Bookshelf Roundup 12/12/20: 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!
I was surprised, I actually received a trio of new books in the mail this week. First, with thanks to HarperCollins for the paperback edition of Endling: The First by Katherine Applegate, the second book in a middle grade series by the same author who wrote The One and Only Ivan. This one arrived out of the blue and I was actually disappointed when I discovered it was a sequel, because it sounds like something I would really enjoy, but unfortunately I haven’t read the first one. I might have to check it out from the library to see if I can get caught up.
Also thank you to Saga Press for Persephone Station by Stina Leicht. I’ve been meaning to try this author for a while, and what better than with a western-y sci-fi space opera?
Finally, earlier this week I was pretty excited by the arrival of Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells. I love Murderbot! This the sixth book in the sequence, and we’re going back to the novella format so I should be able to knock this one out quick before its release in spring. Big thanks to the awesome folks at Tor.com for the ARC.
In the digital haul this week, I was so happy when I was contacted by Rob J. Hayes with an offer of an eARC for his new novel Pawn’s Gambit. This is the standalone sequel to Never Die which I haven’t read yet, but Rob was also kind enough to provide an Audible review code for the listening copy! I’ve heard such great things about this series from SPFBO and others, and I can’t wait to get started.
This week I also received three more ALCs from publishers, first A House at the Bottom of A Lake by Josh Malerman with thanks to Random House Audio. This is actually an older book, but I think it’s great that it’s getting a reissue including a new audiobook. From Penguin Audio I also snagged Shiver by Allie Reynolds, because come on! A locked-room murder mystery thriller, set in a remote mountaintop resort in the French Alps where five friends are stranded in the middle of a snowstorm? This one has my name written ALL over it.
Last but not least, with thanks to Macmillan Audio for a listening copy of The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins. I’m in the mood for thrillers again, and I’ve been hearing some amazing things about this one from genre reviewers I trust, so I thought I would take a look.
Reviews
The Guest List by Lucy Foley (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Beast and The Bethany by Jack Meggitt-Phillips (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Woods by Vanessa Savage (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 
The cover for Ending is great isn’t it? And I do like the sound of Shiver very much.
Happy reading.
Lynn 😀
LikeLike
Yeah, I was surprised I hadn’t heard about it before this. But as soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read it!
LikeLike
I enjoyed The Once and Future Witches so I hope you do, too. And I have yet to have the pleasure of reading Battle Ground – but I certainly want to! Happy reading, Mogsy:))
LikeLike
Curious to hear what you’ll make of Battle Ground. My review just went up today…certain parts of the book were unexpected to say the least 😛
LikeLike
I absolutely have to read Shiver. Going to download it now . . .
LikeLike
I felt the same way when I read the synopsis – I hit that download button immediately!
LikeLiked by 1 person
OOh nice ones! These are new to me ones. The House at the Bottom of the Lake looks intriguing from the cover alone! I hope you enjoy them all!
My StS will be up tomorrow, so stop by then!
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
LikeLike
Yeah that’s a great cover – I love the perspective looking up to the surface of the water with the boat floating on it 🙂
LikeLike
I like the premise for Shiver: impossible for me to resist to a locked-room murder!
And the new Murderbot! Enduring the wait until its publication will NOT be easy… 😀
LikeLike
Yeah, after my excellent time with The Guest List, I’ve been seeking out more locked room murder mysteries. Shiver sounded perfect 😀
LikeLike
I’m curious about Persephone Station! And I’m also curious about Shiver. I’d love to read more thrillers next year😁
LikeLike
Same. I started by reading one or two just to mix things up, but thrillers have definitely become a staple of my reading diet this year and I think that trend will continue 🙂
LikeLike
Happy reading with Persephone Station – I quite enjoyed it!
LikeLike
Glad to hear it! I’m even more excited about it now 🙂
LikeLike
I love the covers for Never Die, Pawn’s Gambit, and Shiver, and that’s enough to get me interested in trying the books. Can’t wait to read your thoughts if you’re able to get to those. And another Murderbot? I’m absolutely in on that one!
LikeLike
Yes, I love those covers! The art style is very eye catching, and really underscores the importance of getting a good professional cover done in self-publishing. Even though it might be a bit more expensive, it’s an investment that pays off, precisely because it gets people interested in trying the books!
LikeLike
I’m interested in Persephone’s Station… Looking forward to your review!!
LikeLike
I hope to make that one of my first reads of the new year! Hope we’ll both enjoy it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A dog riding a panther!
LikeLike
Pretty wild cover, eh? 😀
LikeLike
Oooh Persephone Station–curious to see what you think of that one! Enjoy!
LikeLike
Thanks! That one’s definitely high priority for the new year 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard great things about Never Die! Hope you enjoy!
LikeLike
Thank you! I’m lining up the audio to listen to pretty soon 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t believe I haven’t read Never Die yet… I really want to yet never pick it up, so I put it on my list of books I Have to read in 2021.
Looks like a great haul!
LikeLike