Welcome to Over-Booked, where I share my latest and greatest book acquisitions! There is a new blog hosting Stacking the Shelves, so do check out Reading Reality for more information!
It’s my last book haul of the year, and I have a fair amount of books to share, so let’s get started! These are all the books I received from publishers during the month of December:
Books in the mail for review:
Witchcraft For Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix. I have already read this and really enjoyed it. Look for my review in the next couple of weeks. Huge thanks to Berkley for this beautiful finished copy:-)
The rest of the books in this photo are all courtesy of the always generous Tor Books & Co. (Tor Nightfire, Bramble, Forge, Tor and Tordotcom). Huge thanks for all of these:-D
The Incandescent by Emily Tesh. This is a dark academia fantasy that sounds really good. I have read a few novellas by Tesh, but this will be my first novel.
When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi. Scalzi books are guaranteed to be lots of fun, and judging by the title, I suspect this is another “Scalzi Brand” book. I’ve read some good reviews, and I’m looking forward to it!
Cold Storage (Revival #2) by Michael C. Grumley This looks like a direct sequel to Deep Freeze, a book I read earlier this year. That book was a mixed bag for me, but I am curious to see what happens next, which is why I decided to read the sequel.
Eat the Ones You Love by Sarah Maria Griffin. I’m calling this one “Little Shop of Horrors meets The Office.” I’m in love with the cover, and I can’t wait to read the story.
Go Luck Yourself (Royals and Romance #2) by Sara Raasch. I loved the first book in this fun series, The Nightmare Before Kissmas, and I’m looking forward to revisiting the characters and meeting some new ones.
Cold Eternity by S.A. Barnes. I’m a big fan of Barnes’ space horror books, so I’m excited to read this one.
The Ashes & the Star Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent. I’m not sure why I just received this finished paperback, which came out in April. I have an ARC that I (unfortunately) haven’t read yet, maybe this is the publisher’s way of reminding me?
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones. The buzz is very loud for Jones’ next book, which is a vampire story, and I’m beyond excited to read it. Big thanks to Saga Press for the review copy:-)
Courtesy of the lovely Titan Books publicists, I received a copy of Senseless by Ron Malfi, one of my most anticipated horror books of 2025. And more vampires!
Also from Titan I received Future’s Edge by Gareth L. Powell. Powell never disappoints, and I’m looking forward to this “horror-tinged space adventure,” as the publisher’s blurb states.
Big thanks to Orbit Books for a finished copy of The Swarm by Andy Marino, which I have already read and reviewed.
The Afterlife Project by Tim Weed sounds so good, a climate science fiction story that’s getting a lot of great reviews. I may end up reading this one early:-) Huge thanks to Page One Media and Podium Publishing for the review copy.
And finally in the physical pile, I received The Way Up is Death by Dan Hanks, with thanks to the lovely Angry Robot team. I will be reading this soon, as it comes out next month!
Digital books for review:
I really am trying to be good with NetGalley, but once in a while I cave in and request or accept a book for review.
Once Was Willem by M.R. Carey sounds very different from Carey’s other books, and I’m so curious to read this one!
I was very excited to be invited to read The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. She always does something different, so this should be fun.
The Night Birds by Christopher Golden takes place on a deserted ship and sounds very creepy. I can’t wait!
Twice As Dead by Harry Turtledove. I have never read Turtledove before, so I jumped on this after I saw it on another blog. This is a hard-boiled detective/urban fantasy that sounds like fun.
The Geographer’s Map To Romance by India Holton. I haven’t read the first book in this series, but I believe it can be read as a standalone (I hope!) I’ve heard good things about India Holton so I’m looking forward to it.
I debated taking on a request directly from an author, sometimes those books just don’t go well. But I’ve heard of Kait Ballenger so I decided to take a chance on Original Sinner.
ChloroPhilia by Cristina Jurado is a short sci-fi novella that’s been translated from Spanish. I haven’t read an Apex book in years, so I was happy to accept this for review.
