Tag: bookblogger

First Lines Friday – 26/09/2025

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Today’s First Lines Friday features an upcoming book on my TBR. If you read any of my recent blog posts, I’ve mentioned this as an upcoming read on next month’s TBR as we’ll be discussing it in book club at the end of October. 

Shall we take a look at the opening lines and then I’ll share more about the book itself and why I chose it? 

 

The bed is empty.

Louise, the counsellor – twenty-three, short-limbed, rasp-voiced, jolly – stands barefoot on the warm, rough planks of the cabin called Balsam and processes the absence of the body in the lower bunk by the door.

Later on, the ten seconds that pass between sight and inference will serve to her as evidence that time is a human construct, that it can slow or accelerate in the presence of emotion, of chemicals in the blood.

The bed is empty. 

 

 

The God of the Woods – Liz Moore 

Genre: Mystery 

Pages: 435

Audience: Adult

Publisher: The Borough Press

Publication Date: 02 Jul 2024

Goodreads – The God of the Woods

 

When their thirteen-year-old daughter Barbara goes missing at summer camp, all eyes fall on the Van Laar family.

They’re cold, rich people. They own the camp. And it’s happened to them before.

Fifteen years ago their little boy, Bear, vanished without a trace.

Two children lost to the same wilderness.

Is it a tragedy… or a crime?

 

My Thoughts…

I picked up a copy of The God of the Woods fairly recently.

I suspect this book has just released in paperback format, because it was one of Waterstones book of the month picks. It was also part of the buy one get one half price sale, which you know I’m a sucker for.

When choosing our next book club pick, I knew I wanted to pick up a book from the genre. Not only is it a favourite among readers in the group, but with the time of year in mind, a spooky pick is ideal! We’ve picked up a lot of dystopia lately, so I am looking forward to a change of genre and hopefully to seeing some different faces at our next meet.

Whilst I am yet to start the book, one of our members Meg has already listened to this book in its entirety! Her review in short form was that she didn’t want to put it down and frequently fell asleep listening to this book whilst doggedly trying to stay awake for the next chapter. It bodes very well for me, and I am looking forward to getting stuck in with this read myself. I’m planning on picking up this book in a month where I also have historical fiction and several fantasy books on the reading list. The God of the Woods as a mystery will make a refreshing read and with the dark nights are coming in, it’s the perfect time to get stuck into this sinister tale. 

Thanks for reading today’s First Lines Friday! Have you read The God of the Woods? Is it on your reading list? 

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Spooky Book Recs for You and Your Book Club in 2025!

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If you’re looking for recommendations for your spooky book club read, look no further! I’ve read a number of spooky books over the years, and these are my recommendations for a meaningful conversation.

I’m reading God of the Woods by Liz Moore for our next book club meeting. Whilst I’m yet to try it, Meg has already devoured the book in audio format and can’t wait to chat about it!


Spooky Book Recs

Dark Academia

If We Were Villains

If dark academia is a genre you and your book club love to read, If We Were Villains is a spooky book that’s right up your alley.

A group of talented theatre students, specialising in Shakespearean performance, find themselves embodying the characteristics of Shakespeare’s traditional heroes and villains. However, their last year at the school will challenge the roles and dynamics of the group, with deadly consequences.

Even if you aren’t a fan of Shakespeare, or like me struggle to understand the language, it’s not strictly necessary. I think this is the kind of book that is approachable for readers regardless of their understanding… but for those that do, maybe there are hints and Easter eggs that can make the narrative more interesting.

I really enjoyed this story, and I hope you do too!


Horror

Imaginary Friend

Imaginary Friend may be a stretch for most book clubs due to the length of the book. At just over 700 pages, I’d recommend this spooky book to committed, die-hard horror fans.

It’s disturbing anyway, but especially because the protagonist affected is a child. It’s honestly a seriously spooky read. I read this book 6 years ago now. Whilst reading the book in sunny Spain didn’t quite fit the vibe (my home town wet and windy weather is much more appropriate), Imaginary Friend has a strong, sinister atmosphere.

 

Classic

Pet Sematary

A supernatural horror classic from the King is Pet Sematary. Admittedly, this was one of the first horror books I read and I loved it!

Pets are a relatable subject for a lot of people. I never really grew up with them, but even still, the affection for family pets is something we are all familiar with. Maybe I should re-read the book now I do have a cat…? Or not 😂 My boy has nothing in common with Church!

Even then, this book held its power over me. It’s a spooky book with an unreliable narrator. If that’s your cup of tea, you’ve just found your next read!


Short and Sweet

Carrie

At 272 pages, Carrie is both a well-known classic and a short book. If your book club can’t make a huge time commitment for your next read, Carrie is ideal!

