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New Books

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

Hello, star bits! How is everyone doing today? The warmer weather is doing wonders for me. I am finally getting into the groove of the new All the Books! format, and was able to get my reading done and still relax a bit this weekend. I did a jigsaw puzzle and watched MTV videos from the ’80s. It was good fun! Does anyone else do a 1000-piece puzzle in one sitting? My husband says I am doing them too fast, lol. That’s not a thing. 😂

Back to books: At the very top of my list of books to buy is End of the World House by Adrienne Celt. And for this week’s episode of All the Books! Tirzah and I discussed The Memory Librarian, Queen of the Tiles, Debating Darcy and more. And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite game show: AHHHHHH MY TBR! Here are today’s contestants:

Cover of Spear by Nicola Griffith; illustration of a black kettle with fire coming out of the top

Spear by Nicola Griffith

If you haven’t read Nicola Griffith before, let 2022 be the year you correct that. This novella would be a great place to begin. Griffith is writing some of the best fantasy and historical fiction being published today. Spear is a gender-bent, queer Arthurian retelling, featuring a young woman named Peretur who travels as a man to Caer Leon to join the court of King Artos. It’s a rich, beautifully realized story of adventure, romance, and action. (CW for chemical use, violence, and death of a loved one.)

Backlist bump: Hild by Nicola Griffith

Cover of The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe; photo of author dressed in futuristic white outfit

The Memory Librarian and Other Stories from the World of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe

The multi-talented Monáe and a group of contributors—Yohanca Delgado, Eve L. Ewing, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Danny Lore, and Sheree Renée Thomas—have put together a selection of futuristic stories exploring race, gender, queerness, and love. These tales are full of characters who push back against society. The stories are built off Monáe’s album Dirty Computer, but you don’t have to have listened to the record to enjoy the book. (I read it first, then listened to it.) I would love more album/book tie-ins, please! (CW for racism, homophobia, and transphobia)

Backlist bump: Reconstruction: Stories by Alaya Dawn Johnson

cover of Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse; image of woman with gold rays emanating from her head

Fevered Star (Between Earth and Sky Book 2) by Rebecca Roanhorse

I haven’t read this sequel yet, but I figured it was a good time to remind people who are fans of the first book, Black Sun, that it’s out (because whoa cliffhanger.) Or to remind you that you’ve always wanted to read it! It’s about a society inspired by Pre-Columbian Americans, where a ship carrying a mysterious passenger is headed to the holy city of Tova in time for the winter solstice, which will coincide with a solar eclipse. Doesn’t sound ominous at all, does it??? (I don’t remember all the specifics, but there are definitely content warnings for violence and gore, suicide, war, child abuse, and murder.)

Backlist bump: Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

On your mark…get set…add to your TBR!

cover of Apprentice Lord of Darkness by CED, Jean-Philippe Morin; illustration of cartoon monsters sitting on a throne

Apprentice Lord of Darkness by CED, Jean-Philippe Morin (Yellow Jacket, July 5)

So this is SUPER ADORABLE. The Apprentice Lord of Darkness (ALoD from here on out) reminds me of Ludo from Star vs the Forces of Evil. ALoD wants to rule the kingdom, so decides to put together a group of flunkies and make a play for the throne. But the flunkies are a sweet, silly bunch and none of the plans ever go the way they want. Together, as they attempt to take over the world, they end up doing more good than evil. Does that mean the ALoD is really all that evil? And who IS the ALoD, anyway?

I liked reading this because while it’s a continuing story throughout the book, each page is its own contained bit of a story with its own completed jokes. And the characters are delightfully silly and the art is adorable and colorful. It’s a good starter book for kids who are not quite old enough for Bone yet, and great for anyone who needs some light, silly reading in their life.

orange cat with copy of The Caretakers by Amanda Bestor-Siegal; photo by Liberty Hardy

This week: I’m currently reading The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon and With Prejudice by Robin Peguero. Outside of books, I’ve been watching the first round of post-season NBA games and 1980s music videos. And the song stuck in my head is Snowcones and Puppies by Say Hi. And as promised, here is a cat picture: Zevon is posing with one of my favorite books of the year so far, The Caretakers by Amanda Bestor-Siegal.


Thank you, as always, for joining me each week as I rave about books! I am wishing the best for all of you in whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! – XO, Liberty ❤️