Here we are again, another weekend! Monday sees me back at work, but this week has still been my time off, though I haven’t spent as much time reading as I would’ve liked.
Books acquired this week
It’s been a quiet week on this front, though I did receive a finished print copy of Heather Fawcett’s Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter. I received the eARC a few weeks ago, but I’m really grateful to Hachette for sending me a physical copy too — I’d actually thought I wasn’t selected, so it was a surprise to get the shipping info a couple of days ago!
I also borrowed a new book from the National Poetry Library:
But, overall, a quiet week.
Posts from this week
As usual, let’s start with the review roundup!
- Gaming artbook:Â Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail – The Art of Succession: – Relics of Heritage – (5/5 stars, “loved it”)
- Non-fiction: Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It, by Cory Doctorow (4/5 stars, “loved it”)
- Fantasy manga: The Light Conjurer, vol 1, by Gene (2/5 stars, “it was okay”)
- Fantasy romance: Paladin’s Faith, by T. Kingfisher (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Science/history: The Meteorites: Encounters with Outer Space & Deep Time, by Helen Gordon (3/5 stars, “liked it”)
- History: The Green Ages: Medieval Innovations in Sustainability, by Annette Kehnel (1/5 stars, “didn’t like it”)
- Fantasy manhwa: Solo Leveling, vol 13, by Dubu (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
And the non-review posts:
- Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Discoveries of 2025 (top ten new-to-me authors)
- What Are You Reading Wednesday
- 2025 End of Year Reading Survey
What I’m reading
I said I wasn’t reading as much as I’d hoped, but let’s take a look at the books I’ve managed to finish this week anyway!
So not the worst progress either!
I’m not sure what I’ll read this weekend, but right now I’m thinking of working to finish up Heather Fawcett’s Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter and T. Kingfisher’s Snake-eater, and I’m also partway through Smart Devices, the poetry collection I borrowed this week. Maybe I’ll read some manhwa too, to help catch up a bit to my reading goal before I get too far behind — but only if the whim strikes me, as always!
Linking up with Reading Reality’s Stacking the Shelves, Caffeinated Reviewer’s The Sunday Post, the Sunday Salon over at Readerbuzz, and It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? at The Book Date.
I think I’m getting a finished copy of Agnes Aubert too, I’m happy to have it for my library. Enjoy your books this week!
Yeaaaah, it’s nice to have a physical copy. I’m definitely one for keeping the books I like and having a physical format, though I have been weeding some of them out that I’ve fallen out of love with.
Every time you mention it I have to look up “manhwa” — and then I forget it immediately. Maybe I should buy one to cement it in my tiny mind.
Have a good week… mae
mae recently posted…January Kitchen Thoughts
Manga, manhwa and manhua are Japanese, Korean and Chinese comics respectively — manga’s the most familiar word, but it feels wrong to apply it to Korean and Chinese work!
Ahh, Agnes Aubert is my most anticipated book for this year. I can’t wait to read it and so happy for you that you got a physical copy of it too! Happy reading and have a wonderful end of the week!
I really need to curl up with it and read more — I’m partway through and enjoying it!
That’s great! Here the weather is perfect for a snuggle and a book haha. Looking forward to your review when you’ve read it 🙂
Interesting to see that authors other than from Japan are using the mystical cat themes in their novels. Sounds fascinating.
Hm, I’d say cats being linked with mystical things has always been a thing in the west too, given superstitions about black cats, the idea of witch familiars, etc. Though so far it’s not the cats that are mystical in this book, but the building.
I’m slowly working my way through the Heaven Official’s Blessing light novels – volume 3 is coming up for me this year hopefully.
Keira @Keira’s Bookmark recently posted…Stacking the Shelves #1 (Jan 2026)
I might have to look at the Doctorow book. It’s nice that he includes “and what to do about it”! Smart Devices also is intriguing. I usually only read middle grade books, so it’s fun to see what grown up books are out there!
Ms. Yingling recently posted…Confessions From the Group Chat
Cory Doctorow’s book is definitely worthwhile! I found his tone a bit annoying at times, but he has very valuable examples and discussion.
Ahhh, enjoy! I love them. I’m so glad the manhua’s coming out in English now too, so I can revisit.
There is a National Poetry Library in the UK? How cool is that? I would totally access it all the time.
My Sunday Salon: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2026/01/sunday-salon-songs-for-now.html
Anne@HeadFullofBooks recently posted…Sunday Salon — Songs for Now
Yup, I wrote about it last week — ebooks can be accessed by anyone in the UK (after signing up), though you can also turn up in person to use the space and borrow physical items. I’ve been fairly steadily rotating through loans there since I got my login details!
I have both Enshittification and The Meteorites on my TBR list. I am glad to know you liked them both. The cover of Mystical Cat Shelter is very inviting. I hope it’s as good as I am imagining.
Olivia recently posted…January 2026 Reading Recap
Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter is fun so far — kinda Howl’s Moving Castle vibes, which I like a lot.
I read Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter this past week, I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it.
I hope your return to work isn’t too onerous.
Wishing you a happy reading week
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out recently posted…It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #SundayPost #SundaySalon
Aw well, can’t all be five star reads! I’ll be interested to see your thoughts on it.
Hope you have a good week!
Bree @ Bibliophilebree recently posted…Sunday (Weekly Review) #27
Thanks!
I’m really curious about Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter. I should see when that one is going to be published here. I look forward to seeing what you think about it.
It’s great to receive ARCs but it is wonderful to receive finished copies.
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz recently posted…The Sunday Salon: Bookish
I think it’s 17th February, but I could be wrong! I’m enjoying it so far.
Any reading is progress! Have a great week!
Cindy’s Book Corner recently posted…January Reading Wrap Up 2026
Thank you!
I enjoyed Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde books so hopefully the new one is good too. Happy reading!
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
I’m enjoying it so far!
The Heather Fawcett book looks so good. I hope you are enjoying it. Have a great week!
Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews recently posted…The Weekend Review – January 31st-February 2nd
I’m enjoying it so far! Didn’t manage to settle down to it this weekend, but I’m eager to get back to it soon.
Nice diversity of genres!
https://wordsandpeace.com/2026/02/01/2026-january-wrap-up/
Emma @ Words And Peace recently posted…2026: January wrap-up
It’s something I aim for, really!
I can’t wait to read Agnes Aubert!!!
It’s fun so far!
Interesting assortment of books. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
Thanks for dropping by!
I would love to have a mystical cat shelter. Sounds like you had a great week, Nicky. Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog.
Cheryl Malandrinos recently posted…It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday – Feb 2
It’s a fun story so far! Thanks for dropping by.