strange and random happenstance

Winter by Val McDermid
Published by: Atlantic Monthly Press
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 160 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this radiant work of creative nonfiction, internationally beloved novelist Val McDermid delivers a dazzling ode to a lost world, ruminating on a single winter in her life as she journeys into the heart of the season's ever-evolving community-based traditions.

Val McDermid has always had a soft spot for winter: the bitter clarity of a crisp cold day, the crunch of frost on fallen leaves, and the chance to be enveloped in big jumpers and thick socks.

In Winter, McDermid takes us on an adventure through the season, from the frosty streets of Edinburgh to the windblown Scottish coast, from Bonfire Night and Christmas to Burns Night and Up Helly Aa. Recalling in parallel memories from her own childhood - of skating over frozen lakes and carving a "neep" (rutabaga) for Halloween to being taken to see her first real Christmas tree in the town square - McDermid offers a wise and enchanting meditation on winter and its ever-changing, sometimes ephemeral, traditions.

A hygge-filled journey through winter nights, McDermid reminds us that it is a time of rest, retreat and creativity, for scribbling in notebooks and settling in beside the fire. A treat for the hunkering-down, post-holiday reading season, Winter is a charming and cozy celebration of the year's idle months from one of Scotland's best-loved writers."

The perfect book for a cold winter night reading by the fire.

The Briars by Sarah Crouch
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The USA Today bestselling author of Middletide returns with a lush and atmospheric novel of suspense following a young woman whose job as a game warden puts her in the path of a murderer in a small town eager to protect its own.

Desperate to escape a relationship gone bad, Annie Heston flees north to accept a job as a game warden in Lake Lumin, a picturesque town in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

A cougar has been spotted in the area, and as Annie warns the community of the threat, she quickly discovers that not everyone in the tight-knit town is welcoming of outsiders, except for Daniel Barela, a reclusive carpenter who lives in the shadow of the mountain. They form an instant bond, though Annie soon comes to realize there is more to his past than meets the eye.

When the body of a young woman is found in the briars that border Daniel's property, the peace Annie has found in Lake Lumin shatters. As she assists the local sheriff with the investigation, Annie must rely on her wilderness training and intuition to find a murderer hiding in plain sight.

Urgent and emotionally complex, The Briars is a captivating literary thriller that marries an exploration of human nature with a plot as thorny and twisted as the brambles for which it is named."

Even when there are cougars about man is still the deadliest animal. 

Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum
Published by: Harper
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"For every woman who's ever fallen for a bad man comes a hilarious and eviscerating tale of love, loss, and deadlines from New York Times bestselling author Jenna Blum.

Known for such brilliant historical novels as Those Who Save Us and The Lost Family, A Mighty Blaze co-founder and New York Times bestselling author Jenna Blum now offers a contemporary, suspenseful novel about love, loss, and revenge in the world of books.

Simone "Sam" Vetiver is a mid-career novelist finishing a lukewarm publicity tour while facing a deadline for a new book on which she's totally blocked. Recently divorced, Sam is worrying where her life is going when she receives glowing fan mail from stratospherically successful author William Corwyn, renowned for his female-centric novels. When William and Sam meet and his literary sympathy is as intense as their chemistry, both writers think they've found The One.

But as in their own novels, things between Sam and William are not what they seem. William has multiple stalkers, including a scarily persistent one named The Rabbit. He lives on a remote Maine island, where his writer life resembles The Shining. And when writers turn up dead, including from The Darlings support group William runs, Sam has to ask: Is it The Rabbit - William's #1 Stalker? Another woman scorned? Can William be everything he seems?

Narrated by Sam, William, and The Rabbit, Murder Your Darlings is a wickedly witty look at today's literary landscape and down-the-rabbit-hole tale of how far people will go for love."

Murdering members of your own writers group on a remote island smacks of stupidity. Or... hubris... 

The Lodge by Paul Finch
Published by: Thomas and Mercer
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 350 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"It's the perfect getaway. Until there's no way out.

You have been dreaming of an unforgettable weekend escape, and Black Tarn Lodge seems to offer everything - a magnificent Gothic mansion with towering turrets nestled in the misty Lancashire hills.

Expecting elegant dinners, vintage wines and a screening of a legendary lost film in the private cinema, all seems perfect. Until night falls and a thick fog isolates you from the world. Your phones go missing. Guests start vanishing. And then you find the body.

Someone, it seems, fell from the roof. But you can't help wondering if he was pushed. Totally cut off, you cannot leave or call for help. You don't know these people. But you need to decide who you can trust soon. Because someone is going to be next - will it be you?

From Sunday Times bestseller Paul Finch comes a totally addictive thriller that will leave you utterly breathless as you race through the pages. Perfect for fans of Lucy Clarke, Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley."

Just saying, wine bottles make a nice weapon. Though I'm sure in a Gothic mansion there's plenty of weaponry on the walls to choose from.

The Chateau Murder by Greg Mosse
Published by: Hodder and Stoughton
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: eBook, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Wish accidental detective Zoe Pascal bonne chance as she finds herself embroiled in another murder!

Zoe Pascal has settled into her new life in the picturesque village of Sainte-Catherine, running her beloved bookshop with her new companion, Russell the dog.

When an old friend invites Zoe to join her family at Chateau Palotte for the holidays, Zoe heads off into the French countryside to the grand, yet slightly dilapidated, castle.

But there's a frosty atmosphere at the chateau - and when the butler is found dead, Zoe is forced to ask: Was this an accident, or is there a murderer in the grounds?

Soon, Zoe uncovers that everyone staying at the chateau has a motive for murder - can she uncover the truth, before they strike again?"

Well, of course everyone has a motive for murdering the butler. A butler is the one person whom everyone would have had contact with. 

Inside Man by John McMahon
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this sequel to McMahon's electrifying series debut, Head Cases, Gardner Camden and the PAR team return to investigate potentially connected cases.

FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles. He and his squad of brilliant yet quirky agents make up the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit, the FBI's hidden edge, brought in for cases that no one else can solve.

PAR's latest case involves a militia group stockpiling weapons. When their confidential informant in the case is killed, it quickly becomes clear that the militia did not kill him.

As the squad looks into the evidence surrounding his murder, an unidentified man is caught on camera with their informant. This mystery man's picture is connected to another case at the FBI, an unsolved series of murdered women, buried in the ground in north Florida. Could they have uncovered a serial killer? And if so, what is his connection to their C.I.?

As PAR juggles an investigation into both the dead women and the militia, they enroll a new informant, only to find the case escalating in dangerous ways. How will PAR handle a case that increasingly looks like a terrorist plot? And in the serial case, with no puzzles or witnesses, and few leads, how will a group set up to decode riddles be successful?"

Maybe the C.I. was a serial killer looking to cover his ass?

Divine Ruin by Margot Douaihy
Published by: Gillian Flynn Books
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the latest in the USA Today bestselling, award-winning, critically acclaimed series, New Orleans punk rock nun-detective Sister Holiday plunges into a "hellish underworld of drug trafficking, addiction, and her own dark past in a journey that is both riveting and sacred." (Ana Reyes, New York Times bestselling author of The House in the Pines)

It's a steamy, restless end of the school year in New Orleans. Sister Holiday is finishing her music classes and preparing for her permanent vow ceremony, a pivotal moment in her journey of faith. But when one of her favorite students is found dead of a fentanyl overdose, Sister Holiday and her partner-in-PI, Magnolia Riveaux, are determined to track down the drug dealers. As students continue to fall prey to this sinister drug, Sister Holiday becomes more desperate to stop the epidemic - while facing her own past with addiction, a demon that is never too far.

With Douaihy's signature mix of grit, heart, and faith, Divine Ruin tests the limits of Sister Holiday's devotion in her darkest and most shocking case yet."

