Chronic pain is shite. Do whatever you need to do and make no apology for it.

I had reason (entirely innocent and benign) to look up the collective noun for assassin's and surely we can do better than "a murder". @runalongwomble.bsky.social

🎉30K giveaway book bundle! #💙📚 Inc @rhiannonagrist.bsky.social @aptshadow.bsky.social @voidcricket.bsky.social @lavanya.bsky.social @neuvel.net @csecooney.bsky.social @authortrmoore.bsky.social @shoutoutmapes.bsky.social US/CAN/UK/IE only. Like, repost, follow & drop a🌟in the comments! Ends 24/4

Finished The Siege by Ben MacIntyre which is excellent. Next up is Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson which has sat in my half-read pile for almost 6 years 😳.

Realised that I missed my own blog’s birthday. Espresso Coco turned 17 years old last month! Blimey, that’s a lot of books. Here’s the latest post, a roundup of the books I read in March espressococo.com/2026/04/02/b...

When you are forced to read on your phone because there is a sleeping cat between you and your stack of books.

I'm thrilled to be a part of this Gemmell-inspired anthology from those fabulous folks at Newcon Press. It's live on Kickstarter and there are some VERY big names in SFF contributing. Will you support our quest? www.kickstarter.com/projects/igw...

🚨 #BUNDLEDEAL ALERT!🚨 For the rest of March get the FIRST SIX BOOKS in the unmissable #TheSkelfsSeries by @dougjohnstone.bsky.social for ONLY £0.99 in this GREAT-VALUE #BoxSet EVERYWHERE YOU GET #EBOOKS😍 GET YOUR #BOOKBUNDLE NOW!❤️ Kindle, Kobo, Apple: 🔗https://geni.us/A8wWTa

In the library last week, I mentioned my theory of never borrowing (or buying) just one book because it will get lonely and this small child shouted "NO! I've only chosen one!" and ran back to the kids shelves.

I have this in my stack! Sarah Sultoon's books are so good, you should read them all.

Library pickup day!

Chess club tonight. Last week we had 16 kids aged 4-13, we ran out of chess boards 😳 We have one kid who is 5 and brilliant, like borderline prodigy brilliant, and I love watching his face when he plays, spotting traps and working out solutions.

"the river's tributary" How do you pronounce "tributary"? I've always said "trib-u-tary" like an extension of tribute. But I was listening to a podcast where they pronounced it "tri-bute-ary" like it rhymes with charcuterie and it flummoxed me.

I've had a fucker of a headache for 3 weeks. It's horrible. Where is the devil with his deals when you need him?

Any recs for fantasy anthologies? Bonus points if they are available on audio. @runalongwomble.bsky.social

Ding Ding! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Book alert! The Mark by Frída Ísberg and translated from Icelandic by Larissa Kyzer is fantastic. Early contender for book of the year.

Got a new game (the deed: dynasty) . You have to murder someone and then frame someone else. The premise reminded me of @runalongwomble.bsky.social

It’s the end of the year! (At last) I look back on my reading year, the stats, the challenges and my favourite reads of 2025! www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2025/12...

Book haul. Absolutely nothing that @runalongwomble.bsky.social would find noteworthy 🫢 Top 4 charity shop finds, bottom 4 Waterstones (with voucher)

Good Morning Blue Sky! Hope you’re all ok? Today I’m currently reading and close to finishing the very enjoyable fantasy The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott. What are you reading at the moment? Also bonus question as it’s the last of 2025 - what was your favourite read this year?

I am full of lurgy so I'm basically subsisting on hot toddy's. Today's concoction is Spiced rum Walnut liqueur Half a teaspoon of brown sugar Hot water It's utterly delicious.

shout out the guardian photo editor one time

The joy of discovering a new-to-you author that knocks your socks off. Mariana Enriquez's work is both brilliant and disturbing.

Between power cuts cutting my holiday short, being run off the road and trashing a tyre (maybe also a wheel and the suspension) then going to the world's worst Christmas party (imagine a dozen unsupervised under 10's screaming) the last 48 hours in Kat has been somewhat trying.

This can be a really shite time of year. Some UK numbers #SuicidePreventionHotline 0800 587 0800 #samaritans 116 123 text SHOUT to 85258 The NHS has mental health crisis teams, call 999 or go to A&E

Bought myself some honka-chonks

Unexpected PTSD things.. Sleep ....I'm either an exhausted gremlin, wired to the moon, getting by on a few hours of nightmare laced broken sleep or I'm a dissociated sloth capable of nothing but sleep. There is no in-between and you never know what version you'll get today.

A fire, a glass of red wine, and my book. Delightful way to spend a Sunday evening.

All six Skelfs together in a bumper ebook boxset! geni.us/A8wWTa @orendabooks.bsky.social

The Killer Question by Janice Hallett is brilliant. I loved it. Her best yet.

Oooooo. I wants it.

Introducing the prime minister, Nigel Farage.

How many shower / bath potions is too many? I have 12 shower gels and 9 bubble baths with only 2 scents duplicated.

Trying a new underpainting technique....

I adored HMRC by Juno Dawson on audio, so much so I pre ordered Shadow Cabinet but then didn't listen to SC because what if I didn't love it as much as book 1?!?!?! Anyway, the library is bringing me Human Rites next week so I've finally started SC.

In the summer there was a chess club and we had at most 4 people (Inc me). We decided to try and keep it going and yesterday we had 9 kids (plus 2 more too little to play but they like watching). Their enthusiasm is brilliant and infectious.

Has anyone in the UK had the migraine nasal spray through the NHS? How effective has it been for you? Thinking of asking the GP if I can try it.

What movie do you consider perfect?

Right, my library mostly has me covered for mainstream titles so that frees up my spending for more niche stuff. So who are your favourite small press / indy publishers? @runalongwomble.bsky.social should have a couple.....

Library pickup day and it's a good one!

@petemc666.bsky.social I'm about 7 chapters into Paved and there are not enough fucks in this book. 😉😆😆😆

Book haul

Good Morning Blue Sky! Hope you’re all ok? Today I’m currently reading a great horror anthology Roots of My Fears edited by Gemma Amor. What are you reading at the moment?

Found the most lovely path through a birch forest. Magical.

Went for a stroll and came across this fella, we were maybe 3 feet away and he didn't bat an eyelid.

Fans of Fractured Europe series by @hutchinsondave.bsky.social you need to check out On The Calculation of Volume by Solvej Balle. They are totally different but also not. Similar vibes or echoes or something, anyway this also goes vise versa so just read them all and be happy.

Going camping later this week and as I don't take library books camping it means I have to make decisions. It's a bucket list trip - I'm finally going to drive the Bealach na Bà !!!!

This weekend has been a massive dopamine hug and I don't know that I've ever been this content. In part due to kayaking yesterday afternoon on a local loch, just me, my dog, and my friend.

A Song of Legends Lost by M.H. Ayinde is fan-bloody-tastic and you need to get on this.