Tag: Fiction

Sunday Summary – 20th September 2026

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I confess that today’s Sunday Summary is going to be a little lighter on reading than I’d have hoped. Again. The Witch is proving to be a difficult book to psyche myself up to read. Before we get onto that though, let’s take a look at what I have achieved this week. 

I’ve had another week at attempting to post a book review and coming up short. The good news is, I’m much further along with A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes than I got with last week’s attempt for The Flood. It’s also been a busy week at work. We took part in a volunteer day on Wednesday that resulted in me straining my back. Not very clever of me, but I decided shovelling wood chip into wheelbarrows for an hour and a half was a great idea. What could possibly go wrong? I have to say, that meant I wasn’t feeling up to blogging for a couple days around that. Whilst I am broadly much better after that, cutting the grass today reinvigorated the acheiness a bit… 

But, I did get back on track on Friday. My planned Shelf Control post featured a non-fiction book that would suit anthropology fans. Take a look if you haven’t already! 

Books Read

The Witch

My aim was to push through with The Witch this week so I could move on. However, it’s proving a bit difficult for me to psyche myself up to read. In truth, I’ve managed a few pages… but that is regretfully it! 

I will get to it. If nothing else, I won’t let a 144 page book defeat me. Especially when I’ve only got 90 pages left. Completion by the time I’m drafting next week’s Sunday Summary, I promise! 

Kingdom of Ash 

Last week, I didn’t touch audiobooks at all. However, yesterday I made some progress with Kingdom of Ash whilst working on some craft projects. In the grand scheme of things, I haven’t made much of a dent. However, it’s something! 

Admittedly, I haven’t been listening to audiobooks in the week like I used to – a habit to get back to I think. It’ll certainly make progress go a lot faster. 

Invisible

With an upcoming blog tour next week, thankfully I’m having a better time with Invisible by Heleyne Hammersley. Whilst I’m not close to the finish with this book as I set out in last week’s Sunday Summary, I am doing better with this book than I am The Witch. Not that that’s difficult… 

So far, I’m really getting on with the storyline. Early on there are references to the protagonists earlier experiences in the series. I’m, unusually, reading this 6th book of a series as a standalone. I just wouldn’t have had the time to read the prior books. However, so far it’s reading well as a standalone and I’m curious as to how much this will impact the current storyline. 

Thankfully, I have a deadline to help incentivise reading, not that I need it much at the moment. I’m reviewing this book as part of the upcoming blog tour on the 23rd September. With just a few days to go, I’ve got a close deadline encouraging me to read the book. Let’s just hope I don’t leave it last minute like I’ve done previously. I’m determined not to at the very least. 

Books Discovered

No news is good news here this week. I’ve added nothing new, which is good given I’ve not really made any reading progress to tick books off a TBR… 

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

Here’s my reading plan for tonight and the  next seven days… it’s pretty much the same as last week… :- 

  • Finish Invisible by Heleyne Hammersley (priority!)
  • Finish The Witch by Marie Ndiaye 
  • Read The Wax Child by Olga Ravn
  • Continue the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash – target to get to 50% by the end of next week

Blog

Next week, I don’t have time to be lax on my book reviews! I’m reviewing Invisible on publication day of the book. No ifs, buts or negotiations. Still, I’m up to task. 

I’m deliberately going to take a break on Friday to catch up with my reading a little bit. Let’s hope I can make more of a dent in my reading list as I’ve got a few books to get through before the end of the month. I haven’t completed any so far! 

Finally, let’s hope taking the pressure off content gives me some time to do more reading so I’ll have a super-productive Sunday Summary next week. Well, I can only hope, yes? 

Summary 

Thanks for reading this week’s pretty short Sunday Summary update. Have you had better reading success than me lately? If so, share what you’ve picked up. 

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Sunday Summary – 13th September 2026

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That’s a wrap for another weekend, folks! Sad! Where on earth do the weekends go? Enough lamenting though, let’s get into today’s Sunday Summary update! 

I intended to share a review of The Flood by Rachel Bennett this week. However, admittedly, I struggled a little to put my thoughts into words. My thoughts on this book was that it was okay, but nothing special. As a result, I couldn’t think of much to say. So, my review didn’t go live, it could barely be called that with what I had noted down anyway! 

In more positive news, I posted what I consider to be a First Lines Friday that fit my ‘fun’ challenge. I set myself that challenge in last week’s Sunday Summary, with absolutely no idea how to achieve it. Thankfully I rose to the challenge on this occasion. If you’re intrigued, go take a look at that post to find out more. 

Books Read

The Witch

I had plans to get through a number of books this week. Alas, it’s not panned out. 

I started the week with The Witch, and I have made progress by reading in several stints. However, much like the reviews on Goodreads, I’m not loving it. As of this Sunday Summary, I’m currently around 40% into the book. If I’m honest, I’m not gripped by the storyline. I would say The Witch is a character-driven book rather than plot driven. So, already, The Witch isn’t playing to my strengths. I would say the biggest thing for me as barriers go is that the writing style feels a little clunky to me. This book is translated, I appreciate that. However, the style doesn’t come across as natural to me, and that reflects in that I’m a bit stuck on this book. 

I’m still going to read it. My plan is to power through tonight so I can move onwards and upwards! 

Books Discovered

This week, I’ve added the first book of the series I featured in my First Lines Friday this week to my TBR. 

Yes, I’m talking about Dungeon Crawler Carl. This is the book I chose for my ‘fun’ topic. Truthfully, I had nothing on my TBR already that fit the brief. Fortunately for me though, I’ve seen quite a few people reading this book and subsequent books in the series. Given I recently enjoyed Dungeons and Dimwits, I think Dungeon Crawler Carl will work for me.

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

Here’s my reading plan for tonight and the  next seven days… it’s pretty much the same as last week… :- 

  • Finish The Witch by Marie Ndiaye 
  • Read The Wax Child by Olga Ravn
  • Start (and definitely finish) Invisible by Heleyne Hammersley
  • Continue the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash

Blog

I’m going to start with a book review again this week, but I’m confident that I’m not going to be able to share anything meaningful on The Flood. So, next on the list is a Hunger Games favourite – The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Susanne Collins. I have much more to say on these books, so I should be able to follow through on this one. 

On Friday, I’ll be back to look at my upcoming TBR in the form of a Shelf Control post. This week’s upcoming feature is a non-fiction about human history on the planet. I hope that intrigues you as much as it does me. 

Finally, you know the drill. This time next week I’m back with another Sunday Summary post. Let’s hope a more productive week is in store, because progress this week has been pretty poor. 

Summary 

That’s everything from me in this Sunday Summary update. It’s not much, but better than nothing I guess? If nothing else, I have a blog tour coming up shortly so I’ll be reading for that. 

What are you reading this September? 

