Author: fantasyst95

Top Ten Tuesday – Books I’ve Never Reviewed

Posted on by

If there’s one thing that’s apparent on this Top Ten Tuesday – Books I’ve Never Reviewed post, it’s that the books fall into one of two categories.

I’m proud to say that in the grand scheme of things, I review the vast majority of books I read. There are some I haven’t reviewed dating back to pre-blog days. Maybe I’ll re-read and review some of those whilst they are fresh in my memory. It wouldn’t feel fair to it now when it’s been over 10 years since I picked the books up.

The two categories the remaining books fall into are either those I feel indifferent over, or those I’m intimidated to even try to review!

Shall we take a look at what falls where?

 

Books I’m Indifferent About


Empress of All Seasons

My overall recollection on this book is one of general enjoyment, but nothing stands out In my head as to why I liked this book.


The Ruby in the Smoke

Nothing smacks harder of indifference than not actually being able to remember a single thing about this book or anything that happened in it.

Yikes.


Vox

On a different note, I do remember the plot and premise of Vox. I did enjoy the book, but as a feminist fiction, I feel it could have leant a little harder into the subject than it did. 


Jack the Ripper: Case Closed

I like Jack the Ripper books and stories, but this audiobook just felt a bit ‘meh’. It’s very hard to write a review and talk about a book when you really don’t have a lot to say about it.

Scouse Gothic


If I recall correctly, the author sent me a copy of this book after I read another of his. It was a book I read at my own leisure rather than for review. It was an okay read, if a bit out of my comfort zone. I didn’t have anything especially to say about it then and neither do I now.

 

You Are Not so Smart

You are not so smart

All I recall from this book is a bunch of surprising facts, interlaced with humour. It was a good and informative read, but I certainly don’t have enough to say about it to be able to draft a post dedicated to it.

It’s interestingly the only non-fiction to feature in this Top Ten Tuesday.

 

The Cockroach

This political satire is a short book I was recommended by someone I used to work for. It was an interesting and different short story to read. Again, there’s no way I’d be able to justify a review for it.

 

Books I’m Intimidated to Review

Blackwing

Blackwing

I’ve read and reviewed both Ravencry and Crowfall as part of blog tours. I read the first book in the series, Blackwing, to catch up on the book ready to review Ravencry.

Since I’ve loved the books so much (that I’ve already re-read them within just a few years), any future review has very big shoes to fill.

 


Godsgrave

In a bit of an admin oversight, I reviewed the first and final book of this trilogy on my blog, but not Godsgrave. I’m not sure how I managed that, but there we go!

Like Blackwing, I’m intimidated at the prospect of approaching this review. I adored this series – it’s what got me into Jay Kristoff’s books in the first place. Can I do the book justice and convince readers it lives up to the hype?


The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

I’m intimidated to review The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time because it’s such a well-known classic! The truth is, I’m probably missing a trick here. Reviews on my blog for classic or popular books, including The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone are why my blog gets as many views as it does nowadays (over 71,000 in 2024).

Maybe I need to just bite the bullet and have a go!

 Summary

Thanks for reading today’s Top Ten Tuesday post. Have you read and reviewed any of the books I feature in this Top Ten Tuesday instalment? I’d love to read your thoughts if you have!

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

Sunday Summary – 16th February 2025

Posted on by

This Sunday Summary post can only mean one thing – the end of another week has rolled around. Doesn’t the time fly?

It’s been a busy week as well! So much so, I’ve only really got the bulk of my reading done this weekend. However, I have managed to make a solid amount of progress. Before we get to that though, here is a recap of the blog posts I have shared so far this week.

First on the list is my TBR book tag post. I had originally intended to share this post on Wednesday, but it ended up being delayed until Thursday. It was a good, fun post to write and it will probably give you some insight into some of the books on my TBR and how long they’ve been there…

Next up was my First Lines Friday post. In the absence of being able to pick a Valentine’s themed book, I instead focused on one that I need to pick up, like, now.

 

Books Read


A Promised Land

Over the course of this weekend, I have listened to 7 hours and 40 minutes of Barack Obama‘s A Promised Land. Even still, combining this with last week’s reading progress of around four hours, I’m still less than halfway through this audiobook!

It’s a sizable book, but one that I’ve been able to chip away at and listen to quite easily. I’ve spent a lot of this weekend home alone, so between doing chores around the house and other hobbies, I’ve been able to listen to this audio at the same time.

