Upcoming Workman books I’m intrigued by

Once a month, I talk about some upcoming titles from a specific publisher’s catalog. This month it’s Workman’s Fall/Winter 2018 catalog.

Because Workman is a relatively small publisher, there aren’t a lot of titles here. But I wanted to feature a catalog that wasn’t from the Big Six (Five? I’m still unclear on the Penguin/Random House merger and its effects.)

non-fiction

Seaweed Chronicles: A World at the Water’s Edge Susan Hand Shetterley: I just think seaweed is cool, and I’m excited to maybe learn more about it. August 7

The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid: This seems like a really cool concept and the illustrations featured on Edelweiss are gorgeous. September 18

Young Adult

(Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation about Mental Health ed. by Kelly Jensen: This is a non-fiction anthology that collects a number of different voices on mental health. I’m including it here because it’s a topic I care about and it’s edited by someone who I know is very thoughtful about mental health and mental illness.  October 2

A Room Away From the Wolves by Nova Ren Suma: There’s a new Nova Ren Suma! I had no idea! That’s exactly why I find looking through catalogs really valuable–it’s a great way to find books that aren’t getting as much of a social media buzz. Anyway, I love Nova Ren Suma’s books and I’m super excited that she has another one coming out. September 4

 

 

Upcoming Macmillan titles I’m intrigued by

Once a month, I talk about some upcoming titles from a specific publisher’s catalog. This month it’s Macmillan’s Fall 2018 catalog.

Adult

Worlds Seen in Passing: Ten Years of Tor.com Short Fiction ed. by Irene Gallo: I mean, I generally really like Tor.com’s short fiction, and it’s smart to collect the first ten years or so, when it wasn’t quite as widely distributed. I’m exciting about revisiting old favorites and hopefully finding some new ones as well. September 4

The Eye of the Heron by Ursula K LeGuin: I am definitely lacking in a lot of UKL’s backlist and this is a perfect opportunity to read one I’ve missed! September 11

Vengeful by V. E. Schwab: I have the first book checked out right now, and while I am not always 100% on Schwab’s books, I do really want to read this take on the superhero genre. September 25

Zero Sum Game by S. L. Huang: So, this has actually been on my TBR for a bit. I think it was originally self-published, or published by a small press. Either way, I’m glad it’s now in a more accessible form! October 2

Exit Strategy: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells: MURDERBOT. The summary is stressful! MURDERBOT!! October 2

Invisible: The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down America’s Most Powerful Mobster by Stephen L. Carter: This biography was written by Eunice Hunton Carter’s grandson, and I mean! What a story. Also, I love a good biography and it’s been a bit since I’ve read one. October 9

The Phoenix Empress by K. Arsenault Rivera: I liked the first book in this new historical fantasy series and I’m curious to see where the story goes in this one! October 9

The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi: Truthfully, I’m kind of so-so on Scalzi at this point, but space opera is just catnip to me and I know he generally writes fast, fun stories. While this isn’t, like, the highlight of my reading year, I will probably read and enjoy it. October 16

City of Broken Magic by Mirah Bolender: Sometimes, honestly, it’s just that the premise sounds cool, and that’s the case here. November 20

Middle grade
The Girl with the Dragon Heart by Stephanie Burgis: I loved this first book a LOT so heck yeah, I’m excited for this one!! November 6

Young Adult
A Blade So Black by LL McKinney: I’ve heard some good buzz about this one on Twitter, so I will give it a try even though Alice in Wonderland is generally not my favorite. September 25

Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore: I like her books a lot and this one retells a favorite fairy tale! Sold. October 9

Home and Away by Candice Montgomery: Sometimes I’m just in the mood for a character-driven contemporary YA, and this sounds like the perfect book for that itch. October 16

Upcoming Scholastic books I’m intrigued by

Continuing with my occasional flip through a publisher’s offerings. These are all from the Fall 2018 catalog and, since it’s Scholastic, are all written for a kid audience.

Middle grade

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab; August 28. Middle grade from Schwab! I think her only other middle grade was part of the Spirit Animals series. This one sounds spooky and atmospheric, so I’m in, and also curious about how she translates her no-holds-barred sensibility to a younger audience.

Dactyl Hill Squad: Rescue Run by Daniel Jose Older; September 11. I’ve liked Older’s other books, and this sounds like a really interesting middle grade alternate history. Plus, I mean, DINOSAURS.

The House with Chicken Legs by Sarah Anderson; September 25. The draw for me here is Baba Yaga, because I love Baba Yaga. I’m not 100% sure how much I’ll end up liking this one, but I’m still planning to read it. Hopefully it’s great!

The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty; October 9. Moriarty’s books are usually right up my alley and I’m curious about her take on middle grade; also I resonate with the idea of Extremely Inconvenient Adventures on an almost cellular level.

Young Adult

Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten; July 31. This one could really go either way for me, based on the summary. Sometimes a twisty and complex read is exactly right and sometimes it can feel a little bit like shock value for the sake of being shocking. So we’ll see which way this one falls!

Upcoming HarperCollins books I’m intrigued by

I thought it might be fun to take a look through some upcoming offerings from a particular publisher and picked HarperCollins mostly at random. (Also I have a soft spot for Greenwillow because of Megan Whalen Turner, to be quite honest.) Here are the titles that caught my eye, usually because they’re by an author I’ve liked before. In some cases the subject or the cover also sound interesting.

Middle grade
Ogre Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine; October 16. Do I kind of wish that Levine would stop returning to the same worlds over and over? Yes. Am I going to still read this one? Probably.

YA
And The Ocean Was Our Sky, Patrick Ness; September 4. New Patrick Ness! Because it’s Ness, I’m a bit concerned about how my feelings will be mangled this time.
The Deepest Roots Miranda Asebedo, September 18. Midwestern setting, relationships between girls, interesting premise, therefore I am in.
Pride, Ibi Zoboi; September 18. A retelling of Pride & Prejudice from a rising YA star, this one sounds like it’ll be a really neat take on the classic!
For a Muse of Fire, Heidi Heilig; September 25. The style has been described as lush, which I’m not always a fan of, but the premise sounds amazing, so I’m going for it!
Damsel, Elana K Arnold; October 2. I’m so-so on Arnold’s books, but Damsel sounds like it could be right up my alley.
The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, Mackenzi Lee; October 2. I have misgivings about A Gentleman’s Guide, despite also enjoying it in other ways, so let’s describe my feelings towards this one as wary curiosity.
Sawkill Girls, Claire Legrand; October 16. Claire Legrand! Writing horror! I am pretty sure I will be properly horrified and love it.
A Very Large Expanse of Sea, Tahereh Mafi; October 16. I think (please correct me if I’m wrong) that this is Mafi’s first contemporary novel; it’s a tough subject but a really necessary one.
This Splintered Silence, Kayla Olson; November 13. This mostly caught my eye because it’s YA Science Fiction, and I always want more of that.

Adult
The Black Khan: Book Two of the Khorasan Archives, Ausma Zehanat Khan; October 16. Confession: I still have not read the first book, although I hear it’s good. I’m still intending to soon, though, so I’m putting the second on this list anyway.