Sunday Summary – 23rd November 2025

Posted on by

Today’s Sunday Summary brings plenty of reading progress. I’ve enjoyed the week off work, and the good news is, I’ve got another one next week! I’ve enjoyed doing some jobs round the house, and reading… of course! 

On the blog, I shared a book review for Stephen King’s The Waste Lands. I’ve enjoyed reading this series so far, and The Waste Lands is probably my favourite book so far! 

On Friday, I shared a Shelf Control post. In this series, I look at upcoming books on my TBR. Friday’s feature was a historical fiction classic that’s nearly 1000 pages long. 

 

Books Read

 

The Shadow of What Was Lost

Last week, I shared in my Sunday Summary that I was about 50% through the book. It’s a long audiobook, and I had approximately 14hrs audio left. I wasn’t sure if I’d manage to listen to it all this week. Progress so far was pretty slow. However, I shouldn’t have doubted myself! 

I’ve spent a good portion of the week doing household jobs that allow me to listen to audio as well. That, and working on a large cross-stitch project! I love listening to audiobooks at the same time. Thankfully I’m not having to wrestle kittens off my work too frequently anymore and the two hobbies go side-by-side very well 😂

I finished The Shadow of What Was Lost yesterday and I have lots of thoughts! The epilogue did so much for convincing me to pick up the sequel. I’m looking forward to documenting my thoughts on this one properly. 

 

Empire of the Dawn 

Another finish I was hoping for this week, but didn’t quite get to, was Empire of the Dawn. 

I’ve read the book spasmodically over the week. And I’m enjoying it! However, with the jobs I’m doing at home at the moment, I’ve not done much in the way of conventional reading. I was also out watching Wicked: For Good last night. 

My focus will be to finish Empire of the Dawn next week. As of this Sunday Summary, I’m about 20% through. I’m intrigued where the story is going to take us. 

 

The Housemaid’s Secret

The final book I’ve progressed with this week is one I started today – The Housemaid’s Secret. Just as I was settling down to read Empire of the Dawn, one of the kittens decided to fall asleep on my arm and rendered holding a hardback book impossible. 

So, I started my next audiobook instead! It’s been a good few months since I listened to The Housemaid earlier this year. My efforts to continue series whilst they’re still fresh in my mind motivated me to start The Housemaid’s Secret. 

Already, I have listened to 2 hours and 30 minutes of the housemaid secret so far. If you are a stats boffin, that puts me at 26% progress in one sitting. Not bad, eh? I always feel like progress goes really quickly when I pick up a short audiobook straight after a lengthy one 😂 When you consider this audiobook is just under 10 hours long, it’s only a fraction over a third of The Shadow of What Was Lost in terms of page count. Big difference! 

I’m actually enjoying the shorter and more faster post read. I do enjoy a lengthy epic, but sometimes something short and sweet (and a thriller to boot) helps pick up the pace.

 

Books Discovered

It’s another quiet week here in terms of new additions to my monthly TBR. I actually took a book off my reading list when prepping for Friday’s Shelf Control post. It’s fair to say things are moving in the right direction… 

 

Coming Up… 

Next week is the last week of November. Please tell me where that’s gone! I’ll have to start mentioning the C word before long 😂 

Before that though, I’ve got plenty of non-festive related content to share with you. I’m pointedly avoiding this week’s Top Ten Tuesday post theme to get away from the festivities – how bad is that? 

My first post of the week will be a recap on where I’m up to with my reading goals this year and an opportunity to set my final intentions for the last month of the year. How close am I to my reading goals? Is there anything I can do to get myself over the finish line with some of these before the end of the year? That post is all about setting out my intentions. I hope you can check in with me and celebrate my progress so far. 

On Friday, I’ll return with a First Lines Friday feature post. I’m in the mood to set myself a challenge for next week’s post. Sometimes I like to make my life difficult, okay? 😆 For next week’s First Lines Friday, I’m challenging myself to feature a book that is either for a young adult or new adult audience. Most of my reading list falls outside of these two genres, so I’ve got my work cut out for me to feature something interesting that meets these criteria.

Last, but certainly by no means least, I’ll be back the same time next week with another Sunday Summary. Fingers crossed, I’m able to use my time off work to get a lot more reading done before I’m back to the daily grind. 

That’s all for me in this Sunday Summary update, however. How have you spent your weekend? What projects do you have ongoing at the moment, bookish or otherwise? 

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

Shelf Control #97 – 21/11/2025

Posted on by

Today’s Shelf Control post features a book I’m really looking forward to picking up. It came recommended to me by a former colleague and close friend. I then got a second recommendation for the book from one of the regular readers at our work book club. Put it this way, she confided that she reads the book once a year, every year. If that’s not a recommendation, I don’t know what is! 

Before I share details of the book, here’s a recap of what my Shelf Control regular feature post is all about. 

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. It’s a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.

 

Pillars of the Earth – Ken Follett

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 976

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Penguin Books

Publication Date: 01 Oct 1989

Goodreads – Pillars of the Earth

 

Ken Follett is known worldwide as the master of split-second suspense, but his most beloved and bestselling book tells the magnificent tale of a twelfth-century monk driven to do the seemingly impossible: build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has ever known.

