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Sunday Summary – 12th July 2026

Posted on July 12, 2026July 12, 2026 by fantasyst95

Happy Sunday friends! We’re at the end of another week and it’s a hot one! Are you guys suffering in this heatwave as well?

It’s been a busy week this week personally. Work has been busy, but my immediate deadlines are now done and I can breathe a sigh of relief. I’m back into my typical routine, which means I have more time for books and my social media accounts again.

This week, I shares a review of the memoir Twelve Years a Slave. It was challenging in some aspects, namely in topic but also in terms of writing style. However, I’m glad I persevered with the book as it was an interesting read. Then, later this week, I published an unfiltered post about the difficulties of going through dry patches as a content creator. When my online persona is all about books and reading, who am I when that falls away?

On YouTube, I finally posted my June wrap-up. I talk about early successes, then the slump I found myself in during the second half of the month. Go and check that out if you haven’t already ☺️

Books Read

Behind Closed Doors

This week, I concluded this fairly short audiobook, listening to the last 70% of the book over the span of the week. When I last talked to you about this book, I had hopes it was going to be a little bit different from the book the narrative was lining up to be.

Sadly, it ended up staying in its lane and it didn’t wow me. Don’t get me wrong, it was okay. However, for a book advertised as a bestseller, I had higher hopes that the story was going to deviate from the typical ‘trapped woman escapes abusive man by chance’ tale. Initially, I half-hoped that maybe the roles were reversed. Then, I hoped Millie, Grace’s sister with Downs Syndrome, might have displayed great wit to help her sister and change reader’s perspective on those with the condition. Whilst she isn’t an insignificant part of the conclusion to the story, it wasn’t what I hoped.

Nevertheless, it was a decent, middle of the road read and a change-up of genre compared to recent reads.

The Tw*t Files

Breaking away from my July TBR a little, I impulsively picked up Dawn French’s The Tw*t Files for a lighter read this weekend. I’m hoping some humour gets me picking up pages more regularly. That, and I wanted something to read whilst I charged up my Kindle ready for some blog tour commitment reads later this month.

So far, I’m about 120 pages, or 30%, into this book and it’s everything I need right now. Light. Funny. Brutally honest and unapologetic. It’s got my actively reaching for a book again because I want to. It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve done that, if I’m honest. I’m hoping it will bring some more enjoyment to my current reads and get me back in a position to hit my blog tour commitment books with relish, rather than a sense of duty.

More on this one to follow next week. I’m hoping this will be a quick finish next week.

Empire of Storms

Finally, I started the next book in Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series.

I’ve only just started the audio, listening to around 1hr 35mins. I’m listening to this one a little quicker than last time. I was able to listen to Queen of Shadows at x1.35 speed. This time, I’m able to follow along pretty comfortably at x1.45. It’s a good thing, when you consider the book is a bit longer than the last. It’s not the longest of the series, but it still tops 700 pages!

I’ve got just shy of 16 hours left of this audio. Now things are back to normal, I’ll be back at the gym this week. I’m also planning to take a break from some of the classes I’ve been doing and go back to doing some of my own weightlifting. I feel like I got more benefit from those, but I do enjoy the classes. I’m trialling going back to the gym a little more and doing my own strength training to see if I see more progress again. What significance does that have for reading? Well, I listen to audiobooks at the same time!

Books Discovered

I’ve got very little to report here again. No new books on the list. I appreciate that as far as updates, go, it’s boring. However, when you have in excess of 200 books on the TBR already, it’s not a bad thing when you haven’t found any more to add!

Coming Up…

What I’m Reading…

What do I plan to read over the next seven days? Well, here are my priorities in order!

Continue Empire of Storms for my Throne of Glass readalong. I’ll also set these up on Fable and Storygraph shortly!
Finish The Tw*t Files, hopefully in the next couple of days
Read House of Twisted Shadows in its entirety – I’ve got a review due on the 25th July.
Hopefully start A Painkiller to Die For

Given my recent dry spell with reading, it’s a bold plan. However, it needs to be and I’m optimistic The Tw*t Files will do its job of getting me out of the funk I’ve been in and better able to pick up more titles.

Blog

So, what to post next week. I’m not sure really. I’m conscious I don’t want to bombard you with book reviews, because I know I have two coming up within days of each other later this month. Usually then, I turn to Top Ten Tuesdays. However, I’m not a fan of next week’s topic. So, that’s out.

Inspired by the current heatwave, let’s share something summery. Maybe my top five summer reads? There’s no way I could do ten – I’m not really a seasonal reader in the summertime.

Later in the week, I’ll return to my regular Friday features. This week, it’s the turn of my First Lines Friday post. What book will I feature this week? What intro will I use to capture your attention and hopefully inspire you to pick up a book? I’ve no idea yet – let’s see what takes my fancy later in the week!

As always, you know what comes last. I’ll round up the week with another Sunday Summary. Fingers crossed I’m fully back to my usual self with lots of bookish updates next week. For the first time this year, I lost my lead and was slightly behind schedule to complete my 60 books challenge this year. Can I recover to get a couple of books lead again. Let’s see!

YouTube

It’s a little late in the day, but I’ve got my July TBR recorded and ready to publish. Nearly. I just need to edit the video 😅 However, my plan is to get that out early next week so those who follow me on YouTube know what I’m reading this week!