Nuns busting drug dealers!

Pig Wife by Abbey Luck
Published by: Top Shelf Productions
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 540 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Accidentally trapped in an underground bunker, a teen girl must navigate the bizarre secrets within. This astonishing indie-horror graphic novel will keep readers guessing - and turning pages!

Mary had a bad feeling even before they arrived at dead Aunt Pearl's house. Dragged to a remote mining town so her mom and stepdad can settle Pearl's estate, Mary can't wait to escape from her wreck of a family - but she's stuck with them in the middle of nowhere. After a vicious fight, Mary runs off to hide in an abandoned gold mine. Her escape plan backfires when she realizes she's trapped inside. Even more terrifying...she's not alone.

Filled with suspense, dark humor, and spectacular nightmares, Pig Wife is a shockingly ambitious debut from graphic novelist Abbey Luck, seizing readers by the heart and the throat with a story of isolation, abuse, trauma, and survival.

In this truly twisted coming-of-age tale, Luck suggests that survival doesn't depend on our strength and wits alone - but on our ability to love others, even in the most horrific circumstances."

A lesson all should have learned from The Goonies.

Detour by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart
Published by: Random House Worlds
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A space shuttle flight crew discovers that the Earth they've returned to is not the home they left behind in the first book of this emotional, mind-bending thriller series from the creator of the hit Netflix show Manifest and the bestselling author of The Warehouse.

Ryan Crane wasn't looking for trouble - just a cup of coffee. But when this cop spots a gunman emerging from an unmarked van, he leaps into action and unknowingly saves John Ward, a billionaire with presidential aspirations, from an assassination attempt.

As thanks for Ryan's quick thinking, Ward offers him the chance of a lifetime: to join a group of lucky civilians chosen to accompany three veteran astronauts on the first manned mission to Saturn's moon Titan.

A devoted family man, Ryan is reluctant to leave on this two-year expedition, yet with the encouragement of his loving wife - and an exorbitant paycheck guaranteeing lifetime care for their disabled son - he crews up and ventures into a new frontier.

But as the ship is circling Titan, it is rocked by an unexplained series of explosions. The crew works together to get back on course, and they return to Earth as heroes.

When the fanfare dies down, Ryan and his fellow astronauts notice that things are different. Some changes are good, such as lavish upgrades to their homes, but others are more disconcerting. Before the group can connect, mysterious figures start tailing them, and their communications are scrambled.

Separated and suspicious, the crew must uncover the truth and decide how far they're willing to go to return to their normal lives. Just when their space adventure seemingly ends, it shockingly begins."

AKA another in a long long list of why I'd never go to space.

The Last of Earth by Deepa Anappara
Published by: Random House
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the award-winning author of Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line comes a stunning historical novel set in nineteenth-century Tibet that follows two outsiders - an Indian schoolteacher spying for the British Empire and an English "lady" explorer - as they venture into a forbidden kingdom.

1869. Tibet is closed to Europeans, an infuriating obstruction for the rap­idly expanding British Empire. In response, Britain begins training Indians - permitted to cross borders that white men may not - to undertake illicit, dangerous surveying expeditions into Tibet.

Balram is one such surveyor-spy, an Indian schoolteacher who, for several years, has worked for the British, often alongside his dearest friend, Gyan. But Gyan went missing on his last expedition and is rumored to be imprisoned within Tibet. Desperate to rescue his friend, Balram agrees to guide an English captain on a foolhardy mission: After years of paying others to do the exploring, the captain, disguised as a monk, wants to personally chart a river that runs through southern Tibet. Their path will cross fatefully with that of another Westerner in disguise, fifty-year-old Katherine. Denied a fellowship in the all-male Royal Geographical Society in London, she intends to be the first European woman to reach Lhasa.

As Balram and Katherine make their way into Tibet, they will face storms and bandits, snow leopards and soldiers, fevers and frostbite. What's more, they will have to battle their own doubts, ambitions, grief, and pasts in order to survive the treacherous landscape.

A polyphonic novel about the various ways humans try to leave a mark on the world - from the enduring nature of family and friendship to the egomania and obsessions of the colonial enterprise - The Last of Earth confirms Deepa Anappara as one of our greatest and most ambitious storytellers."

Has a slight Black Narcissus vibe.

The Bookbinder's Secret by A.D. Bell
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Every book tells a story. This one tells a secret.

A young bookbinder begins a hunt for the truth when a confession hidden beneath the binding of a burned book reveals a story of forbidden love, lost fortune, and murder.

Lilian ("Lily") Delaney, apprentice to a master bookbinder in Oxford in 1901, chafes at the confines of her life. She is trapped between the oppressiveness of her father's failing bookshop and still being an apprentice in a man's profession. But when she's given a burned book during a visit to a collector, she finds, hidden beneath the binding, a fifty-year-old letter speaking of love, fortune, and murder.

Lily is pulled into the mystery of the young lovers, a story of forbidden love, and discovers there are more books and more hidden pages telling their story. Lilian becomes obsessed with the story but she is not the only one looking for the remaining books and what began as a diverting intrigue quickly becomes a very dangerous pursuit.

Lily's search leads her from the eccentric booksellers of London to the private libraries of unscrupulous collectors and the dusty archives of society papers, deep into the heart of the mystery. But with sinister forces closing in, willing to do anything for the books, Lilian's world begins to fall apart and she must decide if uncovering the truth is worth the risk to her own life."

If I were to leave a scandalous story after my death I'd totally hide it in books that then get flung to the four corners of the Earth. My story would be a treasure hunt!

Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez
Published by: Saturday Books
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 488 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"#1 New York Times bestseller Isabel Ibañez in her adult debut: a gorgeous, historical, and romantic fantasy that will leave readers breathless for more!

She was never meant to be seen. Now she's a weapon the world can't ignore.

As a sculptress, Ravenna Maffei has always shaped beauty from stone but she has a terrible secret. Desperate to save her brother, she enters a competition hosted by Florence's most feared immortal family, revealing a dark power in a city where magic is forbidden.

Now a captive in the cutthroat city of Florence, Ravenna is forced into a dangerous task where failure meets certain death at the hands of Saturnino dei Luni, the immortal family's mesmerizing but merciless heir. But as he draws her closer, Ravenna realizes the true threat lies beyond Florence's walls.

The Pope's war against magic is closing in, and Ravenna is no longer just a prisoner but a prize to be claimed. As trusting the wrong person becomes lethal, Ravenna must survive the treacherous line between a pope's obsession and the seductive immortal who might be the end of her - or surrender her power to a city on the brink of war."

I would totally choose an immortal over the pop any day. 

The Poisoner by I.V. Ophelia
Published by: Simon Maverick
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The Lost Apothecary meets Gothikana in a Victorian era Gothic romance about a botanist who likes to poison unsavory men, but when her next target visits her apothecary, they discover their dark bond runs deeper than they imagined.

"Have you ever wondered how long it would take for a lethal dose of arsenic to kill you?
Thirty-five hours, twenty-nine minutes, and fifteen seconds.
I should know. I counted myself."

Amidst the gaslit alleys and cobblestone streets of Victorian London, two killers find themselves entangled in a waltz they cannot escape.

Alina Lis, a botanist and hobbyist poisoner, has a pastime of killing unsavory men in her twisted sense of poetic justice. When she targets the conceited playboy, Silas Forbes, only to find him in her apothecary the following week, she discovers human men are the least of her problems.

The pair's unlikely association sparks gossip among affluent society. As their mysterious bond deepens, a chilling truth emerges - concealed identities, lurking foes, and questions as plentiful as the hydra's head brew within this haunting Gothic tale of violent passion.

Will Silas and Alina find themselves in each other's arms, or will the shadows of their past keep them apart?"

