Bogormen

Title: Long Live Evil
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 431 pages
Date read: August 2026

When her whole life collapsed, Rae still had books. Dying, she seizes a second chance at living: a magical bargain that lets her enter the world of her favourite fantasy series.

She wakes in a castle on the edge of a hellish chasm, in a kingdom on the brink of war. Home to dangerous monsters, scheming courtiers and her favourite fictional character: the Once and Forever Emperor. He’s impossibly alluring, as only fiction can be. And in this fantasy world, she discovers she's not the heroine, but the villainess in the Emperor's tale.

So be it. The wicked are better dressed, with better one-liners, even if they're doomed to bad ends. She assembles the wildly disparate villains of the story under her evil leadership, plotting to change their fate. But as the body count rises and the Emperor's fury increases, it seems Rae and her allies may not survive to see the final page.


I had a really weird time reading this book.

I listened to the first ~40% as an audiobook, and kept losing focus. I'd get the characters mixed up, kept zoning out, and generally just considered giving up on it, as it couldn't keep my interest.

However, I was reading it for a book club, so in order to actually be able to finish on time, I switched to the ebook instead ... and finished it in two days!

It wasn't that the narrator was objectively bad - she didn't speak in a monotone, have weird inflections, use a sing-song voice or anything like that (all stuff I've DNF'ed an audiobook due to) - for some reason, she just couldn't hold my attention!

So in the end, I actually quite enjoyed the book - or at least the part of the book that I read for myself. I liked how the characters interacted, and how they slowly changed from being two-dimentional book figures, to being three-dimensional people that Rae actually cared about.

I'm not sure I got the idea of the book though. I mean ... why did Rae get send into the book in the first place? Sure, I know what was in it for her, but what was in it for the lady who visisted her?

It did end on quite the cliff-hanger, and I'm not sure that I enjoyed it enough to read the rest of the trilogy.

Title: Fake Skating
Author: Lynn Painter
Genre: YA
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 448
Date read: July 2026

From play dates on the playground to sneaking into movie theatres, Dani and Alec were inseparable as kids. Until Dani moved away. Years later, Dani is back in Minnesota, and excited to reconnect with the nerdy and comforting Alec. But teenage Alec is NOTHING like the boy she remembers. He's the hockey STAR in a town where hockey players are worshipped as gods—and he loves it.

When one thing leads to another and Dani and Alec find themselves thrown together and playing the role of boyfriend and girlfriend, "complicated" becomes an understatement. In this Minnesota town, hockey may rule, but romance is about to take its place.


Fake dating trope - people either love it or hate it. Personally, I love it when it's done right, which it was here. I'm less keen on enemies-to-lovers, but that too worked better than I had expected it to. This book was seriously laugh-out-loud funny in places, and SO cute. I loved reading about Dani finding a home, setting down roots, and even patching things up with her old grump of a grandfather.

I did not like ...
- Dani's father.
- Benji.
- the fact that some things were left unanswered.
- the fact that a certain someone never had to answer for what he'd done.
- the fact that since this was YA, I just KNEW there would be a third-act breakup at some point.

Fortunately, though I was right in that last bullet, it wasn't for the reason I had feared, and was resolved a lot faster - and in a much less cringy way - than I had feared. So despite there being ~20 pages I just skimmed past, ultimately I really enjoyed the book, and found it cute enough that I'd recommend it regardless.

Title: The Faraway Inn
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
# pages: 370
Date read: June 2026

When sixteen-year-old Calisa arrives at her great-aunt’s bed-and-breakfast for the summer, she’s shocked to find it run down rather than cosy. Grumpy and eccentric, Auntie Zee is determined to keep anyone from messing with her beloved inn . . . even though she clearly needs the help.

To convince her great-aunt to keep her around, Calisa sets to work fixing up the inn, enlisting extra help from the groundkeeper’s (handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the surer she is that there’s something strange about the B and B―and its residents. Something almost . . . otherworldly.

The inn is hiding a magical secret―but secrets are like doors. Once Calisa opens this one, she won’t be able to go back . . .


I was already a fan of Sarah Beth Durst thanks to "The Spellshop" and "The Enchanted Greenhouse", but this is by far her best work. Cozy fantasy of the absolutely best kind. I couldn't put it down, but never wanted to story to end.

It is just the right combination of domestic coziness, magical whimsey and fanciful characters mixed with enough of a plot to keep the story going, while still being (relatively) low stakes.

I loved every single minute of it.

