Release Week: 23 May 2023
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Release Week: 23 May 2023
Posted on 2023-05-23 at 12:00 by Samuel Montgomery-Blinn
PICKS:
Halcyon: A Novel By: Elliot Ackerman, read by Steven Jay Cohen for Random House -- "Virginia, 2004. Gore is entering his second term as president. Our narrator, Martin Neumann, recently divorced, is living at Halcyon, the estate of renowned lawyer and World War II hero Robert Ableson. When news breaks that scientists funded by the Gore administration have discovered a cure for death, it calls into question everything Martin thought he understood about life, not least his work as a historian. Who is Ableson, really, and why did he draw Martin into his orbit? Is this new science a miraculous good or an insidious evil?"
Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman, read by Georgia Maguire for Penguin -- "Set during the turbulent French Revolution in a world where many of the aristocrats are vampires, Scarlet is the first book in a wildly engaging new series which reinvents the beloved tale of the Scarlet Pimpernel."
A History of the Island By: Eugene Vodolazkin, translated by Lisa C. Hayden, read by Daniel Henning for Tantor -- "This ingenious novel is presented as a chronicle of an island from medieval to modern times. The island is not on the map, but it is real beyond doubt. It cannot be found in history books, yet the events are painfully recognizable. The monastic chroniclers dutifully narrate events they witness. The entries mostly seem objective, but at least one monk simultaneously drafts and hides a "true" history, to be discovered centuries later. And why has someone snipped out a key prophesy about the island's fate?"
The Blighted Stars By: Megan E. O'Keefe, read by Ciaran Saward for Orbit -- "She's a revolutionary. Humanity is running out of options. Habitable planets are being destroyed as quickly as they're found and Naira Sharp thinks she knows the reason why. The all-powerful Mercator family has been controlling the exploration of the universe for decades, and exploiting any materials they find along the way under the guise of helping humanity's expansion. But Naira knows the truth, and she plans to bring the whole family down from the inside. He's the heir to the dynasty. Tarquin Mercator never wanted to run a galaxy-spanning business empire. He just wanted to study rocks and read books. But Tarquin's father has tasked him with monitoring the settlement of a new planet, and he doesn't really have a choice in the matter. Disguised as Tarquin's new bodyguard, Naira plans to destroy the settlement ship before they make land. But neither of them expects to end up stranded on a dead planet. To survive and keep her secret, Naira will have to join forces with the man she's sworn to hate. And together they will uncover a plot that's bigger than both of them."
The Will of the Many: Hierarchy, Book 1 By: James Islington, read by Euan Morton for Audible -- "The Catenan Republic—the Hierarchy—may rule the world now, but they do not know everything. I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilized society in allowing my strength, my drive, and my focus—what they call Will—to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do. I tell them that I belong, and they believe me. But the truth is that I have been sent to the Academy to find answers. To solve a murder. To search for an ancient weapon. To uncover secrets that may tear the Republic apart. And that I will never, ever cede my Will to the empire that executed my family."
Why Fathers Cry at Night: A Memoir in Love Poems, Recipes, Letters, and Remembrances By: Kwame Alexander, read by the author for Little, Brown and Company -- "This powerful memoir from a #1 New York Times bestselling author and Newbery Medalist features poetry, letters, recipes, and other personal artifacts that provide an intimate look into his life and the loved ones he shares it with."
An Amerikan Family: The Shakurs and the Nation They Created By: Santi Elijah Holley, read by Adam Lazarre-White for Harper -- "An enlightening history of the rise and lasting impact of Black liberation groups in America, as seen through the Shakurs, one of the movement’s most prominent and fiercely creative families, home to Tupac and Assata, and a powerful incubator for today’s activism, scholarship, and artistry."
