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, and be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages for more details and full descriptions!
My thanks to Orbit Books for sending me a copy of The Gameshouse by Claire North, the omnibus collecting books 1-3 in the author’s series of the same name. This is a trilogy of novellas I’ve been meaning to check out for a while now, so I’m looking forward to diving in.
With thanks to the publicity team at Berkley and Ace/Roc/DAW for sending along a finished copy of A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay. It’s been a long time since I last picked up something by Kay, and a new book coming out from the author is definitely cause to celebrate. Also newly arrived is a finished copy of Pariah by W. Michael Gear, the third and final installment of the incredibly addictive colonization sci-fi Donovan trilogy. I can’t wait to see how it ends!
Earlier this month I also received a couple surprises from the kind folks at Harper Voyager and Wunderkind PR. I’ve never heard of the Antasy series before, but the name of it makes me smile. The first book Prophets of the Ghost Ants by Clark Thomas Carlton and its sequel The Prophet of the Termite God unexpected landed on my doorstep last week, and I’m still debating whether to check it out as time is pretty tight this spring/summer and my reading list is already pretty packed. Still, this series just looks so damn cool!
Thanks also to Tor Teen for a surprise ARC of Stormrise by Jillian Boehme, a book I only learned of recently when I caught the cover reveal on the publisher’s blog earlier this spring. I still don’t know a lot about it, but the book’s description calls it an epic YA fantasy inspired by Twelfth Night and it has dragons, so that’s already a whole bunch of reasons for me to check it out!
In case you missed it, earlier this week we took part in a tour celebrating the release of Snakeskins by Tim Major and the publisher Titan Books also sent along a review copy. I love this cover so much, as it really sets the tone for a sci-fi thriller about cloning and rejuvenation tech. Next up, the publisher also sent me a review copy of Warlock Holmes: The Sign of Nine by G.S. Denning. As you know I’m a huge fan of this series, which was why I was so surprised I hadn’t heard there was going to be a fourth book until the release date of it was practically upon us! This is great news though, and I’m excited to get back into the shenanigans of Warlock and Watson in this humorous paranormal homage to Sherlock Holmes.
Speaking of excitement: courtesy of Saga Press, I received ARCs to a couple of books releasing later this summer that I’m very interested in checking out! The UK release date of Do You Dream of Terra-Two by Temi Oh actually happened a couple months ago, and already the book has been making some big waves and is garnering high praise. Needless to say, my interest in reading it grows by the day and it is definitely going on my July/August TBR! The second book, This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone is pretty high on my summer reading list too, even though time travel can be tricky. Still, I trust Max Gladstone to tell a good story, and I’m also curious to discover the work of Amal El-Mohtar.
And get an eyeful of these gorgeous hardcover editions of The Forgetting Moon and The Blackest Heart by Brian Lee Durfee! I’ve had this series on my radar for quite some time now, so when I received a message from the author asking if I would be interested in reviewing the books, I said definitely count me in! Huge thanks to Brian for sending these lovely beauties my way, and they’re signed and personalized too! Hoping to start the first book soon.
On to the digital pile, I want to give shout outs to a few more authors who sent eARCs my way this week. I nabbed a NetGalley widget of The Resurrectionist of Caligo by Wendy Trimboli and Alicia Zaloga, with thanks to the authors and Angry Robot for the opportunity! And look at this adorable cover of A Collection of Obsessions by Michael R. Fletcher, designed by the author’s own daughter! But knowing a fair bit about Fletcher’s dark and gritty writing style though, I gather what’s inside the book might be a little different. This is a collection of the author’s short stories, ranging from cyberpunk to tales related to his Manifest Delusions series, so as a fan I definitely want to check it out.
Also thanks to Entangled: Teen for an invite to read 8 Souls by Rachel Rust. I can never resist a YA horror, and I’m getting some major creepy vibes from the description and cover of this one. Crossing my fingers that it will deliver!
