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Monthly TBR – November 2026

Posted on November 6, 2026November 6, 2026 by fantasyst95

in the last eight weeks or so. All will become clear in due course. However, my intention for November is to prioritise reads I’m excited to pick up as opposed to ones I feel obligated to read.

I’m hoping for a bit of a return to reading progress. Whether that happens remains to be seen. That being said, I will never go into a monthly TBR setting myself little to no list. I know myself, and I know that I thrive when I have a deadline or target to achieve. This month, I have two blog tours which will be my last two tours of the year. Around that, I have a book that featured on my 2026 resolutions post, an international book of prize that I hope will break the bad run I’ve had so far, as well as a new romantasy series to start.

Intrigued? I hope so! Take a look at what made the cut for my November monthly TBR!

November 2026 Monthly TBR

Fixed Reads

Kingdom of Ash

Goodreads

It feels weird to talk about a book I’m planning to read in November, having already finished said book. However, I am finally glad to share that I have finished Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series! Finishing kingdom of Ash took a little bit longer than planned. I believe this was due to be a September finish? Alas, it felt victim to my decreased reading progress in the last couple of months. That’s no reflection on the book, as I quite enjoyed this one. It was interesting to see how the series panned out, especially as it took us off on some twists towards the end that I didn’t anticipate.

So, I start today’s monthly TBR with a completion to share. May the progress continue!

The Commander’s Blade

Goodreads

The first of my blog tour obligations for November falls around the 17th of the month. That is for Caesar: The Commander’s Blade. Peter Gibbons is an author I have read books by before. He also has excelled previously in the genre, and I’ve enjoyed all of his Warrior and Protector books (Warrior and Protector Book 1 here) – although I’re just realised I missed the last one earlier this year.

I signed up to this blog tour because of my experience with this author and their work to date. Not only that, but I really enjoy the genre that this book comes from. With reading being slower pace than usual, I need every incentive I can find in order to pick up a book against competing priorities.

I enjoy historical fiction, so I’m excited to try a historical fiction series with a brand-new set of characters and events to enjoy!

Sword Brethren

Goodreads

Sword Brethren is another historical fiction novel that I’m reading for a blog tour later this month. My review for Sword Brethren is due around 28th November, so I have some time to pick this up.

Sword Brethren overlaps with a genre I’ve read before, but it is a little different in terms of setting. Christianity and Paganism are aspects of the narrative that are key to the story. Sounds a bit reminiscent of The Last Kingdom to me! It’s for that reason I’m looking forward to trying this one. Sometimes, different is what you need.

Metabolical

Goodreads

My next audiobook for the month is Metabolical by Dr Robert Lustig. I actually started this audiobook today, so I haven’t got too much to share with you in terms of reading progress. What I can say is that I’ve enjoyed the introduction to this book. The author has suggested that some of the content of this book has been easier to share since he has left his profession, that he’s calling out things that would get him ‘cancelled’ were he still in employment.

Whether that is true remains to be seen. I hope those comments aren’t a gimmick in order to encourage readers to read on and then fail to deliver. However, I’m cautiously optimistic. If nothing else, I’m looking forward to a non-fiction audiobook. It’s been a little while since I picked up one of these, and it certainly been a while since I’ve picked up a book of this topic. Historically, I’ve enjoyed reads like Ultra Processed People which overlaps with the same concept.

Will I enjoy Metabolical as much? Will it lean into more of the science like I hope it will? We can only hope so.

Get 20% Off Your First Demon This Halloween

Goodreads

Not long ago, I sought help choosing a Halloween novel this year. Whilst I had hoped to read a little more of Get 20% Off Your First Demon This Halloween in October, I’m prioritising it now!

The darker themes combined with a lighter, satirical tone are good fun. I’ve not long started this book by indie author Michael Da Clarke. I don’t read very seasonally, but I do try to make an effort now and then. Hopefully my thoughts land with you at a time when you can pick this up in the mood. Autumn and the dark nights make it spooky season… right?!

Mood Reads

The Director

Goodreads

My next International Booker Prize 2026 longlist read is The Director. If I don’t jive with this one, then I’m seriously concerned for the rest of the list. So far, reading progress with my International Booker Prize to date is not going well. The Witch lost my interest, so did The Wax Child. I had high hopes for both, so it’s fair to say I’m now a little less confident about some of the other reads on the list.

