Sponsored by Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley with Fierce Reads.
This groundbreaking thriller centers on Daunis, a biracial unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal who’s never quite fit in. After Daunis witnesses a shocking murder that thrusts her into a criminal investigation, she agrees to go undercover with the FBI. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home. How far will she go to protect her community if it means tearing apart the only world she’s ever known? Don’t miss the novel Courtney Summers calls “gripping and unforgettable.”
Happy Monday, star bits! I am so excited about tomorrow and all the incredible books coming out, including two of my favorites of the year: Yolk by Mary HK Choi and In the Quick by Kate Hope Day. I may reread them, I loved them so much. I am also delighted because I get to talk to Kate next week about her novel for Book Soup. I love moderating author events! I get to ask questions I want to know and learn more about the book from the amazing authors, and then I like to add a couple of silly questions at the end, like, “If you had to eat a Muppet, who would you pick?” (You never know! It could happen.)
Moving on: I have some exciting book news for you today and a look at an awesome YA fantasy novel based around the story of The Goose Girl, plus cover reveals, a terrible pun, a cat picture, and trivia! Let’s get started, shall we?
Here’s Monday’s trivia question: Who is the author of Steal This Book? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)
Deals, Reals, and Squeals!
 |
America Ferrera will make her directorial debut with the adaptation of Erika L. Sánchez’s I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.
Ta-Nehisi Coates is writing a new Superman film for DC and Warner Bros.
Akwaeke Emezi is publishing a romance novel.
Reese Witherspoon and Christina Milian are starting a literary-inspired cooking show on Instagram.
The adaptation of The Mysterious Benedict Society is coming to Disney+ on June 25. (Look at Tony Hale!!!)
Colson Whitehead was on 60 Minutes.
And speaking of Colson Whitehead, here’s the premiere date and new teaser trailer for The Underground Railroad.
Alexis Hall has a BUNCH of new books in the works.
Stephen Graham Jones has a graphic novel coming in the fall.
E.T. star Henry Thomas has written a fantasy novel.
HBO Max has optioned Marissa Meyer’s Instant Karma for a series.
Paul McCartney to publish a 900-page ‘lyrical autobiography.’
Here’s a glimpse of the second season of Love, Victor on Hulu.
Here’s the first look at Olga Tokarczuk’s The Books of Jacob.
Here’s the first look at Shadow and Bone on Netflix.
Tor Dot Com Publishing has a ton of gorgeous cover reveals: Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente; Along the Saltwise Sea by A. Deborah Baker (Seanan McGuire); The Tensorate Series by Neon Yang; Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo; In the Watchful City by S. Qiouyi Lu; and The Underland by Alix E. Harrow.
Book Riot Recommends
At Book Riot, I work on the New Books! email, the All the Books! podcast about new releases, and the Book Riot Insiders New Release Index. I am very fortunate to get to read a lot of upcoming titles, and learn about a lot of upcoming titles, and I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week so you can add them to your TBR! (It will now be books I loved on Mondays and books I’m excited to read on Thursdays. YAY, BOOKS!)
Loved, loved, loved:
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen (Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), October 5)
There is so much going on in this book, in the best way, that I don’t know if I’ll be able to explain it all, but hold on to your butts because I’m going to try!
This is a somewhat-retelling of the fairy tale The Goose Girl, which is about a princess whose wicked maid steals her life and impersonates her, and now the princess is the maid. But don’t worry, the maid gets hers in the end. *eye roll* It’s dark and violent and so, so classist.
This is a WAY better interpretation of the story! Vanja was a baby when her mother left her in the forest and she was taken in by Fortune and Death. Like, the actual embodiments of Fortune and Death. But when she was a teenager, they had to let her make her own way and she became a maid for a princess, who treated her cruelly and made her sleep in squalor. So Vanja stole the princess’s enchanted pearl necklace, and now Vanja appears as the princess and the princess has to work among the common folk—who all think the princess is a little off because she’s always yelling about how she’s really a princess. (Same, girl.)
Okay, got that part? Good. Now, when the book opens, Vanja-as-princess is getting ready to pull of a big heist. She’s been robbing nobility for months and fencing the jewelry so she has enough money so she can eventually leave the land and get away from her godmothers, Fortune and Death, because no one wants to have to owe them any favors. And the fact that Vanja can switch identities back and forth by removing the magic pearl necklace comes in handy when perpetrating a crime and keeps her from getting caught.
But then she accidentally steals a special ring that has magic powers specific to the owners, and it brings about a skull-headed Low God, who curses Vanja: the god sticks a ruby to Vanja’s cheek, and tells her that she has two weeks to return what she has stolen, or her entire body will turn into one solid ruby. And as if that isn’t enough, the real princess’s horrible fiancé has returned to the castle and wants to step up the wedding AND a hunter arrives hot on the trail of the thief, aka, also Vanja.
As Vanja tries to avoid the hunter and her almost-husband while more and more rubies appear on her skin, she has to figure out a way to give back what she has taken while also keeping the money so she can split town. But with so many eyes on her, how will she ever pull it off? This book is so fun and original and flirty—I loved it!
What I’m reading this week.
 |
A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins
The Box in the Woods (Truly Devious) by Maureen Johnson
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest
Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian
Groan-worthy joke of the week:
Did you hear the rumor about butter? Well, I’m not going to spread it.
And this is funny:
I feel this, so hard.
Happy things:
Here are a few things I enjoy that I thought you might like as well:
- Modern Family: This show makes me laugh a lot. I am a big fan of people falling down and/or getting hit in the head. Ty Burrell is incredible at doing physical comedy.
- Warehouse 13: All five seasons are streaming on Peacock! Of course, rewatching this is going to lead to a rewatch of The Librarians, for sure.
- Jigsaw puzzles! Yup, still puzzling.
- Numberzilla. Still not tired of this game.
- Purrli: This website makes the relaxing sounds of a cat purring.
And here’s a cat picture!
 |
Look at this rebel. The sticker clearly says “No feet.”
Trivia answer: Abbie Hoffman.
Remember that whatever you are doing or watching or reading this week, I am sending you love and hugs. Please be safe, and be mindful of others. It takes no effort to be kind. I’ll see you again on Thursday. – xoxo, Liberty