Category: Highlights

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

According to the poets, May is the month that we can hold in contempt if it doesn’t not provide the necessary number of flowers to make up for all of the April showers. But, in the meantime, we’ll take the fact that the trees are showing signs of life as good enough for now. There have even been a few tempting days of sun that promise of days to come when reading outside will once again be an option. Until then, here are some books we’re looking forward to his month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “The Murder of Mr. Wickham” by Claudia Gray

Publication Date: May 3, 2022

Why I’m Interested: I think most Jane Austen fans are probably one of the snobbier groups of readers when it comes to adaptations of their beloved original novels. But as “Death Comes to Pemberley” proves, miracles can happen and good book (even good mini series!) can come from continuations of these stories. Here, we have a murder mystery that takes place in the home of Emma and Mr. Knightley. The suspects? All of our beloved main couples from the other novels! And who better to solve the mystery than the oldest son of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Jonathan, and the young daughter of the Tilney’s, Juliet. I’m so nervous and hopeful for this book!

Book: “Wind Daughter” by Joanna Ruth Meyer

Publication Date: May 17, 2022

Why I’m Interested: After really enjoying “Echo North,” it was a no-brainer to jump immediately on to the sequel that was conveniently coming out this month! We even met the main character, the daughter of the North Wind himself, in the first book! Here, we follow the story of Satu as she travels the land trying to reign in her father’s magic that has gone wild after the death of the evil queen in the last book. But is she gone for good? Or is she controlling the actions of the mysterious Lord of Winter, a man who seems to pop up wherever Satu finds herself and clearly has plans of his own. I really enjoyed “Echo North,” and it’s always great to find a series of books that exist in the same world but are each stand-alones in their own right.

Book: “The Stardust Thief” by Chelsea Abdullah

Publication Date: May 17, 2022

Why I’m Interested: Will I ever get tired of reading books based on “The Arabian Nights” or reimagining the world of jinn? No, no I will not. So I was so excited when I received an ARC of this one in the mail. This is a three POV book featuring a thief, a merchant of magical goods, and a storyteller prince. Thrown together against all of their wills, they are sent on a perilous journey to recover a magical lamp said to house the most powerful jinn of them all. But in a land where jinn are hunted for their magic, there are more powerful figures scheming behind the scenes than any of them could imagine. The entire thing sounds super exciting and right up my alley. Can’t wait to dive in!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “The Hacienda” by Isabel Cañas

Publication Date: May 3, 2022

Why I’m Interested: Gothic ghost stories always catch my attention, and when the comparisons to “Mexican Gothic” and “Rebecca” were added to the description as well, my attention was less caught and more snared. When Beatríz marries Don Rodolfo Solórzano she moves to his home of Hacidena San Isidro, with the hopes that this marriage will provide her with the security that she lost when her father was murdered by opposition forces. But when strange and terrifying things start to happen in her new home, she wonders if the rumors of his first wife’s demise are perhaps true, and turns to a young priest for help. I’m always looking for new Gothic stories, and when they go beyond the typical conventions with themes and characters it’s all the more interesting.

Book: “Hide” by Kiersten White

Publication Date: May 24, 2022

Why I’m Interested: Serena and I have reviewed Kiersten White on this blog a number of times, though admittedly she’s been more in Serena’s camp, genre wise. But we’re back to a suspenseful and/or horror story from her, and I am very excited about that! An old abandoned amusement park is the setting for a high stakes hide and seek game that goes on for a week. If you aren’t found, you will win lots of money. Mack has entered because she has had to hide from serious danger in the past, so she feels she could easily win. But when her competitors start to disappear, Mack starts to think that things are even more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. This all sounds supremely strange and creepy, so I’m very excited for this one.

Book: “The Last Comic Book on the Left” by Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks, Henry Zebrowski et al

Publication Date: May 10, 2022

Why I’m Interested: If the “Last Podcast” guys are involved, I’m going to be 100% on board. Given how much I loved their first book “The Last Book on the Left” (and how much I love their podcast), when I heard that Marcus Parks, Ben Kissel, and Henry Zebrowski had pulled together a comic book with various odd tales from their show, I was amped. And you REALLY have me when you make promises of Mothman in any form, so this promised sexy Mothman has be vaguely nervous but also very interested. I’m also very curious to see who they all bring on board in terms of comics people, and what styles they are going to bring to these stories.

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

We’ve finally started to see some warmer days and some snow melting. But the biggest perk has been the return to longer days and lighter evenings. Us Minnesotans are an optimistic bunch with regards to these (comparably) milder temperatures, so it wouldn’t surprise us to see people breaking out the BBQs in the balmy 50 degree days we’re see. We’re happy enough to still stay indoors, though, with our books. Here are some we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “The City of Dusk” by Tara Sim

Why I’m Interested: For one thing, I really like the cover on this book. I’d definitely stop and check it out had I come across it in the bookstore. Luckily for me, the publisher sent me an early copy, so this one will be coming up soon in my reviews! The story follows four heirs to powerful families, each that follow a unique god that grants them specific magical abilities. But dark powers are moving and the gods are restless. Can these four navigate the way forward, each with their own motivations and fears? I’m always a bit nervous about multiple POV books, but I’m pretty excited to check this one out!

