Welcome to my brand-new series here at Reviewsfeed – If You Loved This… Read That! If you loved a particular book, genre or aspect of a story and are looking for a recommendation, look no further! In today’s post, I’ve got some recommendations for fans of historical fiction novels!
In order to make these posts relevant to you readers, my recommendations in this series are going to have a clearly disclosed theme here at the top of the post. If the theme isn’t for you, then fair play. Maybe the next one will give you a much sought recommendation instead. No pressure. I’d rather that than make a random, non-specific post that isn’t cohesive.
So, historical fiction. I’m going to narrow it down further to books that look at the experiences of life in during WW2. Life in the concentration camps. Life during the war. If you are a regular reader here at Reviewsfeed, you will know that this a top genre and topic I love to read about. So, I hope you like today’s recommendations. And, if you have any recommendations I don’t feature today, don’t forget to give your recommendations to future readers down in the comments!
If You Loved This… Read That!
If You Loved The Book Thief…
Read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Similarities
Differences
– children protagonists – Learning/understanding of motives behind war throughout book – Highlights harsh reality of life in Germany – Heartbreaking stories
– The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a shorter novel – Bruno lacks understanding throughout the book and is a passive character, unlike Liesel
If You Loved The Diary of a Young Girl…
Read The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz
Similarities
Differences
– Auto/biographical – Intimacy with real life experiences – Discrimination against Jewish people/culture
– Family closeness during adversity – Hiding vs capture – Survival
If You Loved All The Light We Cannot See…
Read One More Hour of Daylight
Similarities
Differences
– Consequences of war for both civilians and enlisted soldiers – Day in the life of… – Balance of perspectives and impacts on the ground
– Blind protagonist vs sighted – Well-known title vs new release – Setting
OR
Rose Under Fire
Similarities
Differences
– Captured pilot – Adversity as a result of service to British Armed Forces – Unique female protagonist in circumstances – Cleverly written narrative – blind protagonist vs plot twists
– Circumstances in war / freedom vs captivity – Nationality and setting of story
If You Loved The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Read the Sequels Cilka’s Journey and Three Sisters
You may not realise The Tattooist of Auschwitz is kind of a series
Based on very different tales/underlying experiences but written to overlap
Afterwords include interviews from the underlying individuals or perspectives featured in the book
Summary
Have you read any of the historical fiction books? Do you have any If You Loved This… Read That! recommendations?
The weeks are flying by. Correction, the weekENDS are flying by. It was Friday night five minutes ago – now I’m here drafting a Sunday Summary. I demand the rest of my weekend back!
Alas, time waits for none of us, and I’ve had to make the most of all the time I had this week to get on top of some blog tour obligations. My review for the first of those tours, Debt Reckoning, went live on Tuesday. I finished this audio on Monday, so it’s fair to say this went down to the wire. However, my enjoyment of the book was never in doubt! If you like the sound of an action-packed political thriller that is educational and somewhat relevant to today’s US Government goings-on, go check it out.
Next, One More Hour of Daylight took full spotlight. My review of this historical WW2 action novel went live on Thursday. I know – two reviews in a week? Who am I? 😂 As a big fan of historical fiction novels, especially those set in WW2, I knew this would be a hit! One More Hour of Daylight balanced action and context/background perfectly, making for an engaging and immersive read. If this is more up your alley, my review of One More Hour of Daylight is here.
Finally, I shared my monthly TBR for October. Given the abysmal reading month that was September, I decided not to wallow in it by sharing a monthly wrap-up (of precious little) and instead chose to move forward. Thanks to my blog tour dates, it would also have been a bit late. As it stands, I shared my TBR on the 9th – nearly a third of the way through October! For this TBR, I’ve got some shorter reads, as well as some refreshed titles to pick up. Rather than try to keep slogging on with the same non-starters I’ve had the last few months, I’ve got some new and different reads on October’s agenda.
Books Read
Debt Reckoning
Monday got off to a good start, with the completion of the final 35% or so of Debt Reckoning so that I could review the book on Tuesday. As starts go, I couldn’t have asked for better. Thankfully, having the deadline worked in my favour. Was it a little too close? Yes. I had hoped for better progress in last week’s Sunday Summary. However, it doesn’t always work out so clean cut. Working extra last weekend certainly didn’t help matters, otherwise I’d have likely wrapped up Debt Reckoning last weekend.
Nevertheless, we got there. Given I’ve reviewed the book in detail this week, I’ll point you there if you want to find out more about the book or my thoughts on it. It’s worth a read, I promise!
One More Hour of Daylight
Moving swiftly on, my next priority was to read One More Hour of Daylight by C.M. Gray. Now, I was a little late starting this. However, I didn’t get my ebook copy straight away due to a technical issue. It’s only when I followed up did we get it sorted mid last week.
When I spoke to you in my last Sunday Summary, I shared that I was starting this last Sunday after my post went live. So, I blitzed the whole 450-odd pages of this book in just a few days. I haven’t read at that speed for a while!
Again, like Debt Reckoning, I’m not going to spoil too much here in terms of my thoughts on the book. What I will say is that I rated it 5*. Go on, what are you waiting for? Go read my review to see why!
Kingdom of Ash
After prioritising Debt Reckoning earlier this week, I’ve returned to Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas. I’ve listened to this audiobook a couple of times commuting home this week, as well as a solid hour this afternoon.
