Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #494: Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher:

A sharp-witted, debut high fantasy farce featuring killer moat squid, toxic masculinity, evil wizards and a garlic festival - all at once. Perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, K. J. Parker and Travis Baldree.

It’s bad enough waking up in a half-destroyed evil wizard’s workshop with no eyebrows, no memories, and no idea how long you have before the Dread Lord Whomever shows up to murder you horribly and then turn your skull into a goblet or something.

It’s a lot worse when you realize that Dread Lord Whomever is… you.

Gav isn’t really sure how he ended up with a castle full of goblins, or why he has a princess locked in a cell. All he can do is play along with his own evil plan in hopes of getting his memories back before he gets himself killed. 

But as he realizes that nothing – from the incredibly tasteless cloak adorned with flames to the aforementioned princess – is quite what it seems, Gav must face up to all the things the Dread Lord Gavrax has done. And he’ll have to answer the hardest question of all – who does he want to be?

A high fantasy farce featuring killer moat squid, toxic masculinity, an evil wizard convocation, and a garlic festival. All at once. All in all, Dread Lord Gavrax has had better weeks.

Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis is set to be released May 28th, 2024 from Titan Books.

Why am I waiting on this book: I like the first paragraph of the synopsis. It's fantasy and humor. I love a good read with humor. And I enjoy reading fantasy. From some of the absurdities in the description, it seems like a perfect fit for me.

What book are you waiting on? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists.Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #493: How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher:

Groundhog Day meets Guardians of the Galaxy in Django Wexler’s laugh-out-loud fantasy tale about a young woman who, tired of defending humanity from the Dark Lord, decides to become the Dark Lord herself.

Davi has done this all before. She’s tried to be the hero and take down the all-powerful Dark Lord. A hundred times she’s rallied humanity and made the final charge. But the time loop always gets her in the end. Sometimes she’s killed quickly. Sometimes it takes a while. But she’s been defeated every time.

This time? She’s done being the hero and done being stuck in this endless time loop. If the Dark Lord always wins, then maybe that’s who she needs to be. It’s Davi’s turn to play on the winning side.

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler is expected out May 21st, 2024 from Orbit Books.

Why am I waiting on this book: I like the concept of a hero who is tired of failing going over to the dark side. I like that it's supposed to have humor to it. And I like the mashup description of Groundhog Day meets Guardians of the Galaxy.

What book are you waiting on? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists.Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #492: The Book of Perilous Dishes by Doina Ruști

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher:

Historical fiction meets fantasy in The Book of Perilous Dishes, a playful tale of dark magic and epic adventure that traverses Europe at the turn of the 18th century.

Bucharest. 1798.

A year full of intrigue and political machinations.Master chef Silica reigns supreme, sought after by all. His cooking is sublime, satisfying even the sophisticated tastes of the Greek Prince, who steals him from his rightful owner and installs him in his Palace. Little does anyone know that Silica guards the magical Book of Perilous Dishes, filled with recipes with the power to brew potent elixirs of truth, shroud minds in forgetfulness, unveil the future with eerie precision, and provoke bouts of uncontrollable laughter.

When 14-year-old Pâtca, steeped in the occult arts, embarks on a mission to recover her family's recipe book, she discovers her uncle murdered and a map that needs deciphering. As she embarks on an adventure across Romania, France, and Germany, her journey unveils family secrets that unearth history, weave magic, and unite destinies.

Written by an award-winning author of contemporary Romanian literature, Doina Rusti, and translated by Bucharest-based English professor, James Christian Brown.

The Book of Perilous Dishes by Doina Rusti is expected out May 21st, 2024 from Neem Tree Press.

Why am I waiting on this book: I enjoy most historical fantasy like Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands  by Heather Fawcett for example. I like the sound of this one. The recipe book seems like a grimoire. And i like the idea of history and magic being revealed as well as it being a playful tale.

What book are you waiting on? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists.Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

What I've Been Reading

 

Now reading Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett. I'm currently about 25% through, but expect to be further along before the end of the day. It is so good. So far, Faerie assassins attacked her colleague and friend Wendell Brambleby as well as her at the university. Now they are in the Austrian Alps seeking a door back to Wendell's realm. Because not only is Wendell a friend, he is a member of the Folk and a king. This time though, they are not alone in their adventure. Her niece and her boss are along for the ride. And danger most definitely is lurking. If you enjoy period fantasies (this one is set in the Victorian era) and stories about the Fair Folk, then this could be a good read for you too.

Emily Wilde's Map of the OtherlandsI by Heather Fawcett was released today by Del Rey.

And in other news, I recently finished reading Broadcast Blues by R.G. Belsky. I published a review of it yesterday on this blog and on Goodreads. It's definitely worth a read. And even though it's the sixth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. 

Clare Carlson is an interesting main character  as a newswoman for a New York City television station. She assigns herself the story of Wendy Kyle who was killed by a car bomb and is interesting in and of herself. Wendy is a former NYPD officer who was fired and was working for herself as a private investigator specializing in working for women who suspected their husbands were cheating on them. As such, Clare has a long list of suspects to possibly investigate. It's well-written. There are lots of twists and turns. If you like mysteries where the main character is an amateur investigator with some idea of how to proceed, then this could be a good book for you.

Book Review: Broadcast Blues by R.G. Belsky

 

Clare Carlson is a TV news woman for Channel 10 in New York City. She's rapidly approaching 50. And her employment situation is a little precarious since her new boss doesn't like her much. And to boot, the station is up for sale. With all that going on, Clare does her best to focus on what she excels at - investigating and reporting news stories.

