Tag: TBR

Shelf Control #98 – 12/12/2025

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

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

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. It’s a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.

 

Senseless – Ed James

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 400

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Headline

Publication Date: 19 Mar 2020

 

 

Goodreads – Senseless

THREE MISSING PEOPLE… ONE TWISTED PREDATOR.

DAY ONE

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

The police struggle to find any answers.

DAY TWO

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

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

DAY THREE

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

 

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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Monthly TBR – December 2025

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We’re in the final month of 2025, and I have a great list of books to round up the year. As of this monthly TBR, I’ve completed my Goodreads reading challenge. At the beginning the year, I set out to read 45 books this year, and increase of three on the previous year. The great news is I’ve met that target, so there is no numerical target to hit any longer. Instead, this monthly TBR is made up of books to meet my other goals. If you recall, those were: –

  • Get up-to-date or finish 10 series
  • Complete Goodreads Reading Challenges
  • Get out of my comfort zone

From final books of trilogies to books written in unusual dialects, I have a weird and wonderful list of books that make up my last monthly TBR of the year. Shall we take a look at what those are? 

 

Fixed Reads 

 

Empire of the Dawn

Starting off this monthly TBR is my current physical read, Empire pf the Dawn by Jay Kristoff. So far, progress with the book has been a little slow. I’ve not picked it up loads. Partly, I think this is out of fear of finishing the series. However, I’ve also had other bits on, and I know it sounds silly, but keeping up with I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Has impacted my reading time. I’m not a religious watcher of TV, and especially not live programs. However, this is the one exception I will bend over backwards for. 

Now though, I’ve got a deadline. Of all the goals left to achieve this month, finishing 10 series is highest on my list. That puts Empire of the Dawn and two other books on this list as priority reads this month. Oh, what a shame, never mind… 

Seriously though, I can’t wait to see what happens in this book. The hinted at trials and betrayals will be juicy and emotional, I’m sure… 

 

A Crucible of Souls

Next on this monthly TBR is my current audiobook listen. It makes absolutely no sense to drop this book given it’s one I’ve already started. Whilst reading towards my ChatGPT reading challenge isn’t a goal I set myself this year in my 2025 resolutions post, its a fun piece of content I want to make. Also, I want to know if ChatGPT or other AI can make good recommendations for books if I’m in a slump or stumped on what I want. That, or if I’m looking for an off-the-wall recommendation. 

I’m also playing with recording my thoughts on these books in video format, so watch this space. I’ll likely release these together as one comprehensive post. It’s a trial to see if I can get used to filming and recording myself with a view to publishing for video content in future. So, A crucible of Souls, as well as the final book on this challenge, are on my December TBR so I can release that video in the new year. Maybe. We’ll see how reading progress goes.

As of this monthly TBR, I’m a third of the way into A Crucible of Souls. I’m enjoying the audio so far, so fingers crossed more good progress follows! 

 

After the Forest

If you are a regular reader, you’ll know I help moderate a book club online. The Cottagecore Fantasy Book Club recently changed their format from a traditional to a non-traditional book club. Instead of picking one designated book to read, the club has put together a list of suggestions that meet Cottagecore themes. Even still, books aren’t limited to those that the club has highlighted. If readers have a book on their TBR that meets the criteria, they can pick those up instead and share their thoughts (and hopefully recommendations) in Discord and on the monthly call. 

For my pick, I’m committing to reading After the Forest. It’s a Cottagecore, witchy spin-off of the fairytale Hansel and Gretel, as far as I can tell. It’s a bit different and I’m interested to see how well I like the book in due course. 

 

The Doors of Midnight

The second book on this monthly TBR that will help me complete my goal of finishing series is picking up R.R. Virdi’s The Doors of Midnight. I read and reviewed the first book, The First Binding, a while ago now as part of the publication blog tour with Gollancz. 

Whilst I’m later to the party with this book, I’m looking forward to returning to this complex silk-road inspired fantasy. It’s a chunk at over 800 pages, but not unexpected. The first book could knock someone out if you hit them over the head with it as well! 

On a serious note, I loved the narration style and story of the first book in the series. Reading The Doors of Midnight will bring me up to date, so will be a worthwhile accomlishment if I can finish it before the end of December. 

 

The Housemaid is Watching

The final sequel I’m finishing in December, after listening to A Crucible of Souls, is The Housemaid is Watching. This is the final sequel on this monthly TBR and finishing this book (as well as Empire of the Dawn and The Doors of Midnight) will mean I’ve hit my target finishing or getting up-to-date with 10 series throughout 2025. 

I enjoyed listening to The Housemaid earlier this year and The Housemaid’s Secret last month. It was an impromptu listen in November (see more in my monthly wrap-up for November), but it proved an easy and entertaining listen. Of the sequels on my list, I think it’s the easiest to finish due to its size. The series so far has also been really engaging, and listening to the books is pretty easy as well. It’s engaging, with multiple perspectives unveiling the twists in the story. I can’t wait to finish this one! 

