Thought Corridor

 I love books that have found family as a trope and this YA fantasy is really good. It’s imaginative and fun, in this novel we follow the teens of the horseriders of the apocalypse (who have retired) and it’s funny and cosy with some darker elements and I liked the world building. Its really well plotted and I’m looking forward to reading what’s next for these characters. Thank you to the author, to the publishers, and to Netgalley for this ARC.

I have read and really enjoyed all of Rob Rinder‘s previous books so was very happy to see the return of Adam Green in this latest book. Green is tasked with defending the man accused of the murder of an MP turned fitness Guru at a glitzy launch event. As in most murder mysteries there are plenty of twists along the way. It’s good to see how Rinser continues to develop the character of Green and the book is really well paced and plotted. Thoroughly recommend this book if you like murder mysteries. 

 Fracture  The Librarians Book 4  by Amelia Spencer  This is the forth in the series and it's every bit as good as the first three. The world building continues to be detailed and the fantasy setting is really vivid and the story sweeps along at a great pace.  Like the first three, I r eally enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to continuing with the series. Hopefully it wont be too long a wait! Thank you to the author, the publisher and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

  Dark Side of the Catalogue The Librarians Book 3  by Amelia Spencer  I loved the premise of this book series. This is the third in the series and it's every bit as good as the first two and darker than both as it picks up with the fallout from the ending of the second one. The world building continues to be detailed and the fantasy setting is really vivid and the story sweeps along at a great pace.  Like the first two, I r eally enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to continuing with the series. Thank you to the author, the publisher and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

Foundation The Librarians Book 2  by Amelia Spencer  I loved the premise of this book series. This is the second in the series and it's every bit as good as the first.  The world is detailed with magic and intrigue and this book is a little darker in tone than the first. The fantasy setting is really vivid and the story sweeps along at a great pace.  Like the first one, I r eally enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to continuing with the series. Thank you to the author, the publisher and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

 Secrets of the Catalogue The Librarians Book 1  by Amelia Spencer I loved the premise of this book. The Librarians in this world can enter books and the books are portals to other worlds. It's into this world that we follow Emerson.  The world is detailed with magic and political intrigue. The fantasy setting builds slowly as we get to know the characters. I really liked the characters of both Emerson and Adrien in particular.   Really enjoyed this book, it's a great way to start the series and am happily going to read the rest. Thank you to the author, the publisher and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

 Philippa Flynn's Year of Panic and Piracy A Novel  by Jacqueline Firkins I don't tend to read many romance novels but the title interested me and I'm glad I gave it a go. It is a nice slow burn romance that has serious moments. Philipa is relatable and I rooted for her and I liked her chemistry with Dylan but I did find it a little too slow at times and the forced proximity trope can feel a little overdone. Overall it is the type of book that I can imagine people reading on a beach somewhere, it was a good read even though it's not my usual cup of tea. Thank you to the author, to the publishers, and to Netgalley for this ARC.     2 stars 2 stars 2 stars 2 stars 2 stars

 Thou Savage Woman Female Killers in Early Modern Britain  by Blessin Adams I love true crime stories, real and fictional and this non fiction deals with a time period I didn't know much about at all. It is an interesting book and Adams recounts tales of women who I had never heard of before, so it was very new to me. Blessin Adams has clearly done a lot of research for this book and the result is a captivating read. They explore these women's lives in detail and paints them in a different light. As another reviewer has stated parts of the book were a bit gory but I really liked it and it's to be expected given the subject matter. It's written in a really engaging way and I'd recommend it if you like true crime. I will be sure to read other books by this author too  Thanks to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

 The Diary of Derek Drummond The Story of My Cursed Life  by Katelyn Emilia Novak This book is atmospheric and gothic and I really enjoyed it. We follow Derek in his cursed immortal life as he navigates the changing time periods. Living forever might sound great to some but this book might make you reconsider. It deals with loss and shows Derek's loneliness in and yet there is lightness and love there too. It is a very well written book and I really connected with Derek and I loved following him through the different eras. It is a nice twist on the romantasy genre. If you like gothic romances then I'd recommend this one. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for this ARC.  3 stars 3 stars 3 stars 3 stars 3 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberle This book was a fun read. The premise was very interesting and I had no clue where it would go at times, the author plays with several genre conventions and the result is a well paced novel that kept me invested. It is a little outlandish and unbelievable at times but that does add to it as it was fun read for me personally. Roxie is such a good character with just the right amount of sass and it's a funny book at times while still having more thoughtful moments. If you like crime novels with added romance then I'd recommend this one. Thanks to the author, to the publishers, and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

