Monthly TBR – October 2026

Posted on by

My monthly TBR for October is intentionally tamer. Whilst I’m still looking to hit some of my reading goals, I’m deliberately not setting a long list this month. If the last few months have showed anything, it’s that my reading pace is a little slower of late. I’m spending time with other hobbies and commitments. It shows in the number of monthly TBR’s I’ve gotten nowhere near finishing. 

So, what do I plan to read with this reduced list? I’ve still got some Booker longlist novels to share. Blog tour obligations. 2026 new releases I feature. That, and I’m still concluding my Throne of Glass readalong. However, rather than including a long list of books around these commitments, I’m not pressurising myself. If I finish the list, maybe I’ll naturally mood read to fill the gap? If nothing else, the promise of the luxury of choice will make a change. 

October 2026 Monthly TBR

Kingdom of Ash

Goodreads

Last month, I didn’t get to the end of Kingdom of Ash. In part, I needed to prioritise another audiobook listen that I’ll talk about shortly. However, I also had plenty of missed opportunities to listen to audiobooks, but didn’t make the most of them. 

I don’t know if it’s just that I have a lot on at the moment, or that I’m hesitant to get to the end. Probably a combination of all three, if I’m honest. However, in better news, I’ve made more progress with this audiobook already this week and I think I’m back in the game. I suppose I shouldn’t count my chickens before they hatch, but equally, I’m not one to lean too far into pessimism either. 

Let’s see what progress looks like over this weekend and go from there! 

Debt Reckoning

Goodreads

It feels weird talking about a book in a monthly TBR when you completed it several days ago, but that’s where we’re at! If you are a regular reader, you’ll know that I reviewed this book earlier this week. This was the audiobook I needed to prioritise given the looming deadline. With work busy over the last week or so, plus another blog tour deadline, I started early. It’s a good job too. 

I started this audiobook back at the end of September and still finished it just a couple of days before the blog tour was due. Naturally, I’ve already talked about this book on my blog. So, if you’re interested in a political thriller that’s both action-packed and engaging as well as informative and topical, go take a look at my review. 

One More Hour of Daylight

Goodreads

My next blog tour read came in thick and fast. As of this monthly TBR, this is my second completed read of the month. Given reading progress has been slow of late, it makes a significant change to have some wins already ticked off my monthly TBR already. 

Like Debt Reckoning, I’ve already reviewed this book. It’s also full of action and juggles storytelling with present day action. Unlike Debt Reckoning, this is a historical fiction novel set in WW2. It’s just a bit different! However, both were great reads, and this one has the added bonus of leaning into my reading preferences. This comes from my favourite genre. Go check out my thoughts on One More Hour of Daylight here. 

The Wax Child

Goodreads

My September TBR included some International Booker longlist prize books that I wanted to start in the month. Something I’ve never done before is set out to read the longlist. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever read a prizewinning book before this year. Back in January, I read Orbital by Samantha Harvey to kick off the year. I also have The Promise on my TBR, which won a prize back in 2021. However, by and large, it’s not something I’ve ever attempted. 

I have to say, I haven’t gotten off to the set of starts. In terms of progress, I only tried and DNF’d The Witch last month. To be honest, my experience put me off starting The Wax Child. I didn’t want the book to feel too similar and get lumped into the same bucket. However, new month, fresh start. I’ve also read some good books in between, so here’s to a fresh start! 

The Director 

Goodreads

Another International Booker Prize 2026 longlist I want to get to is The Director. After a poor start with my prize longlist in September, I wanted to go for a slightly safer option on the list. Leaning into my recent love of One More Hour of Daylight, I want to tap into The Director as it’s set around what time World War II. Between the director and the wax child, I’m optimistic for a fresh start with the long list, and that once started, my overall experience with the rest of the prize list is better than the precedent The Witch has set.

The director has a unique take on the individuals impacted by World War II, but also the people in power at that time. Rather than focusing on other areas I’ve widely read about in the genre, including those living in concentration camps, we instead are faced with a particularly unpleasant character high up in Hitler’s regime, Joseph Goebbels. I’m looking forward to the fresh take. 

The Language of Liars

Goodreads

The language of liars is a pretty short novel, so I’m surprised I haven’t got to it already. When I talked about this book in my Fall TBR, not only did I talk about my intention to read this book soon. I also mentioned that this book has made it onto at least a couple of TBR’s and not in front of my eyeballs. That I’m keen to change. For such a short book, I’m hoping I can fly through this and tick this 2026 release off my list.

If you are unfamiliar with the concept of the book, the language of liars is about science-fiction espionage novel that I am excited to read because it seems to have emphasis on language and integrating into a society where you don’t belong. If this is also your cup of tea, can I also point you to One More Hour of Daylight, which has a similar aspect to the narrative. It’s because I have read and loved that book recently that I’m all the more excited to finally pick up The Language of Liars. At 161 pages, there really is no excuse for this book to find itself unread after a third month of intention.

Dungeon Crawler Carl

Goodreads

In a recent First Lines Friday post, I set out to feature something both fun and different. Whilst I had heard of the book at the time I featured it, I quickly added Dungeon Crawler Carl to my TBR. What can I say, the idea of a televised, post-apocalyptic situation is ridiculous in the first place. Combine that with two main protagonists who play off each other, and one of those being Carl’s sassy ex-girlfriend’s talking Persian cat… well, colour me intrigued.

Given reading progress has been a little bit slow of late, I am deliberately picking up this book to change the pace and style of books I’m reading. I’m looking for something a little less serious (in contrast to my booker prize longlist books) and hopefully, my experience of this book matches the wider reception received and I have a new series to devour! 

Get 20% Off Your First Demon This Halloween

Goodreads

Not long ago, I sought help choosing a Halloween novel this year. And, I’m pleased to say I’m not disappointed! The author of Get 20% Off Your First Demon This Halloween got in touch and offered me a copy of the book in exchange for a review. This particular book overlaps the comedy and horror genres. Unusual yes. However, given my recent reading experience, I’m optimistic the comedy and seemingly lighthearted note of the book will pay some dividends.

It’s also nice to feature some independently published authors. As you can probably tell by the volume of blog tours I sign up for, even if the timing isn’t convenient, that I like to try and support indie authors as well as read well-known authors. So, watch the space as I may be able to offer you a very different read to pick up this spooky season.

Metabolical 

Goodreads

For my last read of October, I debated which audiobook to pick up. So far, only Kingdom of Ash is designated an audiobook listen on this monthly TBR. Some books, such as The Language of Liars, are not available in audio format. One of my two recent blog tour reads was in audiobook format, but I’ve finished it already.

