Update: May 2025

It has been a hectic month for me and I wasn't able to do the May Specs of the Month due to personal commitments, but I thought I'd do a little update post. I've still been reading and lurking on social media, I just haven't had much time for anything else. A few of the novels I have read this month I don't intend on doing full reviews for, but will do little mini ones here. But first, my own news.

At the beginning of May, my wife gave birth to a baby boy and he has taken up the majority of my time. It's been sleepless nights for a while and they will likely continue. I'm thankful that I have been off work for the whole of May so I can be around to help. I knew that would be the case, which is why I only took a couple of ARCs through May. This also means that through June things will still be a little inconsistent and again I only have two ARCs lined up. Things will ramp up again in July, as I will have some more time on my hands to write reviews, and possibly some actual opinion pieces that I have planned.

Books I've Read

The new baby hasn't slowed down my reading and I've read a few books this month.

Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Adrian Tchaikovsky is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. He has a way of writing that is simply compelling to me, and Shroud wasn't any different. Tchaikovsky has a knack for imagining alien worlds and their species in a way that feels grounded in reality but doesn't go so hard that it becomes laborious to read. The only downside I had for this novel was that the ending felt a little rushed.

Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Yep, another Tchaikovsky. I said he's fast becoming a favourite. Although, I read this one mostly because of its Hugo nomination. I'm trying to work my way through the nominations before August. Alien Clay was pretty spectacular. I was enthralled by it all the way through and absolutely loved the narrative framing.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

I finally jumped on the Murderbot train with All Systems Red and I think I'll be going against the grain a little here and say that it was only okay. When I initially read it, I rated it four stars, but on reflection, I think that I was giving it an extra star just for Martha Wells. I have great respect for her as an author, but I found that All Systems Red just didn't do it for me. Murderbot was a great character, I just felt the plot was a little flat. I'll still read the other books, but they might take a backseat for now.

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Books I'm Reading

I generally read multiple books at a time and a few of them are usually ARCs. I'm also trying to work my way through the Hugo nominees for best novel and some older fantasy that I've never read.

ARCs

Bee Speaker by Adrian Tchaikovsky

At the risk of repeating myself, yes, another Tchaikovsky. This one, however, was actually the first traditionally published ARC that I was accepted for. When I saw it on NetGalley, I couldn't resist. I'm about halfway through right now and I'm really enjoying it. I read the previous books in the series in preparation and I think Bear Head ranks as a favourite of mine, so I'm expecting great things from Bee Speaker.

The King of Everything by Jack Moody

Another BookSirens ARC from Timber Ghost Press. It's a little indie press that really does punch above its weight. One of my top five books of last year, The Mystery of the Pale King, came from this press. I'm not far into The King of Everything yet, but what I have read so far is intriguing.

Published Books

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell

This is another Hugo nominee that I'm trying to read. I haven't read too much of this yet, but what I have read is good. I'm really interested in the concept of it and hope it does it justice.

The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington

I legitimately knew nothing about this series before getting the first book out of the library. I'm listening to this one as an audiobook and so far it's really good. It's giving me some classic fantasy vibes. The narrator, Michael Kramer, is doing a stellar job of it, I'd say. I'm just over a quarter way through the novel.

What I Want To Read

I have a fairly extensive TBR so I'll keep this part brief. As I've already said, I'm working my way through the Hugo nominees. Next up will be Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky, from there I'll do The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley and then A Sorceress Comes to Call and The Tainted Cup.

Another book I am very much looking forward to reading is Embers Rising by Cindy L Sell. The first in the series, Remnants of a Scarlet Flame was one of my top five last year and I'm keen to see the story continue. I have an ARC copy of Embers Rising and it releases in August so I'll have a review out for it by then.

Thanks for reading.