Tag: Fiction

Monthly TBR – February 2026

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***My February 2026 monthly TBR 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***

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February’s monthly TBR features seven books, and somehow still manages to leave headroom for a reading challenge I’ll start later this month. I’m ambitious as always! This monthly TBR features two carryovers, two blog tour obligations, two book club reads and one new release I’m hoping to finish this list with. 

Even then, I’m hoping to get to another book or two before the end of the month. The successful start I enjoyed in January has lit a fire under my … well, you know. I’m keen to keep up the momentum! February may be the shorter month of the year, but I don’t want it to be my least successful. 

Let’s dive into my planned reads on this monthly TBR. 

 

Fixed Reads 

After the Forest

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Last month I planned to read After the Forest by Kell Woods as part of the Cottagecore Fantasy book club run by cozysabie. Whilst that did happen to an extent, I didn’t get to finish the book before the end of the month. 

With that in mind, After the Forest is my priority finish given its my current read as of the beginning of February. In my January wrap-up post, I shared progress to the tune of 40% of the book. As of writing this monthly TBR I’m already further along (60%) and looking to mark this as a finish within a few days tops. 

 

Grace

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Next, I’ve got a blog tour commitment for the 12th February, so that needs to be my next read. Compared to the fairytale retelling (with some darker themes) that is After the Forest, this gothic horror with Irish mythology is likely to feel very different… 

I’m excited though! I’ve not read horror for a while. Also, I don’t think I’ve ever read around the topic of Irish mythology. I like the idea – in fact, its the reason I wanted to try the book. Here’s hoping I enjoy it and I can persuade you to read it in my upcoming review next Thursday! 

 

The Three Witches

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Another blog tour commitment, although thankfully not until 1st March, is to review The Three Witches. This book is a historical fiction novel based around the three witch characters from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. I don’t know a lot about this book other than the spirits of these characters pop up repeatedly over the course of history – its a timeslip narrative. 

This multi-perspective, multi-storyline book caught my attention and I can’t wait to read it and share my thoughts in the coming weeks!

 

Dreams from my Father

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Last month, after DNF’ing The Doors of Midnight and finishing The Great Passage, I picked up Dreams from my Father. I wanted to pick up this audiobook after enjoying A Promised Land last year. I was pleasantly surprised by that audiobook – it turned out to be one of my favourite reads of 2025.

The focus of Dreams from my Father is a little different. Instead of being about Barack’s presidency and his political aims, Dreams from my Father is instead about exploring his heritage and discovering his identity. 

So far, I’ve listened to a couple of hours of this audiobook and I’m keen to continue with it and see where it goes.

 

Throne of Glass

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

I announced yesterday that I’m hosting a readalong for Sarah J Maas’ Throne of Glass series. I’ve never tried any of her books before. However, in an effort to try some more mainstream books and make content about them, I’ve chosen to read this series over the next seven months. 

Throne of Glass may well push me out of my comfort zone. That’s not a bad thing though. Even if the book and series doesn’t end up being a favourite, I’m sure I have a lot to gain from giving it a go. I’m looking forward to chatting with you about these books as well. If you wish, join my readalongs on Fable and/or StoryGraph and I’ll post updates on my progress on YouTube. Stay tuned! 

 

Blues for an Alabama Sky

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

I run a book club at work, and I’ve set a theme of Love in All Its Forms for our February meet. 

Towards this theme, I’m hoping to read two books this month. The first coincides with my Throne of Glass readalong – it has significant romantic sub-plots after all, so it works. I’m also hoping my reading this one will relate to some different readers amongst my colleagues. Generally, I don’t read a lot of romance. 

However, the second book I’m planning to read also has a romantic relationship at the heart of its story. It’s also a little more ‘academic’ in nature in that this book is on modern school syllabuses. Whereas I are up reading Of Mice and Men, this is a new take on Depression era America. It’s also a good pick for reading around Black History Month. Win-win!

 

Mood Reads

Dear Debbie

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

If I get to the end Dreams from my Father, and there is no reason I shouldn’t, then I’m picking up a 2026 Highly Anticipated Release I shared in a recent YouTue video. Freida McFadden recently released Dear Debbie. With my intentions to feature more topical, current new releases on my mind, I want to read Dear Debbie now. That way, I can share my review on this book whilst its still a hot topic on people’s minds, and maybe encourage you to read this one too. 

All being well and if I enjoy this one as much as I expect, I’ll then be turning to Freida McFadden’s backlist. 

 

Summary 

My official February TBR has a healthy number of books on the list. Stats fans – I’ve got 1,400 pages and 17hrs 40mins on today’s list.

