So before we get into the very exciting February book club news, can we just acknowledge that I’ve been a lot MIA lately?
Between Christmas, New Year, and then my birthday (yes another year older, sadly not wiser), everything went a bit feral. I’ve blinked and suddenly realised I’m still not fully caught up and my blog to-do list is looking at me like “bestie… explain yourself.”
I promised myself, I will catch up. I’ve currently got about eight reviews I need to write up (oops), two of which are book club books, plus I still need to:
- wrap up December’s reading
- do a proper 2025 reading wrap-up
- and crown my favourite book of 2025
It’s a lot. I’m a bit overwhelmed. But I am determined to get back on track. I should really sit and learn to schedule posts a bit better. Smarter, not harder… Right?
Now. On to the good stuff.
📘 February Book Club Pick
Paper + Word have announced their February Book Club read, and it’s one I probably would have picked up on my own… just not until about 2036. You know how it is. Fantasy readers collect intentions 😅
The pick is Of Blood and Fire by Ryan Cahill, an epic fantasy that’s new to me but absolutely my kind of thing. Big world, high stakes, magic, danger… Yes Please!
And as if that wasn’t enough:
- it’s a signed hardback edition
- there’s an online author chat
- and the book club itself now has a wait list of over 1,000 people, which still blows my mind
Honestly, it’s one of those reminders of how special indie bookshops and reading communities really are.
So support local where you can!
📚 Why I’m Genuinely Excited
Fantasy is my comfort genre, but it’s also where my TBR becomes wildly aspirational. This feels like the perfect nudge to read something sooner rather than eventually, and I love going into it with fresh eyes and no long-built expectations at having been sat on a shelf for 5 years… Waiting.
I’ll be reading along properly and will share my thoughts once I’ve finished, hopefully in a much more consistent, less-chaotic posting rhythm, but we’ll see how the next couple of weeks pan out first 😅
📖 What I’m Reading Right Now
In case you’re curious what I’m juggling at the moment:
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue — which I am absolutely loving. Fully enchanted. Zero notes and a perfect slip into after The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, which I finished a couple of days ago.
- January’s book club pick, The Grace of Kings — which I’m enjoying, but wow… the number of characters is a lot. Slightly overwhelming at times, but the book club group chat keeps reassuring me that everything clicks into place around the halfway mark, so I’m trusting the process.
- And of course, still squeezing in a chapter here and there of The Fellowship of the Ring on audiobook, currently 70% in! But with hour long chapters (Book Two, Chapter 3 I’m looking at you!) it can sometimes feel like a bit of an effort.
So yes — I’m behind, a bit overwhelmed, but very much still here and very excited about what I’m reading. Thank you for sticking with me while I get everything back into some kind of order 😅
Have you read Of Blood and Fire, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, or The Grace of Kings? Or are they living in your own future-TBR pile?
Until next time… 🖤
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