Revew: We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune
27 May 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, fiction, Review, TJ Klune, We Burned So Bright
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Such an emotionally powerful story
I didn’t know what to expect with We Burned So Bright. This was my first time reading the author and although I had checked out the description I don’t think it really registered. As it happens my overall feelings about this can be summed up as really well written, actually quite scary in terms of the concept and the grim inevitability of what is happening and then the emotional impact of following two characters that are so easy to read about and enjoy at the same time as reading their own backstory as it slowly unfolds. Such an emotional read, uplifting at times, scary at others, almost a little overwhelming.
I don’t really want to say too much about the story because this is a quick read weighing in at around 170 pages approximately. Basically, we follow a couple who are taking a final road trip to settle unfinished business as the end of the world looms. A black hole approaches literally destroying everything in it’s path.
Okay, what I really liked about this. First and foremost the writing. This is so wonderfully written that its almost impossible to put down. To be honest. on the face of it the story is really quite bleak. The world is ending. There will be no last minute reprieve and in fact very little time is spent dwelling on that fact. This really is a careful reflection by Don and Rodney, a couple making a sort of pilgrimage of their own to find some sort of final resolution. So, spoken of in these terms, and even given the wonderful prose, I would not say this would be my normal ‘go to’ type of read. But, I’m pleased to say it worked well for me. I was intrigued by Don and Rodney’s journey, I felt apprehensive about what they would encounter and I was quietly surprised about the little stories that inject moments of happiness into what is otherwise a totally desperate situation.
Don and Rodney have had a wonderful relationship, but also over the years have experienced some very difficult times. Their history is gradually revealed as their road trip rolls forward. They are a great couple to get along with, which isn’t to say that they haven’t experienced their ups and downs, but, now in their 70s and having been together for 40 years their love and knowledge of each other shines through really strongly and is a pleasure to read. Even with this terrible ‘looming’ black hole. I think my biggest worry was if they would have some sort of resolution before the world was ripped apart.
As I mentioned. This is quite a bleak story, very sad on occasions, a little bit chaotic at others. The couple encounter a number of people along the way. Some quietly help them out (as they themselves also help others). Some are falling apart in a quite scary way. And others are determined to bring light and laughter to their numbered days.
I don’t think I’ve read a book like this before where the end of the world is almost a casual backdrop to a couple looking for closure and it’s refreshingly unique.
And, frankly, I really didn’t expect this to work quite so well for me. I’m having ups and downs with my reading mood and at first feared this might just be too much doom and gloom. As it happens I needn’t have worried. This was compelling, well written and unbelievably emotional.
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
Review: The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer
22 May 2026
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Tags: Book Reviews, Books, fiction, Horror, Marcus Kliewer, Review, The Caretaker
My Five Word TL:DR Review: I mean, what just happened?
Well, The Caretaker was perhaps one of my most anticipated reads for 2026 and I will say upfront that although this didn’t horrify me in quite the same way that We Used to Live Here did (because that book gave me the heebies) it still held me captivated and turning the pages at an almost indecent pace. It’s an insidious read. It creeps up on you and then jumps out from behind a darkened doorway when you least expect and the ending – well, I feel like I need to read it again because I didn’t expect or want that. That is all.
Macy Mullins is in a pretty desperate way. She’s looking after her sister after the death of their father. She’s seen some pretty low times but being on the cusp of losing the (frankly disgusting and barely passing as fit for human habitation) apartment that they live in really serves to highlight the all time low that these two sisters have now reached. In absolute dire straits Macy takes a job interview for a caretaker role. After a long trek out she finds herself in a fairly prestigious neighbourhood where she is supposedly going to be interviewed for the job of looking after an elderly man whilst his wife is away for a couple of nights. Well, it turns out this is a little bit of a con, the elderly man in question has passed away and his wife wants somebody to continue to keep up his strange series of ‘rites’ that she promised would be maintained in the event he should die. It seems that this ladies husband believed he was saving the world every night by completing a strange series of routine tasks and, trust me, by the end of the book you’ll be wishing that Macy had been a little bit more efficient at following the rules. Macy is offered a very reasonable amount of money for what seems to be a two day role. Of course, she accepts. I mean, the whole thing seems like a bunch of craziness but really how difficult can it be. As it turns out, this is a whole new level of batshit crazy that quickly spirals into mayhem.