 

Mood Reads 

 

Beyond Redemption 

I didn’t get to Beyond Redemption last month. As I said above, completing my ChatGPT book recommendations challenge isn’t top of my list and therefore this book makes it to the Mood Read list. 

I’ve still got a copy of Beyond Redemption via Kindle Unlimited, ready and waiting for me. It’s the grimdark recommendation I asked ChatGPT for. It’s been a while since I leaned into this sub-genre, and I’m looking forward to getting into it. Last time I read in this genre, I discovered a favourite trilogy. I’m optimistic I’m onto another winner here! 

As I mentioned above, this doesn’t contribute to my 2025 resolutions goals. However, I want to keep up progress with the book for the ChatGPT challenge I started much later. 

 

Yellowface

The last book I read by R.F. Kuang was Babel, and that book was one of my favourite reads that year. As a result, I can’t wait to see if Yellowface is as well received! 

From what I recall of the hype when Yellowface released, I’m confident I’ll enjoy this one. It deals with a morally grey character who steals the literary work of another after a lack of success of her own merit. My understanding is that it also deals with cultural appropriation. It should make sure an entertaining and thought-provoking read! 

Yellowface will help me towards one of the Goodreads Fall Challenges – Fiction Faves. 

 

The Burning Girls

Another Goodreads Fall Challenge is picking up a Spine Tingler. For that challenge, I want to pick up The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor. 

I’ve enjoyed numerous books by this author to date, including The Chalk Man, The Other People and The Taking of Annie Thorne. It’s a pretty safe bet as thrillers go. With darker nights right now, it’s fun to cozy in at home and read something spooky! 

 

Deep Wheel Orcadia

The final book on this monthly TBR, and on the list as a book ‘out of my comfort zone’, is Deep Wheel Orcadia. This book caught my attention and landed on my TBR as I was intrigued by the idea of a sci-fi book written in Orkney slang. It’s also written in English, so I will actually be able to read it. However, it’s a unique book and idea, and I knew I had to give it a look! 

Deep Wheel Orcadia is a reasonably short read. In a way, it’s the last priority book on this monthly TBR. However, I may choose to call on it if I need a break between genres, or just a short read if I fancy something different. 

 

Summary 

With my Goodreads reading challenge done, the final books that make up my December monthly TBR are to wrap-up my last resolutions for the year. 

Did you set yourself any goals for 2025? Do you have any goals you’re making a final push to complete? 

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Monthly Wrap-Up – November 2025

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I’m looking forward to sharing the books I read in the last 30 days in today’s monthly wrap-up for November! I put in some solid reading, and I have a lot of good books to recap and share with you. How many books did you read in November? I’m not even sure how many I read; let’s take a look, shall we? 

 

Books Read 

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping 

As of my last monthly wrap-up post, I had just 100 pages left of A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping. I got on so well with this book, I didn’t even feature it on November’s monthly TBR – I finished it on the first day of the month. 

I enjoyed this cozy, whimsical read. The message is great, and I was compelled to find out whether Sara’s life and circumstances changed after the book or not. The characters were great, and A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping was a well-received read, even if it’s not one I’d have picked myself. That’s what makes books clubs fun – and helps me meet me reading goal of reading outside of my comfort zone. 

 

Wizard of Ends: United Army

The beginning of the month was punctuated with reading deadlines. In a way, I actually think that helped me get some solid reading done. Sometimes, you need something like that to give you a kick up the bum, right? 

The added bonus is that Wizard of Ends: United Army was a shorter read. I read the book over the course of a day, and I published my review of the book on the 3rd November. No rest for the wicked, is there? In the interests of getting you to appreciate my efforts in writing down my thoughts, I’m going to point you to that review. I had fun with this short fantasy book. I also have a unique perspective in that unusually, I read this third instalment before picking up the earlier books. It’s not a habit of mine, but necessity struck. 

 

The Angel Prophecy

Just three days after my review of Wizard of Ends went live, I had another deadline to meet. When it rains, it pours, eh? It’s my own fault! I have a tendency to book myself on to a load of blog tours in one go, then not do any for a bit. Rinse and repeat. 

I wanted to pick up The Angel Prophecy after reading and reviewing The Atlantis Covenant as part of a blog tour back at the beginning of September. Honestly, it was as fun as I anticipated after reading that first instalment. Not only that, but I enjoyed getting to read some chapter perspectives from characters I liked from that first book, but maybe didn’t have a dominant enough role or personality to shine in The Atlantis Covenant. 

As with Wizard of Ends, if you want to read more on this book, you can check out my review. 

 

The God of the Woods

My final deadline was to read The God of the Woods ahead of our book club meet at work. I did have to put this meeting back a couple of weeks, as originally it was coinciding with my deadlines earlier in the month. 

