Friday Face Off: Pinfeathers by Christina Henry

FFO

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 FaceOff and I’ve chosen a forthcoming book that I’m excited to pick up Pinfeathers by Christina Henry. I have three covers to show but I’m not sure if one of these is a finished cover so take it with a pinch of salt. Here they are:

I found it tough this week because these are all unsettling aren’t they.

My favourite:

In the end, I went for this one because I like the simplicity of it.

Which is your favourite this week?

Friday Face Off: Birthstone Book Covers: Opal/Tourmaline

FFO

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 taking part in the birthstone meme as mentioned above. The rules and everything you need to know are at the bottom of the post. Now, take a look at my covers to match this month’s birthstones. I’ve chosen three for Tourmaline/Opal.

Not sure how well I’ve chosen here – this was far more difficult than I expected! So, no pressure – here they are:

My favourites: Well I found choosing a favourite for each really tough too – what is wrong with me? I closed one eye and squinted at these sideways and I’ve chosen:

Which is your favourite this week?

Rules

  • Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone.
  • HAVE FUN!
  • Nominate people if you want!

Friday Face Off: Monthly Cover Compare

FFO

Today I’m returning to the  Friday Face Off, originally created by Books by Proxy). 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 comment/link so I can take a look at what you’ve chosen.

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 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 hopefully!) 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. So, I anticipate reading at least one more book this month so I will include my next book in today’s line up too.

My favourite:

I have had some good reads this month and this was a difficult choice. I love the cover for A Waltz of Sinister Import – it’s my kind of cover so I’m immediately drawn to it. I also like Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel – the colours are really eye catching and it really does give a striking nod to Agatha Christie with its retro feel. But, I like the deceptiveness of the CJ Tudor cover with all the pink and the ice cream truck looking so captivating.

Which is your favourite this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Fall 2026 To-Read List

TTT

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme where every Tuesday we look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) bookish examples to demonstrate that particular topic.  Top Ten Tuesday (created and hosted by  The Broke and Bookish) is now being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and future week’s topics can be found here.  This week’s prompt is:

Books on My Fall 2026 To-Read List

Okay, well, I always consider September, October, November to be the autumn months so with that in mind and given I’ve read quite a few of my September books already I’m going to keep this list to October and November – there are some cracking books to look forward to so check them out below. I have gone slightly over the allocation but I couldn’t leave one book out – it would have been so mean!

Sleepers in the Snow by Joanne Harris

I love this author so I’m absolutely bursting at the seams to pick this one up. Hopefully I can pick this up in the next few days. Excitement am I.

A Waltz of Sinister Import by Stephanie Burgis

This is the third in the Lady and Lord Riven Series and I already have a copy. I loved the first two books, the characters are simply amazing – another book that I shall be picking up with positively indecent haste.

A Scholar’s Guide to Demonology and Other Dark Arts by Genevieve Cogman

I just finished this author’s Scarlet Revolution series and loved it so can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

The House of Cursed Daughters by C.J. Cooke

I think this author could make a shopping list compelling to read – I love her books and this sounds amazing. Happy days

The Bookshop Book by Mark Lawrence

Mark Lawrence, what can I say, I adore his writing, his books are a joy to read and on top of this he gives us a title like this! The Bookshop Book – I mean, it’s frankly impossible to even contemplate not reading this book. It might even be illegal to not read a book with such a title. And I don’t want to be arrested and thrown into an oubliette for the rest of my days so I shall be reading this.

The Porcelain Sisters by Daryl Gregory

This is a novella (I think – 200 pages maybe) so I’m going against my own golden rule here because (1) Daryl Gregory. And (2) this is a horror story and I’m already perfectly horrified by the cover alone. Of course I have to read this. It’s an absolute no-brainer.

The Wolves of War by John Gwynne

The description for this one sounds incredible. It has some of the most glowing reviews already and coupled with that is the fact that this is an author that I already thoroughly enjoy reading. This promises to be fantastic fantasy and I cannot wait. Also, please can I direct your attention to that cover – yes, I am that unashamedly fickle and I love a stunning cover – and this is certainly stunning.

