strange and random happenstance

Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 704 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"It's off to the races in the explosive eighth book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series - featuring bonus material exclusive to this print edition.

As chaos and mass panic spread outside the dungeon in the wake of Faction Wars, Carl and Donut find themselves on the tenth floor, where they're forced to compete in a surprisingly normal set of tasks. Well, normal for the dungeon.

Races. Get from point A to point B, and don't come in last. After each race, they pick an upgrade for their vehicle and the track gets more challenging. It all seems a little too normal, a little too simple.

Ignore those strange glitches that are occurring with increasing frequency. Don't listen to those whispers about what's happening on the mysterious eleventh floor, something the system AI calls A Parade of Horribles. Nobody, not even the showrunners, knows what that means. Just that the AI has ominously dubbed it "a coming-out party for the ages."

Everything is fine, Crawler. I repeat, everything is fine.

Carl hates that it's business as usual. The rules of this floor have taken away his agency. That just will not do.

So Carl is planning a party of his own. It's a plan so dangerous, so insane, he can't even consult his friends lest the AI put a stop to it. Because if it goes wrong, it's not just the end of Carl and Donut. No. The stakes are higher than they've ever been.

Includes part eight of the exclusive bonus story "Backstage at the Pineapple Cabaret.""

I am so excited for this month because I have finally got my book club to read the first book in this series.

Femme Feral by Sam Beckbessinger
Published by: Penguin Books
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Hyper-competent Ellie thinks she's going through perimenopause, but discovers she's actually turning into a werewolf in this feminist, dark-comedy debut.

The head of a company she started from the ground-up, the worried mother of a troublingly secretive daughter, and the wife of an easy-going man who always has her picking up the slack - Ellie is already juggling too much. So, it's an inconvenient time to find herself beset by strange physical changes: hair sprouting in new places, running hot, trouble sleeping, losing time, finding bloodstains in all her clothing. And underneath it all, a boiling rage that threatens to disrupt the life she's worked so hard to build.

Her doctor diagnoses perimenopause. But it's another twenty-eight-day cycle that's taking hold, one that involves fur, teeth, and a not-insignificant amount of howling at the moon - and that gifts Ellie incredible strength and speed. Her new power's thrilling, as is releasing the anger she's suppressed for years - especially as it turns out that there are some problems that can be solved with violence: The terrible new hire who is sabotaging her careful plans. The creep who's stalking her daughter. Only, the beast within isn't easy to control, and its bloody trail is getting harder to hide. With an obsessive hunter on her trail and a growing fear of what she's becoming, Ellie must find a way to yoke her fury before she tears through the people she loves.

A deeply gratifying, highly addictive and provocative read, Femme Feral is an exhilarating expression of feminine rage, with a warning: If you swallow your anger, it's sure to come back with a bite."

I was talking about this book to a friend the other day and she was instantly asking when she could get it. Women SO relate.

All Hail Chaos by Sarah Rees Brennan
Published by: Orbit
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 480 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"All Hail Chaos is Sarah Rees Brennan's wicked, unmissable sequel to Long Live Evil.

One of the New York Times "Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of 2024."

THE EMPEROR IS HERE. AND SHE MADE HIM WORSE.

Rae is a fantasy reader who's been transported to her favorite fictional world of swords and sorcery, castles and monsters. Playing the villainess, she thought she could change the narrative, but this version of the plot is far more deadly than the one she knew. Her friends are on the run: the Cobra shelters in an eerie manor haunted by dark secrets, while Emer and Lia stoke a revolution in the gutters. Undead armies roam the kingdom, raiders camp at the city gates, and the all-powerful Emperor - Rae's favorite character ever, now possibly the greatest monster in the land - wants her to be his evil queen.

Romantic in fiction, complicated in reality. What's a villainess to do? Time for wicked bargains and fake engagements, in a fantasy where the most dangerous thing you can do is believe in someone."

Seriously, while this series is so fun, I would not want to be sucked into any of my favorite book series.

Vile Lady Villains by Danai Christopoulou
Published by: Union Square and Co.
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A queer, gothic horrormantasy that's perfect for readers of S.T. Gibson and Kiersten White.

With the consequences of her murderous actions closing in, Lady Macbeth turns to the three witches for help. They give her a potion that transports her to an unknown realm. Desperately lost, she opens a door and comes face to face with a beautiful woman drenched in blood.

Klytemnestra, Queen of Mycenae, is exacting bloody vengeance on her husband. Yet as she revels in her triumph, an otherworldly door appears and a strange woman steps in. Thinking this stranger a spirit, she chases Lady Macbeth into the realm of stories.

Hunted by screaming wraiths into worlds that are hell bent on their demise, this murderous pair are forced to form an alliance or perish. Yet the realm's goddess, The Mistress of the House of Books, claims to hold the key to saving them.

As every threat brings our vile lady villains closer, turning ill intentions into fiery attraction that no author dare write, they have a choice: remain within the confines of their original tales... or burn down the world to pen a new story together..."

I love that our villains look like hot and sexy versions of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford's characters in What Ever Happen to Baby Jane?

The Devil and Mrs. Gooch by Oliver Darkshire
Published by: W. W. Norton and Company
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the storm-drenched city of Verdigris, home to indolent sorcerers and undead hotels, something is dreadfully wrong. Buildings are starting to crumble due to the kidnapping of their hobs, the many-legged house spirits that keep each home in order. In such times, one would ordinarily blame the Devil, but he has been enchanted by a new and enticing evil: The jackbooted villainy of Gwendolyn Gooch, who has taken the hobs for her latest diabolical scheme - apartments for rent. As the hobs retrofit the gaudy Gooch Towers, the fate of the city lies in the hands of the arboreal Professor Green; his rare, complete set of the Household Gramarye; and its famulus, the prim Mrs. Bobkins.

A delightful new novel in a series "perfectly cut to fit the Pratchett-shaped hole in my heart" (C.M. Waggoner), The Devil and Mrs. Gooch is witty, imaginative, and brimming with charm.

The Household Gramarye series may be read in any order you wish, as wizards care little for strict sequentiality."

This series seriously has the best cover art, but this is a step beyond. Love it!

Under a Carnivore Sky by Brianna Jett
Published by: Page Street YA
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"I'm the only one left hunting the monster, the only one left with a chance of saving us all.

Raised in a town surrounded by a labyrinthian, man-eating swamp, Lili craves nothing more than to track down the monster lurking in its depths and kill it.

The monster's curse claims the flesh and bone of every adult in town, stealing them away, piece by piece. For generations, people have tried to kill it or escape the town altogether, but every path out of town leads them right back in.

Caleb, a bookish boy with dreams of freedom, is hungry to escape. He thinks that with Lili's help and knowledge of the swamp, he can make a map to freedom. And Lili hopes that with a better sense of its territory, she might finally find and kill the monster.

Together, they chart the swamp's shifting terrain. Sharing in the danger and the beauty of the landscape sparks a friendship between them - and then something more. However, what they discover disrupts everything Lili thought she knew about the town, her father, the monster - even herself. The truth at the root of the curse could devour them all. And Lili must decide if risking her life to be the town's savior is worth sacrificing her own chance of escape."

Knowledge can be just as dangerous as a deadly swamp.

