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?

Because we were traveling, I missed doing this post last week. Just couldn’t get it together before we left.

I’m about 25% into Six Crimson Cranes and big things are starting to happen. And there seems to be an evil stepmother – go figure. I’ve read one other book by this author and had mixed feelings about it when the romance seemed to overshadow a lot of the other plot elements, and I’m hoping this doesn’t head in that same direction. The reviews have been wonderful.

Shiori, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted, but it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.

Raikama has dark magic of her own, and she banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes, and warning Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.

Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and, on her journey, uncovers a conspiracy to overtake the throne—a conspiracy more twisted and deceitful, more cunning and complex, than even Raikama’s betrayal. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she’s been taught all her life to contain—no I jmatter what it costs her. 

I just finished What We Devour last night, and I’m still not sure what I think. I loved that it was a dark fantasy and featured morally gray characters, but a large piece of the story was confusing. I’m still processing.

From the author of Mask of Shadows comes a dark and intricate story of a girl who must tether herself to a violent ruler to save her crumbling world.

Lorena Adler has a secret—she holds the power of the banished gods, the Noble and the Vile, inside her. She has spent her entire life hiding from the world and her past. She’s content to spend her days as an undertaker in a small town, marry her best friend, Julian, and live an unfulfilling life so long as no one uncovers her true nature.

But when the notoriously bloodthirsty and equally Vile crown prince comes to arrest Julian’s father, he immediately recognizes Lorena for what she is. So she makes a deal—a fair trial for her betrothed’s father in exchange for her service to the crown.

The prince is desperate for her help. He’s spent years trying to repair the weakening Door that holds back the Vile…and he’s losing the battle. As Lorena learns more about the Door and the horrifying price it takes to keep it closed, she’ll have to embrace both parts of herself to survive.

I’ve read a couple things by Grady Hendrix and he’s never disappointed. I still have The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires waiting on my Kindle. Judging by that title, you know it has to be a good one. And how can you resist this title – The Final Girl Support Group. I have high expectations.

A fast-paced, thrilling horror novel that follows a group of heroines to die for, from the brilliant New York Times bestselling author of The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires.

In horror movies, the final girl is the one who’s left standing when the credits roll. The one who fought back, defeated the killer, and avenged her friends. The one who emerges bloodied but victorious. But after the sirens fade and the audience moves on, what happens to her?

Lynnette Tarkington is a real-life final girl who survived a massacre twenty-two years ago, and it has defined every day of her life since. And she’s not alone. For more than a decade she’s been meeting with five other actual final girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, putting their lives back together, piece by piece. That is until one of the women misses a meeting and Lynnette’s worst fears are realized–someone knows about the group and is determined to take their lives apart again, piece by piece.

But the thing about these final girls is that they have each other now, and no matter how bad the odds, how dark the night, how sharp the knife, they will never, ever give up.

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

    1. You might have read the same one I did. I read the first in the series, but didn’t continue with the second. The first half compared to the second felt like two different books. I’m hoping this book isn’t the same.

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  16. I love your WWW Wednesday posts, Teri. I’m intrigued by book-1. Ever since I read Shogun as a teenager, I’ve been fascinated by stories that put me in mind of Japan, and this one makes me imagine that kind of “look.”
    Book-2, “I’m still processing.” could be a good or bad thing. But it’s cool that the book left you thinking.
    Book-3, I like the concept a lot. Although it would probably be too violent for me, it sure sounds exciting.
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I hope you’re having a great week. Hugs on the wing!

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    1. That second one had positives and negatives, but I doubt I’ll continue with the sequel. If you enjoy books that put you in mind of Japan, you’d probably like Six Crimson Cranes. It reads like an extended fairy tale so far. Hugs, Teagan!

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    1. Sorry I’m so late getting here, Mark – you got buried in my email. Final Girl was a fantastic nostalgic read if you’re a fan of slasher movies. Transported me back to the 80s and early 90s, lol!

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