Progress with this book is still a little slow. That said, I’m getting back into some of my routines to pick up audio more frequently. Sometimes, progress is in the small moments rather than the big wins.
So, fingers crossed this continues into next week. I’m now around 40% of the way through this audiobook. I’m confident that the further along I get, the more I’ll listen in larger stints as I’ll be keen to see how the series resolves for good!
The Wax Child
I had hoped to blitz The Wax Child this weekend to give myself another completion by the end of the week. That didn’t strictly plan out. What I have achieved is to make a solid start with The Wax Child. It’s reading pretty quickly so far. And, it’s an unusual perspective but I’m liking it so far. When I shared my October TBR I shared that I’d put off starting The Wax Child. After a poor start with The Witch towards my 2026 International Booker Prize longlist reading challenge, I was anxious I’d have a similar experience. However, so far that fear is proving to be unfounded.
So, my plans for tonight after this Sunday Summary goes live is to have a shower, make a cuppa, and make a solid push through to try to finish The Wax Child.
Books Discovered
Thankfully, my TBR has gone in the right direction this week. I’ve finished a couple of books and made a solid start with The Wax Child. And, I’ve not bought or added any new books this week either.
I’ll take that as a win!
Coming Up…
What I’m Reading…
Next week has to be a better reading week. I have deadlines. So, here’s the plan in order of priority:-
Continue the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash
Finish The Wax Child by Olga Ravn – can I manage it tonight?
Read The Language of Liars
Start The Director
Blog
New week, clean slate. What to post next week. Given the recent spate of reviews, I intend to make next week’s content a little lighter. Easier for me to write and gives me a chance to get on with some reading too! So, what to post. Along similar lines of my October TBR, I’m going to lean into the shorter reads for a content idea. If you are looking for a quick fix read, stay tuned as I’ll share my top five reads under 300 pages.
Later in the week, I want to ask readers for recommendations. I’m going to finish my Throne of Glass readalong soon, so I want ideas for my next readalong. I’m keen to continue pushing my boundaries, so if you can recommend another fantasy romance series that isn’t too heavy on the romance, let me know!
Finally, I’m back with another Sunday Summary at the end of the week. Can I keep up the reading progress shared in today’s Sunday Summary update? Let’s hope so!
Summary
That’s all from me in my latest Sunday Summary instalment. It’s been a good week, and I’m optimistic to keep up the progress with some fun reads over the next week.
My monthly TBR for October is intentionally tamer. Whilst I’m still looking to hit some of my reading goals, I’m deliberately not setting a long list this month. If the last few months have showed anything, it’s that my reading pace is a little slower of late. I’m spending time with other hobbies and commitments. It shows in the number of monthly TBR’s I’ve gotten nowhere near finishing.
So, what do I plan to read with this reduced list? I’ve still got some Booker longlist novels to share. Blog tour obligations. 2026 new releases I feature. That, and I’m still concluding my Throne of Glass readalong. However, rather than including a long list of books around these commitments, I’m not pressurising myself. If I finish the list, maybe I’ll naturally mood read to fill the gap? If nothing else, the promise of the luxury of choice will make a change.
Last month, I didn’t get to the end of Kingdom of Ash. In part, I needed to prioritise another audiobook listen that I’ll talk about shortly. However, I also had plenty of missed opportunities to listen to audiobooks, but didn’t make the most of them.
I don’t know if it’s just that I have a lot on at the moment, or that I’m hesitant to get to the end. Probably a combination of all three, if I’m honest. However, in better news, I’ve made more progress with this audiobook already this week and I think I’m back in the game. I suppose I shouldn’t count my chickens before they hatch, but equally, I’m not one to lean too far into pessimism either.
Let’s see what progress looks like over this weekend and go from there!
It feels weird talking about a book in a monthly TBR when you completed it several days ago, but that’s where we’re at! If you are a regular reader, you’ll know that I reviewed this book earlier this week. This was the audiobook I needed to prioritise given the looming deadline. With work busy over the last week or so, plus another blog tour deadline, I started early. It’s a good job too.
I started this audiobook back at the end of September and still finished it just a couple of days before the blog tour was due. Naturally, I’ve already talked about this book on my blog. So, if you’re interested in a political thriller that’s both action-packed and engaging as well as informative and topical, go take a look at my review.
My next blog tour read came in thick and fast. As of this monthly TBR, this is my second completed read of the month. Given reading progress has been slow of late, it makes a significant change to have some wins already ticked off my monthly TBR already.
Like Debt Reckoning, I’ve already reviewed this book. It’s also full of action and juggles storytelling with present day action. Unlike Debt Reckoning, this is a historical fiction novel set in WW2. It’s just a bit different! However, both were great reads, and this one has the added bonus of leaning into my reading preferences. This comes from my favourite genre. Go check out my thoughts on One More Hour of Daylight here.
My September TBR included some International Booker longlist prize books that I wanted to start in the month. Something I’ve never done before is set out to read the longlist. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever read a prizewinning book before this year. Back in January, I read Orbital by Samantha Harvey to kick off the year. I also have The Promise on my TBR, which won a prize back in 2021. However, by and large, it’s not something I’ve ever attempted.
I have to say, I haven’t gotten off to the set of starts. In terms of progress, I only tried and DNF’d The Witch last month. To be honest, my experience put me off starting The Wax Child. I didn’t want the book to feel too similar and get lumped into the same bucket. However, new month, fresh start. I’ve also read some good books in between, so here’s to a fresh start!
