Good afternoon! It’s been a busy week as ever, and not as much reading time as I’d like, but here’s hoping I’ll find all the time I want today. And without further ado, let’s jump into my new books, etc.
Books acquired this week
This is actually a bit of a catchup; over the last three weeks I’ve been featuring the books I got for Christmas, but some other books have found their way to me now via vouchers I got for Christmas, other miscellaneous gifts, preorders and ARCs. Let’s take a look first at the light novels I’ve got…
Technically volume 4 of Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation hasn’t arrived yet, and I really don’t know what Waterstones/Royal Mail are playing at there, but I figured I’d feature them all together anyway.
And then there’s the other handful of books I got: a new pop-science book, the new volume of A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation, and this month’s British Library Crime Classic via my subscription.
I’m excited for Murder as a Fine Art, since I love Carol Carnac/E.C.R. Lorac’s work almost every time.
And finally, here are a couple of review copies I received!
I need to read Necrobane before I can start on Advocate, but I wanted to do that soon anyway.
So as you see, there’s even more to keep me busy! Especially nice since I’m going to be having something of an unplugged week from Wednesday to the following Wednesday, with a bit less gaming time (though I will have my Steam Deck) and a bit more reading time.
Posts from this week:
As ever, let’s have a bit of a roundup.
- Non-fiction: They Came to Slay: The Queer Culture of DnD, by Thom James Carter (4/5 stars)
- Romance: The Paper Boys, by D.P. Clarence (1/5 stars)
- Fantasy novella (ARC): The River Has Roots, by Amal El-Mohtar (4/5 stars)
- Queer comic: Breaks, vol 1, by Emma Vieceli and Malin Rydén (2/5 stars)
- Non-fiction: Enchanted Creatures: Our Monsters and their Meanings, by Natalie Lawrence (2/5 stars)
- Classic crime: The Big Four, by Agatha Christie (3/5 stars)
- Historical fantasy: The Apothecary Diaries (light novel), vol 1, by Natsu Hyuuga (4/5 stars)
Other posts:
What I’m reading:
For the weekend, I’m focusing on Mr Pottermack’s Oversight, by R. Austin Freeman — a classic mystery — and Sing Like Fish: How Sound Rules Life Under Water by Amorina Kingdon. I’m having fun so far, though I’m going slower than I’d like with my reading, a sure sign of a somewhat overly busy week.
Still, I got a few books finished (more than I’d thought), so here’s a sneak peek of what I read and plan to review, this week.
And that’s it for me, for this week! Any exciting reading plans, folks?
Linking up with Reading Reality’s Stacking the Shelves, Caffeinated Reviewer’s The Sunday Post, and the Sunday Salon over at Readerbuzz, as usual!
I read The Warden last year (I saw you received Advocate for review), but it was pretty meh in my opinion. It was mainly due to the MC being so unlikeable. I also wanted more details on the world and felt like things were told to us rather than shown. Hopefully you had a better experience and the books improved as the story progressed!
I liked The Warden, actually! I had a few quibbles, but had fun reading it.
I just finished Blue Sisters and may start on something on my classic club list. It’s chilly so, I’m in reading or watching.
Nice list of books!
Yep, I’m definitely staying in and keeping warm, ahaha. Hope you enjoy whatever you decide to start next!
That off=beat history of Britain is intriguing.
In the end, I didn’t love it, but I think there are people who would — it was more of a “it’s not for me” than “this was bad”.
I have The Light Eaters on my list to read. I wonder if my naturalist book group would like it. I am feeling like this is a book I want to read soon.
Enjoy your unplugged time!
It looks really interesting! I got it for a botanist friend for Christmas, but I want to read it too, so I snagged a copy myself with the book voucher that same friend gave me…
I see youn like manga. While I love comics I haven’t been able to enjoy manga. Enjoy your reads!
Well, “manga” isn’t a really genre, just a format. It’s not that different from comics, it’s just from Japan instead. There are plenty of manga stories that could be Western comics, and vice versa. Ultimately, it just depends on what you pick up.
Enjoy your unplugged time! I am going away for a couple of days this week so I am trying to finish most of my posts with the hope that I won’t need to take my laptop! We’ll see.
I’ll have to take my laptop since I still have to work, but it’s a lot slower than my PC, less good to type and browse on, plus I normally use it mostly for work and it can’t run games, so I’m hoping psychologically it’ll be a lot less of a draw, haha.
I admire that you finish books you rate a 1 or a 2. That takes dedication. Those books usually become dnfs for me. I did add Murder as a Fine Art to my TBR list. What a cool title.
I don’t always! But if I’m going to review something, I try to read at least a substantial amount of it.
Carol Carnac/E.C.R. Lorac’s work is really good — hope you enjoy it!
The cover of The Light Eaters is gorgeous! Sounds like an interesting read.
I’m looking forward to it! Now I’m doubting my decision not to take it with me when I’m away from home for a week… Hmmmmm!
You really read rather diversely. It’s fun to see.
Hehe, I just get curious about everything…
These will keep you busy for awhile! I have heard good things about Murder as a Fine Art. I used to love classic mysteries. I still do from time to time. I hope you have a good week, Nicky, and continue to enjoy your reading!
E.C.R. Lorac (AKA Carol Carnac) is great, I do recommend! I hope I’ll enjoy this one as much as her others.
The Light Eaters is calling to me! Looks like a fun batch of new books. I hope you read something good this week
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Thank you! Here’s hoping, haha.