Happy Tuesday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and with May continuing its massive release of new books, you’re getting a double dose to check out today. Did you get a chance to see the aurora over the weekend? We got to see it very faintly here on Friday…and then the rest of the time it was super cloudy near where I live. Boo. Hopefully, you had clearer skies! Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Friday.
Make this your most bookish summer yet with personalized reading recommendations from Tailored Book Recommendations! Our bibliologists (aka professional book nerds) are standing by to help you find your next favorite read. Get your recommendations via email, or opt to receive hardcovers or paperbacks delivered right to your door. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Get started today from just $18!
Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.
Bookish Goods
Bird Bookmarks by TheFatFinchShop
Since there’s a bit of an accidental bird theme in the titles of the recommendations, I went looking for book things that are bird related. Here’s a sampling of a set of really cute bird bookmarks I found! $10
New Releases
Road to Ruin by Hana Lee
Jin-Lu is a magebike courier, taking messages and packages between domed cities on a magic-powered motorcycle — exhilarating, but also the most dangerous possible job in the wastelands. But her most precious cargo might be her last — first, she takes a prince’s love letters to a princess desperate to escape her family and her horrible betrothed, and then, in love with both the prince and princess herself, she helps the woman flee directly into the wasteland and the coils of a brewing, deadly storm.
I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle
The backwater kingdom of Bellemontagne is famous (or perhaps infamous?) for its immense population of dragons, which come in sizes ranging from vermin to “say goodbye to your castle.” Unsurprisingly, such a place has dragon exterminators; Robert (who has a much longer name he hates) has inherited his father’s position as just that when he’d really just rather be a valet. He likes dragons and would very much prefer a career change. What fate has in store for him is something much more exciting.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Because May continues its assault of awesome new books unabated, here are two more to check out!
A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur
In 16th century Joseon, the tyrant King Yeonsan makes his people suffer, stealing, kidnapping, and abusing at his pleasure. Iseul sets off on an impossible mission to rescue her older sister, Suyeon, after she is taken to the king. At his court, she crosses paths with the tyrant’s half-brother, Daehyun, who would depose his brother and save their people…if he can. While these two unlikely allies despise each other, they hate Yeonsan far more, and together they will take the riskiest gamble anyone in the kingdom has ever seen.
When Among Crows by Veronica Roth
Dymitr’s family have long been hunters who are called on to sacrifice their souls to destroy the monsters they track. But he’s been given perhaps the greatest monster of all to hunt: Baba Jaga. And if he wants a chance to defeat her, he will have to ally with a lesser monster. But his true motives and the secrets he carries might be a far greater enemy than their quarry.
See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.