BACKLIST WATCH:
Witch Wood by John Buchan (1927), read by Antony Ferguson for Blackstone -- "In seventeenth-century Scotland, religious struggles run rampant. Here, Young David Sempill, a moderate Presbyterian minister, pleas with his sect to have compassion for the remnants of King Montrose’s defeated army, who are being harried and slaughtered by religious extremists. But as pre-Christian nature worship and its accompanying black magicks seep forth from Melanudrigill Wood, Sempill himself disappears."
Straight by Chuck Tingle (2021), read by Andrew Santana for Macmillan -- "When a strange tear in the cosmos appears within Earth’s annual path, the consequences are disastrous. For one night a year, the vast majority of humans now undergo a frightening mental change, transforming into hateful, rage-fueled zombies who will stop at nothing to satiate their desire for brutality. While not much is understood about this horrific mass hysteria, the demographic it effects is very specific: cisgender straight people."
Moving Pictures: Discworld, Book 10 By: Terry Pratchett (1990), read by Jason Isaacs and Peter Serafinowicz, Bill Nighy for Penguin -- "A new phenomenon is taking over the Discworld: moving pictures. Created by the alchemists of Ankh-Morpork, the growing 'clicks' industry moves to the sandy land of Holy Wood, attracted by the light of the sun and some strange calling no one can quite put their finger on... Also drawn to Holy Wood are aspiring young stars Victor Tugelbend, a wizarding student dropout, and Theda 'Ginger' Withel, a small-town girl with big dreams. But behind the glitz and glamour of the clicks, a sinister presence lurks. Because belief is powerful in the Discworld, and sometimes downright dangerous... The magic of movies might just unravel reality itself."
Unbound II: Tales by Masters of Fantasy edited by Shawn Speakman (2022), read by James Fouhey, Anna Smith Spark, Vivienne Leheny, Scott Brick, Natasha Soudek, Brian Holsopple, Adenrele Ojo, Ellen Archer, Travis Baldree, Tim Gerard Reynolds, Laura Horowitz, and Hillary Huber for Audible -- "Enter an underworld of history and dark creatures with Kristen Britain. Return to the aftermath of Dune's Butlerian Jihad with Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Revisit the Broken Empire trilogy with Jorg Ancrath and Mark Lawrence. Go on the most enchanting and dangerous of knight quests with Anna Smith Spark. Discover how Gladys got her name in a new Ink & Sigil story by Kevin Hearne. Uncover the magical truths of the Frasier family with Tamora Pierce."
The Animals in That Country By: Laura Jean McKay (2020), read by Helen Langford for Tantor -- "Hard-drinking, foul-mouthed, and allergic to bullshit, Jean is not your usual grandma. She's never been good at getting on with other humans, apart from her beloved granddaughter, Kimberly. Instead, she surrounds herself with animals, working as a guide in an outback wildlife park. And although Jean talks to all her charges, she has a particular soft spot for a young dingo called Sue. As disturbing news arrives of a pandemic sweeping the country, Jean realizes this is no ordinary flu: its chief symptom is that its victims begin to understand the language of animals-first mammals, then birds and insects, too. As the flu progresses, the unstoppable voices become overwhelming, and many people begin to lose their minds, including Jean's infected son."
Owls to Athens: The Hellenic Traders Series, Book 4 By: Harry Turtledove (2004), read by Tim Campbell -- "After some long and perilous journeys, Menedemos and Sostratos finally head back to Athens just in time for the Dionysia, a bacchanalian festival of plays and celebrations. Like earlier installments in the series, Owls to Athens has the cousins going through various adventures, trade negotiations and sexual escapades, all set against a finely painted mosaic of Hellenic life in the fourth century BCE."
YOUNG READERS:
The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt, read by Fred Berman for Clarion Books -- "A warm and witty novel in the tradition of The Wednesday Wars, in which a seventh grader has to figure out how to fulfill an assignment to perform the Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life—and makes discoveries about friendship, community, and himself along the way."
