Bookshelf Roundup 06/25/23: 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.

Sorry for no update last week. Between all the end-of-the-year celebrations and graduation ceremonies I had to attend, I was EXHAUSTED. When I sat down to my computer at my usual time Saturday night to put together my Bookshelf Roundup, I was just like nope, didn’t have it in me. So today, we’ll cover two weeks!

Received for Review

With thanks to Nightfire Books for:

• Night’s Edge by Liz Kerin, the first of a mother-daughter vampire duology.

With thanks to Random House for:

• The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni, a supernatural mystery about an expert puzzle maker called upon to solve a puzzle drawn by a woman serving a 30-year sentence for murder. I’d been seeing this book everywhere lately, and finally my curiosity got the better of me and I said yes to a review copy.

With thanks to Viking Books for Young Readers for:

• Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt, a young adult horror that I was so grateful to receive via Bookish First. This one first caught my eye because of the cover, but it also sounds so intriguing.

With thanks to Tordotcom for:

• The Jinn-bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu, a sci-fi adventure that has been described as a mashup of Murderbot and “Aladdin in space.”

With thanks to Del Rey for:

• Thief Liar Lady by D.L. Soria, described as a Cinderella retelling in which it is the princess who is running the grift. Fun!
• The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis, described as a romantic comedy about love and alien invasions. Speaking of fun, I can’t wait to read this. I am also excited because this will also be my first book by Willis, whom I’ve wanted to read forever.

With thanks to Macmillan Audio for:

• Night Will Find You by Julia Heaberlin, a mystery thriller about an astrophysicist and psychic who returns to her hometown following her mother’s death and reconnects with a cop whose life she saved when they were children.
• The Militia House by John Milas, a gothic horror novel set in war-torn Afghanistan.
• The Block Party by Jamie Day, a domestic suspense novel about a murder which occurs over Memorial Day weekend at a block party on a cul-de-sac.

With thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for:

• Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena, a thriller surrounding the abrupt disappearance of a nine-year-old girl. I’m a big fan of the author so I’m really looking forward to this.

With thanks to Brilliance Audio for:

• A Thousand Recipes for Revenge by Beth Cato, a swashbuckling fantasy adventure following a mother and daughter on the run in a world on the brink of war.

With thanks to Harper Voyager for:

• The Queen of Days by Greta Kelly, a new epic fantasy adventure from the author of the brilliant Warrior Witch duology, which I loved. This is one of my most anticipated releases this fall.

Reviews

• 4.5 of 5 stars to The Devil’s Playground by Craig Russell
• 4.5 of 5 stars to The Will of the Many by James Islington
• 4 of 5 stars to The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin
• 4 of 5 stars to The Only One Left by Riley Sager
• 2.5 of 5 stars to The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst

Recent Reads/Upcoming Reviews

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!