The Hanging Bones by Elle Tesch
Published by: Feiwel and Friends
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the author of What Wakes the Bells comes a rich, gothic fantasy steeped in Germanic folklore about a girl who enters a dangerous, magical hunt with the goal of winning the death of her predatory overlord. Perfect for fans of Adalyn Grace, Maggie Stiefvater, and V.E. Schwab.

Some monsters are born. Some are made. All can be killed.

Once every few years, the Scavenge Moon rises. From beyond its pale glow steps the Breimar Stag, an otherworldly creature with eyes of burning gold. Any reckless adventurer who chooses to join the hunt for the stag only has until the Scavenge Moon sets to claim their prize - if they catch it, they are granted the death of any person of their choice. And if no one catches it, the stag will claim one of the hunters' souls instead.

Katrin has lived on the border of the forest her whole life, raised on tales of the Folk that dwell within. As a gamekeeper for the baron who rules over the region, she is saddled with the onerous task of escorting the entitled nobles who descend upon her home for the Breimar Hunt. None of them respect the forest or its legends, and Katrin is only too happy to let them risk their foolish necks for what they see as a cheap thrill.

When her beloved cousin becomes the latest target of the baron's lecherous appetites, Katrin knows only his death will keep her family safe, and the only way she can claim his life is to win the hunt herself. But something hungry has begun to stir in the woods, something even older and more powerful than the stag. As the horrifying, mutilated bodies pile up, Katrin begins to question where the true danger lies."

So, she can't just like poison the baron?

Deathbringer by Sonia Tagliareni
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: eBook, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"For fans of Naomi Novik and Kerri Maniscalco, "a slow-burn dark academia filled with delicious yearning, dripping with atmosphere, and a compelling mystery" (Ellis Hunter, author of Blood Bound) about a death mage who hates her magic and a poison mage who hates her that are forced to work together to stop a killer before one of them is next.

Everything about Sylas Archyr feels like a sin.

Born with the ability to speak with the dead, Viola's magic killed her sister, Olivia, and if she doesn't learn why, it will kill her too. Her only hope lies within the perilous walls of Gorhail Institute of Magic, where Olivia spent her final days.

There, Viola clashes with Sylas, a poison mage whose magic stems from three magical snakes. Immortal, tormented, and reckless, Sylas is tethered to a life he never asked for and haunted by guilt for his father's death. His hatred for death mages runs deep, and he's determined to keep Viola at a distance. But when an attack forces him to heal her, their fates become intertwined by a magical bond that threatens to upend his loyalties - and his common sense.

As more students start turning up dead, Viola and Sylas are drawn into an uneasy alliance that pulls them deeper into Gorhail's treacherous passageways, where secrets fester beneath the stone and the dead do not rest. And as enemy lines begin to blur and their undeniable attraction grows, Viola and Sylas uncover a chilling conspiracy: someone is hunting mages for their magical relics, and if they can't uncover the killer in time, Viola will be next."

It's amazing how deadly academia has become.

You're Dead to Me, Reed Walker by Gwenyth Reitz
Published by: Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A swoonworthy YA supernatural romcom where two academic rivals are trapped as ghosts to haunt the same house.

They'd kill each other... if they weren't already dead.

Tessa Sinclair is a winner. Winner of spelling bees, science fairs, and scholarships. So when she finds herself unexpectedly dead after a graduation party in an abandoned mansion, she's none too pleased. What's worse, her Harvard-bound, Mr. Perfect academic rival, Reed Walker, is there too - deceased, smug, and annoying as hell.

Being a ghost is hard enough, but it's a thousand times worse having to haunt the same house as your nemesis. But as Tessa and Reed retreat to RIP in their respective corners of the mansion, a mystery unfurls about the exact cause of their deaths.

Though they'd rather die (again) than work together, they'll need to overcome their differences to hunt down a murderer on the loose. And should they happen to fall for each other along the way... Who ever said you can't find love after death?"

I think finding out how you died would overcome rivalry. 

Never Leave Me Alone by Crissa-Jean Chappell
Published by: Regal House Publishing
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 178 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Seventeen-year-old Birdie lives for danger - from rooftopping abandoned hotels to chasing the perfect shot for her Instagram alter ego, Bad Altitude.

Her dying Florida beach town may be crumbling, but her follower count is rising fast.

She's one viral post away from escaping the Space Coast for good.

Then she meets Micah, a daredevil TikTok star with a taste for high-stakes stunts and even higher risks.

At first, Birdie thinks she's found a kindred spirit.

But Micah is secretly playing a deadly game online - and after he falls to his death, Birdie is left with more questions than answers.

Determined to uncover the truth, she retraces his final stunts, getting dangerously close to his brother, Jayce.

Can she trust him, or is he hiding something too?

Now someone's watching Birdie - both online and off - and she's forced to keep playing.

Because in this game, there's only one rule: if you quit, you die."

But do you live if you win?

The Kindness of Strangers by Emma Garman
Published by: S and S/Summit Books
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
A wildly entertaining debut and homage to the classic murder mystery set in post-WWII London where a stranger's arrival at a boarding house sets a deadly chain of events in motion - perfect for fans of Kate Atkinson, Agatha Christie, and Richard Osman.

London, 1953. Jimmy Sullivan lies dying on the drawing room floor while his housemates look on, their lives about to change forever.

One foggy night in the dead of February, a young man arrives unannounced at 42 Tregunter Road in Chelsea. Self-styled Bohemian Mrs. Honor Wilson - who runs a minor literary journal and lodgings from this timeworn Victorian house - introduces him to her "dear house guests": Robbie, the writer; Mina, the teenage sleuth; George, the debutante; and Saul, the haunted refugee. Jimmy Sullivan is a family friend, Honor says - yet clearly, something is not right. Despite everyone's misgivings, she lets the stranger move into the attic.

As they each try to disprove Jimmy's dubious account of himself, secrets, jealousies, and disturbing schemes come to light, fracturing the household's delicate allegiances and setting in motion, unstoppably, a tale of perilous self-invention, complicated love, and murderous revenge.

In a house built on lies, the truth will get you killed."

Wait, if this is for fans of Kate Atkinson does that mean for fans of books with nebulous endings and no actual crime solving? 

Murder Like Clockwork by Nicola Whyte
Published by: Union Square and Co.
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this London-based version of The Paris Apartment meets Only Murders in the Building, author Nicola Whyte continues the adventures of the delicious cast of 10 Marchfield Square characters.

Every Thursday at midday Audrey Brooks cleans the Petrov house. Mr. Petrov is never home - in fact he seems to use the house purely as storage for his impressive collection of antiques - but that doesn't affect the care with which Audrey mops, polishes, and carefully winds each of the dozens of beautiful clocks that decorate the tall, elegant, empty London mansion.

Until the morning she finds a corpse in the back bedroom, the pristine walls and floor covered in blood, and flees the house in panic. Fifteen minutes later, the police arrive... and find nothing. No body. No blood. The only thing slightly out of the ordinary is the clock in that back bedroom, which is now running four minutes slow.

With no victim, the police are convinced there was no murder, but Audrey knows better. A man has been killed, and if they won't do anything about it, she - and her annoying friend Lewis - will. Whodunnit is one thing, but this detective duo must also wrestle with when - and where on earth is the body?