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Sunday Summary – 6th September 2026

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Happy Sunday friends! I hope you’ve had a great week, however you’ve spent it? Today’s Sunday Summary comes at the end of a pretty productive week. I’ve shared quite a few posts this week. The beginning of the month is always busy for me in that I share my prior month’s monthly wrap-up, shortly followed by a brand new TBR. But, that wasn’t all this week. 

The first post I shared this week was my review of The Other Life of Mary English. This blog tour review came out on the 2nd September. If you enjoy historical fiction that explores new places and points of history, this may be something that ticks that box for you. It certainly did for me! That wasn’t the only reason I enjoyed it though. This particular book focuses on two prominent women in history that existed in places and roles that women didn’t traditionally fill in society. So, I suppose you can say the book has a feminist slant. 

A couple of days later, I posted my August wrap-up. Blog tours and reading obligations kept me turning pages this month. However, I didn’t get to much of my own backlist last month. I’m a bit busy in my personal life at the moment, but I still want to make more time for reading and change that. Speaking of which, I address this in my September TBR, which actually is full of 2026 releases to keep things fresh. I have more blog tours due, but also a number of 2026 releases I want to pick up for my own reasons. In September, I’m almost ignoring the backlist for a change of pace, and to see if this helps re-spark my reading bug. 

Outside of blogging, I did something a little different today. A replica of Christopher Columbus’s flagship, the Nao Santa Maria, was visiting the island. So, I got tickets and we went aboard to see what life was like onboard. I wouldn’t have liked to be the poor sod sent up to the crow’s nest, put it that way! 

Books Read 

The Other Life of Mary English

As of last week’s Sunday Summary update, I’d made a solid start with The Other Life of Mary English, and had a pretty imminent deadline to finish the book. Thankfully, I was able to finish the book ahead of deadline and publish my review on time. I have left books too late in the last month or so, so I’ve had a word with myself. For my tour obligations in September, I’m reading much further ahead of when I need to. The day before a tour has been a late night recently, and I shouldn’t put that pressure on myself. 

I’ve already alluded to the type of book The Other Life of Mary English is in my intro, so I won’t repeat myself. If you’re curious and want to find out more about it, here’s a link to my review so you can check it out. 

Kingdom of Ash

This week, I’ve made solid progress with starting Kingdom of Ash. 

At 984 pages, his is a reasonably long instalment to the Throne of Glass series. And really, so it should be… it’s the last book! Events are finally going to come together, and I can’t wait to see how it all ends. 

This week, I’ve listened to the first 15% of the book, which equates to around 140 pages. That’s not bad, especially when I’ve done so reasonably passively, and during a weekend where I’ve not touched the audiobook for one of the days. My other half was off work today, and we had other plans. 

I’m getting on with the book so far, and looking forward to listening to more over the course of the month. Given the length of the audiobook, I reckon this will take a good portion of the month. As of this Sunday Summary, I’ve still got 18hrs 30mins to listen. Not an insignificant amount anyway. I’ve got another audiobook to listen to, so I can’t procrastinate on this one too hard. Hopefully, getting to the end of the series is motivation to make that feat a little easier. 

The Witch

In a bid to kickstart my September TBR, I’m starting with the shortest read on my September TBR tonight! 

In that post, I talk about how I have reservations on this book given its rating on Goodreads. However, I’m determined to give it a go as it’s a Booker Prize longlist (I’m reading the lot of them – wish me luck). Given the ratings online, but its inclusion in the prize, I can only assume it’s a little polarising. I’m trying to go in with an open mind. I’m only picking this up after this post goes live tonight, but before I turn in. So, in this Sunday Summary I can’t give you any indication as to which side of the fence I’m on. 

You’ll just have to check out next week’s Sunday Summary instalment to find out what the verdict is 🤗

Books Discovered

Can you believe, today, I went into a bookshop and came out empty-handed. I wasn’t dragged out, or under any duress. I know, unbelievable. Honestly, they just didn’t have what I wanted, and I refused to be tempted. Maybe keeping my unread books in boxes under my nose at home is helping remind me that I don’t need more right now 😅

Nevertheless, I have no complaints… 

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

Here’s my reading plan over the next seven days:- 

  • Read The Witch by Marie Ndiaye 
  • Read The Wax Child by Olga Ravn
  • Start (and hopefully finish) Invisible by Heleyne Hammersley
  • Continue the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash

Blog

This week is a blank slate in terms of content. I have no review obligations this week, nor any other pre-arranged or regular content. So, what on earth do I write about? Well, here’s the plan I’ve come up with. 

I’ve got a backlist of overdue reviews, so it makes sense to tackle the next one on the list. What is that for, you ask? It’s a book called The Flood by Rachel Bennett. My first memories of that book are about the gardening I was doing whilst listening to this particular book. Usually, I take time off later in the year to use up annual leave. At this particular time, I decided it was a great opportunity to catch up with final gardening jobs like cutting the hedges since the restrictions have lifted due to birds nesting and all that. Well, let’s just say the rain had a good go at living up to the title! It was miserable… 

On a more pleasant note, I return later in the week with a First Lines Friday feature. And you know what, I’m going to try and make it fun! How? I have no idea! That’s one to be decided nearer the time. But, my intention is to do something a bit more lighthearted rather than serious. I’ll figure out how I manage that one in a few days. 

Finally, you’ll hear from me again the same time next week with all my promised updates in my next Sunday Summary. Find out what my takes are on Booker Prize longlist books The Witch and The Wax Child. Hopefully, I’ll have more progress on Kingdom of Ash to share. That and more to talk about next week. Hopefully I’ll see you then ☺️

Summary 

That’s everything from me in this Sunday Summary update. What have you started your September TBR with? Are you picking up any autumnal, seasonal reads yet, or are you hanging on to summer vibes as long as possible? 

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Blog Tour Review: The Other Life of Mary English – G.D. Harper

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My blog tour review post today features of a historical fiction novel in a new time period and setting. 

The Other Life of Mary English is also unique in its focus on two female protagonists. In a time where women have very little rights or autonomy, Mary and Manuela stand out for their ability to make the best of the situation and act where a few women ever get to tread. 

What makes this block to review? Even more special is that I get to review The Other Life of Mary English  on publication day! 🎉

Before I share my review on The Other Life of Mary English, thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources and the author GD Harper for the opportunity to read and review the book. I’ve been provided a digital copy for the purpose of reviewing the book, but my thoughts expressed within this review are entirely my own.

As usual, let’s cover the details of the book and purchase links before I share my thoughts. 

The Other Life of Mary English – GD Harper  

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Pages: 386

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Ginger Cat

Original Publication Date: 01 Sept 2026

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – The Other Life of Mary English

The Other Life of Mary English

Two Different Women. One Shared Destiny.

Mary English, a dockworker’s daughter from Faversham, England, travels to South America to escape a scandal from her past. She ends up running a cacao plantation in Colombia, at a time when women were not legally allowed to own businesses there.

