Good Afternoon,
Yes, I am a day late getting this up. There have been a lot of things going on lately, and I will be doing an update post soon to let you know about all the craziness that has been in my life. I did not want to let this go for another week, because at that rate I will never “catch up” on all the things that I want to post. It’s Monday! What are you Reading is hosted by Kathryn from Book Date, this is a weekly event to share what we’ve read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind.
Books I have Finished Recently
Heart of Hope and Fear by C.S. Johnson | (The Order of the Crystal Daggers #3) | Historical Fantasy, Historical Romance | Add to Goodreads
Prague, 1871
Despite the many demands that come with being a member of the Order of the Crystal Daggers, Eleanora Svobodová has plenty of reasons to celebrate. With Lumiere’s capture and Lady Penelope’s reluctant acceptance of Ferdy, not even Ben’s painful ire can completely diminish her joy.
But just as the future begins to look bright, the past catches up to Eleanora and the other members of the Order.
For as they investigate Karl’s disappearance, Eleanora learns the shocking secret about her mother’s final mission—and Lady Penelope’s treachery—while the Emperor risks his life and heads to Bohemia for a special tripartite council.
Can Eleanora and the Order find a way to save the kingdom? And even if they do, will they be able to survive a new betrayal from among their ranks?
Prince Freya, Vol. 2 by Keiko Ishihara | (Prince Freya #2) | Manga, Fantasy | Add to Goodreads
Freya finds her charade as Prince Edvard difficult to maintain as she battles her own crushing grief and treacherous Tyrish nobles. With the help of her dear friend Alek and her new guardian Sir Julius, however, she’s determined not to give up. But will her new resolve and impulsive nature send her straight into the jaws of danger?!
Moriarty the Patriot, Vol. 6 by Ryōsuke Takeuchi | (Moriarty the Patriot #6) | Manga, Sherlockian, Mystery | Add to Goodreads
The untold story of Sherlock Holmes’ greatest rival, Moriarty!
Before he was Sherlock Holmes’s rival, William James Moriarty fought against the unfair class caste system in London by making sure corrupt nobility got their comeuppance. But even the most well-intentioned plans can spin out of control—will his dream of a more just and equal world turn him into a hero…or a monster?
In order to negotiate with Irene Adler in secret, Count Albert Moriarty arranges a masquerade ball at Buckingham Palace. What is the secret contained in the documents Miss Adler stole? And what is she really after? The Lord of Crime, the Great Detective, and the Beautiful Thief battle it out in the shadows of the elegant ball while the fate of the country rests in their hands.
Mao, Vol. 3 by Rumiko Takahashi | (Mao #3) | Manga, Fantasy | Add to Goodreads
Exorcise your destiny in an era-spanning supernatural adventure from manga legend Rumiko Takahashi!
Teenage Nanoka travels back in time to early 19th-century Japan and meets teenage exorcist Mao. What is the thread of fate that connects them? Together, they seek answers…and kick some demon butt along the way!
The battle rages on as Byoki tries to grasp the once-in-a-millennium opportunity to take over Mao’s body. Nanoka witnesses the accident that orphaned her unfold, and suspicion falls on her present-day guardians. Can her beloved grandfather and Uozumi be trusted? What about Mao, who has no memory of his actions when in his hybrid form? Then, young women start disappearing in Taisho era Kyoto. Who is the prime suspect?
Currently Reading
A Brief History of Japan: Samurai, Shogun and Zen: The Extraordinary Story of the Land of the Rising Sun by Jonathan Clements | History, Non-Fiction, Japan | Add to Goodreads
This fascinating history tells the story of the people of Japan, from ancient teenage priest-queens to teeming hordes of salarymen, a nation that once sought to conquer China, yet also shut itself away for two centuries in self-imposed seclusion.
First revealed to Westerners in the chronicles of Marco Polo, Japan was a legendary faraway land defended by a fearsome Kamikaze storm and ruled by a divine sovereign. It was the terminus of the Silk Road, the furthest end of the known world, a fertile source of inspiration for European artists, and an enduring symbol of the mysterious East. In recent times, it has become a powerhouse of global industry, a nexus of popular culture, and a harbinger of post-industrial decline.
With intelligence and wit, author Jonathan Clements blends documentary and storytelling styles to connect the past, present and future of Japan, and in broad yet detailed strokes reveals a country of paradoxes: a modern nation steeped in ancient traditions; a democracy with an emperor as head of state; a famously safe society built on 108 volcanoes resting on the world’s most active earthquake zone; a fast-paced urban and technologically advanced country whose land consists predominantly of mountains and forests.
Among the chapters in this Japanese history book are:
The Way of the Gods: Prehistoric and Mythical Japan
A Game of Thrones: Minamoto vs. Taira
Time Warp: 200 Years of Isolation
The Stench of Butter: Restoration and Modernization
The New Breed: The Japanese Miracle
The Starless Crown by James Rollins | (Moon Fall #1) | Fantasy | Add to Goodreads
A gifted student foretells an apocalypse. Her reward is a sentence of death.
Fleeing into the unknown she is drawn into a team of outcasts:
A broken soldier, who once again takes up the weapons he’s forbidden to wield and carves a trail back home.
A drunken prince, who steps out from his beloved brother’s shadow and claims a purpose of his own.
An imprisoned thief, who escapes the crushing dark and discovers a gleaming artifact – one that will ignite a power struggle across the globe.
On the run, hunted by enemies old and new, they must learn to trust each other in order to survive in a world evolved in strange, beautiful, and deadly ways, and uncover ancient secrets that hold the key to their salvation.
But with each passing moment, doom draws closer.
WHO WILL CLAIM THE STARLESS CROWN?
What are you hoping to get to read this week?
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Sophril Reads 