September is typically one of the most new release heavy months of the year, so it won’t surprise you to see I have seventeen books on my TBR this month! And I’m excited about every one. Let’s dive right in:
Usually I try to pick a couple of “most anticipated” books each month and put them at the top, but seriously, there are so many amazing sounding books coming out I can’t even pick a top five, lol. Saying that, however, Schrader’s Chord by Scott Leeds is one I’ve been itching to read for months. I’m currently reading it, so expect a review soon! “Heart-Shaped Box meets The Haunting of Hill House in Schrader’s Chord , Scott Leeds’s chilling debut about cursed vinyl records that open a gateway to the land of the dead.”
Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig is one of the longer books I hope to read this month (although it’s under 600 pages), but I’m so excited. It’s getting some good reviews already which makes me want to read it even more:-) “A small town is transformed by dark magic when a strange tree begins bearing magical apples in this new masterpiece of horror from the bestselling author of Wanderers and The Book of Accidents.”
Rachel Harrison is a favorite author so of course Black Sheep is high on my list of can’t wait books! “A cynical twentysomething must confront her unconventional family’s dark secrets in this fiery, irreverent horror novel from the author of Such Sharp Teeth and Cackle.”
For something a little lighter, I’m looking forward to Starter Villain by John Scalzi, which I’ve heard is very funny and entertaining. “Following the bestselling The Kaiju Preservation Society, John Scalzi returns with Starter Villain, another unique sci-fi caper set in the strangest of all worlds, present-day Earth.”
Clay McLeod Chapman’s books are always so good, and I expect What Kind of Mother will be as well. “Combining supernatural horror with domestic suspense into a visceral exploration of parental grief, What Kind of Mother cements Clay McLeod Chapman’s reputation as a “star” (Vulture) and “the twenty-first century’s Richard Matheson” (Richard Chizmar, Chasing the Boogeyman.)”
The September House by Carissa Orlando is a horror debut, and I’ve already had the pleasure of reading it. Readers who love unusual haunted house stories will not want to miss this, it was fantastic! Look for a review next week. “A woman is determined to stay in her dream home even after it becomes a haunted nightmare in this compulsively readable, twisty, and layered debut novel.”
Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian sounds amazing, a horror/western about a witch with a bounty on her head. I can’t wait! “A folk horror epic about a ragtag posse that must track down a witch through a wild west beset by demons and ghosts―and where death is always just around the bend.”
How about some vampire action in September? A Court of Shadows by Victor Dixon is a new English edition of the book that was originally published in French, and I think it sounds great: “A fiery heroine seeks vengeance against a royal court of deadly vampires in this epic alternate history set in lavish Versailles.”
I’ve been looking forward to Dan Frey’s next book, and Dreambound sounds like a unique fantasy. “In this thrilling contemporary fantasy novel, a father must uncover the secret magical underbelly of Los Angeles to find his daughter, who has seemingly disappeared into the fictional universe of her favorite fantasy series.”
Stars Like Acid by Marissa Lupe sounds like an exciting, epic SF adventure. I’m very excited to start it! “Now, fifteen years later, the Earth is dying, a resistance is forming, and the corrupt government is hoarding resources and information that could save the world. When Téa is forced to marry the son of a terrifying general, she stumbles across a dark secret that could finally dismantle her power-hungry father-in-law’s regime and offer her a chance at freedom.”
Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong is a horror/thriller set on a remote island. It’s been a long time since I’ve read anything by Armstrong, so I can’t wait. “Laney Kilpatrick has been renting her vacation home to strangers. The invasion of privacy gives her panic attacks, but it’s the only way she can keep her beloved Hemlock Island, the only thing she owns after a pandemic-fueled divorce. But broken belongings and campfires that nearly burn down the house have escalated to bloody bones, hex circles, and now, terrified renters who’ve fled after finding blood and nail marks all over the guest room closet, as though someone tried to claw their way out…and failed.”
Fancy a Hamlet retelling? How about The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu? I do hope I can squeeze this one in, it sounds so good! “A lyrical, queer sci-fi retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet as a locked-room thriller”
The Graveyard Shift by Maria Lewis is a horror/thriller revolving around a radio DJ, and it sounds like fun: “When a horror-loving radio show becomes the stage of a gruesome murder, its host Tinsel Monroe is put next on the killer’s list…”
For a change of pace, The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin is about a woman who buys a fixer upper, but the twist is it’s a murder house. Could be fun! “A social media influencer with a secret past buys a murder house to renovate, but finds more than she bargained for behind the peeling wallpaper in this gothic psychological debut.”
I’ve been trying to read something by Mona Awad for several years now, but just haven’t found time. Hopefully I can read her latest, Rouge, which sounds just as unique as her other books. “From the critically acclaimed author of Bunny comes a horror-tinted, gothic fairy tale about a lonely dress shop clerk whose mother’s unexpected death sends her down a treacherous path in pursuit of youth and beauty. Can she escape her mother’s fate—and find a connection that is more than skin deep?”
A Market of Dreams and Destiny by Trip Galey is being compared to The Night Circus: “Enter the bazaar of the bizarre where fate and fortunes are for sale in this high-stakes magical adventure across a London not quite like our own, perfect for fans of Neverwhere and The Night Circus.”