Manuela Sáenz, tempestuous lover of Venezuelan revolutionary Simón Bolívar, serves as a colonel in his army. She joins him in battle to fight the Spanish and twice saves his life from assassination attempts.

This is the story of two real-life remarkable women, both fighting oppression, hardship and danger in 1820s Colombia, who come together to change the course of a nation’s history.

Purchase Links

My Thoughts… 

Plot

The events of The Other Life of Mary English are set in a wider background turmoil, and in a society where women are beholden to their fathers, husbands and male guardians. In a world where women are left feeling hopeless, Mary and Manuela carve their own names in history. Against the grain of society and expectations, they take charge of their own destinies, and others besides. 

As a big history fan, I enjoyed exploring the political conflict taking place in the background of this narrative. I confess, prior to reading The Other Life of Mary English, I had little knowledge of the setting and events within. Thankfully, this book has has gone a long way to filling that gap. 

As a result to come on with, we get to explore too deeply first and powerful in a wider history setting. Personal and historical come together in a way that spurs the other on, making each significant and powerful to read and learn about in a fun historical fiction novel. 

Characters

As promised, The Other Life of Mary English does indeed have two strong protagonists. Mary English, widow of a soldier, finds herself in a unique position of employment. Her skills at negotiating and organisation land her in a role of trading agent in a new country. Her life at home has not been plain sailing, through no fault of her own. She’s determined to do best by her family where scandal and gossip could ruin it all. In her new position, she is determined to find a way to provide for her family and secure a more reputable future. 

Manuela’s background is entirely different, though she is no less enterprising in seeking opportunities to advance herself and her power. Taking up with el Libertador whilst her husband is abroad, she makes herself indispensable to one of the most powerful men in South America. She secures herself a position in the army that has never been taken up before. Her ambition knows no bounds, and why should it?! If she were a man, she’d be celebrated for her ingenuity. 

The scope of these characters in the time period they are setting in is one of the main reasons I opted to pick up The Other Life of Mary English. The oppression of women has been a significant part of our human history. It is only in recent years that women have been able to hold assets in their own right, for arguments sake. What Mary and Manuela achieve in this narrative goes beyond the confines that men have placed around women historically. I love watching these two women negotiate power struggles in order to progress themselves for the better.

Setting

19th century Colombia and the turbulence of its political and geographical standing isn’t something I’ve explored in my reading before. It’s for this reason I was drawn to The Other Life of Mary English, as well as the promise of two strong female leads in a narrative where women rarely get to dictate their own storylines. 

This story is based of real life figures and events in history. As a history fan, I especially enjoyed this nod to real life, and I’ve walked away from this book having learned something new. If you know me, this is something I like and actively look for in my reading. If I can expand my knowledge and horizons in a fun read, then all the better.

As I mentioned, events in this book are inspired by history. What I especially enjoyed is that the copy of the book I was given included images, as well as descriptions, to back up the facts behind the fiction.

Narrative Style

One aspect of the writing style I love in The Other Life of Mary English is that the style feels slightly antiquarian and fitting with the time period. However, this isn’t so different from the English we use today. The end result is that the narrative is fitting to the. time it is set in, without being difficult to read. It is a balance worth getting right, and The Other Life of Mary English is spot on!

The Other Life of Mary English is told from the perspective of two strong female protagonists. These narratives happen concurrently, and so we are told the story of these two exceptional women by alternating perspectives. I am a huge lover of multi perspective books, so this was well suited to me and my reading preferences. I especially enjoyed watching these two characters come together… especially as the meeting could have gone very differently! 

Summary 

If you enjoy personal stories of women fighting against separation, or learning about history within the historical genre, The Other Life of Mary English is ideal for your TBR! 

Author Bio

GD Harper became a full-time author in 2016. He has written three psychological thrillers, Love’s Long Road, A Friend in Deed and Silent Money, and two historical novels, The Maids of Biddendenand Arden. 

The Maids of Biddenden was the winner in the historical fiction category of the 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the largest international awards program for indie authors and independent publishers, and was shortlisted for the 2023 Selfies Award at the London Book Fair. Arden was placed third in the 2024 Yeovil International Literary Prize. The Other Life of Mary English was a finalist in the Eyelands Book Awards.He has also been longlisted or shortlisted for fourteen other awards. 

His books have had over one million page reads on Kindle Unlimited, been number one most downloaded e-book on Amazon UK, number three on Amazon worldwide, and garnered over two thousand reviews and ratings on Amazon and Goodreads, with an average rating score of 4.4.

He lives in East Sussex and, when not writing, can be found wild camping in the Scottish mountains or in the mosh pit at live music events.

Social Media Links – 

www.gdharper.com 

Instagram: gdharperauthor

Monthly Wrap-Up – July 2026

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In early July, I took a bit of a step back from reading. I had a bit of a reading slump at the end of June. Honestly, I was too ambitious in my hopes for completing the Goodreads Spring challenge. I pushed too hard and failed. Nevertheless, we love onwards and upwards. 

So, I enjoyed a break, some craft projects and then dived in to fulfil some blog tour obligations and get back in the swing of audiobooks. If you’re interested, you can check out the list of books I intended to read in July by looking at my July TBR post. Now, let’s recap what I read in July. 

Books Read

Behind Closed Doors

Goodreads Link

My audiobook listen right at the end of June was Behind Closed Doors. I listened to this relatively short thriller over the end of June and into the beginning of July. If I recall correctly, I was around a third of the way through the audiobook as at the end of June. 

Given the break I ended up taking, I finished this audio a little later than I expected. However, when it came down to it, I did enjoy going back to and wrapping up this one. 

Did Behind Closed Doors blow me away in the way I hoped? No. Secretly, I was hoping this book would be a little different from other books in the same genre. Maybe the unlikely Millie would turn events on their head. Or, maybe our expectations of a controlling husband are unfounded and it’s Grace that’s the problem. No. sadly not. 

Nevertheless, Behind Closed Doors was a decent read. Just not genre-defining. 

Katabasis

Goodreads Link 

Early in the month, I read just a handful of pages of Katabasis. I made a decision to break from the book slump at end of June. So, I consciously chose to pick up different reads to those I was slogging over at the end of June.

I’ll go back to Katabasis in the near future. More on this to follow on the blog shortly. However, my first priority is to get back into reading more regularly and find some stunning reads to put me back in the right headspace. 

House of Twisted Shadows

Goodreads Link 

It helps that I had some reading deadlines to meet. Else, I may not have read much at all in July. 

My first reading deadline was a review of House of Twisted Shadows on the 25th July. I love the combination of WW2 history and Nazi associations/ties to Tyler House and the mystery underpinning the whole story. House of Twisted Shadows is moody, aesthetic and honestly, it was the refreshing read I needed. 

If you’re curious, check out my review here. 

A Painkiller to Die For

Goodreads Link 

Hot on the heels of my review of House of Twisted Shadows, my obligation to review A Painkiller to Die For fell just a few days later on the 28th July. 