Book: “Nettle & Bone” by T. Kingfisher

Why I’m Interested: Again, great cover! Love everything about. I also love everything about what this stories seems to be about. That is, a fairytale of a young woman who sets out on a quest to save her sister from her cruel husband, the prince of a neighboring land. Along the way, she meets a powerful fairy godmother, a possessed chicken, and a knight from another land who fell into a fairy circle and has been trapped for who knows how long. Like I said, everything about that sounds right up my alley! I love fairytales and the combination of magical quests with seemingly quirky characters (possessed chicken??) seems like a recipe for success in my book. Can’t wait to check it out!

Book: “Hotel Magnifique” by Emily J. Taylor

Why I’m Interested: This book has garnered comparison to “The Night Circus.” That’s both an incredible plus (“The Night Circus” is so popular that I’m sure tons of fantasy readers will leap at any chance to reexperience that blend of magic!). But it’s also a heavy weight to carry. Can this story stand up to that behemoth? The story follows a young woman and her sister who are hired on as help at the mysterious and magical Hotel Magnifique, a hotel that holds wonders within its doors and magically jumps from location to location. So right away it’s easy to see the connection to “The Night Circus.” I also always love sisters stories, so I’m not going to lie, my expectations for this one are pretty high!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Very Bad People” by Kit Frick

Publication Date: April 5, 2022

Why I’m Interested: The whole ’secret society at a boarding school’ angle absolutely catches my interest, as does the fact that it’s a new Kit Frick book. I enjoyed ”I Killed Zoe Spanos” when it came out a couple years ago, so I look forward to reading something new by her. When Calliope joins a new prestigious private school, it’s a nice change of pace after a few years of mourning her mother’s death in a car accident. She is soon approached by the Haunt and Rail, a secret society on campus that strives to put social justice at the forefront of the school community. But when Calliope finds out that her mother was also a member when she went to the school, and that it may have connection to her death, she feels she has to investigate. No matter how dangerous it could be. Dark academia is always a solid concept for me, so this sounds promising.

Book: “The Fervor” by Alma Katsu

Publication Date: April 26, 2022

Why I’m Interested: I have really loved Alma Katsu’s previous historical horror novels, and this one sounds like it’s going to be her most relevant and disturbing yet. Taking place at one of the Japanese internment camps during WWII, it follows a mother and daughter duo named Meiko and Aiko, who have been imprisoned while the family patriarch fights in the war. Soon a mysterious illness is spreading through the camp, which starts off normal enough, but then turns into uncontrollable fits of aggression. As Meiko investigates, she becomes convinced that it is actually a demon from her past that is hellbent on entering their world, and hopes to stop it. Japanese internment still feels super relevant these days, and I cannot wait to see what Katsu does with that theme as well as the themes of yokai in Japanese folklore.

Book: “Locke & Key: The Golden Age” by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez (Ill.)

Publication Date: April 26, 2022

Why I’m Interested: The timing on this really worked out, given that the past two comics re-reads I did were ”Locke & Key” and ”The Sandman”! Joe Hill returns to Keyhouse as well as his Locke family mythology to tell more stories about the keys and the realms they open, bringing Gabriel Rodriguez along for the ride. This collection has some new stories, as well as the crossover that ”Locke & Key” did with ”The Sandman” universe. I’ve been very interested to look into more of the Key mythos, and to see the way that two well plotted fantasy horror comics come together as one.

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Here in Minnesota, March is the month where everyone is forbidden from using the word “spring” in fear that we will be immediately pummeled with several feet of snow in karmic pay back. But at least the days are definitely getting longer and no comments on that will change the angle of the sun! However, as….shhh…spring…is not a whole lot better than winter at this point, we’ll still be mostly holed up with books this month. Here are some we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “A Far Wilder Magic” by Allison Saft

Publication Date: March 8, 2022

Why I’m Interested: While I think foxhunting is a pretty terrible sport in general, the idea of writing a story about a hunt for a powerful magical creature does sound intriguing. I’m not sure how my bleeding heart self will do with the topic, overall, but I’m definitely curious. I’m also all in for a book that’s being promoted as having a sweet romance at the heart of the story, something I always enjoy. I really don’t have much of a mental image of what this book’s going to be about, but sometimes going in blind is the best way to discover something great!

Book: “Gallant” by V.E. Schwab

Publication Date: March 1, 2022

Why I’m Interested: Schwab is definitely an author on my “instant read” list. While I’ve definitely had a range in my enjoyment of her books, she’s always excellent with characters and a solid fantasy writer in general. I’m also really curious about this book, as it sounds like more of a middle grade fantasy, something I haven’t read by this author before. When a young orphan girl is suddenly called to a home she never knew, she soon discovers that there are more secretes than answers at Gallant. And that she has a family with much more history than she had ever suspected. I also really love this cover. Can’t wait to get to this one!

