Welcome to my third Reading Roundup!

In July 2022, I read four novels, one novella, one short story collection, two short stories, three comic anthologies, one comic collection, and three comic books. I got these titles from three library systems, one independent book store, one comic book shop, and Patreon.

Enjoy!

“In the Silences”

• Author: Rachel Gold
• Author URLs: https://rachelgold.com/ and http://www.twitter.com/rachelgold
• Acquisition Type: Borrowed from library.
• Acquired From: Seattle Public Library
• Acquisition URLs: https://www.spl.org/ and https://twitter.com/splbuzz
• Format: Trade Paperback
• Related Works: As far as I know, this is a stand-alone novel. (However, a later book of RG’s may connect it to her other works.)
• Notes: RG is the author I’m most-happy to have learned about, this year. ITS has love, lots of comic book nerdery (mostly Marvel), and honest handling of race and gender.

“The Variants #1”

• Author: Gail Simone
• Author URLs: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gail_Simone and https://twitter.com/GailSimone
• Acquisition Type: Purchased
• Acquired From: Phoenix Comics & Games
• Acquisition URLs: https://shop.phoenixseattle.com/ and https://twitter.com/Phoenix_Comics
• Format: Comic Book
• Related Works: This is issue #1 of a five-issue mini-series. Also, the main character is Jessica Jones of the Marvel Universe, so it’s connected to many other works.
• Notes: I have a feeling that once this mini-series is over, I’m going to want to read it all again. A mystery is building. If you want to learn more about Jessica Jones, here’s her Wikipedia entry: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Jones

“Where the Drowned Girls Go”

• Author: Seanan McGuire
• Author URLs: https://seananmcguire.com/ and https://twitter.com/seananmcguire/
• Acquisition Type: Purchased
• Acquired From: Port Book & News
• Acquisition URLs: https://www.portbooknews.com/ and https://twitter.com/portbookandnews
• Format: Hardback Book (Novella)
• Related Works: This is book seven of the “Wayward Children” series.
• Notes: The first book in this series (“Every Heart a Doorway”) is one of my two favorite books by a living author. A new “Wayward Children” book comes-out every January, and the current list of books in the series may be seen here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayward_Children

“DC Pride 2021”

• Author: Various
• Title URL: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Pride_(comics)
• Acquisition Type: Purchased
• Acquired From: Phoenix Comics & Games
• Acquisition URLs: https://shop.phoenixseattle.com/ and https://twitter.com/Phoenix_Comics
• Format: Hardcover Comic Anthology
• Related Works: “DC Pride 2021” was followed by “DC Pride 2022.” Both books are an anthology of short stories featuring various characters in the DC Universe. So, it’s connected to a lot of other stories. That said, these are stand-alone stories, and you should be able to enjoy them as-is.
• Notes: My favorite story in “DC Pride 2021” was “Date Night” by Nicole Maines, which featured her character of Dreamer/Nia Nal. I’ve adored this character since her first scene in the (Arrowverse) show Supergirl (her coffee-related babble in Supergirl 4×1). Here in “DC Pride 2021” she’s grown, but retains her humor and heart.

“In Safety Rest”

• Author: Seanan McGuire
• Author URLs: https://seananmcguire.com/ and https://twitter.com/seananmcguire/
• Acquisition Type: Patreon Benefit 

• Acquired From: Patreon
• Acquisition URL: https://www.patreon.com/seananmcguire/posts
• Format: Ebook
• Related Works: This is a short story set in SMG’s “October Daye” universe.
• Notes: Every month, SMG has a short story for her Patreon supporters. Sometimes, they’re related to an existing universe of hers (like this one); and sometimes they’re stand-alone.

“Superman: Son of Kal-El vol 1 Truth”

• Author: Tom Taylor
• Author URLs: https://www.instagram.com/tomtaylormade/ and https://twitter.com/TomTaylorMade
• Acquisition Type: Purchased
• Acquired From: Phoenix Comics & Games
• Acquisition URLs: https://shop.phoenixseattle.com/ and https://twitter.com/Phoenix_Comics
• Format: Hardcover Comic Book Collection (this volume collects “Superman: Son of Kal-El” #1-6.)
• Related Works: This volume begins with issue number one, so you don’t need any previous reading before starting this. However, this is part of the DC Universe, and connects to the first superhero; Superman.
• Notes: I knew nothing about Jon Kent (the new Superman in this volume), and I enjoyed it. However, I admit that I read this because I found-out that Dreamer would be appearing in issue number thirteen and I wanted to have some familiarity with the title before I read that issue.

“Court of Venom”

• Author: Kristin Burchell
• Author URLs: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8549057.Kristin_Burchell and https://twitter.com/KristinBurchell
• Acquisition Type: Borrowed from library.
• Acquired From: Multnomah County Library
• Acquisition URLs: https://multcolib.org/ and https://twitter.com/MultCoLib
• Format: Ebook
• Related Works: This is a stand-alone work.
• Notes: It’s a small-scale fantasy, which I like; not the fate of the world, but the struggles of our heroine, those she cares for, and those she’s hurt. Also, it’s influenced by “Rappaccini’s Daughter” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rappaccini%27s_Daughter

“The Shadow in the Glass”

• Author: JJA Harwood
• Author URLs: https://linktr.ee/JJAHarwood and https://twitter.com/JJAHarwood
• Acquisition Type: Borrowed from library.
• Acquired From: Sno-Isle Library
• Acquisition URLs: https://www.sno-isle.org/ and https://twitter.com/snoislelibrary
• Format: Ebook
• Related Works: N/A
• Notes: This is a gothic retelling of Cinderella (more du Maurier than Bronte). It has passages of delicious language, including “The dark spines of the books were rows of windows, waiting for the shutters to be pulled back.” This is JJAH’s first book, and I’m eager for her next one!