The size of the books on this monthly TBR should give me time towards the end of the month to pick ups some different reads. I have a bit of a reading challenge in mind to take into March. In my 2025 wrap-up post I shared an update on a resolution that didn’t get much focus in 2025. Whilst I’m not planning to revive this goal (I didn’t set it in my 2026 resolutions post), I’m thinking as a one-off I’d like to have a stab at completing the Goodreads Winter Challenge. 

That needs me to read a selection of books not on this list, but I’m no less looking forward to. Not all of the challenges have been revealed. One remains a mystery, but I’ve chosen a reading list that ticks the boxes of all challenge but the last unrevealed challenge. For that one, I’ve planned a read I think will fit the prompt but if nothing else, features on my fixed TBR for 2026. It won’t be a wasted effort in any case! 

So, that’s my February TBR. Have you read any books I feature on this list? Does anything catch your eye? 

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Throne of Glass Readalong!

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***Today’s Throne of Glass readalong announcement 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***

 

I’m excited but also a bit nervous to announce that starting this February, I’m hosting a readalong and reviewing Sarah J Maas Throne of Glass series! I teased this post yesterday in my Sunday Summary – did you have any guesses as to the author/series? 

I have not read a single book by Sarah J Maas yet. As someone who doesn’t typically read books with heavy romance sub-plots, Throne of Glass is likely to push me well out of my comfort zone. I’m looking forward to it! I am the reader I am today because I make the effort to read books that push my boundaries. Who knows, I may discover a new favourite and agree with the widely popular opinion that these books are amazing! 

If you like to join readalongs in forum format, I’m hosting on both Fable and StoryGraph. Well be reading one book a month. It starts off pretty light, but towards the end of the series the books get chunkier. We’ll see how progress goes! If you want to follow along with my progress on YouTube, I’ll post updates on where I’m up to with the books throughout the month! 

 

Reading Schedule

 

Throne of Glass – Book 1

Pages: 406

Reading Dates: February 2026

Review: March 2026

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

 

Crown of Midnight – Book 2

Pages: 420

Reading Dates: March 2026

Review: April 2026

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

 

Heir of Fire – Book 3

Pages: 576

Reading Dates: April 2026

Review: May 2026

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

 

Queen of Shadows – Book 4

Pages: 689

Reading Dates: May 2026

Review: June 2026

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

 

Empire of Storms – Book 5

Pages: 733

Reading Dates: June 2026

Review: July 2026

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

 

Tower of Dawn – Book 6

Pages: 688

Reading Dates: July 2026

Review: August 2026

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

 

Kingdom of Ash – Book 7

Pages: 984

Reading Dates: August 2026

Review: September 2026

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

 

Are you joining? 

If you haven’t read Throne of Glass yet, are you going to join my Throne of Glass readalong? 

If you have read it, are you re-reading the series or following along with progress on YouTube? 

Get your copy of Throne of Glass and join along with me! 

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Monthly Wrap-Up – January 2026

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***Today’s monthly-wrap-up 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***

 

The beginning of the year and setting my January TBR feels like both yesterday and a distant memory. This month has been a tale of two halves. In terms of reading progress and motivation, January has flown. Financially though, January is the looooongest month of the year. 

I’m pleased with this month’s reading progress. I got to all but one book on my January TBR, and started one extra audiobook after finishing with both the audiobooks I had on the list. 

 

Books Read 

Orbital 

Amazon Purchase Link 

I wanted to start the year with a relatively quick read. Perhaps my choice of Orbital was a little misguided on account of the page count, however it was a fantastic read. 

What Orbital lacks in page count, it makes up for in thought-provoking content. From intimate detail on life in space with five other people to the fragility of life and the pull of the Earth, this book appealed to me for its content and didn’t fail to deliver. I’ve already shared my full thoughts on the book on my new YouTube channel. If you’re interested in finding out more about this Booker prizewinner, please take a look at my video 🥺

 

Beyond Redemption 

Amazon Purchase Link 

I started Beyond Redemption in December but didn’t get too far before the end of the month. After finishing Orbital, I revisited this book. The pacing of Beyond Redemption didn’t quite work for me, so it took me until mid-January to finish it. 

In my recent YouTube review of Beyond Redemption, I shared what worked and what didn’t work for me. Ultimately, I finished the book and rated it three stars. The premise was really appealing and I had high hopes for Beyond Redemption. In practice, it didn’t quite live up to my expectation. Want to deep dive into my thoughts on this one? Here’s my video review. 

 

The Doors of Midnight 

Amazon Purchase Link 

I made a healthy start to The Doors of Midnight back in December and I was optimistic that it was going to be a five star read of January. However, I ultimately decided to DNF this audiobook. 