Then, I’ve got a review video planned to share my thoughts on Queen of Shadows. I wanted to commit my thoughts on this book before I make a start on Empire of Storms so I don’t get muddled between books. I don’t trust the headspace I’m in right now to not do that!

Then, all being well, next week I’ll get back to recording my video weekly updates as well. The last few weeks I’ve not really had a whole lot to talk about, so I haven’t bothered…

Summary

Thanks for checking out this latest Sunday Summary. I hope you had a great weekend, and maybe you picked up an entertaining read to help cope with the heat or otherwise distract yourself from the joys of mundane life 😂 If so, tell me what you’re reading!

Discussion Post – Reading Slump Ruminations

Posted on July 10, 2026July 10, 2026 by fantasyst95

It’s hard as a content creator to go through a dry spell.

It’s natural, though. There are times in my life when I can fly through books and live my best life yacking about them. Most of the time, I can’t keep up the reviews with my reading speed. However, the inverse – a reading slump – is a tricky place to be. Imposter syndrome sets in if you aren’t careful.

I’ve been through a bit of a reading slump in the last few weeks. There’s no one single reason for it, but a culmination of circumstances. Work has been busy, and I’ve stepped in to do overtime to meet important deadlines. I’ve enjoyed some other hobbies, including getting back into crochet and knitting. I’ve made a top for a friend for their birthday, and now I’m knitting myself a jumper.

A long, slow-paced read got me off-track with last month’s reading pace and progress. Combine that with an ambitious list that doesn’t afford breaks, and you can see why really, I set myself up to fail. On a more positive note, the other half had some time off work last week for his birthday. It’s not often we get full weekends together, so of course we made the most of it to spend time together.

All this doesn’t help with blog content though. And, when I invest so much of myself outside of work to a place on the internet where books are my identity, it feels hard to fit everything in.

However, it’s okay to have other hobbies, and to spend time with people. It’s okay to lean into doing other things if a book isn’t quite working for you, or to accept that work may take your attention sometimes, and that your hobbies are there to enjoy when you get back. After all, I read and write and chat with you all for the love of it. Sure, I hope my words can be useful to somebody out there. But a significant part of why I blog is for me.

So, I’m writing this post as a reminder.

To you. To me. It’s okay to not bury my head in a book, or in my laptop to chat about said books, every moment I have spare. I give permission to do something else, and enjoy being apart for a while. We enjoy these hobbies for love, not out of a sense of obligation or commitment. When the time is right, I’ll reach back with more gusto than I could have sustained by forcing myself to stick with it.

Have you ever found yourself in a reading slump? Gotten frustrated over it?

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Book Review: Twelve Years a Slave – Solomon Northup

Posted on July 9, 2026July 9, 2026 by fantasyst95

Twelve Years a Slave is a hard-hitting read. Learning how Solomon Northup ended up in bondage for over a decade, it’s scary how easily he fell into the wrong hands. If you want to read about very personal, heart-breaking story of those kept against their will and forced into hard labour, abuse and worse, then read on to find out more about Twelve Years a Slave.

Twelve Years a Slave – Solomon Northup

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 363

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Eakin Films and Publishing

Publication Date: 1853

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – Twelve Years a Slave

Twelve Years a Slave, sub-title: Narrative of Solomon Northup, citizen of New-York, kidnapped in Washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the Red River in Louisiana, is a memoir by Solomon Northup as told to and edited by David Wilson. It is a slave narrative of a black man who was born free in New York state but kidnapped in Washington, D.C., sold into slavery, and kept in bondage for 12 years in Louisiana. He provided details of slave markets in Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, as well as describing at length cotton and sugar cultivation on major plantations in Louisiana.

My Thoughts…

It shouldn’t be a surprise that a book of this subject matter isn’t the easiest to read. It’s a personal account of being kept as a slave, beaten, starved, tortured and forced into hard labour. Whilst it focuses primarily on Solomon’s experience, we naturally see other slaves and the institutional level of abuse these people faced for years. However, I’m an advocate for reading about difficult things, the worst sides of humanity. Brushing these things under the carpet invalidates the experiences of victims. Not only that, but we don’t learn from these things.

I wanted to read this book as it’s obviously a well-known title, and I was invested in the subject. However, when I picked it up in September 2023, it wasn’t plain sailing. The books was first published not long after Solomon’s release in 1853. In the grand scheme of history, it’s only in our recent past. However, language changes quite a bit in that timeframe. The style of the language was a bit of a barrier for me. I found it hard to get into initially. But, I persevered and I’m glad I did. Usually, readability is the key reason I would DNF a book. If I can’t get on with the narrative style, it’s make-or-break. On this occasion though, I stuck with it and got used to it enough that I could get on with the book.

I enjoyed reading about a period of history, and from a perspective that was little-covered in my school curriculum. Whilst I have no doubt it’s more prominent in modern history classes, it wasn’t really a topic touched on in any detail during my time there. The scary fact is that it’s fairly recent history. This isn’t our distant past!

Summary

Twelve Years a Slave is a poignant narrative I recommend everyone try. Even if it isn’t typically your cup of tea, it’s a very personal story about a huge societal problem that hasn’t gone away.

Modern slavery is very much a thing. Twelve Years a Slave is a far more ‘traditional’ tale of slavery as we recognise it from history. The underlying prejudice and discrimination that goes with it is still sadly around today. However, I can only hope that hearing more from minority voices we can empathise and correct our behaviour as a society.