Or will they bring their vengeance down on London?

The East Wind by Alexandria Warwick
Published by: S and S/Saga Press
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Rapunzel meets the myth of Psyche and Cupid in a stand-alone fantasy romance tale of love, survival and healing, as a mortal woman and a god unite to overcome deadly trials - and their own tortured pasts - in the climactic final installment of the Four Winds series.

Min of Marles is a skilled apprentice, assisting the town's apothecarist in brewing potions, tonics, and deadly poisons. High in the estate tower where she works, a powerful immortal is kept chained, tortured daily for information. His screams haunt her waking and dreaming hours. A god, she learns. The East Wind, Eurus, who commands the sea-born storms.

A hasty attempt to free him leads to Min's own capture and forced employment to the East Wind as an aide to his grand plans for revenge. In the City of Gods, a tournament is held every thousand years, in which the winner may ask a favor from the esteemed Council of Gods. If Eurus wins, the council must reverse his banishment, the sentence that exiled him and his brothers to the mortal realms. But he requires a deadly poison to ensure that, once the favor is granted, the council will pay for his centuries long exile.

To earn her freedom, Min reluctantly assists in Eurus's plans. As they work together to defeat the deadly trials, she realizes her relationship to the East Wind isn't purely transactional. But if she ever wishes to return home, she must betray the god she loves.

For more stories from the world of the Four Winds, check out The North Wind, The West Wind, and The South Wind."

Is home home or is home the person you love?

The Luminous Fairies and Mothra by Shin'ichirō Nakamura, Takehiko Fukunaga, and Yoshie Hotta
Published by: University of Minnesota Press
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 120 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The original story that hatched Mothra, one of the most beloved monsters in the "kaijuverse" - available in English for the first time.

Mystical and benevolent, the colossal lepidopteran Mothra has been one of the most beloved kaiju since 1961, when The Luminous Fairies and Mothra was originally published in Japanese. Commissioned by Tōhō Studios from three of Japan's most prominent postwar literary writers (Shin'ichirō Nakamura, Takehiko Fukunaga, and Yoshie Hotta), the novella formed the basis for the now-classic monster film Mothra, with a protagonist second only to Godzilla in number of film appearances by a kaiju. Finally available in its first official English translation, The Luminous Fairies and Mothra will captivate ardent, longtime fans of the films as well as newcomers.

Written just months after the largest political demonstrations Japan had ever seen, The Luminous Fairies and Mothra reflects the rebellious spirit of the time. In this original story, explorers visit a South Pacific island and capture a group of fairies, inciting the fury of the goddess Mothra, who sets out for Japan on a mission of rescue and revenge. Expressing a powerful social stance about Japan's need to chart its own foreign policy during the Cold War, the novella's political message was ultimately toned down in the Tōhō Studios film. Through this translation, Anglophone audiences will discover Mothra as a figure of protest fiction intricately reflecting the complex geopolitical situation in early 1960s Japan.

The Luminous Fairies and Mothra is translated into lively prose by Jeffrey Angles, who also wrote an extensive afterword about the novella's cultural context, the unusual story of its composition, and the development of the 1961 film. Following Angles's best-selling translation of the original Godzilla novellas, this new work will once again delight kaiju fans everywhere."

And release just in time to tide you over until season two of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. 

Starling Nights by Merit Niemeitz
Published by: One More Chapter
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Kindle, 430 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The Secret History meets Twilight in this gripping Dark Academia with a romantasy twist!

Some secrets are written in the stars.

Others hide in the shadows.

There were many myths told about Cambridge. Stories woven from rumour and skewed half-truths, the thin fabric passed from hand to hand in the shadows.

The university kept the true, unfiltered secrets of this place. Only a select few were capable of understanding what it had to tell. People like us. We understood because we were part of it. Because we were the biggest secret of all.

Cambridge student Mabel Golding learned long ago to keep her head down and avoid getting entangled in other people's drama, but when her best friend, Zoe, is drawn into the circle of a mysterious student society with centuries of history, Mabel feels inordinately uneasy. Even more so when she soon finds herself dangerously close to the heart of The League of Starlings, and to its inscrutable leader, Blake..."

ALL about secret societies! 

Into the Midnight Wood by Alexandra McCollum
Published by: Dutton
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A whimsical queer romance about two mismatched roommates whose fragile - and definitely not romantic at all - balance is upended by an impending family wedding and an otherworldly danger in the nearby enchanted wood.

There are at least 100 things wrong with Meredith Schwarzwelder. In fact, keeping track of these things is the only way David Carew has managed to remain living with him for as long as he has. Meredith is an irredeemable eccentric who flirts with everyone in his path (#3 on the list), cries at anything (#35), makes the worst coffee in the world (#70), and talks to mice, or imagines he does (#50).

It's bad enough living with such a person on the edge of the Midnight Wood, but when magic starts to seep from the wood and a dark being emerges with a sinister plan involving Meredith, David decides that it's time to leave the cottage, and his roommate, behind. Then Meredith's brother gets engaged to the daughter of David's boss, and David sees an opportunity: If he can insert himself into the festivities, maybe he can advance his career and get himself out of a personal rut.

With wedding bells sounding and the dangers of the Midnight Wood encroaching, David realizes there's much more hiding beneath the surface of his roommate's seemingly carefree charm, and that perhaps his own exasperation carries more fondness than he'd like to admit.

Cozy, sharp, steamy, and poignant, Into the Midnight Wood is a contemporary queer fairy tale about the masks we wear, the stories we tell, and the powerful need for true, honest connection to heal old wounds and new."

I mean, if you can enough to make a numbered list about the ways someone annoys you, you are already so far gone it isn't even funny. 

A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa
Published by: William Morrow
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 240 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"For readers of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, The Dallergut Dream Department Store, and The Midnight Library, a sweetly magical and uplifting novel about a young woman who inherits an enchanted bakery that spirits visit on their last stop before the afterlife.

Twenty-seven-year-old Yeon-hwa has inherited a neighborhood bakery from her grandmother. Curiously, her grandmother's will spells out two conditions: Yeon-hwa must keep the shop going for at least another month and only open it to customers from 10 PM until midnight. Yeon-hwa is hesitant at first; her grandmother was always distant, raising Yeon-hwa after her parents died in a car accident. But she agrees to the terms, hoping that running the bakery will help her to finally understand her grandmother after all these years.

Yeon-hwa soon learns that the Hwawoldang - the name means "flower moon temple" - is not an ordinary dessert shop. The customers who arrive late at night are spirits, there to attend to unfinished business before being reincarnated. The sweets they crave hold some deep significance in their earthly lives, and they expect Yeon-hwa to meet their requests, as her grandmother did.

With each customer who arrives, Yeon-hwa learns which special desserts live in their memories and will help them on their way. Aided by the shop's resident black cat, Yeon-hwa learns how to find closure for her customers - and begins to unravel her own family's secrets as well."

This is such a feel good type of tale, which is why I would like books like this to stop being compared to The Midnight Library. That is NOT a feel good book. Not. At. All. 

The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A plucky librarian and an archaeologist on the run fake an engagement to save their lives, leading them into the labyrinth of their own desires.

Daniela Guiterrez has been in love with her brother's best friend for as long as she can remember - until he went missing a year ago during an archaeological expedition. But on a solo trip to Greece, the intrepid librarian discovers that Theo is very much alive, although judging by the criminals holding him hostage, he is not doing well.

An expert in Ancient Greek archaeology, Dr. Theo Galanis has been abducted by artifact smugglers in search of a priceless gemstone - the Eye of the Minotaur. This ridiculous assignment was supposed to get Dani out of his system, not keep her tied up next to him. But when a little white lie spirals into his captors believing Theo and Dani are engaged, they must utilize her research skills and his expertise to solve the centuries' old Minoan mystery, all while feigning a romance to keep each other alive.

