Tag: book love

Blog Tour Review: The Eagle Will Rise – M.J. Porter

Posted on May 14, 2026May 13, 2026 by fantasyst95

As I’ve already established here on Reviewsfeed, I’m a huge fan of historical fiction written by M.J. Porter. So far, I’ve kept up to date with her Eagle of Mercia Chronicles. However, I’m NOT here today with another instalment of that series. No! Instead, I have the pleasure to feature a brand new series, The Eagle Will Rise. With characters from Eagle of Mercia I have come to know and love, it was a shoe-in in terms of me enjoying this! Taking place later than that series, an ageing Icel hasn’t given up his seax just yet.

Today, I’m excited to share my thoughts on this brand new series – The Eagle Will Rise, book one of The Sundered Kingdom series. I can only do my best to encourage you to pick up this fabulous historical fiction novel. As expected, given my experience with the Eagle of Mercia series, the book isn’t shy on antics and daring rescues. Fans of Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom series will find characters overlap significantly; if you love this book, please pick up this one to continue the adventure from a Mercian perspective!

As always, thanks to Rachel and the author, M.J. Porter for the opportunity to read and review The Eagle Will Rise. Whilst I was provided a copy of the book for the purpose of giving my review, the thoughts expressed within this post are entirely my own.

Here are the stats/details for this action-packed historical fiction, then I’ll dive into my thoughts…

The Eagle Will Rise – M.J. Porter

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 322

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Original Publication Date: 07 May 2026

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – The Eagle Will Rise

The king is dead; for Mercia to survive, another must take his place.

Coelwulf, Mercia’s last king, is dead. His legacy and right to rule Western Mercia have been claimed by Alfred of Wessex, but all know Alfred was never to have Mercia. Neither were the Viking raiders, who now command the eastern-most parts of Mercia and the former kingdom of the East Angles.

Icel, the bastion of Mercia’s wars against Wessex and the Viking raiders, lies dying, but he refuses to abandon his beloved kingdom to her long-standing enemies.

Rudolf, the once-young ally of King Coelwulf the second, is summoned by Icel to attend upon him. Grudgingly, he arrives at Budworth, the task laid before him, audacious to say the least; rescue Coelwulf’s acknowledged heir, Æthelred, from Wessex, where he’s held prisoner by King Alfred. To do so, Rudolf must prevail upon the dispersed oath-sworn warrior band of King Coelwulf, and all of them, aside from him, have ignored Icel’s increasingly furious demands to attend upon him. If they won’t obey Icel, then why should they listen to Rudolf?

The fate of Mercia’s survival rests in the hands of a man who should long have been in his grave, and Rudolf, a boy who’s become a man in the most trying of circumstances. They must forge Æthelred into the emblem of Mercian survival. Or die trying. But first they must rescue Æthelred from someone who has always pretended to be Mercia’s ally, and who is anything but.

Purchase Links – Amazon UK | Amazon.com

My Thoughts…

Plot

Whilst it’s helpful to have read the Eagle of Mercia chronicles when picking up this book, it’s not essential. A degree of the history that plays out in Eagle of Mercia is relevant to the plot in The Eagle Will Rise. However, there is a degree of refresher or high level explanation, depending on where you start this book at, to fill you in.

Being the first book of a series, there’s maybe a fraction less action than I am used to. Only a little, though, so don’t worry! In this new series, there’s a good balance between setting the scene of this new adventure and keeping current events moving. Action looks a little different, with some smaller level conflicts taking place throughout the book. It gives us the chance to explore faction dynamics and enjoy a build-up of tension that will inevitably come to a head later.

Rest assured, Icel, Rudolf and the motley gang aren’t off for a jolly stroll, and plans set out early in this book run far from smooth. We’re kept on our toes as foiled plans, plots and betrayal shape this exciting opening narrative.

Personally, I can’t wait for events to develop later in the series. This first book is only just out, and I have to wait!

Characters

I’m glad to have my favourite character, Icel, play such a prominent part of this story. One of the main reasons I was excited to pick up this new series was to see where his story took him after Eagle of Mercia.

And it seems, he hasn’t lost too much of the mischief and meddling that shapes his youth. Though much older, and physically frailer at the start of this book, he’s as keen to fulfil his duty to protect others as we have come to love. I’m kind of glad a potential character arc mentioned in the author’s note didn’t happen in this book, at least. I suspected it was, but we can only hope that’s reserved for another day.

Icel isn’t the only familiar character, however. Cynewise makes a reappearance, but there are also names from the broader histories that didn’t get chance to appear in Eagle of Mercia. I know them from the likes of Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom. Guthrum, King Alfred and Lady Ealhswith are names I first came to know from other books first. Getting a different, refreshing perspective on these characters and their roles in history was a fun addition to this narrative. One I hope to explore in future books, as a Mercian perspective isn’t overly prominent in other books of the same period. At least, not the ones I’ve read yet…

Familiarity aside, there are a number of new characters introduced in this book. I’m sure many of these new names will carve their places in the series and in history as this later series develops. I found this slight change up refreshing, as to date I’ve only read a portion of M.J. Porter’s published works. Until The Eagle Will Rise, they were all from the same series.

