Sadly, this week one of my rabbits died (RIP Hulk, aged 12), so I’m not feeling super chipper. I’ll get to replies when I can, but it might not be over the weekend. Sorry folks.
Books acquired this week
My wife swung by the library for my hold for me — I’ve had this on hold since mid-October, for a reading challenge that’s now ended, but ah well. People have been very keen about it, so I’m curious.
Posts from this week
Let’s do a round-up, as usual! I’ve continued working on posting some of my backlogged reviews, so there are a few extra.
- Classic crime: Death in High Heels, by Christianna Brand (2/5 stars, “it was okay”)
- Non-fiction: Tir: The Story of the Welsh Landscape, by Carwyn Graves (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Horror novella: Nothing but Blackened Teeth, by Cassandra Khaw (2/5 stars, “it was okay”)
- Fantasy romance: The Disabled Tyrant’s Beloved Pet Fish, vol 1, by Xue Shan Fei Hu (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Romance manga: A Beast’s Love is Like The Moon, by Guri Nojiro (2/5 stars, “it was okay”)
- Short mysteries: As If By Magic: Locked-Room Mysteries and Other Miraculous Crimes, ed. Martin Edwards (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Non-fiction: The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry, by David Musgrove & Michael Lewis (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Poetry: Death of a Naturalist, by Seamus Heaney (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Historical romance: One Night in Hartswood, by Emma Denny (2/5 stars, “it was okay”)
As usual, for some of these it’s been weeks/months since I read them, due to the way I try to post a mixture of review genres, and the many, many reviews I have ready to post. For this week’s reading, check below!
What I’m reading
It’s not been the best week for reading — though I’ve finished a bunch of books, they’re mostly manga/graphic novels — but oh well, such are my whims and needs, and I go with them. Here’s a sneak peek of the books I finished this week and plan to review on the blog, as usual.
For the weekend… I’m not sure what I’ll read. I haven’t been much in the mood for it (for obvious reasons), but I started on a new book and was suddenly quite into that, so maybe I’ll finish it: it was a bit of a random choice from my Kobo Plus borrows, Clues to Christabel by Mary Fitt. I’m also partway through another murder mystery, Death in Ambush, so I’d like to finish that. Aaaand some more Dinosaur Sanctuary, probably!
If I can get into a book, that would obviously be great and comforting, but if it doesn’t happen… well. That’s fine too.
Linking up with Reading Reality’s Stacking the Shelves, Caffeinated Reviewer’s The Sunday Post, and the Sunday Salon over at Readerbuzz.
So sorry to hear about your rabbit Dungeon Crawler Carl was a DNF for me, but I know I’m in the minority. Everyone else on the planet loved it!
Thank you.
I’m not sure if Dungeon Crawler Carl will be my thing, but I figure enough people whose taste is close to mine have enjoyed it that it’s at leaaast worth a shot.
I am so sorry to hear of Hulk’s death. Losing a pet is so heartbreaking.
Tina recently posted…Hello December….❄
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It’s so sad to lose a beloved pet. Our cockatiel died last year. We’d had Shegecko for twenty-one years. I miss him.
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz recently posted…The Sunday Salon: Reading Away the Cold
Hulk was our first bun, too — first animal I was ever super comfortable being around, really. So… yeah. Difficult.
Sending love. It’s a difficult time. I hope that you find a book that you can enjoy.
I’m still working through my 20 Books of Summer Challenge. I only made a list of 10 but even that proved a bit much. I blame all the Blog Tours that I signed up for
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2025/12/06/stacking-the-shelves-131/
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog recently posted…Book Review – Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen – Book 8 of 10 for 20 Books of Summer Challenge
Thank you.
I’ve done quite well with the challenges I joined this year, but I have a bit to do to catch up with my overall reading goal…
Really sorry to hear about Hulk 🙁
calypte recently posted…The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles – Malka Older
Thank you.
I couldn’t get over how many reviews you gave ratings of two! Whoa! We’re you bummed out that you spent all that time reading to have so many books you didn’t really like?
My Sunday Salon this week is really my 2025 Best Books Round-Up. I’m excited to share it. I’m been completely focused on it for the past two weeks. https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-top-50-books-of-2025-best-books.html
Anne@HeadFullofBooks recently posted…The Top 50+ Books of 2025: Best Books Round-Up
2/5 stars means “it was okay”, so that doesn’t really mean I actively disliked them, just that they didn’t ultimately excite me, or when I looked back at them after finishing I didn’t have a lot of enthusiasm. Often that comes from perspective after I finish a book. I usually don’t finish a book if I’m constantly actively disliking the time I spent reading it, or that’d be a 1/5 star rating.
I’m sorry for your loss.
Dungeon Crawler Carl is something I’m interested in reading too
Wishing you a happy reading week
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out recently posted…It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #SundayPost #SundaySalon
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I’ve been seeing Dungeon Crawler Carl all over the place! It took a while for my hold to come in, but I’m eager to give it a shot.
I’ve been having the same problem lately; a good portion of the books I start land in the return bag. So have been reading many older authors.
Reading familiar authors can be very helpful to get out of a reading slump!
Nice!
I did read a manga: https://wordsandpeace.com/2025/12/07/sunday-post-151-after-a-busy-november/
Emma @ Words And Peace recently posted…Sunday Post #151: after a busy November
Sorry about your rabbit. When I was about 15 my boyfriend gave me a snow white rabbit for Easter. I had him for a few months and went out one day to feed him and he was gone. I think my sister opend the cage door and it hopped out. I was so sad!
Hulk was a house rabbit and had been with us for 12 years, so she had an excellent run at things.
So sorry for your loss. Hope this week has better things in store.
Becki recently posted…Sunday Salon/Sunday Post – December 7, 2025: 6 7!
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I’m so sorry for your loss. RIP Hulk. What an epic name for a rabbit!
I really hope you like Dungeon Crawler Carl! I’m both so excited and nervous for you to read it because I loved it from the first book and it got even better every book after for me, but I know that not everyone will feel the same way and I’m so afraid of overhyping it! Fingers crossed you’ll like it!
Haze @ The Book Haze recently posted…Book Review | The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Thank you.