Tag: historical fiction

Monthly TBR – August 2026

Posted on August 8, 2026August 8, 2026 by fantasyst95

The books on my August monthly TBR will look familiar. There is one theme to describe this monthly TBR, it is of books not gotten to in 2026. Yes, over the course of 2026 to date, there have been plenty of books on my TBR that never made it into my hands. August is the month I plan to rectify that!

Not only that, but I am on the penultimate read of my Throne of Glass readalong, and I have a few new features in the form of blog tours that I’m taking part in later this month and into early September. Curious to find out which books will finally make it to the top of this monthly TBR?

Carryovers from July

Empire of Storms

Goodreads

At the end of June, I had finished book 4 of the Throne of Glass series on time. Whilst I had hoped to keep that habit alive, I did end up finishing Empire of Storms in early August. Today, in fact, the 8th August.

It wasn’t really for a lack of trying. Rather, I finished this book several times this week. The only trouble was I finished it whilst I was asleep. Yes, I had forgotten to put the audiobook timer on and so I had to re-download and find my place in this audiobook at least twice. Nevertheless, I completed this book properly today and I’ve dived straight into the sequel…

Katabasis

Goodreads

Realistically, Katabasis is more of a carryover from June than of July – I didn’t really pick up this book last month. I wanted to put distance between myself and the slump I was getting into when I started this book. Then, I had reading obligations in July and early August that needed to take priority.

However, I’m keen to jump back in and make this an early completion on my August monthly TBR. I have really enjoyed R.F. Kuang‘s writing in the past. I have no fears that I will come to enjoy this book once I get stuck in properly.

The Tw*t Files

Goodreads

Another book I haven’t picked up in the last couple of weeks, but I’m keen to finish in short order, is Dawn French’s The Tw*t Files.

Who doesn’t enjoy laughing at other people’s screw ups and misfortune? This book was a great one to turn to in my slump as it’s light nature and humour throughout made for entertaining reading when I was struggling to pick up a book.

I’m hoping to polish this one off pretty quickly now I’m back to reading more regularly!

Readalong and Blog Tours

Tower of Dawn

Goodreads

My next Throne of Glass readalong novel is the penultimate book in the series. I confess, I’m surprised I’ve stuck with it this long. I have been nervous about reading romantasy books in the past because of concerns the romance elements detract from the overall storyline. I’m pleased to say that isn’t particularly the case in Throne of Glass. Whilst there were some moments in Empire of Storms that had me doubting my assessment, I’m now invested enough in the series that I’m going to see it true to completion regardless.

After finishing Empire of Storms earlier today, I dived straight into Tower of Dawn. I’m making the most of time at home on my own to listen to this audiobook, and whilst I’m also in the headspace (having finished it’s predecessor), it makes sense to dive straight in.

The Knife Maker of Venice

Goodreads

Moving on to my blog tour obligations for August, the first of my books is The Knife Maker of Venice. My review goes live on the 19th August, so I’ll be starting this imminently.

It’s a historical adventure story of siblings sold into slavery in Venice and a brother’s mission to be reunited with his sister. It appeals to me because of the slavery angle, but also the historical period and setting. It’s not one I’m familiar with, but keen to read and learn more about.

I’ll share my full thoughts with you on this one later this month. I hope you’re as excited as me!

Dungeons and Dimwits

Goodreads

An unusual feature for my blog here is a review of a graphic novel.

Taking part in the tour for Dungeons and Dimwits was last minute. Rachel, the tour organiser, was looking for additional reviewers last minute. Given the books nature, I felt it was a book I could add to this monthly TBR pretty easily. Not only that, but the idea of a book based on dungeons and dragons appeals to my nerdy nature. If I’d had friends interested in the game, I can imagine this is something I would have fallen into. As it happens, I didn’t, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know enough about the principle of the game to appreciate this storyline.

The Other Life of Mary English

Goodreads

This historical fiction review is due at the beginning of September, so will be the last I read this month. However, I’m no less excited to give it a try.

The premise of this book is about two strong women who, in 1820’s Columbia, occupied roles rarely taken by women in their time. It’s another new setting and time period for me, so I’m excited for this book. Again, more to follow on this one. I’ve signed up to the tour knowing little more than that.

2026 Releases / TBR Returns

The Midnight Train

Goodreads

Sadly, due to taking longer with my listen of Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas, I didn’t get to The Midnight Train last month. Nevertheless, this book is back on my monthly TBR . Being a 2026 new release and related to another book I have loved daily so far, I’m keen to see if The Midnight Train lives up to expectations. Unfortunately, I’ve heard mixed reviews on this book. I don’t know if that is because its predecessor sets the bar so high, or whether it genuinely doesn’t quite come to the same standard. Want to try and let you know about in due course – watch this space.

The Language of Liars

Goodreads

Another book I didn’t get to from my July TBR, but I’m rolling forward immediately onto this monthly TBR is The Language of Liars. This language based spy novel is a little bit unusual, and I can’t wait to try it. The Language of Liars is also a 2026 release, and as a book I talked about in my 2026 highly anticipated releases YouTube video earlier this year.

I’m excited to give this one a try; I expect it’s going to be a little bit different, and maybe is something I need having had a bit of a reading slump lately!

