The Books I'm Reading Now
I'm reading The Shadowed Land, the third in Signe Pike's wonderful Scottish series of bravery, loyalty, betrayal, and adventure; I'm listening to Lynn Painter's rom-com Nothing Like the Movies; and I'm listening to John Gwynne's Norse-inspired saga of life in the time after the gods have destroyed themselves, The Shadow of the Gods.
What are you reading, bookworms?
01 The Shadowed Land (Lost Queen #3) by Signe Pike
I loved the first story in this series, The Lost Queen, which offered warriors, legends, magic, love triangles, duty, royalty, brutality, and loyalty and betrayal—all set against the backdrop of Scottish castles and pastoral countrysides. I thought the second book in the series, The Forgotten Kingdom (you can find a link to my review below), was captivating without being melodramatic, romantic without any overdone elements, and wonderfully steeped in legend.
When book three begins, the story's key characters have been reunited, but the warrior Artúr is mysteriously called back by his father; Languoreth and her brother Lailoken keep captive the problematic former bishop Mungo while trying to keep the peace between the Christians and those who follow the Old Way; and Languoreth's daughter Angharad strikes out to try to become an initiate of the druid Briochan, who summons the weather.
I'm reading this title, which was published December 3, courtesy of NetGalley and Atria Books.
Signe Pike is the author of the first two books in the Lost Queen trilogy, The Lost Queen and The Forgotten Kingdom.
02 Nothing Like the Movies (Better Than the Movies #2) by Lynn Painter
In Lynn Painter's Nothing Like the Movies rom-com, Liz Buxbaum and Wes Bennett were childhood next-door neighbors in Omaha who fell in love as teens.
They both head to UCLA for college, but when Wes's dad dies only weeks into their first semester, Wes leaves behind his D1 baseball future, his schooling, and his love for Liz.
Two years later he's at UCLA again, he's worked his way back onto the baseball team, he's diving into classes--and winning over Liz is the last item on his to-do list.
But Liz, who is often embedded with the baseball team to gather footage and social media material, isn't going to forgive him so easily. And her new boyfriend may have something to say about Wes's ongoing love for her too.
Lynn Painter is the author of a rom-com I adored, Better Than the Movies, as well as the cute Betting on You and Happily Never After, Accidentally Amy, Mr. Wrong Number, and other books.
I'm listening to this as an audiobook.
03 The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn #1) by John Gwynne
In John Gwynne's Norse-inspired saga The Shadow of the Gods, it's been a century since the gods battled themselves into extinction. Only their bones hold power now--for those brave enough to seek them out.
There is talk of war's return, and three warriors will shape the future of the land of Vigrid: a noblewoman searching for fame through battle; a huntress on a quest filled with danger; and a servant who joins the mercenaries called the Bloodsworn so that she may seek revenge.
I'm listening to The Shadow of the Gods as an audiobook.
Gwynne is also the author of book two in this series, The Hunger of the Gods, the series Of Blood and Bone, and The Faithful and the Fallen series. Gwynne is also a Viking reenactor.
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