And finally, Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland sounds like it could be a cozy, magical witchy story, and I’m here for it! “Legend goes that long ago a Flores woman offended the old gods, and their family was cursed as a result. Now, every woman born to the family has a touch of magic.”
Willyou get to read them all? 17 is a lot!
No definitely not! Ha ha but I WANT to read them all.
Woo – that’s a lot of books. I have a very nice easy going month – which was planned as I’m still catching up from earlier in the year plus I’ll be reading my partners SPFBO choices so we can choose a Semi-finaist. Good luck with your books. I can’t wait to read your thoughts on some of these.
Lynn 😀
Sounds like a more relaxing month, I wish I could figure out how to do that, lol.
Wow, 17! Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the number of books to review?
I’m curious about Starter Villain. I have only 1 book for review this month, and am really looking forward to it:
The Final Curtain (Detective Kaga #4 or 10!) by Keigo Higashino – mystery
Emma @ Words And Peace recently posted…The top 7 books to read in September 2023
Yes, I’m often overwhelmed, lol. But it doesn’t stop me from adding more and more books to my TBR.
I can’t wait for you to read Hemlock Island. You know that I really wanna read it myself too. I hope I will get around to it but I’m just gonna see what the month brings. My #1 most anticipated book of the month is Emily Wilson’s translation of The Iliad. I already know it’s a pricey book but I also know it’s gonna be totally worth it. I’m so excited for it!
I hope we both have an excellent month:-)
OMG! I’ll never read everything I want to this month. Look at all those gorgeous books! Plus I still have new release carry-overs from August.
Ha ha at least I’m not alone!
Starter Villain is one of my most anticipated books! Can’t wait — I always love Scalzi’s writing, and this one looks particularly fun. Looking forward to Black Sheep too, and the Dan Frey book. So many of these look great!
I know, it’s hard to figure out what to read next:-)
Starter Villain looks like a lot of fun!
It does, I’m starting it soon:-)
Didn’t you have 17 books last month? I’m surprised you have time for anything else, Tammy;) But I hope you have a good month!!
Ha ha probably. The fall months are tough, there are just too many books I want to read:-)
Some fun looking books! I have Red Rabbit and I am curious as I liked this authors crime novels but this is a bit different…lol. A few of the others on your list I have in my I am curious but not sure list…lol. Hope you get to them all!
Stormi recently posted…Week in Review #49
I haven’t read anything by Alex Grecian and I didn’t know he wrote crime novels. Now I’m even more curious about Red Rabbit:-)
What a fantastic-looking TBR! From the looks of it, you’ll be having a great reading month. I don’t think I could pick a top five, either! I really loved Red Rabbit, it was such a pleasant surprise. I hope you have a wonderful time with them all! 🙂
Jordan @ Forever Lost in Literature recently posted…Month in Review: August 2023
I’m so glad to hear you loved Red Rabbit! I’m looking forward to diving in:-)
So many of these looks fantastic. Seems like you have a great TBR list lined up and I’m looking forward to your reviews 😀
It does look like a promising month. Hopefully I’ll be able to get through a bunch of these.
Too much horror for me. Stars Like Acid looks interesting though.
Anne – Books of My Heart recently posted…Catch Her Death by Melinda Leigh @MelindaLeigh1 #MontlakeRomance @amazonpub @melindaleighauthorpage #KindleUnlimited
It is a horror heavy month, lol.
Quite a lot here, and quite a range, too. I’ve gotten behind in reading anything beyond audio lately, but there are quite a few here I’d be curious to try, especially Black River Orchard. I’ve really enjoyed each of the Wendig books I’ve read and have been considering seeking out his older books I’d overlooked.
I’ve been hearing good things about Black River Orchard, so I’m very excited to start it.
I get to breath (a little bit) easier this month, compared to July and August, my to-review list is shortest in September even though it’s still 12 books long, lol! Black Sheep, September House, and Red Rabbit are all on my list too, I’m glad to see the horror releases are still going strong.
I’m not sure why my September is so out of control, lol.
I have to say, September has so many great titles coming out! I hope you get the chance to dive into as many of these as possible. I can’t wait to start Starter Villain myself. 😀
Lashaan Balasingam recently posted…My Monthly Anticipation | September 2023
It really seems like an exceptional month for books:-)
I considered requesting Dreambound, but ultimately felt I’d be stretched too thin if I got approved (like bilbo and butter spread too thin & all that jazz ). But A Court of Shadows looks very interesting…hmmmm.
I requested WAY too much in September and Dreambound is one that might have to wait until next month.
As always, it looks like a mashup of my TBR and Read shelves around here heh. So. I read The Death I Gave Him and Black River Orchard, and I would say they were both solid! I preferred the latter, but still, good. And I need like, almost ALL the others, no exaggeration. I think I only see like, two books that I am not suuuuper interested in (but could be swayed, so like, literally nothing I am NOT interested in heh) so I really hope you love them, because I am pretty sure that if you do, I will!
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight recently posted…Reviews in a Minute: Six Septembers