The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature where I talk about books I got over the last week – old or new, bought or received for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included.
This week was a very good week since I bought one of my most anticipated books of the year, and a review copy of one of my other most anticipated books of the year showed up in the mail.
On the subject of reviews, I know it’s been awhile since I had any here. After blogging every day in April, I’ve had a bit of blogging fatigue, but I am starting to get back into working my way through the giant stack of books that needs to be reviewed! I am currently working on a review of A Taste of Blood Wine by Freda Warrington, a book I LOVED. Freda Warrington’s Aetherial Tales are wonderful books, but I actually loved this reprint of the first book in an older series by her even more than any of the Aetherial books and am now very excited for the re-release of the second book. A Taste of Blood Wine is my favorite book I’ve read this year, and that’s high praise since I have read some very good books this year.
Anyway, there will be more on why I loved this book in the review! On to other books.
Cold Steel (The Spiritwalker Trilogy #3) by Kate Elliott
I am so excited about the conclusion to The Spiritwalker Trilogy! It will be available in trade paperback and ebook on June 25, and the first two books in the series are Cold Magic and Cold Fire. I enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, but I LOVED the second book. Cold Fire is one of only a very few books I’ve given a rating of 10/10 because there is just no possible way I could have enjoyed it any more than I did.
Warning: There are spoilers for the previous book in the series in the following book description for Cold Steel.
Trouble, treachery, and magic just won’t stop plaguing Cat Barahal. The Master of the Wild Hunt has stolen her husband Andevai. The ruler of the Taino kingdom blames her for his mother’s murder. The infamous General Camjiata insists she join his army to help defeat the cold mages who rule Europa. An enraged fire mage wants to kill her. And Cat, her cousin Bee, and her half-brother Rory, aren’t even back in Europa yet, where revolution is burning up the streets.
Revolutions to plot. Enemies to crush. Handsome men to rescue.
Cat and Bee have their work cut out for them.
Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7) by Patricia Briggs
The newest book in the Mercy Thompson series was released in hardcover and ebook in March. It is also available as an audiobook. A sample chapter from Frost Burned is available on the author’s website.
The first six books in the series are as follows:
This is one of my three favorite urban fantasy series, and the main reason is that Mercy Thompson is such a great character to read about.
Warning: There are spoilers for the previous books in the series in the following book description for Frost Burned.
Mercy Thompson returns in the seventh novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.
Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more
After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted.
Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.