Mazywood by Tananarive Due

I nearly gave myself whiplash requesting this book. I loved. Loved. The Reformatory.

The Last Star in the Void by Melissa Caruso

Ahh, the concluding episode to what has been a brilliant series packed with imagination. I’m so excited to see how this series concludes. It’s early days but it’s already gathering some very positive reviews so I’m very excited.

Pinfeathers by Christina Henry

Check out the description. This sounds super creepy and it’s the perfect season to be giving yourself the heebies. My last read by this author was brilliant so I’m hoping for another banger.

Thorns in the Hollow by Laura Purcell

The Queen of Gothic – no need to elaborate really.

Monthly Round Up/What’s on My Plate: August/September

Here’s my round up post for August combined with my ‘what’s on my plate’ books for September. My reading is still a bit slow and if I don’t enjoy a book immediately it really throws me off track so for now, even if it’s a highly anticipated book, if it doesn’t work for me by 30% I’m setting it aside. This month I’ve read six books and I’m about 20% into my current read. Plus I did start to read one of my September books but that is a DNF, I’ve read the first 30% and it really isn’t working for me so it is what it is. Without further ado:

These were the books I read in August:

  1. The Unknown by Riley Sager
  2. A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett
  3. The House That Eats the Dead by Max Doty
  4. They Say A Girl Died Here by Sarah Pinborough
  5. Aphrodite in Pieces by Lauren JA Bear
  6. Kiss Slay Reply by Rachel Harrison (review to follow)

I had seven books on my shelf for August (two of the above are from my September book list). Unexpectedly I had to set aside Daggerbound by T Kingfisher as it wasn’t working for me – it could be a mood thing because I usually love her books. I will try to pick it up again in a few weeks and see if I get along better. My other two outstanding books for August were Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst and The Two of Us At the End of the World by CA Fletcher. I’m hoping to still get to these although not this month as I have quite a long list.

What’s On My Plate: September

  1. An Immaculate Deception by Isabela Livino – this is a DNF, I read 30% but it wasn’t working for me
  2. Aphrodite in Pieces by Lauren JA Bear – already read and reviewed (spoiler alert – it was amazing)
  3. Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley – this is my current read
  4. Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison – already read (and I loved this) review to follow shortly
  5. The Island of the Lost by Daisy Stephens
  6. Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson
  7. Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor
  8. Pictures of You by Josh Malerman
  9. The Faerie Handmaid by Louisa Morgan
  10. Bodies of Magic by  Freya Marske
  11. Exit Party by Emily St John Mandel
  12. Pride, Prejudice and Peril by Jessica Bull
  13. Worry Box by Chris Panatier
  14. The Court of Venus by Bel Banta

So, my restraint obviously flew out the window for September – or perhaps I just got trigger happy because there were so many good books. Anyway, I’ve already read two off the list and unfortunately had to set one of the others aside and given I’ve started the Lucy Foley book I think I could probably fit in another six books (wishful thinking maybe but hopefully I’m not as busy this month as last), which does mean I will have to carry some books over (but, October and November are currently light months and so I’m hoping to do some serious catching up). One can but hope. Here are the lovely covers (Pride, Prejudice and Peril cover is not the final cover):

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. A teacup and saucer  2. A set of weighing scales  3. A moth  4. A hand holding some fanned out playing cards
5. A hot air balloon  6. An acorn  7. A human eye  8. A cooking pot hanging over a campfire
9. A griffin  10. A large, old key  11. A hand holding a threaded needle12. An octopus  
13. A plant being repotted  14. A skull and crossbones  15. A decorative water fountain16. A pinch-clip purse  

This month I\e gone for a rather cheeky fit – A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett for No.14 – A Skull and Crossbones. If you’ve read the book I think you’ll understand why but I don’t want to give away spoilers – definitely poisonous goings on and a particular part of the body involved.

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