Release Week: 7 March 2023
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Release Week: 7 March 2023
Posted on 2023-03-07 at 12:00 by Samuel Montgomery-Blinn
PICKS:
The Mimicking of Known Successes By: Malka Older, read by Lindsey Dorcus for Blackstone -- "On a remote, gas-wreathed outpost of a human colony on Jupiter, a man goes missing. The enigmatic Investigator Mossa follows his trail to Valdegeld, home to the colony’s erudite university―and Mossa’s former girlfriend, a scholar of Earth’s pre-collapse ecosystems. Pleiti has dedicated her research and her career to aiding the larger effort towards a possible return to Earth. When Mossa unexpectedly arrives and requests Pleiti’s assistance in her latest investigation, the two of them embark on a twisting path in which the future of life on Earth is at stake―and, perhaps, their futures, together."
Mr. and Mrs. Witch By: Gwenda Bond, read by Luke Daniels and Amy Landon for OrangeSky -- "Savannah Wilde is a witch, a powerful one, and a member of C.R.O.N.E, an organization for hire that deals with supernatural threats using their magic. Following a whirlwind romance that surprised her friends and family, Savvy is all set to marry the love of her life when she notices her bridal party and her mom are freaking out minutes before the wedding. Griffin Carter is an agent for H.U.N.T.E.R., a clandestine organization that, well, used to primarily hunt witches, but now mainly tries to shut down supernatural threats their own way. He can’t wait to lay his eyes on the woman he’s about to spend the rest of his life with. As he’s getting ready, Griffin overhears his father and friends discussing something in distressed whispers. What he finds out concerns him, but not enough to deal with before the ceremony. As Savvy walks down the aisle to Griffin, the wedding quickly goes from blessed day to shit show when their true identities are revealed."
Old Babes in the Wood: Stories By: Margaret Atwood, read by Margaret Atwood, Linda Lavin, Dan Stevens, Kimberly Farr, Rebecca Lowman, Bahni Turpin, Dawn Harvey, Allan Corduner for Random House -- "A dazzling collection of short stories from the internationally acclaimed, award-winning author of The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments, stories that look deeply into the heart of family relationships, marriage, loss and memory, and what it means to spend a life together."
Weyward By Emilia Hart, read by Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley, and Nell Barlow for Macmillan -- "2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century. 1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha’s mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom. 1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives–and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom."
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi: A Novel By: Shannon Chakraborty, read by Lameece Issaq and Amin El Gamal for Harper -- "Magic and mayhem on the high seas in this tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artifacts and ancient mysteries, in one woman’s determined quest to seize a final chance at glory—and write her own legend."
The Curator By: Owen King, read by Marin Ireland for Simon and Schuster -- "A Dickensian fantasy of illusion and charm where cats are revered as religious figures, thieves are noble, scholars are revolutionaries, and conjurers are the most wonderful criminals you can imagine."
The Foxglove King: The Nightshade Crown, Book 1 By: Hannah Whitten, read by Emily Ellet for Orbit -- "In this lush, romantic epic fantasy series from a New York Times bestselling author, a young woman’s secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King’s royal court."
The God of Endings: A Novel By: Jacqueline Holland, read by Saskia Maarleveld for Macmillan -- "Collette LeSange is a lonely artist who heads an elite fine arts school for children in upstate New York. Her youthful beauty masks the dark truth of her life: she has endured centuries of turmoil and heartache in the wake of her grandfather’s long-ago decision to make her immortal like himself. Now in 1984, Collette finds her life upended by the arrival of a gifted child from a troubled home, the return of a stalking presence from her past, and her own mysteriously growing hunger."
The Golden Spoon: A Novel By: Jessa Maxwell, read by Andrea Emmes, Andy Garcia-Ruse, Graham Halstead, Kitty Hendrix, Kamran Khan, Jackie Sanders, André Santana, and Emily Tremaine for Simon and Schuster -- "Only Murders in the Building meets The Maid in this darkly beguiling locked-room mystery where someone turns up dead on the set of TV’s hottest baking competition."
Quantum Radio By: A.G. Riddle, read by Ray Porter for Recorded Books -- "At CERN, a scientist has just made an incredible discovery—a breakthrough that may answer the deepest questions about human existence. But what he's found is far more dangerous than he ever imagined."
Hospital: Hospital, Book 1 By: Han Song (2016), translated by Michael Berry, read by Feodor Chin for Brilliance -- "A twisted, experimental narrative of one man’s mysterious illness and his journey through a dystopian hospital system."