 Blackbeard's Lost Head by Barrett Schmanska I must admit the title was what attracted me to this story. I'm familiar with Blackbeard and had heard the legend that after he was killed, his decapitated head was hung on the riverbank in Virginia before it disappeared.  This story focuses on a former FBI agent who has heard legends about where Blackbeard's severed head is to be found and sets out to discover clues, to find it's location and solve the mystery of what happened to it and where it's been since it was last seen in the 1920's., The setting is largely based around Native American tribes and their land and this was a subject I had read very little about so it was interesting to read a story that had that as a backdrop and had a Native American character as the protagonist. I really liked the characters of Hugh and Dodge, their partnership worked really well. Overall this was an enjoyable mystery. Many thanks to the publishers, the author, and to Netgalley ...

 A Fatal Love by Louisa Treger I was vaguely aware of Ruth Ellis. I'd listened to a podcast about her case some years ago but didn't know much. This book is a fiction based on that case.  I liked the characterization and the book is really well written and paints a complex and largely sympathetic portrait of Ruth. The author does look at her relationship with the racing car driver Bradley and shows how tempestuous and abusive that relationship was. It is a really good read and very detailed in it's depictions of the abuse. If you like true crime then I would recommend this book, as though it is fictionalised it is based on evidence and its clear the author has done their research. Thank you to the publishers, the author, and to Netgalley as always for this ARC.  

 The Weight of Angels by John Boyne As a huge fan of Oscar Wilde's works I knew I had to read this book. Boyne's book is a sweeping story with an imagined 'what if' at it's core. It is on the longer side but the writing is beautiful and it flows really well. Keeping this review spoiler free I enjoyed the interactions between Wilde and certain characters like Nancy and Albert and there were other interactions with historical figures that made Wilde harder to like and I think it's in this that Boyne's writing shines. He paints us a portrait of Wilde who is contrary and interesting. He is at times infuriating and endearing. The writing is very moving and emotive, you feel swept along with the drama. As another reviewer has stated the characters with all their flaws and foibles feel deeply real and human and it's hard not to be moved. If you like historical novels where the author takes a creative look at a life that might have been lived in different circum...

 White Lights by Lauren Kate Unlike other reviewers Lauren Kate was a completely new author to me and this is the first paranormal fantasy romance I have read so I was unsure what to expect. I'll begin by saying that I really liked the setting with the war as a backdrop to the events in the school. The characters of Desdemona and Raf are really good and the chemistry is great. However there were a few scenes that were a little bit too visceral for me personally, little bit too much gore at times and I was not expecting the book to be this spicey! But it really is, there's a lot of phrases I never thought I'd read in a book but I did really enjoy the spice level even if it is a little bit too detailed at times but again that's personal preference. that said this is a great book and I did have fun reading it. thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

A Daddy For Christmas by Lizzie Spriggs I chose this book as I had seen the author online and knew that it was inspired by characters in the show Our Flag Means Death. This book is a fun read. I loved the characters of Sid and Lucas and the banter between them was great, it starts off as a fake father/son relationship and then it progresses. The characters voices are strong and the interplay between them is great. It's an ideal read for the cosy festive period (even though I read it in April) There are some very moving scenes in amongst the humor too and it's well balanced. There were class dynamics that I found really interesting too and I love the found family trope. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

 A Prince Among Pirates by Katie Abdou As a huge fan of books that center on pirates and their world I was delighted toi be able to read this one, especially as I read that it was perfect for fans of the fantastic tv series Our Flag Means Death and I'd have to agree this book is a lot of fun. However what kept me invested in the love story in that show was that the characters involved were middle-aged and that is definitely not the case here as Kit is 17 going on 18 and Sharpe is 23 Like other reviewers have said I'm glad that the author decided to age up Kit by a year as that did make a lot of difference to how I read the book and perceived the romance between Kit and Sharpe. One peeve of mine was the repeated use of 'kitten' as a term of endearment, maybe it's just me but there's something about that word used in that context that doesn't sit right with me but that is purely a personal preference. The side characters were good but not enough time was spent...

