The End of the Year Book Tag
I’ve been seeing this ‘Tag’ around the blogosphere (most recently at Suzyscozyworld) and thought I’d give it a go. So, here’s my end of year tag:
Are there any books you started this year you need to finish?
Yes, I have put a couple of books down this year that I really want to get back to. To be clear I didn’t put them down because I wasn’t enjoying them, just I have had a couple of reading slumps this year and I didn’t want to push myself to read books during those times as I feel it’s unfair to the author and the book.
I really enjoyed The Malevolent Seven by Sebastien DeCastell with it’s sharp wit and dark world and I am determined to read The Malevolent Eight. The Fury of the Gods (Bloodsworn Saga #3) by John Gwynne is the final instalment of a norse-based epic fantasy that started with The Shadow of the Gods. I love this series, it’s absolutely fantastic and again, I would love to fit this in before the end of the year (in fact I’ve also picked up the audio so that I can dual read/listen). Hopefully, I will fit these in by the end of the year but if not they’ll be early choices in the new year.
Do you have an autumnal book to transition to the end of the year?
Ragwort by Sam K Horton – I’ve read this title but not reviewed it yet. I really loved Gorse when I read it last year. It was such a beautifully written story, heavy with atmosphere and containing folklore and critters aplenty. It felt unique, dark and strangely wild. Gorse is very similar and it feels like the perfect read for this time of the year with the darker nights and the desire to snuggle up to a cosy fire. Once again we have a dark story, really atmospheric and with a strong leaning to the outdoors and nature.
Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?
Where to even begin! I think for this prompt I’m going to use three authors. I loved Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill and so I’m really looking forward to reading Nightshade and Oak. Enchanting the Fae Queen by Stephanie Burgis is the second instalment in the Queens of Villainy series that got off to an amazing start with Wooing the Witch Queen and, finally, A Forest, Darkly by AG Slatter is another story set in the Sourdough Universe – I’ve read quite a few of these and really love them so this is one of my highly anticipated books for 2026:
What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?
These are the next three books that I’m hoping to read:
I’ve read some good reviews for Outlaw Planet and Carey is an author who I’ve read and enjoyed previously so hoping for good things with this title. I’ve not read Beatrice Winifred Iker before but that eye catching cover and the description of a local ‘beast’ and a ‘secret society’ drew me in. What Stalks the Deep is Kingfisher’s third book in the Sworn Soldier series. A book that sounds positively claustrophobic with it’s setting of a haunted coal mine.
Is there a book that you think could still shock you and become your FAVORITE?
Well, I’m currently reading The Blackfire Blade by James Logan. I absolutely loved The Silverblood Promise (the first in the Last Legacy series). So far, I’m finding this second in series a little bit frustrating, which isn’t to say I’m not enjoying it – but, I’m really hoping it does wow me as the story develops.
Have you already made reading plans for 2026?
I do have quite a few books on my shelves already that I’m really looking forward to and ideally I’d love to be able to tuck a couple of ‘January releases’ under my belt before the new year begins. But, at the same time I’m mood reading a little bit and I do have quite a few books to fit in before year end, and of course the time of year does seem to lead to more socialising. So, basically, the best laid plans are rarely adhered to so I’m hoping to keep things a little loose. Here are a few of the books (not already mentioned above) that I’ll be picking up in 2026:
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That’s it for my ‘End of the Year’ book tag. I understand that this tag was created by Ariel Bissett on YouTube.
Consider yourself ‘tagged’ if you wish to take part – I’d love to check out your answers.
Countdown to 2026: Day 6 – Christmas stocking – stocking fillers – a novella or short story
6 December 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Novella or short story, AG Slatter, Christmas Stocking, Countdown to 2026, Day 6, Stocking Fillers, The Cold House
Once again I am counting down to the New Year, as with the previous years I shall be highlighting at least one book per day to fit the prompt on that given day. The main aim for this countdown is to highlight some of my reads during the past year and to shine the spotlight on them once again (although some of the prompts relate to forthcoming reads).
Today is Day 6 of the countdown to 2026 and a list of prompts can be found here if you wish to join me in counting down to 2026 and casting a spotlight on some of your favourite books.
Today’s Prompt : Christmas stocking – stocking fillers – a novella or short story:
The Cold House by AG Slatter:
This book is not part of Slatter’s Sourdough series (which I love). It’s a short, contemporary based story of grief that takes an unexpected twist and veers into horror. I read it in one sitting because as I got to the last third I simply had to know how this would conclude and couldn’t wait for another day.
