It's the last week of the OcTBR Challenge and the perfect time to gently encourage you to go review some of those books you've read. Because reviews mean everything to authors, PLUS they often lead others to those books, which means more people read them, which means more people review them... and so on, in one big happy book circle.
However, while most of us are readers who probably need a kick up the bum to review our reads, there are many wonderful people out there who specialise in reading, reviewing or even selling books regularly. These are the champions of books, making sure those stories find their way into the right hands and change lives.
So to finish our month we thought it would be fun to see what 2020 books have got these brilliant people excited to read, review and recommend! Fill your TBR piles back up again with these fine stories...
"I must say that I fought tooth and nail and manifest to get The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune. O but it was so gentle and loving and hopeful! I snarled after this book. It came out in March and I just finished it tonight."
Nils Shukla, bookstagrammer and reviewer at The Fantasy Hive -
"The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart [is] one that I’ve been looking forward to for months now! Unfortunately my TBR got a little out of control lately and I’ve been saving this one for when I can give it my full attention and become utterly immersed. Forbidden magic, revolution, epic world-building and an ANIMAL COMPANION, I know this one is going to be right up my street."
Dean Osborne, reviewer at Book Vagabond -
"The Rush’s Edge by Ginger Smith. After it was recommended to me it was sitting patiently on my TBR for a good 3 months before I got around to reading it. The synopsis and cover had me wanting to bump it to the top of the pile and I will admit that in the end that did indeed happen. It turned out to be a great choice as The Rush’s Edge changed my mind on romance in Sci-Fi for the better and became one of my favourite debuts of the year. As much as I like a structured TBR pile it can be rewarding to break the rules every now and then."
Brian, bookseller at Waterstones -
"I have The First Sister by Linden A. Lewis, and The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune on my bookshelves waiting to be read. Micaiah Johnson's The Space Between Worlds looks interesting too though, as well as The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart. And there is also one I'm looking forward to picking up in November - Nophek Gloss by Essa Hansen."
Richard Marpole, reviewer at Fantasy Faction -
"16 years ago Susanna Clarke conquered the world of fantasy fiction with her wonderfully original debut novel 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell'. It was witty and genteel, sorcerous and disturbing, endlessly inventive and stuffed full of curious details. Since then her fans have had to sustain themselves with a single collection of short stories and a TV adaptation. No more! Her new novel, Piranesi, has just hit the shelves and I can't wait to crack it open!"
"Stone Knife by Anna Stephens - Mesoamerican fantasy that I've wanted to see for a very long time. The Lost King by Frazier Alexander - Greek-Roman Fantasy that I always welcome in fantasy. I'm [also] looking forward to reading Legacy of Steel by Matthew Ward."
Jamie Lee Pilkington, bookseller at Waterstones -
"Boy Parts by Eliza Clark. Irina is a young photographer whose work focuses on sexually graphic images of men. After securing an exhibition space in a prestigious London gallery, Irina falls into a deeply self-destructive cyclone of events. Boy Parts is one of those novels that while you are reading you feel like you can’t read quick enough, you just want (and need) to absorb it all at once. Irina may be one of the most fascinating characters I’ve read in a while. This novel feels electric and the language is dazzling, tension constantly bubbling under the surface, it could have been 600 pages longer and I still would have wanted more."
Thanks to all our wonderful contributors!
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