Stephen King is a well-known author and an interesting pick. The only caveat is that this book touches a lot on religion and extreme parental discipline. If you want to discuss these themes in your group, make sure you know each other well and it’s a safe space to share views.


Psychological Thriller

The Housemaid

Psychological thrillers are a huge and popular genre. I love it, so I was pleased when my book club picked The Housemaid earlier this year.

In the shoes of then Millie and then Nina, immerse yourself in a twisty story where the apparent suburban dream is not all it’s made out to be. Again, fans of unreliable narrators will have a great time with this story! It’s dark and leaves you questioning everything you think you know.

If you and your book club want a short, fast-paced spooky book, The Housemaid is perfect. It’s also a series. If you are the type of reader to binge read a series, that’s an option here too!


Summary

Hopefully you’ve found a spooky book recommendation in today’s post! If not, have you read any of these books? Would you have any other spooky book recommendations for readers!

If so, drop a comment below with your recommendations!

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Sunday Summary – 21st September 2025

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For the second week in a row, my recent break has paid its dividends! In today’s Sunday Summary, you’ll see I have a number of updates and books to catch you up with progress on! 

Before I get into the books I’ve read over the course of this week, let’s catch up on the blog posts I’ve shared over the internet.

My first post was a book review for Wolf of Wessex by Matthew Harffy. If you enjoy historical fiction, you’re having a field day with content right now. Not only am I talking about historical fiction in terms of these backlist reviews, but I’ve also been reading a lot of historical fiction this week. More on that in a bit! 

On Friday, I returned to more modern fiction and featured a legal thriller by a big-name author I am yet to try. This author has three books currently on my TBR and I’ve still not read a single one of them yet. A few of these are featured in my Shelf Control posts now, so I imagine it won’t be long before one of them finally comes around. If you’re intrigued to know who that is, take a look at my latest post.

 

Books Read

 

Betrayal of Mercia 

I finished my audiobook listen of Betrayal of Mercia earlier today! 

As I mentioned in my last Sunday Summary, it’s the first time I’ve picked up a book in this series as an audiobook. It was really interesting to experience this book in this new format. Historically, I’ve kept up with the series by reading the advanced review copies before the books come out. It gives me a unique opportunity to provide a review of the books in this format. 

I really enjoyed Betrayal of Mercia. The book takes on a slightly different form in that there is significantly less travel in the book than I remember from earlier instalments. However, that makes sense in the widest storyline and it was interesting to delve deeper into the allegiances of powerful characters and how that impacts other people’s actions. 

I’m also glad I finished it because it means I can start reading Shield of Mercia as soon as I finish my current read. That’s also another historical fiction book, this time by the well-known Bernard Cornwell. By the time I finish all these books, I’ll definitely have read my share of historical fiction for a little while… 

 

The Pagan Lord 

I’ve enjoyed going back to Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon stories series in picking up The Pagan Lord this week. Admittedly, I didn’t read this book for the first few days of this week. The vast majority of my progress has come later in the week. However, when it started, it happened quickly! 

As books go, The Pagan Lord isn’t actually that long. I read decent-sized chunks of the book per sitting as opposed to chipping away at it. The only reason I would say progress is a little slower than usual is that I borrowed this book via Libby from my library. That means I’m reading the book on my phone, which is probably my least favourite way to do so. However, my eagerness to return to the series and getting into the book has enabled me to get past that.

 

Algospeak

After finishing Betrayal of Mercia earlier today, I started listening to the British short Algospeak by Adam Aleksic. 

I downloaded an Audible copy of this book a few months ago now as I was interested in the subject. I had a place to study linguistics at university but ultimately made the decision not to go. That said, I still have an interest in the subject and particularly how social media has had its influence on language in more recent years.

My only gripe with this book so far is that although I’m not uninvolved with social media and technology, it made me feel a little bit like a dinosaur. If you are from Gen Z, you’ll probably find some of the topics and commentary a bit more relatable. However, from an educational standpoint, I’m enjoying the book so far.

As of this Sunday Summary, I’ve already listened to a couple of hours’ worth of the audiobook and I have around 2 1/2 hours left. Needless to say, I’m optimistic. I’ll be able to polish this off early next week and start another audiobook before the end of the month! Will I get to finish it though? That’s the million-dollar question!

 

Books Discovered

For the second week in a row, I haven’t added any new books to my reading list and I’ve managed to tick some off via completions! 

Is this the start of a run on getting my TBR below 200 books? Place your bets now 😂

 

Coming Up… 

Blog 

I was looking around online for some inspiration for a spooky book club read for our work book club. I’ve now chosen the book we’re gathering to discuss in October. However, that sparked a content idea though. I want to share my book recommendations for spooky book club reads. That’s going live on Wednesday. 

