Oof, it’s been a big week for new books for me! I can’t believe how many have come in since last Saturday – someone at NetGalley had a funny five minutes this week and approved me for a whole bunch of requests that had been hanging around for ages, which has done a lot of the damage (everything without a physical copy here is from NetGalley!), but they’re all things I’m excited for – so let’s get to it!
ARCS and review copies
Sprite and the Gardener by Rii Abrego and Joe Whitt
I’ve really enjoyed the graphic novels I’ve read from Oni Press before, and this one looked like it had really beautiful art, so I jumped in when I saw it on NetGalley without knowing too much else about it. This should be a fairly quick read for me, I hope.
The Tangleroot Palace by Marjorie Lu
I’ve never read Monstress, but I’ve always admired the art style, so I’m very intrigued by this collection of shorter dark fantasy fiction from Marjorie Lu. This was another cover-induced click – I mean, just look at it!
Nightingale by Deva Fagan
Middle grade fantasy is one of my favourite things, and when I saw the words “stealing a magical sword right out from under the nose of Prince Jasper” and “heist goes off the rails” I was sold!
How to Save a Queendom by Jessica Lawson
Ditto for this one really – I loved the title (more queendoms rather than kingdoms, please!), and I couldn’t resist once I saw the premise involved a tiny wizard who lives in the heroine’s pocket!
In Deeper Waters by FT Lukens
I will never pass up the chance to read a gay pirate YA fantasy. I just won’t. This looks like a delightful romp of a book and I have high hopes…
Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice by Amanda Foody
I really enjoyed Amanda Foody’s Ace of Shades (review here) and its sequels, and I’m looking forward to seeing her turn her hand to middle grade in this foresty, beasty adventure fantasy.
Dawn’s Light by Shannon Blair
Okay, last NetGalley book! This is a queer road trip fantasy romance, and NineStar Press rarely lets me down – I’m hoping this will be another win from them for me.
The Black Coast by Mike Brooks
I’ll be honest – I’m not sure if I’m going to like this one and it was a surprise when it showed up. I fear it might be a little bit on the warfaring side of fantasy for me… but for a cover that beautiful, and the promise of dragons, I’m willing to try!
Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
This new series opener sounds like an exciting and fresh take on epic fantasy. I love the sound of fantasy centred around a scholar who knows the magic they just bumped into can’t exist!
Freebies
The Rags-to-Riches Governess by Janice Preston and The Brooding Earl’s Proposition by Laura Martin
I won two giveaways last week as part of a fab online Harlequin event! I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve read from both these authors before, so I’m looking forward to tucking into these Regency romances when I need a bit of a break from all that fantasy!
Deadly Courtesies, Fine Deceptions, and By the Light of the Dark by Stephanie Burgis
These aren’t exactly freebies, I suppose, but I don’t know what to call them otherwise! Stephanie Burgis is one of my favourite authors, and I signed up to her Patreon this month and got access to these three shorter pieces. The first story in the Good Neighbours series was an amazing introduction to this fantasy of manners, and I’m looking forward to these next two instalments. By the Light of the Dark is a standalone short based on East of the Sun, West of the Moon, which is my favourite fairy tale!
Purchased by me
The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare
And last but not least! I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was collecting the US editions of the Girl Meets Duke series, and I managed to get my hands on a copy of The Duchess Deal on Abe Books – I’m really pleased, because this is one of my favourites of all of Tessa’s books!
Did you get any new books this week? Any thoughts on what I should read first?
(running 2021 total: 51 books in, 36 read. TBR at 523)
A Cat, A Book, and A Cup of Tea 
I hope you will enjoy all of these!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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Thank you! Me too!
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Can I ask how often you contact the publisher to ask for an arc and how far in advance? I’ve received a few when they send out a email but there are some coming towards the end of the year that I am desperate for. When is too early to request?
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I rarely request things individually any more I’m afraid – most of my ARCs come from NetGalley or the author or publicist getting in touch with me. I have found that if you email too early, the nice ones will tell you – a fairly good guide is if the publisher’s social media is hyping it, someone there will have a focus on it and hopefully have a request list to add you to!
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ooooh LMK if you wanna read tangleroot together 🙂
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I am 99% sure you’ll get to it well before I will but yes!
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