The Director is a historical fiction novel set around World War II. It’s a period I love, so I think it’s the best book on the International Booker Prize longlist that can turn the tide.

Dungeon Crawler Carl

Goodreads

Last month, I set out plans to read Dungeon Crawler Carl for a change of pace. I still plan to do that. I didn’t get to the book last month, but the First Lines Friday I shared not long ago piqued my interest.

Dungeon Crawler Carl sounds like a lighter read. Post-apocalyptic, fantasy comedy? Talking sassy cats? Sign me up!

On a serious note, I’m looking forward to reading something a little different, and maybe discovering a new series to delve into.

Eve

Goodreads

Way back at the beginning of this year, I set out a fixed reading list I wanted to tackle in 2026. One of these books is Eve by Cat Bohannon.

I’ve tried a few times to get to Eve, and I hope this is the month I achieve that goal. It’s one of the chunkier books on my reading list. It’s also the only physical book on my November monthly TBR. Funny, how I go through different phases with book formats. This month, I’m mostly digital books.

I’m looking forward to reading Eve in part for the change of reading type. However, the female body and its influence on evolution is a topic I’m interested in. No doubt I’ll learn a thing or two as well…

Caraval

Goodreads

I asked for a romantasy book recommendation, and my friend Natalie delivered!

I’ve seen plenty about Stephanie Garber and even Caraval itself. It was even on my TBR once upon a time. I suspect it fell off due to its romantasy ties and that historically, I was less open to the genre. As it stands, I’m still experimenting with it. Fortunately, I purchased a digital copy of Caraval way back when anyway. So, I’m in a great place to give this first book a go and see if I want to read the rest of the trilogy, and from there, her other books.

Watch this space for how I get on with this one. I’m contemplating setting this up as a readalong on StoryGraph or Fable. If you’re interested in reading it with me, let me know!

Summary

Fingers crossed for a month of better progress with November’s monthly TBR. If necessary, I’m prepared to go off script and mood read if it keeps books in front of my eyeballs this month 🤣

What do you have planned for your monthly TBR? Do you set a TBR, or do you prefer to mood read?

Monthly Wrap-Up – October 2026

Posted on November 4, 2026November 4, 2026 by fantasyst95

Last month, reading progress was so dire I didn’t even bother putting out a monthly wrap-up post. Whilst progress in today’s monthly wrap-up for October is marginally better, it leaves much to be desired. Most of my October TBR remains unread or unfinished…

Nevertheless, I have my reasons, and I hope so share those with you soon! It’s been a busy month – and I was away for a business trip as well. This month, things started a little off-kilter. I also have another DNF to share this month. That certainly didn’t help matters. However, with some recent wins and a long-standing read near completion, I’m hoping for a turn of the tide.

Let’s see what I did get to in October… shall we?

Books Read

Debt Reckoning

Goodreads

At the very end of September, running into October, I prioritise my read, or rather listened, of Debt Reckoning. There’s nothing like a deadline to make me pull myself together and get a book in front of my eyeballs. Well, eardrums I suppose in this case?

As much as I suggest the deadline made me read this book, it was an entertaining read. I wasn’t entirely reading it out of obligation. Debt Reckoning is an interesting political thriller that looks at real world issues today. I learned some things about how governments and stock markets are interlinked in ways I wouldn’t have appreciated before. So, it was fun. I learned something, and there is plenty of action to keep readers engaged.

Have you read it? If you want to find out more, here’s the link to my review.

One More Hour of Daylight

Goodreads

A second blog tour obligation followed, not allowing me to slack on pace of reading. Again, to say this book was an obligation only would not be fair to the book. I signed up to it because One More Hour of Daylight fits into my favourite sub-genre of historical fiction… world war 2!

I loved this one. The action. The tension. The humanity shown in periods of dire conflict. One More Hour of Daylight is a cleverly written book and one I absolutely recommend to fans of the genre. Go take a look at my review of this one here.

The Wax Child

Goodreads

The Wax Child is sadly a less successful note in today’s monthly wrap-up post. My attempt to read this year’s International Booker longlist isn’t going so well. So far, I’m 2 down, and both were DNF’s…

I lost momentum with The Wax Child. Initially, I enjoyed the unique perspective. However, along the way I got bored and lost interest. I tried, I really did. I gave it several weeks, but in the end couldn’t psyche myself up to continue.

