Thursday, February 23, 2017

February 2017 New Horror Releases | Horror Spotlight


Better late than never, here are the February 2017 new horror book releases! It's exciting to see so many horror releases in February. I've already vouched for a couple of these (The Final Reconciliation, The Devil Crept In). I'm looking forward to checking out a few more, especially the new J.H. Moncrieff psychological sea monster book and Universal Harvester. Each book cover is linked to the appropriate page on Goodreads.

The Final Reconciliation by Todd Keisling Year Of The Dead: Book 2 by Ray Wallace

Wind Through the Fence: And Other Stories by Jonathan Maberry DeadLights Horror Fiction Magazine: Volume #1 Issue #1 by David Wilson, Brian Knight

Dying Valentine (Dark Celebrations #7) by Calvin Demmer The Cult of Ocasta by Mark Allan Gunnells SAFE HAVEN: RISE OF THE RAMS by Christopher Artinian

Universal Harvester by John Darnielle Ubo by Steve Rasnic Tem

Dead of Winter: An Anthology by Pamela Jeffs Monsters in Our Wake by J.H. Moncrieff The Front: Red Devils by David Moody, Craig DiLouie, Timothy W. Long

Rupert Wong and the Ends of the Earth (Gods and Monsters: Rupert Wong Book 2) by Cassandra Khaw Flanagan by James H. Longmore The Fallen by Tarn Richardson

All The Places I've Ever Lived by David Gaffney Hieroglyphs of Blood and Bone by Michael Griffin Stone Cold Bastards by Jake Bible

Sycorax's Daughters by Kinitra Brooks (Editor), Linda D. Addison (Editor), Susana Morris, PhD (Editor) Grim Death and Bill the Electrocuted Criminal by Mike Mignola, Tom Sniegoski Agents of Dreamland by Caitlín R. Kiernan

Infernal Parade by Clive Barker Sacred Heart Orphanage (The Haunted #5) by Patrick Logan Outcast, Vol. 4: Under Devil's Wing (Outcast #4) by Robert Kirkman

Were you able to read any of these this month? Did any of these make it on to your wishlist? If you know of any horror books that didn't make it on to the list, let me know!

Jennifer

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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Book Review | Beautiful Sorrows by Mercedes M. Yardley


Beautiful Sorrows is a short story collection from Mercedes M. Yardley.

Beautiful Sorrows by Mercedes M. Yardley

There is a place where sorrows pile up like snow and rest in your hair like cherry blossoms. Boys have wings, monsters fall in love, women fade into nothingness, and the bones of small children snap like twigs. Darkness will surely devour you—but it will be exquisitely lovely while doing so.

Mercedes M. Yardley’s Beautiful Sorrows is an ephemeral collection encompassing twenty-seven short tales full of devastation, death, longing, and the shining ribbon of hope that binds them all together.

Beautiful Sorrows is a collection of short stories and flash fiction from Mercedes Yardley. The stories in Beautiful Sorrows are the kind of short stories that capture moments in people's lives. They aren't the kind of stories that contain an unfolding plot, they are more like moments plucked out of time.

Beautiful Sorrows is carried by Yardley's writing. This is the first book I've read by Yardley, and her writing has a quality I really love.

I have to admit I almost dnf'ed Beautiful Sorrows. I try my best to avoid books with child abuse, and the first two stories had too much for me. After marking it on Goodreads, it dawned on me I was reading an anthology. I decided to skip ahead in the collection and give it another try. I'm glad that I did.

Overall, I enjoyed Beautiful Sorrows. I don't think I have a single friend on Goodreads that gave it less than five stars.  The writing was beautiful, and there was so much imagination to the stories. If I could have one wish right now it would be a middle grade dark fantasy written by Mercedes Yardley. The fact that this isn't getting a higher rating from me is purely subjective. I don't feel like I require plot in my short stories, but over the length of an entire book I probably do.

6/10: Good Read

Jennifer

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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Book Review | Fender Lizards by Joe R. Lansdale

Fender Lizards is a coming of age novel from Joe R. Lansdale.

Fender Lizards by Joe R. Lansdale

The unmistakable accent of the Piney Woods of East Texas rolls from the pages of Fender Lizards, Joe R. Lansdale’s tale of the life and love and work of one Dot Sherman, who delivers on her promise that her story is “the real thing from beginning to end.”

