WWW Wednesday: What Am I Reading? #amreading

On By Teri PolenIn WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesday is a meme from Sam at Taking On A World Of Words

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

I’m currently reading one book, and listening to another.  For my book club, I’m listening to A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee.  You guys, this book – it’s fantastic, and the narrator is perfect.  I’ve laughed out loud so many times, people in the cars around me probably thought I was a lunatic.  I’m a confirmed Monty fan.

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

I’m FINALLY getting around to reading D. Wallace Peach’s Soul Swallowers (The Shattered Sea #1).  The world-building is magnificent, and the writing is beautiful and so descriptive.

When swallowed, some souls gift insights, wisdom, a path to understanding. Others unleash power, proficiency with a sword, and indifference to death. One soul assimilates with ease. But swallow a host of the dead and risk a descent into madness. 

Estranged from his family over the murder of his wife, young Raze Anvrell wields his fists to vent his rage. Then a chance at a new life beckons, and he retreats to the foothills of the Ravenwood, the haunt of unbound ghosts. He and his mentor build a freehold, a life of physical labor and the satisfaction of realizing a dream. They raise horses and whittle by the fire until the old man dies, and Raze swallows his first soul. 

When his brother reaches out, open wounds begin to scar. But the tenuous peace won’t last. While those who rule the Vales yield to the lure of their ambitions, slavers of Ezar roam the countryside, hunting for human chattel. While one man manipulates the law, another heeds the souls of violence howling in his head. 

Raze too listens to his soul’s whispers, and as danger intrudes on his quiet life, he has no choice but to return to his father’s world and join the fight. 

I just finished Heartwood Box by Ann Aguirre.  This novel is a blend of YA contemporary, romance, sci-fi (time travel!), and suspense,  and I plowed through it in a couple of days.

A dark, romantic YA suspense novel with an SF edge and plenty of drama, layering the secrets we keep and how appearances can deceive, from the New York Times bestselling author.

In this tiny, terrifying town, the lost are never found. When Araceli Flores Harper is sent to live with her great-aunt Ottilie in her ramshackle Victorian home, the plan is simple. She’ll buckle down and get ready for college. Life won’t be exciting, but she’ll cope, right?

Wrong. From the start, things are very, very wrong. Her great-aunt still leaves food for the husband who went missing twenty years ago, and local businesses are plastered with MISSING posters. There are unexplained lights in the woods and a mysterious lab just beyond the city limits that the locals don’t talk about. Ever. When she starts receiving mysterious letters that seem to be coming from the past, she suspects someone of pranking her or trying to drive her out of her mind. To solve these riddles and bring the lost home again, Araceli must delve into a truly diabolical conspiracy, but some secrets fight to stay buried… 

Next, I’ll read How We Became Wicked by Alexander Yates.  Love the cover, and the description has me excited!

A plague, called Wicked, is pulsing through the world; and in its wake, it’s dividing the population into thirds:

The WICKED: Already infected by the droves of Singers, the ultraviolet mosquito-like insects who carry the plague, the Wicked roam the world freely. They don’t want for much—only to maim and dismember you. But don’t worry: They always ask politely first.

The TRUE: The True live in contained, isolated communities. They’re the lucky ones; they found safety from the Singers. And while the threat of the Wicked may not be eliminated, for the True, the threat has certainly been contained…

The VEXED: The Vexed are the truly fortunate ones—they survived the sting of the Singers, leaving them immune. But they’re far from safe. The Vexed hold the key to a cure, and there are those who will do anything to get it.

35 thoughts on “WWW Wednesday: What Am I Reading? #amreading”

  4. I loved Diana’s Soul Swallowers. The second and concluding book is every bit as amazing. She really outdid herself with those two.

    The Heartwood Books has intrigued me from the moment I first saw it. That one will probably end up on my TBR.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. I can’t help but savor some of Diana’s sentences, and re-read them – I’m spending way too much time on this book, but I can’t help it, lol.

      Heartwood Box was a quick, completely engrossing read for me, Mae. I’ve seen mixed reviews, but I really enjoyed it.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  6. Nikki @TheNightIsDarkAndFullOfBooks

    Hi teri!

    I listened to The Gentleman’s Guide to vice and virtue a while ago and absolutely loved it as well! Monty is great, especially together with Percy. I also read the sequel, The Ladies Guide to Petticoats and Piracy. I liked that one a bit less, probably because there was too little Monty & Percy in it!

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. I don’t know where you find the time. I’ve been reading the same book for two weeks, and I’m only halfway through. I’m about to put it in my TL:DF pile. The concept is interesting and I want to know how it works out, but I’m just not into the writing. It’s flat. Then there you are, reading/listening to two books at once. Sigh. I need more hours in the day.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. It helped that hubby was out of town, and I was able to get some extra reading done. With the audio book, I was in the car for over four hours, so that definitely helped. But I’d love to have more hours in the day also, Staci!

      Liked by 1 person

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  14. I saw the review of Soul Swallowers on Amazon, Teri, and just had to pop over. Thank you so much for reading and for your kind review. I think our ears much have been burning because I was reading The Gemini Connection at about the same time. Wow. Great story (just posted a review). I’m still running back and forth between Oregon and Washington and haven’t returned to blogging yet, but did want to come over to say thank you! Have a great weekend and Happy Writing!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks right back for your review of The Gemini Connection, Diana! What a coincidence – reading each other’s books at the same time, lol. Hope things are going well with you and your parents. Have a great week!

      Liked by 1 person

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