It is so incredibly dark here in Minnesota. But at least we have Christmas and holiday lights to cheer us! The house across from Serena goes all out in this regard (seriously, there are tour buses that stop by this place every night!), and while Kate’s neighborhood can’t compete, she at least has the double whammy of Christmas tree AND Menorah lights in her own home to look forward to. However, when it gets dark so early, that just leaves more time to fully commit to the coziness of winter reading: book in hand, blanket on lap, warm drink within reach. Here are some titles we’re looking forward to this month!
Serena’s Picks
Book: “A Monsoon Rising” by Thea Guanzon
Publication Date: Dec. 10, 2024
Why I’m Interested: December is always a light month, so it’s been great having this book to look forward to this season! I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, “The Hurricane Wars,” and the general set up of both the world and the enemies-to-lovers romance. There were a lot of pieces in play in the first book, so I’m curious to see how it is all balanced in this sequel. Second books are notoriously difficult, especially when trying to navigate both a high fantasy plot line and a central romance. However, the first book was such a fun time to read that I have high hopes that Guanzon can pull it off again!
Book: “Upon a Frosted Star” by M. A. Kuzniar
Publication Date: Dec. 10, 2024
Why I’m Interested: For one thing, this simply looks like a wintery read, perfect for the vibes of December! For another, I’m always interested in fairytale retellings of “Swan Lake.” I have yet to find one that really blows me away, but I’m ever hopeful! Luckily, the publisher reached out offering a copy of this for review, so count on seeing my thoughts on this one in a few weeks!
Book: “How to Steal a Galaxy” by Beth Revis
Publication Date: Dec. 3, 2024
Why I’m Interested: I love science fiction, but I’m also incredibly picky with this genre I’ve found. But the first novella in this series checked every box (even more impressive for managing this in a shorter page count than your average novel!). It was action packed, had a fun lead character, had a good twist, and balanced the burgeoning romance in a believable way. That being the case, I was thrilled to discover the next book was coming out only a few months later. Even better, it would be the rare unicorn of a new title releasing in December! I can’t wait to check this one out and see what escapades Ada gets up to this time!
Kate’s Picks
Book: “What The Woods Took” by Courtney Gould
Publication Date: December 10, 2024
Why I’m Interested: I hear a plot that has to do with one of those horrific wilderness survival schools that also has some horror elements (beyond the obvious THESE PLACES ARE HORROR STORIES) and I am immediately going to want to read it. And I have enjoyed some of Courtney Gould’s books in the past. So this was a clear choice for a book to take on. Devin is a teenager in foster care who is kidnapped from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Well, not so much kidnapped, as her foster parents gave the full go ahead to send her to a wilderness retreat for misbehaving youth. The kids are told that they are to learn to change their ways, and that a fifty mile hike and camping trip will surely do the trick. But when the counselors disappear, and strange things start happening in the woods, Devin and the rest of the campers find themselves in a dire situation. Gracious this will no doubt be upsetting.
Book: “Alter Ego” by Alex Segura
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Why I’m Interested: I enjoyed Segura’s previous novel in the duology, “Secret Identity”, and when I saw that not only was there a sequel but there were ARCs available at ALAAC24 I snagged it up pretty damn fast. Set in the present day, we follow Annie Bustamante, director, comics artist, and writer who has made a mark, even if she’s been shoved aside as of late. When she is approached by Triumph Comics to help reboot her longtime favorite superhero the Lethal Lynx, the offer seems… off. For one, the company is being cagey with some of the details. For another, they expect her to work with a notorious filmmaker who is part genius, part ticking time bomb. And then the strange messages start arriving. Annie starts to peel back some secrets about her favorite superheroine, and realizes that she may be in danger should she not tread carefully. I really enjoyed “Secret Identity”, and seeing what Segura does next is tantalizing.
Book: “Earthdivers (Vol. 3): 1776” by Stephen Graham Jones
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Why I’m Interested: Well OF COURSE I’M INTERESTED! I’ve been loving Stephen Graham Jones’s historical/fantasy/Sci-Fi series about Indigenous people from a climate disastrous future being sent back in time to different points in American history in hopes of changing the fate of the world, going from Columbus’s time to the Ice Age. And now? THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, BABY! Now it’s Emily’s turn, the Two Spirit who went into the cave with no clue as to what awaited her, only to find herself in Philadelphia in 1776. Her plan is a different approach from the violence her compatriots thought could work; what if she can change history by working within the system? I have a feeling it’s not going to go AWESOMELY for her, but given that Emily was a favorite of mine from the first volume, I can’t wait to see what she does with the Founding Fathers.
What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!
The Library Ladies 