Dot waitresses on roller skates at the Dairy Bob, doesn’t care for smoking at least partly on account of her dad having never returned from a cigarette run, and carries on the family tradition of philosophizing. Life hasn’t done her any favors in her seventeen years so far. But if there was ever a heroine built for turning things upside down and seeing what shakes out, it’s Dot. Determined to find out who she is and why she’s the way she is, an opportunity presents itself when her heretofore-unknown uncle suddenly moves his camper into the front yard.

As in his classic novels The Bottoms and The Magic Wagon, multiple-award-winning Lansdale instills place with character and character with place. Here is an overlooked world and a cast of real folks that prove unforgettable, all rendered in one of American fiction’s most authentic voices.

Fender Lizards is the story of how Dot came to be in the roller derby.

Reading about roller derby is like reading about quidditch in Harry Potter or stopping in the middle of Twilight for a long game of baseball. It's not an exciting time. (Is it taboo to make references to Twilight? Sorry.) Some of you will know what I mean.

I'm from Southeast Texas so Lansdale automatically puts me at home. I can hear and feel East Texas in his writing. This is a big plus for me.

I loved the characters in Fender Lizards. Dot was definitely the heart of the story. Fender Lizards was much more about Dot and her family than it was about her joining the roller derby, but that aspect bored me so I'm harping on it.

Overall, Fender Lizards was a decent read. I didn't love it. I felt like I wanted more to be happening. It was easy to put down, and it took longer than it should have for me to finish it. I didn't dislike it, either, though. It reinforced the fact that I need to be reading a lot more Lansdale outside of my Hap and Leonard binges.

5/10: Decent Read

Jennifer

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Saturday, February 18, 2017

Recent Updates and Currently Reading | February 18

I had another light reading week last week. Are you guys able to read through anxiety? I really hate that my favorite escape fails me when I need it most. I am incapable of following the simplest of stories when my mind is like that. Any tips?

On the flip side, I only have one episode left of Longmire. I'm about to have the worst Netflix hangover! HELP! What are some of your favorite Netflix shows?

Posted Last Week


Combined review post for:
  • Loch Ness Revenge by Hunter Shea
  • The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen
  • Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty

Book Review | The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone

Books Read Last Week



Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

Review Copies



Skitter (The Hatching #2) by Ezekiel Boone - After posting my review of The Hatching last week, I decided to see if there was a copy of Skitter available for download on Edelweiss. Lucky me! If you aren't familiar with this series, it revolves around killer spiders! 🕷️🕷️🕷️

What about you? What are you reading this week? Be sure to let me know in the comments or leave me a link!


This post is being shared as part of Book Date's It's Monday! What Are You Reading?, Tynga's Reviews' Stacking the Shelves, and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Jennifer

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Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Book Review | The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone

The Hatching is a debut horror novel from Ezekiel Boone.

The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone

Deep in the jungle of Peru, where so much remains unknown, a black, skittering mass devours an American tourist whole. Thousands of miles away, an FBI agent investigates a fatal plane crash in Minneapolis and makes a gruesome discovery. Unusual seismic patterns register in a Kanpur, India earthquake lab, confounding the scientists there. During the same week, the Chinese government “accidentally” drops a nuclear bomb in an isolated region of its own country. As these incidents begin to sweep the globe, a mysterious package from South America arrives at a Washington, D.C. laboratory. Something wants out.

The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic disaster. An ancient species, long dormant, is now very much awake.

Today brings the paperback release of Ezekiel Boone's The Hatching. I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to write a catch up review of this book.

I don't know about you, but I'm terrified of spiders. I can't believe I said yes to a review copy of this, but I was feeling brave and you know I love the horror books.

Thankfully The Hatching handled the spiders very well. Where The Hatching really excelled was by making the story about more than just the killer spiders. There were real characters worth rooting for.

If you didn't get a chance to read The Hatching last year, you still have time to discover why I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel Skitter!

7/10: Recommended Read

Review copy provided by the publisher

Jennifer

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Monday, February 13, 2017

Quick Reviews | Loch Ness Revenge, The Great God Pan, Six Wakes

Here are some quick thoughts on a few books I've read recently.

Loch Ness Revenge by Hunter Shea




Deep in the murky waters of Loch Ness, the creature known as Nessie has returned. Twins Natalie and Austin McQueen watched in horror as their parents were devoured by the world’s most infamous lake monster. Two decades later, it’s their turn to hunt the legend. But what lurks in the Loch is not what they expected. Nessie is devouring everything in and around the Loch, and it’s not alone. Hell has come to the Scottish Highlands. In a fierce battle between man and monster, the world may never be the same.
Nessie. Poor Nessie! What did Hunter Shea do? Hunter Shea turned her into a monster.

