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There are a ton of awesome books coming out in May 2022. Let's look at 4 that I'm desperate to read.

                                     May 2022 New Book Releases

THE HALF-LIFE OF RUBY FIELDING BY LYDIA KANG

Adult Historical Mystery

May 1, 2022

Brooklyn, 1942. War rages overseas as brother and sister Will and Maggie Scripps contribute to the war effort stateside. Ambitious Will secretly scouts for the Manhattan Project while grief-stricken Maggie works at the Navy Yard, writing letters to her dead mother between shifts.

But the siblings’ quiet lives change when they discover a beautiful woman hiding under their back stairs. This stranger harbors an obsession with poisons, an affection for fine things, and a singular talent for killing small creatures. As she draws Will and Maggie deeper into her mysterious past, they both begin to suspect she’s quite dangerous―all while falling helplessly under her spell.

With whispers of spies in dark corners and the world’s first atomic bomb in the works, the visitor’s sudden presence in Maggie’s and Will’s lives raises questions about who she is and what she wants. Is this mysterious woman someone they can trust―or a threat to everything they hold dear?

Why I'm excited to read it: Well, that plot summary took an unexpected twist. I was prepared to say, "Yet another WWII novel" and keep scrolling, but then there was a beautiful poisonous woman under the stairs. Now I have to read it. I need to know her backstory.

Buy it on Amazon

THE OTHER MOTHER BY RACHEL M. HARPER

Adult Literary Fiction

May 3, 2022

Raised by a single mother in Miami, Florida, Jenry Castillo, newly arrived at Brown University on a music scholarship, finds himself searching for information about his late father Jasper Patterson, an internationally recognized principal ballet dancer who died tragically when Jenry was two. Jenry thinks his estranged grandfather, Winston Patterson, a professor of African American history at Brown and a titan in his field, might have the answers he seeks. Already more than a little intimidating, Winston explodes Jenry’s world with one question: Why is the young man so interested in his son Jasper? It was Winston’s daughter, Juliet, who was his mother’s lover. Juliet is the parent he should be looking for—his other mother.

Why I'm excited to read it: If you like literary fiction about messy families, you should read Rachel M. Harper's other book, This Side Of Providence. It has some of the most realistic child characters I've ever read. Bring on the complicated family secrets! This book sounds like it's packed with them.

Buy it on Amazon

THE HACIENDA BY ISABEL CAÑAS

Adult Historical Horror

May 3, 2022

In the overthrow of the Mexican government, Beatriz’s father is executed and her home destroyed. When handsome Don Rodolfo Solórzano proposes, Beatriz ignores the rumors surrounding his first wife’s sudden demise, choosing instead to seize the security his estate in the countryside provides. She will have her own home again, no matter the cost.

But Hacienda San Isidro is not the sanctuary she imagined.

When Rodolfo returns to work in the capital, visions and voices invade Beatriz’s sleep. The weight of invisible eyes follows her every move. Rodolfo’s sister, Juana, scoffs at Beatriz’s fears—but why does she refuse to enter the house at night? Why does the cook burn copal incense at the edge of the kitchen and mark its doorway with strange symbols? What really happened to the first Doña Solórzano?

Beatriz only knows two things for certain: Something is wrong with the hacienda. And no one there will help her.

Desperate for help, she clings to the young priest, Padre Andrés, as an ally. No ordinary priest, Andrés will have to rely on his skills as a witch to battle the malevolent presence haunting the hacienda.

Far from a refuge, San Isidro may be Beatriz’s doom.

Why I'm excited to read it: Early reviewers are comparing it to Mexican Gothic and Rebecca. I enjoyed both of those books. I hope this one is a bit faster paced, though.

Buy it on Amazon

ZACHARY YING AND THE DRAGON EMPEROR BY XIRAN JAY ZHAO

Middle Grade Fantasy

May 10, 2022

Zachary Ying never had many opportunities to learn about his Chinese heritage. His single mom was busy enough making sure they got by, and his schools never taught anything except Western history and myths. So Zack is woefully unprepared when he discovers he was born to host the spirit of the First Emperor of China for a vital mission: sealing the leaking portal to the Chinese underworld before the upcoming Ghost Month blows it wide open.

The mission takes an immediate wrong turn when the First Emperor botches his attempt to possess Zack’s body and binds to Zack’s AR gaming headset instead, leading to a battle where Zack’s mom’s soul gets taken by demons. Now, with one of history’s most infamous tyrants yapping in his headset, Zack must journey across China to heist magical artifacts and defeat figures from history and myth, all while learning to wield the emperor’s incredible water dragon powers.

And if Zack can’t finish the mission in time, the spirits of the underworld will flood into the mortal realm, and he could lose his mom forever.

Why I'm excited to read it: The Percy Jackson vibes are strong. If your kid likes that series, you should probably look into this book. It seems like it has the same modern, funny take on ancient mythology. Goodreads calls it "hilarious" and "action-packed."

Buy it on Amazon

Which May book releases are you looking forward to reading?