Happy Sunday all! It’s the end of another week, so that means it’s time for another Sunday Summary update!
Whilst I got off to a slow start with my blog post schedule this week, however I did share both planned posts in the end. My first post of the week was a list of my top five reads under 300 pages. If, like me right now, you’re finding short books far more approachable, here’s a list of my favourites. Have you read any of these? Do they take your fancy?
Next, I asked you for romantasy reading recommendations yesterday. I’m coming to the end of my readalong of the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. I would like to explore more of the genre, so I gave you some tips on things I’ve enjoyed about Throne of Glass that hopefully will help you give me a recommendation for another book or series to try. If you have any recs, please let me know!
Books Read
The Wax Child
Last week I shared my hopes to finish The Wax Child. However, as of this Sunday Summary, I’m here to tell you I am still reading it 🫣
I haven’t read much this week. I’ll hold my hands up to that. Heck, I haven’t even listened to any audiobooks this week. Truthfully, I’ve been doing more in the way of life admin this week ahead of some exciting plans in December. Then, my friends came around for a spontaneous meet-up on Thursday evening. Also, my other half has had a full weekend off with me for maybe the second time this year?! We get odd weekends where we overlap a day, but seldom both! So, we’ve made the most of it by spending time with one another.
Today we went out for lunch together. Made a cake. Ran some errands. It’s worked out pretty timely actually, but more on that a little later in this Sunday Summary post.
So yes, I have picked up The Wax Child this week. But only in short stints. I do intend to finish it tonight – I promise! I desperately want a fresh start next week.
Books Discovered
There’s no movement in terms of my TBR. Whilst I have purchased a book this week, it is one already on my TBR. I purchased it as I think it’s going to be somewhat relevant in the next few days. As I said, it was already on my reading list already, alongside other self-development books. This one I’m prioritising, as some pre-work I’ve been given for a course I’m on next week includes content relating to this book.
I’m talking about Radical Candor by Kim Scott.
Coming Up…
What I’m Reading…
Next week has to be a better reading week. I have deadlines. So, here’s the plan in order of priority:-
Continue and maybe finish the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash 👀
Finish The Wax Child by Olga Ravn – can I manage it tonight (ever get the feeling of déjà vu)?
Read Radical Candor by Kim Scott
Read The Language of Liars
Blog
I’m only going to commit to two blog posts next week, and give myself a few days off. Why, do you ask? Well, the truth is I’m going away tomorrow for a few days to another office for a personal development course. I have made some plans the evenings I’m away, but I’ll also be without my laptop. For ease, I’ll maybe draft some content but not publish it until I’m back Thursday. What is that post going to be? I’m in the mood for offering some recommendations (only fair given I’m asking for romantasy recs in return). So, I’ve got an ‘If you Like X, Read Y” post in mind.
On Sunday, I will of course be back with another Sunday Summary update. Fingers crossed I’ll be able to use some time I’ll be travelling and away from home to do some reading.
Summary
That’s today’s Sunday Summary wrapped up. Have you had a good reading week, or a slow one like me?
Hello everyone! Happy Friday and welcome to today’s post! I have a fun and varied list to share with you. If you’re keen to explore my top five reads under 300 pages – you’ve come to the right place!
Sometimes, we all need a short read. Now more than ever, I find myself gravitating towards these reads. My attention span is shorter. I’m reading a bit less. So, a short read gives me the quick win I need. Do you want to find a short read for yourself? If so, here are some of my favourite books to recommend!
If there is one dystopian book I recommend to all readers, it’s Animal Farm. You may have read this book in school. I know some of my peers did, and my mum did when she was at school. However, I didn’t pick this up until I was an adult.
What’s interesting about Animal Farm is that it is a political book without reading as overly political. It’s not the kind of book you go into knowing this, but it is an allegory. A fun one to read as well. You don’t have to particularly understand the Russian figures or history represented in this book to take its meaning.
Twelve Years a Slave is a heartbreaking memoir of a man’s capture, captivity and exploitation in 1850’s Southern America. Solomon Northup, lured with the promise of work, has his identity taken away from him. He finds himself working on plantations and other places are hard labour and poor working conditions for no money.
Throughout the course of his 12 years in slavery, he is owned by various individuals and has a very mixed experience amongst the places he is forced to work. Most of his time is spent on a cotton plantation, and subjected to cruelty. His amiable nature thought him the chance to befriend a man who becomes his saviour – Solomon is able to contact family to notify them of his plight and he is rescued and restored as a free man.
It’s a tough read, given we know what we are reading is true and just one story of many where an individual has been subjected to horrors and even risked death. Unfortunately, the racist attitudes that underpin his capture and captivity were all too common.
A very different tone of book from the previous entry is a humorous account of many stories from the experience of doctor Adam Kay. He’s written multiple books, starting with his experience as a junior doctor and expanding to include this seasonal instrument of what it is like to work for the NHS.
`Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas is an entertaining read, but it also has its ups and downs in terms of recounting his experience. It is not all sunshine and rainbows being a doctor for the NHS in the UK. Long hours, pay disputes and an institution that ironically doesn’t really care about its own underpin Adam’s experience. We cannot help but feel sorry for Adam as time and again, his family time at Christmas is overlooked to address staffing shortages.
If there are two dystopian novels I can urge you to pick up, the second after Animal Farm is Fahrenheit 451.
I can’t help but feel that this particular book is quite topical. If you cannot see the parallels between today’s society and the one set out in Fahrenheit 451, you’re not reading closely enough. Fake news? I don’t think so.
Naturally, as a lover of books and language, this one slightly hurts my soul. However, the underpinning message is far more important than the burning of books. Rather, it is about a society unwilling to challenge the status quo and instead consuming mindless and conforming content. Whilst this book sells that idea to us in the form of television (bear in mind the time this book was published) surely you can see the parallels between social media and other media now available in our modern world. If you can’t, I’ll wait whilst you look again…
The final instalment on today’s top five reads under 300 pages list is another hard-hitting memoir. Not only does it highlight the worst of human society, but also the best. On the 11th September 2001, the US experienced one of its worst days in history. Thousands of people lost their lives, all because of the extremist ideals of a select number of people on our planet.