This book was very different in its style and angle. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters, the morality question of what was going on and exploring the underlying motives and goals of the characters in the storyline. 

A Painkiller to Die For is another interesting read I think you’ll enjoy if you like the sound of it based on the description above. Want to find out more? Take a look at that review here. 

The Tw*t Files

Goodreads Link 

Like Katabasis, I picked up The Tw*t Files at the end of June to hopefully break the reading slump. 

At the beginning of July, I read around 100 pages. It’s pretty quick to read, and very funny. However, I did stop reading this one in favour of making a friend a birthday gift. Then, my blog tour obligations took priority. This is another book you’ll see more of in the near future – watch this space!

Empire of Storms

Goodreads Link 

Finally, the read that’s been dominating my attention for most of the month, on and off, it Empire of Storms. 

Whilst this book is definitely easier to listen to than read, I didn’t quite finish it before the end of July. In fact, as of writing, I have just under 3 hours left. I made a valiant effort last Sunday and listened to around 6 hours whilst my partner was at work. One last push to go and I will be able to tick Empire of Storms off the list! ✅

Summary

July was a bit of a slow month, but that’s okay! I’m hoping things will settle down shortly and I’ll be able to reading at my regular pace before I know it! 

How is your summer reading going? 

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Monthly Wrap-Up – June 2026

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Reading progress in June didn’t go the way I wanted. Whilst that is the theme of this monthly wrap-up, it isn’t all bad. The TBR I set myself in June was a tall order. I set out to try and complete the Goodreads Spring Reading Challenge, having only achieved half of the awards by the beginning of June. The TBR required long reads. Different reads. Too many, if Im honest.

I knew it was going to be the most difficult TBR to complete yet. After a gamble on reading Somewhere Beyond the Sea didnt pay off in qualifying for the Pride Month, it set me on the back foot. It only really carried on from there

Less commiserating – lets at least look at the books I did read. There is good news in this monthly wrap-up – Im on track with my Throne of Glass readalong for the first time. And Ive just read book 4… Not only that, but a completed read and the discovery of a new author I want to read more from was probably the highlight of the month!

Books Read

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Goodreads Link

My gamble with listening to Somewhere Beyond the Sea, so I could finish it in early June, didnt quite go to plan. Well, I finished the book on the first of the month. That part was bob-on. My gamble that it qualified for the Pride Month award was scuppered though.

To be honest, there wasnt anything I could have done here. I had a few books on my TBR that I felt could fit. As it happens, none of them were on the list. Regardless of what I picked, I wouldnt have got it.

However, I have ticked a sequel off my TBR, so its not all doom and gloom! I really enjoyed this cozy, wholesome narrative!

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

Goodreads Link

My next carryover from May was a non-fiction about one of my favourite book and TV series of all-time – Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon. I love reading about A Game of Thrones, be it the books themselves, the history, lore, or turns out, the drama of filming that which was not meant to be filmable!

I dont envy Dan Weiss and David Benioff. They put a lot of pressure on themselves to deliver something we have never really seen on screen before. We are now 6+ years post release of the final, fateful series, and its hard to recall that this was a front-runner in terms of scope and size. Now, it feels like GoT set a bar that everyone else has to live up to. We love our epics!

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon is very much all about the behind-the-scenes action – the decision-making, the thoughts of actors and their roles, and the ways in which actors discovered their characters fates.

All in all, loved this read. There is very little new I read about this series now. This hit the mark though!

Project Hail Mary

Goodreads Link

Mid-month, I finished listening to Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I picked this book up as it contributed to two Goodreads Spring Reading Challenge awards – Summer Reading and Escapist reads. Whilst I picked it up more for the awards, it was the best decision I made!

The audiobook version of the book is phenomenal! It was a great listen, and the characterisation of Rocky wouldnt have been the same on paper I dont think. I loved Project Hail Mary so much that I immediately added Artemis and the Martian to my TBR.

What a happy result from a book that wasnt necessarily a reading priority but for the challenge

Queen of Shadows

Goodreads Link

I tried something different with my readalong book of the month in June. Instead of borrowing a digital copy of Queen of Shadows, like I did for every book in the series so far, I picked up an audiobook copy. An aspect. I struggled with in earlier books is the slower pace of setting the scene a the beginning of the book. In the hopes of getting past that, I hoped the audiobook would smooth this issue.

Im pleased to say it did! The other reason I opted for audio was because I was more likely to listen throughout the month and match the pace of my readalong. I generally listen more slowly and consistently. On that front, the audiobook version of Queen of Shadows worked for me as well.

Im looking forward to sharing my thoughts on this one over on my YouTube channel later this week. Then, Ill continue in the same form, diving into Empire of Storms in audio format as well.

The Pillars of the Earth

Goodreads Link

The main downfall at the end of this month was the size of The Pillars of the Earth overwhelming me. I had set myself a target to read 42 pages a day to get through it. Was that achievable? Sure. However, once you get a little behind, its easy to fall off the wagon. That happened for me in June, and really that stalled my reading progress.

Am I still enjoying The Pillars of the Earth? Yes! Its a slower read, sure. I can lean into that. I think my expectations to finish this book, as well as pick up three others before the end of the month was just a bit much. In the later half of June, that reality crept up on me.

Im still plodding along with The Pillars of the Earth. My plans are to read this slowly alongside other faster-paced reads. Otherwise, I may just get stuck on it. Its an interesting book so far, and I dont want to waste the progress Ive made so far by putting it down (even temporarily).

Katabasis

Goodreads Link

In the last couple of days of the month, I needed a change of pace. So, I picked up Katabasis. As expected, this book leans into the dark academia and fantasy magical realism that I wanted. Ive enjoyed this before in Babel, by the same author. I loved that book, and felt it was the best pick-me-up to round off the month.

And that is true. However, I didnt read a whole lot of the book before the end of June so there isnt a huge update in this monthly wrap-up on where Im up to. Nevertheless, Ive got plenty of time in July to continue this read and really get into the gritty storyline Im hoping for.

Behind Closed Doors

Goodreads Link

My last audiobook of the month that I started was Behind Closed Doors. Its a pretty short book, but I only started it a few days before month-end.

Behind Closed Doors qualified for the Community Picks award. These books were in the mystery/thriller genre. Based on the rest of my TBR, it made for a refreshing change. Thats still the case! Looking ahead at books I need to read in the next few weeks, Im going to enjoy listening to something a little different. Its apparent from the off that something is off in this family dynamic. But, is it what we think it is?

Only time will tell!

Summary

My June TBR was a little unattainable, if Im honest. However, if I dont push myself, I tend to fall slack on reading as well. I suppose my take away from this monthly wrap-up is that I need to find the middle ground. Give myself a little challenge, but not so much that I dont have time for bad days, or wanting to pick up other hobbies.

Thanks for reading todays monthly wrap-up! How was your reading month in June? Did you complete any challenges, or discover any new favourite authors?

