Release Week: 3 December 2024
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Release Week: 3 December 2024
Posted on 2024-12-03 at 12:00 by Samuel Montgomery-Blinn
FEATURED PICK:
- Queen of Fury: The Queens of Fate Trilogy, Book 2 By: Natania Barron, read by Philip Battley and Lucy Rayner for Tantor -- "The gorgeous second volume in Barron's female-led Arthurian romantic fantasy trilogy. One by one the kings of Braetan kneel before King Arthur under a banner of peace. Hwyfar, eldest daughter of King Leodegraunce and famed libertine of Carelon, has returned to Avillion to find her father ruined by madness and a usurper poised to take the throne. Reluctantly she takes the mantle of Queen Regent to protect her kingdom, but she'll need an army—which King Arthur pledges to send her, providing she marries one of his knights and surrenders the crown. Arthur's forces arrive under the command of Gawain of Orkney, who Hwyfar remembers as a brute; but she comes to realize he is not the man she thought he was, and finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. But Arthur has plans for her, and has commanded Gawain to keep well away—and in Arthur's court, without the King's blessing, love is treason. Hwyfar and Gawain must navigate both a world of ancient forests and corrupt magic, and the political machinations of two courts, if they have any hope of escaping Arthur's ever-tightening grasp."
PICKS:
The Last One: Last One, Book 1 By: Rachel Howzell Hall, read by Tamika Katon-Donegal for Recorded Books -- "Thrown into a desolate land of sickness and unnatural beasts, Kai wakes in the woods with no idea who she is or how she got there. All she knows is that if she cannot reach the Sea of Devour, even this hellscape will get worse. But when she sees the village blacksmith fight invaders with unspeakable skill, she decides to accept his offer of help. Too bad he’s as skilled at annoying her as he is at fighting. As she searches for answers, Kai only finds more questions, especially regarding the blacksmith who can ignite her body like a flame, then douse it with ice in the next breath. And no one is what—or who—they appear to be in the kingdom of Vinevridth, including the man whose secrets might be as deadly as the land itself."
Rental House: A Novel by Weike Wang, read by Jen Zhao for Books on Tape -- "Keru and Nate are college sweethearts who marry despite their family differences: Keru’s strict, Chinese, immigrant parents demand perfection (“To use a dishwasher is to admit defeat,” says her father), while Nate’s rural, white, working-class family distrusts his intellectual ambitions and his “foreign” wife. Some years into their marriage, the couple invites their families on vacation. At a Cape Cod beach house, and later at a luxury Catskills bungalow, Keru, Nate, and their giant sheepdog navigate visits from in-laws and unexpected guests, all while wondering if they have what it takes to answer the big questions: How do you cope when your spouse and your family of origin clash? How many people (and dogs) make a family? And when the pack starts to disintegrate, what can you do to shepherd everyone back together?"
Havoc: A Novel by Christopher Bollen, read by Maggi-Meg Reed for Harper -- "In the vein of The Bad Seed comes a twisty, atmospheric psychological suspense about a meddlesome elderly guest at a decadent luxury hotel who believes she has left her problematic past behind, until she decides to interfere in the lives of a young mother and her eight-year-old son, and finally meets her wicked match."
Bellevue by Robin Cook, read by John Pirhalla for Books on Tape -- "A new tale of suspense-horror about a first-year resident whose life-shattering visions reveal the truth behind some of the greatest medical advances in the history of medicine."