25 Days Remaining
Tomorrow’s prompt: Christmas Tree – a winter read
Friday Face Off: The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst (Spellshop #2)
5 December 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Friday Face off, Sarah Beth Durst, Spellshop #2, The Enchanted Greenhouse
Today I’m returning to the Friday Face Off, originally created by Books by Proxy). I’ve missed these for the past few months and so would like to get back to comparing covers (and hopefully I will be updating this page with a new banner. This is an opportunity to look at a book of your choice and shine the spotlight on the covers. Of course this only works for those books that have alternative covers (although sometimes I use this to look at a series of books to choose a favourite). So, if you have a book that has alternative covers, highlight them and choose your favourite. If you’re taking part it would be great if you leave a link so I can take a look at what you’ve chosen.
This week I’ve chosen a book that I read earlier in the year and was a lovely, cosy romantasy. The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst (second in the Spellshop series).
Here are the covers:
I like both covers but I think the colours of the first appeal to me more (although I love all the little details in the second):
Which is your favourite this week?
Countdown to 2026: Day 5 – Chocolates – a book that was simply delicious
5 December 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Book That Was Simply Delicious, Chocolates, Countdown to 2026, Day 5, Joanne Harris, Vianne
Once again I am counting down to the New Year, as with the previous years I shall be highlighting at least one book per day to fit the prompt on that given day. The main aim for this countdown is to highlight some of my reads during the past year and to shine the spotlight on them once again (although some of the prompts relate to forthcoming reads).
Today is Day 5 of the countdown to 2026 and a list of prompts can be found here if you wish to join me in counting down to 2026 and casting a spotlight on some of your favourite books.
Today’s Prompt : Chocolates – a book that was simply delicious:
Vianne by Joanne Harris:
I don’t think I’ll ever have a more fitting book for this particular prompt. This book is absolutely delicious. It will make you long for cake and chocolates, not to mention all manner of other goodies. It’s a lovely story, beautifully written and I highly recommend it.
26 Days Remaining
Tomorrow’s prompt: Christmas stocking – stocking fillers – a novella or short story
Review: The Naked Light by Bridget Collins
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Didn’t Quite Work For Me
A gothic tale that combines ancient folklore and superstition with the stories of three women post WW1.
On the face of it this book was perfect for me. Elements of old horror, a gothic tale with an old cottage perched above a village, windswept and lonely, a dark menace that is no longer being held at bay and the unsettling atmosphere of a village trying to pull itself together post war. And, this is atmospheric. The writing is beautiful. I could picture the hills and the village, the stifling confines of the vicarage and the petty mindedness of some of the villagers and I genuinely didn’t struggle to read this (because the writing is so good) but, I didn’t really get along with the characters for the most part, it was a very slow burn and the magical realism elements were a little bit thin on the ground.
Set in the fiction village of Haltington, on the Sussex coast, this is a tale of three women.
In the hillside, etched into the grass, is a chalk face, rumour would have you believe that this face protects the village from an ancient menace and the residents of Bone Cottage look after the ‘face’, keeping it visible to the village below. Unfortunately war kills off most of the Bone cottage family and the remaining member dies whilst trying to fulfil her duties. The face eventually begins to disappear, grass and weeds encroaching and taking back their rightful place, the villagers begin to forget about the rumours until an artist called Kit takes up residence in the cottage causing unrest with her alternative style.
Kit wants to be left alone. Traumatised by her work during WW1 she’s running away from everything and everyone she knows, unfortunately the villagers hold a strange fascination for her and two members of the community in particular are intrigued. Florence, a lonely spinster who has come to live with her brother-in-law (the vicar) following the death of his wife, and Florence’s niece Phoebe. The pair develop a fascination for Kit. Florence becomes attracted to her and in fact she and Kit become romantically involved, and Phoebe, out of some sort of jealous instinct spies on the pair often becoming vindictive or malicious. Meanwhile dark forces are gathering strength, unnoticed.
What really worked for me.
As I mentioned above the writing is absolutely wonderful in fact it kept me reading even though the story itself wasn’t particularly working it’s magic. This is such an atmospheric piece. It’s wonderfully gothic and really quite creepy. In fact the folklore elements are deliciously creepy although they’re a little late to make an appearance and quite under explored overall.
What didn’t work for me.
The characters. I don’t know why but I really struggled to connect to any of them and that remained constant throughout the story. So, although I did complete this I didn’t come away loving it.
I thought the magical realism elements were really well done, quite gripping and very creepy when they made an appearance – but by that point they felt a little too little too late.
Overall, I had no problem reading this and I certainly wouldn’t want to put off other readers from picking this up – it just didn’t work it’s magic for me (in spite of the writing and creep factor).
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 3 of 5 stars
Books and travelling with Lynn 