Thankfully, events of this book were compulsively readable and I enjoyed this one thoroughly. So did Meg, who listened to the audiobook of this in just a matter of days after I announced the read to the club. If anything, I had to remind her of events as it had been a good while between her reading and our meet! 

We had a good discussion about the book too. The characters are interesting and I was doubting pretty much everyone at some point in the narrative. What’s real, and who could be trusted? It’s an interesting narrative. I’m glad I chose this book! 

 

The Shadow of What Was Lost 

Another book carried forward from October’s monthly wrap-up is my audiobook listen of The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington.  

Progress remained slow and steady throughout the month, until my time off work in the second half of the month. I was 30% into the audio as of the beginning of November, but rapidly made much more progress in the first week I had off and finished the audiobook on the 22nd. 

It’s a long audiobook, and I felt it in a way. However, it was a solid story and the ending really made the book for me. My decision to continue the series was made by the epilogue and by the epilogue alone! I had some suspicions that there was more to Kaden’s character. It wasn’t what I expected, but somehow, it was better… 

 

The Housemaid’s Secret

After listening to The Shadow of What Was Lost, I flew through The Housemaid’s Secret. The audiobook is about a third of the length of that first audiobook. That, and I was midway through kitchen renovations and both a crochet and cross-stitch project at the time. All are perfect opportunities to listen to audiobooks at the same time. 

I listened to the first book of the series, The Housemaid, earlier this year. To be consistent, I opted to continue the series in the same format. It was every bit as good as the first instalment. Given that I’d just listened to such a long audio, this one felt like it flew by! 

 

Empire of the Dawn

The last physical book I progressed with in November was Empire of the Dawn by Jay Kristoff. Admittedly, I slowed down on physical reads towards the end of the month. On the one hand, I’d argue that it’s because I was doing more physical things and therefore listening to audio instead. However, that wouldn’t be a real answer. If I’m honest, I think I started holding out on reading the book because I’m scared and sad to get to the end. 

I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read so far, and I am having a good time with the book. As a result of not finishing it in November, this is one of my first reads of December – and I need completion to achieve my series goal. Is that motivation enough to get over my trepidation about finishing the book? 

 

A Crucible of Souls

Finally, the last book on this monthly wrap-up is A Crucible of Souls. I started listening to this audiobook right at the end of the month, but still succeeded in getting to 33% before the end of the month. Audiobooks have really been working for me, what can I say? 

So far, this audio is pretty interesting and I’m optimistic it’s only going to get better. Caldan is an intriguing character and I can’t wait to find out more. What really happened to his parents, and who is he? Is he going to be taken advantage of in the big wide world he’s not used to? I suspect so, but that remains to be seen. 

You’ll find out more in the near future as I report progress in my Sunday Summary updates. 

 

Death of a Billionaire

Finally, I picked up my e-reader for the first time in a while to start an ARC of a book you’ll be hearing more about soon. Sneaking on to today’s monthly wrap-up post is Death of a Billionaire by Tucker May. I started this book yesterday, the last day of the month, as I am due to review this in just a couple of days time as part of an ongoing blog tour.

I read the first 20% yesterday, with the rest to follow very shortly!

 

Summary 

I’ve made good reading progress this month, especially audiobooks! Circumstances have meant these have suited what I’ve been doing this month. It’s odd, because there are months I don’t read a lot on that format at all. Then, I get months like this where I listen to several. 

I’ve enjoyed this month, and I also have the great news to share that I met my Goodreads Challenge of 45 books this month. I’m a happy bunny, so any reading above and beyond this is a bonus. Naturally, in December’s monthly TBR I’m going to focus on reading towards my other reading goals. 

Thanks for checking out today’s monthly wrap-up! How many books have you read so far this year? 

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2025 Reading Goals… 1 month to go!

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I have a fraction over 1 month to go to complete the 2025 Reading Goals I set myself at the beginning of the year. Before I drill into each goal, my impression is that progress towards my 2025 reading goals is good. However, the purpose of today’s post is to get into the detail on that and see if I am on track and if not, make plans in my December TBR to get me there.

Shall we take a look at where I’m at?

 

2025 Reading Goals

Read 45 Books

Back when I set my resolutions, I set my goal at 45 books. I’d read 42 in 2024 throughout the year. Hoping o push myself just a little, I set that target a fraction higher. 

As of this 2025 reading goal review, this is the goal I’m the least worried about as I’ve already done it! I thought I hadn’t quite finished this goal as of this post, but I realised when reviewing progress towards my series goal that I’d not marked The Giver by Lois Lowry as read although I finished it in September. So, I’ve already got this goal finished. Having a number helps motivate me. However, I’m going to enjoy reading at a little more of a leisurely pace in December. 

 

Complete Goodreads Challenges Throughout the Year

With new Goodreads Challenges available this year, my plan was to invest time and energy this year on targeted reading towards these goals. 

As of drafting this 2025 reading goals post, I got three challenges between January and May (Community Favourites), three between May to July (Seasonal Challenge) and four achievements for the Summer Challenge. 

