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?
This week is a good mix – part two of a historical fantasy duology, a thriller that didn’t really thrill me, and a horror novel set in a foreign land.
I read the first book in this duology, Anatomy: a love story, in one afternoon and couldn’t wait for this sequel. The covers are stunning works of art featuring women in dresses that resemble a heart (the first in the duology) and a brain.
Hazel Sinnett is alone and half-convinced the events of the year before—the immortality, Beecham’s vial—were a figment of her imagination. She doesn’t even know whether Jack is alive or dead. All she can really do now is treat patients and maintain Hawthornden Castle as it starts to decay around her.
When saving a life leads to her arrest, Hazel seems doomed to rot in prison until a message intervenes: She has been specifically requested to be the personal physician of Princess Charlotte, the sickly daughter of King George IV. Soon Hazel is dragged into the glamor and romance of a court where everyone has something to hide, especially the enigmatic, brilliant members of a social club known as the Companions to the Death.
As Hazel’s work entangles her more and more with the British court, she realizes that her own future as a surgeon isn’t the only thing at stake. Malicious forces are at work in the monarchy, and Hazel may be the only one capable of setting things right.
The Writing Retreat has a fantastic premise, and the first half of the book was promising. After an unusual grocery list of themes were tossed into the second half, it just didn’t work for me. Reviews are split, so it may be a suspenseful read for you.
A book deal to die for.
Five attendees are selected for a month-long writing retreat at the remote estate of Roza Vallo, the controversial high priestess of feminist horror. Alex, a struggling writer, is thrilled.
Upon arrival, they discover they must complete an entire novel from scratch, and the best one will receive a seven-figure publishing deal. Alex’s long-extinguished dream now seems within reach.
But then the women begin to die.
Trapped, terrified yet still desperately writing, it is clear there is more than a publishing deal at stake at Blackbriar Estate. Alex must confront her own demons – and finish her novel – to save herself.
I’ve mentioned in previous posts my weakness for haunted house novels – and this description has me all kinds of excited. I love that it’s set in Vietnam.
A house with a terrifying appetite haunts a broken family in this atmospheric horror, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic.
When Jade Nguyen arrives in Vietnam for a visit with her estranged father, she has one goal: survive five weeks pretending to be a happy family in the French colonial house Ba is restoring. She’s always lied to fit in, so if she’s straight enough, Vietnamese enough, American enough, she can get out with the college money he promised.
But the house has other plans. Night after night, Jade wakes up paralyzed. The walls exude a thrumming sound, while bugs leave their legs and feelers in places they don’t belong. She finds curious traces of her ancestors in the gardens they once tended. And at night Jade can’t ignore the ghost of the beautiful bride who leaves her cryptic warnings: Don’t eat.
Neither Ba nor her sweet sister Lily believe that there is anything strange happening. With help from a delinquent girl, Jade will prove this house—the home her family has always wanted—will not rest until it destroys them. Maybe, this time, she can keep her family together. As she roots out the house’s rot, she must also face the truth of who she is and who she must become to save them all.
Books and Such 
The Writing Retreat sounds tense and wonderful!
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I loved the concept, but the second half of the book didn’t work for me. The reviews are split, so it may be a good one for you, Priscilla.
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I’ve had my eye on The Writing Retreat. Can’t wait to see what you think of that one!
I’ve been seeing She is a Haunting all over the place, and honestly—that cover so repulses me, I can’t get past it.
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I’m not a fan of the cover at all, Mae. It it hadn’t been labeled as horror, I probably wouldn’t have looked twice. The Writing Retreat wasn’t a winner for me. You might want to check out the reviews on Goodreads before deciding if you want to read it. Reviews are split 50/50.
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Thanks for the heads up about The Writing Retreat. I’ll def check out the reviews before I hit the purchase button!
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I’ve been curious about Immortality. It has a nice cover!
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The duology is fabulous, Joanna. Love the time period and the clever main character. Both covers are just beautiful. Hope you get a chance to check it out!
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An interesting and varied selection of books this week. I am currently reading a murder mystery and recently finished Gwen Plano’s new book. I’m trying to catch up on blogs. I’m way behind.
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I’ve seen some fantastic reviews for Gwen’s book. And I know what you mean about being behind, Jan. I’ve forgotten what it feels like to be caught up, lol.
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That cover for Immortality is stunning. I hope the book lives up to the cover!
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It is so far, Wendy. The main character is so easy to get behind, and the story grabbed me just like the first in the duology.
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I did not know about the covers having women in dresses until a couple of weeks ago! haha. They are stunning. I have Anatomy but have not read it yet. I hope you enjoy The Writing Retreat!
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It wasn’t until I’d finished the first book that I really looked at the cover – I was stunned. So beautiful. The Writing Retreat was okay, but the second half wasn’t what I’d expected.
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All sound good.
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I can vouch for one of them so far, John!
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😁
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That horror story looks super creepy! And I hope you loved Immortality as much as I did. It has some super cool elements in it. Happy reading!
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I’m not crazy about the cover, but the description of She Is a Haunting grabbed me. And I’m loving Immortality. I’m such a fan of Hazel.
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It’s always fun to catch up with you on what you’ve been reading, Teri. I had to look at that “brain” cover a few times before I really saw it (that was before I started reading). It’s a fantastic cover idea.
I agree that the haunted house in Viet Nam sounds very intriguing.
How is Bond? Much better, I hope. Hugs.
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With the first book in that duology I didn’t notice it was a woman in a dress until another reviewer pointed it out. Does that tell you how detail-oriented I am? Bond is doing fine – no coughs at all this week. Just getting ready to give him his dose of medicine for the day. So far, he’s been more cooperative than I’d expected. But this could be the day he rebels!
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Both of those are good to hear. Fingers crossed for continued cooperation. ❤
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I love Anatomy covers too. I hope I can get them soon.
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Sure hope you can, Yesha. You’ll adore Hazel. She’s such an easy protagonist to root for.
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