Heroes of the Water Monster by Brian Young, read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett for Heartdrum -- "An unmissable companion to Healer of the Water Monster, which won the American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award, this novel by Navajo author Brian Young tells the story of two contemporary young Navajo heroes—and one water monster—who must learn to work together to save their present world from the lasting hurts of their people's past."
MORE FICTION:
Sing Her Down: A Novel By: Ivy Pochoda, read by Frankie Corzo, Kimberly M. Wetherell, Sophie Amoss, and Victoria Villarreal for Macmillan -- "Florence "Florida" Baum is not the hapless innocent she claims to be when she arrives at the Arizona women's prison—or so her ex-cellmate, Diosmary Sandoval, keeps insinuating. Dios knows the truth about Florida's crimes, understands the truth that Florence hides even from herself: that she wasn't a victim of circumstance, an unlucky bystander misled by a bad man. Dios knows that darkness lives in women too, despite the world's refusal to see it. And she is determined to open Florida's eyes and unleash her true self. When an unexpected reprieve gives both women their freedom, Dios's fixation on Florida turns into a dangerous obsession, and a deadly cat-and-mouse chase ensues from Arizona to the desolate streets of Los Angeles."
Bad Summer People: A Novel By: Emma Rosenblum, read by January LaVoy for Macmillan -- "Jen Weinstein and Lauren Parker rule the town of Salcombe, Fire Island every summer. They hold sway on the beach and the tennis court, and are adept at manipulating people to get what they want. Their husbands, Sam and Jason, have summered together on the island since childhood, despite lifelong grudges and numerous secrets. Their one single friend, Rachel Woolf, is looking to meet her match, whether he’s the tennis pro—or someone else’s husband. But even with plenty to gossip about, this season starts out as quietly as any other. Until a body is discovered, face down, off the side of the boardwalk."
Identity: A Novel By: Nora Roberts, read by January LaVoy for Macmillan -- "Former Army brat Morgan Albright has finally planted roots in a friendly neighborhood near Baltimore. Her friend and roommate Nina helps her make the mortgage payments, as does Morgan's job as a bartender. But after she and Nina host their first dinner party—attended by Luke, the flirtatious IT guy who'd been chatting her up at the bar—her carefully built world is shattered. The back door glass is broken, cash and jewelry are missing, her car is gone, and Nina lies dead on the floor. Soon, a horrific truth emerges: It was Morgan who let the monster in. "Luke" is actually a cold-hearted con artist named Gavin who targets a particular type of woman, steals her assets and identity, and then commits his ultimate goal: murder."
MORE SCI-FI, FANTASY, and HORROR:
Perilous Times: A Novel By: Thomas D. Lee, read by Nicola F. Delgado for Random House -- "An immortal Knight of the Round Table faces his greatest challenge yet—saving the politically polarized, rapidly warming world from itself—in this slyly funny contemporary take on Arthurian legend."
Myriad By: Joshua David Bellin, read by Coleen Marlo for Blackstone -- "Agent Miriam Randle works for LifeTime, a private law enforcement agency that undertakes short-term time travel to erase crimes before they occur. Haunted by the memory of her twin brother’s unsolved murder at the age of six, Miriam thinks of herself as Myriad—an incarnation of the many lives she’s lived in her journeys to rearrange the past. When a routine assignment goes wrong and Miriam commits a murder she was meant to avert, she is thrown into the midst of a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of LifeTime. Along with her partner Vax, Miriam flees into the past in an attempt to unravel the truth before LifeTime agents catch up with her."
The Mother: A Novel By: B.L. Blanchard, read by Fleur de Wit for Brilliance -- "What if Europe had never colonized the world? It is a world that never had overseas empires, the transatlantic slave trade, or the Protestant Reformation. There is, however, in an obscure island nation called England, a woman running for her life. Marie, Duchess of Suffolk, has no choice. In this society, women are a reproductive commodity. Marriage is the only available occupation. And barren wives like Marie are expendable trade. After absconding with the family jewels, Marie fakes her own death and seeks a life outside the confines of her family and her marriage. She’s looking for freedom but finds even more: an underground network of women like her, her estranged sister, and a greater mission to discover the truth behind their mother’s inexplicable death."