It's not long since they solved the murder of their neighbor, so they're not rookie sleuths, and at least this time the case has no connection to their home. Does it?"

I'm more impressed by the villains who can clean a crime scene in under fifteen minutes. 

Killing Eve: Medusa by Luke Jennings
Published by: Boldwood Books
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: eBook, 264 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The latest instalment of Luke Jennings's bestselling Killing Eve series - the inspiration behind the BAFTA-winning drama starring Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh.

I lie to her constantly, and it's always the same lie. That I'm as human as she is.

Deceived once too often by Oxana, Eve flees to the country town where she lived as a child. But violence and death are hard on her heels, and time will not be turned back. Reeling from Eve's departure, Oxana throws herself into her latest mission: to assassinate the leaders of a newly formed European drug cartel.

Turkish mafia boss Tahir Yilmaz is hosting a voyage around the Greek islands on his luxury yacht Medusa. The group includes his seventeen-year-old daughter Defne and her friend Buse, and Tahir is taking no chances. He's hired a chaperone, a nanny from a top-drawer English training school. At least he thinks that's who Oxana is...

As the Medusa moves from isle to idyllic isle, a brutal showdown draws closer, and with it, a deadly reckoning for Eve and Oxana. Can the star-crossed couple save their relationship? Can they even save themselves?

The latest Killing Eve adventure is charged with all the savage humour, chilling violence and perversely romantic longing that fans of the series have come to love and expect. Welcome aboard the Medusa!"

First, so here for the correct continuation of Killing Eve. Second, murder on a luxury yacht! YAS!

A Very Vexing Murder by Lucy Andrew
Published by: William Morrow
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Harriet Smith investigates... A murder most Austen.

A witty debut whodunit that reimagines Harriet Smith, the gullible sidekick of Jane Austen's Emma, as a spitfire con woman, hired to break off an engagement and uncover a murderer in the genteel village of Highbury.

"Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure."  - Jane Austen, Emma

Is a killer lurking in the idyllic country domain of Emma Woodhouse?

No longer Emma's naïve companion, Harriet Smith is a feisty con-woman-turned-detective tasked with breaking off Frank Churchill's engagement and uncovering his aunt's would-be murderer. While Harriet has doubts that the deadly threats are little more than society scandal, the shrewd Mrs. Churchill suspects Frank's unsuitable fiancée, Jane Fairfax, is out to kill her. What begins as a routine investigation among Highbury's elite quickly spirals into a web of deception, dangerous secrets, and a game of survival.

As Harriet interrogates a growing list of suspects with the help of her long-suffering best friend, Robert Martin, not only does she have to contend with a potential homicidal maniac and striking out as a single woman in Regency society, but is also afraid her father (and former partner-in-crime) is out for revenge.

With a cast of unforgettable characters - including a charming scoundrel, a lovesick farmer, a ghoulish butler, and a ruthless heiress determined to hide her skeletons at any cost - this brilliantly reimagined mystery featuring the characters from Jane Austen's Emma is as deliciously dark as it is delightfully clever."

I mean, no matter how reimagined this is Frank Churchill has to be the culprit. He's a psychopath. 

The Last Lady B by Eloisa James
Published by: Gallery Books
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Lady B may have married Bluebeard; she may have fallen in love with a gorgeous, grumpy solicitor; she may have met a ghost and survived to tell the tale! New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Eloisa James delights with witty historical romance with a gothic twist.

In the depths of winter, Lady Genevieve Hughes, her pet piglet, and her septuagenarian husband travel to a haunted abbey in the Scottish Highlands. Evie is excited to meet a ghost (perhaps one of her husband's three previous wives), but didn't expect the funny, quirky guests to become the friends she's never had. And she certainly didn't imagine meeting Sir Godric Everly, a sardonic, witty solicitor who loathes her husband.

Yet as secrets and lies turn Evie's world upside down, Sir Godric becomes the one person whom she can trust.

When ghosts, multiple wills, and a shocking marriage certificate bring Lord Burnsby's past crashing into his present, Burnsby promptly dies, leaving Evie free to remarry... though as a virgin wife, now a virgin widow, she is more unnerved by the marriage bed than a spectral visit.

More importantly, she has to figure out whose identity is false, whose vows are dishonorable, whose truths could destroy her reputation - and where her heart belongs."

I can't wait for this book! What's more I can't wait for my copy which is part of JQ Editions!

The Lister Sisters by Rebecca Batley
Published by: Pen and Sword History
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 208 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"When Anne Lister, 'Gentleman Jack, ' and her infamous diaries hit the headlines a few years ago, their popularity spawned a plethora of Gentleman Jack blogs, research and books which have focused primarily on Anne Lister's romantic relationships with (a huge) number of women, but whilst they are an integral part of the Lister story, there is another woman lurking in the pages of her diaries: The original Lister Sister, Marian.

Marian Lister was Anne's younger sister and the two women had a complex and fascinating relationship. The evidence reveals Marian to be a complicated woman who both resented, loved and was fiercely protective of her older sister. Forced to live together for a large part of their lives Anne vehemently disapproved of Marian's desire to escape in order to marry a "carpet maker" feeling him to be unworthy of the sister she herself derided. Marian, for her part, did not understand her elder sister's relationships with women, but she accepted them, defended her and worried about her excessively even whilst she ranted about Anne's spending, scheming and selfishness.

When together, the two women bickered constantly with Marian, literally at times screaming in frustration at her headstrong sister. Anne, for her part, complained that Marian was "simple... good for nothing," yet her approval meant a good deal to her.

Here, for the first time, we look at the complex relationship between the two women, how it developed, its moments of triumph and tragedy, as well as the profound influence it had on each of their lives."

If I learned anything from Gentleman Jack it's that Anne was a bitch to her sister. 

Memory House by Elaine Kraf
Published by: Modern Library
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The never-before-published final novel by cult feminist author Elaine Kraf, exploring what happens when a drained writer fakes her death and joins a mysterious club for failing artists.

Once the darling of the literary world, Marlane Frack is fading into obscurity: her once-brilliant career seems over, her creativity feels nonexistent, and her demanding husband would prefer she spend her time caring for him instead of struggling to find inspiration. But one day, an enigmatic chauffeur arrives to spirit her away to Memory House, a secluded sanctuary where formerly successful artists of all kinds - writers, painters, musicians, and more - are spending the rest of their lives. They have all decided that fame in death is preferable to decline in real life.

Nestled in a remote, picturesque landscape, the house is a labyrinth of secrets and whispers, where time seems to flow differently and creativity is both a blessing and a curse. There, Marlane finds herself among a diverse group of residents, some of whom she knew in the outside world, all of them fighting with their own artistic demons - and with each other. As the line between reality and imagination blurs, and her past begins to manifest in startling ways, Marlane starts to question what is real and what is merely a figment of the house's influence.

Will Marlane find the redemption she seeks, or will the house consume her creative spirit entirely? In the last book she wrote before her death, which has never been published before, Elaine Kraf explores the challenges of being a female creator, the transformative power of art, and the enduring quest for self-discovery."

I'd be more worried that the house says you will get "fame in death." That really sounds like the house will elaborately kill you.

