Bookshelf Roundup: 12/11/21: 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.

Between work, holiday preparations, and installing a new backsplash by ourselves, it has been a hell of a week and I didn’t really get much reading or reviewing done, but hey, at least my kitchen looks great! December has traditionally been my catchup month anyway though, which is nice because I get to choose my mood reads. In the next few weeks, I should also be putting together some end-of-year lists which I always love to do, so that should be fun. So with that out of the way, let’s see what’s been hitting my mailbox and inbox.

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!

First, with thanks to HarperCollins Publishers for an ARC of Midnight in Everwood by M.A. Kuzniar. This one was new to me, but as soon as I read the book’s description of a debut Christmas historical and magical fairy tale retelling of the The Nutcracker, I knew I had to read it! A perfect one to curl up with this winter holiday. 

I was also very excited to receive an ARC of Sundial by Catriona Ward, with thanks to the Nightfire team. The author has already taken the horror genre by storm with The Last House on Needless Street which was a real head trip, and I’m sure her new one will be a wild one as well.

From the kind folks at Aladdin, I was also grateful to received an ARC of the middle grade novel City Spies: Forbidden City by James Ponti. This is the third book of the series but it can be read as a standalone, and my daughter actually has the first book so she might even get to it before I do!

Also thank you to Angry Robot for a review copy of Bluebird by Ciel Pierlot which I’m seeing around being described as a queer space western complete with gunslingers and outlaws. Now that sounds pretty cool.

Finally, with thanks to Orbit Books for an ARC of The City of Dusk by Tara Sim. This fantasy novel of bone and shadow magic sounds like a gorgeous read, and it’s been one I’ve had my attention on for a long time!

In the digital haul, with thanks to HarperAudio for a listening copy of My Darling Husband by Kimberly Belle. I definitely need my thriller fix each time! My thanks also to Listening Library for an ALC of Echoes of Empires by Morgan Rhodes, who also wrote the Falling Kingdoms YA series that I enjoyed. I’m really intrigued by this start of a new duology. And last but not least, from the publisher I also received a listening copy of Evershore by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson, the third and final installment of the Skyward novellas series.

Reviews

The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart (4 of 5 stars)
You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo (3 of 5 stars)

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!