The final challenge this year is the Fall Challenge, and I’ve got four achievements to date. This is a goal I’d like to invest some time in. So far this year, progress has been a coincidence and I’ve not given it as much time and attention as I’d have liked. So far, some Fall challenges I could easily progress with are Spine Tinglers and Fiction Faves. I’ve already got books on my TBR for each award. I plan to pick up The Burning Girls and Yellowface in December to get these awards before the end of the year. 

 

Finish or get up-to-date on 10 series 

Of the 45 books I’ve completed so far this year, 24 have been part of a series. You can tell I’m a big series reader at the best of times. The bigger question, however, is whether I’ve completed or got up to date on the ten series goal.

So far this year, I’m up-to-date or finished 7 series and I’m actively finishing an eighth (Empire of the Dawn by Jay Kristoff). It’s solid progress, and there are some books I can include on my December TBR to boost that number. I recently listened to The Housemaid’s Secret, leaving just The Housemaid is Watching in Freida McFadden’s series. 

The only other quick-win book I have on the list, though debatable, is The Doors of Midnight by R.R. Virdi. I say debatable, as the book is over 800 pages! However, it’s the only other book on my list where I have just one book unread in the series. I’m going to try my damned hardest to read both books in December to meet my series completion goal. 

 

Read Out of my Comfort Zone

My last goal is a little less tangible to quantify. I set myself the challenge to read outside of my comfort zone; I would say I have. I’ve read books with our work book club and through The Cottagecore Fantasy Book Club that I wouldn’t necessarily have picked up myself (Shuggie Bain, House of Frank, A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison). Also, I’ve read books on American Politics (A Promised Land), which is a topic I usually steer clear of. Finally, I’ve read books about food and sustainable weight management, educating myself on arguably sensitive topics for me but I’ve got something useful out of it. 

Whilst I haven’t read lots of books that are out of my comfort zone, my primary goals of 2025 have involved prioritising books that are. It’s why they’re on my TBR in the first place. However, I’m glad I’ve made space for some new and different books. If I want to add one more book in December that fits this bill, Deep Wheel Orcadia works. It’s on my TBR, but I added it because it’s different. What makes this different is that it’s the first science fiction verse novel written in the Orkney dialect. It’s also accompanied with a translation to English, so I can still read it. I’m intrigued, and it’s not a long read so definitely achievable! 

 

Summary 

I’m happy with my assessment that my reading goals are going very well. It’s been fun to look at where I am to date, as well as make some plans for how I can boost progress with some of my goals. 

Have you completed any 2025 reading goals you set yourself?

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Shelf Control #97 – 21/11/2025

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Today’s Shelf Control post features a book I’m really looking forward to picking up. It came recommended to me by a former colleague and close friend. I then got a second recommendation for the book from one of the regular readers at our work book club. Put it this way, she confided that she reads the book once a year, every year. If that’s not a recommendation, I don’t know what is! 

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

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. It’s a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.

 

Pillars of the Earth – Ken Follett

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 976

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Penguin Books

Publication Date: 01 Oct 1989

Goodreads – Pillars of the Earth

 

Ken Follett is known worldwide as the master of split-second suspense, but his most beloved and bestselling book tells the magnificent tale of a twelfth-century monk driven to do the seemingly impossible: build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has ever known.

Everything readers expect from Follett is here: intrigue, fast-paced action, and passionate romance. But what makes The Pillars of the Earth extraordinary is the time the twelfth century; the place feudal England; and the subject the building of a glorious cathedral. Follett has re-created the crude, flamboyant England of the Middle Ages in every detail. The vast forests, the walled towns, the castles, and the monasteries become a familiar landscape. 

Against this richly imagined and intricately interwoven backdrop, filled with the ravages of war and the rhythms of daily life, the master storyteller draws the reader irresistibly into the intertwined lives of his characters into their dreams, their labors, and their loves: Tom, the master builder; Aliena, the ravishingly beautiful noblewoman; Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge; Jack, the artist in stone; and Ellen, the woman of the forest who casts a terrifying curse. From humble stonemason to imperious monarch, each character is brought vividly to life.

The building of the cathedral, with the almost eerie artistry of the unschooled stonemasons, is the center of the drama. Around the site of the construction, Follett weaves a story of betrayal, revenge, and love, which begins with the public hanging of an innocent man and ends with the humiliation of a king.

 

My Thoughts

Historical fiction is always a safe genre for me. I love medieval historical books at the best of times – long ones even better! I’ve read similar themed books in the past – Dunstan by Conn Iggulden is probably the closest I’ve read to date and it was a good read. 

This book has been recommended to me not once, but twice, and by two people whose reading tastes I trust. The only thing that makes me a little nervous about this books is that it is purportedly a character-driven book. Generally, I prefer some action in my books to help keep the plot moving forward. However, if this is done as well as the recommendations I’ve received suggest, then this won’t be a problem. 