Modern life hasn’t been the same since. Even today, we live through changes in flight regulation designed to prevent a similar disaster ever happening again. But this book isn’t about that. Instead, this book is written by one of the lead firefighters dealing with the disaster on the ground on the day. It’s an account of the events as they unfold. It is a memorial for those who did not survive that day… servicemen and women wh0 gave up their lives in the pursuit of saving others. Those who woke up and went about what should have been a normal day, only they never stood a chance to see one last sunset.
It’s a powerful read – one I’m sure made me cry. Will it do the same to you?
Now, I promised you five of my top reads under 300 pages. However, I’m currently reading another title under that threshold that I’m really enjoying. So much so, I wanted to share it with you. I mentioned in my introduction that I’m leaning into shorter reads lately, and this is proof of that claim!
I’m currently reading The Wax Child as part of my ongoing challenge to read the International Booker Prize longlist for 2026. Whilst it is not the only short book I have picked from that list so far, it is the one I’m having a far better experience with.
The Wax Child is written from a unique perspective that I cannot help but enjoy. Told from what we can only assume to be an inanimate object’s perspective, we watch the intimate relationships of women, several of whom are accused of witchcraft.
I can’t really say more to you about this book at this time given I’m still reading it. However, it is the particular perspective and the way the book is written that has piqued my interest. It’s certainly a little bit different, and that is just what we need. It’s just what I need anyway…
Summary
Thanks for reading today’s my top five reads under 300 pages post. Have you read any of the books I feature in today’s post?
If so, let me know when you picked these up in the comments and what you thought of the books. Would you recommend them as well?
It’s rare I feature two blog tours in one week! Needless to say, I’ve been busy wrapping up some recent reads in order to share my thoughts.
Today I bring you a WW2 historian fiction novel called One More Hour of Daylight by C.M. Gray. I was invited onto the tour hosted by TheWriteReads based on my love of books in this genre and period. And, obviously the book has more than lived up to my expectations. Shall we get onto those? Full disclosure – I’ve been provided with a digital copy of the book for the purpose of reviewing it. However, my thoughts expressed on the book are entirely my own.
Let’s recap the book info and then share my review of One More Hour of Daylight.
On the first day of World War II, a young man makes a promise—one that will shape every choice he makes for the next four years.
Essex. September 1939.
A wounded German pilot drops from a clear autumn sky into a quiet English field. Seventeen-year-old Derrick finds him—broken and feverish. Not an enemy. Just a young man asking for one small mercy before everything ends.
One more hour of daylight.
That is all I ask. A chance to breathe free air before whatever comes next. Derrick gives him until morning. When the stretcher comes, the pilot’s last words strike Derrick like a blow he will never stop feeling.
Scotland. France. Germany. 1941–1943.
In the mountains of Scotland, they teach him how to kill, how to lie, and how to endure things that break most men. Then they give him a new name, put him on a plane, and drop him into the dark.
As an SOE operative deep inside occupied Europe, Derrick Sedgley lives on false papers, borrowed names, and nerves worn to nothing by years in the shadows. He moves agents to safety, builds escape routes, and stays one breath ahead of the Gestapo.
Then a mission collapses—and everything changes. Forced to run, Derrick finds himself moving through the most dangerous corners of occupied Europe alongside someone whose connection to his past he cannot yet see. As safe houses fall, loyalties fracture, and the frozen passes of the Pyrenees rise ahead like the edge of the world, Derrick begins to understand something.
The choice he made in an Essex field on the first day of the war has been leading him here all along.
Some debts cannot be paid.
Some can only be carried.
And some—if you are brave enough, and fortunate enough—can finally be laid to rest.
From the quiet fields of Essex to the mountains of Scotland, from the dangerous streets of Lyon to the shadows of wartime Hamburg and the high passes of the Pyrenees,One More Hour of Daylightis an unforgettable story of courage, guilt and redemption—of ordinary people forced to make impossible choices in extraordinary times.
Some promises can survive a war.
Some people can too.
For readers who believe that even in war, what matters most is who we choose to be.
My Thoughts…
Plot
One More Hour of Daylight balances a plot line that isn’t hurried, yet also has plenty of action to drive each chapter forward. I loved how the storyline unfolded from the simple yet familiar setting of England we know and love, and from that the plot spirals to a multi continental, multicultural narrative where saying the wrong thing could get you killed.
Derrick Sedgley finds his background of growing up speaking both French and German to be his greatest assets in making him one of the greatest assets the British army can use in the war against Hitler. Undercover, his role is to blend in and where possible, disrupt the enemy without getting caught. Although not uncommon for the genre, I can’t say I’ve read too many World War II novels where the protagonist is a spy operative. Rather, I tend to read from perspectives of the victims of Hitler’s views and war against any who don’t fit his ideals. Nevertheless, the action was as high-stakes as I expected and I enjoyed the change of pace. We never quite feel safe and you never know what is around the corner – adding to the tension and need to find out what comes next!
Characters
Derrick Sedgley it’s technically still a boy when World War II breaks out. He lies about his age in order to enlist, as many did back then in order to ‘get a piece of the action’. If he knew what he was getting into, would he have enlisted in the first place? Who can say. Instead, what unfolds for Derrick spans far wider than the average basic training most British soldiers were given before being sent out into danger.
I read this book with a form of motherly love for Derrick. Being older than him, I just wanted to mother and protect him and to stop anything unpleasant happening to him. Naturally, the perils of the job he has taken don’t align with my interests, and therefore this at a layer of conflict between us as a reader for our wishes for the character, as well as well actually plays out.
I suppose it would be fair to say his age and similar background to me made Derrick a very relatable character, and what I was rooting for throughout the storyline. However, I also felt some fondness for Ernst, who is so very different and yet finds himself in a similar situation to Derrick in reverse. It must have been terrifying, and it shows in the micro expressions and behaviours of the boys trying to hold themselves together when nobody is there to support them.
Setting
One More Hour of Daylight has a lot of travel in it, so there are a good deal of explanations for places and situations needed to inform but avoid overwhelm. I found descriptions are well structured to set the scene, make places uniquely identify and plausible, but without info dumping excessively. As someone who has never been to the places within the book, I personally enjoyed the description and vibe of each setting, what makes them unique from each other and generally explains the context in which the wider book is set.
What I also like about this particular story is that we start with the familiarity of English soil, but fairly quickly branch out from there. Whilst a lot takes place in this narrative on the whole, we are introduced slowly and taken along the journey with Derrick. One city, train journey, o e mission at a time. It’s captivating and immersive, which combined with the busy high-stakes plot line, makes One More Hour of Daylight a standout new release in the genre and period!