For the most part, this has worked quite well. There have been a few sections of the audio where I’ve wanted to pay a little bit more attention to what Barack has been trying to explain. There are a couple of points where I rewound and relisten to small sections without the distraction of another task so I can follow what’s being said. However, these are few and far between. They’ve centred around a topic I already have some prior knowledge of; I wanted to understand the detail from an alternate perspective.

I’m looking forward to continuing on with this listen over the next week. For a book that on paper shouldn’t be my cup of tea, it’s going down very nicely.

 

In Every Mirror She’s Black

The second book to update you on in this Sunday Summary is one I just started last week. I haven’t picked up In Every Mirror She’s Black that frequently this weekend. However, I read another 70 pages yesterday whilst waiting for and at a hair appointment and 20 more tonight before publishing this post.

I still consider myself getting into the storyline at the moment. I don’t really know what to make of the characters or how the story is going to come together. I’m going to keep on with it, because the narrative itself is quite easy to read. If the plot doesn’t get more engaging though, I may make a decision on whether I continue with the book in the next few days.

I guess you’ll have to find out next week how I get on with this book. I’ll be making more of an effort to pick this up in the evenings as my social plans aren’t quite so busy.


Books Discovered

I only have one notable book to share with you this week, and it’s one that’s actually already on my TBR. I was gifted a hardcover special edition copy of The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang. It’s a bonus that I plan on reading this first book soon anyway!

Although I haven’t received or acquired any other books in themselves this week, I have added considerably to my book voucher collection. I’m trying not to let them burn a hole in my pocket though…


Coming Up…

The first post I plan to share next week is a Top Ten Tuesday post. The feature of this week’s post is books that I’ve never reviewed. I have quite the backlog, but even before that, there are books I’ve chosen not to review. There are also books I read in my teenage years that I’ve not re-read or featured on my blog since. Expect those to feature on Tuesday.

On Friday, it’s the turn of my Shelf Control post. In this fortnightly series, I feature upcoming books on my TBR and why I’m still looking forward to reading them.

Lastly, I’ll be back at the same time next week with my Sunday Summary update. As always, I’m here to update you on the books I’ve been reading over the week, as well as giving you the intel on what’s coming up very soon! I hope you can join me!

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

First Lines Friday – 14/02/2025

Posted on by

This week’s First Lines Friday post is a week later than intended. I didn’t get around to drafting this post last week. Even now, it is comparatively late for me to be drafting this post for this week. It’s been a busy week of plans, but I have managed to make time to squeeze this in.

This week’s featured book is one I need to get my skates on and pick up soon. I have a deadline to pick this up later this month. Can you guess what it is based on what I’m reading this month?


Renowned curator Jacques Saunière staggered through the vaulted archway of the museum’s Grand Gallery. He lunged for the nearest painting he could see, a Caravaggio. Grabbing the gilded frame, the seventy-six-year-old man heaved the masterpiece toward himself until it tore from the wall and Saunière collapsed backward in a heap beneath the canvas.

As he had anticipated, a thundering iron gate fell nearby, barricading the entrance to the suite. The parquet floor shook. Far off, an alarm began to ring.

The curator lay a moment, gasping for breath, taking stock. I am still alive. He crawled out from under the canvas and scanned the cavernous space for somewhere to hide.

A voice spoke, chillingly close. ‘Do not move.’

 


The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 480

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Anchor

Publication Date: 18 Mar 2003

Goodreads – The Da Vinci Code

 

Harvard professor Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call while on business in Paris: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been brutally murdered inside the museum. Alongside the body, police have found a series of baffling codes.

As Langdon and a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, begin to sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to find a trail that leads to the works of Leonardo da Vinci – and suggests the answer to a mystery that stretches deep into the vault of history.

Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine code and quickly assemble the pieces of the puzzle, a stunning historical truth will be lost forever…

 

My Thoughts…

Dan Brown and his The Da Vinci Code, amongst other books, are well-known names. I believe it’s rare to go into a charity shop and not trip over multiple copies of this book. Despite being well known, as of this first line is a Friday post, I have yet to pick up the book for myself. That needs to change soon. I will work book clubs are reviewing The Da Vinci Code in just a couple of weeks. So, I need to get my skates on.

Well, although I’ve never read this particular book before, I’m not going into a completely blind. I have watched a TV series based on this book. I can’t remember if I watched it to completion or not, but I certainly have an idea of the storyline from what I’ve seen on TV.

The great thing about book clubs is that you get a range of ideas and perspectives from chatting about the chosen book. I believe this book has some controversy around it, so I don’t know if that will feed into our conversation about the book or not. Before we get there though, I need to actually pick it up for myself!

That’s all for today’s First Lines Friday! Have you read any other books by Dan Brown, or The Da Vinci Code?