Kingdom of Ash

Goodreads

A slow-burn read over the last couple of months is the final book of Sarah J. Maas’ Kingdom of Ash. Finally, I’m coming to the end of the book! Alas, I don’t get to QUITE talk about that in today’s monthly wrap-up…

I left off the end of October with just a fraction less than 3 hours of audio left. That puts me around 90% progress. To give you an idea of how much I’m excited to get to the end, I’ve already listened to half of what’s left! No doubt I’ll listen more later before bed, maybe tomorrow to finally finish it.

For a book and series that isn’t necessarily ‘my thing’, I’ve enjoyed this one. I hope I can find more books like it, as it’s been fun to broaden my horizons.

The Language of Liars

Goodreads

My final read and completion of the month is a book that I picked up with the intention of reading more 2026 releases this year.

And I’m glad I did! Reading something short, as well as different served me well here. It gave me the incentive to read without deadline or obligation. Just for the love of it. It helped being back somewhat to normal routine after my business trip.

The Language of Liars was a great read because it combined three great loves – science fiction, linguistics and dystopia. If you’re intrigued by this combination I was, please give it a look. You won’t regret it!

Summary

A relatively quick monthly wrap-up, but an honest one at least. Have you read much in October? Are you enjoying spooky/cozy season with a book or few?

Let me know the last book you read in the comments!

Sunday Summary – 1st November 2026

Posted on November 1, 2026November 1, 2026 by fantasyst95

This week has gone fast! I’ve enjoyed a bit of a blogging holiday this week, so today’s Sunday’s Summary is my first and last post of the week. It’s been for a reason. My last few Sunday Summary updates have been light on reading progress. In an attempt to rectify that and tick off some completions before the end of the month, I chose to suspend posting so I could focus on reading. And, it has been a productive change. I have enjoyed other things as well, but you’ll see the difference in the updates I share in this Sunday Summary.

Books Read

Kingdom of Ash

After weeks of only making an hour or so of progress, I have made a concerted push with Kingdom of Ash today. Whilst I am not quite at the finish line, as of today’s Sunday Summary I have a fraction less than 3 hours left. It’s helped getting back into the habit of listening to audiobooks on the way home from work, as well as having a weekend at home. I’ve been out of routine and that hurt audiobook progress.

This weekend alone, I’ve listened to over 5 hours and I’m getting to the exciting conclusion. It’s inspired me to quickly wrap-up Kingdom of Ash so I can appreciate the ending fully. I feel there are some surprises to come yet, so looking forward to seeing how what looks like the final battle will play out!

The Language of Liars

A relatively short read on my October TBR is The Language of Liars. With the hopes of a quick read and the motivation from the completion, I finally started (and finished) this book this week.

At 160 odd pages, it was the quick win I needed. Not only that, but it was a fantastic read as well. For the short page count, it was impactful and an interesting mash-up of sci-fi and espionage plot with a linguistic and cultural heart.

Honestly, The Language of Liars is a bit of a different read. It’s exactly what I needed!

Get 20% off Your First Demon This Halloween

A little behind schedule, I started Get 20% off Your First Demon This Halloween today. It’s still seasonal, and I always read spooky season books after the event 😂

This book is one I am reading for the purpose of providing a review. It also leans into slightly different genres compared to my usual. Paranormal meets satire as victims seek their own karma/justice. I can’t comment too much on this one yet; I’ve only just started it. My plans are to continue reading this one tonight and over the coming days. It’s another relatively short book. At 255 pages, it should also give me a quick win boost and set November off to a great start.

Books Discovered

Technically, I did purchase a book this week. However, it is a cookbook, so not really the type you’d pick up cover to cover 😅 that doesn’t count then, right?

On the plus side, I’m hopeful I can start cooking Western Chinese takeout meals at home soon. And, I used a voucher, so it didn’t hit my wallet…

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:-

100% need to finish the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash 👑
Start my next audiobook, Metabolical
Continue Get 20% off Your First Demon This Halloween
Continue Radical Candor by Kim Scott
Start Dungeon Crawler Carl

Blog

Given a week of better progress, I’m going to phase myself back into blog content next week. My plan is to go slow though. I’m currently busy at work and I’m conscious there may be at least one late night early next week. So, unless I have a good day tomorrow I likely won’t post until Wednesday or Thursday at the earliest.

It’s the penultimate month of the year! Naturally, I’m due to share my monthly wrap-up for October and my November TBR this week. I’ll try to get my monthly wrap-up out tomorrow as it isn’t going to be that long a post. Progress has been slow 😂 Otherwise, Wednesday or Thursday for that.