That doesn’t leave very many options for other books I could pick up in audio. So, I instead turned to some audiobooks I already own and have not yet scheduled time to read. One title caught my attention as it serves as a good refresher for a book I read last year. That book is Metabolical. If you have a read or are interested in another book called ultra processed people, then I should think metabolical will also be up your alley. At least, based on my enjoyment of ultra processed people, that’s why I’m picking up Metabolical. Not only will I find this an engaging listen from a learning perspective, but it’s also nice to have a non-fiction book make it onto this monthly TBR.

Summary 

My October monthly TBR still has a decent page count to it, but I’m excited to pick up some shorter books this month. I’ve also gotten off to a pretty good start, finishing both Debt reckoning and One More Hour of Daylight so far this week. Can I mark another book as complete before the end of the week? Should I pick up The Language of Liars or The Wax Child for a quick win?

What are you reading this spooky season? Let me know in the comments!

signature

Facebook | X (formerly Twitter) | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads | YouTube

Blog Tour Review: One More Hour of Daylight – C.M. Gray

Posted on by

It’s rare I feature two blog tours in one week! Needless to say, I’ve been busy wrapping up some recent reads in order to share my thoughts. 

Today I bring you a WW2 historian fiction novel called One More Hour of Daylight by C.M. Gray. I was invited onto the tour hosted by TheWriteReads based on my love of books in this genre and period. And, obviously the book has more than lived up to my expectations. Shall we get onto those? Full disclosure – I’ve been provided with a digital copy of the book for the purpose of reviewing it. However, my thoughts expressed on the book are entirely my own.

Let’s recap the book info and then share my review of One More Hour of Daylight. 

One More Hour of Daylight – C.M. Gray

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Pages: 451

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Independently Published 

Original Publication Date: 16 May 2026

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – One More Hour of Daylight 

Purchase Links – Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon CA

On the first day of World War II, a young man makes a promise—one that will shape every choice he makes for the next four years.

Essex. September 1939.

A wounded German pilot drops from a clear autumn sky into a quiet English field. Seventeen-year-old Derrick finds him—broken and feverish. Not an enemy. Just a young man asking for one small mercy before everything ends.

One more hour of daylight.

That is all I ask. A chance to breathe free air before whatever comes next. Derrick gives him until morning. When the stretcher comes, the pilot’s last words strike Derrick like a blow he will never stop feeling.

Scotland. France. Germany. 1941–1943.

In the mountains of Scotland, they teach him how to kill, how to lie, and how to endure things that break most men. Then they give him a new name, put him on a plane, and drop him into the dark.

As an SOE operative deep inside occupied Europe, Derrick Sedgley lives on false papers, borrowed names, and nerves worn to nothing by years in the shadows. He moves agents to safety, builds escape routes, and stays one breath ahead of the Gestapo.

Then a mission collapses—and everything changes. Forced to run, Derrick finds himself moving through the most dangerous corners of occupied Europe alongside someone whose connection to his past he cannot yet see. As safe houses fall, loyalties fracture, and the frozen passes of the Pyrenees rise ahead like the edge of the world, Derrick begins to understand something.

The choice he made in an Essex field on the first day of the war has been leading him here all along.

Some debts cannot be paid.

Some can only be carried.

And some—if you are brave enough, and fortunate enough—can finally be laid to rest.

From the quiet fields of Essex to the mountains of Scotland, from the dangerous streets of Lyon to the shadows of wartime Hamburg and the high passes of the Pyrenees, One More Hour of Daylight is an unforgettable story of courage, guilt and redemption—of ordinary people forced to make impossible choices in extraordinary times.

Some promises can survive a war.

Some people can too.

For readers who believe that even in war, what matters most is who we choose to be.

My Thoughts… 

Plot

One More Hour of Daylight balances a plot line that isn’t hurried, yet also has plenty of action to drive each chapter forward. I loved how the storyline unfolded from the simple yet familiar setting of England we know and love, and from that the plot spirals to a multi continental, multicultural narrative where saying the wrong thing could get you killed. 

Derrick Sedgley finds his background of growing up speaking both French and German to be his greatest assets in making him one of the greatest assets the British army can use in the war against Hitler. Undercover, his role is to blend in and where possible, disrupt the enemy without getting caught. Although not uncommon for the genre, I can’t say I’ve read too many World War II novels where the protagonist is a spy operative. Rather, I tend to read from perspectives of the victims of Hitler’s views and war against any who don’t fit his ideals. Nevertheless, the action was as high-stakes as I expected and I enjoyed the change of pace. We never quite feel safe and you never know what is around the corner – adding to the tension and need to find out what comes next! 

Characters

Derrick Sedgley it’s technically still a boy when World War II breaks out. He lies about his age in order to enlist, as many did back then in order to ‘get a piece of the action’. If he knew what he was getting into, would he have enlisted in the first place? Who can say. Instead, what unfolds for Derrick spans far wider than the average basic training most British soldiers were given before being sent out into danger. 

I read this book with a form of motherly love for Derrick. Being older than him, I just wanted to mother and protect him and to stop anything unpleasant happening to him. Naturally, the perils of the job he has taken don’t align with my interests, and therefore this at a layer of conflict between us as a reader for our wishes for the character, as well as well actually plays out. 

I suppose it would be fair to say his age and similar background to me made Derrick a very relatable character, and what I was rooting for throughout the storyline. However, I also felt some fondness for Ernst, who is so very different and yet finds himself in a similar situation to Derrick in reverse. It must have been terrifying, and it shows in the micro expressions and behaviours of the boys trying to hold themselves together when nobody is there to support them. 

Setting

One More Hour of Daylight has a lot of travel in it, so there are a good deal of explanations for places and situations needed to inform but avoid overwhelm. I found descriptions are well structured to set the scene, make places uniquely identify and plausible, but without info dumping excessively. As someone who has never been to the places within the book, I personally enjoyed the description and vibe of each setting, what makes them unique from each other and generally explains the context in which the wider book is set. 

What I also like about this particular story is that we start with the familiarity of English soil, but fairly quickly branch out from there. Whilst a lot takes place in this narrative on the whole, we are introduced slowly and taken along the journey with Derrick. One city, train journey, o e mission at a time. It’s captivating and immersive, which combined with the busy high-stakes plot line, makes One More Hour of Daylight a standout new release in the genre and period! 

Narrative Style

One More Hour of Daylight has a very approachable narrative style. The writing style flows so that turning the pages is effortless, and at times I could forget I was reading at all. Truly, it was the type of book I needed right now. I have not been reading very much lately as I’ve got a lot on my plate. However, One More Hour of Daylight has been the type of book that has reminded me just why I love reading so much and how it can be effortless, even when there are plenty of other things on to divert my attention. 

