#Mini Book Reviews

[fourgods-nobrakes]

Summer Fest is here! I'm nominating a bunch of things from relatively rare bits of canon, but perhaps one of you would like to read one of these things and get to know some of these characters. I'm not discussing the Black Legion or Fabius Bile books, because you already know about those (read them read them read them they have great ensemble casts, please ship some of the less common pairs with me), but here are some of the less-discussed ones:

Harrowmaster, by Mike Brooks: Solomon Akurra is an Alpha Legionnaire who wants to see his Legion become a force to be reckoned with again. He has some plans to give them a reason to rally around him, and he has a very cool ex-imperial psyker on his side, which is good because he also has a number of enemies both within the Legion and otherwise. Fun twisty plot and an excellent read for people who enjoy when an Astartes has a solid working partnership with a mortal ally; she's capable, dangerous, and very willing to give him shit when he needs it. There's also a secret bonus ship option that I don't want to talk about too much because of important plot turning points, but it hit me hard in the brotherhood and trust places.

Shroud of Night, by Andy Clark: the Unsung are a small Alpha Legion warband who've been in a warzone for long enough to develop a wide variety of I Can't Believe It's Not PTSD. Now they have a mission to perform a high-stakes reverse heist, delivering a mortal to a key location on an embattled planet while trying not to get killed by either the imperial defenders or the Khornate berserkers besieging the place—and, of course, trying not to fall apart from the growing tensions among the team. I'm here for the poor mortal, who has clearly never gotten the hugs he needs, but there are a variety of cool dynamics among the group. ...Followers of either Celestine's or Khârn's careers should know they both turn up here, though they're both mostly here to be terrifying forces of nature that our lads try not to get killed by.

"Sacred Hate," short story by David Annandale: Mr. Annandale wrote this story for me specifically, I'm pretty sure. It centers on Cerastes, a teenager who's in training to be a missionary for the Ecclesiarchy, but who's been privately having a crisis of faith. Then the ship he's traveling on gets attacked by Word Bearers, and he discovers what he was looking for. (Spoilers: it's not the God-Emperor's light.)

The Red Tithe, by Robbie MacNiven: A Carcharodons company and a Night Lords warband walk into a bar prison planet... They're both looking to replenish their numbers from the teenage boys in the prison. And a psyker on each side has divined that one of the boys is an unsanctioned psyker whose power could be very useful if they can secure him. The boy in question just hopes he can get out alive. This one's definitely dark; the Carcharodons might be on the imperial side but they're brutal in ways that are usually glossed over for their compatriots. Most of the story takes place in the prison complex and the attached mines, so the whole thing feels claustrophobic at times. MacNiven also cares more about tactics than a lot of BL authors, so the battles are more interesting than "we charge into a hail of gunfire, fearless and unstoppable." Grim but very cool.

Day of Ascension, by Adrian Tchaikovsky: If you've read his other work you know he's interested in, and sympathetic toward, non-human POVs, and thus you know why I'm so fond of this book. It takes place on a forge world where the miserable living conditions of the non-Mechanicus work force have provided fertile ground for the growth of a genestealer cult. The cover blurb suggests that the power plays among the tech priests are the central plot, but actually the emotional core of the book is Davien, a young woman in the cult who is coming into her strength as the arrival of the cult's "angels" draws near, and whose passion for her people will wind up being key to their future. My big ship for this one doesn't sail until late in the book, but man, when it happens, it's so good.

[authorkarajorgensen]

2025 Releases to Add to Your TBR

Before we get into the post, I want to mention that The Reanimator’s Remains has been nominated in the Indie Ink Awards for best friendship, best setting, LGBT+ rep, mental health rep, disability rep, and neurodivergent rep. If you’d be willing to vote for TRR in at least the mental health, disability, and/or ND rep categories, I would be eternally grateful. You can vote here. We are getting…

[lizziestudieshistory]

Books of 2024 - August, September and October

Still struggling to read consistently, mainly due to mental health and personal circumstances at the moment... But I have managed to finish some books over the last few months (although, I haven't finished anything this month yet 👀) and here they are:

August

Emma by Jane Austen - I have nothing left to say about this other than it's my favourite and I'm depressed so... 🤷‍♀️

Summer by Edith Wharton - I don't really remember this 3 months later but it was probably fine? I just remember thinking this hadn't aged very well

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke - I buddy read this with my best friend and I loved it even more the second time around.

Harry Potter 1 & 2 - depression set in and I listened to these in bed because I couldn't face anything else...

September

Harry Potter 3 & 4 - same as above

Morality Play by Barry Unsworth - objectively this book is excellent, not perfect but very good. The writing is superb, but I definitely read it at the wrong time and I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have done on paper.