Seriously, this book will draw you in. At first you’ll find yourself mildly disbelieving. You’ll read on because you’re oddly compelled, because what the heck is really going on. Then you’ll become gripped. Because, realy, what the heck is going on. Then you’ll be mildly horrified before you descend into shouting at Macy for being so god damned stupid. JUST FOLLOW THE RITES. It’s not rocket science is is? Why with the rabbits though? Kliewer, just why?
Anyway, I’m very hard pressed to really tell you too much about this book without giving away I don’t know how many or what kind of spoilers.
What did I love then?
The slowly mounting tension. The sense that something is ‘off’. What are these ‘rites’ all about after all? Surely this is just some sort of out of the ordinary compulsive disorder? And yet, you find you want Macy to just get on with it. Follow the rules, okay. Don’t mess up. Of course, and I don’t really think this is a spoiler because it would be a very short story otherwise, Macy does mess up. Who wouldn’t. She doesn’t really understand what’s going on, who does? Some of these rules are just crazy and no, she isn’t going to do some of the hideous things suggested in order to rectify her mistake. What could possibly go wrong. Apart from everything.
Secondly, well, it’s the curiosity isn’t it. You’re compelled to read on. Small wonder that ‘curiosity killed the cat’, it nearly gave me a conniption and I had to know. I’m not sure that my curiosity is completely satisfied, but yet, at the same time, everything here is so strange that it also is satisfied. Because of course events unfolded in this way.
Macy. Sometimes she seemed like she really had a grip. Right up until the point that she didn’t. I kind of wanted to shake her. She has an internal monologue running that can definitely be frustrating, not to mention a little bit repetitive and really, although, she liked to think of herself as hardened she really isn’t as tough as she likes to think. But, come on woman, think this thing through! But, of course she didn’t think everything through, why would you, it was all so unbelievable after all and she did make an attempt to stick to the rules. Macy has been through a lot and to say she has suffered with mental health problems would be slightly understating the issue. Definitely this book could be triggering for some readers with it’s unsettling themes so that’s definitely something to bear in mind.
I also really liked the way that everything seemed so simple. Just keep the lights switched off. It doesn’t feel like it’s going to be a problem and yet once you’re thrown into the thick of things you start to feel like you’re mildly panicking yourself.
To be honest. I don’t think I can, or actually want to, say too much more about The Caretaker. I feel like I’m verging on the land of spoilers and I don’t want to be that person.
This is unsettling. It’s actually really very creepy in parts. It hooked me a lot more than I expected and a lot quicker than I anticipated and then it left me reeling. Given the author’s previous book I should have realised that he would shock and horrify me all over again. Maybe not quite as goosebumpy as the first but still a very good read.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4.5 of 5 stars.
Review: Death’s Daughter (Children of the Old Ones #1) by SA Barnes
18 May 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, Book Reviews, Books, Children of the Old Ones #1, Death's Daughter, fiction, Mystery, Review, SA Barnes
My Five Word TL:DR Review: A Difficult One to Review
You know, I enjoyed Death’s Daughter. I did have issues with it and to be honest I think a gentle nudge to move it along in places wouldn’t have gone amiss, but, in spite of a few little issues I still had a good time and would definitely like to continue with the series.
So, firstly, a little bit of a descriptiion. Jocasta is a student at Beecher University. She chose this particular place because it’s small and remote and Jo is running from everything, hiding away and trying to carve out a normal life. Jo is the only daughter of Death but let’s just say she’s not overly keen to enter the family business and, her life at Beecher is going okay. She has friends, responsibilities and even a secret relationship that is currently enjoying a cooling off period. Then everything starts to go pear shaped, starting with the arrival of a charismatic character and followed by a death with most fingers on campus pointing at jo.
I don’t really want to elaborate on the plot although I enjoyed the murder mystery elements especially as I really wasn’t expecting the story to go in that direction. Basically, the ‘old ones’ are based on Greek mythology. So, Jo’s father is ‘death’ and she has inherited his abilities – even though she tries not to use them. Jo must feed and although she can eat regular food it doesn’t sustain her, she has to take little sips of life, stealing bits and pieces from those around her without their knowledge. She has managed to form friendships and on top of this the campus seems to be a neutral zone in terms of other similarly gifted ‘ones’ so Jo has begun to feel like she’s fallen off her father’s radar..