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

The TBR Book Tag

Posted on by

In today’s TBR book tag post, I’m sharing some fun content. Now and then, I like to break up my reviews and reading progress updates. Today, I’m sharing some books on my TBR and tips on how I keep on top of it (ha!).

I found this TBR book tag over on Pastmidnights.com and I thought it was a fun break from my usual content.


How do you keep track of your TBR?

I have used Goodreads to track my reading list since I really started getting back into reading in 2017.

I have tried other trackers like StoryGraph before. However, because I’m so used to Goodreads, I didn’t really get on with it. It would also be such a project to make the transition that I don’t really have the energy for it. Plus, there’s nothing I dislike about Goodreads either. I know some people like to stay away from it because of its affiliation with Amazon. It works for me though…


Is your TBR mostly print or e-books?

I have a number of books across all formats – physical, e-book, and audiobook. However, I’d say the e-book collection is by far the largest.

Arguably, it’s the more convenient format to have books in. It doesn’t take up physical space in the house, which is the most premium resource I have. Not that you’d know it from the stack of books that can’t fit on my existing bookshelves…


How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?

It honestly depends.

Sometimes, very occasionally, I’ll have a reading theme. Take this month for example – Black History Month. If I want to pick up books on or around this topic, it’s a much smaller pool to choose from than the 200+ on my list.

Most of the time though, it’s what I feel like reading. I have some broader reading goals of finishing series. That usually bumps books up the list a bit. Occasionally, I’ll mood read and pick up whatever I want. I can judge that either by synopsis or genre. There isn’t really any rhyme or reason here.

Finally, I might just curveball and pick up something not on the list. Be that for book club or any other reason, I just keep myself on my toes.


A book that’s been on your TBR the longest


The Doors of Stone by Patrick Rothfuss – there is another question about unpublished books below in which I feature another I cannot wait to get to. This unpublished book features here though as it is literally the oldest book on my TBR by ‘date added’ and there is nothing I can do about it!

 

A book you recently added to your TBR


I added A Man Called Ove as I love the idea of the character. Although I’m not anywhere near the main character’s demographic (neither male – I hope not shocking news…, or of the elderly generation), I can sympathise with this character.


A book on your TBR you strictly bought because of the beautiful cover


Orbital is a fairly recent purchase. However, the cover caught my eye and then I rationalised that some shorter fiction on my TBR isn’t a bad thing!


A book on your TBR you never actually plan on reading

Um… none really? I don’t add books to the list if I don’t have any intention of reading them. That may change over time and I take something off the list as I no longer want to read it. But, there’s no point adding something I don’t want to read!


An unpublished book on your TBR that you’re excited for


The Winds of Winter is the most anticipated new release on my TBR. The only problem is, I’m getting increasingly worried that this sequel is still a long way off!


A book on your TBR basically everybody has read but you


I’ve put Throne of Glass on my TBR as a way of trying Sarah J. Maas. I’m not sure I’ll like all her books, but this is the series I’ve been recommended as having the most storyline sans romance to it.


A book on your TBR that everyone recommends


I’d have to go for The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang – ironic as I have just been gifted a fancy edition of the book!


A book on your TBR that you’re just dying to read


I’m not one for anticipating new releases much. However, I grew up reading The Hunger Games. I’m looking forward to the prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, coming out. It’s the story of Haymitch’s games. He’s a rich character in the later books; I’m interested to see what happened to him to get himself in such a sorry state!


The number of books on your Goodreads Shelf

As of publishing this post, the Goodreads list is 214 books long.

Please send help!

 

 

Thanks for checking out today’s TBR book tag post!

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

Sunday Summary – 9th February 2025

Posted on by

It’s the end of the week, friends, so it can only mean that it’s time for my regular Sunday Summary update. As always, I hope you’ve had a great week and are looking forward to the next!

What have I been up to this week? I’ve only posted two out of the three blog posts I planned up until this Sunday Summary. The first of those posts was my monthly TBR for February. If you’re intrigued to see which books I’ve got lined up for the month, take a look. 

Next, I shared a review of a young adult science-fiction novel told in a mixed-media format. If you have yet to read Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman, I set out in this post why you should!

I was supposed to post a First Lines Friday later in the week. However, I confess I didn’t get time to draft this beforehand, and I was out with friends on Friday night until about 9:30 p.m. After that, I didn’t have much time at home before going to bed ready for an early start the next day. I didn’t want to spend that time blogging and not with Shane; having not seen him all day already, that would’ve been selfish. So, you’ll just have to hang on till next week for that post.