Have you read Twelve Years a Slave? What’s your take?

Sunday Summary – 5th July 2026

Posted on July 5, 2026July 5, 2026 by fantasyst95

Happy Sunday friends! This Sunday Summary is not the end of the weekend for me – here in the Isle of Man, we have a bank holiday tomorrow celebrating Tynwald Day. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a celebration of our local government, which is the oldest continuous government in the world. With ties back to our Viking heritage, tomorrow will see petitions presented to Government in the open air in a convening in a village just a stone’s throw from me.

Not that I plan to attend – too many people for my liking! Instead, I’ll enjoy the day not at work and making the most of a chill day. I’m making a birthday present for a friend of mine celebrating later this month. I’m so close to being done, so I’ll push ahead to finish this well ahead of schedule. Other than that, I’ll be hitting the books. Not the intellectual kind, mind. Fingers crossed I’ll have more reading progress to share next week!

Before I get to this week’s reading updates, let’s take a look at the blog content I shared. First, I published my monthly wrap-up for the books I read in June. It wasn’t the most extensive update, nor did I complete the challenges I set out to. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the books I picked up. After a short break towards the end of June, I’m ready to get stuck in with a fresh start! Yesterday, I followed that up with my monthly TBR for July. Alongside my June carryovers, I’ve got plenty of new releases to enjoy in the next few weeks.

Books Read

Katabasis

I confess I’ve only read a handful of pages of Katabasis this week. Well, today, if I’m being honest. I’ve deliberately taken a bit of a break from reading physical books and instead taken the time to get my crochet project / gift made. I’m already feeling somewhat refreshed and it was fun to get stuck into a book without time pressure.

I’m looking forward to reading this more over the coming week. With my project nearly done, I’ll have time to pick this book up tomorrow before jumping back into quarter-end madness at work on Tuesday!

Behind Closed Doors

Over a few evenings this week, I’ve started the first 30% or so of Behind Closed Doors.

I’m enjoying this audio. However, I listened to around 45mins of the audio before bed last night and it’s changed my opinions of the direction of the book if I’m honest. I was either hoping for a role reversal twist or some kind of revenge arc for Grace, who appears to be in a controlling relationship.

One of the two of these directions was eliminated for me last night, which I confess to being a little disappointed about. Whilst this book set up can still surprise me, I feel like it’s taking the more typical route. Will it have a showstopper ending? I can only find out next week!

Books Discovered

Keeping my head down has paid dividends on the TBR front. Whilst I’ve not ticked anything off the list this week (only making small progress with existing reads), I haven’t added anything new either.

I’ll take my silver linings wherever I can take them…

Coming Up…

What I’m Reading…

My reading priorities for next week are as follows: –

Finish Behind Closed Doors, which amounts to a fraction under 4hrs audio
Start Empire of Storms, by next readalong book in the Throne of Glass series
Finish Katabasis, which amounts to 490 pages
Continue with The Pillars of the Earth

Blog

I want to start next week with a book review. My next book on the list is a prominent title, and a book that honestly shocked me. Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup is a true account of how he found himself in bondage in America. It’s shocking to read, and hard to imagine now. However, it’s a reality of life and a gritty part of our history we shouldn’t shy away from learning about.

Next, I want to talk about my recent dry spell with reading. As a content creator based around reading as a huge part of my free time, it’s not that common to talk about the times when that doesn’t happen. It’s hard to admit that slumps happen. I want to have a candid conversation with you about it.

Finally, another Sunday Summary will grace your screens next week!

YouTube

I didn’t get to record my monthly wrap-up or July TBR this week. I worked overtime last week due to quarter end. Also, the other half has been off work for his birthday this week. Generally, he works at least one day of the weekend given he has a retail job. That’s when I take advantage of planning and recording. However, with him being off, we’ve made an effort to spend the time together instead.

So, my plans are to record these posts tomorrow. I’ve written the blog post versions, so I’ve got them planned now. I just need to plonk myself in front of a camera for half an hour to gab it out.

Nest week, we’re back to business as usual. So, I’ll have another weekly vlog for you to catch you up on reading progress as well.

Summary

That’s all I have for you in this Sunday Summary. When was the last dry spell of reading you had, and how long did it last?

Have a great rest of your weekend, however much is left, and I will see you around for my next update very soon!

Monthly TBR – July 2026

Posted on July 4, 2026July 4, 2026 by fantasyst95

I’ve really had to reign myself in with my July TBR. A theme of every reading list I have set myself so far this year is that the list is a long one, and I don’t get to do every book on it.

My June TBR and the aim to complete the Goodreads spring reading challenge overwhelmed to me. That’s myself get stuck on lack of progress with a chunky book and fell off the wagon, so to speak.

So, I’ve had a word with myself to shorten this list as much as I can get away with. There were also practical reasons for that decision – I have some blog tour obligations later this month that I can’t skip out on. I cannot have a repeat of last month and let that get in the way of my promise to review these books.

July is a busy month at work, and typically I work overtime in the early days of the month. Leaning into audio allows me to read when still doing other things, from going to the gym or driving, or enjoying my crafty hobbies! I’m back into crochet lately, as well as cross-stitch!

So, what’s the theme for July’s TBR? Completing June carried forward June reads, revisiting my highly anticipated 2026 releases and three blog tour obligations at the end of this month into early August.

