Category: Highlights

The sugar high from Halloween is wearing off and all of the stores are busy trying to convince us that Christmas is here already, never mind that other pesky holiday that supposedly happens this month. But we’re ready to be thankful for an entire new batch of excellent books coming out this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Calamity” by Constance Fay

Publication Date: Nov. 14, 2023

Why I’m Interested: While I fell like this cover leaves a bit to be desired, I am incredibly excited to check out this new book from Bramble, the romance imprint of Tor Publishing. It’s been compared to “Firefly” which is a pretty high bar to reach, but if it manages it, this could great! The story follows a woman captain and her ragtag crew as they get into trouble in space! And of course there’s a hunky new member of the crew…We’ve seen a lot of romantic fantasy, so much so that “romantasy” is its own subgenre now. But for some reason, science fiction hasn’t gotten the same treatment. Hopefully this will be a start!

Book: “The Hunting Moon” by Susan Dennard

Publication Date: Nov. 7, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I’ll be honest, if you had asked me last year whether I would be checking out the second book in this trilogy, I’d have said, fairly firmly, no. But I’m a sucker for unique covers, and this one is definitely eye-catching! I’m fairly nervous that this will be a big mistake, but I’ve also been proven wrong before and am always hopeful that it can happen again! From what I remember, there were some big reveals at the end of the first book, so I’m curious to see how that will play out here.

Book: “Bookshops and Bonedust” by Travis Baldree

Publication Date: Nov. 7, 2023

Why I’m Interested: While I haven’t reviewed the first book on the blog, I did enjoy it. I wasn’t quite as in love as everyone else seems to be, but I thought it was cute and fun. Definitely good enough for me to want to check out this prequel book! I mean, as a librarian, any cozy fantasy has me with the word “bookshops.” And, of course, I love the adorable covers on both the first book and this one. I might not get to a full review on the blog for this one either, but I wanted to throw it out there anyways to get on other people’s radars!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Where He Can’t Find You” by Darcy Coates

Publication Date: November 7, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I’m a huge Darcy Coates fan, and while I’ve been reading her new books and making my way back through her catalog I never really made the connection that she hadn’t written any YA until this book. The promise of a new book alone is enough to get my hyped, but adding in a new foray into a new audience is going to make it all the more special. Abby lives in a town where people tend to disappear. And sometimes they reappear, not only dead, but cut up and stitched back together. Abby and her sister Hope have always followed the rules and played it safe to keep themselves safe, but when Hope is taken, perhaps by this killer known as The Stitcher, Abby is determined to find her and save her when others couldn’t save those before her. I’m amped to see what Coates is going to do for YA audiences.

Book: “The Professor” by Lauren Nossett

Publication Date: November 14, 2023

Why I’m Interested: Sometimes I just want a twisty and maybe salacious thriller set against the backdrop of academia, and “The Professor” seems to promise just that. Marlitt is a former detective who left the job in disgrace and is trying to find her footing. When her mother, a German professor at a local college, asks her to do some investigating into a school scandal involving a student who killed himself and another German professor, Marlitt sees it as a favor to her mother. But as she starts to investigate, she starts to find some disturbing details about the student, his professor, and the rumors of sour grapes and an affair. This one sounds like it could be filled with surprises, so it caught my eye pretty handily.

Book: “Check & Mate” by Ali Hazelwood

Publication Date: November 7, 2023

Why I’m Interested: Though I don’t often review romance on here (and when I do, I try to keep it tangential to the genres I review), I made an exception for Ali Hazelwood’s debut novel “The Love Hypothesis”, as I LOVED it. And while I haven’t covered her other books on here, I have basically loved all of them. So of COURSE I’m very excited for “Check & Mate”, her first YA book (a familiar trend in my choices this month), and was thrilled when I managed to get a surprise ARC of it at ALAAC23. Mallory is a former chess prodigy who gave up the game after it led to a painful discovery. She’s been supporting her family ever since her father left, and is more interested in making ends meet. But when she is harangued into a tournament for charity, she manages to beat Nolan Sawyer, a chess giant with a reputation in his own right. After her win makes waves, she is approached to continue playing, with the promises of cash prizes that could change her family’s life. Of course, it means seeing Nolan again. And again. Soon it may not be just chess that Mallory is falling for. Sign me up.