Narrative Style
One More Hour of Daylight has a very approachable narrative style. The writing style flows so that turning the pages is effortless, and at times I could forget I was reading at all. Truly, it was the type of book I needed right now. I have not been reading very much lately as I’ve got a lot on my plate. However, One More Hour of Daylight has been the type of book that has reminded me just why I love reading so much and how it can be effortless, even when there are plenty of other things on to divert my attention.
One More Hour of Daylight has slightly longer chapters than a few books I have read of late. However, I would also say they are not so long that the book isn’t easy to put down at the next end of chapter. As I mentioned before, this book balances action, as well as relaying history, complex ideas and background into a plot line that has a lot of action in it. In order to balance the two, the chapter lengths are a little bit longer, sure. Yet, they are no less approachable to read. The language has chosen well to make the narrative easily understood by the average reader.
Summary
If you are looking for your next World War II historical fiction novel, try One More Hour of Daylight. This high-stakes espionage wartime novel is perfect for fans of action-packed storylines, yet also gives us a flavour of the individual characters that make up the storyline and the people and places that define the resistance against Hitler’s vision.
Author Bio
C.M. Gray’s first book, *The Flight of the Griffin,* was longlisted in the 2015 Times Chicken House Writing Competition. *Shadowland*, the first book in the Pendragon Saga, has so far received over 900 five-star reviews on Amazon. These things still genuinely astonish him, and he is deeply grateful for every one of them.
Most of his previous work has been fantasy: either pure fantasy or historical fantasy, the kind of writing where druids turn up uninvited and one of your main characters develops an unsettling affinity with wolves before you have quite decided what sort of book you are writing. *Shadowland* began with every intention of staying grounded in historical reality. It did not. It has turned out to be a popular book, so he does not complain.
His years travelling through Asia, India, Africa and the Middle East have a habit of finding their way onto the page. He has seen and done some fairly strange things along the way and met some extraordinary people, and writing fantasy has always felt, to him, only a short step from writing fact.
**New for 2026**
*One More Hour of Daylight*, published June 2026, marks a departure: pure historical fiction, no druids, no wolves. It follows Derrick Sedgley, a seventeen-year-old from Essex who makes a single moral choice in a field one September morning in 1939 and spends the next five years living with the consequences. From the Essex countryside to occupied France, from the mountains of Burgundy to the Pyrenees, it is a story about promises, betrayal, courage and the cost of doing the right thing too late.
And for those who have been waiting patiently for the Pendragon Saga to continue: the third book, *Shadow’s Heir*, follows in September 2026. More on that very soon.
C.M. Gray was born in England and grew up in the Essex countryside near the Suffolk border, which is where Derrick Sedgley grows up, too. The flat fields, the big skies and the particular quality of Essex light found their way into the book whether he intended them to or not.
He was born, however, with a serious case of travel lust. As soon as he could get a passport, he packed a rucksack and went to see what the world looked like. He has been looking ever since, and has now lived more years outside England than he ever spent living there.
C.M. Gray is now very happily settled just outside Barcelona with his wonderful wife and partner in life, Adriana.
It’s not very often I take part in an audiobook blog tour. However, it’s made a fun change. Today’s review is for a different genre book as well, keeping things fresh. It’s helped, to be honest. My reading pace has been slow of late. But, it’s made a refreshing change to try something new. The biggest plus I have taken away from this book is that it was both fun and entertaining, but also somewhat educational!
Before I share my thoughts on Debt Reckoning, I always like to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources and the author Jack Meyer for the opportunity to read and review the book. Full disclosure – I’ve been provided with a copy of the audiobook for the purpose of reviewing it. However, my thoughts expressed on the book are entirely my own.
Let’s recap the essential info and then I’ll let you know what I really thought of Debt Reckoning.
Debt Reckoning: Teetering on the Brink – Jack Meyer
What if the greatest threat to America wasn’t war, terrorism, or China…but the trillions of dollars of debt we’ve pretended doesn’t exist?
U.S. Senator Rick Taylor has been warning anyone who’ll listen: the national debt is no longer a spreadsheet problem-it’s a ticking bomb. But in Washington, truth is toxic. Colleagues dismiss him, constituents scream about “cuts to my benefits,” and the media paints him as the villain who wants to gut Social Security.
Then the blackmail begins.
A shadowy network led by a ruthless operator making huge profits from unchecked government spending will stop at nothing to silence anyone who threatens the status quo. After Taylor’s wife is targeted in a terrifying swatting attack and a sniper’s bullet nearly ends Taylor’s life, the message is clear. Shut up… or die.
Debt Reckoning balances a high-action, drama rich narrative with a setting that is all-too-familiar. I had a hunch that aspects of the narrative were based on real facts and concepts. I was right! Dear Reckoning is both educational and entertaining to read. You can absolutely read the story at face value and enjoy the tension and conflict within. On another level though, you can look at the parallels with our reality and appreciate the truth in the tale too.
This book deals with the darker and grittier aspects of humanity. Threats, blackmail and murder abound. This book also makes reference to suicide, so if you aren’t a fan of that, skip the first chapter.
Debt Reckoning technically follows on from the previously published A Higher Betrayal. However, picking up that book is not mandatory to understanding Debt Reckoning. Truthfully, Debt Reckoning is my first political thriller from Jack Meyer. It won’t be my last either… and I wouldn’t say it’s a genre I love or have much affinity for otherwise. Debt Reckoning has encouraged me to broaden my horizons and try new things.
Characters
Now admittedly, I’m not a fan of politicians. I understand a lot of the negative feelings expressed in the book. The frustrations of trying to get things done. A lack of progress. All that jazz. However, Jack does a fantastic job of also converting the human side through the character of Taylor. There are some individuals who want to do good, not just get the most out of their position. The humanity of Taylor comes through in the glimpses into his private life. His battle against the impenetrable machine that is the US Government.
I’m always a fan of books with multiple perspectives. For thrillers like Debt Reckoning, it helps a long way to making the action interesting and keeping some characters in the dark whilst allowing us to see the wider picture.
Setting
I’m not well versed in the structure and runnings of the US Government. However, that didn’t matter! There’s plenty of explanation in the book to convert the relevant information without going overboard.
