🇬🇧 bookish reviews 🇳🇱
As You Wake, Break the Shell by Becky Chambers is sort of a cosy sci fi, with deep themes of love and loss, and it was nothing like I ever read before. The worldbuilding is so intricate and thought provoking, slightly dystopian in some ways and yet mostly very human. A newish colony on a… Continue reading As You Wake, Break the Shell – Becky Chambers
Theodora’s Tea Shop by Christy Anne Jones is really more about Dot instead of Theodora 😉 Dot wants to study magic in a world where magic is sort of prohibited/only for the wealthy class, and she thinks that if she can get an education as an apprentice to this famous witch, Theodora, she’ll circumvent the… Continue reading Theodora’s Tea Shop – Christy Anne Jones
Unapologetic Love Story by Elle McNicoll is hands down one of my favorites of 2026. Yes I know the year’s just started but trust me, it’ll take a lot to bump this one down the list. I have to preface this review by admitting that Elle McNicoll is one of my favorite authors and Some… Continue reading Unapologetic Love Story – Elle McNicoll
A Sorceress Comes To Call by T. Kingfisher is a perfect example of why I love T. Kingfisher’s books so much. I absolutely loved everything! The first chapter is soooo creepy, and with an epic first line “There was a fly walking on Cordelia’s hand, and she was not allowed to flick it away.” you… Continue reading A Sorceress Comes To Call – T. Kingfisher
De vergeten vloek van Britt Zwijnenberg is een retelling van Beauty and the Beast/Belle en het beest, maar dan nét even anders. Allereerst, ik vind het echt bijzonder hoe een kort verhaal zoveel diepte en plot kan bevatten, het was echt alsof ik een heel boek las! Ik ben zelf ook groot fan van korte… Continue reading De vergeten vloek – Britt Zwijnenberg
I think it is hard to describe an action packed book with necromancers and a haunting ex wife as “wholesome” but here I am, doing just that! Til Death Do Us Bard by Rose Black feels as a fluffy D&D campaign. We have Logan, our fighter, who is retired from fighting monsters to live with… Continue reading Til Death Do Us Bard – Rose Black
A Prayer for Vengeance by Leanne Schwartz is a story about a girl turned to stone, and an autistic boy who accidently revives her. I couldn’t wait to read this one, as autism rep in a fantasy story is quite rare. But this book is so much more than just autism, there are so many… Continue reading A Prayer for Vengeance – Leanne Schwartz
Ace notes is a perfect gift for someone who just found out about their ace identity. It covers a lot of topics in an engaging writing style which makes it hard to stop reading. The information is broken up with interviews, which probably makes it easier to read for most, but for me the interviews… Continue reading Ace Notes – Michele Kirichanskaya
The Edge of Life by Lena Gibson follows both Kat and Ryan as they race against the clock towards a bunker to survive the end of the world, as a gigantic meteorite is coming. Kat is a elementary teacher, who tries to cope with her life by drinking on every free day. She's neurodivergent (autistic)… Continue reading The Edge of Life – Lena Gibson
Nederlands staat hieronder. As Long As the Lemon Trees grow is one of those books that should be mandatory reading, if I were not against forcing books upon people. Ok so just picture me gently pushing this book into your TBR pile. Because it needs to be read and these truths need to be wider… Continue reading As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow / Zolang de citroenbomen bloeien – Zoulfa Katouh
One For All has something unique: POTS rep! As I have POTS myself, I thought I’d start with this, as for me this is one of the best of the stories: to feel seen. Of course the rep was amazing as it’s ownvoices, but also the narrative surrounding disability was amazing and very recognizable. How… Continue reading One For All – Lillie Lainoff
In het vervloekte hart is een fantasy verhaal met horror elementen, geïnspireerd op koloniaal Suriname. Ik hou ervan als een boek diepe thema’s heeft en dat was zeker het geval bij dit boek! De lijnen met de geschiedenis zijn subtiel, maar als je er iets van af weet kun je het zeker terugzien, dat is… Continue reading In het vervloekte hart – Rima Orie
Vespertine was one of my most anticipated releases of 2021, so I was not happy when it took months for my preorder copy to arrive, and when it was postponed to a year I decided to cancel and pay triple money for one that suprisingly would arrive a day later (that never happens, to get… Continue reading Vespertine – Margaret Rogerson
The Alchemy of Sorrow is a short stories anthology by 13 different authors, with fantasy or sci fi stories about grief and healing. I love fantasy, short stories and deep themes so this anthology seems like it was made for me! And it didn’t disappoint at all, I loved the stories and their depth. I… Continue reading The Alchemy of Sorrow Anthology
A Darkness at the Door by Intisar Khanani begins right where The Theft of Sunlight ended, which is a good thing because that cliffhanger was a bit evil to be honest. So please know this is the second book in a duology and my review will contain spoilers for the previous two books. As I… Continue reading A Darkness At The Door (Dauntless Path #3) – Intisar Khanani
Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester is a contemporary novel about Vero, a a Peruvian‑American teen, who has hip dysplasia and desperately wants to be a professional mermaid in the local show Mermaid Cove, where “mermaids” dance underwater for an audience. Her parents are very much against that, as it is frivolous and… Continue reading Breathe and Count Back from Ten – Natalia Sylvester
The Moth Girl by Heather Kamins is about Anna, a regular girl who all of a sudden gets a chronic illness and sees her world turned upside down. Quite literally in fact. And it is one of the best fiction novels about chronic illness I’ve read in a long time and I’m gonna tell you… Continue reading The Moth Girl – Heather Kamins
Een steekje los van Iris ter Haar is de nieuwste aanwinst in de Hoofdzaken serie van Blossom Books, en gaat over het leven met een angststoornis. Ik volg Iris al langere tijd op instagram (@ikbenirisniet), ik kijk uit naar elke woensdag als Jari het oppashondje komt, dus ik was heel benieuwd naar haar verhaal. En… Continue reading Een steekje los – Iris ter Haar
To Find Her Place by Susan Anne Mason is the second book in the Redemption’s Light series, but it is perfect as a standalone (there is a non spoiler cameo from the main character of the previous book, but that’s it). I loved book 1, but if I’m honest, I loved this book even more! It’s… Continue reading To Find Her Place – Susan Anne Mason
Dusk’s Darkest Shores takes place in a quiet town, where Mary, an introverted spinster, assists her father who is a doctor. She’s very good with medicine, but mostly with kindness. She cares for every patient, and gives them all her attention and prayers, as she is very spiritual and full of faith. And we have… Continue reading Dusk’s Darkest Shores – Carolyn Miller
Yellow Mockingjay 