Friday Face-Off: On the Beach

Posted on August 27, 2021 9 Comments

Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme created by Books by Proxy! Each Friday, we will pit cover against cover while also taking the opportunity to showcase gorgeous artwork and feature some of our favorite book covers. If you want to join the fun, simply choose a book each Friday that fits that week’s predetermined theme, post and compare two or more different covers available for that book, then name your favorite. A list of future weeks’ themes are available at Lynn’s Book Blog.

This week’s theme is:

~ ON THE BEACH

Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman

The covers of Catherine Steadman’s books all have the feel of summer, but their stories are never too sunny. Mr. Nobody is mainly told from the point-of-view of Dr. Emma Lewis, a memory disorder specialist who is called to investigate a case of a man found washed up on a beach with no recollection of what his real name is or where he came from. During her first meeting with him though, not only does he speak for the first time, he calls her by her real name—a name she had long abandoned ever since leaving her hometown to start a new life with a new identity. The problem though, is she’s pretty sure she’s never seen the man, so how does he know so much about her past?

Let’s take a look at the covers:

From left to right:
Ballantine Books (2020) – Ballantine Books Paperback (2021) – Simon & Schuster UK (2020)

Simon & Schuster AU (2020) – Dutch Edition (2020) – Bulgarian Edition (2020)

Winner:

The colors of some of these covers are stunning, especially when you get the contrast between the teals and reds. The Simon & Schuster UK edition is actually quite nice, but the annoying sticker on the lower right corner kind of ruins it. I think I will have to go with the Dutch edition which uses a similar color scheme, but I also love the wide open sky and the expanse of the beach that seems to go on forever.

But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?

Thursday Thriller Audio: Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

Posted on August 26, 2021 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.

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Macmillan Audio (September 7, 2021)

Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Narrators: Richard Armitage, Stephanie Racine

I never need an excuse to pick up an audiobook narrated by Richard Armitage, let alone one by Alice Feeney. Rock Paper Scissors is the third novel I’ve read by the author, and there are several similarities in its structure and scope to her previous psychological thriller His & Hers, which also follows a couple with a long and complicated history in their relationship.

Adam and Amelia Wright are celebrating their ten-year anniversary with a trip to the Scottish Highlands, after Amelia won a free stay at an old converted chapel as a prize in a raffle at her work. With their marriage fraying at the seams, she’s hoping this weekend getaway will help them reconnect. A self-professed workaholic, screenwriter Adam isn’t exactly the easiest man to live with, and he also has a condition called prosopagnosia, or face blindness, which causes an inability to recognize faces, even those who are closest to him.

But although they are experiencing problems in their marriage now, apparently things hadn’t always been so bad. Interspersed between the chapters in the present are letters that Amelia had written to Adam that were never sent. Each year on their anniversary, the couple would exchange traditional gifts, and Amelia would also write a letter to her husband, filled with her private thoughts she never intended for him to read. These writings would eventually reveal that their early years were filled with happiness and love. So, what the heck happened?

Not to mention, things get a little hinky whenever the plot returns to Adam and Amelia in the Highlands, where the couple and their dog Bob have become stranded after a snowstorm. The isolated chapel has been fixed up to receive visitors, but it’s certainly not equipped to withstand such extreme conditions. Next, it turns out that Amelia had no idea how she had won the trip, telling Adam that she was notified out of the blue about her prize, after buying only a single raffle ticket. And then, Bob goes missing. Nothing is as it seems, and as the strange happenings and creepy oddities around them start to pile up, things aren’t looking too good for the Wrights to fix their marriage.

There’s also a third perspective character other than Adam and Amelia, but I will be leaving out the details on them so as not to accidentally reveal possible spoilers. The structure of this novel, as well as the back-and-forth between the POVs and Amelia’s letters truly made Rock Paper Scissors an edge-of-your-seat read for me. In a way, this book is a puzzle, and even though it takes a while for every piece to fall into place, when it does, the full picture will knock you off your feet. As you start to pick up on the clues and other things that don’t feel quite right, you also realize you can’t take anything shown to you at face value, and that none of the characters’ narratives can be trusted.