When it came down to it, I found the narrative a little repetitive and interest waned. As and when opportunities came up to listen to this book, I found myself making excuses and picking up other things. That says a lot. To take a break, I started my second audiobook of the month and after enjoying that one more, it brought home to me more that I was no longer enjoying The Doors of Midnight. So, that was the decider for me. 

 

Yellowface

Amazon Purchase Link 

Looking for a pick-me-up after Beyond Redemption, I turned to an author I know I’ve enjoyed historically. Of course R.F. Kuang did not disappoint once again! 

Picking up Yellowface is quite different from the two books I’ve read of hers to date (Babel and The Poppy War). However, she is the type of author who can write from a variety of backgrounds yet also discuss topics that clearly mean a lot to her to feature. 

If you are unfamiliar, Yellowface is heavily about cultural appropriation and the public perception of a white author publishing a story from a minority background. I loved how this was explored, as well as the nature of being an author and the publishing industry as a whole. Needless to say, Yellowface was the hit I hoped for, and needed. 

 

The Great Passage

Amazon Purchase Link 

The Great Passage is the audiobook I picked up after DNF’ing The Doors of Midnight. I had high hopes for this audiobook already, but I especially wanted to love this book after being disappointed by that audio. 

Thankfully, The Great Passage fared much better. What I really enjoyed about this audiobook is that the setting is culturally very different. It opened my eyes to a completely different way of life. I picked up this book because I loved its passion and focus on words, meanings, and the compiling of a dictionary. It excelled at all those things, but the appreciation for the cultural insights this book gives is what made it a well-rounded experience. 

 

The Courage to be Disliked

Amazon Purchase Link 

Unfortunately, The Doors of Midnight wasn’t my only DNF of the month. This month, I set a theme including self-help, learning and development for book club. On my January TBR I set out my intentions to pick up I Know I’m in There Somewhere. However, it turns out this book is very hard to get a hold of. Instead, I picked up The Courage to be Disliked…. But only read 21% before DNF’ing. 

The novelty of the dialogue-style narrative quickly wore off. If readers are meant to find the character of the unnamed ‘youth’ relatable, unfortunately it didn’t hit the mark with me. They are argumentative, combative and I didn’t gel with them at all. However, I also felt the ‘professor’ was a little off too. No doubt his role was to teach the principles of Adler, and they are what they are. I didn’t agree with all of what was discussed either. 

Consequently, The Courage to be Disliked didn’t last long under my nose before being set aside. 

 

Notes on a Nervous Planet

Amazon Purchase Link 

I turned to a well-known and trusted author again after this latest DNF. 

Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library is one of my favourite books in recent history. His unique insight into mental health difficulties shone through in Notes on a Nervous Planet. This short and approachable read, written in short chapters, informal notes and tips for limiting the impact of our modern world on our mental health was insightful. I practice some of these already, such as limiting exposure to the news. However, it discusses a number of topics, like technology, social media and consumerism to name just a few. 

The format of this book was quite unique, and as a result I flew through this already short book. It’s definitely encouraging me to read more of his books – I have The Midnight Train to look forward to in 2026, but also some backlist titles like Reasons to Stay Alive on my radar as well.  

 

Dark Chronicles

Amazon Purchase Link

I signed up to review a collection of suspenseful speculative fiction stories late this month. Admittedly, I was quite late picking up this collection. However, its ease to read world in my favour so I could review these on my blog earlier this week.

For a short book, I still had plenty to say about this 178 page collection. Instead of repeating myself in this monthly wrap-up, instead I’ll direct you to my published review.

 

After the Forest

Amazon Purchase Link 

Finally, this monthly wrap-up gets to my current and carried forced reads into February. 

After the Forest is my chosen Cottagecore Fantasy read for this month as part of the Cottagecore Fantasy book club. If you like fairytale retellings, this book will also be right up your alley. 

Building upon the well-known fairytale Hansel and Gretel, After the Forest brings darker topics like addiction, war and witchcraft into the future lives of the children. With trouble on their doorstep, Greta is doing everything she can to keep her brother Hans and her afloat. Suspicion is never far away, given her past. 

So far, I’m enjoying this quite dark retelling. As fairytales go, it’s far from light and fluffy anyway. It feels like a great story to use as a launchpad for this type of tale. As of this monthly wrap-up, I’m 40% into the book and excited to see its conclusion. 

 

Dreams from my Father

Amazon Purchase Link 

Finally, the last book to feature in this epic monthly wrap-up (it feels as long as January did!) is Dreams from my Father. With my audiobooks planned for January either finished of DNF’d, I wanted to pick up my next audio. My preference is to have an audiobook on the go all the time, as it means I can maximise reading time when doing tasks where I can’t read traditionally. 

In the last couple of days, commuting to and from work, I’ve started to listen to Barack Obama personally recount is exploration of his origins and his dream to discover his identity. Dreams from my Father is very much about his heritage and background. About how he felt adrift growing up, given his obvious African heritage but lack of the father who shared it with him. 