The London Séance Society By: Sarah Penner, read by Lauren Irwin and Alex Wyndham for Harlequin -- "1873. At an abandoned château on the outskirts of Paris, a dark séance is about to take place, led by acclaimed spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire. Known worldwide for her talent in conjuring the spirits of murder victims to ascertain the identities of the people who killed them, she is highly sought after by widows and investigators alike. Lenna Wickes has come to Paris to find answers about her sister’s death, but to do so, she must embrace the unknown and overcome her own logic-driven bias against the occult."
Now You See Us: A Novel By: Balli Kaur Jaswal, read by Angela Lin for Harper -- "A wildly entertaining and sharply observed story of three women who work in the homes of Singapore’s elite, and band together to solve a murder mystery involving one of their own."
In Memoriam: A Novel By: Alice Winn, read by Christian Coulson for Random House -- "It’s 1914, and World War I is ceaselessly churning through thousands of young men on both sides of the fight. The violence of the front feels far away to Henry Gaunt, Sidney Ellwood and the rest of their classmates, safely ensconced in their idyllic boarding school in the English countryside. News of the heroic deaths of their friends only makes the war more exciting. Gaunt, half German, is busy fighting his own private battle—an all-consuming infatuation with his best friend, the glamorous, charming Ellwood—without a clue that Ellwood is pining for him in return. When Gaunt's family asks him to enlist to forestall the anti-German sentiment they face, Gaunt does so immediately, relieved to escape his overwhelming feelings for Ellwood. To Gaunt's horror, Ellwood rushes to join him at the front, and the rest of their classmates soon follow. Now death surrounds them in all its grim reality, often inches away, and no one knows who will be next."
Pineapple Street: A Novel By: Jenny Jackson, read by Marin Ireland for Penguin -- "A deliciously funny, sharply observed debut of family, love, and class, this zeitgeisty novel follows three women in one wealthy Brooklyn clan."
Worthy Opponents By: Danielle Steel, read by Michael Braun for Recorded Books -- "A powerful novel about a woman running her family’s luxury department store and the wealthy investor who threatens to take it over."
NON-FICTION WATCH:
Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult: A Memoir By: Michelle Dowd, read by the author for Algonquin -- "A moving, heartbreaking, and lyrical true story of the author’s escape from an apocalyptic cult—and the survival skills that led to her freedom."
The Devil’s Element: Phosphorus and a World Out of Balance By Dan Egan, read by Jason Culp for Random House -- "Phosphorus has played a critical role in some of the most lethal substances on earth: firebombs, rat poison, nerve gas. But it’s also the key component of one of the most vital: fertilizer, which has sustained life for billions of people. In this major work of explanatory science and environmental journalism, Pulitzer Prize finalist Dan Egan investigates the past, present, and future of what has been called the oil of our time."
SERIES WATCH:
The Faithless: Magic of the Lost, Book 2 By: C. L. Clark, read by Rasha Zamamiri for Orbit -- "Soldier Touraine and princess Luca must return to Balladaire to reclaim Luca's throne and to face the consequences of dismantling an empire."
Into the West: Founding of Valdemar Series, Book 2 By: Mercedes Lackey, read by Paul Woodson for Tantor -- "The long-awaited founding of Valdemar comes to life in this second book in the new series from a New York Times bestselling author and beloved fantasist."
The Kind Worth Saving: Henry Kimball, Book 2 By: Peter Swanson, read by Keith Szarabaijka, Kathleen Early, Helen Laser, and Micky Shiloah for Harper -- "A private eye starts to follow a possibly adulterous husband, but little does he know that the twisted trail will lead back to the woman who hired him."
Jimmy and the Crawler: The Riftwar Legacy, Book 4 By: Raymond E. Feist, read by Matt Bates for Harper -- "Legendary author Raymond E. Feist returns to the city of Krondor and one of his most loved characters from the Riftwar Cycle, Jimmy the Hand."
The Quarantine Princess Diaries: Princess Diaries, Book 12 By: Meg Cabot Narrated by: Arielle DeLisle for Harper -- "During the Covid-19 pandemic, a section of the diary of Princess Mia Thermopolis of Genovia fell into the hands of Meg Cabot, the Princess’s royal biographer."
Backpacking Through Bedlam: InCryptid, Book 12 By: Seanan McGuire, read by Emily Bauer for Audible -- "Alice Price-Healy gave up her life for 50 years to focus completely on the search for her missing husband. The danger of focus like that is that it leaves little room for thinking about what happens after...and now that she’s finally managed to find Thomas, she has no idea what she’s supposed to do next."
The Queen's Price: Black Jewels, Book 12 By: Anne Bishop, read by Gary Littman for Penguin -- "Zoey, a young Queen-in-training at SaDiablo Hall, is wounded...and vulnerable to taunts and criticism. When an opportunity arises to befriend a stranger seeking sanctuary at the Hall, she puts herself and others in danger by ignoring Daemonar Yaslana’s warning to back off."
