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.
Received for Review
My thanks to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received! For more details and full descriptions of the books, be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages.
First up, a couple of exciting new arrivals from Orbit! The US edition of Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell finally has has a publisher and release date (with the subsequent books in the series to follow swiftly) and I was super excited to be sent an ARC. I guess I’ll have no excuse now not to read this one ASAP! Especially if I want to keep up with the release schedule. I also got sent an ARC of Adrift by Rob Boffard, whose book Tracer I really enjoyed, so I’m curious to see what else he has in store.
From the wonderful team at Del Rey, I was also sent an ARC of The Memory of Fire by Callie Bates, sequel to the author’s debut The Waking Land. I had a good time with the first book, and definitely wouldn’t mind continuing with the series to see what will happen.
With thanks to Subterranean Press, a surprise ARC of The Dinosaur Tourist by Caitlín R. Kiernan arrived a couple weeks ago. I wish I knew more about this one, because it looks fascinating (that cover is amazing, am I right?) but early descriptions I found on the publisher’s website are still very vague, though I do know that it’s an anthology.
Also thanks to Tor Books for sending me a finished copy of By Fire Above by Robyn Bennis, one of the many exciting books featured for the publisher’s #FearlessWomen campaign this spring and summer. I read and enjoyed the first book The Guns Above last year, and I really hope that some time will free up later this month so I can read this sequel.
Earlier this month I also received an ARC of Nebula Awards Showcase 2018 edited by Jane Yolen. These volumes have been published annually since 1966, featuring the winning and nominated stories of the Nebula Awards, voted on by the members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Thank you so much, Pyr Books!
Up next, a parade of gorgeous finished copies! Kicking off this batch is King of Ashes by Raymond E. Feist, which I’ve actually reviewed already. My thoughts on the book can be found here. With thanks to Harper Voyager for the beautiful hardcover.
A few weeks ago I received a pitch for a Young Adult adventure-survival novel that I’d never heard of before called Damselfly by Chandra Prasad. It’s about a group of private-school teens who crash land on a deserted tropical island, and they have work together in order to survive. With shades of LOST and Lord of the Flies, I found the description really intriguing, so I decided to take a look. My thanks to Scholastic Press for the review copy.
I was also thrilled to receive a hardcover copy of Brief Cases by Jim Butcher from the amazing folks at Ace Books. Hard it believe the last book to come out in The Dresden Files was four years ago, and it seems the wait for the next volume will continue, though happily fans will get this anthology to tide them over in the meantime. I’m not even a fan of short stories and I’m still really looking forward to this, which shows you how much I love this series!
Next up are a couple of unsolicited arrivals with thanks to Simon & Schuster. These are both new to me, but they look interesting. From Scribner, In Dust and Ashes by Anne Holt is a crime novel from the celebrated Norwegian author whose Hanne Wilhemsen series is on bestselling lists worldwide. The only thing making me wary is, this is book 10! The story about Hanne trying to solve a cold case sounds great, but as this is also billed as the final book of the series which has been twenty-four years in the writing, I’m not sure how standalone it would be. If anyone knows, please chime in. From the publisher’s Aladdin imprint I also received this Middle Grade novel called Freya and the Magic Jewel by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams, the first book in the Thunder Girls series starring goddesses in Norse mythology. I might hold on to this one for my daughters to enjoy when they’re old enough to read it in a few years; the story looks fun and super cute, if the cat-drawn chariot on the cover is any indication!
And finally, wrapping up this batch is a surprise copy of Ascendant by Jack Campbell, the second volume in his new Genesis Fleet series. I’m not sure if I’ll continue with this since I didn’t really care for the first book when I read it last year, but there’s always a chance for a series to get better with later installments. I guess I’ll wait for reviews of this one to trickle in before I make my final decision. Regardless, a big thank you to Ace Books for sending me the hardcover.
