Leslie and I are planning three buddy/group reads in the coming months! You can find more information on Leslie’s page or at the end of this post!
Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be answering these questions:
- What did you read last?
- What are you currently reading?
- What will you read next?
It was another week of reading less than I thought I did and I’m not sure why I keep thinking I’ve read so much. Maybe because the days feel so long, but then that also means I’m just taking longer to get through each book! 🤣 Since last week I’ve finished 2 books.
Full Speed to a Crash Landing (Chaotic Orbits #1) by Beth Revis ★★★★☆
I’d heard great things about this sci-fi/space opera novella and I was honestly unsure what to think of it when I started it because it was so different to what I expected. In the end, I found myself loving it—oh the tension! I can’t wait to read the second book (I just lowkey wish these novellas weren’t so expensive, lol)…
The Oleander Sword (The Burning Kingdoms #2) by Tasha Suri ★★★★☆
Jess and I had pretty mixed feelings about this sequel. While I found myself enjoying it more than book one, only because the pacing was really on point and I loved all the action, I still wound up liking the “smaller” half better than the “bigger” half. I’m so much more invested in Bhumika and what’s happening in Ahiranya vs. what’s happening to greater empire. And as much as I want to love the romance, I’m just not sold on it. 😭 Suri has written it as if Malini and Priya have known each other for a lifetime, but when you look at the relationships where they have known each other from childhood or even young adulthood, the difference is stark. While I’m not disliking this series, I’m also a bit disappointed that I’m not loving it as much as I expected to! 🫣 Jess and I are of similar minds and I know we share unpopular opinions (pls don’t come for us).
- The Butcher’s Masquerade ⇢ 57% ⇢ Leslie and I are continuing our buddy read of the DCC books. This one is so intense already and we’re both a little scared about what’s happening, but also super keen to see what comes next. Carl & Donut 4EVER!
- One by One ⇢ 32% ⇢ I started this from the beginning again but this time on audio while at the gym. Then, I started the next DCC, so I’m pausing this until I’m done with that cos I wanna spend every moment reading DCC, lol! 🤭
I’ve got a few buddy reads lined up but in between I’m just going with where the mood takes me!
As I mentioned above, Leslie and I are planning a few group buddy reads in the upcoming months. If you’re interested in joining, you can reach out to either of us via comments or DM us on socials!
- Katabasis by R.F. Kuang — The book comes out at the end of August and we’ll be starting the buddy read around the release date. This one is open for a couple more weeks if you want to join!
- The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee — We’re planning a group read for the last three months of 2025. We’ll start in October and read one book per month through December. It’ll be a re-read for many but you’re welcome to join even if you haven’t read it yet and have been wanting to! 💚
- Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman — Yes, you’re seeing that right. We’re currently reading DCC but we’re planning to start (what we hope will be) a larger group read in January 2026 to prepare for the release of of book 8 in June 2026! This will likely be a channel instead of a chat on Instagram, since we hope to have a big group. I’m already so excited and ready for it!
What are you currently reading? I hope you’re enjoying whatever book you’ve picked up, friends!
dinipandareads 
Oh gosh I know what you mean, that’s why I don’t like buying novellas because they feel so expensive :S But that Beth Revis series sounds fantastic!
And oh my gosh I have been wanting to get into DCC and this group read sounds like the perfect way to experience it for the first time can you please sign me up for that Dini? 🖤
LikeLiked by 1 person
YAY! I’m so excited that you want to read DCC with us! Leslie and I are starting to add people to the group chat starting from now so that we don’t forget who wants to join later on (lol) so I’ll add you to that asap! 💜
Also, YES! I was surprised by the Beth Revis book and I’m so glad that I enjoyed it in the end. I loved that it’s a novella but also, I wanted more, haha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much!
Oh yeah that’s my main issue with novellas usually but I’ve really started appreciating them more lately lol.
LikeLike
I hear you with how expensive novellas are. The Becky Chambers one I bought last month cost as much as a normal novel would have done. It’s why I haven’t read the Beth Revis series yet even though I would love to. I suppose it’s because the number of pages doesn’t really affect how much a book costs to produce but it’s annoying when you get so much less for your money.
