Books

Start of a Chapter 📖 October 2025 TBR | Final Battles, Epic Re-Reads, and the Fall of Sauron

October’s TBR is packed with climactic confrontations, deep dives into legendary lore, and the continuation of grand sagas. This month, we’re nearing the conclusion of “The Wheel of Time,” revisiting the treacherous politics of Westeros, and exploring the detailed development of Tolkien’s iconic final battles in Middle-earth. If you’re ready for a month filled with…
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil 🌹 A Haunting, Lyrical Vampire Tale

V.E. Schwab returns with a lyrical and haunting tale in Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, a novel that unfurls across centuries, countries, and inner lives. Told through the eyes of three very different women bound together by blood and immortality, this vampire story is no action-packed thriller. Instead, it delivers a poetic meditation…
House of the Beast by Michelle Wong ⚔️ Power, Pain & Pilgrimage

House of the Beast by Michelle Wong is a dark, intricate, and emotionally wrought fantasy that marries grimdark aesthetics with mythic romance and razor-sharp character dynamics. With a protagonist bound to an elder god and a society steeped in blood-soaked religious duty, this is not a tale for the faint of heart. Wong delivers a…
Swordheart by T. Kingfisher 📚 A Sword, a Stoic Warrior & a Stubborn Widow

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher is a warm, witty, and thoroughly enjoyable romantic fantasy that delivers on both heartfelt character development and delightful magical elements. It’s a character-driven story with cosy, adventurous tones, focusing on found family, love in later life, and the quiet strength of choosing your own freedom. When widowed housekeeper Halla inherits her…
The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams ⚔️ A Towering Start to a Classic Fantasy Series

If you’re looking for a sweeping epic fantasy filled with rich world-building, thoughtful character growth, and the slow-burn momentum of classic high fantasy, The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams might be exactly what you need. The first instalment of the Memory Sorrow and Thorn series, this book is a foundational piece of modern fantasy that…
Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan 👀 A Breath Before the Storm…

Crossroads of Twilight, the tenth instalment in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, is infamous among fans for its glacial pace and lack of major plot advancement… and I’m not surprised after reading it. However, while it may be light on action, the novel excels in political intrigue, deepening worldbuilding, and exploring how the shadow…
Start of a Chapter 📖 September 2025 TBR | Storms, Triumphs, and the Shadows of Middle-earth

September’s TBR list is filled with turning points, triumphs, and the intricate lore of some of the most iconic fantasy worlds. This month, I’m diving into the penultimate stages of the “Wheel of Time” series, witnessing the dwarves’ fight for survival, and exploring the early drafts of “The Lord of the Rings.” With action-packed adventures…
Start of a Chapter 📖 August 2025 TBR | Revelations, Re-Reads, and the Shaping of Legends

As we head into August, my reading journey continues with pivotal moments, rich world-building, and explorations of the foundations of Middle-earth. This month’s TBR list includes the next instalment in the “Wheel of Time” series, a re-read of George R.R. Martin’s complex Westeros saga, and a dive into the deeper lore of Tolkien’s universe. Whether…
Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race 👑 Political scheming, sapphic tension, and a rotting magic at the heart of Elben…

What if all six of Henry VIII’s wives lived at the same time in a court teeming with magic and political corruption? That’s the premise of Six Wild Crowns, a lush and layered political fantasy that rewrites Tudor history with sapphic yearning and ancient magic. If you loved The Priory of the Orange Tree or…