Blog Tour Review: The Three Witches – Elena Collins

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The Three Witches is perfect for feminist fans looking for a gripping historical fiction novel determined to set history straight. Since the dawn of time, clever women have been branded dangerous. Troublemakers. Witches. 

In The Three Witches, a mystery spanning two timelines unveils a truer tale – of women doing honest work for a community rife with superstition, and paying the ultimate price. 

As always, thanks to Rachel and the author, Judy Leigh (under the pseudonym Elena Collins), for the opportunity to read this and review the book. I knew this book would tap into the historical elements I love with a modern, theatre-based present day narrative. Together, both timelines do justice to the stories of countless women demonised as witches. 

Are you ready to find out more? 

 

The Three Witches – Elena Collins

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Pages: 354

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Boldwood Books 

Original Publication Date: 02 Mar 2026

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

Goodreads – The Three Witches

 

Now: When Ruthie gets the part of one of Macbeth’s famous three witches she can’t wait to get started. Inspired by the beauty of the film’s Scottish locations and the camaraderie of the cast and crew, she can leave behind the expectations of her family and her lacklustre love life, at least for now. But as echoes from the past begin whispering in Ruthie’s ear and a restless spirit draws her further into its centuries-old secrets, it soon becomes clear that only she can uncover the truth of a terrible injustice.

1050 Scotland: Isobel and her two sisters have learnt about healing from their loving mother Sidheag, and she in turn has kept them safe. But without the protection of their late father, Sidheag knows that her daughters must find husbands or their futures are at risk.

Isobel believes in love over duty and when she catches sight of King Macbeth’s stepson Lulach she can picture a happiness she had hardly dare imagine. But as heir to a Scottish throne that is drenched in blood, Lulach’s destiny is to be a warrior. When Isobel’s actions leave her and her sisters vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft there may be nothing that can keep the three women safe, not even the great Macbeth himself.

As the calls from the past grow ever louder, Ruthie has no choice. Macbeth’s witches have a story that needs to be told and the truth can no longer stay hidden…

 

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

 

My Thoughts… 

Plot

In the modern day, Ruthie gets the part of playing the third witch in a documentary about Macbeth and the potential existence of three witches in his history. Sent up to the Highlands of Scotland for filming, Ruthie discovers she may have her own ties to the individual whose character she plays. As her role set out to mimic the traditional characterisation of a witch, Ruthie starts seeing signs that a spirit may object to such demonisation, and have their own story they’d like to tell instead.

This modern day timeline is peppered with flashbacks of the lives of three sisters. Their mother was a healer and a pivotal part of the community. When their mother passes, the youngest sibling Isobel takes up this mantle. The three girls are well-known in their small community and do no end of good to support their fellows. However, it seems almost inevitable that dissenting male voices want to change the perception of these young women. The rest, sadly, is history. 

Both timelines were excellent and engaging, complementing each other to form the well rounded story that is The Three Witches. I love watching each timeline unravel and to discover the ultimate fate of the young woman who are ill remembered. I neither favoured one nor the other – rather, switching between the two compelled me to read on. Naturally, I was keen to discover how these two timelines were interlinked and to read about history as we know it. Then, consider the far more realistic story of who these women really were.

 

Characters

A wide variety of characters span the two timelines of The Three Witches. Each have their own story to tell, and are distinct voices I enjoyed hearing from. Naturally, Ruthie and Isobel as the main protagonist in each timeline are our leading ladies in this narrative. Yet, the supporting characters (for want of an expression to define them) don’t feel basic or ancillary. They provide a rich and detailed narrative that makes the story feel realistic. 

There wasn’t really a character throughout this whole book that I didn’t like or feel that they didn’t fit in. Sure, there are less favourable characters in terms of their attitude – especially towards women. However, each individual has their place. All in all, I felt The Three Witches had a pretty accurate depiction of the variety of people in both societies and how they may have helped or hindered the lives of women who men felt intimidated by. 

 

Setting

The location of Scotland was perfect for this tale. The wildness of its history, inhabitants and the elements makes for the perfect atmosphere for such a tale. Of course, it’s also historically accurate! In books like this, I enjoy when an author does their best to honour the true history and take as few liberties as possible. Naturally, historical records aren’t always complete or available. However, it’s clear the author has done as much as she could to make the book as historically accurate as possible with the information available, but also cleverly point out when it wasn’t.

The character of Todd, the documentary director, is instrumental in conveying this information. It’s given organically throughout the narrative. At no point did I feel his role was to info-dump or fill in awkward gaps. 

 

Narrative Style

The Three Witches is an incredibly easy read. If I’m entirely honest, I read most of the book in a single day. Yes, naturally having a deadline to review the book for the tour helped. However, I wanted to read on. I wanted to uncover the untold story. Consequently, the chapters flew by with ease an I was able to read this book for hours at a time! 

What also really worked for me with this book is that I love a multiple timeline narrative. The way The Three Witches is written gives us time to explore each timeline in its own right, but each compliments the other in unravelling the underlying story. 

Whilst we ultimately know what happens at the end of the earlier timeline (because of history, but also because the opening chapters start here), that doesn’t detract from the narrative. Rather, the exploration of the earlier timeline is about figuring out how the protagonist got to this position rather than the ultimate ending itself. As I said, it’s well known how young women could be accused. What’s important to this earlier timeline is why… 

 

Summary 

The Three Witches is a perfect read for historical fiction fans eager to learn the truth of the lives of women falsely accused of witchcraft. It’s a heartbreaking tale that will tug at your heartstrings, cleverly packaged in an engaging, highly-readable mystery. If you want to read a novel that not only highlights the injustice and crimes committed against young women, but gives their voice back, The Three Witches is perfect for you.

