Countdown to 2026: Day 7 – Christmas Tree – a winter read
7 December 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Winter Read, Christmas Tree, CK McDonnell, Countdown to 2026, Day 7, Ring the Bells, Stranger Times #5
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 7 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 Tree – a winter read:
Ring the Bells by CK McDonnell (Stranger Times #5)
Again, I’m not sure I’ll ever have quite so fitting a book for the prompt involved. I absolutely love this series and to date it gets better and better. Of course, I’ve fallen in love with the characters and so far every instalment has been simply excellent.
24 Days Remaining
Tomorrow’s prompt: Baubles – these add some colour, a very colourful and striking cover
Review: Ring the Bells (Stranger Times #5) by CK McDonnell
9 October 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, CK McDonnell, Fantasy, fiction, Review, Ring the Bells, Stranger Times #5
My Five Word TL:DR Review: This Series is a Blast
I’m absolutely loving the Stranger Times series and considering that we’re up to instalment No.5 already there hasn’t been a single blip or lull so far. I quite literally can’t say enough good things about this and if you’re currently looking for your next urban fantasy series then I highly recommend it. I would at this point also mention that if you’re intending to read this series (and you really should) then you might want to stop reading now in case of spoilers. I also suggest you start with book 1 as you really don’t want to miss any of these mysteries or the background to the characters.
This instalment is all about the merry Christmas vibe. As the book begins we meet with a small coven, meeting in the library after hours to do a few good deeds here and there. Unfortunately things go horribly wrong and all but one of the coven end up brutally slain. This is just the start of yet another mystery that the Stranger Times staff will become deeply embroiled with that has massive implications.
Basically, somebody is interfering with the universe, lulling people in with magical artefacts and causing chaos when things don’t go to plan. On this occasion an old, long forgotten God called Zalas has been released unwittingly. Absolutely livid at the paltry humans who no longer remember his existence he is determined to wreak havoc and have his revenge on these worthless people – and, well, if Christmas is ruined in the process then so be it.
The police are totally blindsided and although the staff of the Stranger Times are hot on the trail of Zalas it’s difficult to keep track when he can easily inhabit any body he wishes to. And, well, he’s currently playing the best role he’s ever had.
This was such an excellent read. It’s almost 500 pages but I couldn’t put it down and finished it in about two days.
As with the other instalments we learn more about the staff of the Stranger Times. Stella and Manny seem to be having something of a clash in this story which comes to a completely unexpected conclusion. Hannah and Tom are still pussyfooting around each other, Hannah being very protective over Tom’s (private) eye (I know!) Banecroft is saving the world whilst Ox plays audience and Grace wants nothing more than a festive party. Perhaps she’s on the naughty list after all.
To be honest, I loved this story and it’s another perfect instalment. The dialogue is funny, the imagination is incredible, I really care for the characters and I love the setting. I mean, I couldn’t begin to see how everything would be resolved and yet once again the author pulls it off with style. So, the whole package really. I seriously, wholeheartedly recommend this series.
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 stars
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Ring the Bells (Stranger Times #5) by CK McDonnell
9 July 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Can't wait Wednesday, CK McDonnell, Fantasy, Ring the Bells, Stranger Times #5, 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: Ring the Bells (Stranger Times #5) by CK McDonnell. I absolutely love this series and have devoured the previous four books. Here’s the cover (although this might not be the final cover at this point) and description:
Christmas. It’s the most magical time of the year, but nobody ever said that was a good thing . . .
When a well-meaning book group turned witches coven attempt to perform a ritual of peace, they get a whole load of anything but. Meet Zalas, a chaos-loving old god who is the reason a university librarian apparently slaughtered the rest of her book group. The Stranger Times is hot on his trail, but it’s hard to track down a being that can pass from person to person just by touch. And contact with this demonic visitor leaves his unwitting hosts bewildered and, more often than not, covered in blood. The team are trying to track him down and also trace the mysterious book that was used inadvertently to summon him. It seems the book group were unwitting patsies, but who would benefit by unleashing a force of sheer chaos?
Mind you it’s not exactly plain sailing for Zalas. The modern world’s proving tricky to navigate. Back in the good old days, all he needed to do was demonstrate his capacity for spectacular violence and followers would flock to him. Now everybody runs away screaming.
Like all gods, to thrive and survive he needs believers, but people don’t seem to believe in anything anymore. And as he passes from host to host he can’t find any faith to latch onto unti, that is, he meets Barry Fearns, a down-on-his-luck Santa Claus at Wonderama, the disastrous ‘Christmas experience’ that’s coming soon to a consumer affairs TV programme near you. Thanks to Zalas, it’s transformed into a magical place where dreams really do come true. Because children are the last true believers and Zalas has found a way into their little hearts. Returning home, they find all their Christmas wishes granted – from unicorns and dinosaurs to grandad visiting, even though he died last year . . .
As Zalas’ power grows and grows, the Founders struggle to contain the alarming amount of magic spewing forth into the world and Banecroft and the Stranger Times gang are in a race against time. Because on Christmas eve, when the bells toll, Zalas will gather his followers unto him and when he does, he’ll be unstoppable.
Someone is coming to town and he certainly isn’t jolly. Can The Stranger Times crew save not just Christmas but possibly the entire world as well?
Expected publication: October 2025
Books and travelling with Lynn 