Tag: Eve

Monthly TBR – November 2026

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in the last eight weeks or so. All will become clear in due course. However, my intention for November is to prioritise reads I’m excited to pick up as opposed to ones I feel obligated to read. 

I’m hoping for a bit of a return to reading progress. Whether that happens remains to be seen. That being said, I will never go into a monthly TBR setting myself little to no list. I know myself, and I know that I thrive when I have a deadline or target to achieve. This month, I have two blog tours which will be my last two tours of the year. Around that, I have a book that featured on my 2026 resolutions post, an international book of prize that I hope will break the bad run I’ve had so far, as well as a new romantasy series to start. 

Intrigued? I hope so! Take a look at what made the cut for my November monthly TBR! 

November 2026 Monthly TBR

Fixed Reads 

Kingdom of Ash

Goodreads

It feels weird to talk about a book I’m planning to read in November, having already finished said book. However, I am finally glad to share that I have finished Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series! Finishing kingdom of Ash took a little bit longer than planned. I believe this was due to be a September finish? Alas, it felt victim to my decreased reading progress in the last couple of months. That’s no reflection on the book, as I quite enjoyed this one. It was interesting to see how the series panned out, especially as it took us off on some twists towards the end that I didn’t anticipate.

So, I start today’s monthly TBR with a completion to share. May the progress continue!

The Commander’s Blade

Goodreads

The first of my blog tour obligations for November falls around the 17th of the month. That is for Caesar: The Commander’s Blade. Peter Gibbons is an author I have read books by before. He also has excelled previously in the genre, and I’ve enjoyed all of his Warrior and Protector books (Warrior and Protector Book 1 here) – although I’re just realised I missed the last one earlier this year.

I signed up to this blog tour because of my experience with this author and their work to date. Not only that, but I really enjoy the genre that this book comes from. With reading being slower pace than usual, I need every incentive I can find in order to pick up a book against competing priorities.

I enjoy historical fiction, so I’m excited to try a historical fiction series with a brand-new set of characters and events to enjoy! 

Sword Brethren

Goodreads

Sword Brethren is another historical fiction novel that I’m reading for a blog tour later this month. My review for Sword Brethren is due around 28th November, so I have some time to pick this up. 

Sword Brethren overlaps with a genre I’ve read before, but it is a little different in terms of setting. Christianity and Paganism are aspects of the narrative that are key to the story. Sounds a bit reminiscent of The Last Kingdom to me! It’s for that reason I’m looking forward to trying this one. Sometimes, different is what you need. 

Metabolical 

Goodreads

My next audiobook for the month is Metabolical by Dr Robert Lustig. I actually started this audiobook today, so I haven’t got too much to share with you in terms of reading progress. What I can say is that I’ve enjoyed the introduction to this book. The author has suggested that some of the content of this book has been easier to share since he has left his profession, that he’s calling out things that would get him ‘cancelled’ were he still in employment. 

Whether that is true remains to be seen. I hope those comments aren’t a gimmick in order to encourage readers to read on and then fail to deliver. However, I’m cautiously optimistic. If nothing else, I’m looking forward to a non-fiction audiobook. It’s been a little while since I picked up one of these, and it certainly been a while since I’ve picked up a book of this topic. Historically, I’ve enjoyed reads like Ultra Processed People which overlaps with the same concept. 

Will I enjoy Metabolical as much? Will it lean into more of the science like I hope it will? We can only hope so. 

Get 20% Off Your First Demon This Halloween

Goodreads

Not long ago, I sought help choosing a Halloween novel this year. Whilst I had hoped to read a little more of Get 20% Off Your First Demon This Halloween in October, I’m prioritising it now! 

The darker themes combined with a lighter, satirical tone are good fun. I’ve not long started this book by indie author Michael Da Clarke. I don’t read very seasonally, but I do try to make an effort now and then. Hopefully my thoughts land with you at a time when you can pick this up in the mood. Autumn and the dark nights make it spooky season… right?! 

Mood Reads

The Director 

Goodreads

My next International Booker Prize 2026 longlist read is The Director. If I don’t jive with this one, then I’m seriously concerned for the rest of the list. So far, reading progress with my International Booker Prize to date is not going well. The Witch lost my interest, so did The Wax Child. I had high hopes for both, so it’s fair to say I’m now a little less confident about some of the other reads on the list. 

The Director is a historical fiction novel set around World War II. It’s a period I love, so I think it’s the best book on the International Booker Prize longlist that can turn the tide. 