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

Fall is here, and it is now, officially, the Season of the Witch: Halloween Season! While Kate is steeping herself in all things horror, scary, and spooky (as well as kicking off Horrorpalooza for the rest of the month), Serena is cozying up in cardigans and the changing of the seasons (and trying not to think about the upcoming winter). And both of them are prepping for trick or treating with their toddlers, which may mean hyperactivity, but it will also mean candy that they can take claim over. And with a new month comes new books! Check out what we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Night of the Witch” by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis

Publication Date: October 3, 2023

Why I’m Interested: Well, it is October, and while this month is definitely Kate’s time to shine, there are often some good witchy titles that fall more firmly on the fantasy side rather than horror. Such is this book telling the story of a witch and a witch hunter who find themselves teamed up in an effort to defeat a powerful enemy. I’m always a bit nervous about these alternating POV fantasy stories with a strong romantic focus as I’ve seen them go very wrong. But at the same time, they’ve also gone very well, so here’s to hoping! I’m also intrigued by the focus on Germany as a historical setting for this one.

Book: “Flower and Thorn” by Rati Mehrotra

Publication Date: October 17, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I’ve had a fairly rocky experience with this author’s books in the past. I’ve never absolutely loved any of them, but then, time and again, when I read the description of her next book, I’m drawn in! She’s got a real talent for creative ideas, and this one’s no different following the story of a young woman who uses her talents as a flower hunter to support her people. But when her handsome friend finds a rare flower, she becomes sucked into an even larger plot. Beyond the creative fantasy elements with magical flowers, I’m definitely excited to read a romance that is a friends-to-lovers story. While I love enemies-to-lovers as much as the next person, there are about a million and one of them coming out nowadays. Much more rare is this type of love story.

Book: “Starling House” by Alix E. Harrow

Publication Date: October 3, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I absolutely loved “The Ten Thousand Doors of January” when we read it for bookclub, so I was always going to be interested in Harrow’s next book. But even without that, I also have a thing for gothic houses with mysterious pasts. I’m a bit nervous about the contemporary setting for this one, as I always struggle a bit with that it seems, but I have faith in the strength of Harrow’s writing to pull me through. Plus, the cover on this one is stunning. I’m tempted to just buy it now, regardless of how I feel about the actual book!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Beholder” by Ryan La Sala

Publication Date: October 3, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I saw Ryan La Sala talking about “Beholder” at a panel at ALAAC23 and I was absolutely entranced by the description of this book. And given that I liked “The Honeys”, I knew that any follow up to that was sure to be a treat. Athan is struggling to get by as an under the table art handler, living with his grandmother and just trying to live his life (while also dealing with a strange power passed down through his family). When he tests out some aspects of his power while in the bathroom at an high brow artist party, he hears a horrible commotion on the other side of the door. When he leaves the bathroom, he finds all of the guests have been horrifically killed. Now Athan is all swept up in occultism, a monster perhaps of his making, and a race against time to try and stop it. It sounds nuts and I’m here for it.

Book: “Edenville” by Sam Rebelein

Publication Date: October 3, 2023

Why I’m Interested: This has been a buzzy horror title for a few months now, with a few horror people online talking about it and the online anticipation brimming to the point that I was VERY interested. When an author’s debut novel is a bit of a flop, he’s left feeling aimless and despondent. So when he is offered a job as a writer in residence by a college in the town of Edenville, he thinks that perhaps this could be what turns things around for him. His girlfriend is hesitant, and she grew up near Edenville and knows that it has a bit of a history and a bit of a strange reputation. But they move there anyway. And what they find is a bit more than just a small town with a few secrets. I love creepy small town tales and this one sounds like it has more spooky layers to it.

