Category: Highlights

Happy July 4th everyone! We’re fully into summer now, and both of us are doing the usual summer fare of travel, relaxing, and lots of reading. July brings a new list of books that we are looking forward to reading. So let’s see what we picked.

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Saga: Volume 6” by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples

Publication Date: July 5, 2016

Why I’m Interested: While Kate usually covers all the graphic novels for our duo, the “Saga” series has been on of the rare exceptions of a series that I’ve been following. This sci-fi graphic novel series is absolutely brilliant. A humorous, tragic, romantic, adventurous romp of a story all wrapped up in beautiful, vibrant illustrations. I’m one volume behind at this point, but I’m excited to pick this one up soon!

Book: “This Savage Song” by Victoria Schwab

Publication Date: July 5, 2016

Why I’m Interested: Victoria Schwab, often known for writing under the pseudonym of “V.E.Schwab” (is this because she writes books that boys may like and “boys don’t read books by women authors”?? Hmmm), is an increasing presence in the fantasy genre. I have heard her works praised far and wide and have yet to actually get around to one of her books. This one, set in a world overrun by monsters, is touted as a dark, urban fantasy and sounds like it would be right up my alley. It features dual protagonists and is being advertised as the first in a duology.

Book: “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” by J. K. Rowling

Publication Date: July 31, 2016

Why I’m Interested: Um. Obviously. I am incredibly excited for this release. However, I’m also a bit apprehensive for the Potter mania that might follow. This is a play, not a novel, and I’m not sure how well that is actually going to go down with many Potter fans who have started pinning all of their hopes and dreams on this work. All I can say is that J. K. Rowling is greatly to be admired for expanding her world in such creative ways (short stories, her website, and now a play), and I am thrilled to be along for the ride!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “You Will Know Me”  by Megan Abbott

Publication Date: July 26th, 2016

Why I’m Interested: I have found other books by Megan Abbott to be very addicting and overflowing with villainous suds. In this book she takes on the world of teenage girl gymnastics, when a Katie, the mother of gymnastic’s prodigy Devon, has to decide how far she’s willing to go to achieve her daughter’s dream. Bella Karolyi, eat your heart out. I really liked “The Fever”, and I hope that “You Will Know Me” will be a good vacation read.

Book: “Monstress, Vol.1: Awakening” by Marjorie Liu

Publication Date: July 19th, 2016

Why I’m Interested: It’s steampunk meets an alternate historical fiction universe version of Asia, so”Monstress” is a new series that I’m really quite interested in.  In a world where Arcanics, or magical creatures who can pass for people, are hunted by sorceresses called Cumea who wish to take all their power. Maika is teenage girl Arcanic who has a psychic connection to an ancient monster whom she hopes will help her survive. The art looks gorgeous and I’m in the mood for some more girl power in my comics.

Book: “The Woman in Cabin 10” by Ruth Ware

Publication Date: July 19th, 2016

Why I’m Interested: I really, really, REALLY liked “In a Dark, Dark Wood”, the grit-lit book that Ware published last year, and when I heard that she had another one coming out I immediately threw myself on the request list. When travel journalist Lo Blacklock starts the cruise assignment she’s writing, all seems like a dream. But when she thinks she sees a woman thrown overboard, she panics and tries to report it. But all of the guests are accounted for, at least that’s why they tell Lo, who wants to get to the bottom of it. I’m already freaked by cruise ships, so this will probably exacerbate that fear.

What books are you guys excited for that are coming out this month? Let us know in the comments!

Hey everyone! So with June just around the corner, it’s about time to talk about the books that we are most looking forward to in the next month. So many books, so many things to be excited about!

Serena’s Picks

Book: “My Lady Jane” by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

Publication Date: June 7th, 2016

Why I’m Interested: This book is (not at all factually) based on the life of Lady Jane Grey, who ruled England for nine days only to be be-headed for her trouble. It has been compared to “The Princess Bride” for its farcical and humorous take on the story and history. How you turn a tragic stay locked up in the Tower of London only to then be executed at a young age into a “romantic comedy” is the true question. I’m excited to find out though!

