Can't-Wait Wednesday: Infinity Gate by M.R. Carey, A Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgen, & The Curator by Owen King

    

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlights are: 

Infinity Gate (Pandominion #1) by M.R. Carey
Publication: March 28th, 2023
Orbit
Paperback. 544 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"From the author of the bestselling The Girl With All the Gifts comes a brilliant new genre-defying story of humanity's expansion across millions of dimensions, and the AI technology that might see it all come to an end. Perfect for readers of The Space Between Worlds and Adrian Tchaikovsky. 

INFINITY IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.

The Pandominion: a political and trading alliance of a million worlds – except that they’re really just the one world, Earth, in many different realities. And when an AI threat arises that could destroy everything the Pandominion has built, they'll eradicate it by whatever means necessary, no matter the cost to human life.

Scientist Hadiz Tambuwal is looking for a solution to her own Earth’s environmental collapse when she stumbles across the secret of inter-dimensional travel. It could save everyone on her dying planet, but now she’s walked into the middle of a war on a scale she never dreamed of.

And she needs to choose a side before it kills her"

I'm very excited to see what Carey can do with a sci-fi story like this! And I'm always a sucker for AI-gone-wrong stories, so this is definitely grabbing my eye.

A Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgen
Publication: March 28th, 2023
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Hardcover. 368 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Ren Monroe has spent four years proving she’s one of the best wizards in her generation. But top marks at Balmerick University will mean nothing if she fails to get recruited into one of the major houses. Enter Theo Brood. If being rich were a sin, he’d already be halfway to hell. After a failed and disastrous party trick, fate has the two of them crossing paths at the public waxway portal the day before holidays—Theo’s punishment is to travel home with the scholarship kids. Which doesn’t sit well with any of them.

A fight breaks out. In the chaos, the portal spell malfunctions. All six students are snatched from the safety of the school’s campus and set down in the middle of nowhere. And one of them is dead on arrival.

If anyone can get them through the punishing wilderness with limited magical reserves it’s Ren. She’s been in survival mode her entire life. But no magic could prepare her for the tangled secrets the rest of the group is harboring, or for what’s following them through the dark woods…"

This sounds a little old school in a way and I think it sounds like a lot of fun. Can't wait to check this one out!

The Curator by Owen King
Publication: March 7th, 2023
Scribner
Hardcover. 480 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"From New York Times bestselling author Owen King comes a Dickensian fantasy of illusion and charm where cats are revered as religious figures, thieves are noble, scholars are revolutionaries, and conjurers are the most wonderful criminals you can imagine.

It begins in an unnamed city nicknamed “the Fairest”, it is distinguished by many things from the river fair to the mountains that split the municipality in half; its theaters and many museums; the Morgue Ship; and, like all cities, but maybe especially so, by its essential unmappability.

Dora, a former domestic servant at the university has a secret desire—to find where her brother went after he died, believing that the answer lies within The Museum of Psykical Research, where he worked when Dora was a child. With the city amidst a revolutionary upheaval, where citizens like Robert Barnes, her lover and a student radical, are now in positions of authority, Dora contrives to gain the curatorship of the half-forgotten museum only to find it all but burnt to the ground, with the neighboring museums oddly untouched. Robert offers her one of these, The National Museum of the Worker. However, neither this museum, nor the street it is hidden away on, nor Dora herself, are what they at first appear to be. Set against the backdrop of a nation on the verge of collapse, Dora’s search for the truth behind the mystery she’s long concealed will unravel a monstrous conspiracy and bring her to the edge of worlds."

I have an ARC of this that I started a little while back and set down at the time, but as it gets closer to release I'm getting more and more excited to pick it back up!

Review: The Trials of Koli (Rampart Trilogy #2) by M.R. Carey

The Trials of Koli (Rampart Trilogy #2) by M.R. Carey
Orbit
Publication Date: September 17th, 2020
Paperback. 445 pages.

About The Trials of Koli:

"The Trials of Koli is the second novel in M R. Carey’s breathtakingly original Rampart trilogy, set in a strange and deadly world of our own making.

 

Beyond the walls of Koli’s small village lies a fearsome landscape filled with choker trees, vicious beasts and shunned men. As an exile, Koli’s been forced to journey out into this mysterious, hostile world. But he heard a story, once. A story about lost London, and the mysterious tech of the Old Times that may still be there. If Koli can find it, there may still be a way for him to redeem himself – by saving what’s left of humankind."

I'm slowly catching up on some series I fell behind on, and The Trials of Koli was one that I had been particularly anticipating, though I also felt a bit nervous going into it. When I first read The Book of Koli, I recall being a bit unsure at the start before being slowly sucked into the story--this time there was no 'warming-up' period and I was immediately captivated once again by this world and the characters that inhabit it. Before diving into this review, just a head's up that there may be minor spoilers for the first book, but there will be no spoilers for this book!