Adam’s prosopagnosia is also an interesting element, and funny enough, this is the second book I’ve encountered this summer with face blindness as a major part of its premise. I thought Feeney did a pretty good job tackling Adam’s condition, and through Amelia’s unsent letters over the years, we learn more about some of the challenges the two have had to deal with and overcome. Year after year though, we can also see the quality of their marriage degrade, and as readers we have front row seats to this spectacle as the secrets and lies are gradually revealed from both sides.

And obviously, I enjoyed the setting and atmosphere. After all, I make it no secret I’m a fan of horror and suspenseful stories set in snowy, remote places where the hapless characters might become stranded and helpless. Plus, there are perks to listening to thrillers in audio of course, and the sensation of deep immersion is certainly one of them, especially when you have great narrators in this case.

Speaking of which, I’ve already praised Richard Armitage, who never fails to deliver a stellar performance, but much kudos to Stephanie Racine as well for her fantastic job as co-narrator. From start to finish, my attention was held tightly by this tense thriller which revealed its secrets slowly but was never boring. Rock Paper Scissors was very enjoyable as an audiobook, and might be my favorite Alice Feeney novel so far.

Waiting on Wednesday 08/25/21

Posted on August 25, 2021 12 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

Sea Storm by Andrew Mayne (March 29, 2022 by Thomas & Mercer)

The new Underwater Investigation Unit series by Andrew Mayne is getting really good, and I was excited when the synopsis was finally revealed recently. A cruise ship disaster and an incoming tropical storm? Sounds pretty awesome. What do you think?

“An explosive conspiracy sets the ocean roiling for a deep-diving investigator in a riveting thriller by the author of the Amazon Charts bestseller The Girl Beneath the Sea.

A distress call draws rescuers Sloan McPherson and the Underwater Investigation Unit to a cruise ship off the coast of Fort Lauderdale that’s sinking from a mysterious explosion. When it appears to be the work of an ecoterrorist and other ships are threatened, it becomes a race against time. More clues are discovered, and evidence is in danger of being washed away by a coming tropical storm. Sloan grows concerned that key details are being ignored, and a strange lack of urgency by authorities sets off alarms.

As the troubling questions compound, Sloan is determined to chase down every lead she has. Her persistence is getting her closer to the truth: that there’s something far more troubling at play than the official explanation. It’s also putting Sloan on a collision course with an enemy more powerful than she realizes, in a case so complex and deadly it may be impossible to prove. Now cracking the case is a matter of staying one step ahead of someone with every resource imaginable to bury Sloan and everything she knows.”

Book Review: Paper & Blood by Kevin Hearne

Posted on August 23, 2021 19 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Paper & Blood by Kevin Hearne

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Book 2 of Ink & Sigil

Publisher: Del Rey (August 10, 2021)

Length: 304 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Al MacBharrais is back in Paper & Blood by Kevin Hearne, the follow up to Ink & Sigil which introduced our Scottish sigil agent extraordinaire who is in his sixties, but can still work ink magic with the best of them. All he needs is a pen and paper to work some amazing spells. He’s also part of a global network which polices the travel of supernatural beings to and from our mortal plane, which makes his skills come in handy as magically binding contracts are needed whenever these magical creatures go, and these can only be worked with certain sigils and special ink.

A new adventure begins as Al receives word that a fellow agent had gone missing in Australia while on assignment, leading our protagonist to drop everything and make his way to the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria to investigate the disappearance. Fortunately, he’s got help. Nadia, his accountant who is also a fierce pit fighter, has offered to lend a hand. And of course, this would not be a true sequel without the return of Buck Foi, the mischievous hobgoblin who has also decided to tag along. But the real surprise is perhaps the appearance of Atticus O’Sullivan, also known as the Iron Druid. The ancient one has arrived with his two dogs, Oberon and Starbuck, to join Al and the rest of them in the Australian wilds, determined to follow the trail of their missing colleague.

