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.
Hello summer! For today’s roundup, I actually have a few life updates. Things have been a little crazy on my end for the last few weeks, now that the kids are out of school their days are packed with other activities that require me to run around and be with them everywhere. I also started a new gig a couple months ago, but as with all freelance/contract stuff it gets a little slow during the summer months so I have to work whenever I get the chance and pick up anything I can get. I’m also preparing for my upcoming vacation, which involves trying to get as much reading and reviewing in so that I’ll still have steady content here on the blog while I’m gone. With my schedule being the way it is now though, that’s been tough but I’ve been managing. All I can say is, thank goodness for audiobooks.
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!
Big thanks to Simon & Schuster for sending a long a finished copy of The Philosopher’s War by Tom Miller. I’m reading this now, and though progress is slow, it’s got nothing to do with the book and everything to do with just not having enough time to sit down and read these days. I’m enjoying it a lot! So far it’s living up to the first book. The publisher also sent along Broken Places & Outer Spaces by Nnedi Okorafor, which is new to me, but it sounds interesting! It is a memoir by the author about her life, how she went from a college track star to waking up paralyzed in a hospital bed, and how she channeled her feelings and experiences into writing, becoming a successful science fiction author.
Thank you also to the amazing folks at Ace/Roc/DAW for this next batch! First up, a gorgeous finished copy of The Wolf’s Call by Anthony Ryan, which I’m curious to read to find out more since this series returns to the world of the author’s Raven’s Shadow trilogy. I also received a couple of ARCs: Sword and Pen by Rachel Caine is the fifth and final book of The Great Library series, and I can’t wait to see how things end; and Shield of the People by Marshall Ryan Maresca is the second book of the author’s newest series, called Maradaine Elite. Of course I still need to read the first book, but with the number of series he has set in Maradaine, I think it’s going to be a while for me to catch up. And from the publisher I also received a finished copy of Crowfall by Ed McDonald, book three of Raven’s Mark. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read of the series so far, so I’ll probably tackle this one sometime later this summer since it’s the final book.
And a big thank you to the team at Harper Voyager for sending me a bunch of goodies last month, including an advance reading copy of To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers. Yay! I love her Wayfarer books and I can’t wait to dive into this novella. I also received a finished copy of The Grand Dark by Richard Kadrey, described as a dark fantasy standalone which has also been compared to China Mieville. That makes me think this one will be a bit weird, so we’ll see how it goes. A couple weeks ago, I also received an ARC of The Emperor’s Fist by Jay Allan which I initially balked at when I saw that it was the fourth book in the Far Stars series. Apparently though, it can be read as a standalone, so I think I’ll give it a look later this summer.
Thank you also to Orbit for spoiling me silly last month with a couple of exciting ARCs: The Throne of the Five Winds by S.C. Emmett is the first book of a new fantasy series called Hostage of Empire. Despite the low-key cover, the East Asian inspired story described in the synopsis is definitely calling to me. And I’m so beyond psyched for The Bone Ships by RJ Barker, which is at the top of my list of most anticipated releases of 2019. I loved the author’s Wounded Kingdom trilogy so I’m very excited to see where he’ll take us next.
Last but not least, courtesy of Subterranean Press I received this beautiful ARC of The Best of Uncanny edited by Lynne M. Thomas. It’s a collection of two novelettes and many stories and poems from the first 22 issues of Uncanny Magazine, and it’s huge!
I’ve been showing great restraint. In the digital pile this week, only audiobooks: with thanks to Audible Studios for a listening copy of Stan Lee’s Alliances: A Trick of Light which brings to life an epic origin story about two teenage superheroes; from HarperAudio I received Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa, sequel to the incredible Shadow of the Fox; and finally, my thanks to Macmillan Audio for listening copies of Dragonslayer by Duncan M. Hamilton and The Escape Room by Megan Goldin!
Reviews
Here is a quick summary of my reviews posted since the last update:
Wherever She Goes by Kelley Armstrong (5 of 5 stars)
Wicked Fox by Kat Cho (4 of 5 stars)
The Rumor by Lesley Kara (3.5 of 5 stars)
Teeth in the Mist by Dawn Kurtagich (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Girl Who Can Move Sh*t with Her Mind by Jackson Ford (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Girl in Red by Christina Henry (3 of 5 stars)
The Brink by James S. Murray with Darren Wearmouth (3 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
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 
I like the sound of 5 winds!
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Me too! I love new discoveries!
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I picked up the second book in the Great Library series in a charity shop a few years back but I still need to get the first one. I’m curious about the series but not enough to buy it all!
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I looooved the first book. I don’t think any of the others have quite lived up to it, but i still enjoy the series.
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Some great new things!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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Happy reading!
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So, when do you breathe? 🙂
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What is this breathing you speak of? 😀
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hahahahaa!
Yeah, that’s what I figured…
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Ooh nice! Lots of new to me reads here! I 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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You got some nice books this week!
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Honestly, I would never guess your life is crazy right now. You’re still managing to post every single day, which is a feat I will never be able to pull off, and I don’t even have young kids! I don’t know how you do it, but I’m super impressed😁
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Haha, I’m really not managing as well as I like, I like to keep my blog up to date but my other social media presence has pretty much gone down to nothing because that’s usually the first to go 😛
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I’ve got a vacation coming up too… I know what you mean about trying to get ahead a little bit.
Also, I’ve heard great things about The Grand Dark!
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I’m glad I’m not the only one who likes to be prepared and get ahead with posts! 😀
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Sounds like a super busy summer for you. I hope it doesn’t become overwhelming.
I’d love to get me a copy of Okorafor’s Broken Places. I’ve read part of her story somewhere and wouldn’t mind learning more about her.
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Haha, trying not to let it overwhelm me, I always tend to load myself up with too much and I know I shouldn’t 😀
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Ooh have a good vacation! It’s funny, as a blogger now, I do the same thing- I’m all worried about having content go up while I’m gone. Life used to be so simple lol.
The Philosopher’s War looks interesting, and yay for the new Chambers! Can’t wait to read that! And The Escape Room looks like one I might need to add. 🙂
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Thanks, I’m excited! And yeah, it’s funny the things we worry about, haha! I like to schedule posts well ahead of time, so I just need a little more of a buffer.
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Ahhhh, the Becky Chambers book! I’ve been trying to figure out how to request that. I just got The Throne of the Five Winds and I’m so. Excited.
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Yeah, I was offered a bound manuscript of the Becky Chambers book because apparently they won’t have ARCs, so I jumped on it! I think the egalley will be available on Edelweiss at some point though.
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Good to know, I’ll keep an eye out!
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I’m going to have to look into that issue of Uncanny. Sounds like a good collection. My hold on first James S. Murray book came in this weekend so I’m hoping to read it soon. Great bunch of books this week.
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Looks like you have a ton of great stuff in there. I may or may not be super jelly of the Becky Chambers book. I LOVE everything I’ve read by her so far, so really looking forward to that one. Hope you enjoy these!
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I love these posts. They make me want ALL THE BOOKS. But, I’m trying to behave because my July got a bit out of control – impulse requesting! Bone Ships though – cannot wait.
And, I enjoyed Soul of the Sword in fact moreso than the first.
Lynn 😀
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