WWW WEDNESDAY – 14th April 2021

This is my latest WWW Wednesday blog. I’m seeing more and more of these as the weeks go by – and it’s lots of fun to do. I can’t do it every week though because I don’t read fast enough.

It’s been three weeks since my last post, however, and I’ve read a few books since then. 📚

The aim of this blog is to talk about:

• What you have finished reading
• What you are currently reading
• What you are going to read next

So, without further ado, let’s get started 😀

WHAT I’VE FINISHED READING

PAPERBACK

I finished King of the Ashes last week. I really enjoyed it. Raymond E. Feist is a master storyteller and this novel is no exception.

It starts with a betrayal. Four kings and the regional barons kill the Firemane royal family, turning the kingdom of Ithrace to ruin. However, the youngest Firemane, only a baby, survives. Hidden by an old friend of the king, the baby grows up, but will he want to reclaim what was stolen from his family?

A fantastic premise and a wonderful world filled with assassins, blood magic, and a land on the brink of another war. I have posted a full review on my blog – so if you found the premise intriguing, have a little look 👀

KINDLE

Just finished this. This is the 10th book in the Last Kingdom Series. I’ve read them all apart from the final book, War Lord, which is the 13th book in the series – and have decided to do a re-read before saying goodbye to Uhtred!

The 10th book in the series sees an older Uhtred finally putting his energy to reclaiming Bebbanburg. As well as his cousin fighting hard to keep the land that belongs to Uhtred, the Scots also have eyes on Bebbanburg. Will Uhtred ever take back his homeland? 🤞

I’m going to do a full review of this, so don’t want to give much away, but this book sets in motion the final act of Uhtred’s story. The last book, Warriors of the Storm, was a transition novel, where all the issues that the younger Uhtred was tied to, finally fell away. This is now about Bebbanburg and about Uhtred’s own desires.

I am expecting this book (as well as Warriors of the Storm) to make up Season 5 of the TV series – and if the writers stick to the material in these two books – it will be a treat. ⚔️ 🛡 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

HARDBACK

I read this book years ago, in 2016 actually, which was the ‘year of the baby brain fog’. I remember enjoying it at the time but because of the aforementioned ‘baby brain fog’ it perhaps hadn’t stayed with me as it should.

On re-read – I have to say this book is EXCELLENT – maybe even the best start to a series since Game of Thrones. It has political intrigue and also a very in-depth religious and political background that I’ve not found in any other series since A Song of Ice and Fire. Also, the main characters are great which is a must for me – oh, and I love the kettral. 🦅 🦅

A full review is coming – but needless to say this book is highly recommended.

* baby brain fog – a state of forgetfulness which happens when all three of your children (aged 5 and under) don’t like to sleep. 😴😴😴

WHAT I AM READING

The Readalong

I’m way behind on my readalong. I should be well into Memories of Ice by now (sorry Blaise@UndertheRadarb2 for being a bad readalong buddy 😬)

I am enjoying this book – but I had to start it over. I got a little traumatised by what was happening to Felisin – and ended up reading just her storyline until she reached a place of *relative* safety. And then, because of all the interweaving characters and wars, I had to read it from the start to make sure I understood what was going on. 🌪🩸⚔️

I’m now on chapter 11, which I think is about 45% through, and I’m not reading anything else until this is finished. I’m very intrigued to see how the uprising pans out. Duiker is my favourite character at the minute. I also have a soft spot for Fiddler.

Unrequited love is never easy 💔

Hardback

Can’t say to much yet as I’ve only started the second book in the Unhewn Throne trilogy – but again, this is shaping up to be another excellent book from Brian Staveley!

KINDLE

I’m about 5 chapters in – and so far I am really enjoying this. Engaging characters and extremely well written. The standard of self-published books are rising all the time – and this book is every bit as good as a traditionally published novel in terms of the quality of prose and introduction to the plot.

I selected this to read because FriendsTalkingFantasy did a fantastic podcast about it and I really understand straight away why they liked it so much.

D.W Ross has created an environment that is very harsh and I feel cold at times just reading it! 🥶🥶🥶

What I am reading next

HARDBACK

This is the final instalment in the Unhewn Throne trilogy by Brian Staveley. Can’t wait to read this and see what Brian Staveley has in store with his forthcoming trilogy.

The Empire’s Ruin (the first novel is the Ashes of the Unhewn Throne series) is due out in July 2021.

KINDLE

On I go to book 11!!! ⚔️ 🛡

Destiny is All

That’s all for this week – and if you enjoyed this blog, please consider subscribing 😀