Hello, everyone! It’s Wednesday! That means it is time for another WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words. I’ll be answering the following questions:

1. What did you read last?
2. What are you currently reading?
3. What will you read next?

What did you read last?

The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft – 4.5⭐ – This was a really fun mystery with an imaginative fantasy setting and great characters. I loved the dynamic of the married couple, and all of the magical items and powers were really cool to read. See all my thoughts in my review!

Never a Hero by Vanessa Len – 3.75⭐ – My thoughts on this book are pretty similar to the ones I had about the first book. It was an engaging read that I didn’t want to put down, but I’m not certain the logic of it all would really stand up to much scrutiny. I appreciated the focus on Joan’s conflicted feelings about the unintended consequences of her actions. The twists and reveals were interesting, but I found the final confrontation at the end to be a bit anticlimactic. I liked getting to know this version of Nick better, but I really wish there had been more Aaron in this book. I just enjoyed his dynamic with Joan more.

Charming Young Man by Eliot Schrefer – 5⭐ – I adored this queer historical fiction story set in 1890s France. It was a character-focused look at coming to terms with one’s sexuality during that time, with emphasis on how class and social status impacted that experience. The main character had to learn to navigate needing the support of the rich to accomplish his dream of becoming a famous pianist, while also reconciling his rural, conservative upbringing with the more laid back values of the elite and his blooming attraction to other men. See all my thoughts in my review!

Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie – 3.5⭐ – I have mixed feelings about this one. I think I liked the idea of it more than the actual book, especially when it comes to the two main characters. I just couldn’t understand why Ettian stood with Gal when his feelings were so clearly mixed because of the horrible things the empire had done. I get that he thought Gal could make things better, but that couldn’t be worth completely selling out your own people. I saw the twist coming from a mile away, and it honestly made me like both Ettian and Gal even less. Wen, though, was an absolute delight. She kicked ass with that rainbow umbrella, and I plan to read the sequel just to get more of her.

What are you currently reading?

The Magicians by Lev Grossman (5%) – I’m not too far into this one, but I’m not enjoying it yet. The main character is already giving off major incel vibes, and I have not enjoyed the way he thinks about women at all. The concept seems cool, though. So, I’m gonna give it a bit more of a chance.

In These Hallowed Halls by Various Authors (52%) – I’ve made some progress on this anthology. I’m still enjoying it, but some of the stories are definitely better than others.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt (4%) – I just started this one last night, and I am already obsessed with it. I’ve been in the mood for dark academia, and this book is delivering that vibe from the very beginning.

What will you read next?

Unfortunately, not much has changed here. I still need to get to A Memory Called Empire and my re-read of Daughter of Redwinter. After those books, I’ll need something lighter and more romantic. So, I think 10 Things That Never Happened will be the perfect choice.

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine, Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald (re-read), 10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall

I hope you’ve all had a great week! What have you been reading? Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? Let me know in the comments!