Happy Tuesday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and I’ve got a double dose of new releases for you, regular and extra-YA, since there were some cool books this week. I’m starting to feel the winter holiday spirit, thanks to my moving nightmare arriving at its final phase — which means we finally have our decorations back! Yay! Stay safe and warm out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Friday!
The holidays have arrived, and so has our new paperback level at TBR! If you (or a reader you know) are just over-carrying around bulky hardcovers or are looking for a more budget-friendly option, we’ve got you. Check out all the offerings at mybtro.com/gift, and give personalized reading recommendations customized for any and every reader.
Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.
Bookish Goods
Jolakotturinn T-shirt by TheSultanSelection
This T-shirt represents one of my absolutely favorite dark seasonal legends — the jólakötturinn of Iceland, who lurks around during Yule and eats people who don’t receive new clothes. $30
New Releases
Dazzling by Chịkọdịlị Emelụmadụ
When Treasure’s father died, he left her and her mother with nothing. Then Treasure meets a man who hovers just a few inches from the ground and offers to bring her father back to life if she’ll just do one terrible thing for him. This sets her path to intersect with Ozoemena, another girl who has lost her father, who is the first girl to ever be chosen to become a Leopard and protect her people.
Ares by L. Neil Smith
With Earth a political mess of factions vying for power, colonists on Mars who have fallen to an illness are being used as political pawns…and any rescue will come too late. The Ngu family on Pallas launches a rescue mission of their own, even though, for them, it will be a one-way trip.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
There are some cool-looking YA books coming out this week, so I wanted to spotlight them!
Our Cursed Love by Julie Abe
Remy Kobata has been in love with her best friend, Cam Yasuda, for as long as she can remember. On a winter break trip to Japan, a tea leaves reading informs Remy that they’re not meant to be together…but then they both stumble upon a magical apothecary who offers them a soulmate elixir. They agree to take it together, each for their own reasons, but then something backfires, and Cam forgets that Remy even exists.
Her Dark Wings by Melinda Salisbury
Bree and Corey have been best friends forever…until Bree betrays Corey and leaves her utterly alone, then adds insult to injury by dying. Corey can’t figure out how to mourn and feel such fury at the same time, but when she catches sight of Corey’s spirit leaving the world, she meets Hades — and the Furies.
See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.