As of this monthly wrap-up, I’m only 11% or so into this audiobook. As I said, I only really started this in the final few days of the month, and only whilst driving. I would have been a little further on if I didn’t fluff up earlier today and accidentally skip back to the beginning of my chapter. I couldn’t fix it whilst driving, so that could have been another 20 minutes or so. Never mind… 

 

Summary 

Despite a couple of DNF’s, I count January’s progress a success! I have six completions to my name at the end of this monthly wrap-up, with two more books in progress. In terms of my Goodreads Challenge, I’m getting ahead early. I don’t think I could have asked for a better start to 2026. 

How many books have you picked up this January? Have you had a good start to the year? 

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Blog Tour Review: Dark Chronicles – Karmen Spiljak

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Want to try some shorter or speculative fiction in 2026? If so, then Dark Chronicles is a fantastic collection to start with!

As always, before I share my thoughts, thank you to Karmen Spiljak and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Dark Chronicles. I was provided with a copy of the book for the purposes of providing my review, but the thoughts expressed in this review are entirely my own. 

Now, let’s dive in, shall we? 

 

Dark Chronicles – Karmen Spiljak

Genre: Short Story Collection

Pages: 179

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Self published

Original Publication Date: 23 Jan 2026

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟.5

 

Goodreads – Dark Chronicles

Storygraph – Dark Chronicles 

Careful what you wish for. In Dark Chronicles, wishes have teeth.

Ten speculative tales brimming with twisted humour and delicious menace: a pepper that lets you in on other people’s thoughts, a radio show that predicts your fate, and a blood-thirsty ghost who refuses to let go.

Award-winning author Karmen Spiljak delivers a chilling and razor-sharp mix of twists and dark suspense, perfect for readers who like their stories to unsettle and linger.

Ten dark tales. Ten twisted fates. One thrilling collection.

 

Purchase Link – https://books2read.com/Dark-Chronicles

 

My Thoughts… 

It’s not very often I read and review a short story collection. Not unheard of either, but it’s not my main reading preference. However, there is something refreshing abut picking up a short story collection now and then.

 

Plot

In a month where I have picked up some lengthier and denser books, Dark Chronicles has been a refreshing change to lighten the pace. Even though shorter stories aren’t my typical medium, speculative fiction is not a stretch. In fact, I enjoy stories of this nature quite a lot. So, it was actually an enjoyable change to pick up such a book without the heaviness of a lot of world-building and the luxury of being able to set out a complex foundation. I truly believe being able to convey a message in such a small page count, and do it well, is a challenge demonstrating a lot of skill. Karmen does this incredible well.  

 

Setting

If you like your stories with a touch of mystery and/or darker themes, then Dark Chronicles is as good a fit for you as it was for me. As genres go, it appealed to me well and the stories themselves didn’t disappoint. I loved the variety each of the ten series presented. From dystopian worlds with more advanced technology to an unusual take on something reminiscent of the effects of narcotics, Dark Chronicles includes a spectrum of stories for all. The common theme across these stories implores readers to be careful what you wish for. It may just come back to bite you… 

 

Narrative Style

The tales and their sinister nature are both approachable to read, without compromising on the atmosphere they create. I read this book in a single day. Each story drew me in. I wanted to find out more about the characters, what they wanted, and how inevitable things wouldn’t quite turn out the way they hoped. The pacing of each of the stories is quite quick, so each can be finished in less than 10 minutes. If you can only commit to reading in short bursts, this format is perfect for you.

Equally, if you are like me, the fast-paced and ever changing narrative makes it easy to devour the book very quickly.  As I said, I read this book in a day, and most of it in just a single sitting. It was very easy to do! 

 

Summary 

Short, speculative fiction is a format and genre I need to have more of on my reading list. Dark Chronicles proved an excellent palate-cleanser on my January TBR. A break from heavy fantasy books was definitely needed, and Dark Chronicles holds its own as a memorable read. If you enjoy trying new books, or are looking for a good way to try something new, make Dark Chronicles a means of exploring shorter fiction, or speculative fiction, in 2026!

It won’t come back to bite you, I promise! 

 

Author Bio


Karmen Spiljak is Slovenian-Belgian author of suspense, horror and speculative fiction, a developmental editor and a book coach.

Her short fiction has been awarded and anthologised. Her short story collection, Add Cyanide to Taste, won the 2022 IndieReader Discovery award for best short stories/Fiction and Pass the Cyanide won the 2023 Wishing Shelf Book Awards Bronze.

She lives in Belgrade with her husband, two mischievous cats and an undefined number of literary characters. Find out more about her writing on www.karmenspiljak.com .