In the digital pile, I picked up a few audio review copies this week. My thanks to HarperAudio for Onyx & Ivory by Mindee Arnett, an author I’ve wanted to try for a while. Courtesy of Listening Library, I also received Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl, a book I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about lately, and it’s gotten me curious.
And yay for new eARCs from Tor.com! Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells is the third installment in the Murderbot Diaries series, which I’m hoping to jump into after I catch up with the second book later this month. And The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark is a book I only found out about recently, but it looks fantastic and I’m looking forward to checking it out.
Reviews
My reviews posted since the last update:
The Queen of Sorrow by Sarah Beth Durst (4 of 5 stars)
The Night Dahlia by R.S. Belcher (4 of 5 stars)
The Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso (4 of 5 stars)
Last Dragon Standing by Rachel Aaron (4 of 5 stars)
Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente (3.5 of 5 stars)
King of Ashes by Raymond E. Feist (3.5 of 5 stars)
What I’ve Read Since the Last Update
Audiobooks are giving me a huge boost once again because I’ve gotten back into Conan Exiles, an open-world survival game based in the world of Conan the Barbarian. The best way I can describe this game is “Minecraft on steroids with 100% more gore and nudity”, with its entire premise revolving around exploring, crafting, and building. It’s the type of activity that goes hand in hand with listening to audiobooks since concentration requirements are minimal between running around in the world gathering materials and constructing my humble abode (while just keeping an eye out for the odd creature or hostile NPC that can ambush you). This means multitasking and more books completed, which is always good news for me. Here’s what I’ve managed to “unstack” from the TBR since the last update. Stay tuned for more reviews!
Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? I hope you found something interesting for a future read! Let me know what you plan on checking out. Until next time, see you next Roundup!
The BiblioSanctum 
I don’t know why, but for some reason, I read this as ‘The Dinosaur Terrorist’ and thought, jeez, that’s a bit much^^ (Dinosaur tourist is still weird.. I am looking forward to your review and what it’s really about!)
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Man, now there is a book I would read for sure!
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I can write it^^ I always wanted to be an indie author.
😉
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Haha, I wonder what that book would be like!
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Haha! It looks to be an anthology, so The Dinosaur Tourist is probably one of the stories – I’ll have to see what’s up with that!
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Ooh Adrift is one I’m looking forward to! Onyx and Ivory is on my to- get list also, and of course all the Murderbot! 🙂
Conan Exiles sounds kinda awesome. I didn’t know about that game, I need to go take a look! I can see playing that…
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CE is awesome if you love to build and create. I’ve spent hours in the game already just making houses, lol!
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Ooh nice new reads! Lots of new to me ones there! Hope you enjoy each and every one of them!
My STS will be up tomorrow, so stop by then if you can!
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
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Thanks! I hope you enjoy your new books too!
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I wasn’t really impressed with Campbell’s first Genesis Fleet book either. I’m going to wait until he’s finished and then read this series. I think part of the issue is that he’s splitting his time between this and the YA fantasy series he’s doing as well and it shows in his writing.
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The first Genesis Fleet book bored me to tears, if I recall correctly. It started well, and then it just went downhill after the first quarter. I like your idea of waiting until he’s finished, I think I might do that too. And yeah, maybe he’s just spreading himself too thin these days.
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The other thing is, he’s never been a great writer. I like his stuff, but as J.G. Hemry, he wrote like he wrote the Genesis Fleet.
I wonder if the Lost Fleet and its two spinoffs were all “Jack Campbell” was good for. I hope not but I guess time will tell 😦
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Before Genesis Fleet, I’d only read the first book of his YA fantasy series, and so when I wanted to try his sci-fi, I had the choice of starting with Vanguard or Dauntless…ugh, in the end I was tempted away by the “new and shiny” series, but maybe I should have decided instead on the The Lost Fleet
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Tough decision to have to make. And it is definitely one new readers are going to have to make as well. With 15 books in the whole Lost Fleet/Beyond the Frontier/Lost Stars series, newbs are going to be overwhelmed. And for people who read 1 book a month? Hahahahahaaa….
