Bookshelf Roundup 07/09/23: 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

With thanks to Red Tower Books for:

• Star Bringer by Tracy Wolff. After Fourth Wing, I’m interested in seeing what else the publisher has to offer. This time we’re delving into a science fiction romance.

With thanks to Del Rey Books for:

• Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig, a horror novel about a small town transformed by dark magic when trees in a local orchard starts growing strange, magical apples.

With thanks to Tordotcom for:

• Be Sure by Seanan McGuire. My prayers have finally been answered! Behold the first volume collecting the first three novellas in the author’s Wayward Children series, which I’ve wanted to start for a long time. This will make it easier.

With thanks to Nightfire Books for:

• The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey, a story about monsters and mayhem in New York City’s dark magical underbelly. I confess to being very curious about this team-up.

With thanks to Gollancz for:

• Against All Gods and Storming Heaven by Miles Cameron, the first two books of The Age of Bronze series. I thought I knew about every book by the author but I was unfamiliar with this trilogy inspired by gods and heroes of Greek mythology. The second book is about to be released and the publisher was kind enough to send me the first one as well.

With thanks to Orbit for:

• The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft, a new fantasy about a couple who help their clients solve mysteries with their hexes and bag of charmed relics. I had mixed feelings about the author’s Books of Babel series but this one sounds more up my street and I can’t wait to read it.

With thanks to Crooked Lane Books for:

• The Sight by Melanie Golding, which I am very excited for. I have read the author’s previous two books and enjoyed both a lot, and I’m optimistic I’ll love this one too.

With thanks to Tantor Audio for:

• The Lurk by Ronald Malfi, which collects four more of the author’s previously published novellas into one volume. His last collection, Ghostwritten, was fantastic and I’m hoping this one will also be great.

With thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for:

• Mister Magic by Kiersten White, a dark supernatural thriller that takes place thirty years after a tragic accident shut down a children’s program called Mister Magic.
• How Can I Help You by Laura Sims, described as a suspenseful thriller about two small town librarians who get involved with a mysterious death of a patron in the library bathroom. Definitely sounds like an interesting take on the good old “books about books”.

The other exciting arrival this week is Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson, AKA Secret Project #3 from his Kickstarter campaign. So far, the rollout of the hardcover books and rewards has been almost flawless, and I’m so pleased this one has arrived right on schedule. The book itself is gorgeous, of course, and its design might be my favorite of the three so far. I definitely will find some time to fit this one into my TBR this summer.

Reviews

• 4.5 of 5 stars to The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis
• 4 of 5 stars to The Islands of Elsewhere by Heather Fawcett
• 3 of 5 stars to The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni

Recent Reads

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!