The Lost Book of Lancelot by John Glynn
Published by: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A queer retelling of the legend of Sir Lancelot, following the famous knight as he grows up orphaned, falls in love, and attempts to fulfill his destiny at the Round Table - from the bestselling author of Out East.

Hidden away on the Isle of Women, a nameless orphan grows up among a powerful sisterhood, but always at a distance. He hears whispers of a prophecy that may shed light on his destiny - and his true identity: Lancelot. Determined to master the skills of knighthood, he begins training in tandem with the handsome Galehaut. As the two become inseparable, they guide one another toward their truest selves. But no matter how tightly they cling to one another, each has a role to play in the wizard Merlin's grand prophecies.

When Lancelot is forced to follow Merlin to Camelot, he fights to protect his heart while seeking the fabled grail alongside King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. But when Roman legionaries encroach on their kingdom, their quest takes on new urgency, as does Lancelot's explosive secret - the truth of what he left behind on the Isle of Women.

Steeped in rich medieval lore, The Lost Book of Lancelot is at once an immersive, a poignant love story and an epic, unforgettable tale of a vulnerable boy who is forced to rise to the occasion amid a battle between the old world and the new."

I mean, the denizens of Camelot are always rife for a queer bent. I mean, just watch Lancelot in the musical...

Hana and Taru by Léo Schilling and Motteux 
Published by: Magnetic Press
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
Format: Paperback, 224 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Deep in an ancient forest, young Taru feels like a misfit among her tribe of hunter-warriors. As she tries to make her mark in the adult world, she finds herself marginalized as much for her naïveté as for her radical ideas, which are dismissed by her mother and peers as nonsense. She is responsible for watching a prisoner - Hana, a young human with a mysterious past who has been captured by Taru's own tribe. Hana provides Taru with both solace and an opportunity to find her own way. When Taru's village is once again attacked by giant rampaging forest beasts, the unlikely pair will work together to try to understand the uncontrollable and deadly force that threatens them. What is causing the beasts to rampage? And how can they be stopped?

This ecological fantasy tale by writer Leo Schilling and cartoonist Motteux unravels an exciting fantasy tale about finding your own purpose and a responsible balance with nature."

FernGully for the literary set.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Crissa-Jean Chappell, Elaine Kraf, Eloisa James, Emma Garman, Gentleman Jack, John Glynn, Léo Schilling, Lucy Andrew, Luke Jennings, Matt Dinniman, Motteux, Nicola Whyte, Oliver Darkshire, Rebecca Batley, Sarah Rees Brennan

A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: November 29th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Chief Inspector Armand Gamache returns in the eighteenth book in #1 New York Times bestseller Louise Penny's beloved series.

It's spring and Three Pines is reemerging after the harsh winter. But not everything buried should come alive again. Not everything lying dormant should reemerge.

But something has.

As the villagers prepare for a special celebration, Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir find themselves increasingly worried. A young man and woman have reappeared in the Sûreté du Québec investigators' lives after many years. The two were young children when their troubled mother was murdered, leaving them damaged, shattered. Now they've arrived in the village of Three Pines.

But to what end?

Gamache and Beauvoir's memories of that tragic case, the one that first brought them together, come rushing back. Did their mother's murder hurt them beyond repair? Have those terrible wounds, buried for decades, festered and are now about to erupt?

As Chief Inspector Gamache works to uncover answers, his alarm grows when a letter written by a long dead stone mason is discovered. In it the man describes his terror when bricking up an attic room somewhere in the village. Every word of the 160-year-old letter is filled with dread. When the room is found, the villagers decide to open it up.

As the bricks are removed, Gamache, Beauvoir and the villagers discover a world of curiosities. But the head of homicide soon realizes there's more in that room than meets the eye. There are puzzles within puzzles, and hidden messages warning of mayhem and revenge.

In unsealing that room, an old enemy is released into their world. Into their lives. And into the very heart of Armand Gamache's home."

Because we can never get enough Armand Gamache and Tree Pines! Especially with the television show premiering this week!

Five Survive by Holly Jackson
Published by: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: November 29th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the author of the New York Times and multimillion-copy bestselling A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series comes a new addictive thriller about a road trip that turns deadly. Eight hours. Six friends. Five survive.

Red Kenny is on a road trip for spring break with five friends: Her best friend - the older brother - his perfect girlfriend - a secret crush - a classmate - and a killer.

When their RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere with no cell service, they soon realize this is no accident. They have been trapped by someone out there in the dark, someone who clearly wants one of them dead.

With eight hours until dawn, the six friends must escape, or figure out which of them is the target. But is there a liar among them? Buried secrets will be forced to light and tensions inside the RV will reach deadly levels. Not all of them will survive the night...."

THE book I have been hearing the most buzz about this fall!

The Sorcerer of Pyongyang by Marcel Theroux
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: November 29th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The acclaimed author of the "sublime" (The New York Times) Far North, a finalist for the National Book Award, returns with a mesmerizing novel about a North Korean boy whose life is irrevocably changed when he stumbles across a mysterious Western book - a guide to Dungeons and Dragons.

Ten-year-old Jun-su is a bright and obedient boy whose only desire is to be a credit to his family, his nation, and most importantly, his Dear Leader. However, when he discovers a copy of The Dungeon Master's Guide, left behind in a hotel room by a rare foreign visitor, a new and colorful world opens up to him.

With the help of an English-speaking teacher, Jun-su deciphers the rules of the famous role-playing game and his imaginary adventures sweep him away from the harsh reality of a famine-stricken North Korea. Over time, the game leads Jun-su on a spellbinding and unexpected journey through the hidden layers of his country, toward precocious success, glory, love, betrayal, prison, a spell at the pinnacle of the North Korean elite, and an extraordinary kind of redemption.

A vivid, uplifting, and deeply researched novel, The Sorcerer of Pyongyang is a love story and a tale of survival against the odds. Inspired by the testimony of North Korean refugees and drawing on the author's personal experience of North Korea, it explores the power of empathy and imagination in a society where they are dangerous liabilities."

If your life hasn't been changed by Dungeons and Dragons now's your chance.

Murder in an Irish Castle by Verity Bright
Published by: Bookouture
Publication Date: November 29th, 2022
Format: Kindle, 340 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Irish whiskey, rolling green hills, a traditional Christmas feast and...a murder? Lady Swift will need the luck of the Irish to survive this holiday season!

Christmas, 1923. Lady Eleanor Swift has received a rather unexpected invitation to the village Christmas party in the tiny, rural hamlet of Derrydee in the west of Ireland. Eleanor is thrilled about exploring her ancestral roots at her late uncle’s estate and spending the festive season in a castle. Packing Gladstone the bulldog's coziest Christmas jumper, they set off to the Emerald Isle with her butler Clifford in tow.

Arriving late at night, Eleanor and Clifford are shocked when they find a body sprawled in the snow on the winding country lane outside the estate. The local constable is immediately suspicious and all but accuses the pair of murder. This isn’t the warm Irish welcome Eleanor imagined!

Clifford is certain he recognises the poor fellow from the funeral of Eleanor's uncle - but what was their connection? Undeterred by the villagers' lack of gossip on the matter, Eleanor is determined to get justice for the victim. The man's pockets are suspiciously empty of personal effects, but closer inspection reveals an old key hidden in the heel of his boot. Could this unlock more than one mystery for Eleanor?

