Recently have added a few new books to Mt. ToBeRead! I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll never catch up on reading all the books I own and I’m okay with that. It’s the only way I don’t feel guilty about constantly acquiring new books. 🙂
These are actually from two separate book hauls. The top bunch I bought ordered online while the bottom four I picked up during a recent trip to one of my favorite used book stores, Wonder Book and Video.
- Mirage by Somaiya Daud. I’ve read some great reviews of this one and it seemed like something right up my alley so I had to check it out. A girl forced to work as a body double for a princess? A colonized star system? Court intrigue? Sign me up.
- Barsk: The Elephant’s Graveyard by Lawrence M. Schoen. Schoen is a somewhat local author and I’ve seen him a few times at our local book festival on panels and such. He’ll be there again this year so I really wanted to read some of his work and this one is highly rated by one of my friends. The whole concept is intriguing and I can’t wait to dive in but with only two weeks until book fest, not sure if I’ll get to it before then or after. (must. read. faster.)
- The Mere Wife by Maria Dahvana Headley. I first heard about this one from Fran Wilde. I support her on Patreon and she often posts what books she’s recently read and loved. When someone is really passionate about a book, has such an emotional response to it, I can’t help but be intrigued. I finally picked up a copy after seeing it mentioned again recently. Looking forward to it.
- Fool’s Run by Patricia McKillip. I honestly have no idea what this book is about but I try to pick up any McKillip books I come across that I don’t already have. I’ve read quite a few of her Fantasy works but never any SF from her.
- A Thousand Words for Stranger and Beholder’s Eye by Julie E. Czerneda. I have never read any of her work but she recently did an AMA on r/fantasy and I really enjoyed her q&a session and a lot of her books sound like ones I would enjoy. When I came across these while out and about I decided to add them to my pile. Hopefully I’ll get to pick one up sooner rather than later.
- Son of Avonar by Carol Berg. Over the last several years I’ve really become a fan of Berg’s writing. I absolutely loved her Rai-Kirah series as well as her Lighthouse Duet. I want to get to all of her books eventually, so when I saw this one I had to pick it up.
These next set of four books came to me from a friend and fellow book lover as a prize for ‘winning’ worst team in baseball (our teams were battling it out for last place). I don’t know a whole lot about these books, although I have heard of some of them and their authors before. I very much looking forward to each of them! What a lovely surprise these were. 🙂
- Giant Days by Non Pratt
- The Enterprise of Death by Jesse Bullington
- Zoo City by Lauren Beukes
- The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
These three books I picked up from the library. I was just supposed to be picking up Artificial Condition but I couldn’t help browsing while I was there. You know how it goes.
- Garrison Girl by Rachel Aaron. I’ve read and loved a lot of Aaron’s stuff. She writes action well and really has a good handle on characters. I’ve watched AoT so I’m interested to see the melding of the two here.
- Deep Roots by Beth Cato. This is a collection of some of her shorter works from her other series. This looked like a quick read, a bit of a pick me up between other books, so I thought I’d give it a try. I’m a fan of her Blood of Earth series (the new one comes out soon, so excited!), so looking forward to seeing some of her other work here.
- Artificial Condition by Martha Wells. I finally read Murderbot and it is everything I want in books and more. Can’t praise this series enough. Love, love, LOVE.
I also picked up a few new audiobooks. Because of course I did. Well, I had audible credits so I had to use them, right?
- Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey. I feel like I’ve been hearing about The Expanse forever and a day so I saw this one in an audible sale and picked it up.
- Of Noble Family by Mary Robinette Kowal. The last of the Glamourist Histories books! I’m determined to finish up a few more series this year.
- The Testament of Loki by Joanne M. Harris. I loved the first one so much I had to pick up the sequel.
Two new e-books as well!
- Infomocracy by Malka Older. Malka is another author coming down to the local book festival. I don’t think I’ll have enough time to squeeze this one in before the end of the month, but I”ll try! Picked this one up while it was recently on sale.
- Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells. What can I say? I’m completely head over heals for Murderbot. I’ve already read this one too and am eagerly awaiting the fourth novella. I’m debating if I should review the first three or just wait for the fourth to come out and review them all at once? Decisions, decisions. Either way, if you haven’t read Murderbot yet, maybe think about reading Murderbot because these books are amazeballs. Murderbot. ❤
That’s my latest in book acquisitions! Do any of these stand out to you? Which are your favorites? Leave me a note in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!
Way Too Fantasy 
Great review
Great haul, wow! I can vouch for Garrison Girl and Zoo City, I loved both of them. I’m dying to start Murderbot! I have the first three, I just need to take a break from review books1😀
Thanks! I remember your review of Garrison Girl which is one of the reasons I decided to pick it up when I saw it avail at the library. 🙂
I was supposed to be reading review books and I took a break from them when I was sick with the flu and marathoned Murderbot instead, lol. They are super quick reads. At this point though, if I were you, I’d hold off til the next one comes out in Oct (unless you already have an advance copy) otherwise you’ll be mad you have to wait for it. 🙂
Oh, I’ve been meaning to pick up Mirage!! I hope you love all of these❤️
Thanks!
I’ve been wanting to read Leviathan Wakes for some time now too because I liked the Expanse TV show that’s based on it.
I have not watched the TV show yet, but I know some of my friends loved it.
It’s pretty good.
Glad you’ve finally got Barsk! The sequel just came out but I haven’t gotten to it yet. It’s actually fairly short and reads quickly so that one’s doable before BBF.
The Jesse Bullington one is a weird one… Sort of grim historical fantasy with some dark humor, if I remember right. He later wrote as Alex Marshall (A Crown for Cold Silver or something).
Well, it’s doable if I can get through my reading obligations first. I have two books that are review requests, once I get through them I don’t think I have anymore til October.
Ah, didn’t realize they were the same person!
Yeah I don’t think they revealed that Marshall was Bullington until book 2 or something–I remember having read the 3 Bullingtons and wondering what he was up to since The Folly of the World, LOL!
I remember you saying you’re near Baltimore…I live about 45 min north. I didn’t know Schoen is somewhat local! You’re going to have to clue me into these book fests! 😀
I think he lives in Philly, but I’ve seen him at least once, maybe twice at the book festival. The Baltimore Book Festival is over three days every year in September. The last several years it’s been downtown right at the inner harbor. It’s free to attend. There are many different tents and stages where authors speak and such. SFWA has a tent and it’s organized by folks from the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, but I think mostly by Sarah Pinsker (she’s a member). There’s a really great lineup this year, it’s the last weekend of the month. It’s worth coming down and spending a day at the harbor for. Here’s the schedule for the SFWA panels and such: http://www.baltimorebookfestival.com/schedule/location/11/Science-Fiction-and-Fantasy-Writers-of-America-Stage
Thanks for the link! End of September might be a bit too short notice for me to get everything organized to attend, but I’ll definitely keep it in mind for future years. I recognize a lot of authors on those panelist/guest lists!
Btw, I work north of the city, up in the Timonium area.
Ah cool, I’m in Harford County 😀
Ah neat. My mom’s cousin lives up that way, in Rocks State Park.
Haha that seems like the best prize for the best contest. 😀 And I really love Berg’s writing too. Definitely still need to try her Rai-Kirah books. Fingers crossed you get to (and enjoy) all of these!
Thanks! 🙂
Looking forward to your thoughts on Mirage. I’ve heard some pretty good buzz around it and the summary was interesting.
Yeah, I actually picked it up because of some positive reviews I read.
What a terrific book haul. I fancy a few of these – particular the bot books and the elephant graveyard. Happy reading.
Lynn 😀
Thanks! Hopefully I’ll get to some of these sooner rather than later. 🙂