DNF 33%. The ideas were so good but I found the way they were presented a little disjointed and hard to follow. I might come back to this, it feels like an important story with insightful exploration of difficult themes but I don't have the bandwidth to appreciate it just now. #BookSky #reading #sff

Another 5 star for Feb! I really appreciated the restraint shown in the pace that information was revealed to engage me in the mystery. It was truly delightful to half guess some bits and be taken by surprise in others. The plant based magic system was so fun! #BookSky #fantasy #sff #reading ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was so steeped in atmosphere I could have sneezed clouds. It was dark and gothic in the most delicious way. Having to use corrupted magic despite a horrifyingly steep cost is 1 of my favourite tropes. The prose was beautiful, I stopped a couple of times just to reread a sentence #BookSky ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My 1st DNF of 2025 at 50%. The world building was so great but the mc just wasn't for me. I tend to fall in love with characters who are a bit more vulnerable. But I'd still recommend for anyone looking for romance against a unique fantasy setting and an interesting magic system #BookSky #reading

Fruits Basket Macarons!!! I did a red and white swirl to represent the beaded bracelets and decorated them with the Chinese zodiac symbols and a red crimson butterfly 🙌 I also made onigiri, cat and mouse character shaped ones 🥰 #bookishmacarons #booksky #macarons #fruitsbasket #manga #anime

But what if we were a tiny red crab that lived in a sandcastle and we scuttled about, thinking crabby thoughts and waving our pincers and making pleasant clacking sounds all day?

This was incredible! I went in expecting a fun, jaunty space heist and was blown away. The bonds between the characters was magical and the way friction between friends was explored was so unflichingly earnest. The world was also vibrant and unique. I loved this so much ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #BookSky #reading #sff

Finished the 1st writing game for #FantasyFeb! The Style Jam. Won myself 3 points and a Jammy Dodger badge. I don't often read/write contemporary romance so this is super out of my comfort zone. Fingers crossed my writing club like it 💙 #writing #writers #writingcommunity #BookSky

I've drawn up my February TBR and I'm so excited I don't know which to start with! #BookSky #reading #sff #books

Such a brilliant January to kick start the year 😊 #BookSky #reading #sff #books

Mwah!

These are so beautiful! 😍 Perfect for drinking tea in the woods sat on a mossy log looking wistfully into the mist.

Last one: character-heavy sapphic romantasy: Dishonored x Locke Lamora x City of Last Chances x Rick and Evie O'Connell. Anti-imperialism! Pro-community action! SMUT! #lgbt #a #rm #2025pit

Outlining plans for an event I'm facilitating for my writing club #FantasyFeb! Creating games, prompts and writing exercises for each day. Any writing folks - could you please share any writing tasks in the past that have been helpful for you? #writing #writers #writingcommunity #writingq

When the delicate balance of corruption is disrupted by eldritch-power-wielding warlords ‘The Twins’, thief Nightjar and thief-catcher Illyana have to set aside their lethal cat-and-mouse game to try and survive while their feelings for each other grow too strong to ignore #LGBT #A #RM #2025Pit

The Terror x The Fisherman x Mugen Train Unhinged socialist revolutionary seeks naval corruption aboard ship in the Arctic, finds demonically possessed vessel, broken monsters made of crew and a lil gay romance. Erebus and Terror with an autistic sharpshooter and positive trans rep #HF #H #A

First 5 star read of the year! This was such an incredible read, getting to connect with the story of this ship and it's crew from over 300 years ago was amazing. The writing really makes you feel like you're there with them. Fantastic! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #BookSky #reading #books

Innocently putting together a playlist for a writing exercise I'm facilitating for my writing group when this masterpiece flooded my goblin brain with all the happy-sad. Time for a rewatch ❤️ #anime #music #writing

Wow! I know I'm not supposed to judge a book by its cover but the colours on The Carnelian King make my brain so happy so I'm going to anyway! 💛💙 #BookSky

