Overall mood: chill – it has been a busy month but one that came with a brake on the reading. I have enjoyed two months of full reading and now, with all the PhD stuff that took priority, I needed to put reading on the back burner. Once I was in the clear, I honestly found myself just not in the mood to read, instead needing to catch up on sleep or declutter my brain with media that amused me. I did get some books read, but you will see that it was a big difference from previous monthly summaries.

Books read:

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers, 4.5/5

This short novel is so vibey, with a soft-tech and natural setting and an immediate cosy factor in the protagonist’s living situation, profession, and drive. Beneath that, we have a deep and insightful exploration of themes, emotions, and existential discourse that is interesting and enlightening while also being supportive and shrouded in a comforting layer of personality and behaviours from the characters. I loved this read and I hope more people give it a go.

A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh, 4/5

Another short read, but this one is from one of the leading ladies in Golden Era crime fiction. A Man Lay Dead is the start of a long and prolific series that was written with that authentic vintage tone, phrasing, and mindset. It is a read that the author admittedly cringed over herself looking back, but it is a building block for Ngaio Marsh as a writer and the Roderick Alleyn detective series, so I highly recommend finding this one and giving it a read.

System Collapse by Martha Wells, 4.5/5

What a way to finish up this series! I love Murderbot, ART, the crews, and everything about the storytelling and personalities at play in System Collapse. It still feels like there are so many more stories that could come out of this story world, and in a way that is the best way to end the written work because this world has so many possibilities. I know I will reread the series and this one in particular, so I cannot wait for the time to come to scratch that itch.

The Raven and Other Poems by Edgar Allen Poe, 4/5

I specifically picked this up for The Raven and Annabel Lee, given that I hadn’t read either poem before, and flicked through it to read a few more of his works to see the overall impression and style at play. I was pleasantly surprised at the tone and atmosphere of Poe’s writing and the musicality and pacing of the pieces. I will be keeping an eye out for other Poe works and Poe-inspired works to see if the vibe fits.

Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young, 4/5

I really liked her other works, so I knew I wanted to continue reading these light, diversity-representative romance reads to see what other perspectives and themes she would bring to the table. I think Next of Kin is such a great showcase of relationships involving deaf family members, and the way she writes “differences” so casually just shows how normalised and accepted people can be in the right communities. Highly recommend Hannah Bonam-Young’s work and will be keeping an eye out for the next one.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers, 4.5/5

I love this one as much as the first, and they are certainly two different books. What they accomplish though, especially A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is so impactful and special. All the vibes and soft cottagecore/techcore elements give this world such a beautiful foundation, allowing for the real character concerns and dilemmas to shine through and provide a hearty dose of contemplation for the reader. Again, it is a short read, so it will be an easy afternoon read.

Rewind it Back by Liz Tomforde, 4.5/5

The end to an exceptional series, Rewind it Back had a lot it needed to accomplish and I feel that while it may not be as hard-hitting as some of the earlier books in terms of spicy romance or intense love, it is certainly a fantastic addition to the series. I am a sucker for childhood friends-to-lovers and adding second chance love to that just makes it all the more emotional and layered in complexities. The concerns and focal points are unique to the book, but the found family aspect of the friend group gives it a solid link to previous stories. Definitely not one to be skipped out on.