Book: “Age of Myth” by Michael J. Sullivan

Publication Date: June 28th, 2016

Why I’m Interested: I haven’t read any Michael J. Sullivan as of yet. But he’s become widely popular in the fantasy reading community and is often compared to favorite authors of mine like Brandon Sanderson. I’ve also noticed that stories involving slain Gods or fallen Gods have become a bit of a thing in the last few years (two of my favorites with this topic are the recently reviewed “City of Stairs” and N.K. Jeminson’s “The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.”) Am curious to read Sullivan’s take on the subject!

Book: “And I Darken” by Kiersten White

Publication Date: June 28, 2016

Why I’m Interested: This story features Lady Dragwyla and takes place in the Ottoman empire…so…it’s about a female Vlad the Impaler? What an intriguing concept!  I mean, this is a line in the book description: “The first book in a dark, sweeping new series in which heads will roll, bodies will be impaled . . . and hearts will be broken.” Sign me up! Sign me up right now!

Kate’s Picks

Book: “End of Watch” by Stephen King

Publication Date: June 7th, 2016

Why I’m Interested: It would be very easy to just say ‘because it’s Stephen King, duh’, but there is a bit more to it than that. King has started experimenting with his writing styles and genres in recent years, and it’s no surprise that he can write a whole lot more than horror (Hell, “The Body” and “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” should be enough proof of this). This is the final book in his Bill Hodges Trilogy, which is a bit more mystery/thriller than horror. That isn’t to say that it doesn’t have some horror elements to it. I love this series, and am ready for the conclusion.

Book: “Disappearance at Devil’s Rock” by Paul Tremblay

Publication Date: June 21st, 2016

Why I’m Interested: Last year I read Tremblay’s “A Head Full of Ghosts” and could not put it down. He took an exorcism story and turned it into a tense family drama, a mix of “The Exorcist” and “Ordinary People”. It was one of my favorite books last year, and when I heard that he had a second one coming out I was totally on board. And a story about a boy disappearing under strange circumstances is definitely right up my alley.

Book: “The Girls” by Emma Cline

Publication Date: June 14th, 2016

Why I’m Interested: A book about a girl who is so enamored with a cool and popular older girl that she gets sucked into the Manson Family? I’m interested!!! As someone who has been very fascinated by Charles Manson and his cult, the sudden interest in him in pop culture (from the TV show “Aquarius” to the “You Must Remember This” Podcast devoting all of last summer to an ongoing series about him) enters the literary world with Cline’s “The Girls”. It’s going to be weird and upsetting and I can’t wait.

What books are you guys excited for that are coming out this month? Let us know in the comments!

Hey everyone! It’s the start of the month, and that means that a bunch of new books are going to be published across many genres. Because of that, we have decided to share with you the books that we are the most excited about, across our favorite genres.

Serena’s Picks

Book: “The Murder of Mary Russell” by Laurie R. King

Publication date: April 5, 2016

Why I’m interested: Yes, yes, I cheated. I missed this release for my “Highlights” list last month. But I can’t not include it! King’s “Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes” series is one of my all time favorite mystery series still being published. I am sadly behind, probably a few books back. But all that means is that I get to look forward to binge reading the next several to lead up to this newest one! No downsides there, as far as I can see.

 

Book: “A Court of Mist and Fury” by Sarah J. Maas

Publication date: May 3, 2016

Why I’m interested: Look, I know that I ranted on and on about my frustrations with “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” But when it came to the strength of Maas’ retelling of the fairytale itself, it was so strong. I have specific hopes and dreams for how this book could be amazing. However, I’m also once-burned-twice-shy about it. Maybe I will keep an eye on others’ reviews before committing myself.

 

Book: “The Only Thing Worse Than Me is You”by Lily Anderson

Publication date: May 17, 2016

Why I’m interested: I’ve been hearing about this from various people and places. I’ve read other “fandom” books like “Ready Player One” and “Fangirl” and highly enjoyed them. They both had just the right dash of fun references combined with unique added value. Hopefully this will be more of the same!

 

Kate’s Picks:

Book: “The Fireman” by Joe Hill

Publication Date: May 17th, 2016

Why I’m Interested: I can tell you exactly why I am interested. Joe Hill is hands down one of my favorite authors writing right now. His horror/dark fantasy stories are some of the creepiest out there, and he has a serious talent for writing very complex and interesting characters. His newest one is about a mysterious disease called dragonscale that makes it’s victims spontaneously combust, and his protagonist is a woman named Harper who is inflicted with the disease. Plus, there’s a strange man who is only known as the Fireman who is going around the wastes, avenging those who have been wronged. I AM SO ON BOARD.