On Friday I’m back with a First Lines Friday feature. My most recent First Lines Friday features have all had a theme. As of drifting this Sunday Summary, I have no particular theme in mind for this post. Perhaps I’ll share a book coming up on my October TBR? I won’t commit myself, but we’ll see. 

Finally, you know what’s coming last. This time next week I’m back with another Sunday Summary update and fingers crossed, I’ll be much closer to the end of my monthly TBR. I’ve already surpassed my reading list in some ways. However, we’re just a couple of books left, I can’t get lazy. Check out next week’s Sunday Summary to see if I keep up the pace. 

 

Patreon

On Patreon, I’m planning to step up the content and post as regularly there as I do here. Next week will be a bit crazy as I’m posting two sets of content. Going forward though, my blog content will broadly be historic Patreon content. So, if you want to see my posts exclusively before everyone else, please subscribe to me there. I’m also launching my book club Discord chat for subscribers, so there are plenty of perks to enjoy! 

As a sneak preview, I’m posting my review of Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff, a Shelf Control post, and a more in-depth and personal Sunday Summary there. 

That’s all for me and today’s Sunday Summary update, though! 

What have you been reading?

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Shelf Control #95 – 19/09/2025

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It’s been a little while since I featured a legal thriller, and the name behind this title. I’ve got three books by this author on my TBR, and in today’s Shelf Control, I share the only one of a three that’s part of a series. 

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

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

 

Rogue Lawyer – John Grisham

Genre: Legal Thriller

Pages: 352

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 20 Oct 2015

Goodreads – Rogue Lawyer

 

On the right side of the law, sort of, Sebastian Rudd is not your typical street lawyer. His office is a customized bulletproof van, complete with Wi-Fi, a bar, a small fridge, and fine leather chairs. He has no firm, no partners, and only one employee: his heavily armed driver, who also so happens to be his bodyguard, law clerk, confidant, and golf caddie. Sebastian drinks small-batch bourbon and carries a gun. He defends people other lawyers won’t go near: a drug-addled, tattooed kid rumored to be in a satanic cult; a vicious crime lord on death row; a homeowner arrested for shooting at a SWAT team that mistakenly invaded his house. Why these clients? Because he believes everyone is entitled to a fair trial, even if he, Sebastian, has to bend the law, cheat, to secure one. He hates injustice, doesn’t like insurance companies, banks, or big corporations; he distrusts all levels of government and laughs at the justice system’s notions of ethical behavior.

 

My Thoughts

On paper, the events of Rogue Lawyer appear to be a little unhinged. A lawyer with a bodyguard roaming around in a van and representing the people reputable lawyers won’t touch out of a sense of justice? Sure, sign me up! It’s hardly your everyday read. This is one of three books I have on my list to read by John Grisham. If you’re interested, the other two are The Litigators and The Rainmaker. 

I’ve yet to try John Grisham, but he’s a household name. I’m hopeful I’ll enjoy his books. In which case, I’ll have a whole TBR of just his books… never mind the 200 others I want to read from everyone else. 

On a serious note, the uniqueness of the premise is what makes me want to try this book, regardless of how well known he is or any sense of obligation I need to try him. I know a few people who like his books – in fact, I think I have a copy of this book after a recommendation from someone clearing their book stash at work and letting me take it. 

It’ll be nice to get back to a genre I’ve not read for a while either. I pride myself on my ability to pick up almost anything. I’m definitely in the habit of reading some genres more than others. However, now and then, I enjoy something a little different. If there is one thing that can be said for today’s Shelf Control feature, it’s precisely that! 

Thanks for reading today’s Shelf Control post! Have you read Rogue Lawyer, or other books by John Grisham? 

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Book Review: Wolf of Wessex – Matthew Harffy

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Historical fiction fans are having a field day with my content right now! I have a lot of current and upcoming content in the genre. As of this post, I’m reading two further books that fit into this same setting and genre – Betrayal of Mercia by M. J. Porter and The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell. If you are looking for inspiration on what to pick up, be sure to check out my thoughts below on Wolf of Wessex by Matthew Harffy.

 

Wolf of Wessex – Matthew Harffy  

Genre: Historical fiction 

Pages: 400

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 14 Nov 2019

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – Wolf of Wessex

AD 838. Deep in the forests of Wessex, Dunston’s solitary existence is shattered when he stumbles on a mutilated corpse.

Accused of the murder, Dunston must clear his name and keep the dead man’s daughter alive in the face of savage pursuers desperate to prevent a terrible secret from being revealed.

Rushing headlong through Wessex, Dunston will need to use all the skills of survival garnered from a lifetime in the wilderness. And if he has any hope of victory against the implacable enemies on their trail, he must confront his long-buried past – becoming the man he once was and embracing traits he had promised he would never return to. The Wolf of Wessex must hunt again; honour and duty demand it.