Julia

Goodreads

Months ago, I set out to read 1984 by George Orwell and then follow up with Julia straight after. It didn’t pan out that way. I got a bit stuck on 1984, losing reading momentum mostly because I’d read the book before. Really, I was reading it as a refresher before picking up Julia.

However, Julia is new to me, so hopefully retains some novelty factor that keeps me turning the pages. I can’t wait to revisit this dystopian world with fresh eyes and a new perspective. I wouldn’t have been able to appreciate it without picking up 1984 first. However, it’s still fresh enough in my mind that I can respect and see the deviations in storyline from that main narrative.

And a final mood read…

Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the Race That Will Change the World

Goodreads

I picked up Supremacy on a whim the other night. It’s a pretty short read, so won’t take me long to finish. I’ve also been actively using and trying to get to grips with using AI at work lately. I also featured this book in a First Lines Friday recently. Since then, I wanted to pick it up.

So, whilst AI is very much on the agenda, I’m going to nose into its very recent history to understand the journey of how it made it onto my devices earlier this year. I’m going to set myself a challenge to read this over this weekend. Can I do it?

Summary

There are a lot of books on my monthly TBR this August. It’s a recurring theme, let’s be honest. However, I’m off work next week and plan to hit the books hard. Not in that way. I’ve got a healthy mix of physical, e-book and audiobooks on my August TBR – I for sure have one for every occasion!

What are you reading this summer?

Blog Tour Review: Duel of Beasts by Boyd & Beth Morrison

Posted on August 2, 2026August 1, 2026 by fantasyst95

I�m back with yet another blog tour review! Today, I have the pleasure to review Duel of Beasts by Boyd and Beth Morrison.

Duel of Beasts was a conscious stretch out of my comfort zone. It�s set in a completely new location and historical period to many books I�ve picked up over the years. I chose it for this reason, and I dare say I�ve even learned a few things about historical events that I didn�t know took place before. But, more on that later.

As always, thanks to Rachel and the authors for the opportunity to read and review Duel of Beasts. Whilst I was provided a copy of the book for the purpose of giving my review, the thoughts expressed within this review are entirely my own.

Let�s recap the details, synopsis, and purchase links. After that, I�ll get stuck into sharing why you should pick up this book!

Duel of Beasts – Boyd & Beth Morrison

Genre: �Historical Adventure

Pages: 464

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Head of Zeus

Original Publication Date: 30 July 2026

Rating: ????

Goodreads – Duel of Beasts

avage beasts, fabulous treasures, perilous duels, and deadly treachery abound in this thrilling adventure novel set in medieval Spain.

M�laga, Spain, 1352. Knight-errant Gerard Fox and his daring wife Willa seek young noblewoman Madelena to deliver news of her brother’s death: an innocuous mission, yet one that plunges the couple into a fight for their lives against their most dangerous adversaries yet.

Madelena’s sister-in-law Helvira desires two things that Madalena now possesses: a considerable inheritance, and a letter that provides grounds for Helvira’s execution in both the Christian and Muslim worlds. With everything at stake, Helvira will stop at nothing to seize both.

Fox and Willa soon find themselves in a desperate battle to survive on a journey that will take them from the royal court at Seville to the mighty complex of the Alhambra Palace. To save Madelena and reveal the truth, the duo must outwit Helvira and her allies at every turn – and escape the ferocious creatures of Helvira’s deadly menagerie.

The unmissable new novel in the Tales of the Lawless Land series, combining thrilling historical action and clever puzzles, from�New York Times�bestselling author Boyd and expert medievalist Beth Morrison.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK Amazon US

My Thoughts…

Plot

Fans of action will not be disappointed by the plot line of Duel of Beasts. Full of conflict, twists and turns, there is action in every chapter to keep us entertained. There is very little room in Duel of Beasts for the characters to catch their breath before being thrown into the next conflict or deceit. It makes for a fun, fast paced reader that is easy to devour!

From duels and impromptu sword fights to even bullfighting competitions, Duel of Beasts has it all. The book very much lives up to its name in the vast array of animals we encounter in the story. I enjoyed the many ways characters are thrown into conflict and mortal peril.

Characters

Duel of Beasts has a number of interesting characters. What I also particularly enjoyed about this book is that the characters within come from a variety of backgrounds and faiths. Naturally, their is conflict between the Christians and Muslims in this storyline. I confess, my knowledge of history of mediaeval Spain was pretty much an non-existent before going into this book. That�s the reason I wanted to pick it up, but more on that below. Rather, what I am trying to say here is that the inclusion of this multi-faith setting and their tremulous coexistence makes for an interesting dynamic.

The main characters, Gerard and Willa, are an interesting pair. We get flashbacks into their history as the book progresses, fleshing them out to share their journey and history. They stand out because of their English heritage anyway, but as to how they find themselves roaming Europe is a journey we unveil throughout the narrative. They�re a fantastic pair.

Then, introduce Madelena, Helvira and Nayar. Intrigues within intrigues have us wondering on the motives of these characters and why they are gunning for the protagonists. Plots and deceit and lies pepper the narrative� I had great fun trying to work out motives!

