Countdown to 2026
24 November 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: blogging, Book Reviews, Books, Countdown to 2026, reading
A short and sweet post to let you all know that once again I am doing my December Countdown where I tick off the days to the new year by spotlighting a book from the present one. This is a one per day prompt where I will literally post the prompt and the book I think fits the prompt. I’m hoping to use books read during 2025 where possible and use this as an opportunity to shine the light on some good reads (although some of the prompts may require books from the year before or after). Books will be linked to reviews where possible or Goodreads. If you fancy joining me feel free to dip in and out. This is not meant to be hard work, a little fun and the chance to highlight some good books – post, or do not post, or, post five prompts in one post, or ignore some of the prompts, etc. Just enjoy yourself. Starts on 1st December and concludes on 31st.
Here are the prompts: 31 days of December and 31 opportunities to give a very quick shout out to a book you’ve loved or are highly anticipating.
Prompts:
- Snow – a book set in a cold or wintry climate
- Shopping – the last book added to your wishlist
- Wrapping paper – a lovely cover
- Gifts – a book you enjoyed more than you expected to
- Chocolates – a book that was simply delicious
- Christmas stocking – stocking fillers – a novella or short story
- Christmas Tree – a winter read
- Baubles – these add some colour, a very colourful and striking cover
- Fairy Lights – something magical
- Under the Tree – a book you forgot you owned
- Mistletoe – a little bit of romance
- Holly and Ivy – a book with great world building
- Feast – a book that was magnificent
- Christmas pudding – if you could squeeze in just one more book this year
- Mince pies – a little sweet something
- Turkey Dinner– eye’s too big for your belly? A chunkster
- Glitter – A book that you simply have to have
- Christmas Cards – a book with a message
- Christmas Carols – a book with musicians, song or instruments
- Eggnog – a book that was out of your comfort zone
- Santa’s Snack – a book that was a ‘light read’ between heavier books
- Reindeers – a book with memorable critters
- Sleigh bells – a series that you want to ring out the praise for
- Christmas Eve – One of your most anticipated books for next year
- Christmas Day – a book you received as a gift
- Boxing Day – feeling bloated, a palate cleanser
- Christmas Crackers – Ended with a bang
- Candlelight – a book that kept you up into the early hours
- A roaring fire – a book that was heartwarming
- Family and Friends – a book with great characters
- Bottle of Bubbly – your first read in the New Year
The Mid Year Freak Out Book Tag, 2025
30 June 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: blogging, Book tag, Book Tags, book-blog, Books, reading, Reviewing, The Mid Year Freak Out Book Tag
I don’t think I’ve completed this tag before but I’ve seen a couple of bloggers recently posting and I liked the prompts so decided to give it a shot.
I’m not sure who created this tag so if you’re in the ‘know’ give me a shout so I can credit them.
Without further ado:
1. BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2025:
The Rush by Beth Lewis. This book could also have fit ‘the biggest surprise’ prompt. I had such a good time with this book. It’s beautifully written and highly evocative.
2. BEST SEQUEL OF 2025 SO FAR:
Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett. This was the final chapter in the series and was a perfect ending. I highly recommend this series.
3. NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET, BUT WANT TO:
Paved With Good Intentions by Peter McLean – this is one of my June review books that I can’t wait to pick up but unfortunately my reading has been much slower than I anticipated, mainly as a result of more socialising and being very busy with visitors. This will be, later than I would like but, my next read.
4. MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE OF THE SECOND HALF OF 2025:
The Blackfire Blade by James Logan. I absolutely loved The Silverblood Promise and it was in my top ten reads for 2024 so I’m really excited about this one.
5. BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF 2025:
I’ve had quite a few books that I’ve had to set aside this year, which could simply be a mood thing. The book that does spring to mind for this prompt is Sour Cherry by Natalia Theodoridou. To be totally honest I still feel like I want to give this another try though and see how I get on, even more so as I read at least half already.
6. BIGGEST SURPRISE:
Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito – I haven’t posted my review for this one yet but it’s one grisly gothic story.
7. FAVOURITE NEW AUTHOR (DEBUT OR NEW TO YOU):
Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill. I absolutely loved Greenteeth. I practically inhaled it.
8. NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH:
Nothing springs to mind unfortunately!
9. NEWEST FAVOURITE CHARACTER:
I think the two central characters from the Emily Wilde series (above) – Emily and Wendell – are definitely up there.
10. BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY:
None so far.
11. BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY:
Vianne by Joanne Harris. Such a beautiful story, I couldn’t put it down.
12. FAVOURITE BOOK TO MOVIE ADAPTATION OF 2025 YOU’VE SEEN:
Mmm, this is ridiculous but I don’t think I’ve seen any adaptations this year – what have I been doing? I’m sure I’ll think of something as soon as I post this.
13. FAVOURITE POST/REVIEW YOU’VE WRITTEN THIS YEAR:
Grave Empire by Richard Swan – simply because this was another excellent book that I can’t recommend enough.
14. MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU BOUGHT OR RECEIVED THIS YEAR:
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig – I love the cover for this. I haven’t read it yet but I’m excited to pick it up.
15. BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THIS YEAR:
So many books on my shelves for the remainder of this year. I’m not going to list them all here because I’m going to be posting ‘my most anticipated reads’ very soon.
I’m not tagging anyone. Take this as an open invitation to take part if you so wish.