TIE-IN WATCH:
Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars By: Sam Maggs, read by Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes for Random House -- "Cal Kestis leads the Stinger Mantis crew on an adventure set between Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and the highly anticipated Star Wars Jedi: Survivor."
The Game of 100 Candles: Legend of Five Rings Series By: Marie Brennan, read by Kaipo Schwab for Tantor -- "Two samurai risk their hearts, souls, and their very existence to stop an occult phantom from destroying the world, in this stunning supernatural fantasy from Legend of the Five Rings."
RE-ISSUE WATCH:
- Wool: The Silo Saga, Book 1 By: Hugh Howey (2012), read by Edoardo Ballerini for Blackstone -- Ahead of the new TV series a new edition replacing the 2013 Brilliance Audio productions read by Amanda Sayle: "The world outside has grown toxic, the view of it limited, talk of it forbidden. The remnants of humanity live underground in a single silo. But there are always those who hope, who dream. These are the dangerous people, the residents who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple. They are given the very thing they want: they are allowed to go outside. After the previous sheriff leaves the silo in a terrifying ritual, Juliette, a mechanic from the down deep, is suddenly and inexplicably promoted to the head of law enforcement. With newfound power and with little regard for the customs she is supposed to abide, Juliette uncovers hints of a sinister conspiracy. Tugging this thread may uncover the truth—or it could kill every last human alive."
BACKLIST WATCH:
- Fire Sea: The Death Gate Cycle, Volume 3 (1991) and Serpent Mage: The Death Gate Cycle, Volume 4 (1992) by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, read by Fajer Al-Kaisi for Random House -- Best known for their Dragonlance series, Weis and Hickman's "Death Gate Cycle" has been finally coming to audio and I am so here for it. Books 3 and 4 visit Abarrach, the realm of stone, and Chelstra, the realm of sea.
INDIE WATCH:
When Swords Fall Silent: An Epic Fantasy Anthology By: Bryce O'Connor, David Dalglish, JA Andrews, Terry Mancour, Luke Chmilenko, M.L. Wang, Marie Brennan, Michael J Sullivan, Philip C. Quaintrell, RJ Barker, and Andrew Rowe, read by Tim Gerard Reynolds, Travis Baldree, John Lee, Kate Reading, Steven Brand, Emily Lawrence, Mikael Naramore, Nikki Massoud, and a full cast for Podium -- "The When Swords Fall Silent anthology showcases the imaginations and talents of more than a dozen of the best modern science-fiction and fantasy authors, with each tale centered around one or more characters burdened with a bloody task they will see to completion no matter the cost. Every story takes you for a vicious ride through a world of shadow and death, each as unique in perspective and execution as the contracts carried out within."
Godkillers By: Liam Sharp (2009), read by Ian Shaw -- "A man who cannot count his years of life moves between worlds living the lives of other men. A soul-less ebony giantess seeks freedom in warfare but cannot escape the tragedy buried in her forgotten past. An aging mercenary and non-believer may be the unwitting saviour of his - and all - times. A blinded war-hero barters for a mythical stone in the hope that it may restore his former glory. All the while an undead God seeks an end to his torment by bringing about an end to all things."
Fate & Flux: The Watchers of Astaria, Book 0.5 By: Patrick Dugan (2019), read by William Walker -- "Broken by magic. Forged by fate. Astaria is ruled by wizards, everyone knows that. Quinn is a journeyman blacksmith for the Wizard Usorin until Quinn loses his arm and his livelihood after a tragic accident. When he is befriended by Roland, he learns the secret behind the wizard’s power and is set on a path against a foe who seeks to destroy not only Astaria, but magic itself."
Sing, Behemoth, Sing by KE Wolfe, read by Kelby Losack for Wolf Publishing -- "Attack on Titan meets Deadwood. In a desolate future where the monstrous giants known as Angels stalk the earth, Mudd and Arnold walk in the shadow of Marmaroth. Far from civilization, they’ve fought their entire life to survive in the hazardous wilds. But unlike the Loveless—mindless thralls who feed on the excretions of the Angels—at least they’ve retained their humanity, even as they sing Marmaroth’s song from afar. That is, until a murderous Angel comes with his spears of light, intent on murdering his own kind: and the earth trembles as giants clash. A friend Mudd thought he knew consumes the heart of an Angel—and ceases to be human. As the giants begin to fall, what will happen to those who worshipped them?"
MOST MISSING:
Dead Country: The Craft Wars, Book 1 by Max Gladstone (Tordotcom) -- "Since her village chased her out with pitchforks, Tara Abernathy has resurrected gods, pulled down monsters, averted wars, and saved a city, twice. She thought she'd left her dusty little hometown forever. But that was before her father died. As she makes her way home to bury him, she finds a girl, as powerful and vulnerable and lost as she once was. Saving her from raiders twisted by the God Wars, Tara changes the course of the world."