But when a fire breaks out at the castle on Christmas Eve, an even bigger question looms: is someone out to ensure the family line dies with Lady Swift? And will Eleanor's first Irish Christmas be her last?

An utterly addictive festive whodunnit set in Ireland, brimming with mystery, intrigue and wit. Sure to delight fans of T.E. Kinsey, Agatha Christie and Rhys Bowen."

Another book for my holiday reading this year. Murder and Christmas just go together better than anything else.

Hotel Splendide by Ludwig Bemelmans
Published by: Pushkin Press
Publication Date: November 29th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 144 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Acerbic, colorful, and spirited stories from a bygone era: behind the scenes in a grand NY hotel, from the author of the Madeline books.

Picture David Sedaris writing Kitchen Confidential about the Ritz in New York in the 1920s, which had the style and charm of The Grand Budapest Hotel...

In this charming and uproariously funny hotel memoir, Ludwig Bemelmans uncovers the fabulous world of the Hotel Splendide - the thinly disguised stand-in for the Ritz - a luxury New York hotel where he worked as a waiter in the 1920s. With equal parts affection and barbed wit, he uncovers the everyday chaos that reigns behind the smooth facades of the gilded dining room and banquet halls.

In hilarious detail, Bemelmans sketches the hierarchy of hotel life and its strange and fascinating inhabitants: from the ruthlessly authoritarian maître d'hôtel Monsieur Victor to the kindly waiter Mespoulets to Frizl the homesick busboy. Illustrated with his own charming line drawings, Bemelmans' tales of a bygone era of extravagance are as charming as they are riotously entertaining."

If you only know Bemelmans from Madeline let me enlighten you...

The Gentleman's Book of Vices by Jess Everlee
Published by: Carina Adores
Publication Date: November 29th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Is their real-life love story doomed to be a tragedy, or can they rewrite the ending?

London, 1883

Finely dressed and finely drunk, Charlie Price is a man dedicated to his vices. Chief among them is his explicit novel collection, though his impending marriage to a woman he can't love will force his carefully curated collection into hiding.

Before it does, Charlie is determined to have one last hurrah: meeting his favorite author in person.

Miles Montague is more gifted as a smut writer than a shopkeep and uses his royalties to keep his flagging bookstore afloat. So when a cheerful dandy appears out of the mist with Miles's highly secret pen name on his pretty lips, Miles assumes the worst. But Charlie Price is no blackmailer; he's Miles's biggest fan.

A scribbled signature on a worn book page sets off an affair as scorching as anything Miles has ever written. But Miles is clinging to a troubled past, while Charlie's future has spun entirely out of his control..."

Rewrite the ending for a HEA!

The Reluctant Countess by Eloisa James
Published by: Avon
Publication Date: November 29th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James returns to the Would-Be Wallflowers series with an enemies-to-lovers romance between a proper earl and an entirely improper lady - whom he can't stop thinking about.

Giles Renwick, Earl of Lilford, has never made a fool of himself over a woman - until he meets Lady Yasmin Régnier. Yasmin is ineligible for his attentions in every way: not as a wife, certainly not as a mistress (she is a lady!), nor even as a friend, since they vehemently dislike each other. Her gowns are too low, and her skirts are dampened to cling to admittedly lovely thighs. She loves to gossip - and giggle.

She isn't dignified, or polite, or even truly British, given that her father's French ancestry clearly predominated. Not to mention the fact that her mother had been one of Napoleon's mistresses, a fact she makes no effort to hide.

So what - in heaven's name - possesses him to propose?

And what will he do if she says yes?"

Oh, I do love Eloisa James's improper heroines!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Armand Gamache, Christmas, Dungeons and Dragons, Eloisa James, Holly Jackson, Jess Everlee, Louise Penny, Ludwig Bemelmans, Madeline, Marcel Theroux, Tree Pines, Verity Bright, Would-Be Wallflowers

My American Duchess by Eloisa James 
Published by: Avon
Publication Date: January 26th, 2015
Format: Paperback, 402 Pages
Rating: ★★★★
To Buy

Perhaps Merry Pelford doesn't know what love is. Here she is questioning her betrothal to Cedric just minutes after accepting him. And Cedric's proposal is literally one she cannot break. She's told herself as much. After all, here she is, an American in England, because she has gained a reputation for breaking her promise back in Boston. In fairness, only one of her ex-fiances sued her and that was because he was obviously after her money and had borrowed against his expectations. Developing the nickname Mary Mary Quite Contrary left a bad taste in her mouth so her aunt and uncle bundled her off to the homeland of Merry's mother to make a match. That match is Cedric, not the enigmatic stranger she has just met on the balcony whom she is immediately drawn to. Cedric is her one true love. Cedric, Cedric, Cedric. If she says it enough maybe she'll believe it? But in a cruel twist of fate the man on the balcony is Cedric's slightly older brother and twin, the Duke of Trent. If he was anyone else perhaps there could have been a chance, but to jilt one brother for another? Even without her reputation Merry couldn't bring herself to do such a thing. But Trent is determined that his brother and Merry will not make it to the alter. He knew instantly that Merry was the woman he was to spend the rest of his life with. She is everything he never knew he needed. Therefore he starts a campaign against his brother. But Merry can not believe what Trent is telling her about Cedric. OK, so the engagement ring was actually a family heirloom that was intended for the next duchess, that could be an easy mistake. Be he's the brother of a duke, he has to have deep pockets, unlike her second fiancee, and as for his drinking? Merry doesn't believe that Cedric could possibly be a drunk, she would have seen the signs. Trent is just bitter. Or is Merry blinding herself to the truth because she is determined to go through with her marriage to Cedric? Because she is willfully blinding herself to the attraction she feels for Trent. Can she live a life of denial if it means she has a clear conscious? And will Trent let her?

My American Duchess works because of good characterization and humor in spit of it's flaws. Merry is a wonderful heroine because while she is actively on the marriage market marriage isn't the only thing that drives her. She is a fully rounded character with a mind and interests of her own. Often in romance the heroine might be a bit too much like Princess Imani Izzi in Coming to America. She likes whatever you like. Here Merry doesn't just have long lasting and loving attachments to the people and animals in her life, but she has a passion for landscape architecture. Of course she just refers to it as designing gardens, but seriously, she's a landscape architect who works with the land instead of doing a Frederick Law Olmsted and reforming it to be his Arcadia. She also takes great and delicious interest in the growing and eating of pineapple. But her flaw is her American exceptionalism. It's more acceptable when the heroine has direct connections to the founding of America and is proud of her fledgling country and how it differs from England, but it still left a bad taste in my mouth. The problem with American exceptionalism is that by thinking we're the best at everything we've eventually become this country where we're always great and number one and anyone who doubts our greatness should be vilified. It's just too easy to see how we went from Merry to the insurrection and that makes me cringe. I also don't really see why Merry has such a problem with her jilting men. I agree with Trent who didn't care how many people she had jilted, she "would be considered an excellent prospect whether [she] had discarded three or thirty fiances." Because marriage is forever you have to make sure you've got it right. You have to make sure that person is the one. Which of course leads to Trent and Merry denying that love should enter into the equation and that marriage should be built on friendship and passion. OK, but isn't that the basis of love? And the continual denial from Trent that this is love drove me a bit batty. But then again he marries a woman who didn't realize he was her fiances twin. Were they not identical? Or did Trent look that different because of his brawny physique?