Another International Booker Prize 2026 longlist I want to get to is The Director. After a poor start with my prize longlist in September, I wanted to go for a slightly safer option on the list. Leaning into my recent love of One More Hour of Daylight, I want to tap into The Director as it’s set around what time World War II. Between the director and the wax child, I’m optimistic for a fresh start with the long list, and that once started, my overall experience with the rest of the prize list is better than the precedent The Witch has set.
The director has a unique take on the individuals impacted by World War II, but also the people in power at that time. Rather than focusing on other areas I’ve widely read about in the genre, including those living in concentration camps, we instead are faced with a particularly unpleasant character high up in Hitler’s regime, Joseph Goebbels. I’m looking forward to the fresh take.
The language of liars is a pretty short novel, so I’m surprised I haven’t got to it already. When I talked about this book in my Fall TBR, not only did I talk about my intention to read this book soon. I also mentioned that this book has made it onto at least a couple of TBR’s and not in front of my eyeballs. That I’m keen to change. For such a short book, I’m hoping I can fly through this and tick this 2026 release off my list.
If you are unfamiliar with the concept of the book, the language of liars is about science-fiction espionage novel that I am excited to read because it seems to have emphasis on language and integrating into a society where you don’t belong. If this is also your cup of tea, can I also point you to One More Hour of Daylight, which has a similar aspect to the narrative. It’s because I have read and loved that book recently that I’m all the more excited to finally pick up The Language of Liars. At 161 pages, there really is no excuse for this book to find itself unread after a third month of intention.
In a recent First Lines Friday post, I set out to feature something both fun and different. Whilst I had heard of the book at the time I featured it, I quickly added Dungeon Crawler Carl to my TBR. What can I say, the idea of a televised, post-apocalyptic situation is ridiculous in the first place. Combine that with two main protagonists who play off each other, and one of those being Carl’s sassy ex-girlfriend’s talking Persian cat… well, colour me intrigued.
Given reading progress has been a little bit slow of late, I am deliberately picking up this book to change the pace and style of books I’m reading. I’m looking for something a little less serious (in contrast to my booker prize longlist books) and hopefully, my experience of this book matches the wider reception received and I have a new series to devour!
Not long ago, I sought help choosing a Halloween novel this year. And, I’m pleased to say I’m not disappointed! The author of Get 20% Off Your First Demon This Halloween got in touch and offered me a copy of the book in exchange for a review. This particular book overlaps the comedy and horror genres. Unusual yes. However, given my recent reading experience, I’m optimistic the comedy and seemingly lighthearted note of the book will pay some dividends.
It’s also nice to feature some independently published authors. As you can probably tell by the volume of blog tours I sign up for, even if the timing isn’t convenient, that I like to try and support indie authors as well as read well-known authors. So, watch the space as I may be able to offer you a very different read to pick up this spooky season.
For my last read of October, I debated which audiobook to pick up. So far, only Kingdom of Ash is designated an audiobook listen on this monthly TBR. Some books, such as The Language of Liars, are not available in audio format. One of my two recent blog tour reads was in audiobook format, but I’ve finished it already.
That doesn’t leave very many options for other books I could pick up in audio. So, I instead turned to some audiobooks I already own and have not yet scheduled time to read. One title caught my attention as it serves as a good refresher for a book I read last year. That book is Metabolical. If you have a read or are interested in another book called ultra processed people, then I should think metabolical will also be up your alley. At least, based on my enjoyment of ultra processed people, that’s why I’m picking up Metabolical. Not only will I find this an engaging listen from a learning perspective, but it’s also nice to have a non-fiction book make it onto this monthly TBR.
Summary
My October monthly TBR still has a decent page count to it, but I’m excited to pick up some shorter books this month. I’ve also gotten off to a pretty good start, finishing both Debt reckoning and One More Hour of Daylight so far this week. Can I mark another book as complete before the end of the week? Should I pick up The Language of Liars or The Wax Child for a quick win?
What are you reading this spooky season? Let me know in the comments!
It’s rare I feature two blog tours in one week! Needless to say, I’ve been busy wrapping up some recent reads in order to share my thoughts.
Today I bring you a WW2 historian fiction novel called One More Hour of Daylight by C.M. Gray. I was invited onto the tour hosted by TheWriteReads based on my love of books in this genre and period. And, obviously the book has more than lived up to my expectations. Shall we get onto those? Full disclosure – I’ve been provided with a digital copy of the book for the purpose of reviewing it. However, my thoughts expressed on the book are entirely my own.
Let’s recap the book info and then share my review of One More Hour of Daylight.
On the first day of World War II, a young man makes a promise—one that will shape every choice he makes for the next four years.
Essex. September 1939.
A wounded German pilot drops from a clear autumn sky into a quiet English field. Seventeen-year-old Derrick finds him—broken and feverish. Not an enemy. Just a young man asking for one small mercy before everything ends.
One more hour of daylight.
That is all I ask. A chance to breathe free air before whatever comes next. Derrick gives him until morning. When the stretcher comes, the pilot’s last words strike Derrick like a blow he will never stop feeling.
Scotland. France. Germany. 1941–1943.
In the mountains of Scotland, they teach him how to kill, how to lie, and how to endure things that break most men. Then they give him a new name, put him on a plane, and drop him into the dark.
