Staff Picks: Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Shroud takes place in the far dystopian future after humans have wrecked the earth and have to live in space stations. Society is essentially one mega-corporation and humans spend all their time looking for new planets to extract resources from. We follow one character’s point-of-view, Juna, as a series of events cause her to crash land on a planet with an alien lifeform. Juna makes a desperate gambit to use her damaged escape pod to traverse the pitch-dark, hostile planet to make it back to her space station.

And…surprise! The aliens are there! The aliens get their own point-of-view chapters that are so weird and creative. I’ve never spent more time imagining how a character would look than with these aliens. They’re so remarkably different from anything I’ve read before and such a joy to puzzle out and get to know as characters.

My favorite part of the book is the astoundingly unique worldbuilding. Tchaikovsky clearly describes all angles of this world, from gravity effects to unique biospheres to alien culture, all without any tedious info dumping. The main character is believable in her situation and the plotting rises in an arc that makes the book impossible to put down.

The ending is not quite a twist, but certainly something I wasn’t expecting. Shroud is the first book in a long time to really capture my imagination so completely. It’s been months since I’ve read this book and I’m still thinking about it and recommending it to everyone with even the slightest interest in science fiction!

You can read Shroud in regular print from our collection.

Brooke West
FCPL Outreach Manager

FCPL’s Favorite Books of 2026 (So Far. . .) - PART ONE

With summer ending and marking the half-way point of the year, we are sharing our favorite books of 2026 (so far). Take a look at what we’ve been reading at FCPL and see if your favorite book made our list!

FCPL staff members have shared their top book recommendations from their reading lists so far this year. The selections cover a wide range of genres, from biographies and children's literature to science fiction. 

Based on the staff's favorites, the top-ranked genre was Mystery/Psychological/Thriller, closely followed by Science Fiction in second place, while Fantasy, Horror, and Literary Fiction all tied for third. 

When it comes to format, the team showed a strong preference for traditional print, with over half of the favorite titles read as physical books, and audiobooks coming in as the next most popular choice

This is a very long list, so we're going to break it up into multiple blog posts.

Now on to the books themselves! 

Mystery/Psychological/Thriller

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (2026)

Recommended by Jessica, Information Specialist, Denmark Library

Listened to the audiobook

What is it about: The story follows Natalie Heller Mills, a "tradwife" social media influencer, who wakes up one day in the 19th century, where she must learn how to live without modern society.

Why they recommend it: “The author's writing of the main character's voice is immensely entertaining and lyrical yet propulsive and blunt. Natalie is a character who you find is putting you through a rollercoaster of emotions as you read. First you hate her, then you feel pity for her, then despise her only to feel sympathy for her, and so on. The underlying message of the novel, to be present in life rather than online, is an important one in today's world. This book messes with your head in the best yet most disturbing way. One of the impending questions Natalie has is did she really time travel back to 1855, leaving her 6-month pregnant modern “tradwife” life, or was she kidnapped and is being gaslit into thinking she woke up in 1855 with an entirely different yet hauntingly familiar family and house all for a reality tv show. Or is she in some kind of afterlife created by God, that He placed her there for a purpose she doesn't know yet. The book flips between modern day, Natalie's past, and 1855 which the author blends nicely throughout the book, pulling you into Natalie's reality.”

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston (2024)

Recommended by Gretchen, Youth Specialist, Denmark Library

Listened to the audiobook

What is it about: A thriller driven by themes of identity, ambition, and survival. The story focuses on Evie Porter, a con artist navigating a complex web of deception and danger.

Why they recommend it: This fast-paced and engaging mystery features an entertaining, lovable cast of characters who aren't always who they seem.

Listen For The Lie by Amy Tintera (2024)

Recommended by Haguer, Information Specialist, Cumming Library

Listened to the audiobook

What is it about: Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend’s blood, and now everyone thinks she is a murderer. Years later, after moving away to start a new life, Lucy returns to the place she vowed to never step foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one who did it.

Why they recommend it: Blending dark humor, psychological suspense, and podcast-style storytelling, this engaging and unpredictable read keeps you questioning every character and version of the truth right up until the very end.

One of Us Is Dead by Jeneva Rose (2022)

Recommended by Leena, Information Specialist, Sharon Forks Library

Read the physical book

What is it about: The Real Housewives meets murder in this deliciously savage and wildly entertaining thriller.

Why they recommend it: Set in Buckhead, Atlanta, this engrossing and fast-paced story is packed with drama and mystery, keeping readers hooked from beginning to end.

Forsyth County Wins Statewide Reading Challenge!

Congratulations, FCPL patrons: You did it again!  

In addition to being the "busiest library system" in Georgia—with Sharon Forks, Post Road, and Cumming Library holding the top three spots statewide for highest circulation—our community has earned another major bragging right.

Forsyth County Public Library won the statewide Georgia Reads for America250 Beanstack Reading Challenge!

People are going to wonder what's in the water here. 

FCPL patrons achieved the highest per-capita sign-ups in the state, logging 1,576 books and completing 4,270 activities by the 4th of July. The initiative—co-sponsored by the Georgia Public Library Service, the Georgia Council on Literacy, and the Georgia Municipal Association—was designed to foster civic literacy and historical inquiry in honor of America's 250th anniversary. Clearly, Forsyth County showed up. 

A Special Guest for an Incredible Milestone

To honor our community’s achievement, children's author, literacy crusader, UGA grad, and Super Bowl Champion Malcolm Mitchell is making a special visit to the Cumming Library on Monday, September 21, at 10:30 a.m.

Malcolm will help us celebrate by reading his latest book, Hey, Georgia—part of the Georgia Reads for America250 book list—signing books, and posing for photos with attendees. Numerous community leaders and students from Cumming Elementary School are also expected to attend. 

“His story is so inspiring—he’s like the Georgia Dolly Parton of literacy,” said Library Director Adrianne Junius, a fellow UGA alumnus. “It’s perfect that this celebration coincides with Georgia Reads Day and National Library Card Sign-Up Month. There is no better way to celebrate our community than alongside someone who shares our passion for reading.”

State Librarian & Vice Chancellor for Public Libraries Angela Stanley added her congratulations: “We're looking forward to celebrating this community of avid readers! We are deeply grateful for our partnership with the Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Strategy (formerly the Governor's Office of Student Achievement) to build literacy across Georgia and share the magic of libraries.”

Thank you to every patron who joined this reading challenge, logged a book, completed an activity, and helped bring this honor home to Forsyth County! 

Note: Due to space constraints, seating is limited for the September 21 Read with Malcolm Mitchell storytime. Free event passes will be distributed on-site on a first-come, first-served basis starting 30 minutes prior to the event.

Leslie Marinelli

FCPL Communications Manager