Everything readers expect from Follett is here: intrigue, fast-paced action, and passionate romance. But what makes The Pillars of the Earth extraordinary is the time the twelfth century; the place feudal England; and the subject the building of a glorious cathedral. Follett has re-created the crude, flamboyant England of the Middle Ages in every detail. The vast forests, the walled towns, the castles, and the monasteries become a familiar landscape. 

Against this richly imagined and intricately interwoven backdrop, filled with the ravages of war and the rhythms of daily life, the master storyteller draws the reader irresistibly into the intertwined lives of his characters into their dreams, their labors, and their loves: Tom, the master builder; Aliena, the ravishingly beautiful noblewoman; Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge; Jack, the artist in stone; and Ellen, the woman of the forest who casts a terrifying curse. From humble stonemason to imperious monarch, each character is brought vividly to life.

The building of the cathedral, with the almost eerie artistry of the unschooled stonemasons, is the center of the drama. Around the site of the construction, Follett weaves a story of betrayal, revenge, and love, which begins with the public hanging of an innocent man and ends with the humiliation of a king.

 

My Thoughts

Historical fiction is always a safe genre for me. I love medieval historical books at the best of times – long ones even better! I’ve read similar themed books in the past – Dunstan by Conn Iggulden is probably the closest I’ve read to date and it was a good read. 

This book has been recommended to me not once, but twice, and by two people whose reading tastes I trust. The only thing that makes me a little nervous about this books is that it is purportedly a character-driven book. Generally, I prefer some action in my books to help keep the plot moving forward. However, if this is done as well as the recommendations I’ve received suggest, then this won’t be a problem. 

Given the size of the book, it’s unlikely I’ll get to this one before the end of the year. However, I can see myself picking up this book next year sometime – preferably sooner rather than later. It’s a classic, and a book from a much-loved genre. Maybe I need to set myself a challenge reading list next year. If so, this book will 100% be on it! I’ve given myself an idea now… 

Have you read Pillars of the Earth? Would you recommend this book? 

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

Books Review: The Waste Lands – Stephen King

Posted on by

When I started reading The Waste Lands, I’d had a couple of slower reads right before it. It’s not the best mindset to go into a book in, but it happens. Thankfully, The Waste Lands is a sequel to a series I’d loved to date. It felt like a safe option – and rightly so! 

Picking up this book coincided with time off work and long story short, I demolished the book in a matter of days and broke my slump. Stephen King is a pretty safe bet for me in that regard. The Waste Lands was fun, and I particularly enjoyed the ending. 

 

The Waste Lands – Stephen King  

Genre: Fantasy / Horror

Pages: 581

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton 

Publication Date: 23 Jun 2003

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – The Waste Lands

In the third novel in King’s epic fantasy masterpiece, Roland, the Last Gunslinger, is moving ever closer to the Dark Tower, which haunts his dreams and nightmares. Pursued by the Ageless Stranger, he and his friends follow the perilous path to Lud, an urban wasteland. And crossing a desert of damnation in this macabre new world, revelations begin to unfold about who – and what – is driving him forward.

 

My Thoughts

Plot 

I started The Waste Lands at a bit of a disadvantage – it had been 4 years since I read The Drawing of the Three. I’d read some recaps prior to starting the book to be on the safe side. However, if you are in this boat, fear not! The book naturally recaps what has happened to date anyway. Although I had prepared myself in case this wasn’t a feature of the book, it wasn’t necessary. It’s a feature I valued a lot picking up this book. 

The plot of this book has a natural and interesting progression as well. Much like the earlier books in the series, The Gunslinger and The Drawing of the Three, there’s a lot of travel. We also see more characters in this book. It helps set a wider scene for Roland, Jake, Eddie and Susannah. To date, the narrative has felt a little centred on them without too much context or interaction in the wider world of Mid-World. I enjoyed the increased world-building in The Waste Lands, it’s fair to say!

 

Characters 

Roland gets quite complex in The Waste Lands, because he’s suffering as a result of end in the second book. He’s created a paradox, and his personal timeline is impacted as a result. 

Even though our dark, moody gunslinger is the main character, he’s far from a lone beacon in a dystopian world. Eddie and Susannah are coming along in their character arcs, and things get really weird with Susannah. No spoilers here folks! The wider narrative scope and the cast that comes along with it make for interesting reading. Tick tock and the creepy man in Lud are notable on progress with the story and are standouts. 

The character that stole the show for me, however, is Blaine. It’s a mad invention, and one you can only expect from Stephen King. However, it was a fun, nail-biting cliffhanger to the story! Not everyone loves how The Waste Lands ends. Not everyone loves the cliffhanger, and having read Wizard and Glass, it would have made sense just to finish this part of the story. However, it made me pick up Wizard and Glass a lot sooner than the four year gap I left between books 2 & 3. 

