Recent Blog Posts

 

Review of AUDIOBOOK I Think I’m in Love With an Alien by Ann Aguirre

15 July

I enjoy Aguirre’s writing style and loved her space opera series featuring adrenaline junkie Sirantha Jax – see my reviews of Grimspace, Killbox and Aftermath. I’ve also enjoyed her standalone offering Like Never and Always. So I was delighted to be approved for an arc for this intriguing offering.
   Read More...   

---

SUNDAY POST

13 July

This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books they’ve read and share what they have got up to during the last week.
I’m delighted to report that my daughter has been discharged from hospital and is now convalescing. I would like to thank the staff at the Royal Sussex Hospital in the neurosurgery department – they are so committed and provided her with the best possible care at a very difficult time.
   Read More...   

---

Review of NETGALLEY arc A Murder for Miss Hortense – Book 1 of the Miss Hortense series by Mel Pennant

11 July

I read the blurb and decided this sounded like something quite different that I’d enjoy. I’m very glad I picked it up.
   Read More...   

---

Review of NETGALLEY arc Magic & Manners – Book 2 of the Curtsies & Consequences series by Melissa Constantine

10 July

Fairytale retellings – even those with the faintest of faint nods to the originals – have become a favourite sub-genre. I like the escape into another world, one with layers that begins with recollections of my childhood when I first read or listened to those original, highly disturbing stories. Stories, I’ve come to realise, designed to teach children that the world isn’t a nice place and bad people are out there to prey on the unwary, especially if they don’t behave very well or are simply inattentive.
Modern retellings tend to put a different spin on these tales. The best provide nicely twisty plots with little Easter eggs nested amongst the plotting to give those of us who grew up with these tales teasing allusions to the origin stories.
   Read More...   

---

Review of NETGALLEY arc Bee Speaker – Book 3 of The Dogs of War series by Adrian Tchaikovsky

8 July

I’m a huge fan of this interesting and prolific author as you can see by these reviews – the Children of Time series, Children of Time, Children of Ruin and Children of Memory – the Echoes of the Fall series The Tiger and the Wolf, The Bear and the Serpent, The Hyena and the Hawk – Redemption’s Blade: After the War, Guns of Dawn, The Expert System’s Brother , The Expert System’s Champion, Spiderlight, Ironclads, Dogs of War, Bear Head, The Doors of Eden, Firewalkers, Ogres, And Put Away Childish Things, , One Day All This Will be Yours, Service Model, the Architects of Earth series – Shards of Earth, Eyes of the Void and Lords of Uncreation; Alien Clay; and The Tyrant Philosophers series – City of Last Chances, House of Open Wounds and Days of Shattered Faith. And the reason why I keep listing all the books I’ve read and talked about is that you at least get a sense of the sheer range of Tchaikovsky’s writing. From hefty sci fi space opera series to thought-provoking standalone fantasy novellas – Tchaikovsky has excelled at both.
   Read More...   

---

SUNDAY POST

6 July

This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books they’ve read and share what they have got up to during the last week.
While two young family members got to celebrate birthdays this week – everything else was overshadowed by my daughter being rushed to hospital with a brain bleed on Thursday evening. She has been very poorly. I’m sure you’ll understand there’s no photos this week.
It’s been another great reading week with two thoroughly enjoyable romantasy fairytale retellings from a new-to-me author, listening to a well-known fantasy adventure, an unusual and thought-provoking historical murder mystery, the latest instalment of a favourite urban fantasy series and a quirky alien/human romance. Thank goodness for books
   Read More...   

---

Castellan the Black and his Wise Draconic Tips on Life

5 July

If your exasperating young son is trying your patience – think carefully before challenging him to a duel, even an informal one. While you’ll easily win now he’s young and inexperienced – he’ll never forget that defeat. And you really don’t want a rematch once he’s in his prime and you’re older and slower.
   Read More...   

---

Review of NETGALLEY arc The Two Lies of Faven Sythe by Megan E. O’Keefe

4 July

I enjoyed the first two book in The Protectorate series – see my reviews of Velocity Weapon and Chaos Vector, so when this one caught my eye, I immediately requested it. Apart from anything else, I was intrigued by the title…
   Read More...   

---

Review of NETGALLEY arc Switcheroo – Book 3 of the Fran and Ken Stein Mystery series by E.J. Copperman

3 July

I loved the Jersey Girl Legal Mystery series, having become a huge fan of snarky Sandy – see my reviews of And Justice for Mall, Inherit the Shoes, Witness for the Persecution, My Cousin Skinny and Good Lieutenant. And I’ve enjoyed the previous two books in the Fran and Ken Stein series – see my reviews of Ukele of Death and Same Difference. So it was a no-brainer that I’d tuck into this third and final offering in this quirky series.
   Read More...   

---

Can’t-Wait Wednesday

2 July

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. This week’s Can’t-Wait offering: The Nightshade God – Book 3 of The Nightshade Crown series by Hannah Whitten
release date 15th July 2025
   Read More...