Title: Dungeon Crawler Carl
Author: Matt Dinniman
Genre: Dystopian
Rating: 5/5
# pages: Audiobook ~14hrs
Date read: May 2026

The apocalypse will be televised!

A man. His ex-girlfriend's cat. A sadistic game show unlike anything in the a dungeon crawl where survival depends on killing your prey in the most entertaining way possible.

In a flash, every human-erected construction on Earth - from Buckingham Palace to the tiniest of sheds - collapses in a heap, sinking into the ground.

The buildings and all the people inside have all been atomized and transformed into the an 18-level labyrinth filled with traps, monsters, and loot. A dungeon so enormous, it circles the entire globe.

Only a few dare venture inside. But once you're in, you can't get out. And what's worse, each level has a time limit. You have but days to find a staircase to the next level down, or it's game over. In this game, it's not about your strength or your dexterity. It's about your followers, your views. Your clout. It's about building an audience and killing those goblins with style.

You can't just survive here. You gotta survive big.

You gotta fight with vigor, with excitement. You gotta make them stand up and cheer. And if you do have that "it" factor, you may just find yourself with a following. That's the only way to truly survive in this game - with the help of the loot boxes dropped upon you by the generous benefactors watching from across the galaxy.

They call it Dungeon Crawler World. But for Carl, it's anything but a game.


Best read of 2026 so far. I listened to 14 hours in just under 3 days - could NOT put it down.

Those my age and above might remember the ancient DOS game Nethack ... or the slightly newer Windows version, Castle of the Winds. Imagine that game as a book - complete with monsters to kill, loot boxes and maps that only populate once you get to that part of the dungeon. Now add just a tad of hunger games ...

That's the plot of Dungeon Crawler Carl in a nutshell.

I can't fully explain just what it was about this book that made it so appealing to me. Part of it was definitely the narration. Jeff Hays did an amazing job, which definitely added to the experience. Part of it was the absurdity of the plot and the nostalgia of how beautifully it tied into some of the most-played games of my childhood. Whatever the case, it ended up being a clear 5-star book, despite the fact that it's the first in a series and the end was left wide open. It didn't feel like it ended on a cliffhanger - just an obvious progression as we descend through the dungeon.

I'll definitely be continuing on with the series once I get my next audible credit!

Title: Too Hot to Handle
Author: Portia MacIntosh
Genre: Chick-lit
Rating: 2.5/5
# pages: 290
Date read: May 2026

Workaholic Molly is buzzing when her best friend tells her she’s getting married. As maid of honour Molly can’t wait for the perfect bachelorette party in Spain. What could be better than a week in a stunning villa? Sun, sea, cocktails and gossiping – and best of all, no boys allowed. But when the hens arrive they discover that they are not alone. The villa has been accidentally double booked by a group of stags who make it very clear they’re not leaving!

It’s a disaster, and no one wants to give up their place in paradise. Attempts at compromising fail instantly, so their only option is to have a winner takes all competition. Battle lines are drawn and it is girls v boys - but will the competition be too hot to handle?

As their rivalry heats up, and Molly finds herself gravitating towards stag Travis, it’s clear that he’s enjoying the attention - but Molly can’t let herself get distracted, and under no circumstances can she fall for the enemy.


I usually like Portia MacIntosh's books, but this was the first one I've read as a physical book rather than listened to as an audiobook, and I don't know ... perhaps they just work better as audiobooks? At least I don't seem to recall there being so many cringe-worthy moments in the books usually, but perhaps they just don't register as much when being listened to?

In any case, this book was almost too silly in places. Fortunately, it never went overboard with second-hand embarrassment, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I had expected to. I do think Portia MacIntosh mismanaged the plot - it could have been such a fun story, if the characters had been less unreasonable about it.

Title: Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth #1)
Author: Kristen Ciccarelli
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
# pages: Audiobook ~12hrs
Date read: April 2026

On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe – a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution – who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?


Definitely one of the better fantasy books I've read recently. Good use of world-building, and the main characters were nicely fleshed out. However, it ends on a huge cliff-hanger, meaning it's more half of one book, than a book in its own right.

Fortunately I knew that going into it, so made sure to have the next book readily available as well.

I didn't always fully understand the friendship between Alex and Rune ... or rather, his motivations for helping her, but the relationship between Gideon and Rune totally worked for me. I'm very interested to see how that's explored further in the next book.

But that ending! Gah!