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: American Exceptionalism, Coming to America, Duke of Trent, Eloisa James, Finance, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jilt, Landscape Architecture, Love, Merry Pelford, My American Duchess, Pineapple, Regency Romp, Twins

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
Published by: Feiwel and Friends
Publication Date: March 29th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Judy I. Lin's sweeping debut A Magic Steeped in Poison, first in a duology, is sure to enchant fans of Adrienne Young and Leigh Bardugo.

I used to look at my hands with pride. Now all I can think is, "These are the hands that buried my mother."

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it's her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her - the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's greatest shennong-shi - masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making - she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning's only chance to save her sister's life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger."

It's like Tea Dragons meet a Cinder/Hunger Games mashup! YAS!

Evil in Emerald by A.M. Stuart
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: March 29th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Craving a change of pace, Harriet Gordon, joins a local musical theatre production but when a fellow cast member is brutally killed, Harriet and Inspector Curran must turn the spotlight on murder in this all-new mystery from the author of Revenge in Rubies.

Between working at her brother’s school and typing up Inspector Robert Curran’s police reports, Harriet Gordon has little time for personal pursuits and she has been enjoying the rehearsals for her role in the Singapore Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society’s latest production - Pirates of Penzance. But Harriet quickly discovers tensions run deep within the theatre company and when the leading man is found murdered, suspicions abound, exposing scandalous behavior as well as some insidious crimes.

Inspector Curran once again turns to Harriet for help with this difficult case, but his own life begins to unravel as a mysterious man turns up on his doorstep claiming to know more about Curran’s painful past than he himself does. And after the one person he has always counted on delivers him some devastating news, the line between his personal and professional life begins to blur. Now, more than ever, Curran needs Harriet’s steadfast assistance, and when another cast member meets a violent end, Curran and Harriet will have to close in on a killer determined to make this case their final curtain call."

Oh, as any mystery lover knows amateur dramatics lead to murder!

Danger on the Atlantic by Erica Ruth Neubauer
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: March 29th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In Agatha Award-winning author Erica Ruth Neubauer’s third wanderlust-inspiring historical mystery, young American widow Jane Wunderly, there are worse fates than adventuring aboard a transatlantic liner with the only man who could change her mind about romance. Unfortunately, her first-class itinerary has an unexpected - and deadly - addition waiting just below deck...

Atlantic Ocean, 1926: Voyaging from Southampton to New York, self-reliant Jane is determined to prove herself a worthy investigator on the stately ship - even awkwardly going undercover as the fashionable wife of her magnetic partner, Mr. Redvers. Few details are known about the rumored German spy the duo have been tasked with identifying among fellow passengers, but new troubles unfold once wealthy newlywed Vanessa FitzSimmons announces the sudden disappearance of her husband at sea...

Miles Van de Meter, the man Vanessa rushed to marry in Monte Carlo, has allegedly vanished into thin air along with his luggage. Redvers guesses the shifty heiress may be weaving tall tales for fun between flutes of champagne, yet Jane isn’t convinced - not after the stunning murder of a trusted acquaintance sends them into uncharted waters. Facing two dangerous mysteries and a boat load of suspects, Jane must navigate a claustrophobic quest for answers before the culprits can slip from her grasp on land…or, worse, ensure she and Redvers never reach their destination."

Gotta support local Wisconsin authors!

The Shop on Royal Street by Karen White
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: March 29th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Nola Trenholm is hopeful for a fresh start in the Big Easy but must deal with ghosts from her past - as well as new ones - in this first book in a spin-off series of Karen White's New York Times bestselling Tradd Street novels.

After a difficult detour on her road to adulthood, Nola Trenholm is looking to begin anew in New Orleans, and what better way to start her future than with her first house? But the historic fixer-upper she buys comes with even more work than she anticipated when the house’s previous occupants don’t seem to be ready to depart.

Although she can’t communicate with ghosts like her stepmother can, luckily Nola knows someone in New Orleans who is able to - even if he’s the last person on earth she wants anything to do with ever again. Beau Ryan comes with his own dark past - a past that involves the disappearance of his sister and parents during Hurricane Katrina - and he’s connected to the unsolved murder of a woman who once lived in the old Creole cottage Nola is determined to make her own...whether the resident restless spirits agree or not."

And I gotta support all Team W members!

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Susan Hill
Published by: The Overlook Press
Publication Date: March 29th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the newest installment of Susan Hill’s electrifying crime series, Simon Serrailler finds himself in devastating new territory as a sophisticated drug network sets its sights on Lafferton. In A Change of Circumstance, the eleventh book in Susan Hill’s acclaimed crime series featuring the enigmatic detective Simon Serrailler, Hill yet again raises the stakes.

Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Serrailler has long regarded drug ops in Lafferton as a waste of time. The small-time dealers picked up outside the local high school can’t or won’t turn in any valuable names, so they’re merely given a fine and the trail runs cold.

But when the body of a twenty-two-year-old is found in neighboring Starley, the case pulls DCS Simon Serrailler into the underbelly of an elaborate drug operation that moves narcotics from the cities into the suburbs and right down to villages. The foot soldiers? Vulnerable local kids like Brookie and Olivia, whose involvement gives Simon a bitter taste of this new landscape. It’s a harsh winter in Lafferton, and with struggles both at home and on the job, DCS Serrailler soon learns that even the familiar can hold shocking surprises...

Dark, page-turning, and rich in mood and character, Susan Hill’s A Change of Circumstance lands brilliantly as another gripping entry to the Serrailler canon, sure to enthrall fans and newcomers alike."

I am ALWAYS up for a new Susan Hill!

Tales of the City Volume 1 by Armistead Maupin
Published by: Ablaze
Publication Date: March 29th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 1332 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A Classic of LGBTQ Literature that has become a cult sensation.

San Francisco, late 1970s.

At 28 Barbary Lane, Anna Madrigal runs a boarding house. She welcomes people who have nowhere else to go: the misfits. This matriarch is known for her unending kindness and her superb marijuana crop.

Enter Mary Ann Singleton, a prudish, naive, young woman who escaped her dull Ohio hometown for San Francisco. She settles in with her other fellow tenants: Michael "Mouse," a personable young gay man, Brian Hawkins, an incorrigible Don Juan, and Mona Ramsey, a young hippyish bisexual.

Little does the group know that they will soon form a dear family together. This is the beginning of a humorous, heartfelt saga, between the summer of love and the appearance of AIDS, in the city of sexual freedom."

I LOVE the Tales of the City books and I just adore the retro style of this graphic novel approach.

How to Be a Wallflower by Eloisa James
Published by: Avon
Publication Date: March 29th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From New York Times bestseller Eloisa James, a new Regency-set novel in which a heiress with the goal of being a wallflower engages a rugged American in a scorchingly sensual, witty wager that tests whether clothing does indeed make the man - or the wallflower! A perfect companion story to Eloisa's My American Duchess.

Miss Cleopatra Lewis is about to be launched in society by her aristocratic grandfather. But since she has no intention of marrying, she visits a costume emporium specifically to order unflattering dresses guaranteed to put off any prospective suitors.