Book: “A Thousand Steps Into Night” by Traci Chee

Publication Date: March 1, 2022

Why I’m Interested: I had so much good luck with the Korean fantasy, “The Girl Who Fell Into the Sea,” that it was a natural step to immediately request this Japanese fantasy story when it popped up on Edelweiss+. This is the story of a young woman who has resigned herself to a simple life as an innkeeper’s daughter. But when she is cursed to slowly turn into a deadly demon, she sets out on a quest to cure herself. But along the way, she begins to realize that perhaps she never fit into the quiet life she had been born into. I also really, really love the cover on this one! My hopes are pretty high, so I really hope this one is a hit.

Kate’s Picks

Book: “The Night Shift” by Alex Finlay

Publication Date: March 1, 2022

Why I’m Interested: The description captured my attention for a couple of reasons. The first is that it mentions the Y2K panic of December 31st, 1999, something I definitely remember. But the second is that it sounds a lot like the Austin Yogurt Shop Murders, an unsolved crime involving teenage girls who were murdered at their place of work with no answers to be found. On New Year’s Eve in 1999, three teenage girls are murdered at the Blockbuster they work at, with one lone survivor. Then, more than a decade later, a new group of teenage girls are killed at an ice cream store, with one survivor. The two girls have similar recollections of the murderer’s final words. Now the Blockbuster survivor, the brother of the initial suspect, and an FBI agent are all looking for the truth. I imagine this is going to be twisted and intricate, and probably a little sad as well.

Book: “The Last Laugh” by Mindy McGinnis

Publication Date: March 15, 2022

Why I’m Interested: This probably isn’t a shocking selection, given how much I enjoyed the first in the series, “The Initial Insult”. That reimagining of “The Cask of Amontillado” (amongst other Poe works) ended in the way one may expect it to, though instead of two men it was two teenage girls at the heart. Now we pick up again with “The Last Laugh”. Tress murdered her old BFF Felicity by bricking her up in a coal shaft. But even though she may have gotten away with it, she’s severely injured from her encounter with the sideshow panther she ran afoul. Not to mention the heart necklace around her neck is beating, a reminder of what she did do her former friend. Meanwhile, her cousin Ribbit is starting to feel like he needs some revenge of his own… and some of that is towards Tress. I can’t wait to see how McGinnis wraps this all up!

Book: “Dark Stars: New Tales of Darkest Horror” by John F.D. Taff (Ed.)

Publication Date: March 22, 2022

Why I’m Interested: This is another book that was affected by a delay, but now this short horror story collection is FINALLY coming to light. While I know I’ve been hot and cold with short story collections, this one sounds hard to beat. I mean, look at some of the names who contributed: Stephen Graham Jones. Caroline Kepnes. Alma Katsu. All authors whose works I have LOVED in the past few years. And the people whose works I haven’t discovered yet? I cannot wait to see what other authors have put forth, and maybe I will find some new favorite writers!

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

Still cold. Still dark. Still winter in Minnesota! But at least it’s February, the month where we can all eat chocolate to our heart’s content and blame it on romance! Seriously, does anyone’s New Year’s resolution diet ever make it past February? We, of course, will be enjoying said chocolate while curled up with some good books. Here are a few we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks:

Book: “A River Enchanted” by Rebecca Ross

Publication Date: February 15, 2022

Why I’m Interested: I have a few other books by this author that have been on my TBR list for way longer than I want to admit. But prior to this, I believe she’s mostly written YA fantasy, so I was intrigued when I saw that she was releasing an adult fantasy novel. And the tale itself is right up my alley, following a bard, Jack, as he returns to his magic-ridden home. There, he teams up with his childhood rival and the heir to the land, Adaira, to discover why young girls are going missing. Really, the entire book description sounds very Celtic fantasy/Juliet Marillier-like. And that’s more than enough for me!

Book: “This Woven Kingdom” by Tahereh Mafi

Publication Date: February 1, 2022

Why I’m Interested: I love a good forbidden romance, and this one sound excellent. Alizeh is the heir to the Jinn; but given that her people are spread far and wide, discriminated against and hated, this title means nothing more than another aspect of herself that she must hide as she scrapes together a living as a lowly servant. When she has a chance run-in with the crown prince, Kamran, events are set off that will spiral out of the control of them both. The book is also based on Persian mythology, so that adds another check mark in its favor. I’ve had a lot of good luck with “Jinn” stories, from the “City of Brass” trilogy to the more recent “Daughter of the Salt King.” Crossing my finger that my luck will hold!

Book: “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea” by Axie Oh

Publication Date: February 22, 2022

Why I’m Interested: I mean, the cover?? Honestly, that’d be enough for me! But the story sounds excellent as well. For decades, the people have sacrificed a young woman to the sea, hoping that these brides will appease the tempestuous and violent Sea God who has been be hammering their land with violent storms every year. Mina did not have this destiny, but to spare her brother the pain of losing his love, Mina dives beneath the sea, sacrificing herself. In the land she finds below, strange forces are at work and the Sea God himself might be the biggest mystery of all.