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Monthly TBR – June 2026

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My June monthly TBR is all about trying to complete the Goodreads Spring 2026 reading challenge. Yes, Im having another stab at this quarterly challenge. Last time, I got to 9 after 12 achievements towards the winter challenge. Being so close, I knew I wanted to take a second stab at this.

If Im being honest, do I think Im going to achieve this? Perhaps not. In order to get the remaining eight achievements, I have a hefty monthly TBR to get through. I also hedged my bets on a Pride Month read, which is one of the prompts, which unfortunately did not qualify. Given I already have a hefty list, Im unlikely to be able to pick up another Pride Month read before the end of June.

Nevertheless, Im looking forward to the books on this monthly TBR. I already own a considerable number of these, and its going to be a productive month for hitting books on my reading list as opposed to working towards other reading commitments. I have 230 books on my reading list, so it will be refreshing to tick off a good chunk of these.

 

Carryovers from May/Reading Obligations

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

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Amazon Purchase Link

The first of two books Ive carried over from May is Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon by James Hibberd. If you watched my monthly TBR video over on YouTube, youll see that this was one of four books I pulled out of my TBR jar to read last month. Incidentally, it was also the only book I managed to get to out of those picks. Mays TBR was equally ambitious for very different reasons. However, Im glad I was able to start Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon.

I have been looking forward to this read because its based on the behind-the-scenes action of filming the Game of Thrones TV series. Not only has it given me serious nostalgia for the main series, but its given me the opportunity to learn more about the filming of the series that Ive appreciated ever before. Its an engaging read, a fun read as well as being insightful. Im loving the commentary from both cast and crew on the overall production of the series, as well as insights from the author George R. R. Martin himself.

Am I fighting the urge to pick up A Game of Thrones again? Yes. Absolutely

 

Project Hail Mary

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Amazon Purchase Link

My second carryover for May, albeit I made very little progress right at the end of the month, is Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.

I started this book initially when sampling the audio to see if this was the format I wanted to read Project Hail Mary in. After purchasing the audiobook based on the few minutes sample I listened to, I then decided to stick with the first few chapters. It was enough to give me an idea of what the book was about and introduce the character and setting to get me excited to pick up the remainder of the book.

Now that I have finished the other audiobook I was listening to properly at the time, Project Hail Mary is my full-time listen as of this monthly TBR for June. And, with a bank holiday weekend here, Ive got lots of time to enjoy getting stuck in properly.

 

Queen of Shadows

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Amazon Purchase Link

My Throne of Glass read-along continues! If you read my Sunday Summary post dated the 31st of May, youll know I set myself the target of finishing Heir of Fire on that final day of May. With around 250 pages left, I pushed through so that I could get up-to-date with my own read-along. Sounds silly, I know. However, for the past few books I have been running behind. With the books now getting longer, I cant afford to be behind and I need to dedicate more time to making sure I stay up-to-date with these.

Naturally, thats going to be my priority for Queen of Shadows. This latest book, which is the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series, is around 700 pages long. Thats nearly twice the length of the first couple of books. So, I definitely need to prioritise keeping on top of this one!

 

Goodreads Spring 2026 Reading Challenge Books

 

The Pillars of the Earth

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Amazon Purchase Link

Queen of Shadows isnt the only lengthy book on this June monthly TBR. On the contrary, one of the Goodreads Spring 2026 reading challenge prompts is called Marathon Reader. Yes, as the name probably suggests to you, this is a long book. Ive chosen The Pillars of the Earth for this prompt because its also a book I featured in my 2026 resolutions post. Its a book Ive been recommended at least twice, so I wanted to get to this in 2026 anyway.

The Pillars of the Earth weighs in at about 1,070 pages. No small feat, right? My hunch is that I will progress with The Pillars of the Earth over the course of the month rather than reading the whole thing at once. That gives me the chance to enjoy the book in smaller chunks, as well as get to the other books on this June TBR. If Im going to complete the Goodreads Spring 2026 reading challenge, I cant afford any dips in reading momentum!

 

Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe

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Amazon Purchase Link

For the books on books challenge prompt, Im reading Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe. I had two books that fit the bill on my TBR. On a practical level, however, it made sense for me to pick up Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe as part of this monthly TBR given I already own a hardback copy.

Its become very apparent to me in recent days that I have a number of physical books on my bookshelves that I have not yet got to. Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe is one of those. So, perfect timing to deal with that – no?

 

Katabasis

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Amazon Purchase Link

I only had one book that fit the AAPI Heritage reading prompt. And you know what, Im not mad, as it means I get to pick up another book by R.F. Kuang!

I have really come to love Rebeccas writing. Most recently, I picked up Yellowface at the beginning of this year. However, I have loved all the books more reminiscent of Katabasis, including the likes of Babel.

I was so excited to pick up a physical copy of this book that I picked it up going abroad last year, only to bring it all the way home. Could I have waited? Sure. Did I want to? Absolutely not!

 

Challenger

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Amazon Purchase Link

When reading Orbital by Samantha Harvey at the very top of the year, I got to touch upon the topic of the space shuttle Challenger and its tragic fate in that narrative. It was only touched on very briefly, but it sparked a reminder that I wanted to pick up Challenger by Adam Higginbotham to really learn what happened on that fateful day.

Thankfully, this book qualifies for the editors picks prompt for the spring challenge. Honestly, I had a few books that fit in this category, and it was hard to choose which one. However, partly down to the combination of already owning the book, as well as being passionate about the subject from a recent read, gave this book the edge to make it onto this monthly TBR.

 

Behind Closed Doors

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Amazon Purchase Link

Finally, given I already have some lengthy reading to get through, I picked the shortest book on my TBR for the community picks prompt.

Behind Closed Doors is a reasonably short mystery/thriller novel that I will hopefully devour! Given Ive enjoyed books like this in audio format before, and the heavy weighting of physical books on this June TBR so far, I imagine I will pick this up in audio just to help get to it as well.

At just under 300 pages, this feels achievable!

 

Summary

So, ignoring the fact I currently have a gap to fill in another Pride Month pick, these are the books I plan to read towards the rest of the challenge prompts for the Goodreads Spring 2026 Reading Challenge. However, I do also have a couple of books on this list that dont fit that prompt at all. Fire cannot kill a dragon and Queen of Shadows do not qualify for this challenge at all, but they are personal reads Im invested in picking up in June.

Are you taking part in any reading challenges this month? Do you have any planned summer reading you are taking part in? Let me know in the comments what youre planning to read this June.

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Monthly Wrap-Up – May 2026

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***Todays monthly wrap-up contains affiliate links to Amazon if you wish to purchase any of the books featured. If you follow any of these links, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you.

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

 

Im never not ambitious when it comes to setting a TBR. May proved to be no exception! Unfortunately, I didnt get to all the books I planned in that TBR. Of the four TBR jar picks I pulled out, I only got to one. Even then, its being carried over to June and its a current read as of drafting this monthly wrap-up post.