 I Hear A New World by Alan Moore I really enjoyed Alan Moore's previous book The Great When and this book is a continuation of that. It is really well written, the prose flows and the themes of social commentary are nicely woven into the plot. There are tangents here and there so it can feel tricky at time to follow the plot of the story through the novel as Moore meanders somewhat in his style at times. Lots of action sequences and humour but for some reason this book didn't quite work for me as much as the first book. That said, it is an entertaining world and it was good to return to the characters after the time skip between the two books.. The protagonist has matured somewhat but is still beset by issues, largely of his own. The world building continues to be great and there are real life historical characters from the era in the book and it was fun to see Moore's take on them. Many thanks tot he publishers, the author, and to Netgalley for this ARC.  

The Palace Beneath the Sea by Lauren Wiesebron This book follows Nolwenn, a lighthouse keeper tasked with keeping the city safe and on her trip to gather seasilk she meets a merman. Through him she experiences the palace that is beneath the sea. As they fall in love Nolwenn has to make a decision, return to land and protect the city or stay bellow with Morvan. This is a love story and it is a really interesting premise and the characters are well written and they have a nice connection. The writing is very descriptive, and at times it's a bit too much. I love books with detailed world building as they really help immerse you in the world but at times with this novel, while the world building is great, the language is a little too flowery for me and it gets a bit too overly descriptive at the detriment of advancing the plot.  Overall I did like the book and it was a change from the darker fantasies I normally read. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for this AR...

 The Disaster Gay Detective Agency A Novel  by Lev AC Rosen From the title alone I wanted to love this book, it didn't quite work for me though. It is a fun read but I didn't fully connect with it. The characters are good and I like the way their friendship is integral with all its bantering and companionship. There is a lot of switching POV's which doesn't always work as it does get a bit repetitive especially when it feels that really things should be ramping up with the mystery and yet instead we get the same events replayed just from a different characters viewpoint. The parts of the story that focused more on the messy friendship group were much more entertaining that the actual plot of the mystery. That said it is a fun read and well written but just not quite for me. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for the ARC. 

I Hope This Email Finds You in Hell  by Mackenzie Reed This is described as 'A chaotic and spicy paranormal romance, perfect for fans of Bride and Assistant to the villain'. While I have not read Bride I thoroughly enjoyed Assistant To The Villain so knew I had to give this one a go. I'm glad I did. There are some classic fanfic tropes in this (like the ever popular 'only one bed') and these make for a fun and slightly spicy book. Brie and Luke are setting off on a literal journey to Hell, where Brie will gradually find herself falling even more for her boss.. The dialogue is witty and the characters have good chemistry. It will appeal to readers who like their fantasy romances with a dash of banter. It's well written and nicely paced and I really enjoyed it.    Thank you to the author, the publisher and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

The Northern Roseaarde Series Omnibus 3-book fantasy series  by R.E. Holding This is a complete three book fantasy collection. I really enjoy fantasy books and was pleased to discover this trilogy by  R.E. Holding. It is well written and feels very epic and sweeping in its scope. The world that the characters live in feels very real, and it's described in detail and feels very engrossing. The characters are many and varied and we get to know them well over the course of the story.  Loren is really likeable and its interesting to follow his journey. This book has high emotional stakes and a found family trope that I love.  As the book is a set of three it does take a little bit of time for the world building to feel complete and it was a little slower in that regard but it does feel very rich and is definitely needed to plant the reader in Roseaarde. If you are a fan of fantasy epics then this is a great read.  As the blurb sums it up ' This is a story about the ...

 Murder on the Airship by Victoria Bergman This book is a great read. It's Agatha Christie in a fantasy setting with a human and non-human cast that includes dwarves, elves and pixies to name a few. Our central character is  Thyria who I especially liked. She's on this airship, the  Silver Kestrel, working as a guard and is instead faced with a murder to solve while still trying to do her job.  I t's a classic (sort of) locked room mystery but in the air. The book was a little slow to start with a large cast of characters but once the story got properly going I really enjoyed it. Many thanks to the publishers, the author , and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

 The Trial of Dr Crippen: A Drop of Poison by Matt Richards  Narrated by Full Cast As a fan of true crime I was very familiar with the Crippen case but had only read about it so to hear it told like an old radio play was brilliant and by the end of the audiobook I had leant some things that I was not aware of. Having a full cast narration really helps make this very engrossing. At around an hour and a half its very easy to listen to and I found the pacing was just right.  I really enjoyed this audiobook and personally I preferred it over the earlier Trials Of The Century Audiobook..  Thank you to the publisher, and to Netgalley for this audiobook. 