The Shutouts: A Novel By: Gabrielle Korn, read by Gail Shalan for Macmillan -- A standalone follow-up set in the world of Yours For the Taking: "The year is 2041, and it's a dangerous time to be a woman driving across the United States alone. Deadly storms and uncontrollable wildfires are pummeling the country while political tensions are rising. But Kelly's on the road anyway; she desperately needs to get back to her daughter, who she left seven years ago for a cause that she's no longer sure she believes in. Almost 40 years later, another mother, Ava, and her daughter Brook are on the run as well, from the climate change relief program known as The Inside Project, where they've spent the past 22 years being treated as lab rats. When they encounter a woman from Ava’s past on the side of the highway, the three continue on in a journey that will take them into the depths of what remains of humanity out in the wilderness. At the same time, way up North, weather conditions continue to worsen and a settlement departs in search of greener pastures, leaving behind only two members, drawn together by a circumstance and a mystery they are destined to unravel together. "
Alter Ego: A Novel By: Alex Segura, read by Frankie Corzo for Macmillan -- "Alex Segura, award-winning author of Secret Identity, returns with a clever and escapist standalone sequel set in the world of comic books. In the present day, a comics legend is given the chance to revive a beloved but forgotten character. But at what price?"
Sister Snake: A Novel By: Amanda Lee Koe, read by Zoë Chao for Harper -- "A glittering, bold, darkly funny novel about two sisters—one in New York, one in Singapore—who are bound by an ancient secret."
Mirror Me: A Novel By: Lisa Williamson Rosenberg, read by Torian Brackett for Brilliance -- "A psychiatric patient’s desperate search for answers reveals peculiar memories and unexpected connections in a twisty and mind-bending novel of love, family, betrayal, and secrets."
The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt By: Chelsea Iversen, read by Anna Burnett for Recorded Books -- "Harriet Hunt is completely alone. Her father disappeared months ago, leaving her to wander the halls of Sunnyside house, dwelling on a past she’d rather keep buried. She doesn’t often venture beyond her front gate, instead relishing the feel of dirt under her fingernails and soft moss beneath her feet. Consequently, she’s been deemed a little too peculiar for popular Victorian society. This solitary life suits her fine though—because outside, magic awaits. Harriet’s garden is special. It’s a wild place full of twisting ivy, vibrant plums, and a quiet power that buzzes like bees. Caring for this place—and keeping it from running rampant through the streets of her London suburb—is Harriet’s purpose. But a woman alone in the world is vulnerable. Soon, a sinister plot involving her father’s disappearance begins to take shape, with Harriet herself at its center. "
I Think We've Been Here Before: A Novel By: Suzy Krause, read by Erin Moon for Brilliance -- "With the end of the world predicted, reality bends in an unexpectedly quirky novel about human connection and the meaning of life and death."
At the End of the River Styx by Michelle Kulwicki, read by Dillon Sickels for Dreamscape -- "Set in the mythic underworld and modern Portland, two boys rediscover the joy of life in this tragic love story."
SERIES WATCH:
How to Steal a Galaxy: Chaotic Orbits, Book 2 By: Beth Revis, read by Dara Rosenberg and David Bendena for Dreamscape Lore -- "Sparks fly when Ada and Rian just so happen to find themselves at the same charity gala—but there’s something rotten behind the sparkling gowns and dazzling wealth on display."
Ludluda: The Second Chronicle of Ludwich By: Jeff Noon and Steve Beard, read by Matthew Lloyd Davies for Dreamscape Lore -- "Concluding the epic two-book series from the highly celebrated and award-winning authors Jeff Noon and Steve Beard, Ludluda—sequel to Gogmagog—takes us on a haunting and delightfully witty adventure in a fantasy world that defies genre."
The Voyage Home: The Women of Troy Series, Book 3 By: Pat Barker, read by Kristin Atherton for Random House -- "In this third outing, she follows the young Ritsa and the unpredictable Cassandra on their perilous return journey to Mycenae."
Rebel Blade: The Burnished City, Book 3 By: Davinia Evans, read by Kirsten Foster for Orbit -- "The satisfying conclusion to Evans's wickedly entertaining debut trilogy full of monsters, mayhem, dangerous society ladies, and a dragon who holds the fate of the most famous alchemist of all in her claws. "
The Icarus Needle: Icarus, Book 5 By: Timothy Zahn, read by Marc Thompson for Random House -- "Ten thousand years ago, a mysterious people known as the Icari vanished from the Spiral, leaving behind a network of portals that can instantaneously transport passengers hundreds or thousands of light-years across the stars. Gregory Roarke and his Kadolian partner Selene have been tasked with seeking out these alien artifacts and bringing them under the control of the Icarus Group. But the Group’s leadership has changed, and Roarke soon finds himself at serious odds with the new director’s plans."