Depending on the timing of October’s monthly wrap-up, I’ll publish my November TBR as soon as I can after that. I’ve got plenty of books I’ve not got to so far this year. Some of those will likely end up on the list, alongside two final blog tour obligations for 2026.

Last, but by no means least, my next Sunday Summary goes live at the end of the week. Fingers crossed my run of good reading progress continues, or maybe even improves? I can only hope so anyway!

Summary

Thanks for reading today’s Sunday Summary update! What have you been reading this week? Have you got any books you are trying to prioritise before the end of 2026?

Sunday Summary – 25th October 2026

Posted on October 25, 2026October 25, 2026 by fantasyst95

Happy Sunday! It’s been a busy week, and not in productive ways to that I can talk about in today’s Sunday Summary post. I’ve been away with work, then spent my weekend doing house errands and the rounds with family and friends.

So, not much reading done. Again 😅 this is becoming a bit of a habit!

I even operated on a reduced schedule blogging this week. As I knew I was away for several nights and away from my usual set up, I postponed publishing any content until I was back home. This week’s post is great for WW2 historical fiction fans looking for book recommendations. If you’re looking for a new read, check out my If You Loved This… Read That! post.

Books Read

The Wax Child

I’ve officially run out of steam with The Wax Child. For the last two weeks I’ve tried to finish the book, with no success. It’s different, unique, but doesn’t hold my attention. It’s a short book, that’s what frustrates me. I’m 70% in too, but I don’t want to pick it up anymore. I’ve tried several times, and with my already limited reading time, I can’t justify hanging on anymore.

It’s time to move on…

Kingdom of Ash

One evening whilst in Dublin I listened to just over an hour of this audiobook. I couldn’t sleep, and unfortunately I was in a front-facing street with at least one nightclub and no double-glazed windows. The AirPods went in to try and help me drift off. It only partially worked…

Progress has been slow with this audiobook, but I did enjoy dipping my toe in this week. However, I’ve been out of routine the rest of this week so unfortunately that’s all I managed. Onwards and upwards for the next seven days!

Radical Candor

It’s barely worth mentioning, but whilst I was away on my course this week I also took my copy of Radical Candor with me. Some of the course content overlaps with the book, so I made a very cursory start.

Radical Candor isn’t even explicitly on my October TBR, so I’ll likely dip in and out of it up until the end of the month and then officially record it in my November list.

Books Discovered

Given my topsy-turvy week, I’ve not added any new books to my reading list. Not that I didn’t have opportunities. However, what I lacked was space in my suitcase 😅😂

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:-

Continue and maybe finish the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash 👀
Read Radical Candor by Kim Scott
Read The Language of Liars
I need a change of tone, shall we start Dungeon Crawler Carl?

Blog

I desperately need to get back into a reading habit to progress my October TBR. So, I’m giving myself the week off. No, not from work. Sadly.

Next week, I’m going dark until next week’s Sunday Summary. It’ll give me a chance to pick up some pages, maybe finish a book or two ahead of month-end. I know I may also have a busy few evenings towards the end of the week. So, best not to overcommit.

Summary

So, I won’t see you now until my next Sunday Summary. Can I turn my reading luck around? Will my next International Booker read fare better than the last two? I hope so!

How has your reading week gone? What progress have you made?

If You Loved This… Read That! #1

Posted on October 23, 2026October 23, 2026 by fantasyst95

Welcome to my brand-new series here at Reviewsfeed – If You Loved This… Read That! If you loved a particular book, genre or aspect of a story and are looking for a recommendation, look no further! In today’s post, I’ve got some recommendations for fans of historical fiction novels!

In order to make these posts relevant to you readers, my recommendations in this series are going to have a clearly disclosed theme here at the top of the post. If the theme isn’t for you, then fair play. Maybe the next one will give you a much sought recommendation instead. No pressure. I’d rather that than make a random, non-specific post that isn’t cohesive.

So, historical fiction. I’m going to narrow it down further to books that look at the experiences of life in during WW2. Life in the concentration camps. Life during the war. If you are a regular reader here at Reviewsfeed, you will know that this a top genre and topic I love to read about. So, I hope you like today’s recommendations. And, if you have any recommendations I don’t feature today, don’t forget to give your recommendations to future readers down in the comments!

If You Loved This… Read That!