Book: “The Haunting on the Hill” by Elizabeth Hand

Publication Date: October 3, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I really love the story “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson, and while some adaptations have soared (Mike Flanagan’s miniseries, the 1963 film “The Haunting”), others have really, really sucked (the 1999 remake of “The Haunting”). But never has there been a literary follow up, until now. Yes, “The Haunting on the Hill” is the first authorized continuation of the story of Hill House, this time with Elizabeth Hand at the helm. Director Holly has a new play that she feels is going to really bring her career to new heights. While on a trip to the countryside with her girlfriend and collaborator, she stumbles upon a massive mansion called Hill House, and thinks it’s the perfect place for the cast to workshop the show. But as Holly and her cast move into Hill House for a couple of weeks, strange things start to happen. Hill House has inhabitants again. And it has so much in store. The PERFECT read for the Halloween season!

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

Whelp, it’s still quite hot. Hot and humid! We’ve taken our kids out for a few playdates at the park early in the morning, but that’s about all we can manage in this heat! Serena has retreated back to her hometown out West where at least the hot is a dry heat and Kate has found herself sitting by a pool in any capacity she can SO LONG AS THERE IS A HUGE UMBRELLA TO KEEP HER IN THE SHADE. As we survive the heat, there are a bunch of great books coming out this month to get us through until fall!

Serena’s Picks

Book:“Cassiel’s Servant” by Jacqueline Carey

Publication Date: August 1, 2023

Why I’m Interested: So, I have to say, I’m not really a big fan of this trend of re-telling certain stories, often romances, from the POV of the other character, often the male hero. It’s hard not to feel like it’s a redundant money grab, since the story is the same, any tension with regards to plot has been neutered, and the characters are already established. But if there was going to be a book with this approach that I’d be interested in, it would be this one! For one thing, the original book, “Kushiel’s Dart” was published over 20 years ago, so for many readers, this can feel like a fresh return to a barely remembered story. And beyond that, much of the story is built around the very real conflict in world-views between Phedre and Joscelin. That being the case, there is some legitimately interesting and new ground to be covered in reading his experiences of that story.

Book: “Thornhedge” by T. Kingfisher

Publication Date: August 15, 2023

Why I’m Interested: Obviously! Beyond all the usual reasons that I would, of course, be looking forward to a new book by T. Kingfisher, I’m particularly excited about this one because it’s a return to her twisted fairytales. This one takes on “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Princess and the Toad,” I believe. We’ve seen a few different attempts in the past to re-tell fairytales from the villains’ perspectives, but none of them have really stood out to me. But if there was an author who could do it right, I’d bet on Kingfisher any day of the week. Can’t wait for this one!

Book: “Forged by Blood” by Ehigbor Okosun

Publication Date: August 8, 2023

Why I’m Interested: For one thing, the cover on this one is phenomenal. For another thing, I met the author at ALA in June, and she was delightful. For a third thing, well, it’s a fantasy novel with a focus on Nigerian mythology, which just sounds super cool. I’m also very intrigued by the fact that this one is billed as an adult fantasy rather than YA. As much as I love the cover, it is definitely giving YA vibes, so I’m curious to see what balance is actually struck in the story itself.

Kate’s Picks

Book: “I Feed Her To The Beast and The Beast Is Me” by Jamison Shea

Publication Date: August 29, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I was lucky enough to see Jamison Shea at a panel at ALA that was talking about new voices in YA literature, and they were promoting their debut horror novel. It caught my eye because I was surprised to see a horror novel as part of the books, but when they described the premise I knew I needed to seek it out. I snagged an ARC shortly thereafter, and it became a highly anticipated read. Laure is a Black ballerina in Paris, whose talent is immense but constantly shoved to the side. When she ventures into the catacombs and encounters an ominous river of blood, she makes a deal to get the admiration and acknowledgement she deserves. With her new powers and axe to grind, she starts to cut her way through the competition. But her new self comes with a price, and she finds herself with a target on her back with her new monstrous form. I love a villain story, especially when you can see where the villain is coming from.

