Bookshelf Roundup: 06/25/22: 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 Minotaur Books for a review copy of Outside by Ragnar Jonasson, the audiobook of which I reviewed recently, but the arrival of the hardcover was a nice surprise. The book was okay, but I had some mixed feelings about the story which I thought could have been more. From the publisher I also received The Blue Diamond by Leonard Goldberg which was another surprise arrival, and though this is the sixth book of a series called The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries, I really hope it can be read as a standalone!
Also thanks to Orbit for sending me an ARC of Eversion by Alastair Reynolds earlier this month. Three entwined stories, one set set aboard a sailing ship in the 1800s, another set on a zeppelin in the 1900s, and the last in the far future on a spaceship form a narrative about a doctor who tries to figure out why certain events around him keep on repeating themselves. It sounds fascinating and I must try to read this.
Thank you also to Tor Books for a finished copy of The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison, the follow up to The Witness for the Dead, which I LOVED, and I hope this one will be just as good. And from the kind folks at Tordotcom, I received a surprise copy of January Fifteenth by Rachel Swirsky which I knew very little about, but according to the book’s description and reviews, the story’s premise appears to explore the concept of Universal Basic Income.
My big audiobook haul came in this week, with thanks to Macmillan Audio! Looks like I’ll be set on thrillers for the next little while, with listening copies of Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier, Stay Awake by Megan Goldin, and Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney.
As for speculative fiction, I was also ecstatic to receive What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher, described as a gothic horror retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher. I was also curious about Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, a little book that came out of nowhere and seems to have taken the fantasy blogosphere by storm. I so happy that the audio version was available to request, and it’s even narrated by the author! And finally, I also received an ALC of Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy, an intriguing horror novel described as Midsommar meets American Psycho and I’ll be Gone in the Dark.
Reviews
Black Tide by K.C. Jones (4 of 5 stars)
The Peacekeeper by B.L. Blanchard (3.5 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!
The BiblioSanctum 
Maddalena just did a review for Eversion and I must say, it sounded really intriguing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I recently just saw her review as well, I might want to read it now
LikeLiked by 1 person
One good review hooks a multitude of readers 😀
LikeLike
Things we do in the Dark and Stay Awake sound just perfect for my tastes, and I’m also looking at Daisy Darker with interest: with the heat of summer weighing on us, some chilly thrillers are exactly what we need! 😉
LikeLike
Yep, it’s going to be a pretty good summer for thrillers!
LikeLike
I’m wishing I had requested Eversion now since I just read Maddalena’s glowing review!
LikeLike
I can’t remember if that’s one I requested, but I’m definitely glad I have it now!
LikeLike
I have Things We Do in the Dark and Legends and Lattes on my TBR. I can’t wait to read What Moves the Dead, too!
LikeLike
All three of those are very exciting, I can’t wait!
LikeLike
Outside is one I’ve been curious about since seeing it pop up. The premise of Eversion has me SOOO curious. Plus I read an Alastair reynolds and liked it, but it’s been a while…
I want the Feeney one just for that cover.
LikeLike
Sad outside wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be, but I have high hopes for Eversion!
LikeLike
I’m a fan of Alastair Reynolds, but Eversion is new to me and the story sounds very different from much of what I’ve read from him. Can’t wait to try it.
LikeLike
It does sound very different from the rest of his stuff. I actually am quite optimistic because of that, because the last book by read by him didn’t really work.
LikeLike
I’ll trade your something for January 15th in case you hate it;)
Wait—do I even want it if you hate it? Hmmmm… let me know if it’s good? 😁
LikeLike
If you really want it, I can probably send it to you. To be honest, it doesn’t really sound like a book I would like LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Noooo, I think I’ll save this to something I want more. I’m just upset with Tor for never thinking I’m good enough lol
And I need to find something to tempt you with that I actually have. That’s what makes a trade a um… a trade.
LikeLike
Honestly, it’s fine – I’d rather it go to someone who actually wants to check it out and can review it. I have too many books, no need to trade me something for it, really! Just let me know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too many books is not a thing;)
LikeLike
I read the first Daughter of SH book, and it was bad… but in a still entertaining way? I wouldn’t pay for the rest of the series, but I believe they are on Scribd so I might read more of the series 🙆🏼♀️
LikeLike
Bad in an entertaining way, lol! That actually sounds intriguing, I guess I’ll check it out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely haul. I’m looking forward to Daisy Darker too.
Lynn 😀
LikeLike
I have loved all day authors once I read so I’m really looking forward to that one!
LikeLike
Happy reading!
I need the first Addison
LikeLike
Thanks! You too!
LikeLike