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Happy Thursday, kittens! I hope you have had a nice week. I have had a great week of reading, although I am so confused as to what day it is now, since Book Riot was closed on Monday for the holiday. I did have a good Monday, though, because I read a horror book, Where They Wait by Scott Carson, which included an ancient evil that was discovered right off the coast where I live, as part of the plot. I was like, “YAY, HOMETOWN EVIL!” So many horror books are set in Maine. It gives you something to think about…
Moving on to today’s newsletter and book talk: I have lots of shiny news for you today, including adaptation deals, book cover reveals, and the deets on the newest book from Nicola Griffith. Plus I’ve included a picture of my upside down orange monster, some trivia, and more! I love writing these newsletters and I appreciate your support so much. Whatever you are doing or watching or reading this week, I hope you good bob and we same place again very now. I’ll see you again on Thursday (because of the holiday). – xoxo, Liberty, Your Friendly Neighborhood Velocireader™
Trivia question time! In Red, White, and Royal Blue, who is Alex Claremont-Diaz’s mother? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)
Deals, Reals, and Squeals!
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Seven Days in June by Tia Williams is the new Reese Witherspoon book club pick.
Here are the winners of the 33rd Annual Lambda Literary Awards!
Here’s the cover reveal of Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake.
The Literary Tarot is a kickstarter for a tarot deck about stories, with a star-studded list of contributors, including Kelly Link, Carmen Maria Machado, Margaret Atwood, and Celeste Ng.
And speaking of Margaret Atwood, she has a new collection of essays coming in 2022.
Jordanian poet and novelist Jalal Barjas won the 14th International Prize for Arabic Fiction for his novel Notebooks of the Bookseller.
Eunnie’s upcoming YA sapphic rom-com graphic novel, If You’ll Have Me, has sold to Viking Press for six figures.
Roxane Gay is starting her own publishing imprint.
Rupert Evans is joining the cast of Bridgerton season 2.
Here’s the trailer for the new Gossip Girl reboot.
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A series adaptation of The Maidens by Alex Michaelides is on the way.
Here’s the cover reveal of Reclaim the Stars: Seventeen Tales Across Realms & Space edited by Zoraida Cordova.
The U.S. Selfies announced its 2021 shortlist.
Marvel confirmed that Oscar Isaac will star in Moon Knight.
Here’s the cover reveal of Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl by Julie Kagawa.
Akwaeke Emezi is a TIME Next Generation Leader.
Edward Carey has a book on the way featuring the pencil drawing-a-day project he worked on during the pandemic.
The Killing Kind by Jane Casey will be a limited series.
Book Riot Recommends
At Book Riot, I work on the New Books! email, the All the Books! podcast about new releases, and the Book Riot Insiders New Release Index. I am very fortunate to get to read a lot of upcoming titles, and learn about a lot of upcoming titles, and I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week so you can add them to your TBR! (It will now be books I loved on Mondays and books I’m excited to read on Thursdays. YAY, BOOKS!)
Excited to read:
Spear by Nicola Griffith (Tordotcom, April 19, 2022)
First of all, if you’ve never read Nicola Griffith, I recommend running out right now and correcting it. Like, just run through the wall like the Kool-Aid Man, it’s totally fine. Start with Hild or Slow River. Then you can join me in being really excited for the upcoming book!
Not very much is known about this book yet except that it is a queer retelling of the Arthurian legend, about a young girl who knows her fate lies at court, so she picks up her spear and leaves home to face her destiny. COUNT ME IN. My only knowledge of Arthurian legend comes from The Sword in the Stone movie from Disney, The Crystal Cave, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but I keep meaning to learn more. For instance, I had no idea who Morgan le Fay was when she showed up in The Librarians. I do know that I am excited to read more retellings in Sword Stone Table: Old Legends, New Voices edited by Swapna Krishna and our very own Jenn Northington.
What are your favorite Arthurian tales?
What I’m reading this week.
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Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho
The Cabinet by Un-Su Kim
I Love You but I’ve Chosen Darkness by Claire Vaye Watkins
God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney
Shoot the Moonlight Out by William Boyle
Song stuck in my head:
Starships by Nicki Minaj. This has been returning to rotation in my brain every few days since I watched Resident Alien a few months ago. (Also, I’m still really into listening to songs I loved when I was young. You can listen to a lot of them in this playlist I made!)
And this is funny:
This is definitely my new favorite literary reference joke/burn.
Happy things:
Here are a few things I enjoy that I thought you might like as well:
- Hacks: I would like every show to star Jean Smart from now on. She is a national treasure. And Hannah Einbinder is also fantastic—and the daughter of comedy royalty!
- Purrli: This website makes the relaxing sounds of a cat purring.
And here’s a cat picture!
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Warning: if you sit like this too long, your brain settles to the top of your skull and sticks there. 🙃
Trivia answer: The president of the United States of America.
You made it to the bottom! High five. Thanks for reading! – xo, L