Books Read


A Darkness at Sethanon

I confess that I’ve barely picked up A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E. Feist this week.

If I’m entirely honest, the introduction hasn’t gripped me in the way I’d hoped. Combine that with a fairly neutral opinion of the series as a whole, and you’ll maybe see why I’ve not had the same drive to pick it up.

On the one hand, I am not prepared to abandon it entirely yet. I’ve not given it a good chance to get going, but also it would mean abandoning a series with just one book left. Instead, I think I will pick up something else in the meantime and try and come back to A Darkness at Sethanon.

 

A Promised Land

Better progress has been made with A Promised Land by Barack Obama. On the one hand, this is surprising. I’m not one for taking an interest in politics or going out of my way to read about it. However, I’m making an exception for Barack Obama. I like him on the whole, and I also like this as an audiobook because Barack narrates it himself.

It feels so much more like an intimate story of being told about his life as opposed to it being narrated to me impartially by someone else. I’m glad I picked this up in audio format as it’s the kind of content I can listen to quite easily.

Over the course of the week, I have listened to just under four hours of his book so far. It’s a 29-hour affair in total, so I still have a long way to go! However, I’m engaged, and that was always going to be the deciding factor in whether I stuck with A Promised Land or not.


In Every Mirror She’s Black

Instead of A Darkness at Sethanon, I picked up and read the first 30 pages of In Every Mirror She’s Black this evening. Broadly speaking, I’m getting on better with it. I’m still just getting introduced to the characters and what is going on; but I’m intrigued by the overlap in each of the three main character storylines and where they will progress.

Obviously, just scratching the surface of this book, there is very little I can say right now. What I will say is that this book is going to be my priority over the next week. Maybe then I’ll pick up A Darkness at Sethanon for a second go.


Books Discovered

Since I have acquired a number of books lately, I’ve behaved and not added to the TBR this week.


Coming Up…

The first post of next week will be a book tag which centres on my TBR! Just about everyone knows it’s long enough to warrant some attention. It’ll be nice to post something lighthearted and fun too!

This week’s planned First Lines Friday will be coming to you best week instead. It would be cheesy and difficult for me to try and find a Valentine’s-themed book. But hey, maybe that’s a challenge I can take on? I might struggle, but I’ll have a go.

Finally, I’ll be back with another Sunday Summary update post for you. Fingers crossed I’ll have more in the way of reading updates for you ☺️

Thanks for reading today’s Sunday Summary update! Have a great week, and I’ll see you in the next one.

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

Book Review – Illuminae: Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Posted on by

In today’s book review, I share my thoughts on a young adult mixed-media book I really enjoyed! The best part is, Illuminae is the start of a trilogy. Therefore, fans of this first book will be pleased to know that the saga continues; book two is largely set around different characters, and book three brings them all together for an epic conclusion.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start at the beginning…


Illuminae – Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 608

Audience: Young Adult

Publisher: Knopf Books

Publication Date: 20 Oct 2015

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟


Goodreads –  Illuminae

 

The internationally and New York Times bestselling first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy that bends the sci-fi genre into a new dimension.

Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the worst thing she’d ever been through. That was before her planet was invaded. Now, with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating craft, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But the warship could be the least of their problems. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their biggest threat; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady plunges into a web of data hacking to get to the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: Ezra.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents, Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy.


My Thoughts


Plot

Well, I say let’s start at the beginning, but actually the book begins near the end. In the courtroom, with us readers almost as one of the jury, Kady, Ezra, and many characters we meet along the way present their case against Beitech Corporation.

Greedy corporations remain at large in this fictional world. Beitech are accused of killing and displacing many of the characters within this first book when attacking their home planet in favour of gaining resources. From there, it’s a mad scramble for civilian survival. And the clock is ticking…

Not for one moment can we accuse this novel of lacking in action. For fans of an action-driven plot, this will appeal to you for its time-pressured and high-stakes drama.

Naturally, I can’t say too much as I don’t want to give away any aspects of the storyline (either in Illuminae or in the subsequent books). Just take my word for it that it’s amazing and go and read it!


Characters

A number of characters contribute to the overall storyline within. Not only is this a multiple-perspective book, but it’s also a multiple-media book. In that regard, this appealed to me as I enjoy seeing things from a variety of perspectives. That naturally fits with this narrative and media type well. One person can’t be everywhere at once, and with so many elements going into the storyline, we need everybody’s perspective in order to paste together the final picture.