If You Loved The Book Thief…

Read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Similarities	Differences
– children protagonists – Learning/understanding of motives behind war throughout book – Highlights harsh reality of life in Germany – Heartbreaking stories	– The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a shorter novel – Bruno lacks understanding throughout the book and is a passive character, unlike Liesel

If You Loved The Diary of a Young Girl…

Read The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz

Similarities	Differences
– Auto/biographical – Intimacy with real life experiences – Discrimination against Jewish people/culture	– Family closeness during adversity – Hiding vs capture – Survival

If You Loved All The Light We Cannot See…

Read One More Hour of Daylight

Similarities	Differences
– Consequences of war for both civilians and enlisted soldiers – Day in the life of… – Balance of perspectives and impacts on the ground	– Blind protagonist vs sighted – Well-known title vs new release – Setting

Rose Under Fire

Similarities	Differences
– Captured pilot – Adversity as a result of service to British Armed Forces – Unique female protagonist in circumstances – Cleverly written narrative – blind protagonist vs plot twists	– Circumstances in war / freedom vs captivity – Nationality and setting of story

If You Loved The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Read the Sequels Cilka’s Journey and Three Sisters

You may not realise The Tattooist of Auschwitz is kind of a series
Based on very different tales/underlying experiences but written to overlap
Afterwords include interviews from the underlying individuals or perspectives featured in the book

Summary

Have you read any of the historical fiction books? Do you have any If You Loved This… Read That! recommendations?

Sunday Summary – 18th October 2026

Posted on October 18, 2026October 18, 2026 by fantasyst95

Happy Sunday all! It’s the end of another week, so that means it’s time for another Sunday Summary update!

Whilst I got off to a slow start with my blog post schedule this week, however I did share both planned posts in the end. My first post of the week was a list of my top five reads under 300 pages. If, like me right now, you’re finding short books far more approachable, here’s a list of my favourites. Have you read any of these? Do they take your fancy?

Next, I asked you for romantasy reading recommendations yesterday. I’m coming to the end of my readalong of the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. I would like to explore more of the genre, so I gave you some tips on things I’ve enjoyed about Throne of Glass that hopefully will help you give me a recommendation for another book or series to try. If you have any recs, please let me know!

Books Read

The Wax Child

Last week I shared my hopes to finish The Wax Child. However, as of this Sunday Summary, I’m here to tell you I am still reading it 🫣

I haven’t read much this week. I’ll hold my hands up to that. Heck, I haven’t even listened to any audiobooks this week. Truthfully, I’ve been doing more in the way of life admin this week ahead of some exciting plans in December. Then, my friends came around for a spontaneous meet-up on Thursday evening. Also, my other half has had a full weekend off with me for maybe the second time this year?! We get odd weekends where we overlap a day, but seldom both! So, we’ve made the most of it by spending time with one another.

Today we went out for lunch together. Made a cake. Ran some errands. It’s worked out pretty timely actually, but more on that a little later in this Sunday Summary post.

So yes, I have picked up The Wax Child this week. But only in short stints. I do intend to finish it tonight – I promise! I desperately want a fresh start next week.

Books Discovered

There’s no movement in terms of my TBR. Whilst I have purchased a book this week, it is one already on my TBR. I purchased it as I think it’s going to be somewhat relevant in the next few days. As I said, it was already on my reading list already, alongside other self-development books. This one I’m prioritising, as some pre-work I’ve been given for a course I’m on next week includes content relating to this book.

I’m talking about Radical Candor by Kim Scott.

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:-

Continue and maybe finish the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash 👀
Finish The Wax Child by Olga Ravn – can I manage it tonight (ever get the feeling of déjà vu)?
Read Radical Candor by Kim Scott
Read The Language of Liars

Blog

I’m only going to commit to two blog posts next week, and give myself a few days off. Why, do you ask? Well, the truth is I’m going away tomorrow for a few days to another office for a personal development course. I have made some plans the evenings I’m away, but I’ll also be without my laptop. For ease, I’ll maybe draft some content but not publish it until I’m back Thursday. What is that post going to be? I’m in the mood for offering some recommendations (only fair given I’m asking for romantasy recs in return). So, I’ve got an ‘If you Like X, Read Y” post in mind.

On Sunday, I will of course be back with another Sunday Summary update. Fingers crossed I’ll be able to use some time I’ll be travelling and away from home to do some reading.

