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Post author By Vivek Patel
Post date November 13, 2023

We’re teaming up with Cearnach Grimm to giveaway one copy of the Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook and Bag of Holding magnet set to one lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win, or click the image below!

Here’s a bit more about our partner: Cearnach Grimm is the creator of the hilariously captivating world of The Runebreakers which garners more than one million social media views per week. He writes fantasy and sci-fi, and revels in D&D. Join and dive deep into the behind-the-scenes of Cearnach Grimm’s writing process and discover new artifacts and characters for your D&D party.

The Kids Are All Right

Thanksgiving, Food, And More!

Post author By Margaret Kingsbury
Post date November 13, 2023

Sponsored by

Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! What’s everyone doing for Thanksgiving this year? We are going to my sister’s small farm, about 2-3 hours away. It’s a long drive, but my daughter enjoys seeing all the animals. Today, I review four children’s books about Thanksgiving as well as two new releases.

Indulge your inner book nerd and join a community of like-minded readers looking to expand their knowledge and their TBR. Subscribe to The Deep Dive, where Book Riot’s editorial staff draws from their collective expertise to bring you compelling stories, informed takes, tips, hacks, and more. Find out why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and explore the great wide world of books and publishing. Get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox, or upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features.

Bookish Goods

Thanks, Books Button by CherylsDoodlesStudio

What better way for readers to say thanks for what they love most while bragging about being smarter than everyone else than with this cute button? $4+

New Releases

The House with 100 Stories by Toshio Iwai

This nonsensical picture book really captured my daughter’s imagination. To portray the height of the 100-story house, the book is designed to be read and turned vertically instead of horizontally. Tochi has been invited to play at the top of a 100-story house. As he makes his way up, he finds various animals occupying each floor and carrying out their daily tasks, like frogs getting rained on while drinking tea and munching on worms, skateboarding snails, a snake with a toothache, and so much more. It’s an imaginative read.

Boys Don’t Fry by Kimberly Lee, illustrated by Charlene Chua

This scrumptious picture book takes place during Lunar New Year celebrations and is an ode to the author’s Peranakan Chinese heritage. Jin wishes he could help prepare the Lunar New Year feast, but his aunties say the kitchen is no place for a boy. However, when Jin’s grandmother—Mamah—overhears his request, she insists he join her in the kitchen. The two prepare dish after dish, sharing laughter and stories and recipes as they do. A recipe for Peranakan Pongteh chicken is included in the back.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Thanksgiving in the U.S. is coming up, so I thought I would put together a list of Thanksgiving-themed children’s books.

Colonization and the Wampanoag Story by Linda Coombs

This nonfiction middle grade tells the story of Thanksgiving from the Indigenous perspective. Each chapter alternates between two perspectives: a fictional narrative titled “When Life Was Our Own,” which follows Little Bird of the Wampanoag tribe and her family and their daily lives. The other section is nonfiction, which further explores topics shown in the fiction section. It’s an excellent nonfiction for kids.

Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, and Alexis Bunten, illustrated by Garry Meeches Sr.

This picture book also explores Thanksgiving from the Indigenous Wampanoag perspective but for younger readers. It opens with N8hkumuhs planting weeâchumun (corn), beans, and squash, or the Three Sisters, in her garden with her grandchildren. They ask her about the true story of Thanksgiving, and she tells them of how they were warned of the Pilgrims’ arrival and how their ancestors taught the Pilgrims how to plant corn, beans, and squash to survive. This is the book elementary-aged readers need to be reading about the holiday.

Harvest Days: Giving Thanks Around the World by Kate DePalma, illustrated by Martina Peluso

This lyrical, rhyming picture book explores 12 harvest festivals and traditions from around the world. In Bolivia, people gather in the streets on the last day of the Carnival season to celebrate Martes de Challa. In Tamil Nadu, India, children and adults thank the cows on the third day of Pongal. Back matter includes a calendar of harvest festivals and more information about harvest season and the festivals presented.