I hope you love The Tainted Cup when you read it. It’s such a great book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oof, yeah. I loved Psalm for the Wild Built but I haven’t bought the other novellas in the series yet because they are pricey! These novellas never go on sale too, but it’s hard for me to get physical copies so sometimes, if I really want to read a pricey novella, I just have to buy them full price, lol. 😮💨 I think it just becomes frustrating when it’s a digital copy and it winds up being the same price as a physical (and yet I can’t get hold of one)!
I’m diving into Tainted Cup tomorrow and I’m very excited about it 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
That must be really frustrating. It seems wrong to have to pay as much for an ebook as a physical one. Hope you love Tainted Cup.
LikeLike
I’m currently reading Obsession in Death by JD Robb
In the last week I’ve read:
1 Obsession in Death by JD Robb
2 Lion Hearts by Dan Jones.
3 Flirting with Trouble by Melissa Foster.
Next up should be more JD Robb, or maybe the new Olivia Dade
Gill
LikeLiked by 1 person
SO excited for Green Bone!
I also hate how expensive novellas are, it’s why I rarely read them even though there are a few I really want!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LET’S GOOOOO GREEN BONE !!!
LikeLike
Enjoy your books!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d love to join the Green Bone Saga and Dungeon Crawler Carl Buddy Reads! Where do I sign up?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi, Melanie! I just followed your blog and requested you on Instagram. I hope that’s okay! Once it’s approved, I’ll add you to our Green Bone chat. I’ll write you down for DCC 🙂
-Leslie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay, so excited to have you joining these group reads, Melanie! 💜
LikeLike
Dini!!! I am LOVING our DCC read. Oh my gosh. I’m waiting for you to catch up because it’s about to get crazy! I agree- why are novellas the same price as regular books?! They are so much smaller and it doesn’t feel like it’s worth it! Yay, I’m glad you are blasting our buddy read schedule too! ❤
LikeLike
I totally understand where you’re coming from novella cost wise. That’s why I haven’t gotten to The Singing Hills or Wayward Children series yet; I’m reluctant to pay more for a novella than I generally do for a full length book 🤔
Also I’m so sorry to hear that your feelings for The Oleander Sword were so mixed. It’s so frustrating when you can’t connect to a romance and can put a major damper on a read, depending on how strong the focus on the romance is. I’ve also had reads where I’ve been more interested in secondary elements before too. So now I’m kind of nervous 😬
I’m glad you’re loving DCC so much 🥰
Hope you have a wonderful week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t got all the Singing Hills books either and I think that’s also probably why I haven’t started the Wayward Children series yet. There are so many books in that one? 🫣 I think I’d pay it if it was for a physical copy but when the digital copy is the same price or even more expensive than the physical? It hurts!
I think I would’ve enjoyed Oleander Sword better if the romance wasn’t as big of a focus. It’s still a sub-plot, but it’s a massive one and it’s purposefully set up so that the stakes are even higher emotionally in the final book. I know my feelings on this book are not the popular opinion and I would definitely still recommend the books to anyone curious to check them out! I’m just a bit bummed I’m not loving them as much as I was sure I would! I hope you end up loving it, Charlotte 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel like I’m most likely to cave with The Singing Hills ones due to the stunning covers tbh. They may be small but at least they’re also stunning 😂 but yes there are a lot of Wayward Children ones now, I think they may be onto 10 or 11 🤔 yes that’s so true, it never feels as bad when you get it in print but paying loads for a download never feels the same.
Aww I’m so sorry to hear that and totally understand your frustration. It always stings when you’re sure you’ll love a book but something about it doesn’t quite click. That’s kind of how I felt with ACOTAR, it had moments and elements I loved but others that didn’t fully work and that crushed me as I adored Throne Of Glass and was sure I’d love a series that focused on the fae from the start even more. I really hope the finale ends up being the favourite you expected the other two to be. And thank you, I’ll let you know how I find the series.
LikeLike
[…] #WWWWednesday: 6 August 2025 […]
LikeLike