Book: “Vampires of El Norte” by Isabel Cañas

Publication Date: August 15, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I so loved “The Hacienda” and I told myself that whatever Isabel Cañas came up with next, I was going to jump all over. So imagine my elation when I saw that her newest historical horror novel was going to be about vampires! Nena is a woman living on a ranch in 1840s Mexico, trying to honor her father’s wishes while making a life for herself. With threats of war from white settlers North, tension is high. But there is also whispers of a monster in the wilderness that comes out at night to drink blood from unsuspecting victims. When she is reunited with her childhood sweetheart Nestor in the face of a war, they must come together to protect their home, not only from other countries, but also from a blood drinking creature that feeds relentlessly. Cannot wait to see what Cañas does with this one.

Book: “Whalefall” by Daniel Kraus

Publication Date: August 8, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I’m not a religious person but have a passing familiarity with various Biblical tales, and when I saw this book, a book about a guy swallowed by a whale, my immediate thought was “LIKE JONAH?!” What a hook! I also have been meaning to give Daniel Kraus another go after reading “Scowler” and enjoying it but being super disturbed by it, so “Whalefall” seemed like a good place to start! A diver is searching for the remains of his father in the waters off the coast of California, but in a freak of nature twist finds himself swallowed whole by a sperm whale. When he realizes he’s in the first of four stomachs, he thinks that he can MAYBE escape. But how is he going to do it, especially with his oxygen running out. THIS SOUNDS WILD!

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.

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!

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

Here’s hoping all those April (snow) showers are going to bring some May Flowers this month! We are getting up against the summer months, with promises of outdoor get togethers, sunnier weather, and hopefully some fun books coming up on the horizon. Books that maybe we can read outside in balmy, seasonable weather (now look at how we’ve probably jinxed this). Here are some of the ones we are looking forward to the most for May!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “A Crown of Ivy and Glass” by Claire Legrand

Publication Date: May 9, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I really enjoyed Legrand’s YA “Empirium” duology. It walked the line of adjusting YA fantasy tropes just enough to be both recognizable as a staple of the genre but also able to stand on its own strengths. And one of those strengths was the overall quality of writing, in general. That being the case, I’m very excited to see what Legrand has in store for readers with this, her first adult fantasy romance novel. It’s been compared to “Bridgerton” and, of course, “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” Love the former, hate the latter….so…we’ll see!

Book: “The Late Mrs. Willoughby” by Claudia Gray

Publication Date: May 16, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I was blown away by the first book in this series, “The Murder of Mr. Wickham.” There’s no over emphasizing the sheer feat of mastery that was handling almost the entire cast of Jane Austen’s romantic heroes and heroines and never seeming to miss a step. Add on top of that an excellent mystery and two original characters, and…yeah, truly amazing. Given that she was able to manage all of that, I barely have any concerns about a second book falling prey to “sequel syndrome.” Instead, I’m simply happily looking forward to yet another murder mystery to be solved by our beloved Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney!

Book: “Witch King” by Martha Wells

Publication Date: May 30, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I’ve been a big fan of Martha Wells’ for forever. And since I haven’t had a chance to review any of her books yet for the blog, when I saw this upcoming stand-alone novel coming out this spring, I knew this was my opportunity! The description also sounds right up my alley, with the story following an “over it” demon who wakes up after having his body killed off and must travel around gathering up his scattered group of friends and piecing together what exactly went so wrong as to leave him “dead” at the bottom of the ocean. Again, my familiarity with the reliability of this author allows me to happily sit back and anticipate what will surely be an awesome read!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Warrior Girl Unearthed” by Angeline Boulley

Publication Date: May 2, 2023

Why I’m Interested: “Firekeeper’s Daughter” was my favorite read of 2021. Like, hands down, no contest whatsoever. So when I saw that not only did Angeline Boulley have a new YA thriller coming out, but that it was bringing back some of the characters from her debut, “Warrior Girl Unearthed” officially became one of my most anticipated reads of 2023. Perry Firekeeper-Birch expected her summer to be pretty chill, but after she crashes her Aunt Daunis’s Jeep she has to work to pay off the damages. When she gets a job working at a local tribal museum, she starts to learn about Indigenous artifact repatriation, and makes it her mission to bring Ojibwe objects back to her tribe. When a promise to return artifacts is broken, Perry decides that the only way to bring her peoples’ history back is by other, more heist-like means. Not only am I excited to read a new story by Boulley, I’m also excited to see what Daunis has been up to…

