We may never have really gotten the snow of a real winter, we definitely had the short days, with darkness setting in as early as 4:30. Too early! But now, joy of joys, the time change has happened we now have an entire extra hour of daylight by which to read every evening. And, of course, we have more than enough books to get to! Here are a few we’re looking forward to this month!
Serena’s Picks
Book: “The Familiar” by Leigh Bardugo
Publication Date: April 9, 2024
Why I’m Interested: It seems like if you’re a fantasy reader, you’re required to be interested in this book! But, of course, there’s pretty good reason for that. Bardugo is probably one of the biggest superstar fantasy authors to be writing today, and it’s incredibly exciting whenever she announces a new book. Even more so when it’s one seemingly very out of her wheelhouse from what she’s written before. Here we have an adult historical fantasy novel that takes place during the Inquisition in Spain, a story that follows a chambermaid whose “small miracles” draw the eyes of powerful patrons. I, and pretty much every other fantasy reviewer out there, will be posting my thoughts on this one soon!
Book: “The Hemlock Queen” by Hannah Whitten
Publication Date: April 9, 2024
Why I’m Interested: I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve read by Hannah Whitten, and the first book in this duology was no exception! Indeed, it went above and beyond and proved to be one of those rare books where I wasn’t completely turned off by the love triangle at the heart. With betrayals, new kings, and the power of the long-dead gods ever-growing, this books has a lot of ground to cover after the events of the last. This is also one of those rare sequels where I’m really not sure where the story is even going in the long run; but I can’t wait to find out!
Book: “A Letter to the Luminous Deep” by Sylvie Cathrall
Publication Date: April 24, 2024
Why I’m Interested: After reading and loving the two “Emily Wilde” books over the last few years, I’m seriously reconsidering my previously-held belief that I don’t really like epistolary stories. With that in mind, this book, billed as a similar read to “Emily Wilde,” that features to academics piecing together what happened to their respective siblings by perusing their letters, suddenly sounded much more interesting! I also am intrigued by the underwater setting and a world made up largely of oceans. Doesn’t hurt that I think the cover is lovely as well!
Kate’s Picks
Book: “Immortal Pleasures” by V. Castro
Publication Date: April 16, 2024
Why I’m Interested: I am a pretty big V. Castro fan, as I find her horror stories to be compelling and intriguing twists on expected themes. So I am, of course, amped as hell to read her take on a vampire tale. And not just any vampire tale, but one that makes La Malinche, the Nahua woman who acted as a translator for Cortés during the Spanish massacre of the Aztecs. After her death, La Malinche is reborn as immortal Malinalli, whose new power drives her around the world to reclaim artifacts stolen from her people. And while in Ireland she starts to explore a more sensual side of herself when she meets two mortal men. This has the potential to be insane in a good way, and given that the cover is just SCREAMING Salma Hayek in “From Dusk Til Dawn” I’m even more on board.
Book: “First Light” by Liz Kerin
Publication Date: April 23, 2024
Why I’m Interested: Another vampire book? Sure, why not!! Especially because this is the follow up to one of my favorite reads last year, “Night’s Edge”, where a young woman had to deal with taking care of her vampiric mother and all the codependence and baggage that came with it. After the events of that book, Mia, set in her grief, has decided that it’s time to track down and take revenge on the man who turned her mother into a vampire. Her need for vengeance is driving her, but the closer she gets to those she hunts, the more she starts to wonder if perhaps she herself is being hunted. I loved Mia in the previous book and couldn’t wait to see how her story was going to keep going, and now it’s finally time to find out.
Book: “Against the Darkness” by Kendare Blake
Publication Date: April 9, 2024
Why I’m Interested: Another vampire story?! AND another highly anticipated sequel?! This month clearly has a theme, and we are now coming to the end of the “In Every Generation” series, where Kendare Blake has written a follow up to “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” with a new slayer, new scoobies, and familiar faces. And while I’m not ready to say goodbye, I have been waiting for this. Frankie Rosenberg and her friends have been holding things together in Sunnydale, with her being a slayer witch as they hope that Buffy and the other slayers will find their way back from a parallel dimension. But with The Darkness starting to take over, friendships fracturing, and her mother Willow starting to fall into old disturbing patterns, Frankie may have to rely on herself to stop a new Hellmouth from taking over. Will Frankie save the day? Will Willow be able to stave off the dark magic? WILL SPIKE AND BUFFY BE REUNITED?!?! I guess we will have to see. I can’t wait.
What books are you most looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!
The Library Ladies 