Bookshelf Roundup: 05/01/21: 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.
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!
With thanks to Tor.com for sending me an ARC of A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow. I love her work, and I’m looking forward to this new novella featuring a bold new retelling of Sleeping Beauty!
I’m also grateful to Tor Books for a review copy of Immunity Index by Sue Burke, author of the excellent Semiosis duology. But after reading some of the very mixed reviews, I have concerns this pandemic sci-fi might be more agenda-driven to the detriment of character and story development. To be honest, I’m just not interested in reading anything like that right now, so we’ll see how it goes.
Also thank you to Orbit for a finished copy of The Broken God by Gareth Hanrahan, the third book in The Black Iron Legacy series. I’m loving the story so far, and can’t wait to get back into the world! It’s also encouraging to hear that there are more books planned beyond this one, so this is not the end.
In the digital haul this week, with thanks to Brilliance Audio for a listening copy of The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda. I’ve really enjoyed this author’s books, so when this new one of hers seemingly popped up out of nowhere, I was really happy to be offered a review copy. With thanks also to Hachette Audio for a review copy of Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky. This one isn’t going to be released in the US until August, so it was a nice surprise to see the ALC available now.
From Random House Audio, I also received listening copies of Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good by Timothy Zahn, the sequel to Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising (I realize I have some catch-up to do), as well as Goblin by Josh Malerman, described as a “novel in six novellas” revealing the sinister secrets of a small town one by one.
Finally, courtesy of Macmillan Audio I received Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller, which I hope to start before the weekend is out. I had so much fun with The Shadows Between Us, and can’t wait to read another of the authro’s books! From the publisher, I also grabbed a listening copy of The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer, because I really liked the sound of this thriller about a mother’s horror when her teenager with dissociative identity disorder is charged with the brutal murder of a complete stranger, with no conceivable motive.
Wyrd & Wonder
In other news, in case you missed my earlier coverage this week, Wyrd & Wonder is kicking off! Starting today, in fact! For the month of May, The BiblioSanctum will be joining other bloggers and readers in a celebration of all things fantasy. My first related post is a review scheduled for tomorrow. For more information about this event, check out my intro write-up here.
Reviews
The Last Watch by J.S. Dewes (4.5 of 5 stars)
Break Out by Paul Herron (4 of 5 stars)
Win by Harlan Coben (4 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
What I’ve Been Reading
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 
Goblin sounds interesting, and after reading many positive comments about Malerman’s books I’m very tempted to try his works. And I perfectly understand your unwillingness to tackle another “pandemic book”: we’ve had enough of that in real life, so why should we look for it in fiction as well? 😉
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Malerman can be hit or miss for me, but he does have great ideas. I have some high hopes for Goblin because the structure and premise sounds so promising!
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I am so done with Tchaikovsky. Besides turning into a churning machine, I feel that his last couple of books have been more about making “a point” than in telling a good story. It really saddens me 😦
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I’m probably close to where you are with Tchaikovsky. I’m going to give his sci-fi one more chance, and if this one doesn’t work, well…I’ll probably be more circumspect. I won’t give up on him completely, because I still have interest in his fantasy, but I’ll probably wait for reviews and only go for the ones that sound worth reading.
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OOh nice! Quite a few new to me ones! Except for Tricia Levenseller’s! I read that one awhile ago and loved it! Can’t wait til the sequel next year!
Hope you enjoy all of the 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’m super excited for Blade of Secrets! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it!
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I also got Immunity Index and A Spindle Splintered, I’m actually going to try to knock out Immunity Index this weekend since its so short 😁
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I’ll look for your review!
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Argh, I couldn’t snag an ARC of Blade of Secrets! I loved The Shadows Between Us, looking forward to checking out this new one soon! I desperately need to start the new Thrawn trilogy, hopefully this summer….
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I didn’t see it on NetGalley, but I’d always intended to grab the audio – I loved The Shadows Between Us in that format too! I’m also in the same boat with the new Thrawn 😛
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Hmm new Malerman and Thrawn, plus that thriller by Palmer sounds promising. The Next Wife has me curious too!
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Yes, Kaira Rouda writes good domestic thrillers – I’m curious what she has in store for us with The NExt Wife!
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I’ve never even heard of that Harrow novella! I mean, I haven’t heard of a lot of the things that you receive, but that’s an author I recognize and know and like, so… more surprised 😅
I’d say I’m super jealous about Shards of Earth, but I just DNFed Cage of Souls so… kinda jealous? I hope you like them all!
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Indeed, I’m at the point where I’ll read anything Harrow writes, sight unseen! And this one being a Sleeping Beauty retelling? Yes, please! And hmm, that’s so disappointing to hear about Cage of Souls! I hope Tchaikovsky is going to become a “hit or miss” author for me!
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HAPPY READING 😀
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Thank you! Happy reading to you too!
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Looking forward to Broken God myself! I was surprised by the cast change in book 2 but at least now I’m prepared for any surprise he might have for us! Happy reading! 😀
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Yes, I agree – keeps things interesting! 😀
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A novel in six novellas, eh? I can sometimes be a bit sceptical, but ok, I’ll bite. Maybe. 🙂
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Haha, honestly, it’s the only reason why I’ll bite 😀 I’m not one for short story collections, but when all the stories make up a whole, I think I can deal with that.
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Ooh, nice haul. I like the look of Goblin and I would love a copy of A Spindle Splintered.
Happy reading.
Lynn 😀
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