As an SOE operative deep inside occupied Europe, Derrick Sedgley lives on false papers, borrowed names, and nerves worn to nothing by years in the shadows. He moves agents to safety, builds escape routes, and stays one breath ahead of the Gestapo.
Then a mission collapses—and everything changes. Forced to run, Derrick finds himself moving through the most dangerous corners of occupied Europe alongside someone whose connection to his past he cannot yet see. As safe houses fall, loyalties fracture, and the frozen passes of the Pyrenees rise ahead like the edge of the world, Derrick begins to understand something.
The choice he made in an Essex field on the first day of the war has been leading him here all along.
Some debts cannot be paid.
Some can only be carried.
And some—if you are brave enough, and fortunate enough—can finally be laid to rest.
From the quiet fields of Essex to the mountains of Scotland, from the dangerous streets of Lyon to the shadows of wartime Hamburg and the high passes of the Pyrenees,One More Hour of Daylightis an unforgettable story of courage, guilt and redemption—of ordinary people forced to make impossible choices in extraordinary times.
Some promises can survive a war.
Some people can too.
For readers who believe that even in war, what matters most is who we choose to be.
My Thoughts…
Plot
One More Hour of Daylight balances a plot line that isn’t hurried, yet also has plenty of action to drive each chapter forward. I loved how the storyline unfolded from the simple yet familiar setting of England we know and love, and from that the plot spirals to a multi continental, multicultural narrative where saying the wrong thing could get you killed.
Derrick Sedgley finds his background of growing up speaking both French and German to be his greatest assets in making him one of the greatest assets the British army can use in the war against Hitler. Undercover, his role is to blend in and where possible, disrupt the enemy without getting caught. Although not uncommon for the genre, I can’t say I’ve read too many World War II novels where the protagonist is a spy operative. Rather, I tend to read from perspectives of the victims of Hitler’s views and war against any who don’t fit his ideals. Nevertheless, the action was as high-stakes as I expected and I enjoyed the change of pace. We never quite feel safe and you never know what is around the corner – adding to the tension and need to find out what comes next!
Characters
Derrick Sedgley it’s technically still a boy when World War II breaks out. He lies about his age in order to enlist, as many did back then in order to ‘get a piece of the action’. If he knew what he was getting into, would he have enlisted in the first place? Who can say. Instead, what unfolds for Derrick spans far wider than the average basic training most British soldiers were given before being sent out into danger.
I read this book with a form of motherly love for Derrick. Being older than him, I just wanted to mother and protect him and to stop anything unpleasant happening to him. Naturally, the perils of the job he has taken don’t align with my interests, and therefore this at a layer of conflict between us as a reader for our wishes for the character, as well as well actually plays out.
I suppose it would be fair to say his age and similar background to me made Derrick a very relatable character, and what I was rooting for throughout the storyline. However, I also felt some fondness for Ernst, who is so very different and yet finds himself in a similar situation to Derrick in reverse. It must have been terrifying, and it shows in the micro expressions and behaviours of the boys trying to hold themselves together when nobody is there to support them.
Setting
One More Hour of Daylight has a lot of travel in it, so there are a good deal of explanations for places and situations needed to inform but avoid overwhelm. I found descriptions are well structured to set the scene, make places uniquely identify and plausible, but without info dumping excessively. As someone who has never been to the places within the book, I personally enjoyed the description and vibe of each setting, what makes them unique from each other and generally explains the context in which the wider book is set.
What I also like about this particular story is that we start with the familiarity of English soil, but fairly quickly branch out from there. Whilst a lot takes place in this narrative on the whole, we are introduced slowly and taken along the journey with Derrick. One city, train journey, o e mission at a time. It’s captivating and immersive, which combined with the busy high-stakes plot line, makes One More Hour of Daylight a standout new release in the genre and period!
Narrative Style
One More Hour of Daylight has a very approachable narrative style. The writing style flows so that turning the pages is effortless, and at times I could forget I was reading at all. Truly, it was the type of book I needed right now. I have not been reading very much lately as I’ve got a lot on my plate. However, One More Hour of Daylight has been the type of book that has reminded me just why I love reading so much and how it can be effortless, even when there are plenty of other things on to divert my attention.
One More Hour of Daylight has slightly longer chapters than a few books I have read of late. However, I would also say they are not so long that the book isn’t easy to put down at the next end of chapter. As I mentioned before, this book balances action, as well as relaying history, complex ideas and background into a plot line that has a lot of action in it. In order to balance the two, the chapter lengths are a little bit longer, sure. Yet, they are no less approachable to read. The language has chosen well to make the narrative easily understood by the average reader.
Summary
If you are looking for your next World War II historical fiction novel, try One More Hour of Daylight. This high-stakes espionage wartime novel is perfect for fans of action-packed storylines, yet also gives us a flavour of the individual characters that make up the storyline and the people and places that define the resistance against Hitler’s vision.
Author Bio
C.M. Gray’s first book, *The Flight of the Griffin,* was longlisted in the 2015 Times Chicken House Writing Competition. *Shadowland*, the first book in the Pendragon Saga, has so far received over 900 five-star reviews on Amazon. These things still genuinely astonish him, and he is deeply grateful for every one of them.
Most of his previous work has been fantasy: either pure fantasy or historical fantasy, the kind of writing where druids turn up uninvited and one of your main characters develops an unsettling affinity with wolves before you have quite decided what sort of book you are writing. *Shadowland* began with every intention of staying grounded in historical reality. It did not. It has turned out to be a popular book, so he does not complain.
