Tag: non-fiction

Shelf Control #107 – 18/09/2026

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Happy Friday friends! Today’s Shelf Control is an exciting feature for non-fiction fans, especially if you enjoy anthropology and human history. If there is one thing I am pleased about when it comes to reading, it’s how varied the books I read are. I added today’s Shelf Control feature in January 2022. It’s been a while, so let’s hope I can finally read this soon! 

Here’s a reminder of what my Shelf Control regular feature is all about, then I’ll share more on today’s Shelf Control feature. 

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies; 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.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind – Yuval Noah Harari 

Genre: Non-fiction  

Pages: 466

Audience: Adult

Publisher:  Vintage

Publication Date: 04 Sept 2014

Goodreads – Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

What makes us brilliant? What makes us deadly? What makes us Sapiens?

One of the world’s preeminent historians and thinkers, Yuval Noah Harari challenges everything we know about being human.

Earth is 4.5 billion years old. In just a fraction of that time, one species among countless others has conquered it: us.

In this bold and provocative book, Yuval Noah Harari explores who we are, how we got here and where we’re going.

My Thoughts

I can’t say I’ve read much on the history of humankind, or spent any great deal of time on anthropology. However, it is a topic I’m looking forward to trying in picking up today’s Shelf Control feature. 

At 460 odd pages, it’s an approachable way to dabble in the subject. Based on the book title, it seems like a light-touch overview of our entire history. That’s great for a newcomer to the subject as I am. Then, if there’s a particular topic of interest I can dig into it later! Winner. 

This book has been broadly well received, but it does have its critics. Given my newness to the subject, I’m not sure I’ve got anything to say about that at the moment. I’ll just see how it reads and go from there. 

Have you read Sapiens, or any other books like it that you’d like to recommend? Is this your type of read? 

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Monthly Wrap-Up – August 2026

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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! 

Books Read 

Duel of Beasts

Goodreads Link

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.

Supremacy

Goodreads Link 

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 & Dimwits

Goodreads Link 

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.

The Knife Maker of Venice

Goodreads Link 

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. 

Tower of Dawn

Goodreads Link 

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

Goodreads Link 

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. 

The Other Life of Mary English

Goodreads Link 

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. 

What have you read this Summer? 

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Sunday Summary – 16th August 2026

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Happy Sunday folks! Welcome to my latest Sunday Summary update. Depending on where you are, you may have had mixed weather today. I’m actually going to say it’s a bit cooler and some rain has come in. I wasn’t made for heat 🤣

What have you been reading this week? As for myself, I’ll be answering that question very soon. However, first, let’s recap the content I have shared so far this week.

First on the list is a Top Ten Tuesday post in which I talked about the books I was reading at this time over the last seven years. I’m surprised I had to go back this far. Given I’m usually listening to an audiobook and reading a physical book at the same time, I figured I’d only have to go back five years to get to a total of 10 books in this post. However, they were quite a few years where that wasn’t the case… 

Next, I shared a book review yesterday for Stephen King’s The Shining. I enjoy talking about this book, although it has been a while since I read it. I picked up this book in November 2023, to give you an idea of how far back I had to cast my memory. What horror should I pick up this Halloween? Get your recommendations in now! 😂 

Books Read 

Tower of Dawn 

In last week’s Sunday Summary, I shared I’d started and made around four hours reading progress with Tower of Dawn. 

I’ve been at home enjoying a week of annual leave this week. So, I’ve had plenty more time to listen to audiobooks whilst pottering around the house, the garden and enjoying my crafty hobbies. Whilst I haven’t listened every day, the days I have listened, I have read solid chunks. In total over this week, I have spent just over 8 hours and 20 minutes listening to Tower of Dawn. Accounting for reading at x1.5 times speed, that means I’ve listened to just dry of 13 hours worth of the audiobook this week. 

How much do I have left? At the increased speed, I have 3 1/2 hours left of listening time. At default speed, that’s just over five hours of audio. 

This book has taken a bit of an unexpected turn, at least as far as my expectations went. However, I’ve enjoyed the detour if you like from the main storyline, and it’s been good to catch up with the characters within. Can I say I’m a huge fan of the romance in this story? No. It’s also a trope I really don’t like in romance, so I’ve not really vibed with that. However, I like the characters concerned on an individual level so it’s been a tolerable listen… and I’m intrigued as to how this is going to come together with main storyline in the final book!

