Welcome to Over-Booked, where I share my latest and greatest book acquisitions! I’m linking up with Stacking the Shelves over at Tynga’s Reviews and The Sunday Post at The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
Lots of cool books were added to my shelves these past few weeks, and all I need now is another four hours added to each day so I can dedicate that time to “reading only.” How do we make that happen??
Physical books for review:
I was excited to get a finished copy of Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente in the mail from Wunderkind PR! I really meant to read this in April, but I plan on knocking it out this month. Big thanks to Wunderkind and Saga Press:-D
Another surprise from Wunderkind was Mecha Samurai Empire by Peter Tieryas. The cover looks different, but you may be familiar with Tieryas’ United States of Japan, which came out a couple of years ago from Angry Robot. This book is set in the same universe, but I believe it can be read as a stand-alone. I’m really excited, it sounds fantastic! Thanks to Wunderkind and Ace!
I really enjoyed the last Nick Mamatas book I read, so I was thrilled to be offered his latest, a collection of short stories called The People’s Republic of Everything. Big thanks to Tachyon!
Another surprise just arrived, this time from Orbit! I was super excited about this because so many of my UK blogger buddies have already read and loved Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell. Now it looks like Orbit has picked up the series here in the US, and all four books in the series (so far! I believe there will be a total of six) are slated to be published this year. Thank you Orbit!
It’s definitely been a week full of surprises! Arriving out of the blue was Hell Divers III: Deliverance by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. I haven’t read the first two books, does anyone know if these can be read out of order? Just curious. Kristen at Metaphors and Moonlight LOVES these books, so I trust her judgement:-) Big thanks to Blackstone Audio!
I was also very happy to receive a copy of my #FearlessWomen book drop that happened Tuesday of this week, Death Doesn’t Bargain by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I’m definitely planning on reading it, as I’ve never read Kenyon before and I want to check off that box:-) Huge thanks to Tor!
Finally, a lovely finished copy of Blood Orbit by K.R. Richardson arrived from Pyr Books. I am actually hosting a U.S. only giveaway here, so if you haven’t entered, check it out! And if you DON’T live in the U.S., you’re still in luck, because Mogsy at The Bibliosanctum is running an INTERNATIONAL giveaway here, so go on over and enter!
Purchased:
My April Sci-Fi PageHabit box was really cool this month, with an annotated copy of Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller and a couple of cool extras, socks and a cut cat pencil:-) And on a whim, I bought a UK copy of I Still Dream by James Smythe from The Book Depository after hearing awesome things about it somewhere. I don’t think it’s available in the U.S. at the moment, but look at the gorgeous cover, and click on the link to check out the blurb. It sounds like my kind of story and I hope to squeeze it in at some point.
Digital books for review:
Oh no, so many new digital galleys!! But all good ones, I think you’ll agree:-)
I’m really excited to read Catherynne M. Valente’s upcoming short story collection, The Future is Blue. I’ve actually preordered the limited edition from Subterranean Press because I know it’s going to be gorgeous, but in the meantime I can also read the stories in anticipation of its July release date.
And yay, it’s a new Tim Powers book! I’m pre-approved on Edelweiss for Baen, so when I saw his upcoming Alternate Routes pop up I immediately hit the “download” button without hesitating at all!
I was invited to download The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston from Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press and I couldn’t resist. It looks like a magical, romantic time travel story, something I could use right about now:-)
In the category of “couldn’t resist” (which seems to be a theme with me!) I immediately requested 100 Fathoms Below by Steven L. Kent and Nicholas Kaufmann, another book from Blackstone Audio, and I was approved within minutes, which makes me happy.
I was also invited to review Close Your Eyes by Paul Jessup, another fantastic sounding book from Apex (and they are killing it with their covers lately!!) I just had to try this book by “acclaimed author of weird fiction” Jessup.
Finally, a trio of #FearlessWomen books that I’m very interested in reading and reviewing: Vicious by V.E. Schwab will be a reread for me, as I read it when it was first released back in 2013. Look for my #FearlessWomen book drop post at the end of May, and I hope to read it soon as well. Next up is Starless by Jacqueline Carey, which drops in June. I loved her last book so I’m anxious to read more. And finally, City of Lies by Sam Hawke drops in July, and I’ve heard really good things about this book.
Huge thanks to Subterranean Press, Baen, Thomas Dunne Books, Blackstone Audio, Apex Books and Tor:-D
I thought that kitty in a box (on a stick) was a tiny sledgehammer and was very confused as to why that would be included in a scifi book box. But what an awesome haul! I’m really digging the new cover for Spellslinger, and Close Your Eyes sounds super intriguing.