His years travelling through Asia, India, Africa and the Middle East have a habit of finding their way onto the page. He has seen and done some fairly strange things along the way and met some extraordinary people, and writing fantasy has always felt, to him, only a short step from writing fact.
**New for 2026**
*One More Hour of Daylight*, published June 2026, marks a departure: pure historical fiction, no druids, no wolves. It follows Derrick Sedgley, a seventeen-year-old from Essex who makes a single moral choice in a field one September morning in 1939 and spends the next five years living with the consequences. From the Essex countryside to occupied France, from the mountains of Burgundy to the Pyrenees, it is a story about promises, betrayal, courage and the cost of doing the right thing too late.
And for those who have been waiting patiently for the Pendragon Saga to continue: the third book, *Shadow’s Heir*, follows in September 2026. More on that very soon.
C.M. Gray was born in England and grew up in the Essex countryside near the Suffolk border, which is where Derrick Sedgley grows up, too. The flat fields, the big skies and the particular quality of Essex light found their way into the book whether he intended them to or not.
He was born, however, with a serious case of travel lust. As soon as he could get a passport, he packed a rucksack and went to see what the world looked like. He has been looking ever since, and has now lived more years outside England than he ever spent living there.
C.M. Gray is now very happily settled just outside Barcelona with his wonderful wife and partner in life, Adriana.
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?
My monthly TBR for September features more 2026 releases than usual. I don’t know, I think I’m just in the mood for it right now! Between some upcoming blog tour obligations, as well as four other reads I’m picking up that were published in earlier this year as well, this is definitely a reading list to look out for if you enjoy reading newly published books. It’s interesting, because most of the time I read backlist books. However, a change is as good as a rest, they say.
I’m still up to my usual tricks of signing up for blog tours. That hasn’t changed. What is a little bit different? Is that I’m picking up 2026 releases I’ve highlighted as books I want to read this year over on YouTube, as well as starting to read the 2026 Booker Prize longlist.
We finally made it! When I started my Throne of Glass readalong earlier this year, I didn’t really think I was going to get to the end. To be honest, my expectations were to get so far, and for the series to fall short of expectations or not grip me in a way that keeps me reading. Whilst I understand this series is lighter on romance than other Sarah J. Maas books, this is still present in the narrative. There have been a couple of occasions where I have not gelled with that, but I’ve been able to read on and it hasn’t impacted my enjoyment of the storyline overall.
Finally, we are going to see how this series concludes! I’ve already listened to the first 15% of the audiobook this week. How events will come together at the end I do not know. There are lots of parts in play, and a lot of characters that could influence the storyline in a number of ways. I’m just going to have to discover the ending for myself. Hopefully, I can make good pace with this listen as I’ve got over 18hrs 30mins left to listen to.
Invisible
I’ve got one blog tour review due later this month, and thankfully I have the copy of this read so I can pick this up imminently. That is Invisible by Heleyne Hammerlsey.
I don’t typically pick up books that are some way into a series unless I’ve read from the beginning. Invisible is a bit of an exception in that it is the sixth book of a series, but can be read as a standalone. That is what I’m going to be doing. Invisible is a pretty traditional crime genre and plot involving the discovery of a swimmers body.
However, there was far more to that story. The backstory I don’t necessarily have that The DI in charge of the case is back from work after an incident that endangered her own life. Hopefully some detail is alluded to in this novel so I understand her backstory, because this is clearly going to play a part in the narrative. I’ll let you know how that pans out and whether you can pick this up as a standalone yourselves when I review the book on publication day, 23rd September!
I’ve signed up to an audiobook blog tour for Debt Reckoning, and I should get my download code in the near future. So, whilst I can’t physically start this book as of drafting this monthly TBR, I do expect to pick this up after listening to Kingdom of Ash.
Dent Reckoning is a political thriller novel, so a little bit different from the type of books I pick up usually. However, I’m intrigued by the synopsis of this particular book. I’ll tell you a lot more about this one at the beginning of October. However, I can tease you with some thoughts here and there as I progress with this book in my regular Sunday Summary updates this month. My last few blog tours have been pulled together a bit last minute. I’m determined to change that…
Another blog tour obligation due at the beginning of October, date to be confirmed, is One More Hour of Daylight. Yes, I’m leaning into my love of World War II historical fiction here and I’m excited to feature a new release in the genre.
The World War II history books I have read that sound similar to One More Hour of Daylight being based around English pilots landing in enemy territory. One More Hour of Daylight is the difference in that this includes a storyline that is the other way around. The synopsis hints that the book is somewhat about compassionate nature of humankind.
Anyway, one I can update you on as I start reading. Again, I don’t think I have a copy of this book yet but I expect to receive it shortly.
The Language of Liars remains on my list of books I want to pick up. It originally featured on my July TBR, then August, but I’m going to 100% finish it in September. Hold me accountable folks!
This is a language based spy novel so is a little bit unusual. I can’t wait to try it. The Language of Liars is another 2026 release, and one I talked about in my 2026 highly anticipated releases YouTube video earlier this year if you want to take a look.
