It’s time to play “guess that book” and also watch our TBRs weep.

Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and is all about the first line of a current/upcoming read. Friday 56 is a meme hosted by Freda’s Voice, where you turn to page 56 (or 56%) in what you’re reading a find a snippet that jumps out at you.

Click To Reveal The Book

Tristan Strong, just back from a victorious but exhausting adventure in Alke, the land of African American folk heroes and African gods, is suffering from PTSD. But there’s no rest for the weary when his grandmother is abducted by a mysterious villain out for revenge. Tristan must return to Alke–and reunite with his loud-mouthed sidekick, Gum Baby–in order to rescue Nana and stop the culprit from creating further devastation. Anansi, now a “web developer” in Tristan’s phone, is close at hand to offer advice, and several new folk heroes will aid Tristan in his quest, but he will only succeed if he can figure out a way to sew broken souls back together.

✿ It’s the sequel to one of my favorite releases of last year!
✿ You’re aaaaall sick of hearing me talk about this series by now, I’m sure.
✿ (And yet you all haven’t read it yet. Yeah, I’m judging you.)
✿ (Gum Baby is judging you, too.)
✿ A world full of adventure and magic.
✿ A middle grade book tackling grief and healing in a healthy way.
✿ A world where African American folklore and gods are real.
✿ Anansi. If not for me, read it for him, okay?
✿ Close friend and family bonds!

This is a weekly meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook meant to take place on Mondays, but since Fridays tend to be my TBR-focused post, I’ve decided to combine them here. Next Monday’s prompt is: books about books.

This is one of my favorite type of tropes! So I can’t say it was particularly hard finding books on my list that fit it. Actually, this is probably one of the fastest ways to get me to read a book these days. What can I say? I’m predictable.

               

I was supposed to have read Deal With the Devil already, buuuut … 2020 has been a bit of a dumpster fire, and I’m behind on virtually everything. I’m still super excited for this one, though! Mercenary librarians? Heck yes, sign me up for aaaall of this.

Oh, look, another book I was supposed to have read already! I’m totally killing this book blogger thing, obviously. I’ve been really looking forward to The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, because not only does it involve books (always a win), but it’s got magical fighting booksellers. Whaaaat? I clearly need more of this in my life.

This next one is a little different, in that it’s less about books, per se, and more about the things that make them … namely, characters! Escaping Ordinary is the second book in a series about characters trying to learn what they need in order to earn themselves a place in a book, be that as a hero, villain, side character, or cameo.

I read Ink and Bone in … 2018 , I think? I really enjoyed it, and I’ve been meaning to finish the series. It just … hasn’t happened yet. Oops? The name Paper and Fire doesn’t bode particularly well, because I think we all know those two don’t mix. Or technically, they mix a little too well. However you want to look at it. But a dystopian series about a Great Library? Sounds like me.

Another one on the list that’s a tad bit different. While The Librarian of Auschwitz absolutely does deal with books (and it’s got “librarian” in the title, so it earns bonus points), it’s the only one here that’s not a fantasy. Instead, this is historical fiction about World War II (my favorite HF time period, for some strange reason … don’t ask because I couldn’t tell you). I know this will absolutely destroy my feels and whatever’s left of my soul, but it’s all good.

What are you reading this Friday? Let me know in the comments or drop your own Friday link.