In the audiobook haul, with thanks to Macmillan Audio for listening copies of We Are Mayhem by Michael Moreci, the sequel to the rollick space adventure Black Star Renegades; The Pandora Room by Christopher Golden, second book in the Ben Walker series and follow-up to Ararat; and I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney, a psychological mystery thriller that I’m listening to right now and it’s pretty interesting so far. Finally, from Random House Audio I received a review copy of Star Wars: Dooku: Jedi Lost by Cavan Scott, an audio drama that I’ve already finished listening to (and it was AWESOME); as well as The Haunted by Danielle Vega, a ghostly horror novel from Listening Library.
Reviews
Here is a quick summary of my reviews posted since the last update:
Star Wars: Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala (4 of 5 stars)
Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky (4 of 5 stars)
Kin by Snorri Kristjansson (4 of 5 stars)
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (4 of 5 stars)
Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs (3.5 of 5 stars)
Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan (2.5 of 5 stars)
Interviews & Guest Posts
A shout out to the authors who stopped by The BiblioSanctum these last two weeks!
Guest Post: “A Snakeskins Book Soundtrack” by Tim Major
What I’ve Read Since the Last Update
Here’s what I’ve managed to “unstack” from the TBR since the last update. More reviews coming soon!
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 
So glad Brian Lee Durfee approached you too, Mogsy. His books are MUST read imo. The Blackest Heart is one of my favorite read of the year!
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Glad to hear it! I think I saw on Twitter that you enjoyed TBH a lot, I can’t wait to start the first book!
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The Gameshouse sounds promising. I Know Who You Are definitely catches my eye too, with that cover. Love it!
Happy weekend!
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My review of IKWYA is up now! And Im looking forward to starting Gameshouse soon!
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I still need to start Warlock Holmes. Good to see you like it so much
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It’s a great series, the books always make me laugh!
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I’m very keen to read Shark Beach though hopefully it will be better than Devil Sharks!
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Yep, I thought it was better than Devil Sharks!
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I know you haven’t read it yet, but i’m really looking forward to the 4th Warlock Holmes because I am under the impression that book 4 is the final book and I won’t start the series until it is wrapped up. Please tell me book 4 is the final book!
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I have no idea how many books there are – honestly, I thought three might have been it, and I was caught by surprise when I was contacted about the fourth book. Hey, as long as he keeps writing them, I’ll keep reading! But yes, it would be nice if the author or publisher gave us some idea.
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OOoh nice new reads! All new to me ones except for The Haunted! I am super psyched about that one! Can’t wait to read it. I love a good spooky story! Hope you enjoy all of your lovely new reads!
My StS will be up tomorrow, so stop by then if you can!
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
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Just started the Haunted – it feels younger and not as spooky as I expected, but I’m enjoying it so far!
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I really can’t wait to read This is How You Lose the Time War, I may have to try my luck and request it! I’m also excited for Stormrise😁
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Both those look good, I’m gonna have to make time for them this summer!
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I’m looking forward to reading The Gameshouse! I’ve had the separate novellas on my TBR for awhile now so it’s good to have them all in one place!
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Ah yes, I do somewhat recall these came out in novella form a while ago. I’m hoping it’ll be good, because I love to binge!
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“”finished copy of Pariah by W. Michael Gear””
This is music to my ears!!! Like you, I can’t wait to learn how the story wraps up – although I will be sorry to say goodbye to Donovan… 😉
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Yup, not long until its release! I had hoped to get to it sooner, but I guess now it’s on the docket for May/June!
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Definitely curious about THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR, seems like an inventive approach to a book!
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Sounds like that to me too! I’m typically wary about time travel books, but I’m pretty optimistic about this one!
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That reminds me I still need to read Terra-Two. I love your haul. I hope you enjoy them. 🙂
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Thanks! Terra-Two looks pretty awesome, and I’ve heard some great things! Can’t wait to check it out.
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A Brightness Long Ago!! *_* I want it so much. I hope it’s good!
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Me too! Hoping to start it later this month.
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Yay new books 😀
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Always makes me happy 😀
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Lots and lots and lots of books 😀
Hope they’re all excellent.
Lynn 😀
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Me too! Happy reading, Lynn!
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The cover of Snakeskins truly does look fantastic! It caught my eye immediately. And I hope you enjoy Warlock Holmes! I remember you really enjoying this series, so I’m glad there’s another release for you to look forward to. 😊
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I’ve heard amazing things about the new Guy Kay book, hope you enjoy!
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