Kate’s Picks:

Book: “Echo” by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

Publication Date: February 8, 2022

Why I’m Interested: Given how much I loved, loved, LOVED Olde Heuvelt’s previous novel “Hex”, it was a no-brainer that his new horror story was going to go to the top of my must read pile. But instead of an angry witch tormenting a small community, we go into the world of mountaineering and folk horror, with some survival and body squick thrown into the mix. Nick and Augustin decide to do a mountaineering trek into the Swiss Alps, seeking out the secluded and notorious mountain Maudit. But Augustin ends up dead, and Nick barely survives, returning to his life with a horribly disfigured face. His lover Sam is happy he’s alive… until it seems that Nick didn’t leave the Alps without bringing something terrible back. Heuvelt knows how to scare the hell out of me, and “Echo” will be no different.

Book: “This Might Hurt” by Stephanie Wrobel

Publication Date: February 22, 2022

Why I’m Interested: “Darling Rose Gold” was an addictive and unnerving thriller, and when I saw that Stephanie Wrobel had a new thriller coming out I was very interested in seeing what her next story would be. This time we’re dealing with a shady self help organization that may or may not be a cult! Sold! Natalie and her sister Kit are estranged, with Natalie trying to forget their shared traumas and Kit drowning in them. So Kit joins a group called Wisewood, which promises to help people become their ‘maximized selves’ if they go to their retreat in remote Maine and cut themselves off from the world. Natalie doesn’t hear from Kit for months…. until she gets a mysterious email from Wisewood saying that they know a secret she’s been keeping from Kit. Now Natalie is desperate to find her sister. And Wisewood is determined to keep them both. I expect twists and suds.

Book: “Dead Silence” by S.A. Barnes

Publication Date: February 8, 2022

Why I’m Interested: I feel like I’ve been waiting on this one forever, though in actuality it’s only been postponed once. Regardless, while Science Fiction isn’t usually my genre, if you make it into space horror I am almost always in, and that is why “Dead Silence” by S.A. Barnes caught my eye. Claire and her team have finished up their mission, and though she is their leader, this is her last mission with their corporation. So when their spaceship stumbles upon what remains of the Aurora, a luxury spaceliner that disappeared decades before, she thinks that this could be her ticket to wealth and starting over. But once they board the ship to salvage what they can, the find a ship full of corpses. Expected, sure. But then strange things start happening, and they start seeing the dead, and other things. It sounds like “Alien” meets “Event Horizon” meets “Titanic”. Which is quite the combination. https://amzn.to/3HEhkDz

What books are you looking forward to this month?

This post may contain affiliate links for books we recommend.  Read the full disclosure here.

2022 has arrived! How crazy is that? Not only has the pandemic helped to make the last few years a blur, but it just seems insane that we are several years into the 20s at this point regardless. The holidays are behind us now, and the Minnesota cold seems to really settle in this time of year. But never fear, we have good books to warm our soul! Here are a few we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks:

Book: “Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves” by Meg Long

Publication Date: January 11, 2022

Why I’m Interested: For one thing, look at that cover! Love everything about that. Also, I’m always going to be in for an “animal companion” story. And this book, with its relationship between Sena and her fighting wolf, Iska, right at the heart of it sounds right up my alley. I’m also intrigued by the dog-sled race on a dangerous ice planet, of course. But I’m mostly here for the animals feels, let’s be honest.

Book: “Echoes and Empires” by Morgan Rhodes

Publication Date: January 4, 2022

Why I’m Interested: This books follows a fairly basic YA fantasy premise: magic is bad, YA protagonist has magic and must hide/cure it, YA protagonist discovers that ALL MIGHT NOT BE AS IT SEEMS. But do I care if I’ve read this book description before, right up to and including the mysteriously handsome but untrustworthy love interest? No, I do not. I also haven’t read anything by Morgan Rhodes, but know that she’s a fairly beloved author by some in the YA fantasy community. So with that weak excuse, I’ll be checking this book out soon, I’m sure.

Book: “The Starless Crown” by James Rollins

Publication Date: January 4, 2022

Everything about this book looks like fantasy, from the title that is about some type of crown to the description that features a rag tag group comprised of a seer, a soldier, a prince, and a thief. But it’s listed as science fiction! Color me intrigued. I’m always a bit wary of these multiple POV books, so I’m also a bit hesitant going in. It’s also a hefty time commitment, coming in at over 500 pages! Hopefully I’ll get to it soon, but I might wait for the audiobook version (sometimes I’m not as intimidated by the length when someone else is reading it to me!).

Kate’s Picks:

Book: “Mestiza Blood” by V. Castro

Publication Date: January 18, 2022

Why I’m Interested: While overall I thought that “The Queen of the Cicadas” was a little scattered, I knew that I absolutely wanted to read more V. Castro because her horror voice was unique and compelling as hell. Enter “Mestiza Blood” a new collection of short stories by Castro that are sure to frighten, intrigue, and disturb! All while being rooted within the Chicana experience. As someone who is always looking for diverse voices in her read, especially within horror, I am very much looking forward to diving into this short story collection. Especially given that the first story is literally called “Night of the Living Dead Chola”. I mean, that’s just fantastic.

