Waiting on Wednesday #750

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

BING'S CHERRIES 
BY LIVIA BLACKBURNE & JULIA KUO 

Goodreads Description:

A modern American tall tale woven by a girl and her father about Ah Bing, the Chinese immigrant behind the Pacific Northwest's most delicious cherries.

You've heard of a Bing cherry, but did you know the story of the Chinese American immigrant for whom the dark, luscious cherry is named?

Long ago, Ah Bing was a father who travelled across the sea from China looking for work. It was in Oregon where he met a man who hired him to work in his orchards, where eventually, Bing cultivated the delicious cherries we know of today.

But what was it that made this man and the cherries he made so special? a young girl wonders as she sits together with her father, enjoying cherries from their backyard. Weaving together cultural memory, historical fact, and her own imagination, the young girl imagines a narrative of Ah Bing that is as larger than life and as sweet as his namesake.

With touching text and lush illustrations, Livia Blackburne and Julia Kuo forge an unforgettable Chinese American folktale that has largely been untold. The backmatter includes a letter from the author and illustrator, as well as a recipe!

Format: 48 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: March 10, 2026 by Alfred a Knopf Inc
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Another historical tale by Livia. <3 I think it's another picture book, and I am so excited for it. I so love reading books by Livia. And her illustrated history stories have been awesome :) This sounds so good.
What are you waiting for on this delicious Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #747

Meh. I'm not doing that much better this week. All of me hurts. But finished taking the pills, and I guess I got better with them. Not fully fine, but better. Hoping I don't get worse now that I am out of pills, though. Ack. But the rest of me is still exhausted. Ugh. But I'm trying my best :) Still walking daily on my treadmill. And doing my daily walks outside too. But nothing is working. Ruude. This week I took instagram photos outside twice. So 24 photos total. Happy with that. <3 And ahhh. I got all the best mail, eee :D Loving it all so so so much. <3 And started reading A Rose of Blood and Binding :) Which I am loving to pieces. Sigh. Finishing it early next week :) This week I'm waiting on A Dance of Lies :) Hope you are all doing well. <3

Empire of the Dawn + The Rose Field + The House Saphir + Better in Black + Unraveled + A Rose of Blood and Binding ARC + Claire Legrand Swag + Six of Crows Swag. Eeee! Big package arrived from America, from my lovely friend Theresa. <3 Thank you so, so much love for helping me get all of these goodies to Norway, eee :D You are the very best. All the hugs. <3 I am so happy and so thankful. Loving it all so much :) I bought all the books at the top from Barnes and Noble, all exclusive editions. I miss the days when they shipped to Norway. Sigh. Loving all these editions, though :D And ahhh! The ARC of A Rose of Blood and Binding I got from the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca. <3 Thank you so so much. I am so excited and so happy to complete my Claire collection, eee. I'm currently reading it and loving it so very much :) Then the gorgeous swag from the first two books. Sigh. From publisher, shipped to my US friend. <3 So precious. Same with the Leigh Bardugo swag, eee. Such great quality. I love it to so. <3
K-Pop Demon Hunters. Bought a full set of the pins to get all six; they are gorgeous :D So glad that I got them. Hope to sell my doubles, though, ack. And last week I bought the chase Jinu at a local store, for over twice the price.. and then this week my toy store suddenly got in tons of the pop figures. Several chases. And so cheap. Siiiigh. That hurt my heart, haha. And so I could not resist. Now own two, haha :)
Funko Europe. Oops. I could not stop myself from buying more pop figures, haha :D New The Lord of the Rings, eee. And I love them so. And Pikachu. And Olaf. And Harry Potter too. I just love all of them. <3
Super Mario. Almost forgot these. Was a sale at my toy store, and I love Mario, so I bought them. Oops :)

Pop Mart. Eeeee. I got too much goodies this week, ha :D I bought three more Disney cube figures. Got three new ones. So cute. Got one of my favorites, Tigger :D Love. I got the Skullpanda x My Melody from Whoopea, as aliexpress pop mart never shipped it to Norway. And she is beautiful. And a small pop bean figure. Not the one I wanted, but cute and tiny. Bought a third Pucky Tap Tap Babies, and got more lucky this time. No pink, but I got the cat one. It is gorgeous. And then.. new Zimomo :D AHHH! My baby. He is precious. I know, not the best colors. But I love him even so. He is so huge. And so perfect. Sigh. I love these large Labubus :D And got the medium sized Naughty Cashier; which is just so very cute. Love it all.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #749

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

A DANCE OF LIES BY BRITTNEY ARENA 

Goodreads Description:

A debut fantasy romance filled with hope after heartbreak, secrets, and betrayal, as a dancer-turned-spy must decide how far she will go to secure her freedom

My protector is gone, revealed to be a monster. But I remind myself that I am not a damsel. I’m no princess bound within a tower.