Now with less than six days to find the jewel, underground societies, mythological beings, and pesky abductors are only half the battle. Because among the ancient ruins and temples they explore is an even bigger danger: falling in love for real."

The third Indiana Jones "homage" by Jo Segura that has me questioning if she will continue with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The latter of which has a banging title I've thought of for Jo Segura to use...

What Have I Done? My Autobiography by Ben Elton
Published by: Macmillan UK
Publication Date: January 13th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Many people think they know who Ben Elton is - but does he?

For the first - and only - time, Ben tackles this question head on in his frank, forthright and entertaining autobiography. Taking a deep dive into his life and times, both private and public, to reveal the true stories behind iconic hits such as The Young Ones, Blackadder and We Will Rock You, his pioneering routines hosting Saturday Live, which birthed a revolution in stand-up comedy, and so much more. Ben recounts his life and uniquely varied career from his Catford childhood and being the BBC's youngest ever sitcom writer at 21 right up to the present day, with yet another hit sitcom, Upstart Crow; a surprise late-life BAFTA; and his most critically acclaimed stand-up comedy show to date.

Alongside unique insights into his ground-breaking work, Ben talks honestly and hilariously about his personal and professional relationships with two generations of brilliant friends, inspiring contemporaries, occasional foes, and the times in which they all lived. And Ben's life has been just as challenging, rewarding and funny off screen as it has been on. He unpacks it all with wit, insight and complete honesty. And of course, there's a 'little bit of politics.'

After living sixty five years on the planet, forty-five of them in public, tickling many funny bones and getting on a respectable number of wicks, Ben has a lot of stories to tell, and he tells them unvarnished and uncensored - because that's who he is."

I'd buy this just to read about Blackadder, but if he can justify how horrible Maybe Baby was, well then, it's totally worth the price.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: A.D. Bell, Alexandra McCollum, Alexandria Warwick, Ben Elton, Deepa Anappara, Greg Mosse, I.V. Ophelia, Isabel Ibañez, Jo Segura, John McMahon, Kaiju, Lee Onhwa, Margot Douaihy, Merit Niemeitz, Mothra, Sarah Crouch, Val McDermid

When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur
Published by: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Four unlikely allies in a small town investigate a local teen's disappearance, and what they discover festering at the core of their community is far more sinister and ancient than they could've ever imagined. For fans of She is a Haunting, True Detective, Mexican Gothic, and Midsommar.

When Dawson Sumter goes missing, all he leaves behind is a smattering of blood in room 4 of the debt-ridden motel owned by Neera Singh's family. Disappearances like this aren't uncommon in the rural Georgia town of Carrion, especially every thirteen years when a periodical cicada brood returns from underground, shrieking their deafening screams.

For Neera, Dawson is another reminder that in this corner of the South, the rich only get richer, and the poor - well, nothing good comes their way.

Neera sets out to investigate Dawson's whereabouts - if he even still lives - along with three other teens: Isaiah, son of a prominent judge and clandestine true crime podcaster; Reid, son of the wealthiest man in the region; and Sam, estranged daughter of the local hitman. As they find themselves entangled in a messy web of secrets and lies, they discover the riches of the adjacent Lake Clearwater community may have a terrifying source of power dating back to the town's founding and an ancient urban legend about three devils, each more sinister than the next. How deep does the rot go, and can they find a way to escape its reach?"

I love that this tiny town has it's own hitman.

The Grief Nurse by Angie Spoto
Published by: Black and White Publishing
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Imagine you could be rid of your sadness, your anxiety, your heartache, your fear. Imagine you could take those feelings from others and turn them into something beautiful. Imagine the power that would give you, how valuable you would be to others...

Lynx is a Grief Nurse. Kept by the Asters, a wealthy, influential family, to ensure they're never troubled by negative emotions. Kept at their manor house, limited to its walls, plush rooms and the elegant grounds on the family's Scottish island, she knows no other life.

When news arrives that the Asters' eldest son is dead, Lynx does what she can to alleviate their sorrow. But as guests flock to the island for the wake, bringing their own secrets, lies and grief, tensions rise and Lynx finds herself trapped at the center of a family tearing itself apart.

But the son's death is not the last and the island soon becomes a vortex of jealousy, suspicion, hatred and tragedy - with Lynx caught in the middle. With romance, intrigue and spectacular Gothic world-building, this spellbinding novel, set in a subtly reimagined 1920s Scotland, marks the debut of an extraordinary new voice in fiction."

Letting the rich remove emotions never goes well.

Jack Serpent by E.A. Field
Published by: Rising Action
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Book One of The Scriver Archives, Jack Serpent introduces readers to a brooding anti-hero and a rich worldbuilding that is reminiscent of The Witcher and One Dark Window.

Created by monsters to be destroyed by men.

Jack Serpent is the only person to have survived the Scriver Trials. With that, he became a lore keeper for the origin of monsters, a spy, and hybrid soldier able to withstand crushing magic. Ever since a coven of Strygan murdered his family, he's set out to discover and record what plagues the continents. It's the sort of highly valuable knowledge that could change wars and divide kingdoms.

In the dark places of Ocrana, an uprising of Strygan has begun. They use stolen magic to take over the realms. No one knows how to effectively kill the monsters summoned by Strygan, let alone the High Stryga herself. The military general only knows how to kill with bullets and fire, but he'll need more to challenge the encroaching threat. He'll need a Scriver's help. Jack is recruited to kill the High Stryga before she tips the balance of magic and takes the throne. To locate and destroy the High Stryga within a swamp poisoned with corrupted magic, Jack must reluctantly accept the help of others. As a man accustomed to working alone, cooperating with the ragtag group of soldiers, an old nemesis, and a tracker might prove more challenging than the monsters themselves.

When Jack finds more than a kindred spirit in the feisty tracker, he will have to choose between the mission and saving lives. There's more to the Strygan than they understand. Jack discovers a secret in his past that will either lead to a Stryga on the throne and the enslavement of humans, or the unraveling of his mind.

Sometimes knowledge is worth dying for."

Knowledge is everything!

Written on the Dark by Guy Gavriel Kay
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Both sweeping and intimate, a majestic novel of love and war that brilliantly evokes the drama and turbulence of medieval France.

Thierry Villar is a well-known - even notorious - tavern poet, familiar with the rogues and shadows of that world, but not at all with courts and power. He is an unlikely person, despite his quickness, to be caught up in the deadly contests of ambitious royals, assassins, and invading armies.

But he is indeed drawn into all these things on a savagely cold night in his beloved city of Orane. And so Thierry must use all the intelligence and charm he can muster as political struggles merge with a decades-long war to bring his country to the brink of destruction.

As he does, he meets his poetic equal in an aristocratic woman and is drawn to more than one unsettling person with a connection to the world beyond this one. He also crosses paths with an extraordinary young woman driven by voices within to try to heal the ailing king - and help his forces in war. A wide and varied set of people from all walks of life take their places in the rich tapestry of this story.

A new masterwork from the internationally bestselling author of All the Seas of the World, A Brightness Long Ago, and Tigana, Written on the Dark is an elegant tour de force about power and ambition playing out amid the intense human need for art and beauty, and memories to be left behind."

This one's for my friend Sara's mom who loves Guy Gavriel Kay!

A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride
Published by: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"To become the first queen in centuries, a powerfully blessed blacksmith must use her wits and fire magic to overthrow the corrupt powers ruling her kingdom - while also fighting her growing desire for one of her dragon-riding adversaries - in the first book of a sizzling Celtic-inspired fantasy romance duology.