Book: “The Red Palace” by June Hur

Publication Date: January 25, 2022

Why I’m Interested: I’ve greatly enjoyed June Hur’s other historical mystery thrillers, so it’s probably not super surprising that “The Red Palace” made this list of anticipated new reads. In 1700s Korea, Hyeon is selected to become a nurse within the walls of the royal palace, a more prestigious position than most illegitimate girls can hope for. But things start to go wrong when four women in the palace are murdered in one night, and the person the authorities are focusing on is a dear friend to Hyeon. Now Hyeon hopes to prove that her friend is innocent, and seeks out the help from a young police inspector who is also determined to catch the real killer. But when the real killer’s identity is perhaps that of a powerful royal, things get all the more dangerous. The time is place has caught my attention once again, and I can’t wait to check this one out.

Book: “Devil House” by John Darnielle

Publication Date: January 25, 2022

Why I’m Interested: I really loved John Darnielle’s creepy and deeply mesmerizing “Wolf In White Van”, which sort of took on the Satanic Panic surrounding RPG games in the 1980s and turned it into a story about loneliness and escapism in the shadow of trauma. And now he’s come back with “Devil House”, which appears to be another Satanic Panic kinda tale involving a notorious house, two potential teen murderers, and an adrift true crime writer who is offered the job to move into the ‘Devil House’ and to write about it. And my guess is that unsettling and disturbing things start to happen after he moves in. But I would also guess that Darnielle has more than just a haunted house tale up his sleeves, and I’m hoping it will have similar melancholic beats as “Wolf in White Van”. Oh, and just look at that cover. I’m in love with it.

What books are you looking forward to this month?

The leaves have mostly fallen (which just means tons of raking, a sad fact we always forget in the general love of fall). And Kate has had to say a sad farewell to October and all of its creepy crawlies. But the holiday season is before us and it’s the month to be thankful! And, as always, we are more than ready to be thankful for all of the good books headed our way!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “All of Us Villains” by Amanda Foody

Publication Date: November 9, 2021

Why I’m Interested: This book has been compared to a darker, grittier “Hunger Games” as well as thrown in with the works of V.E. Schwab, so you know I’m all over it! While I could never get fully on board the “Hunger Games” madness bandwagon, I did enjoy the basic premise of a fight for the death with a deeper inspection of the injustices and perversions that can happen in a deeply divided class system. This follows a similar premise, with a group of families selecting members to participate in a fight to the death to win control of a magick supply for their family. So, essentially the “Hunger Games” but with fantasy. Sign me up! I also have to say that this cover art slaps.

Book: “Miss Moriarty, I Presume?” by Sherry Thomas

Publication Date: November 2, 2021

Why I’m Interested: Obviously I’m going to continue reading this beloved series. But I will say that had I somehow never come across this series before, this title would be enough to immediately snare me! Miss Moriarty? Color me intrigued! Moriarty has been a player in this series almost from the beginning, but we’ve only passed the character like ships in the dark in one book several books ago. Since then, it’s felt like this classic villain has slowly been circling closer. So I’m hopeful that we’ll see an appearance at last in this latest outing for Charlotte and Co.!

Book: “A Rush of Wings” by Laura E. Weymouth

Publication Date: November 16, 2021

Why I’m Interested: Yes, yes, I love fairtyale retellings and all of that. And it’s also been fairly established which ones are my favorites: “Beauty and the Beast,” “East of the Sun, West of the Moon,” and “The Seven Swans.” One guess as to which one this is. Mostly, it follows the standard story, though this time our main character has some sort of magical abilities and it’s her own mother, not a step-mother, who turns her brother (and love interest?) into swans. I’m very curious about the “love interest as a swan” angle, as that’s a fairly major swerve from the romance of most versions of the stories that see the young woman pair up with a prince/man who helps her complete her task. Count on seeing a review for this one soon!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “You’ll Be the Death of Me” by Karen M. McManus

Publication Date: November 30, 2021

Why I’m Interested: Karen M. McManus is one of my go to thriller authors, given how much fun her previous novels are. And a book that is described a “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” but with a murder-y twist is bound to catch my attention, so obviously “You’ll Be the Death of Me” is making the list. Cal, Ivy, and Mateo were thick as thieves, but time and proximity has taken its toll. But now they’re in high school, and when they all run into each other they impulsively decide to have a ditch day… and then witness a murder. And to make matters worse, they all have their own secretive connections to the victim. The premise is unique and I can’t wait to see how McManus twists it all up!

Book: “All Her Little Secrets” by Wanda M. Morris

Publication Date: November 2, 2021

Why I’m Interested: Corporate secrets sound like they’re going to be all the rage in this new thriller, that and a woman who has secrets of her own. These are two things that can make for a very entertaining story. Ellice is the only Black attorney at her firm, and she is damn good at her job. She is also sleeping with her boss Michael, a secret that neither of them want to get out for various reasons. But then one day Ellice discovers Michael’s body, a bullet wound in his head. Ellice decides to walk away and let someone else make the discovery, as she can’t have the spotlight on her in this context. But then she’s named Michael’s replacement, and while it should be a boon, Ellice starts to wonder if something else is going on… and starts to find out some secrets her firm has been hiding. Sounds sinister and soapy!