Book: “Don’t You Cry” by Mary Kubica

Publication Date: May 17th, 2016

Why I’m Interested: I greatly enjoyed Kubica’s previous work, “Pretty Baby”, and I am very interesting in seeing where she goes with this newest book. Her pacing is always good, and while I’m a bit wary about how the plot sounds with this one, I have a feeling that I will get completely caught up in it and will not be able to put it down.

 

 

Book: “Doctor Strange (Vol.1): The Way of the Weird”

Publication Date: May 10th, 2016

Why I’m Interested: Okay, I’m just going to level with all of you. I have very little interest in Marvel Comics outside of Deadpool, X-Men, and Ms. Marvel (when she isn’t being aggressively quirky). But that said, I am very intrigued by the entire premise of Doctor Strange, not so much because of the upcoming film, but more because of the fact the character Dr. Orpheus on “The Venture Bros” is based on him. So what better way to give Marvel another chance?

 

What books are you guys excited for that are coming out this month? Let us know in the comments!

Hey everyone! It’s the start of the month, and that means that a bunch of new books are going to be published across many genres. Because of that, we have decided to share with you the books that we are the most excited about, across our favorite genres.

Serena’s Picks

Book: “Flamecaster” by Cinda Williams Chima

Publication date: April 5, 2016

Why I’m interested: I read and loved Chima’s “Seven Realms” series. That story featured dual protagonists, a young woman and a young man set in a creative fantasy world. This book takes place in the same world following the stories of Ash, a trained healer with a tough of magic, and Jenna, a young woman with a mysterious past. This series is set a generation after the original, so I’m looking forward to returning to this world and seeing what’s what!

 

Book: “Every Heart a Doorway” by Seanan McGuire

Publication date: April 5, 2016

Why I’m interested: What happens when you return from Oz? Or tumble back out of the wardrobe? In this novella, Seanan McGuire explores what’s next for children whose magical experiences have come to an end and they’re back in the boring, old, regular world. I haven’t read too many novellas, but I have liked the first few books in McGuire’s “Toby Daye” urban fantasy series. Will definitely be checking this one out.

 

Book: “The Raven King” by Maggie Stiefvater

Publication date: April 26, 2016

Why I’m interested: This is one of those series that everyone raves about, to the point where you almost want to not read it just because you want to save the whole experience. At least, that’s been my approach. I have absolutely loved the first two books in this series and have intentionally been pacing myself reading the third one waiting for this to be published in case of any unbearable cliff hangers. But it’s almost here! Stiefvater’s beautiful examination of friendship and family make this series an amazing read. The magic is just the topping on the cake.

Kate’s Picks:

Book: “Fellside” by M.R. Carey

Publication Date: April 5th, 2016

Why I’m Interested: I actually wasn’t that impressed with M.R. Carey’s last book, “The Girl With All The Gifts”, his take on a zombie story. While the zombies were interesting in their origin story, the plot itself didn’t thrill me. But it sounds like his newest book, “Fellside”, is a ghost story, one that takes place in a women’s prison. I’m really happy that the ghost story is coming back into fashion, and I’m hoping that he’ll bring an original twist AND bring a really spooky story.

 

Book: “Paper Girls (Vol. 1)” by Brian K. Vaughn

Publication Date: April 5th, 2016

Why I’m Interested: Let me get this straight. Brian K. Vaughn, writer of both “Saga” and “Y: The Last Man”, has another comic collection coming out? And that comic collection is about a bunch of paper girls in 1988 who uncover a huge story that sets off a lot of drama and mysteries? I am SO in!!!!

 

 

Book: “Wonder Woman Earth One (Vol. 1)”

Publication Date: April 6th, 2016 (expected)

Why I’m Interested: As a huge fan of Wonder Woman, and still feeling pretty good about her most recent film debut in “Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice” (but more on that later), I am really having high hopes for this newest Wonder Woman comic collection from DC. I wasn’t a fan of her New 52 run, so let’s hope that this time around she’s going to have some fun stories that are actually about HER, and not about some random person she has been assigned to protect.

 

What books are you guys excited for that are coming out this month? Let us know in the comments!