Books in my TBR pile …

• Posted in About Books

Today, I thought I would share a few of the many books that are in my TBR pile. Apparently, today’s books are brought to you by the letter B, given that the words bone, bite, and bloody are in the titles. LOL.

Note that the descriptions (in italics) are from Goodreads:

Shadow and BoneShadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo: It seemed like everyone was buzzing about this young adult book when it came out earlier this summer. I think the magic/world building sounds interesting.

Alina Starkov doesn’t expect much from life. Orphaned by the Border Wars, the one thing she could rely on was her best friend and fellow refugee, Mal. And lately not even that seems certain. Drafted into the army of their war-torn homeland, they’re sent on a dangerous mission into the Fold, a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh.

When their convoy is attacked, all seems lost until Alina reveals a dormant power that not even she knew existed. Ripped from everything she knows, she is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. He believes she is the answer the people have been waiting for: the one person with the power to destroy the Fold.

Swept up in a world of luxury and illusion, envied as the Darkling’s favorite, Alina struggles to fit into her new life without Mal by her side. But as the threat to the kingdom mounts, Alina uncovers a secret that sets her on a collision course with the most powerful forces in the kingdom. Now only her past can save her … and only she can save the future.

Some Girls BiteSome Girls Bite by Chloe Neill: I’ve heard a lot of good things about Neill’s Chicagoland Vampire series, and I’ve seen the books get a lot of positive reviews. Plus, I’ve tweeted with Chloe a little online, and I’m looking forward to reading the first book in the series.

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was Merit’s. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker — and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she’s traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan “Lord o’ the Manor” Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude — and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan’s attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone’s still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war — and there will be blood.

Wake of the Bloody AngelWake of the Bloody Angel by Alex Bledsoe: I’m a fan of Bledsoe’s Eddie LaCrosse novels, which are a cool mix of noir detective fiction and epic fantasy. This is the latest entry in the series. Alex was also nice enough to do a guest blog for my blog last year.

Twenty years ago, a barmaid in a harbor town fell for a young sailor who turned pirate to make his fortune. But what truly became of Black Edward Tew remains a mystery — one that has just fallen into the lap of freelance sword jockey Eddie LaCrosse.

For years, Eddie has kept his office above Angelina’s tavern, so when Angelina herself asks him to find out what happened to the dashing pirate who stole her heart, he can hardly say no — even though the trail is two decades old. Some say Black Edward and his ship, The Bloody Angel, went to bottom of the sea, taking with it a king’s fortune in treasure. Others say he rules a wealthy, secret pirate kingdom. And a few believe he still sails under a ghostly flag with a crew of the damned.

To find the truth, and earn his twenty-five gold pieces a day, Eddie must take to sea in the company of a former pirate queen in search of the infamous Black Edward Tew … and his even more legendary treasure.

What about you guys? What’s in your TBR pile right now? What books are you looking forward to this year?

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14 Responses to “Books in my TBR pile …”

  1. Liz H. says:

    The new Seanan McGuire is on the top of my TBR. And now I’m definitely adding Alex Bledsoe’s first to the pile too. “Cool mix of noir detective and epic fantasy” sounds awesome.

    I read the first two Chicagoland Vampire books after all of the positive reviews. It ended up being one of those series where the main characters set my teeth on edge so much that I couldn’t stand to continue. I have that problem with Kim Harrison too though, so it’s obviously not a problem most people suffer from.

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      I really like Blesdoe’s series, and I thought the first book had a very clever mystery. Hope you enjoy it.

      I haven’t read any of Seanan McGuire’s books, but I’ve heard good things about them. More books to add to the TBR pile. LOL.

  2. Ron says:

    Funny how tastes can differ. The Chicagoland Vampires series and Kim Harrison’s The Hollows series are two of my absolute must-be-at-the-bookstore-on-release-day favorites (along with Elemental Assassins, of course). The Mercy Thompson and Deadtown series are other favorites. And I just realized something, none of these series have love triangles. LOL. I just hate love triangles, especially when they are dragged out for more than a book or two. I’ve shelved series for doing that.

    As for my TBR pile, Seanan McGuire is on there as is the Vampire Empire Trilogy. Love those covers! The Game of Thrones are also on my list but that’s more of a long term project. 🙂

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      Thanks! I appreciate that.

      Yeah, it is all so subjective what we like/dislike. Although I’m with you — I’m not a big fan of love triangles either, especially when the triangle never really gets resolved.

      I keep meaning to try the Deadtown series. I’ve heard varying opinions on the Martin books. Some folks love them. Others say that the series doesn’t really get going until book 3. I may get the first season of the TV show on DVD and see how I like that.

  3. Krista says:

    I don’t have a TBR pile so much as I have a TBR shelf, or 3. I have Seanan McGuire on my list, and I’m behind a couple of Kim Harrison’s. I also have the 2nd Deadtown book up there. (It sounds like we Estep fans read a lot of the same stuff!) On my Kindle, I have everything from The Princess Bride, to a few of the Frost books, to the Debora Geary Modern Witch books. I’m currently reading “How to Be Death” by Amber Benson, and just finished “First Grave on the Right” by Darynda Jones. There are just so many things I want to read, I’ll never get caught up!

      • Krista says:

        I have never read it, though I have seen the movie a million times. I also have the Patrick Swayze autobiography that was published right about the time he died. I have the Narnia books, which I have also never read, and the first 3 Bourne books. My TBR pile is a study in chaos.

  4. Syndi-Belle El-Tayar says:

    I have read Some Girls Bite and I really loved that series and am on book eight! In my to be read pile is such a weird variety: Eona, DarkFever by Karie Marie Moning, A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks and an Agatha Christie Novel to name a few 🙂

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Chicagoland series, so I’m looking forward to the first book in the series.

      Oh, mine too. I’ve got everything from YA to contemporary romance to epic fantasy in my TBR pile. Very eclectic. LOL.

  5. Lady Ruby says:

    I read Some Girls Bite, and it was really good, although i’m a bit behind on the series. I just received Curses! by J.A. Kazimer in the mail along with Dead is the New Black, and Blood Fever. And I’ve still got two more books coming in the mail. My TBR pile just keeps getting longer and longer…

  6. Melissa Adams says:

    Just finished Faith Hunter’s Have Stakes will Travel short story collection, Seanan McGuire’s Ashes of Honor, Your Widow’s Web, Chloe Neill’s Biting Cold and am currently reading Deborah Harkness’ Shadow of Night. I will say I’m enjoying Deborah Harkness’ 2nd book more than I did the first. I really enjoyed Some Girls Bite, I think the series has gotten more interesting with each book. I’m always trying to find a new writer to enjoy and found Anthony Francis by accident through the kindle owners lending library. My only problem is that I read too fast and have to wait for my fav’s to publish their next 🙂

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      I keep meaning to read Hunter and McGuire. I’ve heard a lot of good things about their books. I haven’t tried Harkness yet either.

      Well, that’s the one good thing about being so behind with my TBR pile. By the time I finish an author’s book, there’s usually another out in the series for me to read. LOL.

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