One More Hour of Daylight has slightly longer chapters than a few books I have read of late. However, I would also say they are not so long that the book isn’t easy to put down at the next end of chapter. As I mentioned before, this book balances action, as well as relaying history, complex ideas and background into a plot line that has a lot of action in it. In order to balance the two, the chapter lengths are a little bit longer, sure. Yet, they are no less approachable to read. The language has chosen well to make the narrative easily understood by the average reader. 

Summary 

If you are looking for your next World War II historical fiction novel, try One More Hour of Daylight. This high-stakes espionage wartime novel is perfect for fans of action-packed storylines, yet also gives us a flavour of the individual characters that make up the storyline and the people and places that define the resistance against Hitler’s vision. 

Author Bio

C.M. Gray’s first book, *The Flight of the Griffin,* was longlisted in the 2015 Times Chicken House Writing Competition. *Shadowland*, the first book in the Pendragon Saga, has so far received over 900 five-star reviews on Amazon. These things still genuinely astonish him, and he is deeply grateful for every one of them.

Most of his previous work has been fantasy: either pure fantasy or historical fantasy, the kind of writing where druids turn up uninvited and one of your main characters develops an unsettling affinity with wolves before you have quite decided what sort of book you are writing. *Shadowland* began with every intention of staying grounded in historical reality. It did not. It has turned out to be a popular book, so he does not complain.

His years travelling through Asia, India, Africa and the Middle East have a habit of finding their way onto the page. He has seen and done some fairly strange things along the way and met some extraordinary people, and writing fantasy has always felt, to him, only a short step from writing fact.

**New for 2026**

*One More Hour of Daylight*, published June 2026, marks a departure: pure historical fiction, no druids, no wolves. It follows Derrick Sedgley, a seventeen-year-old from Essex who makes a single moral choice in a field one September morning in 1939 and spends the next five years living with the consequences. From the Essex countryside to occupied France, from the mountains of Burgundy to the Pyrenees, it is a story about promises, betrayal, courage and the cost of doing the right thing too late.

And for those who have been waiting patiently for the Pendragon Saga to continue: the third book, *Shadow’s Heir*, follows in September 2026. More on that very soon.

C.M. Gray was born in England and grew up in the Essex countryside near the Suffolk border, which is where Derrick Sedgley grows up, too. The flat fields, the big skies and the particular quality of Essex light found their way into the book whether he intended them to or not.

He was born, however, with a serious case of travel lust. As soon as he could get a passport, he packed a rucksack and went to see what the world looked like. He has been looking ever since, and has now lived more years outside England than he ever spent living there.

C.M. Gray is now very happily settled just outside Barcelona with his wonderful wife and partner in life, Adriana.

Audiobook Blog Tour Review: Debt Reckoning – Jack Meyer

Posted on by

It’s not very often I take part in an audiobook blog tour. However, it’s made a fun change. Today’s review is for a different genre book as well, keeping things fresh. It’s helped, to be honest. My reading pace has been slow of late. But, it’s made a refreshing change to try something new. The biggest plus I have taken away from this book is that it was both fun and entertaining, but also somewhat educational! 

Before I share my thoughts on Debt Reckoning, I always like to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources and the author Jack Meyer for the opportunity to read and review the book. Full disclosure – I’ve been provided with a copy of the audiobook for the purpose of reviewing it. However, my thoughts expressed on the book are entirely my own.

Let’s recap the essential info and then I’ll let you know what I really thought of Debt Reckoning. 

Debt Reckoning: Teetering on the Brink – Jack Meyer

Genre: Political thriller

Pages: 352

Audiobook Length: 10hr 18mins

Audience: Adult

Publisher: 3PPress

Original Publication Date: 15 Jun 2026

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – Debt Reckoning: Teetering on the Brink

Debt Reckoning: Teetering on the Brink

What if the greatest threat to America wasn’t war, terrorism, or China…but the trillions of dollars of debt we’ve pretended doesn’t exist?

U.S. Senator Rick Taylor has been warning anyone who’ll listen: the national debt is no longer a spreadsheet problem-it’s a ticking bomb. But in Washington, truth is toxic. Colleagues dismiss him, constituents scream about “cuts to my benefits,” and the media paints him as the villain who wants to gut Social Security.

Then the blackmail begins.

A shadowy network led by a ruthless operator making huge profits from unchecked government spending will stop at nothing to silence anyone who threatens the status quo. After Taylor’s wife is targeted in a terrifying swatting attack and a sniper’s bullet nearly ends Taylor’s life, the message is clear. Shut up… or die.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.com/Debt-Reckoning-Teetering-Wayward-Patriot/dp/B0H6N9R7ZD/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Debt-Reckoning-Teetering-Wayward-Patriot/dp/B0H6N9R7ZD/

My Thoughts… 

Plot

Debt Reckoning balances a high-action, drama rich narrative with a setting that is all-too-familiar. I had a hunch that aspects of the narrative were based on real facts and concepts. I was right! Dear Reckoning is both educational and entertaining to read. You can absolutely read the story at face value and enjoy the tension and conflict within. On another level though, you can look at the parallels with our reality and appreciate the truth in the tale too. 

This book deals with the darker and grittier aspects of humanity. Threats, blackmail and murder abound. This book also makes reference to suicide, so if you aren’t a fan of that, skip the first chapter. 

Debt Reckoning technically follows on from the previously published A Higher Betrayal. However, picking up that book is not mandatory to understanding Debt Reckoning. Truthfully, Debt Reckoning is my first political thriller from Jack Meyer. It won’t be my last either… and I wouldn’t say it’s a genre I love or have much affinity for otherwise. Debt Reckoning has encouraged me to broaden my horizons and try new things. 

Characters

Now admittedly, I’m not a fan of politicians. I understand a lot of the negative feelings expressed in the book. The frustrations of trying to get things done. A lack of progress. All that jazz. However, Jack does a fantastic job of also converting the human side through the character of Taylor. There are some individuals who want to do good, not just get the most out of their position. The humanity of Taylor comes through in the glimpses into his private life. His battle against the impenetrable machine that is the US Government. 

I’m always a fan of books with multiple perspectives. For thrillers like Debt Reckoning, it helps a long way to making the action interesting and keeping some characters in the dark whilst allowing us to see the wider picture.  

Setting

I’m not well versed in the structure and runnings of the US Government. However, that didn’t matter! There’s plenty of explanation in the book to convert the relevant information without going overboard. 

The same would be true for readers if they were unfamiliar with some of the concepts in the book. Thankfully, with a background in fund administration and investment admin, I do have some background knowledge. I understand the concepts of investment market behaviour and sentiments, and what some of those consequences could be. Personally, I appreciated the steer these concepts have on the attitudes and actions that drive the plot. It is cleverly juggled to make the premise believable and plausible. 