Twelve Dinging Doorbells by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrated by Ebony Glenn

This delightful picture book is set to the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and features a sweet potato pie-loving girl celebrating a food-filled holiday with her family. More and more family members and neighbors arrive laden with delicious food to share, but while the narrator helps with the food, what she’s really craving is her grandmother’s sweet potato pie. While this picture book doesn’t specify a holiday, it’s a great read for Thanksgiving.

I haven’t been able to hike as much this fall as I normally do, but we were all finally feeling well enough to take a family hike last Sunday. I’m thankful we have so many beautiful places to hike nearby.

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, and blog irregularly at Baby Librarians. You can also read my Book Riot posts. If you’d like to drop me a line, my email is kingsbury.margaret@gmail.com.

All the best,

Margaret Kingsbury

New Books

Hooray, It’s Time for New Books!

Post author By Liberty Hardy
Post date November 13, 2023

Sponsored by

Happy Tuesday, friends! I hope you have been having a good November. I just had my last author event of 2023 yesterday. I got to talk to Travis Baldree, who wrote Legends & Lattes and Bookshops & Bonedust, both of which are delightful, cozy fantasies if you’re looking for something charming to snuggle up with this winter. And down below, I have some more snuggly reads for you today, two of which are returns to favorite series. Yay, books!

As far as other new releases, at the top of my list of today’s books that I want to buy are The New Naturals by Gabriel Bump, Eyeliner: A Cultural History by Zahra Hankir, and So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men by Claire Keegan. You can hear about more of the fabulous books coming out today on this week’s episode of All the Books! Jenn and I talked about great books out today and that we loved from 2023, including A New Race of Men from Heaven, Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World, and My Murder.

And now it’s time for everyone’s favorite game, “Ahhhhhhh, My TBR!” Here are today’s contestants!

Before We Say Goodbye (Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Geoffrey Trousselot (translator)

In this bestselling series, patrons of Café Funiculi Funicula are treated to more than just coffee and baked goods. They have the ability to travel back in time—but only for a few minutes. In each book in the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, we meet a new set of visitors and learn where they want to travel and why. Which means you can read them in order or pick any one of them up first. In this fourth book, there are things left unsaid that need to be answered: a woman missing her dog (sob!) and familial strife that needs to be rectified. They’re charming and heart-squeezing books, and I don’t see why this series won’t go on for a long, long time.

Backlist bump: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Geoffrey Trousselot (translator)

Punycorn by Andi Watson

And this is one of my favorite middle grade graphic novels of the end of the year. Punycorn is the teeniest unicorn in the land of Carbuncle. Much smaller than any of the other unicorns, so he is not taken very seriously. When the other unicorns go off on an adventure, he is left behind at the castle. And that’s when the dastardly Sir Ogre decides to try and take over Carbuncle! Ready to fight to save their home, Punycorn and his friends, a dragon who can’t breathe fire and a very industrious dung beetle, are going to show everyone that you can’t judge a book by its cover. And they just might save the day in the process. It’s adorbs to the nth degree.

Backlist bump: Batcat: The Ghostly Guest by Meggie Ramm

System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries Book 7) by Martha Wells

Yes, I know you have heard me mention this series roughly a million times. But there is always someone out there who is reading about it for the first time! And since it’s the greatest sci-fi series of the last decade, it’s worth repeating. This is the seventh book in the Murderbot Diaries and the second full-length novel. Murderbot is a security droid that accidentally gained sentience (and chose its own name.) It says it doesn’t like humans, and it wants to be left alone to stream television shows all day. But under the curmudgeonly demeanor is a droid with a metal heart of gold. Murderbot frequently fights for the tiny, fleshy humans and begrudgingly makes friends along the way. In this novel, Murderbot is not operating like it should and will need help figuring out what is wrong so it can help its team on a rescue mission. You don’t have to read these in order, but I strongly suggest it. There are little details and comments that make more sense if you do. Plus, you get to read this award-winning series, and that is an amazing treat!