Setting

As I mentioned above, I went into Duel of Beasts knowing very little about the setting, but actively wanting to explore it. I regret that such history never featured on my school curriculum. Not only that, but it�s not really featured in my reading since then either. I�m glad however that I was able to pick up Duel of Beasts and fill that gap.

I had very little appreciation for the fact that Spain at one point was ruled by sultans of the Muslim faith. Spain is known as more of a Christian country. Whilst that has remained prominent over the course of history, for an interesting period in the 8th to 15th century, the country saw somewhat coexistence of both Muslims and Christians.

I love reading books that broaden my overall knowledge of the world. History is also one of my favourite subjects. So, you can see why this book appeal to me in that it broaden my horizons in terms of European history, but also is able to provide the backdrop and conflict that helps the overall plot line in Duel of Beasts make sense and exciting to read!

Narrative Style

Set between a mostly present day narrative in the mid 14th century, with periodic flashbacks, the structure of the book is cohesive. The periodic flashbacks are dispersed when helpful to explain character situations and dynamics. Otherwise, most of our action derives from what is happening in The here and now.

What I also like about jewel of beast is that the chapters are a nice length. They are long enough for significant events to take place and make sense in the relative, but also aren�t so long that you have to put the book down mid chapter. The authors managed to strike up a healthy balance here. Overall, it adds to the reading experience.

Summary

Duel of Beasts started as a book out of my comfort zone, but quickly became the type of book I want to read more of. It broadened by knowledge of history, combines political machinations with a high-octane plot and kept me entertained for hours!

Do you want to read Duel of Beasts?

Author Bios

Boyd Morrison�is the #1�New York Times�bestselling author of twelve thrillers, including six with Clive Cussler. His first novel,�The Ark, was an Indie Next Notable pick and was translated into over a dozen languages. He has a PhD in industrial engineering from Virginia Tech. Follow Boyd on: @BoydMorrison IG: @BoydMorrisonWriter www.facebook.com/BoydMorrisonWriter

Beth Morrison�is Senior Curator of Manuscripts at the J. Paul Getty Museum. She has curated major exhibitions including ‘Imagining the Past in France, 1250-1500’, and ‘Book of Beasts: The Bestiary in the Medieval World’. She has a PhD in the History of Art from Cornell University. Follow Beth on: @BethMorrisonPhd IG: @BethMorrisonWriter http://www.facebook.com/BethMorrisonWriter

Monthly TBR – July 2026

Posted on July 4, 2026July 4, 2026 by fantasyst95

I�ve really had to reign myself in with my July TBR. A theme of every reading list I have set myself so far this year is that the list is a long one, and I don�t get to do every book on it.

My June TBR and the aim to complete the Goodreads spring reading challenge overwhelmed to me. That�s myself get stuck on lack of progress with a chunky book and fell off the wagon, so to speak.�

So, I�ve had a word with myself to shorten this list as much as I can get away with. There were also practical reasons for that decision � I have some blog tour obligations later this month that I can�t skip out on. I cannot have a repeat of last month and let that get in the way of my promise to review these books.�

July is a busy month at work, and typically I work overtime in the early days of the month. Leaning into audio allows me to read when still doing other things, from going to the gym or driving, or enjoying my crafty hobbies! I�m back into crochet lately, as well as cross-stitch!�

So, what�s the theme for July�s TBR? Completing June carried forward June reads, revisiting my highly anticipated 2026 releases and three blog tour obligations at the end of this month into early August.�

Let�s dive in!

Carryovers from June

The Pillars of the Earth

Goodreads

My first carryover from June to include in this July TVR is the read I made the most progress with of all my carryovers. Yes, I am talking about The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. As of drafting this July TBR, I am X pages into this book. That sounds significant, but when you consider this book is 1070 pages long in total, you�ll easily see that I still have some way to go!�

It�s this book that tripped me up in June. When I started it, I set out with the intention to read just over 40 pages a day. That would have seen me to the end of this book. However, I can�t always read every day. That means very quickly you can get behind, and I let this mindset get in my way of making the progress I could and ultimately I stopped reading this book towards the end of June.�

However, now I have no deadline. I am enjoying this book, so it�s one I�m going to continue with my own time rather than pressurising myself. Whilst I would like to complete this for the end of July, anything goes!

Katabasis

Goodreads

This is the book I started at the end of June to get myself out of the rut caused by The Pillars of the Earth. I have enjoyed books by R.F. Kuang several times now. Babel, The Poppy War and Yellowface all grace my �read� shelves. No doubt Katabasis will be among their number shortly.

I only made a token start to this book before the end of June. However, I enjoyed the set up of the storyline so far. I�ve also enjoyed other dark academia themed books earlier this year. Another notable mention in this genre is An Arcane Inheritance if you are looking for something of this ilk.�

Fingers crossed it lives up to the hype I�ve heard and expect from R.F. Kuang and it can get me back into the reading groove!�

Behind Closed Doors

Goodreads

My audiobook carryover into this July TBR is Behind Closed Doors. This is a relatively short book. I have only listened to this for around an hour for a couple of evenings so far, and that puts me about a third of the way into the book.�

Again, I have enjoyed the set up for this one. There is definitely more to the story than meets the eye. It�s currently being portrayed as a fairly typical story of a man controlling a woman in a new marriage. But is that really the case? It seems an obvious set up. I�m either hoping for a complete role reversal or some kind of twist that flipped this on its head. Either that, or a revenge arc for Grace.�

Reading Obligations

House of Twisted Shadows

Goodreads

A blog tour review opportunity came up for a book with a mystery and thriller leaning, but also ties to World War II. You know me, I love my historical fiction based on this time period! I�m excited to try a book from a different genre with this same leaning and ties to Nazi Germany.

