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.
It’s been three weeks since my last book haul, and in that amount of time I did some serious damage to my savings account. I’m not sure what happened, but I’m blaming it on Subterranean Press, who seduced me with beautiful limited editions, and I decided to purchase one of their famous “grab bags,” which they only do about once a year. So yeah, the last part of this post is full of all the books I’ve bought lately. But up first, I’ve been very lucky with review copies, and I’m eternally grateful to all the publishers and publicists who keep my mailbox full:-) Here’s my latest book haul:
Physical review copies:
Queen of No Tomorrows by Matt Maxwell. Matt approached me and asked me to read his book, and I was tempted by the idea of a supernatural noir story set in the 80s. This has an early December release date, so I’ll be reading it very soon.
The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons. This was a surprise arrival from Tor, but I’m very excited to have it in my hands. It’s already got amazing reviews, can’t wait!
Occupy Me by Tricia Sullivan. A publicist at Titan Books saw a comment I left on someone’s blog post review of this book, and asked me if I’d like to read it. It really does sound good, despite some lukewarm reviews. I’m very curious!
The Arrival of Missives by Aliya Whiteley. I participated in Whiteley’s blog tour and Titan Books kindly sent me a copy of the book, even though I read it in an earlier edition a couple of years ago.
The Municipalists by Seth Fried. I was thrilled when Seth contacted me on Twitter after seeing his book on my list of adult science fiction books I’m looking forward to in 2019, and he hooked me up with an ARC! I love when that happens:-)
City of Broken Magic by Mirah Bolender. I just started this a few days ago, and I hate to admit it, but I’m REALLY struggling to enjoy it. I don’t really like her writing style, which I know is a personal thing, but that, and the fact that the story is very confusing, is making me wonder if I need to give it a pass.
Stronger, Faster and More Beautiful by Arwen Elys Dayton. This came unsolicited from Wunderkind PR, but wow, the reviews are making me want to read it!
A couple of surprises arrived from Tor: Nothing To Devour by Glen Hirshberg. This is the third book in Hirshberg’s Motherless Children vampire series, and I’m very sad to say I have not started this series, although now I have all three books. I do want to do a binge read at some point!
The Monster Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson is the follow up to The Traitor Baru Cormorant, which I have not read, and so I won’t be able to read this until I catch up. But I am thrilled to have a copy! Let me know if you’re reading this series!
Soulbinder by Sebastien de Castell is book #4 in his amazing Spellslinger series. I’m frightfully behind and I’m hoping December is the month I can catch up.
Mage Against the Machine by Shaun Barger. Lots of mixed reviews for this book. I actually requested this months ago and then completely forgot about it because I never received a copy. I just thought I wasn’t getting one, but out of the blue it showed up this past week. Now I’m not sure how to fit it into my schedule:-/
A couple of EXCITING SURPRISES arrived from Orbit this past week, books that are on my list but I didn’t request yet. First up, The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky. I really enjoyed Brodsky’s last series Olympus Bound, and I’m curious to read her follow-up.
And even more exciting, The Gutter Prayer by Gareth Hanrahan is already garnering fantastic reviews on Goodreads.
Finally, Hell Divers IV: Wolves by Nicholas Sansbury Smith was a surprise arrival from Blackstone Publishing. They sent me book #3 in the series last year, but I need to start at the beginning. I’m very excited because I know some bloggers who love this series.
Huge thanks to Broken Eye Books, Matt Maxwell, Tor Books, Titan Books, Penguin, Delacorte Press, Orbit Books, Saga Press, Wunderkind PR and Blackstone Publishing!
Digital review copies:
Romanov by Nadine Brandes is a YA Anastasia retelling, and it looks really unique!
Ninth Step Station is an upcoming Serial Box series that I immediately said “yes” to when I was asked to review it. I’m not big on serialized reading, simply because I usually find it hard to keep up in addition to everything else I have to read. But this takes place in a futuristic Tokyo, and that is something I cannot resist! Authors on this series are: Malka Ann Older, Fran Wilde, Jacqueline Koyanagi and Curtis C. Chen.
The Fall of Io by Wesley Chu. I am a long-time fan of Chu’s Tao series, which has now branched off into this spin-off. I loved The Rise of Io and I’m sure this is going to be another fantastic installment.
Last Things by Jacqueline West. I downloaded this from Edelweiss when I saw the Stranger Things comparison, so I hope it’s good! That cover is beautiful!
Middlegame by Seanan McGuire. I featured this on a Waiting on Wednesday post not long ago, so I was super excited to see it pop up on NetGalley.
Big thanks to Thomas Nelson, Serial Box, Angry Robot, Greenwillow and Tor.com!