Backlist bump: All Systems Red by Martha Wells

This week, I am reading Dixon, Descending by Karen Outen, “What Do You Mean, Murder?” Clue and the Making of a Cult Classic by John Hatch, and The Eyes Are The Best Part by Monika Kim. In non-book things, it’s NBA season, so I am watching a lot of games, along with our nightly intake of quiz shows. (Switch is really fun, y’all.) Thanks to a commercial, the song stuck in my head this week is “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone. And here is your weekly cat picture: Zevon has the “it’s dark at 4:30” blues. (Related: That blanket he is on is called a Coma Inducer, and it’s the most comfortable blanket I’ve ever owned!)

Thank you, as always, for joining me each Tuesday as I rave about books! I am wishing you all a wonderful rest of your week, whatever situation you find yourself in now. And yay, books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty

Swords and Spaceships

This Week’s Most Exciting SFF New Releases

Post author By Alex Acks
Post date November 13, 2023

Sponsored by

Happy Tuesday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and I’ve got a double dose of new releases for you today. One set is first book/standalone, and the other two are sequels pretty far along in their respective series. Not sci-fi-related, but this weekend I saw the movie Killers of the Flower Moon, and it was…really good. It takes a lot for a movie to earn that kind of running time with me, and this one did it. I’d read the book before, but the film brings the focus much more on the Osage people, particularly Mollie Kyle (even if it still doesn’t manage to center the Osage experience because it arguably couldn’t ). And I’m reading a book about a very different movie: The Spice Must Flow. Lots of culture going on here this week! Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Friday!

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 Entertainment Community Fund, which supports entertainment workers who are striking for living wages and a future where humans can continue to create art for each other.

Bookish Goods

Climate Stripes Sticker by PinSaveTheClimate

Cory Doctorow’s new book (see below) has me thinking about climate change even more than normal, so I went looking for a bookmark. This is actually a sticker, but it promises to be a great conversation starter. $4

(If you’re not sure what the climate stripes are, the University of Reading has you covered.)

New Releases

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

Inez Olivera is a wealthy young woman in nineteenth-century Buenos Aires who has everything she wants…except for her parents, whose travels mean she’s always left behind. But when they tragically die, she’s sent (with her newly inherited fortune) to her new guardian, an archaeologist who is working with his own Egyptian brother-in-law. Inez arrives in Cairo with her sketch pads and an old golden ring her father left in her care — one whose magic will lead her to the truth of her parents’ deaths.

The Lost Cause by Cory Doctorow

In one generation, climate change, at last, goes from a fact contested by corporate interests to an inescapable reality that is at last getting the funding it needs — if perhaps too late. But while the younger people grapple with rebuilding society into something new that can endure, what of the angry old people, who are still being told by their alternate news source that the climate change happening around them is just a conspiracy and a scam?

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Here are a couple of new releases that are far along in their series, but they deserve attention!

System Collapse by Martha Wells

Murderbot returns, anxiously asking itself, “Am I making this worse?” Barish-Estranza Corp is sending a rescue ship with more SecUnits to help out the newly colonized planet, but Murderbot knows better than to trust any of this. It has other problems, though; there’s something wrong with its operating system, and ART and the human crew have their hands full enough trying to protect the colonists.

Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Everyone knows that Café Funiculi Funicula is actually quite magical: one of its off-menu items is an offer of time travel that could just help someone reunite with a lost love or find forgiveness with their estranged family. But time travel has risks. There are rules to follow, and there’s a new crop of customers looking to order.

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.

The Stack

Comics That Belong in a Museum

Post author By Eileen Gonzalez
Post date November 13, 2023

Sponsored by

…or at least in a museum-themed newsletter! There are actual museums dedicated solely to comics, such as the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco and the Belgian Comic Strip Center in Brussels. But if you can’t afford to visit those places, this newsletter can substitute!

Bookish Goods

Superhero On Call Knit Beanie by InspiredGiftsPlus

This snug hat will keep you warm while you’re out on patrol (or raking leaves, whatever). $23

New Releases

Sakura, Saku Volume One by Io Sakisaka

When Saku suddenly takes ill, a boy comes to her rescue — then disappears without a trace. From that day on, Saku has two goals in life: to pass on the boy’s goodwill by helping strangers in need and to find the boy so she can thank him in person for saving and changing her life.

