Weekly Wrap Up – 3.10-3.16

This week in the book world:

Oooooohhhh I am SO excited to talk about ARCs this week. There has been SO much that happened and I have been stewing on this all week.

Okay, so first, this thread started a very intense debate about whether or not it's okay to put ARCs in Little Free Libraries. The general consensus from readers is, yes, absolutely. What else are we supposed to do with them? Hoard them until death? Throw them away?

Authors, however, did NOT agree. The major criticism was that they would be upset that an unfinished copy was "in circulation". I'm sorry, but one reader potentially finding an unfinished copy from the small number of LFLs visited by book reviewers does not qualify as "in circulation". On top of that, ARCs are clearly labeled as unfinished copies is many places, and while people are dumb, they're not that dumb.

Now, the one thing we all seem to agree with is that you should NOT sell your ARCs for $100+ on sketchy resale accounts (like this woman), but I am absolutely loving the trend of publisher's using this as a marketing material. Please don't do this, also, please don't buy ARCs for $100+ just to read things a few months early. The stakes are NOT that high.

This Week's Publishing News:

There honestly wasn't anything exciting that I saw... I'm just as disappointed as you are.

This Week's New Releases:

Much slower week than last week, but still some good ones:

Stag Dance by Torrey Peters (Adult, literary)
Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna (Middle grade, fantasy
Rose of Jericho by Alex Grecian (Adult, horror)
What Wakes the Bells by Elle Tesch (YA, fantasy)
Go Luck Yourself by Sara Raasch (Adult, romance)

What I Read This Week:

One for my Enemy (Finished)

This wasn't my favorite Olivie Blake, but it was still really, really good. I do think it started off a bit stronger than it ended, but it was still gorgeous and some of the quotes killed me. She definitely did "Romeo and Juliet" in a way more unique way than others and it also incorporated some other Shakespeare easter eggs that had my inner Shakespeare nerd smiling. Also, if you have never read Olivie Blake and want to get into her works, I think this is an excellent place to start. Her prose and the way she structures her stories is so unique. This one is a great introduction to her style, while feeling more accessible for readers.

Oathbound (70%)

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THINGS ARE GETTING SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!

Soulgazer (66%)

Wow wow wow. I started this yesterday at the end of my shift at the bookstore–things were SLOW–and I read over half of it last night. This is EXACTLY what I want in a romantasy. Plus, it's pirates, which you know is a soft-spot for me. Obsessed and I cannot wait to finish.

Kill Creatures (44%)

New Rory Power! This one has been a fun brain break. I don't like adult thrillers, but I love teen thrillers. This one is super short, so I plan on finishing it tonight. I'll update you all when I finish it.

Brother Bronte (DNF)

I just couldn't do it anymore. I hated Part 1. Really loved Part 2. Then Part 3 picked up and skipped right over all the actual plot. Honestly, I got so mad about that I gave up. I felt like the blurb sold me Scary Movie and then the book gave me Scream.