Month in Review: July 2023

 This year is truly flying by and I desperately need it to slow down, haha. July was a fairly busy month. I took a variety of aerial silks classes, which has been a lot of fun (and not a little painful 🤣) and I'm loving learning so many new things. I also got to visit with my two nieces when they came to visit (and my sister and brother-in-law, but let's be honest, the nieces were the stars) which was wonderful. I'm honestly not usually much of a kid person, but wow can I not get enough of those two! I'm really glad I've had some positives to lighten the harder times I've been having lately, and I've very grateful for all the books and bloggers that bring joy to my life as well. 

And speaking of books... I did pretty well in July! I didn't get to all the ones I meant to, but if I'm managing even one book then I'm happy. I also did not get out nearly as many reviews as I meant to this month, which I don't feel great about, but I'm already working on some for August releases and have high hopes that August will be better. Some highlights from this past month's reading are Gods of the Wyrdwood, Black Tide, and Into the Great Emptiness, all of which are different genres and were all fantastic books. 

So, how was your July? What books did you read? Let me know in the comments and feel free to link your own wrap-ups (or any posts, really!), and I hope you all have a wonderful August!

# books read: 11
   

Gods of the Wyrdwood by R.J. Barker
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: R.J. Barker never ceases to amaze me with the worlds he creates. This was such a unique and imaginative world and I really enjoyed getting to know Cahan and follow him on his journeys. Looking forward to seeing where this series goes. 

Black Tide by K.C. Jones
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC

Thoughts: I was hooked on this in ways I haven't been hooked on a book in ages. I absolutely loved it, excerpt for one thing that made me more upset than I've felt in a book in ages AND because I'm frustrated about the ending. I liked the ending, but I'm also frustrated. 

Into the Great Emptiness: Peril and Survival on the Greenland Ice Cap by David Roberts
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: I'm shocked I hadn't heard more about Gino Watkins before this book! I really enjoyed reading about his life and explorations, as well as all the other people we learn about. It is such a tragedy that such a promising explorer died so young.

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: This was a pretty fun horror that kept me entertained and one I'd recommend for a great summer read. 

Every Rising Sun by Jamila Ahmed

Source: NetGalley | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: This is a beautiful retelling of One Thousand and One Nights, focusing on Shaherazade. If you love stories and beautiful writing, you should check this one out as I think it's been severely overlooked. I listened to the audiobook version of this one and the narrator is incredible.

My Name is Iris by Brando Skyhorse
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: This was a highly anticipated read for me, but unfortunately it fell pretty flat. 

The Island by Natasha Preston
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC

Thoughts: This was quite the thriller! I love a locked room mystery, so having this take place on a secluded island that also has an amusement park was super fun. I do wish a bit more had been done with setting, but I still had a great time. That ending was brutal, though, and I'm guessing that's why this book has such low overall ratings.  

I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself by Marisa Crane
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: I have a review up for this one now! I liked it, but found it did ramble a bit in some areas. I really enjoyed the premise, though!

The Sinister Secrets of Singe by Sean Ferrell
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: This was a super fun middle grade that played with some really interesting ideas and was full of adventure. 

A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Claire
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: This was such a fun concept and world to me. Of course, it's not perfect and it felt like a very standard plot, but I really enjoyed exploring these characters and the world. It felt like the author really had fun and used a lot of imagination. 

Lords of Pain by Angel Lawson
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: I checked this out after seeing it recommended many times for fans of the darker side, and I didn't particularly care for it, but it was an interesting concept nonetheless. 

DNF/To-Be-Finished:

The Fascination by Essie Fox

I absolutely plan to finish this book, I just wasn't feeling it at the moment and wanted to save it for a fall read when I will hopefully be more in the mood for it. But I did read the first couple chapters and think I'm going to really enjoy it, so I look forward to revisiting this one. 

 

The Militia House by John Milas
Camp Damascus  by Chuck Tingle
The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero Lacruz
The Sinister Secrets of Singe by Sean Ferrell, illus. Graham Carter

 Posts:

(other than reviews)

Month in Review: June 2023
Blog Tour: The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec
Anticipated August 2023 Releases

Blog Memes:

Can't-Wait Wednesday:

7/5: Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher & Cassiel's Servant by Jacqueline Carey
7/12: Whalefall by Daniel Kraus, My Name is Iris by Brando Skyhorse, & The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
7/19: The Handyman Method by Nick Cutter, Andrew F. Sullivan, The Narrow by Kate Alice Marshall, & Terrace Story by Hilary Leichter
7/26: Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward, Medusa's Sisters by Lauren J.A. Bear, & Mister Magic by Kiersten White

The Friday Face-Off:

Current Read #10
Current Read #11

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem, The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James, & House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig

  

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlights are: 

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem
Publication: July 18th, 2023
Orbit
Paperback. 523 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"In this Egyptian-inspired debut fantasy, a fugitive queen strikes a deadly bargain with her greatest enemy and finds herself embroiled in a complex game that could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever.

Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned. Its magic outlawed; its royal family murdered down to the last child. At least, that’s what Sylvia wants people to believe.

The lost Heir of Jasad, Sylvia never wants to be found. She can’t think about how Nizahl’s armies laid waste to her kingdom and continue to hunt its people—not if she wants to stay alive. But when Arin, the Nizahl Heir, tracks a group of Jasadi rebels to her village, staying one step ahead of death gets trickier.

In a moment of anger Sylvia’s magic is exposed, capturing Arin’s attention. Now, to save her life, Sylvia will have to make a deal with her greatest enemy. If she helps him lure the rebels, she’ll escape persecution.

A deadly game begins. Sylvia can’t let Arin discover her identity even as hatred shifts into something more. Soon, Sylvia will have to choose between the life she wants and the one she left behind. The scorched kingdom is rising, and it needs a queen."

An Egyptian-inspired fantasy sounds incredible and I'm really excited for another debut fantasy from new authors!

The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James
Publication: July 25th, 2023
John Scognamiglio Book
Paperback. 304 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"In this beguiling midcentury historical fiction novel set in 1960s Italy, an ambitious American actress and single mother snags the starring role in a mysterious horror movie shooting on location in a crumbling medieval castle outside Rome...

Readers who enjoy the moody gothic allure of Kate Morton and Silvia Moreno-Garcia or the immersive settings of Lucinda Riley and Fiona Davis will be enthralled by Kelsey James' spellbinding web of intriguing mystery, family secrets, forbidden love, and midcentury Italian flair.

Rome, 1965: Aspiring actress Silvia Whitford arrives at Rome's famed Cinecitt Studios from Los Angeles, ready for her big break and a taste of la dolce vita. Instead, she learns that the movie in which she was cast has been canceled. Desperate for money, Silvia has only one choice: seek out the Italian aunt she has never met.

Gabriella Conti lives in a crumbling castello on the edge of a volcanic lake. Silvia's mother refuses to explain the rift that drove the sisters apart, but Silvia is fascinated by Gabriella, a once-famous actress who still radiates charisma. And the eerie castle inspires Silvia's second chance when it becomes the location for a new horror movie, aptly named The Revenge of the Lake Witch--and she lands a starring role.

Silvia immerses herself in the part of an ingenue tormented by the ghost of her beautiful, seductive ancestor. But when Gabriella abruptly vanishes, the movie's make-believe terrors seep into reality. No one else on set seems to share Silvia's suspicions. Yet as she delves into Gabriella's disappearance, she triggers a chain of events that illuminate dark secrets in the past--and a growing menace in the present . . ."

The premise for this one has absolutely grabbed me and I can't wait to dive into an ARC of this one! I love how mysterious this sounds. 

House of Roots and Ruin (Sisters of the Salt #2) by Erin A. Craig
Publication: July 25th, 2023
Delacorte Press
Hardcover. 544 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"In a manor by the sea, one sister is still cursed.

Despite dreams of adventures far beyond the Salann shores, seventeen-year-old Verity Thaumas has remained at her family’s estate, Highmoor, with her older sister Camille, while their sisters have scattered across Arcannia.

When their sister Mercy sends word that the Duchess of Bloem—wife of a celebrated botanist—is interested in having Verity paint a portrait of her son, Alexander, Verity jumps at the chance, but Camille won’t allow it. Forced to reveal the secret she’s kept for years, Camille tells Verity the truth one day: Verity is still seeing ghosts, she just doesn’t know it.

Stunned, Verity flees Highmoor that night and—with nowhere else to turn—makes her way to Bloem. At first, she is captivated by the lush, luxurious landscape and is quickly drawn to charming, witty, and impossibly handsome Alexander Laurent. And soon, to her surprise, a romance . . . blossoms.

But it’s not long before Verity is plagued with nightmares, and the darker side of Bloem begins to show through its sickly-sweet façade. . . ."

I really adored House of Salt and Sorrows when I read it a number of years ago so I was really surprised and excited to see there was a sequel coming out! I really don't remember all that much from the first book, so maybe I'll have to do a re-read before getting to this one. 

Anticipated July 2023 Releases!

  

Another month, more amazing releases! This year has just been packed with incredible new books, and July is not going to disappoint. I've had the chance to read a number of ARCs from July already and I am so excited to see them all released. I'm currently reading The Sun and the Void and I am loving it so far. I doubt I'll ever catch up on all my ARCs and new releases, but I'm going to try my best. :) What books are you all most excited for in July?