Social Media Links – 

https://www.instagram.com/karmenseeta/

https://www.facebook.com/karmenspiljak 

https://www.tiktok.com/@karmenseeta 

https://www.threads.com/@karmenseeta 

Shelf Control #99 – 23/01/2026

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***Today’s Shelf Control post 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***

 

Today’s Shelf Control post features another thriller novel with a kind of murder mystery aspect. This section of my TBR suggests I was really into thrillers. My prior feature was about a serial kidnapper and torturer. This book is about a murder investigation involving the accessing digitised memories of the deceased to discover the identity of the killer. I hinted at this in my Sunday Summary last week, so you’ve had five days to make your guesses as to what the title of today’s feature is.

Psychological thriller fans, this post is for YOU! And me! 

Before I share the details of the book, here’s a recap of what Shelf Control is all about. 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.

 

Access Point – Tom Gabbay

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Pages: 217

Audience: Adult

Publisher: JMS Books

Publication Date: 05 Apr 2020

 

Amazon Purchase Link

Goodreads – Access Point 

“A psychological thriller with compelling explorations of memory, obsession, and identity. Readers will find it an intriguing and entertaining read.” – BlueInk Review

When American art student Mia Fraser is brutally murdered steps away from her London house she shares with computer genius Ula Mishkin, it leaves the socially inept scientist heartbroken. When it becomes clear that Detective Sarah Boyd is making no progress in solving the crime using traditional methods, Ula creates a software program that allows her to reach into her dead housemates memory in order to reveal the identity of the killer. Entering the dead girls life through the echo of her memory, Ula learns that sometimes the past is best left undisturbed.

 

My Thoughts

Psychological thrillers are my favourite type of thrillers. Plus, this narrative has some novelty in the plot line I’m excited to read more on. The concept of accessing digitised memories to discover the identity of a killer has me intrigued. Are we talking about accessing digital diary entries. A digital persona/caricature of the real person uploaded into some futuristic (although not a leap away) technology? The synopsis is pretty vague on this point, but I’m curious to see where this angle takes us. 

Of course, Ula may find out far more than she wants to. The premise hints at that, but honestly it could go in any direction… from those she knows to maybe even herself. That would be an interesting twist, wouldn’t it?! 

Access Point hasn’t got a load of reviews on Goodreads yet, but the rating indicates the book has been well-received by the that have picked it up. Honestly, I’m looking forward to getting around to this one and being able to share my two-pence worth. Hopefully, also inspire some other readers to give it a go! 

I hope today’s post has inspired you to give Access Point a try along with me. It’s a short and purportedly fast-paced read. At a fraction over 200 pages, this is an approachable read. Whether you are looking for an approachable book or just want a change of genre and pace between longer books, Access Point is the perfect choice. Also, for Kindle Unlimited subscribers, you can access it with your membership. Otherwise, you can get a copy here. 

If you’re still with me, thanks for checking out today’s Shelf Control feature. Have you read Access Point? Do you fancy giving it a go along with me?

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Audiobook Review: As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow – Zoulfa Katouh

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***This post 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 As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow based on this review, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

 

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow was one of my most memorable reads of 2023. It’s also featured on subsequent lists on the blog such as my TTT – Debut Novels I Enjoyed post, my TTT – Books That Surprised Me list and TTT – Atmospheric Reads. 

I am still astounded that As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow is a debut. It does NOT read like one. Full of passion, terror and unexpected twists, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow has me watching this author for new releases. It’s just a pity I didn’t check her page before sharing my 2026 Anticipated Releases video on YouTube the other day, as we have an expected June release of another Syria-based story. I can’t WAIT! 

Before I get ahead of myself though, I’m here to tell you about the book that started my whole love affair with this author’s writing. Let’s check out As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow… 

 

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow – Zoulfa Katouh

Genre: Historical Fiction / Contemporary

Pages: 417

Audience: Young Adult

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: 13 Sept 2022

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/45mdr4T

Goodreads – As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the cries for freedom broke out in Syria. She still had her parents and her big brother; she still had her home. She had a normal teenager’s life. 

Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors daily. Secretly, though, she is desperate to find a way out of her beloved country before her sister-in-law, Layla, gives birth. So desperate, that she has manifested a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion, Khawf, who haunts her every move in an effort to keep her safe. 

But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, Salama is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Salama must contend with bullets and bombs, military assaults, and her shifting sense of morality before she might finally breathe free. And when she crosses paths with the boy she was supposed to meet one fateful day, she starts to doubt her resolve in leaving home at all. 

Soon, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they truly are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how she, too, will cry for Syria’s freedom.

 

My Thoughts

Plot 

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow is set in war-torn Syria. Naturally, there is a lot going on, all the time! 

