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Ah, summer! The time of year where Serena is outside almost 100% of the time while Kate is indoors glaring at the sun and dreaming of fall. And now that we’re back from the ALA conference in Chicago, boy do we have a bunch of great books to look forward to reading! Here are some titles we’re excited about this month!
Serena’s Picks
Book: “Thief Liar Lady” by D. L. Soria
Publication Date: July 11, 2023
Why I’m Interested: As has been well-documented on this blog, I’m always on the hunt for the next great fairytale retelling. And while “Cinderella” is one of the more popular tales for retellings, I was intrigued by the premise of this one which stars up after the ball and glass slipper escapade. Indeed, as the summary hints, our Cinderella here may have had an entirely separate goal in the first place when trying to nab her prince! I’m always a bit concerned with these sorts of “morally grey” characters, like this one is advertised as being, but I’m definitely hopeful and can’t wait to check this one out!
Book: “The Jasad Heir” by Sara Hashem
Publication Date: July 18, 2023
Why I’m Interested: I feel like every kid goes through an “Egypt” phase, and I was no exception! And what with my love of the “Amelia Peabody” series, did I ever leave this phase? Either way, I was excited when I saw this new fantasy title coming out from Orbit that is based on Egyptian mythology and history. There is also reference to a sort of “Hunger Games” style competition, which…I’m less excited about. Does every fantasy title ever have to include some sort of elaborate competition where death is highly featured? Yes? Ok.
Book: “Bonesmith” by Nicki Pau Preto
Publication Date: July 25, 2023
Why I’m Interested: I didn’t love Preto’s original YA fantasy trilogy. In fact, I was so uninspired that I didn’t make it past book one. But I’m always willing to give an author a second chance, and the super cool cover on this one definitely drew me in. Is it obvious manipulation pulling from the very popular “Gideon the Ninth?” Yes, and it’s working perfectly! The story follows a young woman who has grown up in a land plagued by the dead who will rise again unless bonesmiths, like her, put them to rest. Of course, there is also a kidnapped prince and brooding rebel in the mix. All good things, all good things.
Kate’s Picks
Book: “Dead of Winter” by Darcy Coates
Publication Date: July 11, 2023
Why I’m Interested: I’ve been wholly enjoying Darcy Coates ever since I started reading her books last year, and I was absolutely thrilled to meet her at ALA this past June. And now she has a new horror novel coming out, and not only is it a locked room-esque mystery, it’s also a snowstorm survival story WITH A MURDERER ON THE LOOSE! Christa and her boyfriend join a tour group in the Rocky Mountains, but when the bus is waylaid during a snowstorm the group gets trapped in a hunting cabin off the beaten path. And then someone starts murdering the members of the tour group, one by one. Christa has to try and survive not only a storm, but also a killer. I expect this to be gnarly as hell.
Book: “The Beast You Are” by Paul Tremblay
Publication Date: July 11, 2023
Why I’m Interested: Paul Tremblay is a must read author for me, his horror works not only scaring the hell out of me more often than not, but also making me weep almost 100% of the time. So obviously I’m going to showcase his newest short stories collection “The Beast You Are”. Collecting a number of Tremblay’s stories that have been published in other formats, as well as a new novella, this anthology is going to run the gamut from dark fantasy, to experimental horror, to even some anthropomorphic animals. And I’m sure that there are a lot of scares to be had.
Book: “Camp Damascus” by Chuck Tingle
Publication Date: July 18, 2023
Why I’m Interested: Well come on. When it is announced that Chuck Tingle is writing a mainstream horror novel, of COURSE I’m going to take notice!! Chuck Tingle, known for his ‘tinglers’ (aka short story monster erotica with tongue planted FIRMLY in cheek), has written a full length, non Tingler horror story, and I am NOT READY in the BEST way. Rose is a devout young woman living in a strict conservative Christian community, her Church being very influential and the conversion camp Camp Damascus a much respected organization. But when Rose starts seeing visions of demons, she starts to question her community, and how moral it actually is. SIGN ME UP, IMMEDIATELY.
What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!
The Library Ladies 