The primary perspectives are that of Kady Grant and Ezra Mason. If you enjoy teenagers who totally dig each other but you know, aren’t in a relationship, then you’ll like these pair. Personally, I liked both perspectives but not necessarily for their romance or relationship with each other. That’s not to say I wasn’t rooting for them reuniting though.

If I had to say which aspect of the book leaned most heavily towards making this a young adult book, it is the characters. This plotline could be set with much older characters and sit well in the adult genre.


Setting

Illuminae is set across several intergalactic places. Thankfully for readers, it’s very obvious where things are going on with location and timestamps where applicable. The nature of the story and following that characters means that things are pretty chronological and don’t jump around too much either.

Set in our nearish future, it doesn’t feel too far-fetched. Although the idea of living in space probably feels a bit off, I think the technology available feels largely reminiscent of what we have today. It’s only a small leap for mankind – excuse the pun.

If you enjoy reading or watching science fiction, then reading Illuminae won’t be too far of a stretch. Even if you aren’t that imaginative when it comes to imagining the spaceship layout or dynamics of what’s going on, this book is very good at illustrating that for you. Literally. I remember technical diagrams of each of the ships. It makes it a very easy narrative to get on with.


Narrative Style

Told in a mixed-media format, this book is great for readers who have short attention spans or benefit from short, snappy content.

With everything from transcripts to posters and images, the action is spread across a variety of media that keeps us engaged. It’s a fun way of telling the story too. With the science-fiction slant on the narrative, it helps circumnavigate any understanding issues and makes the content more applicable to its intended younger audience.

Because of its format, I was able to read a large quantity of page count without too much effort. The constantly changing content types kept me reading on just that little bit longer and kept me engaged with the storyline throughout.


Summary

Regardless of whether you are a fan of the young adult genre, or even the science-fiction genre, I cannot recommend Illuminae enough. It’s a great introduction to reading something a little different. With plenty of action to keep readers’ attention, combined with a variety of mixed media to help with understanding and engagement, Illuminae is a fabulous start to a series I have since gone on to read voraciously and enjoy!

Have you read Illuminae or any other books by Jay Kristoff or Amie Kaufman?

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

Monthly TBR – February 2025

Posted on by

For February‘s monthly TBR, I’m making an effort to pick up more topical reads. I have read a few books in February before around the topic of Black History Month. Still, I’ve not leaned into it all that heavily – until now.

This monthly TBR post features a carryover from January, as well as our work’s book club pick. After that, my plans are to lean into Black History Month completely. With a mixture of both fiction and non-fiction, it should be a good month of reading. I’m also pushing myself out of my comfort zone this month by picking up a political non-fiction – something I’ve never done before.


Fixed Reads


A Darkness at Sethanon

My carryover from January‘s monthly TBR is A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E Feist.

I set out to pick up the book in January as it’s the final book in his The Riftwar Saga series. If you read my series to finish in 2025 post, you’ll know that this particular book was on my hit list to help me achieve my goal of finishing more series this year.

I’m still pretty early on in this book, so I have the vast majority of it to read in February. It’s a solid start so far, and I’ve caught up with the events of the previous books so I know exactly where we’re picking up from.


The Da Vinci Code

At our book club meeting on Wednesday last week, we decided to pick up The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown next. It’s a mixed bag between us as to whether members have read the book before. Personally, I’m in the camp of having not read it yet.

I do recall watching a series based on the novel. I’m not going into it completely blind, but I’ve also never experienced the book. That’s often a very different experience to watching it!

I’ve only got on till the 26th of February to pick up the book. Naturally, this is going to be a bit more of a priority read. Whilst it doesn’t matter all that much when I pick up the rest of the books on this monthly TBR, this is the only one with an official deadline.


A Promised Land

The anomaly on this monthly TBR is Barack Obama‘s political memoir, A Promised Land.

I have never read anything like it before. Is it likely I ever will again? Well, I suppose that depends on my experience of this book. What I can say for sure is that it meets my 2025 resolution of reading out of my comfort zone. 

I understand that it’s a lot heavier than Michelle Obama‘s autobiography, Becoming. It’s also a lot longer. At 760 odd pages, this is not going to be a light read.

I’m not really invested when it comes to politics. However, I did actually quite like Barack Obama and what he was trying to do in America. It’s completely different to the type of material I would normally pick up. His life experiences are unique and I’m curious to read this memoir to learn a little bit more about him and his presidency.

What makes this a little better is that I’m listening to the audiobook, which Barack narrates himself. It may sound daft, but I think that will make it easier to listen to. It feels more personal somehow…


Fearing the Black Body

I originally wanted to pick up this book for reasons other to its ties to Black History Month. Rather, I have a bit of a personal investment as a larger lady. I wanted to pick up this book for its perspective on fat phobia and why people like me are often judged for the way we look and our lifestyles.

