In My Mailbox #7

Welcome to In My Mailbox, hosted by The Story Siren.  It’s been a slow couple of weeks for acquiring new books, but that’s a good thing because I have so much catching up to do. I’ve deliberately cut off my normal Amazon-purchasing habit for a while until I can catch my breath! But here’s what I did receive:

The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King.  Purchased. This is an interim story in King’s The Dark Tower saga, and here’s how it came to be, in King’s own words, from Goodreads:

Dear Constant Readers,

At some point, while worrying over the copyedited manuscript of the next book (11/22/63, out November 8th), I started thinking—and dreaming—about Mid-World again. The major story of Roland and his ka-tet was told, but I realized there was at least one hole in the narrative progression: what happened to Roland, Jake, Eddie, Susannah, and Oy between the time they leave the Emerald City (the end of Wizard and Glass) and the time we pick them up again, on the outskirts of Calla Bryn Sturgis (the beginning of Wolves of the Calla)?

There was a storm, I decided. One of sudden and vicious intensity. The kind to which billy-bumblers like Oy are particularly susceptible. Little by little, a story began to take shape. I saw a line of riders, one of them Roland’s old mate, Jamie DeCurry, emerging from clouds of alkali dust thrown by a high wind. I saw a severed head on a fencepost. I saw a swamp full of dangers and terrors. I saw just enough to want to see the rest. Long story short, I went back to visit an-tet with my friends for awhile. The result is a novel called The Wind Through the Keyhole. It’s finished, and I expect it will be published next year.

It won’t tell you much that’s new about Roland and his friends, but there’s a lot none of us knew about Mid-World, both past and present. The novel is shorter than DT 2-7, but quite a bit longer than the first volume—call this one DT-4.5. It’s not going to change anybody’s life, but God, I had fun.

— Steve King

Taste by Kate Evangelista. Received a review e-book from the author.  I recently participated in a video reveal blog event for Kate, and I was intrigued enough to want to read the book myself.  Kate was very kind and sent one my way! This is on my schedule for May reviews, and I am looking forward to it. The cover is so lovely! Here’s the description from Goodreads:

At Barinkoff Academy, there’s only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

Orbs of Power by Rob RodenParker. Received a review e-book from the author. Rob emailed me and asked if I could review Orbs of Power right before I changed my review policies and decided to rant a bit about independently published books, but I’ve just started reading Orbs and I am relieved to find some very solid writing, so we’re off and running.  OK, I’ll admit I’m not crazy about the cover (sorry Rob!), but the story sounds promising. In Rob’s own words, “The genre is fantasy and it has action, adventure, romance, and plenty of battles against the demons.” It will be released May 11th as an e-book, so I’ll be posting a review soon.

What’s in your mailbox?