Over on Bluesky one of my friends was doing a “31 days of books on my to-read shelf,” listicle thing. I thought that was a good ‘un, so I started doing one too. I thought I’d port it over here. I’m really sorry but I’m tired and lazy and am only going to link to Amazon (all links are affiliate, I will earn some bitty percentage if you click through and use my links, etc etc etc) for these titles instead of doing the whole kit & kaboodle but if there are books I particularly think you should take the trouble to look up on your platform, I’ll mention that.
Like this one, for example:
DOWN AMONG THE DEAD, K.B. Wagers – this is the 2nd book of a 2nd trilogy (first trilogy here) about Hail Bristol, former gunrunner & current reluctant empress of an interstellar empire. These are some of the best books I’ve read this year, and I intend to finish the trilogy over the next few days, while wailing and gnashing my teeth at KB, who has apparently been GREATLY ENJOYING me doing so over on BS. They were apparently waiting with bated breath for me to get to the end of the first book of this trilogy, and my screams evidently did not disappoint. :)
Hannah Ritchie, NOT THE END OF THE WORLD: “Surprising facts, dangerous myths, and hopeful solutions for our future on planet Earth” – someone recommended this, I don’t remember who, but clearly I thought their opinion held some weight so I picked it up. :)
MC Vaughn, ROMANCING MISS STONE, a title I wish I’d thought of :) This is technically a research read for me, but with that title I’d have picked it up anyway.
Barbara Hambly, ONE EXTRA CORPSE, oh man I forgot about this one I gotta read it soon! I love her murder mysteries and I bet–there IS another one out! OMG. BRB, throwing over all my plans for the day to read. (I am now halfway through reading this and have the next one in my Kobo basket.)
THE ANTI-SOCIAL SEASON, Adele Buck – this is also a research read, and I have actually read it since putting it on my TBR list ten days ago. It’s cute, as was the first book in its series. Actually, it is cute, but it’s not just cute. There are some really great, frustrating family dynamics in this book and they’re really well realized and extremely sympathy/empathy-inducing. Buck did a good job.
THE HANDS OF THE EMPEROR, Victoria Goddard – 90% sure somebody, possibly Stephanie Burgis, recommended this one. I have no other information about it right now. :)
WHEN THE WAVE COLLAPSES, Norah Woodsey – again, almost sure I picked this up on a recommendation or review that sounded interesting.
RATTLESNAKE WIND, Lilith Saintcrow – I mean it’s Lili. :)
THE MERCY OF GODS, James S.A. Corey – you know, I haven’t actually finished the last 3 books of The Expanse, so I’ve got no business picking up another JSAC book, except…I totally did. Maybe next year I should have a goal of re-reading/finishing The Expanse and reading this. :)
THE MIDNIGHT QUEEN, Sylvia Izzo Hunter – 90% sure Stephanie Burgis recommended this one too.
I have no idea how it is I haven’t read this yet, because her books are a “drop everything, including work, and read immediately” for me, but A SORCERESS COMES TO CALL, T. Kingfisher
(Actually, I looked it up and it came out RIGHT before Worldcon, so honestly I probably didn’t even see it arrive, which is no doubt how I missed it. I’ve got to finish KB’s books, but this might be the one to end my year on bc after all, total emotional destruction is always a good way to end the year, right?)
Also, I don’t have to have read it to recommend it as a “go look on other sites for it if you haven’t read it either” book.
ALASKA INFERNO, Lolo Paige. I confess 97% of the reason I picked this one up was to see how annoyed I would be by the Alaska stuff, but I have 3% hope I won’t be. :)
That’s as far as I’ve gotten on BS so I’ll do more later. :)