Broadly speaking, the book is set in a world that starts very much like our own. If you like to stick to a realistic setting with your reads, then Debt Reckoning certainly fits that bill. It explores the potential consequences of a real world issue in a way that doesn’t quite feel doom and gloom. The light and resilient spirit of many characters in the book bring hope, even if the situation is dire. 

Narrative Style

Debt Reckoning does a fabulous job of conveying the action and thriller aspects of the plot with the realistic setting. Short snappy chapters and swapping perspectives keep events and revelations fresh and punchy. Jack does a fantastic job of incorporating the meat of the story, the issues and ideas for fixing it, with engrossing drama. 

I listened to the audiobook version of Debt Reckoning. Naturally, that does make my experience of the book different from reading a physical copy. That said, I’m going to do my best to make my comments here that should apply to the physical book as well as the audio version. The pacing of the book works very well, regardless of the format you choose to read in. It’s fast paced, but not at the expense of explaining the wider context of the book. The language is also pretty approachable. Sure, a book that focuses on a particulate topic has its niche terminology. However, this is explained very well, if it’s needed, so the book is approachable to most readers. 

I’m going to wrap-up here with just the audiobook commentary here. The audiobook is narrated by Dannul Daily. He does great job of voicing the different characters to make it easy to follow who our perspective sits with. The ’non-character specific’ aspects of the book are also well narrated and clear to understand. I personally enjoy listening to audio at faster than x1 speed. I was able to do that and the narrative flowed well and was easy to understand. However, I can also confidently say that I would say the converse would be true to. 

Summary 

Debt Reckoning is an engaging, fun read that we can also learn something from. You can take as much as you wish from Debt Reckoning. Fortunately, I went into this book with an understanding of some of the concepts behind the storyline. However, that’s not necessarily something you need prior knowledge of or to be personally invested in. The wider storyline adds credibility to the book, even if you just enjoy the action this background facilitates at face value. 

Have you ever read a political thriller? Do you fancy giving Debt Reckoning, or any of Jack Meyer’s other political themed thrillers, a try? 

Author Bio

Jack was introduced to thrillers when Tom Clancy’s The Hunt for Red October was published.  However, for most of his life, he was a reader rather than an author. During the 2000 Presidential election as he watched TV coverage of the Florida recount with ‘dimpled chads’ and ‘hanging chads,’ he thought an election conspiracy would be a great basis for a thriller. It wasn’t until 2020 when he retired from his career, which included management positions in corporate America and small business ownership as well as a brief stint in ministry, that he sat down to write Wayward Patriot: Preserving the Vote.

His unique approach to political thrillers rips headlines from the news and weaves them through a thrilling tale of patriotism, political corruption and crisis. He says, “when I see some major new issue or technology in the news I want to learn more about it. I enjoy sharing what I learn with others by wrapping a story around it that will engage and entertain readers.”

He and his wife, Barbara, have three grown children and seven grandchildren and divide their time between Colorado Springs and Tucson.

Social Media Links: 

https://www.jackmeyerauthor.com

https://twitter.com/jackmeyerauthor

https://www.facebook.com/JackMeyerAuthor

Sunday Summary – 4th October 2026

Posted on by

I can’t believe it’s Sunday night again. To be fair, this weekend has been a short one for me. We’re in busy season for me at work, and unfortunately I put in overtime Friday night and most of Saturday. Regretfully, this has had an impact on my reading and blogging plans. More on that later. First, let’s get into the content I managed to share this week!

Because of the overtime, my plans to publish my October TBR have been put back to next week. However, I did publish my Fall TBR post this week, although later than planned. Originally, I’d intended to post this as part of the Top Ten Tuesday series I dip in and out of here at Reviewsfeed. However, when I planned last week’s content in my Sunday Summary, it had slipped my mind I was baking Tuesday evening for a Macmillan Coffee Morning we were hosting at work. So, that Fall TBR came out in its own name and right on Thursday instead. It’s a shorter, and hopefully more intentional list too. Fingers crossed I can tick all five books off the list in the next couple of months… 

Books Read

Debt Reckoning 

With an upcoming blog tour obligation, you would think that I’d have listened to a little bit more than one chapter of this audiobook this week. And, that was my intention.

However, I’m still around little over 60% into this audiobook. Turn out, audiobooks on Spotify don’t play very well through the app on my car. I haven’t figured out how to get it to platy more than one chapter at a time without my manually having to try and change the track. It also gets stuck, and I’m not sure if it’s an app problem or an unreliable mobile network problem. So, really it just doesn’t work well for me. The pity is, I’ve also been busy this weekend with work yesterday and family commitments today. I typically make most of my audio reading progress at the weekend. Saturday was my failsafe for finishing this audiobook ahead of writing my review tomorrow night to go live Tuesday. 

Looks like I’m listening before bed tonight and bingeing the rest tomorrow in my lunch hour, and well, any spare minute I have/need! 

Kingdom of Ash 

After my attempt to listen to Debt Reckoning on the way home from work going awry, I switched to Kingdom of Ash. However, that 16minuted of progress is all I have to my name this week. Again, it’s in part down to the same reasons as progress with Debt Reckoning. Not only that, but naturally with a review obligation for Debt Reckoning looming, it takes priority over Kingdom of Ash. 

Never mind! Naturally, I have the flexibility to carry Kingdom of Ash forward onto my next TBR. Let’s just hope for a better week of reading progress next week. It can’t get much worse if we’re honest. 

Books Discovered

It’s been another quiet week here – no new books to report, although sadly, I’ve not really ticked any off the list either. 

Oh well, onwards and upwards. Life happens and sometimes the books need to be put down. Temporarily… 

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

Next week has to be a better reading week. I have deadlines. So, here’s the plan in order of priority:-

  • Finish the audiobook Debt Reckoning tomorrow – review due Tuesday 
  • Read One More Hour of Daylight – I only got my copy last week due to a delivery issue but starting tonight. Review due Thursday
  • Continue the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash
  • Read The Wax Child by Olga Ravn
  • Read The Language of Liars – can I boost my reading with a short book next weekend ahead of my next Sunday Summary

Blog

With a busy schedule already next week, really, my only option to get my October TBR out to you in good time is to go live tomorrow. So, no rest for the wicked it seems! Whilst I will have some carryovers from September, I’m thinking a little bit of a fresh start is needed. Thankfully, after this week I have no new blog tour obligations until mid-November. So, I have some flexibility in my chosen reads. Maybe I can pull a couple off my Fall TBR? 