Once Upon a Time Lord by Dan Slott, Christopher Jones, and Matthew Dow Smith

Just in time for the 60th anniversary celebrations comes this Thousand and One Nights-esque tale in which Martha Jones, under duress, shares three action-packed, cameo-filled stories about the Tenth Doctor.

Doctor Who fans may also appreciate Doctor Who Psychology: Times Change, an essay collection about the mindsets and motivations that drive the various Doctors and companions, edited by an actual doctor, Travis Langley.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: museums! They’re fun and educational at the same time!

Cats of the Louvre by Taiyo Matsumoto

Fans of Night at the Museum and/or kitty cats will enjoy this offbeat tale about a family of felines living in the Louvre’s attic. These tabbies are the only witnesses to what really goes on after the world’s most famous museum shuts its doors for the night!

Season of the Bruja by Aaron Durán and Sara Soler

Althalia works in a most unusual museum: it’s dedicated to the paranormal and counts a were-coyote, a chupacabra, and the last bruja — Althalia herself — among its employees. To protect her family’s heritage and legacy, Althalia must learn to harness her powers before the church ends her line for good!

Have you visited any interesting museums lately? Or maybe you’re just chilling at home, waiting for the Doctor Who specials? Either way, valid. Have a great day, nerd friends!

~Eileen

Check Your Shelf

What’s the Future of Books?

Post author By Katie McLain
Post date November 13, 2023

Sponsored by

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. We have our annual staff in-service coming up on Friday, and we’re doing Two Truths and a Lie for our obligatory icebreaker activity. As I was trying to come up with mine, I realized that I talk a lot and have already given away most of my interesting factoids! (Did you know that I have a Beatles-themed tattoo that I got in Liverpool on my honeymoon? Or that I’m related to Rutherford B. Hayes on my mom’s side of the family? Or that I saw Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg on my lunch break a few months ago? My coworkers do!)

Collection Development Corner

Publishing News

The Wall Street Journal has dropped its bestseller lists.

The Authors Guild has called on the US Copyright Office to require consent and compensation for AI training.

What happens to illustrators when robots can draw robots?

How TikTok has transformed romance publishing.

What’s the future of books?

New & Upcoming Titles

Stephen King has a new story collection coming in May, and it includes a prequel to Cujo! Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive excerpt from that story.

HarperCollins has signed a global deal for the next book from Pope Francis.

There’s a new sci-fi trilogy coming from writing duo James S.A. Corey.

Kensington Books has acquired world rights to TikTok star Harley Laroux’s debut novel, Her Soul to Take.

Here are the highlights from Barbra Streisand’s 970-page memoir if you don’t have the time to read the whole thing.

Publishers Weekly has a roundup of all the November 2023 book club picks.

The New York Times and the NYPL have selected the best-illustrated children’s books of 2023.

The best novels of 2023, according to Oprah Daily.

The best new celebrity memoirs of 2023 (so far).

Weekly book picks from Crime Reads, LitHub.

November picks from Tor.com (fantasy).

What Your Patrons Are Hearing About

My Name is Barbra – Barbra Streisand (Entertainment Weekly, LA Times, New York Times, NPR, People, Time, USA Today)

The Future – Naomi Alderman (LA Times, New York Times, Washington Post)

Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education – Stephanie Land (New York Times, Seattle Times, Shondaland)

Correction: Parole, Prison, and the Possibility of Change – Ben Austen (New York Times, Washington Post)

Again and Again – Jonathan Evison (New York Times, Washington Post)

Pretty Boys are Poisonous – Megan Fox (Entertainment Weekly, People)

RA/Genre Resources

How Rebecca Yarros’ novels became a romantasy BookTok phenomenon.

Oprah Daily looks at Jesmyn Ward’s body of work.

We Need Diverse Books launches a new website dedicated to Indigenous children’s literature/

The Ripped Bodice and Free Period Press have teamed up to create a checklist of 50 romance novels to help you explore the genre. You can purchase a print copy of the list, or you can explore all of the titles here for free.