Salama works in the local hospital, endeavouring to treat the victims of war with ever-dwindling supplies. Starting as a pharmacy student, desperate need necessitates Salama being ‘promoted’ through the ranks to perform emergency surgeries and life-saving treatment. Medical facilities are targeted, so an already high-pressure role combined with stress and anxiety of the personal danger – plus her conscience when she can’t save someone – takes its toll on the 18-year-old protagonist. 

Obviously no spoilers here, because where’s the fun in that?! I’m here to get you to read the book, not to give you a summary so you don’t have to 😅 What I CAN tell you is that it’s gripping. Compelling. Has you wanting to read/listen more. One more chapter. Drama. Okay, maybe another…. Just one more, I promise! 

Personally, I wouldn’t market or suggest this book is just for young readers. It’s mature enough content. However, in a world like ours, maybe the eyes of our youth need opening sooner. They’ll be the ones taking the reins for change. Equally, it reads just as well for adults – I picked this up in my late twenties and didn’t feel like I wasn’t the target audience in the slightest! 

 

Characters 

Salama is a relatable narrator, if not always reliable. I love an unreliable narrator! Who has an imaginary friend at her age, telling her what to do? Even still, I went on trusting her perspective throughout the narrative, and came to some interesting plot twists and revelations as a result. 

I love Salama’s passion for her home country and the people she cares for. She is reluctant to leave both her war-stricken country and the people determined to defend it. Even when those she loves beg her to leave, she’s devastated to face such a decision. It’s rare to see such conviction in a narrator, so much so that it’s a conflict point of the narrative that I loved to explore. However, it doesn’t come off as ignorance or a lack of understanding of the situation. Salama knows she is in danger every moment she stays. But, she is staying to defend and care for those who can no longer do so for themselves. It’s really quite admirable. 

For romance lovers, there’s a spark between Kenan and Salama that many readers root for. I’m not a huge romance fan, but their bond and fondness for each other doesn’t dominate the narrative or take away from so many other amazing aspects of the book. So, I actually got on with it. Shocking, I know! You can’t help but want the best for the characters, even if the environment they are in makes believing it unlikely. I was behind these characters until the very end. At the end, I just HAD to listen to find out what happened! 

 

Setting 

One of the most beautiful aspects of this book is the descriptions and passion we see throughout Salama for her home country of Syria. I’m not versed in the details of the country or real events that inspire this narrative by any means. However, this book made me want to learn more. 

The situation Salama lives in is quite harrowing. War has driven her and her country to scarcity. Inadequate access to food and medicine puts Salama in a precarious position. She struggles to provide for herself, and the means with which to care for those who need it are fast running out. Even seeing humanity and her homeland in the most unimaginable state, she romanticises the country of her birth. Her home. Her family. Her heritage. It makes me really appreciate the circumstances I live in by comparison. And how lucky I am never to have lived through anything like it. 

 

Narrative Style 

I listened to the audiobook of As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow. In future, I plan to pick this up again either in paperback or digital format to read conventionally. The audiobook is fantastic by the way! Narrator Sarah Agha does an amazing job of taking the inspiring, passionate language of the author and translating it to the spoken word. She has done the book the utmost justice in her style and portrayal of the characters and events of the book. 

The fast-paced plot of As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow had me coming back consistently over the month or so it took me to listen to the story. For a book that approaches the difficult subjects of war, trauma and the tug of war between wanting to stay but feeling increasingly you need to leave, it’s an ‘easy’ listen. In terms of style, that is. The content pulls no punches… 

 

Summary 

Zoulfa Katouh wrote As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow to show readers what is happening in her home country of Syria every day. Rarely is such a raw picture of the depravity and devastation painted so plainly. Even more so, in a way that has me wanting to understand more by reading more around it! Zoulfa, you gave myself and so many other readers the strong feelings you hoped for. As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow is a fantastic read, deserving its 4.45 star average rating on Goodreads as of publishing today’s review. It’s a read I plan to read and break my heart over again in future. 

If you haven’t read it yet, take this as one of my strongest recommendations I can give. Pick up this book. Do it today. You won’t regret it! 

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My Hefty January TBR!

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Today, I share a hefty January TBR!

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

 

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

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

 

My January TBR 

First, A Fresh Start… 

Orbital 

Purchase Link – Amazon

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

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

 

Then, my December Carryovers… 

Beyond Redemption 

Purchase Link – Amazon

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

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

 

Empire of the Dawn 

Purchase Link – Amazon

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

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

 

The Doors of Midnight 

Purchase Link – Amazon

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

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

 

A Review Obligation 

Dark Chronicles 

Purchase Link – Amazon

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

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

 

Book Club Reads… 

I Know I’m in There Somewhere 

Purchase Link – Amazon

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

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

 

After the Forest

Purchase Link – Amazon

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

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

 

2026 Fixed List Reads 

Yellowface 

Purchase Link – Amazon

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

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

 

The Great Passage

Purchase Link – Amazon

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

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

 

Summary 

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

What are you reading this January? 