Next, my review of Debt Reckoning will be hot off the press Tuesday morning. Naturally, the book will be very fresh in my mind reviewing it, so I can only hope to do the book justice. I can assure you that I’m really enjoying the book so far and it has been an entertaining yet also educational listen. Will the ending do the book justice? I can’t wait to tell you… spoiler-free, of course… 

On Thursday, I’m back with another review. This is for One More Hour of Daylight. Now, as of this Sunday Summary I have yet to actually start this one. Again, I’d planned to make a start this weekend, but quarter end deadlines needed some extra work to be met compared to usual. Nevertheless, I’m going to have a hot shower and then finish relaxing with this book tonight. The good news is that it fits into a genre and time setting I love reading – World War 2! My hope is to dive into this one and get immersed pretty quickly! 

Finally, I’ll give myself a few days off before coming back with another Sunday Summary update. I’ll need the time to get back to reading and catching up for the poor performance I made this week. I want a better start to October and with my upcoming October TBR. Let’s put in the work to get myself there. 

Summary 

I know this Sunday Summary is very light on updates. Sorry about that. Things just got in the way this week, and any downtime I have had I’ve been crocheting or doing something mindless to unwind. It’s a busy time for me at work and personally right now. Things will get better, and I’m optimistic my deadlines next week will kick me up the butt and reinstate some of my old reading habits. 

Have you read much over the last week? If so, what are you reading at the moment? 

signature

Facebook | X (formerly Twitter) | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads | YouTube

My Fall TBR

Posted on by

When I shared my plans for content on Sunday in my Sunday Summary update, it didn’t cross my mind that I was double-booking myself on Tuesday. I’d intended to share this TBR as part of the Top Ten Tuesday series. However, I’d forgotten we were hosting.a Macmillan Coffee Morning today at work. So, baking had to come first. 

Still, that doesn’t mean I can’t share my list now. It’s probably not a bad thing either. If I shared a list of ten books I intend to read this fall, no doubt I would renege on most of it. My reading volume has dropped lately, so I’d rather be more intentional about my picks and then make a concerted effort to read them all, rather than aim to get to as many as I can. 

Some of the books in today’s Fall TBR have been featured on the blog this year. They shouldn’t be a surprise then that I’m aiming to read them. 

My Fall TBR

Eve – Cat Bohannon

Genre: Non-Fiction

Pages: 615

Audience: Adult

Original Publication Date: 03 Oct 2023

Goodreads – Eve

Eve is a book that I set out to read in my 2026 resolutions post back at the beginning of the year. I’m sure it even made it onto a couple of TBRs this year. However, as of writing this Fall TBR, I am yet to get to this book.

I’m absolutely interested in reading it, and given it’s taken me so long to try and get to it, this book has become a priority. Eve is about the evolution of humans and the impact the female body has had on human development. I think it’s an interesting subject, and what I’m definitely looking forward to reading soon!

Julia – Sandra Newman

Genre: Dystopian

Pages: 400

Audience: Adult

Original Publication Date: 19 Oct 2023

Goodreads – Julia

Another book I sent out to read in my 2026 resolution post. When I originally planned this read, it was my aim to pick up in tandem with 1984 (the original book) by George Orwell.

Now I confess, I got a little stuck on this original book back in March. Because I had read 1984 before, motivation to finish the title wained as I ended up in a bit of a reading slump. Nevertheless, I clawed it back and I think things will be different with this new perspective. 

Julia is written from the same world, but from the character Julia. If you do not know the original story, this is the woman Winston meets and develops affections for in main book. Obviously, I’ll see how this compares to the main story as I get into it.

Julia has definitely been on several TBRs this year, but for one reason or another it ends up not being prioritised. That changes in this Fall TBR.

The Director – Daniel Kehlmann

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 352

Audience: Adult

Original Publication Date: 10 Oct 2023

Goodreads – The Director

A personal challenge I have never set out to do before, but I’m excited to have a go at, is reading books qualifying for The Booker Prize longlist. I have attempted one book from this list already, but I’m not having much success at getting more in front of my eyeballs yet. That first book was a DNF, another was on my September TBR but I had to set it aside in favour of blog tour obligations. Ny next book, after reading The Wax Child, is going to be the director. 

What I like about The Director is that it to set in a historical period I’m already interested in. World War II fiction already has in my heart. The fact that a book from the genre made it to longlist makes it even easier for me to attempt this.

Master Artificer – Justin Call

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 866

Audience: Adult

Original Publication Date: 06 May 2021

Goodreads – Master Artificer

Another reading challenge established earlier this year was to pick up more new release titles. In order to achieve this goal, I added a few new releases to a dedicated list I published on YouTube. Whilst I have made good headway towards this list, in future I want to read the third book of Justin Call’s The Silent Gods series.

When I originally published my 2026 release post, it looks like Master of the Fallen, book 3, had a 2026 release date. However, it looks like that date may have been indicative, or at the very least pushed back since. So, whilst the pressure may be off, I want to get this fantasy in decent time. Historically, I have a habit of leaving it too long between books in a series and then I can’t remember what happened. Even still, I read the first book a little while ago now (2024). With that in mind, I want a refresher soon.

The Language of Liars – S. L. Huang

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 161

Audience: Adult

Original Publication Date: 21 April 2026

Goodreads – The Language of Liars

The Language of Liars was on both my August and September TBR at the very least. Again, this is a pretty short book that has been deprioritised due to blog tours and other commitments coming first. I had originally intended to try to pick up this book as an audiobook listen in order to fit it in. However, an audiobook doesn’t exist. Probably because the book is so short!

Never mind, I’m coming towards the end of my blog tour obligations soon, so I envisage being able to pick up The Language of Liars very shortly. 

Summary 

Five books. That’s more than achievable to pick up in the next few months. Plus, they are books I’ve already committed to try to read this year anyway. 

What books are on your fall TBR? 

signature

Facebook | X (formerly Twitter) | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads | YouTube

Sunday Summary – 27th September 2026

Posted on by

Happy Sunday friends! Thankfully, this Sunday Summary has more reading progress to report than in the last couple of weeks. It wouldn’t have been difficult to have clocked in less reading, put it that way…

Before we get into the books I have picked up and have contributed to this Sunday Summary update, let’s take a look at the blog posts I’ve shared. In order to give myself more reading time, I have only shared one post this week. That was my blog tour review for Invisible by Heleyne Hammersley. If you have yet to take a look at that review, he is a handy link for you to go and check it out. 

Books Read

Invisible

Naturally, with a blog tour review due earlier this week, finishing Invisible was my reading priority at the start of the week. Thankfully, reading progress remained much the same as I reported in last week’s Sunday Summary update. I got on really well with the book! 