I�ve got most of the months to pick up this book, as my review is due to take place on the 25th of July. Given that it�s an obligation though, I�m going to prioritise this book and hopefully read it sooner. I�m looking forward to picking this up and sharing my thoughts with you very soon!�

A Painkiller to Die For

Goodreads

My next tour follows just three days after House of Twisted Shadows. So, I need to get my skates on. I�ve often said that having a reading deadline helps motivate me. Whilst that didn�t especially help me last month, this time it�s a bit different in that I would be letting somebody else down rather than just myself.

What drew me to A Painkiller to Die For is the book�s pharmaceutical leaning. It�s not a common topic I read about, so it had novelty factor. Not only that, but there is clearly some mystery aspect to the storyline. Are the characters all who they say they are?�

Duel of Beasts

Goodreads

My final blog tour obligation on my July TBR is a medieval adventure set in Spain, of all places. Rachel was looking for people to take part in the tour, and I was intrigued.�

It seems there�s some kind of religious aspect to this book. It�s not my typical setting of novel, but that�s precisely why I want to read it! I�m always trying to diversify the books and settings I pick up. Duel of Beasts definitely fits that bill!�

2026 Releases

The Midnight Train

Goodreads

A couple of new releases on my 2026 highly anticipated releases list came out in April. However, with reading priorities and challenges to date, I�ve not yet got to them. It�s now time! This July�s TBR has lots of exciting new releases on it when you take into account my three blog tours.�

I�ve come to love Matt Haig�s writing. However, I�m a little apprehensive of this book given I�ve read less favourable reviews of this latest book. Still, I won�t know for definite until I pick it up for myself. Nevertheless, I want to give it a go and see if I agree or have my own opinions��

The Language of Liars

Goodreads

This book is all about words, their power. It leans into my own personal love of language, and that�s why I�m not so quietly optimistic that this will go down well with me.�

The sci-fi spy narrative is also a little unusual. I�ve read something similar before (Starsight) and really enjoyed it. It�s a bit of an unusual one, but all the same, I�m keen to get stuck into this one and see if it�s just as good.�

Summary

I�ve got considerably fewer books on my July TBR, and I�m planning to pick up as many as I can in audio format to make the most of reading opportunities I have. I�m ready for a fresh start, and I�ve got plenty of new releases to dive into and get excited about!�

What new release have you read recently?

Sunday Summary – 28th June 2026

Posted on June 28, 2026June 28, 2026 by fantasyst95

Another week has positively flown by! Yes, somehow it�s time for this week�s Sunday Summary instalment already.�

In last week�s post, I didn�t have a whole lot to update you on in terms of reading progress. This week feels a little bit more productive, if not the comeback I had hoped for. The truth is, I have been busy at work and that has impacted my attention span out-of-hours, so to speak. Not only that, but I�ve leant into needing some space and taken the time to enjoy playing Minecraft, as well as getting back to a huge cross-stitch project. This week I cracked out some new colours!�

So, what have I been up to here? On my blog, I published a Top Ten Tuesday featuring books on my Summer TBR. On Friday, I published the Shelf Control post that didn�t make it out last week. I featured a crime novel by a renowned author, but perhaps better known for another genre.�

Over on YouTube, I published a tour of my unread books that don�t fit on my bookshelves. There are over 50 of them – take a look to see if we have any in common!�

Books Read

The Pillars of the Earth

Progress with The Pillars of the Earth has remained slow. Now I�ve accepted I�m not finishing it by the end of June, I�ve dropped off trying to read 42 pages a day.�

So, progress with this one is going to tick along slowly. And you know what, that�s fine by me. I�ll keep plodding along to finish this book. It�s a slow-burn storyline in my eyes anyway, so I can lean into that.�

This week, I�ve read around 50 pages. Yes, progress is very slow with this one. Thankfully reading progress with my other reads this week has been better!�

Katabasis

With progress so slow on The Pillars of the Earth, I�ve dabbled with Katabasis for a change of pace. whilst I�ve only just started this book in the last couple of days, I�ve enjoyed a different storyline. I�m sure it�ll help me back on track with reading!�

Whilst I own a physical copy of this book, I�ve also got a digital copy from the library to help in moments when I can�t carry round, or want to hold, a physical book. Basically, I�m doing just about everything I can to reduce resistance to read ?

Queen of Shadows

Finally, the best progress of all this week has been on the audiobook front!�

This week, I�ve listened to the final 9 hours 20 minutes needed to finish Queen of Shadows. For the first time ever, I�ve finished my Readalong series by my own deadline ?�

Audiobooks are definitely the way to go for me with this series. Earlier books in the series were a little slow-going in terms of world-building and setting down the early foundations of the book. However, I didn�t feel that was something I encountered in Queen of Shadows.�

I�m looking forward to sharing my thoughts on this latest book very soon! Although, given we�re at the end of the month, I�ll no doubt get started with Empire of Storms in the next few days ?