The Seer of Midgard By: A. M. Vedsø Olesen, translated by Sinéad Quirke Køngerskov, read by Kristin Atherton for SAGA Egmont -- "Snehild is born amidst a raid on a stormy, winter night. She is delivered by a mystical jötunn woman and as she slips into the world, the Norns breathe a prophecy over her. Years later, Himlinge, the royal seat of Sialand, is suffering from political unrest. King Tormod suspects his brother-in-law is plotting against him. Royal advisor Brynjulf Raveneye worries about which of the twin princes should be heir to the throne. The high priestess Ragnfrid grows jealous of the local herbalist who is favoured by the royal family. Worst still, the herbalist’s daughter, Snehild, appears to have powerful prophetic powers that may threaten the priestess’ position."
Killing It By: Mike Bockoven, read by Joe Hempel for OrangeSky -- "Since the late 1980's, The Square had been one of the most important clubs in New York for the alt-comedy scene. But before that it was something much darker and is now a place where evil lingers, waiting for a chance to spill blood. After a night of killing on stage, four comics find themselves in a desperate situation as the spirits of the past come out to play, and a fight for laughs becomes a fight for survival in the most unlikely of places."
MORE NON-FICTION:
- The Book of Charlie By: David Von Drehle, read by the author for Simon and Schuster -- "One of our nation’s most prominent writers finds the truth about how to live a long and happy life in the centenarian next door."
SERIES WATCH:
The Battle Drum: he Ending Fire Trilogy, Book 2 By: Saara El-Arifi, read by Nicole Lewis and Dominic Hoffman for Random House -- "Murder. Secrets. Sacrifice: Three women seek the truth of the empire’s past. And the truth they find will have the power to ignite a war, in the sequel to The Final Strife, the continuation of a visionary fantasy trilogy inspired by the myths of Africa and Arabia."
The Poisoner's Ring: A Rip Through Time Novel, Book 2 By: Kelley Armstrong, read by Kate Handford for Macmillan -- "A modern-day homicide detective is working as an undertaker's assistant in Victorian Scotland when a serial poisoner attacks the men of Edinburgh and leaves their widows under suspicion."
Terran Incognito: Black Ocean: Passage of Time, Book 2 By: J.S. Morin, read by Mikael Naramore -- "Space station Echo Niner remained neutral in the Earth/Mars civil war. For a pair of fugitives on the run from both sides, it sounded like the perfect place to regroup. But Eric and Jessie Ramsey barely set foot aboard Echo Niner before getting embroiled in local disputes. Rival warlords divide the station into four zones, each under its own version of martial law. Separated by the teeming masses who call the station home, the siblings need to navigate the treacherous social landscape, discover allies, and reunite. It doesn’t help that their cover gets blown. Or that the Earth Navy blockaded the station. Or that Eric appears to be the backup plan."
Rogue Justice: Avery Keene, Book 2 By: Stacey Abrams, read by Adenrele Ojo for Random House -- "The #1 New York Times bestselling author of While Justice Sleeps returns with another riveting and intricately plotted thriller, in which a blackmailed federal judge, a secret court and a brazen murder may lead to an unprecedented national crisis."
Preset: Reset, Book 0 by Sarina Dahlan, read by Shiromi Arserio for Blackstone -- "Inception meets Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in this captivating prequel to the acclaimed, bestselling science fiction romance Reset."
Flash Point: A Jack Ryan Jr. Novel, Book 10 By: Don Bentley, read by Scott Brick for Random House -- "Jack Ryan Jr. is in a world of trouble. When a benign surveillance operation takes a deadly turn, Jack finds himself locked in a struggle with an unseen enemy bent on destroying the Campus. The chase leads Jack to the South China Sea where a midair collision between aircraft from rival nations threatens to serve as a flash point for the entire region."