I can only hope my review of The Three Witches has done the book justice and you want to read it for yourself! Don’t just take my word for it though – be sure to check out other reviews posted as part of the tour. I particularly like how @Wendyreadsbooks summarised her thoughts on the book, but of course, there are still four more days on the tour and plenty of reviewers to hear from! 

 

Author Bio 

Elena Collins is the pseudonym for Judy Leigh, the million-selling author of Five French Hens , The Old Girls’ Network and The Silver Haired Sisterhood. Judy writes uplifting novels in the ‘second chances’ and ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. Elena Collins’ novels are historical/ dual timelines. In 2025, her novel The Wicked Lady received the RNA award in this category. Judy has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: @judyleighuk

Twitter: @JudyLeighWriter

Instagram: @judyrleigh

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

Bookbub profile: @elenacollins

First Lines Friday – 27/02/2026

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***Today’s First Lines Friday contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you. 

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this review, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

 

I’m looking forward to reading a retelling. A specific retelling at that. I featured this book in a recent YouTube video about an upcoming attempt to complete the 2026 Goodreads Winter Challenge. It’s also a book on my fixed list of reads that I shared in my 2026 Resolutions post. 

Can you guess what it is from the list? If not, the opening might give you a hint!

 

It was the man from records who began it, him all unknowing in his prim, grim way, his above-it-all, oldthink way. He was the one Syme called ‘Old Misery’. 

He wasn’t truly new to Julia. Fiction, Records and Research all took second meal at thirteen hundred, so you got to know everyone’s face. But up to then, he’d really just been Old Misery, the one who looked like he’d swallowed a fly, who coughed more than he spoke. Comrade Smith was his right name, though ‘Comrade’ never suited him somehow. Of course, if you felt foolish calling someone ‘Comrade’, far better not to speak to them at all.

 

 

Julia – Sandra Newman

Genre: Dystopian Fiction

Pages: 400

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Mariner Books

Publication Date: 24 Oct 2023

 

Goodreads – Julia

Amazon Purchase Link 

London, chief city of Airstrip One, the third most populous province of Oceania. It’s 1984 and Julia Worthing works as a mechanic fixing the novel-writing machines in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. Under the ideology of IngSoc and the rule of the Party and its leader Big Brother, Julia is a model citizen – cheerfully cynical, believing in nothing and caring not at all about politics. She knows how to survive in a world of constant surveillance, Thought Police, Newspeak, Doublethink, child spies and the black markets of the prole neighbourhoods. She’s very good at staying alive.

But Julia becomes intrigued by a colleague from the Records Department – a mid-level worker of the Outer Party called Winston Smith, she comes to realise that she’s losing her grip and can no longer safely navigate her world.

Seventy-five years after Orwell finished writing his iconic novel, Sandra Newman has tackled the world of Big Brother in a truly convincing way, offering a dramatically different, feminist narrative that is true to and stands alongside the original. For the millions of readers who have been brought up with Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, here, finally, is a provocative, vital and utterly satisfying companion novel.

 

My Thoughts…

Next month, which starts this weekend, I’m reading a modern take on George Orwell’s acclaimed dystopian novel, 1984. I’m reading both of these books together to compare the traditional, well-known narrative with the feminist version from the perspective of Julia. 

I’m looking forward to this retelling and what new angle it can explore from Julia’s side. It’s funny, because when I first read 1984 in school, I didn’t enjoy it. In hindsight though, it wasn’t so much the book I took umbrage with as opposed to the way I was forced to study it. Fast forward to my re-read as an adult, I loved it! 

Dystopian fiction is one of my favourite genre of all time. I have no doubt I’ll enjoy both my re-read, as well as this new perspective. 

Have you read either 1984 or Julia? Does this feminist dystopian narrative appeal to you? 

Don’t forget, you can support me as a creator and follow this purchase link to get yourself a copy. Then, readalong with me! 😊 I’m reading the book this March along with the original 1984. So, if you want to read and discuss either book, let me know! 

Thanks for checking out this First Lines Friday! 

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Book Review: The Lost Metal – Brandon Sanderson

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***Today’s review of The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you. 

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this review, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase.***

 

If I have one aim out of this review, it’s to convince you to pick up the Mistborn series. I read and adored the first trilogy as a teenager. Honestly, I didn’t think it could get any better, but I was really surprised by the Wax and Wayne dynamic of the second half— that, and how Sanderson isn’t afraid to improve on his established magic system! It’s a rare thing to see an author build upon and change their own world. Risky move, but it worked incredibly well! 

If you want to catch up on my reviews of the series before diving into this final instalment, my reviews of the earlier Era 2 books can be found below: –

 

The Lost Metal – Brandon Sanderson

Genre: Fantasy 

Pages: 507

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Tor Books

Publication Date: 15 Nov 2022

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Purchase Link – Amazon UK

Goodreads – The Lost Metal 

For years, frontier lawman turned big-city senator Waxillium Ladrian has hunted the shadowy organisation the Set— with his late uncle and his sister among their leaders— since they started kidnapping people with the power of Allomancy in their bloodlines. When Detective Marasi Colms and her partner, Wayne, find stockpiled weapons bound for the Outer City of Bilming, this opens a new lead. Conflict between the capital, Elendel, and the Outer Cities only favours the Set, and their tendrils now reach to the Elendel Senate— whose corruption Wax and his wife, Steris, have sought to expose— and Bilming is even more entangled.

After Wax discovers a new type of explosive that can unleash unprecedented destruction and realises that the Set must already have it, an immortal kandra serving Scadrial’s god, Harmony, reveals that Bilming has fallen under the influence of another god: Trell, worshipped by the Set. And Trell isn’t the only factor at play from the larger Cosmere— Marasi is recruited by offworlders with strange abilities who claim their goal is to protect Scadrial…at any cost.

Wax must choose whether to set aside his rocky relationship with God and once again become the Sword that Harmony has groomed him to be. If no one steps forward to be the hero Scadrial needs, the planet and its millions of people will come to a sudden and calamitous ruin.