 

My Thoughts

Plot

Compared to other books I’ve read in the genre, Wolf of Wessex is a little superficial in plot. That’s not necessarily a downer. If you’re looking for a light and easy read or are new to the genre, Wolf of Wessex is a good place you could start. 

In fact, Wolf of Wessex gave me insights into Saxon Britain that I’ve yet to read anywhere else. It’s a great perspective to read and helps me appreciate the time and history of the period, regardless of what I’m reading. 

That said, I wasn’t gripped by the plot line. It was perfectly acceptable to read, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was memorable. Prior to writing this review, my recollections of this book were that it contains a lot of violence. I did have to refresh myself on the events that took place, and the comments I shared in my Sunday Summary and monthly wrap-up post at the time. 

 

Setting

 Wolf of Wessex is a good entry-level book to the historical fiction genre, or even this time period, because it isn’t too heavy on historical background. There’s enough background included for the plot to make sense, so there are no concerns on this front. Beyond that though, it doesn’t matter if you are familiar with the historical context of the book or not. I have a personal preference towards more detail and depth in my narratives, that didn’t put me off reading this book. In fact, it contributed to this book being quite a quick read!

 

Characters

A bit like the plot development, I found some of the characters lacking any spark. Unfortunately, the female main character, Aedwen, served only to irritate me. She exists in the plot purely to be saved. She’s so docile, she may as well have not been there after the opening event. 

Dunstan isn’t much better. He’s defined throughout the book by his age and physical frailty, yet manages to keep up with all the young whippersnapper warriors? The messaging isn’t really consistent… or he’s an extremely lucky sod! 

The action throughout is entertaining, if predictable. At no point was I particularly concerned for the characters’ welfare or thought they were in real danger. 

 

Narrative Style

The book was very readable. Wolf of Wessex was a light, easy read. I read the book in just a few days. 

It’s this easy style that makes the book perfect for newcomers or anyone looking for a light reading experience. You don’t have to concentrate too much and the writing flows well. 

The book reads to a level of mature young readers, even if the content is not best suited. In terms of language, it’s appropriate for adult readers of all ages. The archaic time period and language differences don’t alienate readers, which again, helps with readability. 

 

Summary 

Wolf of Wessex has far higher praise online than I have to offer it here. Whilst I enjoyed the book, I don’t intend to go on and read any other of his books. It could be that I was in a bit of a reading slump at the time. If you read my review of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, the book I read before this one, you’ll see that was a middle-of-the-road review as well. 

Whilst this is a great introduction to the genre, there are other series I’d recommend if you prefer greater depth of detail. Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon stories, M. J. Porter’s Eagle of Mercia chronicles and Peter Gibbons’ The Saxon Warrior are a few. 

Ultimately, this book has its place and it’s a decent read, if not standout or remarkable. Admittedly, I’ve decided not to pursue reading any more books by this author, but maybe I’m missing out… 

Have you read Wolf of Wessex by Matthew Harffy? 

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Sunday Summary – 14th September 2025

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Another week has come and gone! I can’t believe how fast this week has flown. So yes, I’m back here again with another Sunday Summary update, and it’s a good one! I hope you’ve had a good one too? 

It’s mostly been a return to normal this week. After our trip to Iceland last week, we had Monday off to relax and catch up with the usual house admin. Washing… it’s always there for you, no? 

Otherwise though, it’s been a case of getting and into routine. Work and home, books and blogging. So, what’s been on the agenda this week? 

My first post went live on Monday. No rest for the wicked here! With us being nearly a third of the way through the month, I figured it was time to share my September 2025 monthly TBR. And, I’m in a really good place with that reading list! Although it looked ambitious, I’m ahead of where I need to be to complete it by the end of the month. More on that below 😌 Who knows, I may even get some extra in. Let’s not get ahead though! 

On Friday, I shared the final book I’m reading towards my ChatGPT book recommendations challenge/post. I’m planning to pick these books up in October, so ahead of that timeline I’ve teased the final book in my First Lines Friday. If you’ve yet to take a look and fancy a dark, gritty fantasy where delusions shape reality, go take a look at that feature. 

On Patreon, I shared my review of The Anxious Generation. This is a non-fiction I recommend everyone read. It’s really informative and backed up by science, but in an interesting and engaging way. 

 

Books Read

 

Sensitive 

In last week’s Sunday Summary I confided my confidence that I’d finish the remaining 2 hours I had of Sensitive soon. 

And that’s true. I chipped away at this audiobook whilst commuting to and from work; I finished it about halfway through this week. 