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Monthly Wrap-Up – December 2025

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

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

 

Books Read 

 

Death of a Billionaire 

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

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

 

Empire of the Dawn

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

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

 

A Crucible of Souls

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

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

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

 

Beyond Redemption 

The final book I have picked up towards my ChatGPT recommendations challenge is Beyond Redemption. Admittedly, progress on this book was also light in December. 

In total, I made it 15% into the book. I initially started reading it on my phone at the hairdressers during my appointment mid-month. However, I prefer to read digital books on my kindle and don’t get it charged up till much later in the month. Also, I’d hit my lull by this point despite enjoying what I’ve read to date. With my Goodreads Challenge for 2025 exceeded, my brain switched off from reading and turned to craft projects and downtime instead. 

So, Beyond Redemption will be carried forward into January. To get my reading mojo back I’ve started a short read today. Once that’s done though, I’m going to launch into Beyond Redemption full force. I’m excited to see where this grimdark fantasy takes us.

 

The Housemaid is Watching

Where progress with physical and digital books has been on the slow side this December, today’s monthly wrap-up features far better news on audiobook progress! 

After listening to The Housemaid’s Secret last month, I added The Housemaid is Watching to my December TBR as a contribution to completing my 2025 resolution of finishing 10 series. 

Thankfully, listening to The Housemaid is Watching proved as compulsive as its predecessor. I listened to the entirety of this audiobook in just a few days – a complete change from the lethargy that I have to hold my hands up to otherwise in this monthly wrap-up! 

 

The Doors of Midnight 

Another audiobook I made great progress with in December, but inevitably I’m carrying over into January, is The Doors of Midnight by R.R. Virdi. 

I listened to around 10 hours worth of audio in December (at x1.15 speed for this one, so about 8 1/2 hours of actual listening time). However, as of today, 1st January, I still have 35hrs and 8mins (30hrs 30mins at x1.15 speed) to go! This book is over 800 pages long, so I didn’t really expect completion by the end of December. Still, it was an attempt towards my series completion 2025 resolution. I can’t knock myself given I gave it a good go! 

Now that I’m immersed back into Ari’s life and escapades, I’m excited for this carryover to hopefully be one of my first highly-rated completions of 2026. 

 

Summary 

Audiobooks saved the day again! Whilst I expected this monthly wrap-up to be short (given a lack of reading progress in the second half of December), I haven’t got much to complain about. I picked up a good few, even if they didn’t result in a green, shiny tick before 31st December. 

What was your final read of December? Did you meet your 2025 reading resolutions? I’ll be deep-diving into my progress on last year’s reading resolutions in the next day or two. I hope you can stick around for that! ☺️

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Shelf Control #98 – 12/12/2025

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Today’s Shelf Control post features a thriller I love the sound of. It’s scary if you imagine yourself in the shoes of the victims. I hinted at this feature in last week’s Sunday Summary and I’ve looked forward to writing about it all week. To say I forewent going to the work Christmas party to write it is a lie. However, everyone going is probably running out of steam right now, whereas I’m at home, in my PJs’ living my best life. No regrets!

As always, before I share the details of the book, here’s a recap of what Shelf Control is all about. 

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.

 

Senseless – Ed James

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 400

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Headline

Publication Date: 19 Mar 2020

 

 

Goodreads – Senseless

THREE MISSING PEOPLE… ONE TWISTED PREDATOR.

DAY ONE

Six weeks after vanishing, Sarah Langton is suddenly found – delirious and starved close to death.

The police struggle to find any answers.

DAY TWO

When another missing person reappears, half-crazed and hysterical, a terrifying pattern emerges: a twisted predator is pushing his victims to insanity.

DS Corcoran, haunted by a previous case, and Dr Marie Palmer, a leading criminal psychiatrist, must try to establish a link between the survivors.

DAY THREE

As it becomes clear others are in grave danger, every second will be critical. But can Corcoran and Palmer unravel the deadliest of puzzles in time?

 

My Thoughts

The thought of being deprived of all senses is terrifying. That’s what the victims of Senseless endure, and the effects are frightening. When they’re released, what can thy reveal about the predator that trapped them if they’ve seen or heard nothing?

I love a good time-pressured thriller. And what detective doesn’t have a backstory in these types of books? In some ways, Senseless seems a little cliched but I’m intrigued enough by the plot to give it a go. If nothing else, I like trying to put the pieces of a puzzle together. If it’s written well, I can’t see the ending coming. Can I predict the ending of this one? That remains to be seen!

