Bookshelf Roundup 02/26/23: 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!
Another short update this week. With thanks to Subterranean Press, I received a couple of new ARCs: H’ard Starts: The Early Waldrop by Howard Waldrop edited by Geroge R.R. Martin and Bradley Denton is a collection of works from the author’s long career; Under the Hollywood Sign by Tom Reamy is a gathering of short stories including two previously uncollected pieces.
Also thank you to Orbit Books for the exciting arrival of Paradise-1 by David Wellington, a new sci-fi horror coming out this spring. The book’s tagline reads: “Endless dark. Endless terror.” Enough said.
Speaking of terror, my thanks also to Gallery/Saga Press for an ARC of The Reformatory by Tananarive Due, a Jim Crow era horror set at a segregated reform school said to be haunted from the boys who have died there.
And last but not least, courtesy of the team at Minotaur Books I received a surprise copy of Good Dog, Bad Cop by David Rosenfelt, the newest novel from the K Team series. I don’t know too much about these books but they look perfect for police procedural fans and dog lovers.
Reviews
Wait, I reviewed two 5-star books in a week?! Crazy, right? Meanwhile, I only gave five books in 2022 that distinction. What can I say, but 2023 is off to a strong start and I just hope that momentum carries into spring and beyond.
The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan (5 of 5 stars)
Sea Castle by Andrew Mayne (5 of 5 stars)
Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder (3.5 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
What I’ve Been Reading
This week, I devoured Tyranny of Faith and it was totally awesome. Meanwhile, all I can say about Nocturne is…oof. Okay, the story wasn’t bad, certainly a very creative retelling of Beauty & the Beast. My problem with it was that it had the worst purple prose I have ever read, and I mean it is so over-the-top flowery that I can’t even. Review to come.
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 
Paradise-1 looks intriguing, but after my last horror in space book that turned into a bait and switch, the skeptic within me is strong…
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Ah that Dead Silence book. I agree with you on the bait and switch, I felt ripped off as well. I’ve read Wellington before though, hope he won’t disappoint.
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Here’s to hoping. I’d like to try another book you like, as we intersect so rarely…
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Ooh nice new reads! Those are all entirely new to me ones! I’ve been seeing a lot of Nocturne lately and will admit to being curious about it. Have been waiting for reviews to trickle in from trusted sources, but still waiting. Lol! So definitely looking forward to yours but also now a little worried. I don’t care for the overly flowerly language when reading and I don’t know, hearing “purple prose” has me rethinking adding this to my list! I’ll keep an eye out for your review though!
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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Well, by now you’ve probably seen my review of Nocturne. The purple prose really was too much! If you still want to check it out because it’s a beauty and the beast retelling, you still should…but you’ve been warned 😉
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I didn’t request The Reformatory but I did get some other Saga titles this week. They really have a great line up this year!
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I don’t think I requested The Reformatory either but I was pretty intrigued when it showed up…it does sound quite terrifying.
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Great to see two 5-star books out already. Here’s hoping that continues. I’m curious about Paradise-1, though it’s quite a bit longer than I’d thought.
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2023 is starting out pretty well for 5 star books 🙂
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The Tyranny of Faith does indeed seems incredible Mogsy!
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Seriously, it is so good!
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Last year was not a good year for 5s for me either🫣
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Yeah, 2022 was pretty sad that way, lol!
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Oh many new books and I love the cover of Nocturne
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It really is a beautiful cover!
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I just started Paradise-1 and so far it’s weird, but not horror-y—though there’s still plenty of time for that to change. I just assumed that you were only going to give five books a year five stars from now on… in which case you have 2 left for 10 months? Ooof.
And have you had a spring? In fact have you had a WINTER? Ours has been flipping wildly between the two for months, and I’ve been hearing worrying things from the east…
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Ooh, thanks for the warning, it’ll prepare me to adjust my expectations for Paradise-1. Horror-y would be nice, but if not…well, I would settle for tense and atmospheric 🙂
And nope, no winter…as in no snow accumulation at all this year. My kids are pretty disappointed! Still holding out hope for a late March storm but that’s not looking too likely now either!
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