Book: “Our Violent Ends” by Chloe Gong

Publication Date: November 16, 2021

Why I’m Interested: I knew that the moment I finished Gong’s book “These Violent Delights” that I would need to see how it all ended, and now we finally have our conclusion to this “Romeo and Juliet” retelling right around the corner. Now that Juliette has thrown Roma to the side in hopes of protecting him (but breaking his heart in the process), she now wants to keep her position as the next leader of the Scarlet Gang out of reach of her cousin. Roma wants to get his revenge against Juliette, even though he is still in love with her. But even though they conquered a monster before, threats of a new monster, as well as war and revolution, are creeping into Shanghai. And Juliette and Roma may have to team up one last time. I’m sure there will probably be a lot of tears and a few kisses here and there before all is said and done.

What books are you looking forward to this month?

Fall is in full swing and we have entered October, the month that brings us all things creepy, crawly, and spooky! That means that it’s time for Kate’s annual Horrorpalooza review series, as well as all the horror movies, and it’s time for Serena to find all things cozy and autumn-esque! We also have a list of books that we are looking forward to this month as the days get shorter and pumpkin themed everything permeates our lives.

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Animorphs Graphix #2: The Visitor”

Publication Date: October 5, 2021

Why I’m Interested: I’m tickled pink that a cult YA series from the 90s is seeing a re-birth here in the 2020s. What a weird thing, to have read all of these books as a kid and now to be re-reading them as graphic novels when I have kids myself! I very much enjoyed the first book that came out about a year ago. I had a few quibbles about some of the artistic choices, but overall, I was surprised by how much fun I had reading that. With that firmly in mind, while I still don’t love the artwork (most notable in this cover), I’m really excited to dive into this second book and see how the events here are depicted in this format.

Book: “Blood of the Chosen” by Django Wexler

Publication Date: October 5, 2021

Why I’m Interested: I really enjoyed the first book in this series when I read it last summer. Wexler writes excellent fantasy (science fiction??) worlds and he fills them will well-formed, exciting characters. In this series, we follow a pair of siblings who were separated at a young age and find themselves on opposing sides of a brewing conflict that appears to have no winners. The stakes were high in the first book. So high, that I wonder where they will go from there. But Wexler has proven more than capable of handing escalating forces in past series of his that I’ve enjoyed, so I’m sure he’ll manage it here! I found myself preferring Maya’s story in the first book, and generally coming down on her side of the moral dilemma, so I’m curious to see if that will remain true here.

Book: “Vespertine” by Margaret Rogerson

Publication Date: October 5, 2021

Why I’m Interested: Margaret Rogerson is one of those authors I Goodreads stalk. In that, I’ve been checking her profile for updates of a new book almost since the day I read the last page of her latest book. It’s been a long wait, too, but “Vespertine” is finally here! Yet another cover that I think is fantastic, so she’s three-for-three there. The description focusing on a fighting nun sounds pretty awesome as well. I’m a bit bummed that there doesn’t seem to be any romance in this book, as that was one of the things I liked best about her first two books. But it’s also the first in a duology (I think it’s only two??), which is also a first from her as the previous two were stand-alones. So maybe there will be romance there? Or, of course, there are perfectly good books that don’t have romantic subplots. Just my preference that they do. Super excited to get to this one, as I’ve been patiently waiting for soooo long to crack it open.

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Cackle” by Rachel Harrison

Publication Date: October 5, 2021

Why I’m Interested: I really loved Rachel Harrison’s debut novel “The Return”, so of course I would be interested in reading her next book. Especially since this one has to do with witches! Annie has always been the type to go along to get along, so when she finds herself recently dumped by her long term boyfriend and in a whole new town, she is anxious, lonely, and a little bit lost. But the she meets Sophie, a beautiful and incredibly charismatic woman who is more than happy to take Annie under her wing. Sophie is gregarious and charming, but everyone else in town seems to be a little scared of her. Could it be that Annie’s new friend is a witch? And what does that mean for Annie? Witches are great, but so are complex female friendship plot points, so this one sounds doubly interesting!

Book: “Nothing But Blackened Teeth” by Cassandra Khaw

Publication Date: October 19, 2021

Why I’m Interested: Given that Japanese horror tales are some of the stories that scare me the most (I left “The Ring” as a fully traumatized teenager), when I saw that a new novella with such a theme was coming out I knew I needed to read it. And not only is the cover absolutely horrifying, “Nothing But Blackened Teeth” by Cassandra Khaw is a novella, the perfect length for a late autumn night. Cat and her friends have all come together for a wedding at a Heian-Era mansion in rural Japan. They’ve all been known to be thrill seekers, and a wedding in a haunted house sounds fun. Until Cat starts seeing things. And the story of a long dead, spurned bride starts to unfold right before her eyes. Ghosts and wedding weekends don’t tend to mix well. Throw in some yokai to boot and you have a blood curdling tale of terror!

