Saturday, May 11, 2024

Today's Library Haul





I made a random trip to the library this afternoon, and just took my time browsing... literally no rush and no care in the world. I walked out with this giant stack.


The Beast Within by Serena Valentino:

A cursed prince sits alone in a secluded castle.

Few have seen him, but those who claim they have say his hair is wild and nails are sharp--like a beast's But how did this prince, once jovial and beloved by the people, come to be a reclusive and bitter monster? And is it possible that he can ever find true love and break the curse that has been placed upon him?


Poor Unfortunate Soul by Serena Valentino:

The tale of the sea king's daughter Ariel is a beloved one of losing-and then finding-one's own voice. The story has been told many times and in many ways. But always the mergirl wants more than her world can offer, and her father demands that she live within the confines of his domain. Her rebelliousness costs the little mermaid her voice and nearly her soul. But the power of good prevails, and Ariel emerges proud and unchanged. 
And yet this is only half the story. So what of Ariel's nemesis, Ursula, the sea witch? What led to her becoming so twisted, scorned, and filled with hatred? Many tales have tried to explain her motives. Here is one account of what might have shaped the sea witch into a detestable and poor unfortunate soul.


The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman:

Collecting books can be a dangerous prospect in this fun, time-traveling, fantasy adventure from a spectacular debut author.
"One thing any Librarian will tell you: the truth is much stranger than fiction..."
Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, a shadowy organization that collects important works of fiction from all of the different realities. Most recently, she and her enigmatic assistant Kai have been sent to an alternative London. Their mission: Retrieve a particularly dangerous book. The problem: By the time they arrive, it's already been stolen.
London's underground factions are prepared to fight to the death to find the tome before Irene and Kai do, a problem compounded by the fact that this world is chaos-infested the laws of nature bent to allow supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic to run rampant. To make matters worse, Kai is hiding something secrets that could be just as volatile as the chaos-filled world itself.
Now Irene is caught in a puzzling web of deadly danger, conflicting clues, and sinister secret societies. And failure is not an option because it isn't just Irene s reputation at stake, it s the nature of reality itself...



Recursion by Blake Crouch:

Memory makes reality.

That's what NYC cop Barry Sutton is learning, as he investigates the devastating phenomenon the media has dubbed False Memory Syndrome--a mysterious affliction that drives its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived.

That's what neuroscientist Helena Smith believes. It's why she's dedicated her life to creating a technology that will let us preserve our most precious memories. If she succeeds, anyone will be able to re-experience a first kiss, the birth of a child, the final moment with a dying parent.

As Barry searches for the truth, he comes face to face with an opponent more terrifying than any disease--a force that attacks not just our minds, but the very fabric of the past. And as its effects begin to unmake the world as we know it, only he and Helena, working together, will stand a chance at defeating it.

But how can they make a stand when reality itself is shifting and crumbling all around them?

At once a relentless pageturner and an intricate science-fiction puzzlebox about time, identity, and memory, Recursion is a thriller as only Blake Crouch could imagine it--and his most ambitious, mind-boggling, irresistible work to date.


We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz:

Emily is having the time of her life -- she's in the mountains of Chile with her best friend, Kristen, on their annual reunion trip, and the women are feeling closer than ever. But on the last night of the trip, Emily enters their hotel suite to find blood and broken glass on the floor. Kristen says the cute backpacker she brought back to their room attacked her, and she had no choice but to kill him in self-defense. Even more shocking: The scene is horrifyingly similar to last year's trip, when another backpacker wound up dead. Emily can't believe it's happened again -- can lightning really strike twice?


Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena:

Welcome to Stanhope. A safe neighborhood. A place for families.

William Wooler is a family man, on the surface. But he’s been having an affair, an affair that ended horribly this afternoon at a motel up the road. So when he returns to his house, devastated and angry, to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter, Avery, unexpectedly home from school, William loses his temper.

Hours later, Avery’s family declares her missing.

Suddenly Stanhope doesn’t feel so safe. And William isn’t the only one on his street who’s hiding a lie. As witnesses come forward with information that may or may not be true, Avery’s neighbors become increasingly unhinged.

Who took Avery Wooler?

Nothing will prepare you for the truth. 


Thursday, May 2, 2024

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig



Title: One Dark Window
Author: Rachel Gillig
Series: The Shepard King #1
Publisher: Hachette Audio
When Published: September 27, 2022
Format: audiobook
Rating: 4.5 stars

Yoooooooo!!! I’m not normally a fantasy girly but this has been popping up left and right on all my socials so I thought I’d request it from my library and see how it goes. I binged this book sooooo hard!!! The pacing is great, not rushed and not slow either. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will totally continue on with the series! This is my best rated book of 2024!

Storygraph Preview: One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig is a captivating read that will enthrall fans of dark fantasy and romance, particularly those who delight in atmospheric, Gothic-inspired tales of mystery and adventure, with a strong focus on the complex, slow-burning tension between enemies-turned-lovers.

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

My Current Library Stack

 

These are the books that I currently have checked out from my local library branch. I am trying to read more physical books this year (I'm usually a Kindle girly). I normally borrow audiobooks, and sometimes eBooks, through Libby. It's the best and most used app on my phone!


The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty's Prince by Serena Valentino is a captivating read perfect for fans of fantasy and young adult fiction who delight in exploring the complexities of human nature, particularly those who enjoy stories of self-discovery, redemption, and the transformative power of love and compassion.

Poor Unfortunate Soul: A Tale of the Sea Witch by Serena Valentino is a captivating read that will enchant fans of young adult fantasy and fairy tales, particularly those who delight in exploring the complexities of villainous characters and the darker side of beloved stories.

The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison is a gripping and intriguing thriller that is a perfect fit for readers who enjoy dark, suspenseful stories that explore themes of survival, mystery, and the resilience of the human spirit, particularly those who appreciate complex, atmospheric tales of kidnapping, abuse, and the unbreakable bonds of human connection.

The Roses of May by Dot Hutchison is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that will captivate readers who crave a dark and mysterious tale of a serial killer's twisted game, FBI investigations, and the unbreakable bonds of found family, making it a perfect fit for fans of crime fiction and psychological suspense.

First Lady by James Patterson is a thrilling page-turner that is a perfect fit for readers who crave a gripping mystery that delves into the dark underbelly of politics, corruption, and betrayal, with a dash of scandal and intrigue that will keep them on the edge of their seats until the very end.


The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie by Freida McFadden

Title: The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie Author: Freida McFadden Series: N/A Publisher: Dreamscape Media When Published: October 22, ...