This reader has had enough of “Sad Bad Girl” novels and sensationalized trauma, but they want complex stories about women.

On the Riot

The 10 best indie publishing companies to follow to find your next read.

Is ghostwriting ruining literature?

42 new winter holiday romances to read before 2023 ends.

The best new weekly releases to TBR.

14 new November book club picks.

The impact of The Hunger Games, 15 years since its publication.

All Things Comics

Here’s a first look at Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

On the Riot

13 new manga releases for November.

9 manga and graphic novels for fans of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.

Middle grade cozy fantasy comics and graphic novels.

Audiophilia

Spotify makes audiobooks available to their Premium subscribers.

Here are the November 2023 Earphones Award winners.

On the Riot

10 audiobooks for Nonfiction November.

Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists

Children/Teens

Barnes & Noble lists 11 of their favorite picture books.

16 YA fantasy mysteries to cozy up with.

Adults

6 great mystery novels set in hotels.

15 books to read after you finish Class by Stephanie Land.

5 SFF novels about autocrats and absolute power.

Wilderness thrillers featuring fearless women.

5 big nonfiction books from small presses.

8 books that explain how the world works.

Must-read romances for fans of Emily Henry.

Scottish detective series to read right now.

10 spy novels that will sneak up on you.

On the Riot

8 delightful Diwali books for kids to explore.

Picture books for shy kids.

12 Indigenous memoirs for Nonfiction November and Indigenous Peoples’ Month.

The best books about finding yourself.

Just kiss already! 8 oblivious-to-lovers romances.

10 heartwrenching relationship-in-crisis romance novels.

The best high fantasy books for magical escapes.

Cozy fantasy books about books.

The best LGBTQ-inclusive relationship books.

13 queer mermaid books.

10 books like Killers of the Flower Moon.

The 20 most influential mystery novels of the last 10 years.

8 fantastic Doctor Who books to get ready for the 60th anniversary specials.

12 thrilling heist books.

Level Up (Library Reads)

Do you take part in Library Reads, the monthly list of best books selected by librarians only? We’ve made it easy for you to find eligible diverse titles to nominate. Kelly Jensen has a guide to discovering upcoming diverse books, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word has created a database of upcoming diverse titles to nominate as well that includes information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.

Dini was extra snuggly last week, and he really piled on the cute by pulling his paws up to his chin! When he gets like this, I resign myself to the fact that he’ll probably stay there for at least an hour.

Okie dokie, I’ll be back on Friday! Have a good week!

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

Read This Book

Read This Book…

Post author By Patricia Elzie
Post date November 13, 2023

Sponsored by

Welcome to Read This Book, a newsletter where I recommend one book that should absolutely be put at the top of your TBR pile. Recommended books will vary across genre and age category and include shiny new books, older books you may have missed, and some classics I suggest finally getting around to. Make space for another pile of books on your floor because here we go!

Today’s pick is new nonfiction that is both incredibly engaging and extremely educational.

He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters by Schuyler Bailar (He/Him/His)

Schuyler Bailar is a speaker, educator, and author who was also the first transgender athlete to compete in any sport on an NCAA Division 1 men’s team. His public transition to the Harvard Men’s Swim Team made headlines, and he is an important voice in trans advocacy. He/She/They is primarily for readers who consider themselves or would like to be allies to transgender folks. It’s also a really great read for folks who have someone transgender in their lives but don’t know the first thing about being trans. The tone of Bailar’s writing mirrors his online content, which is accessible, compassionate, and remarkably patient. He weaves in personal stories about his own experience of his gender and transition, as well as some of the tough conversations he has had, sometimes with family. He strives to teach readers how to approach these conversations ourselves.

He goes over the basics of definitions of terms like “sex,” “gender,” and “the gender binary,” which are all complicated, and he does an excellent job of conveying the complications without getting too far into the weeds for the sake of the book. He goes over what gender-affirming care is, detailing that it can be very different for a child than for an adult and that many people have wild ideas about what gender-affirming care for a child is when it’s really usually maybe some different clothes, a haircut, and maybe using a different name and pronouns.

