Well, folks, it’s November. Yes, November. No, it’s not time for Mariah Carey Christmas songs. I said what I said. Not until after Thanksgiving, and even then I don’t want to hear it more than once per day. Though, if I’m being honest, even that’s too often.
Moving on! I read 3 out of the 5 books on my October TBR, which is great considering I traveled for 2 weeks out of the month. For November my TBR list is more like a list of “November Hopefuls.” I’m using this month to try to read all three of my BBNYA final round assignments. Anything else I’m able to finish will be a bonus.
There are quite a few November challenges going on: NetGalley November; SciFi Month, organized by Lisa at Dear Geek Place and Imyril at There’s Always Room For One More; and Norsevember (though, I’m not sure if this one is officially on this year?). Since I can’t share what my three BBNYA books are, here’s a list of my hopefuls that I picked to fall within these challenges. Though most of the books listed below fall under NetGalley November, I’m going to try to lowkey join SciFi Month since I had so much fun during its sister event, Wyrd and Wonder.
The Stars Undying by Emery Robin
This hits shelves on November 8 in the U.S., so it’s at the top of my November hopefuls list. As I mentioned in my last WWW Wednesday, it’s “a queer, spectacular space opera debut inspired by the rise and fall of ancient Rome and Egypt—and the lives and loves of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar.” It’s a science fiction book, so this one falls within the SciFi Month event.
A Thousand Steps Into Night by Traci Chee
I’ve had this in my NG queue for a very, very long time. And I’m a little ashamed I haven’t read it yet. But it is what it is! Obviously this falls within the NetGalley November challenge. It’s “a Japanese-influenced fantasy brimming with demons, adventure, and plans gone awry.“
The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper
This is yet another one in my NG queue that I’ve had for a while. I’ve mentioned this before, but at the end of 2021 I went on a requesting spree. I don’t recommend it. I spent the first 6 months of 2022 in a concentrated effort to dig myself out from my pile of ARCs. Anyway, this is a book I saw floating around a lot on UK book Twitter in the earlier part of 2021. It’s set in ancient Pompeii and follows Amara, now a slave and prostitute because of sudden destitution. My limited understanding is that it’s a story of sisterhood, survival, and fighting for a new beginning.
What are you planning to read this month? Feel free to comment with a link to your November TBR!
**ARTWORK: this year’s SciFiMonth artwork is by the amazingly talented Simon Fetscher.**
Hey Celeste,
I wish you maximum success with your TBR list and hope that each of the three books can provide you with good entertainment.
Cheerio
RoXXie
Thank you, RoXXie! Same to you!
I’m quite interested in A Thousand Steps Into Night and part of me regrets not requesting it on NG but then I’m so bad at actually reading books on time that I’m glad I didn’t request it. 😂 I hope you enjoy all of these books!
Honey, right there with you about reading books on time on NG. I was not in a good spot the first 6 months of the year hahaha. It took that small disaster to make me reel myself in. Hopefully I’ll have great things to say about A Thousand Steps Into Night and then you’ll have to rush to your library/e-reader to read it. 😉
A Thousand Steps Into Night is definitely a fun adventure story with lots of cool mythology and lore… And I’m hoping to get to The Stars Undying as well.. Lets see if I can read it this week..
Excellent…I haven’t actively looked for reviews of A Thousand Steps Into Night, but my vague recollection of Twitter reactions is readers seemed to like it. Good luck with The Stars Undying. I cracked it open right after 11 pm last night and got 3 pages in…I was like, yea, nope, not going to start my world building this late.
The Wolf Den looks really interesting. I’ll have to go add it to my TBR!
Wonderful! I hope you like it! Book 2 (The House with the Golden Door) published this year, but I think it’s going to be a while before (if) I get to that.
I think I prefer a month of hopefuls vs a TBR sometimes because I’ve learnt I’m very bad at sticking to my lists! I look forward to your posts this month, but I hope you don’t overwork yourself on the blog!
The Stars Undying sounds fantastic as a premise, I may have to keep an eye out for that…
I’ve seen a few people (can’t remember who exactly) call it a list of hopefuls rather than a TBR. I thought it’d be appropriate to call it a list of “hopefuls” this month since I’m focusing on BBNYA rather than mood reading. Hopefully you’re able to read some of the books on your TBR & don’t get too tempted by other books lol!!
Thanks, re: overworking on the blog. I took a step back the past few days to give myself a break. Didn’t blog hop or anything other than what I saw on Twitter. It was nice.
A Thousand Steps Into the Night looks gorgeous – hope you enjoy it!
Thank you! 🙂
Great picks! I just got a copy of The Stars Undying and am starting it tomorrow. Can’t wait!
Thanks! I hope you like The Stars Undying…it’s been a slow go for me so far. I hope it picks up soon!