Stacking the Shelves is a weekly feature all about sharing your good luck in book acquisitions! So here’s what came my way since my last post!
I’ve been trying to not add too much to my existing pile, so have resisted buying books this past couple of weeks, but, my review copies have definitely added to my glorious stack of books to read! I’m really looking forward to these!
Received for Review (ebooks)
Empire Ascendant by Kameron Hurley
Loyalties are tested when worlds collide… In this thrilling sequel to The Mirror Empire, Kameron Hurley transports us back to a land of blood mages, sentient plants, and warfare on a scale that spans worlds. Every two thousand years, the dark star Oma appears in the sky, bringing with it a tide of death and destruction. And those who survive must contend with friends and enemies newly imbued with violent powers. The kingdom of Saiduan already lies in ruin, decimated by invaders from another world who share the faces of those they seek to destroy. Now the nation of Dhai is under siege by the same force. Their only hope for survival lies in the hands of an illegitimate ruler and a scullery maid with a powerful – but unpredictable –magic. As the foreign Empire spreads across the world like a disease, one of their former allies takes up her Empress’s sword again to unseat them, and two enslaved scholars begin a treacherous journey home with a long-lost secret that they hope is the key to the Empire’s undoing. But when the enemy shares your own face, who can be trusted?
The follow up to Mirror Empire, I couldn’t miss this book! Really excited to read it. Many thanks to Angry Robot for the eARC!
The Night Clock by Paul Meloy
An incredible debut novel that will move and terrify you, as reality itself is threatened by a world just beyond our own. And still the Night Clock ticks… Phil Trevena’s patients are dying and he needs answers. One of the disturbed men in his care tells him that he needs to find Daniel, that Daniel will be able to explain what is happening. But who is Daniel? Daniel was lost once, broken by the same force that has turned its hatred on Trevena. His destiny is greater than he could ever imagine. Drawn together, Trevena and Daniel embark on an extraordinary journey of discovery, encountering The Firmament Surgeons in the Dark Time—the flux above our reality. Whoever controls Dark Time controls the minds of humanity. The Firmament Surgeons, aware of the approach of limitless hostility and darkness, are gathered to bring an end to the war with the Autoscopes, before they tear our reality apart. Paul Meloy’s extraordinarily rich debut novel introduces us to a world just beyond our own, shattering our preconceptions about creativity and mental illness, presenting us with a novel like no other.
This book was not on my radar at all, but when I read the blurb on NetGalley I was intrigued. Then when I saw
“In the stories of Paul Meloy raw, tell-it-like-it-is comedy brawls with trippy horror in a cage match for the human soul. Take a front row seat. Try not to get any blood on you.” Joe Hill
in the advanced praise, I had to request it. Many thanks to Solaris for approving my request!
Received for Review (audiobooks)
The Insect Farm by Stuart Prebble
An eerie debut suspense novel that explores how little one man may know his own brother–and his own mind. The Maguire brothers each have their own driving, single-minded obsession. For Jonathan, it is his magnificent, talented, and desirable wife, Harriet. For Roger, it is the elaborate universe he has constructed in a shed in their parents’ garden, populated by millions of tiny insects. While Jonathan’s pursuit of Harriet leads him to feelings of jealousy and anguish, Roger’s immersion in the world he has created reveals a capability and talent which are absent from his everyday life. Roger is known to all as a loving, protective, yet simple man, but the ever-growing complexity of the insect farm suggests that he is capable of far more than anyone believes. Following a series of strange and disturbing incidents, Jonathan begins to question every story he has ever been told about his brother–and if he has so completely misjudged Roger’s mind, what else might he have overlooked about his family, and himself? As the accidents at home multiply and tragedy strikes, a startling picture emerges. One of these brothers is a killer, and the other has no idea.
Mulholland puts out some really intriguing books. Actually, I don’t think I’ve read one yet that I’ve not really enjoyed. That said, they don’t do a ton of genre books. I thought this one may sway into horror just a bit, but it really doesn’t. It is still a wonderful read though, you can check out my review. When I saw the opportunity to review the audiobook version, I jumped on it. Many thanks to Hachette Audio for sending this my way!!
Vicious by V. E. Schwab
Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?
I’ve heard plenty of good things about Vicious, so I decided to go ahead and give it a go. Many thanks to Audible Studios for the review copy!
Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues by Diana Rowland
Angel Crawford is finally starting to get used to life as a brain-eating zombie, but her problems are far from over. Her felony record is coming back to haunt her, more zombie hunters are popping up, and she’s beginning to wonder if her hunky cop-boyfriend is involved with the zombie mafia. Yeah, that’s right–the zombie mafia. Throw in a secret lab and a lot of conspiracy, and Angel’s going to need all of her brainpower–and maybe a brain smoothie as well–in order to get through it without falling apart.
