Have you ever heard of Book Outlet before? It’s a wonderous place where one can find books for cheap, and when you are poor and don’t want to give big daddy AMZN your money. Book Outlet specializes in selling inventory that comes from store returns or publisher excess. This means that you’ll occasionally get a book with slight damage or a store sticker on it, but they try to make sure damage is kept to a minimum and honestly, I’m not mad at it.
This blog isn’t a review of Book Outlet as a company or anything, it’s just to talk about the books I purchased from them. This was my first time shopping there and I decided to shop during their $5.99 fiction sale, the best time to stock up on books.
That’s right! $5.99 Fiction Sale!
I got 9 books for around $50 and they were a mixture of hardcover, paperback, and fancy sprayed edges. Ooooh. Aaaah. I’m going to show you what I got right here. Right now. If you want to jump to a particular book, hit the link below and it’ll take you right to it! Just as an extra note, there were some Target stickers on a couple of my books, thankfully, they came up off the covers super clean so you shouldn’t see any evidence of them in the pictures of the books that you’ll see down below!
- A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford
- Witch King by Martha Wells
- The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
- Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes
- The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison
- A House with Good Bones by T.Kingfisher
- Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland
- Any Rogue Will Do by Bethany Bennett
- Someone to Love by Mary Balogh
- Conclusion
A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford
Ratings: 3.61 on Goodreads, 3.75 on StoryGraph
I’ll be honest, the cover got me with this one. It’s a hardcover and it does have some minor damage to the dust jacket (see pictures below). It has the classic black dot on it that you typically will find on returned or discounted books, but overall, the condition I would say is a solid 9/10. The dust jacket can always be removed if I so choose and I’ve never been bothered by the black dot (unlike Captain Jack Sparrow).
Overall, the cover is pretty and the synopsis was interesting to me. What can I say? I’m easy to please when it comes to purchasing a book.
Synopsis from Goodreads
A sleeping curse. A fallen court. A secret twin.
Twins Calla and Briar have spent their entire lives hiding from the powerful sorceress who destroyed their kingdom…and from the humans who don’t know they are Wolves. Each twin has their own purpose in life: Briar’s is to marry the prince of an ally pack and save the Golden Court. Calla’s purpose is to remain a secret, her twin’s shadow . . . the backup plan.
No one knows who Calla truly is except for her childhood friend—and sister’s betrothed—the distractingly handsome Prince Grae. But when Calla and Briar journey out of hiding for Briar’s wedding, all of their well-made plans go awry. The evil sorceress is back with another sleeping curse for the last heir to the Golden Court.
Calla must step out of the shadows to save their sister, their kingdom, and their own legacy. Continuing to hide as a human and denying who she truly is, Calla embarks on a quest across the realm, discovering a whole world she never knew existed. Outside the confines of rigid Wolf society, Calla begins to wonder: who could she be if she dared to try?
Full of adventure, love, gender exploration, and self-discovery, A River of Golden Bones follows Calla’s journey through treacherous Wolf kingdoms, monster-filled realms, and the depths of their own heart in this thrilling romantic fantasy.
Witch King by Martha Wells
Ratings: 3.70 on Goodreads, 3.71 on StoryGraph
I have heard of Martha Wells previously when people have spoken of the Murderbot series, which is also something I want to read sometime, but when I saw the opportunity to get this book for $5.99 in hardcover, I just couldn’t say no. I mean, I could have, but I didn’t want to.
As far as damage goes, there isn’t much to tell. The dust jacket is in great condition, there is no black dot, and the only damage I could really find was that one corner of the top part of the spine was dented in slightly. This get’s a 10/10 for me on condition.
Synopsis from Goodreads
“I didn’t know you were a… demon.”
“You idiot. I’m the demon.”
Kai’s having a long day in Martha Wells’ Witch King…After being murdered, his consciousness dormant and unaware of the passing of time while confined in an elaborate water trap, Kai wakes to find a lesser mage attempting to harness Kai’s magic to his own advantage. That was never going to go well.
But why was Kai imprisoned in the first place? What has changed in the world since his assassination? And why does the Rising World Coalition appear to be growing in influence?
Kai will need to pull his allies close and draw on all his pain magic if he is to answer even the least of these questions.
He’s not going to like the answers.
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Ratings: 3.83 on Goodreads, 3.84 on StoryGraph
It’s the 10th Anniversary Special Edition for $5.99. It is also probably the one with the most page damage out of all of the ones that I received, however, it is still perfectly readable and the dust jacket isn’t too bad. When I worked at a book store (dream job right?!) I would look at this book constantly. I saw it on Book Outlet and thought, well now is a pretty good time to pick this one up. I would give the condition on this one like a 7.5/10.