In the first book, we followed only Koli's perspective, but in the sequel we have a new perspective added from Spinner, a girl from Mythen Rood that played a minor role in the previous book as someone that Koli loved. I really appreciated Carey's choice to include this perspective since it allows readers to continue following events that occurr in Mythen Rood after Koli's departure, as well as simply allow readers to get a new perspective and explore a new role from someone living in Mythen Rood. If you've read the first book, then you may recall that Koi's narrative voice is a unique one that has a certain 'uneducated' style to it since the current world setting is one that lacks a lot of the technology and education that once existed. With Spinner's point of view, I was impressed by how well Carey set her voice apart from Koli's and how much more dimension it added to this world to hear from different people. Spinner herself is  a compelling character with such a strong voice and personality that I really grew to admire her and couldn't help but feel captivated by her own journey in this book that is vastly different from Koli's in a lot of ways, but also surprisingly similar in many other ways. 

Koli remains a character that feels oddly relatable in all the best ways. He's rather naive to many things about the world, but he's certainly not stupid and has no problem catching onto things and ideas pretty quickly. Although this was also apparent in the first book, I found his goodhearted nature even more prominent in this book--Koli really is someone with good intentions and who cares about people in general, but circumstances often make it difficult for him to be able to trust people or allow his kindness to take precedence. His first journey into the world outside of Mythen Rood continues in this book, and I found myself enjoying his discoveries--both amazing and tragic--along his journey immensely.

Monono Aware, the Dreamsleeve tech Koli took from Mythen Rood, a girl named Cup, and the healer Ursula (and her Drudge, of course!) accompany Koli on his journey, and I this was such a ragtag sort of group that I couldn't help but love their dynamics. There's a lot of bickering and uncertainty, but also plenty of heart and excitement that was a part of this group. There's also a lot of sadness plaguing this group that emerges in a variety of forms, from anger to distrust and more, and I think this is what really allows us to get to know these characters and for their relationship dynamics to grow and develop in authentic ways that really allowed me to connect with them and care about each one. 

The world-building created in The Book of Koli really gets to expand a lot in this book as we continue to explore what's left of the world outside of Mythen Rood, and these re some of the elements that I was particularly excited about. This is a world leftover from a post-apocalyptic event and the Unfinished War, where the population has been rather decimated and people live in groups scattered throughout what's left. There are cultural changes, major environmental differences that readers discover, and a world in which there are now some rather dangerous trees and other creatures that pose grave threats to inhabitants. I was pleased that we got to learn more about these "choker seeds" that come from the violent trees, as well as more about the trees themselves, as this was something that I felt wasn't developed enough in the first book and left me wanting more--and we finally got more!

One thing that I have really loved about this series so far is Carey's ability to tackle so many prominent themes in ways that feel so natural and fitting to the story. For instance, there are some discussions about Cup being a trans woman that explores the difficulties that accompany this experience, as well as themes of acceptance that go beyond Cup's experience and allows the characters within the book to reflect on things, as well as readers themselves. 

I also read this book switching between the audiobook and the physical book, and I just want to note that the audiobook is truly well-done and I enjoyed it immensely. Theo Solomon and Saffroon Coomber, narrators for Koli's perspective and Spinners, respectively, were excellent in their roles and captured the personalities of each character extremely well. As someone who is new to audiobooks and has always struggled with focus, I was immersed in seconds and found it a highly enjoyable experience.

Overall, I've given The Trials of Koli 4.5 stars! I cannot wait to read the final book in this trilogy, which will be released next week!

 *I received a copy of The Trials of Koli courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*   

Buy the book: Amazon | IndieBound

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Book of Koli by M.R. Carey & Don't Call the Wolf by Aleksandra Ross

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlights are: 

The Book of Koli by M.R. Carey
Publication: April 14th, 2020

Orbit

Paperback. 416 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

From Goodreads:

"The first in a gripping new trilogy, The Book of Koli charts the journey of one unforgettable young boy struggling to find his place in a chilling post-apocalyptic world. Perfect for readers of Station Eleven and Annihilation. 

Beyond the walls of the small village of Mythen Rood lies an unrecognizable world. A world where overgrown forests are filled with choker trees and deadly vines and seeds that will kill you where you stand. And if they don't get you, one of the dangerous shunned men will. 

Koli has lived in Mythen Rood his entire life. He knows the first rule of survival is that you don't venture beyond the walls. 

What he doesn't know is -- what happens when you aren't given a choice?"

I'm always down for more post-apocalyptic novels and this one sounds like it has a particularly unique concept attached that I am so excited to check out. My request to Orbit for a copy is already in, so hopefully I get a chance to read it!

and...

Don't Call the Wolf by Aleksandra Ross

Publication: April 28th, 2020

HarperTeen

Hardcover. 512 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

From Goodreads:

"Fans of Leigh Bardugo and Holly Black will devour this gorgeously imagined fantasy about a dark forest besieged by monsters—and the wild queen who has sworn to drive them out. 

A fierce young queen, neither human nor lynx, who fights to protect a forest humans have long abandoned. 

An exhausted young soldier, last of his name, who searches for the brother who disappeared beneath those trees without a trace. 

A Golden Dragon, fearsome and vengeful, whose wingbeats haunt their nightmares and their steps. 

When these three paths cross at the fringes of a war between monsters and men, shapeshifter queen and reluctant hero strike a deal that may finally turn the tide against the rising hordes of darkness. Ren will help Lukasz find his brother…if Lukasz promises to slay the Dragon. 

But promises are all too easily broken."

I love this gorgeous cover and I this book just sounds so magical and captivating. Really hoping to have a chance to read it, it sounds wonderful!

What do you think about these upcoming releases? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?