Powerful and charismatic Jacob Astor Addison is in London, acquiring businesses to add to his theatrical holdings in America - as well as buying an emerald for a young lady back in Boston. He’s furious when a she-devil masquerading as an English lady steals Quimby’s Costume Emporium from under his nose.

Jake strikes a devil’s bargain, offering to design her "wallflower wardrobe" and giving Cleo the chance to design his. Cleo can’t resist the fun of clothing the rough-hewn American in feathers and flowers. And somehow in the middle of their lively competition, Jake becomes her closest friend.

It isn’t until Cleo becomes the toast of all society that Jake realizes she’s stolen his fiercely guarded heart. But unlike the noblemen at her feet, he doesn’t belong in her refined and cultured world.

Caught between the demands of honor and desire, Jake would give up everything to be with the woman he loves - if she’ll have him!"

A perfect companion piece to my Regency Romp!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: A Magic Steeped in Poison, A.M. Stuart, Armistead Maupin, Eloisa James, Erica Ruth Neubauer, Graphic Novel, Judy I. Lin, Karen White, LGBTQ, Regency Romp, Singapore, Susan Hill, Tales of the City, Tea Dragon

Two things last year coincided to thrust me back into the Regency period. One was me finally getting around to reading Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series before I watched the Netflix adaptation. The second was Lauren Willig doing a monthly Pink Carnation Read Along of her delightful series about Napoleonic spies. Right there I had twenty Regency books I was diving headfirst into. Add to that the fact that Lauren and her guest moderators, many of whom write in the Regency period, were name checking tons of other Regency books that instantly ended up on my to be read, and I went, hang on a minute, I'm not the only Regency obsessed person in the world, I should do a theme month, or as it turns out, a slew of months dedicated to Regency literature, after all once season two of Bridgerton drops this month everyone will be look for read alikes! Like many people my first glimpse into the Regency period was via Jane Austen. It was 1996, the Colin Firth miniseries had been released, and I graduated high school and spent the summer reading Jane Austen. Dragging my omnibus edition with the minuscule font from Waldenbooks on every trip I took. I fell completely in love with everything Regency but it really wasn't until I discovered The Secret History of the Pink Carnation almost a decade later that I learned how much the Regency era had influenced other authors and how many of those authors Lauren would introduce me to. So I hope you'll join me over the next few months as I romp through Regency literature. Julia Quinn, Lauren Willig, Sarah MacLean, Eloisa James, Lisa Kleypas, Andrea Penrose, and of course, Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, are just some of the authors I'll be reading. Let's make this a real Regency Romp!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Andrea Penrose, Bridgerton, Eloisa James, Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen, Julia Quinn, Lauren Willig, Lisa Kleypas, Regency, Regency Romp, Sarah MacLean, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, Waldenbooks

Horseman by Christina Henry 
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: September 28th, 2021
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this atmospheric, terrifying novel that draws strongly from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," the author of Alice and The Girl in Red works her trademark magic, spinning an engaging and frightening new story from a classic tale.

Everyone in Sleepy Hollow knows about the Horseman, but no one really believes in him. Not even Ben Van Brunt's grandfather, Brom Bones, who was there when it was said the Horseman chased the upstart Crane out of town. Brom says that's just legend, the village gossips talking.

More than thirty years after those storied events, the village is a quiet place. Fourteen-year-old Ben loves to play "Sleepy Hollow boys," reenacting the events Brom once lived through. But then Ben and a friend stumble across the headless body of a child in the woods near the village, and the discovery makes Ben question everything the adults in Sleepy Hollow have ever said. Could the Horseman be real after all? Or does something even more sinister stalk the woods?"

The illustration of the horse on this cover is perhaps one of my favorite cover illustrations ever. 

The Last House On Needless Street by Catriona Ward
Published by: Tor Nightfire
Publication Date: September 28th, 2021
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street is a shocking and immersive read perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Haunting of Hill House.

In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three.

A teenage girl who isn’t allowed outside, not after last time.

A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory.

And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible.

An unspeakable secret binds them together, but when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees may come back to haunt them all."

The reason you should ALL read this book, does the cat do exorcisms from studying the Bible?

The House of Dust by Noah Broyles
Published by: Inkshares
Publication Date: September 28th, 2021
Format: Paperback, 445 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Deep in the heat and silence of rural Tennessee, down an untraveled road, sits the forgotten town of Three Summers. Mere miles away, on an overgrown river island, stands the house that once presided over the grand plantation of Angel's Landing, moss-draped, decrepit. Waiting.

Failing crime writer Bradley Ellison and former prostitute Missy Holiday are drawn to this place, fleeing a world turned against them. For Brad, it is work - he must find a compelling story before the true-crime magazine he writes for judges him expendable. For Missy, it is recuperation - four years at the club have left her drained.

But the price of peace is high, and soon Brad and Missy discover that something hides behind the quiet. Something moves in the night. Something that manifests itself in bizarre symbols and disturbing funeral rites. Something that twists back through time and clings in the dust of the ancient house. A presence they must uncover before their own past catches up with them."

If you haven't noticed by now, I LOVE haunted house books! 

Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens by Andrea Penrose
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: September 28th, 2021
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The upcoming marriage of the Earl of Wrexford and Lady Charlotte Sloane promises to be a highlight of the season, if they can first untangle - and survive - a web of intrigue and murder involving the most brilliant scientific minds in Regency London...

A thrilling new mystery novel from the acclaimed author of Murder at Queen’s Landing, perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Anne Perry! The wedding of the Earl of Wrexford and Lady Charlotte Sloane is not-to-be-missed, but the murder of a brilliant London scientist threatens their plans - and their lives...

One advantage of being caught up in a whirl of dress fittings and decisions about flower arrangements and breakfast menus is that Charlotte Sloane has little time for any pre-wedding qualms. Her love for Wrexford isn’t in question. But will being a wife - and a Countess - make it difficult for her to maintain her independence - not to mention, her secret identity as famed satirical artist A.J. Quill?

Despite those concerns, there are soon even more urgent matters to attend to during Charlotte and Wrexford’s first public outing as an engaged couple. At a symposium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, a visiting botanist suffers a fatal collapse. The traces of white powder near his mouth reveal the dark truth - he was murdered. Drawn into the investigation, Charlotte and the Earl learn of the victim’s involvement in a momentous medical discovery. With fame and immense fortune at stake, there’s no shortage of suspects, including some whose ruthlessness is already known. But neither Charlotte nor her husband-to-be can realize how close the danger is about to get - or to what lengths this villain is prepared to go..."

I have been on a huge Regency kick lately!

Mistletoe Christmas by Eloisa James, Christi Caldwell, Janna MacGregor, and Erica Ridley 
Published by: Avon
Publication Date: September 28th, 2021
Format: Paperback, 480 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From four beloved writers - Eloisa James, Christi Caldwell, Janna MacGregor, and Erica Ridley - come four original stories that tell a hilarious tale of a Christmas house party that serves up love and scandal in equal measure!

The Duke of Greystoke’s Christmas Revelry is famous throughout the British Isles for its plays, dancing, magical grotto... not to mention scandals leading to the marriage licenses he hands out like confetti.

But not everyone welcomes a visit from Cupid.