Let’s dive in!

Carryovers from June

The Pillars of the Earth

Goodreads

My first carryover from June to include in this July TVR is the read I made the most progress with of all my carryovers. Yes, I am talking about The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. As of drafting this July TBR, I am X pages into this book. That sounds significant, but when you consider this book is 1070 pages long in total, you’ll easily see that I still have some way to go!

It’s this book that tripped me up in June. When I started it, I set out with the intention to read just over 40 pages a day. That would have seen me to the end of this book. However, I can’t always read every day. That means very quickly you can get behind, and I let this mindset get in my way of making the progress I could and ultimately I stopped reading this book towards the end of June.

However, now I have no deadline. I am enjoying this book, so it’s one I’m going to continue with my own time rather than pressurising myself. Whilst I would like to complete this for the end of July, anything goes!

Katabasis

Goodreads

This is the book I started at the end of June to get myself out of the rut caused by The Pillars of the Earth. I have enjoyed books by R.F. Kuang several times now. Babel, The Poppy War and Yellowface all grace my ‘read’ shelves. No doubt Katabasis will be among their number shortly.

I only made a token start to this book before the end of June. However, I enjoyed the set up of the storyline so far. I’ve also enjoyed other dark academia themed books earlier this year. Another notable mention in this genre is An Arcane Inheritance if you are looking for something of this ilk.

Fingers crossed it lives up to the hype I’ve heard and expect from R.F. Kuang and it can get me back into the reading groove!

Behind Closed Doors

Goodreads

My audiobook carryover into this July TBR is Behind Closed Doors. This is a relatively short book. I have only listened to this for around an hour for a couple of evenings so far, and that puts me about a third of the way into the book.

Again, I have enjoyed the set up for this one. There is definitely more to the story than meets the eye. It’s currently being portrayed as a fairly typical story of a man controlling a woman in a new marriage. But is that really the case? It seems an obvious set up. I’m either hoping for a complete role reversal or some kind of twist that flipped this on its head. Either that, or a revenge arc for Grace.

Reading Obligations

House of Twisted Shadows

Goodreads

A blog tour review opportunity came up for a book with a mystery and thriller leaning, but also ties to World War II. You know me, I love my historical fiction based on this time period! I’m excited to try a book from a different genre with this same leaning and ties to Nazi Germany.

I’ve got most of the months to pick up this book, as my review is due to take place on the 25th of July. Given that it’s an obligation though, I’m going to prioritise this book and hopefully read it sooner. I’m looking forward to picking this up and sharing my thoughts with you very soon!

A Painkiller to Die For

Goodreads

My next tour follows just three days after House of Twisted Shadows. So, I need to get my skates on. I’ve often said that having a reading deadline helps motivate me. Whilst that didn’t especially help me last month, this time it’s a bit different in that I would be letting somebody else down rather than just myself.

What drew me to A Painkiller to Die For is the book’s pharmaceutical leaning. It’s not a common topic I read about, so it had novelty factor. Not only that, but there is clearly some mystery aspect to the storyline. Are the characters all who they say they are?

Duel of Beasts

Goodreads

My final blog tour obligation on my July TBR is a medieval adventure set in Spain, of all places. Rachel was looking for people to take part in the tour, and I was intrigued.

It seems there’s some kind of religious aspect to this book. It’s not my typical setting of novel, but that’s precisely why I want to read it! I’m always trying to diversify the books and settings I pick up. Duel of Beasts definitely fits that bill!

2026 Releases

The Midnight Train

Goodreads

A couple of new releases on my 2026 highly anticipated releases list came out in April. However, with reading priorities and challenges to date, I’ve not yet got to them. It’s now time! This July’s TBR has lots of exciting new releases on it when you take into account my three blog tours.

I’ve come to love Matt Haig’s writing. However, I’m a little apprehensive of this book given I’ve read less favourable reviews of this latest book. Still, I won’t know for definite until I pick it up for myself. Nevertheless, I want to give it a go and see if I agree or have my own opinions…

The Language of Liars

Goodreads

This book is all about words, their power. It leans into my own personal love of language, and that’s why I’m not so quietly optimistic that this will go down well with me.

The sci-fi spy narrative is also a little unusual. I’ve read something similar before (Starsight) and really enjoyed it. It’s a bit of an unusual one, but all the same, I’m keen to get stuck into this one and see if it’s just as good.

Summary

I’ve got considerably fewer books on my July TBR, and I’m planning to pick up as many as I can in audio format to make the most of reading opportunities I have. I’m ready for a fresh start, and I’ve got plenty of new releases to dive into and get excited about!

What new release have you read recently?

Monthly Wrap-Up – June 2026

Posted on July 1, 2026July 1, 2026 by fantasyst95

Reading progress in June didn’t go the way I wanted. Whilst that is the theme of this monthly wrap-up, it isn’t all bad. The TBR I set myself in June was a tall order. I set out to try and complete the Goodreads Spring Reading Challenge, having only achieved half of the awards by the beginning of June. The TBR required long reads. Different reads. Too many, if I’m honest.

