Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #546: Dawn of Fate and Fire by Mariely Lares

 

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:

The stunning conclusion to the duology that began with the internationally bestselling Sun of Blood and Ruin, this Zorro reimagining weaves Mesoamerican mythology and sixteenth-century Mexican history into a swashbuckling historical fantasy filled with magic, intrigue, treachery, and romance.

They call her many things. Witch, Nagual Warrior, lady, Pantera. And after defeating the Obsidian Butterfly, Leonora carries a new title: Godslayer.

Peace in Mexico City is fragile. Rebellion brews in the North, and when the people’s safety is at risk, Pantera must once again become the demure viceregent Leonora to stop a war before it begins. But her friends are scattered, Tezca is gone, and one wrong move could seal her fate. Caution is her ally, for the real Prince of Asturias—her former betrothed—has arrived at court, reigniting rumors that Leonora and Pantera are one.

A greater threat looms in the mountains, where a false king seeks to summon the god of night using a weapon of untold power. It’s up to the Godslayer to confront this enemy. . . and the one growing within her. Only by embracing her divine origins can Leonora triumph over the forces of darkness—and maybe even spark a revolution that could change Mexico’s fate forever.

But in doing so, she risks losing herself forever.

Dawn of Fate and Fire by Mariely Lares is expected out August 12, 2025 from Harper Voyager.

Why am I waiting on this book? It intrigues me that this is a Zorro retelling. I still need to read book one. From the descriptions of both books though, this is an imaginative duology I should definitely not miss.

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 #542: Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me 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: Dark Lord Davi rules the kingdom, but she must now break the time loop that binds her in this hilariously bloody conclusion to the Dark Lord Davi duology.

 
After countless failures (let’s not dwell on it), Davi has finally saved the kingdom from evil–by becoming the Dark Lord herself. But now, the hordes of wilders are at her command, and they still want blood. Human blood. And Davi’s not sure she can commit to the total extermination of humanity.  
 
With restless armies at her doorstep, a treasonous duke scheming for power, and the legend of an ancient magician looming over her shoulder, Davi must find a way towards peace and uncover the truth behind her time loop if she is to bring harmony to the kingdom. Also, her girlfriend is mad at her. So, there’s that too.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler is expected out May 27th, 2025 from Orbit Books. This is the second in the Dark Lord Davi duology. The first one was entitled How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying.

Why am I waiting on this book? I'm hoping to read both the first book that came out last year and this book. I feel like these books will have some interesting viewpoints. I expect that it will have some humorous moments. I'd like to know if she is able to achieve peace without destroying the human race. And I'm hoping she will be able to break the time loop and reunite with her girlfriend.

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 #498: Wink edited by Henry Herz

 

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: 

We all remember our favorite childhood classics, like The Giving Tree and The Velveteen Rabbit. Wink explores those classics through the lens of YA fantasy and science fiction. Featuring stories from bestselling and award-winning authors, including Kendare Blake, Leah Cypess, Stacia Deutsch, David Gerrold, Nancy Holder, Alethea Kontis, Jonathan Maberry, Seanan McGuire, and Maggie Stiefvater, Wink takes us on a wonderful romp through our favorite childhood stories.

Wink edited by Henry Herz is expected out June 24th, 2024 from Brigids Gate Press.

Why am I waiting on this book: I like retellings.And I have a fondness for children's literature. The list of included authors looks good too. I'm looking forward to checking this one out and seeing what stories they choose as basis for their works.

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 #389: Swashbucklers by Dan Hanks

 

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:

When Cisco Collins returns to his home town thirty years after saving it from being swallowed by a hell mouth opened by an ancient pirate ghost, he realises that being a childhood hero isn't like it was in the movies. Especially when nobody remembers the heroic bits – even the friends who once fought alongside him.

Struggling with single parenting and treated as bit of a joke, Cisco isn't really in the Christmas spirit like everyone else. A fact that's made worse by the tendrils of the pirate's powers creeping back into our world and people beginning to die in bizarre ways. 

With the help of a talking fox, an enchanted forest, a long-lost friend haunting his dreams, and some 80s video game consoles turned into weapons, Cisco must now convince his friends to once again help him save the day. Yet they quickly discover that being a ghostbusting hero is so much easier when you don't have school runs, parent evenings, and nativity plays to attend. And even in the middle of a supernatural battle, you always need to bring snacks and wipes...

Swashbucklers by Dan Hanks is expected to be published November 9th, 2021 by Angry Robot.

Why am I waiting on this book? It sounds interesting to me. What made people forget what happened before? How does he convince people to help again? How does he save the world while keeping his kid safe? These and other burning questions draw me to this book.

What book are you waiting on this week? 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!