The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero Lacruz  || July 25th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Beast You Are by Paul Tremblay  || July 11th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Carnivale of Curiosities by Amiee Gibbs  || July 11th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Militia House by John Milas  || July 11th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei  || July 18th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Horses of Fire by A.D. Rhine  || July 25th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec  || July 25th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem  || July 18th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera  || July 11th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Sea Elephants by Shastri Akella  || July 11th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia  || July 18th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig  || July 25th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa  || July 11th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle  || July 18th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

St. Ambrose School for Girls by Jessica Ward  || July 11th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James  || July 25th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Alchemy of a Blackbird by Claire McMillan  || July 11th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Bones of the Story by Carol Goodman  || July 11th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Silence for the Dead by Simone St. James  || July 4th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates  || July 11th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter  || July 11th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington || July 25th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

What are your anticipated July releases?

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero Lacruz, Horses of Fire by A.D. Rhine, & The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera

     

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlights are: 

The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero-Lacruz
Publication: July 25th, 2023
Orbit
Paperback. 511 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"In a lush world inspired by the history and folklore of South America, a sweeping epic fantasy of colonialism, ancient magic, and two young women's quest for belonging unfolds.

Reina is desperate.

Stuck living on the edges of society, her only salvation lies in an invitation from a grandmother she’s never known. But the journey is dangerous, and prayer can’t always avert disaster.

Attacked by creatures that stalk the region, Reina is on the verge of death until her grandmother, a dark sorceress, intervenes. Now dependent on the Doña’s magic for her life, Reina will do anything to earn—and keep—her favor. Even the bidding of an ancient god who whispers to her at night.

Eva Kesare is unwanted.

Illegitimate and of mixed heritage, Eva is her family’s shame. She tries her best to be perfect and to hide her oddities. But Eva is hiding a secret: magic calls to her. Eva knows she should fight the temptation. Magic is the sign of the dark god, and using it is punishable by death. Yet, it’s hard to deny power when it has always been denied to you.

Eva is walking a dangerous path, one that gets stranger every day. And, in the end, she’ll become something she never imagined."

Isn't that cover gorgeous!? I am also so excited about this South American folklore-inspired setting and think this entire premise sounds like it'll make for an incredible new fantasy.

Horses of Fire by A.D. Rhine
Publication: July 25th, 2023
Dutton Books
Paperback. 528 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"I know the stories they will tell. I've heard the echoes of their songs--songs that will outlive us all. But this song is not theirs. It is mine.

Behind the timeless tale you know is the captivating story you never heard: a sweeping epic in which Troy's strong, yet misunderstood women take center stage in the most famous war in history.

Andromache is cast as the doting wife of Prince Hector, yet her Amazon warrior name means "battler of men." The only one with the cunning to outwit the invading Greeks, she must gather a band of outcasts and become the military commander she was born to be before the life she and Hector have built is reduced to ashes. Rhea is a war refugee and a horse whisperer who finally earns a place and sense of belonging in Hector's stables. To save her new home, she must become an unlikely spy and face down a forbidden love that will test all her loyalties. Helen is blamed by all for starting the Trojan War, but no one knows her real story. To escape her tormentor and foil a plot to undermine Hector, Helen must risk everything by revealing her true face to the one who despises her most.

Set in the wider landscape of the late Bronze Age collapse, this realistic and immersive Troy is a perilous battleground for warriors and politicians alike, not a playground where the fate of men and women make sport for gods and goddesses. It's a harrowing novel of palace intrigue, the transcendent bond of female friendship, and the everyday bravery of invisible heroes in times of war.

The women of Troy are threads spinning on a single loom. Can they reweave the tapestry of fate?"

Do we really need more stories focused on the women of Troy? The answer is yes. I love the sound of this one and can't wait to see A.D. Rhine's take on this!

The Sint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera
Publication: July 11th, 2023
Tordotcom
Hardcover. 368 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"The Saint of Bright Doors sets the high drama of divine revolutionaries and transcendent cults against the mundane struggles of modern life, resulting in a novel that is revelatory and resonant.

Fetter was raised to kill, honed as a knife to cut down his sainted father. This gave him plenty to talk about in therapy.

He walked among invisible devils and anti-gods that mock the mortal form. He learned a lethal catechism, lost his shadow, and gained a habit for secrecy. After a blood-soaked childhood, Fetter escaped his rural hometown for the big city, and fell into a broader world where divine destinies are a dime a dozen.

Everything in Luriat is more than it seems. Group therapy is recruitment for a revolutionary cadre. Junk email hints at the arrival of a god. Every door is laden with potential, and once closed may never open again. The city is scattered with Bright Doors, looming portals through which a cold wind blows. In this unknowable metropolis, Fetter will discover what kind of man he is, and his discovery will rewrite the world."

I've had an ARC of this sitting around for a while now because I've been waiting til closer to its release, but my curiosity is getting far too high for me to wait much longer. This sounds like a really unique story and I have no idea what to expect from it.