The same would be true for readers if they were unfamiliar with some of the concepts in the book. Thankfully, with a background in fund administration and investment admin, I do have some background knowledge. I understand the concepts of investment market behaviour and sentiments, and what some of those consequences could be. Personally, I appreciated the steer these concepts have on the attitudes and actions that drive the plot. It is cleverly juggled to make the premise believable and plausible.
Broadly speaking, the book is set in a world that starts very much like our own. If you like to stick to a realistic setting with your reads, then Debt Reckoning certainly fits that bill. It explores the potential consequences of a real world issue in a way that doesn’t quite feel doom and gloom. The light and resilient spirit of many characters in the book bring hope, even if the situation is dire.
Narrative Style
Debt Reckoning does a fabulous job of conveying the action and thriller aspects of the plot with the realistic setting. Short snappy chapters and swapping perspectives keep events and revelations fresh and punchy. Jack does a fantastic job of incorporating the meat of the story, the issues and ideas for fixing it, with engrossing drama.
I listened to the audiobook version of Debt Reckoning. Naturally, that does make my experience of the book different from reading a physical copy. That said, I’m going to do my best to make my comments here that should apply to the physical book as well as the audio version. The pacing of the book works very well, regardless of the format you choose to read in. It’s fast paced, but not at the expense of explaining the wider context of the book. The language is also pretty approachable. Sure, a book that focuses on a particulate topic has its niche terminology. However, this is explained very well, if it’s needed, so the book is approachable to most readers.
I’m going to wrap-up here with just the audiobook commentary here. The audiobook is narrated by Dannul Daily. He does great job of voicing the different characters to make it easy to follow who our perspective sits with. The ’non-character specific’ aspects of the book are also well narrated and clear to understand. I personally enjoy listening to audio at faster than x1 speed. I was able to do that and the narrative flowed well and was easy to understand. However, I can also confidently say that I would say the converse would be true to.
Summary
Debt Reckoning is an engaging, fun read that we can also learn something from. You can take as much as you wish from Debt Reckoning. Fortunately, I went into this book with an understanding of some of the concepts behind the storyline. However, that’s not necessarily something you need prior knowledge of or to be personally invested in. The wider storyline adds credibility to the book, even if you just enjoy the action this background facilitates at face value.
Have you ever read a political thriller? Do you fancy giving Debt Reckoning, or any of Jack Meyer’s other political themed thrillers, a try?
Author Bio
Jack was introduced to thrillers when Tom Clancy’s The Hunt for Red October was published. However, for most of his life, he was a reader rather than an author. During the 2000 Presidential election as he watched TV coverage of the Florida recount with ‘dimpled chads’ and ‘hanging chads,’ he thought an election conspiracy would be a great basis for a thriller. It wasn’t until 2020 when he retired from his career, which included management positions in corporate America and small business ownership as well as a brief stint in ministry, that he sat down to write Wayward Patriot: Preserving the Vote.
His unique approach to political thrillers rips headlines from the news and weaves them through a thrilling tale of patriotism, political corruption and crisis. He says, “when I see some major new issue or technology in the news I want to learn more about it. I enjoy sharing what I learn with others by wrapping a story around it that will engage and entertain readers.”
He and his wife, Barbara, have three grown children and seven grandchildren and divide their time between Colorado Springs and Tucson.
Today’s publication day blog tour review is an exciting one! Fans of crime – rejoice! I have a sixth instalment to a crime series that also reads perfectly well as a standalone. So, if you haven’t read the rest of the series (like me, admittedly) do not fear. You can check out Invisible without the commitment of a backlist. At least, not if you don’t want to 😉
Before I share my thoughts on Invisible, I always like to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources and the author Heleyne Hammersley for the opportunity to read and review the book. Full disclosure – I’ve been provided a digital copy to review the book. However, my thoughts expressed within this review are entirely my own.
Now, let’s get int the details of the book and share purchase links before I delve into this gritty crime!
An icy morning, a muddy riverbank. The body of a promising swimmer is found in the River Don
close to Thorpe. Returning from a six-month absence, DI Kate Fletcher leads her first murder case since she nearly lost her own life to a desperate killer.
Grappling with her own doubts and insecurities, she has to negotiate a team transformed by
differences in staffing and in attitude. Everything has changed and nobody is comfortable.
A second body leads to a strong suspect, but the evidence is circumstantial and far from clear cut.
Kate’s ex-Detective Sergeant finds the breakthrough they need to help track down a cunning and meticulous murderer who has no conscience and no fear of consequences.
In Invisible, there is plenty going on at any given moment. From the very opening pages, we are brought into a story of murder and questioning motives.
As I mentioned in the opening introduction to this blog to review, Invisible is the sixth book in the DI Kate Fletcher series. Naturally, we already have backstory and characters that have been established previously that add into this narrative. However, don’t be put off by that! Rather, these aspects add character and realism to the ongoing storyline. They aren’t overwhelming or confusing if you haven’t read the prior books. I’m more than happy to disclose here that I have read Invisible as a standalone to write this review. That didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book in the slightest!
The overall pacing of the storyline means that we have little tidbits and revelations over the course of the plot. At no point does the plot turn stale or do we feel like we aren’t exploring an active aspect of the murder case. As a reader, that kept me engaged with the storyline. I was able to read large sections of this book in one go. Safe to say, I did not want to put Invisible down!
And the ending, obviously it’s tricky to talk about a book and acknowledge the ending without giving anything away. So, for the sake of safety, I am not going to give anything away here. All I will say is that the events, clues and information that lead us to the final conclusion are engaging. What’s real? What’s a red herring? These were the questions I asked myself up until the very end. It was very cleverly written, to have us questioning up until the final moment.
Characters
An aspect I really enjoyed about Invisible is that we get to see a lot more of the personal lives of the characters within the storyline then just the superficial necessary for the murder case.
Again, because we have established history for these characters in the prior series, this comes through two make characters more relatable and realistic. Whilst I read Invisible not knowing the backstory behind the characters and events that took place imminently before the start of Invisible, I was able to glean enough from the narrative that I could make sense of characters. Their underlying storylines and not have that distracted from the overall experience. Instead, each of the characters involved in the case felt like a well-rounded individual, well thought out and plausible to get behind and want to root for.