Setting

Events of The Eagle Will Rise take us across the British landscape we know today, albeit with different borders and at times, some slightly different town names. If you’re a big reader of historical fiction, like I am, then it’s easy to follow. Even if you’re not, names are the same or at least recognisable to their historical names. Have no fear!

Travel throughout the book keeps the narrative moving along nicely. Compared to some other books I’ve read by the author, the plot is lighter on battles and has a greater, almost slow-burn build, to the main action at the end of the book. This gives the perfect opportunity to discover the dynamics, relationships and rivalries that govern this revised world. Fewer battles certainly does not mean less action, because that certainly isn’t the case! Icel, Rudolf and the gang find themselves in all manner of conflicts and pickles, just less epic in nature. For now – I have no doubt we’ll see more shield wall action like we do in the conclusion of The Eagle Will Rise soon!

Narrative Style

I have the benefit of going into The Eagle Will Rise familiar with the authors’ writing style. If this isn’t going to be your first book by M.J. Porter, then you can ret assured the style of The Eagle Will Rise is consistent.

However, if you have yet to read anything else by the author, then perhaps I should elaborate. M.J. Porter’s writing is one of the easiest I find to read. The action combines with the adaptability of shorter paragraphing sentencing and chapters when warranted helped the pages fly by. I consistently read the author’s books in a matter of days. Two, sometimes three, depending on what life’s throwing at me at the time. For The Eagle Will Rise, two days was all I needed! I devoured the book effortlessly; I’m sure you won’t find hard to imagine.

Although the book heavily features a character I love from Eagle of Mercia, I enjoyed this narrative being told from a fresh voice. Otherwise, it would feel more like a continuation of that series. The new protagonist gives The Eagle Will Rise a distinct new voice, and somewhat separation from that series to add a new voice to the time period.

Summary

The Eagle Will Rise is a fun, compulsively readable fresh start to a new historical fiction series by M.J. Porter. With characters I know and love, but set in a new time period with a fresh perspective, I already can’t wait for the sequel. What do you mean I have to wait?!

If you haven’t checked it out yet, why not take a look at where Icel’s journey begins with Son of Mercia?

Author Bio

I’m an author of historical fiction (Early English/Saxon, Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest, as well as five 20th-century historical mysteries) and fantasy (now published under a different name).

I was born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since 1066. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building, told from a very young age that it housed the bones of long-dead kings of Mercia and that our garden was littered with old pieces of pottery from a long-ago battle, it’s little wonder that my curiosity in Early England ran riot. I can only blame my parents!

I like to write. You’ve been warned!

Social Media Links –

linktr.ee/MJPorterauthor

Completing the Goodreads 2026 Spring Challenge!

Posted on May 13, 2026 by fantasyst95

It feels a little early, but the countdown is on for completion of the Goodreads 2026 Spring Challenge. With around 50 days left, it feels like I have plenty of time to read towards this challenge. At the same time, I’ve already got a number of reading obligations on my plate. By the time I’ve got those nailed, I won’t have all the time in the world to finish the challenge.

Before this year, I haven’t actively tried to complete these seasonal challenges. However, after narrowly missing out on completing the Winter challenge earlier this year, I’ve got a vendetta now. Getting ahead, my plan is to look ahead at what books I already want to read can go towards this challenge, and what gaps I need to fill. In my Sunday Summary last week, I mentioned that I have a gap between my May TBR and the books I have/that I can get audiobook copies of. So, this is where this list could come in handy!

Before I jump into the outstanding books/achievements section of this Completing the Goodreads 2026 Spring Challenge post, here are the prompts I’ve completed already: –

Achievements Attained so Far

Page-turner – Read 2 Books During Challenge
Speed reader – Read 3 Books During Challenge
Book boss – Read 5 Books During Challenge
Trending Books – The Astral Library

Now, let’s take a look at what prompts for the challenge remain outstanding as of drafting this post. I’ll share what reads on my TBR fit the prompt, or what book I’ve found to fill the gap if I don’t have a natural fit…

Achievements to Get

Community Picks

I have a few books that meet the Community Picks prompt. All of these are on my TBR already, and I love the sound of all of these books. Rather than pick any one of these now, I’m going to keep my options open so I have some mod-reading flexibility!

I don’t have any burning desire to read any of these over the other. The other consideration is other reading lists, obligations or goals. However, none of these books correlate with other reading targets, so anything goes here.

Marathon Reader

Turns out I have quite a few books on my TBR for this prompt! I’ve been looking for an excuse for a LOTR readalong, so that is a strong contender. However, one other book on this list may trump LOTR…

Pillars of the Earth is on my list of reads I want to complete in 2026. I set out this list in my 2026 resolutions post. I’ve been recommended The Pillars of the Earth at least twice, by two work colleagues at the time. So, it makes the most sense to pick this up and kill two birds with one stone. Maybe I can save a LOTR re-read for later in the year…

Editors’ Picks

Four entries from my TBR will qualify for this Goodreads 2026 Spring Challenge prompt. The two that most appeal to me are Challenger and The Song of the Cell.