 

My Thoughts

Plot 

Events of the earlier books in the series come to an end. As the title of the book proclaims, a significant part of both Wax and Wayne’s aim in this book is to discover a new metal not previously known to their metallurgical talents. Not only that, but events come to a head in the action act and dramatic way he can only expect from Sanderson. Full of tension and unforeseen plot twists, it is hard to anticipate how the lost metal is going to end, and I confess, it had me devastated.

It was a satisfying book to read nonetheless. I love the scope of this book and the series as a whole. If there is one thing I really enjoy, it is an author who is willing to both build upon and in some ways destroy the world they have built in a way that feels plausible to the plot. 

Whilst I can’t really comment on the ties this book has with the Cosmere in general, I believe there are some overlaps that perhaps I’m not ready to appreciate given the volume of unread Brandon Sanderson books on my list compared to those I have. However, I have it on good authority that for the eagle-eyed, there are some links to other books in his wider universe.

 

Characters 

Wax and Wayne are some of my favourite chalk and cheese characters in this series. They are polar opposites; Wax is noble and values justice and fairness. Wayne, well, what’s petty crime when in the name of justice?! Wayne is a bit of a kleptomaniac, but somehow charming and entertaining all at the same time. 

Ballsy. Clever. Intelligent. Witty. These are all easy descriptors for characters in The Lost Metal. Wax and Wayne are by far the stars of the show, but don’t sleep on Merasi. I love her character. She’s bright and desperate to prove herself. To a reader like me, she’s incredibly relatable. 

I love the variety of characters we see in The Lost Metal, but especially loved seeing an old face reappear in this book. The dynamics between the characters are engaging and they really help lift an interesting and clever story up several layers! 

 

Setting 

The latter half of Sanderson’s Mistborn series is Western in vibe. Set both within and on the outskirts of Elendel’s major cities, Wax and Wayne are cowboy-style lawmakers. Guns aren’t their only weapons; I love the magic aspect of the book, and especially how The Last Metal builds on the earlier books of the series. 

The world-building in this book and series is fantastic. Somehow, in every single book, Sanderson has managed to get better, make the story more engaging, and build on the magic we’ve grown with. 

The concept of the magic behind the series is interesting – ingesting metals grants no specific powers. However, we build far more upon that as the books go on. We get more complex ideas, but it’s not complicated or written to confuse readers. The growth and expansion of the plot and magic is the biggest selling point for Mistborn. 

 

Narrative Style 

The Lost Metal, alongside pretty much every Sanderson book I’ve read to date, is easy to read and follow. 

The book is made up of around 70 chapters across 500 pages. It makes the average chapter not too long, but also punchy enough to see plenty of action. The writing style matches the events of the book. Whilst it works really well, I don’t know what else to say here. It facilitates everything else I’ve talked about in this review. It would be a showstopper for me if it was difficult to read. However, it’s far from the biggest selling point. 

 

Summary 

With a series as epic as Mistborn, it’s hard to imagine how it could end in a way that lives up to the hype. Friends, it did! Sanderson lives up to his excellent reputation, and I already know The Lost Metal and the prior six books of the series will be on my TBR again soon!  

If you want to get yourself a copy, you can get it via Amazon here. I’ll definitely be re-reading this one, so we’ll have a chance at a later date to compare notes! 

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Sunday Summary – 22nd February 2026

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Another week’s end can only mean it’s time for my Sunday Summary update. It’s been a weird one, as it’s felt a little hands off. I’ve still published my usual content, but a lot of it was prepared in advance. The exception to this rule was my Top Ten Tuesday post. If you’re an armchair traveller and like to read from a variety of settings, this post is one for you to check out! 

My Shelf Control intended for a couple of weeks ago finally went live this week. As I drafted it a couple of weeks ago but forgot to publish it, it’s fair to say I didn’t need to do much to get it out in the world… 

On YouTube, I shared my review of Notes on a Nervous Planet and a recommendation video for Game of Thrones fans. I’d recorded and prepped these videos by Monday last week, so I haven’t done a whole lot on YouTube content since then…   

 

Books Read

An Offer From a Gentleman

In last week’s Sunday Summary I was 36% into the audio of An Offer From a Gentleman. 

With a week left to listen to this audiobook, it was my priority to finish. And, I’m pleased to share I did! I confess, I wasn’t sure if I’d stick this out. I don’t have the best track record with the novels in this series. Whilst it wasn’t a showstopper and I enjoyed it as much as I thought I would, I’m pleased I made it to the end without DNF’ing. 

It wasn’t a sure thing… it wouldn’t be the first book of the series I’ve put down prematurely. 

 

Dear Debbie

I returned to Dear Debbie after finishing An Offer From a Gentleman. That was pretty late this week, so I’ve only listened to this audio a fraction over 20mins. 

Naturally, though, with no other audiobook commitments now I’ll be back on this one full force. Dear Debbie isn’t a long audio, so I’m sure I’ll have this cracked in the next week for sure! 

 

Throne of Glass

I confess I’ve only read a handful of pages of Throne of Glass this week. I’ve not physically read much in the way of books full stop. It’s no reflection on the book, but rather because I’ve been juggling a lot of stuff at work this week. By the time I’m home and ready to enjoy some downtime, I’ve turned to easier hobbies on the brain, like my Rivendell cross-stitch. 

Hopefully more to share on this one soon – book club is fast approaching! With this in mind, the plan is to read as much as I can this evening once this Sunday Summary is live! 

 

Books Discovered

It’s a good job I didn’t promise no more bookish additions in last week’s Sunday Summary. I was found well, until the other half and some friends suggested I go for a ‘look’ in Waterstones this morning. 