It’s been a good listen and I recommend it to anyone and everyone. No doubt we all have someone sensitive in our lives, or are sensitive ourselves and maybe don’t yet recognise it. It was a really validating read. 

 

A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison

This week I also finished A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison. You may recall this is the book club read over at the Cottagecore Fantasy Book Club. 

It’s the first time I’ve finished a club book early,  and I’m not the only one. It puts me in a great place to prompt readers and discussion about the book. It’s a habit I want to continue; it’s much less stressful than making apologies for being behind 😂

I enjoyed this book. Although there is a romance element to two of the main characters development arcs (and this isn’t something I love in my books), it was okay. Obviously if you love this sort of thing, great! 

The mystery was interesting, although somewhat predictable. However, there was a comfort in seeing broadly where the storyline was going. The details and finer points of the storyline were the interesting and less predictable points. 

 

Gran Familia 

In the last 24hrs, I’ve read a manga I’m planning to feature on my blog later this month! I don’t read manga very often, but I enjoyed picking something up that’s very different. 

As I’ve read more in the way of traditional prose lately, I blitzed Gran Familia. The book is only around 200 anyway, but being image-based, it was really quick to read. In fact, I read most of the book today. I’m looking forward to sharing more about this book on my blog soon. 

 

Betrayal of Mercia 

The next audiobook I’ve made progress with this week is Betrayal of Mercia. 

It’s the first time I’ve picked up a book in this series as an audiobook. Admittedly, that’s because I’ve always kept up with these books and read advanced reader copies for the tours. I somehow missed this instalment, and for ease, I figured to try the audio. 

So far, it’s going well. Personally, I find the archaic names easier to read than listen to, but at the same time, I’m familiar with most by now to catch on. It’s a small thing though, and I’m enjoying the story so far. 

So far I’ve listened to two and a half hours of the audio and I’m looking forward to listening to the rest (hopefully) next week! 

 

The Pagan Lord 

Finally, the last historical fiction book I’ve picked up this week is The Pagan Lord. I’ve only just started this book, so I don’t have a lot to discuss with you other than my eagerness to return to the series. It’s also the only physical book on my TBR left other than the sequel to my current audiobook. Naturally, I need to finish that before I read Shield of Mercia. 

I’m not going to let that slow me down, though. If I need to pick up another read in the meantime, I have plenty to choose from! The other consideration is that I’ve borrowed this digitally from my library, so I don’t have forever anyway. 

 

Books Discovered

Overall, this week is amazing for progress! I’ve ticked several off the list and not added anything new either. 

I need more weeks like this… 

 

Coming Up… 

My first post next week will be a book review. There’s a real historical fiction theme here, because the next book due review is Wolf of Wessex by Matthew Harffy. I hope you’re looking forward to my review as much as I am sharing it! 

On Friday I’m breaking back into my old schedule of sharing a Shelf Control post. It’ll be nice to take another look at my TBR, or reading list, with you so I can share why I’m excited for my next book. 

Finally, you know what’s coming. Next week I’ll wrap-up with another Sunday Summary. Let’s hope I have as much reading progress to share in next week’s instalment. 

Thanks for reading today’s Sunday Summary instalment. If you’re still here, thank you so much! 

What have you read recently? 

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First Lines Friday – 12/09/2025

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Today’s First Lines Friday features the final book I’m reading as part of my upcoming ChatGPT recommendations reading challenge. So far, I’ve shared that I’ll be reading The Shadow of What Was Lost and A Crucible of Souls. The final recommendation I’ve been given is an interesting take on gods and fantasy. Belief defines reality, and faith and insanity have a great influence on this narrative. 

Shall we take a look at the introduction and then I’ll share more on the book? 

 

The old gods were broken by wars and plagues of the mind, left reeling like the most bloodied veterans. Infected with horror at the cost of their actions, they retreated into dementia. Insanity as escape. Seeking to free themselves, they fled to a world of delusion, a world uncorrupted by jealousies and psychoses. And yet, in the end, even this they would pollute. So deep was their need, so desperate their flight from their bitter past, that they ignored the one truism all must bow before. 

Belief defines reality.

 

 

Beyond Redemption – Michael Fletcher 

Genre: Fantasy 

Pages: 480

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Publication Date: 16 Jun 2015

Goodreads – Beyond Redemption

 

Faith shapes the landscape, defines the laws of physics, and makes a mockery of truth. Common knowledge isn’t an axiom, it’s a force of nature. What the masses believe is. But insanity is a weapon, conviction a shield. Delusions give birth to foul new gods.

Violent and dark, the world is filled with the Geisteskranken–men and women whose delusions manifest, twisting reality. High Priest Konig seeks to create order from chaos. He defines the beliefs of his followers, leading their faith to one end: a young boy, Morgen, must Ascend to become a god. A god they can control.