When I picked up my first read of 2026, Orbital, it touched on the events of space shuttle Challenger. I already had a copy of Challenger by Adam Higginbotham – I picked it up last year. However, this casual reference in Orbital has encouraged me to bump this up the list.

My other option is The Song of the Cell. The reason this is higher on the list is because I enjoyed a similar themed book recently. Why We Get Sick is a book specifically about insulin resistance and covers how this occurs on a cellular level. I enjoyed the strong biology-based narrative. After finishing that book, I’ve had The Song of the Cell on my mind as a perhaps less specific, but interesting follow-up.

Books on Books

I only have a couple of books on my TBR that fits this prompt, so I guess this is an easy choice. I think I only own one of these already, so it makes Ink Blood Sister Scribe the more likely of the two I’ll read. However, I’ve enjoyed Janice Hallett in the past. I have incentive to read more from Janice Hallett this year because I want to pick up an upcoming sequel to her The Appeal series later this year.

However, my understanding is The Twyford Code falls outside of this series. So, I’ll suggest this is a strong backup in case I don’t get on with Ink Blood Sister Scribe.

AAPI Heritage

For this final disclosed prompt, Katabasis is the only book on my TBR that meets the prompt.

Like I need an excuse to pick up R.F. Kuang! I was stoked to get a copy of this book pretty much when it came out last year. I picked it up in the airport on my way to Iceland. Oh how terrible that I have an excuse to pick this up and read it in the near future…

I’m gutted, can’t you tell?!

Summer Reading

I have a number of books that overlap with this challenge. The only pity is that I’ve read or DNF’d them. That surprise me, if I’m honest. I wouldn’t describe myself as a seasonal reader. However, the range of books on this list is quite broad, which helps.

So, whilst I can’t actively knock a book off my TBR for this challenge, I’ve picked out a couple I like the sound of. I’ve seen plenty of readers pick up Project Hail Mary and enjoy it, so that’s a solid contender to pick up towards this Goodreads 2026 Spring Challenge. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R. R. Martin is also VERY tempting. I love GRRM and his Game of Thrones series especially. I could totally read a spin-off this summer…

Escapist Reads

I love an escapist read! However, for this prompt I also don’t have a TBR prompt that qualifies towards the Goodreads 2026 Spring Challenge. I have books I’ve already read…

Interestingly, a pick for the Summer Reading prompt will also work for this one. Reading Project Hail Mary will work for both prompts, although I confess my original plan was to lean into A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms for the Summer Reading prompt. Perhaps I can see how time goes – if I’m pinched I can pick up PHM for both. On the contrary, if I have the luxury of reading both, I’ll do that!

Mystery – Pride Month

The last prompt is technically a mystery, but we can be sure we need to read an LGBTQ+ book for it.

Having looked at my TBR, I have a few books that could qualify for this prompt. My preference for this prompt is to read a book that is LGBTQ+ that is on my 2026 Fixed TBR. That is The Colour Purple by Alice Walker. The Colour Purple is a classic, which is why I added the book to my 2026 fixed reading list. I tried to read the book as a teenager, but it was a bit advanced for me at the time. What makes this perfect to read towards the Goodreads 2026 Spring Challenge is that the book explores a lesbian relationship.

Given the prominence of the title, I’d like to think it will qualify for the mystery prompt. However, it may not. In that case, I may nee to swap it out. I have a couple of other books on my list that I’ll prioritise if they come up. Otherwise, I’ll find anything I can that qualifies! Naturally, I’ll update you if I need to switch.

Summary

I’m excited to read towards, and hopefully complete, the Goodreads 2026 Spring Challenge! There’s a spectrum of books that can contribute, and also opportunities to get to books I’ve been excited to pull off my TBR and read anyway.

Are you looking to complete the Goodreads 2026 Spring Challenge? Have you read any of the books featured today?

Top Ten Tuesday: Spring 2026 TBR

Posted on March 24, 2026 by fantasyst95

I enjoy putting together this regular themed Top Ten Tuesday. I have done variations of this post a number of times now, because it’s great to look forward to upcoming books on my reading list. With spring finally here, and a great start to my reading year under my belt, I’m motivated to pick up some fantastic reads in the near future!

In the interests of featuring some different books, I won’t be featuring anything on my March TBR. Given most of these books are contributions to completing the Goodreads 2026 Winter Challenge, it wouldn’t be fitting to put them on this Top Ten Tuesday: Spring 2026 TBR, would it?!

Let’s look forward to a few books I plan to pick up in the next few months!

Series Continuation

Golden Fool – Robin Hobb

After a year’s break following the devastation of Fool’s Errand, I think I’m finally ready to go back to Robin Hobb’s The Realm of the Elderlings series. Next on the list is Golden Fool. I’ve enjoyed going back to Fitzchivalry‘s storyline. After a significant detour in her Liveship Trader trilogy, I’m excited to see how fits a story unravels after the events of Fool’s Errand.

Honestly, I have no idea where it is going to go. That’s the beauty of it though – and Robin Hobb is the type of author who will not disappoint!

