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 can’t tell you the last time I read a book set in the late 70s – especially a YA book – and I couldn’t resist this cover. I’m about 40% into the story, and the author has a real talent for vivid descriptions.

Set in Northern California in the late ’70s, this timeless coming-of-age story examines the nature of evil, the art of storytelling, and the possibility of redemption.

Fifteen-year-old RJ Armante has never known a life outside his dead-end hometown of Arcangel, CA. The Blackjacks still rule as they have for generations, luring the poorest kids into their monopoly on petty crime. For years, they’ve left RJ alone…until now.

When the Blackjacks come knocking, they want RJ to prey upon an old loner. But RJ is at his breaking point. It’s not just about the gang who rules the town. It’s about Charley, his younger brother, who is disabled. It’s about Roxanne, the girl he can’t reach. It’s about the kids in his crew who have nothing to live for. If RJ is to resist, he must fight to free Arcangel of its past.

Alexa is reading HMS Lanternfish to me. I’ve missed these characters – root monsters! – and their high seas adventures.

The Lanternfish crew completed their original mission, but got exposed to a more global problem. An entire continent is at war, headed up by a head-strong young king with dreams of power, and pushed from behind by a mysterious religious order known as the Fulminites.

Rather than let their country fall under the iron boot of conquest, James and his crew set sail once more to see what kind of muscle Lanternfish can lend to the war effort. Acting precariously under an unofficial charter as a privateer, even his allies aren’t always his friends.

HMS Lanternfish explores new worlds on its way to war, and drifts considerably off course. It features an international crew of characters, and for fans of the first book, the root monsters are back, too. Tall ships, a few con games, martial arts, and everything you loved about the original book is all returning.

Hoist the colors and wheel out the guns. Lanternfish is taking to the high seas once more.

Over the weekend I finished Dustborn. This postapocalyptic world is absolutely brutal, and resources are scarce. It has one of the most jaw-dropping twists I’ve come across. I doubt any reader would have seen it coming.

Delta of Dead River sets out to rescue her family from a ruthless dictator rising to power in the Wastes and discovers a secret that will reshape her world in this postapocalyptic Western mashup for fans of Mad Max and Gunslinger Girl.

Delta of Dead River has always been told to hide her back, where a map is branded on her skin to a rumored paradise called the Verdant. In a wasteland plagued by dust squalls, geomagnetic storms, and solar flares, many would kill for it—even if no one can read it. So when raiders sent by a man known as the General attack her village, Delta suspects he is searching for her. 

Delta sets out to rescue her family but quickly learns that in the Wastes no one can be trusted—perhaps not even her childhood friend, Asher, who has been missing for nearly a decade. If Delta can trust Asher, she just might decode the map and trade evidence of the Verdant to the General for her family. What Delta doesn’t count on is what waits at the Verdant: a long-forgotten secret that will shake the foundation of her entire world.

Next up is a MG fantasy. I don’t read much MG unless it’s an author I’ve followed from YA or adult books, and Foody is one of my favorite YA fantasy authors. This series (and cover!) looks adorable.

A boy who accidentally bonds with a magical Beast must set off on an adventure in the mysterious Woods.

The last thing Barclay Thorne ever wanted was an adventure.

Thankfully, as an apprentice to the town’s mushroom farmer, Barclay need only work hard and follow the rules to one day become the head mushroom farmer himself. No danger required. But then Barclay accidentally breaks his town’s most sacred rule: never ever EVER stray into the Woods, for within the Woods lurk vicious magical Beasts.

To Barclay’s horror, he faces a fate far worse than being eaten: he unwittingly bonds with a Beast and is run out of town by an angry mob. Determined to break this bond and return home, Barclay journeys to find the mysterious town of Lore Keepers, people who have also bonded with Beasts and share their powers.

But after making new friends, entering a dangerous apprenticeship exam, and even facing the legendary Beast of the Woods, Barclay must make a difficult choice: return to the home and rules he’s always known, or embrace the adventure awaiting him. 

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

    2. I just adore them, Mae – where Craig comes up with these fantastical creatures I have no idea.

      Isn’t that cover gorgeous? I would have been all over that in MG – just like I am as an adult, lol.

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  15. How wonderful to see H.M.S. Lanternfish getting some love. It was a highly entertaining story! I’m currently finishing up the fourth book in The Giver Series by Lois Lowery, at the request of my grandson. He wanted to be able to talk about it as the series made a huge impression on him. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Teri!

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  19. I have never read any of these, but Dustborn and Wilderlore really sparked interest in me. Dustborn looks like it would give me nightmares, but at the same time, I have no doubt I’ll be zooming through it because of how good it is. Wilderlore, not much to explain, the entire description just made me really want to run to the book store right away and find it. By the way, I’m currently reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!

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    1. Dustborn has its hopeless moments, for sure. I just started Wilderlore and can already tell it’s going to be a fun adventure. I’d love to do a HP reread. Order of the Phoenix was one of my favs in the series. Thanks for visiting!

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    1. Sorry I’m just getting to your comment, Deby – WP didn’t notify me. Wilderlore was such a fun book with wonderful characters. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.

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