Loch Ness Revenge was good fun, though! As children, Natalie and Austin watched their parents get sucked under by Nessie. Now they are setting out to kill her.

You've never seen Nessie like this before!

7/10: Recommended Read



The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen



A terrifying tale about the god of wild places.

The Great God Pan is a novella written by Arthur Machen. On publication it was widely denounced by the press as degenerate and horrific because of its decadent style and sexual content, although it has since garnered a reputation as a classic of horror. Machen's story was only one of many at the time to focus on Pan as a useful symbol for the power of nature and paganism.
I wish I could say I loved The Great God Pan, but I didn't. I enjoy reading any classic horror for what it is so I wasn't necessarily disappointed. I just didn't enjoy it very much.

There were a couple of stand out moments that gave me the creeps, but I had trouble discerning what the plot was even supposed to be.

4/10: Not My Thing



Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty



A space adventure set on a lone ship where the murdered crew are resurrected through cloning to discover who their killer was -- and the secret to their mission.

It was not common to awaken in a cloning vat streaked with drying blood.

At least, Marie Shea iv had never experienced it. She had no memory of how she died. That was also new; before, when she had awakened as a new clone, her first memory was of how she died, from illness once and from injury once...

Maria's vat was in the front of six vats, each one holding the clone of a crew member of the starship Pituitary, each clone waiting for its previous incarnation to die so it could awaken. Apparently Maria wasn't the only one to die recently.

I was expecting a science fiction thriller. I was not expecting to feel like I was in the middle of an Agatha Christie novel. Six Wakes was a very pleasant surprise. If an Agatha Christie style mystery set in space with clones and AI isn't fun, I don't know what is.

8/10: Great Read



Have you read any of these books yet? I'm curious to hear if anyone else was surprised by Six Wakes.

Jennifer

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Saturday, February 11, 2017

Recent Updates and Currently Reading | February 11

My youngest son is four years old and last night was only the third night he has been away from home. It's so weird having no kids in the house, but they are all at my mom's. It's Saturday morning, and I'm having chocolate cake and ginger ale for breakfast because I can.

Posted Last Week


(I highly recommend both of these books!)


Books Read Last Week




Beautiful Sorrows by Mercedes M. Yardley

Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty

Review Copies



Visions of the Mutant Rain Forest by Robert Frazier, Bruce Boston - For over 20 years Robert Frazier and Bruce Boston have been writing stories and poems set in the Mutant Rain Forest. Most of these stories/poems have appeared in magazines and anthologies but two stories and five poems are original to this collection. "In the mutant rain forest it’s adapt or be redacted." I'm excited to explore these stories as they will all be new to me.

Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero - I just discovered Meddling Kids this past week, but it has jumped to one of my most anticipated reads of this year. I'm going to let this blurb right here speak for itself "The surviving members of a forgotten teenage detective club (and their dog) must reunite as broken adults to finally solve the terrifying case that ruined them all and sent the wrong man to prison. Scooby Doo and the gang never had to do this!"

What about you? What are you reading this week? Be sure to let me know in the comments or leave me a link!


This post is being shared as part of Book Date's It's Monday! What Are You Reading?, Tynga's Reviews' Stacking the Shelves, and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Jennifer

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Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Book Review | The Devil Crept In by Ania Ahlborn

The Devil Crept In is the latest horror novel from Ania Ahlborn. Just in time for Women in Horror Month!


An unforgettable horror novel from bestselling sensation Ania Ahlborn—hailed as a writer of “some of the most promising horror I’ve encountered in years” (New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire)—in which a small-town boy investigates the mysterious disappearance of his cousin and uncovers a terrifying secret kept hidden for years.

Young Jude Brighton has been missing for three days, and while the search for him is in full swing in the small town of Deer Valley, Oregon, the locals are starting to lose hope. They’re well aware that the first forty-eight hours are critical and after that, the odds usually point to a worst-case scenario. And despite Stevie Clark’s youth, he knows that, too; he’s seen the cop shows. He knows what each ticking moment may mean for Jude, his cousin and best friend.

That, and there was that boy, Max Larsen...the one from years ago, found dead after also disappearing under mysterious circumstances. And then there were the animals: pets gone missing out of yards. For years, the residents of Deer Valley have murmured about these unsolved crimes…and that a killer may still be lurking around their quiet town. Now, fear is reborn—and for Stevie, who is determined to find out what really happened to Jude, the awful truth may be too horrifying to imagine.


