Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Started: 22.8.26

DNF: 24.8.26

Paperback

A DNF. Weird names for the sake of having weird names. 

How To Survive A Horror Story by Mallory Arnold

Started: 15.8.26

Finished: 22.8.26

Paperback

Finished it, but didn't really enjoy it.

Before And After by Andrew Shanahan

Started: 6.8.26

Finished: 14.8.26

Kindle

The dog survives!

A morbidly obese man trapped in his fourth floor flat as a zombie apocalypse takes over the world? I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I liked Ben, and Brown was super cute. It was sad in places, funny in others, and surprisingly tender. I think I'm going to add the second one to my TBR.

Dead silence by S. A. Barnes

Started: 3.8.26

Finished: 6.8.26

Kindle

Bit of a sci-fi horror about a long-lost 'cruise liner' spaceship whose weak distress beacon is picked up by a repair crew out on the edge of space. Pretty good actually, definitely a creepy element to what they found when they boarded the ship.

Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher

Started: 30.7.26

Finished: 2.8.26

Kindle

Bit disappointed with this one, it wasn't really what I was expecting. Felt a bit too clever and highbrow for me!

July Reading Wrap Up

Well, this will be a quick one!

I don't know where the time has gone this month, but I haven't even touched my TBR choices!

1. Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

I'd started this in June, and didn't finish until the 9th July. Really enjoyed it, as expected.

2. They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera

This wasn't planned, but my son was reading it (a school library book) and as I had my own copy, I thought it would be fun to read together. It was pretty good.

3. Last Argument Of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

I'd started reading this straight after book 2, but broke off for a bit to read the Adam Silvera book, so this one took a bit longer to finish.

And that's it! 

TBR Picks for August... or not

I'm going on holiday soon, and I don't want to take any physical books with me, just my Kindle, so I don't think I'm going to choose any TBR prompts for August. While I'm away I'll just read whatever I feel like, and when I get back I might just carry on with the books that I'd chosen for July.

Last Argument Of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

Started: 9.7.26

Finished: 30.7.26

Kindle Unlimited

Thoroughly enjoyed this in all its gruesome glory! Glokta is one of my all time favourite characters!

They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera

Started: 16.7.26

Finished: 23.7.26

Paperback

Buddy read with my son!!

This wasn't part of the reading plan for this month, but when I found out that my son had chosen this from his school library for his next read, I couldn't resist joining in! His friend has already read it, and is working her way through the others in the series, so I think that's why he picked it for himself.

It's the story of Mateo and Rufus, who both receive a call telling them that they are going to die within the next 24 hours. They are strangers who become friends through a Last Friend app, and they meet up and help each other through their last day alive. Although this sounds (and is) very traumatic, people are getting 'the call' from Death-Cast every day, so it's just kind of accepted. Once you get the call, that's it, your time's up.

Despite the quite sombre theme, this was actually mostly a tender and uplifting tale. Mateo and Rufus were both so sweet in the way they helped each other to really live life to the fullest in the short time they had left, and make peace with their past. And as the story progressed, we met other characters whose lives intertwined in some way with the two friends.

A really thought-provoking story.

Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

Started: 16.6.26

Finished: 9.7.26

Kindle Unlimited

No prompt, just wanted to read it!

It was good to be back with Logen, Glokta and Co! This is book 2 in The First Law Trilogy, and the second Joe Abercrombie book that I've read, and based on these two, I really enjoy his writing! His descriptions - whether it's of people, places, fights, torture (!) - are so vivid, I always feel really immersed in the story. I enjoyed Jezal's redemption arc in this one; in fact I loved the development of several characters. I'm diving straight into book 3, and assuming - and really hoping! - that there is going to be a reunion for Ninefingers and the other Named Men - I can't wait for that!