The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature in which I highlight books I got over the last week that sound interesting—old or new, bought or received in the mail 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, along with series information and the publisher’s book description.
Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
It’s been a few weeks since the last one of these, but last week brought a couple of book purchases plus another book in the mail. I’m also including an ebook I downloaded a couple of weeks ago but hadn’t covered yet since I was trying to finish a book review I was working on.
I already highlighted one of my book purchases in a post in June, The Mountain Crown by Karin Lowachee. It’s out now and I really wanted a physical copy since it’s one of my favorite 2024 releases (plus I have a hard time reviewing ebooks and I definitely want to write something about this one!). If you missed it, Karin Lowachee did an AMA on r/Fantasy on its release date and had some really interesting things to say about her writing.
There have been a couple of new reviews since the last one of these features:
- Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel — This reimagining of the Mahabharata focusing on Ganga and her son is one of my favorite 2024 releases. I thought the first-person perspective of the goddess was really well done, and it also tackles some interesting themes and questions.
- The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean — I had mixed feelings about this cozy fantasy novel about a zookeeper working with magical creatures. I loved the animals, especially the birds, but that was the only part that really worked for me—plus I found the protagonist rather frustrating since she’s often so obviously wrong.
On to the newest additions to the TBR!
I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle
This novel came out earlier this year (hardcover, ebook, audiobook). The trade paperback is scheduled for publication in May 2025.
I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons was on my list of anticipated 2024 speculative fiction releases since it sounds delightful and is written by Peter S. Beagle. When I was trying to narrow down what to buy with The Mountain Crown, it seemed fitting to pick another book with dragons!
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Unicorn comes a new novel with equal amounts of power and whimsy in which a loveable cast of characters trapped within their roles of dragon hunter, princess, and more must come together to take their fates into their own hands.
Dragons are common in the backwater kingdom of Bellemontagne, coming in sizes from mouse-like vermin all the way up to castle-smashing monsters. Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (who would much rather people call him Robert) has recently inherited his deceased dad’s job as a dragon catcher/exterminator, a career he detests with all his heart in part because he likes dragons, feeling a kinship with them, but mainly because his dream has always been the impossible one of transcending his humble origin to someday become a prince’s valet. Needless to say, fate has something rather different in mind…
Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang
This novel, originally self published last year, is coming out in hardcover and audiobook (read by Moira Quirk) on October 29.
M. L. Wang won the Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) for her novel Sword of Kaigen in 2019, and I’ve also heard great things about this dark academia novel.
The first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages unravels a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever, in this standalone dark fantasy from the author of The Sword of Kaigen.
The stunning first edition hardcover will feature red stained edges, gold and red foil on the jacket, a full-color endpaper map, and an interior illustration of an in-world magical item
“Powerful, thought-provoking. . . . Fans of R.F. Kuang’s Babel will find much to admire here, from the intricate magic system to the unflinching exploration of societal issues.”—Booklist
For twenty years, Sciona has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry at the University of Magics and Industry.
When Sciona finally passes the qualifying exam and becomes a highmage, she finds her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues are determined to make her feel unwelcome—and, instead of a qualified lab assistant, they give her a janitor.
What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was not always a janitor. Ten years ago, he was a nomadic hunter who lost his family on their perilous journey from the wild plains to the city. But now he sees the opportunity to understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the privileged in power.
At first, mage and outsider have a fractious relationship. But working together, they uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first.
Reign & Ruin (Mages of the Wheel #1) by J. D. Evans
Reign & Ruin won the Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) in 2021. This is the first book in the fantasy romance series Mages of the Wheel, which also includes:
- Storm & Shield (Book 2)
- Siren & Scion (Book 3)
- Ice & Ivy (Book 4)
- Wind & Wildfire (a prequel that’s supposed to be read after the first book)
I’ve heard some good things about this one on r/fantasyromance, and after looking at a sample, I figured I’d give it a try. When we had a power outage a little while ago, I purchased it and put it on my Kindle while I still could just in case I couldn’t read by light later. I haven’t started it yet since the power was only out for a couple hours, but it’s on the TBR now!
“All magic is beautiful…and terrible. Do you not see the beauty in yours, or the terror in mine? You can stop a heart, and I can stop your breath.”
She is heir to a Sultanate that once ruled the world. He is an unwanted prince with the power to destroy.
She is order and intellect, a woman fit to rule in a man’s place. He is chaos and violence and will stop at nothing to protect his people.
His magic answers hers with shadow for light. They need each other, but the cost of balance may be too high a price. Magic is dying and the only way to save it is to enlist mages who wield the forbidden power of death, mages cast out centuries ago in a brutal and bloody war.
Now, a new war is coming. Science and machines to replace magic and old religion.
They must find a way to save their people from annihilation and balance the sacred Wheel—but first, they will have to balance their own forbidden passion. His peace for her tempest, his restlessness for her calm…
Night and day, dusk and dawn, the end, and the beginning.