However, the ties to racial discrimination in this do interest me. It hadn’t occurred to me that this may have been an underlying influence to why people are more judgmental for people with bigger bodies. I was curious to read the book and find out more. So much so, in fact, that as of publishing this monthly TBR I have already listened to this audiobook in its entirety!


Mood Reads


Children of Virtue and Vengeance

I can’t have every single book on my fixed reading list this month. There is a chance I won’t get round to it all, on account of the fact that February has only 28 days. With this in mind, I’ve decided to put my fictional Black History Month-related reads here.

In the example of Children of Virtue and Vengeance, I have the incentive of picking this book up to continue with this series. Even if the worst-case scenario is that I don’t get to this book in February, I’m likely to still pick it up this year. Children of Virtue and Vengeance is the second book of the Legacy of Orisha series. There is just one book left after this one; it would make a series completion and help me towards my reading resolutions for the year.

It’s been a good while since I picked up the first book of the series, Children of Blood and Bone. I suspect I’m going to need a little refresher on the events of that first book before I dive into this sequel. It’s been six years since I picked it up after all!


In Every Mirror She’s Black

Lastly, the final book I plan to pick up on this monthly TBR that leans into Black History Month is In Every Mirror She’s Black.

I picked up my copy of this book a few years ago in a Waterstones sale after Christmas. I like the sound of the novel and how it compares the experiences of three seemingly different women… but are they?

From what I gather, the book is some kind of commentary on how the lives of Black women, even though they have different backgrounds,  are often filled with the same themes. That’s my impression, anyway. I’ll see for sure when I pick it up!


Summary

I’m setting a less ambitious monthly TBR than I did for January. I didn’t get to all the books on that list, but those that didn’t will make another appearance on my next TBR. In the spirit of reading more seasonally, I want to lean into Black History Month and pick up topical reads.

Are you reading anything for Black History Month?

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

Sunday Summary – 2nd February 2025

Posted on by

In today’s Sunday Summary, I have plenty of reading updates for you! I can’t wait to share that progress with you. Before that, though, let’s take a look at the blog posts I’ve shared so far this week.

My first post of the week was a post outlining a number of series I want to finish in 2025. With many series so close to completion, I’ve outlined those I plan to prioritise to help meet my goal this year.

Next, I shared my monthly wrap-up for January yesterday. Whilst I didn’t get to all the books on my January TBR, I read no less than 3 five-star reads in the first month of 2025. If you’re curious to see what those books were, that’s the post to check out!

 

Books Read

Firefight

I achieved the completion of Firefight that I hoped for last week! Listening to Firefight on audiobook has been a great experience – so much so, I’ve got the final book in the same format.

Firefight was every bit as good as I expected. I had no idea what was going to happen, but that was half the fun. I always had doubts on certain characters and perspectives, so it was interesting to see some of those twists play out.

Brandon Sanderson is always a great author to pick up. He’s one I can always rely on if I need a pick-me-up or if I’m looking to guarantee a great read. Part of the reason I picked it up so early in the year was to have a great start, but also set myself up for a series completion this year.

If you read yesterday’s monthly wrap-up, you’ll know I rated this book five stars.


A Darkness at Sethanon

Next, I picked up and read the first few chapters of A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E. Feist. As I mentioned in my monthly wrap-up as well, I have only just started this book this week.

At the present time, I’ve gotten to grips with where I’m at in the series so far. It’s been a while since I picked up the earlier books. I’ve had to remind myself of what’s happened to date. However, that’s now been settled and now I’m ready to dig into this last instalment of the series.


Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia

In what has to be a record, I have listened to the entirety of Fearing the Black Body this weekend! I’ve made the most of the time I’ve had and listened to several hours of the audio both yesterday and today.

I’ve picked up this book as February is Black History Month. However, I had my own incentives to listen to it. As a larger woman myself, I’m not a stranger to ridicule and judgement for my size. Thankfully, I’ve long left the negativity and judgement of teenage peers in my schooldays behind. Nowadays, it’s more the case that whenever I go to the doctor, my weight is mentioned. Still, it’s a topic of interest to me as it’s influenced my life growing up.

It hadn’t really occurred to me before that fat phobia could have origins in racial discrimination and religious segregation. What this book is one argument towards this, that’s not to say it is indefinitely. I can see the logic in it though, and the author puts forward solid historical facts and studies that support this argument.

Clearly, the speed at which I’ve listened to this audiobook will tell you that I found this engaging and a topic of interest.