Looks like I might finish my Jan TBR early which means I get to pick a bonus book! I'd appreciate any recommendations folks are happy to share. I love science fiction, fantasy and horror. Especially character driven stories with interesting settings and strong friendships. 📚 #BookSky #sff #reading

Finished a buddy read of Guns of the Dawn. There was a little less focus on the magical elements than I was hoping for and a few plot moments I didn't enjoy but it was great seeing Emily change and the bonds that developed with the secondary characters was really heartwarming ⭐⭐⭐ #BookSky #fantasy

AI defenders said it was just “help” and they were rewriting everything. Now AI bullshit (I don’t call them books) are showing up with AI notes. Why? Because the AI defenders are lazy (we knew that) and they were lying (we also knew that). Imagine wanting to be a writer and hating the writing part…

Finished Silver in the Wood - this is such a sweet and magical story. I loved how the fantastical elements were woven throughout in vague, dreamy hints. It had the perfect amount of danger to still be cosy and had me smiling from the first page to the end. ⭐⭐⭐ #BookSky #reading #sff #lgbtq

Although there was a lot to love, like the beautiful prose and wonderful moody aesthetic, this wasn't my cup of tea. I disliked seeing plot points in hindsight from the POV of someone who wasn't present and while the characters were written brilliantly, I didn't enjoy spending time with them ⭐⭐ +1/2

I grew up on these streets

My first sci fi of 2025 and I had such a great time with it. The choke hold the action scenes had on my emotions! A downside of audiobooks - it doesn't pause automatically for me to shout "wait wait..." and prepare myself whenever my favourite crew members are in danger ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #BookSky #reading #sff

1st read of 2025 finished! What a great story to start the year, the setting was so vibrant and imaginative. The bond between Bluejay and Beth felt so bittersweet against the grimdark backdrop. I loved the lore of the different spirits (especially Gasp). Some wonderful plot moments as well ⭐⭐⭐⭐

So excited to kick the reading year off, I've made up my January TBR! Already half way through A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe and already in love with everyone on board the Capricious. I adore the mix of magic and sci fi.

2/20 City of Last Chances. An incredible glimpse into the shifting political landscape of a whole city, I was blown away by the number of POVs and seeing each tiny gear in the heart of the machine stutter and stall in the wake of oncoming revolution. Highly recommend! #books #BookSky #bookchallenge

Can anyone help me out with some wintery read recs? Looking more for cosy, snowy settings of a fantastical nature instead of Christmas-specific content if possible. This is to counterbalance a House of Leaves read through so the more wholesome the better! #fantasy #BookSky #books #reading

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. 1/20 The Cold Forge by Alex White. I still think about Dorian, have I ever hated a character this much? Amazing #books #BookSky #bookchallenge

Making up a Christmas hamper for my grandmother and grandfather in-law and would love any inspiration for tiny treats to include! What would you want in your perfect Christmas hamper? Current plans to set the vibe - Blanket, candles, slippers, mugs, biscuits, hot chocolate...

Writing date with my WIP❤️ Turns out salted caramel latte was the perfect accompaniment for editing chapter 2. Happy Sunday Blue Sky

This was such an incredible read. Potent and imaginative, the type of story that sticks with you afterwards. It reminds me a lot of To Be Devoured. Highly recommend you take a look! "The collective noun for starlings is a murmuration. For crows it is murder. For angels, I think it should be loss"

This blustery weather was the perfect atmosphere to start my buddy read of House of Leaves. The mysteries are already piling up, the footnotes are starting to mess with my head and the clever little notes my wife has added for her PhD is the perfect extra dusting of 'what is actually happening?'

Not sure if things will work out with my new writing assistant. He's paid in biscuits and whatever he can steal but he's pretty rude in his feedback tbh

Me and Tanjiro finished up the first of our Narratess finds The Reanimator's Heart. Absolutely loving the romance, especially the dialogue. Really enjoyed the setting as well. 5 stars from us on this one, even more excited for the next one now.

Amazing book haul today from the narratess sale! Super excited to jump in with some new authors once I've wrapped up my current read 😊