Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every other weekend which fills the role of several blog memes, like Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where I round up what I’ve read since the last update and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.

And just like that, April is over in a blink of an eye and now we’re saying hello to May. Warm weather is on its way, though you wouldn’t know it from all the rain and cold we’ve been having here for the last couple weeks. As we edge towards summer, things are going to be getting a little busier, both real life and on the book blogging front. The next few months will see the release of a lot of anticipated titles, plus as you might have  heard, the BiblioSanctum is one of the blogs participating in this year’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off competition, so that will require some adjustments to my reading schedule. Currently I’m working on my plan of attack, but I’m sure I’ll find a rhythm in good time. But now, let’s get on to the books…

Received for Review

Some really exciting new arrivals this week, my thanks to all the publishers for the review copies received! For more details and full descriptions of the books, be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages!

The Summer Dragon by Todd Lockwood – My thanks to DAW who sent over this finished copy last month. And oh my goodness, the illustrations in it are sooo beautiful in all their glory, while providing extra flavor to the fun, adventurous story here about dragons. I loved this book. My review will be dropping tomorrow, so be sure to check it out.

Admiral by Sean Danker – The good folks at Roc also sent over a finished copy of this military science fiction debut. A man wakes up on a dead ship with three newly trained recruits, and the only clues that identify him are the markings on his sleeper that show he’s an admiral…but is he? I’ve had my eye on this one for a while, so I’m hoping to dive in soon.

Song of the Deep by Brian Hastings – Sterling Pub surprised me last week with this slick little ARC based on the upcoming video game of the same name. They know I love my game tie-in novels! I’ll likely give this one a read, since it sounds like a short, fun Middle Grade story. It came with some cute pins and stickers. My thanks to the publisher!

Bailey’s Story by W. Bruce Cameron – D’aww, they cuteness! My thanks to Starscape for this illustrated children’s novel adapted from Cameron’s bestseller A Dog’s Purpose, which I read a few years ago so I actually know enough about it to recommend it highly, especially if you are a dog lover. Word of warning though, that book made me BAWL LIKE A BABY. I’m sure they’ll tone down on the heartstrings tugging for this children’s version, but if it’s anything like the original, you are going to need plenty of tissues…

I Am Providence by Nick Mamatas – I did a happy dance when this arrived in the mail. It’s funny because I could never really get into the work of H.P. Lovecraft himself, and yet I would gladly leap upon anything inspired by his stuff or stories with Lovecraftian horror themes. My thanks to Night Shade Books for this ARC! There are illustrations in this too, and they are very tentacle-y indeed.

Voodoo Killings by Kristi Charish – I owe Kristi and the awesome team at the Canadian offices of Penguin Random House a big thank you for this one! I became a fan after the Adventures of Owl and I’ve been waiting for this first book of her new series ever since I heard she was working on it. I plan on starting it next week and I am beyond excited.

MEG: Nightstalkers by Steve Alten – Several amazing ARCs also arrived from Tor this week, starting with this standalone fifth installment in Alten’s series about big-ass prehistoric sharks. I’ll be first to admit a weakness for the “creature features” of the 80s and those made-for-television movies about monsters that you see on networks like SyFy, so a book version of something like seemed right up my alley. Besides, who can say no to giant shark rampages? That’s right, no one.

Red Right Hand by Levi Black – Did I mention I love Lovecraftian horror? Yeah, I love Lovecraftian horror. Coming out this summer from Tor is this twisted quest tale of urban fantasy featuring a smart, gutsy female protagonist going up against the menace of the Elder Gods. Yes, please.

Four Roads Cross by Max Gladstone – This one just appeared on my doorstep one day, though I’m not complaining because WHEEE, SO MUCH YES! to this fifth book of the Craft Sequence! If it’s anything like the previous books it’ll feature another self-contained story, and as if that weren’t enough, some old friends are coming back for this latest adventure to defend the great city of Alt Coulumb. Thank you, Tor!

Company Town by Madeline Ashby – A surprise hardcover of this also showed up from Tor. I’ve wanted to check out more by Madeline Ashby ever since I read her book vN pubbed by Angry Robot, so its arrival couldn’t have been more perfect. I’m definitely ready for some murder mystery and bio-tech.

