We are now entering the Season of the Witch, and that means a few things here at The Library Ladies! For one, it means that Kate’s Annual Horrorpalooza is in full swing. It also means that cardigans and cozy clothing is coming out of Serena’s closet. And, of course, it means that we have some Highlights for books coming out this month!
Serena’s Picks
Book: “The Throne of the Five Winds” by S. C. Emmett
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Why I’m Interested: Good, epic, political fantasies are hard to come by. There are a lot of moving pieces and complicated plots that need to play out just right so that readers can follow what is happening but still be surprised by the end result. This story featuring multiple princes’ bids for the throne, a political hostage princess and a handmaiden who is more than she seems sure does sound like it has all the pieces for it! I had to re-read the description itself to even start to get an idea of who is at the heart of this story. This could be a really good sign…or not. But I can’t wait to find out!
Book: “The Art of Theft” by Sherry Thomas
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Why I’m Interested: Obviously. I’ve been staring down my early review copy of this one for ages trying to hold out until I’m at least close to the month it is going to be released. The last story showed a definite shift in the relationship between Charlotte Holmes and Lord Ingram, but it also left things quite up in the air as to where the story would go from there. Knowing the Holmes we’ve seen so far, that relationship will take a second seat to whatever new case falls on her plate. This time it comes in the form of an old friend of Mrs. Watson’s who is needing Charlotte and the gang to take on a more active role in their investigation than ever before.
Book: “Fireborne” by Rosaria Munda
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Why I’m Interested: With comparisons to Pierce Brown’s “Red Rising” and a cover that is prominently featuring a dragon, “Fireborne was an obvious pick for me. Annie and Lee were both children when the revolution struck, each experiencing the horrors from very different walks of life. Now, they are both part of an elite corp of dragon riders working to gain entrance into the new regime’s dragon unit. But it turns out the revolution is not as over as everyone thought, and now Annie and Lee find themselves again splitting on opposite sides of the aisle. I’m hopeful that the comparison to “Red Rising” has more to do with the exploration of the challenges and moral gray zones of revolutions (a pretty interesting topic) and less to do with non-stop action (another thing “Red Rising” excelled at.) Not that I don’t like action and expect that, too. But the story was also said to draw from Plato’s “The Republic,” so…what does that look like??
Kate’s Picks
Book: “Ghoster” by Jason Arnopp
Publication Date: October 22, 2019
Why I’m Interested: Given that I absolutely loved Jason Arnopp’s previous novel “The Last Days of Jack Sparks”, I was ecstatic to see that he was coming out with a new novel. In “Ghoster” he shifts his satirical eye from viral videos to the enticing power of social media and online dating. When Kate meets Scott they have a whirlwind romance, and when he invites her to move in she’s ecstatic. But just a few days before she’s supposed to move in, he stops answering her calls. Her friends think she’s been ghosted, but Kate is convinced that something else is going on, and she starts an obsessive search to find out what happened to Scott. And what she finds may be more disturbing than anyone ever thought. I am very excited to tackle this follow up novel!
Book: “Imaginary Friend” by Stephen Chbosky
Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Why I’m Interested: Confession time! I haven’t actually read “The Perks of Being A Wallflower”, the classic YA book by Stephen Chbosky. I know enough about it, though, to know that it’s not a horror novel, so I was VERY interested when I heard he was coming out with a new literary horror book. After Kate leaves her abusive relationship, she and her son Christopher flee to a small town across the country. Then Christopher disappears for nearly a week. Though he’s found safe and sound, something has changed within him. And he says he has a mission: build a tree house by Christmas, or there will be dire consequences. The premise is odd and eerie, and I’m quite curious to see how it all shakes out.
Book: “Mooncakes” by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Why I’m Interested: Perhaps it’s not a horror novel, but it still has spooky and witchy themes, so I’m down for it. In “Mooncakes” a young adult witch named Nova is learning how to harness her magic thanks to her grandmothers. When her childhood friend Tam comes back into her life, she reconnects with her friend she lost a long time ago. Tam is a werewolf, and their connection is still as strong as ever. But someone, or something, with evil intent is looking for Tam, and Nova and her grandmothers want to help Tam before it’s too late. This story sounds adorable and sweet, and like it could be a contender for a gentler Halloween read!
What new books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!
The Library Ladies 