My 2019 in books – a typical look back at what I’ve read in 2019, along with half the rest of the book-blogging world. But no, this is not my book of the year. I’ll do that later this month
My 2019 in Books
Book Review | My Sister’s Bones by Nuala Ellwood
My Sister’s Bones has been on my shelf for ages. I received a courtesy copy at Noirwich in 2016, when it was still in pre-publication mode. In a somewhat unusual reading pattern for me, I started it in September, got
#IWSG | The December Question
The December question from the Insecure Writer’s Support Group relates to hopes and the reality. It suggests that insecure writers still in the ‘aspiring’ phase write about where they see themselves in a few years time. For those who have
Book Review | A Difficult Mirror by Benjamin X Wretlind
A Difficult Mirror is not an easy read. It is fascinating, though. I have had this book on my TBR for ages, and can’t remember how I came across it. It may have been on offer, it may have been
Spacetime Reading Challenge 2020 – sign up now
SpaceTime Sign-up time! Searching for a Science Fiction Reading Challenge? I had been for years. I found some with lists of classic or ‘new classic’ books to read, but I’ve either done those or rejected them for good reasons! Last
Book Review | The Earthkeepers by Shawn Underhill
The Earthkeepers: I thought it might have survived a few passes of Down the TBR Hole, as I knew I had the cover in my system here. It turns out I uploaded it in 2014 for a blog tour. I
#Fi50 | Forging Ahead
Forging Ahead is this month’s prompt for the Fiction in Fifty words meme that Rebecca and I continue to plug on with, in hope that some other people will join us. It’s really good to have to craft a fifty
AllAccessCon – reposted from SciFi & Scary
Book Review and Tour | Secrets of the Great Fire Tree by Justine Laismith
Today is a book review on Justine Laismith’s blog tour for Secrets of the Great Fire Tree. I ‘meet’ Justine on the GMGR Goodreads group, and I’m delighted to host her today. The tour organiser is Aurelia Leo. Secrets
Chronicles of Marsh – OUT TODAY!
Chronicles of Marsh hits the online bookstores today! Join in the celebrations by getting your own copy, reading the interviews, and entering the giveaway! If you have your own blog, you still have time to make your own post –
Review | Conor Kelly’s Guide to Ireland’s Ancient Places
Conor Kelly’s Guide to Ireland’s Ancient Places has been lurking in my iPad for several years, waiting to get onto my official TBR on Goodreads. This is not the usual way my book lists work. Consequently this is not the
#IWSG | Have you tried Audiobooks?
Audiobooks. They used to be something you listened to on long journeys if you didn’t want to or couldn’t read. Or maybe while you did boring tasks around the house. According to the stats I’m seeing, they are coming into
Book Review | The Long Flight Home
The Long Flight Home appealed to me because it featured the British Pigeon Service during World War II. Thank you, Net-galley and the publisher for the opportunity of a pre-release copy. The book was launched on Thursday. The Long Flight
Trick or Treat Reads – a Halloween Offer!
Trick or Treat Reads is the brainchild of Patricia Josephine. Several authors are giving away free ebooks today as your Halloween treat! See the link below for more 🙂 Fantasy/epic/older MG/crossover series In honour of my new book, Chronicles of
Book Review | Deeplight by Frances Hardinge
Deeplight was offered to me by the publisher (via Netgalley) because I’d previously reviewed The Lie Tree by the same author. So I clicked ‘yes’ because the blurb was so enticing and the author attracts me. It was only afterwards
Wolf at the Door | #Fi50 plus Technical WordPress fix
‘Wolf at the door’ is this month’s prompts in the Fiction in 50 (words) flash fiction challenge. I love doing these shorts, but we seem doomed to continue them on our own. You can join in – check out Rebecca
Book Review | Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister
Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister sounded intriguing. I’d read the Wild Swans by Jung Chang several years ago, and was enthralled by it. Jung Chang has written several biographies and historical books about China. This is the first I’ve
October update for SpaceTime Reading Challenge
The October update replaces a third quarter update for the SpaceTime Reading Challenge. The SpaceTime Readers I hope all of you who signed up are doing well, and keeping your own updates going. I really hope to get round to
Driven to Distraction?
The Distraction question arrived in my email inbox on Friday, just after I’d done a ‘Things to Do’ list for October that was … very long. It seems I have to chase my selling solicitors, since we haven’t yet established
Audiobook Review | Master and God by Lindsey Davis
Master and God is not a Falco novel. It’s not a Flavia Alba novel either (although there is a new Flavia Alba out, and I’m getting seriously behind with that series). It is set in Ancient Rome, and it is
Reading Challenge update | Three-quarters through!
Three-quarters through the year, and I’m so busy I forgot to do my reading challenge update. Many thanks to Cheryl Mahoney for reminding me. I know I’m not doing nearly as well as her. Three-quarters assessment in a nutshell Goodreads
Book Review | Grimm, Grit, and Gasoline ed. Rhonda Parrish
Grimm, Grit, and Gasoline was one of Rhonda Parrish’s anthologies that I didn’t try to enter, because I didn’t understand what she was looking for. So I read it to find out. I also managed to snag a pre-publication copy
#IWSG | Six weeks to Chronicles of Marsh
It’s six weeks to the publication of Chronicles of Marsh, and I’ve just bought a new house. Well, the house is subject to contract, so it’s that anxious time when the solicitors are involved. You have no knowing whether something
Illustrations for Chronicles – a job for #Inktober
Chapter illustrations became a feature of my Princelings series, and in theory I like doing them. In practice, I get anxious about whether I can execute what I have in my head. I thought you might like to know what
Book Review | Ashes of London by Andrew Taylor
Ashes of London went on my To Read list almost as soon as it came out, but it lingered there until I had the opportunity to get a copy through Net-galley last year. Thank you to them and the publishers