Setting
This book is sat in the somewhat familiar British landscape. Also, I can’t say I’m immediately familiar with Doncaster itself, I am familiar with Britain and the overall institution in which this crime novel operates. I am aware of the pressure the police are put under. I am aware of public sentiment when it comes to the police in certain places and overall, the storyline setting is a familiar one to me.
In more recent blog tour reviews, I have enjoyed branching away from the familiar and exploring new settings. However, I have enjoyed reversing this and instead of going to something very easy and familiar. If you have read any content from my blog more widely, you’ll know at the moment reading progress is on the slow side. Picking up something that has been an easy and compulsive read, as well as something I’m familiar with, has helped me pick up reading more than I have in the last week. I’m hoping it’s the kickstart I need to get back into reading a little bit more regularly…
Narrative Style
In combination with the plot, having a book with relatively short chapters and a constantly moving plotline has really helped with the pacing of Invisible. Rather than getting stuck in long chapters, we are instead treated to relatively short snippets of action moving around consistently to drive the plot forward and bring new revelations to the table.
The overall style of this book has to the ease of accessibility of the writing style. Again, I’ve struggled a little bit with reading lately and it has been a particular book’s narrative style that is really tripped me up. Invisible was everything I look for and the opposite of the book I’m struggling with. Short chapters are a great place to start. The easy to read language, reflective of modern, natural speech also helps greatly. The word choice is as simple as possible; if jargon does have to be used, it’s explained in a way that doesn’t make the reader feel simple. All in all, Invisible ticks all the boxes for me in terms of readability and making itself suitable to a range of audiences.
Summary
Invisible has been to pick me up I need! I’m sad to say that it is the first book I have managed to complete in September, which says a lot about how my reading has been going lately. However, since picking up Invisible, I have gotten back into listening to my audiobooks a bit more, and I’m going to revisit it my problem book later this week with a little bit more enthusiasm to get the job done. If that’s. It advocacy for a book, what is?
Invisible isn’t a difficult book to get into or follow, but its revelations and engaging storyline had me turning the pages faster until the very end, when the truth finally comes to the fore. The murders, the motive, the murderer – all very clever and I enjoyed how Invisible panned out. But, if you want to find out how it goes for yourself, then you’re going to have to follow one of those purchase links and get a copy of the book for yourself no spoilers here!
Author Bio
Heleyne Hammersley is a British writer based in Cumbria. She writes psychological suspense thrillers and crime novels.
Heleyne has been writing since junior school – her first work was a collection of poems called ‘Give Them the Works’ when she was ten years old. The poems were carefully handwritten on plain paper and tied together with knitting wool.
When she’s not writing, Heleyne can often be found wandering on the fells or cycling the back roads of Cumbria in search of coffee and cake.
Giveaway to Win 5 x Kindle Copies of Invisible (distributed via Amazon) (Open INT)
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First Lines Friday… but fun. That’s today’s spec, per my Sunday Summary update. When I published that, I had absolutely no idea what to post. Honestly, until I started looking tonight, I still didn’t! 😂 In terms of book selection, I couldn’t pick anything too serious. Honestly, that criteria rules out my reading list. I don’t have anything light-hearted or humorous left. There wasn’t much to begin with, to be fair. That’s not my style of reading…
However, I’ve been hearing about a series that fits the bill. I read and reviewed something somewhat similar last month. So, I think there’s a good chance I might enjoy this series. But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s take a look at book one in today’s First Lines Friday, and hopefully my idea of fun is the same as yours!
The transformation occurred at approximately 2:23am, Pacific Standard Time. As far as I could tell, anyone who was indoors when it happened died instantly. If you had any sort of roof over you, you were dead. That included people in cars, airplanes, subways. Even tents and cardboard boxes. Hell, probably umbrellas, too. Though I’m not so sure about that one.
I’m not gonna lie. You guys who were inside, probably warm and asleep and dreaming about some random bullshit? I’m jealous. You’re the lucky ones. You were just gone. Splattered into dust during the transformation.
The apocalypse will be televised! Welcome to the first book in the wildly popular and addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl series—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition.
You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.
Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show.
Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not.
My Thoughts…
LitRPG fantasy meets humour in Dungeon Crawler Carl. I confess, I’ve been reading great things about this book and series lately, but been largely ignorant of the idea behind the series. It’s only that it keeps popping up in my feed from other content creators that I thought I’d nose at the book and see if it met my intended criteria.
With a Coast Guard veteran and a talking Persian cat for protagonists, it’s clear this book doesn’t take itself too seriously. The plot is ridiculous and outlandish, but why the heck not?!
I recently enjoyed reading Dungeons and Dimwits, a book heavily inspired by Dungeons and Dragons and also very light-hearted and funny. My enjoyment of the gaming overlap with that book makes me confident I’ll enjoy Dungeon Crawler Carl. I have also read that the two protagonists have a fun dynamic between the two. Princess Donut (for avoidance of doubt, the Persian prize-winning cat) has the type of personality commonly attributed to cats and one I can appreciate. She takes no messing. Does what she wants, doesn’t care if you don’t like it.
Although funny, my research indicates this book does have a dark sense of humour and can be taken as a micky-take of society as it is now.
So, right up my alley! The question is, is it yours? Have you read Dungeon Crawler Carl? If so, let me know your thoughts either way – I’d love to hear more about this series!
My blog tour review post today features of a historical fiction novel in a new time period and setting.
The Other Life of Mary English is also unique in its focus on two female protagonists. In a time where women have very little rights or autonomy, Mary and Manuela stand out for their ability to make the best of the situation and act where a few women ever get to tread.
What makes this block to review? Even more special is that I get to review The Other Life of Mary English on publication day! 🎉
Before I share my review on The Other Life of Mary English, thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources and the author GD Harper for the opportunity to read and review the book. I’ve been provided a digital copy for the purpose of reviewing the book, but my thoughts expressed within this review are entirely my own.
As usual, let’s cover the details of the book and purchase links before I share my thoughts.
Mary English, a dockworker’s daughter from Faversham, England, travels to South America to escape a scandal from her past. She ends up running a cacao plantation in Colombia, at a time when women were not legally allowed to own businesses there.
Manuela Sáenz, tempestuous lover of Venezuelan revolutionary Simón Bolívar, serves as a colonel in his army. She joins him in battle to fight the Spanish and twice saves his life from assassination attempts.
