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?

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli – 4.5⭐ – This ended up being my favorite book of February. I loved the characters, and their cat and mouse dynamic was entertaining and kept me hooked. Everything was a bit morally grey, as well, and I’m still not sure exactly who I should be rooting for in this one. The ending was wild, and it left the story in such a state of chaos that the next book could go in so many different directions. Despite being so open-ended, the main storyline of this particular book was clearly wrapped up, and I’m curious to see where it all goes. Also, I’ll just say that I felt so sorry for Alex… I definitely recommend picking this one up!

Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles – 4⭐ – This was such a fun book to read. There was mystery, action, a bookstore setting, and a relationship with plenty of sexual tension. I enjoyed the dynamic between Will and Kim because I never quite knew whether they wanted to fight or fuck each other. lol. The antagonistic vibes and Kim’s seemingly never-ending subterfuge definitely kept things interesting. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book soon.

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner – 4⭐ – I read this for the ‘virtual reality’ team challenge of Trope-ical Readathon. It was fast-paced and had plenty of fascinating themes and concepts. However, the plot became a bit repetitive once the characters embarked on their journey. It felt like a video game where they had to beat each level, and I think it would have made the book better to decrease the number of levels. Some of the world-building, especially how the characters could code while within the virtual reality, could have been a little more explicit. That being said, the end was something I did not see coming despite my suspicions that something fishy was going on.

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal – 3.25 ⭐ – I read this book for the ‘hand-picked crew’ challenge of Trope-ical Readathon. It was a huge disappointment for me. I collected all of my thoughts in a review and don’t really feel like giving this book any more time… So, check out the review for the reasons I didn’t love this one.

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler – 4.5⭐ – I read this book because it was one of the science fiction team books for Trope-ical Readathon. I’ve been wanting to try out some of Butler’s work because I’ve heard nothing but great things. I LOVED this book. It was gripping, visceral, and so emotionally impactful. The way it addressed time travel was simple yet logical, and the exploration of needing to protect your ancestor despite them being a slave owner and rapist was a powerful and heartbreaking story to read. The main character was exceptionally strong-willed because she had to endure so much physical and emotional pain just to ensure her family line would exist in the future. I cannot recommend this book enough!

What are you currently reading?

The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel (45%) – I enjoyed Siegel’s debut last year, and I’m liking this one even more so far. Both main characters are navigating grief over losing someone they loved to the plague. They come together as doctor and patient at first, but the curative agent for their grief seems to be the connection they’ve forged. The only problem is one of them is a lady whose family is trying to marry her off, and the other is a Jewish immigrant who could never get away with pursuing a relationship with a noblewoman. The writing is beautiful, and I read the first half pretty much in one sitting.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherin Arden (82%) – I’ve been obsessed with this book since I started it yesterday. I’m already almost finished listening to it. The imagery of war and its impacts on the people who survive it is harrowing to read. The story follows a wounded nurse as she attempts to find her brother who disappeared from the front lines of WWI. She goes back to the front after being discharged because of her injury and struggles to find him. The second POV from her brother is probably my favorite, though, and I really like the bond he has forged with one of his “enemies.” The end has taken a bit of turn for the weird, though, with the inclusion of some paranormal aspects, and I’m not sure how I feel about it yet.

Lirael by Garth Nix (19%) – I’ve been wanting to continue this series by Nix for a while now, and Celeste was gracious enough to agree to a buddy read. I’m enjoying this one so far and loving the library setting. It seems to house lots of secrets, and it has already gotten Lirael into trouble thanks to her curiosity. I also loved the quick glimpse of Sabriel and Touchstone, and I’m hoping there will be more of them later in the book.

Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust (21%) – I didn’t have a chance to pick this one up this week. Maybe next week…

What will you read next?

The Classified Dossier: Sherlock Holmes & Dorian Gray by Christian Klaver, Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange, The Wicker King by K. Ancrum

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!