What I enjoyed about this. Well, it’s an easy read to be honest. The writing was good and although I had a few issues here and there overall it kept me entertained. Yes, it does have something of a ‘popcorn’ feel to it in some respects but on this occasion it felt like ‘the right book at the right time’.
I liked the murder mystery and the way things escalated in an almost astonishing way. I mean, everything eventually descends into absolute chaos.
Jo, well, she’s a bit of a prickly pear, but at the same time, well, she’s had an unusual upbringing and had to learn some hard lessons. To be fair, she makes mistakes but more often than not she is trying to protect her friends. I have conflicted feelings about her because in some respects she comes across as a sulky, if slightly OTT horny, teenager – I expected more maturity from her given her background and what she’s already been through, but, at the same time her behaviour intrigued me. She had a relationship – a forbidden relationship in fact – that has gone quiet for reasons that will eventually become clear. Then, to muddy the waters, an enigmatic, handsome character arrives on the scene and wants to ‘befriend’ her. Now, I’m not in love with love triangles, in fact they positively irritate me but, again, in this instance the newcomer element never really felt like a real love interest – but I could be proved completely wrong in future instalments of course – to me it felt more like a distraction.
So, what’s probably coming through here is slightly mixed feelings but in fact the main issue I had was with the uneven pacing. The entire story takes place over a very short period which isn’t a problem, except I wanted to nudge things on a little, it felt like the story suffered from stutters in certain areas before it exploded into absolute crazy.
Anyway, in conclusion, in spite of a slightly prickly, immature MC and uneven pacing here and there, yes, I enjoyed this and I’m curious to see how things develop in the next book.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 3.5 of 5 stars
Review: The Geomagican by Jennifer Mandula
30 March 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, fiction, Jennifer Mandula, reading, Review, The Geomagician
My Five Word TL:DR Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book
I loved this book and devoured it in two days, I could hardly put it down. It was an absolute delight to read and took me completely by surprise in the best way possible.
What’s especially interesting is that this story includes a real life fossil hunter who discovered some remarkable finds along the coast of Lyme Regis – Mary Anning is renowned for her contribution to science and her story is already intriguing to read but set in an alternate world where magic is very real and relics are used to store it her discoveries become even more important.
As the story begins Mary is in dire straits. She’s running her own little shop down near the beach front selling items that she discovers on the beach, unfortunately she’s short on cash and time, the rent is due and she’s out of options, her only solution is to sell some of her own magic – a deeply shameful act that occurs across the country for vast swathes of poverty stricken individuals. As it happens Mary is going to have a last minute reprieve when she learns of a landslide and rushes to the site in the hopes of discovering something. And, indeed Mary does discover something remarkable, and alive, a discovery that is about to change her life and put her in danger.
What I loved about this.
First and foremost I really enjoyed reading about Mary. This is such a great imagining and she’s so easy to read about. She’s warm and intelligent, very forthright. She’s had a difficult life in many respects but with the odd smattering of good luck that has brought her to the attention of some important geomagicians. She longs for recognition and her latest discovery will definitely raise her profile. She’s ambitious and sometimes ruthless, life has taught her hard lessons and she can stand her ground. She is also surrounded by some other interesting folks who have, over the years, conspired to look out for her.
The setting really feeds well into the story. This is an age of creation, steam powered engines and other machinery, it’s a time of conflict between the church and scientists and not all the latest discoveries sit well with religion, particularly the findings of the Geomagical Society of London and Mary in particular. It’s not too long since the last witch trials were held and Inquisitors are still used in the detection of sorcery. Mary’s latest discovery will undoubtedly put her in the way of such suspicions.
The story itself revolves primarily around Mary’s desire to be admitted into the Geomagical Society, at the same time there is a romantic element when a former love interest re-enters the scene, although at first Mary is none too pleased to see him again given their history. And, of course, I cannot finish this review without mentioning Mary’s latest discovery – a pterodactyl called Ajax, a live specimen! I will say, I wouldn’t mind a little Ajax, he’s really quite a cutie – which I didn’t expect to ever be saying.