The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson

It feels somewhat cheeky, including Brandon Sanderson‘s first instalment of the The Way of Kings in a ‘series continuation’ section. However, there is a reason for my doing so. In a recent YouTube video, I discussed how I was going to have to go back to the beginning of this series in order to continue it. It’s been a long time since I read The Way of Kings, and I part read Words of Radiance before putting it down. Not that there was anything wrong with it – long books just weren’t suiting me at the time…

It’s been in the region of 7 to 8 years since I attempted this series. Whilst I have very high-level highlights in my head for events that I’ve taken place, there is no way I can appreciate the detail of this series without going back to its origins.

The Empty Throne – Bernard Cornwell

It’s also been a little while since I delved into Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom, a.k.a., the Saxon Stories. And, I am up to a pivotal point with this next book.

The Empty Throne follows events after King Alfred‘s death. Without trying to sound too excited, it’s kind of the point in the storyline where things get interesting as different people start vying for power. This is the sort of thing I love in my reading, whether that’s fantasy or historical fiction. The Empty Throne is the exception in the section in that it is a relatively standard sized book. The other entries on this Top Ten Tuesday: Spring 2026 TBR are chunky fantasy instruments.

It will be a refreshing change to have the excitement I love in a reasonably sized book…

The Great Hunt – Robert Jordan

Another chunky entry on this list is The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan. In recent years, I’ve made more of an effort to pick up sequels in a more timely manner than I ever have before. It’s made avoiding situations like Brendan Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archives more avoidable. Having not long read The Eye of the World, I want to pick up the sequel whilst I’ve still got an idea of what went on before.

This promises to be every bit as much the chunky fantasy instalment as it’s predecessor. It’s not going to be a light or quick read by any means. For that reason, I’ve deliberately withheld from putting too many other books like this on this Top Ten Tuesday: Spring 2026 TBR. It needs to be achievable – putting too many junkie roots on this list means I will never get to them all!

Standalone Novels

Eve – Cat Bohannon

Another behemoth on my TBR, though thankfully a standalone novel is Eve by Cat Bohannon. If you’re a regular reader here on my blog, you will know this book has featured several times in the hopes I will get to it shortly. First, in my 20 Books of Summer Challenge. Then, as a hopeful contributor to the Goodreads 2026 Winter Challenge (though sadly this book does not qualify, so it was swapped out).

I love the intended focus of this book focusing on how the biology of women has contributed to the success of humans to date. It’s quite different from the usual content I pick up. However, its scientific backing will make for a refreshing read.

The Midnight Train – Matt Haig

Not too long ago, I shared a list of highly anticipated releases in 2026 over on my YouTube channel. In that list, I include a book by Matt Haig which is technically a sequel to a book I have already read, but I will be picking this up as a standalone. I have already read that first book twice quite recently and I don’t need to pick it up again. Not only that, but I think the style of the book is a spin-off from how the original was written rather than a direct continuation.

That book is The Midnight Train by Matt Haig. Instead of focusing on the what if of living an alternative lifestyle as we see in The Midnight Library, my understanding of The Midnight Train is that the protagonist is much older, perhaps looking at the what if from that perspective instead.

The Director – Daniel Kehlmann

In my blog post last week about the Booker 2026 Longlist, I shared my intention to read books from the longlist for this year. It’s not really something I have ever set out to do before, but I’m excited to try this challenge and stretch myself out of my reading comfort zone.

One of the books I was most excited about from this list is The Director. A historical fiction set around the period of World War II, which is one of my favourites, this book has every promise to be something I enjoy. Naturally, I want to hit the ground running with this list and inspire myself to continue with this reading challenge. With that in mind, it makes sense to start with one of the books I’m most excited for and feel I have the closest overlap in terms of genre of reference.

The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner is a well-known classic title. It’s one I confess I have not yet picked up as of this Top Ten Tuesday: Spring 2026 TBR. Given it’s popularity and how well known this book is, it feels like a complete oversight that I have yet to pick it up. Hopefully, that’s one I can change in the next few months!

A reading objective I have talked about on my blog recently, including in the Booker 2026 Longlist post I mentioned earlier, but also in the likes of my review of The Great Passage on YouTube, is reading or diversely. With The Kite Runner, I have every confidence I can achieve this! The Kite Runner is on my fixed reading list on my 2026 resolutions post.

#murdertrending – Gretchen McNeil

In the grand scheme of things, I feel like the books featured so far in this Top Ten Tuesday: Spring 2026 TBR are quite serious.

To lighten the mood, I have included a book called #murdertrending. In terms of genre, it’s different to other books on this list. The length is also pretty reasonable; it should therefore be a quick read to help me along through this TBR.

The Nights are Quiet in Tehran – Shida Bazyar

Another Booker 2026 Longlist entry that I’m hoping to get to pretty soon The Nights are Quiet in Tehran.

This is a pretty short entry on the list, so definitely achievable to get through pretty quickly. Not only that, but its feminist angle has been excited to see what this book is all about and whether it is worth the hype of the Booker Longlist! I can only read it and find out…

Summary

There’s a good variety of books on today’s Top Ten Tuesday: Spring 2026 TBR. It’s ambitious, as always, but where is the fun in giving myself an easy ride?!

Have you read any of the books on this Top Ten Tuesday: Spring 2026 TBR?