He answers so many questions that people use to try to debate transgender folks’ right to care and have a peaceful existence. Throughout the book, the information he teaches readers is based on science, research, history, and basic human decency. He teaches readers about the importance of pronouns (in the English language) and the myth of being transgender as a mental illness. His chapter on transgender athletes was particularly poignant, given that he was himself a nationally ranked trans athlete.

While I mentioned the primary audience for this book seems to be folks who are not in the trans community themselves, he does speak to folks who are at some points through this book. He answers questions like, “Does it get better?” and offers his own stories about coming out and telling his family and teammates. He also takes some time to talk about the intersections of his gender and race.

This was such a wonderful and informative read. Content warnings for transphobia and discussions of gender dysphoria and eating disorders.

That’s it for now, book-lovers!

Patricia

Find me on Book Riot, the All the Books podcast, Bluesky, and Instagram.

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Giveaways

111123-FlagshipAudDev-Nov2023-Giveaway

Post author By Vivek Patel
Post date November 11, 2023

We’re giving away a surprise box of 10 banged-up books to one lucky reader!

Enter here for a chance to win, or click the image below!

Book Riot’s Tailored Book Recommendations ships lots of new hardcover and paperback books to subscribers. Some of the books get a bit banged-up in transit, and dinged corners or smudged dust covers mean they can’t go out to customers — but they’re still the same great books! Give them a home and get hours of reading for free. Fill out the form above, and you will be entered to win. All you have to do is sign-up for our Book Radar newsletter for exciting books deals and must-read forthcoming titles.

Kissing Books

Second Chances and Rivals to Lovers

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date November 10, 2023

Sponsored by

Greetings and salutations! Welcome, or welcome back, to the Kissing Books newsletter. I’m PN Hinton, here to give you the rundown on the world of romance, including new releases, recommendations, and other entertaining ways to pass your time.

I’m currently reading an ARC of Game On by Seressia Glass, and it was like the jolt of joy I needed after the last book I finished ended up being a “just okay” thriller. I also recently picked up You, Again, both to work on my purchased-in-2023-TBR-pile and to get prepared for the Romance Book Club meetup at one of my local indies, and I was already delighted with it one chapter in. I definitely see the When Harry Met Sally vibes already and am here for it. In fact, I may be due for a re-watch of this soon.

Bookish Goods

Sleepy Hollow Candle by AARKAORIGINS

I know that most people may think of Sleepy Hollow as being just for the horror lovers, but, to be fair, there is a love triangle at the center of the story. I’m also sharing this candle in honor of one of this week’s new releases that I’m super excited about (see below) since it would be perfect to use while reading it. There are three options for this, with the one pictured starting at $25

New Releases

Splinter by Jasper Hyde

Dr. Drusilla is the medical examiner for Sleepy Hollow, and when the bodies of her sister’s friends start showing up sans their heads, it’s more than a little concerning. The reappearance of her ex, Ichabod, doesn’t help the stress levels for her, either. When an encounter with the Headless Horseman ends with her sister Katrina going missing, she has to turn to Ichabod for his monster-hunting skills to try to find her before it is too late, even if their feelings are not even close to being buried.

Outdrawn by Deanna Grey

Noah and Sage are both extremely talented webcomic artists who have worked hard to get where they are. They are also long-time rivals, and this is heightened when the two are paired together for the relaunch of Queen Leisah, a cult classic. Now they have to work as a team, or at least give the appearance of cooperation, to make sure nothing derails this exciting event. Soon, the close working quarters lead to the two women looking at each other in a different way than they ever had before.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

It occurred to me the other day that human beings really are a social species. Even the most introverted of introverts craved some in-person interaction during the initial height of the pandemic in 2020.

And while this doesn’t mean we’re all clamoring to go into the out all the time (’cause I know I’m not), it does somewhat account for why radio, or more currently, podcasts, are so popular. Even if you’re by yourself, you’re listening to someone speak rather than music or the sound of silence around you all the time.