Once a territory built on matriarchal rule and values, Tìr Teine has since grown frail from a long line of fruitless kings, the most recent of which have ruled under the influence of the True Religion, an oppressive group who have steadily poisoned the region with their anti-magic teachings.

Born to rule and blessed by fire, Aemyra has begrudgingly lived in hiding rather than risk her life in court, waiting in anticipation for the current king's death so she can bond to his dragon, claim her throne, and protect her people. But when the king dies and Aemyra is ready to take what is rightfully hers, her ambitious plan is foiled, and she is thrust into a game of vicious politics and plots.

Her biggest adversary is Prince Fiorean, a dragon rider and one of the most powerful fire wielders in the territory. Cold, arrogant, and blindly supportive of his corrupt family, he is everything Aemyra despises. But as chaos engulfs the court, they find themselves reluctantly entwined, forced to forge an uneasy alliance - one that quickly ignites into something more dangerous than either of them expected.

Behind enemy lines and slowly falling for her so-called adversary, Aemyra uncovers just how far the rot of corruption has spread, and what she may have to sacrifice to claim her throne."

Drawn in because of the blacksmith, staying because of the dragons!

The South Wind by Alexandria Warwick
Published by: S and S/Saga Press
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A sizzling standalone fantasy of second-chance love inspired by Sleeping Beauty and the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur from the author of The North Wind.

Princess Sarai of Ammara is cursed: on her twenty-fifth birthday she will fall into an endless, deadly sleep, plunging the kingdom into chaos and ruin. In a last-ditch attempt to save Sarai and their people, her father arranges her marriage to Prince Balior, a handsome young noble from a neighbouring kingdom. But then the South Wind, Notus - the immortal who once had her heart - returns into her life.

Sarai is determined to ignore Notus and follow her father's plan. But Prince Balior has dark secrets, and as Sarai learns more about her betrothed, she realizes he may be her kingdom's downfall. She pulls Notus into a fake engagement, buying the pair time to investigate what Balior is really planning. And why he's so obsessed with the menacing labyrinth on the palace grounds.

Despite her distrust of her ex-lover, old feelings resurface while they team up to stop the scheming prince. As the deadly curse looms closer, Sarai must remain steadfast against the temptation of her desires. Any distraction could cost her life…and destroy her entire kingdom.

The South Wind is a brand-new standalone fantasy romance novel featuring a fake engagement and second chance romance from TikTok sensation Alexandria Warwick. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Scarlett St. Clair, and Raven Kennedy."

Sleeping Beauty and a labyrinth!?! Teenage me is sqweeing! 

The Midnight Pack by Jasmine Kuliasha
Published by: Orbit
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Format: eBook, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Beauty and the Beast meets Supernatural in the first book of this new urban fantasy detective series!

Jericho James is in over her head.

She's a Private Investigator famed for debunking mythical creature sightings, and she expects her latest case in Stillbridge, Maine to be just another instance of "town who cried wolf." But instead of finding a poorly judged animal in the Northeastern woods, Jericho discovers a family of reclusive scientists. Handsome scientists, no less, working on a cure for a mystery virus.

Intrigued by the virus and utterly captivated by Benjamin - a man with cheekbones that must have been chiseled by God himself - Jericho finds she's dying to learn more about the family and their work.

And when she accidentally discovers the family's secret, she might just get her wish.

Follow Jericho James as she solves cryptid crimes, stops mythical misdeeds, and blocks otherworldly outrages. And maybe, if she has time, find love along the way."

Oh, urban fantasy with cryptids!

Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler
Published by: Orbit
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Dark Lord Davi rules the kingdom, but she must now break the time loop that binds her in this hilariously bloody conclusion to the Dark Lord Davi duology.

After countless failures (let's not dwell on it), Davi has finally saved the kingdom from evil by becoming the Dark Lord herself. But now, the hordes of wilders are at her command, and they still want blood. Human blood. And Davi's not sure she can commit to the total extermination of humanity.

With restless armies at her doorstep, a treasonous duke scheming for power, and the legend of an ancient magician looming over her shoulder, Davi must find a way towards peace and uncover the truth behind her time loop if she is to bring harmony to the kingdom. Also, her girlfriend is mad at her. So, there's that too."

Plus I'm sure Davi has a certain Tears for Fears song stuck in her head just like I do...

The Grimoire Grammer School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis
Published by: Titan Books
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the NYT-bestselling author of Dreadful, Big Little Lies goes to magic school, cozy fantasy perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Olivia Atwater, and Heather Fawcett. Featuring orange sprayed and stenciled edges, with magic symbols, unicorns and baked goods from the book.

Two parents and their recently-bitten-werewolf daughter try to fit into a privileged New England society of magic aristocracy. But deadly terrors await them - ancient prophecies, remorseless magical trials, hidden conspiracies and the PTA bake sale.

When Vivian's kindergartner, Aria, gets bitten by a werewolf, she is rapidly inducted into the hidden community of magical schools. Reeling from their sudden move, Vivian finds herself having to pick the right sacrificial dagger for Aria, keep stocked up on chew toys and play PTA politics with sirens and chthonic nymphs and people who literally can set her hair on fire.

As Vivian careens from hellhounds in the school corridors and demons at the talent show, she races to keep up with all the arcane secrets of her new society - shops only accessible by magic portal, the brutal Trials to enter high school, and the eternal inferno that is the parents' WhatsApp group.

And looming over everything is a prophecy of doom that sounds suspiciously like it's about Aria. Vivian might be facing the end of days, just as soon as she can get her daughter dressed and out of the door..."

Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Practical Magic with more than a dash of Hocus Pocus. 

When Sally Killed Harry by Lucy Roth
Published by: Avon Books
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Say hello to Sally.

This is the story of how I killed Harry Collins. Destined to be the great love of my life - until one day I wake up in the Big Apple with the world's worst hangover, an empty bank account, and the sinking feeling that my life just nosedived. How it happened is a blur, but one thing is clear: I've been swindled and I'm not happy about it.

​She's the woman of your dreams.

And it's all thanks to Harry - a total dreamboat and a devil in disguise. He's got charm, secrets, and a smile that screams trouble. Little did I know, Harry's not just a pretty face - he's a liar and conman.

Or is she your worst nightmare?

When I discover I'm not the only victim, I decide it's only right I take my revenge. And with a group of wronged women behind me, murder isn't on the agenda yet because Harry's in for a nightmare and I'm only just getting started...

A wicked, whip-smart revenge thriller, perfect for fans of Katy Brent, Bella Mackie and anyone who wants to take their revenge on The Tinder Swindler or Sweet Bobby."

I literally can't stop laughing at how much I love this book's title.

Deadly Drafts by Courtny Bradley
Published by: Courtny Drydale
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Format: Paperback, 238 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Welcome to Literary Stitches - where books, crafts, and murder come together in the quirkiest of ways.

Nestled in the heart of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Literary Stitches is more than just a family-owned book and craft shop - it's the backdrop for unexpected mysteries, small-town secrets, and one very determined amateur sleuth.

Adelaide "Addie" Doyle never imagined she'd trade bestselling novels for unraveling real-life whodunits, but when murder strikes too close to home, she finds herself turning her writer's intuition toward solving crimes. With the help of her sister Winnie, a few eccentric townsfolk, and the occasional well-placed knitting needle, Addie is always one clue away from the truth.

Filled with humor, heart, and twists that keep the pages turning, the Literary Stitches Mysteries are perfect for fans of bookish cozies, quirky sleuths, and small-town charm. Because in Broken Arrow, every craft has a story, and some of them just might be deadly."

Knitting needles are always good for defense and offense...

Not They Who Soar by Amanda Flower
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The equally brilliant real-life sister of the famous flying Wright Brothers, Katharine Wright, investigates an unsettling death at the 1904 World's Fair in this radiant new historical mystery from USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower.