Nevertheless, Ive had a productive month of reading! There were a couple of moments where I pushed hard to complete some of the reads for deadlines. Its kept me on track so I have no regrets.

Lets take a look at the books I picked up in May!

 

Books Read

Crown of Midnight

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Amazon Purchase Link

When I published last months monthly wrap-up, I had to hold my hands up to some pretty poor reading progress with Crown of Midnight. Given I was meant to finish the book in April, I went into May having only started the first 14%.

Pathetic, right? Well, needless to say, my first focus of the month was to catch up with Crown of Midnight. I confess, even after all that, it still took me until mid-month to finish this second book of the Throne of Glass series. Slack, I know. However, I made good, not only on Crown of Midnight, but the sequel too. More on that one later

I enjoyed Crown of Midnight. A theme across the latest books Ive read is that I start off quite slow. However, once the action is really established and starting to go down in the second half of the book, Ill fly with it. Id say part of that is due to the events of Crown of Midnight building significantly on Throne of Glass. The magnitude of the series gets bigger with every instalment. I love it, even if it means taking time over the detail of the book to start with.

Why We Get Sick

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Amazon Purchase Link

Why We Get Sick was an impulse audiobook listen towards the end of April. After a tricky month, I pretty much wrote off my TBR in the end. Instead, to get myself out of a slump, I picked up Why We Get Sick as a change-up and to enjoy a topic I have an interest in.

In the last couple of years, Ive been more serious about my health. Ive read a few books around the subject. Ultra-Processed People. The Weights Over. A couple of other examples. Hoping to gain information about insulin resistance and the longer-term health consequences that causes, I picked up Why We Get Sick. And you know what, it was an interesting read. The book has a focus more on the biological aspect of insulin resistance, which to be fair, is what I asked ChatGPT for when looking for a book rec on the subject. It lived entirely up to my expectations.

Readers looking for more in the way of practical tips or lifestyle changes to make might benefit from a different read. This has a couple, but the emphasis is more on how it occurs rather than giving detailed advice on how to reverse it.

An insightful read nonetheless!

 

The Eagle Will Rise

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Amazon Purchase Link

I took part in the blog tour for The Eagle Will Rise. This book is the first of a new series featuring a character I love from M.J. Porters The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles.

I had hoped to start this book a little earlier and not be so last-minute with reading this book. However, I found myself in a position where I only had a couple of days to pick up the book ahead of my review deadline. For the post part, that was due to taking longer to read Crown of Midnight than initially planned.

Nevertheless, reading The Eagle Will Rise was a breeze. Ive now read around ten books by M.J. Porter. I know her writing style, the format. What to expect, and the book 100% lived up to expectations. Thank goodness I work well under pressure, because the pace I needed to maintain for this one involved reading around 150 pages a day. This is one of two hard pushes I made with a particular title this month.

If you want to find out more about this book, you can find my review here.

 

Witch Hunt

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Amazon Purchase Link

Another blog tour commitment I read towards in May is Witch Hunt. I picked this up in audiobook format well in advance of the tour. So much so, my post is due in the coming days and thankfully, I finished this book a couple of weeks ago.

My motivation to read Witch Hunt comes from the books overall setting. In the shadow of Lancashires Pendle Hill, infamous for its associations with witchcraft and trials. Amidst modern-time accusations, the murder of one such accused woman appears all but an open and shut case. However, of course, its not that simple

My review for Witch Hunt goes live on Thursday. So, Im going to keep my thoughts pretty short and sweet here. If you want to find out more, I hope you can come back for that review post.

Makes a change for me not to be confessing to chasing my tail in a monthly wrap-up. Well, not for every book anyway

 

Heir of Fire

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Amazon Purchase Link

For the second half of the month, I made a concerted push with Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. Heir of Fire is the sequel to Crown of Midnight and the planned reading book for May. Now obviously, I started this readalong late. In fact, I started the book mid-month. So, in fairness to fellow readers, I have this readalong open on Fable and StoryGraph until the 7th June.

However, I got it in my head this weekend that I wanted to get back on track. So I can start Queen of Shadows nice and early, I was determined to binge-read the final 250 pages I had left in Heir of Fire yesterday. And you know what, by the skin of my teeth, I did it! I finished Heir of Fire at 00:15 last night. Technically 1st June, but before I went to bed for the evening. So, it counts in my book ?

Heir of Fire was a repeat of Crown of Midnight in that the early events of the book invest time in expanding the places, world building, and characters we get to know in the book.

 

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Goodreads Link

Amazon Purchase Link

Over the course of May, Ive been slowly progressing with Somewhere Beyond the Sea. Unlike other books on this monthly wrap-up feature, Ive been deliberately making slow progress with it. When I planned my Completing the Goodreads Spring 2026 Reading Challenge post, I had to take a stab at an LGBTQ book I thought could qualify.

Given the final prompt was labelled Pride Month until today, I had no way of knowing what would qualify, or if it specifically needed to be a completion in June to count. So, I took a punt, and listened to this audiobook with the aim to complete it in early June. In fact, I finished it earlier today!

The good news is that this sequel lived up to its predecessor, The House in the Cerulean Sea. Its cute, wholesome, and charming. The characters are funny, if a little ridiculous. But thats the fun of it. The bad news is that it doesnt count towards the Goodreads challenge after all. Then again, nothing I have on my TBR with LGBTQ themes does, so I dont feel too hard done by! At least I got up-to-date with the series.

 

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

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Amazon Purchase Link

The penultimate book to feature in todays monthly wrap-up is my physical current read, Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon by James Hibberd.

This read came out of my TBR Jar in my May TBR video on YouTube. Its also the only TBR jar pick that made it anywhere near my ears or eyeballs this month. Dont Fix Women, Sleeping Beauties, and The Great Hunt will just have to wait for another day

I picked up Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon as a breather from Heir of Fire. I needed a different subject. Something lighter. A topic I was confident Id love. Well, we all know A Game of Thrones ticks all those boxes for me!

Rather than a return to the main series that inspired it all, Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon is about the filming of the TV series and how HBO and the directors Dan Weiss and David Benioff achieved what had never been done before – took a series deliberately written to be larger than the screen and put it there. At times, heavily constrained by budget. The book features interviews and commentary from cast and crew on all things from casting to creative decision-making progress. Its insightful, new to me and so entertaining yet informative, and has only tempted me to pick up the first book again a few times.

Okay, thats a lie more than a few!

As of this monthly wrap-up, featuring progress up until yesterday, I got to 116 pages in during May. Ive already picked it up today and blitzed 30 pages over lunch. Now Heir of Fire is done, 100% of my focus is on Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon. It wont last long!

 

Project Hail Mary

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Amazon Purchase Link

My final read of the month is my current audiobook listen, which admittedly I only just touched on in May.

