybe be able to better compare the two and see the influences? I don’t feel like I missed anything by not recalling Moby Dick, but I also think it’d be neat to read the retelling with the original fresh in your mind.
You have some great books here. I can’t wait to read The Shadows Between Us.
Here is my WWW post > https://journeyinbookland.wordpress.com/2020/02/26/www-wednesday-february-26-2020/
Inga @ Journey in Bookland recently posted…WWW Wednesday – FEBRUARY 26, 2020
I hope you enjoy it! It was definitely everything I look for in romance and then some. :3
Wonderful covers! Unfortunately, I haven’t read any from your list. Oh, there’s just too much books!!!
Here’s mine:
https://happymesshappiness.wordpress.com/2020/02/26/www-wednesday-26-feb-2020
Happy reading. 🙂
So many books, so little time!
Wow! You had a great reading week! I haven’t read any of these but they look like so much fun!!
It definitely was a good week! I’m hoping to keep it up. xD
With the exception of Red Hood, it looks like you had an amazing reading week! I hope this upcoming week treats you just as well. 🙂
Deanna @ A Novel Glimpse recently posted…Review: One Big Mistake (Whitney Barbetti)
I did! And so far, it’s been great reads since them. Do you think I’ll jinx it if I say I seem to be on a roll? xD
Aw man! Sorry you didn’t like Red Hood but I’m glad you enjoyed Tricia Levenseller’s book!! It’s on my TBR! You had a good week tho! Happy reading 🙂
Leslie recently posted…Mystery Blogger Award
I hope you love it when you get to it! Romance isn’t even my thing, and I enjoyed it. 🙂