First off, I have to say this book was very entertaining, especially the setting and the world-building and the magic system. I loved Ink & Sigil, which made me want to know Al MacBharrais a bit better, not to mention learn more about the lore and fantasy aspects of his world. In this, Paper & Blood delivered exactly what I wanted. The main character also has a great sense of humor, which along with his Scottish brogue brings a kind of unique charm to this series. I’ve written before about how much I enjoyed Al’s genuine and down-to-earth personality, the fact that you don’t see many protagonists of his age and background in urban fantasy. His dialogue and interactions with the supporting cast were also delightful, and it was fun watching the shenanigans and clever banter fly between the members of this motley group.

Still, at some point, I had to wonder why the author felt the need to bring back Atticus O’Sullivan, the protagonist from his Iron Druid Chronicles, from which the Ink & Sigil series spun off. Here is also the part of the review where I will get ranty, because I’m a firm believer that while spin offs can be a great opportunity to continue or expand the worlds and stories we love, they should also come from a different angle and be entirely capable of standing on its own two feet. Otherwise, why bother creating a new series with new characters?

What I’m about to say next is also going to be an unpopular opinion, I think, but what the heck—I can’t stand Atticus! At times his snark can be a bit too much, and I can only take him in small doses. It’s also a huge part of why I abandoned the Iron Druid Chronicles after book three, and why I was so happy with the different tone and direction of Ink & Sigil, because Al was such a breath of fresh air. With the return of Atticus in Paper & Blood though, Al’s presence was diminished and he quickly began to feel like a guest in someone else’s world, playing second fiddle to Atticus’ larger-than-life personality. And it’s a shame, because I really felt Al was just starting to step up to the wheel of his own series. Until his role as main protagonist could be firmly established, or until readers could bond with the new characters, Hearne probably should have backed off on the cameos, or at least had Atticus play a smaller role. Instead, this felt too much like an attempt to write another Iron Druid book, or a blatant attempt to service Atticus fans.

That said, if you followed the Iron Druid Chronicles, I think you will have a blast with this one. My quibbles notwithstanding, I did too. New readers will still have plenty to delight in, as Paper & Blood is bang-up sequel for what it is, a rollicking continuation of Ink & Sigil which touches lightly upon the aftermath of the previous book’s events while featuring a new adventure that can generally be read as a standalone. I have a feeling it’s going to take while for this series to develop its own hook and overall flavor, but that’s pretty common for urban fantasy. Hopefully we can refocus our attention on Al and have him retake the reins going forward.

Friday Face-Off: Dressed to Kill

Posted on August 20, 2021 10 Comments

This week’s theme is:

~ DRESSED TO KILL

Consortium Rebellion by Jessie Mihalik

This topic involves featuring someone on a cover literally dressed to kill, or someone dressed up for a big night out. This week I’m doing something different by picking a series instead of a book. The Consortium Rebellion trilogy immediately came to mind, which follows the three kickass sisters of House von Hasenberg, and you can bet they’ve all got style!

Waiting on Wednesday 08/18/21

Posted on August 18, 2021 12 Comments

Mogsy’s Pick

Scorpica by G.R. Macallister (February 22, 2022 by Saga Press)

This is the fantasy debut of historical fiction author Greer Macallister, and while it has an interesting concept, I confess the main draw for me is the comparison to Robin Hobb as well as Circe. I hope it’ll be good!

“A centuries-long peace is shattered in a matriarchal society when a decade passes without a single girl being born in this sweeping epic fantasy that’s perfect for fans of Robin Hobb and Circe.

Five hundred years of peace between queendoms shatters when girls inexplicably stop being born. As the Drought of Girls stretches across a generation, it sets off a cascade of political and personal consequences across all five queendoms of the known world, throwing long-standing alliances into disarray as each queendom begins to turn on each other—and new threats to each nation rise from within.

