Hello everyone,
Welcome to the penultimate post of my A-Z of books, which recounts the titles, authors, characters, and settings that I encountered in my first five years of having this blog.
I expected there to be more things beginning with ‘W’. A lot of book titles start with that letter, but surprisingly few character names. Anyway, let us get straight to the list.
The Waiting Rooms
A book by Eve Smith, which I read for a blog tour back in 2020. It was a very good dystopian read with three separate perspectives, based around the concept of medical treatment being forbidden for people over the age of 70. For me, it is an underrated gem.
Walter
A set designer in a theatre who Thea Brandt has a relationship with in The House Of Fortune by Jessie Burton. Thea is initially besotted with him, but it is pretty obvious to be reader that he is a nasty piece of work.
Warren Rhodes
The drummer in the band Daisy Jones and the Six, in the book of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reid. A very laid back character unlike some of his bandmates, his testimony suggests that he fully enjoyed the rock star lifestyle.
Watching You
A book by Lisa Jewell which I read in 2019. Out of the 11 books I have read by her, it remains my least favourite as the mystery was easy to work out and the characters were not very likeable.
Wax Heart
The most famous book by the successful author Constance Holden in The Confession by Jessie Burton. It is adapted into a Hollywood film and during the shoot, Connie and her partner Elise become estranged. Elise’s subsequent disappearance forms the basis of the story over two timelines.
We Watch You
The debut novel by my fellow book blogger NS Ford, who self-published late in 2021 and I took part in the blog tour early the following year. I enjoyed most of it, although the ending definitely split opinion!
Wellsworth
The boarding school that Emmy Willick attends in The Mystery Of Black Hollow Lane by Julia Nobel and its sequels. There she learns of her mysterious father, unwillingly joins the secretive Latin society, and enjoys being part of a football team.
Wenzhi
The general of the Celestial Army in Daughter Of The Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan. He and Xingyin develop a mutual respect for each other that turns into affection, paving the way for a love triangle also involving Prince Liwei. A very complex and well written character,
West Camel
An author and editor who took his name from an unusually named Somerset village, I read West Camel’s debut novel Attend in 2019 after receiving a free copy. It was interesting though a little slow paced for me. As an editor, his name appears frequently in the acknowledgements section of books published by Orenda.
Where The Crawdads Sing
I know that not everyone loves it, but this is one of my favourite books. A story and setting that completely captivated me and a main character who I went through every emotion with, and then there was that ending. It was my best read of 2020.
The Whisper Man
An eerie debut thriller by Alex North, about a serial killer from the past known as the Whisper Man, who resurfaces in the present. It is dark and haunting, but also a very character-driven story.
White Flowers
One of the two warring gangs who rule Shanghai in These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong. The White Flowers are helmed by the Russian Montagov dynasty, with Roma being the heir as they investigate the Madness sweeping through the city.
White Rabbit
The character in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland who is famously running late. Alice follows him into the rabbit hole and into the titular setting.
The Whole Truth
The fifth instalment of the DI Adam Fawley series by Cara Hunter. One of the best in the series so far, it contains a twist that completely turns the tables as Adam becomes the suspect rather than the one investigating a murder.
Widget
One of the performers in The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. A trainer of cats together with his sister Poppet, he befriends Bailey and shows him the circus.
William
I cannot remember his last name, but William is a prime suspect in In The Dark by Cara Hunter when two young women are found trapped in his basement. However, he seems unintelligible and his role in what happened to the two women turns out to be different to what we originally believe.
Williamson
The high school that Starr Carter attends in The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. As a setting, Williamson plays quite a big role as Starr feels she has to be a much different, more conforming person there compared to when she is at home in her neighbourhood.
The Winter Of The Witch
The final book in the Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden. It introduces us to the land of midnight and completes Vasya’s story, and although I felt the plot could have been a little more progressive, I have rarely read a more beautifully written book than this one.
Witchcraft
I have read a large number of books containing witchcraft, as it is a topic that I love to read about. Among my favourites are The Familiars by Stacey Halls which explores the Pendle witch trials of the 17th century, and The Once And Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow, where three sisters attempt to restore witchcraft to Salem.
With The Fire On High
A young adult book by Elizabeth Acevedo that I read in early 2020 and it quickly became one of my favourites. It has a stunning cover, and I loved everything about the story, from the narrator Emoni to the passages about food.
The Woman In Cabin 10
I read this mystery thriller by Ruth Ware just before picking up With The Fire On High, right at the start of 2020. Out of the three books I have read by Ware this remains my favourite despite the final part of the story not quite living up to what had gone before. For a time, I was obsessed by the mystery.
Wrong Place Wrong Time
One of the best thrillers I have read in the past few years. Written by Gillian McAllister, it tells of a woman called Jen who watches in horror as her son commits a murder one evening, then travels back in time to relive all the events that led up to that incident. It was the novel that brought McAllister global success.
Wugang
A high ranking minister in the Celestial Kingdom who opposes Xingyin’s attempts to secure her mother’s freedom in Daughter Of The Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan. In the sequel, he becomes the main villain after overthrowing the Celestial Emperor.
Mr Wyatt
One of Maverick Carter’s neighbours in Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas, the prequel to The Hate U Give. To help himself get on the straight and narrow, Maverick gets a part-time job helping out Mr Wyatt and eventually reaps the rewards of his tough love.
Wylan van Eck
A demolitions expert who joins Kaz Brekker and his crew during Six Of Crows as they look to rescue Bo Yul-Bayur from the Ice Court. We get to know him more during the sequel Crooked Kingdom despite spending most of the story disguised as Kuwei Yul-Bo, and he begins a romance with Jesper.
Let’s Chat
And there we have it! Have you come across any of these books, settings, authors, or characters? Let me know in the comments!
Happy reading 🙂
Stephen Reads Books 