When I originally put this book on the list, I didn’t appreciate how short it was. However, that’s going to work to my advantage. Not only am I a little behind with my 2026 Goodreads reading goal, I enjoyed picking up shorter reads like Dungeons and Dimwits last month, and I’ve gotten stuck in recent months with larger books like The Pillars of the Earth. So, we’re embracing short narratives in September. There’s more to follow…
Before we get to that though, we have to revisit Julia. Again.
In my 2026 resolutions post, I set out my intention to read the original 1984 by George Orwell, then immediately follow up with Julia by Sandra Newman. I got a little bit stuck with 1984 as it is a book I have already read previously. I lost a little motivation with that original title, but did get there in the end. Julia is a new take on that same world and storyline. Thankfully, it’s still fresh enough in my mind that I’ll be able to pick this book up and remember what happened in 1984.
However, I’m determined not to put it off any longer!
Another 2026 release I discovered recently is Yesteryear. By all accounts, it’s a popular read at the moment. I took a look earlier at potentially borrowing this title digitally from my library, only to discover I would be ninth in the queue! Clearly, this title has a bit of buzz about it.
Admittedly, I hadn’t heard of the book, but rather saw something about a film or TV adaptation featuring Anne Hathaway. It was that news that sparked my interest in this title. It is the last book I’ve added to my overall TBR, so naturally I would normally treat it as the least priority to pick up. However, I’m in the mood for doing something different and I’m intrigued as to why this book is so popular. So, I’m ignoring my backlist and picking up Yesteryear. It can judge me in silence 😂
Earlier this year, I set out my intention to read the 2026 Booker Prize longlist. That list was around 12 or 13 books long, and at the time, I don’t even think the shortlist had come out. I’m sticking with my intention to read the longlist, because if there was one thing I strive for in my reading, it’s to try different things.
The Wax Child and the next book I feature have some similar themes. They are also both pretty short, as books go. So, they will lean into my want to dip into different books and have fairly short reads to dip into.
What’s interesting is that whilst these books have been long listed for a prestigious award, neither book has an exceptional rating on Goodreads. Will my view mirror the judges thoughts, or the wider public?
My second Booker longlist novel, and final book of this monthly TBR, is The Witch. Now I’m absolutely reading this book, there is no question about that. If nothing else, it is only around 150 pages and so achievable regardless of my feelings about it. What scares me is that this book only has a 2.89 star rating on Goodreads. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything that low!
So, 2026 is all about trying new things. Again, it will be interesting to see whether I agree with the general public view or if I like the book!
Summary
Yes, I do have a number of titles in this September monthly TBR. However, with three of the nine books on today’s list less than 200 pages, as well as two audiobooks, i’m not asking too much of myself in terms of page count.
I’m looking forward to a reading list of books that have been published this year. That’s not something I ever really set out to do, but this happens to be a happy coincidence. Will I enjoy these new and fairly topical books for a change, or will I wish I had gone back to my backlist.
There’s only one way to find out… See you on the other side!
Reading progress in August felt like a bit of a mixed bag. Whilst I had plenty of blog tour obligations to keep me turning the pages, outside of these, I don’t feel like I got to as much of my reading list as I wanted. Nevertheless, I have a decent number of books to talk to you about in today’s monthly wrap-up post for August.
Have you read any of the books I feature in today’s monthly wrap-up? Take a gander below to find out!
With my first blog tour obligation for Duel of Beasts coming out on the 2nd of August, you would think I would have finished this book in July ahead of that to post. Alas, that was not the case. Whilst I had started the book in July, it was barely the case. Rather, I ended up binge reading this book ahead of that review post. Thankfully, I got on pretty well with this book. I don’t know what I would have done if I found reading it difficult, or I didn’t gel with the narrative style.
Thankfully, that’s not the case and I talked about my experience with this book over on my blog to review. If you want to check out more, go and take a look at that review here.
I can’t remember when I started supremacy. It was definitely at some point last month, but it could have even been in early July. Reading progress with supremacy was slower than I would have liked. Even still, I did have a good time with this book. I took advantage of a week off in August to make a solid dent in progress. Even still, I only really finished this book towards the end of the month.
If you’re looking for a book that can tell you more about AI, its birth and the origins of the intentions behind the technology, supremacy is an interesting one. The focus of the book is how altruistically the technology started, but inevitably its growth was hindered by access to data which I could only get from major corporations and therefore lose the altruism and get used for commercial gain.
Dungeons and Dimwits is by far the shortest and quickest read to grace my monthly wrap-up for August. I read this relatively short graphic novel in the space of around half an hour one evening about 2/3 of the way through August. That’s very specific, but it went some way towards getting me back in the reading mood. I’ve got a lot on my plate right now, so I think having a short read to tick off the list and go towards achieving something (I read this for a blog tour obligation, and actually read it in decent time – not something I’ve done very much of lately!)
It also was a very fun and pretty lighthearted read. If you enjoy nerdy games like dungeons and dragons, or generally fantasy of this ilk, then pick up this graphic novel if you want a bit of change.
I went in hard on the blog tours this month. The Knife Maker of Venice is a historical fiction blog tour I took part in later in August. I also ended up reading this book pretty close to deadline.
However, what I really liked about this historical fiction novel is that it featured a time and setting combination that I have not explored before. We also enjoy a lot of travel, considerably more than the characters who have been enslaved and taken across the world against their will. Within, we get to read deeply personal stories and experience a family bond that chains cannot incumber.
If you’re interested in picking up this historical fiction book, take a look at my blog tour review here.