Uniting the stories of women from across the queendoms, this propulsive, gripping epic fantasy follows a warrior queen who must rise from childbirth bed to fight for her life and her throne, a healer in hiding desperate to protect the secret of her daughter’s explosive power, a queen whose desperation to retain control leads her to risk using the darkest magic, a near-immortal sorcerer demigod powerful enough to remake the world for her own ends—and the generation of lastborn girls, the ones born just before the Drought, who must bear the hopes and traditions of their nations if the queendoms are to survive.”

Book Review: The Desert Prince by Peter V. Brett

Posted on August 17, 2021 21 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 Desert Prince by Peter V. Brett

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of Nightfall Saga

Publisher: Del Rey (August 3, 2021)

Length: 656 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

It’s great to be back in the Hollow! Mind you, fifteen years have passed since the end of The Demon Cycle which saw the humans beat back the creatures of the darkness, but to be honest, much here still feels comfy and familiar. Now in The Desert Prince, which kicks off a new series called the Nightfall Saga, the next generation will have their chance to prove themselves.

The story is told mainly from two perspective characters. Olive is the daughter of Leesha Paper, now the Duchess of Hollow, and Darin Bales is the son of the hero known as the Deliverer. Both of them have grown up in this peaceful world, the feats of their parents having become the stuff of legends. However, Olive wants more. As a princess and the heir of the Hollow, she has her whole life planned out by her mother, who wants to keep her only child sheltered and safe. But Leesha has also kept a big secret from her daughter. Olive has always known she is different, being intersex, but the fact has never bothered her, until her mother reveals how she had been assigned the gender of female at birth because the alagai hora—prophetic dice made of demon bone—willed it so. Olive can’t help but wonder what her life would have been like, had the fates decided differently.

Her friend Darin on the other hand faces a different kind of problem. As the son of the legendary Arlen Bales, the world expects greatness from him, but it’s a different world now without any corelings to fight. All Darin really wants is to be left alone to find his own path, and that way, maybe he won’t be a disappointment to everyone around him. But then one night, Olive and Darin cross the protective wards around the village to find out that the demons are not all gone. The threat is serious enough that the Hollow elders decide to investigate, hoping it is not a sign of a new corbeling resurgence. But soon afterwards, Olive’s heritage catches up with her as the Krasian enemies of her father come calling, capturing her for their own designs. But somewhere in this strange turn of events may be an opportunity for Olive to discover more about herself, and for Darin, who will stop at nothing to rescue his friend, this could be his chance to save the world from the demons.

As many others have noted, while The Desert Prince is a start of a new series, the novel really feels more like a continuation of The Demon Cycle. Sure, it can be read on its own without any knowledge of the prior books since the author does a pretty good job at catching you up, but the truth is, there’s really no substitute for the massive body of lore and character development you’ll be missing out on. As such, the Nightfall Saga feels very much like it was written for existing fans, though that’s not to say newcomers won’t find plenty to enjoy as well. In fact, if you love the epic fantasy genre, this will make you feel right at home, featuring heroic characters, stunning magic, and world-building on a massive scale.

Speaking as someone with the benefit of having the original series under my best, I actually thought The Desert Prince was quite good, the quality of the storytelling and writing even surpassing the previous books in a few cases. Peter V. Brett has certainly learned from his successes and mistakes, and as a result, here we have a tightly told plot which also highlights the importance of having well-developed characters. Of course, in this case having a memorable cast is important—they are the children of some larger-than-life heroes, after all. There’s a good balance between the POVs, with Olive’s probably being slightly more prominent (which makes sense, since her arc feels more consequential to the overall story, at least at this early point in the series) though both threads take on major coming-of-age themes like self-discovery or living up to parental expectations, etc., making these characters and their struggles feel more genuine and relatable.

Arguably though, the real stars are the corelings. A renewed war against the demons was undoubtedly what I’d hoped for when I picked up The Desert Prince, and one of the main reasons I signed up for the ride. And I know I can’t be the only one. The harrowing night fights against the demons in this book are some of the best Brett has ever written, which is enough to make me overlook some of the more annoying aspects which have been carried over from the original series, like the excessive melodrama and relationship shenanigans or the prejudice and merciless attitudes of Krasia. Those new to the magic system based around demon bones and warding are sure to be in for a nice surprise, while returning readers will also be treated to additions and an overall expansion to the lore. In other words, the experience was fresh yet comfortable, and coming from The Demon Cycle, I was impressed with the seamless shift from old to new.