Book: “We’ll Never Tell” by Wendy Heard

Publication Date: May 16, 2023

Why I’m Interested: Soapy sudsy thrillers always pique my interest, and I have been waiting for Wendy Heard to have a new YA thriller since I devoured “She’s Too Pretty to Burn”. Because of these two factors, I am VERY stoked for “We’ll Never Tell”, which combines salacious Hollywood secrets, teenage gossip, and a murder house. WOOOOOOO, bring it on! The YouTube channel “We’ll Never Tell” is run by a group of teens who anonymously explore urban areas of L.A. that are generally off limits. With their senior year in full swing, the friends decide to take on a notorious location, a house that had a brutal murder/suicide in the 1970s. But after one of their own is attacked during the shoot, they have to figure out what happened, and if one of them is responsible. This one is going to be hard to put down.

Book: “The Salt Grows Heavy” by Cassandra Khaw

Publication Date: May 2, 2023

Why I’m Interested: Cassandra Khaw’s previous novella “Nothing But Blackened Teeth” really set me on edge, so of course I wanted to read whatever they came out with next. And when I saw that “The Salt Grows Heavy” was coming out, and that it sounded like a gory retelling of “The Little Mermaid”, I couldn’t have been more excited. A mermaid and a plague doctor have fled the kingdom she had been the queen of, as her children destroyed the land and left it in ruin. But when the mermaid and the plague doctor stumble into a village with three mysterious surgeons with dark motives, they find themselves in danger once again. Khaw knows how to bring the body horror so this one has some serious potential to be super disturbing, which is great.

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.

As predicted, March was a big dud on the whole “spring” front. Instead, we had several dumps of snow and had to shovel quite a lot. But we’re all really crossing our fingers that April will come through for us! At least the temperatures are begrudgingly climbing out of the below thirties and it’s getting lighter and lighter later in the evenings. Of course, more light just means more time to read before feeling guilty about not getting the sleep we guess we need. Here are some books we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “One for My Enemy” by Olivie Blake

Publication Date: April 4, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I feel like Olivie Blake is kind of taking the “Silvia Moreno-Garcia” route to book popularity. She had published several books already before she became a big hit. And now publishers are digging into her back catalog and breathing new life into some of these titles that didn’t get major releases the first go around. So, too, “One for My Enemy,” a “Romeo and Juliet” retelling that places the classic love story in modern NYC and also adds in a healthy dose of Russian folklore, like Baba Yaga and Koschei the Deathless. Every single aspect of that sounds great to me, so I can’t wait to see what this has to offer! I’ve also never read a book by Blake before, so this should be a great first introduction!

Book: “Untethered Sky” by Fonda Lee

Publication Date: April 11, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I really loved Fonda Lee’s “Jade City” trilogy. But it can’t be denied that all three were fairly massive tomes. So I was excited to see that she was releasing a novella next, something where I could again experience the thrill of her action-packed writing style and creative world build while also…not having to commit tons of time to the endeavor. I also love the general premise of this book, a young woman who makes it her life’s mission to join a group who trains and flies massive birds, using them to protect the realm from dangerous manticores. Plus, the cover on this one is super cool; who could pass on that??