In fact, it turned out to be just the type of read I needed. An engaging crime storyline with an easy to read narrative style, this book has done wonders to help with the reading slump I’ve experienced elsewhere in the month. 

Obviously, I don’t want to detract from encouraging you to go and read that review for yourself. So, no spoilers. Go check it out. Not only that, but you also have an opportunity to win a copy of the book for yourself. Check out that review here, and don’t forget to log yourself an entry for the giveaway. More details about that are also in that post.

The Witch

Over the last couple of Sunday Summary update posts, I’ve shared difficulties with reading The Witch. If you have read my monthly TBR post, you will know that I’ve set out to start reading towards the Booker Prize longlist books this year.

I confess, although The Witch only a short narrative, I’m not really getting on with it. Not much seems to be happening, and the 60-odd percent progress I’ve made has been a bit of a slog. Because the book is so short, I’ve previously been determined to get to the end, whatever it takes.

However, after reading a little bit more this week, I have changed my tune. There is absolutely no point struggling through this book when I don’t have to. I have tried, but I have a very little motivation to pick up this read and it’s now having a negative effect on the rest of my month. So, I’m going to cut my losses and DNF this one.

Debt Reckoning 

Unlike The Witch, I have made significant progress with a blog tour read coming up for review at the beginning of next month. Yesterday, I started the audiobook copy I have of Debt Reckoning. And, I’m really getting on with it! It has been an easy listen whilst generally pottering around the house, but also whilst enjoying craft projects.

If you are unfamiliar, this book is a political thriller novel which has been an interesting read in context of my job. In an approachable way, it looks at the consequences of American debt and the impact of geopolitical tensions and other such scenarios that could result in the American economy getting into trouble. It’s somewhat informative, but it’s done in a way that the fiction element to the book isn’t overshadowed and it gives the book credibility. 

As of this Sunday Summary, I’ve already listened to over half of this audio – I’m at 62%. My review for Debt Reckoning is coming on the 6th of October. I’ve got plenty of time to finish it, and I can’t wait to tell you more. 

Kingdom of Ash 

I haven’t made a whole lot of progress with Kingdom of Ash this week. However, a big part of that has been down to the fact that I prioritised listening to Debt Reckoning yesterday.

One aspect of good news I can share compared to last week Sunday Summary is that I have got myself back into listening to audiobooks in the week again. I mentioned I’ve been a little slack on that front. Whilst not exactly groundbreaking, I have listened to an hour and a half of audio in the week this week. It’s a start, and long may it continue! 

As I said, I’ve ended up prioritising another audiobook this week. That’s purely down to the fact that audio has a deadline. If not for that, I would have continued with Kingdom of Ash, and I would have wanted to continue with it. I’m enjoying the storyline and where things are going. Honestly, I have no idea what is going to happen next in the story. Even still, I’m keen to continue with this one. I am fairly sure it’s going to take me longer than my end of the month target given I have over 15 hours of audio left. Then again, I may just surprise myself? Let’s not get too giddy. I’ll update you next week. 

Books Discovered

I’ve behaved myself this week, staying away from bookshops and generally gleaning opinions of the Internet that make me add books to my reading list. Truthfully, I’ve been replaying Dragon Quest 😂 I haven’t added anything, and I have ticked the book off my list this week. 

Progress is progress 🤷‍♀️

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

With just a few days left before the end of the month, I’m running out of time to complete my September TBR. Nevertheless, I’m going to do my best to prioritise the reads I’ve started. Here’s my reading plan for the next seven days:- 

  • Read The Wax Child by Olga Ravn
  • Read The Language of Liars – this is also pretty short so definitely doable
  • Start either Julia or Yesteryear
  • Continue the audiobook of Debt Reckoning – hopeful to finish by my next Sunday Summary
  • Continue the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash

Blog

My first post of the week is planned to be a Top Ten Tuesday post. This week would have been the turn of the Fall TBR post, had I taken part. However, I had to plan for my blog tour review so chose not to do it. This week, it’s a ‘fall freebie’. So, with this in mind, I’m planning a variation of that TBR post. What’s coming up on my TBR’s in the coming autumnal season? You’ll have to slick around and find out! 

Later in the week, we’ll officially be into October. So, my monthly wrap-up for September will be going live! As things stand, it’s not going to be a particularly long post… let’s hope I can turn that around in the next couple of days! 

Finally, I’m back next Sunday with my usual Sunday Summary update. Fingers crossed for a week much like this one, and I can tick some quick-win reads off the list to redeem my reading month! 

Summary 

Thanks for checking out this Sunday Summary. Thankfully, I had much more to report on this week, which is good news. I still have some work to do to somewhat redeem my September TBR. However, now I’ve DNF’d The Witch, I can only hope things are looking up. 

What is the last book you DNF’d? 

signature

Facebook | X (formerly Twitter) | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads | YouTube

Blog Tour Review and GIVEAWAY: Invisible – Heleyne Hammersley

Posted on by

Today’s publication day blog tour review is an exciting one! Fans of crime – rejoice! I have a sixth instalment to a crime series that also reads perfectly well as a standalone. So, if you haven’t read the rest of the series (like me, admittedly) do not fear. You can check out Invisible without the commitment of a backlist. At least, not if you don’t want to 😉

Before I share my thoughts on Invisible, I always like to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources and the author Heleyne Hammersley for the opportunity to read and review the book. Full disclosure – I’ve been provided a digital copy to review the book. However, my thoughts expressed within this review are entirely my own.

Now, let’s get int the details of the book and share purchase links before I delve into this gritty crime! 

Invisible – Heleyne Hammersley

Genre: Crime

Pages: 305

Audience: Adult

Original Publication Date: 23  Sept 2026

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – Invisible

Invisible

An icy morning, a muddy riverbank. The body of a promising swimmer is found in the River Don 

close to Thorpe. Returning from a six-month absence, DI Kate Fletcher leads her first murder case since she nearly lost her own life to a desperate killer. 

Grappling with her own doubts and insecurities, she has to negotiate a team transformed by 

differences in staffing and in attitude. Everything has changed and nobody is comfortable.

A second body leads to a strong suspect, but the evidence is circumstantial and far from clear cut. 

Kate’s ex-Detective Sergeant finds the breakthrough they need to help track down a cunning and meticulous murderer who has no conscience and no fear of consequences.

But can Kate act in time to prevent more deaths?

Purchase Links – Amazon UK Amazon US

My Thoughts… 

Plot

In Invisible, there is plenty going on at any given moment. From the very opening pages, we are brought into a story of murder and questioning motives. 