Seeds for the Swarm by Sim Kern (Stelliform Press) -- "Rylla McCracken dreams of escaping her family's trailer in the Dust States to go to college, but on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, her mother demands she drop out of school to work for Lockburn chemical refinery instead. When Rylla learns Lockburn is planning to dam the Guadalupe River-the last flowing water in Texas-she defies her mother to protest in the state capital. The protest ends in disaster, but her ensuing viral infamy gains Rylla an acceptance to the mysterious Wingates University."
The Gold Leaf Executions by Helen Marshall (Unsung Stories) -- "In these stories the dead turn up in unexpected places: buried in the walls of newbuilds, washed up on deserted riverbanks, housed in the carcass of a giant sea creature, flung from bridges only to return to their homes, asking for cream and sugar with their coffee. All the while, the living search for ways to hold onto their happiness, knowing how thin the boundary is between their place and the next."
A Blackened Mirror (Memoirs of the Borgia Sibyl Book 1) by Jo Graham (Candlemark and Gleam) -- " 1489—When Giulia Farnese came to Rome to make an arranged marriage with young noble Orsino Orsini, she dreamed of learning and power in the glittering city of the Renaissance popes. However, her mother-in-law seems frightened, and her husband refuses to consummate the marriage at the direction of the head of his family, Lord Bracciano. But Giulia herself has a secret: she sees visions in mirrors and hears the whispers of spirits, the gifts of an ancient sibyl in an age when magic is heresy punishable by death. Is this ability the reason Bracciano has trapped her in this sham of a marriage?"
The Shadow Galaxy by J. Dianne Dotson (Trepidatio Publishing) -- "A mesmerizing first collection (which) features short stories and poetry spanning magical realism, science fiction, fantasy, horror, and Appalachian tales."
Instinct: An Animal Rescuers Anthology edited by L.J. Hachmeister (Source 7 Productions) -- "Throughout history, creatures both big and small have stood alongside heroes and helped them through trying times, whether on the battlefield or in their laps. In these brand-new stories, seventeen bestselling authors regale us with adventures of animal companions and how they often are the ones rescuing the rescuer." New stories by/in the world of (among others) Jim Butcher – from The Dresden Files, Faith Hunter – from Jane Yellowrock, Patricia Briggs – from Mercy Thompson, Seanan McGuire – standalone, L. E. Modesitt – from Archform: Beauty and Flash, Kelley Armstrong – from Cainsville, D. J. Butler – from Abbott in Darkness, A. J. Hartley – from The Bowescroft Series, John Hartness – from Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter, and R.R. Virdi – from Tales of Tremaine.
Time Trials by M.A. Rothman and D.J. Butler (Baen Books) -- "Marty Cohen was a gifted linguist and student of ancient military strategy who stepped away from academic Egyptology and opened a woodworking shop. Away from the bitter politics and petty rivalries, he's happy to take care of his people, play the occasional war game, and try to make a good life. Yet when business takes a turn for the worse, an opportunity appears. He gets summoned back to Egypt: an off-the-grid dig funded by an eccentric financier has discovered texts that may be the earliest Egypt has produced, and they'll pay Marty silly amounts of cash just to fly out and take one little look. Marty turned his back on the academia game, but he's a small business owner who has to make payroll, and he can't say no to the money. But the texts open doors to an astonishing journey: the ragtag team of archaeologists finds itself in protohistoric North Africa, a drying land dominated by horrors, where humanity is badly in need of champions. And behind the war against the fearsome overlords lies a greater struggle: Marty and his team have been chosen to be champions of all Earth and to run a gauntlet on humanity's behalf."
Into the Vortex: Vortex of Worlds, Book 2 by Charles E. Gannon (Baen Books) -- "Druadaen, Outrider for the once-mighty Dunarran Consentium, has proven that there are irreconcilable contradictions between magic and physics on Arrdanc, the world of his birth. And what is his reward for this important discovery, made against all odds and at considerable personal risk? Exile—organized and compelled by nervous temple hierarchs."
The Dog with Two Tails: The Coldstone Case Files, Book 2 by Jason Gilbert -- "A Corvette has one passenger seat, but the dog can always ride on the roof. James Coldstone is back at his childhood home, working for a shady branch of the FBI under the threat of exposure as he hunts down things that go bump in the night, and has even met a new romantic interest who has no idea what he really is. And he is bored out of his mind. When a case comes through involving the brutal murder of a young research intern in Savannah, Georgia, the Supernatural Crimes Unit dispatches James and Phillip to find the killer and eliminate them."