Book Review: The Lost Metal – Brandon Sanderson

Posted on February 26, 2026 by fantasyst95

***Today’s review of The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you.

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

If I have one aim out of this review, it’s to convince you to pick up the Mistborn series. I read and adored the first trilogy as a teenager. Honestly, I didn’t think it could get any better, but I was really surprised by the Wax and Wayne dynamic of the second half— that, and how Sanderson isn’t afraid to improve on his established magic system! It’s a rare thing to see an author build upon and change their own world. Risky move, but it worked incredibly well!

If you want to catch up on my reviews of the series before diving into this final instalment, my reviews of the earlier Era 2 books can be found below: –

The Lost Metal – Brandon Sanderson

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 507

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Tor Books

Publication Date: 15 Nov 2022

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Purchase Link – Amazon UK

Goodreads – The Lost Metal

For years, frontier lawman turned big-city senator Waxillium Ladrian has hunted the shadowy organisation the Set— with his late uncle and his sister among their leaders— since they started kidnapping people with the power of Allomancy in their bloodlines. When Detective Marasi Colms and her partner, Wayne, find stockpiled weapons bound for the Outer City of Bilming, this opens a new lead. Conflict between the capital, Elendel, and the Outer Cities only favours the Set, and their tendrils now reach to the Elendel Senate— whose corruption Wax and his wife, Steris, have sought to expose— and Bilming is even more entangled.

After Wax discovers a new type of explosive that can unleash unprecedented destruction and realises that the Set must already have it, an immortal kandra serving Scadrial’s god, Harmony, reveals that Bilming has fallen under the influence of another god: Trell, worshipped by the Set. And Trell isn’t the only factor at play from the larger Cosmere— Marasi is recruited by offworlders with strange abilities who claim their goal is to protect Scadrial…at any cost.

Wax must choose whether to set aside his rocky relationship with God and once again become the Sword that Harmony has groomed him to be. If no one steps forward to be the hero Scadrial needs, the planet and its millions of people will come to a sudden and calamitous ruin.

My Thoughts

Plot

Events of the earlier books in the series come to an end. As the title of the book proclaims, a significant part of both Wax and Wayne’s aim in this book is to discover a new metal not previously known to their metallurgical talents. Not only that, but events come to a head in the action act and dramatic way he can only expect from Sanderson. Full of tension and unforeseen plot twists, it is hard to anticipate how the lost metal is going to end, and I confess, it had me devastated.

It was a satisfying book to read nonetheless. I love the scope of this book and the series as a whole. If there is one thing I really enjoy, it is an author who is willing to both build upon and in some ways destroy the world they have built in a way that feels plausible to the plot.

Whilst I can’t really comment on the ties this book has with the Cosmere in general, I believe there are some overlaps that perhaps I’m not ready to appreciate given the volume of unread Brandon Sanderson books on my list compared to those I have. However, I have it on good authority that for the eagle-eyed, there are some links to other books in his wider universe.

Characters

Wax and Wayne are some of my favourite chalk and cheese characters in this series. They are polar opposites; Wax is noble and values justice and fairness. Wayne, well, what’s petty crime when in the name of justice?! Wayne is a bit of a kleptomaniac, but somehow charming and entertaining all at the same time.

Ballsy. Clever. Intelligent. Witty. These are all easy descriptors for characters in The Lost Metal. Wax and Wayne are by far the stars of the show, but don’t sleep on Merasi. I love her character. She’s bright and desperate to prove herself. To a reader like me, she’s incredibly relatable.

I love the variety of characters we see in The Lost Metal, but especially loved seeing an old face reappear in this book. The dynamics between the characters are engaging and they really help lift an interesting and clever story up several layers!

Setting

The latter half of Sanderson’s Mistborn series is Western in vibe. Set both within and on the outskirts of Elendel’s major cities, Wax and Wayne are cowboy-style lawmakers. Guns aren’t their only weapons; I love the magic aspect of the book, and especially how The Last Metal builds on the earlier books of the series.

The world-building in this book and series is fantastic. Somehow, in every single book, Sanderson has managed to get better, make the story more engaging, and build on the magic we’ve grown with.

The concept of the magic behind the series is interesting – ingesting metals grants no specific powers. However, we build far more upon that as the books go on. We get more complex ideas, but it’s not complicated or written to confuse readers. The growth and expansion of the plot and magic is the biggest selling point for Mistborn.

Narrative Style

The Lost Metal, alongside pretty much every Sanderson book I’ve read to date, is easy to read and follow.

The book is made up of around 70 chapters across 500 pages. It makes the average chapter not too long, but also punchy enough to see plenty of action. The writing style matches the events of the book. Whilst it works really well, I don’t know what else to say here. It facilitates everything else I’ve talked about in this review. It would be a showstopper for me if it was difficult to read. However, it’s far from the biggest selling point.

Summary

With a series as epic as Mistborn, it’s hard to imagine how it could end in a way that lives up to the hype. Friends, it did! Sanderson lives up to his excellent reputation, and I already know The Lost Metal and the prior six books of the series will be on my TBR again soon!

If you want to get yourself a copy, you can get it via Amazon here. I’ll definitely be re-reading this one, so we’ll have a chance at a later date to compare notes!