It hardly feels worthy of mention in this monthly wrap-up given I only sampled the first few minutes, then a couple of chapters, this weekend just gone. Planning ahead on how to tackle my June TBR (coming out in the next few days stay tuned!), I decided to try Project Hail Mary in audio format. This book will do me some wonders in my efforts to complete the Goodreads Spring reading challenge. Perhaps now in jeopardy thanks to Pride Month not working out, but I may claw it back yet. Well see!

With this in mind, I need to fit this in to make my book choices work harder for me. I like the narration, and Im intrigued by the introduction. Its the best thing I can ask for, really. More to follow on this book over the course of the month as I progress with it.

Again, now Ive finished Somewhere Beyond the Sea, Project Hail Mary has my full, undivided attention!

 

Summary

At times, May didnt feel like a super busy or productive month. However, as this monthly wrap-up post has reminded me, thats really not the case at all. I picked up a number of reads, some of them not small either. A few had deadlines, self-imposed or otherwise. And I hit all those targets.

So, this monthly wrap-up is a bit of a success story, even if I didnt get to the whole TBR. It was a long shot anyway, and regardless, I had a great time with these reads!

What did you read over the course of May – any recommendations for me?

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Book Review: Wizard and Glass – Stephen King

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***Todays review of Wizard and Glass 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.***

 

Wizard and Glass wasnt quite the book I expected it to be. So far in Stephen Kings The Dark Tower series, the narrative has been light on the context of the wider series. Hoping this would unravel later in all due time, I was okay with this. Well, unravel it did. If youre interested in my thoughts on the earlier books of the series, you can find these here: –

The Gunslinger

The Drawing of the Three

The Waste Lands

I confess, Wizard and Glass wasnt quite the books I anticipated, and I almost marked it down for it. Ultimately, it was an interesting book. However, if Im honest I was a little disappointed Wizard and Glass came across as a bit of an info-dump book.

However, the book and narrative isnt without its merits, and overall I rated the book four stars. Before we get into my thoughts in full detail, lets cover the stats and synopsis

 

Wizard and Glass – Stephen King

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 845

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 04 Nov 1997

Rating: ????

 

Purchase Link – Amazon UK

Goodreads – Wizard and Glass

Roland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake, and Jakes pet bumbler survive Blaine the Monos final crash, only to find themselves stranded in an alternate version of Topeka, Kansas, one that has been ravaged by the superflu virus. While following the deserted I-70 toward a distant glass palace, they hear the atonal squalling of a thinny, a place where the fabric of existence has almost entirely worn away. While camping near the edge of the thinny, Roland tells his ka-tet a story about another thinny, one that he encountered when he was little more than a boy. Over the course of one long magical night, Roland transports us to the Mid-World of long-ago and a seaside town called Hambry, where Roland fell in love with a girl named Susan Delgado, and where he and his old tet-mates Alain and Cuthbert battled the forces of John Farson, the harrier whowith a little help from a seeing sphere called Maerlyns Grapefruitignited Mid-Worlds final war.

 

My Thoughts

Plot

Whilst the overall setting and backstory of this book came across as a bit of an info-dump, I cant actually fault the narrative in itself. This book wasnt what I expected or hoped for. Instead of a continuation of the present day narrative weve enjoyed in books 1-3, very little actually happens in the present timeline in Wizard and Glass.

Instead, we are taken back to Rolands youth for the entirety of this book. If not for the level of cohesive detail, and my inability to come up with a way this story could have been told in the detail it is any other way, I would have marked it down. There is so much to this book that I think it was necessary to do in this format. In the grand scheme of the series, the context this backstory provides is relevant to the wider plot and needed to be told. My dislike of the change of pace and plot-line is ultimately preferential and so I couldnt in good faith by unfair on this point my marking down my review.

Wizard and Glass is an epic storyline. Hardly surprising for a Stephen King book, but especially in this wider world. Rather than following the established journey towards the Tower, we instead explore the backstory that set Roland on its path. That said, the plot is no less full of action and conflict that weve seen in earlier books. Rather, the setting of the book takes us back to what I would describe as a more authentic Western setting. Conflicts, when not handled with words, start with fists and end with bullets or flame. Its dramatic, tense, and everything Ive enjoyed in the series so far.

 

Characters

As well as the usual cast and crew weve come to know and love throughout The Dark Tower so far, we come to know many more in Wizard and Glass.

Despite almost starting again, and having a whole new cast to introduce and explore, this wasnt overwhelming to read. Key character are brought into the narrative in good time, not all at once. Even though I went into this book with investment into a set of characters that barely feature in the story (Roland aside, of course), I was still able to relate and motivate myself to explore the new characters and their conclusions.

The small town community setting of this book is one I know all too well. I live on an island myself, and news, and people, get around. In this even smaller, somewhat isolated group, its not difficult to appreciate how difficult it is to keep secrets in a place like this. The conflict and tension of such a setting is engaging. Groups like this often develop their own senses of right and wrong, morality, things like that. For outsiders, its entirely skewed. Thats very much the case here, and I liked that. To what extermes will these people go to? Where are the boundaries, if they exist?

 

Setting

The benefit of a book which essentially addresses flashbacks is that we get to see a whole new setting within the wider world already established. Its an opportunity to address history and take a look at the places, events and ultimately the backstory that shaped the more modern timeline.

In Wizard and Glass, we get to experience what I would describe as a book with closer fidelity to a Western style narrative. In earlier books, weve had elements of modern societies bleed into the narrative. Blane the mono, abandoned cities and the like morph the setting slightly to something more hybrid. However, in Wizard and Glass, the small town setting and close community brings us back to the books Western roots. The self-sustaining community, suspicious of outsiders, set in their ways and opinions and witchcraft especially feels authentic.

Whilst Ive enjoyed the other books and their crossovers in setting (its a fantasy after all, not a pure Western), I got on well with Wizard and Glass leaning into this more authentic setting.

 

Narrative Style

For the most part, we spend the majority of our time in Wizard and Glass flashing back to the past. Whilst we get brief glimpses of present day and the group listening to Rolands recount of his youth, not much happens here. Even still, these brief interludes help break up that dense, contextually relevant narrative and give Susannah and Eddie the opportunity to ask questions to help reaffirm relevance to readers.

Despite being a chunky read, I read Wizard and Glass pretty quickly. In all, I think I was actively progressing with this book over a span of a couple of weeks. I did have to put it down temporarily to pick up some reading obligations. However, once those were out of the way I dived into the final 30% of the book with gusto.

For an epic fantasy, Id say Kings books, Wizard and Glass included, arent difficult to read. Theres complexity in the depth of what is going on, sure, but not really in the language, tone or writing style of the book. Even references to phases and elements of own language in the book are pretty self-explanatory.

 

Summary

Thanks for reading todays Wizard and Glass review!

Have you read Wizard of Glass, or any other books in Stephen Kings The Dark Tower series? If not yet, pick up a copy of Wizard and Glass here, or start the adventure with The Dark Tower and let me know what you think of this Western-style fantasy.