Big thanks to Orbit Books, Del Rey, St. Martin’s Press, CAEZIK SF & Fantasy, Berkley, Kait Ballenger and Apex Books:-D
14 physical ARCs?!?! Wow. Looking forward to your review of Hank’s! The Night Birds sounds so unique.
I’m reading the Hanks book next:-)
This is a great haul. So many have left me thinking I need to look out for your review because they sound so good, especially the Malfi title and The Night Birds. Hope you enjoy all these
Thanks! Yes, I’m especially interesting in Senseless:-)
Ooh, you got a lot of good ones! Thanks for introducing me to Twice as Dead. I’ve never read Harry Turtledove either but that sounds really tempting.
I had to request it, it looks so good:-)
Nice haul, enjoy!
Thank you!
Thanks for reminding me I need to request INCANDESCENT! I guess I should check the pub date first…I’ve noticed Tor puts their books up super early, but lately when I put in a request months in advance I get a rejection haha. So I’m gonna try to request closer to the pub date.
Good luck getting it!
Some great choices. I’ve been won over by India Holton: the humor is delicious.
I can’t wait!
Nice! I’ve had my eye on The Ashes & the Star Cursed King, and I’m eagerly anticipating The Night Birds.
The Night Birds sounds so good:-)
Wow! What a haul! the two I”m definitely planning to read are Hendrix and Scalzi, but beyond that… I’m open to the possibilities!
The Scalzi is going to be crazy!
You got a load! Hope you enjoy them all!
Thanks Stormi!
We got much of the same book mail! Since I’ve totally given up on catch up December and haven’t had much luck getting more reviews out, I’ve started working on 2025 books already and between all the arcs of upcoming releases I’ve been spoiled for choice.
Yes, there are so many good books coming out in the next few months:-)
Oh that Emily Tesh book!
I know, I’m excited!
How many interesting books!! I have the new Scalzi one waiting for me and I am really excited! And here you have the second books in two series I am dying to start too!!
The Scalzi is going to be fun:-)
The title, “Eat the Ones You Love,” reminds me of a song by Dominum called “We All Taste the Same.”
Ha ha I haven’t heard of that song:-)
What a delightfully massive haul! I loved the Ashes and the Star-Cursed King! And the Incandescent sounds intriguing, I have other Emily Tesh books on my tbr! I hope you love all of these!
My Stacking the shelf+weekend post is here: https://darkshelfofwonders.com/december-all-gift-wrapped-up-with-a-bow-on-top/
Thank you!
Wow! You received so many good ones, happy reading.
Thank you:-)
This is a great haul and there are so many great books coming out in 2025.
Hope you love them all.
Lynn
Thanks Lynn, I’m exciting for all of them.
I am SO jealous you got Witchcraft For Wayward Girls!! I can’t wait to read that and already have it preordered on audible. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Ash @ Essentially Ash
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I hope you enjoy it!
Wow you got a lot of books, I’m kind of jealous about The Bewitching as it sounds incredible and I literally cannot wait for it to come out. I have my eye on a few of the others too though and I’m glad that you enjoyed Witchcraft For Wayward Girls.
I love how Silvia Moreno-Garcia always does something different.
I’ve got a digital copy of THE INCANDESCENT as well. Curious to see how Tesh handles dark academia!
Yes, me too! I’m definitely ready for a new dark academia story.
I almost bought Swarm a few days ago. I was so close because your review made me so curious about that book. But I think I’m gonna try getting it from the library first, since it is a bit outside my comfort zone.
I think getting it from the library is a good choice, it might not be your thing.
I’m kinda jealous of the John Scalzi book. He read a chapter of it when he was here in town earlier this year and it sounds so good! But then I love listening to his on audio, so I’ll be waiting to buy it that way as soon as it is available. I can’t decide on the Sara Raasch book. I loved the first one, but I kinda don’t understand why the love interest isn’t a woman this time since he was into a woman in the first one? But oh well. Still will probably love that one. Jealous of your advanced copy of that too! What an awesome book haul!