Summer 1904. Katharine and her best friend from Oberlin College, Margaret Goodwin Meacham, are thrilled to attend the St. Louis Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri, for the centennial celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Not only is it a grand, international event, it's also the first time the young women have seen each other in quite a while, and they are giddy with excitement - despite warnings from Katharine's old family friend, poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, to be careful of the fair's less seemly side.

Undaunted, the girls have a lovely time - until the exposition turns from a girls' trip to a misadventure when Katharine stumbles upon a woman in distress. It's obvious that she has been attacked. Katharine does her best to save her, but tragically, before help can arrive, the woman dies. Yet just before her last breath, she utters the words aeronautics competition.... Katharine's brothers Wilbur and Orville were asked to enter the competition with their successful 1903 flyer but declined. Katharine wonders how this young woman could be connected to such a prestigious event.

Now, unable to get the woman's face out of her mind, Katharine convinces Margaret to join her investigation - and it's soon clear that the race to be declared the first in flight might just be the deadliest competition of them all..."

I can't turn down an exposition of a fair! 

The Cardinal by Alison Weir
Published by: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Format: Hardcover, 464 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this "immersive tale of Tudor intrigue" (Publishers Weekly), the New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose explores the rise of Thomas Wolsey, who was Henry VIII's chief adviser - until the king accused him of treason.

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey enjoyed one of the most meteoric careers in history. His rise from humble beginnings coincided with young Henry VIII's ascension to the throne in 1509. The two grew to be cherished friends, and by 1515 Wolsey, now a cardinal, had become the controlling figure in all matters of church and state.

Wolsey operated on an international stage and worked hard to broker universal peace. All was going dazzlingly well until Henry fell in love with Anne Boleyn - the woman whom Wolsey would one day call "the night crow" - and sought to end his marriage to his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. Swept up in the maelstrom of "the Divorce," Wolsey, who had successfully given his master everything he wanted, found himself in an impossible situation. As he drew the ire of the future queen, the cardinal found his privileged life and his relationship with Henry crumbling around him.

Alison Weir's poignant novel tells the story of Wolsey the man - his incredible rise to power and his tragic fall. She delves beyond the splendor and political machinations of the Tudor court to reveal the secrets of Wolsey's private life, the mistress and children he was devoted to, and the tragedy that overtook them. It is a tale of two women, one who loved him and one who hated him - and also a tale of two men, king and commoner, the special, deep-rooted bonds that brought them together and the forces that drove them apart."

If you're like me and still suffering from Wolf Hall withdrawal, this is the book for you.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alexandria Warwick, Alison Weir, Amanda Flower, Angie Spoto, Caitlin Rozakis, Courtny Bradley, Django Wexler, E.A. Field, Gothic, Guy Gavriel Kay, Hazel McBride, Jasmine Kuliasha, Lucy Roth, Wolf Hall, Xan Kaur

The Color of Revenge by Cornelia Funke
Published by: Chicken House
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Vengeance awaits in the follow up to the epic, award-winning, New York Times bestselling Inkheart trilogy by internationally acclaimed author Cornelia Funke.

Five years after the events of Inkdeath, Meggie, Mo, and the people of Ombra lead peaceful lives, their fires warmed by the flames of Dustfinger - the Fire-Dancer. But when Dustfinger spots Orpheus's glass man within the gates of Ombra, a familiar restlessness begins to haunt him once more. And for good reason...

The past five years have been a different story for Orpheus, who has spent his days living a meager and deprived existence, fueled only by his thirst for revenge against Dustfinger and all those who betrayed him. Now, Orpheus has found an unexpected way to seek vengeance against his greatest adversary. He has corrupted an artist to create bewitched portraits that will see the heroes fade to gray.

When Dustfinger's deepest fears come true, he'll have to figure out whether the words still obey Orpheus. Or if he should be afraid of the pictures this time..."

Oh, oh my. A new Inkworld book. I think I need a fainting couch.

The West Wind by Alexandria Warwick
Published by: S and s/Saga Press
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 464 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the author of The North Wind comes a darkly reimagined tale of forbidden love, inspired by the Greek myth of Hero and Leander and the Scottish ballad Tam Lin.

Brielle of Thornbrook has dedicated her life to the abbey. She spends her days forging iron and her evenings studying the Text, all in preparation of becoming an acolyte. Twenty-one years on this earth and she has never touched a man. And she never will.

But when she finds an injured stranger in the forest, Brielle can't resist the urge to help him. The encounter leads her to the realm of Under, where the air breathes rot, and the fair folk dance and whisper. Where she discovers that the man she helped is actually a god: Zephyrus, the West Wind, Bringer of Spring.

There are few Brielle can trust in Under, least of all Zephyrus. He is charming, dangerously so, and never has a man so thoroughly ensnared her. As she embarks on a journey through the eerie banks and caves of Under, Brielle finds herself in a perilous situation. For here is where faith and heart collide - and where she risks not only her future...but her life."

Is it wrong that I'm more excited about the Tam Lin aspect than the Greek aspect?

We Shall Be Monsters by Alyssa Wees
Published by: Del Rey Books
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A girl marked for death ventures into the wooded realm of the fairies to rescue her mother in this dark, lyrical fantasy about vengeful witches, beastly fathers, and the stories mothers tell to keep their daughters safe - from the author of Nocturne.

Gemma Cassata lives with her mother in an isolated antiques shop in Michigan, near a seductive patch of woods concealing an enchanted gateway to fairyland. Gemma knows she's not supposed to go into the woods - her mother, Virginia, has warned her multiple times about the monsters that lurk there - and yet she can't resist.

Virginia understands her daughter's defiance. She knows the allure of the woods all too well. Her own mother warned her about the monsters, and Virginia also did not listen - until a witch cursed her true love just days before their child's birth. So Virginia will do whatever she can to protect her daughter - even if it means stealing Gemma's memories.

But everything changes when Gemma gets too close to the truth, and the witch takes Virginia. Now it is up to Gemma to venture deep into the mysterious woods to rescue her mother and break the curse.

Told in the alternating viewpoints of Gemma and Virginia, this novel is not only a tale of a girl's fantastical quest through a darkly magical fairyland but also an exploration of the complex bonds between children and their parents."

Ah yes, the point wherein you have to venture into the forbidden to save everything.

The Twice-Sold Soul by Katie Hallahan
Published by: Orbit
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"I locked away my magic and ran from home for a good reason. So why am I ready to undo everything when my demon ex finally tracks me down?

You can't outrun your demons - McKenna Ellerbeck knows this all too well. She's been running from literal demons for a decade, one that will stop at nothing to take McKenna's magic for their own and one that shattered her heart by grasping for dark power. After a horrible run-in with hellhounds on the streets of Paris, McKenna is ready to hide again when she's confronted by her ex, the Archdemon of Desire Remiel Blake. Remi, the sexiest of gender-shifting demons, calls in an old debt that McKenna owes her, though unlike other deals the terms of fulfillment are simple: all she needs to do is return to her hometown of Arcadia Commons, Massachusetts, for seven days.

Disgruntled and disguised at her own insistence, McKenna returns home to the magical community, intent on simply staying in her hotel room watching pay-per-view. But with her high school reunion conveniently happening in the same hotel she's staying at - the one owned by her ex-boyfriend Bastien Lemaire - and her brother mysteriously picking fights with the town's most prominent witch family, she finds she can't stay away for long and decides it's finally time to face her past and the witches, werewolves, demons, and friends she left behind.

If you miss Supernatural, True Blood, or Buffy, you'll love this sexy and magical contemporary fantasy from a marvelous new voice in fiction, Katie Hallahan!"