I knew it was going to be the most difficult TBR to complete yet. After a gamble on reading Somewhere Beyond the Sea didn’t pay off in qualifying for the Pride Month, it set me on the back foot. It only really carried on from there…

Less commiserating – let’s at least look at the books I did read. There is good news in this monthly wrap-up – I’m on track with my Throne of Glass readalong for the first time…. And I’ve just read book 4… Not only that, but a completed read and the discovery of a new author I want to read more from was probably the highlight of the month!

Books Read

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Goodreads Link

My gamble with listening to Somewhere Beyond the Sea, so I could finish it in early June, didn’t quite go to plan. Well, I finished the book on the first of the month. That part was bob-on. My gamble that it qualified for the Pride Month award was scuppered though.

To be honest, there wasn’t anything I could have done here. I had a few books on my TBR that I felt could fit. As it happens, none of them were on the list. Regardless of what I picked, I wouldn’t have got it.

However, I have ticked a sequel off my TBR, so it’s not all doom and gloom! I really enjoyed this cozy, wholesome narrative!

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

Goodreads Link

My next carryover from May was a non-fiction about one of my favourite book and TV series of all-time – Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon. I love reading about A Game of Thrones, be it the books themselves, the history, lore, or turns out, the drama of filming that which was not meant to be filmable!

I don’t envy Dan Weiss and David Benioff. They put a lot of pressure on themselves to deliver something we have never really seen on screen before. We are now 6+ years post release of the final, fateful series, and it’s hard to recall that this was a front-runner in terms of scope and size. Now, it feels like GoT set a bar that everyone else has to live up to. We love our epics!

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon is very much all about the behind-the-scenes action – the decision-making, the thoughts of actors and their roles, and the ways in which actors discovered their characters fates.

All in all, loved this read. There is very little ‘new’ I read about this series now. This hit the mark though!

Project Hail Mary

Goodreads Link

Mid-month, I finished listening to Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I picked this book up as it contributed to two Goodreads Spring Reading Challenge awards – Summer Reading and Escapist reads. Whilst I picked it up more for the awards, it was the best decision I made!

The audiobook version of the book is phenomenal! It was a great listen, and the characterisation of Rocky wouldn’t have been the same on paper I don’t think. I loved Project Hail Mary so much that I immediately added Artemis and the Martian to my TBR.

What a happy result from a book that wasn’t necessarily a reading priority but for the challenge…

Queen of Shadows

Goodreads Link

I tried something different with my readalong book of the month in June. Instead of borrowing a digital copy of Queen of Shadows, like I did for every book in the series so far, I picked up an audiobook copy. An aspect. I struggled with in earlier books is the slower pace of setting the scene a the beginning of the book. In the hopes of getting past that, I hoped the audiobook would smooth this issue.

I’m pleased to say it did! The other reason I opted for audio was because I was more likely to listen throughout the month and match the pace of my readalong. I generally listen more slowly and consistently. On that front, the audiobook version of Queen of Shadows worked for me as well.

I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts on this one over on my YouTube channel later this week. Then, I’ll continue in the same form, diving into Empire of Storms in audio format as well.

The Pillars of the Earth

Goodreads Link

The main downfall at the end of this month was the size of The Pillars of the Earth overwhelming me. I had set myself a target to read 42 pages a day to get through it. Was that achievable? Sure. However, once you get a little behind, it’s easy to fall off the wagon. That happened for me in June, and really that stalled my reading progress.

Am I still enjoying The Pillars of the Earth? Yes! It’s a slower read, sure. I can lean into that. I think my expectations to finish this book, as well as pick up three others before the end of the month was just a bit much. In the later half of June, that reality crept up on me.

I’m still plodding along with The Pillars of the Earth. My plans are to read this slowly alongside other faster-paced reads. Otherwise, I may just get stuck on it. It’s an interesting book so far, and I don’t want to waste the progress I’ve made so far by putting it down (even temporarily).

Katabasis

Goodreads Link

In the last couple of days of the month, I needed a change of pace. So, I picked up Katabasis. As expected, this book leans into the dark academia and fantasy magical realism that I wanted. I’ve enjoyed this before in Babel, by the same author. I loved that book, and felt it was the best pick-me-up to round off the month.

And that is true. However, I didn’t read a whole lot of the book before the end of June so there isn’t a huge update in this monthly wrap-up on where I’m up to. Nevertheless, I’ve got plenty of time in July to continue this read and really get into the gritty storyline I’m hoping for.

Behind Closed Doors

Goodreads Link

My last audiobook of the month that I started was Behind Closed Doors. It’s a pretty short book, but I only started it a few days before month-end.

Behind Closed Doors qualified for the Community Picks award. These books were in the mystery/thriller genre. Based on the rest of my TBR, it made for a refreshing change. That’s still the case! Looking ahead at books I need to read in the next few weeks, I’m going to enjoy listening to something a little different. It’s apparent from the off that something is off in this family dynamic. But, is it what we think it is?

Only time will tell!

Summary

My June TBR was a little unattainable, if I’m honest. However, if I don’t push myself, I tend to fall slack on reading as well. I suppose my take away from this monthly wrap-up is that I need to find the middle ground. Give myself a little challenge, but not so much that I don’t have time for bad days, or wanting to pick up other hobbies.

Thanks for reading today’s monthly wrap-up! How was your reading month in June? Did you complete any challenges, or discover any new favourite authors?

Sunday Summary – 28th June 2026

Posted on June 28, 2026June 28, 2026 by fantasyst95

Another week has positively flown by! Yes, somehow it’s time for this week’s Sunday Summary instalment already.