Given the size of the book, it’s unlikely I’ll get to this one before the end of the year. However, I can see myself picking up this book next year sometime – preferably sooner rather than later. It’s a classic, and a book from a much-loved genre. Maybe I need to set myself a challenge reading list next year. If so, this book will 100% be on it! I’ve given myself an idea now… 

Have you read Pillars of the Earth? Would you recommend this book? 

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Monthly TBR – November 2025

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I’ve got just a few books left to complete my Goodreads reading challenge, and I’m optimistic! I had a bit of a reading lull in October. However, November’s progress is already off to a great start. Long may it continue. The great news is, I’ve got an exciting upcoming monthly TBR to share today!

As of drafting this monthly TBR, I’m still reading one carryover from October. It’s a long audiobook, so not unexpected in the circumstances. Otherwise, though, I’ve already finished two books this month and we’re just a few days in. I’ve already read Wizard of Ends and The Angel Prophecy. 

Let’s take a look at what’s left, shall we? 

 

Fixed Reads 

 

The God of the Woods 

I’m not completely out of the woods (pun intended!) with my reading obligations. In order to accommodate both blog tour posts for Wizard of Ends and The Angel Prophecy, I postponed our work book club. As things stand, I have only just started the book today and read the first 80 pages so far. I’ve got a busy weekend ahead! 

Even still, I’m looking forward to reading this one! The synopsis is intriguing and one of the ladies who also comes to book club raved about the book after she finished it. Naturally, I really hope it lives up to expectations now! 

 

The Shadow of What Was Lost

My audiobook carryover from October is The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington. I’m already about eight hours into the audio and I have about fifteen hours yet to go. 

So far, my experience of the book is a good one. It’s following a bit of a classic ‘coming-of-age’ storyline, and the characters aren’t who we think they are exactly. However, I’ve enjoyed how the main protagonists haven’t been protected from the harshness of the world they live in. It has been wondering what’s next. 

 

Mood Reads 

 

Empire of the Dawn 

I just received my pre-ordered copy of Empire of the Dawn. It’s also the last book of the Empire of the Vampire trilogy by Jay Kristoff. Needless to say, I’m both super keen and also somewhat not looking forward to getting to the end. 

It’ll be a bittersweet moment, but I have high hopes the series will have an epic conclusion. The earlier books have set my expectations very high, and I have no idea which way it’ll end up…

 

The Housemaid’s Secret 

With darker nights now in full swing, I’m in the mood for more mystery and thriller books. 

I read The Housemaid earlier this year, and it was a fun read. We picked that up as part of book club and I’m keen to continue the series. 

The last book was also a pretty easy listen, so I’ve already got my audiobook copy ready to go. As I have some longer fantasy books on this TBR, I’m hoping something shorter and a change of genre will make a refreshing change. 

 

The Murder Box

Sticking with the shorter and lighter theme, I’ve added a second mystery to my November monthly TBR. 

The synopsis of The Murder Box caught my eye nearly three years ago now. On the one hand, I’d say it’s time I got to it. However, the reality is that I’ve got books on my TBR that have been there far longer… 

 

Beyond Redemption 

If I get through all of the above books, I’m going to start the next book in my ChatGPT challenge. 

I’ve already got a copy of Beyond Redemption through Kindle Unlimited. Given I’m reading the other books on this list in either physical or audiobook format, it’ll be nice to get my Kindle back out. 

 

Summary 

I’m 41/45 books into my Goodreads challenge. Even if I only make a solid dent in November’s monthly TBR, I’m almost set to reach my target before the end of this month, and definitely by the end of the year. 

I’ve got some great books on the list to help me get there! Have you read any of the books on this monthly TBR? Are any of the books on your list? 

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Monthly Wrap-Up – October 2025

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On the surface, I didn’t have as productive a reading month as September. However, as today’s monthly wrap-up post has shown me, it’s still been decent. I wouldn’t have said that before this post. Honestly, I’d forgotten about some earlier progress in the month. After a bit of a lull and a push to meet some deadlines at the last minute, I’d have said it wasn’t the best. 

That said, I’ve actually picked up a few books! Granted, I didn’t get to EVERYTHING on my list. But, frankly, how often does that happen?! 

Let’s recap what I did read and make progress with in today’s monthly wrap-up for October! 

 

Books Read 

 

Among the Burning Flowers

As of the beginning of October, I was 40% of the way through the audiobook Among the Burning Flowers. 

To be fair, I made good progress with this audio, finishing it mid-month. It helps that I was motivated to continue this series whilst it was fresh in my mind. I’ve read all three of the books in this series in the last 12 months. It’s a completely different experience from my usual habit of waiting 2/3 years before returning to an ongoing series. Hazard of the ‘job’ when I have so many on the go, I suppose 😅 

It’s been a refreshing change keeping up, and I’ve loved the stories and wider world of the books. It really appeals to my fantasy-loving, feminist heart! 