Summary

That’s today’s Sunday Summary wrapped up. Have you had a good reading week, or a slow one like me?

I’m a Fake Romantasy Reader – Recommendations Needed!

Posted on October 17, 2026October 17, 2026 by fantasyst95

I’m a Fake Romantasy Reader. It’s a popular genre right now. I’ve dipped my toes into the genre with Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series. However, my read and readalong of that series is very quickly going to come to a close. I’m reading the last book now, so the question is… what next?

So, I’m here to ask your help. I want to try more of the genre, but I confess there are elements of Throne of Glass and others I am less keen on. If you are a huge fan and are well-read in the genre, I would love a recommendation from you on what to pick up next!

What I’m Looking For

I find books that are too character-driven and lack action don’t engage me. I like there to be a REASON a character is going on their journey. Likewise, I don’t like a book that is too busy. I’ve DNF’d fantasy books in the past like Gardens of the Moon because it jumps around too quickly and we don’t get any chance to invest in any character or subset of characters.

What I’d Like in Romantasy

Plenty of action to keep the plot moving and exciting
I love magic systems and complexity to a fantasy world
Characters to spend time with and get invested in
The more epic the fantasy, the better. Think multi-perspective, action spanning the whole map kinda deal
Overlap with another loved genre would be great – historical, sci-fi are examples

What I Wouldn’t Like in Romantasy

I’m not a big romance fan or reader, something light-touch on the romance would be preferred
Reading anything to explicit or graphic will make me cringe – it will be a reason I DNF a book
I’m not hugely fussed on Fae/supernatural character types, though not a deal-breaker

So… give me recommendations!

Do you know a book that fits this brief, wholly, in part, or a book that you think might challenge my perspective?

If so, drop me a recommendation in the comments and tell me why you think I’ll enjoy it. I’m open to try and push my boundaries, so let me know what I can read to reverse my fake romantasy reader status!

My Top Five Reads Under 300 Pages!

Posted on October 16, 2026October 16, 2026 by fantasyst95

Hello everyone! Happy Friday and welcome to today’s post! I have a fun and varied list to share with you. If you’re keen to explore my top five reads under 300 pages – you’ve come to the right place!

Sometimes, we all need a short read. Now more than ever, I find myself gravitating towards these reads. My attention span is shorter. I’m reading a bit less. So, a short read gives me the quick win I need. Do you want to find a short read for yourself? If so, here are some of my favourite books to recommend!

My Top Five Reads Under 300 Pages!

Animal Farm

Genre: Dystopia

Pages: 144

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Original Publication Date: 24 Feb 2000

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – Animal Farm

If there is one dystopian book I recommend to all readers, it’s Animal Farm. You may have read this book in school. I know some of my peers did, and my mum did when she was at school. However, I didn’t pick this up until I was an adult.

What’s interesting about Animal Farm is that it is a political book without reading as overly political. It’s not the kind of book you go into knowing this, but it is an allegory. A fun one to read as well. You don’t have to particularly understand the Russian figures or history represented in this book to take its meaning.

Twelve Years a Slave

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 186

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Grapevine

Original Publication Date: 09 Oct 2024

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – Twelve Years a Slave

Twelve Years a Slave is a heartbreaking memoir of a man’s capture, captivity and exploitation in 1850’s Southern America. Solomon Northup, lured with the promise of work, has his identity taken away from him. He finds himself working on plantations and other places are hard labour and poor working conditions for no money.

Throughout the course of his 12 years in slavery, he is owned by various individuals and has a very mixed experience amongst the places he is forced to work. Most of his time is spent on a cotton plantation, and subjected to cruelty. His amiable nature thought him the chance to befriend a man who becomes his saviour – Solomon is able to contact family to notify them of his plight and he is rescued and restored as a free man.

It’s a tough read, given we know what we are reading is true and just one story of many where an individual has been subjected to horrors and even risked death. Unfortunately, the racist attitudes that underpin his capture and captivity were all too common.

Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas

Genre: Humour

Pages: 119

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Picador

Original Publication Date: 17 Oct 2019

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas

A very different tone of book from the previous entry is a humorous account of many stories from the experience of doctor Adam Kay. He’s written multiple books, starting with his experience as a junior doctor and expanding to include this seasonal instrument of what it is like to work for the NHS.

`Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas is an entertaining read, but it also has its ups and downs in terms of recounting his experience. It is not all sunshine and rainbows being a doctor for the NHS in the UK. Long hours, pay disputes and an institution that ironically doesn’t really care about its own underpin Adam’s experience. We cannot help but feel sorry for Adam as time and again, his family time at Christmas is overlooked to address staffing shortages.

Fahrenheit 451

Genre: Dystopia

Pages: 240

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Flamingo

Original Publication Date: 16 Aug 1999

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – Fahrenheit 451

If there are two dystopian novels I can urge you to pick up, the second after Animal Farm is Fahrenheit 451.

I can’t help but feel that this particular book is quite topical. If you cannot see the parallels between today’s society and the one set out in Fahrenheit 451, you’re not reading closely enough. Fake news? I don’t think so.

Naturally, as a lover of books and language, this one slightly hurts my soul. However, the underpinning message is far more important than the burning of books. Rather, it is about a society unwilling to challenge the status quo and instead consuming mindless and conforming content. Whilst this book sells that idea to us in the form of television (bear in mind the time this book was published) surely you can see the parallels between social media and other media now available in our modern world. If you can’t, I’ll wait whilst you look again…

Ordinary Heroes

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 256

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Portfolio

Original Publication Date: 07 Sept 2021

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – Ordinary Heroes

The final instalment on today’s top five reads under 300 pages list is another hard-hitting memoir. Not only does it highlight the worst of human society, but also the best. On the 11th September 2001, the US experienced one of its worst days in history. Thousands of people lost their lives, all because of the extremist ideals of a select number of people on our planet.

Modern life hasn’t been the same since. Even today, we live through changes in flight regulation designed to prevent a similar disaster ever happening again. But this book isn’t about that. Instead, this book is written by one of the lead firefighters dealing with the disaster on the ground on the day. It’s an account of the events as they unfold. It is a memorial for those who did not survive that day… servicemen and women wh0 gave up their lives in the pursuit of saving others. Those who woke up and went about what should have been a normal day, only they never stood a chance to see one last sunset.

It’s a powerful read – one I’m sure made me cry. Will it do the same to you?

Notable Mention… my current read!

The Wax Child

Genre: Literary Fiction

Pages: 176

Audience: Adult

Publisher: New Directions

Original Publication Date: 20 Sept 2023

Rating: TBC

Goodreads – The Wax Child

Now, I promised you five of my top reads under 300 pages. However, I’m currently reading another title under that threshold that I’m really enjoying. So much so, I wanted to share it with you. I mentioned in my introduction that I’m leaning into shorter reads lately, and this is proof of that claim!

I’m currently reading The Wax Child as part of my ongoing challenge to read the International Booker Prize longlist for 2026. Whilst it is not the only short book I have picked from that list so far, it is the one I’m having a far better experience with.

The Wax Child is written from a unique perspective that I cannot help but enjoy. Told from what we can only assume to be an inanimate object’s perspective, we watch the intimate relationships of women, several of whom are accused of witchcraft.

I can’t really say more to you about this book at this time given I’m still reading it. However, it is the particular perspective and the way the book is written that has piqued my interest. It’s certainly a little bit different, and that is just what we need. It’s just what I need anyway…

Summary

Thanks for reading today’s my top five reads under 300 pages post. Have you read any of the books I feature in today’s post?

If so, let me know when you picked these up in the comments and what you thought of the books. Would you recommend them as well?

Sunday Summary – 11th October 2026

Posted on October 11, 2026October 11, 2026 by fantasyst95

The weeks are flying by. Correction, the weekENDS are flying by. It was Friday night five minutes ago – now I’m here drafting a Sunday Summary. I demand the rest of my weekend back!

Alas, time waits for none of us, and I’ve had to make the most of all the time I had this week to get on top of some blog tour obligations. My review for the first of those tours, Debt Reckoning, went live on Tuesday. I finished this audio on Monday, so it’s fair to say this went down to the wire. However, my enjoyment of the book was never in doubt! If you like the sound of an action-packed political thriller that is educational and somewhat relevant to today’s US Government goings-on, go check it out.

Next, One More Hour of Daylight took full spotlight. My review of this historical WW2 action novel went live on Thursday. I know – two reviews in a week? Who am I? 😂 As a big fan of historical fiction novels, especially those set in WW2, I knew this would be a hit! One More Hour of Daylight balanced action and context/background perfectly, making for an engaging and immersive read. If this is more up your alley, my review of One More Hour of Daylight is here.