In last week’s post, I didn’t have a whole lot to update you on in terms of reading progress. This week feels a little bit more productive, if not the comeback I had hoped for. The truth is, I have been busy at work and that has impacted my attention span out-of-hours, so to speak. Not only that, but I’ve leant into needing some space and taken the time to enjoy playing Minecraft, as well as getting back to a huge cross-stitch project. This week I cracked out some new colours!

So, what have I been up to here? On my blog, I published a Top Ten Tuesday featuring books on my Summer TBR. On Friday, I published the Shelf Control post that didn’t make it out last week. I featured a crime novel by a renowned author, but perhaps better known for another genre.

Over on YouTube, I published a tour of my unread books that don’t fit on my bookshelves. There are over 50 of them – take a look to see if we have any in common!

Books Read

The Pillars of the Earth

Progress with The Pillars of the Earth has remained slow. Now I’ve accepted I’m not finishing it by the end of June, I’ve dropped off trying to read 42 pages a day.

So, progress with this one is going to tick along slowly. And you know what, that’s fine by me. I’ll keep plodding along to finish this book. It’s a slow-burn storyline in my eyes anyway, so I can lean into that.

This week, I’ve read around 50 pages. Yes, progress is very slow with this one. Thankfully reading progress with my other reads this week has been better!

Katabasis

With progress so slow on The Pillars of the Earth, I’ve dabbled with Katabasis for a change of pace. whilst I’ve only just started this book in the last couple of days, I’ve enjoyed a different storyline. I’m sure it’ll help me back on track with reading!

Whilst I own a physical copy of this book, I’ve also got a digital copy from the library to help in moments when I can’t carry round, or want to hold, a physical book. Basically, I’m doing just about everything I can to reduce resistance to read 😆

Queen of Shadows

Finally, the best progress of all this week has been on the audiobook front!

This week, I’ve listened to the final 9 hours 20 minutes needed to finish Queen of Shadows. For the first time ever, I’ve finished my Readalong series by my own deadline 😅

Audiobooks are definitely the way to go for me with this series. Earlier books in the series were a little slow-going in terms of world-building and setting down the early foundations of the book. However, I didn’t feel that was something I encountered in Queen of Shadows.

I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts on this latest book very soon! Although, given we’re at the end of the month, I’ll no doubt get started with Empire of Storms in the next few days 🤣

Books Discovered

This Sunday Summary is another quiet one in terms of bookish additions. There are none to report this week – again 🤗 That’s good news from where I’m standing!

Coming Up..

What I’m Reading!

Next Sunday Summary, I’m hoping to report more progress with The Pillars of the Earth. I don’t want to be reading it for the rest of 2026! I might set myself a goal for a couple hundred pages a week. That’s achievable and means I’ll finish the book by the end of July.

On top of that, I’m going to pick up pace with Katabasis. Given things have slowed down in the last fortnight, I’m intentionally going back to a genre I know and love to get back in the game.

In terms of audiobook progress, I’m starting Behind Closed Doors tonight. It’s a pretty short book, and so the audiobook is set to take me 6 hours total to read. More than doable! I’ve taken to listening to an hour before bed. I’m capable of doing more than that if I put my mind to it…

Blog

The end of June is imminent, so my usual posts are on the way. First, my monthly wrap-up will go live and update you on how far I got with my June TBR and quest to complete the Goodreads Spring 2026 reading challenge.

Next, I’ll publish my July TBR later this week. So far, the list is looking like a mix of new releases and comeback kings. I’m excited for a fresh start!

YouTube

In terms of YouTube content, I’ve got video versions of both of those blog posts planned for recording. However, that’s not all.

Now I’ve finished Queen of Shadows, I’m keen to record my review of the book whilst events are fresh in my mind. Also, before I start book five, Empire of Storms.

Finally, I’ll record a weekly update next Sunday. Fingers crossed I can get through more page count next week.

Summary

Thanks for reading today’s Sunday Summary. Again, it’s been a slower week than usual. However, I’m keen to finish my ongoing reads and then enjoy a fresh start in the coming days.

How has your reading progress been this week? Have you stepped back to enjoy other hobbies as I have?

Shelf Control #105 – 26/06/2026

Posted on June 26, 2026June 26, 2026 by fantasyst95

***Today’s Shelf Control contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the featured book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you.

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this post, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

My latest Shelf Control features a crime novel by well-known J.K. Rowling written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Aside from the Harry Potter series, I’ve yet to read any other books by the author. I’m interested to see how differently this book, and if I like it, series reads. It’s a completely different genre to that I’ve read before. I received a copy of this particular book as a gift. I believe my sister’s husband has read this particular book already and enjoyed it! It’ll be interesting to see if we feel the same way about it.

Before I get into the details of it, here’s a recap of what this Shelf Control feature is all about.

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies; a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.

The Cuckoo’s Calling – Robert Galbraith

Genre: Crime

Pages: 550

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Sphere

Publication Date: 18 Apr 2013

Amazon Purchase Link

Goodreads – The Cuckoo’s Calling

When a troubled model falls to her death from a Mayfair balcony, it is assumed that she has committed suicide. However, her brother has his doubts and calls in private detective Cormoran Strike to investigate. Strike is a war veteran—wounded both physically and psychologically—and his private life is in disarray. The case gives him a financial lifeline but it comes at a personal cost: the more he delves into the young model’s world, the darker things become and the closer he gets to terrible danger…

A gripping, elegant mystery steeped in the atmosphere of London—from the hushed streets of Mayfair, to the backstreet pubs of the East End, to the bustle of Soho—The Cuckoo’s Calling is a remarkable debut. Introducing Cormoran Strike, it is a classic crime novel unlike any other book you will read this year.

