Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!
- What am I currently reading?
- What did I just finish?
- What am I reading next?
I’ll be starting both of these books today – Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook (daytime/physical book) and The Tainted Cop by Robert Jackson Bennett (nighttime/digital book). I should have been a little ways into Maude Horton but I’ve been distracted with a couple of other things – so I will today! And I saw The Tainted Cup on a bunch of most anticipated lists yesterday, so I’m excited to read it!
Daytime book (physical book)
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Pages: 320
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster
- Publication Date: January 16, 2024
Twenty-year-old Constance Horton has run away from her life in Victorian London, disguising herself as a boy to board the Makepeace, an expedition vessel bound for the icy and unexplored Northwest Passage of the Arctic. She struggles to keep her real identity a secret on the ship, a feat that only grows more difficult when facing off with the constant dangers of the icy North.
Even more dangerous than the cold, the storms, and the hunger, are some of the men aboard—including the ship’s scientist Edison Stowe. He seems to be watching Constance, and she knows that his attention could be fatal.
In London two years later: Maude Horton is searching for the truth. After being told by the British Admiralty that her sister’s death onboard the Makepeace was nothing more than a tragic accident, she receives a diary revealing that Edison Stowe had more of a hand in Constance’s death than the returning crew acknowledged.
In order to get the answers she needs, Maude decides to shadow Edison. She joins him on a new venture he’s started to capitalize on the murder mania that has all of London in a frenzy—a travel company that takes guests around the country via train to witness public hangings—to extract the truth from him in any way possible. As tensions and dangers mount, it ultimately falls to Maude to enact the ultimate revenge to get justice for her sister.
Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge is a transporting, atmospheric novel about the lengths we will go to for justice—and for love.
Nighttime book (digitel book)
- Genre: Mix of Holmesian-style Mystery and Fantasy
- Pages: 432
- Publisher: Random House (Ballantine/Del Rey)
- Publication Date: February 6, 2024
A Holmes and Watson–style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist, from the Edgar-winning, multiple Hugo-nominated Robert Jackson Bennett.
“Superbly blends mystery and fantasy . . . Give me more of this world and these characters ASAP!”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Gardiner.
In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire’s borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death both terrifying and impossible.
Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home.
At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana’s brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior—but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana’s mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective.
As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.
By an “endlessly inventive” (Vulture) author with a “wicked sense of humor” (NPR), The Tainted Cup mixes the charms of detective fiction with brilliant world-building to deliver a fiendishly clever mystery that’s at once instantly recognizable and thrillingly new.
The Ghost Orchid was another solid thriller featuring Psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis. What made this one particularly interesting is witnessing Alex and Milo navigating their friendship and their working relationship after Alex was nearly killed in the last book. It changes so much and both are uncertain how to proceed.
- Genre: Crime Thriller / Procedural-esque
- Pages: 304
- Publisher: Ballantine Books
- Publication Date: February 6, 2024
Psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis confront a baffling, vicious double homicide that leads them to long-buried secrets worth killing for in the riveting thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling “master of suspense” (Los Angeles Times).
LAPD homicide lieutenant Milo Sturgis sees it all the time: Reinvention’s a way of life in a city fueled by fantasy. But try as you might to erase the person you once were, there are those who will never forget the past . . . and who can still find you.
A pool boy enters a secluded Bel Air property and discovers two bodies floating in the bright blue water: Gio Aggiunta, the playboy heir to an Italian shoe empire, and a gorgeous, even wealthier neighbor named Meagin March. A married neighbor.
An illicit affair stoking rage is a perfect motive. But a “double” in this neighborhood of gated estates isn’t something you see every day. The house is untouched. No forced entry, no forensic evidence. The case has “that feeling,” and when that happens, Milo turns to his friend, the brilliant psychologist Alex Delaware.
As Milo and Alex investigate both victims, they discover two troubled pasts. And as they dig deeper, Meagin March’s very identity begins to blur. Who was this glamorous but conflicted woman? Did her past catch up to her? Or did Gio’s family connections create a threat spanning two continents?
Chasing down the answers leads Alex and Milo on an exploration of L.A.’s darkest side as they contend with one of the most shocking cases of their careers and learn that that some secrets are best left buried in the past.
When Grumpy Met Sunshine looks like my kind of book though the nearly 1000 early reviews – many of which gave it 2 or 3 stars – have me concerned. I didn’t read any of them, so we will see how it is for me. It’s my nighttime book where as, Faebound is my daytime/physical book. Sara El-Arifi is an excellent author so I have no doubt this will be a truly epic fantasy story.
Nighttime Book (digital book)
- Genre: Romantic Comedy
- Pages: 336
- Publisher: SMP Romance
- Publication Date: February 6, 2024
A steamy, opposites-attract romance with undeniable chemistry between a grumpy retired footballer and his fabulous and very sunshine-y ghostwriter.