 

Setting 

Mid-World is a creepy, Western themed post-apocalyptic world with unusual links to a world not unlike our own. It’s dark, with shattered remains begging you to ask the question of what has happened to Mid-World. That’s no doubt a revelation for a later book, but it captures the interest of us readers early on, and gives us ample time to speculate!  

I really love this setting and the complexities of the ties to other worlds. It’s an interesting aspect of the narrative, that makes the book more relatable through association to worlds we know. 

 

Narrative Style 

Although The Waste Lands is a long book, it’s pretty compulsively readable! Well, I read the nearly 600 page book in four days. Now, I was off work at the time, but even still. It’s unlike me to consistently read 150 pages a day without a deadline. 

I like big and long books, so whether a chapter is long or short doesn’t make much difference to me. The intensity of the action and pacing of events make The Waste Lands a very compulsive read. 

 

Summary 

The Waste Lands was a fun sequel to pick up. We’ve already seen a lot of character progression in the series, and The Waste Lands was a perfect continuation of both plot and character-driven narrative. I love that Stephen Kling’s horror and thriller genius fits into a fantasy. It’s a way he gets to touch one of my favourite genres. It makes The Dark Tower a strong contender for one of the most memorable series I’m reading to date. 

Have you read The Waste Lands, or other books in The Dark Tower series? 

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

Sunday Summary – 16th November 2025

Posted on by

This Sunday Summary is one I’ve been looking forward to writing. Why? Because it finally coming around means I’m now off work for Two. Whole. Weeks! Yes! I’ve got all the time for reading, crafting, doing some random jobs round the house and generally enjoying a slower pace. 

But, before I get too hot on what’s happening next week, I suppose I should update you on my news from the week just gone, right? That’s the point of my Sunday Summary after all! 

In terms of content, this week I shared a Top Ten Tuesday of books I enjoyed that were out of my comfort zone. This is a fun one if you’re looking for a diverse list of reads and need some inspiration. On Friday, I shared a First Lines Friday and the opening lines to my current read. 

 

Books Read

 

The Shadow of What Was Lost

Progress has been a little slow with The Shadow of What Was Lost up until now. This week though, I’ve tripled last week’s meagre hours progress. And, as I’ll be spending a good chunk of time home in the next couple of weeks, it’s prime time for audiobook listening! 

Events I’ve listened to today have taken the story in a direction I wasn’t expecting. However, I’m keen to see where it leads. Naturally, I expect to make a lot more progress in the next seven days. I’m coming up 50% through, with under 14 hours left. Can I do it in a week? We’ll see! 

 

The God of the Woods 

In last week’s Sunday Summary, I shared that I was pushing for completion of The God of the Woods ahead of book club. 

Thankfully, I finished The God of the Woods the night before and it was a great read. It was also well received at the club, so it was a good choice all round. 

The mystery was twisty yet somewhat resolved how I wanted it to. The narrative was cleverly written and I was engaged all the way through! 

 

Empire of the Dawn 

The final book to share progress with in today’s Sunday Summary is my current read, Empire of the Dawn. I’m looking forward to reading more of this book. With a bit of a rush to finishing the God of the woods, I stepped back a little from reading in the last couple of days. That’s no reflection on this book though! 

At 50 pages in, I am back up to speed with what has happened to date and I can’t wait to see where his final book takes us in Gabriel’s story. 

Needless to say, I’m excited picking this up coincides with my time off work. It’s a hefty book over 750 pages. Will I get it finished next week? I sincerely hope so! 

 

Books Discovered

I’ve not added any more books to my reading pile this week. Whilst that’s not the most exciting news for you, it’s not a bad thing for me 😅 

 

Coming Up… 

I feel like I’m overdue a backlist review. With that in mind, my plan is to share my thoughts on a classic fantasy horror from Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series. The Waste Lands is the third book of the series and I hope you like reading my review. 

On Friday I return with a Shelf Control post. In this series, I feature upcoming books on my reading list and why I’m looking forward to reading them. I’m excited to look forward at what is coming up on my TBR – fingers crossed you are too! 

Finally, I’m back with another Sunday Summary post at the end of next week. I’ve got no excuse for a lack of reading progress, although I don’t expect that to happen in the slightest! 

What is the name of the book you last finished? How do you rate it? 

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

First Lines Friday – 14/11/2025

Posted on by

Today’s First Lines Friday features a HIGHLY anticipated new release. The third and final book of a much-loved trilogy, it’s one in both excited and scared to read. I’m confident I’ll love this book. 

If you haven’t guessed which book I’m referring to (my monthly TBR might give it away), then take a look below to find out more! 

 

IT WAS THE twenty-seventh year of daysdeath in the realm of the Forever King, and his murderer was still waiting to die. 

The killer stood again at a thin window, watching his finale arrive. Tattooed hands were clasped at his back, stained with blood, both fresh and merely remembered. His room stood high in the reaches of his lonely tower, battered by a tempest just as sleepless as he. His door remained locked like a secret. His heart, locked tighter still. 

