This year, in an effort to blog more, to become more involved with the blogging community, and to keep up with the latest publications, I thought I’d create a monthly post about the ARCs I’ve received. These ARCs will be read and reviewed a month prior to the publishing date. The Advance Excitement at a Glance posts will feature one or two (or more!) books to look forward to.

Last month I previewed four ARCs I’d hoped to get to, but was only able to read and review one, The Caller. Lark Rising, though, is now available in stores, and I highly suggest you dash after it, especially if you’re a Juliet Marillier fan.

October is another big publishing month, and I was once again overwhelmed with the number of fantastic ARCs. I can assure you you’ll see far more reviews this upcoming month, so be on the lookout! Here are two of the billions I’m really excited to share with you.

My True Love Gave to Me edited by Stephanie Perkins and written by
all your favorite YA authors ever 
(October 14, St. Martin’s Press)

A collection of holiday/winter-themed short stories for your enjoyment. Rumor has it there are twelve illustrations inside as well, one for each story! Just looking at the cover makes me think of the Rainbow Rowell cover art trend (surely there’s a more formal name for it, but her covers are so iconic now), which I’m a huge fan of. I’m usually not much of a collection/anthology reader — I prefer my stories long — but this seems so perfect, like little bits of peppermint candies.

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch 
(October 14, Balzer + Bray)

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior, she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again. When scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

Meira, orphaned as an infant, has only ever heard stories of the beautiful, frozen Kingdom of Winter. She’s heard so many that sometimes she feels these stories are her own memories. But when she goes on a mission to recapture the lost locket, a conduit for the royalty’s magic, she accidentally sets in a motion a future she never thought possible.

If you haven’t noticed by now, I’m a huge Balzer + Bray fan. I’ll read just about any YA they publish. Gimme gimme. Apart from that, I really like the idea of a set of kingdoms based on the seasons. Throw in a girl who can fight, who’s playful and funny and passionate, who fights for a cause she doesn’t fully understand but feels should be part of her blood, and I’m ready to read.

Which ARCs did you receive for October? What books are you looking forward to reading?

~

September Book Haul

Because this month’s spending was way out of control and totally violated Resolution #4.

If you’re following me on instagram, you would’ve noticed several things: 1) I’m obsessing over Outlander, and 2) there’ve been more book purchases than book reviews this month. And I’m blaming it on Outlander. I’d owned the book for months, watched the first episode when it aired, and then devoured the book. Which then prompted the intense desire to purchase Dragonfly in Amber…and Voyager and Drums of Autumn. All of Gabaldon’s books are massive, which means if I have wandering attention I end up turning back to the ARCs that need to be read or the books that look so gosh darn pretty and I want to read right now but can’t because Gabaldon’s taken my soul. So that prompted The Caller (already read and reviewed!), This is What Happy Looks Like, Winterkill, Summer & Bird, The Swallow, Jackaby, and The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place. I can’t explain myself. I just can’t. I’m ashamed and at the same time I just don’t care — breaking resolutions for books is acceptable in this community, right? Right.