Bookshelf Roundup 10/08/23: 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!

The Ghost Tracks and The Devil’s Promise by Celso Hurtado (Inkshares): These two novels from a paranormal horror mystery series about a young man from the wrong side of track who starts a detective agency can apparently be read individually as standalones, but the publisher was kind enough to send both books in case I want to start at the beginning. Once my TBR calms down a little next month, I just might!

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett (Del Rey): Needless to say, this was the most exciting arrival of the week. The first book Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries was probably my first five-star read of the year, and I can’t wait to dive into this sequel.

A Haunting in the Arctic by C.J. Cooke (Berkley): A haunting? In the Arctic? It’s like this book was written just for me. I also enjoyed the author’s The Lighthouse Witches so there are many reasons why I’m looking forward to this one.

Reviews

• 3.5 of 5 stars to The Quiet Room by Terry Miles
• 3.5 of 5 stars to Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
• 2.5 of 5 stars to Mister Magic by Kiersten White

Recent Reads

This week, I got to fit in Shield Maiden, which was okay except for the main character. What’s the nicest way to put this? I hate to use the term Mary Sue as it’s lost all meaning at this point, but there were times where I seriously wondered if I was reading a fanfic of Beowulf. Next was A Haunting on the Hill, which was so-so but I didn’t think it was adding anything too new to the haunted house genre. Edenville, though, was one I nearly DNF’ed. I have to say, it was the closest I’ve come to giving a book 1-star in years.

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!