 

HR Disrupted 

In last month’s monthly wrap-up, I confided that I’d only just started HR Disrupted. I think my worlds were, “it’s barely worth a mention, but…”. 

Needless to say, most of my progress fell in the month of October, and this was an interesting read. Would I like to see some of the changes to HR practices suggested in this book? Absolutely. Who likes appraisals as they are? If anyone puts their hand up, I’m calling you a liar! 

 

Shield of Mercia

An early book I needed to prioritise on my October Monthly TBR was Shield of Mercia. As of my last monthly wrap-up post, I’d made a cursory start and read the first 13%. 

With my review of the book due on 4th October, I had to get my skates on. Even still, it was a close thing! I was sat up pretty late drafting my post after finishing the book the night before. It’s definitely a key contributor to my overall feelings of not having it together this month. It’s not the only example where I’ve had to rush either. If I had to pick one word to describe October in this monthly wrap-up, it would be ‘oversubscribed’. 

Despite the circumstances, I genuinely enjoyed this latest instalment of M. J. Porter’s Eagle of Mercia Chronicles. I’m not going to rehash my thoughts here. Instead, if you want to find out more about this action-filled historical adventure, here’s a link to my full review! 

 

Woden’s Storm 

My repeat performance of rushing a read for a blog tour happened again on the 22nd of the month. I blitzed reading Woden’s Storm between the 19th and 22nd October, with another late (but not AS late) night getting everything ready for that obligation. 

This is no reflection on the book. Again, I really enjoyed this second book in Donovan Cook’s The First Kingdom historical adventure. By this point, I’d had a bit of a slump in reading and I was firefighting to keep up.

Again, if you want to see more on this book, here’s a link to my review. 

 

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping 

Last month, I was well ahead reading A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison. It’s where I wanted to be, and I’d sorted out my library loan to be able to start this early. 

Alas, it didn’t happen. On the contrary, I had to extend my library loan on the last day before it was due back. I’d tried to read the last half of the book in one sitting, to no avail. 

Technically at the end of the month I had around 100 pages left. However, I finished it on the 1st November. I’ll include in this monthly wrap-up post as it’s not worth mention in my November reading stats given the timing. 

It can also make me feel better about reading progress last month, right?! 

 

The Shadow of What Was Lost 

Finally, the last book to feature in my October monthly wrap-up is my audiobook listen of The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington. I started this audiobook after finishing Among the Burning Flowers. 

Progress has been slow but steady. I’m enjoying the book and the world, magic and setting that’s unfurling. As of this monthly wrap-up post, I’m about 30% or eight hours into the audio. It’s a long one! Needless to say, this will be carried forward and be my majority listen throughout November too.

 

Summary 

In the end, progress was better than I expected. Even if there were some last minute reads to meet deadlines, progress was good overall. 

As of this monthly wrap-up, I’m also in a healthy place with my Goodreads reading challenge. I’m currently set to finish the challenge about a month early. That’s if I keep up current reading progress. 

I wished for that last month and didn’t quite deliver. However, I have a new release in the post coming that I’m excited to pick up, and generally less in terms of obligations. With more time for ‘fun’ reading next month, I’m optimistic for some good news! 

Thanks for reading today’s monthly wrap-up post. 

What have you read recently? 

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Shelf Control #96 – 10/10/2025

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Today’s psychological thriller is absolutely relevant in today’s world. Social media is in our pockets and the forefront of our minds for a significant amount of time. Most of our connections are innocuous at least, fulfilling at best. However, what happens when that connection turns sinister? That’s the feature of today’s Shelf Control post! 

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.

 

Best Eaten Cold – Tony Salter

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Pages: 296

Audience: Adult

Publisher: ETS

Publication Date: 23 Mar 2017

Goodreads – Best Eaten Cold

 

Imagine that someone wants to do you harm. Someone you once knew, but have almost forgotten. Now, imagine that they are clever, patient and will not stop. They’ll get inside your head and make you doubt yourself. They’ll make you question who you are, and ensure that everyone you care for starts to doubt you too. Each perfectly-orchestrated doubt will slowly, steadily, build to a crescendo and destroy you. This is real and it could be happening to you.

Best Eaten Cold is a chilling reminder of how quickly – and how blindly – we have learnt to trust in the online world, despite the somewhat ironic fact that none of us really understand it at all.

Fabiola lives an idyllic life in Oxford – beautiful house, adoring husband, happy healthy baby. She thinks she’s left her past behind her. But in a world of smartphones and social media, it’s not so easy to wipe the slate clean.

Best Eaten Cold is a terrifying psychological thriller of gaslighting, technological trickery and the depths of human vindictiveness.

It is a nail-biting story that could happen to any one of us in this digital age.

 

My Thoughts

I’m interested in this storyline for its sinister nature. That someone could make a slow, calculated attack on someone like this… there must be some serious justification in their eyes. 