My Thoughts…

Beyond the Harry Potter series, I haven’t tried any other books by J.K. Rowling. Given that I enjoy those books, and received a copy of the book by family who has read it, I can only have confidence I’ll enjoy it.

I’m keen to try this brand-new genre from this author. It’s one I like anyway, if maybe I don’t read as much of it as late as I used to. That’s something to change. And, if I love the books, there are plenty more in the series to dive into. I have a hunch I own at least one more of these, so let’s hope I get on with today’s Shelf Control feature!

I know J.K. Rowling and her views aren’t for everyone. However, I separate creators and their art. If I only read material by authors whose views I agreed on 100%, then I’d never broaden my horizons. Plus, that’s how confirmation bias and polarisation happens. Reading her books doesn’t mean I align with her views. Rather, I just want to enjoy the fiction she writes.

Have you read The Cuckoo’s Calling? If you want to grab a copy for yourself, don’t forget you can support me as a creator by following these links to get a hold of yours copy in your preferred format, be that print, e-book or audio!

Thanks for reading today’s Shelf Control!

Top Ten Tuesday – Books on My Summer 2026 To-Read List

Posted on June 23, 2026June 23, 2026 by fantasyst95

I enjoy looking ahead and sharing seasonal TBRs. In today’s Top Ten Tuesday post, we’re looking at my Summer TBR.

The theme of my Summer TBR is getting through some previous reads I’ve featured on monthly TBR’s, but didn’t get to. After that, I’ll be taking a look at some of the books that made The Booker Prize longlist. I’m hoping to read those this year too. Finally, I’ll share a few long-standing books on my TBR in general that I would like to get to.

The Ones that Got Away…

Julia

I intended to read Julia in tandem with the classic George Orwell 1984. However, that first book took some time to get through (considering other reading commitments).

Ultimately, I took the decision to take a break between reading 1984 and this retelling. Now I have enjoyed that break, I’m looking forward to revisiting George Orwell’s dystopian setting from a fresh pair of eyes. Instead told from the perspective of the character Julia herself, I’m intrigued to see what alternative narrative Sandra Newman came up with in this infamous world that sometimes looks a little bit too much like our own…

Eve

A book that is on my 2026 fixed TBR, as well my Top Ten Tuesday spring TBR edition of this post (oops!), is Eve.

I’m looking forward to picking up this non-fiction about the female biology and how it has driven evolution of humans in the past. All too often, the ‘miracle’ of life overlooks the hard work of the women who birth the next generation, as well as the drivers that go into shaping evolution themselves.

I intended to get to this months ago, so fingers crossed it’s one of the earlier books I pick up on this Summer TBR.

The Great Hunt

The Great Hunt came out of my TBR Jar in May. However, after a lacklustre reading month, I didn’t get to pick this second instalment to an epic fantasy series up.

That’s what it’s on today’s Top Ten Tuesday. I recently got myself a copy of the next book of the series, The Dragon Reborn, at a charity shop for a good price. So, let’s hope I can get to The Great Hunt soon!

Empire of the Dawn

I started Empire of the Dawn back in November last year. However, after slow progress with this long read, I put it on pause. So far, I’ve yet to go back.

Given the length of time since I started the book, I’m of two minds as to whether I should restart it or not. I might try to continue and hope my memory is jogged from the first 50 pages or so. Otherwise, I’ll have to go back and start again.

Fingers crossed that doesn’t end of being the case. I’m fairly sure I’m at least a new hundred pages in.

The Booker 2026 Longlist…

The Witch

I’m loving my witchy stories lately. Leaning into that, I’ve got my first Booker longlist pick as The Witch.

The bonus? It’s only 144 pages. If I’m justifying myself for not getting to a book this short in my next seasonal TBR, you have permission to disown me as your favourite book blogger. Well, I’ve got to be someone’s… right?

The Director

Another return from a Top Ten Tuesday gone by. This was also on my Spring TBR. Whoopsie…

Nevertheless, I’m still keen to pick this up. Of all the books on the Booker 2026 Prize list, I’d say it’s the one I anticipate enjoying the most.

Let’s hope it lives up to expectations now, eh?

The Wax Child

A slightly different Booker Prize list intend to prioritise this summer is The Wax Child.

In my Spring Top Ten Tuesday TBR, I think I featured some of the longer books on the list. As I didn’t get to them, I think it may be more prudent to try for some shorter ones and make a more conscious effort to get to them this time.

Yeah, I didn’t end up reading a single book on the Spring TBR thanks to my efforts to complete the Spring Goodreads reading challenge. Which, as I’ve writing, I don’t think I’ll complete either 😂

The Oldies…

The Keeper of Lost Things

My solemn declaration in this here Top Ten Tuesday Summer TBR – I want to get some of the oldest books on my TBR read this summer. There. I said it. No takesies backsies.

The first of my picks is a contemporary fiction that’s a bit different from most of my TBR. Also from a lot of the books on this Too Ten Tuesday too.