All in all, I was happy to be back in the world of The Demon Cycle, upgraded and looking sleek in a new fresh coat of paint. Peter V. Brett slips right back into the rhythm of things without compromising the characteristic elements of the original series while putting a new generation in the spotlight and allowing them a chance to endear themselves into the hearts of readers new and old. On the whole, long-time fans will probably gain the most appreciation out of The Desert Prince but I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys epic fantasy.

Review: City of Iron and Dust by J.P. Oakes

Posted on August 16, 2021 9 Comments

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

City of Iron and Dust by J.P. Oakes

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Titan Books (July 6, 2021) | Tantor Audio (July 20, 2021)

Length: 400 pages | 11 hrs and 27 mins

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Narrator (Audiobook): Dan Calley

In City of Iron and Dust, an oppressed society of Fae seek to rise up against their Goblin overlords in order to win their freedom. Writing in a contemporary urban fantasy style with dark undertones, debut author J.P. Oakes incorporates faerie folklore and magical themes along with dystopian elements to create a harsh world on the brink of violent change. This novel has a fascinating premise to be sure, but the pacing is extremely uneven which made reading it rather slow going.

In the Iron City, all that stands is a symbol of the Goblin victory against the Fae in their age-old war. Now the Fae are imprisoned within its walls, subservient to the five major houses of their Goblin rulers who reside in the towering spires at the center of the city. The only hopes the prisoners have left are fueled by Dust, a drug capable of restoring magic—if only briefly—to the desperate Fae eager to capture even a few moments of what they lost and what their lives used to be. Not only is this substance highly illegal, it is also extremely addictive, giving rise to vicious black market.

In the midst of this grim scenario, we have a varied cast including Knull, a drug dealer; Jag, a sheltered goblin princess; Sil, her badass bodyguard half-sister; Edwynn, an artist and idealist; Skart, an old kobold war veteran and freedom fighter; Granny Spregg, a depose noblewoman with designs to claw her way back into power, and a couple others I might be missing. Cut off from nature which is the source of their magic, the poverty-stricken Fae are barely surviving in these hopeless conditions, which is why the mere idea of a drug like Dust can hold so much power. And now a bag of it has found its way into the city, and whoever controls it will hold the city’s fate in their hands.

I liked this book but didn’t love it. While imaginative and action-packed, it’s also feels bloated and overloaded with way too many ideas and too much stuff going on. As I alluded to before, there are a number of POVs to follow, too many to even remember all of them after I finished the book. Not only that, I also feel the author treats character development far too casually, never giving readers a chance to connect with any of them on a deeper, more meaningful level. We flit back and forth between their perspectives like it’s going out of style, often shifting the focus just as things were getting good. There also wasn’t enough to distinguish between some of the voices, with the dialogue, tone and snark being somewhat interchangeable. Truth be told, none of them really made an impression on me in the end.

There’s also a breathless quality when it comes to many debuts, and I can feel that here. Oakes’ enthusiasm is practically palpable, which isn’t necessarily bad, but things do get a little dicey when you try to put in too much. The saying “less is more” comes to mind here, as a jumble of different styles seem to struggle against each other for dominance. Here and there you get a hint of crime noir, while at other times a touch of military thriller kicks in, all to a dizzying backdrop of fantasy and paranormal elements. And with how quickly the story moves, it rather tough to get a bead on things. Certain literary devices, like the humor, feel forced or ill-timed, coming in at the most awkward moments. The result is this chaotic and often confusing energy that sometimes makes the book hard to follow, which can be very exhausting, and it’s a shame because what should have been the story’s powerful message of resistance against oppression ends up getting lost in all the noise.