Dungeon Crawler Carl

Goodreads

Last month, I set out plans to read Dungeon Crawler Carl for a change of pace. I still plan to do that. I didn’t get to the book last month, but the First Lines Friday I shared not long ago piqued my interest. 

Dungeon Crawler Carl sounds like a lighter read. Post-apocalyptic, fantasy comedy? Talking sassy cats? Sign me up! 

On a serious note, I’m looking forward to reading something a little different, and maybe discovering a new series to delve into. 

Eve

Goodreads

Way back at the beginning of this year, I set out a fixed reading list I wanted to tackle in 2026. One of these books is Eve by Cat Bohannon. 

I’ve tried a few times to get to Eve, and I hope this is the month I achieve that goal. It’s one of the chunkier books on my reading list. It’s also the only physical book on my November monthly TBR. Funny, how I go through different phases with book formats. This month, I’m mostly digital books. 

I’m looking forward to reading Eve in part for the change of reading type. However, the female body and its influence on evolution is a topic I’m interested in. No doubt I’ll learn a thing or two as well… 

Caraval

Caraval

Goodreads 

I asked for a romantasy book recommendation, and my friend Natalie delivered! 

I’ve seen plenty about Stephanie Garber and even Caraval itself. It was even on my TBR once upon a time. I suspect it fell off due to its romantasy ties and that historically, I was less open to the genre. As it stands, I’m still experimenting with it. Fortunately, I purchased a digital copy of Caraval way back when anyway. So, I’m in a great place to give this first book a go and see if I want to read the rest of the trilogy, and from there, her other books. 

Watch this space for how I get on with this one. I’m contemplating setting this up as a readalong on StoryGraph or Fable. If you’re interested in reading it with me, let me know! 

Summary 

Fingers crossed for a month of better progress with November’s monthly TBR. If necessary, I’m prepared to go off script and mood read if it keeps books in front of my eyeballs this month 🤣 

What do you have planned for your monthly TBR? Do you set a TBR, or do you prefer to mood read? 

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Monthly TBR – April 2025

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April comes with no set theme in mind. Rather, this month I’m looking to pick up books that I haven’t gotten to in the last couple of months, as well as pick up some reads geared around the Goodreads challenges. Shall we take a look at the books on this monthly TBR that I’ll be picking up in April?


Fixed Reads


Enemies of the Crown

The first book I’ll be picking up in April is for a blog tour review. It was a natural decision to sign up for this one, given that I’ve already read prior books in the series. That, and I want to keep up with the series anyway. I’ve really come to love Peter Gibbons’ The Saxon Warrior series and I’m invested in the personal journey of the main character Beornoth.

As of this monthly TBR, I’m already making progress with this book. And it’s a good job —my review for this one is due on Sunday!

 

The Weight’s Over

I’m currently reading a newly released book called The Weight’s Over by Sandra Roycroft-Davis. I’ve seen a lot of adverts on Facebook for a slimming programme she’s developed, Slimpod. The reason I’ve picked up this audiobook is that I want to understand some of the science behind weight loss and why our bodies are designed for us to fail.

As of this monthly TBR post, I’ve almost finished listening to this book. It was only a little under 7 hours anyway, and I have just 45 minutes to go.


Normal Women

Normal Women is a carryover from March’s TBR. It’s a current read, and one I expect I’ll be chipping away at over the month of April.

As of this monthly TBR, I’ve already read a healthy 30% and I’m looking forward to reading more. I’m especially looking forward to seeing changes to women’s rights for the more positive— in what I’ve read so far… we’ve gone backwards!


Work Book Club

Although we have yet to christen the chosen book for this month, I’m keeping a placeholder here so that once we’ve selected a book, I’ve dedicated time to read it. At the moment, we have a poll going to choose the current book. The options are The Perfect Wife, The Anxious Generation, and All the Light We Cannot See.

Once we’ve christened the book mid-next week, I will let you know which we will be reading.


Mood Reads


The Poppy War

For a good few months now, I have been intending to start this series by R.F. Kuang. I originally received a copy of this book well over a year ago now. However, I received a special edition copy for my birthday recently. Receipt of that gift has inspired me and reminded me that I am really interested in picking up this fantasy series. So, that’s what I plan to do.

I have high hopes for this book given that I’ve heard a lot of good things. I’m also looking forward to reading something within the fantasy genre and going back to a genre I know and love inside out.


Elektra

Another genre I enjoy is Greek mythology, so Elektra seems a natural choice to pick up. It’s been a little while since I picked up a Greek-inspired story. I also like the idea of picking up Elektra because it follows on nicely from last month‘s theme that focuses on women.