From his vantage, the killer studied the procession below, his eyes the grey of the storm above. The figures wending towards the gatehouse were few, antlike; tiny black spots crawling on a plain of frost. But their coming was a portent, shaking the stones beneath him like no earthly thunder could, and their arrival told him that his departure was not too distant now. That this game, like all good things, must soon see its end.

 

Empire of the Dawn – Jay Kristoff

Genre: Gothic Fantasy 

Pages: 768

Audience: Adult

Publisher: HarperVoyager

Publication Date: 06 Nov 2025

Goodreads – Empire of the Dawn

 

From New York Times bestselling author of the Empire of the Vampire and Empire of the Damned, Jay Kristoff, comes the epic conclusion to the #1 internationally bestselling series.

From holy cup comes holy light;

The faithful hands sets world aright.

And in the Seven Martyrs’ sight,

Mere man shall end this endless night.

Gabriel de León has lost his family, his faith, and the last hope of ending the endless night—his surrogate daughter, Dior. With no thought left but vengeance, he and a band of loyal brothers journey into the war-torn heart of Elidaen to claim the life of the Forever King.

Unbeknownst to the Last Silversaint, the Grail still lives—speeding towards the besieged capital of Augustin in the frail hope of ending Daysdeath. But deadly treachery awaits within the halls of power, and the Forever King’s legions march ever closer. Gabriel and Dior will be drawn into a final battle that will shape the very fate of the Empire, but as the sun sets for what may the last time, there will be no one left for them to trust.

Not even each other.

 

My Thoughts…

I don’t pick up many books immediately after publication, but Empire of the Dawn is an exception. I loved Empire of the Vampire and Empire of the Damned. They are well written and I love the length of the books. They’re long, but immersive! 

They’re also darker than a lot of other fantasy I’ve read. The narrative style also suits me. Naturally, with the being the final book of the series, I’m both keen (and nervous) to reach the conclusion. It’s one of those where I’m worried it won’t live up to expectations, but I probably shouldn’t be. Jay Kristoff hasn’t let me down yet! The synopsis promises drama as well. 

Thanks for reading today’s First Lines Friday post. Have you ever picked up a book as soon as it’s released? If so, what was it? 

As always, I want to hear your thoughts – on this book – or any other you’ve been so excited to read you picked it up straight away!

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

Top Ten Tuesday – Books I Enjoyed That Were Out of My Comfort Zone

Posted on by

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday features books I enjoyed that were out of my comfort zone. I’ve been excited to share this post since I announced it coming up in my Sunday Summary. There were some clear frontrunner books I knew I wanted to feature. There are also some recent reads as well. 

Hopefully you can find yourself a new read in today’s books I enjoyed that were out of my comfort zone post. Or, if nothing else, I can encourage you to try something new! I used to stick to familiar books in my teens, and I got bored. Now, I pick up all manner of genres. I try books in genres I don’t traditionally read anyway. There’s always a reason to get out of your comfort zone. 

Without further preamble, here’s my list of ten books I enjoyed that were out of my comfort zone! 

 

Books I Enjoyed That Were Out of My Comfort Zone

Me Before You 

I read Me Before You because I interested in a book with a quadriplegic protagonist. Let’s face it, you’re every day main character hasn’t already gone through an event this horrific in their lifetime by the time you pick up the first page. It’s clearly a life altering event, and I wanted to see what kind of impact this accident had on Will’s life. 

By no means am I a romance fan. However, this book was so well written that despite my predilection for a cold heart, I was invested in this one… so much so I was ugly crying at the end! 

 

My Sister’s Keeper

I really enjoyed the moral dilemma of My Sister’s Keeper. Generally speaking, I don’t read a lot of pure contemporary books, but this one was worth it. 

I wasn’t particularly aware of this in the storyline before I picked up the book. However, it surprised me in that I really enjoyed exploring this element of the narrative as it was engaging and made me really think about each of the characters, their needs and rights. 

 

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping 

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping is a very recent read, but very applicable to this ‘books I enjoyed that were out of my comfort zone’ list. It’s a contemporary and reasonably light fantasy read. I generally prefer heftier, epic tomes when it comes to fantasy. However, if there is one thing I have come to appreciate whilst moderating the cottage core fantasy book club, it’s that lighter fantasy books have their place on my reading list.

This book also flirts with a light romance I saw coming a mile away. Generally speaking, it’s not something I look for in my books however it’s an element of this story that I didn’t hate. 

 

Gran Familia

I’m not a big manga reader, although I do have a small selection on my reading list to pick up. I can only hope that my experience of the likes of Gran Familia (and the other books I pick up and coming years), inspire me to pick up more of this genre. 

I really enjoyed the fast-paced story. As a fan of mixed media for MacBooks, it isn’t a stretch of the imagination to understand why I enjoyed this manga. And, I definitely want to read more  – not just of this serial, but in the genre more widely!

 

A Promised Land 

As a general rule, I stay away from politics. That not just in my reading life, but more widely. I don’t have the energy for it, and the power struggles and spats between alleged adults have my questioning why some people are in power. 

An exception to this rule is Barack Obama. I actually had a lot of respect for him as a person and what he stood for. It’s the only reason I picked up A Promised Land. The material was a little heavy, but I’m glad I read it.