Books Discovered

This Sunday Summary is another quiet one in terms of bookish additions. There are none to report this week – again ? That�s good news from where I�m standing!�

Coming Up..�

What I’m Reading!

Next Sunday Summary, I�m hoping to report more progress with The Pillars of the Earth. I don�t want to be reading it for the rest of 2026! I might set myself a goal for a couple hundred pages a week. That�s achievable and means I�ll finish the book by the end of July.�

On top of that, I�m going to pick up pace with Katabasis. Given things have slowed down in the last fortnight, I�m intentionally going back to a genre I know and love to get back in the game.�

In terms of audiobook progress, I�m starting Behind Closed Doors tonight. It�s a pretty short book, and so the audiobook is set to take me 6 hours total to read. More than doable! I�ve taken to listening to an hour before bed. I�m capable of doing more than that if I put my mind to it��

Blog

The end of June is imminent, so my usual posts are on the way. First, my monthly wrap-up will go live and update you on how far I got with my June TBR and quest to complete the Goodreads Spring 2026 reading challenge.�

Next, I�ll publish my July TBR later this week. So far, the list is looking like a mix of new releases and comeback kings. I�m excited for a fresh start!�

YouTube

In terms of YouTube content, I�ve got video versions of both of those blog posts planned for recording. However, that�s not all.�

Now I�ve finished Queen of Shadows, I�m keen to record my review of the book whilst events are fresh in my mind. Also, before I start book five, Empire of Storms.�

Finally, I�ll record a weekly update next Sunday. Fingers crossed I can get through more page count next week.�

Summary

Thanks for reading today�s Sunday Summary. Again, it�s been a slower week than usual. However, I�m keen to finish my ongoing reads and then enjoy a fresh start in the coming days.�

How has your reading progress been this week? Have you stepped back to enjoy other hobbies as I have?�

Sunday Summary – 21st June 2026

Posted on June 21, 2026June 21, 2026 by fantasyst95

Good evening friends! I don�t quite know how we�re back at Sunday evening already, but there we are. That can only mean it�s time for another Sunday Summary update!

This Sunday Summary post is likely to be a short one. As reading progress goes, I�m light on updates this week. After a busy week at work training, as well as overtime on Friday due to technical issues, I haven�t read much. Even yesterday, my other half was off work. So, a day that would normally have involved at least a couple of hours on the sofa with Pillars of the Earth was not to be. Alas, I can�t be an avid reader every minute of every day�

Before I get onto the usual bookish updates, let�s quickly recap the content I�ve shared so far this week!

Over on YouTube, I shared my thoughts on whether book subscription boxes are worth it, including the pros and cons. Then, later this week I shared a review of Heir of Fire, the third book in the Throne of Glass series I�m hosting a readalong for.�

Earlier, I published my weekly vlog which is the equivalent of this Sunday Summary update.�

Here on the blog, I shared a Game of Thrones themed quiz on Tuesday. It�s the first time I�ve posted anything like it before. I�m also keen to build upon it casually over time, and maybe write more based on popular books. Let me know if you have any preferences for other books or series.�

I had intended a Shelf Control to go live on Friday. However, with the late finish after a busy week, I made the executive decision to give myself a night off and roll this over to next week.

Books Read

The Pillars of the Earth

I confess, physical reading progress has been the slowest this week. As of drafting this post, I�ve barely read 30 pages this week. Even then, most of those were earlier today�

The reasons for this are largely circumstantial and I�m hopeful to put this week to bed and start afresh tomorrow. Does it mean I�m likely to finish The Pillars of the Earth before the end of June. Yeah. Not optimistic about that one. However, that doesn�t mean I�m giving up on it or relaxing on the pace. I wanted to read this one anyway and it�s an entertaining read so far.

Queen of Shadows

Over the course of this week, I�ve listened pretty consistently to Queen of Shadows, around half an hour a day. Overall, I�ve listened to 2 hours 45mins over the course of the week.

Not a whole lot of progress, but I�m pleased that at least one aspect of my reading habits remained consistent this week.

I�m enjoying this book in audio format. It�s certainly helping with some of the issues I had with Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire in the density of information at the beginning of the books. In the grand scheme of things, it working out better than I hoped. Fingers crossed I can make the most of listening time next week and finish this book before the end of June. It would mean listening to around an hour a day, which is certainly achievable!

Books Discovered

I added more than enough books to my TBR last week. So, I�ve reined it in again this week. No news to report!

Coming Up�

What I�m Reading�

Naturally, priority next week goes to keeping pace with The Pillars of the Earth and Queen of Shadows, aka my current reads. Much the same as last week really…

Blog

My first post of next week is a Top Ten Tuesday. This week�s topic involves sharing my Summer TBR. Looking beyond completing the Goodreads Spring 2026 Challenge (before the end of June, or after), I�ve got plenty of books I�m excited to get to. On Tuesday, I�ll share some of those.

On Friday I�ll post the Shelf Control I didn�t get to this week – have no fear!

Finally, at the end of the week I�ll return with (hopefully) a more productive Sunday Summary post. Let�s hope more reading progress is the theme of that post.