Clare finds herself investigating an explosive story about a woman who was killed by a car bomb. Wendy Kyle, the victim, was a former NYPD officer and currently was working as a private investigator specializing in spying on husbands whose wives think they are cheating. Add to that, Wendy had been fired from the NYPD after attacking her boss and you have a long list of possible suspects. 

As Clare investigates, she draws the attention of some very rich and very powerful people in the city. These are people who would stop at nothing to keep their dirty laundry from being aired. With all those suspects, will Clare be able to narrow down the list before she is fired or becomes the next victim?

This is the sixth book in the Clare Carlson mystery series, but it's my first foray into the series. It can definitely be read as a standalone. References to earlier events are explained enough and in such a way that it doesn't detract from the story.

Clare is the most developed character in the novel. Since she is the main character, this is as it should be. The plot moves along at a good pace. In parts it becomes quite the page-turner. By the end of the book, things are moving along rapidly. And I liked that I didn't anticipate all the twists. Surprises continued right up until the end of the book.

I enjoyed the book. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I would definitely recommend this book to people who enjoy mysteries with an amateur detective, yet one that is experienced in the ways of investigation. 

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. This didn't affect my opinions.

Broadcast Blues by R.G. Belsky was published January 2nd, 2024 by Oceanview Publishing.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #491: The Bride of Death by F.M. Aden

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher:

In the vein of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted and Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale—this unforgettable adult debut follows the journey of a young woman who seeks to defeat Death himself and save her village from his torment.

As a young child, Zerryn grew up on tales of the Lord of Death, Erlik Khan, and his penchant for stealing wild girls. In her small village, she keeps to herself and tends to the temple gardens, spending her days with her best friend Çelik. But when Çelik begins to act strangely and removes himself to live on a crumbling estate atop Mount Ida, the rumors of him becoming possessed by a demon begin to swiftly arise. Each month that passes the demon within him grows stronger, his demands of the villagers growing oddly disjointed and nonsensical.

Her chances of saving him become all but impossible once Zerryn learns that it is no lesser demon that has a hold of him but Erlik Khan—a demon of untold power who lords over the dead. It isn’t long before word spreads that he is in search of a bride, and creatures of untold power come before him to rule by his side. Zerryn knows that she cannot take down Erlik without power and she cannot gain power without becoming his bride.

But becoming Erlik’s wife is nothing as simple as an offer for his hand. To become the queen of the Underworld, she must complete three impossible tasks or risk losing everything she holds dear.

The Bride of Death by F.M. Aden is expected out March 1st, 2024 from Northern Light Press.

Why am I waiting on this book: I really enjoyed Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale. I'm intrigued by the comparison. The Bride of Death has that fairy tale flavor to it. I like that.

What book are you waiting on? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading! 

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #490: Wordhunter by Stella Sands

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher:

An utterly original and compulsively readable detective story about a woman who uses her uncanny ability to analyze words and speech patterns to help solve crimes.

Tattooed, pierced, and a bit of a mess, Maggie Moore is a surprising genius when it comes to words, a savant able to solve any linguistic puzzle. The top student in her forensic linguistics class, she’s tapped by local police to use her skills to decipher harrowing notes left by a stalker-turned-rapist—and succeeds brilliantly.

But when the daughter of a local mayor is abducted, Maggie isn’t sure she’s the right person to help the police solve the crime. Given what happened to her best childhood friend, Maggie just might be too close to this one.

Yet she knows the authorities in this rural south-Central Florida town cannot crack the case without her special skill. Along with her new best friend, a detective Jackson, Maggie begins to analyze the texts, emails, and verbal tics of various suspects . . . and comes to a disturbing conclusion that will rock this small community.

Wordhunter by Stella Sands is expected out August 6th, 2024 from Harper.

Why am I waiting on this book: I love word puzzles. I'm wondering how solving word puzzles will work incorporated into a mystery. I'm hoping it works out really well.

What book are you waiting on? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading! 

What I've Been Reading

 

This week I'm actually reading two books 'cause that's how I roll sometimes.

The first one is Network Effect by Martha Wells. It was published in 2020 by Tor Books and it's award winning. It won a Hugo, a Nebula, and a Locus award.

I'm happy that while this book is the first full length novel in the series, I am still enjoying it. It's about 348 pages according to Amazon and I'm about 50% through.

As in earlier books, Murderbot has its humans that it is trying to protect in dangerous situations. And the transport vehicle from one of the earlier books, ART, is back. In fact it's possible that ART has caused some of the danger and/or maybe its people have. At any rate, it's an interesting story and it's well done. I still really like Murderbot and I suspect I will be reading on in the series when I finish this one.

And as of December 2023, Apple TV+ has announced it has ordered an adaptation of the Murderbot diaries.

The other book I am reading is Broadcast Blues by R.G. Belsky. It's the sixth book in the Clare Carlson series  It's my first foray into the series. I'm given to understand that each book can be read as a standalone. It was just released today from Oceanview Publishing.

Clare Carlson is a newswoman approaching 50 with a somewhat precarious employment situation as her boss doesn't like her. Clare finds herself investigating and reporting on the murder of Wendy Kyle. Wendy was a former NYPD officer who was currently self employed as a private investigator. She specialized in working for women who thought their husbands might be cheating on them. That was until a car bomb went off ending her life. Because of her line of work, there seems ro be a long list of possible suspects.

And that's as far as I've gotten. The synopsis says there will be danger. And Jonathan Kellerman described the book as a, "page-turning, meticulously plotted crime novel." So, I'm looking forward to reading more and seeing where things take Clare.

What are you reading?