Book Review: Fantastic Hope edited by Laurell K. Hamilton and William McCaskey

 

Fantastic Hope edited by Laurell K. Hamilton and William McCaskey is a collection of 16 short stories by science fiction and fantasy authors. Some are well known. Others are just starting out. All of the stories are new. Included in the anthology are: Jonathan Maberry, Sharon Shinn, Larry Correia, Kacey Ezell, Griffin Barber, Kevin J. Anderson, John G. Hartness, Patricia Briggs, Robert E. Hampson, L.E. Modesitt Jr, Patrick M. Tracy, M.C. Sumner, William McCaskey, Michael Williamson and Jennifer Schlenker, Monalisa Foster, and Laurell K. Hamilton. 

I rated all of the stories as I read them. All but 3 of them I rated as 4 stars or 5 stars. Those three I rated as 3 stars. My favorites leaned towards urban fantasy, though I pretty much liked them all. My two favorites were the story by Patricia Briggs and the story by Laurell K. Hamilton. Overall, I rate this anthology as 4 out of 5 stars. The stories are engaging and well-written. And most have a positive ending of some sort. 

If you enjoy science fiction and fantasy with a positive twist, then this would be a good anthology for you. It's also a good introduction to a variety of writers. 

Fantastic Hope was published April 7th, 2020 by Berkley Books.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my review.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #355: The Best Thing You Can Steal by Simon R. Green

 

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:

Welcome to London, but not as you know it. A place where magics and horror run free, wonders and miracles are everyday things, and the dark streets are full of very shadowy people . . .

Gideon Sable is a thief and a con man. He specializes in stealing the kind of things that can't normally be stolen. Like a ghost's clothes, or a photo from a country that never existed. He even stole his current identity. Who was he originally? Now, that would be telling. One thing's for sure though, he's not the bad guy. The people he steals from always have it coming.

Gideon's planning a heist, to steal the only thing that matters from the worst man in the world. To get past his security, he's going to need a crew who can do the impossible . . . but luckily, he has the right people in mind. The Damned, the Ghost, the Wild Card . . . and his ex-girlfriend, Annie Anybody. A woman who can be anyone, with the power to make technology fall in love with her.

If things go well, they'll all get what they want. And if they're lucky, they might not even die trying.

The Best Thing You Can Steal by Simon R. Green is the first book in a new series. It's expected out April 6th, 2021 from Severn House.

Why am I waiting on this book? I like that it sounds like a twist on a thief character. Imagine being able to steal a ghost 's clothes. Gideon's support team members sound interesting too. And I'm wondering what he will be attempting to steal.

What book are you waiting on this week? 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 #272: Stoker's Wilde by Steven Hopstaken and Melissa Prusi

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

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Years before either becomes a literary legend, Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde must overcome their disdain for one another to battle the Black Bishop, a mysterious madman wielding supernatural forces to bend the British Empire to his will. With the help of a European vampire expert, a spirited actress, and an American businessman, our heroes fight werewolves, vampires and the chains of Victorian morality. The action will take them to dark forests in Ireland, through the upper-class London theater world and culminates in an exciting showdown at Stonehenge, where Bram and Oscar must stop a vampire cult from opening the gates of Hell. FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

Stoker's Wilde by Steven Hopstaken and Melissa Prusi is due out May 9, 2019.

Why am I waiting on this one? I think it sounds interesting as a sort of prequel to the literary careers of Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde. The Black Bishop certainly seems like a good villain. I am wondering what supernatural forces he has at his beck and call and how he will use them against our heroes.

What book are you waiting on this week? 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 #222: These Vengeful Souls by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas

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

Synopsis from Goodreads:

England, 1883. On the run with the grieving Sebastian Braddock, Evelyn wants two things: to be reunited with her friends and to get revenge on the evil Captain Goode. Not only has he misused his and Sebastian's powers to rack up a terrible death toll, but he's also completely destroyed any hope of Evelyn or her friends regaining the life they once knew.

Evelyn is determined to make Captain Goode pay for what he's done, but is her revenge worth risking the lives of Sebastian and her friends? Or is it better to flee the city and focus on staying alive? And with the Captain spreading lies about Sebastian in an attempt to flush them out of hiding and turn the populace against them, does she even have a choice at all?

These Vengeful Souls by  Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas is due to be released February 20, 2018 from Swoon Reads.

Why am I waiting on this one? I've read the first two books in the trilogy and enjoyed them. The endings of the books were on the bleak side and I want to see where they go from there. 

What book are you waiting on this week? 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!

Review: The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen

The Emerald Circus is a collection of short stories by Jane Yolen. I would say the majority if not all of them are aimed at adults. All are previously published with the exception of The Bird - a short story about Edgar Allan Poe. The tales themselves are mostly retellings or riffs on famous stories or people. Three of the stories are based on Alice in Wonderland. Some examples of inspiration for other stories are Robin Hood, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, The Wizard of Oz, Emily Dickinson, and Hans Christian Andersen.

All of the stories are well written. The book includes an introduction by Holly Black. And at the end, there are notes about the stories and poems related to each of the stories. I found even these end notes enjoyable to read. They tell a little about each story and its origins. The poems are an added bonus.