TIE-IN WATCH:
- Araña and Spider-Man 2099: Dark Tomorrow By: Alex Segura, read by Victoria Villarreal for Marvel -- "Araña is a Spider-Girl lost in time. . . . Miguel is a Spider-Man who's lost his way. . . . Together, they're our only hope."
INDIE WATCH:
Letters from Hell: Time Diving, Book 1 By: Craig Robertson, read by Kaleo Griffith for Podium -- "Matt found a way to erase his past regrets. He was an average guy who was pissing and moaning his way toward retirement. Like many people before him, he often wished things had gone differently for him. Be careful what you wish for! Matt found out all too soon that the weight of being able to alter his past was much more than he could have anticipated. It all began one dull summer vacation as an experiment in transcendental meditation. Through meditation, Matt chanced upon the ability to plant his adult thoughts in the head of his younger selves, thus altering their shared future. But innocent meddling paves the way for increasingly selfish choices. Little by little, the Matt that once was is slowly stripped away. What remains is less and less recognizable and acceptable to his loved ones and himself."
A Mantle of Bones: The Essenburg Archives, Book 1 By: Emmet Moss, read by Colin Mace for Podium -- "The Earl of Essenburg, Steven Hargraves, is dead. Assassinated by an unknown assailant, his death plunges the earldom into a bloody civil war. Rival siblings of the murdered lord have vied for control of the region for three long years. Frederick, the rightful heir to his father’s title, lies ensconced in Bode Castle, held under siege by his younger sister Catherine’s army. As alliances shift and unforeseen forces are brought into the conflict, an innocent newcomer threatens to upset the delicate balance of the warring factions. A gravedigger by trade, this one man seeking redemption could change the fate of the land. For a man prone to a solitary existence, his world will forever be changed. But his attempts to navigate the cut-throat world of the nobility might also lead to his downfall."
Homicidal Aliens Are Invading and All I Got Is This Stat Menu: All I Got Is This Stat Menu, Book 1 By: J.J. Ackerknecht, read by Stephanie Savannah for Podium -- "Anya Nowicki, along with thousands of people around the globe, has found herself a host for alien technology known as the Archive. The Archive allows its hosts to alter their minds and bodies in an instant through holographic menu systems. With the touch of a button, anyone can become super strong, gain magical abilities, purchase a giant robot, or become a master in an almost infinite number of skills ranging from advanced combat techniques to fidget-spinning. However, Anya has also become the target for nightmarish, shape-shifting creatures that have come to Earth following the newfound extraterrestrial tech. The Archive can grant their hosts great power, but it may not be enough to survive the horde of murderous aliens hunting them down."
MOST MISSING:
Afterword by Nina Schuyler (CLASH Books) -- "A pioneer of artificial intelligence rebuilds the love of her life, but when she discovers he’s been feeding incriminating civilian information to the Chinese government, she’ll have to decide whether to keep or kill him."
Hungers as Old as This Land by Zachary Rosenberg (Brigids Gate Press) -- "The settlement of Grey's Bluffs is a prosperous town. An independent community dwelling in the shadows of the mountains known only as The Hungers. Esther Foxman and Siobhan O'Clery have grown up in Grey's Bluffs, thriving out on the western territories in the aftermath of the Civil War. Devoted to one another and their home, the two set out to complete a regular pact at the Hungers to ensure that Grey's Bluffs continues to prosper."
Talion Rule: Shadows of Otherside, Book 7 by Whitney Hill (Benu Media) -- "As Arden Finch’s magical strength grows, so does the number of people who want her under control. With the elementals, the mundanes, and out-of-state elves all making demands, she and Troy must act fast to secure their power. The first elven summit in decades offers opportunities to do so, but forces Arden to take drastic action. Amidst the turmoil, Troy’s past looms, threatening to drive a wedge between them."