There is still a lot of buzz in the publishing industry about the collaboration between China Mieville and Keanu Reeves on The Book of Elsewhere, which technically came out on July 23rd but deserves a mention here.
And yes, I’m talking about actor Keanu Reeves. Reeves released his 12-issue comic (BRZRKR) in 2021, with the first issue selling a whopping 615,000 copies. Shortly after the comic’s release, Reeves expressed a desire to collaborate with Mieville, a renowned science fiction author, on a story set in an alternate BRZRKR world.
Reeves is not afraid to admit that he didn’t write anything. However, Mieville has also claimed that The Book of Elsewhere would not exist without Reeves’ immense contribution. Critics have praised Reeves for softening Meiville, who is known for his excessive attention to detail.
“A Sorceress Comes To Call” by T. Kingfisher (August 6) is about Cordelia, a girl with a bizarre life. She lives alone with her evil mother, a sorceress, in a house with no doors, and her only companion is a white horse. Her mother expects Cordelia to remain still and motionless for days, and the girl has no choice but to obey.
When unexpected circumstances force her to move into a mansion with a wealthy squire and his kind sister, Cordelia must act quickly before her mother’s gloom engulfs her new roommates. The book is a grim retelling of The Goose Girl by the Brothers Grimm, Kingfisher adds a spooky and macabre layer to this already disturbing fairy tale.
Their version of the story emphasizes the horrors and lasting effects of parental abuse. The Mercy Of Gods by James A. Corey (August 6) has captivated readers because James A. Corey is also responsible for the highly suspenseful book series that eventually became The Expanse, hailed by some as the best science fiction adaptation of all time.
In The Mercy of Gods, Dafyd Alkhor is a scientist living on Anjiin, a planet with a lost history. His life changes dramatically and without warning when the Carryx descend, destroying his world and stealing Anjiin’s best and brightest minds. It’s not long before Dafyd finds himself in a fight for survival against other Carryx prisoners.
Early reviews have described The Mercy of Gods as another triumph for Corey, a brilliant and compelling book full of layered characters. Between Dragons And Their Wrath by Devin Madson (August 27) takes readers to a world where the kingdom of Paicha is splintered into city-states.
While various forces plot behind the scenes to unite the realm, fate sends three disparate souls on a harrowing mission to change fate. There’s Tesha, an apprentice glassblower who becomes a tribute bride in the enemy’s court, where she hopes to sow discord.
And then there’s Naili, a washerwoman who awakens strange powers but struggles with the idea of either hiding them or using her gifts to shape the world. And finally, Ash is a dragon rider whose days of protecting towns from monsters come to an abrupt end when hunters uncover the secret of dragon slaying.
A Spectre Is Haunting Greentree by Carson Winter (August 15) has an eerie and evocative cover. The protagonist is Carina, an introverted girl who escapes her abusive ex and tries to start a new life in Greentree, Oregon.
However, the town is unlike any Carina has ever visited; everyone is rich, the community has too many scarecrows. Carina must uncover the town’s secrets before it’s too late. This book has been described as “folk horror” and has all the hallmarks you’d expect from the genre, including isolated communities and violent cults.
Well, enjoy reading.