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My May 2026 TBR… It’s LONG!

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When planning my May 2026 TBR, I knew I wanted a fresh start. After a lacklustre reading month in April (see my April wrap-up if you want the low-down on that), Im hoping a clean slate is the key to getting my reading groove back.

I have some reading obligations as well, so the deadlines will also go a long way to spurring me on. I have two blog tours, as well as kicking myself up the bum to get my Throne of Glass read-alongs back on track.

Beyond that, Ive let my brand new, refreshed TBR Jar decide the rest! It pulled out some chunky books, and I confess I tossed one back as it tried to give me a 1,100 pager after already tossing me a couple of 700 pagers. The genres Im reading this month span horror, thriller, historical fiction, non-fiction, as well as my favourite, fantasy. One epic fantasy sequel as well Im excited to get to ?

Enough teasing, Ill get stuck in with my obligations first, then Ill highlight my TBR Jar picks.

 

Carryovers from April/Reading Obligations

Why We Get Sick

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

At the end of April, I started listening to the audiobook Why We Get Sick by Benjamin Bikman. I started this book as I have an interest in the subject, in particular the biological level of detail insulin resistance has on cells.

I didnt have a book like this on my TBR. Rather, its a topic I have wanted to learn about personally. Leaning into a complete change and effectively scrapping my TBR, I hoped picking up a book totally unrelated to my April TBR would give me the fresh start I needed.

As of the end of April, it was working! In fact, this book features on my May 2026 TBR as I finished the book in May – yes – its already done ? Its the best of starts I could hope for when it comes t my May TBR – long may it continue

 

Crown of Midnight

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Amazon Purchase Link

Crown of Midnight is a carryover from my April TBR and my current read as of this May 2026 TBR.

My read-along for Sarah J Maas hasnt gotten off to the best of starts. The fault is entirely mine – Im not prioritising it enough. That changes this month. Not only am I immediately prioritising down of Midnight to catch up on my being behind, but I will be following up with the sequel immediately.

Ill also plan ahead to set myself goals so that I DO actually read-along over the course of the month, as opposed to just playing catch up at the end which is whats happened three times now. Im going to go and do that on Storygraph and Fable after this post goes live. Ill havens excuse then, right?!

 

Heir of Fire

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Amazon Purchase Link

As above, once Crown of Midnight is finished Im jumping into the first part of Heir of Fire right away. Compared to the earlier books in the series, Heir of Fire is longer. Compare 400-and-something pages for those first two books to nearly 600 in Heir of Fire.

I cant catch up with that too late. I need to keep on top of this one

Watch this space and hold me accountable friends!

 

The Eagle Will Rise

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Amazon Purchase Link

The first of my blog tour obligations this month is The Eagle will Rise by M.J. Porter. I signed up to this tour as Im a big fan of the authors Eagle of Mercia Chronicles. We also have some character overlap in this book, although the circumstances are very different in this new series.

Im excited to see where this takes us. I know what to expect in terms of writing style from M.J. Porter, and Im keen to explore a new plot in a similar setting to that already established in Eagle of Mercia.

Will I enjoy this one as much as I hope? Only time will tell, but I am optimistic!

 

Witch Hunt

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

My second commitment is an audiobook tour. I dont do these often, but Im excited to get stuck in!

When it comes to listening to audiobooks, Im typically slower than reading conventionally. So, with that in mind, Im going to jump in the gap finishing When We Get Sick has created and start Witch Hunt now. My review obligation isnt until early June. However, in order to listen to this book in sufficient time, Ive popped it onto this May 2026 TBR.

What piqued my interest for this book? Its association with witchcraft and being set around Pendle Hull of course. Its a take on the narrative I havent explored for a while. Its also modern mystery/police procedural type book which is a change on what Ive read and listened to lately. Im keen to give this a try and let you know what I thought soon.

 

May 2026 TBR picks

Moving on, I then pulled four books out of my refreshed TBR Jar. I had filtered out around 30-40 books I had read or removed from my TBR, but then added the latest books that were not in the jar. The net effect was more to pull from the jar, but all up-to-date at least. The paper I used was different this time, so I can visually see old vs new entries. I aimed for two of each; that way I can target some older books, but also deliberately mix in some newer ones to keep things fresh.

Heres what I pulled!

 

Dont Fix Women: The Practical Path to Gender Equality at Work

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Amazon Purchase Link

The first book that came out of the jar was kind. It was one of the newer additions to the jar. At 266 pages, it fits well with the overall size of my TBR. Pity the next three books I pulled didnt agree with the sentiment

Dont Fix Women is about fixing imbalances in the current workforce. Will this book have the most practical applications for me? Well, aside from being a women, I dont have much in the way of power at my company. Im not HR. However, Ill advocate as much as I can and if I find practical advice here I think we could adopt, Ill absolutely speak up.

It should make for an interesting read nonetheless. I do enjoy some feminist reading now and then!

 

The Great Hunt

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The next book I pulled from the jar was also a new book to the jar. I started a read of Robert Jordans The Wheel of Time series with The Eye of the World in late 2024. Its about time I got the sequel anyway, and the jar made that call for me.

The Great Hunt comes in at just over 700 pages. Its not a short read, but it does lean into one of my favourite genres of all time – epic fantasy. Im looking forward to jumping back to the life and fate of Rand alThor. If I had left it too mcc longer, Id be trying to recall what happened in the first book and I would struggle to pick this up again. As much as this is a long read, I think its a bit of a blessing in disguise that it came out now.

 

Sleeping Beauties

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After pulling two new reads, I then targeted slips that have been in my jar since I first put it together. Sleeping Beauties has been on my TBR since January 2018. I also have a copy on my bookshelves, but Im not sure if I have owned it as long as that or not. The spine is pretty faded from exposure to the sun, so its quite possible!

Sleeping Beauties also comes in a fraction over 700 pages. Not a short read either, but one Im excited to try. Its also a bit feminist in nature, as well as overlapping with horror/thriller and fantasy for the plot line. A unique mix Im keen to try!

 

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

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This last book is actually the second draw from the jar. My first pick that came out was The Weird. Not problem, I thought initially, as I had a hunch it was a collection of short stories. That it is, but the whole volume comes in at 1,100 pages. No way was that going to be feasible. So, Im being honest here and declaring thats what the jar give me, but I tossed it back in so I could make a second draw.

That second draw was a far more approachable Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon. At 450 pages, this is still somewhat achievable. This May 2026 TBR already has a sizeable page count, so its debatable if Ill get to this one. However, Ill use access to audio copies of book where I can, maybe even library loans for books I dont have.

Im really motivated to pick this up as its about one of my favourite TV series (based on books) of all-time – A Game of Thrones! If thats not incentive to get through the rest of my May 2026 TBR to finish here, then I dont know what is.

 

Thats plenty enough to get on with for my May 2026 TBR. What are you reading?

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