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

When I chatted with you in last week’s Sunday Summary, I had not long started Supremacy. What I had hoped to finish this book this week, I am still reading this book as of this Sunday Summary. I’ve had to pop this down temporarily in order to pick up and read a blog tour obligation book, being The Knife Maker of Venice which I’m due to review on Wednesday next week.

I made the majority of my progress with this book on Wednesday this week. I’m enjoying the topic of AI and exploring how it came to be the technology. We are learning how to use in such a short period of time from its inception. 

As of this Sunday Summary update, I have just over 120 pages left of this book before the acknowledgements and source material. I’m hoping this won’t take long to finish, but The Knife Maker of Venice has to come first. 

The Knife Maker of Venice

Finally, I’ve started The Knife Maker of Venice today. I had intended to start it earlier than today, but there we go. Nevertheless, I’ve enjoyed the start and can’t wait to read more. I’m intrigued as to what is going to happen to the protagonists to separate them. That will follow soon I’m sure. The first couple of chapters are already setting the scene.  

I’ve only got a short deadline, so obviously I’ll be continuing this tonight and making this the top priority today and tomorrow. 

Books Discovered

We’re back to a week of no updates this week. After adding Yesteryear last week, there’s no new additions on my TBR. 

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

As of this Sunday Summary, here’s what I’m looking to read next week:- 

  • Finish Tower of Dawn – reading at x1.5 speed, I’ve got around 3 1/2 hours of audio left.
  • Listen to The Midnight Train 
  • Start and finish The Knife Maker of Venice – blog tour obligation 19/08/2026
  • Continue and finish Supremacy

Blog

My blog tour review for The Knife Maker of Venice is due on Wednesday next week. Naturally, my reading priority is to finish this book so I can share my thoughts on this book on time 🤗

Later in the week, I’ll return with a regular Friday feature. Next week, I’m due to share another Shelf Control. My intended feature is a Booker Prize winner that handles race and discrimination. Curious? I hope so! I can’t wait to share with you ☺️

Finally, I’ll be back with another Sunday Summary this time next week. I’m back at work next week, so it’s back to normal routine. That shouldn’t change my reading habits though! 

Summary 

Thanks for reading today’s Sunday Summary post. What have you been reading this week? 

I’m also looking for recommendations ahead of Halloween this year – are there any supernatural or horror books you want to recommend to me? 

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Sunday Summary – 9th August 2026

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Last week’s Sunday Summary went live first thing on Monday morning. However, you could be forgiven if you didn’t see it. This week I undertook some behind-the-scenes work to transfer my domain to another provider. After having some IT issues for some time, I logged a ticket with my provider after ruling out my own settings as the problem. However, a distinct lack of service prompted me to make the change. 

That change took place around Monday afternoon, and I didn’t get my site back online until around Wednesday or Thursday. Apologies if you missed me in that time! However, the good news is I’m back and ready to share my latest reading and blog updates here in this Sunday Summary. Strap in! 

This week, I shared both my monthly wrap-up for reading progress in July, as well as my monthly TBR for August. Both were pretty long posts, even if the reading progress wasn’t quite what I hoped in July. That reflects in my August TBR, in that there are a number of books on this reading list that are from TBR’s past.

Books Read 

Empire of Storms 

Unlike my last Sunday Summary update, reading progress with Empire of Storms has gone much better. I listened to this book throughout the week, in fact, forgetting to set my timers multiple times throughout the week and consequently finished this audiobook no less than three times. The trouble is, I don’t remember finishing it the first two times because I was asleep! 

However, I did finish this audiobook a third and final time yesterday. I had my doubts at one point as to whether I was going to get on with and finish the remainder of the series. Quite a few plot lines came together that made the storyline quite romance-y, and I wasn’t a huge fan. Sorry, I’m sure there are plenty of you that absolutely love this slower intention that comes out. I’m not one of those people. That’s why I’m reaching for a glass as opposed to A Court of Thorns and Roses. Sorry, not sorry. 

However, I got over that, and the conclusion to this book reminded me just why I am invested in the fantasy side of this series. Needless to say, I’ve dived into Tower of Dawn already.

Tower of Dawn 

Speaking of the devil, I’ve made a solid start with this second audiobook. I started this listen yesterday, so it’s nothing groundbreaking in terms of reading progress. Still, four hours’ worth is decent considering I racked that up after Empire of Storms yesterday. I took a break today, but I’m on annual leave next week and home by myself for much of it. So, audiobooks for company… 

And, as you will have seen in my August TBR, I have a few books to keep me occupied.