But there are many who would see this would-be-god in their thrall, including the High Priest’s own Doppels, and a Slaver no one can resist. Three reprobates–The Greatest Swordsman in the World, a murderous Kleptic, and possibly the only sane man left–have their own nefarious plans for the young god.

As these forces converge on the boy, there’s one more obstacle: time is running out. When one’s delusions become more powerful, they become harder to control. The fate of the Geisteskranken is to inevitably find oneself in the Afterdeath. 

The question, then, is: Who will rule there?

 

My Thoughts…

I chose Beyond Redemption out of three suggestions from ChatGPT. What appealed to me about it was the emphasis on belief and insanity. Religion is often a prominent topic in fantasy books, but this is something I’ve not read before. 

The question mark over what is true and real will have me questioning what I read throughout this book. I love a good book with an unreliable narrator. In this book, I’ll be doubting everything and so I’ll be fully engaged in trying to work out what’s going on! 

What’s interesting is that in the course of obtaining my recommendations, Beyond Redemption was actually suggested twice. I had already picked the book for my second prompt, but it was a ‘notable mention’ for my third prompt as well. For this reason, I’m confident the book will be what I’m looking for. 

Thanks for reading today’s First Lines Friday instalment! Have you read Beyond Redemption? Maybe you’ve read the other books I’m reading for my ChatGPT book recommendations challenge? 

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Sunday Summary – 7th September 2025

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Welcome to today’s Sunday Summary, fellow readers! I hope you’ve had a great week? 

It’s been a really busy one for me. I’ve been on holiday for the last few days— not that you’d really know it from the blog schedule. I don’t like to announce these things ahead of time, but I’ve had a fun few days in Iceland this week. 

Even still, I managed to keep the blog schedule pretty normal and fit in some reading on flights. Shall we take a look at what I’ve shared? 

My first post of the week was my monthly wrap-up for August 2025. Knowing I had a busier schedule later this week, I was keen to get this out the door early. If you want to catch up on how I got on with my August TBR and 20 Books of Summer Challenge, that’s where to look. 

Next, I published a blog tour review of The Atlantis Covenant on Thursday. Did I regret my life choices trying to draft and schedule this post whilst on terrible WiFi in a UK hotel during an overnight stay at the start of my holiday? Yes. I certainly did. Battling to get this post scheduled contributed to my only getting four hours’ sleep ahead of a 2:30 am start the following day… 

 

Books Read

 

The Atlantis Covenant 

This week, with my blog tour post due imminently, I prioritised reading the remaining 75% of The Atlantis Covenant. I finished the book on a flight to the UK on Wednesday. In the nick of time, it’s fair to say! 

I enjoyed this book, and fans of Indiana Jones and high-action books will get along with this read nicely. Obviously, if you’re intrigued, you can find my full review here. 

 

Sensitive

I started strong this week and made a further three hours’ progress with Sensitive. Whilst I didn’t listen to any of the audiobook whilst I was away, I’m happy with my progress. 

As of this Sunday Summary update, I have just two more hours of audio left. With how easily I made progress with this audiobook last week during ‘normal’ scheduling, I reckon I’ll polish this off soon. 

 

The Giver 

Whilst away, and after reading The Atlantis Covenant, I picked up The Giver. If you recall, I popped this book on my August TBR as our book club is meeting to discuss it next week. 

With plenty of downtime today on an hour coach ride and a two and a half-hour flight, I pretty much blitzed the whole thing! 

I’m a huge fan of dystopia and this book was a very easy read for me. You can tell this book is geared towards a younger audience, but it didn’t oversimplify the genre either. It was perfect light reading and I’m looking forward to discussing this book with my peers on Tuesday. 

 

A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poisons

Another read I’ve picked up this week is A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poisons. This book is the Cottagecore Fantasy Book Club pick for September. 

The last couple of months, I’ve been behind with these reads. Keen to get ahead of the game this month whilst I decide on the rest of my TBR, I’ve read half of this book. 

I’m intrigued by the underlying mystery of what is happening to the Unwanted Girls, although I have some theories. If you are a romance fan, you’d also enjoy the dynamics between Bisma and Xander about now. Although it’s not really my jam, it’s not dominating the narrative or deterring me from reading the rest of the book.  

 

Books Discovered

I didn’t last very long in my travels before I bought some books. Shock, right? 

In our local airport departure lounge, I picked up Katabasis and Never Flinch. 

More topically, I also picked up a small book in Iceland on its volcanic history. At least that one won’t take long to read… 

 

Coming Up… 

We’re nearly a third of the way through September, so I suppose I should get around to posting my September TBR, no? That’s my plan at least! Although it’s a little late, I’ll draft this post as if we were starting near the top of the month. Some of the books will already be ticked off the list, but there’s plenty more to follow! 