Book: “Divine Rivals” by Rebecca Ross

Publication Date: April 4, 2023

Why I’m Interested: Here’s another author whose work I’ve already really enjoyed! Plus, this one is ticking a lot of my own particular boxes. As the name suggests, it’s an “enemies to lovers” romance that focuses on a pair of journalists who are vying for the same promotion at the newspaper where they work. But Iris, the young woman of the pair, soon takes a job that brings her to the front lines in a war between gods. As a big fan of Lois Lane, I’m always down for a story about intrepid reporters in my fantasy stories. I can’t wait to check this one out!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “The Haunting of Alejandra” by V. Castro

Publication Date: April 18, 2023

Why I’m Interested: There are two big blaring elements of this book that makes me super, super excited for it. The first is that I really love V. Castro’s horror style, as she has lyrical prose, a lot of feminist perspectives, and a Chicana voice that comes to all of her stories. The other is that I have been full on obsessed with the La Llorona folktale ever since I was in grade school. The idea of a weeping woman snatching up children scared the piss out of me, and I’ve loved it ever since. So V. Castro taking on La Llorona is PERFECTION! Alejandra is a frazzled mother of three in a crumbling marriage. She has been uprooted from Texas to Pennsylvania due to her husband’s job, and staying at home with the kids is stressful. On top of that she’s started seeing visions of a sinister, sobbing woman in white, and her hatred towards herself is spilling over. When she starts to look into her family history and the women before her, their unspoken traumas also led to the woman in white. Alejandra needs to solve the mystery of this family curse before she falls to it as well. GIVE IT TO ME!

Book: “Sisters of the Lost Nation” by Nick Medina

Publication Date: April 18, 2023

Why I’m Interested: This is an example of one that has been popping up on my various social media feeds from book influencers and lovers that I know and love. Given that this is a debut I am unfamiliar with Nick Medina, but this one has enough buzz that I have high hopes to be adding a new must read author to my list! Anna is an Indigenous girl living on a reservation just trying to get through each day, between the cruelties of her peers and the outside visitors to the casino she is always on alert. Then girls in the community start to disappear, with members of the tribe looking for answers but finding little, and Anna begins to try and do her own investigation into the missing girls as well as the history of the reservation and the casino. And when her own sister disappears, Anna’s investigation becomes personal. But she starts to wonder if otherworldly forces are coming into play. It sounds like a mix of a hardboiled mystery and some kind of horror story, so obviously I’m in.

Book: “For You and Only You” by Caroline Kepnes

Publication Date: April 25, 2023

Why I’m Interested: Can I just say ‘it’s the new Joe Goldberg book’ and call it a day? No? Okay, well, fine, I can expand on that. It’s the new Joe Goldberg book, and I love the “You” series so I am always going to be amped when a new one comes out. But I am also always interested in seeing what Joe is going to do next, and how author Caroline Kepnes is going to keep the very clear formula of these books (aka Joe obsesses over a new one, stalks her, and fucks her life totally up) fresh, interesting, and suspenseful. After the death of Mary Kay and a short stint in Florida, Joe is now living in Boston and has written a book! Not only that, he has entered an fellowship program at Harvard in hopes of getting his book out there and promoted by some of the best academic minds in literature. But Joe is predictably Joe, and when he meets fellow aspiring author Wonder he is completely obsessed. But Joe’s past is filled with skeletons, they are starting to crop up. Welcome back, Joe!

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.

So a lot of people may be able to say that March is a signal towards the beginning of Spring. In like a lion, out like the lamb and all that. Not necessarily so here in Minnesota, as winter really likes to hold on, and on, and on. So while we may have some hope of getting outside at the end of the month and out of our winter hovels, it’s not a guarantee. So we cling to our books, and we both have some anticipated titles this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “The Foxglove King” by Hannah Whitten

Publication Date: March 7, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I really enjoyed Whitten’s “For the Wolf” duology, even if the second book, “For the Queen,” was a bit weaker than the first. Either way, Whitten had proven her fantasy chops as far as I am concerned. I also liked the premise of this book as following a young woman named Lore who has some sort of death magic and then, of course, gets caught up into palace schemings and wars between gods. On the other hand, the book description makes no effort to hide the likely love triangle between Lore, the “bad boy” prince, and the “dutiful” monk. I can make some overall predictions, I think, just on those character beats alone. I’m on the record as not enjoying love triangles, but I do think Whitten is a supremely capable author, especially with her characters, so I’m hopeful!