When grumpy ex-footballer Alfie Harding gets badgered into selling his memoirs, he knows he’s never going to be able to write them. He hates revealing a single thing about himself, is allergic to most emotions, and can’t imagine doing a good job of putting pen to paper.
And so in walks curvy, cheery, cute as heck ghostwriter Mabel Willicker, who knows just how to sunshine and sass her way into getting every little detail out of Alfie. They banter and bicker their way to writing his life story, both of them sure they’ll never be anything other than at odds.
But after their business arrangement is mistaken for a budding romance, the pair have to pretend to be an item for a public who’s ravenous for more of this Cinderella story. Or at least, it feels like it’s pretend—until each slow burn step in their fake relationship sparks a heat neither can control. Now they just have to decide: is this sizzling chemistry just for show? Or something so real it might just give them their fairytale ending?
Daytime Book (physical book)
- Genre: Romantic Fantasy
- Pages: 400
- Publisher: Random House (Ballantine/DelRey)
- Publication Date: January 23, 2024
Two elven sisters become imprisoned in the intoxicating world of the fae, where danger and love lie in wait. Faebound is the first book in an enchanting new trilogy from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Final Strife.
“A romantic fantasy of epic proportions, crackling with magic and passion.”—Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree
Yeeran was born on the battlefield, has lived on the battlefield, and one day, she knows, she’ll die on the battlefield.
As a warrior in the elven army, Yeeran has known nothing but violence her whole life. Her sister, Lettle, is trying to make a living as a diviner, seeking prophecies of a better future.
When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran’s exile from the Elven Lands, both sisters are forced into the terrifying wilderness beyond their borders.
There they encounter the impossible: the fae court. The fae haven’t been seen for a millennium. But now Yeeran and Lettle are thrust into their seductive world, torn among their loyalties to each other, their elven homeland, and their hearts.
What are you reading? Do you love it?
24 responses to “WWW Wednesday | Books I Am Reading This Week – January 10, 2024 #wwwwednesday #ReadersCommunity #BookTwitter #BookLover”
I loved Saara El Arifi’s previous books so it will be interesting to see how Faebound compares. I do hope that we get the final volume of the Final Strife trilogy before too long as well.
That’s right! I forgot we only read two in that trilogy. Huh – I wonder when three will be out.
Me too. I always get worried when authors start new series before completing an existing one. Sometimes they never get completed 😢
Fingers crossed 🤞 that Grumpy beats the odds!
I hope so. I was so sad when I saw all those low numbered reviews yesterday.
I saw Tainted Cup everywhere and it’s also one I’m looking forward to reading. Faebound was on my list and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it! When Grumpy Met Sunshine looks adorable but those low-ratings would worry me too… I hope that it’s a hit for you though! Happy reading 🙂
Yeah, for romcoms, I’m used to seeing a good mix of numbers – not mostly twos and threes. But I will see very soon! The good thing is that I have a lot of strong books to enjoy!
I have The Tainted Cup. I haven’t read any of the author’s other books but they are on my tbr lol. I have heard good things about his writing.
I have too. I’m very curious to see what I think.
So many good books! I can’t wait to see what you think of both your current reads and Faebound! I’ve seen those all over!! 🙂
They all seem like good strong stories so I’m very curious. So many potentially good books surrounding me right now! Yay!
It sounds like it and I hope they all turn out that way!!
I’m (hopefully) reading Faebound very soon! Hope you enjoy!
Faebound has been much more popular than I ever expected. And then we got that beautiful fairy loot edition 😍
Oh, wow! Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge sounds AMAZING!! Have you by chance read The Terror by Dan Simmons? The mention of The Northwest Passage made me think of it. Even without that, I think Maude is a DEFINITE candidate for my TBR. Can’t wait for your review!
I think it does too! I’m going to delve more into it tomorrow but it’s got all the elements to make it an amazing read. I haven’t read The Terror – I’ll have to look that one up.
The Terror is an amazing book—historical facts, fiction, fantasy, beautifully lyrical, yet gritty and raw at the same time. It’s massive though–over 900 pages in paperback. It rates as one of my favorite books of all time.
Can’t wait to see your review on Maude’s Revenge!
It sounds like you have some wonderful reads ahead! Can’t wait for your reviews.
That I do!
Love the title of the first book. I think Maude and I would get along just fine.
Right? I agree. She’s just the kind of FMC I adore.
I’m in between books and haven’t progressed much with Day Of Fallen Night as I have been busy with job.
How’s The Tainted Cup going? I’m so eager to start that myself! (Though I forgot my main ereader, so it won’t be this week… Sadface.)
It’s going very well. The world-building is completely fascinating me. It’s very complex and unique. And, the mystery solving is very Holmes-like.