I don't know... I find it's quite easy to stay away from high school reunions.

We Call Them Giants by Kieron Gillen
Published by: Image Comics
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 104 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A poignant, romantic, and devastating story of a young girl who wakes up to find her world has turned upside down.

Lori wakes to find the streets empty. Everyone has gone. Or at least, nearly everyone. She's thrown into a world where she has to scrape by in the ruins of civilization, nearly starving, hiding from gangs when...

They arrive.

The award-winning team behind dark fantasy smash DIE release their first stand alone original graphic novel."

SUCH a fan of Kieron Gillen!

In Wonderland by Paul Magrs
Published by: Penguin Group UK
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Doctor Who is the longest running sci-fi show in the world, and a flagship BBC property. First appearing on air in 1963, it follows the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord who travels through time and space, fighting alien monsters and saving the universe."

Two things I love, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and my friend Paul's books. Oh look, they have combined to be a new thing I love!

The Keeper of the Key by Nicole Willson
Published by: Parliament House Press, LLC
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 264 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"There are a thousand things sixteen-year-old Rachel would rather do than upend her life to move into Morgan House, an old, run-down mansion owned by her mom's boyfriend, Geoff.

But when her mother announces they're relocating to St. Mary, Virginia to live with him, Rachel's cut off from her friends and life as she knows it. St. Mary is a remote, lonely place, and the best thing about it is Nick, a guy she knows is worth keeping when he takes her to a cemetery on their first date.

Rachel struggles to get along with Geoff and his mile-long list of annoying house rules - in particular, his bizarre insistence that she stay out of the basement. But something in Morgan House plays by its own rules. At night, an unknown force pulls Rachel down to that forbidden cellar, showing her harrowing visions of a strangely familiar man lurking in the shadows. When a sudden tragedy strikes her family, those visions become more frequent-and more violent.

The dead issue urgent warnings, and if Rachel doesn't heed them, she'll become part of Morgan House forever.

From the author of the Bram Stoker Award-nominated Tidepool comes a chilling new Gothic horror novel that will sink into your bones."

Never trust the boyfriends of mothers who own haunted houses.

Games Untold by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 448 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Over 4 million copies sold of the #1 bestselling series!

Romance, luxury, and secrets abound in this thrilling new collection that takes readers deeper into the world of the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games series.

There is nothing frivolous about the way a Hawthorne man loves.

An amnesiac playboy and the woman with every reason to hate him. A daredevil, his favorite heiress, and three nights in Prague. An unlikely pairing between a cowboy and a goth. Four brothers with an inescapable bond, strengthened by the family they chose, in a house of wonders that promises to always deliver one more secret.

Discover their stories of love and loss, power, puzzles, and life-and-death secrets in this mind-blowingly romantic collection that proves that when you love the way Hawthornes love, there is no going back.

This collection includes:
-That Night in Prague (novella)
-The Same Backward as Forward (novella)
-The Cowboy and the Goth
-Five Times Xander Tackled Someone (and One Time He Didn't)
-$3CR3T $@NT@
-One Hawthorne Night*
-What Happens in the Treehouse*
-Pain at the Right Gun
*previously published in limited release."

We are FINALLY going to learn what happened that night in Prague!

The Legacy of Arniston House by T.L. Huchu
Published by: Tor Books
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A dangerous cult craves a dark power. The Legacy of Arniston House is the spellbinding fourth instalment of the USA Today bestselling Edinburgh Nights series by T. L. Huchu.

Ropa Moyo is a wannabe magician, can speak to the dead, and has officially given up being an intern. Leaving Scottish magic behind, she now works for the English Sorcerer Royal. But just as she adjusts to working for the English, an old enemy reveals a devastating secret about her Gran, and Ropa's world falls apart.

Outraged, she rushes home, but finds her grandmother dead - murdered - with no killer in sight. What's more, she's the prime suspect. In her quest to find the true murderer, Ropa becomes caught in the dark tendrils of a cult, hell-bent on resurrecting an ancient power. Ropa must use her wits, her magic, and call in all favors to stop the ritual - and clear her name."

I'm just saying, if Ropa was elsewhere and rushed home to her dead grandmother I really don't think that would make her the prime suspect...

Hobtown Mystery Stories Vol. 2: The Cursed Hermit by Kris Bertin
Published by: Oni Press
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 208 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Welcome back to Hobtown, the charming but bleak rural village whose placid exterior belies the surreal underbelly teeming below.... The second must-read volume of the page-turning series that the New York Times calls "forceful and haunting" starts here in the first fully colored edition from creators Kris Bertin and Alexander Forbes!

Intrepid young investigators Brennan and Pauline are excited for Christmas break, until they're sent to an extra-credit boarding school called Knotty Pines. After attending their first classes, however, they grow suspicious of the unusually strict headmaster and headmistress, who seem to be controlling their students and transforming them into boneheads and bullies.

On their final night at Knotty Pines, the students are paired up to pledge eternal allegiance to the long-dead Lord Hobb, and to each other, in unholy matrimony! Isolated from their fellow sleuths, Brennan and Pauline forge new alliances to lift a curse that has plagued the good people of Hobtown for centuries."

It's like Nancy Drew written by Edward Gorey.

All's Fair in Love and Treachery by Celeste Connally
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie in this dazzling next installment in a captivating Regency-era mystery series with a feminist spin.

21 June, 1815. London may be cheering the news of Napoleon's surrender at Waterloo, but Lady Petra Forsyth has little to celebrate after discovering that the death of her viscount fiancé three years earlier was no accident. Instead, it was murder, and the man responsible is her handsome, half-Scottish secret paramour Duncan Shawcross - yet the scoundrel has disappeared, leaving only a confusing riddle about long-forgotten memories in his wake.

So what's a lady to do when she can't hunt down her traitorous lover? She concentrates on a royal assignment instead. Queen Charlotte has tasked Petra with attending an event at the Asylum for Female Orphans and making inquiries surrounding the death of the orphanage's matron. What's more, there may be a link between the matron's death and a group of radicals with ties to the aristocracy, as evidenced by an intercepted letter.

Then, Petra overhears a nefarious conversation with two other men about a plot to topple the monarchy, set to take place during three days of celebrations currently gripping London.

As the clock counts down and London's streets teem with revelers, Petra's nerves are fraying as her past and present collide. Yet while all's fair in love and war, she can never surrender, especially when more orphaned girls may be in trouble. And to save their lives, the monarchy itself, and even her own heart, Lady Petra must face her fears with the strength of an army of soldiers and fight with the heart of a queen."

I love that Queen Charlotte basically has her fingers in ALL the pies.

In Want of a Suspect by Tirzah Price
Published by: HarperCollins
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The first book in a thrilling mystery duology that follows Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy from the acclaimed Jane Austen Murder Mystery series!

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that London's first female solicitor in possession of the details of a deadly crime, must be in want of a suspect.

The tenacious Lizzie Bennet has earned her place at Longbourn, her father's law firm. Her work keeps her busy, but luckily it gives her plenty of reasons to consult (and steal occasional kisses) with Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, a stern but secretly softhearted solicitor at Pemberley.

Lizzie is hired to investigate a deadly warehouse fire and to find the mysterious woman who was spotted at the scene moments before the flames took hold. But when the case leads to the sitting room of a woman Darcy once proposed marriage to, the delicate balance between personal and professional in their relationship is threatened.

Questions of the future are cast aside when the prime suspect is murdered and Lizzie's own life is threatened. As the body count rises and their suspicions about what was really going on in the warehouse grow, the pressure is on for Lizzie and Darcy to uncover the truth.

Classic characters with an enthralling twist - Lizzie and Darcy, as introduced in the hit novel Pride and Premeditation, are back for more suspense, danger, and romance!"