 

A Brief History of Time 

A Brief History of Time surprised me in that I expected the book to be technical. When you think of Stephen Hawking, you think of complex theories like black holes and quantum physics. 

However, it wasn’t unapproachable. Was it the easiest read going? Obviously not. However, I didn’t struggle with it like I anticipated. 

 

The House in the Cerulean Sea 

The slower, more cozy vibe of The House in the Cerulean Sea isn’t my usual read. However, it was fun and I invested in the characters. 

It’s inspired me to pick up more books by T. J. Klune. That’s the level of impression it made! This book has a sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea. However, I also plan to try the likes of In The Lives of Puppets. 

 

As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow 

As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow is a very interesting novel. It has a shocking twist you wouldn’t expect from this genre of book. The author portrays an inspiring passion for the country of Syria through protagonist Salama. 

This isn’t what I expected, but I loved this book. It’s a book I’d love to read again and it made my favourite debut novels post. 

 

The Toymakers 

This book is magical and inspiring. I love historical fiction and the magical realism of this book is perfect. If I read a fantasy/magical book, it’s generally not realism. It’s a tough balance to get the realism and magic right. The Toymakers got this so right! 

Also, I don’t often read Christmas themed books but this one was fun. 

 

A Clockwork Orange 

The last book on this books I enjoyed that were out of my comfort zone post is A Clockwork Orange.

A Clockwork Orange is an unusual book in that a lot of the language is substituted. It doesn’t read like a normal book and when you first start, it doesn’t make sense. 

However, the substitutions are consistent and over time, context fills in the gaps so you can work out the language. 

It’s not something I’ve really come across in a book before. However, considering the slang kids come out with nowadays I could do with brushing up on my skills… 

 

Summary 

I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s Top Ten Tuesday post exploring books I enjoyed that were out of my comfort zone. There’s quite the range of books on today’s Top Ten Tuesday, but that’s pretty reflective of my reading tastes in general. 

Can you share any books you enjoyed that were out of your comfort zone?

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

Sunday Summary – 9th November 2025

Posted on by

Today’s Sunday Summary post is jam-packed full of reading progress and a recap of what else I’ve shared on the blog this week. Having taken a bit of a break in order to catch up with some reading obligations, it’s fair to say it’s good to be back. 

As always, before I get into what I’ve been reading over the course of this week, let’s take a look at the blog posts I’ve shared. 

 

Blog Posts

My first post of the week was my review of Wizard of Ends: United Army by Vanessa Finaughty. This was a fun read to pick up and review. I thought I might struggle with sharing my thoughts given I have yet to read the earlier books in the series. However, I had plenty to share in that review and I hope you can check that out.

Next, I shared my monthly wrap-up for October‘s reading progress. That post went live mid-week. Having had a bit of a lull with reading progress mid-month, I went into drafting that post thinking I hadn’t read a lot. However, I had a better month than I thought. I still picked up a good number of books, even if progressed slow towards the end. If you want a recap of the books I’ve read in the last month, take a look at that update here. 

Hot on the heels of that post, I shared my review of The Angel Prophecy by Rob Jones on Thursday. I was one of the last stops on the blog tour for this book. If you read my review on The Atlantis Covenant and liked the sound of that book, The Angel Prophecy continues that series. It’s very Indiana Jones, so if that’s your bag, take a look. 

Aside from this Sunday Summary post, that was all I had scheduled for this week. However, I was in the mood to share my Monthly TBR for November this week rather than next. I hadn’t put that in my schedule as I didn’t want to overcommit. However, it’s ready and live! Check out which books I’m reading this month here.

 

Books Read

 

The Shadow of What Was Lost

I confess, with the latter books in this Sunday Summary taking priority, I haven’t listened to a whole lot of this book this week.

However, I am still enjoying the story. My intention is to record my thoughts on this book and now I’m a third of the way in, I have plenty to talk about already. I’m enjoying the different storylines that are taking place at the moment and I hope the characters end up coming together. Whether that will happen in this book or later in the series, I don’t yet know. Regardless, I’m really excited to find out what happens next. I have just one reading obligation left and then The Shadow of What Was Lost will start to see greater progress.

 

The Angel Prophecy 

With my review for The Angel Prophecy imminently coming up due, my focus early this week was to read this book ready for the review.

The Angel Prophecy is actually quite a short book, so I polished this off in British short order. I was already familiar with the setting, characters and style of the book after reading The Atlantis Covenant back in September. The Angel Prophecy lift up to this expectation, and I hope that reflects in my review I published on Thursday. 

The Angel Prophecy was a fun quick read. Having found myself lagging on other reads of late, it was fun to have a short, snappy and action-packed book.

 

The God of the Woods 

The last book I’ve picked up this week, and has especially been the focus of my reading this weekend, is The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. 

I’ve already pushed back our workbook or meet by two weeks in order to get this read before the meet. Attendance is pretty low this month, so I kind of had to pick it up in order to make the meet worthwhile. It’s a bit of a shame, because this is a great book! As of this post, I’m coming up halfway through the book having binge-read the start this weekend.