This plot is already curious enough, but when we know our protagonist has a past it naturally makes us wonder what relevance this has to the present storyline. What is she hiding? Is it serious? Is it even related at all? 

The online element of events that play out is really relevant in today’s society. It makes people so accessible to this kind of attack too. Gone are the days when being at home and around those you loved offered psychological safety. We leave a big open door in the form of our online activities to allow anyone into our safe space. Into our heads. 

Best Eaten Cold is a well-rated novel. Fans of mystery, suspense and psychological thrillers like me will hopefully agree that Best Eaten Cold is intriguing. With any luck, I’ll be able to confirm or deny that for you soon! And t won’t be soon enough, it’s been on my TBR since January 2020!

Have you read Best Eaten Cold? Are you reading any other books in the same genre you’d like to recommend? 

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Monthly TBR – October 2025

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I’m hoping to piggy-back off the success I had in September and planning another ambitious TBR for October. This year, I’m not leaning too hard into seasonal spooky reads in October. That may change in November. However, for now, I have a number of fantasy reads to pick up in this monthly TBR. 

Have you read any of the books on this list? Take a look below to find out! 

 

Fixed Reads 

Among the Burning Flowers

My first read on this monthly TBR is one of my current read carryovers from September. I made good progress with this audiobook last month and I’m looking forward to getting to the end of this audiobook later this week. I’m optimistic to make quick progress with this to keep up momentum. There are just a few hours of this audio left as well, so it should be a nice, quick finish! 

 

HR Disrupted 

The next ongoing read that starts this monthly TBR is HR Disrupted. 

I’ve borrowed this book from our HR lady at work, and so far, it’s proving interesting. I’m 40% into the book as of publishing this post (6th Oct) and already I think there are interesting ideas I’d love to see in practice. 

My plan is to finish this book in the next couple of days. That way, I can return it to Donna when she’s back from leave. 

 

Woden’s Storm

I’ve got one final blog tour planned at the moment, and that’s for Woden’s Storm by Donovan Cook. I’ve read and reviewed an earlier book in the series, Woden’s Spear, so it makes sense to carry it on to keep up with the series (you may recall, that’s a reading goal for this year) and review it for publication and help out the author as well. 

It’s another historical fiction book. Honestly, I hadn’t read the genre for ages and recently I’ve read several books in short succession. After this one, I think I’ll give it a short break. At least this time, this will be a change from a fantasy-heavy TBR. 

 

The God of the Woods

Another break from fantasy on this monthly TBR is The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. 

I’m reading this book along with my work book club. For the first time ever, I’ll also be reading this book on Fable, so anybody reading this can join along with me. If you’re interested in a spooky read this October, it’s the one and only I’ve got on the list. Fable is free to join if you aren’t already, and I hope to see you there with your thoughts on The God of the Woods! 

 

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping

Another book club read, although not one I host this time, is A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping. Instead, I’m coordinating and moderating the chat for this cosy fantasy pick with the Cottagecore Fantasy Book Club. If this is more your cup of tea, check out host Sabie’s Bindery page to find out more and join the club! 

Again, if you are able, I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts on this book either on Fable, Storygraph or in the Cottagecore Fantasy Book Club Discord chat. 

 

Mood Reads 

A little while ago, I decided I was going to try AI book recommendations. With some past reads I enjoyed in mind, I asked ChatGPT to make me some recommendations. The three books I’m reading towards this challenge, and I’ll be creating a separate feature on these, are The Shadow of What Was Lost, Beyond Redemption and A Crucible of Souls. 

This challenge entails nearly 1,600 pages of reading. Is it likely I’ll finish this in October? Perhaps not. I’m going to have a good stab at it though, and of course, I’ll keep you up to date with my usual Sunday Summary update posts. 

 

Summary 

Again, today’s monthly TBR is far from shy on page count. Will I get to it all? I can only hope my success in September helps motivate me to read on! I’m also really looking forward to each of the reads on this monthly TBR, which really makes a difference. I have a very fantasy-heavy list, but it IS my favourite genre… 

Have you read any of the books featured in today’s monthly TBR? 

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Monthly Wrap-Up – September 2025

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I’ve had a really productive reading month. In a first for this year certainly, I have no less than ten books to discuss in today’s monthly wrap-up!

I suggest making yourself comfortable with a beverage of choice. When you’re ready, let’s take a look at the wide variant of books and genres I read in September.

 

Books Read 

The Atlantis Covenant

I left off from my last monthly wrap-up having read 60% of The Atlantis Covenant. With an imminent blog tour at the beginning of this month, I needed to get my skates on! 

I finished this book the day before my post went live. It meant drafting my review in a hotel whilst on my way abroad (which was far from ideal as it kept dropping out!), but I got there in the end. Since I went to the effort of writing that review, I’ll point you there instead of talking about the book here. What I will summarise though, is that it was a fun, action-packed read! 

