Being Bookish

In this episode of Being Bookish, I’m digging into the layers of Dire Bound, the atmospheric 2025 debut by Sable Sorensen.
While there is plenty of talk online about the relationships in this book (and I have my thoughts on its categorisation), I’m much more interested in the high fantasy intrigue and the genuine mystery at the heart of the story. I’ll be exploring the complexities of the magic system and the shadowy politics of Nocturna that kept me hooked.
As this is a longer episode, I’ve taken the time to really analyse the power dynamics and the visceral world-building without getting distracted by the "spice". Instead, we’re looking at the dark fantasy elements, the Bonding Trials, and the looming threat of the Siphons. Whether you're a fan of intricate world-building or you're looking for a character-driven mystery that doesn't follow the usual tropes, I’ve got plenty of thoughts to share on why you should add this book to your 2026 fantasy reading list (if it's not there already!).
It’s a deep dive into a very dark world, so grab yourself a cuppa (I know I will) and let’s get into the shadow-wielding secrets together. I'm really looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you.

In this episode, I’m looking at a locked-room mystery with subtle digs at the publishing world in the debut by an author who remained a mystery for 6 months following the well-marketed announcement, The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke.
If you haven’t heard about it yet, this book is a collaboration between V.E. Schwab and Cat Clarke.
The story follows six struggling, midlist authors who are invited to a private Scottish island, only to discover that a world-famous novelist has died, leaving his final manuscript unfinished. They’re given seventy-two hours to write the perfect ending, with a life-changing amount of money and a much-desired 3-book publishing deal as the prize.
As always, I’ll be sharing my personal thoughts on the story, characters and events, and how I felt about the mystery - does it live up to the hype? As ever, it will be completely spoiler-free, I will not be revealing the means, motive or murderer, you need to find that out for yourselves!
So, pop the kettle on, get comfy with a coffee, and let’s talk books.

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This week, I've been reading a lot of fantasy, and my episode is going to lean into that as I'm reviewing a story that takes a really clever approach to the fantasy genre. I’m talking about This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews, a novel with an Isekai (or portal fantasy) premise that could be an absolute disaster, or a joy!
The novel follows a protagonist, Maggie, who wakes up inside the world of her favourite unfinished book series. It’s a place where she isn't a powerful warrior, but she does have two very specific advantages: she can’t stay dead, and she has an encyclopaedic knowledge of how everyone’s story is supposed to end. Whether you’re a fan of epic fantasy or you just enjoy a story that keeps you guessing, it's a title that's been getting a lot of attention.
As always, I’ll be sharing my personal thoughts on the book, the world, the characters, and what I thought about the story overall. As always, the review will be completely spoiler-free, so you can go into This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me completely fresh if you decide to give it a go for yourselves.
To round things off, my second, shorter review is for the 2024 mystery novel How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin. Offering a really interesting contrast to the dark fantasy that comes before it!
So pop the kettle on, get comfy with your drink of choice, and let’s talk books.

Described as The Day of the Triffids crossed with Little Shop of Horrors, this week, I’m looking at a story that certainly presents an unusual scenario. I’m talking about Overgrowth by Mira Grant, a book with a botanical horror premise that's hard to ignore once you've heard it.
If you haven't come across this sci-fi horror novel yet, this episode’s a good place to start. It’s a bit of a genre-shifter that’s quite difficult to categorise, following a woman who’s spent thirty years trying to warn everyone about an alien invasion they simply refuse to see.
Whether you’re a fan of science fiction or you just enjoy a story that keeps you guessing, this is an interesting novel that came out in early 2025.
As always, I’ll be sharing my personal take on the story and looking at some other book reviews to give a balanced view, because we can't all like everything. I’ll also be keeping it completely spoiler-free, so you can go into it fresh if you decide to give it a go for yourselves.
So, grab yourself something to drink, settle back, and dive into this episode of Being Bookish.

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