Bookshelf Roundup 10/23/22: 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.
Autumn is in full swing, and I love this time of the year. The frigidly cold days are still some ways off, and sunshine plus a brisk breeze equals my idea of the perfect weather. We also get some decent leaf change where we are, so it’s pretty gorgeous. Earlier this week, my family took a drive to the Shenandoah Valley area and stayed overnight in Luray, home of the famous caverns. Though it was a very brief trip, I definitely needed it! I’m feeling a lot more rested and mentally refreshed.
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!
Big thanks this week to Nightfire Books for an ARC of The Spite House by Johnny Compton, because who can resist a haunted house story? Certainly not me. With thanks also to Tor Books for a review copy of The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal and their YA imprint Tor Teen for a finished copy of The Luminaries by Susan Dennard. The latter also came with this gorgeous enamel pin!
Earlier this month I also received In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker from the awesome team at Grand Central Publishing. This one’s new to me, but after some research I found out it’s a paranormal fantasy about witches, so count me in! And from the kind folks at Harper Voyager, I received an ARC of Conquer the Kingdom by Jennifer Estep, the final book of her Gargoyle Queen trilogy. I can’t wait to see how things end.
With thanks to Macmillan Audio for my haul of listening copies this week! They’re reissuing the audiobook of My Darkest Prayer by S.A. Cosby this fall, so I couldn’t resist jumping on the opportunity. I’m also super excited about The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson, the conclusion to the Wax and Wayne books of the Mistborn saga. For my thriller fix, I also received The Prisoner by B.A. Paris, as well as White Horse by Erika T. Wurth for when I’m in the mood for some horror.
Reviews
Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Witch in the Well by Camilla Bruce (3.5 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!
The BiblioSanctum 
Even a short trip can do wonders for the mind Mogsy! And I see you git Jennifer estep’s book!
LikeLike
Absolutely! I felt so refreshed right after, I only wish I could do it again soon 😀
LikeLike
Nice pictures! We’re at the peak of leaf peeping right now and I figure in another week things are going to start looking either bare or brown. Plus, with the nights juuuuust starting to dip below freezing I can’t pretend it is fall here any more 😦
Will you be reviewing the Lost Metal?
LikeLike
It’s looking quite brown now over here and in another week I expect things to be bare! Leaves raining down everywhere!
And yes, I’ll be reviewing The Lost Metal, will definitely make it a priority to fit that in among the sci-fi reads this month 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Short trips can be very much needed and good for people! I’m itching to have a trip myself since my last author trip was a disaster–I drove 4.5 hours only to have the event canceled and recently reschedule for a virtual event. It was a very bad day then and when they announced that. I don’t like virtual events myself and it was just a very upsetting day all around because now I don’t know when I’ll be able to see the author again.
Nice new reads! I wish I could still be on Penguin’s mailing list! I feel like Covid really screwed me over as I used to get the physical ARCs from them a lot! For some reason I can’t read as well with my kindle so I only ever request books I am positively dying to read! I am very excited for Estep’s new book as I am enjoying this series of hers as well! I did read The Luminaries as an eARC as that was one of those “positively dying for” books! Lol.
Hope you enjoy all of your new reads!
Here’s my StS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, Penguin seems to have stopped mailing out physical ARCs and they only occasionally still do finished copies now. It’s a shame they stopped, I too read better with physical books so I prefer them, so now I’ve shifted a lot to audio as well.
And I do remember that story about how your author event was canceled, what a bummer that they made it a virtual event now instead. I definitely understand your frustration, in person meets are so much better!
LikeLike
I love your photos! Sounds like the trip was just what you needed. I’m finishing up Such Sharp Teeth today, I love it😁
LikeLike
Yes, the trip was wonderful, I can’t wait to do it again! And I’m so glad you enjoyed Such Sharp Teeth!
LikeLike
Beautiful pictures, amazing places… And those caves must indeed be a breath-taking wonder…. 🙂
LikeLike
They are! I’ve been years ago, and I was glad to go again this year, sometime recently they redid the attraction and expanded the places in the caverns that visitors can get to, so more to see!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shenandoah Valley, and Luray in particular, are beautiful locations. I’m glad you all made it over there and that you enjoyed the trip. Thanks much for sharing the beautiful photos. It’s been ages since I went into the caverns. Most times we’re just driving through the area and occasionally stopping in Luray for a bite to eat or a short rest. They have a fantastic paved trail called the Greenway that stretches from one side of the town all the way to the other. I’ve never walked the entire thing but I’ve stopped at various parts of it and walked some of them. I love that town.
I think I’m all caught up with the Wax and Wayne series so I’m ready for The Lost Metal. I hope you’ve been enjoying Ghostwritten. I’m currently listening to Black Mouth.
LikeLike
You should definitely visit the caverns again sometime, depending on when you last went! The last time I was there was close to ten years ago, I think sometime recently they renovated the attraction, built a new entrance and also expanded the areas in the caverns that visitors can get to. There was so much more to see, more than I remembered lol! I also had a great trip in the valley and staying in the cabin by the river. It was such a restful getaway, I can’t wait to do it again soon and see the beautiful sights again. The mountains really are gorgeous!
LikeLike
I loved Such sharp Teeth! And I love that cavern pic too. Awesome. All the pics though are nice.
I haven’t read a BA Paris in a while…
LikeLike
I’ve never even read BA Paris, so you are ahead of me on this one!
LikeLike
That looks (and sounds) like an amazing trip. 😀
LikeLike
It was! I wish I could get out there again soon lol!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love those photos. Epic
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLike
Gorgeous pictures!! And that looks like it was a lovely trip ☺️ I love autumn too
LikeLike
Thank you, it really was a great trip! Such pretty autumn colors 😀
LikeLike
Ooh, those photos are amazing, and a little break is sometimes just what you need.
Lynn 😀
LikeLike
Definitely! Even a two day getaway can do wonders for the soul 🙂
LikeLike