As I mentioned in the opening introduction to this blog to review, Invisible is the sixth book in the DI Kate Fletcher series. Naturally, we already have backstory and characters that have been established previously that add into this narrative. However, don’t be put off by that! Rather, these aspects add character and realism to the ongoing storyline. They aren’t overwhelming or confusing if you haven’t read the prior books. I’m more than happy to disclose here that I have read Invisible as a standalone to write this review. That didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book in the slightest! 

The overall pacing of the storyline means that we have little tidbits and revelations over the course of the plot. At no point does the plot turn stale or do we feel like we aren’t exploring an active aspect of the murder case. As a reader, that kept me engaged with the storyline. I was able to read large sections of this book in one go. Safe to say, I did not want to put Invisible down!

And the ending, obviously it’s tricky to talk about a book and acknowledge the ending without giving anything away. So, for the sake of safety, I am not going to give anything away here. All I will say is that the events, clues and information that lead us to the final conclusion are engaging. What’s real? What’s a red herring? These were the questions I asked myself up until the very end. It was very cleverly written, to have us questioning up until the final moment.

Characters

An aspect I really enjoyed about Invisible is that we get to see a lot more of the personal lives of the characters within the storyline then just the superficial necessary for the murder case. 

Again, because we have established history for these characters in the prior series, this comes through two make characters more relatable and realistic. Whilst I read Invisible not knowing the backstory behind the characters and events that took place imminently before the start of Invisible, I was able to glean enough from the narrative that I could make sense of characters. Their underlying storylines and not have that distracted from the overall experience. Instead, each of the characters involved in the case felt like a well-rounded individual, well thought out and plausible to get behind and want to root for.

Setting

This book is sat in the somewhat familiar British landscape. Also, I can’t say I’m immediately familiar with Doncaster itself, I am familiar with Britain and the overall institution in which this crime novel operates. I am aware of the pressure the police are put under. I am aware of public sentiment when it comes to the police in certain places and overall, the storyline setting is a familiar one to me. 

In more recent blog tour reviews, I have enjoyed branching away from the familiar and exploring new settings. However, I have enjoyed reversing this and instead of going to something very easy and familiar. If you have read any content from my blog more widely, you’ll know at the moment reading progress is on the slow side. Picking up something that has been an easy and compulsive read, as well as something I’m familiar with, has helped me pick up reading more than I have in the last week. I’m hoping it’s the kickstart I need to get back into reading a little bit more regularly… 

Narrative Style

In combination with the plot, having a book with relatively short chapters and a constantly moving plotline has really helped with the pacing of Invisible. Rather than getting stuck in long chapters, we are instead treated to relatively short snippets of action moving around consistently to drive the plot forward and bring new revelations to the table. 

The overall style of this book has to the ease of accessibility of the writing style. Again, I’ve struggled a little bit with reading lately and it has been a particular book’s narrative style that is really tripped me up. Invisible was everything I look for and the opposite of the book I’m struggling with. Short chapters are a great place to start. The easy to read language, reflective of modern, natural speech also helps greatly. The word choice is as simple as possible; if jargon does have to be used, it’s explained in a way that doesn’t make the reader feel simple. All in all, Invisible ticks all the boxes for me in terms of readability and making itself suitable to a range of audiences. 

Summary 

Invisible has been to pick me up I need! I’m sad to say that it is the first book I have managed to complete in September, which says a lot about how my reading has been going lately. However, since picking up Invisible, I have gotten back into listening to my audiobooks a bit more, and I’m going to revisit it my problem book later this week with a little bit more enthusiasm to get the job done. If that’s. It advocacy for a book, what is? 

Invisible isn’t a difficult book to get into or follow, but its revelations and engaging storyline had me turning the pages faster until the very end, when the truth finally comes to the fore. The murders, the motive, the murderer – all very clever and I enjoyed how Invisible panned out. But, if you want to find out how it goes for yourself, then you’re going to have to follow one of those purchase links and get a copy of the book for yourself no spoilers here! 

Author Bio

Heleyne Hammersley is a British writer based in Cumbria. She writes psychological suspense thrillers and crime novels.

Heleyne has been writing since junior school – her first work was a collection of poems called ‘Give Them the Works’ when she was ten years old. The poems were carefully handwritten on plain paper and tied together with knitting wool. 

When she’s not writing, Heleyne can often be found wandering on the fells or cycling the back roads of Cumbria in search of coffee and cake.

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/heleynehammersley66

https://www.instagram.com/heleynehammersleyauthor

https://www.threads.com/@heleynehammersleyauthor

Giveaway to Win 5 x Kindle Copies of Invisible (distributed via Amazon) (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Gleam box below. The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter 

and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the 

right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

https://gleam.io/V9AxO/win-5-x-kindle-copies-of-invisible-distributed-via-amazon-open-int

Sunday Summary – 20th September 2026

Posted on by

I confess that today’s Sunday Summary is going to be a little lighter on reading than I’d have hoped. Again. The Witch is proving to be a difficult book to psyche myself up to read. Before we get onto that though, let’s take a look at what I have achieved this week. 

I’ve had another week at attempting to post a book review and coming up short. The good news is, I’m much further along with A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes than I got with last week’s attempt for The Flood. It’s also been a busy week at work. We took part in a volunteer day on Wednesday that resulted in me straining my back. Not very clever of me, but I decided shovelling wood chip into wheelbarrows for an hour and a half was a great idea. What could possibly go wrong? I have to say, that meant I wasn’t feeling up to blogging for a couple days around that. Whilst I am broadly much better after that, cutting the grass today reinvigorated the acheiness a bit… 

But, I did get back on track on Friday. My planned Shelf Control post featured a non-fiction book that would suit anthropology fans. Take a look if you haven’t already! 

Books Read

The Witch

My aim was to push through with The Witch this week so I could move on. However, it’s proving a bit difficult for me to psyche myself up to read. In truth, I’ve managed a few pages… but that is regretfully it! 

I will get to it. If nothing else, I won’t let a 144 page book defeat me. Especially when I’ve only got 90 pages left. Completion by the time I’m drafting next week’s Sunday Summary, I promise! 

Kingdom of Ash 

Last week, I didn’t touch audiobooks at all. However, yesterday I made some progress with Kingdom of Ash whilst working on some craft projects. In the grand scheme of things, I haven’t made much of a dent. However, it’s something! 

Admittedly, I haven’t been listening to audiobooks in the week like I used to – a habit to get back to I think. It’ll certainly make progress go a lot faster. 

Invisible

With an upcoming blog tour next week, thankfully I’m having a better time with Invisible by Heleyne Hammersley. Whilst I’m not close to the finish with this book as I set out in last week’s Sunday Summary, I am doing better with this book than I am The Witch. Not that that’s difficult… 

So far, I’m really getting on with the storyline. Early on there are references to the protagonists earlier experiences in the series. I’m, unusually, reading this 6th book of a series as a standalone. I just wouldn’t have had the time to read the prior books. However, so far it’s reading well as a standalone and I’m curious as to how much this will impact the current storyline. 

