As with many of us who read, we sometimes hit a slump, and that is what has happened to me this month. I have really struggled to settle on a book to read.
I put this down to finishing the brilliant Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb—nothing has really hit that level since. It may also be because I am back at work, and that always reduces my reading time, something I am never happy about.
Of course, it may have been that the books I chose were just awful. 😂 Here, though, are the five books I did finish. Not that five books is a bad count at all.
Assassin’s Quest - Robin Hobb ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Assassin’s Quest brings The Farseer Trilogy to a satisfying close. As a complete story, it works perfectly; everything feels rounded off, with enough weight and resolution to make the journey worthwhile.
The character development remains as rich as ever. Fitz continues to frustrate and fascinate in equal measure, which is exactly what makes him such a strong lead. Some of the characters we grew attached to in earlier books don’t get as much attention here, and I missed them, but the story remains powerful without them.
It’s always difficult to write about a third book without giving too much away, but what I can say is that this trilogy ends in a way that feels both complete and earned. I’m eager to read more from the Realm of the Elderlings, but I also feel I can pause here without the stress of a half-finished story hanging over me.
Robin Hobb has delivered one of the most satisfying conclusions to a trilogy I’ve read in years.
The Lost World - Arthur Conan Doyle ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Lost World is an interesting read, though it doesn’t quite reach the heights of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. The characters and premise are engaging, and it’s refreshing to explore something outside the Holmes canon, seeing how the author handles adventure and discovery rather than deduction.
That said, some of the language is very outdated, which is something to keep in mind when approaching most classics. While the story is well told and has some genuinely entertaining moments, it lacks the sharp suspense and tension Doyle was so good at creating in his detective tales.
Overall, it’s worth a read if you’re curious about Conan Doyle’s work beyond Baker Street, but it’s not one that will linger in the mind in the same way as Holmes.
If We Were Villains - M. L. Rio ⭐️
I went into If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio with incredibly high hopes, but I must admit, I came away deeply disappointed.
This book, frankly, is awful. The premise clearly attempts to be a modern take on The Secret History, one of my all-time favorite novels, but dressed up in Shakespearean costume, and it falls completely flat.
To a devoted fan of Donna Tartt’s classic, this felt less like an homage and more like an insult.
The story suffers from overblown, melodramatic tension that feels utterly unearned. The characters, a cohort of actors studying at an exclusive arts conservatory, feel paper-thin, lacking the depth or compelling moral ambiguity that is essential to a great dark academia novel. I found it difficult to care about their fates or their theatrical posturing.
Ultimately, If We Were Villains was a truly disappointing experience. It misses the mark on the psychological complexity and intellectual rigour required for a story of this type. If you are looking for a true spiritual successor to The Secret History, this isn’t it.
Batshit Bonkers Britain - Katie Hopkins ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Katie Hopkins is a controversial English personality who has a reputation for speaking her mind. She has all but been “cancelled” by all major news outlets, which is why you can’t buy this book anywhere but on her website.
However, I find Hopkins hilarious. The fact that she can take the mickey (or “piss”) out of herself and the state of Britain at the moment makes her compulsive viewing on Instagram for me.
But, she is also an extremely talented writer whose characteristic humour and wit come out on every page of this book. This is a look at the absurdity of Britain at the moment, where people are arrested for calling themselves by derogatory names. Oh yes, that has just happened.
This book had me laughing out loud in many places, and I read it in one day. If you are British or know and love Katie Hopkins, I would strongly recommend it.
The Last Bookwanderer - Anna James ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Last Bookwanderer is a truly perfect end to this wonderful series. It was an emotional journey that had me in tears at the end, in the best possible way. My daughter and I have been on this incredible adventure with Tilly and her friends from the very beginning, and she was genuinely sad to see it end.
This final installment beautifully wraps up the overarching story and delivers a satisfying conclusion for fans who have loved this world of bookwandering. It’s a testament to the author’s storytelling that it resonates so deeply with both children and adults.
My only slight criticism is that some of the books and characters visited in this final chapter have very complex names that may be difficult for some younger readers to pronounce. While this didn’t detract from our overall enjoyment, it’s something to be aware of if your young reader is tackling this on their own.
Despite that minor point, The Last Bookwanderer is a must-read for any fan of the series. It’s a touching, imaginative, and truly magical finale that celebrates the power of stories and the bonds of friendship.
Tell me in the comments what was your favourite read of September?
Until next Monday: Read to learn. Read to escape. Read to smile.