Bookshelf Roundup 02/12/23: 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!
We’re kicking things off this week with A Shadow Crown by Melissa Blair, sequel to A Broken Blade. I would have to catch up with book one first to read this, but at some point I do want to check out this series to see what the buzz is all about. With thanks to Union Square Co. for the review copy.
Thank you also to Orbit Books for The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan, which I can’t wait to start! I loved the first book The Justice of Kings and this sequel is one of my most anticipated reads of this year.
With thanks also to the kind folks at Amazon Crossing as well as Wunderkind PR for a review copy of Hospital by Han Song. This one’s new to me, but a Goodreads description says it’s a dark sci-fi delving into the horror of a dystopian hospital system, which sounds absolutely twisted and I’m very curious.
Also thanks to Tor Nightfire for The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw, a fairytale horror about a vengeful murderous mermaid. Um yeah, sign me up please! And from Tor Books I also received Spring’s Arcana by Lilith Saintcrow. It’s been years since I’ve read her last book and I’m definitely interested in this Russian-inspired fantasy described as American Gods vs. Baba Yaga.
Earlier this week, my hardcopy of Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson also arrived, along with an enamel pin and other goodies as part of my Kickstarter backer rewards! It’s so beautiful!
Only one audiobook in the digital haul this week, but I was very excited to snag a listening copy of The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz, a locked-room mystery set in an old gothic mansion during a snowstorm. Sounds exactly like kind of book.
Reviews
Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones (4.5 of 5 stars)
The Spite House by Johnny Compton (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 
OOooh nice new reads! These are all totally new to me ones! Lilith Saintcrow’s is giving me Supernatural vibes with that car on the cover! I haven’t read her books in years! I might need to look this one up for nostalgia sake! Hope you enjoy each and every one of your new reads!
Here’s my StS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
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I agree, I love the vibes that car cover is giving off! I haven’t read her in years either, I’d been wondering what she was working on!
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I have a copy of Hospital as well, it sounds a bit unusual but good😁
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Definitely unusual. I just hope it won’t be too weird!
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Hospital by Han Song sounds intriguing and it’s my first time hearing about it! 🙂
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It was totally new to me, but I was really intrigued by it too!
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Can’t wait to see what you think of The Cradle of Ice. Is the series worth continuing? I hope so.
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I’m going to write my review soon, but in a nutshell, Cradle of Ice did feel more like a bridge book. And it was looooong. I still think the series is worth continuing, but there were parts of book 2 that dragged.
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That book from Brandon Sanderson is superb!
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They really killed it with the design!
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The Writing Retreat looks great. And I want to try that Mayne series.
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If you want to try Mayne, I would recommend going with The Naturalist first, but that’s just because it’s my favorite of his books. They’re all quite exciting though 😀
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Nice stack! How was the first book in “The Halfling Saga”? I’ve been wanting to read it, but not too many people have.
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I actually haven’t read it either! I got it for review but it’s still on the tbr. I’m curious too because apparently it went viral on tiktok and that’s why it’s such a big deal?
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I received the ebook for free from B&N. Maybe that’s why?
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I haven’t read any of these. I’m interesting in the Richard Swan book – but obviously need to read the first one. Hospital has all sorts of potential to be truly horrific!! Happy reading, Mogsy:)).
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Oh man The Justice of Kings was sooooo good! I highly recommend it! And I agree, the Hospital book has potential for some nightmare fuel. I just hope it won’t be too weird!
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Oh I didn’t know about this new Saintcrow book!
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I haven’t read anything by her in years, I can’t wait to get back to it!
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Loving the cover of that Sanderson book. It’s so pretty.
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They did do a great job on the design!
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I really want to read The Justice of Kings. Look at Tress! I can’t wait for mine to get here.
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The Justice of Kings is amazing, my favorite book of last year. I hope you’ll enjoy! And I hope your copy of Tress will arrive soon – you will scream, it’s beautiful.
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Pretty books, I want them
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