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

On a whim, I started Supremacy earlier this week. AI is a bit of an ongoing focus at work at the moment. Personally, I’m trying to learn how I can use it most effectively. With this in mind, it got me thinking about how we started using ChatGPT and its relatively short history. We all know how fast technology progresses, and the birth and widespread use of ChatGPT and similar tech within just a few years is a prime example. It has its upsides and its downs, but one of my aims is to make sure I use it responsibly. 

So, I’m curious as to what went into the production of AI on a wider scale. My understanding from this book is that the people who started to develop the models we see widely today started off with altruistic intentions. However, as funding was required in order to make the project what it is today, they got sold out to bigger companies like Google in order to scale. With this drive to get to market, have any shortcuts been taken or less than ethical actions taken place? 

Books Discovered

I’m finally breaking my streak. I’ve no new books added to my TBR for what feels like the longest time. In reality, it’s probably been a couple of months. Thankfully, this update isn’t too much – I’ve added one book. I’ve seen a few people reading a book called Yesteryear. It’s only when I saw a news update yesterday about a movie adaptation with Anne Hathaway that I got an idea for what the book was about. 

Obviously, with its near dystopian theme, I’m intrigued and want to read it! 

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

We’re onto the fun part of this Sunday Summary, what I share with you the books I’m planning to read over the course of this week. Being off work, I’m hoping to complete several titles this week. In no particular order, here’s what I’m hoping to pick up, and in cases, finish, in the next seven days.

  • Finish Tower of Dawn – reading at x1.5 speed, I’ve got around 12 hours of audio left. With five days on my own at home this week, this is plenty achievable!
  • Listen to The Midnight Train 
  • Continue and finish Supremacy
  • Start and finish The Knife Maker of Venice – blog tour obligation 19/08/2026
  • Continue Katabasis if I have time, but it is lower priority than The Knife Maker of Venice

Blog

So, what content am I pushing out next week? 

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is a fun way to look back at my history as a blogger and reader. The theme is Books I Was Reading On This Day Over the Last Ten Years. Admittedly, my reading history is going to be a little spotty towards the end of that date range. So, I’m going to lean into the fact that I quite often listen to audiobooks and read physical books at the same time. So, the date range I use is probably going to be more like five years, and I’ll have a couple of books in each year. At least, that’s what I expect. I may need to go back a little further, but we’ll see how the list pans out. 

I’ve published a few reviews of late, but this week, I’m going to share my thoughts on a more popular title compared to the recently released I’ve featured. That title is a cult classic from Stephen King – The Shining! 

Finally, I’ll be back at the same time again next week with another Sunday Summary update. Fingers crossed, I have lots of reading updates to share with you. My August TBR reading progress depends on it. I’m ready to get back on track with my Goodreads reading goal and make a dent in both the Summer Reading Challenge and my own personal reading challenge. 

Summary 

As always, thanks for reading today’s Sunday Summary. What have you read recently, and would you recommend it to me?

What’s the most recent book you’ve read when you have learned something from it?

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Book Review: Twelve Years a Slave – Solomon Northup

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Twelve Years a Slave is a hard-hitting read. Learning how Solomon Northup ended up in bondage for over a decade, its scary how easily he fell into the wrong hands. If you want to read about very personal, heart-breaking story of those kept against their will and forced into hard labour, abuse and worse, then read on to find out more about Twelve Years a Slave.

Twelve Years a Slave – Solomon Northup

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 363

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Eakin Films and Publishing

Publication Date: 1853

Rating: ????

Goodreads – Twelve Years a Slave

Twelve Years a Slave, sub-title: Narrative of Solomon Northup, citizen of New-York, kidnapped in Washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the Red River in Louisiana, is a memoir by Solomon Northup as told to and edited by David Wilson. It is a slave narrative of a black man who was born free in New York state but kidnapped in Washington, D.C., sold into slavery, and kept in bondage for 12 years in Louisiana. He provided details of slave markets in Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, as well as describing at length cotton and sugar cultivation on major plantations in Louisiana.

My Thoughts…

It shouldn’t be a surprise that a book of this subject matter isnt the easiest to read. Its a personal account of being kept as a slave, beaten, starved, tortured and forced into hard labour. Whilst it focuses primarily on Solomons experience, we naturally see other slaves and the institutional level of abuse these people faced for years. However, Im an advocate for reading about difficult things, the worst sides of humanity. Brushing these things under the carpet invalidates the experiences of victims. Not only that, but we dont learn from these things.