Not only does this book span multiple timelines, but it’s also a multi perspective book. I like the mystery and intrigue this adds as we don’t know who knows what or where false information could be strewed amongst the narrative; there is no central truth if you like, and I’m curious to see how this plays out. There are multiple characters in the book who aren’t exactly made out to be altruistic. Do they have a role in what has happened both in the past and in the present day? I’m very excited to find out! 

 

Books Discovered

Since I added a few books to my reading list just last week, I’ve behaved this week. Mostly. Whilst I haven’t spent any money, I did add an Amazon first reads book to my account – Artificial Truth. 

 

Coming Up… 

My first post next week is going to be a Top Ten Tuesday post. This week’s topic is Books I Enjoyed That Were Out of my Comfort Zone. I have plenty of those, owing to the fact that I read quite diversely. I’m looking forward to sharing my list already! 

Later in the week, I’m back with a Friday feature not seen on my blog in over a month! I’ll be back with a First Lines Friday update. I already have a book in mind to feature. Naturally, I’ll need to check the first lines are actually ‘interesting’ enough. Knowing this author though, I’m pretty sure it’ll make the cut.

Finally, this time next week I’ll be sharing my next Sunday Summary instalment. My goals for next week are: –

  • Finish The God of the Woods
  • Get to at least 75% progress with The Shadow of What Was Lost
  • Get to at least halfway through Empire of the Dawn by Jay Kristoff

Will quantifying these goals help? We can only find out next week in my Sunday Summary! 

I’ll catch you then; in the meantime, what’s the latest book you’ve read? 

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

Monthly TBR – November 2025

Posted on by

I’ve got just a few books left to complete my Goodreads reading challenge, and I’m optimistic! I had a bit of a reading lull in October. However, November’s progress is already off to a great start. Long may it continue. The great news is, I’ve got an exciting upcoming monthly TBR to share today!

As of drafting this monthly TBR, I’m still reading one carryover from October. It’s a long audiobook, so not unexpected in the circumstances. Otherwise, though, I’ve already finished two books this month and we’re just a few days in. I’ve already read Wizard of Ends and The Angel Prophecy. 

Let’s take a look at what’s left, shall we? 

 

Fixed Reads 

 

The God of the Woods 

I’m not completely out of the woods (pun intended!) with my reading obligations. In order to accommodate both blog tour posts for Wizard of Ends and The Angel Prophecy, I postponed our work book club. As things stand, I have only just started the book today and read the first 80 pages so far. I’ve got a busy weekend ahead! 

Even still, I’m looking forward to reading this one! The synopsis is intriguing and one of the ladies who also comes to book club raved about the book after she finished it. Naturally, I really hope it lives up to expectations now! 

 

The Shadow of What Was Lost

My audiobook carryover from October is The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington. I’m already about eight hours into the audio and I have about fifteen hours yet to go. 

So far, my experience of the book is a good one. It’s following a bit of a classic ‘coming-of-age’ storyline, and the characters aren’t who we think they are exactly. However, I’ve enjoyed how the main protagonists haven’t been protected from the harshness of the world they live in. It has been wondering what’s next. 

 

Mood Reads 

 

Empire of the Dawn 

I just received my pre-ordered copy of Empire of the Dawn. It’s also the last book of the Empire of the Vampire trilogy by Jay Kristoff. Needless to say, I’m both super keen and also somewhat not looking forward to getting to the end. 

It’ll be a bittersweet moment, but I have high hopes the series will have an epic conclusion. The earlier books have set my expectations very high, and I have no idea which way it’ll end up…

 

The Housemaid’s Secret 

With darker nights now in full swing, I’m in the mood for more mystery and thriller books. 

I read The Housemaid earlier this year, and it was a fun read. We picked that up as part of book club and I’m keen to continue the series. 

The last book was also a pretty easy listen, so I’ve already got my audiobook copy ready to go. As I have some longer fantasy books on this TBR, I’m hoping something shorter and a change of genre will make a refreshing change. 

 

The Murder Box

Sticking with the shorter and lighter theme, I’ve added a second mystery to my November monthly TBR. 

The synopsis of The Murder Box caught my eye nearly three years ago now. On the one hand, I’d say it’s time I got to it. However, the reality is that I’ve got books on my TBR that have been there far longer… 

 

Beyond Redemption 

If I get through all of the above books, I’m going to start the next book in my ChatGPT challenge. 

I’ve already got a copy of Beyond Redemption through Kindle Unlimited. Given I’m reading the other books on this list in either physical or audiobook format, it’ll be nice to get my Kindle back out. 

 

Summary 

I’m 41/45 books into my Goodreads challenge. Even if I only make a solid dent in November’s monthly TBR, I’m almost set to reach my target before the end of this month, and definitely by the end of the year. 

I’ve got some great books on the list to help me get there! Have you read any of the books on this monthly TBR? Are any of the books on your list? 