Title: Home
Author: Penny Parkes
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 464 pages
Date read: April 2026

Anna Wilson travels the world as a professional housesitter – stepping into other people’s lives - caring for their homes, pets and sometimes even neighbours. Living vicariously. But all Anna has ever really wanted is a home of her own – a proper one, filled with family and love and happy memories. If only she knew where to start. Growing up in foster care, she always envied her friends their secure and carefree lives, their certainty and confidence. And, while those same friends may have become her family of choice, Anna is still stuck in that nomadic cycle, looking for answers, trying to find the courage to put down roots and find a place to call home.


Slow to start, and in the beginning I didn't care much for the flash backs, but once I got into it (and figured out what Penny Parkes was trying to do with the flashbacks), I fell completely in love. Sweet and poignant. I ended up absolutely adoring it.

I loved Kate and how her friendship with Anna was depicted - LOVED that the entire family took her in. I have a friend like that, and they are just amazing. I adored Callie, and was happy that she found somebody who could understand her.

I was somewhat annoyed that we didn't get a resolution regarding Andrew, but guess it was unfortunately all too realistic that we wouldn't.

The ending was perhaps a bit too tidy, and thus not quite as satisfying as I had hoped, but that's a minor nitpick. A bit too prickly to be called a comfort read, but all in all, a very heartwarming book.

Title: The Wedding People
Author: Alison Espach
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: 367 pages
Date read: March 2026

It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, without luggage, alone. Everyone in the lobby mistakes her for one of the wedding people at an impending wedding on the site, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t there for the big event.

Phoebe is there because she’s dreamed of coming for years. She hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.


Took me much longer than I had expected to finish this book. The writing style took some getting used to, but after the first few chapters I stopped noticing it. But even as I turned the last page, I really can't figure out what I think of it.

I never consindered giving up on it, so it had that going for it, but I never really connected to it either. It was definitely character-driven rather than plot-driven and more a "slice of life" / "life is messy" story than anything else. No real ending, no neatly tied up bow ... which made it feel real.

I liked Phoebe and loved Juice, but never got much of a feel for the other people. But I can easily see how somebody like Lila could sweep Phoebe up in her tailwind - just expecting her to follow, so of course she did.

At the end of the day, I'm glad to have read it, but don't really see myself ever rereading it.

Title: Dear Debbie
Author: Freida McFadden
Genre: Suspense
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 336 pages
Date read: March 2026

Sometimes, enough is enough…

Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction.

Or at least, she did.

These days, Debbie’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie’s done being the bigger person. She’s done being reasonable and practical. It’s time to take her own advice.

And now it’s time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.


Possibly even more twisted than "The Housemaid"! And I think I actually preferred this one. Apparently I'd rather read about twisted people than about abusive ones :-P

I hadn't seen any of the twists ahead of time, but Freida McFadden stayed on the right side of "jumping the shark" to make it work. It perhaps wasn't terribly believable, but it stayed true to its own universe, so it worked for me. '

Ridiculously readable - I breezed through it in a day.

Title: Whiteout
Author: Ken Follett
Genre: Suspense
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 473
Date read: February 2026

Jealousies, distrust, and hidden rivalries uncover dark secrets, then a dozen vials of a deadly virus go missing.

As a blizzard whips out of the north on Christmas Eve, several people converge on a remote family house. Stanley Oxenford, director of a pharmaceutical research company, has everything riding on a drug he is developing to fight a lethal virus. Several others are interested in his success: his children, at home for Christmas with their offspring, have their eyes on the money he will make; Toni Gallo, head of his security team and recently forced to resign from the police, is betting her career on keeping it safe; an ambitious local television reporter sniffs a story, even if he has to bend the facts to tell it; and a violent trio of thugs are on their way to steal it, with a client already waiting.

As the storm worsens and the group is laid under siege by the elements, the emotional sparks crackle and dark secrets are revealed that threaten to drive Stanley and his family apart for ever.


Not high literature, but good entertainment all the same. I was hooked from the start, and found myself greatly invested in the story. Ken Follett uses very vivid imagery - to the point that I found myself thinking "What was that movie I watched last night ... oh wait! It's my book!"

My main beef with the story is that pretty much all the characters were very two-dimensional. Toni's ex was a bastard for no real reason, her sister entitled, her mother an enabler, the journalists stereotypically obnoxious etc. Especially the ex annoyed me, as he just seemed needlessly antagonistic. Also, the main romance seemed ... unnecessary, for want of better word. Not unrealistic as such, but gratuitous.

Anyways, despite what it might sound like, these really were minor nitpicks, and I really enjoyed the book as a whole. This is the first non-historical-fiction book I've read by Ken Follett, but it's every bit as captivating as I've come to expect from him. Also, bioterror is fascinating - and horrifying!