Bookshelf Roundup 07/18/20: 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.
Hey everyone, I hope you’re all having a great summer and staying safe! Before I continue on to my usual roundup, I actually have a few updates. Tomorrow I’ll be off on a family trip and I have no idea if I’ll have reliable internet or time to get online, so for the next week I probably won’t be as regular in visiting your blogs or replying to comments. That said, I’ve left a bunch of posts scheduled in advance so the blog will still have content, but next Saturday might be roundup-less depending on when I get back. Either way, I look forward to catching up on everything upon my return!
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!
I think a lot of publishers are resuming their regular mailings again, because activity in my mailbox has been picking up. With thanks to Saga Press, I received a finished copy of Savage Legion by Matt Wallace. I’ve read and enjoyed some of his Sin du Jour novellas, which makes me super excited for this! The publisher also sent along this beautiful hardcover of Live to Tell the Tale by Keith Ammann, who also authored The Monsters Know What They’re Doing, a compilation of villainous battle plans from his Dungeons & Dragons blog. This one can be seen as the players’ answer to that, providing them the tools they need to fight back!
Next, I’d also like to thank Orbit Books for sending me a finished copy of Ashes of the Sun by Django Wexler. I started this one a few days ago, and even though reading has kind of stalled, I’m actually enjoying it a lot. The epic fantasy genre being what it is though, the story is just really rich and dense, and unfortunately my concentration this week has been all over the place. I’ve been alternating in some quicker reads in the meantime, but will definitely be done with this one by the end of the month and will hopefully have a review up soon after.
My thanks also to Subterranean Press, from whom I received a box earlier in the week containing these lovely gems. Dying With Her Cheer Pants On by Seanan McGuire sounds like a total blast, a collection of stories about the physical challenges and dangers of cheerleading starring the supernatural members of the Fighting Pumpkins squad. Next is The Best of Michael Marshall Smith, a mammoth anthology containing the author’s classic tales as well as his previously uncollected fiction. And finally, Comes A Pale Rider by Caitlín R. Kiernan is the second collection of short stories featuring Dancy Flammarion, considered to be one of the author’s most enduring creations. Readers will follow the character across the country as she continues to battle monsters in her never-ending holy war against darkness and evil.
Some exciting new audiobooks in this digital haul this week. With thanks to Harper Audio, I received listening copies of Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay and The Bright Lands by John Fram. My TBR has certainly been seeing an influx of horror titles lately!
From Simon & Schuster Audio, I also received a review copy of Every Sky A Grave by Jay Posey. It’s been years since I read his book Three, and I’m so excited to dive into his newest project.
I was also thrilled to receive a listening copy of Incursion by Mitchell Hogan. Huge thanks to the author for offering me the opportunity! This book is also a contestant in this year’s SPFBO, so I’ve been seeing it around a lot and wanting to check it out!
Reviews
The Dead Girls Club by Damien Angelica Walters (4.5 of 5 stars)
Malorie by Josh Malerman (4 of 5 stars)
Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim (4 of 5 stars)
The Half-Sister by Sandie Jones (3.5 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 
Ashes of the Sun has probably been my favorite read of the year! (other than maybe the God Game, which I maaay’ve already finished 😅) I still need to read Every Sky a Grave, too. I started it, then got distracted and haven’t gotten back yet. I hope you like them both! And all the rest of what you got! 😀
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I just finished Ashes of the Sun and promise to write a review today; I enjoyed it, so 3 stars it is.
Currently reading Savage Legion which starts a bit confusing.
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Looking forward to your review of Every Sky a Grave when you get around to it.
I’m of two minds about it. I’m bitter that Posey abandoned his SF ultra black-ops series to write this but on the other hand, I’m happy that he’s still writing. He’s no Sanderson in terms of writing output 🙂
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I’m a big McGuire fan already, but her latest offering sounds like something crazily, weirdly amusing and I cannot wait to learn more about it… 🙂
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OOoh nice! Lots of new to me ones here! I hope you enjoy them all!
My StS will be up tomorrow, so stop by then if you can!
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
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There’s lots I’m unfamiliar with this time around, which is always great. I love learning about authors and books that are new to me. I’m hoping to read Ashes of the Sun and Savage Legion at some point, and I’m curious about Survivor Song. I hope you have a fantastic trip!
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I never would have pegged The Bright Lands as horror! I’ve seen it around and brushed it off because of the sports themed cover, but I may have to take another look😁 Hope you have a wonderful vacation!
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Nice haul, and paper books too! Damn, I miss physical ARCs. 🙂
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INcursion looks good
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The Year of the Witching has my interest. Also, had no idea about that new McGuire book–she’s a busy writer!
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Nice to see that copy of Incursion. I will be picking that one up to read on soon.
Lynn 😀
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