#draakenwood

[aurorawest]

Reading update

Conned by Kim Fielding - 4.25/5 stars

Odder Still by DN Bryn - 3/5 stars

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig - 4/5 stars

Ended up enjoying this one a lot more than I thought I would. Definitely one of those philosophical-books-masquerading-as-fantasy books, but it was well written and the message resonated with me.

A Draught of Ash and Wine by Kristin Jacques - 3.75/5 stars

Draakenwood by Jordan L Hawk - 5/5 stars

This may have been the first in the series that I handed a 5 star rating to. Not that the rest of the series isn't really good, but this one stood out to me as being really REALLY good.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr - 5/5 stars

Another one that I enjoyed WAY more than I thought I would. I normally don't go for books that do the whole characters-connected-through-time-by-the-same-story trope, but this one was very well done. The characters in the different time periods definitely played to things I love. The fact that it was unexpectedly queer was also such a nice surprise. This book is heavy going, and I wouldn't say it's exactly happy, but it's hopeful. A hyped book that was actually worth the hype.

Blyde and Pearce by Kim Fielding - 3.5/5 stars

Bring Me Home by Annabeth Albert - 3.75/5 stars

Jackdaw by KJ Charles - 5/5 stars

AHHHHHH omg omg. Oh this book. Ripped my heart out and stomped on it, then tenderly mended it. Ben and Jonah are one of the sweetest couples Charles has ever written. Maybe the sweetest? (considering there's a very dubcon-y sex scene at the beginning, this may seem like a strange thing to say, but really). I actually far and away preferred them to the main couple in the original Charm of Magpies trilogy. To be completely honest, I like all the Charm of Magpies World books better than the original trilogy, haha.

The Rest of the Story by Tal Bauer - 4.25/5 stars

Fool Hearts by Emmy Sanders - 3.75/5 stars

Shadows of the Lost by Maxym M Martineau - DNF at pg 60

Actually not a bad book at all, but it was too dependent on the author's previous series, which I didn't have any interest in reading.

The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro - DNF at pg 26

All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim - 5/5 stars

Lovely, funny book that had lots of music and cooking. It's told in a split time period structure which I thought worked really well.

Witch King by Martha Wells - 5/5 stars

I LOVED this book. I love Kai so so much. He's total blorbo material, so I'm honestly surprised this book isn't bigger on tumblr. The worldbuilding was immaculate, really interesting, and very refreshing in that it was very central Asia inspired. You don't see Fantasy Asian Steppe Cultures very much, so that was really cool. This is another one that is told with a split time period, and Wells did a really good job of tying the events of the past and the present chapters together thematically.

I really really really want a sequel.

And Then He Sang a Lullaby by Ani Kayode Somtochukwu - 4/5 stars

One of the reviews of this book said it had a very didactic ending, which I 100% agree with...but it was very well-written and worth a read. It takes place in Nigeria and is about two gay boys who eventually meet in college. It's not a happy book; don't be fooled by the blurb that makes it sound like a romance.

The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley - 5/5 stars (reread)

You guys all know how I feel about Natasha Pulley.

The Master of Samar by Melissa Scott - 3.5/5 stars

Unnatural by Joanna Chambers - 5/5 stars

Fence: Disarmed by Sarah Rees Brennan - 5/5 stars

This book was so cute. Aiden and Harvard both finally pull their heads out of their asses. One of the unexpected joys of these novels is the relationship between Seiji and his father. It's really sweet.

I would fund Sarah Rees Brennan to continue writing Fence novels.

The Archive Undying - 2/5 stars

[professionalqueerbookworm]

Queer Reviews: Jordan L. Hawk, "Draakenwood" (Whyborne & Griffin #9).

CW: explicit sexual content, period-typical homophobia, mildly graphic violence, childhood trauma, mention of racism

Plot: Widdershins has been unusually quiet for months. But now a mysterious creature from the Outside is on the loose, assassinating members of the town’s old families by draining their blood. Whyborne and Griffin set out to solve the mystery—but as the evidence piles up, the police begin to suspect Whyborne himself is the murderer.

Now Whyborne must both clear his name and stop the horrors the monster threatens to unleash. His only hope: an alliance with his old enemies the Endicotts.

Because something terrible lurks in the Draakenwood, and it will stop at nothing to seize control of the maelstrom itself.

9/10 on the Rainbow Scale™ 🌈: I should have just reviewed the series as a whole, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO WRITE A SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF THIS! We meet more asshole British cousins, Kander makes a friend, there's some marriage drama, Griffin is still a sweetheart and I would die for him. Someone pray for Whyborne, he can never catch a break.

[roachzrivia]

it’s a horror and the wild on repeat, reading all day kind of day

[uiuna1]

Inktober day 3!! Draakenwood tree

[hannaedits]

Review: Draakenwood (Whyborne & Griffin #9) by Jordan L. Hawk

Review: Draakenwood (Whyborne & Griffin #9) by Jordan L. Hawk

We’re back in Widdershins for Whyborne & Griffin’s latest adventure, but this time it’s the old families who are the targets. When Whyborne is accused of murder, he and his allies must not only clear his name, but also prevent the rise of a great evil.

Plenty of familiar faces appear in this story, including the return of the crazy English cousins. They’re still up to no good, but this time…

[anisotropic-blue]

Free desk!

Further Draakenwood-inspired silliness 😋

Completed January 2019

[astudyinfic]

Books read in 2019

#22: Draakenwood by Jordan L. Hawk

My review: Enemies from before come back.  New alliances made.  The world is about to come to an end.  Whyborne continues to be the most idiotic genius in the history of the world.  I love him.

