November 2017 was a big book buying month for me. Chalk it up to not buying many books the past few months and a lot of big books from my TBR list finally being released. There’s a good mix of genres, novels and comics in here.
AFTER THE END OF THE WORLD – JONATHAN L. HOWARD
After the End of the World is the sequel to Howard’s Carter and Lovecraft. The novel picks up where the previous left off. Carter and Lovecraft are living in the newly unfolded world where the Cold War never happened because the Nazis won WWII. Besides that horror our heroes get to live in a world where Eldritch abominations are a thing, so that’s nice. I loved Carter and Lovecraft but it very much felt like an introduction to the world of the story. I’m excited for Howard to play around in this horrifying sandbox he’s constructed. I can only expect good things.
BATGIRL VOLUME 2: SON OF PENGUIN – HOPE LARSON, ET AL.
The Batgirl of Burnside was a very polarizing run. I really liked it. I liked the fact that the crimes and villains that Batgirl was dealing with weren’t global catastrophes. It was nice to experience something on a small scale. I havent’ read the most recent arc of Batgirl but I’ve been picking them up as they have been released. Hopefully sometime over the holidays I’ll spend a day catching up on all my comics. There are so many.
THE BOOK OF DUST – PHILIP PULLMAN
I loved His Dark Materials. The fact that Pullman has returned to his world of daemons, magic and terrifying religious organizations brings me nothing but joy. When it was announced that this book was not in fact a sequel but a prequel (and a bit of a side-quel). I was a little sad. I wanted the continued adventures of Lyra and Pan. Instead The Book of Dust follows Malcolm while he encounters a baby Lyra and some other familiar faces. I am so excited to return to this world and possibly see how the Magestrium rose to power.
DAVID BOWIE ALBUM BY ALBUM – PAOLO HEWITT
Normally no one buys me books anymore. But this year my friend Rebecca surprised me by giving me David Bowie Album By Album. The book breaks down David Bowie’s career and is filled with images, facts and interviews. I haven’t had the chance to read this one yet, but I have been flipping through to look at the pictures. It’s awesome and I love it.
RAT QUEENS #4: HIGH FANTASIES KURTIS J. WIEBE & OWEN GIENI
The Rat Queens are back! After the disappointment of volume three let’s hope our favourite adventurers get back into form. This volume is said to deal with the outcome of the space squid attack from volume two. Also, there is a bard (aka my favourite class to play when I play DnD). This time round they’re joined by the newest member of the Queens: Braga. Will the Rat Queens save their reputation or will it be time to ditch this serious. Stay tuned!
A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC (SPECIAL EDITION) – V.E. SCWHAB
When I originally read A Darker Shade of Magic, I borrowed it from the library. I then proceeded to buy the other two books when they were released. I never bought the first one. When the special edition version of this book was announced I knew I needed to pick it up. This version contains new short stories set in the Darker Shadesworld, an interview with the author and fan art. This book is seriously gorgeous.
ARTEMIS – ANDY WEIR
MOON CRIMES! I’ve been saying that to anyone who would listen from the moment Weir announced his new novel. I absolutely loved The Martian and am excited to read anything else Weir puts out. This novel follows Jazza Bashara, a criminal (on the moon) who has a chance to commit the perfect crime (ON THE MOON). The premise is super interesting and if it has anywhere near the same sense of humour as The Martian it’ll be awesome.
AN ENCHANTMENT OF RAVENS – MARGARET ROBERSON
I mentioned this book on last week’s Top Ten Tuesday. Goodreads recommended this book to me because I read Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series. The book follows Isobel, an artist who lands on the bad side of the fae. She ends up falling in love with Rook the autumn prince. Of course their love is forbidden. The novel follows them as they quest to find the Green Well, the only thing that would be able to protect them. I’m a sucker for romantic fantasy (shhh don’t tell anyone) and I can’t wait to finally sit down and read this book.
WE STAND ON GUARD – BRIAN K. VAUGHAN
My friend Dave and I have a tradition of hitting up a series of comic stores in downtown Toronto. The last time we went Dave picked this one up for me. We Stand on Guard is set 100 years in the future where a group of Canadian freedom fighters must defend their homeland… from the USA. It’s a fun premise and I’m so here for it.
INTO THE DROWNING DEEP – MIRA GRANT
A while back I read Mira Grant’s short story Rolling in the Deep on Tor and loved it. It was a strange horror story about mermaids. Recently during my browsing of io9’s Upcoming Books of Novemberlist. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Grant was returning to her horror mermaids in a full length novel. The book follows the aftermath of the disappearance of the ship Atargatis. A new crew has been assembled to try and solve the mystery. Honestly I have no hope in hell for them. But it’ll be a fun, weird read that I’m totally ready for. Did I mention her mermaids were inspired by anglerfish.
What books did you pick up in November 2017? What are you most excited to read? Tell me about it in the comments below! Happy reading!