Lady Cressida, the duke’s daughter, is too busy managing the entertainments - and besides, her own father has called her dowdy. Her cousin, Lady Isabelle Wilkshire, is directing Cinderella and has no interest in marriage. Lady Caroline Whitmore is already (unhappily) married; the fact that she and her estranged husband have to pretend to be together just makes her dread the party all the more. But not as much as Miss Louisa Harcourt, whose mother bluntly tells her that this is her last chance to escape the horrors of being an old maid.

A house party so large that mothers lose track of their charges leads to a delightful, seductive quartet of stories that you will savor for the Season!"

Again, have I said recently how I'm on a Regency kick? Oh, and it might be September, but it's never too soon to be thinking about Christmas! 

Chapter and Curse by Elizabeth Penney
Published by: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Publication Date: September 28th, 2021
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Elizabeth Penney's Chapter and Curse is the first in a brand new cozy series introducing Molly Kimball and set in one of the oldest bookshops in Cambridge, England..."

It's set in Cambridge. In England. I'm in.

Murder Outside the Lines by Krista Davis 
Published by: Kensington
Publication Date: September 28th, 2021
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Includes A Front and Back Cover for You to Color!

With Halloween just around the corner, the fall colors in Georgetown are brilliant. As manager of the Color Me Read bookstore, coloring book creator Florrie Fox has arranged for psychic author Hilda Rattenhorst to read from Spooktacular Ghost Stories. But the celebrity medium arrives for the event in hysterics, insisting she just saw a bare foot sticking out of a rolled-up carpet in a nearby alley. Is someone trying to sweep murder under the rug? Florrie calls in her policeman beau, Sergeant Eric Jonquille, but the carpet corpse has disappeared without a trace.

Then in the middle of her reading, Hilda chillingly declares that she feels the killer's presence in the store. Is this a publicity stunt or a genuine psychic episode? It seems there's no happy medium. When a local bibliophile is soon discovered missing, a strange mystery begins to unroll. Now it's up to Florrie and Jonquille to expose a killer's true colors..."

I just LOVE that this is taking the adult coloring book craze to the next level! 

The Ice Coven by Max Seeck 
Published by: Berkley Books
Publication Date: September 28th, 2021
Format: Paperback, 464 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Investigator Jessica Niemi is in a race against time to find the link between a body with strange markings that has washed up on a frigid shore in Finland and two baffling disappearances in this terrifying new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch Hunter.

Six months have passed since Jessica's encounter with the mysterious serial-killing coven of witches and the death of her mentor. Her nightmares about her mother and the witchcraft that undid her have only gotten worse, but she's doing what she can to stay focused. Her homicide squad, now under new leadership, has been given a murder case and a new series of disappearances to investigate. A young woman's corpse has washed up on an icy beach, and two famous Instagram influencers have gone missing at the same time.

The missing influencers and the murdered woman all have ties to a sinister cult. Jessica finds an eerie painting - of a lighthouse on a remote island - as she investigates, and under the picture is a gruesome poem detailing a murder. The nightmares about her mother suddenly seem all too real, making Jessica wonder if the dead woman might be trying to tell her something about the killings. And as Jessica works frantically to solve her latest case, her horrific past comes roaring back and threatens to destroy her."

Scandi witches!!!

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
Published by: Del Rey
Publication Date: September 28th, 2021
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The specter of graduation looms large as Naomi Novik’s groundbreaking, New York Times bestselling trilogy continues in the stunning sequel to A Deadly Education.

In Wisdom, Shelter. That’s the official motto of the Scholomance. I suppose you could even argue that it’s true - only the wisdom is hard to come by, so the shelter’s rather scant.

Our beloved school does its best to devour all its students - but now that I’ve reached my senior year and have actually won myself a handful of allies, it’s suddenly developed a very particular craving for me. And even if I somehow make it through the endless waves of maleficaria that it keeps throwing at me in between grueling homework assignments, I haven’t any idea how my allies and I are going to make it through the graduation hall alive.

Unless, of course, I finally accept my foretold destiny of dark sorcery and destruction. That would certainly let me sail straight out of here. The course of wisdom, surely.

But I’m not giving in - not to the mals, not to fate, and especially not to the Scholomance. I’m going to get myself and my friends out of this hideous place for good - even if it’s the last thing I do.

With keen insight and mordant humor, Novik reminds us that sometimes it is not enough to rewrite the rules - sometimes, you need to toss out the entire rulebook.

The magic of the Scholomance trilogy will continue in 2022."

The trilogy will continue in 2022? I like series with a definitive release date. 

Before We Disappear by Shaun David Hutchinson
Published by: HarperTeen
Publication Date: September 28th, 2021
Format: Hardcover, 512 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

It’s a new star-crossed romance about the magic of first love from the acclaimed author of We Are the Ants and Brave Face, Shaun David Hutchinson.

Jack Nevin’s clever trickery and moral flexibility make him the perfect assistant to the Enchantress, one of the most well-known stage magicians in turn-of-the-nineteenth-century Europe. Without Jack’s steady supply of stolen tricks, the Enchantress’s fame would have burned out long ago.

But when Jack’s thievery catches up to them, they’re forced to flee to America to find their fortune. Luckily, the Enchantress is able to arrange a set of sold-out shows at Seattle’s Alaska–Yukon–Pacific World’s Fair Exposition. She’s convinced they’re going to rich and famous until a new magician arrives on the scene. Performing tricks that defy the imagination, Laszlo’s show overshadows the Enchantress, leaving Jack no choice but to hunt for the secrets to his otherworldly illusions. But what Jack uncovers isn’t at all what he expected.

Behind Laszlo’s tricks is Wilhelm - a boy that can seemingly perform real magic. Jack and Wilhelm have an instant connection, and as the rivalry between the Enchantress and Laszlo grows, so too does Jack and Wilhelm’s affection. But can Jack choose between the woman who gave him a life and the boy who is offering him everything?

It’s a stirring tale about the magic of love from award-winning author Shaun David Hutchinson."

Seeing as people I know and trust have been demanding I put down everything I'm doing and read this book I thought I should pass on this advice to you. 

Celebrate with Kim-Joy by Kim-Joy
Published by: Quadrille Publishing
Publication Date: September 28th, 2021
Format: Hardcover, 192 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Let Kim-Joy and her signature cuteness brighten your celebrations. From birthday cakes to year-round events, all occasions are covered!

The 60 sweet recipes are bursting with color, imagination and fun and there's something for everyone, no matter what their baking skills.

Big occasions include birthdays, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Christmas, weddings; and there are plenty of other celebrations too - Graduation Day, New Year's, new baby, Pride, Thanksgiving, Day of the Dead, Pancake Day and many more.

Vegan and gluten-free alternatives are provided so that no one needs to miss out!

This joyful collection of recipes includes all the step-by-step photography, clear instructions and words of positivity you need to learn to bake and decorate just like Kim-Joy."

I TOTALLY want to celebrate with Kim-Joy!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Andrea Penrose, Catriona Ward, Christina Henry, Elizabeth Penney, Eloisa James, GBBO, Haunted House, Kim-Joy, Krista Davis, Max Seeck, Naomi Novik, Noah Broyles, Regency, Shaun David Hutchinson, Sleepy Hollow