Books Discovered

As I mentioned earlier in this Sunday Summary, I have acquired a copy of Calamity in audiobook form this week. Thankfully, I already had the Audible credits to do it with, so it didn’t cost me anything.

Aside from that, I’ve also gotten copies I need for February’s TBR. If you want to see what those are, read on to find out when that post goes live!


Coming Up…

The first post I’m sharing next week is my Monthly TBR. You don’t have long to wait for it either, because it’s coming out on Monday. In fact, as of drafting this post, I already have that one drafted and ready for editing. If you’re looking forward to seeing which books I plan to pick up in February, as well as the theme for this month’s reading, come back tomorrow and all will be revealed.

Next, I plan to share a book review with you on Thursday. In that post, my intention is to review the first book in a mixed-media series co-authored by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman. Do you know what it is? If not, you don’t have long to wait to find out!

I’m back again on Friday, so not long to wait once again. In Friday’s regular feature, it is the turn of my First Lines Friday post. With plenty of other content to think about already this week, I’m not going to restrict myself by setting any challenges. As of this Sunday Summary, I have absolutely no idea which book I’m going to pick either. We’re both in the dark as each other.

Lastly, I’ll be back with another weekly update in the form of my Sunday Summary post. Will I have as much reading progress to share with you next week? That remains to be seen. I could always be hopeful, but I do think this week has been a bit of an anomaly. Let’s not write myself off though, and we’ll wait and see.

That’s all from me in this weekly Sunday Summary, so consider yourself duly caught up with all my reading going on. What are you currently reading?

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

Monthly Wrap-Up – January 2025

Posted on by

The first month of 2025 has flown by! It’s been a fun start to the year. And, as I hoped, I’ve picked up some great books to get me started. Today’s monthly wrap-up post is dominated by books I rated five-stars. What more could I ask for?

I set myself an ambitious monthly TBR, but I’m not going to knock myself down for not being able to match my enthusiasm with results. I still picked up the vast majority of the reading list. What didn’t make it in January is going to come back very shortly.

So, shall we take a look at the books I did manage to pick up in January?


Books Read


The Priory of the Orange Tree

I started the year with an audiobook listen of The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. I did this deliberately as I wanted to start the year right. I’ve heard great things about this fantasy, and I wanted to make sure that one of my first reads of 2025 was going to be a four or five-star rating.

At the beginning of January, I had already listened to just over half of this audiobook (55% if you want to get specific). That still left me with around 11 or 12 hours of audio to progress with. Whilst technically this is only half the book, that is more than a whole book’s worth when you think about the average book length I typically read!

Needless to say, my tactic worked. I rated The Priory of the Orange Tree five stars. I loved this fantasy inside out. It was a fun read with compelling characters and an interesting plotline anyway. However, its emphasis on strong female lead characters really made this even better for me.

 

Fool’s Errand

The second and final book I carried over from my December monthly wrap-up was Fool’s Errand by Robin Hobb. Admittedly, I was much less into this book when I started the year. Aside from the first 56 pages, I pretty much read the whole book in January.

Fool’s Errand broke my heart in every way I feared it would. I really enjoyed being back in the world of Fitzchivalry Farseer and seeing how events have moved on from the first trilogy in the Realm of the Elderlings series. The foreshadowing at the beginning of this book hammered home my fears about what may happen in this latest instalment.

Can a book be both great and terrible at the same time? It was the events of this book that were tragic. The storyline and writing itself it’s usual fantastic standard. Robin Hobb is not known for pulling her punches when it comes to her main characters. Do we really get invested in them if we know they’re going to turn out right in the end?

Fool’s Errand achieved another five star rating and really cemented a good reading start for me this year.


Shuggie Bain

Back in November, our book club at work decided that we would reconvene in January after reading Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stewart.

Admittedly, this isn’t the type of book I would’ve picked up of my own volition. That’s the benefit of a book club! It gives you the chance to pick up and read new things and really get out of your comfort zone. Remember, that’s one of my reading goals for this year.

Whilst I confess I didn’t love every aspect of Shuggie Bain, that’s not to say I didn’t get anything out of it. The book is very bleak in its outlook, but gives great perspective on quite pivotal problems in our society like alcoholism, addiction and the impact these things have on families.

From our discussion, we came to the conclusion that whilst these things feel like a very distant problem for other people, they’re not so far under the surface. Quite often those afflicted are very good at masking their problems. Also, it’s dangerous that substances such as alcohol are so widely available to trap those trying to free themselves of their addiction.