After finishing the first book in this series for my Backlist Burndown, I decided I would read/listen to the rest. They are nice lighter books between my other reads. Many thanks to Audible Studios for review copy.
Received for Review (physical books)
Our Lady of the Ice by Cassandra Rose Clarke
Hope City, Antarctica. The southernmost city in the world, with only a glass dome and a faltering infrastructure to protect its citizens from the freezing, ceaseless winds of the Antarctic wilderness. Within this bell jar four people–some human, some not–will shape the future of the city forever: Eliana Gomez, a female PI looking for a way to the mainland. Diego Amitrano, the right-hand man to the gangster who controls the city’s food come winter. Marianella Luna, an aristocrat with a dangerous secret. Sofia, an android who has begun to evolve. But the city is evolving too, and in the heart of the perilous Antarctic winter, factions will clash, dreams will shatter, and that frozen metropolis just might boil over…
An android who “has begun to evolve”, a Antarctic city being shaped by a PI, and gangster, and aristocrat and the android? Clashing factions and shattered dreams? Yes, please!! My thanks to Saga Press for sending me a review copy!
Alice by Christina Henry
A mind-bending new novel inspired by the twisted and wondrous works of Lewis Carroll… In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside. In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood… Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago. Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful. And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.
The good people at Ace/Roc just keep spoiling their Ace Roc Stars!! This book sounds dark and twisted, which is very much my thing! Thanks to them for sending this my way!
9 thoughts on “Stacking the Shelves – August 2, 2015”
Oooh, can’t wait to hear what you think of Our Lady of the Ice and Alice, those are both on my ‘very much want’ list so will be interested to see what you think!!!
First time I’m hearing of The Night Clock, but with a blurb like that, it has my attention too! Look forward to reading your review for it – and for Alice too. Been seeing that one around a lot lately and would like to know what it is about. DJ (@MyLifeMyBooksMyEscape) recently posted…Guest Post: Jay Posey – What’s In a Name?
I hadn’t heard of it either and almost glanced over it. Was glad I didn’t when I saw that blurb 🙂 Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…Stacking the Shelves – August 2, 2015
Holy crap, are we already at ARC time for Empire Ascendant? I still haven’t read The Mirror Empire yet…sigh. Yay for audiobooks for review! I’ve never requested an audiobook for review before – I may have to start doing that. 🙂 Danya @ Fine Print recently posted…Monthly Recap: July 2015
No kidding! For the books that take years to come out, it seems forever, but the ones that only take a year? They sneak up crazy quick! Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday – The Rising by Ian Tregillis
Oooh, can’t wait to hear what you think of Our Lady of the Ice and Alice, those are both on my ‘very much want’ list so will be interested to see what you think!!!
Happy reading 🙂
Fi recently posted…Book Haul #112, Or The One Where I Bought All The Books… Again!
Yes, Friday was a good day when those two books showed up! 🙂
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…Stacking the Shelves – August 2, 2015
First time I’m hearing of The Night Clock, but with a blurb like that, it has my attention too! Look forward to reading your review for it – and for Alice too. Been seeing that one around a lot lately and would like to know what it is about.
DJ (@MyLifeMyBooksMyEscape) recently posted…Guest Post: Jay Posey – What’s In a Name?
I hadn’t heard of it either and almost glanced over it. Was glad I didn’t when I saw that blurb 🙂
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…Stacking the Shelves – August 2, 2015
I was this close to pressing the request button on The Night Clock! I was intrigued by the description too, but it also has that abstract vibe. Let me know what you think!
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum recently posted…SERIES SPOTLIGHT – Tufa Audiobook Review: Wisp of a Thing by Alex Bledsoe
I’ll let you know 🙂
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…Stacking the Shelves – August 2, 2015
Holy crap, are we already at ARC time for Empire Ascendant? I still haven’t read The Mirror Empire yet…sigh. Yay for audiobooks for review! I’ve never requested an audiobook for review before – I may have to start doing that. 🙂
Danya @ Fine Print recently posted…Monthly Recap: July 2015
No kidding! For the books that take years to come out, it seems forever, but the ones that only take a year? They sneak up crazy quick!
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday – The Rising by Ian Tregillis
I do like the sound of Our Lady of the Ice – it seems to be showing up on a few lists.
Lynn 😀
Lynn recently posted…Once upon a time…. they all lived happily ever after. The end.