YA Weekend: Bastille vs. The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
Posted on September 17, 2022 12 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Bastille vs. The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade
Series: Book 6 of Alcatraz
Publisher: Starscape (September 20, 2022)
Length: 272 pages
Author Information: Brandon Sanderson | Janci Patterson
It feels as though I have been waiting for Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians for a long time, and now that the Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians series has finally come to a close, I have lots and lots of feels! Most are positive, I’m happy to report, but there were also some disappointments. It probably comes as no surprise that there were plenty of changes with this book, from the switch to another POV character to the first time this series was co-authored. There were also some elements I loved, but other places where my feelings were more mixed.
But before I begin my review in earnest, please be aware that from here on out there may be references to the previous books in the series, so I do want to give a possible spoilers warning. The story picks up immediately after the events of The Dark Talent, following some devastating developments which include significant setbacks for our characters. Things are looking pretty grim—so terrible, in fact, that they have caused our titular protagonist to cave into his grief and give up completely.
Not to worry though, because his friend Bastille is here to save the day! A Knight of Crystallia pledged to protect the Smedry line, she’s not about to take the loss lying down, and taking over narrating duties is just the first step. Alcatraz might have lost everything including his will to fight, but Bastille is not about to fail in her task and lose him to the darkness. While the world is falling apart around them, Bastille is determined to save Alcatraz and all of the Free Kingdoms from total destruction, and she has a big sword and a literal literary license to do it (she has a card and everything)!
First, if you’ve read up to this point in the series, please do yourself a favor and pick this one up to find out how it all ends. It took six long years for this concluding volume to finally be out in the world, but trust me, it’s well worth the wait. And let’s be honest, how could anyone read the ending of the last book and not want to continue? Not going to lie, the way things turned out in The Dark Talent made me so depressed, but the only thing that gave me a glimmer of hope was the cryptic note slipped into the back of the book promising there will be more. And thank goodness for that! With Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians came the closure I was desperately seeking, along with some happy surprises made me feel a lot less salty over the ending of the last book.
If you enjoyed the style of storytelling and the unique brand of humor found in the previous books, then you’re going to enjoy this one too. Kudos also to illustrator Hayley Lazo for all the adorable and fun drawings, which really add a lot to the whole reading experience! As for the writing though, speaking as a longtime fan of Brandon Sanderson, I could tell this wasn’t mostly written by him and that the bulk it was probably Janci Patterson, but that’s okay—this series was Sanderson’s creation, and this book still had everything that made its characters and world so fun and unique. Plus, Bastille is now at the helm, and it only makes sense that she sounds different from Alcatraz.
Like I said though, the humor is still there, and Bastille is even snarkier than Alcatraz, I love it! Similar to the previous books, every chapter begins with a witty tangential throwaway segment filled with jokes and puns, so that even though we were in Bastille’s head this time, I still felt right at home. The story also moved along at a breakneck pace, guaranteed to keep even the most distracted middle grader interested with rapt attention. The plot also featured plenty of magical action and the kind of insanity I’ve come to expect from the series, and they must have pulled out all the stops for the finale because believe it or not, things got even crazier in this one (I mean, just look at the cover, which was an actual scene from the story).
But for all that I liked about this book, I felt something was missing. For a long-awaited concluding volume, it simply didn’t feel grand enough, with so much of the plot given to Bastille talking about how annoyed she was at Alcatraz, followed by a shift to them bickering a lot. So much of it was relationship drama, punctuated occasionally by some wild and wacky over-the-top action. Sure, it’s entirely possible that I might have hyped things up for myself in this case, given the long wait time between this book and the last, but compared to some of the previous volumes, I still felt that this had a lot less substance.
