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!
I realize there is one more week in the month, but next Saturday I already have another post planned (my Summer of Horror wrap up!) so I’m sharing my book haul today. August’s book haul is smaller than July, thankfully! I have been saying “no” to publishers left and right, so you all should be proud, lol. And I’ve already read some of these. I also have two 2026 releases, which seems a little early, but 2026 will be here before we know it! Here are the books I received in August:
Books in the mail for review:
I received two highly anticipated books from Orbit: Savage Blooms by S.T. Gibson is her upcoming gothic/erotica/fantasy set in Scotland, and it’s getting some mixed reviews, so I’m going into it cautiously optimistic.
I’m currently reading The Bone Raiders by Jackson Ford and loving it! This is Ford’s first venture into epic fantasy, and while I do prefer his contemporary Teagan Frost series, there’s a lot to love here. Look for a review next week!
Big thanks to Bramble for sending this lovely finished copy of The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sara Raasch. You can’t tell from the photo but the edges are sprayed blue! I really enjoyed this, although not quite as much as her Royals and Romance series. I’ll be reviewing this next week too!
Courtesy of Tor Teen, I received a finished copy of The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard, which I have already read and reviewed.
Also from Tor, The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World by J.R. Dawson, which showed up unexpectedly. This was a July release so I’m behind, but I would love to squeeze it in.
Finally, I received Extremity by Nicholas Binge, also from Tor. This is a science fiction/mystery novella that comes out next month, so I will probably read it soon.
Huge thanks to Saga Press for the first two books! First up, another Saga Press “double” with one book one one side and another when you flip it over (such a fun concept!) This has Apprehension by Mary Robinette Kowal and Red Star Hustle by Sam J. Miller. These are both science fiction/space opera stories that sound fantastic.
Also from Saga Press, I’m pretty excited to finally read We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor, which was first published almost ten years ago and is now being given new life in this very pretty edition. This is the start to a series, so if I like it I’m hoping to continue.
Big thanks to Angry Robot for Terms of Service by Ciel Pierlot. This is a science fiction story that comes out in September, and I’m anxious to read more of Pierlot’s work after loving Bluebird.
Huge thanks to Titan Books for a copy of House of Idyll by Delilah S. Dawson. This is a September release, so I’ll be reading it soon.
And finally in the physical stack, with thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole is a January 2026 release, and I can’t get over how stunning this cover is. This is a dark academia fantasy, and it sounds fantastic!
Digital books for review:
The Storm by Rachel Hawkins is my #1 most anticipated 2026 release at the moment. I have got to temper my expectations, though, because I want it to be just as good as The Heiress🙂
Spread Me by Sarah Gailey. I think I’ve read almost all of Gailey’s books, and a new one is always a celebration. This sounds really good.
I was thrilled when Stephanie Burgis contacted me about the second book in her Lady & Lord Riven series, and now I have an ARC of A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence! This is a September release, so it’s coming up quickly on the pile. I had so much fun with the first book, A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience.
Finally, Veil by Jonathan Janz sounds amazing, and it has some very good reviews already. I couldn’t resist this horror/sci-fi!
With thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Tor Nightfire, Stephanie Burgis and Blackstone Publishing.
Great haul! Hope you enjoy the ones you haven’t already got to. I’m not entirely sure if Spread Me will be my thing, but it’s Sarah Gailey, so gotta give it a shot, right?
Also, ooh, I hadn’t heard about Apprehension.
Spread Me sounds very different from Gailey’s other books, so I’m extra curious now:-)
Wow looks like another incredible haul. I didn’t realise An Arcane Inheritance has a cover now. I’ll have to go over to Goodreads and see if it has a full blurb too as I added it to my TBR (and decided it sounded like a must read) based on one of those few sentences pitches. I’m glad to hear The Bone Raiders is going well and can’t wait to see your review for that one. Hope you enjoy all of these, it sounds like a lovely mix.
Thanks Charlotte! I do love the cover of An Arcane Inheritance:-)
The way I gasped out loud at seeing Savage Blooms. Obviously I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it!
I’m excited to read it too:-)
Awesome haul!
Thank you!
I’m really looking forward to Extremity, Terms of Service, Spread Me, and The Storm. Happy reading!
Thanks Lauren!
Most of these titles are new to me, as are a number of the authors. I look forward to reading your thoughts on them, perhaps there’ll be a few I’ll seek out.
I hope I read one that sounds good to you:-)
How many interesting books!! I can’t believe August is almost done for but, to be honest, I am saying the same thing every time that we’re nearing the end of a month. But now it’s even worse because we’re also nearing the end of the year!! But ramblings about the time apart, this is is a great haul! I received the new Burgis one too and I just had to start it (and devour it!!) and next in line I have The Bone Raiders. I am really excited about that one, too!! And you mentioned a lot of books I am interested in, so I will wait for your thoughts on them!!
I’m looking forward to comparing The Bone Raiders and the Stephanie Burgis book:-)
It does seem a bit early for 2026 books, but it really isn’t. I just don’t want to wind down 2025 yet. So I’ve read Spread Me and it’s WEIRD. Like, horny horror. I mean, I really enjoyed it, but still. Be forewarned;)
OK I’m curious! I can’t wait to read it now.
All the strange and weird, lol. 🙂
LOL you’re right!
Enjoy!
Thanks Emma!
I have Savage Bloom too and the Executioner Three is on my TBR. Enjoy all these!
I was also lucky enough to get a copy of A Honeymoon of Grave Consequences. Excited!
I was actually really excited when I found out Saga was giving the Bob books the traditionally published treatment. I listened to the audio for the series way back when it was hilarious!
Nice haul, I definitely want to read the Hawkins but like you will be trying to keep my expectations in line.
Lynn 😀