This is the story of two real-life remarkable women, both fighting oppression, hardship and danger in 1820s Colombia, who come together to change the course of a nation’s history.
Purchase Links
My Thoughts…
Plot
The events of The Other Life of Mary English are set in a wider background turmoil, and in a society where women are beholden to their fathers, husbands and male guardians. In a world where women are left feeling hopeless, Mary and Manuela carve their own names in history. Against the grain of society and expectations, they take charge of their own destinies, and others besides.
As a big history fan, I enjoyed exploring the political conflict taking place in the background of this narrative. I confess, prior to reading The Other Life of Mary English, I had little knowledge of the setting and events within. Thankfully, this book has has gone a long way to filling that gap.
As a result to come on with, we get to explore too deeply first and powerful in a wider history setting. Personal and historical come together in a way that spurs the other on, making each significant and powerful to read and learn about in a fun historical fiction novel.
Characters
As promised, The Other Life of Mary English does indeed have two strong protagonists. Mary English, widow of a soldier, finds herself in a unique position of employment. Her skills at negotiating and organisation land her in a role of trading agent in a new country. Her life at home has not been plain sailing, through no fault of her own. She’s determined to do best by her family where scandal and gossip could ruin it all. In her new position, she is determined to find a way to provide for her family and secure a more reputable future.
Manuela’s background is entirely different, though she is no less enterprising in seeking opportunities to advance herself and her power. Taking up with el Libertador whilst her husband is abroad, she makes herself indispensable to one of the most powerful men in South America. She secures herself a position in the army that has never been taken up before. Her ambition knows no bounds, and why should it?! If she were a man, she’d be celebrated for her ingenuity.
The scope of these characters in the time period they are setting in is one of the main reasons I opted to pick up The Other Life of Mary English. The oppression of women has been a significant part of our human history. It is only in recent years that women have been able to hold assets in their own right, for arguments sake. What Mary and Manuela achieve in this narrative goes beyond the confines that men have placed around women historically. I love watching these two women negotiate power struggles in order to progress themselves for the better.
Setting
19th century Colombia and the turbulence of its political and geographical standing isn’t something I’ve explored in my reading before. It’s for this reason I was drawn to The Other Life of Mary English, as well as the promise of two strong female leads in a narrative where women rarely get to dictate their own storylines.
This story is based of real life figures and events in history. As a history fan, I especially enjoyed this nod to real life, and I’ve walked away from this book having learned something new. If you know me, this is something I like and actively look for in my reading. If I can expand my knowledge and horizons in a fun read, then all the better.
As I mentioned, events in this book are inspired by history. What I especially enjoyed is that the copy of the book I was given included images, as well as descriptions, to back up the facts behind the fiction.
Narrative Style
One aspect of the writing style I love in The Other Life of Mary English is that the style feels slightly antiquarian and fitting with the time period. However, this isn’t so different from the English we use today. The end result is that the narrative is fitting to the. time it is set in, without being difficult to read. It is a balance worth getting right, and The Other Life of Mary English is spot on!
The Other Life of Mary English is told from the perspective of two strong female protagonists. These narratives happen concurrently, and so we are told the story of these two exceptional women by alternating perspectives. I am a huge lover of multi perspective books, so this was well suited to me and my reading preferences. I especially enjoyed watching these two characters come together… especially as the meeting could have gone very differently!
Summary
If you enjoy personal stories of women fighting against separation, or learning about history within the historical genre, The Other Life of Mary English is ideal for your TBR!
Author Bio
GD Harper became a full-time author in 2016. He has written three psychological thrillers, Love’s Long Road, A Friend in Deed and Silent Money, and two historical novels, The Maids of Biddendenand Arden.
The Maids of Biddenden was the winner in the historical fiction category of the 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the largest international awards program for indie authors and independent publishers, and was shortlisted for the 2023 Selfies Award at the London Book Fair. Arden was placed third in the 2024 Yeovil International Literary Prize. The Other Life of Mary English was a finalist in the Eyelands Book Awards.He has also been longlisted or shortlisted for fourteen other awards.
His books have had over one million page reads on Kindle Unlimited, been number one most downloaded e-book on Amazon UK, number three on Amazon worldwide, and garnered over two thousand reviews and ratings on Amazon and Goodreads, with an average rating score of 4.4.
He lives in East Sussex and, when not writing, can be found wild camping in the Scottish mountains or in the mosh pit at live music events.
Today’s blog tour review is for a graphic novel – not a media format I read or feature much! However, as a bit of a nerdy girl, I enjoy the idea of a book based around the game of Dungeons & Dragons. If I’d had friends who liked the game, I think it is something I could have got onto.
Before I share my review on Dungeons & Dimwits, thanks to Rachel and the author James for the opportunity to read and review the book. I have been provided a digital copy for the purpose of giving my review, but the thoughts expressed within this review are entirely my own.
Here are the usual details of the book, synopsis, and purchase links. Then, it’s review time!
Dungeons & Dragons meets Jumanji in a hilarious fantasy adventure where the players are trapped inside the chaotic world they created. Now every bad roll, terrible plan, and overpowered enemy is dangerously real.
When a group of tabletop role-playing gamers suddenly find themselves pulled into their own fantasy campaign, the adventure stops being imaginary and starts being a matter of survival. Thrown into a world filled with monsters, magic, absurd dangers, and enemies far beyond their level, these unlikely adventurers must figure out how to stay alive long enough to find a way home.
But this is not the polished fantasy epic they imagined. This is their game world―complete with ridiculous choices, bizarre characters, unpredictable rules, and all the chaos that comes from years of questionable decisions around the gaming table. As the party stumbles from one disaster to the next, they must rely on teamwork, quick thinking, and a little bit of luck to survive the fantasy world they helped create. Funny, fast-paced, and packed with tabletop gaming humor, Dungeons & Dimwits is a wild fantasy comedy for longtime RPG players, fantasy fans, comic readers, and anyone who has ever wondered what would happen if the game suddenly became real.
About the Series Dungeons & Dimwits is a fantasy comedy series about a group of gamers trapped inside their own tabletop role-playing campaign. This first volume begins their journey as they discover that their imaginary world is now very real―and very dangerous. The series follows the party as they face monsters, magic, rival adventurers, impossible quests, and the consequences of their own chaotic storytelling. Readers should begin with Volume 1, which introduces the characters, the world, and the hilarious disaster that launches the adventure.
