Bookshelf Roundup 05/23/20: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every 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 summarize what I’ve finished reading in the last week 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!
A few surprise arrivals this week. First was a package from the kind folks at St. Martin’s Press containing an ARC of Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis, who was a Hugo nominee in 2019 for best-related work. I’ve had my eye on her sci-fi debut for a while, so receiving this was a real treat. Next up, with thanks to Titan Books I received Hope Island by Tim Major, who always seems to have the coolest covers for his books! I’m curious to check this one out too. And the most awesome surprise of all came courtesy of Orbit and their friends at Redhook, from whom I received an ARC of The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow. I really enjoyed her last novel, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, so I’m quite looking forward to this one.
Things aren’t too crazy in the digital pile this week. From Edelweiss, I was really excited to see The House of Whispers by Laura Purcell available for download because I’m a huge fan of her Gothic horror. Although I’m a bit perplexed by the drastic change in title for the US edition (in the UK, it’s known as Bone China), I’m happy enough the book is finally coming stateside. From Listening Library, I also grabbed just one advanced listening copy: The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant. And from the amazing team at Kaye Publicity I also received digital galleys to a couple of highly-anticipated titles coming soon from new HarperCollins YA imprint Blink, including Twin Daggers by MarcyKate Connolly and Ignite the Sun by Hanna C. Howard. Can’t wait to check out both of these.
Reviews
Network Effect by Martha Wells (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne (4 of 5 stars)
If It Bleeds by Stephen King (4 of 5 stars)
Dark Skies by Danielle L. Jensen (3 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
This Week’s Reads
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 
Awww, I still need to read Alix Harrow’s last book. And that IS an awesome cover on Hope Island! Hope it’s good!
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I hope you’ll enjoy Ten Thousand Doors of January! It’s a lovely book 🙂
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Looks like you got some interesting new books 🙂
(www.evelynreads.com)
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Yep, thank goodness for all these great reads during the pandemic! Happy reading!
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Axiom’s End sounds very intriguing: I love first contact stories and this one has the added incentive of a cover-up, so it promises to be a very engaging read… 🙂
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Yes, I love first contact stories too, and there are so many ways authors have tackled them! I’m curious to see how this one will go.
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Seeing The Once and Future Witches reminds me I really want to try The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Looking forward to seeing what you think of all these.
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Ooh, I’d be curious to hear what you think of Ten Thousand Doors! I hope you get to try it soon 🙂
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Good timing. I was in need of a new book to read, so I just started Ten Thousand Doors. I’ve only read the first short section so far, but I have to say that was a fantastic start to the book. I love the style, how the words flow, and all the talk of doors and the even more special Doors. It’s captured my interest. 🙂
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Ooh nice! I’ve been seeing a lot of buzz over A Court of Miracles and while I’m curiously intrigued…I’m also hesitant. I feel like all the buildup and buzz is going to get to me and then I won’t enjoy the book as much as I thought. Lol. I’ll have to keep an eye on it all the same!
I hope you enjoy all the 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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I know what you mean! I should really be more careful about these hyped books, but then I can’t help myself! 😀
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Nice! I landed a pandemic paperback of Hope Island this week too. Almost forgot what it was like to get a physical book in the mail. 🙂
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I know, I miss book mail!
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I jumped for joy when I open TOAFW so I know how you feel😁 And I had no idea about The House of Whispers! That is a strange name change. I can download it as well, but dang, it’s a June release and my June is really full. I may have to pass.
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I am so glad you got your copy! I know how badly you want to read it 😀
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I’m very curious about The Once and Future Witches! I hope you enjoy it.
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I hope so too! Crossing my fingers it’ll be amazing! 😀
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I am staying tuned for more 😉
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😉
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I can’t wait to know your thoughts on The Once and Future Witches!! sounds SO good ❤️❤️
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I’m excited to check it out too! Hope it’ll be as good as Ten Thousand Doors of January!
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Axiom’s End looks so intriguing!! 😮 Happy reading!
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It sure does! And thanks, you too! 😀
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I wonder what you’ll think of Court of Miracles!
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I wonder as well, I do hope the hype is real 😀
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I can’t wait for The Once & Future Witches it sounds incredible!! Plus the author gets such pretty covers.
I also wouldn’t have known that was Bone China if you hadn’t said. Not only is the title really different but the cover is too. Tbh I think the other cover suits the story.
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I’ve been curious about Court of Miracles, looking forward to your review!
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The Once and Future Witches looks great. It’s a chunky one!
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Okay, somehow I missed knowing The Once and Future Witches existed? How exciting! Can’t wait to read!
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I hope The Once and Future Witches is as good as Ten Thousand Doors – I’m very excited for that one. And, I’m reading the Court of Miracles at the moment, in fact almost finished, and up to this point I’m really enjoying it and would say it’s living up to the hype.
Lynn 😀
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I’ve heard amazing things already about The Once and Future Witches so I can’t wait to check that one out. Enjoy!
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