Synopsis from Goodreads
The lavishly reimagined 10th Anniversary Edition of the New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller.
The year is 2059. For two centuries, the Republic of Scion has led an oppressive campaign against unnaturalness in Europe.
In London, Paige Mahoney holds a high rank in the criminal underworld. The right hand of the ruthless White Binder, Paige is a dreamwalker, a rare and formidable kind of clairvoyant. Under Scion law, she commits treason simply by breathing.
When Paige is arrested for murder, she meets the mysterious founders of Scion, who have designs on her uncommon abilities. If she is to survive and escape, Paige must use every skill at her disposal – and put her trust in someone who ought to be her enemy.
Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes
Ratings: 3.82 on Goodreads and StoryGraph
First off, the cover is fantastic. Secondly, who hasn’t wanted to murder their employer at least once in their working careers? It’s got silly goofy school of murder vibes to it and honestly, it’s not like the books I’ve been reading lately so I wanted to give it a try.
This book also had minimal damage to it. It had the black dot of doom on the bottom of the pages and a little bit of creasing to the dust jacket. Other than that, she’s beautiful. I give it a solid 9/10 on the condition.
Synopsis from Goodreads
The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts – a luxurious, clandestine college dedicated to the fine art of murder where earnest students study how best to “delete” their most deserving victim.
Who hasn’t wondered for a split second what the world would be like if a person who is the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then you’ve probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death. The campus of this “Poison Ivy League” college—its location unknown to even those who study there—is where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmate…and where one’s mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder of someone whose death will make the world a much better place to live.
Prepare for an education you’ll never forget. A “fiendishly funny” (Booklist) mix of witty wordplay, breathtaking twists and genuine intrigue, Murder Your Employer will gain you admission into a wholly original world, cocooned within the most entertaining book about well-intentioned would-be murderers you’ll ever read.
The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison
Ratings: 4.11 on Goodreads, 4.12 on StoryGraph
I don’t have a ton to say about this book. It’s a shorter novel at under 300 pages. For me, the synopsis of this one caught me. This is one of the paperbacks I picked up and honestly, it’s a 10/10 on condition for this bad boy. I cannot find anything wrong with it.
Synopsis from Goodreads
Katherine Addison returns to the glittering world she created for her beloved novel, ‘The Goblin Emperor’, in this stand-alone sequel.
When the young half-goblin emperor Maia sought to learn who had killed his father and half-brothers, he turned to an obscure resident of his Court, a Prelate of Ulis and a Witness for the Dead. Thara Celehar found the truth, though it did him no good to discover it. He lost his place as a retainer of his cousin the former Empress, and made far too many enemies among the many factions vying for power in the new Court. The favor of the Emperor is a dangerous coin.
Now Celehar lives in the city of Amalo, far from the Court though not exactly in exile. He has not escaped from politics, but his position gives him the ability to serve the common people of the city, which is his preference. He lives modestly, but his decency and fundamental honesty will not permit him to live quietly. As a Witness for the Dead, he can, sometimes, speak to the recently dead: see the last thing they saw, know the last thought they had, experience the last thing they felt. it is his duty to use that ability to resolve disputes, to ascertain the intent of the dead, to find the killers of the murdered.
Celehar’s skills now lead him out of the quiet and into a morass of treachery, murder, and injustice. No matter his own background with the imperial house, Celehar will stand with the commoners, and possibly find a light in the darkness.
A House with Good Bones by T.Kingfisher
Ratings: 3.67 on Goodreads, 3.81 on StoryGraph
I’ll let you in on a little secret; I love everything I have read by T. Kingfisher. I haven’t read any of her horror books as of yet, but I do have them on my TBR right now. I am excited to read this one and it’s another paperback with 10/10 condition. The cover is eye catching and it’s an author I love, so you know, I just had to have it!
Synopsis from Goodreads
A haunting Southern Gothic from an award-winning master of suspense, A House With Good Bones explores the dark, twisted roots lurking just beneath the veneer of a perfect home and family.
“Mom seems off.”
Her brother’s words echo in Sam Montgomery’s ear as she turns onto the quiet North Carolina street where their mother lives alone.
She brushes the thought away as she climbs the front steps. Sam’s excited for this rare extended visit, and looking forward to nights with just the two of them, drinking boxed wine, watching murder mystery shows, and guessing who the killer is long before the characters figure it out.