YouTube

I�ve recorded one video for next week, as it�s a reasonable length video. In that, I share a tour of the physical unread books that currently don�t fit on my bookshelves. There�s quite a lot, so I hope you can find a book in amongst these we have in common or that you�re interested in too.

Then, later in the week, I�ll share my next weekly vlog. Again, hopefully with more reading progress than I disclose today.

Summary

Thanks for reading this Sunday Summary update. It may not be the best of weeks, but these things happen. It�s an honest account of what it can be like as a reader and content creator. So, I hope this honesty lands and you can see that I�m not perfect. But, I do my best and hold my hands up when things don�t come to plan.

Have you had better reading progress than me this week?

Sunday Summary – 14th June 2026

Posted on June 14, 2026 by fantasyst95

This week has been a busy one, and I�m glad to catch you up on my current reads and content shared in this latest Sunday Summary.�

Its felt a little weird this week. Between recent bank holidays and time off work, this was my first full week for a while. No rest for the wicked! I�ve put out a full complement of content despite a full week on my plate. Let�s take a look at what I shared��

My first post of the week was in response to news that some libraries in the UK are effectively being censored by the councils running them. Here�s my thoughts on why I don�t agree with that. Later this week, I shared a First Lines Friday. This week�s book is a non-fiction book on my physical unread TBR. It�s topical at the moment given it addresses recently available technology.�

Over on YouTube, I shared two book reviews with you, as well as my weekly vlog video just a few minutes ago. My reviews were for books with romance links, so if you enjoy romance you are in for a treat. The first review was for Julia Quinn�s An Offer From a Gentleman. The second review was for the second book of my readalong series Throne of Glass, being Crown of Midnight.�

Books Read

Project Hail Mary

When I caught up with you in last week�s Sunday Summary update, I had a few hours left of Project Hail Mary to finish.�

In the grand scheme, I finished this pretty quickly. I was really invested in learning the ending of the book. One aspect I really loved as well was the nerdy science that occurs naturally throughout the narrative. It�s very clear a lot of time and effort went into the research of the book. Although I haven�t read any books by Andy Weir before this one, Project Hail Mary sold me on his books. You�ll see just how much when I get to TBR additions later��

Project Hail Mary was a fun listen, and productive in that it ticks off two Goodreads Spring Challenge achievements off the list.�

The Pillars of the Earth

Since last week, I�ve read 280 pages towards The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I�m a little behind the 380 page target I worked out in last week�s Sunday Summary. However, I know I can get that read once this post goes live.�

I typically spend weekends at home, with maybe a couple of short errands out and about. However, I wasn�t home most of the day yesterday and that impacted my reading time. Whilst I do read a little at the hairdressers, it�s nowhere near the quality reading time I get at home as it�s busy. Plus, I usually end up yacking with everyone there.�

So, I�m close to where I need to be and the plan is to catch up this evening. As I�m reading this book throughout the remainder of June, I need to be 760 pages into The Pillars of the Earth by my next Sunday Summary.�

For a long book, I�m getting on with the narrative. It�s for sure a slow-burn read for me, and it�s working fine. This historical fiction is engaging in its wider backdrop, but also in the scheming taking place between characters. It�s a great read so far, and I�m looking forward to reading on in the next week.�

Queen of Shadows

Finally, I started my next Throne of Glass readalong read. Or, in this case, listen.�

Yes, I�m picking up Queen of Shadows in audiobook format this month. Previously, I�ve struggled with pacing in the early days of the books whilst new material is unveiled. To get around the issue of reading on my phone causing distractions, and also to help with pacing, I�m trying audio this month.�

So far, I�m just shy of 20% into the opening of the book. As things stand, I have had no trouble with pacing at all. The audiobook is working well; if things continue, it�s going to be the way I finish this readalong.�

I�m invested in the series and where events are going to take us next. What happens to Celaena returning to Adarlan? I can�t wait to find out!�

Books Discovered

In previous weeks I�ve been pretty good for ticking books off the reading list. However, this week I�ve made up for previous good behaviour by adding The Martian and Artemis by Andy Weir. On top of those, I also added The Daughter of Auschwitz, The Twins of Auschwitz and Of Wind and Fate.�

Told you I�ve made up for recent good behaviour, didn�t I?!�

Coming Up��

What I�m Reading��

Naturally, priority next week goes to keeping pace with The Pillars of the Earth and Queen of Shadows, aka my current reads. On top of that, I�d like to get to a book I intended to get to this week, which is Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe by Emma T�rzs.�

Blog

Coming up on the blog next week, I�ve got a different piece of content to share. I�m hoping to build a Game of Thrones related quiz. Want to test your knowledge on all things Game of Thrones? Watch this space and take the test to find out if you are a GoT buff, or if you need to re-read the series. As if you need an excuse��

On Friday I�m back with a Shelf Control post. If you are unfamiliar with this series, I look at upcoming books on my TBR and share why I�m excited to read them. I look forward to looking ahead and discovering my next feature later this week.�

Finally, Sunday Summary is the final post to wrap-up the week. As always, I�ll recap current reads, content shared, as well as give you insight on upcoming content. Stay tuned for my next weekly update.�

YouTube

On YouTube, I�ve got a discussion post on subscription boxes recorded and ready for editing. As well, I have a review video for Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas coming up towards the end of next week. I hope you are as excited to hear about this book as I was to record my thoughts!�

Finally, I�ll post my weekly vlog at the end of the week to share much the same information as I do here in these Sunday Summary posts.�

Summary�

Thanks for reading my latest Sunday Summary. It�s been a good week, but I hope I can push on a little and get a couple of finishes in next week.�

What have you read this weekend?