Firefight

The final book I picked up and read to completion before the end of the month was Firefight by Brandon Sanderson. I appreciate fantasy has featured quite heavily on this month’s TBR, but I’m not apologetic for it. It’s my favourite genre for a reason! Brandon Sanderson is also always a great read. I’ve loved every single one of his books, even when you’re taken into consideration how varied they are.

Firefight is the second book of his The Reckoners trilogy. Part of the reason I wanted to pick this up early in the year is so I have just one book left in the series. You may also recall a featured this series in my Series to Finish in 2025 post.

I didn’t anticipate the ending of this book, but I went into it pretty open-minded. I really enjoyed how events played out in the book and it’s gotten me all the more excited to pick up the final instalment of the series very soon!


A Darkness at Sethanon

The last book I picked up before the end of the month, though admittedly I only got a couple of chapters in, was A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E Feist.

This book is also a final instalment in a series and that is the main reason for picking this book up. I want to make an effort continuously to keep finishing up series I’ve started and get the list back under control.

There’s not much to say as of this monthly wrap-up post, other than to say that I’ve gotten myself caught up on events of the prior books in the series and I’m looking forward to diving into this one in earnest!


Summary

This monthly wrap-up post has illustrated to me that my aims of picking up high-quality reads in my favourite genre for January have set me up in good stead for the rest of the year. With no less than 3 five-star reads already under my belt, I’m looking forward to continuing the positive streak.

Did you pick up any five-star reads in January? Do you have any reading goals you are prioritising for 2025?

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

Series to Finish in 2025

Posted on by

One of my 2025 Resolutions is to give greater priority to finishing book series. I have plenty of series where I only have 1, 2, or 3 books left before I can mark them complete. In today’s post, I feature my list of series to finish in 2025.

My intention with publishing this post is accountability. Not only have I done the work to identify a number of series that are quick completions. This post also makes that intention public – and hopefully makes me commit to reading all these books this year!


Series to Finish in 2025


The Reckoners

I’m currently listening to Firefight with only 1 hour and 16 minutes left. Once that’s finished, I only have the third book of this trilogy, Calamity, left.

Not only is this an easy win because I only pretty much have one book left to read, but because it’s a Brandon Sanderson book, it will be very easy to achieve as well. I always look forward to his books, and when I do pick them up, they are effortless to read. At the point I am in the series, I have well established the world in which this series is set, and so it’s onward with the action!


The Hunger Games


Sunrise on the Reaping is a prequel to The Hunger Games. It’s due out in mid-March, and I plan to pick it up shortly after it’s released.

I’m not one for keeping up too closely with new releases. However, as it is the only book in the series I have yet to read, I’m going to prioritise it so that the series returns to a completed status. I confess, I’m also half tempted to re-read The Hunger Games anyway. I loved these books as a teenager, and it’s a great opportunity for a re-read… yes?


Eagle of Mercia

Another 2025 release that takes the Eagle of Mercia series off its ‘up-to-date’ pedestal is Betrayal of Mercia.

Betrayal of Mercia was released earlier this month. I started reading the series whilst taking part in blog tours and I kept up with it. Even though I’ve taken the decision not to take part in blog tours anymore, I’m invested in the series. So, I plan to continue with it in my own time.

Betrayal of Mercia is the seventh book in this series. It’s a historical fiction with a main character I have a lot of respect for. I’m looking forward to getting back into this world.

 

The Riftwar Saga

My current read, A Darkness at Sethanon, also makes this ‘Series to Finish in 2025’ list. As it stands, it’s the final book of Raymond E. Feist’s The Riftwar Saga series.

Although there are more series set in the same world should I wish to return, it’s strictly the last book of the trilogy I’ve started. At present, I don’t know if I’m going to go on to read those of the series. Whilst these books have been perfectly acceptable, I equally don’t have the same pull towards it that I have towards other fantasy series. I may be happy to leave it here; that depends on whether I enjoy this last book.


The Dark Tower

The last series to feature in this ‘Series to Finish in 2025’ post is The Dark Tower by Stephen King. This series is the longest in terms of books left to completion, with three remaining at the time of this post.

Some of the books left in this series are chunky. It will probably take me some time to finish this series, but I’m looking forward to it nonetheless.

The next book I have to read, which admittedly I started the first 20 pages of a few months ago, is Wolves of the Calla. I didn’t properly commit to that one so I’ll likely restart it. That book alone is 765 pages long. After that, Song of Susannah is 434 pages long and lastly, The Dark Tower is 740 pages.


Summary

Have you got lots of ongoing series to progress with? Do you have any series to finish in 2025?

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads