Physical TBR
First, Become Ashes by K.M. Szpara
Fantasy
Synopsis: "Lark spent the first twenty-four years, nine months, and three days of his life training for a righteous quest: to rid the world of monsters. Alongside his partner Kane, he wore the cage and endured the scourge in order to develop his innate magic. He never thought that when Kane left, he'd next see him in the company of FBI agents and a SWAT team. He never dreamed that the leader of the Fellowship of the Anointed would be brought up on charges of abuse and assault.
He never expected the government would tell him that the monsters aren't real--that there is no magic, and all the pain was for nothing.
Lark isn't ready to give up. He is determined to fulfill his quest, to defeat the monsters he was promised. Along the way he will grapple with the past, confront love, and discover his long-buried truth."
My Thoughts:
I love reading about cults, and I've never read a book that mixes that with fantasy. It seems like it could either be really good or really bad, depending on what Szpara decides to focus on. Cults are super interesting and the brainwashing that happens could do extremely well when mixed with fantasy. It does seem like it may lean more towards magical realism though, rather than full on fantasy, which I really hope it doesn't.
Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff
Fantasy
Synopsis: "Gabriel de León has saved the Holy Grail from death, but his chance to end the endless night is lost. Drawn into an uneasy alliance with the mysterious vampire Liathe, Gabriel must now deliver the Grail to ancients of the Blood Esani, and learn the truth of how Daysdeath might be finally undone.
But the Last Silversaint faces peril, within and without. Pursued by terrors of the Blood Voss, drawn into warfare between the Blood Dyvok and duskdancers of the frozen Highlands, and ravaged by his own rising bloodlust, Gabriel may not survive to see the Grail learn her truth.
And that truth may be too awful for any to imagine."
My Thoughts:
The twist that was at the end of the first book was so damn good! I really hope this second installment leans more horror and leaves out some of the romance aspects. Now that we know more about Gabriel's backstory, Kristoff can expand the world even more and introduce more vampire lore. I cannot wait to read this follow-up as I gave Empire of the Vampire five stars both on my first read, and my reread.
Tomorrow's Children by Daniel Polansky
Sci-Fi
Synopsis: "Tomorrow, the funk descends on Manhattan, a noxious cloud which separates the island from the rest of the world and mutates the population. Some generations on, the surviving population exists amid the rubble of modernity, wearing our cast-off clothing, worshipping celebrities as dim gods and using emojis in place or written language. The Island exists in a state of uneasy peace, with each neighborhood an independent fiefdom, protecting itself with scrap metal spears and Molotov cocktails.
But something new has come to the Island, the first tourist in centuries, and this uneasy equilibrium is about to shatter…"
My Thoughts:
Please let this be good. I've read some dudds in the sci-fi genre recently. I generally enjoy post apocalyptic sci-fi, and this sounds like it will be dark enough to not feel repetitive. I hope it leans into those aspects rather than it feeling hopeful.
Kindle TBR
All the Lovely Pieces by J.M. Winchester
Suspense/Thriller
Synopsis: "For nine years, Drew Baker has been running from her brutal husband and the dark deeds of the night she left him. Focused on protecting her ten-year-old son, Drew reluctantly settles into a small town, eager to find proof of her husband’s true nature so she can stop looking over her shoulder.
But Drew is also on the run from her own terrible crimes—ones that mean prison and separation from her son should the police catch up to her before her husband does. If only she could remember that night and what really transpired…
Without warning, the unthinkable happens, and Drew is plunged into the most nightmarish situation a woman and mother could imagine. Desperate to save her child, Drew takes matters into her own hands, proving that anyone is capable of darkness, and nowhere is safe for those who fear themselves."
My Thoughts:
This has been in my kindle for years. I think it was one of Amazon's First Reads all the way back in 2019. I love a good dark thriller, and if the synopsis is correct, this will deliver.
Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes
Sci-Fi/Horror
Synopsis: "Psychologist Dr. Ophelia Bray has dedicated her life to the study and prevention of ERS—a space-based condition most famous for a case that resulted in the brutal murders of twenty-nine people. When she's assigned to a small exploration crew, she's eager to make a difference. But as they begin to establish residency on an abandoned planet, it becomes clear that crew is hiding something.
While Ophelia focuses on her new role, her crewmates are far more interested in investigating the eerie, ancient planet and unraveling the mystery behind the previous colonizer's hasty departure than opening up to her.
That is, until their pilot is discovered gruesomely murdered. Is this Ophelia’s worst nightmare starting—a wave of violence and mental deterioration from ERS? Or is it something more sinister?
Terrified that history will repeat itself, Ophelia and the crew must work together to figure out what’s happening. But trust is hard to come by… and the crew isn’t the only one keeping secrets."
My Thoughts:
S.A. Barnes is a master of the genre. I absolutely loved Dead Silence, and I cannot wait to see what she does for her sophomore book. Horror meshes so well with sci-fi. I love the cover, I love this description, and I really love Barnes' writing style. I'm so excited for this to be released later this month as it is one of my most anticipated releases of the year.
Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark
Fantasy
Synopsis: "Eveen the Eviscerator is skilled, discreet, professional, and here for your most pressing needs in the ancient city of Tal Abisi. Her guild is strong, her blades are sharp, and her rules are simple. Those sworn to the Matron of Assassins―resurrected, deadly, wiped of their memories―have only three unbreakable vows.
First, the contract must be just. That’s above Eveen’s pay grade.
Second, even the most powerful assassin may only kill the contracted. Eveen’s a professional. She’s never missed her mark.
The third and the once you accept a job, you must carry it out. And if you stray? A final death would be a mercy. When the Festival of the Clockwork King turns the city upside down, Eveen’s newest mission brings her face-to-face with a past she isn’t supposed to remember and a vow she can’t forget."
Audiobook TBR
The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard
Mystery/Thriller
Synopsis: "One year ago, Lucy’s sister, Nicki, left to meet friends at a pub in Dublin and never came home. The third Irish woman to vanish inexplicably in as many years, the agony of not knowing what happened that night has turned Lucy’s life into a waking nightmare. So, she’s going to take matters into her own hands.
Angela works as a civilian paper-pusher in the Missing Persons Unit, but wants nothing more than to be a fully-fledged member of An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force. With the official investigation into the missing women stalled, she begins pulling on a thread that could break the case wide open—and destroy her chances of ever joining the force.
A nameless man drives through the night, his latest victim in the back seat. He’s going to tell her everything, from the beginning. And soon, she’ll realize: what you don’t know can hurt you …"
My Thoughts:
Ok this sounds like it would make an amazing TV show. I love a good thriller that shows someone piecing it together while the reader is learning at the same time. If the "nameless man" parts are timed well enough, it will see the story unravel in what sounds like a very satisfying way.
Block Party by Jamie Day
Mystery/Thriller
Synopsis: "The residents of the exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road are entangled in a web of secrets and scandal utterly unknown to the outside world, and even to each other.
On the night of the annual Summer block party, there has been a murder.
But, who did it and why takes readers back one year earlier, as rivalries and betrayals unfold—discovering that the real danger lies within their own block and nothing—and no one—is ever as it seems."
My Thoughts:
This sounds like a fun murder mystery with a lot of backstabbing and secrets. I do love a good time jump, but I really hope it doesn't go back and forth between each chapter. Since I'll be listening to this, I find so many time jumps to get confusing via audiobook.
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