But stepping inside, she quickly realizes home isn’t what it used to be. Gone is the warm, cluttered charm her mom is known for; now the walls are painted a sterile white. Her mom jumps at the smallest noises and looks over her shoulder even when she’s the only person in the room. And when Sam steps out back to clear her head, she finds a jar of teeth hidden beneath the magazine-worthy rose bushes, and vultures are circling the garden from above.
To find out what’s got her mom so frightened in her own home, Sam will go digging for the truth. But some secrets are better left buried.
Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland
Ratings: 3.82 on Goodreads and StoryGraph
Once again, I know nothing about this book and this author. Sometimes, the cover is all the vibes you need. This is the one hardcover special edition with sprayed edges and custom endpapers. I believe it was the edition sold at Target, but I didn’t want to give them my money so I got it for $5.99 from Book Outlet instead!
This edition looks great with only some minor crinkles on the edges of the dust jacket and a black dot on the black sprayed edges (oh no). Everything else looks great to me! I give it a solid 9.5/10 on condition.
Synopsis from Goodreads
The king of Yusan must die.
The five most dangerous liars in the land have been mysteriously summoned to work together for a single objective: to kill the God King Joon.
He has it coming. Under his merciless immortal hand, the nobles flourish, while the poor and innocent are imprisoned, ruined…or sold.
And now each of the five blades will come for him. Each has tasted bitterness―from the hired hitman seeking atonement, a lovely assassin who seeks freedom, or even the prince banished for his cruel crimes. None can resist the sweet, icy lure of vengeance.
They can agree on murder.
They can agree on treachery.
But for these five killers―each versed in deception, lies, and betrayal―it’s not enough to forge an alliance. To survive, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other…but only one can take the crown.
Let the best liar win.
Any Rogue Will Do by Bethany Bennett
Ratings: 3.73 on Goodreads, 3.63 on StoryGraph
One of the two Historical Romance books in this haul, this is the smallest book that I bought in the physical size (not the page length). I have a soft spot for Historical Romance which personally I blame on Mr. Darcy but here we are. This book is from a series I have heard about previously and the synopsis intrigued me. Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of real people on the covers of my books but that is pretty hard to escape in the Historical Romance realm.
As far as condition is concerned, 10/10, she’s just a gem.
Synopsis from Goodreads
For exactly one season, Lady Charlotte Wentworth played the biddable female the ton expected — and all it got her was society’s mockery and derision. Now she’s determined to be in charge of her own future. So when an unwanted suitor tries to manipulate her into an engagement, she has a plan. He can’t claim to be her fiancé if she’s engaged to someone else. Even if it means asking for help from the last man she would ever marry.
Ethan, Viscount Amesbury, made a lot of mistakes, but the one he regrets the most is ruining Lady Charlotte’s reputation. Going along with her charade is the least he can do to clean the slate and perhaps earn her forgiveness. Pretending to be in love with the woman he’s never forgotten is easy. What isn’t easy is convincing her to give him a second chance.
Someone to Love by Mary Balogh
Ratings: 3.79 on Goodreads, 3.38 on StoryGraph
The final book of my haul, another Historical Romance paperback. This one is another series (I’m starting a million of those it seems) and I’m genuinely excited to start it. This particular paperback suffers from the unfortunate “permanent sticker” issue. Nobody likes that. Please stop.
This book has some minor damages to the edges of the book but nothing that you wouldn’t find from something that’s been sitting on the shelf for a little while. All in all, I give it like an 8/10 on the condition scale.
Synopsis from Goodreads
Humphrey Westcott, Earl of Riverdale, has died, leaving behind a fortune that will forever alter the lives of everyone in his family—including the daughter no one knew he had…
Anna Snow grew up in an orphanage in Bath knowing nothing of the family she came from. Now she discovers that the late Earl of Riverdale was her father and that she has inherited his fortune. She is also overjoyed to learn she has siblings. However, they want nothing to do with her or her attempts to share her new wealth. But the new earl’s guardian is interested in Anna…
Avery Archer, Duke of Netherby, keeps others at a distance. Yet something prompts him to aid Anna in her transition from orphan to lady. As London society and her newfound relatives threaten to overwhelm Anna, Avery steps in to rescue her and finds himself vulnerable to feelings and desires he has hidden so well and for so long.
Conclusion
This was a great way to save money but still get some pretty decent books that are new. I love that they are still being made available to people instead of going to a landfill or something along those lines. Nothing was so badly damaged that I felt I needed to reach out to customer support and they were packed nicely in a box that was also surrounded by plastic so even if they came on a rainy day they’d be safe. If you want a few books and you don’t mind a mark or two, I’d give Book Outlet a try!
Reading with teafortiffany 
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