It's been a long time since I did a books I bought this week, but decided that with everything else going on to spread out some book loving vibes.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. I can't wait for this one, have heard it's dark so may wait to read on a day I am doing a bit better. I cannot take a book that makes me cry right now.

In the Woods by Tana French. Already read and loved, but wanted a permanent book for my shelves.

Circe by Madeline Miller. I gave up hoping to get this via my library. After being number one thousand or whatever it is, I was just forget about it and bought it. 

I don't mind showing the books I bought once a week since I hope it showcases books out there that many here at Booklikes may not know are coming out or are already out. Doing a weekly TBR list was too much to track. My holds and borrows at the library at this point are out of control. 

The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi

Release date: March 21, 2017

Our universe is ruled by physics. Faster-than-light travel is impossible—until the discovery of the Flow, an extradimensional field available at certain points in space-time, which can take us to other planets around other stars.

Riding the Flow, humanity spreads to innumerable other worlds. Earth is forgotten. A new empire arises, the Interdependency, based on the doctrine that no one human outpost can survive without the others. It’s a hedge against interstellar war—and, for the empire’s rulers, a system of control.

The Flow is eternal—but it’s not static. Just as a river changes course, the Flow changes as well. In rare cases, entire worlds have been cut off from the rest of humanity. When it’s discovered that the entire Flow is moving, possibly separating all human worlds from one another forever, three individuals—a scientist, a starship captain, and the emperox of the Interdependency—must race against time to discover what, if anything, can be salvaged from an interstellar empire on the brink of collapse.

The Boy on the Bridge (Extended Free Preview) by M.R. Carey

Release Date: February 14, 2017

Once upon a time, in a land blighted by terror, there was a very clever boy.

The people thought the boy could save them, so they opened their gates and sent him out into the world.

To where the monsters lived.

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Release Date: March 28, 2017

Gauri, the princess of Bharata, has been taken as a prisoner of war by her kingdom’s enemies. Faced with a future of exile and scorn, Gauri has nothing left to lose. Hope unexpectedly comes in the form of Vikram, the cunning prince of a neighboring land and her sworn enemy kingdom. Unsatisfied with becoming a mere puppet king, Vikram offers Gauri a chance to win back her kingdom in exchange for her battle prowess. Together, they’ll have to set aside their differences and team up to win the Tournament of Wishes – a competition held in a mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor.

Reaching the tournament is just the beginning. Once they arrive, danger takes on new shapes: poisonous courtesans and mischievous story birds, a feast of fears and twisted fairy revels.

Every which way they turn new trials will test their wit and strength. But what Gauri and Vikram will soon discover is that there’s nothing more dangerous than what they most desire.

Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs

Release Date: March 7, 2017

Attacked and abducted in her home territory, Mercy finds herself in the clutches of the most powerful vampire in the world, taken as a weapon to use against alpha werewolf Adam and the ruler of the Tri-Cities vampires. In coyote form, Mercy escapes—only to find herself without money, without clothing, and alone in the heart of Europe...
 
Unable to contact Adam and the rest of the pack, Mercy has allies to find and enemies to fight, and she needs to figure out which is which. Ancient powers stir, and Mercy must be her agile best to avoid causing a war between vampires and werewolves, and between werewolves and werewolves. And in the heart of the ancient city of Prague, old ghosts rise...

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So thanks to a few B&N gift cards and BookOutlet's amazing Boxing Day sale, I was able to splurge and get a ridiculously awesome book haul this month! I also included a Blonde Eskimo by the fabulous, Kristen Hunt which I got in the mail from the Author this week. Which ended up pushing my total number of books for this haul to a whopping 40! And I'm loving the BookOutlet Bear that was a free gift I received with my order! As promised, here's a few snapshots of all my new preciouses!

 The sarcastic grin on my BookOutlet Bear's face is the BEST lol. My shelves are now officially overflowing, but it was totally worth it! Anyone else get a nice haul recently too? I'd love to hear about it, or see some pics! Happy Reading everyone!

Day 4!  Well my day didn't go exactly how I had planned.  Once home from the vet I started on house work that turned into me sort of deep cleaning my office.  Which then turned into me dealing with the after effects of taking the little dude to the vets.  Between the car ride and the meds he got a little sick.  So the blanket fort turned into a nest, because if I'm up moving around most of the time so is Maxwell.  So I got a bit of reading done while he slept off his upset stomach.  Monstrous is nearly halfway finished and I'm a section farther into Quotable Doctor Who.  But, between Maxwell's purring and the nest I took a nap.  Now I've cooked dinner, caught up with my sister's day, and doing a post before diving back into my nest to read the night away.  

The Bout Challenge today is from Bingeing On Book, and I think it's my favorite one of the week.  It's the Villain Mash-Up and I knew immediately who my first villain would be.  Jim Moriarty.

Maybe it's because the Sherlock special just aired and Andrew Scott's portrayal of the Professor amuses me to no end, but it could also my that I've been Sherlockian long before I knew what a Sherlockian was.  So when asked to pit two villains up against each other, it was no hard reach to know who my first choice would be.

So who would I put Professor Moriarty up against?  It honestly didn't take me long to think of worthy adversary.  One of my favorite fantasy series I've stumbled across is Joe Abercrombie's First Law Series.  So for villain number two I picked Bayaz.

  VS    

Personally I feel this would be the ultimate battle of wits and patience.  Moriarty is called the Napoleon of Crime for a reason.  His schemes were well thought out down to the last detail.  The Professor was the only man smart enough to out smart Sherlock Holmes.  So he needs an adversary just as smart.  I think Bayaz is that man.  Bayaz waited years for his revenge and he set the stage for it perfectly.  He played every single person around him so well none of them realized what was happening until it was so late.  In a book where everyone lost, Bayaz managed to win.  In fact I think they would get bored of trying to out smart each other, and if that happened Moriarty would find a way to neutralize Bayaz's magical ability.  Personally I don't think the Magi stands a chance, but I think it would a sight to behold those to battling it out.  Even if my money was on the Math Professor the whole time.