Book: “Where They Wait” by Scott Carson

Publication Date: October 26, 2021

Why I’m Interested: I’m a super anxious person, and the past two years (between new parenthood and pandemic) has been very stressful at times. I have been trying to meditate more and look into mindfulness programs, but when I read the description for Scott Carson’s “Where They Wait” I was like ‘oh GREAT, let’s make THAT scary, huh?’ But I have to admit, it does sound intriguing. After he’s let go from his prestigious newspaper job, Nick is hired to do a write up of a new mindfulness app called Clarity. It seems like the usual program, but as he starts to look into it more, some things seem off. What kind of mindfulness app has a meditation segment with a creepy song that lulls people into a freaked out state before a good night’s sleep? Nick starts to look into this more, and realizes that he has a dark connection to Clarity and the song. I haven’t read anything by Carson yet, and this one sounds like it’s going to be a truly trippy story.

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

Summer is starting to wind down, and we can start dreaming about fall. The time to be overwhelmed with all things pumpkin. But there are still some warm days ahead, good excuses to sit outside and read some books. Here are a few titles that we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks:

Book: “The Last Graduate” by Naomi Novik

Publishing Date: September 28, 2021

Why I’m Interested: Confession: I received an ARC for this book back in the spring and, yeah, I couldn’t wait to read it. So I’m not so much looking forward to reading it at this point, but I am looking forward to sharing my review with you! After the dramatic events of the first book, El, Orion, and their friends have one more year in the dangerous Scholomance school before their own treacherous graduation ceremony. But it soon becomes clear that the school is not operating as usual, and El will quickly need to come up with a new approach if she and her friends have any chance of surviving. I’ll give you a super hot preview of my review: I loved the heck out of this book!

Book: “A Song of Flight” by Juliet Marillier

Publishing Date: September 21, 2021

Why I’m Interested: September is a real banger of a month, as not only does the second “Scholomance” book come out, but also the third and final book in Juliet Marillier’s “Warrior Bards” trilogy. About a year has passed since the end of the previous book, and Liobhan, Dau, and Brocc are more or less where you’d expect them. Liobhan and Dau attempt to balance their burgeoning relationship with the challenges posed as Swan Island warriors. Brocc continues to live in the Fae realm, attempting to puzzle out the secrets of the strange and dangerous Crow Folk. After a prince goes missing, the three all see their lives become upended, and mysteries both new and old begin to demand answers. I’m excited to see how this trilogy is going to wrap up!

Book: “The Bronzed Beasts” by Roshani Chokshi

Publishing Date: September 21, 2021

Why I’m Interested: This is probably one of the more buzz-y books of the month. I’ve been a bit tepid on this series overall, but I’ve still enjoyed parts of both of the first books. I definitely have favorite characters, and I’m curious to see how their stories will play out. At the end of the previous book, the crew believe Severin has betrayed and abandoned them. Instead, Severin has a long-game plan that will not only fulfill his promises to his friends, but hopefully save the life of his beloved Laila. The second book introduced a lot of bigger magical components, so I’m excited to see how they come into play here. I really have no idea how this one will wrap up, but I’m optimistic for a good ending.

Kate’s Picks:

Book: “Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery” by Brom

Publication Date: September 21, 2021

Why I’m Interested: I love a “Beauty and the Beast” (romantic or not) tale, and if you have it take place during Puritanical times and involving some kind of devil-y creature and a woman who is out of place I am almost assuredly going to trip all over myself to read it. “Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery” by Brom sounds like it’s going to be just that. Abitha is a young wife, sent to the colonies two years ago to marry a man she didn’t know, who now lives in a small Puritan community she doesn’t like. When he dies suddenly and unexpectedly her only ally is gone, and she is left to fend for herself in a community she doesn’t fit into. Slewfoot is an ancient entity that has only recently revived from a long sleep, and he isn’t sure what his place is in this new world. As both try to find their places in a new and strange world, they also find themselves targeted by the people in the community. On top of all this, there are beautiful illustrations to boot. It seems like the perfect read to gear up for the upcoming Halloween season!

Book: “White Smoke” by Tiffany D. Jackson

Publication Date: September 14, 2021

Why I’m Interested: Tiffany D. Jackson is one of my must read authors, whose thrillers have kept me on the edge of my seat and knocked me down, emotionally. So when I read that she was going into full on horror mode with “White Smoke”, I was absolutely on board and not only requested it from NetGalley, but also put a preorder in at my local bookstore. I’m just that excited. Marigold and her newly blended family have moved to a new house, which has been provided by them through her mother’s new job. Sure, it’s a little run down, and sure, the contractual agreement to stay for three years seems odd. But Marigold has her own problems, like high anxiety and bratty stepsister Piper, that concern her more. Until strange things start happening in the house. Objects start moving around. The sound of footsteps can be heard late at night. And a rancid smell pops up, though Mari is the only one who can smell it. As things get more dire, Mari has to try and figure out what is going on. But the problem is that it may not just be the house, but the whole community that is the problem. I’ve been looking forward to this one for awhile, and am ready for Jackson to scare me!

Book: “As Good As Dead” by Holly Jackson

Publication Date: September 28, 2021

Why I’m Interested: We have finally come to the end of Holly Jackson’s “Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” series, and while I figured it would just be a trilogy I am not sure I am ready for it to end. Enter “As Good As Dead”, the third and final book. When we left off, our teen detective Pippa was on a bit of a downhill spiral. A trial she had connections to ended up going poorly, and an acquaintance was murdered right in front of her eyes, with her feeling a bit responsible. And now, as she’s getting ready to head off for college, she starts getting threats online, where someone is implying that SHE is going to be the next person to disappear. Will she be able to figure out who is after her? And will she be able to reconcile her guilt? I look forward to seeing how things work out for Pip, and I can’t wait to see how “As Good As Dead” wraps everything up.