On Friday, I’ll tease the last of my ChatGPT book recommendations I’ll be reading shortly. I’ve already shared the first two, so I hope you’re keen to see what this third and final book is! 

Sunday sees the return of my Sunday Summary update post. In the next week, I hope to share even more reading updates with you. Stay tuned to find out more about the books I pick up. 

Thanks for reading today’s Sunday Summary! I’ll be back online very soon to share my September TBR, so stay tuned! What are you reading? 

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Blog Tour Review: The Atlantis Covenant- Rob Jones

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Hello readers! If you’re a huge fan of Indiana Jones, historical artefacts and high-stakes action, The Atlantis Covenant is the book I’d recommend for you! And good news – I’m reviewing it today as part of the ongoing blog tour with Rachel’s Random Resources. Buckle up and let’s get to it!

Before I give you the details, as always, a huge thank you to Rachel, Boldwood Books and the author, Rob Jones. It’s been a little while since I took part in a tour, but reading this fun, high-stakes book has inspired me to get back in the game.

Also, full disclosure here that I received a copy of the book in order to provide my review. However, this is an unbiased review and my views expressed are my own.

Now… let’s see more about the book!


The Atlantis Covenant – Rob Jones

Genre: Action/Thriller

Pages: 344

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Original Publication Date:  31 Aug 2025

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟


Goodreads – The Atlantis Covenant

 

The greatest mystery of all time is about to be revealed.

When world-famous archaeologist and ex-soldier Max Hunter finds a mysterious artifact in a tomb beneath the Gates of Nineveh, his lifelong dream of finding Atlantis comes one step closer.

But he’s not the only one looking for it…

His discovery unleashes a high-speed hunt for the lost civilization between a mysterious Swiss foundation, the FBI, and the world’s most secretive society.

From the dangers of the Iraqi desert to Cuba and the jungles of El Salvador to the enigmatic Valley of the Kings in Egypt, Hunter faces a race against time and murderous enemies who will stop at nothing to claim the greatest prize in history. As he fights for his life, it soon becomes apparent that his enemies are searching for something altogether more sinister than the lost city…

Hunter must use his unique ingenuity and knowledge to decipher the clues and find Atlantis – and its lethal treasures – before they fall into enemy hands.


Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/AtlantisCovenantbook

 

My Thoughts

Plot

If you are a fan of very fast-paced, action-driven books, The Atlantis Covenant is right up your alley! With danger lurking around every corner, Max Hunter and the FBI find their lives on the line as they look to uncover the truth of the lost city of Atlantis.

This is arguably a very plot-driven book. That’s not to say that aspects of world-building (history) and character development suffers, because they don’t. However, the motivation to read on each chapter is to uncover what happens next.

And there’s action in almost every chapter. Old rivalries and archaic, powerful forces come into play, and the secrets of Atlantis aren’t safe. With both sides racing to beat each other to discover the truth, everything is to play for…

Although this first book does naturally leave us on a bit of a cliffhanger into the next in the series, the action that takes place in The Atlantis Covenant is wrapped up in full. Looking at the synopsis for the next book, it doesn’t directly follow on from this first. I’m pretty confident that each of these could be read standalone. Whether you’re a fan of series or solo books, The Atlantis Covenant caters to all.

 

Setting

The Atlantis Covenant takes us across the globe. From the seas of Cuba to jungle rainforest, Egypt and The Valley of the Kings and to Arctic climes, the book features archaeological sites on every corner of the planet.

The jet-setting in this book is exciting to read about. As someone who really enjoyed history growing up, getting to hear about well-known sites such as the Valley of the Kings makes this thriller more interesting. I really enjoyed the archaeological aspects of this book and the emphasis this has on the storyline and places visited. It gives the book a lot of grounding, even when events carry us off rapidly to the next revelation (and inevitable gunfight).

I appreciate this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. If that’s you, that’s okay. The relevance to the storyline is explained but not explored in any great length of detail. It gives context to the plot and moves on.


Characters

Throughout The Atlantis Covenant, we meet a variety of characters. From military men to goth girl hackers, the group pull together to help in his quest discover Atlantis and its secrets. The characters draw upon a wide variety of experience and skills, and not all from altruistic origins.

Now, I do confess, I do have one niggle about how some characters are introduced in this book. Pretty early on, I recognised a pattern of male characters being introduced for the action they’re involved in and women being introduced by their appearance. I wasn’t a big fan of this double-standard, but credit where it’s due, this stops after the first few chapters.

I really enjoyed the diversity of the characters that made up the main group. However, I can’t dismiss the wider cast introduced in this book either. Over the course of the book, we are introduced to a significant number of characters. So maybe even still, I am no trouble keeping trying (or at least, on which side they are).


