Updates, New Books, Pre-Orders, & 2021 Favorite Reads
Dear Reader,
I'm thrilled to share that my second novel, House of Hunger, will release on September 27th this year, but it's available for pre-order now! A brief description of the story below...
WANTED - Bloodmaid of exceptional taste. Must have a keen proclivity for life’s finer pleasures. Girls of weak will need not apply.
A young woman is drawn into the upper echelons of a society where blood is power, in this dark and enthralling gothic novel from the author of The Year of the Witching.
Marion Shaw has been raised in the slums, where want and deprivation is all she knows. Despite longing to leave the city and its miseries, she has no real hope of escape until the day she spots a peculiar listing in the newspaper, seeking a bloodmaid.
Though she knows little about the far north—where wealthy nobles live in luxury and drink the blood of those in their service—Marion applies to the position. In a matter of days, she finds herself the newest bloodmaid at the notorious House of Hunger. There, Marion is swept into a world of dark debauchery—and at the center of it all is her.
Countess Lisavet, who presides over this hedonistic court, is loved and feared in equal measure. She takes a special interest in Marion. Lisavet is magnetic, and Marion is eager to please her new mistress. But when her fellow bloodmaids begin to go missing in the night, Marion is thrust into a vicious game of cat and mouse. She’ll need to learn the rules of her new home—and fast—or its halls will soon become her grave.
House of Hunger is the most vicious novel I've ever written. It features a train that may or may not be fueled by blood, the darkest of "romances", taxidermy, debauchery, and lots of teeth. I really hope that you'll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I know some of you may be wondering what happened to the sequel to The Year of the Witching. To put it simply, 2020-2021 were really tough years for me and I found it immensely difficult to write a story about the aftermath of a pandemic while actively living through one. I'm sorry if this news comes as a disappointment to you, but I still hope you'll support House of Hunger because it's a book I put my blood, sweat, tears, and whole heart into.
I'll have more cover-related stuff to share with you all really soon! But until then, you can pre-order House of Hunger, add it on Goodreads, and follow me on Twitter or Instagram so you'll be the first to hear about any and all new updates!
I also want to share another project that I'm super excited to be participating in…the paranormal romance anthology Eternally Yours which was spearheaded by the brilliant Patrice Caldwell! Eternally Yours releases in August, but it’s already available for pre-order. I don’t want to say too much about my story until more info about the anthology is formally announced, but here’s a hint:
I want to highlight a few of the books I read in 2021 that I immensely enjoyed.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang: A novel that was easily one of the most horrific, non-horror books that I've ever read. It's compulsively readable.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt: This book was immersive, tense, and so consuming. I loved every page of it.
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca: This book was disturbing, depraved, and downright nasty, so naturally I loved it.
Cackle by Rachel Harrison: The creepy comfort read of my dreams! I dare you to find a more perfect Halloween read, but I recommend it for any time of the year.
The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith: A wonderfully witchy book written by a wonderful person! This one is such a gem!
The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec: A gorgeous Norse fantasy that moved me to tears. I can’t recommend it enough!
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds: A beautifully rendered novel in verse written by an author I really look up to. This one also made me cry. A lot.
Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon: No comments from the smut slanderers. This book was a lot of fun and super engaging. It gets bonus points for making me blush.
My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite: Short, smart, and deliciously pulpy (in the best way). Loved it!
Wild and Wicked Things by Francis Dorcitt: A whimsical and engaging debut that releases this year! I highly recommend pre-ordering this one!
The Blood Trials by Nia Davenport: Another 2022 debut that I loved! Be sure to pre-order it!
Tender is The Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica: A deeply disturbing novel with an A++ premise.
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas: Yet another jaw-dropping 2022 debut by an immensely talented author! And this one's a gothic!
Slewfoot by Brom: An eldritch and witchy read that I highly recommend! It's immersive and at times terrifying. It's easily one of the most gorgeous books on my shelf. You'll want the hardcover version of this one!
I have too many anticipated reads for 2022 to list here, but here are some of the ones I'm extra excited about...
That's all for now! But before I go, I want to say a huge thank you to all of the bloggers, readers, booksellers, librarians, and fellow authors who have supported and encouraged me over the past few years. I feel so grateful to be a part of this community.
Take care of yourselves!
With love,
Alexis