Monthly Round Up/What’s on My Plate: August
1 August 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: August, Book Reviews, Books, Books Bones & Buffy, Fantasy, Monthly Round Up, reading, What's on my Plate
I’m trying to keep on top of these monthly round up posts even if I haven’t made as much progress as I’d like. My reading is still slow at the moment. As I’ve mentioned we’ve been having various trips away and then hosting visits from family and friends so everything has been slightly chaotic. During my last round up I listed nine books that I needed to read for July. I’ve not done as well as I’d like with this but I managed to read five of those books. I still have a couple of reviews outsanding and I’m in the middle of one of the other books.
These were the books I read in July:
- This Blade of Ours by Shalini Abeysekara
- Nine Goblins by T Kingfisher
- The Eye of Leviathan by MA Carrick – currently reading
- The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood by HG Parry
- The Winter Folk by Jen Julian
What’s On My Plate: August
- The Unknown by Riley Sager
- A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett
- Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst
- The House That Eats the Dead by Max Doty
- The Two of Us at the End of the World by C. A. Fletcher
- Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher
- They Say A Girl Died Here by Sarah Pinborough
This is a more manageable size list I feel – but, obviously I still have some catching up to do from the past couple of months so we’ll see.
Backlist Book
For the moment I’m not tackling the list I created at the start of the year as I’d like to catch up with my review books from the last few months to get back on track.
Bookforager‘s Picture Prompt Book Bingo
And the ‘wordy’ version:
Picture Prompt Book Bingo 2026 (text version)
| 1. | 2. A set of weighing scales | 3. | 4. |
| 5. A hot air balloon | 7. | 8. A cooking pot hanging over a campfire | |
| 9. | 10. | 11. | 12. An octopus |
| 13. | 14. A skull and crossbones | 15. A decorative water fountain | 16. A pinch-clip purse |
This month I have no books that fit the prompts – or at least I don’t think so. Here’s the books I ticked off last month:
A plant being repotted – Green and Deadly Things by Jenn Lyons (this really is a perfect fit)
A hand holding some fanned out playing cards – The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru – I’m thinking of the card readings (tarot but playing cards can also be used)
A moth – Wolf Worm by T Kingfisher – gothic horror with insects, maggots and more
A human eye – A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett – this may seem a bit random but Ana, one of the two main characters in this series usually chooses to wear a blindfold in order to help her restrict all the sensory data and improve her thinking
A large, old key – The Children by Melissa Albert – keys, very unusual keys I might add, play a large part in this beautiful book
A Griffin – This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews – there are a few critters in this
A hand holding a threaded needle – The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett a group of women coming together, forming bonds and found family, there is actually literal stitching involved as well but I’m going more for the abstract idea here of the women joining together in times of need
Books and travelling with Lynn 
I just finished Sea of Charms and it was sweet and delightful:-) I’m excited for The Two of Us at the End of the World too. I wish I had a copy of the Sarah Pinborough, but I guess it will have to wait. I’m excited to read your reviews:-)
Yep, I need to get ahead with my reviews for sure. I prefer to write them fairly close to finishing when all the emotions are still intense.
Lynn 😀
I’m hoping to read both M.A. Carrick’s and H.G. Parry’s latest novels.
Question: What are your thoughts about Riley Sager? I’m getting back into reading thrillers (I need to read ones that are NOT too obvious) and readers either like that author or they don’t.
Well, with Riley Sager I both like and sometimes ‘don’t’ like his books. I’ve really enjoyed a couple but a couple of others have really missed for me. I have his next book waiting to be read so I’ll see how I get on with this. I’m still hoping for another The Only One Left.
Lynn 😀
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Eye of the Leviathan! Carrick really won me over with Rook and Rose, so my hopes are high
It was a slow start but I feel like I’m becoming quite hooked now, so, hopefully that feeling continues.
Lynn 😀
Five out of nine is great, especially during a busy month. I cant wait to hear what you think of The Eye Of Leviathan and really hope you enjoy it. It looks like you have some great titles lined up for July. I’m hoping to read The House That Eats The Dead too and am very curious about The Unknown. A Trade Of Blood is the one I’m the most excited for though, the series is just so good 😍😍 hope you have a lovely month and find some new favourite reads
I’m looking forward to The House That Eats the Dead – it seems to be having some favourable reviews. And I’ve started A Trade of Blood and I’m already enjoying it.
Lynn 😀
Ooh thats so exciting to hear. As its out the day after tomorrow and I haven’t downloaded it yet I think I’ll wait and get the ebook/borrow it via the library. Trying to read and review it in 24 hours will probably stress me out too much. And as I was offered it rather than having requested it my feedback ratio will remain unaffected. I’ll definitely still be picking it up ASAP though and cant wait to see your review. Thats wonderful that you’re hooked already 🥰 I know the second of those had me invested from the start too.
The Unknown audiobook is queued up for me. I know almost nothing about it, so this should be fun!
I look forward to reading your thoughts.
Lynn 😀