 

Sensitive

Also carried over from my August monthly wrap-up was Sensitive. With just three hours left of the audiobook, I figured I’d finish this quickly. 

Admittedly, I didn’t pick this up whilst I was on holiday but when I returned. I’m in the habit of listening to audiobooks as I commute and that’s what I did. 

This book is a great listen, whether you know, suspect, or wonder if you or those around you are sensitive. To clarify, this book is about advocating the benefits of sensitivity and the ways people can benefit from these traits. Granted, there are drawbacks too, as with anything. For that, Jenn and Andre offer practical advice for how to work with your sensitivity superpowers rather than considering them weaknesses. 

 

A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison 

Our Cottagecore Fantasy Book Club read this month was A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison. 

For a change, I finished this book uncharacteristically early. In the last few months, I’ve lagged behind and been scraping finishes around the end of the month. Not very helpful when you’re supposed to be prompting and facilitating conversation, right? 

However, this month I turned over a new leaf, and reading this book in advance paid dividends. It’s set a precedent I’ll be continuing now, and I’ll be starting our upcoming read very soon! 

 

Gran Familia

In a total change of pace, I picked up Gran Familia in order to review the manga to coincide with publication with Titan Comics.   I published that yesterday, which you can find here. 

I read this book within 24 hours. It’s only a couple of hundred pages and mostly images, so very quick and easy to read. Gran Familia was a nice change of format, but also a quick win that helped spur on reading progress this month. Overall, I did very well for reading progress. Having these shorter reads and multiple wins definitely helped on the motivation front… 

 

Betrayal of Mercia 

Switching back to audio, I listened to Betrayal of Mercia before starting my current read of the latest book in the series. 

Having read the remainder of the books in e-book format, it was nice to try this in audiobook. It was also convenient for me because I’d finish it whilst reading other physical books on my TBR. Obviously, I couldn’t start the latest book until I finished this! 

Whilst I have a personal preference for reading the books, the audiobook was very good. I’m just used to reading the place names, and the old names are more recognisable to me visually. That’s entirely personal preference. 

This book surprised me in that there was less travel than in previous instalments. However, this book was quite political, and the power plays between characters keep up the action and tension. 

 

The Pagan Lord

Another historical fiction I feature in today’s monthly wrap-up is the better-known The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell. If you are fans of this book, or the Saxon Stories more widely, please also check out the Eagle of Mercia Chronicles by M. J. Porter. 

I was looking forward to getting back into the series as it’s been a while. Although the book was decent, I didn’t love it as much as previous books in the series. 

Part of the reason I dragged my feet with it was the way I had to borrow it from my library. I’m not a fan of reading on my phone… 

 

Algospeak 

Audiobook progress continued with Algospeak by Adam Aleksic. At just under six hours at normal speed, it wasn’t going to last long. 

I enjoyed the book and its content, but the narrative voice of the author didn’t really come across as relatable. Although he acknowledges it later in the book, his use of generational language and emphasising his ‘tribe’ so to speak, he is quite condescending about earlier generations and their social media use. I’m not that old, but was kind of made to feel that way. 

It was an interesting read, but I probably won’t pick up anything else by this author if he publishes again. 

 

Among the Burning Flowers

A recent release sprung to the top of my TBR after finishing all my planned audiobooks for the month. Among the Burning Flowers came out earlier in September. Having read and enjoyed The Priory of the Orange Tree and A Day of Fallen Night this year, I figured it was worth keeping up with the story. 

As of this monthly wrap-up, I’ve listened to around 40% of the audiobook. Again, it’s not a long one, and certainly nowhere near the length of the earlier books. I’ve enjoyed listening to this latest instalment so far. My initial concern is that the book would follow the format of the others pretty closely and feel ‘samey’. However, I don’t find that to be true at all. I’ve been pleasantly surprised and I want to wait to read on! 

 

HR Disrupted 

It’s barely worth a mention, but I have just started HR Disrupted by Lucy Adam’s before the end of the month. This book is a loan after a conversation at work with our HR lady, who calls herself an HR Disruptor. 

A part of me hopes this book challenges a lot of conventional HR practices and argues what we could do better. I think it’ll be an interesting read anyway, and I’ll update you more next month. 

 

Shield of Mercia

Another late start is my current book, Shield of Mercia. I’m publishing a blog tour post later this week, so I need to get a move on with my read of this.

As of this monthly wrap-up, I’m partway through chapter 4, at 13% (unlucky for some…?). I’m looking forward to reading on, and it’s a good job! I’ve only got a few days left before I’m reviewing this read. That’ll be available to all Patreon readers on Saturday – I hope you can join me. 

 

Summary 

I’m not entirely sure how I managed to progress ten titles this month. Yes, there were some shorter books in this monthly TBR. That definitely contributed, but also my reading motivation has been pretty high! 

Have you read any of the books I feature in this monthly wrap-up? Are they on your list to read?

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