So, I missed last week’s reading roundup because I was on vacation – I had a couple of long coach rides and so I really appreciated my audiobooks – I listened to Ruin and Rising, the final book in Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha trilogy and the audiobook of Piper Kerman’s Orange is the New Black.  Reviews have been posted/will be posted soon.

Added to my library this week

I’ve added a few books to my library over the last couple of weeks.  Recently, I have been watching the addictive Orange is the New Black on Netflix and so I had placed a hold on the audiobook.  It came in just in time for my trip, so I enjoyed listening to it.

Two YA trilogies had their final books published last week – the aforementioned Ruin and Rising and Joelle Charbonneau’s Graduation Day, the final book in The Testing trilogy.  I’ve enjoyed these series immensely, and I added both to my library in both Kindle and Audible formats.

Given the current dispute between Amazon and Hachette, I wasn’t too certain if my preorder for Robert Galbraith’s (AKA J.K. Rowling’s) The Silkworm would be honoured.  I had ordered this in Kindle format rather than Kobo or Audible.  However, this is one of the most highly prominent books caught in the dispute between the publisher and the seller and Amazon did finally allow customers to purchase it.  I did smile to note though that the book didn’t download to my Kindle in the wee small hours of the morning, as is usual, but didn’t hit til midmorning.

Over the last week Audible has been running a members only sale with, I believe an extra 25% off.  This meant that a couple of the books in my wishlist came in at around $10.  With my Audible membership one credit (i.e. one book) costs me $11 so that is kind of a magic number for me.  I took advantage of the sale to purchase Amy Tintera’s Reboot, a YA novel in which humans can come back to life as perfect soldiers minus their humanity.  It’s been on my wishlist for a while now, especially as it is narrated by Khristine Hvam.  

I also took advantage of the sale to preorder Rainbow Rowell’s contemporary romance Landline and the third in D.B. Jackson’s series of historical/mystery fantasy blends A Plunder of Souls.  If you’ve not yet checked out his Thieftaker and Thieves Quarry, check out my reviews.

This week is LBD week – by this I mean that the superb Lizzie Bennet Diaries was released on iTunes to coincide with the companion eBook and audiobook (narrated by Lizzie herself, Ashley Clements.)  For those of you unfamiliar with The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, please direct yourselves to my article on An Elizabeth Bennet for the Modern Day.

Upcoming releases for July

I’ve already mentioned a couple of the books I’m really looking forward to in July, Landline and A Plunder of Souls.

On the first of July we have the final instalment in Ian Doescher’s William Shakespeare’s Star Wars, The Jedi Doth Return.  I’ve found Doetcher’s adaptation of George Lucas’s epic into Shakespearean English nothing short of brilliant.  I have preordered this in both Kindle and Audible formats, but given the production quality and the brilliance of the full voice cast, this is one best experienced in audiobook format.  The first book Star Wars: Verily a New Hope was a finalist for the multi-voiced performance Audie award.

Finally, on July 8th we have The Queen of the Tearling – a new epic fantasy by Erika Johansen.  Tor.com has had a sneak preview and I was hooked.  I’ve chosen to preorder it in Audible format as it’s being narrated by the awesome Katherine Kellgren whose work I have enjoyed immensely.

What books are you looking forward to in July?