Purchased:
So, I went a little crazy and bought a ton of books, and of course they all arrived at once. From The Book Depository, I really needed these three UK editions of books I’m dying to read: Little by Edward Carey is a fictionalized tale of the real-life Madame Tussaud, the woman who created the famous wax museum. This UK edition is GORGEOUS without a dust jacket, and it’s illustrated inside. Trust me, it’s worth the money.
My UK copy of The Corset by Laura Purcell also arrived. This will be published next year in the U.S. under a different title, but I couldn’t wait! I also HAD to have the UK edition of Vengeful by V.E. Schwab. It’s stunning! Why are UK editions more beautiful than U.S. ones? I don’t know.
And in the “I don’t care if my kids are in college and I can’t afford it, I have to own these books” category, I preordered a couple of Subterranean Press titles that both arrived within a few weeks of each other. First up, the super special edition of Borne by Jeff VanderMeer, which includes a couple of Borne related short stories and is signed, of course. I also preordered Caitlin R. Kiernan’s latest short story collection, The Dinosaur Tourist, and I’ll admit this was a cover-love purchase, look how pretty! Unfortunately, Borne is already sold out, but you can purchase The Dinosaur Tourist as a limited edition, I believe.
And the latest print edition of Apex Magazine arrived as well. If you can swing $10 a month to subscribe to this fantastic magazine, I know Apex would appreciate it. The future of the print version is in jeopardy and I don’t know how much longer they will be able to support it.
Behold, my Subterranean Press Grab Bag! Once every year or so, Sub Press offers a grab bag for $150. They take a box and fill it up with a random assortment of previously published books, so you don’t know what you’re getting. Now hear me out, I know that sounds like a lot, but you have to know that their specialty is publishing limited, signed editions of speculative fiction books. Some of these books originally sold for $85, and the least expensive in the bunch is $40, so this box of books has a combined list price of nearly $500. As a collector, it makes sense, and it’s also fun to be surprised! I was thrilled to see Charlie Jane Ander’s Rock Manning Goes for Broke, a short novella that just came out this year. I was tempted to buy it at the time but didn’t. Other books in this pile I’m really excited about are Turn Coat by Jim Butcher, DJStories by David J. Schow, Provenance by Ann Leckie and Amityville Horrible by Kelley Armstrong. Also in the box, a few books I’m not familiar with but they look great: Voyages by Mike Resnick, Mira’s Last Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold, River’s Edge by James P. Blaylock, Heroes and Villains by Lewis Shiner and M.I.A. Hunter by Joe R. Lansdale and Stephen Mertz.
I’m drooling! LOL Look at these beauties! They should keep you bust for a week or two? LOL Enjoy:)
Laura Thomas recently posted…False Memory ~ Blitz and Giveaway
Ha ha, these could keep me busy for a YEAR, lol:-)
Oh man, so much good stuff! Seriously, your house must be overflowing with books. lol I got a surprise copy of Gutter Prayer too and it really sounds fantastic, I’m excited for that one. I’m still pending for Middlegame but it’s quite possible that I might scream if I do get approved. happy reading!
Bonnie @ For the Love of Words recently posted…Something To Look Forward To – Week of October 22nd, 2018
I’m crossing my fingers for your approval of Middlegame:-)
The Spellsinger series has definitely been on my list to check out at some point. Too bad about City of Broken Magic, I’m curious about that one. I’ve read Ruin of Kings, I’ll be looking forward to your thoughts!
I hope you review Ruin of Kings, I don’t think I’ve read any blogger reviews yet.
I’m holding my review closer to the release, it’ll probably go up in early January.
You’re tempting me to read it early:-)
This post is a little overwhelming! Not in a bad way, either, but it’s like… SO MANY BOOKS! *lol*
I’m really interested in The Wolf in the Whale, so I hope you’re able to review that one at some point. Also intrigued by The Ruin of Kings. It sounds like it turns a number of fantasy tropes on their heads, especially with the idea that the orphaned MC discovers his real family and realizes the dream he envisioned might just be his worst nightmare…
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I agree, I’m intrigued by The Ruin of Kings, although it’s a long book and a little daunting:-)
Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful sounds amazing. I love Westworld, so the comparison sold me.
I bought The Traitor Baru Cormorant today because I’m determined to like it this time around. Everyone loved it except me.
I have The Gutter Prayer on my TBR, sound great.
I requested Middlegame on Netgalley, so fingers crossed that I get approved 🙂
Fingers crossed for you! I have heard that Baru is a tough read, so it might be a book that’s tough for me to read too. Good luck!
WOW, what a haul. I am SERIOUSLY impressed by the Sub.Press grab bag!