Book: “A Tempest at Sea” by Sherry Thomas

Publication Date: March 14, 2023

Why I’m Interested: Thomas’s “Charlotte Holmes” series is by far my favorite currently running mystery series. While I’ve had favorites, I haven’t had any major problems with any of them. A minor quibble here or there, but nothing to hang your hat on. Instead, her mysteries have been reliable complicated and compelling, and I have enjoyed getting to know the large cast of characters who surround our brilliant detective. What’s more, I’m particularly excited for this book given the dramatic manner in which the last one ended, with Charlotte faking her own death to throw Moriarty off of her trail. How will she handle this going forward? I can’t wait to find out!

Book: “The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill” by Rowenna Miller

Publication Date: March 28, 2023

Why I’m Interested: While I have yet to finish “The Unraveled Kingdom” trilogy, I do remember quite enjoying the first book in the series, “Fray.” It was a unique combination of fantasy story and social commentary. So, too, this book sounds like it has a lot to offer, telling the two of a family whose orchard has always shared a boarder with the Fae, with whom they have relied upon for small trades and bargains throughout their tenure. But when two sisters find themselves slamming up against the restraints put upon women of this time, they begin to wonder whether these tried and true bargains can be pushed further. One can imagine where this story will likely go, but I’m also intrigued by this combination of fantasy elements and a historical novel that is focused on some of the issues of the time.

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Piñata” by Leopoldo Gout

Publication Date: March 14, 2023

Why I’m Interested: The cover immediately caught my eye when it showed up on one of my social media feeds. And after looking into it, I realized that “Piñata” by Leopoldo Gout was going to be a searing and uncompromising possession story. Architect Carmen has traveled to Mexico to work on a large project involving a centuries old Church, bringing daughters Izel and Luna with her. But after an accident on site opens a long forgotten room, and Luna is involved in the aftermath, they return home under stress. Once home, Luna starts to act strange, and all of them are plagued with strange and disturbing images and visions. Something in the room is out now, and it is angry. This is the kind of possession story that catches my eye.

Book: “Lone Women” by Victor LaValle

Publication Date: March 28, 2023

Why I’m Interested: While westerns aren’t really a genre I find myself gravitating towards, if Victor LaValle is involved I am going to take a big old chance on a western. I’ve loved his other horror works that not only take on scares, but also contemporary societal issues, and now it’s taking on historical societal issues that undoubtedly have resonance today! In 1914, Adelaide is running from a terrible secret and a terrible background, bringing a locked steamer trunk with her wherever she goes. She decides to try and take advantage of a Government offer of land for anyone who can make a living on it, and heads to Montana in hopes of laying low. But she soon realizes that there are other dangers besides a murky past, and that the secret she’s been keeping may need to come out if she wants to survive. So vague, so of course that just makes me more interested!

Book: “London Séance Society” by Sarah Penner

Publication Date: March 21, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I loved Sarah Penner’s previous novel “The Lost Apothecary” and how she weaved both historical fiction and psychological women’s thriller fiction into one well crafted story. So of course I was interested in her next book, “The London Séance Society”, and what a bonus ghosts and Victorian Spiritualism were! When her younger sister Evie is murdered, Lenna seeks out Vaudeline, a world renowned medium who also happened to be Evie’s former teacher. Lenna becomes a new apprentice, and when Vaudeline gets word that a friend and head of the London Séance Society has been murdered as well, both women seek out the exclusive group to see if they can help solve the crime. Lenna soon realizes that Evie had her own connection to the group, and then the two women wonder just what the London Séance Society may be hiding. Historical intrigue and ghosts, what more could I want?

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.

It’s February! The month of flowers! The month of chocolate! The month of romance! The month where if you have kids you sit around at home and fantasize about some nebulous future where you can once again go on a romantic dinner date but instead you just drink wine and re-watch episodes of “The Office.” Luckily for us, being homebound always comes with the perk of more time to check out the many books we’re looking forward to this month!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “The Last Tale of the Flower Bride” by Roshani Chokshi

Publication Date: February 14, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I’ve been a bit hit or miss with Roshani Chokshi’s books in the past. But even while I sometimes struggle with her flowery writing style, it’s undeniable that she’s a talented author. So I was excited to see that she was releasing her first fantasy novel for adults this winter. I know that she does an excellent job with characters, so perhaps being freed from some of the YA fantasy tropes will free her up to really dive into this aspect of her writing. Plus, the gothic vibes of the story about a husband who travels to his wife’s strange ancestral home and discovers many secrets in her past sounded right up my alley!

Book: “Empire of Ruin” by Django Wexler

Publication Date: February 23, 2023

Why I’m Interested: I’ve really been enjoying Wexler’s “Burningblade and Silvereye” trilogy so far. But of course, it all comes down to the last book in the series where the whole thing will either come together or crash into a burning pile of disappointment. But I’m really not too worried about the latter. Wexler is proven author will several solid ending under his belt. So now it’s a matter of just how it all concludes. The end of the book saw the return of one of the all-powerful Chosen who had died out years before but, of course, he’s quite evil and has his own plans for their world. I’m so excited to see how our beloved siblings deal with him and, hopefully, figure out their own stuff, too.

Book: “The Magician’s Daughter” by H. G. Parry

Publication Date: February 21, 2023

Why I’m Interested: First off, I’m really digging this cover. It’s definitely eye-catching and stands out from the other covers you see a lot of right now. I also love stories that blend fantasy with historical fiction, so this book, set in 1917 sounded right up my alley. The story follows Biddy, a young woman being raised by a magician as her guardian. But soon she learns her guardian is hiding dark secrets and she begins to question everything. I love that the central relationship in this book seems to be between Biddy and Rowan, the magician. We see a lot of siblings and romances, but guardian and ward seems pretty unique. Can’t wait to check this one out!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Stephen Graham Jones

Publication Date: February 7, 2023

Why I’m Interested: The first and obvious reason is that I love Stephen Graham Jones and think he is a genius and a horror master. The second is that I am VERY happy that he has decided to continue his Jade Daniels series, which he started with “My Heart Is A Chainsaw”. Love Jones’s love for all things horror, and love how much he deep dives into the genre and just turns it on its head. In “Don’t Fear The Reaper” Jade has left prison behind after being released, and is returning to Proofrock. Just when another horror movie situation has started to unfold, as an escaped serial killer has descended on the town during the snow storm. While Jade doesn’t want to be bound to horror anymore, she will have to tap into her suppressed knowledge if she wants to survive. LET’S GOOOOOO!

Book: “She Is a Haunting” by Trang Thanh Tran

Publication Date: February 28, 2023

Why I’m Interested: Ghost stories are always my jam, and this one popped up in my mailbox and grabbed by attention almost immediately. I mean sheesh, look at that cover! And I also love a ghost story that takes on greater themes like grief, broken families, and colonialism, and this sounds like it’s teeming with all of that. When Jade (another Jade!) returns to her ancestral home of Vietnam to visit her father (with whom she has a troubled relationship), she thinks the worst thing is going to be the awkwardness. But when she settles into the mid-restoration French colonial home, it’s clear that something is wrong with the house. From visions of ghostly brides to the unnerving feeling of insects everywhere, Jade is convinced something is wrong. Though her family doesn’t believe her, she knows she needs to unearth the house’s secrets to save her loved ones. How creepy. I’m IN.

Book: “Spite House” by Johnny Compton

Publication Date: February 7, 2023

Why I’m Interested: Another haunted house story! And this was one that was jumping all over my various social media feeds, and the hype really caught my eye. Eric and his daughters Dess and Stacy are traveling in their car back to his home state of Texas, fleeing from a mysterious past and trying to stay together in spite of the tension and dwindling funds. So when Eric sees an employment ad that is looking for a caretaker of a local house, that happens to be notoriously haunted, he jumps at the chance, agreeing to help the elderly owner find some evidence of any kind of supernatural activity. But once he and his daughters move in, things start happening, and they realize that this slightly creepy job is actually a nightmare. Two haunted house stories this month, how lucky are we?

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