This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books they’ve read and share what they have got up to during the last week.
Another busy week. We ended up unexpectedly having Eliza sleep over on Thursday night as her mum’s car broke down in the supermarket car park and they were having to stay with the vehicle for its recovery. Eliza was very taken with Amari and getting her ready for school the next morning proved to be a bit of a challenge as the combination of a lively seven-year-old and an over-excited kitten meant minor chaos kept breaking out. It was a lovely treat to spend some unexpected time with her – and poor Rebecca was stuck with the car for four and a half hours on Thursday night, as the recovery vehicle didn’t finally pick her up until just after 8 pm. The pics are of Oscar showing Eliza how to hold Amari, the kitten playing with a box and then with another day of mischief behind her – crashing out on the settee next to me.
Oscar went up to Portsmouth yesterday to spend the day with his brother, who took him out to lunch and then they went shopping to buy Oscar’s present from Ethan. Oscar also had some birthday money that he wanted to spend. Fortunately, it was a lovely sunny day as he cycled to the station before catching the train.
The weather continues to be very mild, with temperatures still not cold enough for the heating to automatically come on. On Friday evening at 6 pm, it was 63℉, which is ridiculous in mid-November. That said, it was horrible watching the floods sweep through towns in Wales due to Storm Claudia – my thoughts and prayers go out to those who are facing the winter with sodden homes and ruined possessions.
This week I’ve read:-
AUDIOBOOK – A Judgement of Powers – Book 3 of An Inheritance of Magic series by Benedict Jacka
The wealthy seem to exist in a different, glittering world from the rest of us. Almost as if by . . . magic.
Stephen Oakwood is a young man on the edge of this hidden world. He has talent and potential, but turning that potential into magical power takes money, opportunity, and training. All Stephen has is a minimum wage job and a cat.
Review to follow.
The Hidden Kingdom – Book 3 of the Wings of Fire series by Tui T. Sutherland
Deep in the rain forest, danger awaits…
Glory knows the dragon world is wrong about her tribe. After all, she isn’t “as lazy as a RainWing” — she isn’t lazy at all! Maybe she wasn’t meant to be one of the dragonets of destiny, as the older dragons constantly remind her, but Glory is sharp and her venom is deadly… except, of course, no one knows it.
When the dragonets seek shelter in the rain forest, Glory is devastated to find that the treetops are full of RainWings that no dragon could ever call dangerous. They nap all day and know nothing of the rest of Pyrrhia. Worst of all, they don’t realize — or care — that RainWings are going missing from their beautiful forest. But Glory and the dragonets are determined to find the missing dragons, even if it drags the peaceful RainWing kingdom where they never wanted to be — in the middle of the war.
I’ve been really impressed how Sutherland has built up the world by having the dragonets of destiny visit each dragon tribe in turn. Small wonder this series has proved to be such a best-selling success – and like all quality writing, it shouldn’t just be left to the children. I’ve got the next book in the series and I’ll certainly be tucking into it sooner rather than later. 9/10
KU – Aftershocks – Book 1 of The Palladium Wars series by Marko Kloos
Across the six-planet expanse of the Gaia system, the Earthlike Gretia struggles to stabilize in the wake of an interplanetary war. Amid an uneasy alliance to maintain economies, resources, and populations, Aden Robertson reemerges. After devoting twelve years of his life to the reviled losing side, with the blood of half a million casualties on his hands, Aden is looking for a way to move on. He’s not the only one.
A naval officer has borne witness to inconceivable attacks on a salvaged fleet. A sergeant with the occupation forces is treading increasingly hostile ground. And a young woman, thrust into responsibility as vice president of her family’s raw materials empire, faces a threat she never anticipated.
Now, on the cusp of an explosive and wide-reaching insurrection, Aden plunges once again into the brutal life he longed to forget. He’s been on the wrong side of war before. But this time, the new enemy has yet to reveal themselves…or their dangerous endgame.
I do enjoy quality military sci fi adventure. And I was very impressed with Kloos’ Frontlines series, so when I saw that he’s writing another adventure, I got hold of a copy. Obviously, this book is setting up the world, but nonetheless I’m already a huge fan of Aden and want to see him build a peaceful life on a planet of his choice after all he’s been through. Though given this is the first in the series, I’m guessing that won’t be happening anytime soon. 9/10
AUDIOBOOK – Paladin’s Faith – Book 4 of The Saint of Steel series by T. Kingfisher
Marguerite Florian is a spy with two problems. A former employer wants her dead, and one of her new bodyguards is a far too good-looking paladin with a martyr complex.
Shane is a paladin with three problems. His god is dead, his client is much too attractive for his peace of mind, and a powerful organization is trying to have them both killed.
Add in a brilliant artificer with a device that may change the world, a glittering and dangerous court, and a demon-led cult, and Shane and Marguerite will be lucky to escape with their souls intact, never mind their hearts. . .
As ever, Kingfisher weaves a story that has me caring for Marguerite – who I’ve already met in the first book of this series – and Shane, the monosyllabic paladin. It’s my favourite type of romance story – where there’s a splash of humour and the protagonists are not merely negotiating their tangled feelings, but are also dealing with major dangers. Like lethal agents who want to see Maguerite dead and a dangerously powerful demon. As ever, Kingfisher’s writing had me desperate to discover what would happen next – and left this series on something of a cliffhanger, so I really hope Kingfisher will publish the next adventure featuring the plucky paladins who survived their god’s death. 9/10
Posts this week:
Castellan the Black and His Wise and Draconic Tips on Life
*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of NETGALLEY arc The Green Man’s Holiday – Book 8 of The Green Man’s series by Juliet E. McKenna
Can’t-Wait Wednesday featuring This Gilded Abyss – Book 1 of The Titan’s Wrath series by Rebecca Thorne
*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of NETGALLEY arc Unwed and Undead by Sam Tchida
Sunday Post – 9th November 2025
Wishing you all a happy, healthy week😊.
Brainfluff 