Narrative Style

The Atlantis Covenant is fast-paced. Punchy. Full of action and eager to get there. Chapters are nice and short and snappy to fit this pacing. It works very well with the narrative and is a big driver to encouraging you to read ‘just one more chapter’ over and over.

Even though I personally lean towards a preference for longer, more detailed chapters, this was perfect for the book. It didn’t detract from my personal experience in the slightest and complemented the narrative.

As a result, The Atlantis Covenant is a pretty quick read. Having struggled and DNF’d another book right before this one, it was the fast-paced and engaging remedy I didn’t know I needed!


Summary

The Atlantis Covenant is a high-action, fast-paced novel. If you are a huge fan of Indiana Jones films, this book is just like these. With a balanced blend of action intertwined with archaeology, history, and conspiracy, this book piques my interest in the best of ways!

The good news is, you can continue to read the series already. If you want to read on, The Revelation Relic is the next book to whet your appetite.


Author Bio

Rob Jones has published over forty books in the genres of action-adventure, action-thriller, and crime. Many of his chart-topping titles have enjoyed number-one rankings, and his Joe Hawke and Jed Mason series have been international bestsellers. Originally from England, today he lives in Australia with his wife and children.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: @RobJonesNovels

Twitter: @AuthorRobJones

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/RobJonesNews

Sunday Summary – 31st August 2025

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Happy Sunday friends! I hope you are as excited for today’s Sunday summary as I am. I have some great book updates to share with you, and as always, to catch you up on the content I’ve shared earlier in the week.

First, let’s catch you up on the blog content I’ve shared so far this week. My first post of the week was a book review for The Adventures of Amina-al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty. If you are looking for a swashbuckling feminist eastern fantasy, look no further! Take a look at my thoughts and what I make of this book in my review.

On Friday I break from my usual scheduling to bring you another First Lines Friday. In that post, I featured another upcoming fantasy novel I’ll read as part of a ChatGPT recommendations challenge. 

On Patreon, I shared my audiobook review of Saint’s Blood by Sebastien de Castell. As you’ll see, this isn’t the last you’ll hear of Sebastien de Castell in this post. If you want to read my thoughts of the series up until the third book of the series, subscribe to my Patreon account to read my detailed review! 

 

Books Read

 

Tyrant’s Throne

As of my last Sunday Summary, I only had around two hours of audio left of Tyrant’s Throne. 

I’ve been listening to this audio whilst commuting to and from work this week. I loved this book so much and I was excited to see how the story ended. Sometimes with a great series, I get to a point where I don’t want to finish it and I start slowing down with reading progress out of fear of getting to the end. 

That wasn’t the case here, but for the best of reasons! I was so captivated by the storyline as it went down a completely different avenue than I expected. I’m also glad to hear that the author Sebastien de Castell has plans to revisit the characters Falcio, Kest and Brasti again. 

 

The Atlantis Covenant 

I’ve got an upcoming blog tour commitment for The Atlantis Covenant by Rob Jones. With that in mind, I’ve been blitzing this book this week. 

It’s full of action and a very quick, easy read. Over the course of today along I’ve read over 25% of the book. I’m enjoying this busy novel. It’s very reminiscent of Indiana Jones so if that’s your bag. There’s action, danger and intrigue in every chapter. I’m looking forward to finishing the book and sharing my review with you next week! 

 

Sensitive

Late this week, I started listening to Sensitive. With no more audiobooks on my August TBR, I turned to my 20 Books of Summer Challenge list for another book. 

So far I’ve listened to an hour of this audiobook. It’s not a long audiobook, so I’ve only got 5 hours left to listen to at 1.2x speed. 

It’s been an informative read so far. I’m also glad I picked this up on audio format. As books go, it’s an easy listen and my go-to kind of book for audio format. Whilst I’m not going to complete this book on time for the 20 Books of Summer challenge, I’m glad I’ve made a solid start and I’m looking forward to listening on in the coming days! 

 

Books Discovered

It’s been another quiet week in terms of book acquisitions. There’s nothing to let you know about in terms of books added to the reading list. 

 

Coming Up… 

Early next week, I’m sharing my monthly Wrap-Up for August 2025. Find out just how much progress I’ve made in my 20 Books of Summer challenge and my August monthly TBR. 

On Thursday, I’ll be back with my review of The Atlantis Covenant as part of the upcoming blog tour. I hope you can join me to see what I make of this high-action book. 

Finally, I’m back with another Sunday Summary this time next week. I’ve got some time off work later next week, so I’m hoping I’ll have some time to enjoy my current reads after finishing The Atlantis Covenant. 

What are you reading this week? 

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