Ha, who do they think I am?! Of course I got a couple! The good news is I got them with accumulated points on my loyalty card, so they didn’t cost me anything… 

The books I got were A Mother’s Promise (a WW2 Auschwitz story) and River Kings – about Vikings from Scandinavia to the Silk Road routes. It’s not often to read about the latter, and well, I’m curious! 

 

Coming Up… 

Blog

I’ve got a full week lined up for you, and I’m excited! Kicking off next week, I’m sharing my review of Brandon Sanderson’s The Lost Metal. I loved this series hard and I was both delighted and devastated to get to the end. I’ve been a bit wistful about starting The Way of Kings again lately. Maybe featuring Sanderson and another great series will kick me up the butt.

On Friday, I’ve got a First Lines Friday teed up. Given I’ve got some other bookish priorities on next week, I’m not challenging myself this time. I may need all the reading time I can get 😅

On Sunday, I’ll be publishing a blog tour review of The Three Witches. It’s the last of my bookish commitments this week, but a hard deadline and I’ve yet to start the book… 

Then, my usual Sunday Summary will go live at 00:01 on Monday morning so the blog tour post has its full day and my weekly update isn’t too delayed 😉

 

YouTube

I haven’t recorded anything for YouTube yet, which is unusual for me. However, I’ve had a little more on this weekend than usual. I’ll probably try to get some content recorded tomorrow night so it’s business as usual. 

The plan, because I have a plan at least, is to film a Meet the BookTuber video. Now I’ve got a few vids under my belt and established my content niche, I want to introduce the myself properly! 

Later in the week, I’m curating a list of books I’ve added to my reading list recently that I really think you need too! 

 

Summary 

Now, I’m off to try and make some more progress with Throne of Glass. Book bloggers kind of need to read books now and then, after all….

What are you reading this weekend? 

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Shelf Control #100 – 20/02/2026

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***This Shelf Control post contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you. 

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this review, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

 

My latest Shelf Control features a historical classic novel I started years ago whilst in my high school years, but didn’t really get into. I suspect I wasn’t quite mature enough for the book and its themes yet. However, now I’m older, I need to get cracking and read this classic book.

It would also be perfect for anyone looking for a Black History Month read! Before I get into the details of the book, as I usually do, here’s a recap of what Shelf Control 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.

 

The Colour Purple – Alice Walker

Genre: Historical fiction/ Classic

Pages: 287

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Penguin Books

Publication Date: 10 Dec 2019

 


Amazon Purchase Link

Goodreads – The Colour Purple

A powerful cultural touchstone of modern American literature, The Color Purple depicts the lives of African American women in early twentieth-century rural Georgia.

Separated as girls, sisters Celie and Nettie sustain their loyalty to and hope in each other across time, distance and silence through a series of letters spanning twenty years, first from Celie to God, then the sisters to each other despite the unknown.

Abused repeatedly by the man she calls ‘father’, Celie has two children taken away from her and is trapped into an ugly marriage. But then she meets the glamorous Shug Avery, singer and magic-maker – a woman who has taken charge of her own destiny.

And gradually Celie discovers the power and joy of her own spirit, freeing her from her past and reuniting her with those she loves.

Beloved by generations of readers, The Color Purple broke the silence around domestic and sexual abuse, narrating the lives of women through their pain and struggle, companionship and growth, resilience and bravery. Deeply compassionate and beautifully imagined, Alice Walker’s epic carries readers on a spirit-affirming journey towards redemption and love.

 

My Thoughts

I regret not picking up The Colour Purple yet. It’s a highly rated book, and no doubt a must-read for many people – myself included!

The Colour Purple is a well-known title that I’m looking forward to ticking off my TBR. It’s a classic, and one I feel is already overdue to be read. So much so, I included this book on my fixed TBR of books I want to get to in 2026. You can see that, as well as the other books on this list, in my 2026 Resolutions post.

The book is not without its difficult topics. If you’re not for reading about domestic and sexual abuse, then maybe pass on this one. However, I’m not one to shy away from difficult topics and in fact, I deliberately try to read them. Only by recognising difficult truths can we be transparent about them and try to prevent reoccurrence.

 

Summary

Want to read along with me? Get a copy of the book here and join me in picking up this historical fiction classic. Race is a topic I’m already enjoying reading about in Barack Obama’s Dreams from my Father. Why not continue the discussion by reading The Colour Purple soon?

Thank you for reading my Shelf Control post! Have you read The Colour Purple?

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Top Ten Tuesday – Books for Armchair Travellers

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Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is an interesting topic. When I started thinking about this week’s Top Ten Tuesday – Books for Armchair Travellers post, I was curious to see what variety of books and genres I could include on this post. 

When I mentioned this in my Sunday Summary at the weekend, I shared my suspicion that I’d feature a lot of historical fiction here. However, I think I’ve got a respectable mix! Yes, there are four of ten on this list that fit in that category. However, I’ve also got non-fiction, mysteries and literary fiction on the list. 

Curious to see what made the cut? Let’s take a look! 

 

Books for Armchair Travellers 

Literary Fiction

The Great Passage

Based in Japan, The Great Passage is a fun literary fiction that gave me some real insight into Japanese culture. 

I really enjoyed this book recently. If, like me, you read more in the way of westernised books and settings, The Great Passage is an eye-opener. This also appeals to fans of books, words and language. That’s what drew me to the book. As a lover of language and the meaning of words, a protagonist who shares that passion is a refreshing change. Whether the culture or the plot of this book appeals, its a fabulous read for anyone looking to read outside of their normal parameters. 

 

Historical Fiction

The Saxon Stories 

Events of The Saxon Stories span the entirety of the United Kingdom. Whilst that’s not really much in the way of exploration for me, there are readers checking out my blog that don’t live quite as close as I do. 

What I also love about this series is that it doesn’t stay in one place for long. Throughout the series, travel itself is a significant part of the narrative – and its not forced. The nature of the storyline has the protagonist Untried up and down the country on a regular basis. Sometimes at King Alfred’s request, other times… not. 