Now, I’m probably making this all sound very dry – but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The writing is easy to get on with. The dialogue, friendships and intrigue are all really well written. There’s plenty going on and deception where I least expected to find it. Plus the ending, I really wondered how things would wrap up but it’s really satisfying – and I believe this is a duology which is great news. Bring on No.2.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4.5 of 5 stars
Review: Wolf Worm by T Kingfisher
19 March 2026
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, Books, Fantasy, fiction, Horror, Review, T Kingfisher, Wolf Worm
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Absolutely, Without Doubt, My Favourite
Oh my giddy aunt I loved this book. Saying this is my favourite book by this author to date is a big statement because I’m loving her books but this was brilliant. Now, having said that I feel I must point out that this doesn’t fall into her romance bracket. This is gothic horror and it will certainly make you squirm. I’m not really a horror fan and combined with insects I tend to choose those sort of stories very carefully, fortunately, I didn’t read the description for this one but simply picked it up on the strength of the author’s previous books and I’m so glad I did. I would have been gutted to have missed this (well, strictly speaking I wouldn’t know that I was missing such a gem but even so).
Following the death of her father Sonia Wilson’s hopes and dreams are shattered. She eventually, having sold everything she can, takes up a job in a school until she’s offered an illustrating position with Dr Halder, painting insects to sit alongside his findings in a book that he hopes will be his scientific tour de force. Sonia takes the position and travels to North Carolina with everything that she owns in a little suitcase and the last of her money in her pocket. She eventually arrives at the Dr’s estate and this is when the story really takes shape.
What did I love about this – everything to be honest – but let’s break it down.
First and foremost the writing. This is a historical style novel. Set in 1899 with the usual social restrictions that this holds. The story is so good to read. I really enjoyed the set up and the gradual increase in tension but the writing is just perfect. This doesn’t have the over stuffiness of certain period pieces but at the same time it doesn’t have Sonia talking in a modern way. It’s a perfect blend of easy, enjoyable and on point.
We have this gothic setting. The house is set deep in the middle of the forest (completely understandable given the Dr’s area of expertise – so many insects set in the murky depths). A rambling mansion with most of the rooms shut up, their furniture wrapped in dust sheets. There are few inhabitants. The housekeeper and her handyman husband plus one maid. Obviously the doctor and one other man who helps with his experiments, an unsettling character called Phelps. The place is rambling and creepy. Sonia is given a beautiful studio bedroom with plenty of natural light to aid in her illustrating – but the room looks as though someone has just stepped out for a moment. Clothes and possessions lying abandoned. It’s very puzzling and Sonia is nothing if not curious.
The MC Sonia is such a fantastic character. She loves her painting but, and good for her, she prefers to illustrate plants and flowers rather than grubs and caterpillars – but insects is the job and it is what it is. I loved her inner thoughts and in fact her sense of humour makes this story much more palatable than it otherwise would have been. There are definite situations here that are gruesome and although she wants to fall to pieces she constantly gives herself a ticking off and manages to keep things together. This is definitely one of Kingfisher’s major strengths. She writes normal people. Sonia isn’t beautiful. She isn’t extraordinary in some fantastic way, even her illustrations are not always stand out although she is clearly talented she’s someone you can relate to. It’s an extraordinary gift to be able to create people who feel real and relatable and Kingfisher has nailed it. The other characters are also really well drawn, it’s a great balance when you can hold back just enough to prevent your characters from becoming machiavellian or overblown but enough that they support the plot so well.
The story itself is really intriguing. It builds up gradually with Sonia squeezing out little tidbits of information from a supporting cast that are reluctant to share. She starts to form huge doubts about what’s really going on but the analytical side of her and her upbringing give her something of an ability to look at things more calmly and without hysteria. That being said, she also has her moments where she wants to run away screaming or do that freaky dance that you do when an insect lands in your hair! And, believe me when I say that this really strays into the area of horror. This is not cosy. There is no romance but there is without doubt moments of squeam inducing ick. And then there’s the twist – there are breadcrumbs in the story but I really hadn’t followed them and was blindsided in such a startlingly good way.
I’ll stop here. That’s quite enough gushing for one day. This is a perfect blend of wonderful storytelling, fantastic goings on and a great MC who you can really enjoy reading about.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 5 of 5 darkly gothic stars
Books and travelling with Lynn 