Finally, I shared my monthly TBR for October. Given the abysmal reading month that was September, I decided not to wallow in it by sharing a monthly wrap-up (of precious little) and instead chose to move forward. Thanks to my blog tour dates, it would also have been a bit late. As it stands, I shared my TBR on the 9th – nearly a third of the way through October! For this TBR, I’ve got some shorter reads, as well as some refreshed titles to pick up. Rather than try to keep slogging on with the same non-starters I’ve had the last few months, I’ve got some new and different reads on October’s agenda.

Books Read

Debt Reckoning

Monday got off to a good start, with the completion of the final 35% or so of Debt Reckoning so that I could review the book on Tuesday. As starts go, I couldn’t have asked for better. Thankfully, having the deadline worked in my favour. Was it a little too close? Yes. I had hoped for better progress in last week’s Sunday Summary. However, it doesn’t always work out so clean cut. Working extra last weekend certainly didn’t help matters, otherwise I’d have likely wrapped up Debt Reckoning last weekend.

Nevertheless, we got there. Given I’ve reviewed the book in detail this week, I’ll point you there if you want to find out more about the book or my thoughts on it. It’s worth a read, I promise!

One More Hour of Daylight

Moving swiftly on, my next priority was to read One More Hour of Daylight by C.M. Gray. Now, I was a little late starting this. However, I didn’t get my ebook copy straight away due to a technical issue. It’s only when I followed up did we get it sorted mid last week.

When I spoke to you in my last Sunday Summary, I shared that I was starting this last Sunday after my post went live. So, I blitzed the whole 450-odd pages of this book in just a few days. I haven’t read at that speed for a while!

Again, like Debt Reckoning, I’m not going to spoil too much here in terms of my thoughts on the book. What I will say is that I rated it 5*. Go on, what are you waiting for? Go read my review to see why!

Kingdom of Ash

After prioritising Debt Reckoning earlier this week, I’ve returned to Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas. I’ve listened to this audiobook a couple of times commuting home this week, as well as a solid hour this afternoon.

Progress with this book is still a little slow. That said, I’m getting back into some of my routines to pick up audio more frequently. Sometimes, progress is in the small moments rather than the big wins.

So, fingers crossed this continues into next week. I’m now around 40% of the way through this audiobook. I’m confident that the further along I get, the more I’ll listen in larger stints as I’ll be keen to see how the series resolves for good!

The Wax Child

I had hoped to blitz The Wax Child this weekend to give myself another completion by the end of the week. That didn’t strictly plan out. What I have achieved is to make a solid start with The Wax Child. It’s reading pretty quickly so far. And, it’s an unusual perspective but I’m liking it so far. When I shared my October TBR I shared that I’d put off starting The Wax Child. After a poor start with The Witch towards my 2026 International Booker Prize longlist reading challenge, I was anxious I’d have a similar experience. However, so far that fear is proving to be unfounded.

So, my plans for tonight after this Sunday Summary goes live is to have a shower, make a cuppa, and make a solid push through to try to finish The Wax Child.

Books Discovered

Thankfully, my TBR has gone in the right direction this week. I’ve finished a couple of books and made a solid start with The Wax Child. And, I’ve not bought or added any new books this week either.

I’ll take that as a win!

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:-

Continue the audiobook of Kingdom of Ash
Finish The Wax Child by Olga Ravn – can I manage it tonight?
Read The Language of Liars
Start The Director

Blog

New week, clean slate. What to post next week. Given the recent spate of reviews, I intend to make next week’s content a little lighter. Easier for me to write and gives me a chance to get on with some reading too! So, what to post. Along similar lines of my October TBR, I’m going to lean into the shorter reads for a content idea. If you are looking for a quick fix read, stay tuned as I’ll share my top five reads under 300 pages.

Later in the week, I want to ask readers for recommendations. I’m going to finish my Throne of Glass readalong soon, so I want ideas for my next readalong. I’m keen to continue pushing my boundaries, so if you can recommend another fantasy romance series that isn’t too heavy on the romance, let me know!

Finally, I’m back with another Sunday Summary at the end of the week. Can I keep up the reading progress shared in today’s Sunday Summary update? Let’s hope so!

Summary

That’s all from me in my latest Sunday Summary instalment. It’s been a good week, and I’m optimistic to keep up the progress with some fun reads over the next week.

What have you been reading this week?

Monthly TBR – October 2026

Posted on October 10, 2026October 10, 2026 by fantasyst95

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!