Out of the review copies, I am really looking forward to Romanov. It sounds like something right up my alley!
I hadn’t even heard of Romanov, it just popped up on NetGalley and I decided to give it a shot:-)
Wow! That IS a lot of books, but really, can you ever have too many? 🙂 I’m almost a third of the way through The Wolf in the Whale (received through a goodreads giveaway), and I’m really enjoying it so far. I’ll be curious to see what you think if you review it.
No you never can have enough books! I think we all feel that way, right? I’m so glad you’re enjoying The Wolf in the Whale, I probably won’t get to it for a month or so, but I’m looking forward to it.
Wow, you did buy all the books. You know I want the Seanan McGuire book and Last Things and Romanov are calling me name as well. I still haven’t read Silent Companions and I think I want to find my copy (somewhere in a stack upstairs awaiting a book shelf) and read it during December. Hope you have a wonderful week Tammy and a great Thanksgiving. Will your kids be coming in?
Yes, both my kids are coming home! I’m very excited, I’ll see them both on Wednesday. My daughter wasn’t going to, because the plane ticket was so darn expensive, but I figure it’s worth the money. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!
Wow, look at all the cool books! 🙂
Yeah, I have to say they do look nice all lined up in my photos. Now I just need to find a place to put them, lol.
Oh wow, you really do have huge haul this time! Looks great though! I’m so jealous you have a copy of The Municipalists!
I was very surprised to be offered it. Also, it’s not a publisher I usually work with. I tweeted my “can’t wait” list to the author and he responded:-)
Wow, that’s a ton of books! And thanks for solving the mystery of the Stronger, Faster and More Beautiful book – I got that one too and didn’t know how I got on the list, but the Wunderkind connection checks out. My copy of Soulbinder came a couple days ago too and I can’t wait to read it. Also looking forward to your thoughts on the Corset, if you get a chance to read it before the US release drops 😀
I don’t remember requesting Stronger, Faster and More Beautiful, but I’m glad I have it. I checked out the reviews and they’re promising!
What an awesome haul! I look forward to hearing what you think about quite a few of these – particularly, The Wolf in the Whale, The Corset and The Dinosaur Tourist (best cover-love buy ever!!) 😀
I know, I could not pass up The Dinosaur Tourist because of that cover!
Sorry to hear about City of Magic- I was wondering about that one. I didn’t realize Brodsky had a new book out so I’ll have to check out the Wolf in the Whale. Ninth Step Station and Last Things both look promising as well.
Happy reading!!
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I’m going to try to push through City of Broken Magic, but I needed a break so I’m reading something else.
Wow, look at that Borne cover!
Isn’t it cool? It’s weird, but I think it works:-)
OH YES TO BUYING ALL THE BOOKS!
I want all these books too Tammy! You got the BEST here! I requested Middlegame Crossing my fingers and…
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you got Hell Divers Wolves!!! I AM SO JEALOUS but happy for you 🙂 I LOVE THAT SERIES SO MUCH! Yo gotta read it Tammy!
I KNOW you’ll love that series too!
Daniela Ark recently posted…The Bird Box is warning you! Don’t open your eyes!
I need to track down book 1 and 2 of Helldivers, and then I can start the series, so glad you are enthusiastic about it!
Wow – what an awesome book haul. Hope you enjoy all of these – so many books though!
Lynn 😀
I know, way too many, and I bought half of them, so obviously I’m on a book spending ban until next year, lol.
Holy haul, Tammy! Lots of amazing books there, I hope you enjoy them!
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious Blog recently posted…Outrun the Wind by Elizabeth Tammi
“Holy haul,” I’m going to steal that one of these days;-)
WOW, now that is a serious book haul! Very impressive. I’ve been eyeing that Romanov book too. It does sound like a great retelling.
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And the cover is hard to resist:-)
Woah holy books, batman!
Ha ha I know. Sometimes you just have to go a little crazy with books, lol:-)
I love seeing pics of hauls, and Tammy, this is a haul! I’m excited to see your review of so many of these. Happy reading ahead!
Thanks Jennifer, I love haul posts too, although often my TBR gets bigger because of them!
One helluva haul, Tammy! 😛 I’m particularly interested in The Gutter Prayer! It sounds and looks super promising. I need a copy like… yesterday!! 😮 Happy reading, Tammy!
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I hope you get a copy of Gutter Prayer too, Lashaan. I’m hoping to start it next month.
Ho-ly crap that’s a lot of books, haha! It’s been a while since I had a physical haul like that. Probably back when I went to YALC over the summer? I DO have a huge ebook haul this month though.. All free, but still a haul, haha.
I’m hoping to splurge on physical books one last time before the year’s over but.. we’ll see!
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