I love the Spellslinger cover as well, I’m excited to see what everyone is talking about
I did read the first Hell Divers book some time ago, and I remember that it ended in something of a cliff-hanger, so I believe that at least book 2 will have ties with the first volume.
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…Review: ONE WAY, by S.J. Morden
Good to know, I’ll have to track down the first two books
Looks like another interesting mix of books. Most of these are new to me, but that’s one of the things I most enjoy about these over-booked posts, being introduced to new stuff. Thanks much!
Thanks Todd, I love spotting new books on other people’s blogs, so I’m happy to help out;-)
Love the covers for The Future Is Blue and The Little Shop of Found Things- I need to look closer at those! And yay for Blackfish City- love the look of the annotated one! Space Opera looks good too.
Greg recently posted…Sunday Post #245
I feel horrible because I have a NetGalley copy of Blackfish City that I still haven’t read. But now that I have the annotated book, I think I’ll read that instead:-)
Man what a haul. I have Alternate Routes room which I’m thrilled about since I featured it on a CWW post some time ago. The Future Looks Blue looks so pretty! I have Space Opera to get to m as well. Let me know if you find those 4 hours.
I think I heard about Alternate Routes from you, and I’ve been checking for it to pop up on Edelweiss, so I was glad to finally see it there.
What a cool bunch of books to look forward to! City of Lies is definitely one that I hope will get the chance to try out myself though. It sounds so good! 😀 Happy reading!
Lashaan Balasingam recently posted…Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan
I’ve heard really good things about City of Lies, so hopefully we can both read it:-)
I was soooo excited to receive a copy of Spellslinger as well! It’s about time it’s getting pubbed in the US. I guess I have no excuse now, will have to read it ASAP 😀
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum recently posted…Book Review: Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente
Yeah, and read fast because you saw that the first four books will all be published this year:-) No pressure!
Great haul!im excited to hear Orbit picked up Spellsinger!
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…Friday Firsts – The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green
Me too! It’s weird because I hadn’t heard anything about it. I love that they are releasing the first four books so close together.
I have been wanting to read Spellslinger. Glad to see it is coming to the US!
x The Captain
I didn’t even know it was going to be published in the US until I got my copy, such a great surprise:-)
I’ve been wanting to read Spellslinger and have also been jealous that UK people got to read it and we didn’t lol. That’s awesome you got a copy!
Thanks for the shoutout! Honestly I feel like Hell Divers would be better if you read it in order? It’s all connected with a lot of the same characters, there’s background info that you might need, etc. But then, I never skip in series unless they’re those kinds where there are different MCs and completely different stories in each book, so maybe I’m not the best person to advise on this.
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight recently posted…Cover Characteristics: Book Covers featuring Mermaids/Mermen
You’ve convinced me, I’m going to read the first two books first:-) I totally trust your judgement!
Ohhhh Vicious is going to be a fun re-read! I just read it around Christmastime, so I hope the story will be somewhat fresh in my head when Vengeful comes out. Starless caught my attention back when you and Mogsy showcased it for Waiting On Wednesday, and The Little Shop of Found Things’s cover is stunning. I also have a couple Sherrilyn Kenyon books at home; haven’t read them yet, though.
As for me, most of my recent book acquisitions were poetry books at the Massachusetts Poetry Festival last weekend. But I also found an autographed copy of Juliet Marillier’s Son of the Shadows! She was in Salem, MA a couple years ago for a writing conference and signed some books for one of the local indie booksellers. 🙂
I’m a little nervous about rereading Vicious, because I loved it so much the first time. But I’m curious so I think I’ll take the plunge:-) Very cool to stumble upon a signed Marillier book!
I think I need to jump on the Hell Divers train. Everyone seems to be having a lot of fun with that series.
Yep, me too! Now that I have the third book, I need to get copies of the first two. I’m excited!
OHHH SPELLSINGER is just gorgeous! I hope you enjoy it!!
Oooo, those are some great bookish surprises! I especially covet the cat pencil 🙂
The cover for the Future is Blue is super awesome! Tho I don’t usually like collections of short stories so I don’t know if I will ever actually read it. Great haul!
Brittany recently posted…First Impression Friday – The Hazel Wood and The Night Circus
I got approved for City of Lies too! I hope we’ll both love it!
Ouuu great haul! I can’t wait to get my hands on Space Opera.
Hope you enjoy all your books! If you enjoy I Still Dream, James has loads of other fantastic books.