With that in mind, today’s recommendations feature podcast/radio show hosts. Enjoy!

Crimes of Passion by Jack Harbon

Emery and Calvin are podcast hosts who can’t stand one another. However, when the last wish of a late fan was to have them do a collaboration, neither feel that they can turn the request down. When their numbers begin to take off after the recording is done, neither can deny the chemistry that they obviously have both in and outside of the studio.

Hello, Darkness by Sandra Brown

Paris is a late-night radio talk show host in Austin, Texas, who finds herself the target of a bitter, jilted man. Valentino, as he refers to himself, blames her for his girlfriend leaving him and calls in one night to let her know he is planning on killing his ex and then coming after her. Fearing for her life, Paris has to join forces with APD and crime psychologist Dean, someone whom she has a complicated history with. Old passions arise as they work together to try to make sure that Valentino doesn’t get the chance to make good on his threat.

Pick a character from these rom-coms and get a ’90s heartthrob.

And that’s all I have for y’all this fine Monday morning. I’ll be back in your inboxes on Thursday, and in the meantime, I’m still known to float around over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Until then, happy reading and stay hydrated.

The Fright Stuff

The Fright Stuff Goes International

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 10, 2023

Sponsored by

Hello friends! By the time you read this, I will be across the ocean in Belgium—unless you live on that side of the world. In that case, hey! I’m on your side of the ocean now. What’s up? Anyway, since I’m in another country right now, I thought it would be fun to highlight some horror in translation. This is going to be fun. And scary.

Bookish Goods

Battle Royale Poster by Adam Rabalais

This is a movie poster, technically, but it’s an adaptation of one of my favorite horror novels in translation, Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. Seriously, if you’ve only seen the movie, then you’re missing out. I still love the movie (obviously, because I want this poster), but the book is going to blow your mind! Anyway, this movie poster is stunning, and I personally want to frame it and put it in my living room. If you want this giant 27×40 poster, it’s $50. The poster is also available in 11×17 size ($20) and 24×36 ($45). Choose your poison!

New Releases

Where He Can’t Find You by Darcy Coates

We’ve got a couple of thriller/horror hybrids from two fan-favorite authors. First up, a new one from Darcy Coates. Who is the Stitcher? Something more terrifying than anything you can imagine. Abby Ward and her sister Hope live by strict guidelines. In their town, people go missing, and when they’re found, their bodies have been dismembered and put back together in strange ways. So, of course, they understand why they have to be so careful. But then Hope goes missing, and the police say there’s nothing they can do. Now, Abby must find her sister before she is literally torn apart.

Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry

This unnerving story is the latest from Christina Henry. It’s the story of three women who find themselves in three different but equally strange situations. Celia wakes up in a life that isn’t hers, with no idea of how she got there. Allie and her friends go on an unexpected trip to a cabin in the woods, and Allie can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong. Meanwhile, Maggie has been kidnapped and forced into playing a deadly survival game. These women have no idea how they found themselves in these situations, but they will have to find their way out.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koike

Let’s dive into some horror in translation picks, just as promised, shall we? This first one is a fresh take on one of my favorite horror genres: the haunted house story. And it was recently translated from Japanese: Here we get a haunted apartment rather than a whole house, but it’s just as scary. It all starts when a young couple with a secret tries to start fresh with their young daughter by moving into an apartment overlooking a graveyard. What could go wrong?

Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi

Love Frankenstein? This is probably the best retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic story, and it was originally written in Arabic. Set in U.S.-occupied Baghdad, this is the story of Hadi, a scavenger who collects human body parts and stitches them together as a statement to the government about recognizing body parts as people and giving them a proper burial. But when his stitched-up body goes missing, troubling news begins circulating around the city. A horrifying criminal who seemingly cannot be killed is indiscriminately murdering people.

Friends, I hope you have enjoyed this trip to new countries. Now I’m going to enjoy mine. Until next time, you can follow me (and message me) on Instagram at emandhercat. Sweet dreams, horror fans!