So. This is a very strange time to be alive, isn’t it? Here in Minnesota we’re on a shelter in place order for now, followed by continued social distancing. Walks around the block can be calming, and opening the windows too, though we admittedly miss the get togethers that come with spring. With all this time at home, we have plenty of time for reading thanks to digital collections at our libraries and local bookstores that are willing to ship! So here are the books we’re looking forward to this month!
Serena’s Picks
Book: “Chosen Ones” by Veronica Roth
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Why I’m Interested: I haven’t read anything from Veronica Roth since the first two Divergent boos. That right there should say something: I only read the first two and didn’t even bother with the last one. Since then, I know she’s written a few other things, but I was never very intrigued until I say the description for this, her first adult fantasy stories. What happens after the chosen ones has defeated the villain? Such a simple question with so many potential answers. For Sloane, she’s not only a chosen one, but one of a group, all of whom have been scarred in different ways from their great battle that ended ten years ago. And now, when a new battle may be before them, Sloane must decide not only how to, but if she wants to pick back up that mantle.
Book: “The Body in the Garden” by Katharine Schellman
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Why I’m Interested: I randomly came across this title while browsing NetGalley. I’m always interested in a new historical mystery series, and this one seemed like it might provide a breath of fresh air to a genre that can some times feel a bit predictable as far as its characters go. Lily Adler is a widow still suffering the loss of her beloved husband over a year ago. So when she returns to London society, she’s looking for more than a quiet home and a few social distractions. Instead she finds murder. And suddenly nothing seems more important than finding justice for the young man murdered and left forgotten by the police. With the help of a naval captain, Lily soon finds herself suspecting everyone, both friend and stranger alike.
Book: “The Ranger of Marzanna” by Jon Skovron
Publication Date: April 21, 2020
Why I’m Interested: Honestly, the first thing that struck me was the cool cover. Badass women on beautiful horses? Sign me up! This Russian-inspired fantasy features two siblings that end up on opposing sides of a war. The invading Empire killed Sonya and her brother’s father. Now Sonya, a ranger in training, will travel across the land to gain allies in her fight against her father’s killers. But her brother, a powerful sorcerer, goes another route and fights on the side of the Empire. As they each hone their skills, an ultimate confrontation brews. I’m not sure based on this description whether this will be an alternating POV story or not. Probably? It will be interesting to see how we’re supposed to sympathize with this brother who seemingly sides with his father’s killers?? We shall see!
Kate’s Picks
Book: “The Last Book on the Left” by Marcus Parks, Ben Kissel, and Henry Zebrowski
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Why I’m Interested: While I’ve experienced a mixed bag of podcasts that write books, when I heard that the guys of “Last Podcast on the Left” had one coming out, I KNEW that it was going to be fantastic. Not only is it my favorite podcast, the research and delivery skills of Marcus Parks, Ben Kissel, and Henry Zebrowski are so on point that they will surely be translated to a book in perfect fashion. In this book, they do deep dives on a number of the most notorious serial killers the world has ever known. Given how seriously Parks takes his research, and how sly and clever Kissel and Zebrowski are in their commentary, there is no doubt in my mind that this is going to be a home run for fans of the podcast and true crime alike.
Book: “The Book of Koli” by M.R. Carey
Publication Date: April 14, 2020
Why I’m Interested: I have greatly enjoyed a few of M.R. Carey’s books in the past, especially his last one “Someone Like Me”. So of course I was eager to see what he was going to do with a post-apocalyptic story that doesn’t involve zombies (as “The Girl With All The Gifts” did). Of course, that was before we started living in our own dystopic nightmare, but I’m still really excited to read “The Book of Koli”. After plants have started to take over and choke the life out of humans, mankind has retreated to village walls and are trying to survive as best they can. This is the only life that Koli has known, and doesn’t ever think about going outside the walls. Until, that is, he doesn’t have a choice in the matter. Sounds unique and creepy, which is no surprise given that Carey knows how to capture those tones with ease.
Book: “The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires” by Grady Hendrix
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Why I’m Interested: Grady Hendrix is one of my favorite horror authors writing right now, and that is because he brings such quirkiness to his stories! His take on demonic possession was great, his haunted Ikea-esque tale was entertaining, and his cursed metal band was brutal (in the metal linguistic sense). So I am, of course, VERY happy that he’s finally decided to take on vampires, AND that he’s melding it with a Southern Lady Book Club motif! Patricia Campbell and her book club friends are obsessed with reading about true crime and macabre things, and when a new neighbor moves into her neighborhood at first she thinks he’s a kindred spirit, as he too likes to read. But when children in the community start dying and strange coincidences involving the handsome stranger start to pile up, Patricia starts to wonder if he’s hiding something. But while she thinks he may be a serial killer, the truth is far more… supernatural. I’ve been waiting for Hendrix to create a vampire lore, and now that he has I couldn’t be happier.
What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!
The Library Ladies 