I enjoyed all of the stories, but I have a few favorites: Andersen's Witch, Blown Away, Our Lady of the Greenwood, Evian Steel, and Sister Emily's Lightship. Each I enjoyed for different reasons. All of them had excellent prose. And for example, I felt the characterization of Emily Dickinson in Sister Emily's Lightship to be right on target even though it is a fantastical tale.

I gave this collection 5 out of 5 stars for the quality of the writing. While each was a riff based on another tale or person, I can say that I haven't read anything quite like them. And I love retellings and have read quite a lot of them.

This book is perfect for people who enjoy Jane Yolen's writing and people who enjoy retellings.

The Emerald Circus was published November 14, 2017 from Tachyon.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #207: The Lost Plot by Genevieve Cogman

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

Synopsis:

A covert mission
A royal demand
And a race against time

The fourth title in Genevieve Cogman's witty and wonderful The Invisible Library series, The Lost Plot is an action-packed literary adventure.

After being commissioned to find a rare book, Librarian Irene and her assistant, Kai, head to Prohibition-era New York and are thrust into the middle of a political fight with dragons, mobsters, and Fae.

In a 1920s-esque New York, Prohibition is in force; fedoras, flapper dresses, and tommy guns are in fashion: and intrigue is afoot. Intrepid Librarians Irene and Kai find themselves caught in the middle of a dragon political contest. It seems a young Librarian has become tangled in this conflict, and if they can’t extricate him, there could be serious repercussions for the mysterious Library. And, as the balance of power across mighty factions hangs in the balance, this could even trigger war.

Irene and Kai are locked in a race against time (and dragons) to procure a rare book. They’ll face gangsters, blackmail, and the Library’s own Internal Affairs department. And if it doesn’t end well, it could have dire consequences on Irene’s job. And, incidentally, on her life...

The Lost Plot is due out January 9, 2018 from Ace Books.

Why am I waiting on this one? Even though I am not familiar with the series, I am looking forward to this one. I love books set in the 1920s. And add in some wit, dragons, and Fae and the book sounds really interesting.

What book are you waiting on this week? 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!

Waiting on Wednesday #190: Odd and True by Cat Winters

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

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Trudchen grew up hearing Odette’s stories of their monster-slaying mother and a magician’s curse. But now that Tru’s older, she’s starting to wonder if her older sister’s tales were just comforting lies, especially because there’s nothing fantastic about her own life—permanently disabled and in constant pain from childhood polio.

In 1909, after a two-year absence, Od reappears with a suitcase supposedly full of weapons and a promise to rescue Tru from the monsters on their way to attack her. But it’s Od who seems haunted by something. And when the sisters’ search for their mother leads them to a face-off with the Leeds Devil, a nightmarish beast that’s wreaking havoc in the Mid-Atlantic states, Tru discovers the peculiar possibility that she and her sister—despite their dark pasts and ordinary appearances—might, indeed, have magic after all. 

Odd and True by Cat Winters is due out September 12, 2017 from Amulet Books.

Why am I waiting on this one? A YA story about a monster fighting mother and sisters sound like it would make for an interesting story. Love reading about good strong female characters in interesting situations.

What book are you waiting on this week? 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!

Review: The Librarians and the Mother Goose Chase by Greg Cox

No sooner have the Librarians returned from their most recent adventure than the main clippings book and their individual books give off alerts. There are 3 large blind rodents in one woman's kitchen. A woman in England wakes up inside a giant pumpkin and must fight her way out. And a man atop a cherry picker trimming trees is blown out of it by a freak wind and lands on a trampoline in a neighboring back yard.

It isn't long before the Librarians reach the conclusion that all of the alerts are related to Mother Goose Rhymes. Jenkins laments that the Mother Goose Treaty must have somehow been broken. The original book was divided into 3 parts - one part for each branch of the family to diffuse its power. Now someone is seeking to reassemble the book and possibly end the world as we know it. With Flynn missing, it's up to Baird, Cassandra, Ezekiel, and Stone, with Jenkins support, to put things to rights once again.

The Librarians and the Mother Goose Chase by Greg Cox is the second book in The Librarians series. The adventures continue on the page in the same way they would in the television series. This makes an excellent television tie-in book. The characters are true to themselves. Events are similar to what you would expect from watching the television show.

The mystery is broken into 4 parts. Each has its own twists and turns based on Mother Goose rhymes. Still, there is an overall arc that brings the mysteries together. All parts must be solved before there will be peace again.

There are 4 points of view- one for each of the Librarians and Baird. It's not hard to follow as each section is clearly labeled at the beginning as to who will be relating the story.

It is readable without being familiar with the series. There is sufficient backstory given. However, you will enjoy it more if you know the characters and their quirks already.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's a very readable mystery. I enjoyed the Mother Goose rhyme background to it as I enjoy other retellings and things relating to fairy tales and the like. And it is a good tie-in for the television series. I recommend it most for people who enjoy the series. Others would like it, but perhaps not quite as much.

The Librarians and the Mother Goose Chase by Greg Cox is due out April 25, 2017 from Tor Books.

Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.