Sunday Summary – 7th June 2026

Posted on June 7, 2026 by fantasyst95

Happy Sunday, fellow readers! Today�s Sunday Summary, thankfully, has a few completions and new bookish starts to share. Given the size of my June TBR, which I published earlier this week, it�s the best I can hope for in setting myself up to complete the list.�

Before I get into the reading updates, what else have I published? Here on the blog, my monthly wrap-up of May reading progress went live at the beginning of the week. Then, I shared my blog tour review of Witch Hunt by B.D. Spargo on Thursday. If you�re into thrillers set in the infamous backdrop of Lancashire�s Pendle Hill, this is definitely one to look at!�

Over on YouTube, I shared my monthly wrap-up for May, as well as my June TBR. If you�d prefer to watch or listen to those as opposed to reading the details here, there are links for you to check those out! Finally, I also posted my round-up of this week just a short time ago. I�d like to hope you�ll carry on reading as you�re here. However, if you would prefer to watch or listen to my update instead, you have the option ??

Books Read

Heir of Fire

In last week�s Sunday Summary, I shared hopes to finish Heir of Fire after publishing that weekly update. Well, good news, friends – I did! And you know what, it wasn�t too late either. I maybe went to bed around 00:20. A bit later than usual (although that used to be my normal�).

I really enjoyed Heir of Fire. Whilst the beginning of the book was a little slower-paced, the action has us inevitably ramping up pace and eager to get to the conclusion. It�s set up the next book in the series well, and I�m excited to read on and find out more in the very near future!�

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Another finish to report in this Sunday Summary is Somewhere Beyond the Sea. As of last week�s update, I was 80% into this audiobook and I had around two and a half hours remaining.�

Well, I made pretty light work of it, if I�m honest. The office was quieter than usual this week with many people opting to WFH. Locally, we�ve been hosting the TT this week. Whilst I can�t say we had the best of luck with weather and red flags delaying and/or calling off the races, the disruption meant many opted to stay at home and avoid the traffic and general disruption.�

I, however, went into the office. I make no secret of the fact I don�t like WFH and so I continued to go in. As it was so quiet though, and I had some repetitive work to do, I was able to listen to Somewhere Beyond the Sea at the same time.�

This was a fun listen, and I�m glad I am now up-to-date with this series. I�m not sure if any more books are planned, but as of right now I�m caught up. It�s cosy, wholesome and great to see the children come into their own and develop confidence and solidarity. The only downside of the experience is that this book did not qualify for the Pride Month award in the Goodreads Spring 2026 Reading Challenge like I hoped. However, I wasn�t able to tell when I chose my book and on reflection, none of the books on my TBR would have qualified anyway. At least I can tick another book off the TBR though, which is a win!�

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

Over the course of this week, I�ve progressed with Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon by James Hibberd. This carryover from my May TBR was another great read and well received. If you are unfamiliar, this book is about the challenges and behind-the-scenes detail of filming the TV show. Personally, I enjoyed the commentary on the challenges of filming such an epic show and doing what nobody else has done before.�

However, it�s not just director commentary. We get tidbits from the cast and crew that make up the whole show. Actors� decisions on changes from the books, as well as how they�ve chosen to portray characters and how they think the characters felt at various and often divisive moments of the plot.�

I loved this book. Then again, I love A Game of Thrones. Hardly surprising the book would go down well, is it?! Since last week�s Sunday Summary, I read the final 350 pages or so to finish Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon yesterday.�

Project Hail Mary

I�d only just started Project Hail Mary when I updated you last week. Overall, I�d only listened to the first 1hr 20mins or so when we last chatted. Over the last 7 days, I�ve listened to around 7 hours of audio. In terms of progress, that brings me to around 70% total progress in the audiobook.�

I�ve been listening to the audiobook at x1.4 speed. It�s not often I can listen this fast, but this particular audio works well at this speed. It�s also an engaging storyline. We start the book in the perspective of present-day Ryland, who wakes up on a spaceship with two deceased colleagues. He has no memory initially of how or why he is there, but slowly flashbacks return his memory and remind him of his purpose.�

I had one blip with this book when a certain character is introduced. I felt it was a little farfetched, but it very quickly warmed on me. So, despite my reservations, I�ve really enjoyed the audiobook so far. I�m hopeful I can finish the remaining 3 hrs 40 mins very soon and discover how this book ends. I honestly have no idea where this is going to go at present!�

The Pillars of the Earth

Finally, I�ve started The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett this weekend. Given I only finished Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon yesterday, I�ve not had a lot of time with this book as yet.�

So far, I�ve only read the first 42 pages. It�s a token start, but one I�m hoping to build on in coming weeks. My plan for this book is to read it slowly over the course of the month. To achieve that, I need to read a minimum of 42 pages a day. I still need to read today�s quota of pages, but I�m hoping I can read a little beyond that tonight and get a little ahead.�

Books Discovered

This week has given the type of progress I can only hope for – several books off the TBR and no new additions! It doesn�t happen very often, let�s be honest.�

Coming Up��

What I�m Reading��

So, reading plans for next week! In terms of audiobook listens, my plan is to progress with and finish Project Hail Mary in the first half of the week ideally. Then, I�d like to move on to start Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas and start the next phase of my readalong ??