What books are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments!

It’s hot. Oh, need more? It’s also humid, and we’ve had a lot of smoke drifting in from fires. So, summer is definitely here! While we both appreciate our A/C for the magic it is, neither of us is quite prepared to complain enough to want winter back. Fall, on the other hand…But the evenings are still lovely and there are a bunch of books lined up to fill our time this coming month. Check out our picks below!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Forestborn” by Elayne Audrey Becker

Publication Date: August 31, 2021

Why I’m Interested: Firstly, I love everything about this cover. Without reading the book description at all, I could already have a fairly clear sense of the type of fantasy story we’re dealing with. Rora and her brother are shifters, a kind of magical being that are particularly feared recently after a dark omen has foretold two shifters and death. But they’ve found their way, under the watchful arm of their friend, the young prince of the land. But when he falls ill with a magical disease, Rora, her brother, and the prince’s grim older brother must venture into the wild lands in pursuit of a cure. This book has a lot of potential to be just the sort of thing I like! I mean, I’m always down for the “grim older brother” romantic interest type at the very least.

Book: “Nolyn” by Michael J. Sullivan

Publication Date: August 3, 2021

Why I’m Interested: Yes, yes, I know. I haven’t even managed to read and review the very last book in his previous series! But what can I say? I have a hard time finishing things I’m enjoying so much! But now that Sullivan is releasing a new trilogy, it’s probably safe to finish that one out. At the very least so I can jump into this one next! Set in his same world of Elan, only many centuries after the events of the “Legends of the First Empyre,” the stories follows Nolyn, the heir to the empyre who returns from exile to find himself caught up in more than he had expected. I still haven’t read Sullivan’s original series, but all of his books are written to be enjoyed by new comers as well, so I’ll probably still jump to this one next rather than go back to the first ones. I’m really excited to see what’s in store next!

Book: “Wildwood Whispers” by Willa Reece

Publication Date: August 17, 2021

Why I’m Interested: In some of the marketing and early reviews for this book, I found some comparisons to “Practical Magic” and that’s all it took! I can definitely see it, too, given the description of a grieving woman returning to her small-town home in the Appalachian Mountains after the death of her best friend. The story describes a town full of old folktales, deep woods, and mysteries to be found and explored, all while delving into what it means to return home and to process grief. I think this one will ride or die on the strength of the writing, but if it’s anything like the style found in “Practical Magic,” I’m sure I’ll love it!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “The Dead and the Dark” by Courtney Gould

Publication Date: August 3, 2021

Why I’m Interested: While it’s true that sometimes YA horror can be a bit hit or miss for me, I am always looking for a book that will hook me in and give me a case of the willies. If a cute side romance is involved I’m even more game. So when I heard about “The Dead and the Dark” by Courtney Gould, it definitely had potential! In small town Snakebite, Oregon, teenagers are disappearing. Logan is visiting with her two dads, who grew up in Snakebite but left as outsiders, and now have a ghost hunting show. Ashley is a local and well to do daughter of a popular family, but her boyfriend is missing and Ashely has been seeing visions of him. When the town thinks that Logan’s dads are to blame, she and Ashley team up to try and figure out what is going on, and start to fall for each other. This has ‘Kate’ written all over it, honestly.

Book: “How We Fall Apart” by Katie Zhao

Publication Date: August 17, 2021

Why I’m Interested: Similar to the above statement, I also am always on the lookout for YA mystery thrillers where it’s hard to know who to trust, and everyone seems like they could be duplicitous. “How We Fall Apart” by Katie Zhao seems to have the potential to check all those boxes. When Queen Bee of Sinclair Prep Jamie Ruan goes missing and ends up murdered, it’s her former friend Nancy and her new friends Krystal, Akil, and Alexander who brunt the suspicion of their peers. The rumors are started by the online persona of The Proctor, who has everyone’s secrets up their sleeves to air at their whim. Now Nancy and her friends need to find out who really killed Jamie, before they all lose everything. Downright scintillating.

Book: “My Heart Is a Chainsaw” by Stephen Graham Jones

Publication Date: August 31, 2021

Why I’m Interested: Jones is one of my must read authors, as his horror stories are deeply disturbing as well as supremely moving. He weaves in lots of themes with the scares, about identity and hope and what it means to be Indigenous in the United States. But he also has a deep love for all things horror, so when it was announced he was writing a ‘final girl’ slasher story, I was PUMPED AS HELL. “My Heart Is a Chainsaw” is the story of Jade, a teenage girl in a small Idaho town that is starting to gentrify. When she starts seeing the tell tale signs that her town is falling victim to a slasher killer, she taps into her encyclopedic knowledge of the slasher genre to try and find the ‘final girl’ who will save them all. This is not only a highly anticipated book of the month for me, but also of the entire year.