I think I need to officially take a break (give up on?) reading Kuang books. Everything sounds so promising, and yet everything is overcomplicated and underdone. I am disappointed.
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang | book reivew
Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber | book review
This was super duper fabulous right up until the ending, and then things were a little too open-ended for my liking. Which is where the stars have been knocked off – we were full-steam ahead to the five-star rating up until that point.
The Dressmakers of Auschwitz by Lucy Adlington | book review
I loved Lucy Adlington's writing in The Red Ribbon, and while this is non-fiction rather than historical fiction, I loved her writing in this just as much. This is a very poignant and well-researched novel on a group of women who survived Auschwitz in part thanks to their sewing abilities.
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte | book review
I really am a big fan of Brusatte at this point. Having read The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us before this one, I knew I would be in for a good time and it didn't disappoint.
Bear Head by Adrian Tchaikovsky | book review
This is turning into a super interesting series, and I'm actually really excited to find out where it goes with book 3. I think I preferred book 2 to the first instalment, though they are really quite different to each other. I found the first book (Dogs of War) to be fascinating and unique, but the structure jumped forward in time rapidly and relentlessly. Whereas this book felt more stable and continuous.
A Storm of Swords: Blood and Gold by George R.R. Martin | book review
This is clearly the book where everything gets real. Being part 2 of book 3, things went up a gear in terms of battles, character deaths and general plot progression. I lost count of the number of times I was shocked in this book!
April 2026 Book Releases
Who’s ready to sift through all the new books coming out in April? I am! While the northern hemisphere is gearing up for summer months, us in the southern hemisphere are so ready for things to cool down and are eagerly anticipating the coming winter months. The perfect time to stock up on good reads to tuck into, no?
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree | book review
A new favourite for my list, to be sure. What's not to love in this adorable cosy fantasy? This lived up to the hype and beyond for me.
Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree | book review
This series is the cutest darn thing ever, and I'm very glad that Baldree has written several books about these characters so that I don't have to part with them just yet.
March 2026 Book Releases
While I might be a bit later posting this than intended, I still wanted to share with you all the books on my radar that are coming out this month. There are some very exciting books coming out in March, and I wish I could gallop through bookstores and collect them all.
Upside-Down Books 