Thankfully, I have a deadline to help incentivise reading, not that I need it much at the moment. I’m reviewing this book as part of the upcoming blog tour on the 23rd September. With just a few days to go, I’ve got a close deadline encouraging me to read the book. Let’s just hope I don’t leave it last minute like I’ve done previously. I’m determined not to at the very least. 

Books Discovered

No news is good news here this week. I’ve added nothing new, which is good given I’ve not really made any reading progress to tick books off a TBR… 

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

Here’s my reading plan for tonight and the  next seven days… it’s pretty much the same as last week… :- 

  • Finish Invisible by Heleyne Hammersley (priority!)
  • Finish The Witch by Marie Ndiaye 
  • Read The Wax Child by Olga Ravn
  • Continue the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash – target to get to 50% by the end of next week

Blog

Next week, I don’t have time to be lax on my book reviews! I’m reviewing Invisible on publication day of the book. No ifs, buts or negotiations. Still, I’m up to task. 

I’m deliberately going to take a break on Friday to catch up with my reading a little bit. Let’s hope I can make more of a dent in my reading list as I’ve got a few books to get through before the end of the month. I haven’t completed any so far! 

Finally, let’s hope taking the pressure off content gives me some time to do more reading so I’ll have a super-productive Sunday Summary next week. Well, I can only hope, yes? 

Summary 

Thanks for reading this week’s pretty short Sunday Summary update. Have you had better reading success than me lately? If so, share what you’ve picked up. 

signature

Facebook | X (formerly Twitter) | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads | YouTube

Shelf Control #107 – 18/09/2026

Posted on by

Happy Friday friends! Today’s Shelf Control is an exciting feature for non-fiction fans, especially if you enjoy anthropology and human history. If there is one thing I am pleased about when it comes to reading, it’s how varied the books I read are. I added today’s Shelf Control feature in January 2022. It’s been a while, so let’s hope I can finally read this soon! 

Here’s a reminder of what my Shelf Control regular feature is all about, then I’ll share more on today’s Shelf Control feature. 

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies; 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.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind – Yuval Noah Harari 

Genre: Non-fiction  

Pages: 466

Audience: Adult

Publisher:  Vintage

Publication Date: 04 Sept 2014

Goodreads – Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

What makes us brilliant? What makes us deadly? What makes us Sapiens?

One of the world’s preeminent historians and thinkers, Yuval Noah Harari challenges everything we know about being human.

Earth is 4.5 billion years old. In just a fraction of that time, one species among countless others has conquered it: us.

In this bold and provocative book, Yuval Noah Harari explores who we are, how we got here and where we’re going.

My Thoughts

I can’t say I’ve read much on the history of humankind, or spent any great deal of time on anthropology. However, it is a topic I’m looking forward to trying in picking up today’s Shelf Control feature. 

At 460 odd pages, it’s an approachable way to dabble in the subject. Based on the book title, it seems like a light-touch overview of our entire history. That’s great for a newcomer to the subject as I am. Then, if there’s a particular topic of interest I can dig into it later! Winner. 

This book has been broadly well received, but it does have its critics. Given my newness to the subject, I’m not sure I’ve got anything to say about that at the moment. I’ll just see how it reads and go from there. 

Have you read Sapiens, or any other books like it that you’d like to recommend? Is this your type of read? 

signature

Facebook | X (formerly Twitter) | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads | YouTube

Sunday Summary – 13th September 2026

Posted on by

That’s a wrap for another weekend, folks! Sad! Where on earth do the weekends go? Enough lamenting though, let’s get into today’s Sunday Summary update! 

I intended to share a review of The Flood by Rachel Bennett this week. However, admittedly, I struggled a little to put my thoughts into words. My thoughts on this book was that it was okay, but nothing special. As a result, I couldn’t think of much to say. So, my review didn’t go live, it could barely be called that with what I had noted down anyway! 

In more positive news, I posted what I consider to be a First Lines Friday that fit my ‘fun’ challenge. I set myself that challenge in last week’s Sunday Summary, with absolutely no idea how to achieve it. Thankfully I rose to the challenge on this occasion. If you’re intrigued, go take a look at that post to find out more. 

Books Read

The Witch

I had plans to get through a number of books this week. Alas, it’s not panned out. 

I started the week with The Witch, and I have made progress by reading in several stints. However, much like the reviews on Goodreads, I’m not loving it. As of this Sunday Summary, I’m currently around 40% into the book. If I’m honest, I’m not gripped by the storyline. I would say The Witch is a character-driven book rather than plot driven. So, already, The Witch isn’t playing to my strengths. I would say the biggest thing for me as barriers go is that the writing style feels a little clunky to me. This book is translated, I appreciate that. However, the style doesn’t come across as natural to me, and that reflects in that I’m a bit stuck on this book. 

I’m still going to read it. My plan is to power through tonight so I can move onwards and upwards! 

Books Discovered

This week, I’ve added the first book of the series I featured in my First Lines Friday this week to my TBR. 

Yes, I’m talking about Dungeon Crawler Carl. This is the book I chose for my ‘fun’ topic. Truthfully, I had nothing on my TBR already that fit the brief. Fortunately for me though, I’ve seen quite a few people reading this book and subsequent books in the series. Given I recently enjoyed Dungeons and Dimwits, I think Dungeon Crawler Carl will work for me.

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

Here’s my reading plan for tonight and the  next seven days… it’s pretty much the same as last week… :- 

  • Finish The Witch by Marie Ndiaye 
  • Read The Wax Child by Olga Ravn
  • Start (and definitely finish) Invisible by Heleyne Hammersley
  • Continue the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash

Blog

I’m going to start with a book review again this week, but I’m confident that I’m not going to be able to share anything meaningful on The Flood. So, next on the list is a Hunger Games favourite – The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Susanne Collins. I have much more to say on these books, so I should be able to follow through on this one. 

On Friday, I’ll be back to look at my upcoming TBR in the form of a Shelf Control post. This week’s upcoming feature is a non-fiction about human history on the planet. I hope that intrigues you as much as it does me. 

Finally, you know the drill. This time next week I’m back with another Sunday Summary post. Let’s hope a more productive week is in store, because progress this week has been pretty poor. 

Summary 

That’s everything from me in this Sunday Summary update. It’s not much, but better than nothing I guess? If nothing else, I have a blog tour coming up shortly so I’ll be reading for that. 

What are you reading this September? 

signature

Facebook | X (formerly Twitter) | Instagram | Goodreads | Threads | YouTube