I’m only seven books into this thirteen book series and already Bernard Cornwell’s set a precedent for the rest of the books. 

 

All the Light We Cannot See 

All The Light We Cannot See

Set across European soil, All the Light We Cannot See spans two main protagonists and a few chapters from Marie-Laure’s father.  

This World War II fiction novel is split predominantly across France and Germany, although the characters also move around somewhat. The biggest draw for me into this narrative is reading the perspective from a blind character. I’ve read a lot of WWII books, but it’s completely different visualising an unfamiliar place not from the appearances, but from it’s feel, distance judged by paces and drain covers and by its smells. 

It’s very unique, and it was my favourite part of the narrative. 

 

Warrior Prince

Most Viking stories I’ve read are set in the UK and I’ve already featured one of those here. However, Warrior Price is set across Eastern Europe including Russia. In the grand scheme of things, it makes sense that the UK isn’t the only landmass the Vikings would travel to. There well-known travellers after all! 

Warrior Prince is a totally different setting, but one that really works. We have all the action and drama, battles and conflict we expect from the Vikings. However, there’s an extent of political intrigue in Warrior Prince as well. 

 

Three Sisters 

A traditional WWII historical fiction set in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in Poland. Heather Morris does a fantastic job of memorialising the stories of individuals who suffered through the atrocities that took place here. It’s a tough one to do well. It’s a difficult subject to tackle, but Heather does a fantastic job. 

Of course, Heather has written all the books as part of this series, so if it’s a rabbit hole you enjoy exploring (like I do), then this is definitely up your alley! 

 

Mystery/Thriller

The Atlantis Covenant 

I confess, I didn’t expect to feature mysteries/thriller novels on this list. However, a recent read of The Atlantis Covenant makes this book an easy pick. The events of this particular book, and the characters involved, span the globe. 

Some secrets managed to survive across the globe and an international effort from UK, US and other national citizens globetrot to uncover lost history and civilisations. 

 

Eruption 

A high octane read if you want to explore the isles of the United States, is Eruption by Michael Crichton. 

Bonus points if you love reading how the geography of a place like Hawaii could be devastated by a volcanic eruption. As someone who went to Iceland last year and indulged in museum visits and learning more about the power of mother nature, eruption suited me. 

In Eruption we roam volcanoes on foot and fly over partial eruptions in daring helicopter pursuits. Dare-devils be warned, you’ve met your match in John MacGregor. 

 

Non-Fiction

The Woman Who Would be King

Pre-historic Africa also features on today’s Top Ten Tuesday – Books for Armchair Travellers. 

The Woman Who Would be King is the story of Hatshepsut, an unusual figure in history. One of just a few female pharaohs of her time, she ruled for around twenty years. Egypt prospered under her reign. Whilst her successors and history has not been so kind to her, she is one of the best-known female Pharoahs for her feats and the countries prosperity under her rule. 

 

Twelve Years a Slave

Set in South America, Twelve Years a Slave tells the story of Solomon Northup, born a free American man. That’s not to last, however. He is kidnapped and sold into slavery. Hard labour and cruel conditions mark the next 12 years of Solomon’s life. 

Deep South America, particularly Louisiana, is the feature of this book. Solomon spends his servitude in lumber mills, cotton fields and sugar plantations. He has many owners before he is able to secure his release via his family. 

 

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

This books features on this list in a way the others don’t – I haven’t read this one. Rather, I was recommended this book by a colleague Isabelle at work at lunchtime. Whilst Izzy is more of a quiet reader than I am, I’ve taken a few recommendations from her now. 

This book is about murders that take place in Rome. I don’t know much more than that, but I’m intrigued. I hope it catches your eye too… 

 

Summary 

Whilst I haven’t managed to quite span the 7 continents in this Top Ten Tuesday – Books for Armchair Travellers post, we’re pretty close. Not only that, but I’ve done so with a variety of book and genres. 

Regardless of your preferred genres or types of books, I think there’s something here for most readers. 

Where is your next book adventure taking you? 

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Sunday Summary – 15th February 2026

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Today’s Sunday Summary comes after a busy week. Both work and blog deadlines took their toll, so I’ve deliberately enjoyed a more relaxed weekend! 

Early in the week, I started off my blog with a post about books that inspired me to pick up another read. These are less obvious choices rather than sequels to series ands the like. I’ve got three books and what they inspired me to read next if you’re interested. Next, my deadline for reviewing Grace fell on Thursday. It was a pleasure to review this horror novel and launch the tour on a very positive note 😊

Over on YouTube, I published a review of my first 5* read of the year, Yellowface by R.F. Kuang. Later in the week, details of the Goodreads Winter Challenge I’m looking to complete before 31st March! It’s the first time I’m pushing myself to complete one of these. However, with five of twelve achievements under my belt, there’s no reason I can’t achieve it.. .

The Shelf Control that stayed in drafts last week by accident also didn’t get published this week, but for an entirely different reason. All I have to do is make it live and share the link. However, I unfortunately had to work overtime on Friday and didn’t finish until quite late. After a busy week and then that on top, I decided to just let that post roll to next week. You understand, yes? 

 

Books Read

Dreams from my Father

When I shared last week’s Sunday Summary, I disclosed I had just over 3 hours left of the audiobook of Dreams from my Father to go. Admittedly I finished this on Monday this week. Having enjoyed the audiobook to date, I was keen to reach the conclusion and that shows in how I devoured the last part of the book. 

Dreams from my Father lived up to my expectations. After reading and being pleasantly surprised my A Promised Land, I was excited to delve more into Barack’s personal history and story. It did not disappoint. The book is insightful and somewhat emphasises his priorities as a person and why he stands for the things he does. I had no idea he had lived in Indonesia for a stretch of his childhood, or the path that could have taken him away from the life he lived as we know it. 