Yes.
Yes. Yes.
Yesyesyesyesyes.
YES.

Character driven horror. Do I need to say anything else? My enjoyment level was at full capacity throughout this entire book.

The Devil Crept In is divided into three parts. The first part follows Stevie and Jude, cousins and best friends. Jude goes missing and Stevie is left trying to piece together what could have happened and where his best friend could be.

Part two follows Rosie as she raises her son Otto alone. Normally when a book suddenly drops one storyline for another, I'm left reeling, but that was not the case here. Despite the abrupt shift in the story, I was immediately sucked right back in.

I'm not even going to tell you what part three was about. You will have to read it yourself.

I'll admit there is a bit of a slow burn to The Devil Crept In, but I was too busy wallowing in the characters to care.

As always, the ending was not what I expected. With Ania Ahlborn I never get what I am expecting. That's my favorite thing about her books. Honestly, the characters could have all lined up and jumped off a cliff at the end, and I would probably still be recommending this book.

The Devil Crept In is really one of those books where it's best going in with a clean slate. I never knew what was coming, and it was one of those hand over mouth, wide eyed type of reads you just don't get very often.

I can't recommend this to everyone. If you are squeamish or can't handle bad things happening to good animals, turn around and run away. If, however, you've been craving some amazing character driven horror, you need to get your hands on The Devil Crept In (immediately).

9/10: Highly Recommended

Review copy provided by publisher

Jennifer

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Monday, February 6, 2017

Book Review | The Final Reconciliation by Todd Keisling

The Final Reconciliation is a new horror novella from Todd Keisling.

The Final Reconciliation by Todd Keisling

TAKE OFF YOUR MASK.

Thirty years ago, a progressive rock band called The Yellow Kings began recording what would become their first and final album. Titled “The Final Reconciliation,” the album was expected to usher in a new renaissance of heavy metal, but it was shelved following a tragic concert that left all but one dead.

The sole survivor of that horrific incident was the band’s lead guitarist, Aidan Cross, who’s kept silent about the circumstances leading up to that ill-fated performance—until now.

For the first time since the tragedy, Aidan has granted an exclusive interview to finally put rumors to rest and address a question that has haunted the music industry for decades: What happened to The Yellow Kings?

The answer will terrify you.

Inspired by The King in Yellow mythos first established by Robert W. Chambers, and reminiscent of cosmic horror by H. P. Lovecraft, Laird Barron, and John Langan, comes The Final Reconciliation—a chilling tale of regret, the occult, and heavy metal by Todd Keisling.

I was nervous going into The Final Reconciliation because I had Robert McCammon on the brain. How can I think of a horror story that revolves around music without thinking of McCammon's The Five? I feel bad for any book that has to live up to McCammon, but The Final Reconciliation had no trouble at all! Where McCammon's The Five was about feeling the emotion of music, The Final Reconciliation was about feeling the music itself. (That and some kick ass horror.)

I'm a metal head and I fancy myself a musician so I was absolutely the perfect audience for The Final Reconciliation, but I think that's all just icing to a really great story.

The Final Reconciliation was inspired by The King in Yellow mythos. I have to admit to never having read The King in Yellow. I actually tried to get into it last week, but I was just coming off The Great God Pan and was burned out on classic horror. It would have been cool to have a better reference point for The Yellow King, Carcosa, etc., but it wasn't necessary. I think if you've read The King in Yellow, you will dig the connection.

The Final Reconciliation is a novella so I'm hesitant to say much other than the fact that I really enjoyed it. I'd rather leave you to discover what happened to The Yellow Kings for yourself.

My year has started out unusually strong, but I think it's a safe bet to say The Final Reconciliation will be one of my favorites of the year. I highly recommend it especially if you love music and horror.

9/10: Highly Recommended

Review copy provided by publisher

Jennifer

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Saturday, February 4, 2017

Recent Updates and Currently Reading | February 4

My pace definitely slowed down this week. It was bound to happen. Things are crazy at work right now. By the time I get home my brain is mush. I did watch a lot of Longmire this week. I'm going to have a major Netflix hangover when it's over.

You know what else I've been watching? Sneaky Pete! Have you seen any of it? It's on Amazon Prime, and I love it.

But I should probably get to the books.