Monthly/Weekly Wrap Up/What’s On My Plate May/June
2 June 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: blogging, Book Reviews, Books, Monthly Wrap Up, reading, Weekly wrap up
I’m trying to post a wrap up for the end of each month, mainly to help me to keep track of my reading and at the same time look at what I’m intending to read during the month ahead (inspired by Books Bones and Buffy’s What’s on My Plate.
This month’s wrap up post will be a bit messy again like last month’s because I’m combining it with my weekly wrap up.
Weekly Update
It’s been a lovely week with very warm weather and lots of sunshine. Since my last weekly update I’ve read We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough – which was a very good read, I also completed Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito – which was an audiobook that I really enjoyed. I picked up The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater but to be honest this one wasn’t really working it’s magic on me – I’ve read about 30% but decided to set it down for now. Instead I’ve started The Countdown Killer by Sam Holland which is so far very good.
Next Week’s reads
Complete the Countdown Killer by Sam Holland and then I’m hoping to pick up The Rush by Beth Lewis and maybe With A Vengeance by Riley Sager. In audio format I have two books that I’m very excited to start: Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry and The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig.
My Monthly Wrap Up:
Books read in May:
- The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
- Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
- We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough
- Vianne by Joanne Harris
- The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North
- The Vengeance by Emma Newman
Again, this month, not as good as I would have liked to be honest, my reading has been quite slow and I’ve had a few misses but I’ve also had some very good reads and I’ve already made a start on my June review books.
Here’s what I’m hoping to read in June:
- The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater
- We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough
- The Countdown Killer by Sam Holland
- The Rush by Beth Lewis
- With A Vengeance by Riley Sager
- A Far Better Thing by HG Parry
- Swordheart by T Kingfisher
- The Bodies by Sam Lloyd
- Paved With Good Intentions by Peter McLean
- The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
- Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
I haven’t started this challenge yet but hoping to read a couple of backlist books this month if I can manage it.
Bookforager‘s Picture Prompt book bingo.
and the text version:
PICTURE PROMPT BOOK BINGO 2025 (TEXT VERSION)
| 1. A prehistoric flint knapped stone knife | 2. A lighthouse | 3. An apple on a leafy branch | 4. An archery target with three arrows in it |
| 5. A very large mechanical telescope | 7. A stag | ||
| 9 |
10. A sheaf of wheat | 11. An old mechanical typewriter | |
| 15. A stylized sun with a human face | 16. A Roman helmet |
The prompts I’ve crossed off so far:
No.8 – The ruins of a temple-like structure – I’m using Daughter of Chaos by A S Webb
No. 12 – A cluster of four mushrooms – I’m using Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
No. 13 – A fringed umbrella/parasol – I’m using A Fortune Most Fatal by Jessica Bull
No.14 – A chemistry set-up of bottles and tubes – I’m using Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis
No.9 – A Crab – I’m using The Devils by Joe Abercrombie – if you’ve read this already you’ll be able to guess why. There are some very unusual creatures in this story.
No.6 – A Human Skull – I’m using The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North – because this is about a serial killer and there are definite human remains included in this one.
Number of books read this year: 36
Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
24 November 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: blogging, Book Reviews, Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up, Books, currently-reading, Review
Books read this week:
I think I’ve made my own personal history this week by not reading a single book. Well, to be fair, I’m pretty sure that’s happened before from time to time but I can’t remember when that last happened. Which isn’t to say that I’m not enjoying my current read, more that I’ve been busy with other things. I’m about 60% into The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso so hopefully I’ll finish this tomorrow, I’m enjoying it and looking forward to seeing how things play out. In blogging I’ve caught up with comments and been blog hopping too. I’ve also nearly caught up with reviews and I’m hoping to get fully updated this week, fingers crossed for that – although I’ve probably just doomed myself to failure.
Next Week’s Reads:
Complete The Last Hour Between Worlds and then pick up Titanchild by Jen Williams. I’ve also picked up the audio book for the Fury of the Gods so hopefully I’m going to start reading and listening soon.
Reviews Posted:
- Blood by Sarah Pinborough
- Ink Ribbon Red by Alex Pavesi
Outstanding Reviews
- The September House by Carissa Orlando
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
That’s it for me this week, what have you been up to, any good books to shout out about. Let me know.
Can’t Wait Wednesday : The House of Frost and Feather by Lauren Wiesebron
16 October 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: blogging, Books, Can't Wait Wedesday, fiction, Lauren Wiesebron, The House of Frost and Feather, Wishful Endings
“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: The House of Frost and Feather by Lauren Wiesebron. Here’s the cover and description (basically I was hooked by that opening sentence!)
SPINNING SILVER meets HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE in this beautiful debut Slavic folklore fantasy.
Marisha’s life is not going as she expected. With the sleeping plague only a few months away, she’s as desperate for money as she is to escape her aunt’s torturous marriage prospects. Leaving all that she’s known behind, Marisha accepts a job working with the notorious koldunya, Baba Zima in her house that glides on chicken feet through the snow.
But Baba Zima is renowned for being both clever and cruel. And most difficult of all is her current apprentice, Olena, who wants nothing to do with Marisha. Despite her fears and Olena’s cold demeanour, Marisha finds herself drawn into the magical world of koldunry and delves further into Olena’s research – a cure for the sleeping plague.
Accompanying Olena on an increasingly dangerous, seemingly impossible search for a cure, she finds hidden connections between the sleeping plague, her own family’s history, and her bizarre, recurring dreams: dreams of a masked ball where the deep sleepers are trapped endlessly dancing – and a monstrous beaked man haunts her every step . . .
Expected publication : January 2025
Books and travelling with Lynn 