That being said, all the crucial elements were there, such as answers to important questions as well as a happy ending. I am such a fan of this series and the characters, that finally getting closure was a relief! I also feel that Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians would be an amazing read for kids 8-14 which is the suggested age range, but adults who are young at heart and don’t mind something a little silly and quirky once in a while would probably have a blast with it as well. This has been an incredible journey, that even with its minor flaws, I felt Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians was the conclusion the readers deserved, and I closed the cover on the final page of my favorite MG series of all time feeling content and satisfied.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians (Book 1)
Review of The Scrivener’s Bones (Book 2)
Review of The Knights of Crystallia (Book 3)
Review of The Shattered Lens (Book 4)
Review of The Dark Talent (Book 5)
Thursday Thriller Audio: The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas
Posted on September 15, 2022 16 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: HarperAudio (August 2, 2022)
Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Kenton Thomas
Imagine moving into a new house with the hope of turning it into your dream home, only to uncover the remains of two bodies on the property while the contractors were digging in your backyard. This has become the reality for Saffron Cuttler in The Couple at Number 9, our pregnant young protagonist who has just inherited the quaint cottage from her beloved grandma Rose, currently suffering from Alzheimer’s and living out her last days a nursing home.
Now Saffron and her boyfriend Tom are left reeling with the discovery as forensics determine that the bodies were buried at least thirty years ago, and detectives turn their investigation to Rose, the previous owner. At the time, there had also been a tenant renting at the cottage, a mysterious woman known only as Daphne. Currently there are no leads found on her, and the only witness who could tell the police anything about the victims is Saffron’s grandmother who can’t help because of her severe dementia. However, those closest to the old woman, namely Saffron and her mother Lorna, suspect that Rose actually does remember something, and the challenge now is getting her to reveal her secrets.
There is an intriguing mystery here, involving three generations of women who each hold in their possession a fragment of a bigger puzzle. It all begins with Saffron, whose life has been upended by the nightmare of the discovery as all of the nation’s media outlets descend upon her once quiet small town to cover the story. She and Tom have no choice but to try and keep their cool as the investigation continues, exhausting lead after lead. A new energy is soon injected into the novel in the form of Lorna, Saffron’s eccentric and larger-than-life mother who flies in from Spain to be her pregnant daughter’s emotional cheerleader. The two of them can’t be any more different, and yet there is also a clear bond there despite some difficult history and past hang-ups.
Then there’s Rose, the key to this whole enigma. The book employs multiple POVs and dual timelines in telling its story, alternating between modern times and the 1980s. We get to hear from all three women, though Rose’s chapters are probably the most interesting and—perhaps not surprisingly—the most revealing when it comes to clues that help unlock the mystery behind the buried bodies. In the present, Rose may be the shell of her old self, but in the past, she was a force to be reckoned with—a woman ahead of her time, strong-filled and independent.
Ironically, the least likeable character for me was probably Saffron, though it’s entirely possible that is because she was completely overshadowed by both Rose and Lorna, a formidable woman in her own right who took charge most of the time from her more helpless, passive daughter.
I also wasn’t completely sold by the plot, which felt rather standard for mystery novel, and I was not overly taken by any of the twists either, which I felt were too unrealistic. What I did like though, and what I thought was the book’s greatest strength, was how the story focused on the theme of family and was essentially a story of mothers and daughters sleuthing together and supporting each other. It was an entertaining read, more suspenseful than thrilling. A recommended pick if you like mysteries that explore relatable family issues and real-life struggles.
Audiobook Comments: This was a new narrator for me, and while usually I prefer multi-POV books to be read by multiple narrators, I think Kenton Thomas did a great job with all three main characters reading with a pleasant accent and a presence that held my full attention for the entire novel.
Waiting on Wednesday 09/14/2022
Posted on September 14, 2022 5 Comments
Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
To Shape A Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose (May 9, 2023 by Del Rey)
“A young Indigenous woman enters a colonizer-run dragon academy—and quickly finds herself at odds with the “approved” way of doing things—in the first book of this brilliant new fantasy series.
The remote island of Masquapaug has not seen a dragon in many generations—until fifteen-year-old Anequs finds a dragon’s egg and bonds with its hatchling. Her people are delighted, for all remember the tales of the days when dragons lived among them and danced away the storms of autumn, enabling the people to thrive. To them, Anequs is revered as Nampeshiweisit—a person in a unique relationship with a dragon.
Unfortunately for Anequs, the Anglish conquerors of her land have different opinions. They have a very specific idea of how a dragon should be raised, and who should be doing the raising—and Anequs does not meet any of their requirements. Only with great reluctance do they allow Anequs to enroll in a proper Anglish dragon school on the mainland. If she cannot succeed there, her dragon will be killed.