I wanted to read this book as its obviously a well-known title, and I was invested in the subject. However, when I picked it up in September 2023, it wasnt plain sailing. The books was first published not long after Solomons release in 1853. In the grand scheme of history, its only in our recent past. However, language changes quite a bit in that timeframe. The style of the language was a bit of a barrier for me. I found it hard to get into initially. But, I persevered and Im glad I did. Usually, readability is the key reason I would DNF a book. If I cant get on with the narrative style, its make-or-break. On this occasion though, I stuck with it and got used to it enough that I could get on with the book.

I enjoyed reading about a period of history, and from a perspective that was little-covered in my school curriculum. Whilst I have no doubt its more prominent in modern history classes, it wasnt really a topic touched on in any detail during my time there. The scary fact is that its fairly recent history. This isnt our distant past!

Summary

Twelve Years a Slave is a poignant narrative I recommend everyone try. Even if it isnt typically your cup of tea, its a very personal story about a huge societal problem that hasnt gone away.

Modern slavery is very much a thing. Twelve Years a Slave is a far more traditional tale of slavery as we recognise it from history. The underlying prejudice and discrimination that goes with it is still sadly around today. However, I can only hope that hearing more from minority voices we can empathise and correct our behaviour as a society.

Have you read Twelve Years a Slave? Whats your take?

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Monthly Wrap-Up – June 2026

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

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

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

Books Read

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Goodreads Link

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

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

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

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

Goodreads Link

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

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

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

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

Project Hail Mary

Goodreads Link

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

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

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

Queen of Shadows

Goodreads Link

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

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

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

The Pillars of the Earth

Goodreads Link

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

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

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

Katabasis

Goodreads Link

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

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

Behind Closed Doors

Goodreads Link

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

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

Only time will tell!

Summary

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

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

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First Lines Friday – 12/06/2026

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***Todays First Lines Friday contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase todays 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.***

 

In todays First Lines Friday, Im specifically looking to feature a book on my physical, unread TBR. In last weeks Sunday Summary, I set out my intention to look through my bookshelves for such a book.

Theres a wide spectrum of genres and authors on the list. I had no agenda in terms of any particular book to feature. Rather, I nosed through what I had until I found something interesting.

Im pleased with todays pick. Its a pretty topical non-fiction, and Im keen to get to it soon whilst its still relevant.

Lets take a look at the opening, then check out the details of the book!

 

After picking up this book and reading these first few words, you might be wondering if a human wrote them.

Thats okay. Im not offended.

Two years ago, that thought would not have even crossed your mind. But today, machines are generating articles, books, illustrations, and computer code that seem indistinguishable from the content created by people. Remember the novel-writing machine in the dystopian future of George Orwells 1984 and his versificator that wrote popular music? Those things exist now, and the change happened so fast its given the public whiplash, leaving us wondering whether todays office workers will have jobs in the next year or two. Millions of white-collar professionals suddenly look vulnerable. Talented young illustrators are wondering if they should bother going to art school.

 

 

Supremacy – Parmy Olson

Genre: Non-Fiction

Pages: 336

Audience: Adult

Publisher: St Martins Press

Publication Date: 10 Sept 2024

 

Goodreads – Supremacy

Amazon Purchase Link

 

When ChatGPT was released, the world changed overnight. Even as we all played with the new toy, a very real danger was quickly coming to light: that untested automations would undermine our way of life insidiously, sucking value out of our economy, replacing high-level creative jobs and enabling a new, terrifying era of disinformation.

It was never meant to be this way. The founders of the two companies behind the most advanced AIs in existence Open AI (ChatGPT) and DeepMind (Bard) started their journeys determined to solve humanitys greatest problems. But they couldnt develop their technologies without huge amounts of money money that Microsoft and Google were more than happy to give them, in exchange for the most powerful seats at the table.

From award-winning journalist Parmy Olson, Supremacy is the astonishing, untold, behind-the-scenes story of the battle between two AI companies, their struggles to use their tech for good, and the dangerous direction that theyre now going in. Featuring a cast of larger-than-life characters, including Elon Musk, Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Peter Thiel, Supremacy is a story of manipulation, exploitation, secrecy and of ruthless, relentless human progress progress that will impact all of us for years to come.

