Bookshelf Roundup 01/02/21: 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.
Happy 2021! I hope everyone had a great New Years Eve and New Years Day, and I’m super excited to be starting another year with you all. Last month I had a good time looking back at my reading in 2020, but now it’s time to look forward. I had some reasonable success at catching up and chipping away at that old TBR in December, and even got to get started on the early 2021 pile. With that, let’s get on the with the roundup and check out the new shelf additions as well as what I’ve been reading…
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 couple of new arrivals this week. With thanks to Titan Books for this beautiful copy of Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long. I’m hoping to jump into this Viking-inspired fantasy real soon, probably later this month.
From the kind folks at Tor.com, I also received a surprise ARC of First, Become Ashes by K.M. Szpara. There were a ton of disclaimers that came with the pitch for this book, but I’m honestly not too bothered by the warnings of graphic sex or violence. However, I’ve already seen some reviews accusing it of creating controversy for the sake of controversy, and that’s something I can’t really get behind. So, I don’t know yet if I’ll read this one, guess we’ll see.
After a few months dry spell, Hachette Audio finally did a huge update on Libro.fm so I was able to request a few titles. I was thrilled that my listening copy of The Effort by Claire Holroyde became available this week, and I can’t wait to get started.
Reviews
Shiver by Allie Reynolds (5 of 5 stars)
A Chorus of Fire by Brian D. Anderson (4 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 
I don’t know any of those books, Mogsy. I’ll look forward to your reviews.
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I hope to read most of them 😀
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Hall of Smoke looks great! I’ll look forward to your review of it.
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I can’t wait to read that! Soon hoepfully 😀
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Oh nice haul! Totally new to me ones. 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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Happy reading!
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I should finish Hall of Smoke this afternoon – I’m loving it!
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Glad you enjoyed it! 😀
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I read Szpara’s first book and it was my least favorite book of the year. Not because of all the trigger warnings but because of sloppy world building. I’m still giving this one a try though. I guess I’m a glutton for punishment!
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Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of as well. I don’t care about the triggering content, little fazes me. But crappy writing? Ugh, that’s a big nope.
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The Effort sounds intriguing, even though the probable annihilation of the human race looks like a bleak premise, but I’m looking forward to learning more from your review 🙂
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My review should be up this weekend! 😀
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Hall of Smoke – Viking-inspired fantasy? Be still my “frantically* beating heart.
Lynn 😀
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I know! My heart flutters at the thought too, lol!
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I like the sound of a Viking-inspired fantasy, so Hall of Smoke interests me.
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Not gonna lie, that hooked me as well!
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Ooo, looking forward to your review of Hall of Smoke!
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I’m looking forward to getting started! Woohoo!
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I am curious about we ride the storm,
That viking inspired book looks interesting
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We Ride the Storm was pretty awesome. I hope Hall of Smoke will be too 😀
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Szpara’s books in general seem to come with trigger warnings and controversy, and I’ve never quite dared…
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I confess, it does make me curious. I don’t get bothered by triggering content, but if it’s done for the sake of controversy, it might just piss me off
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Great haul. I’ll admit I’m super curious about Szpara’s new book despite all the controversy that was surrounding the marketing.
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Same! Part of me thinks it’s all just a ploy to get folks like you and me curious to pick it up 😛
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