For a girl with no formal schooling, a non-Anglish upbringing, and a very different understanding of the history of her land, challenges abound—both socially and academically. But Anequs is smart, determined, and resolved to learn what she needs to help her dragon, even if it means teaching herself. The one thing she refuses to do, however, is become the meek Anglish miss that everyone expects.
Anequs and her dragon may be coming of age, but they’re also coming to power, and that brings an important realization: the world needs changing—and they might just be the ones to do it.”
Audiobook Review: Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs
Posted on September 12, 2022 17 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 13 of Mercy Thompson
Publisher: Penguin Audio (August 23, 2022)
Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Lorelei King
In this thirteenth installment of the Mercy Thompson series, the vampire Wulfe has gone missing, sending the Columbia Basin Pack in the Tri-Cities into a tizzy. After all, having a vicious and possibly insane killer unaccounted for and on the loose can’t be a good thing. On top of that, he also has a dangerous fixation on Mercy, giving her and Adam good reason to try to track the vampire down before he can do any more damage, especially since the pack is currently under suspicion for causing his disappearance.
But during the investigation, our protagonist discovers that Wulfe isn’t the only one who has gone messing. Her good friend Stefan is also gone, and not long afterwards, their community is rocked by a string of disturbing deaths. Does Wulfe have anything to do with this, if he is still alive? Or are there other shadowy forces in play that are responsible?
There’s something to be said about settling in with the latest book of a long-running favorite series. The characters are like good friends by now—you know their habits and the relationship dynamics, to the point where you’re just as excited to catch up and hang out with them as you are at getting a new story. The ritual becomes so familiar that you might even be willing to let a few issues slide.
This is where I am with Soul Taken right now. There’s no way a new reader can jump on board with any of these later books because there are built upon years of history—and in this case, there are a dozen volumes that came before. This one started slow, weighed down by a lengthy intro precisely because there was so much backstory to cover. Pack dynamics have always been a huge part of this series, and not surprisingly we must spend an inordinate amount of time going through the ins-and-outs of them in every book. While it’s fascinating to watch the way these characters are constantly evolving, sometimes getting through can get a little tedious.
Once the mystery is established and gets going though, things move along at a good clip. I also loved how Mercy had plenty of opportunities to use her coyote form and magic. The intricate plot explores the lore and politics of all the paranormal communities including the fae, werewolves, and vampires, a balance that was well handled, building upon events from the previous books which has always been my favorite things about this series. Between the Mercy Thompson series and also the Alpha & Omega series, Patricia Briggs has created a living, breathing world that feels real and alive, and the events of Soul Taken has simply added another layer to this fascinating narrative, with hefty repercussions that will undoubtedly last for a long time.
Am I getting tired of the lengthy rehashing or the repetitive, rambling internal monologuing done by Mercy every time we start a new book? Okay, maybe a little. I do love these characters and getting to know them, but at the same time, let’s get real—at book 13, everyone still reading the series will have also read all the previous books and know what’s up. We can probably skip the formalities and head straight into the action.
Still, despite the slow takeoff, I did really enjoy Soul Taken. Ideally, I would love to see a better balance between character development and series arc progression, with more attention given to advancing the plot in each book. The last time the series achieve this was probably in Silence Fallen, and now we just need that same energy to come back because there are clearly still plenty of good stories in this world to tell, and I plan to be here for all of them.
Audiobook Comments: The earlier books in the Mercy Thompson series were some of the first audiobooks I ever listened to, and I owe much of my love for the format now to the narrator Lorelei King whose talented performances made it so easy to get into. After so many books she is still the voice of this series, and she is still brilliant.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Reread of River Marked (Book 6)
Review of Night Broken (Book 8)
Review of Fire Touched (Book 9)
Review of Silence Fallen (Book 10)
Review of Storm Cursed (Book 11)
Review of Smoke Bitten (Book 12)
Review of Shifting Shadows (Anthology)
Bookshelf Roundup: 09/11/22: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on September 11, 2022 16 Comments
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!
Kicking off the haul this week, with thanks to Del Rey for a copy of The Golden Enclave by Naomi Novik, book three of Scholomance. I confess, I wasn’t fully on board with this series at first, but the second book really turned things around and I adored it! I can’t wait to see how this trilogy will end. Thank you also to Starscape for a finished copy of Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson, the sixth and final book of Alcatraz and the Evil Librarians. It’s been a long time coming for this one, and I’m happy to say my review will be posted next week. Also a big thank you to the kind folks at Saga Press for sending me an ARC of Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones, the follow-up to My Heart is a Chainsaw.
Courtesy of the amazing team at Tordotcom, I also received the following: a review copy of High Time in the Low Parliament by Kelly Robson and an ARC of Wild Massive by Scotto Moore. And with thanks to Minotaur Books for a copy of These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant. As you might recall, I loved this book when it came out last year, and now the paperback edition is being released.
And a real treat arrived at the end of last month, which I hadn’t really had a chance to look at until I got back from my trip, and what a gorgeous surprise it was! I’m immensely grateful to Entangled Publishing for sending me this promotion box for The Liar’s Crown by Abigail Owen.
Included is the beautiful hardcover copy, as well as swag in the form of a painting-with-diamonds art kit, a small decorative mirror, and temporary tattoos. I’m very intrigued to read this!
In the digital haul, just a couple of audiobooks. With thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for a listening copy of Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong, and to Random House Audio for ALCs of Daphne by Josh Malerman and House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson!
Reviews
First Born by Will Dean (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen (3.5 of 5 stars)
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!
Book Review: First Born by Will Dean
Posted on September 9, 2022 16 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books (July 5, 2022)
Length: 368 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
They say identical twins are two halves of a whole, and that sometimes their minds are connected. That was how Molly felt about Katie, her sister, her soulmate. But despite looking exactly alike, the two of them could not be any more different. Ever since they were little girls, Molly was aways the shy introverted one, living her life carefully and in complete control because of her extreme aversity to risk. In contrast, Katie was vivacious and outgoing, preferring to jump into life’s opportunities headfirst. When offered a scholarship to attend university in New York City, Katie did not hesitate to accept, leaving her family and Molly behind in the UK.
But now, she is dead. Possibly murdered. Devastated, Molly travels to America with her parents to bring her sister’s body home, but she also wants to find out what happened. Meeting with the police detective in charge of Katie’s case, Molly is saddened to learn that her twin had lived a life she kept secret from everybody else. Soon after Katie’s death is confirmed to be a homicide, the suspects begin to emerge. The perfect boyfriend. The quirky classmate. The landlady’s shady son. The debonair professor. In days, Molly and her parents will need to fly back across the Atlantic, and she knows it’s only a matter o time before the trail for her sister killer will go cold. If they’re going to solve Katie’s murder, Molly will have to take matters into her own hands.
Told from Molly’s POV, First Born was immediately intriguing and engaging to me because of the uniqueness of the narrator. Paranoid, obsessive, and socially awkward, our protagonist made for an interesting character study. At home, she lived as a loner, becoming even more reclusive after her sister left for university. It was a bit unnerving to be inside the head of someone whose mind was always full of statistics about disasters, accidents, and all sorts of unpleasant things, and yet at the same time, Molly was also somewhat relatable and sympathetic. I think deep down, most of us have similar fears and think about the same risks, even if few of us take them to such extremes.
The story itself was a standard mystery—at least for the first half. A college student has been murdered, and initially, the plot stayed true to reader expectations. Police are looking into the victim’s closest associates including romantic partners and friends, and impatient with their progress, Molly decides to do her own digging, using her closeness to Katie to uncover clues that others have missed. The number of suspects meant that the story was never boring, and that the pacing remained fast and unrelenting. Nothing groundbreaking about any of this, of course, but it was intense, suspenseful, and entertaining.
But then came the twist. And it was a big one indeed! I can honestly say I didn’t see it coming. That said, it took some suspension of disbelief to come to terms with the revelation, as it changed the entire tone and trajectory of the book. Obviously, I will reveal no spoilers here, but I will say it also made me change my whole way of thinking—about the characters, the mystery, and the overall vibes of the book. For this reason, I have feeling reactions to the twist will be all over place depending on the individual. Personally, I thought it was a bit over the top, and because I couldn’t quite bring myself to give this novel 4 stars, though it was close. At the end of the day, I still applaud the author for his gutsy move.
Overall, First Born was a twisty wild ride, one I would recommend if you are a fan of suspenseful mysteries who also enjoys an element of surprise, as long as you’re also okay with it going hand in hand with a bit of implausibility.
Waiting on Wednesday 09/07/22
Posted on September 7, 2022 8 Comments
Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon (February 28, 2023 by Bloomsbury Publishing)
After I finished The Priory of the Orange Tree, the last thing I expected was that the next book set in the world would be a prequel. I’m definitely interested though, and it’s also a standalone so that’s a bonus!
“The stunning, standalone prequel to the New York Times bestselling The Priory of the Orange Tree.
Tunuva Melim is a sister of the Priory. For fifty years, she has trained to slay wyrms – but none have appeared since the Nameless One, and the younger generation is starting to question the Priory’s purpose.
To the north, in the Queendom of Inys, Sabran the Ambitious has married the new King of Hróth, narrowly saving both realms from ruin. Their daughter, Glorian, trails in their shadow – exactly where she wants to be.
The dragons of the East have slept for centuries. Dumai has spent her life in a Seiikinese mountain temple, trying to wake the gods from their long slumber. Now someone from her mother’s past is coming to upend her fate.
When the Dreadmount erupts, bringing with it an age of terror and violence, these women must find the strength to protect humankind from a devastating threat.
Intricate and epic, Samantha Shannon sweeps readers back to the world of A Priory of the Orange Tree, showing us a course of events that shaped it for generations to come.”
Book Review: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
Posted on September 6, 2022 11 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Orbit (August 23, 2022)
Length: 336 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I read The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy while on vacation which worked out well, for I was in the mood for something light, fun and casual, and as everyone knows there’s nothing quite like a quirky fantasy romance to hit the spot. It’s a story that feels very much like a 90s romantic comedy with You’ve Got Mail coming immediately to mind, and in fact some of the similarities and references to the film are just too overt for it not to be a direct inspiration.
The book begins with an introduction to Mercy Birdsall, the daughter of an undertaker. Ever since her father took ill she has been running the family business, even though ownership of the funeral home has traditionally been passed from father to son. However, Mercy’s brother Zeddie, who should have been going to school learning about undertaking, has just confessed to her about flunking all of his classes, leaving our protagonist in a jam. She loves what she does and would love nothing more than to take over the business especially now that Zeddie has bowed out, but she’s not sure her father would agree. Complicating matters is the fact that a competitor has also been sniffing around, looking to buy them out.
Meanwhile, patrolling the wilds are the Marshalls of Tanria, tasked to dispatch the zombie-like reanimated lost souls known as drudges. After the malevolent spirits are driven out their bodies, the hollowed-out shells of drudges must be brought to an undertaker to be prepared for the afterlife. Marshall Hart Ralson has been doing what he does for a long time, and one of the least pleasant parts of his job is visiting Birdsall & Son, where his least favorite undertaker Mercy works. Ever since their disastrous first meeting, the two of them have not stopped trading insults and barbs every time they meet.
But one day, driven by loneliness and the insistent prodding of his new apprentice, Hart decides to put his feelings into words by writing an anonymous letter and dropping it off in a mailbox. Little did he know, the letter would make it to the last person he would have expected, and that a special relationship would come out of it.
If you’re looking for a popcorny read that’s equal parts adorable and romantic, there’s a good chance The Undertaking of Mercy and Hart would be right up your alley. Extra bonus if you’re a fantasy reader who can appreciate the whimsical elements in the worldbuilding, though I wouldn’t say it’s the novel’s main selling point. I liked the paranormal aspects and some of the more unique ideas the author had, but at the end of the day, it’s the relationships that are at the heart of this story.
