Review: The Bookshop Book by Mark Lawrence
19 October 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, Book Reviews, Books, fiction, Mark Lawrence, reading, The Bookshop Book, The Library Trilogy
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Creative, Thoughtful and Beautifully Written
The Bookshop Book is the latest book penned by Mark Lawrence and set in the same world as his much esteemed Library Trilogy. That being said, you do not have to have read the Library Trilogy to enjoy this book as it reads as a self contained standalone – with obvious little treats for those that have read the trilogy.
This is a story of Rose and Red. Both very much immersed in the world of books – but definitely from different POVs.
This certainly is a love letter to literature lovers with the inclusion of various classics not to mention the settings sometimes taking us to the dusty tightly stacked shelves of a second hand book shop or the colossal scope of the Library itself. Yes, it definitely made me want to go wandering round the stacks. I cannot imagine a book lover not being entranced with the settings and exploration of literature. Not to mention the thought provoking ideas contained within.
Literally, I shall not be discussing the plot at all. Pick this up and let it unfold for yourselves. This is a relatively short story with just over 200 pages so I don’t want to spoil the fun.
What I really liked about The Bookshop Book. First and foremost, the writing. This wasn’t a surprise for me, it’s not my first ML book and his writing is always a joy to read. He, without fail, manages to create fantastic places, memorable plots and a level of clever twists and turns that make every word both meaningful and delicious to devour.
I love the imagination and thought provoking elements, firstly the inclusion of the books, within the book and how they play into things, and then the twist on the character Rose. It has this whole feel of everyone is the MC of their own tale. I like that idea, the idea of the library and even, strangely enough, the bookworm chasing Rose and Red. Don’t get me wrong here, I’m no hero, I don’t want it chasing me around, but it was pretty nasty as baddies go.
The only slight bug bear I had with this was I didn’t feel as connected to the characters as I wanted – but I think that’s inevitable in some ways given the length and frankly the amount of story that is contained in The Bookshop Book.
Overall, a beautifully told story with fantastic settings and lots of lovely books feeding into the plot.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4 of 5 stars
Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
18 October 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Booking Ahead, Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Sunday Post, Weekly wrap up
Today I’m posting my Weekly Wrap Up and I’m linking up to The Sunday Post over at Kimberly’s Caffeinated Reviewer. Without further ado:
Weekly Update
Hey everyone. How’s your week been? The dark nights are starting to draw in a little and with the slight change in temperature Autumn definitely feels like its arrived. I managed to post three reviews this week which did feel a little bit busy but I’m trying to not get too far behind. I’ve read two books this week. I completed and loved the Thrice Bound Fool by Christopher Buehlman. I also read The Bookshop Book by Mark Lawrence and I’m now reading (and about a third in) to The House of Cursed Daughters by CJ Cooke.
Next Week’s Reads
Hopefully complete The House of Cursed Daughters by C.J. Cooke then I shall be picking up Royal Witch by Philippa Gregory. If I stay on track then I will have completed my October books and can make a start on November’s books. The first one, which I’m eager to get to is Wolves of War by John Grwynne.
Reviews Posted:
- A Waltz of Sinister Import by Stephanie Burgis
- The Porcelain Sisters by Daryl Gregory.
- The Thrice Bound Fool by Christopher Buehlman
Outstanding Reviews
- The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
- This Blade of Ours by Shalini Abeysekara
- The Bookshop Book by Mark Lawrence
Hoping to see you round the blogosphere this forthcoming week
Friday Face Off: Emily Wilde’s History of Dark Faerie by Heather Fawcett
16 October 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Emily Wilde's History of Dark Faerie, Heather Fawcett, The Friday Face Off
Today is another opportunity to play along at the Friday Face Off where you choose a book and compare the covers. Originally created by Books by Proxy). If you’re taking part I would love you to drop me a link so I can check out your cover choices. .
I’ve decided to make a couple of changes to my weekly Friday Face Off – nothing too drastic – at the start of the month, the first Friday Face Off of the month, I’m aiming to take a look at joining in with the Birthstone Book Covers meme created by Leslie @ Books Are The New Black so for the first FFO every month I will search for covers that match that month’s birthstone (from books that I’ve read) and compare them and choose a favourite. For the last Friday of every month I’m going to look at the books I’ve read that month and do the same.