Based on the game format of dungeons and dragons, this fantasy graphic novel spins off from a group of boys setting off on a quest and things going awry. If you are unfamiliar with the game format, players create a character and can lean into skills that they level up over the course of a game in order to interact with the world around them. Involving elements of luck by rolling dice, outcomes from battles and interactions can very quickly go one way or another.
All-Star game of dungeons and dragons can be changeable given the story is written by players, this book levels that up further by having something unexpected happen to the characters within. In the scope of the game and fantasy genre, it both surprise me and yet didn’t feel inauthentic. Taking into account the size of the graphic novel, there is plenty of action to peoples engage. The storyline was not being too overwhelming in terms of required understanding of game mechanics. Even the most rudimentary understanding of how the game works is more than sufficient. I don’t have lots of experience but could easily follow the idea!
Characters
Although the demographic of the book is predominantly younger/teenage boys, I still find characters somewhat relatable. They also added humour to this relatively short story, elevating it from a fun fantasy novella to a storyline we were invested in exploring.
There are a broad range of characters introduced in this short story both led by the boys playing the game, but also characters we are introduced to throughout world they are within. There are enough to make the storyline feel complete and comprehensive, but also without being overwhelmed. Bearing in mind The format of this book and the intended audience, I thought this was the ideal balance.
Setting
As a huge fantasy lover, I loved the scope of this book in terms of setting and the imagination that could be used to change the storyline at a drop of a hat. How are some classic fantasy settings to this book, but just because it has seen before, doesn’t mean it’s unoriginal. Especially given this is told from a young character leading this storyline, it’s perhaps less predictable, but it keeps us on our toes.
Changes in location are easy to follow. It doesn’t happen too much throughout the narrative, but the way in which the transitions are conveyed feels natural and the reader can make sense of the changes.
Narrative Style
As a relatively short graphic novel, this book flew by! It’s very easy to read, yet doesn’t feel too short or underdeveloped. I read this book in the space of one evening, with ease. I would imagine most readers to be capable of this as well. However, if you wanted to break this up and read this in smaller chunks, the book is written into five chapters, so there are easy to find interludes if that suits you better.
The nature of the book, being very image based, makes this ideal for days when you need a light read. The artistry isn’t an aspect of storytelling I’m used to reviewing, but allow me to try my best. The style is clean, energetic and dynamic. For a book full of action, this works hand in hand to make the storytelling engaging. The variation in frame layout also keeps the narrative fresh.
Summary
It can be hard to write a review for such a short book. However, with a graphic novel like Dungeons and Dimwits, I think it fitting not to take it too seriously! It’s a lighthearted, yet well-thought out read. Suitable for all readers, it’s a fun fantasy not to take too seriously, yet it’s a series I’m serious about following. I loved it that much!
Author Bio
James Mascia is the founder and publisher of Dren Productions, where he creates sci-fi, horror, and fantasy comics and novels packed with imagination, humor, and thrills. He is the author of titles including Flesh-Eating Cheerleaders, Dungeons & Dimwits, The Poe Murders, and High School Heroes. When he’s not writing strange and exciting stories, James works as a high school English teacher in Maryland. A lifelong fan of Comic Cons, cheesy sci-fi and horror movies, and Dungeons & Dragons, he brings his love of genre storytelling into everything he writes.
Social Media Links – Facebook/Instagram – @DrenProductions
I’m pleased to be able to share another blog tour review. Today, I bring to you a historical adventure with a bran-new setting I have ever yet to read about. I love history. It has been a refreshing change to read The Knife Maker of Venice. The setting is one I haven’t explored before, so I was keen to dive in!
As always, thanks to Rachel and the author David Gilman for the opportunity to read and review The Knife Maker of Venice. I have been provided a copy of the book for the purpose of giving my review, but the thoughts expressed within this review are entirely my own.
Here are the details of the book, synopsis, and purchase links. Then, it’s review time!
A young Englishman captured by slavers must survive the snakepit that is seventeenth-century Venice.
1604. As pirates seeking slaves to sell in the markets of North Africa terrorise the coasts of Europe, headstrong Richard Sheriff and his sister Elizabeth are torn from their Devonshire home and thrust into a waking nightmare.
Richard’s skills as a blacksmith see him fetch a high price, but the pirate captain has other plans for Elizabeth and once they are separated, Richard has no idea of his sister’s fate. They must both learn to survive on a deadly voyage into the unknown.
Sold into servitude in Venice: glittering, vicious city of secrets, he is apprenticed to a knife maker. Richard’s talents soon win him renown… but haunted by his sister’s absence, he vows never to stop looking for her, knowing she would do the same for him.
First he must survive that city of ghosts. Will the siblings live to see each other again, or will they join the myriads lost to Venice, where life is cheap, profit is all, and escape nigh-on impossible?
A powerful historical adventure perfect for fans of Kate Mosse, Ken Follett and Robert Harris.
There is a lot going on in The Knife Maker of Venice, but it’s an easy book and storyline to follow. It’s funny – for a person not fond of political machinations in real life, I love it in stories. The complex web we have in The Knife Maker of Venice leans into that love of mine. The tension, drama and scheming is entertaining to watch unfurl.
In a time period and multi-cultural place like Venice, there’s inevitably going to be friction and conflict. Naturally, that makes for a great setting for us to read about and explore. We all know how differing cultures, beliefs and all that create conflict. Bringing so many people together, especially with some of the complex histories they have with each other, really doesn’t disappoint! The drama had me reading on compulsively to find out what happened next!
Characters
The dynamics of the characters throughout The Knife Maker of Venice are interesting. It would be easy to assume that Richard, Elizabeth, and many others like them, are purely at the whim of others. However, they are intelligent. They may be thrust into the lands of peoples and culture they do not know. However, they are intelligent and resourceful. There is far more than meets the eye with these characters. Take Richard’s and Domenico’s rivalry. Richard, although a slave, is a threat to Domenico. His skill as a blacksmith shows up Domenico, and the tension between them as a result is not the straight-forward dynamic you would expect. No spoilers here though friends.
The narrative swings between the perspectives of the two siblings, Richard and Elizabeth. Whilst their bondage begins together, they are split apart from one another in the narrative. Their bond and responsibilities towards each other explain their drive to reunite. It’s a strong driving force in the narrative, and keeps us engaged to find out their fates.