From the beginning, it was obvious that Mercy would become Hart’s secret pen pal, and that a romance would be the result, making this a hate-to-love romance. Fans of these kinds of stories will delight in the way the two characters continue to chafe at each other, while in reality there is a whole other life in which they are growing closer through their letters. Yes, it’s cheesy. Yes, it’s a bit contrived. I’ll also be the first to admit execution wasn’t perfect and thought that ultimately the way Hart and Mercy came together was too forced and artificial. Mercy’s character also annoyed me frequently, and her attitude would often rub me the wrong way, making her resulting change of heart towards her relationship with Hart feel like a flip of a switch.
But all of this comes with the territory when picking up a book like The Undertaking of Mercy and Hart. It’s intended to be alight and airy read, not to be taken too seriously. I had no idea what to expect when I started, but the aspects of storytelling, characters, and world-building were better and more impressive than I had anticipated for a romance fantasy, and I found it very entertaining.
Bookshelf Roundup: 09/04/22: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on September 4, 2022 24 Comments
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.
Wow, let’s see, my last Bookshelf Roundup was…three weeks ago?! In that time though, our family got to fly out to Nevada to visit my parents and we got to see Las Vegas and also do the National Parks circuit for that area, so overall it was very picturesque trip:
Upon our return, we also got together with some friends at the beach for a final few days of fun before school starts for our kiddos, so all in all a great time was had. But now, time to get back to the grind and the books!
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!
Here’s the first batch of what awaited me upon my arrival home. With thanks to Subterranean Press for an ARC of Knot of Shadows by Lois McMaster Bujold, the latest Penric and Desdemona novella from the author’s World of the Five Gods, as well as Unbreakable by Mira Grant, a story about a group of magical warriors that defend the Earth.
Thank you also to Redhook for an ARC of It Rides A Pale Horse by Andy Marino. Cannot wait to read this one! Also thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a review copy of The Darkness of Others by Cate Holahan, a psychological thriller set in New York City amidst the lockdowns of the pandemic.
Big thanks also to the kind folks at Tordotcom for an ARC of Into the Windwracked Wilds by A. Deborah Baker which is a character from Seanan McGuire’s Middlegame as well as the author’s pen name writing for the Over the Woodward Wall series. And finally, with thanks to Angry Robot for a review copy of The Hollows by Daniel Church. A horror set in an isolated village in the middle of a snowstorm? Gimme!
In the digital pile, courtesy of Tantor Audio I received a listening copy of Norylska Groans by Michael R. Fletcher and Clayton W. Snyder, a finalist in the 7th Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off so I have a great feeling about this one. Plus, I simply adore Fletcher’s work and I’m looking forward to checking out this collaboration with Snyder. Also thanks to Penguin Audio for a review copy of Bad Dolls by Rachel Harrison, a short story collection. I don’t usually do short story collections, but I love this author, I’ve already listened to this and it turned out to be so good! Last but not least, thank you to Hachette Audio for a listening copy of Blood of Troy by Claire M. Andrews, the sequel to Daughter of Sparta.
Reviews
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean (4 of 5 stars)
Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey (3.5 of 5 stars)
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!
Waiting on Wednesday 08/31/22
Posted on August 31, 2022 10 Comments
Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
Nocturne by Alyssa Wees (February 21, 2023 by Del Rey)
“In this haunting, lyrical fantasy set in 1930s Chicago, a talented ballerina finds herself torn between her dreams and her desires when she’s pursued by a secretive patron who may be more than he seems.
Growing up in Chicago’s Little Sicily in the years following the Great War, Grace Dragotta has always wanted to be a ballerina, ever since she first peered through the windows of the Near North Ballet Company. So when Grace is orphaned, she chooses the ballet as her home, imagining herself forever ensconced in a transcendent world of light and beauty so different from her poor, immigrant upbringing.
Years later, with the Great Depression in full swing, Grace has become the company’s new prima ballerina—though achieving her long-held dream is not the triumph she once envisioned. Time and familiarity have tarnished that shining vision, and her new position means the loss of her best friend in the world. Then she attracts the attention of the enigmatic Master La Rosa as her personal patron, and realizes the world is not as small or constricted as she had come to fear.
Who is her mysterious patron, and what does he want from her? As Grace begins to unlock the Master’s secrets, she discovers that there is beauty in darkness as well as light, finds that true friendship cannot be broken by time or distance, and realizes there may be another way entirely to achieve the transcendence she has always sought.”
The BiblioSanctum 