In terms of physical reads, I�m hoping to maintain progress with The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett so I can complete this ahead of the end of June. That means reading around 42 pages a day, so I need to be around 380 pages in time for my next Sunday Summary. That�s not the only book on my physical TBR I�d like to pick up this week. Around that, I�d like to break this up with Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe by Emma T�rzs.�

Blog

I�ve got a couple of fun posts planned for you next week. One of these is on the back of news I read towards the end of last week about some UK libraries not being permitted to promote events around the likes of Pride Month and Black History Month. I have thoughts on the move by Reform UK who run Essex County Council, so I�ll share more on that in the coming days.�

On Friday, I�ll return with another First Lines Friday feature. One thing I�ve become very aware of recently is the size of my unread physical TBR. My plan is to take a look at some of those and find a suitable feature from the ranks. Hopefully, it inspires me to pick it up soon!�

Finally, I�ll return with another Sunday Summary update. I can only hope for another week of similar reading productivity. If I can, June�s TBR will be a breeze.�

YouTube

Today I recorded two review videos for next week. I want to be sure I don�t get behind. So, next week I�m sharing my thoughts on the second book of my Throne of Glass readalong, Crown of Midnight.�

I�ve also recorded a review for another romance genre novel. That one is An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn. I hope you can take a look at those videos as they go live in the coming days.�

Like here, I�ll also share the equivalent of my Sunday Summary video update next Sunday.�

Summary�

Thanks for reading this Sunday Summary. I�m glad to share such a productive week, and can only hope it continues!�

What book have you finished recently, and what did you make of it?�

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

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

Challenger�

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

Behind Closed Doors

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

At just under 300 pages, this feels achievable!�

Summary�

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

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

Monthly Wrap-Up – May 2026

Posted on June 1, 2026 by fantasyst95

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

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

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

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

Let�s take a look at the books I picked up in May!�

Books Read�

Crown of Midnight

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

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

�

Why We Get Sick

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

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

An insightful read nonetheless!�

The Eagle Will Rise

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

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

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

Witch Hunt

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

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

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

Heir of Fire

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

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

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Goodreads Link

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

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

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

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

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

Okay, that�s a lie� more than a few!�

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

Project Hail Mary

Goodreads Link

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

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

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

Summary�

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

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

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

Shelf Control #104 – 29/05/2026

Posted on May 29, 2026 by fantasyst95

***Today�s Shelf Control contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the featured 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 post, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

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.

Today�s Shelf Control is a bit of a change-up on other recent Shelf Control features. My last two were non-fiction reads. However, if that�s not your bag and you prefer historical fiction, stick with me. Today�s feature is a daring WW2 historical fiction novel with a female lead.�

Intrigued? Let�s take a look!�

Charlotte Gray – Sebastian Faulks�

Genre: Historical fiction �

Pages: 495

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Penguin�

Publication Date: 13 Apr 2013

Amazon Purchase Link

Goodreads – Charlotte Gray

In 1942, Charlotte Gray, a young Scottish woman, goes to Occupied France on a dual mission:to run an apparently simple errand for a British special operations group and to search for her lover, an English airman called Peter Gregory, who has gone missing in action. In the small town of Lavaurette, Sebastian Faulks presents a microcosm of France and its agony in ‘the black years’, here is the full range of collaboration, from the tacit to the enthusiastic, as well as examples of extraordinary courage and altruism. Through the local resistance chief Julien, Charlotte meets his father a Jewish painter whose inspiration has failed him. In Charlotte’s friendship with both men, Faulks opens up the theme of false memory and of paradises?both national and personal?that appear irredeemably lost. In a series of shocking narrative climaxes in which the full extent of French collusion in the Nazi holocaust is delineated, Faulks brings the story to a resolution of redemptive love. In the delicacy of its writing, the intimacy of its characterisation and its powerful narrative scenes of harrowing public events, Charlotte Gray is a worthy successor to Birdsong.

My Thoughts

I love the sound of Charlotte Gray. I�m particularly intrigued by the female lead. A lot of action in WW2 fiction often takes place by male counterparts. However, in Charlotte Gray, a woman is stepping into danger.�

Often there is a hidden side to the war in that the lives of families left behind are forgotten. Their names and stories aren�t told on memorials, and yet the war impacted them just as much as their partners, husbands and fathers who are sent away.�

I�ve enjoyed similar fiction before, the most recent and reminiscent of this setting is All The Light We Cannot See. I enjoyed that setting and the personal stories that take place on this wider narrative. Now, I can only hope for the same in Charlotte Gray. �

I can�t wait to check out Charlotte Gray and I hope you�re as excited to read it as I am. I�m not sure whether I�m going to pick this up as a standalone or whether I�ll pick up the earlier books first. I�ll decide nearer the time!�

Thanks for reading today’s Shelf Control. Are you interested in reading with me? If you like the sound of it, grab a copy and read with me!