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Chosen. Again. by J. Emery

She saved the kingdom once. She didn't expect there to be a repeat performance. At sixteen, Ari fell into a portal and found herself in Callaria, a magical alternate world in need of a hero. So she did the coming-of-age quest. She saved the kingdom and kissed the farmboy turned King. And when she was done... she went home. She never forgot about her time in Callaria. It never forgot her either, and now thirteen years later, she's back. Drafted into the role of Champion once more, Ari discovers that magic doesn't mean freedom from consequences. Her actions a decade ago caused ripples that didn't go away when she did. The gawky apprentice wizard she once called a friend is now a cynical Royal Wizard with a penchant for floor length velvet robes and dangerous secrets. Her magic sword is giving her the silent treatment. The evil ruler she thought she defeated is living in the dungeon, making cryptic predictions that sound a little too much like fact. The farmboy turned King...
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Early May Reviews (2024)

Greetings

Welcome to the Books That Burn Fortnightly Roundup! Releasing every two weeks (one week early for Patrons). Remember to head to Transcripts That Burn for all available transcripts of the podcast.

News and Events

I track upcoming book releases by authors we've previously covered on a shareable google calendar.

Notable May Releases:

  • Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams

  • The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo

  • Disobedience by Daniel Sarah Karasik

  • Evocation by S.T. Gibson

  • Wheel of Fate by A.K. Faulkner

Signal Boost

If there's no ceasefire in Gaza by the time you read this, please use resources like Ceasefire Now to contact your representatives and ask them to support a ceasefire in the crisis in Gaza. The link includes information on planned protests and demonstrations, and has information for people internationally on what they can do to get involved.

Recent Reviews

THE GENTLE ART OF FORTUNE HUNTING by K.J. Charles, book 1 of The Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune is Historical/Romance, with queer character(s), marketed as Adult. Robin Loxleigh and his sister are fortune hunters who set their sights on an heiress, but her protective uncle becomes entangled with Robin. Told in Second Person with Dual POVs.

BITTEN by Kelley Armstrong, book 1 of Otherworld is Fantasy marketed as Adult. Elena is the only female werewolf. She tries to live away from the Pack, but a series of strange events pull her back. Told in First Person with Single POV.

HOW TO SELL YOUR BLOOD & FALL IN LOVE by D.N. Bryn, book 2 of Guides for Dating Vampires is Fantasy/Romance, with queer character(s), marketed as Adult. Clementine is a vampire who needs blood, Justin is a human who has spent his life around vampires and is willing to sell his blood to Clementine. Told in Third Person with Dual POVs.

BAND SINISTER by K.J. Charles is Historical/Romance, with queer character(s), marketed as Adult. Guy and his sister, Amanda, end up staying at the house of a rake who has a hellfire club when Amanda breaks her leg and can't be moved. Told in Second Person with Dual POVs.

ONE NIGHT IN HARTSWOOD by Emma Denny, book 1 of 14th Century Oxfordshire is Historical/Romance, with queer character(s), marketed as Adult. Raff must track down his sister's missing betrothed. Told in Third Person with Dual POVs.

REEVE OF VEILS by A.K. Faulkner, book 4 of Inheritance is Fantasy/Romance, with queer character(s), marketed as Adult. Frederick is telepathic, it turns out, and there was a lot more going on in KNIGHT OF FLAMES than Laurence and Quentin remember. Told in Third Person with Dual POVs.

Reviews forthcoming for HAUNTED HEARTS by A.K. Faulkner and WHAT FEASTS AT NIGHT by T. Kingfisher.

DNFs

I did not finish the audiobook of STOLEN by Kelley Armstrong. I love the narrator for the first book (BITTEN) and dislike the new narrator. I might try again with a different format, I’m not sure yet.

Rereads and Older Reviews

I read and then re-read MOST ARDENTLY by Gabe Cole Novoa. It’s an excellent Pride and Prejudice retelling by the author of THE WICKED BARGAIN. I also re-read the entire Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins in preparation for an essay which the Patrons have received and everyone else will get next month.

Current Reads

I’m currently reading DISOBEDIENCE by Daniel Sarah Karasik, re-reading UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld, and I’ve started SAVAGE BOUNTY by Matt Wallace. I’m paused on NICKED by M.T. Anderson, BLOOD JUSTICE by Terry J. Benton-Walker, THE WINGS OF ASHTAROTH by Seve Hugh Westenra, and A CROWN SO CURSED by L.L. McKinney.

In Case You Missed It

This time last year I read TERRIER by Tamora Pierce.

Pluggables and Podcast News

If you're looking for a place to buy any of the books I've reviewed, please consider our Bookshop page (if you use our links to purchase any books we get a small commission). Let us know if there's a category you'd like to see curated and we'll see if we can get some titles together.

Speaking of Bookshop, I've put together top picks lists for 2021 onwards. Books are included based on the year they were published, so occasionally older lists might get new titles. To be in the Top Picks list a book needs to get a five-star rating from me, and be published in the year of the list. You can find the 2024 list here.

As for the podcast, hopefully you're enjoying our most recent episode. If you'd like to receive episodes early, as well as bonus content, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Patrons receive this newsletter one week early, as well as a list of upcoming podcast episodes and even more planned reviews.

Patrons pledging $20 or more each month receive a bonus episode. Patrons pledging $50 or more can vote once per month on what we'll cover in the podcast. You can find all of those polls here. Patrons at any level receive the booklist with our planned episodes for up to three months at a time.

Thanks for reading, the next roundup will be in two weeks!

-Robin

Co-host of Books That Burn

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A black and orange tortoiseshell cat sits contentedly in a brown paper bag amidst a variety of hobby and craft supplies in a bookcase, looking quite pleased with the spot she's found.


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