Senseless is a well-rated book on Goodreads, so I’m hopeful I enjoy this thriller. If you’re a fan of them too, then maybe this Shelf Control feature has made it onto your TBR.

Have you read Senseless? Is this type of thriller on your radar? 

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Book Review: Starsight – Brandon Sanderson

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Young adult science fiction isn’t really a go-to genre and audience I reach for. However, Brandon Sanderson can basically do no wrong in my eyes. After reading several of his books, I branched out and picked up his Skyward series despite not being the intended audience. You know what? It didn’t matter an inch! I loved the first and titular books of the series (which you can read more about here…). 

Naturally, continuing with the series was an obvious choice. That brings us to the second instalment in the series, Starsight. It’s quite a different setting compared to the first book, but that worked pretty well for me. I enjoyed seeing the storyline advance from the introductory plot line of Skyward. Want to find out more? Then read on below!

 

Starsight – Brandon Sanderson  

Genre: YA science fiction

Pages: 461

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co. 

Publication Date: 26 Nov 2019

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – Starsight

All her life, Spensa has dreamed of becoming a pilot. Of proving she’s a hero like her father. She made it to the sky, but the truths she learned about her father were crushing.

Spensa is sure there’s more to the story. And she’s sure that whatever happened to her father in his starship could happen to her. When she made it outside the protective shell of her planet, she heard the stars—and it was terrifying. Everything Spensa has been taught about her world is a lie.

But Spensa also discovered a few other things about herself—and she’ll travel to the end of the galaxy to save humankind if she needs to.

 

My Thoughts

Plot 

Starsight is a very fast-paced book, especially for adult readers. 

The wider world in which Spensa’s home planet of Detritus is expanded on immensely in this second book of the series. At the time, not everyone loved the change of focus. However, in my immediate thoughts after finishing this book, I shared my love for how Brandon Sanderson isn’t afraid to break his own moulds and improve his storylines. Talking about this book after finishing the rest of the series allows for hindsight, and the shift now makes a lot of sense. The rest of the series follows suit, and gets bigger and better the further we explore this world! 

If there is any testament to how fast-paced this book is, it’s the speed I read it. I finished the whole book in less than a week; the second half of this book (which is about 200 pages!) got demolished in one sitting. And if I may say, the broader context of reading this book was that I’d picked up some trickier reads just before it. I wasn’t reading quickly until Starsight turned my slump around. 

 

Characters 

Spensa is a sassy, angsty, and headstrong teenage girl. Well, find me one that isn’t, but that wouldn’t make for an interesting story. 

Enter Spensa—a girl who grew up believing her father a hero, only to have her recollection of who he was dashed. A girl who dreamed of following in his footsteps, but finding out he wasn’t the man she idolised. Just about the worst nightmare combination you can cook up for an already turbulent individual, no? 

I listened to the audiobook of Skyward, but read Starsight traditionally. I enjoyed the book in paperback format, and characters still popped for me even without the characterisations of the narrator. Still, I did miss M-Bot’s Scottish accent just a little! It’s not what you expect for that kind of character, but it is a hilarious aspect of the narrative. 

Starsight is an interesting book in that it introduces a broad spectrum of characters. The set list does a lot for broadening your perspective on the world established in Skyward. It’s done gradually throughout the book so as not to be overwhelming. 

 

Setting 

Where Skyward was limited to the setting of Detritus, Starsight takes us… well, skyward. No longer bound, Spensa undertakes a daring mission to find out more about herself— who she is, and about her home. It’s ironic the circumstances she does this in, but no spoilers here! 

The setting of this book does wonders for the rest of the series. Skyward has quite a sheltered setting by comparison, but it’s fundamental to understand before getting to the events of this second book. 

Brandon Sanderson is a great writer, and his worlds are detailed and interesting to learn about. If the plot wasn’t interesting enough, trust me, the world the book is set in is. 

 

Narrative Style 

With such a fast-paced narrative, you need an easy-to-read style to allow the action to flow. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, given the intended audience of the book and the popularity/success of Sanderson, that he hit the nail on the head. 

I devoured this book, and that’s a compliment considering the page count. It’s just shy of 500 pages, so not exactly short. However, I binge-read the second half of the book to figure out what was going to happen! The flow and style of the writing made that even easier to achieve. 

 

Summary 

Starsight is a fun sequel to Sanderson’s young adult science fiction series. Spensa is a relatable, young, angsty teen who is determined to live up to the reputation of her father. Starsight takes us beyond the horizons and skylines of Slyward, and it’s an exciting, fun-fuelled adventure! 

Have you read Starsight or any other books by Brandon Sanderson? 

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