Top Ten Tuesday – Books for Armchair Travellers

Posted on February 17, 2026 by fantasyst95

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is an interesting topic. When I started thinking about this week’s Top Ten Tuesday – Books for Armchair Travellers post, I was curious to see what variety of books and genres I could include on this post.

When I mentioned this in my Sunday Summary at the weekend, I shared my suspicion that I’d feature a lot of historical fiction here. However, I think I’ve got a respectable mix! Yes, there are four of ten on this list that fit in that category. However, I’ve also got non-fiction, mysteries and literary fiction on the list.

Curious to see what made the cut? Let’s take a look!

Books for Armchair Travellers

Literary Fiction

The Great Passage

Based in Japan, The Great Passage is a fun literary fiction that gave me some real insight into Japanese culture.

I really enjoyed this book recently. If, like me, you read more in the way of westernised books and settings, The Great Passage is an eye-opener. This also appeals to fans of books, words and language. That’s what drew me to the book. As a lover of language and the meaning of words, a protagonist who shares that passion is a refreshing change. Whether the culture or the plot of this book appeals, its a fabulous read for anyone looking to read outside of their normal parameters.

Historical Fiction

The Saxon Stories

Events of The Saxon Stories span the entirety of the United Kingdom. Whilst that’s not really much in the way of exploration for me, there are readers checking out my blog that don’t live quite as close as I do.

What I also love about this series is that it doesn’t stay in one place for long. Throughout the series, travel itself is a significant part of the narrative – and its not forced. The nature of the storyline has the protagonist Untried up and down the country on a regular basis. Sometimes at King Alfred’s request, other times… not.

I’m only seven books into this thirteen book series and already Bernard Cornwell’s set a precedent for the rest of the books.

All the Light We Cannot See

Set across European soil, All the Light We Cannot See spans two main protagonists and a few chapters from Marie-Laure’s father.

This World War II fiction novel is split predominantly across France and Germany, although the characters also move around somewhat. The biggest draw for me into this narrative is reading the perspective from a blind character. I’ve read a lot of WWII books, but it’s completely different visualising an unfamiliar place not from the appearances, but from it’s feel, distance judged by paces and drain covers and by its smells.

It’s very unique, and it was my favourite part of the narrative.

Warrior Prince

Most Viking stories I’ve read are set in the UK and I’ve already featured one of those here. However, Warrior Price is set across Eastern Europe including Russia. In the grand scheme of things, it makes sense that the UK isn’t the only landmass the Vikings would travel to. There well-known travellers after all!

Warrior Prince is a totally different setting, but one that really works. We have all the action and drama, battles and conflict we expect from the Vikings. However, there’s an extent of political intrigue in Warrior Prince as well.

Three Sisters

A traditional WWII historical fiction set in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in Poland. Heather Morris does a fantastic job of memorialising the stories of individuals who suffered through the atrocities that took place here. It’s a tough one to do well. It’s a difficult subject to tackle, but Heather does a fantastic job.

Of course, Heather has written all the books as part of this series, so if it’s a rabbit hole you enjoy exploring (like I do), then this is definitely up your alley!

Mystery/Thriller

The Atlantis Covenant

I confess, I didn’t expect to feature mysteries/thriller novels on this list. However, a recent read of The Atlantis Covenant makes this book an easy pick. The events of this particular book, and the characters involved, span the globe.

Some secrets managed to survive across the globe and an international effort from UK, US and other national citizens globetrot to uncover lost history and civilisations.

Eruption

A high octane read if you want to explore the isles of the United States, is Eruption by Michael Crichton.

Bonus points if you love reading how the geography of a place like Hawaii could be devastated by a volcanic eruption. As someone who went to Iceland last year and indulged in museum visits and learning more about the power of mother nature, eruption suited me.

In Eruption we roam volcanoes on foot and fly over partial eruptions in daring helicopter pursuits. Dare-devils be warned, you’ve met your match in John MacGregor.

Non-Fiction

The Woman Who Would be King

Pre-historic Africa also features on today’s Top Ten Tuesday – Books for Armchair Travellers.

The Woman Who Would be King is the story of Hatshepsut, an unusual figure in history. One of just a few female pharaohs of her time, she ruled for around twenty years. Egypt prospered under her reign. Whilst her successors and history has not been so kind to her, she is one of the best-known female Pharoahs for her feats and the countries prosperity under her rule.

Twelve Years a Slave

Set in South America, Twelve Years a Slave tells the story of Solomon Northup, born a free American man. That’s not to last, however. He is kidnapped and sold into slavery. Hard labour and cruel conditions mark the next 12 years of Solomon’s life.

Deep South America, particularly Louisiana, is the feature of this book. Solomon spends his servitude in lumber mills, cotton fields and sugar plantations. He has many owners before he is able to secure his release via his family.

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

This books features on this list in a way the others don’t – I haven’t read this one. Rather, I was recommended this book by a colleague Isabelle at work at lunchtime. Whilst Izzy is more of a quiet reader than I am, I’ve taken a few recommendations from her now.