[sad-sad-detective]

I’ve finished reading “Draakenwood” (Whyborne & Griffin #9) and man, I love Niles Whyborne. I love that he tries to make up for all things he has done (and hasn’t done) to Whyborne. I love that he accepts Griffin as his son’s life partner and a part of the family. I love that he cares for Heliabel and Persephone.

It is hard for a man of his upbringing and personality, but he really tries his best. And I’m glad that Whyborne finally sees (allows himself to see) his father’s efforts and appreciates it.

[vashti-lives]

That moment you know an author understands introverts...

[authorkarajorgensen]

My ambitious to-be-read pile for September, plus a few ebooks. #bookstagram #books #booklover #booklr #reading #tbr #tbrpile #draakenwood #elizaandhermonsters #thebearandthenightingale #curtsiesandconspiracies #readersofinstagram #bookworm

[kd-heart]

"“Christine, this is none of your concern.” I could at least do whatever possible to preserve poor Miss Parkhurst’s modesty in front of everyone. “No, this is none of your concern,” she shot back. Before I could argue, she said, “First of all, you’re a man. Second of all, you’re literally the only person in this room who hasn’t slept with a woman. I assure you, no one here is interested in your opinion.”"

"Draakenwood (Whyborne & Griffin Book 9)" by Jordan L. Hawk

[drchristineputnam]

Title: Draakenwood

Author: Jordan L. Hawk

Lenght: 246 pages

Genre: Romance, Historical, Paranormal

“I suppose it’s true. Widdershins really does know it’s own.”

Read the review on my blog

[fornarflet]

BOOKWORM PROBLEMS

I'm feeling that weird mixture of sheer joy at how brilliant a new book by a favourite author and utter distress at having actually finished it so you can't read it for the first time again

[bookgeekgrrl]

Sunday reading recap (18-Jun-2017)

Moonbreaker (Secret Histories #11, Simon R. Green) - so I’m really glad I ended up reading #10 & #11 back-to-back because #10 ended on a cliffhanger, with Eddie still dying AND trapped in another dimension. This saw the resolution of that whole arc, and the set up the final book, where the Droods go to war with the Nightside. The author basically wrapped the Nightside books several years ago, but we knew John Taylor was still kicking around. I really like that he’s going to cross over both universes so solidly, not just brief mentions & cameo appearances, and end things so decisively for both.

Knit Quick (Portland Heat #4.1, Annabeth Albert) - a short story glimpse at the post-HEA for the MCs from Knit Tight. Like all this series, it’s soft & sweet & sexy & satisfying.

Homecoming (Out of Uniform #1.5, Annabeth Albert) - cute little short about Zack & Pike’s first reunion after deployment after getting together in the first book. Very tiny bit of angst, just sweetness & romance.

On Point (Out of Uniform #3, Annabeth Albert) - c’mon, it’s SEALs doing a friends-to-lovers, what’s not to love

Feral Dust Bunnies (Offbeat Crimes #4, Angel Martinez) - I love this series so hard. This one features an adorable kitten named Audacity, who witnessed a terrible (and of course weird) crime. I love that we found out more about the cop team of Wolf (who used to be a wolf and then suddenly was a 10-yr-old boy) and Krisk (a lizard man, who I still want to know more about!)

Open Road (Garret Groves) - short, May/December; it’s never, never too late to make a change to make yourself happy

Heart Unseen (Andrew Grey) - good story, always here for diverse MCs

A Cock In The Window (A Kit Stone Mystery, Sue Brown) - [tw: discussion/recollection of child rape] NGL I absolutely read this because the title & cover made me laugh out loud but this was not really a lighthearted book. I was also on board because I like the author; she generally turns out an entertaining story with not too much angst. It does start out that way - the meet cute is because an ex gay porn star recognized a likeness of his own cock in the shop window and then it was sorta love at first sight. And then the murders began. I wasn’t really surprised by the grim darkness of the motive for the murders, because I have been well trained after decades of British cozy mysteries to know that there is always a super-seamy dark underbelly to all small villages. And in the end the decades-long pedophile ‘club’ that pretty much all the older men in town belonged to was exposed to the light. But the epilogue really ruined the whole thing because the MC just went back to being friends with all these older townspeople who knew about the child rapists but had kept quiet and surrendered the town’s kids to it for the sake of the town’s reputation? LIKE WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK? I mean, I can sorta see continuing to live in a town where everyone is pissed that you exposed the town’s sins to the world as a fuck you, but I cannot with this child rape apologist forgiveness. And I was really pissed because otherwise it was a decently good read (if obviously a bit dark) but it was kinda ruined in about 10 final lines of text. 

Draakenwood (Whyborne & Griffin #9, Jordan L Hawk) - after the rage induced by the ending of the previous book, I wanted something I knew I was going to love love love. Plus, the author is hosting a live chat about the book today & I wanted to participate in that. And it delivered everything I wanted! Questionable alliances! An army of librarians armed with dictionaries! Channeling the power of a semi-sentient vortex of magical energy! Whyborne was so brave, he used the telephone TWICE!!!!! And shit’s getting really real in anticipation of the showdown with the eldritch horrors from the Outside. A+++ excellent addition to a great series.

Fav book this week: Draakenwood obviously, because you know, favorite series, favorite author. But honorable mention goes to Feral Dust Bunnies too.

[bibliophagist17]

Whyborne and Griffin

I just finished Draakenwood by Jordan L. Hawk. It's book #9 in one of my absolute favorite book series and I devoured it in 2.5 hours. It was wonderful, filled with so many touching moments and tons of character development. I loved it and can't wait for the next one! I now have a book hangover...lol

[sabulana]

Draakenwood is out and I cancelled my plans so I would have a chance to read it but now my partner made plans for us both without telling me and I just want to go to bed and read...