Posted Last Week


Last week I posted my January in Review. It was probably the best reading month I've had. I was in a zone so I just tried to ride it out as long as I could.

I also posted the Upcoming February 2017 Book Releases in Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction. These are the genre books I'm most excited about picking up in February.

It's Women in Horror Month! I posted some Women in Horror Month: Resources! to help you find some amazing women horror writers to read this month.

Books Read Last Week




The Final Reconciliation by Todd Keisling

The Final Reconciliation is apparently the only book I finished last week. It was a really great book, though. I'll have a review out for that one this week. I highly recommend it.

What about you? What are you reading this week? Be sure to let me know in the comments or leave me a link!


This post is being shared as part of Book Date's It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Jennifer

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Thursday, February 2, 2017

Women in Horror Month: Resources!


I usually start the month out with a horror spotlight on all of the new horror releases, but it's Women in Horror Month! I'm going to push back the regular post a bit so we can focus first on WiHM.

Do you need suggestions for what to read this month? The following is a list of resources to help you discover some amazing women horror writers:

Last year I wrote a post on Women in Horror A-Z. If you are looking for some suggestions on what to read this month, please give it visit! There are some amazing women and books to be found there.

Did you know there is a genre on Goodreads called "Women and Horror"?! Check it out!

"Tucked away on the dark and dusty shelves of libraries around the world are pages packed with murder: tales of lands where only the most wicked of creatures dwell...Here is a short round up of the women you may not know yet, but once you do, they’ll surely haunt your bookshelves evermore." 6 Female Horror Writers To Read Right Now

My friend Anita wrote this post a few years ago for Hellnotes, and it is an amazing resources for discovering women horror writers: Top 25 Women Horror Writers You Probably Haven’t Heard Of (But Should Know)

Melissa at Little Miss Zombie wrote a post several years ago listing 50 Kindle Horror Books Written By Women, and Gef at Wag the Fox followed it up with a list of 50 MORE Kindle Horror Books Written by Women. These lists are awesome.

Updates:

Becky at RA for All: Horror posted an announcement for Women in Horror Month that includes some great recommendations: Women in Horror Month 8 Begins Today!

If you have any resources you would like to add, please let me know! I will add them to the updates.

Jennifer

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Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Upcoming February 2017 Book Releases in Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction

Below are the February releases that have caught my eye. I've already read The Devil Crept In (amazing!), and I'm in the middle of The Final Reconciliation (loving it!). February looks to be a fabulous month.

The Final Reconciliation by Todd Keisling
Expected publication: February 3rd 2017 by Crystal Lake Publishing

TAKE OFF YOUR MASK.

Thirty years ago, a progressive rock band called The Yellow Kings began recording what would become their first and final album. Titled “The Final Reconciliation,” the album was expected to usher in a new renaissance of heavy metal, but it was shelved following a tragic concert that left all but one dead.

The sole survivor of that horrific incident was the band’s lead guitarist, Aidan Cross, who’s kept silent about the circumstances leading up to that ill-fated performance—until now.

For the first time since the tragedy, Aidan has granted an exclusive interview to finally put rumors to rest and address a question that has haunted the music industry for decades: What happened to The Yellow Kings?

The answer will terrify you.

Inspired by The King in Yellow mythos first established by Robert W. Chambers, and reminiscent of cosmic horror by H. P. Lovecraft, Laird Barron, and John Langan, comes The Final Reconciliation—a chilling tale of regret, the occult, and heavy metal by Todd Keisling.



The Devil Crept In by Ania AhlbornThe Devil Crept In by Ania Ahlborn
Expected publication: February 7th 2017 by Gallery Books

An unforgettable horror novel from bestselling sensation Ania Ahlborn—hailed as a writer of “some of the most promising horror I’ve encountered in years” (New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire)—in which a small-town boy investigates the mysterious disappearance of his cousin and uncovers a terrifying secret kept hidden for years.

Young Jude Brighton has been missing for three days, and while the search for him is in full swing in the small town of Deer Valley, Oregon, the locals are starting to lose hope. They’re well aware that the first forty-eight hours are critical and after that, the odds usually point to a worst-case scenario. And despite Stevie Clark’s youth, he knows that, too; he’s seen the cop shows. He knows what each ticking moment may mean for Jude, his cousin and best friend.

That, and there was that boy, Max Larsen...the one from years ago, found dead after also disappearing under mysterious circumstances. And then there were the animals: pets gone missing out of yards. For years, the residents of Deer Valley have murmured about these unsolved crimes…and that a killer may still be lurking around their quiet town. Now, fear is reborn—and for Stevie, who is determined to find out what really happened to Jude, the awful truth may be too horrifying to imagine.



