WWW Wednesdays: 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?

Queen of Volts is the final book in this series that’s keep me captivated and immersed in the world of New Reynes.  The author broke my heart with the last book, so I’m hoping she’ll repair it with this one.

Return to the City of Sin, where the final game is about to begin…and winning will demand the ultimate sacrifice.

Only days after a corrupt election and brutal street war, one last bloodthirsty game has begun. The players? The twenty-two most powerful, notorious people in New Reynes.

After realizing they have no choice but to play, Enne Scordata and Levi Glaisyer are desperate to forge new alliances and bargain for their safety. But while Levi offers false smiles and an even falser peace to the city’s politicians, Enne must face a world where her true Mizer identity has been revealed…and any misstep could turn deadly.

Meanwhile, a far more dangerous opponent has appeared on the board, one plucked right from the most gruesome legends of New Reynes. As the game takes its final, vicious turn, Levi and Enne must decide once and for all whether to be partners or enemies.

Because in a game for survival, there are only losers…

And monsters.

Although the world-building and premise for Hush are creative, I wanted more explanations – I was missing some connections.  It’s also described as a powerful feminist fantasy, but I didn’t get that vibe.  Hoping for more girl power in the next book!

How do you speak up in a world where propaganda is a twisted form of magic?

In the land of Montane, language is literal magic to the select few who possess the gift of Telling. This power is reserved for the Bards, and, as everyone knows, the Bards have almost always been men.

Seventeen-year-old Shae has lived her entire life in awe of the Bards—and afraid of the Blot, a deadly disease spread by ink, which took the life of her younger brother five years ago. Ever since, Shae fears she’s cursed. But when tragedy strikes again, and her mother is found murdered with a golden dagger—a weapon used only by the Bards—Shae is forced to act.

With a heart set on justice, Shae journeys to High House in search of answers. But when the kind, fatherly Cathal, the High Lord of Montane, makes Shae an undeniable offer to stay and train as a Bard, Shae can’t refuse.

Through this twisty tale, Shae endures backbreaking training by a ruthless female Bard, tentative and highly-forbidden feelings for a male Bard with a dark past, and a castle filled with dangerous illusions bent on keeping its secrets buried.

But sometimes, the truth is closer than we think. We just have to learn to listen.

A stunning and timely debut from activist Dylan Farrow, Hush is a powerful feminist fantasy full of surprising insights, that casts a ray of light into the shadows of a society based on silencing and lies.

“A haunting tale of long-buried secrets, small-town scandal, and single-minded vengeance…”  Everything about this description makes me want to read this book.  Even without that, I probably would have grabbed it just for the cover.

MADNESS, SECRETS, AND LIES

Wheeler, Arkansas, 1907

When their father descends into madness after the death of their mother, Verity Pruitt and her little sister Lilah find themselves on an orphan train to rural Arkansas.

In Wheeler, eleven-year-old Lilah is quickly adopted, but seventeen-year-old Verity is not. Desperate to stay close to her sister, Verity indentures herself as a farmhand. But even charming farm boy Abel Atchley can’t completely distract her from the sense that something is not quite right in this little town. Strange local superstitions abound, especially about the eerie old well at the center of the forest. The woods play tricks, unleashing heavy fog and bone-chilling cold…and sometimes visions of things that aren’t there.

But for Verity, perhaps most unsettling of all is the revelation that her own parents have a scandalous history in this very town. And as she tries to unearth the past, sinister secrets come with it—secrets that someone will go to violent lengths to protect….

A haunting tale of long-buried secrets, small-town scandal, and single-minded vengeance by talented debut novelist Sarah Goodman.” 

32 thoughts on “WWW Wednesdays: What Am I Reading? #amreading”

  1. I recently finished reading The Gemini Connection. Here´s my review.
    A great sci-fi/dystopian YA novel. I don’t often read this genre but the idea of twins intrigued me. I was not disappointed. There is plenty of action and some clever world-building, but the character development and the relationships between characters are the stars of this show. The tie between the twins, Evan and Simon, is amazing and the story is written in the POV of both of them. The secondary characters are also interesting and round out the story. Evan is devasted when Simon goes missing, but when he realizes Simon is alive, he will do anything to rescue him and bring him home, even work with his sworn enemy. How this plays out will keep you on the edge of your seat. The author has a vivid imagination and is capable of using it to create an awesome reading experience.
    Now I´m reading Good Harbor by Anita Diamant. As you can see my tastes vary. Happy summer reading.

    Liked by 4 people

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  3. Oooh, I like the sound of Eventide! And that cover is gorgeous.
    Between the time period, the blurb, and the promise of old-secrets and a mysterious well, I’m intrigued. I’ll be looking forward to your review!

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. Hi Teri. Ha! Propaganda really is a twisted form of magic. Thanks for your mindful reviews and opinions. Lately, even more than ever, I steer clear of things with heartbreak. So that’s helpful to know. Have a wonderful rest of the week. Hugs on the wing.

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  7. The cover for Hush is amazing, Teri, but the blurb makes the book sound so unusual. That a creative idea. If your review is favorable, I’m picking that one up. Woe is the TBR pile. And thanks so much for signing up to help me with my launch. That was kind of you. Hugs for that! Have a great week and Happy Reading. Take care. ❤

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    1. The blurb is wonderful, but I don’t think the book completely lived up to it, Diana – but as I mentioned above, reviews are split. You’re so good with world-building, I think you might miss some of the same connections I did – I needed more information.

      Excited to help with your book launch – your muse was right!

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  9. Such great books!!! I’ve got the first two books but waiting to start until Queen of Volts comes out. I was going to start a couple months ago but decided I just want to binge the whole series back to back!!

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      1. I’m typically like that!! I took over a year off of reading when I was pregnant and the first 6m of his life. So I was way behind! I’m trying to catch up but it’s a slow progress. In June, I started a bunch of series that I’ve been meaning to. Although, this one was ending in a few months and I held off! 🙂 most of the time, I just start new series when they come out bc I can’t wait!

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          1. haha!! Yeah, I actually had a pretty crazy pregnancy and was put on bedrest for 4 months. Everyone thought it would be so easy to read a ton. Not so much… I had to fight to keep the babe in every day. So, I just watched a lot of reality tv, when I normally don’t. haha.

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  11. My sister recently edited a book that sounds similar to Hush. I’d kind of like to compare the two. And Eventide sounds wonderful, though I already have a favorite book by that title. Still, it said “Arkansas” so now I’m intrigued.

    Great list, Teri.

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    1. Thanks, Staci! I’d be interest in comparing those books, also. I liked the concept of Hush, but it seemed to be missing a big puzzle piece to pull it all together. And if this Eventide is as good as the last Eventide I read, I’m in for a treat.

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