I have five books planned to read in October, but I could end up reading more, including some spooky ones for Halloween.
Reading with my book club-
The Dollmakers by Lynn Buchanan
In this dark and enchanting stand-alone fantasy
from debut author Lynn Buchanan, discover a world centered around
destructive, all-consuming monsters; the magical dolls designed to fight
this force; and the artisans tasked with creating demon-slaying dolls. A
touch cozy fantasy and a touch horror, The Dollmakers is perfect for
fans of Studio Ghibli films, the works of TJ Klune and Travis Baldree,
and readers of Juniper & Thorn and The Goblin Emperor .
In
the country called One, dollmakers are vital members of the community.
An artisan’s doll is the height of society’s accomplishments, while a
guard’s doll is the only thing standing between the people of One and
the vicious, cobbled monstrosities that will tear apart any
structure—living or dead, inanimate or otherwise—to add to their horde.
Apprentice
Shean of Pearl is a brilliant dollmaker. With her clever dolls, she
intends to outsmart and destroy the Shod, once and for all—a destiny
she’s worked her whole life toward accomplishing. But when the time
comes for her dolls to be licensed, she’s told her work is too beautiful
and delicate to fight. A statement that wounds and infuriates her; the
Shod killed everyone she loved. How could her fate be anything but
fighting them?
In an attempt to help her see a new path for
herself, Shean’s mentor sends her on a journey to the remote village
called Web, urging her to glean some wisdom from Ikiisa, a reclusive and
well-respected guard dollmaker. But Shean has another if she can
convince the village of Web of her talents, the Licensor Guild will have
to reconsider and grant her a guard’s license. And what better way to
convince them than challenging Ikiisa and instating herself as the
official dollmaker of Web? Once she’s done that, proving her dolls’
worth in the fight against the Shod will be simple. As simple, that is,
as calling the Shod to Web...
Reading with the Mystery Book Club-
The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard
One year ago, Lucy’s sister, Nicki, left to meet
friends at a pub in Dublin and never came home. The third Irish woman
to vanish inexplicably in as many years, the agony of not knowing what
happened that night has turned Lucy’s life into a waking nightmare. So,
she’s going to take matters into her own hands.
Angela works as a
civilian paper-pusher in the Missing Persons Unit, but wants nothing
more than to be a fully-fledged member of An Garda Síochána, the Irish
police force. With the official investigation into the missing women
stalled, she begins pulling on a thread that could break the case wide
open—and destroy her chances of ever joining the force.
A
nameless man drives through the night, his latest victim in the back
seat. He’s going to tell her everything, from the beginning. And soon,
she’ll realize: what you don’t know can hurt you...
Snow Graves (Agent Tori Hunter #5) by Roger Stelljes
The young couple lies still on the snow-covered
sidewalk, their gloved hands tightly linked as though they could save
each other. But flashing blue lights illuminate the quiet street, and
drops of blood scatter the pure white ground…
Agent Tori Hunter
is heartbroken at the murders of Cam and Gracie, two college students
dating for just a few months, shot dead outside his aunt’s home. With
witnesses in this once-peaceful neighborhood saying they saw a black car
speed away, Tori is desperately tracking it down when a nine-year-old
girl is found sitting alone on a park bench, refusing to speak. No one
in this small community knows who she is… is she somehow linked to the
murders?
Visiting little Alisha as she huddles in her pink coat,
Tori quickly realizes she is deaf. As her hands move in sign language,
Tori makes out her message: We had to run from the lady in the black
car. I want to go home.
Did Alisha witness Cam and Gracie’s
killer? Tori is racing to follow her directions to a lonely cabin deep
in the pine forest when she gets an anonymous call from a female voice
that makes her blood run cold. “Hello, Tori. To keep Alisha safe you
need to do exactly as I say…”
Is Tori speaking to the killer, or
is putting her trust in this mysterious woman her one hope of catching
the true perpetrator? As more phone calls come, it’s clear the voice
knows all about a cold case from Tori’s past—and that Tori must confront
this twisted mind, and her own darkest demons before more innocent
lives are lost.
Reading for NetGalley-
Falling in a Sea of Stars (Green Rider #8) by Kristen Britain
After Sacoridia’s victory over Second Empire, Karigan G’ladheon’s
life as a Green Rider should have settled into an ordinary routine. But
her father’s abrupt departure to rescue Laren Mapstone, leader of the
Green Riders and the woman he loves, from the far distant land of Varos,
has left Clan G’ladheon’s business in disarray and Karigan’s hands
full.
Even as Karigan tries to sort out the clan’s mess, a
darker, more perilous crisis casts its shadows over her: Mornhavon the
Black has reawakened. Moreover, he has freed two undead wraiths from
their imprisoning tombs to hunt Karigan down and bring her to him in
Blackveil Forest.
In a deadly confrontation with one of the
wraiths amid the frivolity of the Harvest Ball, Karigan is left
vulnerable to the intrigues of another old adversary she thought
destroyed long ago. Haunted by the unceasing rhythm of the dance, she
falls endlessly through the frigid dark of the heavens, and even
Westrion, god of death, cannot save her.
King Zachary, bereft
and hopeless, keeps vigil for her safe return. If they are not reunited,
her loss may destroy him—and any chance Sacoridia has of overcoming
Mornhavon’s dark designs.
Pick it for me Book-
The Poisoner's Enemy (The Poisoner of Kingfountain #1) by Jeff Wheeler
Before she befriended a frightened young boy in
the palace of Kingfountain, Ankarette Tryneowy grew up during the
shattering civil war that raged between members of the Argentine family.
This is the story of how the only daughter of a lawyer and a midwife
became the famed Queen’s Poisoner.
Recruited by King Eredur’s
ambitious uncle, Ankarette is thrown into a world of double dealing,
deception, and tangled loyalties. With the help of her mentor and
friend, Sir Thomas, she must learn to trust her instincts and remember
that others will not always be loyal, even when they are of the same
blood. But involving herself in the machinations of the realm draws the
eye of an enemy more dangerous than kings or dukes. How will she
navigate the politics of the realm and the desires of her heart to
become the woman she needs to become?