Very interesting book – I’m glad I read it! 

 

Grace

Another finish on Monday was Grace by A.M. Shine. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as I needed to prioritise this to share my review on Thursday. 

This horror was totally atmospheric and I loved the small town, dark and supernatural tale. It was twistier than I expected! A fun read, a different read, and one I’d recommend to all fans of the genre. If you want to find out more, my review is live and ready to read here should you want to take a look. Pretty please? 😅

 

Dear Debbie

My planned audiobook listen, which I’ve picked up earlier in the week is Dear Debbie. 

Having enjoyed the Housemaid series in audiobook format, it made sense to me to read this one in the same way! Also, as I have a number of physical and digital books to read this month, it helped the book fit into my schedule. 

I’ve enjoyed the start of this books far, through I wouldn’t call that a surprise. The sarcasm the protagonist shined through in her Dear Debbie column. I love it, and can’t wait to listen on how the story progresses. I’m putting a small pause on it, because I need to prioritise a library loan listen I picked up opportunistically… 

 

An Offer From a Gentleman

A spur of the moment listen is Julia Quinn’s An Offer From a Gentleman. You may recall I read The Duke and I and DNF’d The Viscount Who Loved Me. After that DNF, I didn’t think I would continue with the series. However, with Bridgerton back on Netflix, I decided to listen to this as I watched the show. I’ve overtaken the series already, having only watched the first episode and most of the second. However, I’m doing alright with this audiobook so far… 

I’ve just extended my loan as the audiobook was due to return on Tuesday. Whilst I managed to listen to over a third of this audiobook yesterday (36%), I’m not going to get a solid opportunity to listen like that before Tuesday. I’ve extended a week, so I can hopefully listen whilst commuting and maybe at the gym throughout the week and finish it next Saturday. 

For a person who doesn’t love romance, I’m not doing bad right now. It goes to show I can read the genre when I put my mind to it… 

 

Throne of Glass

My final read of the week also pushes me out of my comfort zone. I’ve never read Sarah J Maas before. However, I’ll wax lyrical about my being a diverse reader and picking up a variety of books, so why not?! I’m actually reading this for book club later this month. It’s one of two reads I’m picking up to discuss in this month’s club, but this is the book I have a copy of right now. The other is on order 😊

So far, I confess to being pleasantly surprised by Throne of Glass. I’ll hold my hands up and admit I’ve gone into the book with a big question mark over whether I’ll like it. However, as of this Sunday Summary I’m 26% into the book and actually enjoying it! 

I’ve not hit any of the romance aspect of the book yet, although I have my suspicion as to who it’ll be with. Otherwise through, Throne of Glass is proving quite readable and I’m keen to progress with this one to give more of an update in next week’s Sunday Summary. 

 

Books Discovered

The last few weeks I’ve been trickling books onto the TBR. I figured I needed to give it a rest, otherwise this list of mine is never going to go down! 

No new books this week… but I make no promises for next 😅📚

 

Coming Up… 

Blog

My blogging adventures next week begin with a Top Ten Tuesday post. This week’s topic is ‘Books for Armchair Travellers’. I suspect my version of this topic will weigh a little heavy in historical fiction books, but I will of course try to diversify with genres as best I can. 

The infamously late Shelf Control post will go live next week, even if I have to schedule it in advance! I might do that actually, so then there is LITERALLY. NO. EXCUSE. 

Then, of course, we all know I’ll round up my latest reading updates in another Sunday Summary. Same time next week. Set your watches. 

 

YouTube

I’ve got two long-form videos lined up, as well as some shorts and other social media content planned. The first of those two videos is my next book review from my 2026 January TBR (Notes on a Nervous Planet). Later in the week, I’ve got some book recommendations for Game of Thrones fans looking for alternative series whilst we wait for George R.R. Martin’s next instalment! 

That’s plenty to update you with in this Sunday Summary – I’ll let you get on with the rest of your day, but not before you tell me what you’re currently reading ⏬

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Blog Tour Review: Grace – A.M. Shine

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If you enjoy sinister, supernatural horror, you must read on and find out more about Grace by A.M. Shine. This newly released novel packs a punch with its plot-twists; I read the book in just a few days! 

Before I tell you why you should read this book, first I’d like to say thanks to Rachel and the author, A.M. Shine, for the opportunity to read this and review the book. And, I’m reviewing this book on the first day of the organised tour, which is a privilege. I had a great time with this book, and I have no doubt you will too! Let’s just hope I can convince you to pick up this exciting read. 

Are you ready to find out more? 

 

Grace – A.M. Shine

Genre: Horror

Pages: 304

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Head of Zeus

Original Publication Date: 10 Feb 2026

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.25

 

Goodreads / Storygraph

A haunting, atmospheric modern Gothic horror tale based on traditional Irish mythology, from the author of smash hit The Watchers. Ancient evil is awakened on a lonely isle off the coast of Ireland.

TO LEARN THE TRUTH
WOULD YOU DESCEND INTO HELL?

Off the west coast of Ireland lies a lonely island, isolated and wilfully forgotten. Some say there hasn’t been a child born on the island for thirty years. Others speak of strange deaths there, decades ago. But no one really knows what happened. Locals believe that the dark times are behind them.

They are mistaken.

Grace, adopted at four years old, has never known where she came from. A mysterious phone call leads her back to the island where she was born – and where a terrible evil has been disturbed.

As the evil starts to spread, Grace finds herself dragged back into a living nightmare that threatens to engulf anyone who steps into its path.

Grace is perfect for fans of horror classics, Paul Tremblay, and Kealan Patrick Burke.

 

Purchase Link – https://geni.us/GraceCR

 

My Thoughts… 

Plot

Grace is a spooky narrative with a dark past and sinister current events to unravel. 

Grace has plenty of twists in its tale. Just as we think we know where the plot is going to take us, there’s an unseen curveball that challenges what we think we know. I loved reading this book and questioning what I was being told. What is true, what is just superstition and what isn’t quite what it seems. The answer is a lot, but can you see it coming? 

The tension of the narrative had me reading chapter after chapter. What more could I learn, or discern over the next few pages? I was determined to find out. And so, reading this book became both easy in its compulsivity and challenging in its stretching the supernatural boundaries. I loved it! 

 

Characters

The personification of the Bodach in Irish mythology intrigued me and had me reading more. Turns out, there are also occasional ties of this figure to us here in the Isle of Man (Manannán mac Lir). Might explain why we call the fog Manannan’s cloak, right? I enjoyed this link! Local mythology, not just the Isle of Man, but including the UK and Ireland, isn’t something I see a lot of. However, I enjoyed exploring this in the context of a horror novel. 

I don’t think any character in Grace is innocent. We enter the story of Grace from the titular characters perspective. Grace travels to the island of Croaghnakeela (pronounced KROH-nuh-keel-uh), knowing very little about the history or what she’s getting into. We know very little at the start, but it’s very apparent the residents are hiding something. Something big. They’re frightened, and if we are, then so should we be. These ordinary people have lived extraordinary lives, in supplication to an evil that haunts their past. 

 

Setting

The setting of this desolate, sparsely populated island is deeply atmospheric in a way that felt lifelike. As a Manxie, I live geographically not far away from Croaghnakeela Island. Similar climate, topography, maybe just a bit bigger. Even so, the quiet, sometimes dilapidated small town community of both my life and in the setting of Grace is on-point. Maybe our boats are a fraction more reliable. Maybe… 

The atmosphere of the book lends well to the plot, working alongside each other to complement the supernatural events and secretiveness of the island’s dark past. I loved how well this was done; not laying it on thick and overdoing it, on the contrary, in an entirely believable way. As I say, I have the benefit of a benchmark for credibility, but its fair to say fans of the horror genre will doubt agree with me. 

 

Narrative Style

The pacing of Grace is perfect. Whilst we know very little about events both in the past and what is unfolding in modern day, we’re teased with tidbits as the novel and storyline unfolds. The pace ramps up the further along we get. Towards the end of the book, I was so hooked I stayed up to read to the end and discover the truth. Reading the conclusion of this book at midnight – maybe not for the faint of heart.  

At just over 300 pages, it’s an approachable narrative for readers of all lengths and abilities. I read this book over four days, meaning I was easily averaging 70 pages a day. It wasn’t any degree of effort to do it either – the pacing of the story, combined with the mystery, had me desperate to find out more! 

 

Summary 

Grace is perfect for fans of horror and supernatural reads! At 300 pages, it’s a quick, dark and atmospheric read that leans into Irish mythology to create the sinister plot that has us readers asking questions throughout the narrative. 

If you’re still undecided, check out my fellow reviewers thoughts on the book over the coming days of the tour. You won’t regret giving it a try – promise! 

 

Author Bio 

A.M. Shine writes in the Gothic horror tradition. Born in Galway, Ireland, he received his Master’s Degree in History there before sharpening his quill and pursuing all things literary and macabre. He is a member of the Irish Writers Centre. His debut novel, The Watchers, has been made into a major motion picture produced by M. Night Shyamalan. Follow him on @AMShineWriter and www.amshinewriter.com

Social Media Links – 

https://x.com/AMShineWriter

https://www.instagram.com/nocturn_al_shine/

 

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Books That Inspired Me to Pick Up Another Read

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I love picking up a book because I’ve been inspired by another. This can happen in a number of ways. Some are more obvious; continuing a series because you liked the first book is one reason, but not one I feature in today’s Books That Inspired Me to Pick Up Another Read post. 

No, today’s features are about books with more tenuous links. They may not seem obvious in their link, but make sense when I explain them. At least, I hope so… 

 

I have read: 

Dreams from My Father… 

Because I Read A Promised Land

I just finished Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama and really enjoyed this exploration Barack takes of his lineage and heritage. The imminency makes this is a natural candidate for today’s Books That Inspired Me to Pick Up Another Read post. 

Admittedly, Dreams from My Father wasn’t on my radar until I finished and was pleasantly surprised by A Promised Land. That book made it onto my Best Books of 2025 list for how pleasantly surprised I was. 

I don’t love reading politics. It’s a topic I tend to stay away from. However, I like Barack and what he stands for as a person. It’s for him, and partly because the books are narrated by him, that I wanted to give both these titles a go. Neither has disappointed! 

 

The Giver…

Because I Read The Measure

 

After reading The Measure with my work book club, a discussion point that came up was the influence of Lois Lowry apparent in the narrative. Now I confess, having not read The Giver before, this detail passed me by. However, one of my colleagues had read The Giver already and picked up on the link. Naturally, The Giver became our next read so we could explore this more. 

I enjoy dystopian novels. No doubt, had I discovered the book in another way, I’d have read it on its own merits. It was interesting though to pick this up and then explore the concepts of the plot and society in The Giver and how it tied back to The Measure. 

If you haven’t read The Giver, it’s a fantastic short dystopian novel. It was an honourable mention in my Best books of 2025 video, just losing out on a top 5 spot! 

 

Will Read… 

Challenger…. 

Because I Read Orbital and Midnight in Chernobyl 

My first book of 2026 was Orbital by Samantha Harvey. This book was a fun read in its own right. It’s a powerful book of love, loss, dreams, and the wonder of life. If you want to hear more on this book, I reviewed it over on my YouTube channel a couple of weeks ago. 

However, this book touched on a topic that I already wanted to read more on, but this has expedited this wish. Orbital touches on the risk of space travel and highlights the events of the launch of the space shuttle Challenger. Not long before reading Orbital, I’d bought a copy of Challenger by Adam Higginbotham. I have read another investigative book Adam has written – Midnight in Chernobyl. That was so well written, picking up another book of his is a no-brainer. Between this, and having enjoyed the taster commentary on the disaster in Orbital, I can’t wait to read Challenger soon! 

 

Summary 

This is just a short sample to give you an idea of where bookish inspiration comes from. I’m especially looking forward to reading Challenger and continuing this trend of reading books that inspire me to pick up another read. 

Have you read anything that inspired you to pick up another? If so, what, and why? 

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Sunday Summary – 8th February 2026

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My Sunday Summary update can only mean one thing friends… we’re at the end of yet another week! Why do the weekends fly by? Granted, I’ve had a busy one between a hair colour refresh and trying desperately to finish the kitchen off this weekend. Shock horror – still not done! However, I have just one baseboard left so I can see the finish line. 

Other than work and the humdrum of domestic life, I’ve read and blogged and done all my usual content creation. Here on the blog, I’ve shared my monthly TBR for February. I was also meant to share a Shelf Control post featuring a historical fiction classic I can’t believe I’ve not read yet. However, something went wrong there and the post is still just a draft rather than published. I’ll publish that soon, I promise! 

Over on YouTube, I published my video monthly wrap-up for January and my February TBR there. It was fun to record these and share my reads in a video format – if you haven’t taken a look at these yet, I’ve provided links if you want to go and watch for yourself! 

 

Books Read

After the Forest

I started this week continuing with progress with After the Forest. In last week’s Sunday Summary update, I was 40% through the book. 

I’m pleased to say I finished the book midweek. After the Forest is a fairytale retelling that spins off of Hansel and Gretel. Greta, or Margareta as she is known in this tale, is viewed with suspicion after she is rumoured to have vanquished an old woman when she was a child. In a setting riven with war and witchcraft trials, she’s in a precarious position. 

Despite the darker aspects of this narrative, this book has its cozy elements. There’s a romance in the book if that’s something you love in your narratives. It also overlaps with another fairytale, which I really enjoyed. After the Forest was cleverly written, and it was refreshing to read something a little bit different. 

Ultimately, I rated After the Forest 3.5 stars. It was a fun read, and nice to pick up something I’ve not really read before. 

 

Grace

Grace is my second phyiscal read of the week. It has a very different tone, and one I’m really getting on with. Set on Croaghnakeela, an island off the west coast of Ireland, feels desolate yet also somewhat familiar. Living on an island not geographically too far away from Croaghnakeela myself, the atmosphere is painted both sinister, but also ringing of truth. 

Grace is a horror novel with a mystery I can’t wait to unravel. I’m 46% into this narrative as of today’s Sunday Summary, and already we have a healthy foundation for the story. However, I feel there is still a lot to uncover. The residents of this island have hidden secrets for a long time, and I can’t wait to find out the island’s past to uncover current events. 

I’m reviewing Grace as part of an organised blog tour next week. Naturally, finishing Grace is my immediate priority. I’m excited to read this book. The tone and events have me keen to find out what’s going on. It’s fair to say I’m hooked – I hope you can check out my post on Thursday. 

 

Dreams from my Father

From the 10% progress of last week’s Sunday Summary, I’ve listened to a further 7 hours of audio this week. Dreams from my Father has proved an interesting listen. I’m not surprised by this fact! After listening to A Promised Land last year, I was confident I’d enjoy Dreams from my Father. 

Well, it’s fair to say I am, given I’ve listened to over half of the book this week. The book ultimately is about Barack’s attempts to discover his identity in a confusing time for him. Born as a mixed race man in a time where society frowned on such relationships, he grew up without a stable father figure in his life. He did meet his father, but only briefly and he spent most of his life not really knowing who he was, and ultimately then, Barack’s heritage. 

As of this Sunday Summary, I have just over three hours left of the audiobook left. If this week’s progress is anything to go by, I’m optimistic I’ll be reporting a finish of this book very soon. 

 

Books Discovered

I added two books to my TBR this week. The first is a book called At Night All Blood is Black. It’s a very short read at 145 pages. But, it’s a powerful one about the exploitation of men of colour during World War 1. After reading more about it in a mailing from The Booker Prizes earlier this week, I knew I wanted to give this short novel a go! 

Next, I added The Children of Gods and Fighting Men. I saw this book featured on Instagram in a post about fantasy written by female authors. This book blends together Irish mythology and history (Vikings) with one of my favourite genres – fantasy. It sounds amazing, and I’m intrigued to read a fantasy based somewhere close to home. 

 

Coming Up… 

Blog

Starting early next week, I’ll be featuring a few books I’m planning to read this year that I’ve been inspired to read based on other books. One of these comes from as recently as a book on my January 2026 TBR. I hope you’re as intrigued as I am to explore some of these. 

On Thursday, I’m sharing my thoughts on Grace by A.M. Shine. This is proving a fantastic read. I’m glad I signed up for the tour and I really can’t wait to share my thoughts on this book in the coming days! 

Next, I’ll post the Shelf Control that was meant to go live this Friday. Remember, that’s a historical fiction classic and a well-known title exploring domestic and sexual abuse. Can you recognise the title from that description?

Finally, next week’s Sunday Summary will inevitably roll around quicker than the blink of an eye. I’ll be back with my latest updates, including a I hope a few finishes from my February TBR. 

 

YouTube

On my new YouTube channel, I’ve got details of a reading challenge I’m setting myself in late February and March 2026. I hope you can check this one out, as it explains why my February TBR isn’t too heavy on page-count. 

Then, I’ve got a review of Yellowface by R.F. Kuang lined up. Yellowface was my first 5* read. Check out my review later this week to see why! 

 

That’s everything from me in my latest Sunday Summary update. Thanks for reading! What book are you currently reading or listening to? 

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