Of all the books I talk about in this monthly wrap-up post for August, I would say Tower of Dawn surprised me the most.
I’m reading Sarah J Maas’s Throne of Glass series as a way of pushing myself out of my comfort zone. It is a romantic series, which is something I don’t traditionally read. I’m not a big romance fan, so naturally I don’t gravitate to these books in the first instance.
Tower of Dawn varies from the remainder of the series and doesn’t exactly follow on from Empire of Storms. I didn’t read much about the book before diving into it, so this took me by surprise. However, I enjoyed revising characters that branched off from the main series several books ago. It’s going to contribute to the final storyline, so I can’t wait to see how it all comes to an epic conclusion.
The Midnight Train was the second audiobook I completed in August. In all, audiobook progress went pretty well, and I can share in this monthly wrap-up I’m pretty happy with the progress I made. Although at times it felt slow, I should bear in mind I picked up a fairly sizeable audiobook in the form of Tower of Dawn before picking up The Midnight Train.
Comparatively, The Midnight Train was a very short listen. I also went into this book with some trepidation as to whether this book would live up to my expectations of The Midnight Library. The Midnight Train is the second book set in this universe, and whilst it tackles similar ideas, it does so from a slightly different perspective.
Personally, I still really enjoyed this audio. Even though I had high expectations, I liked the change in angle on this book and thankfully, the success of the first book didn’t overshadow the message of The Midnight Train.
My final blog tour read to include in my monthly wrap-up was The Other Life of Mary English. Much like my experience with Duel of Beasts at the beginning of August, I ended up reading The Other Life of Mary English pretty last minute.
As a result, I actually read the majority of the book on the 1st of September. However, I did start this book on the very last day of August, which is why I’m including it here.
Naturally, I’ll be talking about this one again in my September TBR and wrap up post. However, you have the benefit of a link to check out this review here given I briefly touched on the book in August. As of the end of the month, I hadn’t read very much there wasn’t really in a position to make much comment on it. That will come later, or in that review.
Summary
So, I’ve had quite a few books to read and report on in today’s monthly wrap-up for August. Hopefully next month I can take it a little easier on the blog tour obligations and instead get back to books I want to read and get back on track.
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.
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.
Happy long weekend friends! We’re back with another fresh Sunday Summary post this weekend, and I hope you’re looking forward to catching up on the latest. But first, obviously the news you’ve been waiting for. It’s the final bank holiday between now and the festive season. The big supermarkets are already capitalising. Yes, mince pie fans! You can now get your fix in stores near you. Madness…
I jest. Hopefully you’re here for my bookish commentary. Yes? Good. My first blog post of the week was a low-down of my top 3 reads of 2026 so far. If you’re looking for a book recommendation to uplift your 2026 reading list, I’ve got you covered. See, that’s the premium quality content you expect! As well as that, I shared my review of a fun graphic novel based around the game of Dungeons & Dragons.
Books Read
Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the Race That Will Change the World
Reading the final 80 pages of Supremacy went slower than I thought, but I can say as of this Sunday Summary, we got there.
This boo has been a bit of a slow-burn project, but one I’ve enjoyed reading. In the grand scheme of things, I’m looking to expand my knnokedlge of AI, its birth into the technology we are using today. Supremacy has helped a long way towards that. Aside from its history, the book also looks at sentiment as the technology has grown, including fears over its longer-term use and impact. Discrimination is still very much a problem with the software, by all accounts. Well, when you train it on unfiltered data from a society with underlying discrimination on race, gender and socio-economic factors, it’s hardly a surprise its ingrained in the tech and rears its head in unusual places.
The Midnight Train
I’ve made solid progress with The Midnight Train by Matt Haig, listening to the entirety of this relatively short audio this week.
You may recall in previous posts, like my August TBR, that I had reservations about his book. After its publication earlier this year, there have been mixed reviews published about this latest instalment. Like me, readers went into this book with high expectations based on the success and profoundness of The Midnight Library. They felt The Midnight Train didn’t meet the same standard.
However, I can’t say I agree with that sentiment. On the contrary, I enjoyed the varied angle this books takes, whilst still nodding in several ways to the format and meanings of that first book. I even enjoyed the ties at the end that link the two books especially.
In all, the message of The Midnight Train is an important one, and one I’m glad I read despite the mixed feelings online. Sometimes, books, or opinions of them, are overhyped. I’m glad I read and made my own judgement on this one.
The Other Life of Mary English
Finally, I started a book that I will be reviewing here at Reviewsfeed very shortly. My review of The Other Life of Mary English is going live on Tuesday. As ever, I’ve got a good way of the book to go through before I’m able to draft my review. So, you know how I’m spending my bank holiday Monday tomorrow right?
I’ve made a decent start to this book, and I like where it is going so far. For a book and setting where women are far from prominent or able to stand in society, The Other Life of Mary English is doing a great job of making the protagonist the leading lady in a period of history where that is difficult to achieve.
A fairly light update as of this Sunday Summary. More to follow on this one very soon!
Books Discovered
I’m proud of myself – today I went for a mooch through town, looked in the window of a bookstore… and then walked away! I know, not like me at all! So, there are no new additions this week to report in today’s Sunday Summary.
Coming Up…
What I’m Reading…
Here’s my reading plan over the next seven days:-
Finish The Other Life of Mary English – blog tour obligation 01/09/2026
Start Julia by Sandra Newman
Start the audiobook of The Language of Liars
Blog
I’ve already mentioned that I’ve got an imminent blog tour obligation. So, needless to say, that’s going to be my first post of next week!