There are many periphery characters throughout the book. From fellow villagers taken captive with them to those they live their new lives with, the increased cast helps tie together a far grander picture. Some parts are smaller than others, but no less important. Even characters like Challenor make for an interesting addition. He’s far from an admirable individual and I wouldn’t describe him as likeable. Yet, when we learn his backstory we can understand how he ends up in the role he is and how he becomes the catalyst of Richard’s and Elizabeth’s fate.
Setting
As I mention in the introduction for today’s review of The Knife Maker of Venice, the setting of this book is one I haven’t read from before. The combination of the time period and settings of the UK, Tunisia and Venice is unique to me. Personally, I enjoyed the detail and time spent in these locations. Although some of these places are only a small feature of the wider narrative, it adds to the overall scope of the book. The tensions seen in history – the piracy, trade etc are aspects of history I was unaware of. However, even in somewhat passing, the book touches on those real events that piqued my curiosity and prompted me to look into it further.
The Knife Maker of Venice is a multicultural book. In terms of the characters and places, there’s a lot going on. Personally, I got on with this. Given there is a lot of travel that takes place early doors, it wouldn’t feel right for Richard and Elizabeth to end up miles away from home and be isolated in their plight. Despite the many languages, faiths and backgrounds that come together, all are treated equally and fairly in terms of representation.
The descriptions make imagining the places, smells and events come to life. It is easy to imagine ourselves amongst the unwashed bodies of fellow captives, enjoying exotic foods and perfumes and luxuries. The immersiveness of the descriptions make The Knife Maker of Venice one of the easiest books I’ve read so far this year.
Narrative Style
The Knife Maker of Venice weaves detail and action together to maintain a steady paced narrative. Not too long-winded, but neither compromising on enriching detail, I enjoyed the balance we can enjoy in The Knife Maker of Venice. The book definitely reads like the author is experienced writer, juggling the wants and needs of characters and readers to eke out the most from the book.
The chapters are also nice and short. Readers, if you like the flexibility to pick up and put down a book at the end of a chapter, that’s very easy to do here. It also keeps us cutting across various cross-sections of characters so we can see the bigger picture at any one time. It helps with the overall narrative flow, and makes The Knife Maker of Venice easy on the eyes (and brain to take in!)
Summary
The Knife Maker of Venice is a fun historical read. If you are looking for a detailed and complex plot line, together with immersive and relatable characters, then The Knife Maker of Venice is one I would suggest you pick up. Personally, I really enjoyed a foray into a storyline and setting with a history I am not too familiar with. I’m all about reading to broaden my horizons and try different perspectives from a personal and educational perspective. The Knife Maker of Venice achieved that for me!
Author Bio
David Gilman has enjoyed many careers, including paratrooper, firefighter, and photographer. An award-winning author and screenwriter, he is the author of the critically acclaimed Master of War series of historical novels, and was shortlisted for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize for The Last Horseman. He was longlisted for the same prize for The Englishman, the first book featuring ex-French Foreign Legionnaire Dan Raglan. David lives in Devon.
Somehow, I had managed to live under a rock. Before reading The Shining, I had very little idea of the storyline or what happened. I know, madness right?! However, it made reading the book and discovering it all the better. I love Stephen King’s writing, and I enjoyed delving into this cult-classic novel. Have you read The Shining yet?
Danny is only five years old but in the words of Old Mr Hallorann he is a ‘shiner,’ aglow with psychic voltage. When his father becomes caretaker of the Overlook hotel, Danny’s visions grow out of control.
As winter closes in and blizzards cut them off, the hotel seems to develop a life of its own. It is meant to be empty. So who is the lady in Room 217 and who are the masked guests going up and down the elevator? And why do the hedges shaped like animals seem so alive?
Somewhere, somehow, there is an evil force in the hotel – and that too is beginning to shine.
My Thoughts
Plot
Stephen King is an author I love to read from. Although I don’t read much in the way of horror, I will always try Stephen King’s books. He is fantastic at balancing action, characters and tension to make for interesting reads. How he manages it again and again, I don’t know. The plot of The Shining is reasonably well-known, so I won’t rehash it here. Well, unless you lived under a rock like I did. Given it’s not a go-to genre for me, I hadn’t watched the film and been spoiled that way.
There’s a lot that goes on in the 500 or so pages of this book. Events start off reasonably innocuous, but quickly the supernatural and unusual start to make themselves apparent. It unfolds with good timing – the suspense is allowed to do its job and the pacing allows for hints and gradual unveiling throughout the narrative.
Characters
I really enjoy the contrast between the perspectives within this book. It’s a tough one to pull off right, as the three characters that winter in the Overlook hotel are the only ones on premises. They therefore have to do a lot of heavy lifting in carrying the whole storyline. However, King’s expert characterisation doesn’t disappoint though. They are all very different and have drastically different experiences at the hotel.
King does a fantastic job of writing morally grey characters that we find ourselves at least somewhat sympathetic towards. Jack is no angel, has a troubled history and has acted far from right towards his family. However, he is not a monster, or out-and-out villain.
Setting
Naturally, the atmosphere of The Shining is largely contributed to by the remoteness of the setting. Bad weather further isolates the characters in the book. Naturally, when things take a sinister turn and there is nowhere to go, it heightens the tension and gets our pulses going!
The time of year I read the book was perfect too. It was early November (I wanted to read it for Halloween, but I was a smidge late), so the nights were dark and the weather miserable. Familiar? It matched the tone of the book very well. I’m just trying to disregard the reality that a return to that is just a few months away. We’ve been spoiled with dry weather this summer.
Narrative Style
The Shining unfolds over around 500 pages. In some respects it’s a slower-burn story. However, with tension throughout the narrative, we are far from bored. Rather, small, seemingly innocent events take a sinister turn. The Shining, the Overlook hotel, really brings out the worst in people.
The pacing of the book was good. Considering we had a lot of dynamics that needed to play out over 500 pages, we get the right amount of tidbits throughout the narrative to keep us engaged throughout. No mass info dumping here all at the end (thankfully).
Summary
I really enjoyed this horror when I read it back in 2023. It is the perfect atmospheric read. If you enjoy horror, or just want to try an absolute classic, The Shining is definitely on my list to recommend.
Have you read or watched The Shining? What do you think of this book? Is it one of King’s better books?
Top 1% in Epic