In the first episode of 2026, I'm visiting the dark romantasy world of Solanis, where the stars have been pulled from the sky, and humans battle for survival against a ruthless king and vampire armies in The Stars are Dying by Chloe C. Penaranda.

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 dip your toes into The Nytefall Trilogy for yourselves at some point.

If you enjoy fantasy romance with high stakes, morally complicated characters, and that delicious sense that anything could go wrong at any moment, this episode is definitely for you.

To round things off, my second, shorter review is for Solo by Caroline Swinburne, released in the latter part of 2025. This is a far more grounded and reflective read that offered a very different experience and made for a really interesting contrast to the high-stakes celestial drama of Solanis.

So pop the kettle on, get comfy, and let’s talk books.

In the final episode of the year, I'm reflecting on my reading (in general), sharing my top 10 favourite reads of 2025, as well as five books that didn't quite work for me. None of these are ranked in any particular order as I talk through them, until we reach the read I loved the most, a novel I feel has been ignored by many and is massively underrated.

It's been a year of highs and lows, with numerous books that captured my attention and reminded me why I love reading so much. At the same time, there were a handful of reads that served as a reminder of how much I wish I had allowed myself to DNF more often instead of pushing through when they were clearly not the book for me.

Now is a time of reflection, and over the last few weeks, I've spent some time looking ahead to 2026 and reflecting on how my relationship with reading is changing. Rather than setting a long list of strict reading goals, I am approaching the new year with a much gentler mindset. I want 2026 to be a year focused on enjoyment, flexibility and living in the moment where books are concerned, without feeling the need to plan every reading decision down to the smallest detail.

So, take a seat, pour yourself something to toast with, and enjoy the last episode of 2025...

Brat: An '80s Story

The Names

Paradise

In my last book review of 2025, I'm taking a look at one of the newer Romantasy releases of the year, The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman. It's an exciting blend of highland romance and dangerous fantasy. Dangerous court politics, rival kingdoms, and a princess caught in the middle of it all. A story full of intrigue, heat, and all the popular fantasy tropes that keep people reading!

As always, I am going to share my personal thoughts on the book; the world, the characters, the themes, and what I thought about the story overall. I will, as ever, be keeping it completely spoiler-free because why buy the cow when you get the milk for free?

If you enjoy fantasy romance with high stakes, morally complicated characters, and a sense that anything could go wrong at any moment, this episode is for you.

My second, shorter review is for A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke, a more reflective read that offered a very different experience and made for an interesting contrast.

So pop the kettle on, get comfy, and let’s talk books.