Aside from that, I’ll be leaning into my usual content posts that fall at month-end. First will be my monthly wrap-up for reading progress in August. Given the blog tour post, that will go live on Wednesday or Thursday next week. After that, I’ll share my planned September TBR later in the week. I’ve got an idea for what I want my September TBR to look like, but I’m going to keep my cards close to my chest for now. You’ll just have to find out next week what my plans are 😈
Finally, another Sunday Summary update will conclude another week of reading, amongst other things.
Summary
Today’s Sunday Summary feels a little lighter than I originally planned. Nevertheless, I’ve enjoyed the reading progress I’ve made at a pace that’s been sustainable to me.
What book have you read this August that you recommend?
Sunday has rolled around again folks! Where has the weekend gone? It’s time for another Sunday Summary post, and I have some good bookish updates to share this week!
Before that though, let’s recap the blog posts I’ve shared so far this week! First, I posted a blog tour review post. That book is The Knife Maker of Venice by David Gilman. Then, I posted a Shelf Control post looking ahead to a Booker prize-winning book on my TBR. It handles tricky topics like race and discrimination. Naturally, they’re topics I like to read about, so I’m excited for this one!
Books Read
The Knife Maker of Venice
Last week I’d only just started The Knife Maker of Venice. Naturally, it was my priority read of the week and the one finish I absolutely had to have on today’s Sunday Summary.
I really enjoyed this historical adventure novel. Set initially in the UK, but covering many international locations including Tunisia and Venice, there was plenty to explore. The book predominantly focuses on the lives of Richard and Beth, siblings, who are captured and enslaved in England before being taken to Venice. Separated, Richard is sold to a blacksmith whilst Beth is held by their capturer, one time flame Challenor.
The slavery aspect was interesting to read, but what I enjoyed most was learning about the cultural history and tensions in places at this time. It’s not something I’ve read before, so it was a learning journey as well as a fun read!
Tower of Dawn
When I left off in last week’s Sunday Summary, I had just 3 and a half hours of audio left.
I had plenty of time to listen to that amount of audio this week. However, I confess I only finished it today. I listened for around 20 minutes midweek, but finished Tower of Dawn this afternoon.
I wasn’t expecting Tower of Dawn to take the route it did, but it made for a great change. It’s also set up for a reunion in the final book, and I’m intrigued as to how this series will wrap up. I foresaw the romances, and even the twist in this one. So, nothing too surprising or revelatory in this book. However, it was a decent penultimate book of the series.
Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the Race That Will Change the World
Today, I’ve made more progress with Supremacy. As of drafting this Sunday Summary though, it’s still a current read. I’m hopeful I’ll finish it tonight so I can start a new physical read next week. New week, new start and all that 🤗
Although I’ve progressed slowly with this one, it’s an informative read. Personally, I’m trying to learn more about AI, its development and limitations as I start to use the tool myself. At work, that is. I don’t use it for my blog. The most techy thing I do here is use speech-to-text to dictate my content sometimes. I’m not sure there’s any other way I would use the tech for my blog, except maybe to brush up social media content wording.
I’ve got another 80 pages to read tonight, so I won’t be bored! 😅
Dungeons and Dimwits
Finally, I picked up a graphic novel I’m reviewing next week last night. It was a quick read, given the nature of the book. But you know what? It was a refreshing change and I enjoyed the storyline.
Based on the gameplay of dungeons and dragons, it leans into my nerdy enjoyment of games and fantasy. It also has a few funny moments, which I wasn’t expecting but loved nonetheless. I can tell you already I would like to read more of these. I can’t wait to review this for you next week.
The Midnight Train
Finally, after finishing Tower of Dawn today I started The Midnight Train. In all, I likely listened to about an hour and a half of the audio, or a little less.
So far, I’m enjoying the story. I’ve had reservations previously that this book won’t live up to The Midnight Library. However, I’ll just have to give it a chance. So far, so good! More to follow on this one in my next Sunday Summary update.
Books Discovered
As things stand, there are no new books on my TBR this week. I’ve kept my head down, and thankfully my recent finishes mean the TBR is headed in the right direction 🎊🎉
Coming Up…
What I’m Reading…
Here’s my reading plan over the next seven days:-
Finish The Midnight Train – only 4hrs 15mins audio left
Finish Supremacy if I haven’t done by tonight
Start and finish e-book of The Other Life of Mary English – blog tour obligation 01/09/2026
Start Julia by Sandra Newman, but prioritise The Other Life of Mary English
Start The Language of Liars audiobook after The Midnight Train
Blog
I want to start next week pretty casual, featuring some of my top reads of 2026 so far. A year is a long time to wait for ‘best of 2026’ content. So, I’m going to share my top three books so far, and why I love them.
My blog tour review for Dungeons and Dimwits is due on Thursday 27th. Thankfully I’ve finished it already, so I can start documenting my thoughts.
Finally, I’ll be back with my final Sunday Summary of August this time next week. How much of a dent can I make in my August TBR between now and then? Let’s find out!
Summary
As always, thanks for checking out today’s Sunday Summary.
What are your favourite reads of 2026 so far? I want to check out yours, and maybe give them a read for myself, so drop the titles in the comments ♥️
Top 1% in Epic