The Transference Engine by Julia Verne St. John – In case you missed our cover reveal and excerpt for this book last week, here it is again. Gorgeous. Just…gorgeous. My thanks to DAW for sending me this ARC with the updated artwork gracing its cover!

Regeneration by Stephanie Saulter – If you haven’t read the first book Gemsigns yet, you are missing out. I too should be working on getting caught up with this series, since this third book is already out now in paperback in the UK, and I am very grateful to the kind folks at Jo Fletcher Books for posting me a copy.

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi – Audiobook, with thanks to Macmillan Audio. I already listened to this one and a review is on its way. This is a truly wonderful book, kind of like a retelling of the Persephone/Hades story but inspired by the grand sweeping epics of Indian mythology. It might not be for everyone, but I loved it.

Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters – A dystopian alternate history novel about a world where the Civil War never happened, and slavery still existed in parts of America. I am a big fan of Winters’ The Last Policeman trilogy. The man can tell a good story and his upcoming new novel sounds like it’ll be just as compelling and hard-hitting. With thanks to Mulholland Books via NetGalley.

Warcraft: Durotan by Christie Golden – Audiobook, with thanks to Audible Studios. This is the official prequel novel to the Warcraft movie, which is one of my most anticipated summer blockbusters. Whether the movie will be good remains to be seen, but before I watch it I knew I wanted to get the background story. I also love Christie Golden, who is a master when it comes to tie-ins.

Purchased and Won

I’ve been somewhat negligent in talking about the books I’ve purchased lately (though in truth, I’ve been refraining from buying much these days, given my already gigantic TBR) but there are also some books I won earlier this year including Sanctuary Bay by Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz (thanks for the giveaway, Lekeisha!) as well as a copy of Seven Black Diamonds by Melissa Marr from a blog tour. That one’s signed by the author!

This week I also made a couple purchases because of course I had to pick up Star Wars: Bloodline by Claudia Gray. I know don’t typically feature my graphic novel hauls, but I had to make an exception for this gorgeous deluxe edition of We Stand on Guard by Brian K. Vaughan which wasn’t even supposed to be out until later this month, but I guess they decided to ship early. For those who don’t know, I’m a transplanted Canadian in the US. When I was a kid, me and an American friend of mine used to joke around about what if the USA invaded Canada, which is, like, pretty much the premise of this series. Needless to say, I just had to pick it up, and I’m also a really big fan of BKV.

Finally, I was sooooo incredibly excited to score a copy of The Stormlight Archive Pocket Companion by Brandon Sanderson last week. This sweet little hardcover was an exclusive to indie bookstores for Independent Bookstore Day, and I was lucky enough to snag one while I was on an out-of-town day trip, since there are no indie bookstores near me. Not all the participating stores had them either, because I had to call around and five of the six I tried didn’t even know what the hell I was talking about. I got lucky with the last place, and they only had one left and couldn’t hold it for me. Fortune must have smiled upon me though, because after I hauled ass over there, they still had it.

Reviews

Here are all my reviews since the last update, gathered together and listed here for your convenience and viewing pleasure. The ratings are all over the board this week, with some highs and some lows. I’ve also been on a tie-in novel kick for the last couple weeks and to be honest I think I’m still in the middle of it.

Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt (4.5 of 5 stars)
Nightstruck by Jenna Black (4 of 5 stars)
World of Warcraft: Illidan by William King (4 of 5 stars)
Quantum Break: Zero State by Cam Rogers (4 of 5 stars)
The Chimes by Anna Smaill (3.5 of 5 stars)
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier (3.5 of 5 stars)
Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie (3 of 5 stars)
Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan (2.5 of 5 stars)

Roundup Highlights:

What I’ve Read Since the Last Update

This was a somewhat lighter week for me when it comes to busting down that TBR. But with a couple of longer books on my plate and the allocation of some of my reading time towards checking out our 30 SPFBO books, that was to be expected. I already have reviews up for a couple of these, and the rest are lined up for the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? Nothing makes me happier than sharing my love for books, so let me know what you plan on checking out.  I hope you found something interesting for a future read! Until next time, see you next Roundup!