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads

Blog Tour Review: The Angel Prophecy – Rob Jones

Posted on by

Having recently read and reviewed The Atlantis Covenant, an earlier book in the series to The Angel Prophecy, it didn’t take much to persuade me to take part in today’s blog tour! I loved the action in that first book, and it’s a theme that continues in today’s review. 

I’m really pleased to bring my thoughts to you on this final day of the blog tour. If you want to check out more about the book, at the bottom of this post I have a graphic with the names of the other bloggers who have taken part in the tour. I’d love if you could check some of those out after this post! 

Finally, before I get stuck into this review in earnest, thank you to Rob Jones, Boldwood Books and Rachel for the opportunity to read and review today’s book. The Angel Prophecy was a fun, action-packed read! Whilst I was provided a copy of the book for the purposes of providing my review below, my thoughts are my own. 

 

The Angel Prophecy – Rob Jones

Genre: Action/Thriller

Pages: 256

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Original Publication Date: 21 Oct 2025

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – The Angel Prophecy

 

A mission like no other, will test the team to the limit ⚠️

Dr Max Hunter, Special Agent Amy Fox and the rest of the HARPA Team are on the most important mission of their lives to rescue their teammate Quinn Mosley, HARPA Director Jim Gates and his wife Susanna, and Hunter’s UNESCO manager Professor Juliette Bonnaire who have all been kidnapped by a mysterious organisation claiming to be the Illuminati.

The group’s leader, Oriax, says he will trade their friends’ lives for the Sword of the Archangel Michael and gives them a 24 hour deadline to meet his demands. 🗡️

In a race against time, from Europe to Moscow and beyond, Hunter leads his small team on a high-speed rollercoaster ride, attempting to track down Oriax before the deadline expires and rescue Quinn and the others as well as keeping the ancient sword out of Oriax’s depraved hands, but will they succeed in this most lethal of challenges?

 

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/TheAngelProphecy

 

My Thoughts 

Plot

I knew from The Atlantis Covenant that this was going to be an action-packed book. Needless to say, it didn’t disappoint! 

With high-stakes and a tight deadline, the team pull together to rescue those closest to them. Their adventures take them across the globe, unravelling clues to find the man determined to take a precious artefact off their hands. Oriax will stop at nothing to wield the sword he believes will grant him immense powers. He won’t hesitate to eliminate those who stand in his way, either. Naturally, the HARPA team find themselves in the firing line on multiple occasions. Danger lurks around every corner. This already relatively short, fast-paced novel becomes even easier to absorb when the pages fly by. I couldn’t put this book down! 

I read The Angel Prophecy and The Atlantis Covenant very close together. The books are cohesive in narrative setting and style, but the storylines are so unique that The Angel Prophecy stands well and apart from its predecessor. 

Although the book has a lot of action, we still be snippets of dialogue that allow us to understand the nature of the places, artefacts and motives within the book. This is predominantly an action-driven story, but there is enough world-building included that it doesn’t feel like an under-developed aspect of the book. 

 

Setting

Like The Atlantis Covenant, events of the book take us across the globe. From suspect warehouses in London to awe-inspiring monasteries in the Middle East, both the familiar and the exotic add excitement to the story. As someone who loved history in school, I really enjoyed the cultural and archaeological aspects of the narrative. Regardless of your views on religion or conspiracy, the story behind the sword is an interesting one. 

The regular travel that takes place in the story drives the narrative, yet is easy to follow. The mix of familiar places and settings keeps us grounded and the book more relatable to the everyday reader. Then, we are whisked off in all manner of elaborate transportation (no spoilers) to more exotic and or dangerous climes. The unknown yet vividly described places we end up in this book are easy to imagine and add interest to this already intriguing story.  

 

Characters 

I feel like Dr Max Hunter has progressed a little since The Atlantis Covenant. Whilst still compelled to run into danger head-first, I feel he is a little less cocky, over-confident know-it-all in this instalment. I like this version of Max Hunter. He’s more realistic than the man we met in The Atlantis Covenant. 

The nature of the storyline means we see less of some characters in this book. However, I enjoyed it nonetheless. On the contrary, I enjoyed seeing scenes from Quinn without the rest of HARPA to hide behind. She gets chance for her normally quiet and shy persona to come to the forefront. 

There are a lot of characters in this book. However, with a core set of protagonists consistent with earlier books in the series, there are well-defined boundaries of who is more important to the narrative compared to the supporting cast. It makes things infinitely easier to follow. 

 

Narrative Style

At about 250 pages, this is a relatively short read compared to my average. The short, punchy chapters combined with this made The Angel Prophecy a very quick read. I devoured it in a couple of days! 

The mystery of the plot, and being invested to know whether events unfold in line with the prophecy spur us on to the action-packed conclusion to this book. All these elements combine to make for a quick, easy read. Honestly, if you are looking for a compelling story but not so much depth you’re wading in world-building info dumps, The Angel Prophecy strikes the perfect balance. 

 

Summary

In terms of my reading experience with The Atlantis Covenant, The Angel Prophecy met all my expectations. I knew what kind of book I was getting into, and the familiar characters in a fresh story was exactly what I hoped for. I stand by my initial comments that this book (and series) is ideal for Indiana Jones fans. Danger is never far around the corner, but at least these machinations aren’t faced by one man alone, but an epic team! 