 

My Thoughts…

A book around AI and the race between two huge companies to commercialise the new technology is a very topical read. With this in mind, Im keen to pick up Supremacy by Parmy Olson whilst its message is still culturally relevant. Especially as technology moves on so fast, the topic quickly falls out of current events and into history in the blink of an eye.

Im interested in this book from two angles. The first is the business aspect of both Microsoft and Google competing with each other to get to market, or provide a better product, first. The second is from the perspective of wanting to learn about AI. How did two tech giants endeavour to make such a huge project? If you have played with artificial intelligence in any way, shape or form, youll see that its already pretty comprehensive. Sure, it still has its flaws, and it should be taken with a pinch of salt. However, when you consider the scope of knowledge of the average person versus what information is at your fingertips now using tool like ChatGPT or DeepMind, its impressive stuff.

Personally, Im not so sure the likes of AI will threaten jobs as much as this book suggests. I can only hope it is a scaremonger and that AI becomes a tool to make our jobs easier, rather than a tool to replace humans. Jobs will look different for many, but not become absent in all cases.

Im also excited to dive into this topical read as its a book on my physical TBR. Im making an effort to get through my physical bookshelf and therefore that makes Supremacy an ideal candidate to pick up soon.

Have you read Supremacy or any other AI non-fiction books lately? If so, do you have any recommendations? If you are intrigued to read Supremacy with me, dont forget you can use this linkto grab a copy for yourself.

Thanks for reading today’s First Lines Friday!

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Sunday Summary – 7th June 2026

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Happy Sunday, fellow readers! Todays 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, its 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 youre into thrillers set in the infamous backdrop of Lancashires 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 youd 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. Id like to hope youll carry on reading as youre 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 weeks 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 wasnt 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. Its set up the next book in the series well, and Im 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 weeks 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 Im honest. The office was quieter than usual this week with many people opting to WFH. Locally, weve been hosting the TT this week. Whilst I cant 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 dont 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 Im glad I am now up-to-date with this series. Im not sure if any more books are planned, but as of right now Im caught up. Its 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 wasnt 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, Ive 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, its 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 theyve 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 weeks Sunday Summary, I read the final 350 pages or so to finish Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon yesterday.

 

Project Hail Mary

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

Ive been listening to the audiobook at x1.4 speed. Its not often I can listen this fast, but this particular audio works well at this speed. Its 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, Ive really enjoyed the audiobook so far. Im 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, Ive started The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett this weekend. Given I only finished Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon yesterday, Ive not had a lot of time with this book as yet.

So far, Ive only read the first 42 pages. Its a token start, but one Im 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 todays quota of pages, but Im 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 doesnt happen very often, lets be honest.

 

Coming Up

What Im 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, Id 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, Im 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. Thats not the only book on my physical TBR Id like to pick up this week. Around that, Id like to break this up with Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe by Emma Trzs.

 

Blog

Ive 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 Ill share more on that in the coming days.

On Friday, Ill return with another First Lines Friday feature. One thing Ive 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, Ill return with another Sunday Summary update. I can only hope for another week of similar reading productivity. If I can, Junes TBR will be a breeze.

 

YouTube

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

Ive 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, Ill also share the equivalent of my Sunday Summary video update next Sunday.

 

Summary

Thanks for reading this Sunday Summary. Im 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?

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Monthly TBR – June 2026

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

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

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

 

Carryovers from May/Reading Obligations

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

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

 

Project Hail Mary

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

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

 

Queen of Shadows

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

 

Goodreads Spring 2026 Reading Challenge Books

 

The Pillars of the Earth

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

 

Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

 

Katabasis

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

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

 

Challenger

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

 

Behind Closed Doors

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 Ive enjoyed books like this in audio format before, and the heavy weighting of physical books on this June TBR so far, I imagine I will pick this up in audio just to help get to it as well.

At just under 300 pages, this feels achievable!

 

Summary

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

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

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Monthly Wrap-Up – May 2026

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

Books Read

Crown of Midnight

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

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

Why We Get Sick

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

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

An insightful read nonetheless!

 

The Eagle Will Rise

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. Porters The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles.

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

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

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

 

Witch Hunt

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

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

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

 

Heir of Fire

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

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

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

 

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

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Amazon Purchase Link

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

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

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

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

Okay, thats a lie more than a few!

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

 

Project Hail Mary

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. Well see!

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

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

 

Summary

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

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

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

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