October

The Music of the Lord of the Ring Films by Doug Adams - very mixed feelings about this one. I enjoyed experiencing it, but I do think Adams missed out on writing a more interesting book. The first quarter was fantastic analysis on Shore's score and how it related to the films and Tolkien's writing. The last three quarters is far too descriptive of what each track does... I kept thinking I could hear this for myself and I didn't really need to read someone spelling it out to me? But I might know too much about music for this one. I really do want to write about this book separately because I have a lot of thoughts.

Super-Infinite: the Transformations of John Donne by Katherine Rundell - this is a fun piece of nonfiction writing! It sort of fails as a biography of John Donne because Donne is so elusive in history as an individual (despite being a giant of early modern English literary history). However, it's a fantastic history of the intellectual circles of the late Elizabethan and Jacobean period! Seriously it's so good at introducing someone to this complex and bizarre world and I'd highly recommend it for that!

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton - the book that taught me an excellent story can be ruined by ONE STUPID MOMENT...

The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke - the first miss for me from Clarke and you can read why here.

Still reading:

When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Penman

Emma by Jane Austen (again)

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

[overflowingshelf]

March 2025 Reading Recap

I feel like March was the month where I finally found my reading mojo! After months of feeling like it had been taking me forever to finish books, I felt like I was FLYING through books this month. Having one print book, one audiobook, and one digital book in rotation at all times definitely helped. And I think that’s reflected in the fact I’ve read seven books this month – the most since last…

[booksteacupandreviews]

5 children's books to read this summer vacation

Hello Readers! Summer vacation is coming and I can tell from my own experience it’s gets really hard to keep kids engaged. Here are 5 children’s books to read this summer vacation that promises fun, adventures, and important messages. 5 children’s books to read this summer vacationMy Little Book of Holi by Ashwitha JayakumarMy Little Book of Diwali by Ashwitha JayakumarHarlee Learns To Hop by…

[passionatelyperusing]

5 Mini Book Reviews

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 3.5 out of 5. Chain-Gang All-Stars is a dystopia following prisoners forced to duel for freedom on live TV. There are multiple POVs from prisoners and fans who watch the show. There are two women, the gladiators, who dominate the fighting arenas. As one of them plans to leave the prison, she thinks about how she can help her fellow…

[deborahocarroll]

Summer Reading Wrapup (2023)

Long time no blog! But I want to start sharing about books again, so I thought it’d be fun to take a look back at the books I’ve been reading this summer! (Summer here defined as May through August. XD) In give-or-take chronological order, here we go! Saber’s Pride (C.M. Banschbach) This one I technically read earlier in the year since I got to copyedit it (aahh!), but it released in the…

[frownyalfred]

I think another reason it's insane and out of line for people to leave reviews in bookmarks (outside of the more important and already addressed; fanfic isn't the fucking place for that, it's a gift that the author does not need to share and the reader is not paying for it) is that a lot of people just aren't good at it, as evidenced by a lot of Goodreads reviews.

Goodreads is the exact intended place for reviews of books, and I've seen someone give a low review for a book because it has a sexual assault scene, /while acknowledging that the scene was warned for in the trigger warnings./

And another low review for a different /standalone/ book because it was 'wrapped up too neatly'. Said reviewer also said that nothing happened in the book despite the main character having to deal with two separate coup attempts

Like with the recent reviewer, Buddy you didn't even have the sunk cost fallacy motive of having bought the book, if you read 130k of something you're not enjoying, that's a fault with you the reader, not the work itself

Yeah! Exactly. And I don’t want to play defensive author here (lol I was last night ah well) but their review basically boiled down to 1) they didn’t like things about the a/b/o universe that were warned and tagged 2) they didn’t think Lex being broken out of prison made sense (it did? there were multiple explanations?) and 3) they thought every sex scene was the same (sure, I guess? a/b/o sex is fairly prescriptive)

So what that review tells me is they have poor reading comprehension AND no manners. And they’re into masochism because reading 130k of something they hate really doesn’t make sense otherwise.

[voidofthevoidmv]

LATEST MINI- SKETCHBOOK REVIEW

(Oodles and oodles of doodles-)

I’m quite happy with how this little doodle book panned out- Has a couple spoilers and art for my one gravity falls AU “3 Buck Stan” as well as whatever else I have on the back burners- Original characters, fanart, etc etc. These reviews are kind of like a chance for me to admire what I’ve done and it reminds me why I draw in the first place… Cuz it’s fun lol.

I love procrastination SO MUCH (Lie) and what better way to procrastinate making art than… Well, making art?

[franticvampirereads]

This was absolutely adorable. The artwork was beautiful, bright, and so warm! Ember was so sweet, he just wanted to find some gold 😭❤️. I love that he found his version in a bakery. This was just so sweet, it’s getting four out of five stars!