BACKLIST WATCH:
Day and Night Stories By: Algernon Blackwood (1917), read by Leslie Gallagher for Spoken Realms -- "Blackwood’s writing covers many aspects of the Supernatural, including Nature Gods and Goddesses in “The Touch of Pan” and “Initiation,” psychological horror in “The Occupant of the Room” star-crossed lovers in “The Tryst” and “A Desert Episode,” and a truly wholesome story involving a young lad and his ghostly grandfather in “The Other Wing.”"
Von Bek: The Warhound and the World's Pain and Von Bek: The City in the Autumn Stars By: Michael Moorcock, read by Nicholas Boulton, James Meunier, and Gerard Doyle for Simon and Schuster -- "Ulrich von Bek, a facet of The Eternal Champion, makes a deal with the devil in this exciting adventure story from one of the greatest authors of our time."
A Kiss of Shadows: A Merry Gentry Novel, Book 1 (2001) and A Caress of Twilight: A Merry Gentry Novel, Book 2 (2008) by Laurell K. Hamilton, read by Stella Hunter for Random House -- "Meet Merry Gentry, paranormal P.I., and enter a thrilling, sensual world as dangerous as it is beautiful, full of earthly pleasures and dazzling magic, and ruled by the all-consuming passions of immortal beings once worshipped as gods . . . or demons."
Poison: Tales from the Kingdoms, Book 3 and Charm: Tales from the Kingdoms, Book 4 (2013) By: Sarah Pinborough, read by Genevieve Gaunt for Gollancz -- "Imagine a land brimming with magic, a wicked queen, a charming prince, and a poisoned apple . . . And then imagine them all again . . ."
TIE-IN WATCH:
- Star Wars: The High Republic: Tempest Breaker By: Cavan Scott, read by a full cast for Random House -- "Lourna Dee is not a villain. She’s not a hero. She’s a survivor. The former Tempest Runner, wanted by both her Nihil allies and the Republic, has evaded imprisonment and death from both groups more times than she can count. But even Lourna cannot outrun the mysterious blight that devours everything wherever it appears. And Marchion Ro, the Eye of the Nihil, has announced that only he knows the secret to stopping it."
INDIE WATCH:
- The Sleuth Apparent By: Jackson Porter, read by Michael Kramer -- "In Aeromorea, a cube-shaped world, where every bloodline has a magical blessing and a curse, Detective Merlonoit Alondere yearns to sail to another surface to find the cure for his ailing lover. The price, however, is too high. Yet everything changes when a powerful political figure approaches Merl to investigate the mysterious death of Kyster Kinstone, an invincible man. If he solves the case, Merl will be given voyage to the cure. Merl instantly accepts, using his blessing of heightened senses to find clues others cannot. But he has competition; his hateful uncle, conniving brother-in-law, and twin brother are joining the investigation, and some have their own reasons for wanting Merl to fail."
MOST MISSING:
The Ceaseless Way: An Anthology of Wanderers' Tales (Wandering Grove Press) -- "Not all who wander are lost. And some lose their way but find something better. Join fourteen wanderers on journeys through space, time, understanding, and love: A sasquatch quests for her name while a hunter stalks her; A time traveler fights for the love he didn’t know he was seeking; A pregnant mother in a repressive dystopia searches for a way to protect her baby; Immigrant werewolves hunt for a better life. The Ceaseless Way is an anthology about questing wanderers. What do they seek? Will they succeed? What will they dare to achieve, and what will they sacrifice?"
The Ice Trials: Time Trials, Book 2 by M.A. Rothman and D.J. Butler (Baen) -- "Marty Cohen and his team embarked on a cross-continental journey across North Africa with the goal of returning to their starting point. However, after passing through a mysterious portal, they find themselves in a place and time that is completely unexpected."
Not out until the 6th, so it doesn't go in this week (release weeks are Wednesday to Tuesday)