No one knows why Tuesday is new release day, but are we really going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Every week I’ll post books that I’m excited for.
*this week never got published! Sorry!
Gideon the Ninth by Tasmyn Muir
It’s here! It’s here! I am utterly ruined for any other books this year. I was hooked by the concept of “lesbian necromancer nuns in space” and Muir executed it with skill and passion. I loved the combination of snark and violence, but yet, heart. It’s a perfect blend of fantasy and science fiction. I was never bored. Like a kid with a rare candy bar, I stingily rationed myself on it so I could make it last forever.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Pretty sure I’m not alone wondering what the hell Atwood has in store for us especially with the show having already gone past the end of The Handmaid’s Tale (I’m really behind, y’all. No spoilers). I’m a bit apprehensive on this. It’s been 30 years.
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alex E. Harrow
My friend and co-bookseller Stuart raved about this book and when he raves, I listen. Every word was chosen so carefully, with such purpose. The writing is gorgeous, the characters are compelling and complex, and really I never wanted it to end. This is Harrow’s first full novel and I can’t wait for more. While I wait I’m going to go read A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies…because witch librarians are catnip.
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death by Caitlin Doughty
I adore Caitlin Doughty. She takes all the fear about mortality and shapes it into knowledge and acceptance. Here she takes questions from kids about death and gives very adult answers. Wanna turn dad’s finger bone into a necklace? Not so fast. Will Gramma sit up in the coffin at the funeral? No, but there may be twitching. My husband wants a Viking funeral (no, really he does), what are the rules? Spoiler alert: there’s no such thing.
Have a great week, folks. Let me know if you plan to pick any of these up.
Of course I have Gideon on hold. Contemplating walking over to the bookstore for Testaments. I suspect it will be better than the show, because book 1 is better, but I’m also intrigued to see if Atwood tries to copy the old style or not. Going back to your decades-old work has to be cringe-inducing for an author.