Brokeula by Michael J. Seidlinger Michael J. Seidlinger's book was a fun take on the vampire genre. Our central character James is a vampire who quickly discovers that immortality has its drawbacks and the biggest of those is being broke so he thinks of a get rich quick scheme that's Multi Level Marketing (appropriately bloodsucking as schemes go) .  As a book it's on the shorter side but is a well written comedic novella with a few critiques on capitalism along the way. Some themes could have been explored in more detail and maybe the characters could have been fleshed out a little more but overall it's a fun read and it does handle the surreal subject matter well and I enjoyed it.   Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC. It will be published on published July 7, 2026. . 

 Hell to Pay Oceans Eight meets Six of Crows in this supernatural heist thriller with jaw-dropping plot twists  by Lora Beth Johnson This was the first heist type book I have read in a long time and I really enjoyed it. The premise of this book had me hooked from the get go and once I started it I finished it quickly. The book revolves around a gang of thieves who are going to steal a soul from the afterlife. It is a very enjoyable supernatural story and I really liked the characters. I'm a fan of any story involving a found family and this book has that as we see how the crew interact with each other and grow those bonds. It has drama and chaos and a sprinkling of madness and it's a very enjoyable read.  Thank you to the publishers, and to Netgalley for this ARC, 

 The Gray Sheep The Lochsmith Book I  by S. M. Somerset This book is the first in what will be a trilogy and it does a great job of setting up the characters and the world. The book is beautifully written and I liked the historical setting. The main character  Cosette  was likable and felt real and I was invested in her.  However my main complaint about this book is that at times it was a bit too slow and things did not feel to be progressing maybe it would have benefitted from another character's POV.  The book does end on a cliffhanger but that is to somewhat to be expected as it is the first book in a trilogy.  Thank you to the publishers and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

 Because I Killed Him by Edith Birde This note from the publisher is what drew me into this book. They state that this book is a '...sweeping, character-driven novel set in a bright, deadly world inspired by the glamour and decadence of the 1920s Jazz Age...written for readers who enjoy flawed, morally complex characters, lethal power struggles, dangerous alliances, forbidden relationships, found family, and a plot that unravels like a mystery'. That tikced a lot of boxes for me.   This is one of the longest books I have read in a while and because to read something over 800 pages is a huge time commitment I need the book to be epic. Because I killed Him is a great book but it misses the mark just a bit for me to give it a full five stars. I really liked  the characters and there is lot of world building that is very well done but I wanted more details on the world outside (but I assume that is to come in the sequel).  Without giving any spoilers this is a slow ...

   Terror From America by Terry Golway I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan so as soon as I saw this book I knew I had to read it. It's set later in the Holmes cannon than I usually read when I look for new stories to read but I did enjoy it. In this book Holmes is investigating bombings in New York and while there is called upon to solve the murder of two diplomats. I always tend to read Holmes stories that heavily involve Doctor Watson and in this novel Holmes does leave Watson behind to investigate the bombings in London while he himself is in New York and I must admit that I missed them working more closely together. Despite that it is a well researched novel and is well written. Well worth a read.  Thank you to the publishers and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

Before We Collide by Kate Dylan I really enjoyed the unique magic system in this book as it’s not like anything I’ve read before. I haven’t read any of Kate Dylan’s earlier works, but this one does stand well on its own though I suspect I might have enjoyed it even more as a direct sequel. As others have mentioned, the explanation of the magic system felt a bit oversimplified, but perhaps that was intentional. It didn’t bother me too much though I would have liked a bit more depth.  I liked Raya and Ezzo as characters, but since I hadn’t read the previous book they were entirely new to me. I think I might have connected with them more if I’d read their earlier story but as this was marketed as a standalone I expected to get a full sense of who they are and their motivations without prior knowledge.  Thanks to NetGalley and Hodderscape for the ARC. 

   Tyrants and Rogues Understanding the Declaration of Independence  by Robert G. Parkinson This was not a subject I was very familiar with and Parkinson tackles this immense subject in an engaging and informative way, The author places the Declaration of Independence firmly within the context of the Revolutionary War and looks at it in depth. Parkinson is an excellent writer and handles this complex subject really well. It would be must read for those interested in getting to know this particular time in America's past. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC. 