The Keeper of Lost Things is THE oldest (published) book on my TBR. It has been on my reading list since April 2017. About time I got to it, right?

Fun fact, the only book that trumps this – is THE oldest book on my To-Read list is The Doors of Stone by Patrick Rothfuss. Like a lot of people I’m sure… I’m hoping this will eventually get published. Alas, it must sit on the TBR for now.

Hild

The next oldest book on the list is a historical fiction set in medieval England. Seemingly full of superstition, this leans into my love of the supernatural whilst giving unique insight into a much older history of my country.

Plus, I love that the protagonist is a woman. In this kind of time period, it’s easy for women to be cast into the shadows…

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

I’m targeting some older books on my TBR here whilst also mixing up genres. So, my next pick skips a few older books on the TBR but it’s one I added in July 2017. It’s still been there a while…

I’m intrigued by Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. I recall it had great reviews in the blogosphere years ago and I can’t wait to finally throw my two pence worth in.

Summary

It’s fair to say there are a mix of book on this Top Ten Tuesday Summer 2026 TBR. On top of these, I’ll also likely be working towards the next Goodreads challenge. I’m not likely to complete Summer and I’m DETERMINED to get at least one!

So, I have plenty of books to keep me entertained. Not that it was ever in doubt, no?

Thanks for reading today’s Top Ten Tuesday. What are your summer reading plans?

Sunday Summary – 21st June 2026

Posted on June 21, 2026June 21, 2026 by fantasyst95

Good evening friends! I don’t quite know how we’re back at Sunday evening already, but there we are. That can only mean it’s time for another Sunday Summary update!

This Sunday Summary post is likely to be a short one. As reading progress goes, I’m light on updates this week. After a busy week at work training, as well as overtime on Friday due to technical issues, I haven’t read much. Even yesterday, my other half was off work. So, a day that would normally have involved at least a couple of hours on the sofa with Pillars of the Earth was not to be. Alas, I can’t be an avid reader every minute of every day…

Before I get onto the usual bookish updates, let’s quickly recap the content I’ve shared so far this week!

Over on YouTube, I shared my thoughts on whether book subscription boxes are worth it, including the pros and cons. Then, later this week I shared a review of Heir of Fire, the third book in the Throne of Glass series I’m hosting a readalong for.

Earlier, I published my weekly vlog which is the equivalent of this Sunday Summary update.

Here on the blog, I shared a Game of Thrones themed quiz on Tuesday. It’s the first time I’ve posted anything like it before. I’m also keen to build upon it casually over time, and maybe write more based on popular books. Let me know if you have any preferences for other books or series.

I had intended a Shelf Control to go live on Friday. However, with the late finish after a busy week, I made the executive decision to give myself a night off and roll this over to next week.

Books Read

The Pillars of the Earth

I confess, physical reading progress has been the slowest this week. As of drafting this post, I’ve barely read 30 pages this week. Even then, most of those were earlier today…

The reasons for this are largely circumstantial and I’m hopeful to put this week to bed and start afresh tomorrow. Does it mean I’m likely to finish The Pillars of the Earth before the end of June. Yeah. Not optimistic about that one. However, that doesn’t mean I’m giving up on it or relaxing on the pace. I wanted to read this one anyway and it’s an entertaining read so far.

Queen of Shadows

Over the course of this week, I’ve listened pretty consistently to Queen of Shadows, around half an hour a day. Overall, I’ve listened to 2 hours 45mins over the course of the week.

Not a whole lot of progress, but I’m pleased that at least one aspect of my reading habits remained consistent this week.

I’m enjoying this book in audio format. It’s certainly helping with some of the issues I had with Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire in the density of information at the beginning of the books. In the grand scheme of things, it working out better than I hoped. Fingers crossed I can make the most of listening time next week and finish this book before the end of June. It would mean listening to around an hour a day, which is certainly achievable!

Books Discovered

I added more than enough books to my TBR last week. So, I’ve reined it in again this week. No news to report!

Coming Up…

What I’m Reading…

Naturally, priority next week goes to keeping pace with The Pillars of the Earth and Queen of Shadows, aka my current reads. Much the same as last week really…

Blog

My first post of next week is a Top Ten Tuesday. This week’s topic involves sharing my Summer TBR. Looking beyond completing the Goodreads Spring 2026 Challenge (before the end of June, or after), I’ve got plenty of books I’m excited to get to. On Tuesday, I’ll share some of those.

On Friday I’ll post the Shelf Control I didn’t get to this week – have no fear!

Finally, at the end of the week I’ll return with (hopefully) a more productive Sunday Summary post. Let’s hope more reading progress is the theme of that post.

YouTube

I’ve recorded one video for next week, as it’s a reasonable length video. In that, I share a tour of the physical unread books that currently don’t fit on my bookshelves. There’s quite a lot, so I hope you can find a book in amongst these we have in common or that you’re interested in too.

Then, later in the week, I’ll share my next weekly vlog. Again, hopefully with more reading progress than I disclose today.

Summary

Thanks for reading this Sunday Summary update. It may not be the best of weeks, but these things happen. It’s an honest account of what it can be like as a reader and content creator. So, I hope this honesty lands and you can see that I’m not perfect. But, I do my best and hold my hands up when things don’t come to plan.

Have you had better reading progress than me this week?