[pidge-the-pigeon]

Just finished Blue Lily Lily Blue…

I don’t know what to do with my life anymore 😭

Thoughts below, be warned of spoilers if you haven’t read yet (be prepared for a mess of thoughts):

I am the only one who likes Greenmantle as a character? Maybe I’m just weird. And I can’t really explain it either… there’s just something about him that is weirdly likeable, even though he’s basically a murderer and what not… he’s just an interesting character…

Anywho, does Bluesey ever kiss? Like without the inevitable death? Actually wait, I don’t wanna know… oh but I really really do!

The struggles of having so many spoilers for a series but not for the stuff that you want spoiled 🥲

What’s gonna happen now that Artemus is back? Like we’ve got Mr. Gray, who’s in love with Maura, and then Artemus, Blue’s dad… what’s gonna happen there? Has Maura fully moved on? I don’t know, but I need to know!

Also I like how Mr. Gray seems like a cool stepdad figure for Blue.

Persephone 😭😭😭

Plot with Matthew though… was not expecting that

Ah more cute Blusey moments 🥰 I love when they just drive around at night, and their short phone calls 🥰 and Gansey giving Blue mint leaves 🥰 and hugs her when she’s crying 🥰 that’s a real book boyfriend right there 😌

So anyway, so you think Ronan made Adam get in the shopping trolley for funseys or because he was trying to ease Adam’s mind of all things disastrous? It’s plausible. I think?

Who’s the third sleeper?!?! I’m scared… I knew it was a bad idea leaving Piper in the cave! And Neeve? What are you doing here?!?

Hope you enjoyed my thoughts whilst I go and read The Raven King 👑

I’m not ready… but at the same time I am

[authorkarajorgensen]

10 Books to Add to your TBR 2025 Edition Pt. 1

In the past, I would make a best of list for books I read, but I hate holding off on talking about my favorite reads. Instead, I plan to make a few of these posts throughout the year as I find books I loved. The links below are affiliate links, so I get a tiny kick back if you purchase through that link. Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire- this is the tenth book in the Wayward…

[lizziestudieshistory]

Books of 2023 - June

Between finishing my PGCE, still struggling with burnout, and a lack of self restraint with the PS4 I've had a bit of a shit reading month in comparison to my last few months. I did reread Emma though and that's made everything better.

Witches: James I and the English Witch-Hunts by Tracy Borman - I've not been discreet about my disdain for this book. It's full of unsupported speculation and bad faith interpretation of James I/his courtiers. If you want to read some fuller thoughts then read this. And if you are interested in Jacobean/English witches then don't read this book, if you want any recommendations then please ask, but be aware I'm not a specialist in the history of witches.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling - pretty much the same as last month, I was stressed and needed an audiobook.

Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie - this was fine? Although I completely forgot I'd read this until I checked my reading journal so...take that as you will.

Metamorphoses by Ovid - started off really well for me. I loved Phaethon, enjoyed books 4-7 (I think? That feels right but I'm writing this on the train and away from my journal) a lot! But after this I got bored and was tired of the repetitive nature of the myths. I'm also not a pastoral/nature girl when it comes to books, so the endless amounts of trees, grottos, flowers, and birds started to grate in me.

Emma by Jane Austen - to quote Mr Knightley, "my dearest, most beloved Emma"! I've spoken at length about Emma and my feelings about it are only getting stronger as I reread it. It's my favourite book. It makes me happy. I cannot adequately into words how much I love it and why.

The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin - I enjoyed my latest foray into Earthsea a lot, but it wasn't a patch on The Tombs of Atuan. I personally didn't connect with Arren's journey as much as Tenar's and it did effect my enjoyment. It is an excellent book, and I loved seeing Ged's arc come into completion (well, sort of - it FEELS very complete from here so I'm feeling apprehensive about coming back to him in Tehanu, but I have faith in Le Guin) but it wasn't my favourite of the three so far.

Articles on Emma - I'm not listing them all, I don't have the time, but, obviously, it's been a real mixed bag but I've been enjoying myself. It's been fun thinking about Emma in different ways. I'm just going to keep reading them until I've stopped having fun. It's also weird straying out of academic history and into literary criticism 😅

Currently Reading:

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen - and regretting it

Evelina by Frances Burney - loving it!

More articles about Emma!

[godzilla-reads]

13?

13. “The Tea Dragon Society” by K. O’Neill

Now this is a graphic novel series that I LOVE. This time was a reread of the first book and I fell in love with the softness, the kindnesses, and the characters all over again.

[therefugeofbooks]

[27.06.24] 4/50 days of booklr

I've finished listening to Deephaven! It was on my radar for a while, and the setting and characters are super cool. I love middle-grade horror/mystery and this one didn't let me down.

I also finished listening to Boyfriend Material for the second time 🤪 I don't know why but this book brings me such comfort with all the messy characters!

How's everyone reading week? :)

[fewwordreviews]

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Book murdering, lots of fire, many reptile metaphors for some reason, conflicted main character, scary accurate prediction of the 2020s.

8/10 The ending could have been better.