This book is about murders that take place in Rome. I don’t know much more than that, but I’m intrigued. I hope it catches your eye too…

Summary

Whilst I haven’t managed to quite span the 7 continents in this Top Ten Tuesday – Books for Armchair Travellers post, we’re pretty close. Not only that, but I’ve done so with a variety of book and genres.

Regardless of your preferred genres or types of books, I think there’s something here for most readers.

Where is your next ~~book~~ adventure taking you?

My Hefty January TBR!

Posted on January 8, 2026January 8, 2026 by fantasyst95

Today, I share a hefty January TBR!

I’m hitting the New Year with full force. In this January TBR, I have nine books in total I’m hoping to get through. It’ll require a reading pace of 75 pages a day and 36 hours of listening time to complete!

***This post contains affiliate links to Amazon if you wish to purchase any of the books featured. If you follow any of these links and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you.

I would really appreciate you considering following this link to make any purchase as a show of support***

My January TBR

First, A Fresh Start…

Orbital

Purchase Link – Amazon

To start the new year with a fresh start, I’m picking up the relatively short, though not especially light, Orbital.

I can see why the book won the Booker Prize. In such a short read, the book discusses complex concepts and feelings on an intimate level. It’s an inspiring and interesting read— one I’ve finished since recording! I’m glad I made Orbital my first read of the year.

Then, my December Carryovers…

Beyond Redemption

Purchase Link – Amazon

My current read as of this January TBR going live is Beyond Redemption. This is a read I started mid-December when I was at the hairdressers.

By the end of December, I’d read 15% of the book. In the last few days since picking it up again, I’ve doubled that to 30%. I’ve got this book on Kindle Unlimited, but I’m ceasing my subscription in a couple of days, so time to shake a leg, right?!

Empire of the Dawn

Purchase Link – Amazon

A book I struggled with in December, and put down briefly, is Empire of the Dawn.

The nature of this book, the size, my hardback copy, the joy and dread of a final book in the trilogy, are all reasons I think I had trouble with it. However, with a short interval, I’m now ready to venture back into this last book of an amazing series!

The Doors of Midnight

Purchase Link – Amazon

My audiobook carryover on this January TBR is The Doors of Midnight. I started this audio in mid-to-late December, but its length meant there was no way I was able to finish it before the end of December.

I’ll no doubt spend most of January reading this book, but it’s a good one so far. This Asian Silk Road fantasy is a refreshing change on my January TBR, and protagonist Ari is an excellent storyteller.

A Review Obligation

Dark Chronicles

Purchase Link – Amazon

I’m reviewing the short story collection Dark Chronicles on the 27th January. It’s full of dark and twisted stories which would maybe be suited to autumn for mood readers. I, however, don’t care!

Given it’s a short book, I’m going to be flexible and throw it in as and when I want a break from heavier reads… and before 27th January, of course!

Book Club Reads…

I Know I’m in There Somewhere

Purchase Link – Amazon

I’m trying a new tack with my work book club, and I’m setting a theme as opposed to a set book.

For my own book towards this month’s “New Year/New You” theme, I’m reading I Know I’m in There Somewhere. It’s a book about how women can find their own authentic voice through acceptance of themselves.

After the Forest

Purchase Link – Amazon

Very different to the other books on my January TBR is my read of After the Forest with the Cottagecore Fantasy Book Club. This club is also open in terms of book selection, and there is a challenge on StoryGraph with all manner of books on it.

I want to read After the Forest as it’s based on a well-known fairytale, Hansel and Gretel. Other than that, I’m going in blind!

2026 Fixed List Reads

Yellowface

Purchase Link – Amazon

Picking up Yellowface works towards two of my 2026 resolutions – reading from my physical TBR and also one of my 16 books on my fixed read list.

I’ve enjoyed both Babel and The Poppy War from author R.F. Kuang so far. I’m looking forward to trying this contemporary book to see how it compares!

The Great Passage

Purchase Link – Amazon

Finally, The Great Passage is the audiobook I’m jumping to after The Doors of Midnight. It’s the second book I’m planning to read from my fixed list. It’ll also be a refreshing change in the length comparison with The Doors of Midnight – it’s about a quarter of the length!

That’s not to diminish it though. It’s a book of language and worlds and passion and all set in a less familiar cultural context. I’m excited to read it!

Summary

I have plenty of books to be getting on with in this January TBR. It’s a new year and I’m keen for a fresh start.

What are you reading this January?

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My 2025 Wrap-Up!

Posted on January 3, 2026 by fantasyst95

It’s 2026 and I’m really excited to share my 2025 wrap-up with you! Overall, I’m pleased with how I did against my 2025 reading resolutions. Back in November, I shared a review of progress and intentions for the final books I wanted to read towards my resolutions.

Let’s take a look at the final tally 🥳

My 2025 Resolutions…

Goodreads Challenge – 45 Books

For 2025, I set a reading goal of 45 books. It was set as a small stretch goal on top of the 42 books I’d read in 2024. Turns out, I could have pushed a little further on.

In total, I read 48 books in 2025! Truthfully, I could have completed more as well. With my reading goal done by the beginning of December, reading progress fell away. Once an obligation to review a book was fulfilled, I slowed down dramatically. It didn’t help that I was struggling with a physical read, and of course, time commitments around Christmas. I can’t blame them entirely though.

