Sponsored by Tor Books (@TorBooks).
Steffan Dekkard is an isolate, one of the small percentage of people who are immune to the projections of empaths. As an isolate, he has been trained as a security specialist and he and his security partner Avraal Ysella, a highly trained empath are employed by Axel Obreduur, a senior Craft Minister. When a respected Landor Councilor dies of “heart failure” at a social event, Dekkard and Ysella find that not only is their employer a target, but so are they, in a covert and deadly struggle for control of the government and economy.
Hello Werewolves and Vampires!
It’s the last week of October, which I’m excited about and also sad about. It’s like the series finale of your favorite TV show. You’re excited to see how it all goes down, but sad that it’s almost at an end. Here’s hoping October 2021’s series finale is less Game of Thrones and more Six Feet Under. IYKYK.
Anyway, we’re going full Book Radar-ween for this last week of October, so prepare yourselves (and your shelves). I’ve got all the book stuff ready for you.
❤️ Emily
Book Deals and Reveals
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Y’all! I’ve got some exciting news for you. Rainbow Rowell announced on Instagram that she has written a new Christmas short story sequel to Fangirl, entitled “If the Fates Allow.” Amazon Prime members will be able to access the short story for free, starting on Nov. 18!
Another announcement I’m super excited about: Stephen Graham Jones has announced a sequel to My Heart is A Chainsaw. The sequel Don’t Fear the Reaper will be out July 26, 2022.
We’ve also got a cover reveal for Xiran Jay Zhao’s upcoming my middle grade adventure novel Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor. This one’s out on May 3, 2022.
In the face of the pandemic, independent bookstores are continuing to thrive.
Last week, Ijeoma Oluo announced on Instagram that she is starting a newsletter with Substack. The newsletter will be free for anyone to read, but there will be bonus content for paid subscribers.
And here’s the cover reveal for Hannah Orenstein’s latest novel, Mean to Be Mine, out from Atria Books on June 7, 2022.
Cynthia Platt is releasing her very first YA novel in May 2022. Here’s the cover reveal for Postcards from Summer.
R. Eric Thomas also has a new book coming out on May 31, 2022. Here’s the cover reveal for Kings of B’More, all about “two Black, queer Baltimore teens about to go on a Ferris Bueller-style day of adventure to save their friendship!”
Ursula K. Le Guin’s prize for fiction is launching in October 2022.
Book publication dates are changing due to supply issues. Here’s a list of publication date changes between October 1st and December 31st.
Book Riot Recommends
I’m a Contributing Editor at Book Riot, I write the Today in Books newsletter, and I’m a Bibliologist for Book Riot’s Tailored Book Recommendations subscription service. I also have a PhD in English, so I’m basically a doctor of books. Books are my life, in other words, so in this section of the newsletter, let me share with you some upcoming books I’m super excited about. And I think you will be too!
Prepare Your Shelves!
A Letter to Three Witches by Elizabeth Bass (Kensington, January 25, 2022)
This one goes out to all my friends who are here for Book Radar-ween but want to read something a little less scary. I hear you. I see you. Also how wild is it that the time has come for us to start preparing our shelves for books coming out in 2022? I’m not ready. How could I be? It’s still 2019, right?
Anyway, here’s the deal with A Letter to Three Witches. This is a romantic comedy about witches that’s being compared to Bewitched with a Practical Magic twist. Almost a century ago, Gwen Engel’s great-great-grandfather cast a spell that lead to disastrous side-effects. So as punishment, the Grand Council of Witches forbade all of his descendants from practicing witchcraft. But now Gwen and her two cousins, Trudy and Milo, have gotten a letter from Gwen’s adopted sister Tannith. She has bewitched one of her partners and plans to run away with him. In order to help Tannith figure out her romance issues, Gwen, Trudy, and Milo might have to work their magic, even if it means getting in trouble with the Grand Council.
This book is one of those silly, fun books that’s just feels like a nice break, and if you’re looking for something witchy that isn’t creepy and won’t keep you awake at night, this is your book!
Book Radar-Ween Reads
Normally, this is where I’d tell you what I’m reading this week, but instead, this week I’m looking back at my favorite horror novels I’ve read in 2021 so far. So if you’ve missed out on picking any of these up, do it for the week of Book Radar-ween.
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The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
The Upstairs House by Julia Fine
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
Enjoy, scary story fans!
Bookish Meme Monday
I could not wait to share this one with you all because here are the facts: I LOVE A GOOD ZAC EFRON MEME. I want to get this one as a poster and put it up in my office.
That is all.
Other Things That Make Me Happy
Are you preparing for Halloween? I clearly am. One of my favorite Halloween activities is watching scary movies. So here are a few of my all-time faves: Hereditary, It Follows, The Witch, Evil Dead 2, Annihilation, Us…
And here’s one you might not have watched before that’s actually really fun! Tag. No, not the American comedy with Jon Hamm in it. This Tag is hard to describe so I’m going to let the Amazon blurb do it for me: “A girl’s life cascades into chaos as her schoolmates suffer gruesome and increasingly bizarre acts of fate, including a deadly wind, machine gun teachers and a pig in a tuxedo holding a knife.” Yeah! If you haven’t watched this yet, it’s the perfect fun Halloween movie.
This section of this newsletter is brought to you by Purrli. It’s a cat in your computer!
And Here’s A Cat Picture!
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Book Radar-Ween means it’s black cat appreciation week. So here’s a picture of Phantom, my sweet little cat nugget (I call him nugget because he’s the smallest one).
Yes, I used Lightroom to put a filter on this so you can see how shiny his coat is and how cute his little nose is. #yesfilter
I hope you’re enjoying your last week of October, friends! Savor every moment! Take a deep breath and absorb the crisp October air. Thank you for reading Book Radar!
❤️ Emily