I am a shadow.

Vasalie Moran was once a dancer in King Illian’s court, until he framed her for murder. Barely surviving her two years in the dungeons, she’s suddenly called to face her king. He offers her a deal: become his spy at the six-week royal Gathering and he’ll grant her freedom.

As Illian’s orders grow bloody and dangerous, forcing her to harm and betray those around her, Vasalie discovers that the monster she serves may be aligned with a bigger monster—one far closer to home. With her world threatened, Vasalie enlists the help of Illian’s brother and greatest adversary, the infamous King of the East.

As the rivalry between brothers escalates, with Vasalie caught in the middle, the horrifying truth of her past comes to light. If she wants to survive, she must decide who to trust, who to fight for, and how much of her soul she’s willing to damn in the process.

Format: 448 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: June 10, 2025 by Del Rey
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Another Fairyloot book from this past summer that I had yet to share about. I'm also unsure about this one, ack. But the edition I got is so beautiful with stunning character artwork. Sigh. Which I love, haha. And I think the story sounds exciting. Worried about the romance, as always. Will do some peeking :)
What are you waiting for on this dancing Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #746

Sleepy. Been taking the antibiotic pills for a week now, have five days left. I'm somewhat better. But I'm also not good at all. Sigh. Driving me a little nuts. So I'm trying to take it easy. I did manage to finish my re-read earlier this week, finally. <3 And getting book three on Monday, eee. I am so excited. Also need to take a bunch of instagram photos next week. Ack. Hope that will go well. I am just exhausted these days. Rude. Got some precious mail. <3 And much more next week. Ahhh. But I am so excited for it all, eee :D A couple of new blog posts. I shared my second review of A Song of Ash and Moonlight. <3 Just so good. And this week I'm waiting on The Nightblood Prince :) Hope you are all well. <3 What are you reading? :)

The Wolf and the Crown of Blood. I very much adore Elizabeth May. So I had to get her newest book :)
The Moorwitch. Huh. This book went missing in November. And here it is. Weird, ha. Now I have two.
This is Not a Test. Eee! Finally got this new paperback version :D I loved this book so much years back. And also my signed bookplate, eee. From the pre-order offer. <3 Which is just awesome. I love Courtney.
Funko Pop + Figures. Finally got to buy Monstera. Love the Stitch keychains. Got Baloo; not my favorite.
Funko Nordic / Proxy Toys. Eeee. Newest ambassador gift :D And I am so happy with it all. Love all the pop figures. And some bitty pops and a mystery figure. <3 Will be taking several photos of these soon :)
Pop Mart. This week I got a second Have a Good Run set, to get the Twinkle Twinkle plush. Did I get it? No. No, I did not. I got the secret, AGAIN. Hoooooow. No Twinkle a second time. How very rude, haha :) So now I'm trying to sell this whole set. Ugh. It's going badly. Oh, got a free Twinkle pen. Haaa. Ruude :D
Nintendo Switch 2. Couldn't resist getting these new controllers, haha. As my original have power issues.

More Instagram photos here. <3 

Waiting on Wednesday #748

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

THE NIGHTBLOOD PRINCE BY MOLLY X. CHANG

Goodreads Description:

Two kingdoms on the brink of battle. One prophesied empress to unite them, who finds herself caught between two princes, and the fact that love alone may not stop the coming war. A thrilling romantasy from the bestselling author of To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods.

Two princes. One prophecy. A fate she cannot outrun.

The night Fei was born, a prophecy was made: she would one day become the Empress of All Empresses.

Torn from her family as a child and raised in the palace to one day marry the Crown Prince of the most powerful empire in the land, Fei has only ever known loneliness. When the opportunity arises to seize her own destiny for the first time in her life, Fei sets out to hunt a legendary tiger, knowing it might cost her everything. What she doesn’t expect is to fall under the mercy of Yexue, the beautiful runaway prince from a rival kingdom. Blessed by the night, harboring a dangerous magic, and capable of commanding an army of deadly vampires, Yexue could be the key to Fei gaining more than just her freedom.

But to outrun destiny, Fei must spark a wave of events that will change the world as she knows it. Torn between two princes and plagued by nightmares of bloodshed, she finds that the stars might be more inescapable—and more irresistible—than she ever considered before. . . .

Format: 384 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: July 1, 2025 by Gollancz
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Another recent Fairyloot book that I haven't shared about yet :) But also another one I am unsure about. Oops.The Fairyloot edition is absolutely gorgeous. And the plot of this book sounds pretty exciting. But. A love triangle? Sigh. Sure sounds like it. So not for me. Will have to peek to be sure. The rest looks great.
What are you waiting for on this dangerous Wednesday?