Ubo by Steve Rasnic TemUbo by Steve Rasnic Tem
Expected publication: February 14th 2017 by Solaris

A blend of science fiction and horror, award-winning author Steve Rasnic Tem’s new novel is a chilling story exploring the roots of violence and its effect on a possible future.

Daniel is trapped in Ubo. He has no idea how long he has been imprisoned there by the roaches.

Every resident has a similar memory of the journey to Ubo: a dream of dry, chitinous wings crossing the moon, the gigantic insects dropping swiftly over the houses of the neighborhood, passing through walls and windows as if by magic, or science. The creatures, like a deck of baroquely ornamented cards, fanning themselves from one hidden world into the next.

And now each day they force Daniel to play a different figure from humanity’s violent history, from a frenzied Jack the Ripper to a stumbling and confused Stalin to a self-proclaimed god executing survivors atop the ruins of the world. The scenarios mutate day after day in this camp somewhere beyond the rules of time. As skies burn and prisoners go mad, identities dissolve as the experiments evolve, and no one can foretell their mysterious end.



Winter of the Gods by Jordanna Max BrodskyWinter of the Gods (Olympus Bound #2) by Jordanna Max Brodsky
Expected publication: February 14th 2017 by Orbit

Myth and reality collide in this sequel to The Immortals that sets Greek Gods against a modern Manhattan backdrop.

Manhattan has many secrets. Some are older than the city itself.

Winter in New York: snow falls, lights twinkle, and a very disgruntled Selene DiSilva prowls the streets looking for prey.

But when a dead body is discovered sprawled atop Wall Street's iconic Charging Bull statue, it's clear the NYPD can't solve the murder without help. The murder isn't just the work of another homicidal cult -- this time, someone's sacrificing the gods themselves.

While raising fundamental questions about the very existence of the gods, Selene must hunt down the perpetrators, tracking a conspiracy that will test the bonds of loyalty and love.



Gilded Cage by Vic JamesGilded Cage (Dark Gifts #1) by Vic James
Expected publication: February 14th 2017 by Del Rey Books

Not all are free. Not all are equal. Not all will be saved.

Our world belongs to the Equals — aristocrats with magical gifts — and all commoners must serve them for ten years. But behind the gates of England's grandest estate lies a power that could break the world.

A girl thirsts for love and knowledge.

Abi is a servant to England's most powerful family, but her spirit is free. So when she falls for one of the noble-born sons, Abi faces a terrible choice. Uncovering the family's secrets might win her liberty, but will her heart pay the price?

A boy dreams of revolution.

Abi's brother, Luke, is enslaved in a brutal factory town. Far from his family and cruelly oppressed, he makes friends whose ideals could cost him everything. Now Luke has discovered there may be a power even greater than magic: revolution.

And an aristocrat will remake the world with his dark gifts.

He is a shadow in the glittering world of the Equals, with mysterious powers no one else understands. But will he liberate—or destroy?



Rusty Puppy by Joe R. LansdaleRusty Puppy (Hap and Leonard #12) by Joe R. Lansdale
Expected publication: February 23rd 2017 by Mulholland Books

Hap and Leonard investigate a racially motivated murder that threatens to tear apart their East Texas town.

While Hap, a former 60s activist and self-proclaimed white trash rebel, is recovering from a life-threatening stab wound, Louise Elton comes into Hap and Leonard's PI office to tell him that the police have killed her son, Jamar.

Months earlier, a bully cop pulled over and sexually harassed Jamar's sister, Charm. The officer followed Charm over the course of the next couple of months, leading Jamar to videotape and take notes on the cop and his partner. The next thing Louise hears, Jamar got in a fight and is killed in the projects by local hoods. It doesn't add up: he was a straight A student, destined for better things, until he began to ask too many questions about the racist police force.

Leonard, a tough black gay Vietnam vet and Republican, joins Hap in the investigation, and they stumble upon the racial divides that have shaped their Eastern Texas town. But if anyone can navigate these pitfalls and bring the killers to justice, it's Hap and Leonard.

Filled with Lansdale's trademark whip-smart dialogue, colorful characters, and relentless pacing, Rusty Puppy is Joe Lansdale at his page-turning best.



Are any of these books on your wishlist for February? What else are you looking forward to reading this month?

Jennifer

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