“DC Pride 2022”

• Author: Various
• Title URL: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Pride_(comics)
• Acquisition Type: Purchased
• Acquired From: Phoenix Comics & Games
• Acquisition URLs: https://shop.phoenixseattle.com/ and https://twitter.com/Phoenix_Comics
• Format: Softcover Comic Anthology
• Related Works: Please see the “Related Works” section for “DC Pride 2021” (above).
• Notes: My favorite stories in “DC Pride 2022” were “Think of Me” which featured a character who is mixed-race and asexual; and Kevin Conroy’s autobiographical “Finding Batman.”

“Superman: Son of Kal” Issue #13“

• Authors: Nicole Maines and Tom Taylor
• Author URLs: https://streamily.com/nicolemaines and https://twitter.com/nicoleAMaines
• Other Author URLs: https://www.instagram.com/tomtaylormade/ and https://twitter.com/TomTaylorMade
• Acquisition Type: Purchased
• Acquired From: Phoenix Comics & Games
• Acquisition URLs: https://shop.phoenixseattle.com/ and https://twitter.com/Phoenix_Comics
• Format: Comic Book
• Related Works: Please see the Related Works entries of my “DC Pride 2021” and “Superman: Son of Kal-El vol 1 Truth” (above), for comments about Dreamer and Superman.
• Notes: The story with Dreamer in “DC Pride 2021” was in-continuity with the Supergirl show. However, her appearance here in “Superman: Son of Kal-El vol 1 Truth” seems to be a new version of the character who is just starting-out.

“Five Minute Stories Volumes 1 – 5”

• Author: Jennifer Brozek
• Author URLs: http://www.jenniferbrozek.com/ and https://twitter.com/jenniferbrozek
• Acquisition Type: Purchase
• Acquired From: Author (at their table in the Dealer’s Room), at Norwescon.
• Acquisition URLs: https://www.norwescon.org/ and https://twitter.com/norwescon
• Format: Trade Paperback
• Related Works: There’s also a podcast of selected stories from this collection, read by the author. Details here: http://www.apocalypse-ink.com/page/Five-Minute-Stories.aspx
• Notes: This collection includes horror, and related genres; the sort of tales you’d enjoy in The Twilight Zone. JB has a sense of humor that slices through her tales; whether they’re gruesome, bizarre, or thoughtful.

“The Littlest Library”

• Author: Poppy Alexander
• Author URLs: https://poppy-alexander.com/ and https://twitter.com/SarahWaights
• Acquisition Type: Borrowed from library.
• Acquired From: Sno-Isle Library
• Acquisition URLs: https://www.sno-isle.org/ and https://twitter.com/snoislelibrary
• Format: Ebook
• Related Works: N/A
• Notes: Can you imagine being a librarian who opens something like a Little Free Library, while navigating a host of life changes, including romance? That’s this fun read.

“In Mercy, Rain”

• Author: Seanan McGuire
• Author URLs: https://seananmcguire.com/ and https://twitter.com/seananmcguire/
• Acquisition Type: Posted to publisher’s website.
• Acquired From: Tor.com
• Acquisition URLs: https://www.tor.com/2022/07/18/in-mercy-rain-seanan-mcguire/ and https://twitter.com/tordotcom/status/1549062691020496897
• Format: Web Page (Short Story)
• Related Works: This is a short story set in SMG’s “Wayward Children” universe.
• Notes: This work features my favorite character in the “Wayward Children” stories; Miss Jack Wolcott!

“Marvel’s Voices: Pride (2022) #1”

• Author: Various
• Title URLs: https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/101168/marvels_voices_pride_2022_1 and https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/marvels-voices-pride-1-2022-complete-guide
• Acquisition Type: Purchased
• Acquired From: Phoenix Comics & Games
• Acquisition URLs: https://shop.phoenixseattle.com/ and https://twitter.com/Phoenix_Comics
• Format: Softcover Comic Anthology
• Related Works: This Pride-themed issue is part of Marvel’s Voices series, each issue of which highlights various identities and communities. Like the two “DC Pride” anthologies, these stories are standalone, but connect to a wider comic book universe (the Marvel Universe, in this case).
• Notes: My favorite stories in “Marvel’s Voices: Pride (2022) #1” were “Permanent Sleepover” and “All My Exes in the Nexus.”

“The Variants #2”

• Author: Gail Simone
• Author URLs: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gail_Simone and https://twitter.com/GailSimone
• Acquisition Type: Purchased
• Acquired From: Phoenix Comics & Games
• Acquisition URLs: https://shop.phoenixseattle.com/ and https://twitter.com/Phoenix_Comics
• Format: Comic Book
• Related Works: This is issue #2 of a five-issue mini-series. Also, the main character is Jessica Jones of the Marvel Universe, so it’s connected to many other works.
• Notes: Please see my Notes for “The Variants #1,” above.

And that wraps-up my Reading Roundup for July 2022. I’ll see you again for August’s!

Love,
Library Girl

https://library-girl.com and https://twitter.com/librarygirl/

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