With a bit more polish, this book could have been great, and with more experience, the author’s future looks bright. J.P. Oakes clearly has the talent, the imagination, and the potential, but City of Iron and Dust could have done with some streamlining and character development to help it be more memorable. Despite its flaws though, I loved the world-building and the fact that all the characters in the story are non-human. It’s definitely a treat for fantasy fans looking for that sort of thing, as long as you don’t mind the prose and storytelling that’s a bit raw and rough around the edges.

Bookshelf Roundup: 08/14/21: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads

Posted on August 14, 2021 22 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.

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Okay, so we’re nearly halfway through the month and my reading output has been dismal! I have one more road trip coming up next week to visit the in-laws which will probably be our last time to get away before the summer ends, so hopefully my schedule will return to somewhat normal sooner rather than later, because between work and family obligations I feel like I’ve been running on fumes these past few weeks. Anyway, some posts have been scheduled in advance, but my online presence will probably be sparse to none until I get back. I look forward to catching up with everyone’s posts upon my return though, and hoo boy does my neglected TBR need some long overdue attention!

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!

A big thank you to Orbit Books for a hardcover of Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky, the first book of The Final Architecture series. I’m pretty excited, because as much as I appreciate his versatility in other genres, I very much prefer his sci-fi space opera. Also from the publisher I received The Pariah by Anthony Ryan, an all new epic fantasy trilogy from the author of the Raven’s Shadow books. I’m also looking forward to this one, but man, that’s one massive tome!

With thanks also to Angry Robot for Twenty-Five to Life by R.W.W. Greene. This was relatively new to me, but I am intrigued by the apocalyptic setting and the premise of using virtual reality to block it all out. I’m looking forward to exploring this one.

Thank you also to the awesome team at Tordotcom for this gorgeous copy of The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente. I can always count on her stuff to be pretty unique, and I’ve heard some great things about this book already, so I can’t wait to read it. I also received an ARC of Along the Saltwise Sea by A. Deborah Baker, which wasn’t even on my radar because apparently it’s the sequel of a book that spins off of Middlegame by Seanan McGuire, which I haven’t read (A. Deborah Baker is a pseudonym). I’m not sure if I’ll be completely lost if I haven’t read either Middlegame or Over the Woodward Wall but maybe someone who has can tell me if these Up-and-Under books are standalone?

And finally I also received a review copy of The Seventh Age: Dystopia by Rick Heinz. Thank you to the author for getting in touch and offering me this sequel to The Seventh Age: Dawn, which I read a few years ago and enjoyed!

On to the digital haul! With thanks to Penguin Random House Audio’s Listening Library imprint, I received ALCs of Burden Falls by Kat Ellis and The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins. Just a couple of YA horror novels to lighten the mood!

Also thanks to Hachette Audio for a listenign copy of Getaway by Zoje Stage, because how can I possibly resist anything described as a terrifying psychological thriller?

Last but not least, I just had to grab the eARC of The Beholden by Cassandra Rose Clarke when I saw it pop upon Edelweiss earlier this week. I’ve always enjoyed her work, and that cover is just stunning!

Reviews

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward (3.5 of 5 stars)

What I’ve Been Reading

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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!

Friday Face-Off: Holiday Read

Posted on August 13, 2021 15 Comments

This week’s theme is:

~ a HOLIDAY READ cover

The Dogs of Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron

There were several directions I could have gone with this theme, considering a “holiday read” can mean just about anything. But I’ve decided to go the classic route, and what could possibly put one in a holiday mood more than Christmas and puppies? I really love W. Bruce Cameron’s dog books, they can always be counted on to lift one’s spirits. So are you ready for an attack of the cuteness?

From left to right:
Forge Books (2013) – Pan Publishing (2013)

Polish Edition (2017) – Italian Edition (2013) – Portuguese Edition (2013)

Turkish Edition (2014) – Hungarian Edition (2017) – German Edition (2014)

Winner:

Cuteness overload! But my favorite is probably the Polish edition because of the “holiday card” look, and I think the reindeer ears are a bit different but still so adorable.

But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?