T.J. Klune's We Burned So Bright I am a big fan TJ Klune's writing and love the way they create characters. This book was highly emotive and I really enjoyed getting to know Don and Rodney as they traveled in their RV and it was nice to get to meet the different characters with their different views that we encounter along the way. This story is about the world ending and we follow our characters as they navigate this. It is heartbreaking at times but there's so much warmth too. Like many other of Klune's books this made me very emotional and reflective. It is beautifully written and Rodney and Don have my heart. This is a shorter book and I highly recommend it (don't forget your tissues)  Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan publishers for this ARC

 Tea & Treachery at the Infinite Pantry by Jo Miles I really enjoyed this book, such an interesting and fun premise. It is very engaging and warm, with a diverse cast of characters who I really enjoyed getting to know. The food descriptions are mouth watering at times and feel very vivid. It's a place you wish would actually exist! The romance in this is a slow burn and it's very charming. The book switches between the two POV's of Glendevyn and Irdruan and I really liked both characters. The rest of the characters are wonderfully diverse and I loved the found family aspect.  As others have said the villain of the piece was a little too easy to spot but I loved the book so much that I'm willing to forgive that. Highly recommend this book if you're looking for a cosy fantasy escapist read that has a little more plot than some others out there. Thank you to the publisher, the author, and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

 Silks and Stones by Quinn Lawrence This was an interesting fast paced mystery and though it is book 2 in the series the publisher tells us that it is designed as a standalone and this is true. I love books that have found family elements and I really liked the family dynamic between Hokuren and Cinna. The magical elements in this book were really well written and the characters themselves are well developed. It has humour and darker moments and the author balances those really well. While it is a standalone it did make me want to read the first book to get to know more about these characters and return to their world for a little bit longer. Really recommend this one, it's a very good read. Thank you to the author, the publisher and to Netgalley for this ARC.  

Flickerstate by F. A. Davidson This is a really well written YA book and I really enjoyed the magic system in this. Our protagonist Norah Sullivan is a navigator and can manipulate probability and is a student of the Academy of Navigation, I liked her character even though she can be a bit challenging at times but she's going through a lot so perhaps we have to forgive her. I liked the way the characters were written and the academic setting was good with the challenges but sometimes the references to iphones, and memes etc did take me out of the world a little bit but that's probably my fault because I tend to stick to more historical books. Overall I enjoyed it.   Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Moon Over Brendle by Jeff Noon This book combines elements of a coming of age story and a fantasy adventure story while also being a book about stories themselves and the power they have. Noon is not an author I was familiar with at all but I really enjoyed his writing style. If you like books that combine magic and memoir then you might like this.  Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

 First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston I love books that have the found family trope and this ticks that box. This is a book that starts at the end with a trial and then goes backwards in time to show the events that caused this. It is a fast paced book that has humorous elements woven amongst darker times. This book combines engineering with magic and it's a delight. The world building is excellent and it's a great sci fi fantasy adventure. Very much recommended. Thank you to the publishers, the author and to Netgalley as always for this ARC. 

Twig's Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy This is a very charming low stakes cosy fantasy read. If you like the slow burn, found family fantasy trope then this could be the book for you. It is really well written and the characters are likeable and I loved getting to take a break and spend time with them. It feels like a love letter to books and to reading and I loved it. The plot does move slowly but in the case of this book that is part of the charm as it feels nice to not have a book barreling through the plot. The main character of Everett really grew on me as at first I didn't warm to him but I did end up liking him. Not a book for everyone, if you're looking for heavily plot driven, high stakes fantasy then give this one a skip but it's perfect if you want to unwind and get lost in a cosy fantasy setting.  Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for this ARC 3 stars 3 stars 3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

  A Complement of Scoundrels by S.V. Lockwood I really enjoyed this book. I am a huge fan of any story involving revenge and fantasy and this one ticked a lot of boxes for me. This is a fun read and I'll keep this review spoiler free. The action moves along at a fast pace and it's a fun heist story with an added magic system that is very well integrated. The cast of characters are great and we get to know them over the course of the book without it feeling like its too heavily character driven. The dual pov works really well and there is great interplay between the characters.  Thank you to the author, NetGalley and to Bindery Books for the ARC.

 These Are Not My Final Words by Samantha Ryan First of all this book deals with sensitive topics like grief and loss so that is not to everyone's taste hut there is a lot of humour in this book and it is well written. We follow Johnny through the loss of his best friend and I found the character to be likeable and it's interesting to follow him through as he process his grief and has to move on. The book is on the shorter side and my main issue would be that the ending felt a little abrupt but that's fairly minor a complaint as I really enjoyed the book.  I also liked that the chapters were named after a tv show writing trope.   Thank you to the author, the publishers, and to NetGalley for the ARC.