Today I’m back to my regular Face Off and I’ve once again I’ve chosen a forthcoming book that I’m very excited about. Even more so because I really didn’t expect to have the pleasure of a further instalment. Emily Wilde’s History of Dark Faerie by Heather Fawcett. The fourth, and very unexpected, instalment. Here are the covers:
I like both sets of covers for this series but I have chosen a favourite:
This certainly feels like dark faerie doesn’t it.
Which is your favourite this week?
Review: The Porcelain Sisters by Daryl Gregory
15 October 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, Book Reviews, Books, Daryl Greogory, Horror, reviews, The Porcelain Sisters
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Where Do I Even Begin.
Madness. Crazy, entertaining madness.
This story was an absolute blast from start to finish and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Now, this is only a shortish story, about 200 pages, and to be honest I try and avoid shorter stories as they’re not usually my ‘thing’, but I like this author, there’s a creepy MF of a doll on the cover and it sounded totally out there so clearly I wanted to get my grabby hands on a copy. And it truly doesn’t disappoint. In fact, it feels like the author manages to cram so much into this small space that I’d almost describe this as a tardis.
I’m actually going to say nothing at all about the story because literally, I mean seriously, you have to discover this for yourself.
The description itself states ‘a dizzying romp through the horrors of sisterhood’, which I love because on the one hand, the horrors of part of the sisterhood (in terms of the witches clan) really is horrific, but the actual sisters themselves, and apart from all their banter and occasionally getting fed up with being lumbered with each other – well, it’s not horrific at all.
There’s such a lot of imagination on display. We have the lore surrounding Le Clan des Sorcières, a terrible bunch of characters who are all at each other’s throats. Their leader barely holds them together and there is much rivalry. The truth at the heart of this Clan is horrific – and again, I’m not going to say why.
On the sister’s side, it turns out they have been lied to their entire life but they’ve decided to take action now. Of course they’re not expecting a practically invincible assassin – who, may I say, is creepy as all hell – a crow and a cat and their familiars and an overbearing matriarch.
To be honest, this was such a lot of fun to read. Very entertaining. Well written and I loved the dynamic between the two sisters. This review is going to be short and sweet purely on the basis of not wanting to divulge too much.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4 of 5 stars
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Melting the Ice Queen (Queens of Villainy #3) by Stephanie Burgis
14 October 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books, Can't wait Wednesday, Fantasy, fiction, Melting the Ice Queen, Romance, Stephanie Burgis, Wishful Endings, writing
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that was originally created by Breaking the Spine. Unfortunately Breaking the Spine are no longer hosting so I’m now linking my posts up to Wishful Endings Can’t Wait Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop over, link up and check out what books everyone else is waiting for. If you want to take part, basically, every Wednesday, we highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This week my book is: Melting the Ice Queen (Queens of Villainy #3) by Stephanie Burgis. Check out the cover and description below:
The epic conclusion of the Queens of Villainy series, featuring an ice queen’s marriage of convenience to the fiery high priestess… and their kingdoms will never be the same again.
Queen Ailana of Nornne is famous for her magical powers over ice and snow and her equally frosty self-control. The head of a powerful spy network and the guiding force behind the Queens of Villainy, she makes every decision based on cool and unemotional calculations…
Including marriage to a woman she strongly suspects of keeping dangerous secrets.
Hot-headed High Priestess Clothilde has been under the brutal control of her brother Otto, the Emperor of the Serafin Empire. But behind the smile she’s been forced to wear in public, a fiery passion for justice has been building—and an equally hot passion for Ailana herself. Clothilde proposes a marriage of convenience in their shared efforts to bring down her brother, but she’s determined to melt all of Ailana’s walls of ice, because Clothilde has been keeping another secret, too.
The gods of the Imperial Pantheon have been speaking to her for years, and they’ve gifted her with two world-shaking Ailana is her destined true love…and if the two wives don’t find a way to work together as equals, side by side with their fellow Queens of Villainy, a storm of war and blood will leave all of their futures in ruins.
Expected publication: March 2027