I mean who can resist a Pride and Prejudice twist? I can't.

Time and Tide by J.M. Frey
Published by: W by Wattpad Books
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 408 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Historical fiction with a touch of time travel, for fans of Diana Gabaldon, Alexis Hall, and Olivia Waite's Feminine Pursuits series, where a modern bisexual woman is thrown into Regency England and must figure out how to survive, while she falls in love with a woman who will become a famous author.

Just a twenty-first century gal with nineteenth-century problems...

When Sam's plane crashes catastrophically over the Atlantic, it defies all odds for Sam to be the sole survivor. But it seems impossible that she's rescued by a warship in 1805. With a dashing sea captain as her guide, she begins to find her footing in a world she'd only seen in movies.

Then Sam is betrayed. At the mercy of the men and morals of the time, and without the means to survive on her own, she's left with no choice but to throw herself on the charity of the captain's sisters. She resigns herself to a quiet life of forever hiding her true self. What she doesn't expect is that her new landlady is Margaret Goodenough - the world-famous author whose yet-to-be-completed novel will contain the first lesbian kiss in the history of British Literature, and a clever woman. Clever enough to know her new companion has a secret.

As the two women grow ever closer, Sam must tread the tenuous line between finding her own happiness in a place where she doesn't think she'll ever fit in, and possibly (accidentally) changing the course of history."

Perhaps Sam is the one who inspired the kiss? Hmm...

The Viscount and the Thief by Emma Orchard
Published by: Boldwood Books
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Kindle, 312 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Preorder a brand new regency romance from the bestselling author of A Duke of One's Own.

Spring, 1811... A stranger arrives at Wyverne Hall.

Sophie Delavallois is the new companion to the ageing Dowager Marchioness, but she also has another reason for coming to the infamous Wyverne mansion, one that will shake the family to their core.

Lord Drake left his childhood home many years ago, and only returns now to see his beloved grandmother. He takes little interest in the goings on of the house, until the arrival of Mademoiselle Delavallois. There's something about her that he can't put his finger on; it's as if he's seen her before, but surely, that is not possible...

Sophie is also drawn to Drake, but he is a Wyverne, and she cannot allow herself to fall for him, because her intentions towards the family are resolute - revenge. But inside the walls of Wyverne Hall, she discovers the rumours about the family barely scratch the surface, and she can't escape the dangerous allure of the Viscount.

Once her plans are set in motion, will he be her saviour or her ruin?"

Such a dilemma, revenge or romance...

The Davenports: More Than This by Krystal Marquis
Published by: Dial Books
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The anticipated sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller featuring escapist romance and a wealthy Black family in 1910s Chicago.

Like the blazing Chicago sun, the drama is heating up for the Davenports and their social set. Before the summer of 1910 drops its last petal, the lives - and loves - of these four young women will change in ways they never could have imagined:

Newly engaged Ruby Tremaine is eagerly planning her wedding to the love of her life when a nasty rumor threatens her reputation and her marriage. Olivia Davenport has committed to the social justice cause and secretly hopes she'll be reunited with dashing lawyer Washington DeWight - until her parents decide she's to marry someone else. Amy-Rose Shepherd is making her lifelong wish of owning a salon come true, but when an incident forces her to return to Freeport Manor, she's back in the path of John Davenport, who still holds her heart. Helen Davenport is determined to get over her own heartbreak and bring the Davenport Carriage Company into the new century, even if it means teaming up with a thrill-seeking racecar driver who just loves to get under her skin.

Inspired by the real-life story of the Patterson family, More Than This is the second book in critically adored Davenports series, following four empowered and passionate young Black women as they navigate a rapidly changing society and discover the courage to steer their own paths in life - and love."

Oh yes, more OF this!

Guilt and Ginataan by Mia P. Manansala
Published by: Penguin Publishing Group
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Autumn is in full swing for the town of Shady Palms - the perfect time for warm drinks, cozy cardigans, and...dead bodies?

The annual Shady Palms Corn Festival is one of the town's biggest moneymakers, drawing crowds from all over the Midwest looking to partake in delicious treats, local crafts, and of course, the second largest corn maze in Illinois. Lila Macapagal and her Brew-ha Cafe crew, Adeena Awan and Elena Torres, are all too happy to participate in the event and even make a little wager on who can make it through the corn maze the fastest - but their fun is suddenly cut short when a dead body is found in the middle of the maze...and an unconscious Adeena lies next to it, clutching a bloody knife.

The body is discovered to be a local politician's wife, and all signs - murder weapon included - point to Adeena as the culprit. But Lila knows her best friend couldn't have done this, so she and her crew put on their sleuthing caps yet again to find the killer who framed Adeena and show them what happens when they mess with a Brew-ha..."

Not enough murders happen in corn mazes! Or is it very Midwest of me to think this?

The Museum of Wes Anderson by Johan Chiaramonte and Camille Mathieu
Published by: Prestel Publishing
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 216 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Welcome to the Wes Anderson museum - a place packed with illustrations, ephemera, trivia, and insightful commentary, and as whimsical and visually arresting as the cult director's films themselves.

This museum in book form takes readers deep into the world of Wes Anderson. Bursting with an exhaustive and eclectic collection of film stills, accessories, clothes, souvenirs, books, and delightfully bizarre ephemera, this immersive treasury offers extraordinary insight into Wes Anderson's literary, musical, and cinematic influences, which range from Indian cinema, French pop music, Italian speed car racing, to The New Yorker magazine and the work of J. D. Salinger.

Among the museum's artifacts are a recipe for a ham sandwich from The French Dispatch's Le Sans Blague café; the history of Tang - the drink of choice for the campers in Moonrise Kingdom; and the secret of L'Air de Panache, the cologne worn by the concierge of the Grand Budapest Hotel. Readers will discover Anderson's connections to the balalaika, The Beatles, and Benjamin Britten, and they'll discover how the filmmaker was inspired by the works of Hal Ashby, Satyajit Ray, Orson Welles, Mike Nichols, and Francis Ford Coppola. Perfect for dipping into and filled with information that will surprise even the most diehard Wes Anderson fan, this technicolor treasury is as profoundly entertaining as it is authoritative."

Yet another unique book looking at the innovative filmmaker. 

The Watkins Book of Urban Legends by Gail De Vos
Published by: Watkins Publishing
Publication Date: November 12th, 2024
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A comprehensive and entertaining collection of urban legends from around the world, with a history and analysis of the origin of each tale, compiled by a leading authority in the field.

A rich and unique collection of folktales and urban legends from around the world. Each story comes with an accompanying brief note to provide context. Including new tales reflecting new concerns; old tales repurposed for new audiences and new ways of telling.

The collection illustrates that these stories are now alive across many new media. This is the first such popular book to bring together stories with both traditional and digital media origins and to examine how the phenomenon of social media has affected both the spread of urban legends and their very nature.

-Features the uniquely modern manifestation of folk mythology and legend, now made ubiquitous by the internet; the conspiracy theory.
-Includes urban legends such as: The Pickled Hand, The Babysitter, The Sandman.
-Includes conspiracy theories such as: Wild Fires, Fifteen Minute Cities and Organ Theft.
-40% of the stories originate in North America, 30% in Europe, 20% in Asia, 10% in Africa and elsewhere.
-The book also shows how stories spread and change from the country of origin to become global."

And if you buy the book you'll get an email saying that if you don't forward it to ten friends you shall be forever cursed. Or was that just something someone told me once? Read this book to find out!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alexandria Warwick, Alyssa Wees, Celeste Connally, Cornelia Funke, Emma Orchard, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Katie Hallahan, Kieron Gillen, Krystal Marquis, Mia P. Manansala, Paul Magrs, T.L. Huchu, Wes Anderson