With 2025’s reading target being achieved well in advance, it’s convinced me to up my goal again for 2026. This time, I can announce in this 2025 wrap-up that I’m pushing a little harder to get to 60 books.

Complete Goodreads Challenges Throughout the Year

This is the one goal I’d say I didn’t put the most focus on in 2025. I set it to explore a new feature on Goodreads. However, I can’t attest that I have as much focus and attention as the rest of my reading resolutions.

I did make some progress, with a few achievements in each challenge throughout the year. They were mostly passively achieved as opposed to deliberate choices.

I set the goal as an attempt to do something a little different and maybe read more topical/seasonal books. It didn’t quite work the way I intended, so I’m going to approach this aim a little differently in 2026.

Finish or Get Up to Date with 10 Series

I’d argue this reading goal was the most difficult one and took a lot of my attention. To be fair, so it should! I have a lot of ongoing or part-read series I’ve started. For two years now, I’ve set myself this reading goal in order to reduce the amount of series I had ongoing. Overall, it was broadly successful!

As of the end of December and 2025 wrap-up, I read books from a total of 16 series. A couple of these were new starts, but others were to make further progress in sizeable series. In terms of completions, I finished or got up-to-date on eight series in 2025. I had aimed to finish Empire of the Dawn and The Doors of Midnight in December to get to my final ten. However, these are both current reads carried over into 2026.

So, I didn’t quite get there, but my intentions and effort were in the right place and that was the point of the goal. It got me picking up sequels in a far more timely fashion than I had been previously, making them much easier to get into, if I’m honest. Like with my non-fiction reading goal of 2024 making a lasting impression on my reading habits, I hope going forward sequels remain a priority.

Read Out of my Comfort Zone

Finally, I set myself a goal to pick up books out of my comfort zone in 2025.

Book clubs were a great way to achieve this goal. Through my book club at work and the Cottagecore Fantasy Book Club I help moderate, I picked up a few books I wouldn’t have chosen for myself but still enjoyed anyway. On top of that, a recommendation from a colleague led me to pick up HR Disrupted.

However, external drivers weren’t the only means I picked up new books. In February, with Black History Month in mind, I read Fearing the Black Body. I also had my own non-race-related reasons to read it – it’s about the origins of fat phobia. If you’ve seen photos of me on social media, I’m not a small person and I’ve been on the wrong end of fat phobia in the past. I don’t care now, mind, I put myself in positions where I could be judged. I go to the gym and wear sports gear out in public. Do I care if people like it or not? Absolutely not!

Along the lines of better health, I picked up The Weight’s Over, Ultra-Processed People. These were a stretch from my usual reading, but very much worthwhile. Finally, I picked up a book where US politics is central to the discussion. A Promised Land by Barack Obama wasn’t the easiest of things for me to read, but I’m glad I did.

Summary

All in all, it’s fair to say I enjoyed my 2025 reading and I did a lot of the things I set out to in my 2025 resolutions post. I can only hope I’m as successful in my 2026 resolutions, which I’ll be sharing with you shortly!

Thanks for reading today’s 2025 wrap-up. Did you set yourself a goal for 2025? How did you do with achieving it?

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Monthly Wrap-Up – December 2025

Posted on January 1, 2026 by fantasyst95

Happy New Year friends and welcome to my last monthly wrap-up of 2025! In today’s post I take a look at reading progress in December 2025. In summary, I didn’t touch much of my December TBR. Once my reading obligations were over and I’d completed my Goodreads Reading Challenge, my brain kinda switched off.

Nevertheless, I have some progress to share and after a slow, steady festive period and end of the month I’m ready to get back into it!

Books Read

Death of a Billionaire

Early in December I had a blog tour obligation to review Death of a Billionaire by Tucker May. With a number of ongoing books from the end of November, I had to pick up and finish this one pretty quickly.

One light night and a review later, I safely ticked Death of a Billionaire off the list. It’s a fun, humorous murder mystery and I enjoyed the lighter tone. If you want to take a look at this for yourself, here’s a link to my review.

Empire of the Dawn

A book I made slow progress with in December was Empire of the Dawn. Unfortunately, this book wasn’t working for me as I had hoped. It’s a chunky book, and I think having the limitation of a heavy, hardback copy is the primary reason I struggled to pick this up.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get an alternative copy of this book to carry on in another format without additional cost. After trying p persevere with it a little longer, I ultimately soft DNF’d it partway through the month. I love the series and where the story is going so far, so I WILL absolutely revisit this one in the near future!

A Crucible of Souls

I wrapped up listening to A Crucible of Souls mid-month after starting the book in November. Overall, I enjoyed this fantasy book and it was a decent recommendation I picked up as part of a ChatGPT recommendations challenge I started a few months ago.

However, I did finish this book a little disappointed. The book has a lot of detail and an engaging storyline. That said, the book is very light on explanation or backstory on Caldan so we finish the book with as many, if not more questions, than when we started.

No doubt the rest of the series would catch up with this intel later. I, however, have decided not to continue with it.