And those of us who are serious readers? We’re already booked full!
Not a place I’d want to be as a writer for sure.
If you ever do decide to try Dauntless, you’ll be able to tell if you’ll like the rest of the series by that one book.
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I’m thinking of splurging on a copy of The Dinosaur Tourist, I love that cover so much! And I saw your 2 star rating of LIFEL1K3, oh no!!!
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Haha, you know me, I’m normally a big fan of Kristoff but LIFEL1K3 was not doing anything for me at all! I don’t know why – might have been the genre, the subject matter, or the character, but I really struggled to pay attention. I didn’t end up liking it at all, but I hope you have more luck with it!
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I was thinking about starting the Jack Campbell Genesis Fleet, but I think I’ll give it a miss after hearing what you have to say about it. I’m delighted that you will get an opportunity to read Spellslinger – I need to get hold of the third books as I’ve had so much fun with the first two books:). I’m REALLY looking forward to hearing how you get on with Obscura… Have a great week, Mogsy:)
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Yeah, the first Genesis Fleet book was a disappointment – I do want to give it a second chance, but I think I will wait for a few more books in the series or until it’s finished to decide whether I will continue. But yes, I’m sooo excited to start the Spellslinger series!
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In Dust and Ashes by Anne Holt sounds like something I might look into for my father, and perhaps something by that author for Father’s Day – 24 years in the making for that series though, wow, that’s perseverance!! x
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Yeah, I’m intrigued by that one as well! I like these types of suspense/crime thriller books, so maybe I’ll take a look at my library to see if they have the first book so I can start from the beginning!
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Yay spellslinger
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I am so excited!!
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Damselfly does sound really interesting. And I see influences from both Lost and Lord of the Flies in the synopsis, too. I’ll definitely read a review of that book if you get around to reading it. I’ll also be curious to read your thoughts on Circe. I’ve seen that book in a couple different bookstores recently, so I’ve been curious about it.
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Damselfly looks like a quick read, so I’m hoping to fit that in sometime this summer. And Circe was wonderful! If you love mythology or Greek myth retellings, I can’t recommend it highly enough!
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Actually, I noticed that the author of Circe will be at an event on Cape Cod this summer with two other authors. Maybe I’ll look into that as well as the book now!
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There’s a third Murderbot book already lined up even though nr. 2 just came out?
Wonderful, wonderful news indeed! 🙂
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Yes! And I believe there’s also a fourth book. But ah, I must tell myself “Patience, Mogsy, one book at a time” 🙂
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The Dinosaur Tourist looks and sound really good, though my god, the blurb is super vague. And Neverwhere Wake has been on my radar as well! The whole “time-warp + mysterious death of a friend” reminds me of a mix between Until Dawn and Oxenfree.
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Yeah, I found out the Dinosaur Tourist is actually an anthology, so maybe that’s why the publisher blurb is so vague and all over the place. And Neverwhere Wake does sound fun! I hope it won’t be too weird for me though! LOL!
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I saw the title The Dinosaur Tourist and got excited…but then I saw it was an anthology, which I don’t read. Darn!
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My sentiments too!
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Lots of great looking books as usual. I really want to know more about The Dinosaur Tourist – what an odd name for an anthology. I also featured the Neverworld Wake on a CWW feature some time ago so I’d love to hear your thoughts on that one.
Sorry for the late commenting but I sort of took the weekend off from the computer – I guess I didn’t know it but I must have needed a break!
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I think I might have learned about Neverworld Wake from your blog, actually!
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Ooh, I was hoping to get around to the Waking Land series; purely an attraction to those covers. 😂 And of course, Circe!!! ❤
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Yes, the covers are beautiful! I like the UK editions even more, actually 🙂
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So many good books, so little time. Hope you enjoy all of these. Certainly a couple catch my eye – Onyx and Ivory.
Lynn 😀
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I don’t know how you keep up! So many awesome books. 😀
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