In this brand new spin-off to my podcast, Being Bookish, I am reading my way through Stephen King's novels, specifically those where characters reside, or experience something, in Castle Rock.

These episodes will be every 6 weeks, as there is a lot to cover, and I am reading them with my friend, and fellow podcaster, Lorraine.

In this episode, we're looking at the novel, The Dead Zone. Released in 1979, the story of Johnny Smith, a man with extraordinary powers, is the first novel where Castle Rock makes an appearance.

Join us both as we take a tour through Stephen King's universe, and experience some of these books for the first time in decades!

If you prefer, you can watch this on

This week, I'm venturing into the chaotic and sometimes hilarious world of the LitRPG phenomenon that's taken the book world by storm. I'm talking about Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, the first book in a (currently) 7-book series that's grown from a self-published cult favourite into a global bestseller.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then this episode is a great place to start (as until a few months ago I didn't have a clue either). Dungeon Crawler Carl is genre-bending fiction that refuses to be pinned down. It moves from the fast-paced action of a role-playing game into a pitch-black satire of reality TV and corporate greed, all whilst balancing comedy with moments of genuine cosmic horror.

It follows Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s prize-winning cat, Princess Donut, as they're forced to compete in a deadly, televised crawl for an alien audience. Whether you're a fan of gaming or just enjoy satirical sci-fi, this is a series you need on your radar.

As always, I'll be sharing my personal thoughts as well as looking to other reviews to provide a balanced perspective because we can't all like everything. I'll also be keeping it completely spoiler-free because you may want to dive into the dungeon for yourselves at some point.

So, get your refreshments ready and dive into this episode of Being Bookish.

Join me this week for the third in my 2026 author interviews. This time I'm talking with Venetia Constantine about her captivating debut fantasy novel, The Last Starborn Seer.

Released by Aria on the 5th of March, it is a sweeping, high-stakes journey through a world of ancient prophecies and celestial magic. It follows Leilani, a young woman whose volatile magic grants her visions of the future while slowly taking a toll on her mind. It is a brilliant read for anyone who loves epic world-building and high-stakes quests.

We talked about everything from her inspiration, an incredibly fascinating (and terrifying) story about how she came to write the book when she did (honestly, it is incredible), and her journey to traditional publication.

As always, we both did our best to avoid revealing any spoilers, because the book should be enjoyed without spoilers!

So, get yourself a cup of something hot and warming or cool and refreshing and settle down to enjoy the latest episode of Being Bookish.

Venetia's Links

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