And my amazing reading year continues! I am so happy with how this year is going!

• I read 12 books this month
• Genre: 5 fantasy, 3 mystery, 1 sci-fi, 1 classic, 1 horror and 1 humour.
• Gender of authors: 6 women and 4 men
• Race of authors: 5 white authors, 2 asian authors, 2 black author and 1 Latinx author.
• Age range: 5 adult, 5 YA and 1 middle grade
• Format: 7 paperback, 2 ebook, 2 hardback and 1 audiobook

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (2 stars)

This was just not it. I was so bored reading this. I felt the author focused so on the most unnecessary things in the narrative. We didn’t get too much of the more interesting part of the story. I just did not enjoy this.

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Four Panel Comics by Hiromu Arakawa (3 stars)

This was a fun addition to the Fullmetal Alchemist series.

Post After Post-Mortem by E.C.R Lorac (3 stars)

This was a good murder mystery. I loved the focus on characterisation and I was adamant I had got the murderer right but I was very wrong. I did feel that the beginning was a bit slow and the ending did disappoint me. But I loved the investigation part of the story and the slow un-furling of the truth.

The King is Dead by Benjamin Dean (4 stars)

This was a solid story that I read at the worst time possible. I did not expect the events of the month to pan out the way it did. I loved the exploration of the royal family, the hounding of the paparazzi and the discussion of racism in the UK. So much was discussed in this book and it was done so so very well. I was super engaged in the characters. I do wish the mystery part of the story was stronger. I also didn’t love the culprit behind the events. It was disappointing to me.

The Secret of Haven Point by Lisette Auton (4 stars)

The disability representation in this story made my heart sing. Great characters, great story and a beautiful setting. My favourite part was the discussion of language in this story.

The Liminal Zone by Junji Ito (4 stars)

My first ever Junji Ito manga. What an experience.

• Weeping Woman Way – 5 stars
• Madonna – 5 stars
• The Spirit Flow of Aokigahara – 2 stars
• Slumber – 3 stars

Lord Peter Wimsey: BBC Radio Drama Collection Vol. 3 (4 stars)

A great ending to what was an absolutely amazing series!

• Murder Must Advertise – 4.5 stars
• The Nine Tailors – 3.5 stars
• Gaudy Night – 5 stars
• Busman’s Honeymoon – 3 stars

The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin (4 stars)

Another series I finished this month. Not my favourite of the three but still an amazing instalment. Everything tied up nicely and it was amazing to finally get a perfect picture of the story and the characters. I was a big fan of the ending.

Gleanings by Neal Shusterman (4.5 stars)

It was so great to be back in the Arc of a Scythe universe! Shusterman’s imagination and ingenious were top tier and I love his writing so much. Probably my favourite short story collection to date.

• The First Swing – 3 stars
• Formidable – 5 stars
• Never Work With Animals – 3 stars
• A Death of Many Colours – 4 stars
• Unsavoury Row – 5 stars
• A Martian a Minute – 5 stars
• The Mortal Canvas – 5 stars
• Cirri – 4.5 stars
• Anastasia’s Shadow – 3 stars
• The Persistence of Memory – 4 stars
• Meet Cute and Die – 4 stars
• Perchance to Glean – 2 stars
• A Dark Curtain Rises – 4 stars

The Queen in the Cave by Julia Sarda (5 stars)

A beautiful picture book I read just in time for the spooky season. Beautiful art and a beautiful story.

Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 8 & 9 by Hiromu Arakawa (5 stars)

Another monumental series I finished. I cried so much when this ended as I started this all the way back in 2019. Amazing story, amazing characters, incredible art style. Loved it! I was also able to understand the ending a lot more by reading the manga than when I originally watched the show.