Elektra is a powerful female character in Greek mythology. It’s also quite a short book, so Elektra should hopefully be a nice palate cleanser and give me a chance to pick up something a little different in between larger books.


Eve

I like to keep a non-fiction book on my reading list. This book is a non-fiction account about the biology of women’s bodies and how they shaped human society as we know it. On the off-chance The Anxious Generation isn’t picked for this month’s book club read, at least I have another non-fiction I’m already interested in on the list!


Summary

Am I likely to get to all the books on April’s Monthly TBR? Probably not. However, I may yet surprise myself! I prefer to set ambitious goals. If I finish a TBR or don’t set one, I find the lack of a goal demotivating and I tend to read less.

Are you planning on picking up any books in April? What are you reading?

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Monthly TBR – March 2025

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March‘s monthly TBR had better go better than February’s. I don’t think I’ve ever DNF’d half of a reading list before. It wasn’t even anything really to do with the theme of Black History Month.

That’s why I’m not apprehensive about going into another month of topical reads. March is Women’s History Month, and I’ve been planning to pick up a few books on this topic for a while!

Shall we take a look?


Fixed Reads


Woden’s Spear

For the first time in a long time, I’ve got a blog tour coming up!

I’ve not taken part in a tour for around a year now. Initially, I didn’t want to take on the commitment whilst things were up in the air in my personal life. However, now that things have settled down, I have the ability to do the odd one or two of the tours again.

When Rachael asked for my help to fill in some spaces on a historical action adventure novel, I was persuaded. I love the genre and time period this book is set in. You’ll be hearing more on this book very soon, as I’m set to review it early next week.


A Promised Land

Given the length of this audiobook, it shouldn’t surprise you that Barack Obama’s A Promised Land is carried over into March.

Throughout February, I listened to 17 and a half hours of this 29-hour-long audio. I made a good dent. This month, I hope to finish it pretty soon!

A Promised Land was the one book on my February TBR that I thought at risk of DNFing. That it was actually one of my favourites of the month is both a surprise, but also a testament to how diverse my reading can be.


Children of Virtue and Vengeance

My second carryover from February is Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi. I’ve picked up this series for the first time in a long time.

I confess, as of this monthly TBR, I’m undecided how I feel about the book. I’m yet to feel the same spark of enthusiasm about it as I had for the first. Still, I’ll stick with it a bit longer yet. It may come to me as I get more immersed in the story.


Normal Women

One of my Women’s History Month picks for this monthly TBR is Normal Women by Philippa Gregory.

I originally discovered this book when I featured Philippa’s podcast of the same name on my blog as part of a limited series. The subject generally is a topic of interest, but the podcast episode I listened to went into some of the research Philippa undertook when writing the book. The podcast piqued my attention, and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the book and the other broad span of topics covered.


Narratives: The Stories that Hold Women Back at Work

At 254 pages, Narratives is the shortest book on this monthly TBR. Also fitting into my Women’s History Month topical reading, I’m looking forward to seeing if I can relate to any experiences within. Naturally, I hope not. Equally though, if I’m informed on ways women can be held back at work, the better I can approach the situation.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a career woman. I love clocking out at the end of the day and getting into my PJ’s for a relaxing evening. I still have some ambition to push myself and maybe take on a leadership role in time.


Eve

The potential last Women’s History Month book on this TBR is Eve.

Leaning into some more non-fiction, Eve looks at the ways in which the female body has evolved and shaped humanity as we know it. It’s a little out of my comfort zone, but equally I’m hopeful the book includes a lot of humour and insight that keeps me engaged.


Work Book Club Pick

Lastly, I’ll be picking up one final ‘fixed read’ for our work book club. However, as of this post, that hasn’t been decided. Members had until the end of today to vote from three contenders; I’ll be looking at the results and announcing the winner to members tomorrow.

So, I can’t tell you which it is in this monthly TBR. You’ll have to stay tuned on the blog to see what it is!


Mood Reads


Calamity

I only have one mood read on March’s monthly TBR. Outside of my carryovers for the month, it’s the only book not fitting the theme of Women’s History Month that isn’t another reading commitment.

I recently got back into the series when I listened to Firefight in January. Now that I’m so close to finishing the trilogy, I want to power on and get it finished!


Summary

I have a lot of books to cover this month, but I’m optimistic I can avoid the same reading funk that spoiled February’s monthly TBR.

Here’s to a more successful reading month!

What are you planning on reading?

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