 

Author Bio

Rob Jones has published over forty books in the genres of action-adventure, action-thriller and crime. Many of his chart-topping titles have enjoyed number-one rankings and his Joe Hawke and Jed Mason series have been international bestsellers. Originally from England, today he lives in Australia with his wife and children.

Social Media Links 

Facebook: @RobJonesNovels

Twitter: @AuthorRobJones

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/RobJonesNews

Bookbub profile: @RobJones

Monthly Wrap-Up – October 2025

Posted on by

On the surface, I didn’t have as productive a reading month as September. However, as today’s monthly wrap-up post has shown me, it’s still been decent. I wouldn’t have said that before this post. Honestly, I’d forgotten about some earlier progress in the month. After a bit of a lull and a push to meet some deadlines at the last minute, I’d have said it wasn’t the best. 

That said, I’ve actually picked up a few books! Granted, I didn’t get to EVERYTHING on my list. But, frankly, how often does that happen?! 

Let’s recap what I did read and make progress with in today’s monthly wrap-up for October! 

 

Books Read 

 

Among the Burning Flowers

As of the beginning of October, I was 40% of the way through the audiobook Among the Burning Flowers. 

To be fair, I made good progress with this audio, finishing it mid-month. It helps that I was motivated to continue this series whilst it was fresh in my mind. I’ve read all three of the books in this series in the last 12 months. It’s a completely different experience from my usual habit of waiting 2/3 years before returning to an ongoing series. Hazard of the ‘job’ when I have so many on the go, I suppose 😅 

It’s been a refreshing change keeping up, and I’ve loved the stories and wider world of the books. It really appeals to my fantasy-loving, feminist heart! 

 

HR Disrupted 

In last month’s monthly wrap-up, I confided that I’d only just started HR Disrupted. I think my worlds were, “it’s barely worth a mention, but…”. 

Needless to say, most of my progress fell in the month of October, and this was an interesting read. Would I like to see some of the changes to HR practices suggested in this book? Absolutely. Who likes appraisals as they are? If anyone puts their hand up, I’m calling you a liar! 

 

Shield of Mercia

An early book I needed to prioritise on my October Monthly TBR was Shield of Mercia. As of my last monthly wrap-up post, I’d made a cursory start and read the first 13%. 

With my review of the book due on 4th October, I had to get my skates on. Even still, it was a close thing! I was sat up pretty late drafting my post after finishing the book the night before. It’s definitely a key contributor to my overall feelings of not having it together this month. It’s not the only example where I’ve had to rush either. If I had to pick one word to describe October in this monthly wrap-up, it would be ‘oversubscribed’. 

Despite the circumstances, I genuinely enjoyed this latest instalment of M. J. Porter’s Eagle of Mercia Chronicles. I’m not going to rehash my thoughts here. Instead, if you want to find out more about this action-filled historical adventure, here’s a link to my full review! 

 

Woden’s Storm 

My repeat performance of rushing a read for a blog tour happened again on the 22nd of the month. I blitzed reading Woden’s Storm between the 19th and 22nd October, with another late (but not AS late) night getting everything ready for that obligation. 

This is no reflection on the book. Again, I really enjoyed this second book in Donovan Cook’s The First Kingdom historical adventure. By this point, I’d had a bit of a slump in reading and I was firefighting to keep up.

Again, if you want to see more on this book, here’s a link to my review. 

 

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping 

Last month, I was well ahead reading A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison. It’s where I wanted to be, and I’d sorted out my library loan to be able to start this early. 

Alas, it didn’t happen. On the contrary, I had to extend my library loan on the last day before it was due back. I’d tried to read the last half of the book in one sitting, to no avail. 

Technically at the end of the month I had around 100 pages left. However, I finished it on the 1st November. I’ll include in this monthly wrap-up post as it’s not worth mention in my November reading stats given the timing. 

It can also make me feel better about reading progress last month, right?! 

 

The Shadow of What Was Lost 

Finally, the last book to feature in my October monthly wrap-up is my audiobook listen of The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington. I started this audiobook after finishing Among the Burning Flowers. 

Progress has been slow but steady. I’m enjoying the book and the world, magic and setting that’s unfurling. As of this monthly wrap-up post, I’m about 30% or eight hours into the audio. It’s a long one! Needless to say, this will be carried forward and be my majority listen throughout November too.

 

Summary 

In the end, progress was better than I expected. Even if there were some last minute reads to meet deadlines, progress was good overall. 

As of this monthly wrap-up, I’m also in a healthy place with my Goodreads reading challenge. I’m currently set to finish the challenge about a month early. That’s if I keep up current reading progress. 

I wished for that last month and didn’t quite deliver. However, I have a new release in the post coming that I’m excited to pick up, and generally less in terms of obligations. With more time for ‘fun’ reading next month, I’m optimistic for some good news! 

Thanks for reading today’s monthly wrap-up post. 

What have you read recently? 

signature

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads