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Sunday Summary – 19thy July 2026

Posted on July 19, 2026July 19, 2026 by fantasyst95

It’s Sunday again friends! This weekend has been a bit different ☺️ Yesterday, I had a play with a flatbed knitting machine I bought second-hand online. It was a learning curve, but I did better than I expected! Then, today I saw family before taking part in a Pilates world record attempt this afternoon. We beat the record for the most people doing the standing roll down exercise. However, unfortunately we didn’t quite beat record for the largest pilates class ever. In total, 2,804 of us took part, and the atmosphere was amazing!

Nevertheless, it was fun to take part! It was a lovely day for it, a bit too much so as I got sunburnt! 🤣 you could be forgiven for thinking Rudolph had come early…

Outside of that, what have I been up to? Here on the blog, I shared my summer reading recs. I’m not one for seasonal reading, but now and then a book that fits the theme overlaps and I can share it. I don’t recall reading any of these recommendations in summer especially, but they are light, humorous reads to offer light entertainment through the sunny season.

I finally pulled my finger out and she had my TBR on YouTube. If you prefer to watch video content, but I apologise I have been a bit light on recording in the last few weeks. However, I have some great videos lined up for you coming up in the very near future! Stay tuned…

Books Read

House of Twisted Shadows

With an upcoming blog tour deadline, I started and read a decent chunk of House of Twisted Shadows this week.

It helps that I have a deadline with this book. However, I’m also intrigued by the storylines overlap of a mystery, and I’d even say borderline horror, narrative style with WWII. It’s not a combination I have read very much of, and so far, the book is living up to my expectations. I have an idea as to how the book is going to end at least in part. However, that doesn’t attract my enjoyment of the story overall, and there was plenty more to the story that I will no doubt uncover the further we get in.

My review for this book is due next Saturday, so you will get to hear about this one in more detail very soon…

Empire of Storms

Listening progress with empire of storms has been a bit on the lighter side this week. I’m not entirely sure why. There’s no reason for it. I usually listen when commuting to and from work, before settling down for the night. That sort of thing. There hasn’t been a change of circumstances that mean I haven’t done those things the same. I just haven’t turned on the audio half as much.

I’ve still got 14hrs to go, and with less than two weeks left before the end of the month, I’d best get my skates on!

Books Discovered

This section of the blog is starting to get boring. But, I’m being more sensible about not adding books lately. I’ve got enough on my plate as it is, and it serves nobody if I keep adding more.

Coming Up…

What I’m Reading!

What do I plan to read over the next seven days? Well, here are my priorities in order!

Continue Empire of Storms, putting in more reading hours than last week!
Finish House of Twisted Shadows – review due on the 25th July.
Read A Painkiller to Die For – review due 28th July

Blog

Next week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is books that live in my head rent-free. It’s one that I think I could have some fun with, so expect that in the next few days.

Then, I’m going to take a break from posting for a few days so I can catch up reading for my upcoming blog tours. That means my next post goes live on Saturday – that being my review of House of Twisted Shadows.

Finally, I’ll round up next week with another Sunday Summary. I may post that a little early as I’m looking to have friends over. If so, I’ll write and publish it a little earlier in the day.

YouTube

I still need to share my review video for Queen of Shadows. It’s coming soon though – promise!

Another video making its way to you in the very near future is a mid-year check in on where I’m at with my reading goals so far this year!

Summary

That’s all from me in today’s Sunday Summary! What have you been reading this week? Hopefully you’ve stayed safer than I have in the sun 😅 Happy reading and I’ll catch you soon!

Books for your Summer TBR!

Posted on July 17, 2026July 17, 2026 by fantasyst95

I’m not a big seasonal reader, especially in summer. What most people read at the beach rarely graces my Summer TBR – I’m just not your typical reader. If you’re not either though, then hopefully my slightly out-there recommendations appeal more to your reading taste.

What today’s featured books have in common with other summer read lists is that they are lighter, warmer, and more fun than the usual epic fantasy I read a lot of. No blood, guts and gore on today’s list. Sorry if that’s your thing. Maybe check out my favourite fantasy books or spooky season reads if that’s more your jam?

Somewhere Beyond the Sea – cozy vibes and childhood adventures!

Either The House in the Cerulean Sea or its sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea are perfect summer reads if you’re looking to put cozy vibes and misfit children finding their place in the world on your Summer TBR!

These books are wholesome for the way the children and their guardians band together in the face of prejudice and adversity. It’s what family should look like. The children, with their wildness and magic (sometimes dangerous) aren’t orphans, they’re chosen by Arthur and Linus.

That’s not all! If you enjoy an LGBTQ cinnamon roll romance then you’re in luck!

The Rosie Project – Romance with a Twist

If a slightly different type of romance tickles your pickle (or not… we don’t judge here!), The Rosie Project is another option.

Don Tillman is hopeless when it comes to love. He’s far from a socialite, struggles to relate to people and has given up on romance. However, convinced by an acquaintance that there is someone for everyone. So, Don sets out to find his perfect partner, checklist in hand. As only a scientist would do. However, perhaps Don will be drawn to another, one who certainly does not tick all the boxes. Or any of them…

The Rosie Project is funny and light. Romance is generally on the lighter side anyway, but the humour that stems from Don’s inability to read social cues and lack of understanding about how to conduct himself is a unique flavour.

Fuck No! How to Stop Saying Yes When you Shouldn’t! – humour and practical advice in one compact book

Moving away from romance, but leaning heavily into humour, this self-help may just be the way to keep personal growth on your radar whilst at the beach.

Tired of being a yes-man? Need advice on how to say no in a humour, disarming way? If so, this book can be both a practical guide and have you laughing out loud. Sarah Knight’s hands-on examples are easy to put into practice in everyday life. When you’re back from vacation and work demands try to overwhelm you, you’ll be armed with the ingenious way of saying f*ck no, well, a little more politely…

The Tw*t Files – because laughing at someone else’s misery is entertaining

Finally, my current read is proving a balm in the current heat. There’s nothing more entertaining than laughing at someone else misery. We’ve all made fluff-ups, some more monumental and public than others. Dawn French has made many a blunder, large and small.

The Tw*t Files is unapologetically funny. Dawn recounts her mishaps, major to minor, and happily laughs at her own tw*tishness. She’s not afraid to be honest about moments in her life that weren’t her finest. We all make mistakes, even when you’re famous.

Sometimes, it helps to laugh at someone else’s mistakes. Will The Tw*t Files make it onto your Summer TBR as well?

Summary

Sometimes, a lighter read is what you need in the moment. Whether you’re sat around the pool, on the beach, or just need a laid back moment, there’s a book for every occasion.

What would you recommend to fellow readers for their Summer TBR?

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Sunday Summary – 12th July 2026

Posted on July 12, 2026July 12, 2026 by fantasyst95

Happy Sunday friends! We’re at the end of another week and it’s a hot one! Are you guys suffering in this heatwave as well?

It’s been a busy week this week personally. Work has been busy, but my immediate deadlines are now done and I can breathe a sigh of relief. I’m back into my typical routine, which means I have more time for books and my social media accounts again.

This week, I shares a review of the memoir Twelve Years a Slave. It was challenging in some aspects, namely in topic but also in terms of writing style. However, I’m glad I persevered with the book as it was an interesting read. Then, later this week, I published an unfiltered post about the difficulties of going through dry patches as a content creator. When my online persona is all about books and reading, who am I when that falls away?

On YouTube, I finally posted my June wrap-up. I talk about early successes, then the slump I found myself in during the second half of the month. Go and check that out if you haven’t already ☺️

Books Read

Behind Closed Doors

This week, I concluded this fairly short audiobook, listening to the last 70% of the book over the span of the week. When I last talked to you about this book, I had hopes it was going to be a little bit different from the book the narrative was lining up to be.

Sadly, it ended up staying in its lane and it didn’t wow me. Don’t get me wrong, it was okay. However, for a book advertised as a bestseller, I had higher hopes that the story was going to deviate from the typical ‘trapped woman escapes abusive man by chance’ tale. Initially, I half-hoped that maybe the roles were reversed. Then, I hoped Millie, Grace’s sister with Downs Syndrome, might have displayed great wit to help her sister and change reader’s perspective on those with the condition. Whilst she isn’t an insignificant part of the conclusion to the story, it wasn’t what I hoped.

Nevertheless, it was a decent, middle of the road read and a change-up of genre compared to recent reads.

The Tw*t Files

Breaking away from my July TBR a little, I impulsively picked up Dawn French’s The Tw*t Files for a lighter read this weekend. I’m hoping some humour gets me picking up pages more regularly. That, and I wanted something to read whilst I charged up my Kindle ready for some blog tour commitment reads later this month.

So far, I’m about 120 pages, or 30%, into this book and it’s everything I need right now. Light. Funny. Brutally honest and unapologetic. It’s got my actively reaching for a book again because I want to. It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve done that, if I’m honest. I’m hoping it will bring some more enjoyment to my current reads and get me back in a position to hit my blog tour commitment books with relish, rather than a sense of duty.

More on this one to follow next week. I’m hoping this will be a quick finish next week.

Empire of Storms

Finally, I started the next book in Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series.

I’ve only just started the audio, listening to around 1hr 35mins. I’m listening to this one a little quicker than last time. I was able to listen to Queen of Shadows at x1.35 speed. This time, I’m able to follow along pretty comfortably at x1.45. It’s a good thing, when you consider the book is a bit longer than the last. It’s not the longest of the series, but it still tops 700 pages!

I’ve got just shy of 16 hours left of this audio. Now things are back to normal, I’ll be back at the gym this week. I’m also planning to take a break from some of the classes I’ve been doing and go back to doing some of my own weightlifting. I feel like I got more benefit from those, but I do enjoy the classes. I’m trialling going back to the gym a little more and doing my own strength training to see if I see more progress again. What significance does that have for reading? Well, I listen to audiobooks at the same time!

Books Discovered

I’ve got very little to report here again. No new books on the list. I appreciate that as far as updates, go, it’s boring. However, when you have in excess of 200 books on the TBR already, it’s not a bad thing when you haven’t found any more to add!

Coming Up…

What I’m Reading…

What do I plan to read over the next seven days? Well, here are my priorities in order!

Continue Empire of Storms for my Throne of Glass readalong. I’ll also set these up on Fable and Storygraph shortly!
Finish The Tw*t Files, hopefully in the next couple of days
Read House of Twisted Shadows in its entirety – I’ve got a review due on the 25th July.
Hopefully start A Painkiller to Die For

Given my recent dry spell with reading, it’s a bold plan. However, it needs to be and I’m optimistic The Tw*t Files will do its job of getting me out of the funk I’ve been in and better able to pick up more titles.

Blog

So, what to post next week. I’m not sure really. I’m conscious I don’t want to bombard you with book reviews, because I know I have two coming up within days of each other later this month. Usually then, I turn to Top Ten Tuesdays. However, I’m not a fan of next week’s topic. So, that’s out.

Inspired by the current heatwave, let’s share something summery. Maybe my top five summer reads? There’s no way I could do ten – I’m not really a seasonal reader in the summertime.

Later in the week, I’ll return to my regular Friday features. This week, it’s the turn of my First Lines Friday post. What book will I feature this week? What intro will I use to capture your attention and hopefully inspire you to pick up a book? I’ve no idea yet – let’s see what takes my fancy later in the week!

As always, you know what comes last. I’ll round up the week with another Sunday Summary. Fingers crossed I’m fully back to my usual self with lots of bookish updates next week. For the first time this year, I lost my lead and was slightly behind schedule to complete my 60 books challenge this year. Can I recover to get a couple of books lead again. Let’s see!

YouTube

It’s a little late in the day, but I’ve got my July TBR recorded and ready to publish. Nearly. I just need to edit the video 😅 However, my plan is to get that out early next week so those who follow me on YouTube know what I’m reading this week!

Then, I’ve got a review video planned to share my thoughts on Queen of Shadows. I wanted to commit my thoughts on this book before I make a start on Empire of Storms so I don’t get muddled between books. I don’t trust the headspace I’m in right now to not do that!

Then, all being well, next week I’ll get back to recording my video weekly updates as well. The last few weeks I’ve not really had a whole lot to talk about, so I haven’t bothered…

Summary

Thanks for checking out this latest Sunday Summary. I hope you had a great weekend, and maybe you picked up an entertaining read to help cope with the heat or otherwise distract yourself from the joys of mundane life 😂 If so, tell me what you’re reading!

Discussion Post – Reading Slump Ruminations

Posted on July 10, 2026July 10, 2026 by fantasyst95

It’s hard as a content creator to go through a dry spell.

It’s natural, though. There are times in my life when I can fly through books and live my best life yacking about them. Most of the time, I can’t keep up the reviews with my reading speed. However, the inverse – a reading slump – is a tricky place to be. Imposter syndrome sets in if you aren’t careful.

I’ve been through a bit of a reading slump in the last few weeks. There’s no one single reason for it, but a culmination of circumstances. Work has been busy, and I’ve stepped in to do overtime to meet important deadlines. I’ve enjoyed some other hobbies, including getting back into crochet and knitting. I’ve made a top for a friend for their birthday, and now I’m knitting myself a jumper.

A long, slow-paced read got me off-track with last month’s reading pace and progress. Combine that with an ambitious list that doesn’t afford breaks, and you can see why really, I set myself up to fail. On a more positive note, the other half had some time off work last week for his birthday. It’s not often we get full weekends together, so of course we made the most of it to spend time together.

All this doesn’t help with blog content though. And, when I invest so much of myself outside of work to a place on the internet where books are my identity, it feels hard to fit everything in.

However, it’s okay to have other hobbies, and to spend time with people. It’s okay to lean into doing other things if a book isn’t quite working for you, or to accept that work may take your attention sometimes, and that your hobbies are there to enjoy when you get back. After all, I read and write and chat with you all for the love of it. Sure, I hope my words can be useful to somebody out there. But a significant part of why I blog is for me.

So, I’m writing this post as a reminder.

To you. To me. It’s okay to not bury my head in a book, or in my laptop to chat about said books, every moment I have spare. I give permission to do something else, and enjoy being apart for a while. We enjoy these hobbies for love, not out of a sense of obligation or commitment. When the time is right, I’ll reach back with more gusto than I could have sustained by forcing myself to stick with it.

Have you ever found yourself in a reading slump? Gotten frustrated over it?

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Book Review: Twelve Years a Slave – Solomon Northup

Posted on July 9, 2026July 9, 2026 by fantasyst95

Twelve Years a Slave is a hard-hitting read. Learning how Solomon Northup ended up in bondage for over a decade, it’s scary how easily he fell into the wrong hands. If you want to read about very personal, heart-breaking story of those kept against their will and forced into hard labour, abuse and worse, then read on to find out more about Twelve Years a Slave.

Twelve Years a Slave – Solomon Northup

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 363

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Eakin Films and Publishing

Publication Date: 1853

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – Twelve Years a Slave

Twelve Years a Slave, sub-title: Narrative of Solomon Northup, citizen of New-York, kidnapped in Washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the Red River in Louisiana, is a memoir by Solomon Northup as told to and edited by David Wilson. It is a slave narrative of a black man who was born free in New York state but kidnapped in Washington, D.C., sold into slavery, and kept in bondage for 12 years in Louisiana. He provided details of slave markets in Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, as well as describing at length cotton and sugar cultivation on major plantations in Louisiana.

My Thoughts…

It shouldn’t be a surprise that a book of this subject matter isn’t the easiest to read. It’s a personal account of being kept as a slave, beaten, starved, tortured and forced into hard labour. Whilst it focuses primarily on Solomon’s experience, we naturally see other slaves and the institutional level of abuse these people faced for years. However, I’m an advocate for reading about difficult things, the worst sides of humanity. Brushing these things under the carpet invalidates the experiences of victims. Not only that, but we don’t learn from these things.

I wanted to read this book as it’s obviously a well-known title, and I was invested in the subject. However, when I picked it up in September 2023, it wasn’t plain sailing. The books was first published not long after Solomon’s release in 1853. In the grand scheme of history, it’s only in our recent past. However, language changes quite a bit in that timeframe. The style of the language was a bit of a barrier for me. I found it hard to get into initially. But, I persevered and I’m glad I did. Usually, readability is the key reason I would DNF a book. If I can’t get on with the narrative style, it’s make-or-break. On this occasion though, I stuck with it and got used to it enough that I could get on with the book.

I enjoyed reading about a period of history, and from a perspective that was little-covered in my school curriculum. Whilst I have no doubt it’s more prominent in modern history classes, it wasn’t really a topic touched on in any detail during my time there. The scary fact is that it’s fairly recent history. This isn’t our distant past!

Summary

Twelve Years a Slave is a poignant narrative I recommend everyone try. Even if it isn’t typically your cup of tea, it’s a very personal story about a huge societal problem that hasn’t gone away.

Modern slavery is very much a thing. Twelve Years a Slave is a far more ‘traditional’ tale of slavery as we recognise it from history. The underlying prejudice and discrimination that goes with it is still sadly around today. However, I can only hope that hearing more from minority voices we can empathise and correct our behaviour as a society.

Have you read Twelve Years a Slave? What’s your take?

Sunday Summary – 5th July 2026

Posted on July 5, 2026July 5, 2026 by fantasyst95

Happy Sunday friends! This Sunday Summary is not the end of the weekend for me – here in the Isle of Man, we have a bank holiday tomorrow celebrating Tynwald Day. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a celebration of our local government, which is the oldest continuous government in the world. With ties back to our Viking heritage, tomorrow will see petitions presented to Government in the open air in a convening in a village just a stone’s throw from me.

Not that I plan to attend – too many people for my liking! Instead, I’ll enjoy the day not at work and making the most of a chill day. I’m making a birthday present for a friend of mine celebrating later this month. I’m so close to being done, so I’ll push ahead to finish this well ahead of schedule. Other than that, I’ll be hitting the books. Not the intellectual kind, mind. Fingers crossed I’ll have more reading progress to share next week!

Before I get to this week’s reading updates, let’s take a look at the blog content I shared. First, I published my monthly wrap-up for the books I read in June. It wasn’t the most extensive update, nor did I complete the challenges I set out to. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the books I picked up. After a short break towards the end of June, I’m ready to get stuck in with a fresh start! Yesterday, I followed that up with my monthly TBR for July. Alongside my June carryovers, I’ve got plenty of new releases to enjoy in the next few weeks.

Books Read

Katabasis

I confess I’ve only read a handful of pages of Katabasis this week. Well, today, if I’m being honest. I’ve deliberately taken a bit of a break from reading physical books and instead taken the time to get my crochet project / gift made. I’m already feeling somewhat refreshed and it was fun to get stuck into a book without time pressure.

I’m looking forward to reading this more over the coming week. With my project nearly done, I’ll have time to pick this book up tomorrow before jumping back into quarter-end madness at work on Tuesday!

Behind Closed Doors

Over a few evenings this week, I’ve started the first 30% or so of Behind Closed Doors.

I’m enjoying this audio. However, I listened to around 45mins of the audio before bed last night and it’s changed my opinions of the direction of the book if I’m honest. I was either hoping for a role reversal twist or some kind of revenge arc for Grace, who appears to be in a controlling relationship.

One of the two of these directions was eliminated for me last night, which I confess to being a little disappointed about. Whilst this book set up can still surprise me, I feel like it’s taking the more typical route. Will it have a showstopper ending? I can only find out next week!

Books Discovered

Keeping my head down has paid dividends on the TBR front. Whilst I’ve not ticked anything off the list this week (only making small progress with existing reads), I haven’t added anything new either.

I’ll take my silver linings wherever I can take them…

Coming Up…

What I’m Reading…

My reading priorities for next week are as follows: –

Finish Behind Closed Doors, which amounts to a fraction under 4hrs audio
Start Empire of Storms, by next readalong book in the Throne of Glass series
Finish Katabasis, which amounts to 490 pages
Continue with The Pillars of the Earth

Blog

I want to start next week with a book review. My next book on the list is a prominent title, and a book that honestly shocked me. Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup is a true account of how he found himself in bondage in America. It’s shocking to read, and hard to imagine now. However, it’s a reality of life and a gritty part of our history we shouldn’t shy away from learning about.

Next, I want to talk about my recent dry spell with reading. As a content creator based around reading as a huge part of my free time, it’s not that common to talk about the times when that doesn’t happen. It’s hard to admit that slumps happen. I want to have a candid conversation with you about it.

Finally, another Sunday Summary will grace your screens next week!

YouTube

I didn’t get to record my monthly wrap-up or July TBR this week. I worked overtime last week due to quarter end. Also, the other half has been off work for his birthday this week. Generally, he works at least one day of the weekend given he has a retail job. That’s when I take advantage of planning and recording. However, with him being off, we’ve made an effort to spend the time together instead.

So, my plans are to record these posts tomorrow. I’ve written the blog post versions, so I’ve got them planned now. I just need to plonk myself in front of a camera for half an hour to gab it out.

Nest week, we’re back to business as usual. So, I’ll have another weekly vlog for you to catch you up on reading progress as well.

Summary

That’s all I have for you in this Sunday Summary. When was the last dry spell of reading you had, and how long did it last?

Have a great rest of your weekend, however much is left, and I will see you around for my next update very soon!

Monthly TBR – July 2026

Posted on July 4, 2026July 4, 2026 by fantasyst95

I’ve really had to reign myself in with my July TBR. A theme of every reading list I have set myself so far this year is that the list is a long one, and I don’t get to do every book on it.

My June TBR and the aim to complete the Goodreads spring reading challenge overwhelmed to me. That’s myself get stuck on lack of progress with a chunky book and fell off the wagon, so to speak.

So, I’ve had a word with myself to shorten this list as much as I can get away with. There were also practical reasons for that decision – I have some blog tour obligations later this month that I can’t skip out on. I cannot have a repeat of last month and let that get in the way of my promise to review these books.

July is a busy month at work, and typically I work overtime in the early days of the month. Leaning into audio allows me to read when still doing other things, from going to the gym or driving, or enjoying my crafty hobbies! I’m back into crochet lately, as well as cross-stitch!

So, what’s the theme for July’s TBR? Completing June carried forward June reads, revisiting my highly anticipated 2026 releases and three blog tour obligations at the end of this month into early August.

Let’s dive in!

Carryovers from June

The Pillars of the Earth

Goodreads

My first carryover from June to include in this July TVR is the read I made the most progress with of all my carryovers. Yes, I am talking about The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. As of drafting this July TBR, I am X pages into this book. That sounds significant, but when you consider this book is 1070 pages long in total, you’ll easily see that I still have some way to go!

It’s this book that tripped me up in June. When I started it, I set out with the intention to read just over 40 pages a day. That would have seen me to the end of this book. However, I can’t always read every day. That means very quickly you can get behind, and I let this mindset get in my way of making the progress I could and ultimately I stopped reading this book towards the end of June.

However, now I have no deadline. I am enjoying this book, so it’s one I’m going to continue with my own time rather than pressurising myself. Whilst I would like to complete this for the end of July, anything goes!

Katabasis

Goodreads

This is the book I started at the end of June to get myself out of the rut caused by The Pillars of the Earth. I have enjoyed books by R.F. Kuang several times now. Babel, The Poppy War and Yellowface all grace my ‘read’ shelves. No doubt Katabasis will be among their number shortly.

I only made a token start to this book before the end of June. However, I enjoyed the set up of the storyline so far. I’ve also enjoyed other dark academia themed books earlier this year. Another notable mention in this genre is An Arcane Inheritance if you are looking for something of this ilk.

Fingers crossed it lives up to the hype I’ve heard and expect from R.F. Kuang and it can get me back into the reading groove!

Behind Closed Doors

Goodreads

My audiobook carryover into this July TBR is Behind Closed Doors. This is a relatively short book. I have only listened to this for around an hour for a couple of evenings so far, and that puts me about a third of the way into the book.

Again, I have enjoyed the set up for this one. There is definitely more to the story than meets the eye. It’s currently being portrayed as a fairly typical story of a man controlling a woman in a new marriage. But is that really the case? It seems an obvious set up. I’m either hoping for a complete role reversal or some kind of twist that flipped this on its head. Either that, or a revenge arc for Grace.