I hit my goal of reading 100 books in July! Which sounds absurd, but between Animal Crossing, unemployment, and ongoing lockdowns, there is so much reading to be done (television, for whatever reason, cannot hold my attention).
This month, I did two blog interviews:
Rating: 5/5 stars
Genre: Adult Dark Science Fantasy
Year Release: August 2020
Source: NetGalley eARC
Buy links: Bookshop | Unabridged Books | Barnes and Noble
| Read my NetGalley eARC Content warnings: Suicidal ideation, bones, murder, cannibalism, blood It is very hard to summarize this book without spoiling the ending of Gideon the Ninth. But it picks up right where that left off and goes into the adventures of Harrowhark the Ninth as she starts service as a Lyctor to the Emperor of the Nine Houses. This book examines trauma through magic and science fiction in a way that I’ve never seen in any other kind of book. It is what grimdark wishes it could be. The prose shifts between third and second, never flinching from the grief of the and pain of the end of Gideon. There is sincerity, tough love, and the grossness you’d expect from necromancy (soup is cancelled), but there is a joke and a colorful insult thrown in from time to time to get some relief as part of that processing. There is a deep sense of loss of control, being lost, and constant violence, but the empathy radiates off the page. Such a unique reading experience, and then there is another perspective shift that had my heart and mouth screaming. A surreal sequel that maintains the tone and aesthetic of the first book, definitely pick up Harrow if you loved Gideon. Give me Alecto, now. |
The TBR is a bit different this time around. I have a lot of research to do before I can start my revision of Undead Princes.
I read most of May’s TBR. Check out this month’s reading list, trying to crunch through my ARCs and things that are in progress according to Goodreads. Things with a * are from last month’s TBR.
Hard Copies
Kindle
Audiobooks
In terms of other reads, I have a novel and a short story to beta read. My own work will continue marinating in the back of my head as I prepare for the rewrite.
Shelter-in-place continues through May in Illinois. Halfway through this month, I’m going to slowly start making a plan regarding employment and read these fine reads in the mean time. Things with a * are from last month’s TBR.
Hard Copies
Kindle
Audiobooks
My own novel is still with alpha readers, so I’m returning the favor and also doing some beta reading this month.
Shelter-in-place continues through April in Illinois. I will keep reading horror and others.
Hard Copies
Kindle
Audiobooks
No betas this month, but sending a draft to two friends for alpha reading. Exciting stuff.
September was such a wild time. Between finishing an entire novel, a fraught day of business travel, and celebrating my seventh anniversary with the boyfriend, it was a busy time! Anyway, here are some books that weren’t read to me by some talented voice actors. Continue reading
